cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Evolving Interplay among Abundant Adipokines in Patients with Hepatitis C during Viral Clearance

How hepatatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects the interplay among abundant adipokines in the host remains unclear. A prospective study was conducted with 450 consecutive genotype 1 (G1) and G2 HCV patients who completed a course of anti-HCV therapy and underwent pre-therapy and 24-week post-therapy surveys to assess various profiles and levels of abundant adipokines, including leptin, adiponectin, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). Before anti-HCV therapy, multivariate analyses showed gender to be associated with leptin and adiponectin levels, and BMI with leptin and PAI-1 levels. Among patients with a sustained virological response (SVR, n = 372), associations at 24 weeks post-therapy were as follows: gender and BMI with all adipokine levels; hepatic steatosis and aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index with adiponectin levels; and HOMA-IR and HCV genotype with PAI-1 levels. Paired t-tests revealed increased post-therapeutic PAI-1 levels in G1 SVR patients and decreased adiponectin levels in all SVR patients compared to pre-therapeutic levels. HCV infection may obscure associations between abundant adipokines and metabolic/hepatic profiles. In SVR patients, a higher hierarchical status of PAI-1 versus adiponectin in affecting glucose metabolism was noted at 24 weeks post-therapy. Such genotype-non-specific adiponectin decreases and G1-specific PAI-1 increases warrant careful follow-up of HCV patients after SVR according to viral genotype.
Abstract 385: TRPA1 Mediates Angiotensinogen Augmentation in Renal Proximal Tubular Cells

Overactivity of the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system contributes to the development of hypertension and renal injury. In this process, regulation of angiotensinogen (AGT) in renal proximal tubular cells (RPTC) is a key factor. Oxidative stress stimulates AGT expression accompanied by activation of p38 MAPK in RPTC. Transient receptor potential A1 (TRPA1) is known to be a sensor activated by a variety of noxious stimuli including hydrogen peroxide. Activated TRPA1 induces calcium influx across the plasma membrane leading to activation of AGT-inducible signal transducers. However, the presence and function of TRPA1 in the kidney have not been delineated. Therefore, this study was performed to demonstrate expression of intrarenal TRPA1 and its role in AGT augmentation in RPTC. Expression of TRPA1 in mouse kidney and cultured mouse RPTC were determined by RT-PCR, in situ hybridization, western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry. The RPTC were treated with 100 μM H2O2 for 1 hr with or without 10μM HC030031, a TRPA1 specific antagonist. EGTA was used to the culture medium for depletion of extracellular calcium. Thereafter, AGT expression levels were evaluated by real-time RT-PCR, and TRPA1 expression levels and p38 MAPK activity were determined by western blot analyses. TRPA1 expression was observed in tubules of renal cortex, and the cultured PRTC expressed TRPA1 mRNA and protein. H2O2 increased AGT expression (1.54 ± 0.08, ratio to control) in RPTC. The AGT augmentation was suppressed by HC030031 (1.19 ± 0.05, ratio to control). Calcium depletion also resulted in attenuation of the AGT augmentation induced by H2O2. Although H2O2 induced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, HC030031 did not inhibit the p38 MAPK activation. TRPA1 expression was increased by H2O2 under the experimental condition (1.90 ± 0.06, ratio to control). These results suggest that TRPA1 is expressed in RPTC, which contributes to H2O2-induced AGT augmentation via calcium-dependent but p38 MAPK-independent pathways. Furthermore, increase in TRPA1 expression by H2O2 likely facilitates the stimulation of AGT expression. Therefore, TRPA1 may play an important role in the progression of oxidative stress-associated renal injury and hypertension via the stimulation of AGT expression in RPTC.
Neonatal Aortic Arch Reconstruction With Direct Splanchnic Perfusion Avoids Deep Hypothermia.

Background Neonatal aortic arch reconstruction, typically performed with deep hypothermia and selective cerebral perfusion, leaves splanchnic organ protection dependent on hypothermia alone. A simplified method of direct in-field descending aortic perfusion during neonatal arch reconstruction permits the avoidance of deep hypothermia. We hypothesize that direct splanchnic perfusion at mild hypothermia provides improved or equivalent safety compared with deep hypothermia and may contribute to postoperative extracardiac organ recovery. Methods Included were 138 biventricular patients aged younger than 90 days undergoing aortic arch reconstruction with cardiopulmonary bypass. Patients were grouped according to perfusion method A (selective cerebral perfusion with deep hyperthermia at 18° to 20°C) or method B (selective cerebral perfusion and splanchnic perfusion at 30° to 32°C). Patient characteristics and perioperative clinical and serologic data were analyzed. Significance was assigned for p of less than 0.05. Results Of the 138 survivors, 63 underwent method A and 75 underwent method B. The median age at operation was 8.5 days (range, 6 to 15 days), and median weight was 3.2 kg (range, 2.8 to 3.73 kg), with no significant differences between groups. Cardiopulmonary bypass times were comparable between the two perfusion methods ( p = 0.255) as were the ascending aortic cross-clamp times ( p = 0.737). The postoperative glomerular filtration rate was significantly different between our groups ( p = 0.028 to 0.044), with method B achieving a higher glomerular filtration rate. No significant differences were seen in ventilator time, postoperative length of stay, fractional increase of postoperative serum creatinine over preoperative serum creatinine, and postoperative lactate. Conclusions A simplified method of direct splanchnic perfusion during neonatal aortic arch reconstruction avoids the use of deep hypothermia and provides renal protection at least as effective as deep hypothermia.
Is El Niño really changing

El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is the leading mode of tropical Pacific climate variability, with global impacts. Understanding how the statistics of ENSO events may be changing in response to global warming is of great interest and importance for society. A clear detection of such signals in observations has however been obscured by large event-to-event differences and apparent “regime shifts” such as that of the late 1970s. In particular, despite extensive research, it is not clear to what extent the observed long-term changes are systemic or random. Here we show using a multi-component linear inverse modeling technique that statistically significant systemic changes have indeed occurred in ENSO dynamics since the late 1970s, and have affected the evolution of El Nino and La Nina events from their embryonic to fully mature stages.
Edge states between photonic topological insulator domains emulating Quantum Spin Hall and Quantum Valley Hall effects

We observe edge states between domains of photonic systems emulating quantum valley-Hall and spin-Hall states by measuring transmission spectra. The robustness of photonic transport along the edge is tested by measuring group velocity.
Unrivalled Influence: Women and Empire in Byzantium

Unrivalled Influence: Women and Empire in Byzantium is the second volume of Judith Herrin’s collected scholarship, and like the first, Margins and Metropolis: Authority across the Byzantine Empire,...
CoastalDEM: A global coastal digital elevation model improved from SRTM using a neural network

Abstract Positive vertical bias in elevation data derived from NASA's Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) is known to cause substantial underestimation of coastal flood risks and exposure. Previous attempts to correct SRTM elevations have used regression to predict vertical error from a small number of auxiliary data products, but these efforts have been focused on reducing error introduced solely by vegetative land cover. Here, we employ a multilayer perceptron artificial neural network to perform a 23-dimensional vertical error regression analyses, where in addition to vegetation cover indices, we use variables including neighborhood elevation values, population density, land slope, and local SRTM deviations from ICESat altitude observations. Using lidar data as ground truth, we train the neural network on samples of US data from 1–20 m of elevation according to SRTM, and assess outputs with extensive testing sets in the US and Australia. Our adjustment system reduces mean vertical bias in the coastal US from 3.67 m to less than 0.01 m, and in Australia from 2.49 m to 0.11 m. RMSE is cut by roughly one-half at both locations, from 5.36 m to 2.39 m in the US, and from 4.15 m to 2.46 in Australia. Using ICESat data as a reference, we estimate that global bias falls from 1.88 m to −0.29 m, and RMSE from 4.28 m and 3.08 m. The methods presented here are flexible and effective, and can be effectively applied to land cover of all types, including dense urban development. The resulting enhanced global coastal DEM (CoastalDEM) promises to greatly improve the accuracy of sea level rise and coastal flood analyses worldwide.
Scientia potentia est: Organizational Learning, Absorptive Capacity and the Power of Knowledge

An organization’s ability to learn from past experience and observation of the environment around it affects the efficiency and effectiveness of its operations. Organizational learning (OL) theory broadly defines this process in terms of seeking, interpreting, and using knowledge, with the process triggered by a reference gap and resulting in learning. The ability of the organization to leverage knowledge obtained through OL results in absorptive capacity (ACAP). ACAP specifically measures how the organization acquires, assimilates, transforms, and utilizes new information, resulting in both knowledge and commercial outputs and competitive advantages. While OL describes the construction of the knowledge base, ACAP describes how learning results in performance, flexibility, and innovation. ACAP is especially critical in rapidly changing, complex, or highly uncertain environments requiring the assimilation of a great deal of information in contexts which may not be programmable. Today’s digital environment, with the widespread availability of vast amounts of detailed, real-time information, renders the ability to screen, analyze, communicate, retrieve, store, and use new information into the key to increased performance, better organization–environment strategic fit, and lasting competitive advantage.
STRUCTURAL ORDER AND BLOOD COMPATIBILITY OF POLYMERIC PROSTHESES

Abstract Protein adsorption is the first biological event occurring as a vascular prosthesis is brought in contact with blood. The nature of the adsorbed protein layer (i. e., concentration, composition, conformational changes, etc.) appears to dictate the biological response of the implant; our data indicates the nature of this adsorbed layer is controlled by the chemical and morphological structure of the polymer surface. Thus, knowing the polymer surface structure and the nature of the polymer/protein interaction allows us to understand and control one aspect of the biological response of the implanted polymer. Two block copolyurethanes of similar chemical structure were studied by Electron Spectroscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy to determine why differences in protein adsorption and platelet adhesion occurred. Preliminary data indicate that the relative concentration and morphological organization of the various chain segments on the surface influence these biological responses. In addition, if the polymer is to be used successfully as a prostheses, the accompanying bulk properties must also be considered since this affects the compliance of the prosthesis and possible degradative failure of the implant. Using this approach, we have developed a successful synthetic polymer prosthesis for repair of small diameter blood vessels.
Principles of Minimally Invasive Surgery

The historical development of laparoscopy can be traced to early in the 19th century when Bozzini, an Italian physician living in Germany, first examined the abdominal cavity using reflected candlelight.1 In 1901, George Kelling, a German, described the establishment of a pneumoperitoneum (PNP) and trocar placement through which a cystoscope was placed. In the early 1930s throughout Europe, modern laparoscopy was popularized by Kalk, who used room air to create a PNP.2,3 Laparoscopy was initially applied in gynecological procedures, and it was not until 1991 that general surgeons began to take notice when Muhe introduced the first laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in Germany.4
The Struggle Is Pedagogical: Learning to Teach Critical Mathematics

Paulo Freire’s and Amilcar Cabral’s orientation of social struggles as pedagogical suggests that when teachers are involved in community issues and struggles, they develop some of the necessary political-pedagogical knowledge to teach critical mathematics (or any subject). One does not learn to swim in a library, wrote Freire, and one will not grasp nuances of social movements and community resistance by watching alone—though active engagement is a process and has multiple entry points. In this chapter, I examine one teacher’s participation in a community struggle rooted in Black self-determination, and how her learning supports her own political development and radical pedagogies.
Determination of Carcass and Live Body Weight Finishing Cattle from Front Body Weights Taken at a Scale—Electronic Identification Equipped Water Fountain

Utilizing a platform scale capable of weighing the ”front end” of feedlot cattle coupled with an electronic identification system provided a means by which both live and carcass weights of growing cattle can be monitored daily without disturbing normal routines for both cattle and the farm labor force.
Short-term swallowing outcomes following type 1 laryngeal cleft injection.

Abstract Introduction Interarytenoid injection augmentation at the time of initial diagnostic endoscopy for aspiration and dysphagia may result in near-immediate improvement in swallowing function, potentially obviating the need for future formal endoscopic repair of type 1 laryngeal cleft. Interarytenoid injection augmentation may also address physiologic aspiration. Early treatment of type 1 laryngeal cleft may allow for expedited liberalization of feedings. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of interarytenoid injection augmentation (IIA) for type 1 laryngeal clefts (LC-1) on short-term swallowing function assessed by videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS). Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of patients age ≤24 months with dysphagia on preoperative VFSS who underwent IIA with calcium hydroxyapatite for LC-1 during direct laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy from June to October 2017 at a tertiary care academic subspecialty hospital. Exclusion criteria included prior endoscopic or open LC repair (n = 1), gastrostomy tube dependence (n = 1), additional procedures at the time of IIA (supraglottoplasty, frenulectomy, n = 1). Children without postoperative VFSS within 30 days of injection were excluded (n = 2). Fifteen children met inclusion criteria for analysis. The primary endpoint was improvement in safely swallowed consistency as defined by recommendation to liberalize diet by at least a half-consistency (e.g. half-honey to nectar thick liquid). Secondary endpoints included clinical assessment of dysphagia and postoperative respiratory events. Results Median [range] age at injection was 15.2 [7.7–24.3] months and 67% of patients were female (n = 10). The majority (13/15) of patients were full-term and 80% of patients (n = 12) had documented gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Median time from injection to VFSS was 16 [9–29] days. Improvement in safely swallowed consistency was noted in 60% (n = 9) of patients. Aspiration completely resolved in two patients. Swallow function was unchanged in 40% of patients (n = 6); no patients experienced worsening dysphagia. No respiratory complications were documented during inpatient observation. Conclusion IIA is a safe procedure that may result in immediate improvement in dysphagia in select patients with LC-1. IIA does not address neurologic, developmental, or other anatomic etiologies of dysphagia. Additional studies are required to determine long-term efficacy of IIA on dysphagia and pulmonary complications, as well as the patient- and caregiver-related outcome measures.
Evaluating the effects of turf-replacement programs in Los Angeles

Abstract Water utilities incentivize turf replacement to promote water conservation, but the effects of such programs have received limited evaluations. In 2014, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) undertook an unprecedented investment to incentive turf replacement throughout Southern California in response to a serious Statewide drought. MWD devoted $350 million to the program, resulting in more than 46,000 rebate payments (25,000 in Los Angeles County) to remove 15.3 million square meters of turf. The program implementation provided a unique opportunity to address research gaps on turf replacement implementation. We analyzed socioeconomic and spatial trends of program participants and assessed landscape changes from turf replacement using a random sample of properties (4% of LA County participants in 2014–16). Specifically, we used a novel and cost-effective approach Google Earth Street View to characterize landscapes in front yards and created a typology of land cover types. Results showed: post-replacement landscapes had a diversity of land cover types – diverse yards with several land cover types, as well as more homogenous yards with a single land cover such as woodchips, bare soil, gravel, and artificial turf. Analysis also indicated some evidence of “neighborhood adoption” effects. We describe the need for longitudinal studies to understand long-term effects of turf replacement and associated water use, and suggest that water utilities should also evaluate results in backyards, which requires site visits. This study provides a novel contribution that can be replicated over space and time to further knowledge of turf replacement program implementations and evaluation.
Acid liability of allylic esters: use of methallyl esters as acid-labile protecting groups for car☐ylic acids

Abstract Substituted allylic esters are cleaved in refluxing 90% formic acid to afford car☐ylic acids. The scope and generality of the reaction is investigated, and several examples using methallyl esters as an acid-labile protecting group for car☐ylic acids are presented.
The Smell of Warm Bread

I do most of my writing in my favorite bakery. Using headphones to channel a carefully chosen set of songs, I drown out the small din of conversation around me. Once I get my computer running and fan out my papers, the words seem to flow almost effortlessly at the best of times. Of course, there are other times that producing words on paper feels like pulling teeth, but these times are fairly intermittent. In part, the familiarity of the visual scene and the music helps me ignore the extraneous stimuli and write.
Determination and Quantification of Bacterial Virulent Gene Expression Using Quantitative Real-Time PCR.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) plays significant roles in modern molecular biology. However, it is relatively cumbersome and less accurate to use the traditional PCR method in quantifying gene expression because it requires first generating a standard curve with multiple input controls showing linearity with amplified control PCR products on a electrophoresis gel to compare with the abundance of the to-be-determined gene transcript PCR amplicons. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) is a time-efficient and reliable tool for accurate quantification and comparison of gene (RNA transcript) expression from various biological samples. Current technology has simplified and expedited the qPCR process significantly. However, proper techniques and standard protocols are required in eliminating potentially erroneous experimental outcome. Here, we provide an example from a drug-treated bacterial gene expression study with detailed protocols to demonstrate real-time qPCR with SYBR™ Green and TaqMan®, two of the most adapted and well-established qPCR technologies. Relative quantification of gene (RNA transcript) expression using qRT-PCR is demonstrated in detail from sample preparations to data analysis.
Vascular Regeneration in Peripheral Artery Disease

Peripheral artery disease is a common disorder and a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Therapy is directed at reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events and at amelior...
Association of preeclampsia with infant APOL1 genotype in African Americans

Black women in the United States and Africa are at an increased risk for preeclampsia. Allelic variants in the gene for apolipoprotein LI, APOL1, are found only in populations of African ancestry, and have been shown to contribute significant risk for kidney disease. Recent studies suggest these APOL1 variants also may contribute risk for preeclampsia. The association of preeclampsia with carriage of APOL1 risk alleles was evaluated in a case-control study of deliveries from black women at a single center in Cleveland, Ohio that included gross and histopathologic evaluations of placental tissues (395 cases and 282 controls). Using logistic regression models, associations between fetal APOL1 genotype and preeclampsia were evaluated using several case definitions based on prematurity and severity of preeclampsia, with uncomplicated term pregnancies as controls. Associations between APOL1 genotype and pathological features were also examined. The infant APOL1 genotype was significantly associated with preeclampsia in a dominant inheritance pattern with odds ratio of 1.41 (P=0.029, 95% CI 1.037, 1.926). Stratifying preeclampsia cases by preterm birth, significant associations were detected for both recessive (O.R.=1.70, P=0.038) and additive (O.R.=1.33, P=0.028) inheritance patterns. APOL1 genotype, however, was not significantly associated with pathological changes or other perinatal observations. Preeclampsia appears to be another disease associated with APOL1 variants, however, further studies are needed to increase confidence in the mode of inheritance. By understanding the association of APOL1 variants with preeclampsia, genetic screening tests for APOL1 may be useful to predict at-risk pregnancies and targeted interventions may be developed to improve pregnancy outcomes.
‘Standing’ Up for State Rights in Sports Betting

In Gov. Murphy, et al. v. Nat’l Collegiate Athletic Ass’n, et al., the Supreme Court resolved one sports betting-related federalism issue and teed up another. In deciding the constitutionality of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (“PASPA”), the Supreme Court considered PASPA vis-a-vis the anti-commandeering doctrine embedded in the Tenth Amendment. The Supreme Court’s majority opinion, written by Justice Alito, concluded: “The PASPA provision at issue here—prohibiting state authorization of sports gambling—violates the anti-commandeering rule.” Justice Alito also foreshadowed the next federalism issue that will likely arise in the sports betting context: “Congress can regulate sports gambling directly, but if it elects not to do so, each State is free to act on its own.” Numerous states have accepted the Supreme Court’s invitation since its ruling was released on May 14, 2018. As of April 30, 2020, over a fifteen states have moved to enact sports betting laws, with dozens more considering legislation.
Decay of Boson Stars with Application to Glueballs and Other Real Scalars

One of the most interesting candidates for dark matter are massive real scalar particles. A well-motivated example is from a pure Yang-Mills hidden sector, which locks up into glueballs in the early universe. The lightest glueball states are scalar particles and can act as a form of bosonic dark matter. If self-interactions are repulsive this can potentially lead to very massive boson stars, where the inward gravitational force is balanced by the repulsive self-interaction. This can also arise from elementary real scalars with a regular potential. In the literature it has been claimed that this allows for astrophysically significant boson stars with high compactness, which could undergo binary mergers and generate detectable gravitational waves. Here we show that previous analyses did not take into proper account $3 \to 2$ and $4 \to 2$ quantum mechanical annihilation processes in the core of the star, while other work misinterpreted the classical $3 \to 1$ process. In this work, we compute the annihilation rates, finding that massive stars will rapidly decay from the $3 \to 2$ or $4 \to 2$ processes (while the $3 \to 1$ process is typically small). Using the Einstein-Klein-Gordon equations, we also estimate the binding energy of these stars, showing that even the densest stars do not have quite enough binding energy to prevent annihilations. For such boson stars to live for the current age of the universe and to be consistent with bounds on dark matter scattering in galaxies, we find the following upper bound on their mass for $O(1)$ self-interaction couplings: $M_*<10^{-18}M_{sun}$ when $3 \to 2$ processes are allowed and $M_*<10^{-11}M_{sun}$ when only $4 \to 2$ processes are allowed. We also estimate destabilization from parametric resonance which can considerably constrain the phase space further. Furthermore, such stars are required to have very small compactness to be long lived.
Parasite exposure and host susceptibility jointly drive the emergence of epidemics

Parasite transmission is thought to depend on both parasite exposure and host susceptibility to infection; however, the relative contribution of these two factors to epidemics remains unclear. We used interactions between an aquatic host and its fungal parasite to evaluate how parasite exposure and host susceptibility interact to drive epidemics. In six lakes, we tracked the following factors from pre-epidemic to epidemic emergence: (1) parasite exposure (measured observationally as fungal spores attacking wild-caught hosts), (2) host susceptibility (measured experimentally as the number of fungal spores required to produce terminal infection), (3) host susceptibility traits (barrier resistance and internal clearance, both quantified with experimental assays), and (4) parasite prevalence (measured observationally from wild-caught hosts). Tracking these factors over 6 months and in almost 7,000 wild-caught hosts provided key information on the drivers of epidemics. We found that epidemics depended critically on the interaction of exposure and susceptibility; epidemics only emerged when a host population's level of exposure exceeded its individuals' capacity for recovery. Additionally, we found that host internal clearance traits (the hemocyte response) were critical in regulating epidemics. Our study provides an empirical demonstration of how parasite exposure and host susceptibility interact to inhibit or drive disease in natural systems and demonstrates that epidemics can be delayed by asynchronicity in the two processes. Finally, our results highlight how individual host traits can scale up to influence broad epidemiological patterns.
An Automated System to Classify Stellar Spectra I

Analyses of stellar spectra often begin with the determination of a number of parameters that define a model atmosphere. This work presents a prototype for an automated spectral classification system that uses a 15 nm-wide region around Hbeta, and applies to stars of spectral types A to K with normal (scaled solar) chemical composition. The new tool exploits synthetic spectra based on plane-parallel flux-constant model atmospheres. The input data are high signal-to-noise spectra with a resolution greater than about 0.1 nm. The output parameters are forced to agree with an external scale of effective temperatures based on the Infrared Flux Method. The system is fast -- a spectrum is classified in a few seconds-- and well-suited for implementation on a web server. We estimate upper limits to the 1-sigma random error in the retrieved effective temperatures, surface gravities, and metallicities as 100 K, 0.3 dex, and 0.1 dex, respectively.
Continual Learning with Deep Artificial Neurons.

Neurons in real brains are enormously complex computational units. Among other things, they're responsible for transforming inbound electro-chemical vectors into outbound action potentials, updating the strengths of intermediate synapses, regulating their own internal states, and modulating the behavior of other nearby neurons. One could argue that these cells are the only things exhibiting any semblance of real intelligence. It is odd, therefore, that the machine learning community has, for so long, relied upon the assumption that this complexity can be reduced to a simple sum and fire operation. We ask, might there be some benefit to substantially increasing the computational power of individual neurons in artificial systems? To answer this question, we introduce Deep Artificial Neurons (DANs), which are themselves realized as deep neural networks. Conceptually, we embed DANs inside each node of a traditional neural network, and we connect these neurons at multiple synaptic sites, thereby vectorizing the connections between pairs of cells. We demonstrate that it is possible to meta-learn a single parameter vector, which we dub a neuronal phenotype, shared by all DANs in the network, which facilitates a meta-objective during deployment. Here, we isolate continual learning as our meta-objective, and we show that a suitable neuronal phenotype can endow a single network with an innate ability to update its synapses with minimal forgetting, using standard backpropagation, without experience replay, nor separate wake/sleep phases. We demonstrate this ability on sequential non-linear regression tasks.
Fibrinogen inhibits microRNA-19b, a novel mechanism for repair of haemorrhagic shock-induced endothelial cell dysfunction.

Background The benefits of plasma as an adjunct to the treatment of haemorrhagic shock are well established; however, the mechanism by which plasma modulates the endotheliopathy of trauma remains unclear. Our recent data demonstrated a novel role of microRNA-19b in post-haemorrhagic shock endothelial dysfunction via targeting of syndecan-1. Additionally, fibrinogen, as a key component of plasma or an isolated haemostatic protein, protects the endothelium by stabilizing syndecan-1. We therefore hypothesized that fibrinogen would inhibit microRNA-19b to mitigate the endotheliopathy of trauma in a murine model of haemorrhagic shock. Materials and methods C57BL/6J mice were subjected to haemorrhagic shock (mean arterial pressure 35±5 mmHg for 90 minutes) followed by resuscitation with lactated Ringer's, fresh frozen plasma, fibrinogen or no resuscitation. MicroRNA-19b and syndecan-1 mRNA were measured in lung tissue by qRT-PCR. Lungs were stained for histopathologic injury, and broncheoalveolar lavage was collected for protein as a permeability indicator. Results Pulmonary microRNA-19b was increased after haemorrhagic shock and lactated Ringers, but reduced to sham levels by plasma and fibrinogen. Conversely, pulmonary syndecan-1 mRNA was downregulated by haemorrhagic shock and lactated Ringers, but returned to sham levels by plasma and fibrinogen. Plasma and fibrinogen-based resuscitation reduced lung injury compared to haemorrhagic shock and lactated Ringers while fibrinogen also reduced broncheoalveolar lavage protein. Discussion We have demonstrated a novel mechanism by which fibrinogen, a key component of plasma and haemostatic agent, inhibits miR-19b, possibly by mitigating the endotheliopathy of trauma. Complete demonstration of the mechanism of fibrinogen inhibition of endotheliopathy via microRNA, however, remains to be elucidated. These findings support the early and empiric use of fibrinogen in post-haemorrhagic shock resuscitation.
Patient perspectives in the choice of management of leg length discrepancy

Background: The traditional limb length discrepancy management algorithm dictates that patients with less than 5 centimeters (cm) of leg length discrepancy should not be offered lengthening surgery as a treatment option. With the development of intramedullary lengthening nails, the procedure for limb lengthening has become more patient friendly and reliable. This study investigated current patient preferences for management when faced with a projected final length discrepancy of less than 5 cm. Materials and Methods: Following IRB approval, a retrospective chart review of a single surgeon's experience with patients presenting with clinical and radiological evidence of limb length discrepancy between 2017 and 2020 was performed. Patients were excluded from the study if the final discrepancy or projected discrepancy was more than 5 cm. The same management options for the LLD were presented to each patient and their family: 1) Observation, 2) Shoe lift, 3) Epiphysiodesis/Acute shortening of the longer limb, 4) Limb lengthening of the shorter limb. Results: Sixty-two (62) patients met the inclusion criteria. This was comprised of 45 skeletally immature patients and 17 skeletally mature patients. Forty-four (44) patients (71% of the entire group) preferred to have the shorter limb lengthened. This represents 27 (60%) of the skeletally immature patients and all 17 (100%) of the skeletally mature patients. No patients chose acute shortening or a shoe lift as definitive management. Conclusion: With 71% of patients opting for a lengthening procedure, this study demonstrates that patients prefer limb lengthening over limb shortening for discrepancies less than 5 cm. With improvements in the knowledge and techniques of limb lengthening as well as better patient experience particularly with the intramedullary lengthening nails, surgeons should not feel obligated to only offer lengthening to patients with LLD > 5 cm.
Investigating Optimal Training and Uncertainty Quantification for CNN-based Optical Flow

Optical Flow (OF) techniques provide “dense estimation” flow maps (i.e. pixel-level resolution) of timecorrelated images and thus are appealing to applications requiring high spatial resolutions. OF methods revolve around mathematical descriptions of the image as a collection of features, in which the pixel-level light intensity is the primary variable (Horn and Schunck, 1981). Feature tracking often involves the notion of scale invariance. Traditional OF approaches, merely based on mathematical formulations, have suffered from many challenges, especially when directly applied to images of fluid flows textured with tracer particles (hereafter PIV-like images). Due to the limited number of computationally manageable features and suboptimal regularization methods, successful implementation of past approaches has been limited to highly textured images and small displacement dynamic ranges.
Assessment of an Effective Stress Analysis for Predicting the Performance of Driven Piles in Clays

Researchers have advocated systematic analyses, which model changes in effective stresses and soil properties through successive phases in the life of a pile, as a rational method for understanding the factors which control pile performance. Work at MIT has included the development of analytical models which simulate soil disturbance effects associated with pile installation (Strain Path Method), and constitutive models (e.g., MIT-E3) which describe the effective stress-strain behaviour of normally and lightly overconsolidated clays (OCR ≤ 4) through successive phases in the life of the pile. This paper summarizes the role of these analyses in predictions of pile shaft behaviour. The results illustrate the effects of soil properties, mode of pile installation and other factors affecting the limiting skin friction which can be mobilized at the pile shaft. Predictive capabilities and limitations of the proposed ‘objective analysis’ are reviewed based on comparisons with high quality field data measured by the piezo-lateral stress (PLS) cell and by instrumented model pile tests.
VAT Design and Energy Trade: The Case of Russia and Ukraine

Given the substantial rents involved in oil and gas trade and the incentives for noncooperative behavior Russia and Ukraine have chosen to deviate from standard tax considerations, which suggest the use of a destination-based value-added tax (VAT) regime. Oil and gas trade is a major source of Russian tax revenue, which is collected partly through an origin-based VAT on energy trade within the Commonwealth of Independent States. This paper shows that, if nondistorting taxes were unavailable, Ukraine would benefit by taxing away the pure profits of the domestic seller of natural gas imports from Russia. The paper also assesses the circumstances under which Ukraine would benefit from simultaneously providing a credit for Russian VAT payments by importers.
Do we practice what we preach? A qualitative assessment of resident–preceptor interactions for adherence to evidence‐based practice

Background Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is important in training doctors for highquality care. Yet little is known about whether ambulatory precepting incorporates the concepts and principles of EBM. Methods The authors observed and audiotaped 95 internal medicine residency precepting interactions and rated interactions using a qualitative analytic template consisting of three criteria: (1) presence of clinical questions; (2) presence of an evidence-based process; and (3) resident ability to articulate a clinical question. Results Sixty-seven of 95 audio tapes (71%) were of acceptable quality to allow template analysis. Thirty (45%) contained explicit clinical questions; 11 (16%) included an evidence-based process. Resident ability to articulate a clinical question when prompted was rated as at least ‘fair’ in 59 of 67 interactions (88%). Conclusions EBM was not optimally implemented in these clinics. Future research could explore more systematically what factors facilitate or impair the use of EBM in the real-time ambulatory training context.
Induced convolution operator norms for discrete-time linear systems

In this paper we develop explicit formulas for induced convolution operator norms and their bounds. These results generalize the established induced operator norms for discrete-time linear systems with various classes of input-output signal pairs.
A novel composite construct increases the vascularization potential of PEG hydrogels through the incorporation of large fibrin ribbons

Developing a mechanism to vascularize tissue-engineered constructs is imperative for transplant function and integration, particularly when delivering hypoxia-sensitive tissues, such as pancreatic islets. Previous efforts have focused on bulk modifications of scaffold materials rendering the entire construct permissive to vessel penetration or the formation of a porous structure where vessels can infiltrate the empty spaces. Here, we describe a novel construct composed of large fibrin ribbons encapsulated within a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogel. The PEG/fibrin ribbon composite scaffold facilitates coculture of adhesive and nonadhesive cell types, thus providing closely neighboring environments with distinct material properties specific to the needs of two clinically relevant cell populations. This advantage is demonstrated here by the successful coculture of pancreatic islets in the PEG component and vessel-forming endothelial cells in entrapped fibrin ribbons. Transplanted endothelial cells can form anastomosies with host vasculature, suggesting that our cocultures may lead to more rapid scaffold vascularization. Additionally, we show that surface-seeded endothelial cells form multicellular projections that migrate into nonadhesive PEG hydrogels along permissive fibrin ribbons, further demonstrating composite construct vascularization potential. Distribution of large fibrin ribbons throughout PEG hydrogels provide a potential mechanism for vascularization of a well-established biomaterial without inherently changing its desirable properties.
Diatoms of the Laurentian Great Lakes III. Rare and Poorly Known Species of Achnanthes Bory and Cocconeis Ehr. (Bacillariophyta)

Abstract New Great Lakes occurrence records of twenty-three taxa of the diatom genus Achnanthes and two of the genus Cocconeis are presented. Seventeen species, five varieties, and one form of Achnanthes as well as one species and one variety of Cocconeis are figured and described. New North American records are noted. Distribution and autecology of these entities in the Great Lakes and other localities are discussed.
The effect of synthetic androgens on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in boys with constitutionally delayed growth.

Serial concentrations of basal serum LH, FSH, testosterone, and LH and FSH responses to intravenousgonadotropin-releasing hormone were measured before and during six months of administration of fluoxymesterone or oxandrolone in 14 boys with constitutionally delayed growth and adolescence, in order to assess the effects of these androgens on maturation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Before therapy all boys had normal hormonal responses based on bone age. At the end of six months therapy 10 of the 14 boys had lower LH responses (34 to 89% reduction) to GnRH without consistent changes in FSH responses. With both androgens, there was significant suppression of both basal serum FSH and testosterone. Eleven boys were restudied six months after completion of therapy; basal serum LH, FSH, and testosterone and responses to GnRH were equal to or greater than pretreatment levels, indicating recovery or progressive maturation of the HPGA. All boys had increased growth velocity and improved weight gain without excessive bone age advancement; all had improved psychosocial adjustment.
Flammability of epoxy resins

Flammability determinations have been made for epoxy resin formulations. The oxygen index, defined as the volume fraction of oxygen in an oxygen/nitrogen atmosphere that is required just to sustain steady candlelike burning of a stick of the material, has been used as the measure of flammability. The formulations selected for study were those for which the chemical composition of the ingredients was known at least approximately and for which uniform cast slabs (1/8 in. thick) could be readily prepared. They covered a range of compositions of commercial interest. The results have been interpreted in terms of a proposed model for candlelike burning. Effects due to resin composition, cure conditions, fillers, and flame-retardant additives are discussed.
Clustering of spatial gene expression patterns in the mouse brain and comparison with classical neuroanatomy

Spatial gene expression profiles provide a novel means of exploring the structural organization of the brain. Computational analysis of these patterns is made possible by genome-scale mapping of the C57BL/6J mouse brain in the Allen Brain Atlas. Here we describe methodology used to explore the spatial structure of gene expression patterns across a set of 3041 genes chosen on the basis of consistency across experimental observations (N = 2). The analysis was performed on smoothed, co-registered 3D expression volumes for each gene obtained by aggregating cellular resolution image data. Following dimensionality and noise reduction, voxels were clustered according to similarity of expression across the gene set. We illustrate the resulting parcellations of the mouse brain for different numbers of clusters (K) and quantitatively compare these parcellations with a classically-defined anatomical reference atlas at different levels of granularity, revealing a high degree of correspondence. These observations suggest that spatial localization of gene expression offers substantial promise in connecting knowledge at the molecular level with higher-level information about brain organization.
DOE should keep education in mind.

I believe A. Cho's News of the Week story “Two U.S. labs vie for long-delayed exotic nuclei source” (18 July, p. [328][1]) misses a few important points about the competition between Michigan State University (MSU) and Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) to build the Department of Energy-funded
Epitopes on the spike protein of a nephropathogenic strain of infectious bronchitis virus.

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), the first coronavirus described, was initially associated with severe respiratory disease. However, outbreaks have more recently also been associated with nephropathogenesis. Topographically interrelated antigenic determinants of the nephropathogenic Gray strain of IBV were characterized using eleven monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Four MAbs (IgG 2aκ) defined epitopes that were both conformation-independent and group specific, reacting with Gray, Arkansas (Ark), and Massachusetts 41 (Mass 41) strains. Seven MAbs (IgG 1κ) defined conformation-dependent epitopes that could differentiate the Gray from the Ark and Mass strains. The spike protein specificity of the MAbs was determined with the conformation-independent MAbs and one MAb that reacted only in “non-denaturing” western blot assays. Competitive binding studies using these MAbs suggested a high degree of functional dependency among the associated epitopes as might be expected with a protein of complex secondary and tertiary structure. At least two regions associated with complete protection of infected embryos were identified that consisted of both conformation-dependent and independent epitopes. However, a “non-neutralizing” MAb, which did not protect the embryo from gross lesions, did inhibit virus-induced lesions and replication in the kidneys. These MAbs should be valuable tools in studying IBV pathogenesis.
Synergistic action of octopamine receptor agonists on the activity of selected novel insecticides for control of dengue vector Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquito.

Studying insecticide resistance in mosquitoes has attracted the attention of many scientists to elucidate the pathways of resistance development and to design novel strategies in order to prevent or minimize the spread and evolution of resistance. Here, we tested the synergistic action of piperonyl butoxide (PBO) and two octopamine receptor (OR) agonists, amitraz (AMZ) and chlordimeform (CDM) on selected novel insecticides to increase their lethal action on the fourth instar larvae of Aedes aegypti L. However, chlorfenapyr was the most toxic insecticide (LC50 = 193, 102, and 48 ng/ml, after 24, 48, and 72 h exposure, respectively) tested. Further, PBO synergized all insecticides and the most toxic combinatorial insecticide was nitenpyram even after 48 and 72 h exposure. In addition, OR agonists significantly synergized most of the selected insecticides especially after 48 and 72 h exposure. The results imply that the synergistic effects of amitraz are a promising approach in increasing the potency of certain insecticides in controlling the dengue vector Ae. aegypti mosquito.
Development of OSU formability test and OSU friction test

Abstract Two tests for sheet forming applications have recently been developed at the Ohio State University (OSU). The developments involved numerous experiments with several materials, comparison with results from previous tests, and finite element simulation to optimize and verify the geometries. The OSU Formability Test is more reproducible than the Limiting Dome Height (LDH) test, it more closely follows the desirable plane-strain path, and it takes roughly 1 5 to 1 10 of the time to perform. There is good correlation between formability evaluated using the two tests. The OSU Friction Test is a new technique for measuring the friction coefficient over the punch during sheet forming operations. It more closely simulates punch friction conditions in terms of rates and increasing wrap angle. Results show that punch friction depends on the angle of wrap, which varies with punch stroke, and on strain rate, which depends on punch velocity. The two tests will be described and typical results will be presented for several sheet materials.