cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of digital health in making progress toward Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 in conflict-affected populations

Abstract Purpose The progress of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) shows that sustained global action can achieve success. Despite the unprecedented achievements in health and education, more than one billion people, many of them in conflict-affected areas, were unable to reap the benefits of the MDG gains. The recently developed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are even more ambitious then their predecessor. SDG 3 prioritizes health and well-being for all ages in specific areas such as maternal mortality, communicable diseases, mental health, and healthcare workforce. However, without a shift in the approach used for conflict-affected areas, the world’s most vulnerable people risk being left behind in global development yet again. We must engage in meaningful discussions about employing innovative strategies to address health challenges fragile, low-resource, and often remote settings. In this paper, we will argue that to meet the ambitious health goals of SDG 3, digital health can help to bridge healthcare gaps in conflict-affected areas. Methods First, we describe the health needs of populations in conflict-affected environments, and how they overlap with the SDG 3 targets. Secondly, we discuss how digital health can address the unique needs of conflict-affected areas. Finally, we evaluate the various challenges in deploying digital technologies in fragile environments, and discuss potential policy solutions. Discussion Persons in conflict-affected areas may benefit from the diffusive nature of digital health tools. Innovations using cellular technology or cloud-based solutions overcome physical barriers. Additionally, many of the targets of SDG 3 could see significant progress if efficacious education and outreach efforts were supported, and digital health in the form of mHealth and telehealth offers a relatively low-resource platform for these initiatives. Lastly, lack of data collection, especially in conflict-affected or otherwise fragile states, was one of the primary limitations of the MDGs. Greater investment in data collection efforts, supported by digital health technologies, is necessary if SDG 3 targets are to be measured and progress assessed. Standardized EMR systems as well as context-specific data warehousing efforts will assist in collecting and managing accurate data. Stakeholders such as patients, providers, and NGOs, must be proactive and collaborative in their efforts for continuous progress toward SDG 3. Digital health can assist in these inter-organizational communication efforts. Conclusion The SDGS are complex, ambitious, and comprehensive; even in the most stable environments, achieving full completion towards every goal will be difficult, and in conflict-affected environments, this challenge is much greater. By engaging in a collaborative framework and using the appropriate digital health tools, we can support humanitarian efforts to realize sustained progress in SDG 3 outcomes.
Clinical Aspects in Immunocompetent and Immunocompromised Patients

The clinical aspects of leishmaniasis encompass a spectrum of signs and symptoms. These range from the nodular or ulcerative lesion seen in cutaneous leishmaniasis which, for some Leishmania species, can evolve to mucocutaneous leishmaniasis after dissemination and invasion of the mouth and upper respiratory tract. Further dissemination leads to a rare syndrome known as diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis. The systemic and most invasive form of the disease is visceral leishmaniasis. These diseases are not only dependent on the infecting Leishmania species, but also on the immunological status of the host. This chapter will address aspects of clinical presentation of leishmaniases both in the immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals.
Meridianin D Analogues Display Antibiofilm Activity against MRSA and Increase Colistin Efficacy in Gram-Negative Bacteria

In the last 30 years, development of new classes of antibiotics has slowed, increasing the necessity for new options to treat multidrug resistant bacterial infections. Development of antibiotic adjuvants that increase the effectiveness of currently available antibiotics is a promising alternative approach to classical antibiotic development. Reports of the ability of the natural product meridianin D to modulate bacterial behavior have been rare. Herein, we describe the ability of meridianin D to inhibit biofilm formation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and to increase the potency of colistin against colistin-resistant and sensitive Gram-negative bacteria. Analogues were identified that are capable of inhibiting and dispersing MRSA biofilms and lowering the colistin MIC to below the CLSI breakpoint against Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli.
Immunologic Lung Disease

The term immunologic lung disease comprises a broad spectrum of disease. The authors have covered a few entities in which recent studies have been particularly helpful in elucidating pathophysiology though not in uncovering the inciting cause. Common to all of these entities is the problem of finding appropriate methods of defining disease activity and response to treatment. As exemplified by the improved outlook for Goodpasture's syndrome with elucidation of its underlying immunopathology, it is likely that better understanding of the immunologic basis of sarcoid and interstitial disease may be helpful in planning more effective treatment strategies. 44 references.
Simultaneous use of a heat and moisture exchanger and a heated humidifier causes critical airway occlusion in less than 24 hours

We hypothesised that the simultaneous use of a heat and moisture exchanger (HME) and a heated humidifier (HH) would increase the incidence of airway occlusion over a 24-hour period in comparison with each device in isolation. This bench study compares the incidence of airway occlusion when using (group 1) no airway humidification, (group 2) a HME alone, (group 3) a HH alone and (group 4) both a HME and a HH in combination. Tracheal intubation requires the use of artificial humidification systems. HMEs are less efficient but convenient especially for a short period of intubation and HHs are commonly more expensive. Both devices are often used in close proximity on the ICU depending on the particular clinical scenario and/ or clinical practitioner. Following a critical incident of HME obstruction due to waterlogging on our ICU we realised that HH and HME may be used together inadvertently. This airway obstruction was only resolved by the removal of the HME from the patient's breathing circuit.
1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D regulates lipid metabolism and glucose utilization in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

It is well established that adipose tissue can both store and metabolize vitamin D. The active form of vitamin D, 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D], regulates adipocyte differentiation and inflammation, highlighting the multifaceted role that vitamin D plays in adipose tissue physiology. However, there is limited evidence regarding vitamin D regulation of mature adipocyte lipid metabolism. We hypothesize that 1,25(OH)2D alters lipid and glucose metabolism in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes to reduce triacylglycerol (TAG) accumulation. In this study, 1,25(OH)2D (10 nmol/L) stimulated a 21% reduction in TAG accumulation in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes after 4 days (P = .01) despite a significant increase in fatty acid uptake (P < .01). Additionally, 1,25(OH)2D stimulated a 2.5-fold increase in 14CO2 production from [1-14C] palmitic acid (P < .01), indicative of an elevated rate of fatty acid β-oxidation, while stimulating a 9% reduction in de novo fatty acid synthesis (P = .03). Interestingly, d-[U-13C]glucose incorporation into fatty acids was reduced by 30% in response to 1,25(OH)2D (P < .01), indicating a reduced contribution of glucose as a substrate for de novo lipogenesis. Consistent with these findings, mRNA expression of the anaplerotic enzyme pyruvate carboxylase was reduced by 41% (P < .01). In summary, 1,25(OH)2D stimulated fatty acid oxidation and reduced TAG accumulation in differentiated adipocytes. Furthermore, 1,25(OH)2D reduced glucose utilization as a substrate for fatty acid synthesis potentially by downregulating pyruvate carboxylase and stimulating glucose disposal as glycerol. Collectively, these 1,25(OH)2D-induced changes in lipid metabolism and glucose utilization may contribute to the reduction in TAG accumulation and be protective against excessive fat mass accumulation and associated metabolic disorders.
Abstract B098: GPX4 is a broadly shared gene vulnerability among residual tumors

The heterogeneity of tumor cells underlies acquired drug resistance to a variety of therapeutic approaches. The advent of next-generation sequencing has facilitated a wave of studies identifying genetic mutations, which may be preexisting or acquired during treatment, that drive drug resistance and tumor relapse. However, it has recently become clear that non-mutational mechanisms of drug resistance, such as cell state switching from an epithelial to mesenchymal state, can also play an important role in the process of acquired drug resistance. Non-mutational drug resistance is relatively poorly understood and represents fertile ground for the discovery of novel therapeutic targets. Drug-tolerant “persister” cells are an experimental model of non-mutational cancer drug resistance in which small fractions ( Citation Format: Matthew J. Hangauer, Vasanthi S. Viswanathan, Matthew J. Ryan, Dhruv Bole, John K. Eaton, Alexandre Matov, Jacqueline Galeas, Harshil D. Dhruv, Michael E. Berens, Stuart L. Schreiber, Frank McCormick, Michael T. McManus. GPX4 is a broadly shared gene vulnerability among residual tumors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2017 Oct 26-30; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2018;17(1 Suppl):Abstract nr B098.
Linguistics and Mathematics: Mix with Care

Views about what the relationship between mathematics and linguistics should be range all the way from that which holds the latter to be an in some sense "non-mathematical" discipline, to that which would make of linguistics essentially no more than a branch of mathematics.
Formation of the chorion (zona pellucida) in the teleost, Oryzias latipes. III. Autoradiography of [3H]proline incorporation.

Formation of the chorion of Oryzias latipes was investigated by light and electron microscope autoradiography of oocytes from fish receiving l -[ 3 H]proline. Light microscope autoradiography reveals a transfer of up to 60% of incorporated label from the cytoplasm of the oocyte to the chorion by 48 hr. At the ultrastructural level, the label is noted to reach a maximum concentration in a chronologically sequential number of cytoplasmic compartments representing the Golgi apparatus by 1 hr, the dense cored vesicles by 3 hr, and the substance of the chorion by 24 hr. Analysis of this data further supports the hypothesis that the chorion of this species is a product of the oocyte and that the mechanism of secretion of the chorion appears to involve synthesis in the cytoplasm with concentration in the Golgi bodies and then the transfer of the chorionic precursor material by small dense cored vesicles to the developing chorion.
Decriminalizing domestic violence: a balanced policy approach to intimate partner violence

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a complex phenomenon with multiple risk factors leading to its occurrence and detrimental outcomes for all parties involved. More often than not, IPV results in t...
Costs and drivers of helminth parasite infection in wild female baboons.

Helminth parasites can have wide-ranging, detrimental effects on host reproduction and survival. These effects are best documented in humans and domestic animals, while only a few studies in wild mammals have identified both the forces that drive helminth infection risk and their costs to individual fitness. Working in a well-studied population of wild baboons (Papio cynocephalus) in the Amboseli ecosystem in Kenya, we pursued two goals, to (a) examine the costs of helminth infections in terms of female fertility and glucocorticoid hormone levels and (b) test how processes operating at multiple scales-from individual hosts to social groups and the population at large-work together to predict variation in female infection risk. To accomplish these goals, we measured helminth parasite burdens in 745 faecal samples collected over 5 years from 122 female baboons. We combine these data with detailed observations of host environments, social behaviours, hormone levels and interbirth intervals (IBIs). We found that helminths are costly to female fertility: females infected with more diverse parasite communities (i.e., higher parasite richness) exhibited longer IBIs than females infected by fewer parasite taxa. We also found that females exhibiting high Trichuris trichiura egg counts also had high glucocorticoid levels. Female infection risk was best predicted by factors at the host, social group and population level: females facing the highest risk were old, socially isolated, living in dry conditions and infected with other helminths. Our results provide an unusually holistic understanding of the factors that contribute to inter-individual differences in parasite infection, and they contribute to just a handful of studies linking helminths to host fitness in wild mammals.
Gut Microbiota Regulation of T Cells During Inflammation and Autoimmunity.

The intestinal microbiota plays a crucial role in influencing the development of host immunity, and in turn the immune system also acts to regulate the microbiota through intestinal barrier mainten...
High-Speed ZVS-ZCS Soft-Switching CMOS Bridge Drivers for a DC-DC Fully Integrated Voltage Regulator (FIVR) operating at 100-320MHz on 22nm process node

In this paper we present high-speed soft-switching bridge drivers for a DC-DC step-down Fully Integrated Voltage Regulator (FIVR) using air-core inductors (ACIs) and manufactured using a 22nm process. The bridge drivers implement Zero-Voltage-Switching (ZVS) and Zero-Current-Switching (ZCS) for FIVR switching frequency in the range of 100-320MHz, with switching node falling and rising transients in the range of 50-300ps. The FIVR delivers a load-current of up to 31A with a power-stage current density of 40A/mm2. With the proposed bridge drivers, FIVR shows a peak-efficiency of 90% for a 1.8V-to-1V conversion, when operating at a switching frequency of 125MHz.
Cross-Linked Nonwoven Fibers by Room-Temperature Cure Blowing and in Situ Photopolymerization

Current synthetic nonwoven fiber production methods typically require transforming preformed polymers into a processable melt or solution state by heating or adding organic solvents, respectively, ...
Summary of Findings and Take-Aways

The chapter reviews the main findings of the volume. It opens with a brief discussion of the advantages that small-scale specialized corpora, like the one used in this book, offer for the discovery of linguistic features that are typical of a specific text variety. This is followed by a synthesis of the main findings and take-aways from each chapter with an eye on their practical significance from teaching, learning, and research point of view.
Intensity-modulated radiation therapy in early stage squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx: treatment trends and outcomes

Purpose Definitive radiotherapy remains a primary treatment option for early stage glottic cancer. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) has emerged as the standard treatment technique for advanced head and neck cancers, whereas three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) has remained standard for early glottic cancers. We used the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to identify predictors of IMRT use and effect on outcome in these patients. Materials and methods We queried the NCDB from 2004-2015 for squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx staged Tis-T2N0 treated with radiation alone. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of IMRT. Cox regression was used to identify factors predictive of overall survival. Propensity matching was conducted to account for indication bias. Results We identified 15,627 patients, of which 11% received IMRT. IMRT use rose from 2% in 2004 to 16% in 2015. Predictors of IMRT include: increased comorbidity, T2 stage, urban location, chemotherapy, treatment at an academic center, and later treatment year. Predictors of improved survival were female gender, higher income, lower stage, no chemotherapy, academic facility, and more remote year. There was no difference in survival between 3D-CRT and IMRT across all stages. Conclusions The rate of IMRT use for early stage glottic laryngeal cancer has increased over time. There was no difference in outcome in patients receiving IMRT versus 3D-CRT across the cohort.
Mechanical Properties of Electrostatically Self-Assembled Al2O3–ZrO2 Nanocomposites Prepared at Room Temperature

Alternate layers of Al2O3 and ZrO2 nanocomposite films were prepared on silicon wafers and glass substrates at room temperature using the electrostatic self-assembly monolayer (ESAM) process. The versatile approach of the ESAM process provides the possibility of integrating diverse inorganic colloids on the nanosize level in a layer-by-layer or block-by-block fashion. Further, it allows the combination of inorganic colloids and organic molecules, making it possible to fabricate thick films with large pores and good stress relaxation. Highly ordered, micron-thick films have been formed, sintered, and characterized by scanning electron microscopy and ellipsometry. There is no significant visible crack formation for Al2O3–ZrO2 composite films after heat treatment at 1200°C for 2 h, although significant thickness reduction occurs. The hardness and Young's modulus of these films before and after sintering were measured using nanoindentation techniques.
Towards a pedagogical and sociotechnical framework for the strategic integration of mobile learning in higher education in low and middle income countries

Using mobile devices to facilitate teaching and learning (m-learning) in higher education has continued to gain momentum. To ensure meaningful m-learning, several models and frameworks, including t...
Acute COVID-19 Infection in a Pediatric Patient with ROHHAD

The novel coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2) has led to a global pandemic. In the adult population, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been found to cause multiorgan system damage with predicted long-term sequelae. We present a case of a 10-year-old boy with a history of ROHHAD (rapid-onset obesity with hypothalamic dysregulation, hypoventilation, and autonomic dysregulation) who presented with hypoxia, emesis, and abdominal pain. Imaging found bilateral ground glass opacities in the lungs and a pericardial effusion. Laboratory evaluation was concerning for elevated inflammatory markers. Remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, and anticoagulation (heparin and enoxaparin) were utilized. The patient's severe respiratory failure was managed with conventional mechanical ventilation, inhaled nitric oxide, and airway pressure release ventilation. We hope that this report provides insight into the course and management of the severe acute pediatric COVID-19 patient, specifically with underlying comorbidities such as ROHHAD. Clinical trial registration is none.
Research on Power Characteristics of Straight Bladed Lift-type Wind Rotor Based on Numerical Simulation

The unsteady k-ω turbulence model and the sliding grid technology are used to research on the aerodynamic characteristics of straight vertical axis wind turbine in two-dimensional numerical study.The wind turbine has three 3 m-diameter,3 m-height and 0.44 m-length airfoil blades.Aerodynamic characteristics of a single blade and of the wind turbine and the pressure characteristics of blade surface in three different rotation speeds are researched.The results conclude that:With the rotation speed arising,the pressure difference of the blade two surface sides is increasing;The pressure side has a tiny increasing,the suction side has a much bigger increasing,and this proves the suction side has a bigger contribution to the increasing power.With the speed increasing,the maximum torque of blade in upstream half circle increases firstly and decreases later,and has an optimum rotation speed with a bigger maximum torque;while the torque of downstream half circle decreases even is a negative value;these prove the upstream circle is the main power production zone.The whole power is determined by the torques of the upstream half and of the downstream half circle and rotation speed,only the relationships are balanced then the rotor power could be promoted.
Uncertainty and the Dynamics of Technological Competition

We show that the effect of uncertainty on innovation depends on a firm’s competitive position. In R&D races, the gap in the rate of innovation, rather than the absolute rate, determines the winner....
Development and Characterization of PAR-Trackers: New Tools for Detecting Poly(ADP-ribose)

AO_SCPLOWBSTRACTC_SCPLOWADP-ribosylation (ADPRylation) is a reversible post-translation modification resulting in the covalent attachment of ADP-ribose (ADPR) moieties on substrate proteins. Naturally-occurring protein motifs and domains, including WWEs, PBZs, and macrodomains, act as "readers" for protein-linked ADPR. Although recombinant, antibody-like ADPR detection reagents containing these readers have facilitated the detection of ADPR, they are limited in their ability to capture the dynamic nature of ADPRylation. Herein, we describe and characterize a set of poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) Trackers (PAR-Ts) - optimized dimerization-dependent or split-protein reassembly PAR sensors in which a naturally occurring PAR binding domain, WWE, was fused to both halves of dimerization-dependent GFP (ddGFP) or split Nano Luciferase (NanoLuc), respectively. We demonstrate that these new tools allow the detection and quantification of PAR levels in extracts, living cells, and living tissues with greater sensitivity, as well as temporal and spatial precision. Importantly, these sensors detect changes in cellular ADPR levels in response to physiological cues (e.g., hormone-dependent induction of adipogenesis without DNA damage), as well as xenograft tumor tissues in living mice. Our results indicate that PAR Trackers have broad utility for detecting ADPR in many different experimental and biological systems.
The Fork in the Road: Histone Partitioning During DNA Replication

In the following discussion the distribution of histones at the replication fork is examined, with specific attention paid to the question of H3/H4 tetramer "splitting." After a presentation of early experiments surrounding this topic, more recent contributions are detailed. The implications of these findings with respect to the transmission of histone modifications and epigenetic models are also addressed.
The major 45-kDa protein of the yeast mitochondrial outer membrane is not essential for cell growth or mitochondrial function

As part of an analysis of the function and assembly of the mitochondrial outer membrane, we have cloned and characterized the yeast gene encoding a 45-kDa polypeptide (OM45) which is a major constituent of this membrane. The nuclear gene was isolated by immunological screening of plaques of recombinant phage lambda gt11 containing fragments of yeast genomic DNA using an antibody against OM45. Determination of the nucleotide sequence of the DNA fragment isolated by this approach revealed a single open reading frame of 1179 base pairs which encodes a protein having a predicted molecular mass of 44.6-kDa. Disruption of the OM45 gene in haploid yeast cells eliminated the expression of OM45. The mutant strain showed no apparent defect in cell viability, growth, mitochondrial function, or mitochondrial protein import.
Effects of Phospholipid Acyl Chain Fluidity, Phase Transitions, and Cholesterol on (Na+ + K+)-stimulated Adenosine Triphosphatase

A soluble delipidized (Na + K)-stimulated ATPase was obtained from rabbit kidney outer medulla by the use of sodium deoxycholate. The activity of this enzyme was stimulated 20-fold to an activity of 100 to 120 µmoles of Pi per mg of protein per hour by either phosphatidylserine or phosphatidylglycerol. The effect of the fluidity of the hydrocarbon region of the phospholipid bilayers on this re-activation of (Na + K)-ATPase was systematically examined. Fatty acyl chains of known length and varying saturation were substituted on the phosphatidylglycerol moiety and the influence of temperature on the degree of re-activation was investigated. Discontinuities in Arrhenius plots of (Na + K)-ATPase activity were found and compared with the gel-to-liquid-crystalline transitions of these substituted phosphatidylglycerols as measured in a differential scanning calorimeter. The temperature at which the Arrhenius plot discontinuities occurred were from 1° to 8° lower than the initial rise of the main endothermic peak for the series: dimyristoyl-, dipalmitoyl-, and distearoylphosphatidylglycerols. Dioleoyl-phosphatidylglycerol which does not undergo a phase transition within the experimental temperature range was found to activate at much lower concentrations than the saturated phosphatidylglycerols, and the Arrhenius plot did not show discontinuities. In contrast, bovine brain phosphatidylserine with a heterogeneous fatty acyl chain composition showed an Arrhenius plot discontinuity which was 2° higher than the midpoint of the broad endothermic peak. The relation between the discontinuities in the Arrhenius plots of the enzyme activity and the lipid phase transitions is discussed. It is suggested that some of the discontinuities represent the completion of melting (upper limit for a broad endothermic transition), whereas others represent the beginning of melting (lower limit). For completely liquid membranes, the slopes of the Arrhenius plots are parallel and give an activation energy of approximately 15 Cal per mole. The influence of membrane fluidity was also studied by examining the effects of cholesterol at constant temperature (37°). In agreement with the above findings, cholesterol, which is known to reduce the fluidity of phospholipid fatty acyl chains, inhibits phospholipid-stimulated (Na + K)-ATPase activity. The inhibition is complete, however, only with saturated phospholipids. Partial inhibition is obtained with unsaturated phospholipids. These results are discussed in relation to phase transitions in phospholipid bilayers and biomembranes and the activity of membrane-bound enzymes. A role of cholesterol in controlling the activity of membrane-bound enzymes is suggested. Implications for protein-lipid interactions in membranes are also considered.
Effects of Partial Left Ventriculectomy on Cardiac Performance

To the Editor: We read with great interest the recent article by Gorcsan et al.1 They report heterogeneous immediate effects of partial left ventriculectomy (PLV) on the slope (Ees) of end-systolic pressure-area relations obtained with echocardiographic automated border detection in 8 patients. The average change in Ees was from 6.5±3.4 mm Hg/cm2 (before PLV) to 4.3±2.5 mm Hg/cm2 (immediately after PLV) ( P =NS). The authors, however, overlooked an error made by the iterative linear regression technique that they used to calculate Ees. In the right bottom panel of the Figure, where the decreased Ees (1.1 mm Hg/cm2) was demonstrated after PLV, the end-systolic pressure-area …
Routine transplant Doppler ultrasonography following pediatric kidney transplant.

Bou Matar R, Warshaw B, Hymes L, Greenbaum LA. Routine transplant Doppler ultrasonography following pediatric kidney transplant. Abstract: The utility and cost-effectiveness of routine transplant renal DU as a screening test in the immediate postoperative period following pediatric renal transplantation has not been systematically evaluated. Our center’s transplant protocol includes a routine DU on postoperative day 3, unless an earlier DU was obtained for a specific indication. We retrospectively evaluated 113 consecutive pediatric renal transplant recipients. Indication for DU (routine vs. non-routine), timing, results, and graft outcome data were collected. We determined whether the DU result affected patient management. Eighty routine DU examinations were evaluated. Thirty (37.5%) of the 80 routine DUs had abnormalities. Most abnormalities were minor and did not require intervention. One patient with a dysfunctional bladder had mild hydronephrosis; this led to a decision to increase the frequency of bladder catheterization. This was the only intervention based upon the routine DUs. Twenty percent of routine DUs revealed abnormalities that led to a follow-up study, but none of these studies led to an intervention. The incremental cost of each DU exceeded $1080 and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for a documented change in management exceeded $86 400. Our results suggest that routine post-transplant DU is not cost-effective in pediatric renal allograft recipients.
EFFECT OF TWEEN 80 ON THE GROWTH OF TUBERCLE BACILLI IN AERATED CULTURES

Lyon, Richard H. (Veterans Administration Hospital, Minneapolis, Minn.), Herman C. Lichstein, and Wendell H. Hall. Effect of Tween 80 on the growth of tubercle bacilli in aerated cultures. J. Bacteriol. 86:280–284. 1963.—The effect of Tween 80 (polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate), glucose, and glycerol on aerated and stationary growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain H37Ra was examined in Dubos liquid medium. Previous studies established that aeration (rotation) of liquid cultures of M. tuberculosis strains H37Ra and H37Rv caused an inhibition of growth in a medium containing glucose as a source of carbohydrate. The present studies show that Tween 80 exerts a toxic effect on the growth of tubercle bacilli in aerated cultures when glucose is present in the medium as the sole source of carbohydrate, but not when glycerol is included. The role of hydrolytic products of Tween 80, viz. oleic acid and the polyoxyethylene derivative of sorbitol, is discussed. The hypothesis is submitted that glycerol protects against the growth suppression by aeration because it reduces the concentration of free fatty acids in the medium to subinhibitory levels.
A Mass Storage System Administrator Autonomic Assistant

System administrators of today's high performance computing systems are generally responsible for managing the large amounts of data traffic and archival querying that mass storage systems must provide to users who compute on hundreds or thousands of processors at once. The file management systems that have been engineered to handle this workload generally consist of a reliable compute server, high- and low-speed disks, robotic tape silos with thousands of cartridges, and various network interconnects. As a result of the wide variety of mechanical components used, storage system administrators maintain the functional aspects of system operations and troubleshoot the day-to-day lower level physical system and software failures under severe constraints. The Mass Storage System Administrator Autonomic Assistant (MSSAAA) is being developed to reduce the burden on storage system administrators and improve the reliability, availability and serviceability of mass storage systems
A 0.6 V ultra low voltage operational amplifier

A technique for low-voltage CMOS analog circuit design is presented in this paper. In this technique, voltage sources are added in series with the gates of the MOS transistors to lower the effective threshold voltages of the transistors. With the lowered effective threshold voltage, it is possible to build a host of analog circuit that operates with a decreased supply voltage. A 0.6 V ultra-low voltage two-stage operational amplifier (op amp) was designed in a standard 3.3 V 0.35 /spl mu/m CMOS process to validate the technique. Compared to its counterpart operating with a 3.3 V power supply at a much higher power level, the low-voltage op amp maintained the same gain-bandwidth product and most other key performance parameters.
Identification and partial purification of phenylethanolamine N-methyl transferase in the developing ovine lung.

Summary: Phenylethanolamine N-methyl transferase (PNMT), the terminal enzyme in epinephrine biosynthesis, was identified in fetal and newborn ovine lung. The ovine lung PNMT demonstrated the appropriate substrate specificity and affinity (Km, 9 × 10-6 M). Although some homology between adrenal and lung PNMT was observed on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the lung PNMT differed in its migration on ion exchange chromatography and was not inhibited by pharmacologic inhibitors active against the adrenal enzyme. Activity increased from a mean of 132 pmole/(mg protein · h) × 10-3 at 0 days gestation to 326 pmole/mg protein · h) × 10-3 in newborn animals between 1–4 days of age (r = 0.571, P < 0.05). The levels of N-methylating activity in extraadrenal tissues were relatively low; lesser but significant N-methylating activities were demonstrated in brown adipose tissue and myometrial tissues. Adrenal gland activity was 1000-fold greater than lung activity expressed on a per mg protein basis and 250-fold greater expressed per mg wet weight.
Divergence population genetic analysis of hybridization between rhesus and cynomolgus macaques.

The geographic ranges of rhesus (Macaca mulatta) and cynomolgus (M. fascicularis) macaques adjoin in Indochina where they appear to hybridize. We used published and newly generated DNA sequences from 19 loci spanning ~20 kb to test whether introgression has occurred between these macaque species. We studied introgression at the level of nuclear DNA and distinguished between incomplete lineage sorting of ancestral polymorphisms or interspecific gene flow. We implemented a divergence population genetics approach by fitting our data to an isolation model implemented in the software IMa. The model that posits no gene flow from the rhesus into the cynomolgus macaque was rejected (P = 1.99 × 10−8). Gene flow in this direction was estimated as 2Nm~1.2, while gene flow in the reverse direction was nonsignificantly different from zero (P = 0.16). The divergence time between species was estimated as ~1.3 million years. Balancing selection, a special case of incomplete sorting, was taken into consideration, as well as potential crossbreeding in captivity. Parameter estimates varied between analyses of subsets of data, although we still rejected isolation models. Geographic sampling of the data, where samples of cynomolgus macaques derived from Indochina were excluded, revealed a lost signature of gene flow, indicating that interspecific gene flow is restricted to mainland Indochina. Our results, in conjunction with those by others, justify future detailed analyses into the genetics of reproductive barriers and reticulate evolution in these two genome-enabled primates. Future studies of the natural hybridization between rhesus and cynomolgus macaques would expand the repertoire of systems available for speciation studies in primates.
Pattern of expression of transforming growth factor-β4 mRNA and protein in the developing chicken embryo

Expression of TGF-beta 4 mRNA and protein was studied in the developing chicken embryo using specific cDNA probes and antibodies for chicken TGF-beta 4. Expression of TGF-beta 4 mRNA was detected by day 4 of incubation (Hamburger and Hamilton stage 22, E4) by RNA Northern blot analysis and increased with developmental age until day 12 of incubation (stage 38, E12) where it was detected in every embryonic tissue examined, with expression being highest in smooth muscle and lowest in the kidney. The steady-state level of expression of TGF-beta 4 mRNA remained relatively constant in most embryonic tissues through day 19 (stage 45, E19). In situ hybridization analysis detected TGF-beta 4 mRNA as early as the "definitive primitive streak" stage (stage 4); during neurulation (stage 10), TGF-beta 4 mRNA was detected in all three germ layers, including neuroectoderm. Following neurulation, TGF-beta 4 mRNA was detected in the neural tube, notochord, ectoderm, endoderm, sclerotome, and myotome, but not dermotome at stage 16. By day 6 of incubation (stage 29, E6), TGF-beta 4 mRNA was localized in several tissues including heart, lung, and gizzard. Immunohistochemical staining analysis also showed expression of TGF-beta 4 protein in all three germ layers as early as stage 4 in various cell types in qualitatively similar locations as TGF-beta 4 mRNA. These results suggest that TGF-beta 4 may play an important role in the development of many tissues in the chicken.
Preservation of level sets by automorphisms of Cn

Abstract Suppose n≥1, f : C n → C is a nonconstant polynomial, Vα={z ∈ C n :f(z )= α}, and Ф is a biholomorphic map from C n onto C n. Theorem.If α1 ≠ α2 and Ф (Vαi)=Vαi for i = 1,2, then Ф (Vβ) = Vβ for every β ∈ C ,and f = f o Ф.
Managed care and child welfare: Challenges to implementation

Abstract There is increasing interest in the application of managed care principles to the management of child welfare services. Interest to date has focused on application of these management tools to child welfare populations in the most costly segments of out-of-home care. This article is based on a review of the managed care evaluation literature and information gathered from child welfare administrators in California. The authors argue that there is limited empirical support for the wholesale adoption of managed care principles to child welfare and numerous reasons for concern including a lack of understanding of the essential features of managed care by public sector administrators, limited child welfare risk assessment capabilities, the pervasive role of the courts regarding placement decisions, very limited child welfare management information system capabilities, and the coercive nature of child welfare services. A more incremental approach to evaluating the promise of managed care principles in child welfare settings is urged. Essential policy and administrative issues are identified for further debate.
The Origin of Bright X-Ray Sources in Multiple Stars

Luminous X-ray stars are very often found in visual double or multiple stars. Binaries with periods of a few days possess the highest degree of coronal X-ray activity among regular, non-relativistic stars because of their fast, tidally driven rotation. But the orbital periods in visual double stars are too large for any direct interaction between the companions to take place. We suggest that most of the strongest X-ray components in resolved binaries are yet-undiscovered short-period binaries, and that a few are merged remnants of such binaries. The omnipresence of short-period active stars, e.g., of BY-Dra-type binaries, in multiple systems is explained via the dynamical evolution of triple stars with large mutual inclinations. The dynamical perturbation on the inner pair pumps up the eccentricity in a cyclic manner, a phenomenon known as Kozai cycling. At times of close periapsis, tidal friction reduces the angular momentum of the binary, causing it to shrink. When the orbital period of the inner pair drops to a few days, fast surface rotation of the companions is driven by tidal forces, boosting activity by a few orders of magnitude. If the period drops still further, a merger may take place leaving a rapidly rotating active dwarf with only a distant companion.
Subcutaneous Human Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) in the Treatment of Antibody Deficiency. ♦ 60

Subcutaneous Human Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) in the Treatment of Antibody Deficiency. ♦ 60
Priming performance self-evaluations: Moderating effects of rating purpose and judgment confidence

Abstract A field experiment was conducted to investigate the moderating effects of rating purpose (research only vs grading impact) and judgment confidence on the differential priming of performance self-evaluations (i.e., making salient positive or negative information during memory recall) using the G. R. Salancik and M. Conway (1975, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , 32 , 829–840) behavioral checklist methodology. Hierarchical regression analysis results suggested that external priming attempts to cue the individual to reduce self-ratings under an evaluative purpose may actually raise, not lower, self-evaluations on performance criteria that are less susceptible to external validation. Judgment confidence effects were more mixed with indications that confidence both moderates the reaction to negative priming efforts and has a main effect on some self-evaluation criteria. Implications for social information processing theory and evaluator practice are discussed.
In vitro antibacterial activity of actinobolin analogues against cariogenic streptococci and other oral bacteria.

Abstract Thirty-one synthetic analogues of the antibiotic actinobolin were evaluated for in vitro inhibitory activity against 6 strains of Streptococcus mutans, six mixed cultures obtained from human dental plaque and three Lactobacillus strains obtained from deep carious lesions of adult patients. The analogues were of two general types in which: (A) additions were made to the free amino group of the parent compound or (B) the l -alanine moiety was replaced with different groups. None of the analogues tested were found to have antibacterial activity superior to the natural antibiotic; however, the data suggest some of the structural and molecular features of the actinobolin molecule that appear to be essential for antibacterial activity.
Framing politics in transnational communities: Spanish-language immigrant media and election coverage in South Florida

Miami-Dade County, Florida, has 2.5 million residents, with more than half (52%) born outside of the United States. Catering to these immigrant populations is a rich landscape of community media ou...
Proteases as Modulators of Tumor-Stromal Interaction: Primary Tumors to Bone Metastases

As cells undergo oncogenic transformation and as malignant cells arrive at metastatic sites, a complex interplay occurs with the surrounding stroma. This dialogue between the tumor and stroma ultimately dictates the success of the tumor cells in the given microenvironment. As a result, understanding the molecular mechanisms at work is important for developing new therapeutic modalities. Proteases are major players in the interaction between tumor and stroma. This review will focus on the role of proteases in modulating tumor-stromal interactions of both primary breast and prostate tumors as well as at bone metastatic sites in a way that favors tumor growth.
Human Agency and the Revitalization of the Public Sphere

This article introduces a theory of human agency that helps identify and integrate factors that may be important for explaining why the advent of the Internet has not revitalized the public sphere. The theory suggests three types of interrelated explanations. One type of explanation focuses on the “economy of attention”—limits to human information processing and resulting tradeoffs. A second type of explanation, psychosocial structure, includes the development of routines of Internet use that confine that use to conventional activity. It also includes the decline of traditional political organization, which reduces participation incentives. Ultimately, however, attention and structure serve only as deterrents, not as bars to revitalization. Political disinterest serves as the final bar. This disinterest can best be understood as due to developmental factors that serve as a crucial impediment to a flourishing e–public sphere.
Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate after hypoxic ischemic injury is protective to the neonatal rat brain.

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) has been shown to attenuate central nervous system injury in adult animals. We evaluated whether FBP given after an ischemic-hypoxic insult is protective to the developing brain in a neonatal rat model of hypoxia-ischemia. Postnatal day 7 rat pups were subjected to focal ischemia followed by global hypoxia and then administered either FBP or saline intraperitoneally. A dose of 500 mg/kg or greater of FBP significantly reduced the amount of injury such that 55% of FBP- vs. 17% of saline-treated rats had no injury; 6% of FBP- and 47% of saline-treated rats had severe damage (P = 0.004). There was less infarcted brain in FBP-treated rats (12 ± 11 % vs. 37 ± 32%;P = 0.005); and fewer FBP-treated rats had > 30% ipsilateral cortical injury (12% of FBP- vs. 50% of saline-treated rats;P = 0.002). FBP lowered serum calcium levels during the first 24 h after the insult without significant changes in ionized calcium or osmolarity. These results indicate that FBP treatment administered systemically after hypoxia-ischemia reduces CNS injury in neonatal rats.
Three steps to alleviate control and observation spillover problems of large space structures

"Control spillover" and "observation spillover" have surfaced as major roadblocks to successful application of state-of-the-art control techniques to vibration control of large space structures. Nevertheless, control (observation) spillover may be prevented by proper placement of actuators (sensors). If proper placement is not possible because of structural constraints, control spillover to (observation spillover from) secondary modes can still be prevented by synthesizing the existent actuator (sensor) influences. Alternatively, control spillover to (observation spillover from) nonprimary modes can be reduced, to various extent, by adding some bandstop filter to each input (output) channel. A combined systematic use of placement, synthesis, and filtering will yield better results. This paper presents the underlying theoretical foundation of a proposed three-step approach for alleviating the spillover problems, along with conditions and techniques for proper placement, proper synthesis, and proper filtering. An illustrative numerical example is also included.
Obesity-related cardiovascular risk factors: intervention recommendations to decrease adolescent obesity

The incidence of adolescent obesity is increasing dramatically in the United States with associated risks of hypertension, adverse lipid profiles, and Type II diabetes. Unless reversed, this trend predicts an epidemic of adult cardiovascular disease. Interventions at home, at school, and in the community are required to empower teens to increase physical activity and to modify eating habits. This article describes assessment for obesity-related health problems as well as scientific guidelines and research-based intervention strategies to decrease obesity in adolescents.
The effect of labor relations climate on the union participation process

Research examining union member attitudes and behaviors have produced inconsistent results for key relationships in models of union participation. Social information processing theory suggests that a contextual variable, labor relations climate, should systematically influence the attitudinal variables in these models. Our meta-analysis shows that labor relations climate moderates four of five key relationships. Consequently, theory on union member participation should be altered to reflect the recent emergence of less adversarial union-management relationships.
NARAC: There for You When You Need To Know Which Way the Wind Blows

10.1080/00431672.2012.635996-F0001 Sunset in Hawaii influenced by volcanic eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991. Bob Dylan sang “You don't need a weatherman/To know which way the wind blows” in Subterr...