cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Methimazole Induced Total Myeloid Aplasia with Delayed Recovery Despite Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF): Marrow Progenitor Recovery Kinetics

An eighteen-year-old female with Graves thyrotoxicosis presented with methimazole-induced agranulocytosis and total myeloid aplasia. The bone marrow at presentation showed complete absence of myeloid precursors and striking plasmacytosis. 16 days later, myeloid precursors were still absent morphologically; however bone marrow flow cytometry and cell culture detected an improvement in myelogenesis, which was soon followed by clinical recovery of agranulocytosis. Neutrophil recovery was delayed until day 22 after cessation of methimazole despite G-CSF use, consistent with a direct toxic effect on committed myeloid cells. Our findings suggest that cell culture and flow cytometric evaluation of bone marrow myeloid progenitors can be used as a guide to anticipate neutrophil recovery.
New species of the genus Anisophya Karabag from Chile (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae)

Many of the most primitive neotropical bush katydids (Phaneropterinae) — including species of Cosmophyllum Blanchard, Stenophylla Brunner von Wattenwyl, Marenestha Brunner von Wattenwyl, Anisophya Karabag, Coryphoda Brunner von Wattenwyl and Burgilis Stal — are endemic to Chile. The Chilean species, Isophya schoenemanni Karsch, is herein re-affirmed to belong to the genus Anisophya. Two new species of Anisophya from Chile are also described. One is dimorphic in wing length. In 1986 APHIS/PPQ intercepted this species in a shipment of apples from Chile, but it is not likely to be a pest of apples or other pome fruits.
ERG monitoring of retinal function during systemic chemotherapy for retinoblastoma

Background/aims We have previously introduced electroretinography (ERG) as a proxy for visual function to monitor for retinal toxicity due to intra-arterial chemotherapy for retinoblastoma in young children. In this paper, we report ERG results for patients with retinoblastoma receiving initial treatment with systemic chemotherapy. Methods Inclusion criteria were patients presenting with retinoblastoma at Results Four patients were treated for bilateral retinoblastoma. All eyes responded well to systemic chemotherapy. 30-Hertz flicker ERGs improved during treatment in all eyes, significantly in six of eight eyes, and at least in one eye of each patient. Conclusion Effective systemic chemotherapy for retinoblastoma in children who are too small for intra-arterial chemotherapy is compatible with significant increases in ERG amplitudes, even in eyes presenting with extinguished ERGs. ERG signals may increase independent of resolution of retinal detachment.
Low level RF system for Jefferson Lab Cryomodule Test Facility

The Jefferson Lab Cryomodule Test Facility (CMTF) has been upgraded to test and commission SNS and CEBAF Energy Upgrade cryomodules. Part of the upgrade was to modernize the superconducting cavity instrumentation and control. We have designed a VXI based RF control system exclusively for the production testing of superconducting cavities. The RF system can be configured to work either in phase locked loop (PLL) or self excited loop (SEL) mode. It can be used to drive either SNS 805 MHz or CEBAF Energy Upgrade 1497 MHz superconducting cavities and can be operated in pulsed or continuous wave (CW) mode. The base design consists of RF-analog and digital sections. The RF-analog section includes a voltage control oscillator (VCO), phase detector, I&Q modulator and "low phase shift" limiter. The digital section controls the analog section and includes ADC, FPGA, and DAC. We will discuss the design of the RF system and how it relates to the support of cavity testing.
Reducing ALU and Register File Energy by Dynamic Zero Detection

Register files and ALU are dominant energy consumers in the datapath of typical pipelined processors. Reducing energy consumption of these components has a big impact on processor energy budget. Consequently, several techniques have been proposed at circuit and architectural levels. In contrast, we propose a dynamic zero detection technique for reducing energy in the register files and ALU in this paper. We find that zero is the most frequent value used in the register files and ALU. When a register value is determined to be zero before reading a register file, an access to the register file is prevented to save energy and zero is directly provided to the datapath. When one of operand register values of an add instruction is zero, it is prevented from being executed on ALU since its result is just the value of the other operand register. Since adds/subs constitute most of arithmetic and logic instructions, this optimization saves large ALU energy. Our dynamic zero detection technique is demonstrated to save 9.0% and 20.2% of energy in the register files and the adder of ALU for SPEC2000 floating-point and integer benchmarks, respectively.
Endothelial [Ca2+]i and caveolin-1 antagonistically regulate eNOS activity and microvessel permeability in rat venules

Aims In this study, we investigated the mechanisms by which caveolin-1 (CAV) inhibits increases in permeability induced by platelet activating factor (PAF) and elucidated the relationship between the endothelial intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and CAV in regulating endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity and microvessel permeability in intact microvessels. Methods and results Experiments were conducted in individually perfused mesenteric venules in Sprague–Dawley rats. Permeability was determined by measuring hydraulic conductivity (Lp). Endothelial [Ca2+]i and nitric oxide (NO) production were measured in fura-2- and DAF-2-loaded microvessels. Perfusion of the CAV scaffolding domain, AP-CAV, at 1 µM for 30 min did not affect PAF-induced increases in endothelial [Ca2+]i but significantly attenuated PAF-induced NO production from 143 ± 2 to 110 ± 3% of control fluorescence intensity (FI). The PAF-induced Lp increase was correlatively reduced from a mean peak value of 7.5 ± 0.9 to 1.9 ± 0.5 times that of the control. Increasing extracellular [Ca2+] that potentiated PAF-induced peak [Ca2+]i from 500 to 1225 nM augmented NO production to 193 ± 13% and further increased Lp to 17.3 ± 1.6 times the control value. More importantly, enhanced Ca2+ influx restored the reduced NO production and Lp by AP-CAV with NO FI at 149% and Lp at 7.7 ± 1.1 times the control value. Conclusion Our results indicate that eNOS inhibition and reduced NO production contribute to the inhibitory action of AP-CAV on PAF-induced increases in permeability. CAV and endothelial [Ca2+]i antagonistically regulate eNOS activity in intact microvessels, and the level of produced NO is the key determinant of the degree of permeability increases during inflammation.
Metabolism of lysophosphatidyl ethanolamine and lysophosphatidyl choline by homogenates of rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes and alveolar macrophages

A comparison has been made between the conversion of 32P-labeled lysophosphatidyl ethanolamine (LPE) and lysophosphatidyl choline (LPC) to their respective acylated and deacylated derivatives by homogenates of rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes and alveolar macrophages. Synthesis of PE by both homogenates and of PC by macrophage homogenates proceeded to about the same extent and is attributed to direct acylation of the lyso compounds. At higher LPC concentrations formation of PC by leukocytes is far greater than by macrophages. The mechanism of this enhanced synthesis of PC, which is brought out by higher substrate concentrations, is believed to be a transfer of the acyl group of one LPC molecule to another. Under optimal conditions macrophage homogenates deacylated LPE to a greater extent than LPC, while the reverse was true for leukocyte homogenates. Albumin inhibited deacylation of LPC and its conversion to PC by leukocytes, perhaps by binding the substrate (2 moles of LPC per mole of albumin). Other effects of albumin—stimulation of deacylation and acylation of LPE by macrophages, inhibition of deacylation and acylation of LPE by leukocytes—remain unexplained.
Utility of optical coherence tomography in the evaluation of monocular visual loss related to retinal ischemia

We report four patients with monocular visual loss for whom optical coherence tomography (OCT) was helpful in distinguishing the sequelae of retinal artery occlusion from those of primary optic neuropathy. Determinations of the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness as well as macular retinal layer thicknesses and architecture were used. The major findings in our patients show that changes in the inner retinal layers (including ganglion cell and inner plexiform layer) with disruption of normal macular architecture supports a diagnosis of retinal artery occlusion. Our results support the use of OCT imaging for patients with monocular visual loss of uncertain etiology; macular imaging as well as peripapillary RNFL thickness measurement can be helpful in differentiating primary retinal disease or ischemia from primary disorders of the optic nerve.
Transfer of acquired resistance to transplantable leukemia in mice

It has been demonstrated that graduated doses (cell-immunization) of leukemic cells1 and certain normal tissues2, 3 can induce resistance to transplantable leukemia in normally susceptible mice. Following cell-immunization injected leukemic cells immediately develop small lesions which soon become necrotic.4 Lesions do not form immediately following leukemic inoculation of strain C58 mice made resistant by Sto-Li foetal tissues. Once resistance to line I leukemia has been established by means of graduated cell doses it is permanent, while resistance caused by normal tissue implantation may be only temporary with a peak of effectiveness in C58 mice 3 days after implantation of Sto-Li tissue (unpublished data). Of further interest in this problem is the question: Can resistance induced by these 2 methods be transferred to normally susceptible mice?Accordingly, spleen and liver were removed from cell-immunized mice, minced and injected into susceptible C58 mice. Another group of C58 mice was given injections...
Observations on the Acroglossal Buttons and on the Submentum of Hymenoptera

By reason of the attending difficulties in examination, the mouth-parts of insects have not been conceded their rightful place in insect taxonomy. That this department of anatomy offers important clues to the phylogeny of the hymenopterous insects has been indicated by Carl Borner in a classification of this order based largely on characters in tve mouth-parts. The present study was initiated with a view to verifying Borner's findings relative to Vespoidea[*][1] by an examination of a large number of forms in that superfamily. But in the course of work attention became centered around two structures in the labium while the range of examination was extended to the entire order of Hymenoptera. The two labial structures studied are the submentum and, what is here termed, the acroglossal buttons. Observations on their anatomy and remarks on their taxonomic significance will be briefly presented below. [1]: #fn-1
A Micro-Damage Model for High Velocity Impacts Using Nonlocal Theory

This paper presents a nonlocal gradient-enhanced theory coupled to viscoinelasticity. Constitutive equations for anisotropic thermo-viscodamage mechanism coupled with thermo-hypoelasto-viscoplastic deformation are presented. Explicit and implicit microstructural length scale measures, which preserve the well-posedness of the differential equations, are introduced through the use of the viscosity and gradient localization limiters. The gradient-enhanced theory that incorporates macroscale interstate variables and their high-order gradients is developed here to describe the change in the internal structure and in order to investigate the size effect of statistical inhomogeneity of the evolution-related plasticity and damage. We present within the finite element context the numerical algorithms for the integration of the present formulation of geometrically nonlinear gradient-enhanced (nonlocal) viscoinelasticity. The proposed unified integration algorithms are extensions of the classical rate-independent return mapping algorithms to the ratedependent problems. Furthermore, a trivially incrementally objective integration scheme is established for the rate constitutive relations. A simple and direct computational algorithm is also used for calculation of the higher-order gradients. This algorithm can be implemented in the existing finite element codes without numerous modifications as compared to the current numerical approaches for integrating gradient-dependent models. Model capabilities are preliminarily illustrated for the dynamic localization of inelastic flow in adiabatic shear bands and the perforation of a 12mm thick Weldox 460E steel plates by deformable blunt projectiles at various impact speeds.
Bilateral Localized Amyloidosis of The Ureter Presenting with Anuria

Abstract A patient with bilateral localized amyloidosis of the ureters is described. This is the first case to be reported in which anuria was the presenting symptom, the second case with bilateral involvement and the thirteenth case of amyloidosis localized to the ureter. Careful urologic and hematologic followup is indicated.
Deficits, Debt, and the New Politics of Tax Policy: Reconnecting Taxes and Budgets

The last major reform of the federal tax system took place in 1986. Much of that reform has since been erased by proliferating tax preferences for individuals and corporations. The percentage of individual income not subject to taxation, for example, has increased to its highest level since the early 1980s. The economic distortions of the current tax system are, according to most experts, substantial. Its complexity imposes costly compliance burdens on individuals and corporations, and the noncompliance “tax gap” has been estimated at more than 15 percent of total tax liability. While fairness is an elusive concept, few would argue that the tax system has become noticeably fairer over recent decades. More important in terms of budget policy, the federal tax system suffers from a problem that predates the Tax Reform Act of 1986. It does not raise sufficient revenues to finance the defense and domestic programs in the federal budget. Despite the often intense debates over taxation during our early history, budgets were usually balanced. From 1789 to 1930, deficits were routinely incurred during wars and financial upheavals, but nearly 70 percent of annual budgets were in surplus. The Great Depression and World War II produced a long series of consecutive deficits, but the balanced-budget standard was revived in the late 1940s and 1950s. With only a handful of exceptions over the past half-century, however, budget deficits have been the norm, and this fiscal imbalance is unlikely to improve anytime soon. Indeed, the urgent task for the federal government is to keep deficits and debt at “sustainable” levels in the decades ahead.
Effects of temperature and gas–liquid mass transfer on the operation of small electrochemical cells for the quantitative evaluation of CO2 reduction electrocatalysts

In the last few years, there has been increased interest in electrochemical CO2 reduction (CO2R). Many experimental studies employ a membrane separated, electrochemical cell with a mini H-cell geometry to characterize CO2R catalysts in aqueous solution. This type of electrochemical cell is a mini-chemical reactor and it is important to monitor the reaction conditions within the reactor to ensure that they are constant throughout the study. We show that operating cells with high catalyst surface area to electrolyte volume ratios (S/V) at high current densities can have subtle consequences due to the complexity of the physical phenomena taking place on electrode surfaces during CO2R, particularly as they relate to the cell temperature and bulk electrolyte CO2 concentration. Both effects were evaluated quantitatively in high S/V cells using Cu electrodes and a bicarbonate buffer electrolyte. Electrolyte temperature is a function of the current/total voltage passed through the cell and the cell geometry. Even at a very high current density, 20 mA cm-2, the temperature increase was less than 4 °C and a decrease of <10% in the dissolved CO2 concentration is predicted. In contrast, limits on the CO2 gas-liquid mass transfer into the cells produce much larger effects. By using the pH in the cell to measure the CO2 concentration, significant undersaturation of CO2 is observed in the bulk electrolyte, even at more modest current densities of 10 mA cm-2. Undersaturation of CO2 produces large changes in the faradaic efficiency observed on Cu electrodes, with H2 production becoming increasingly favored. We show that the size of the CO2 bubbles being introduced into the cell is critical for maintaining the equilibrium CO2 concentration in the electrolyte, and we have designed a high S/V cell that is able to maintain the near-equilibrium CO2 concentration at current densities up to 15 mA cm-2.
Corporeal Pedagogy: Transforming Café and Refugee Girls’ Post-Agency

I explore a spontaneous community art event involving pre-teen and teen refugee girls and their embodied experiences at a local cafe located in a Northeastern U.S. city. Their bodily encounters involved incipient actions—drifting, knitting, and wrist-tying performances—in the creation of a new space within the space of the cafe. Drawing on posthumanists’ and new materialists’ works, I engage the lived body as foci of understanding, necessitating an understanding of the body as “liberating to” rather than “liberating from.” A central consideration of thing-power rather than human-power advances a framework of corporeal spatial/temporality for understanding curriculum and pedagogy. Understanding of the real, lived body informs a new direction for an art educational approach, one that offers a new materialistic agency that goes beyond the strictures of the humanist mindset. It opens up new ways of thinking about community art practice, as it organizes and reorganizes the senses.
Two Cases of Pediatric Hit Requiring Unusually High Doses of Direct Thrombin Inhibitors: Does a Subset of Such Patients Exist?.

Experience in pediatrics with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) with or without thrombosis is currently limited. In the past two years, however, we have cared for two children with HIT who have required unusually high doses of direct thrombin inhibitors in order to maintain a PTT in the 50–80 sec range. Neither child had any recognizeable congenital or acquired risk factor(s) for hypercoagulability, including activated protein C resistance, prothrombin mutation G20210A, deficiency of protein C or S, anticardiolipin antibodies, or elevated levels of homocysteine or lipoprotein (a). Case 1: A 6 year old girl presented with persistant headache, left-sided weakness, and right lateral gaze paresis. Head CT and MR showed saggital and transverse sinus thrombosis, as well as the presence of two intraparenchymal hemorrhages. Treatment in the first 24 hrs consisted of catheter-directed thromborhexis to recanalize the left transverse sinus and prevent the otherwise anticipated development of complete obstruction to drainage from the right cerebral cortex, followed by low-dose unfractionated heparin (10 U/kg/hr) to inactivate thrombus-bound thrombin released acutely by the thromborhexis. While full anticoagulation was sought by hr 48, this was achieved only over several days owing to a high heparin requirement (45 U/kg/hr) to obtain therapeutic heparin levels. Neurologic status improved over the next several days. However, on day 14 our patient suffered acute loss of vision, following by a drop in platelet count and identification of HIT antibody. She was placed on argatroban, but to attain a therapeutic PTT, required an inordinately high dose (15μg/kg/min, vs “usual” dose of 2). When she was switched to r-hirudin, an unusually high dose (0.7 mg/kg/hr, vs “usual” dose of 0.2) was again required. Case 2: A 2-and-a-half year old girl was admitted for ECMO following development of respiratory failure due to necrotizing strep. pneumoniae. After 5 days on unfractionated heparin, her platelet count dropped, she developed skin necrosis, and HIT antibody was identified. She was placed on r-hirudin, but also required an unusually high dose (0.52 mg/kg/hr) to achieve a therapeutic PTT. We are aware of two other pediatric cases of such high requirements for direct thrombin inhibitors at other institutions, although a review of the literature makes clear that most instances of pediatric HIT are managed satisfactorily with doses/kg consistent with adult practice. We hypothesize that a subset of chidren with HIT require a significantly higher dose of direct thrombin inhibitors on the basis of a relatively enhanced ability to generate thrombin in the presence of HIT antibody. Studies of thrombin generation and inhibition in our two patients are in progress.
Radiofrequency Wire Facilitated Interventricular Septal Access for Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Tachycardia in a Patient With Aortic and Mitral Mechanical Valves.

A 53-year-old woman, with history of rheumatic heart disease, double Starr-Edwards caged-ball mechanical valves in the mitral and aortic position (Figure [A]), and embolic infarct in the left anterior descending coronary territory, presented with recurrent ventricular tachycardia (VT) refractory to escalating doses of antiarrhythmic drugs and leading to multiple implantable cardioverter-defibrillator interventions. Preprocedural imaging with transthoracic echocardiogram and contrast-enhanced computed tomography demonstrated a large left ventricular (LV) apical aneurysm with dense calcifications (Figure [B] and [C]). A transapical surgical access was deemed not optimal given the apical location of the substrate, the presence of calcifications, and the requirement for oral anticoagulant discontinuation with the history of thromboembolism. A percutaneous transinterventricular septum puncture was planned to access the LV. The procedure was performed on full systemic anticoagulation with uninterrupted warfarin (INR=2.8) and intravenous heparin (target activated clotting time 350 seconds). The right internal jugular vein was accessed, and a deflectable sheath (Agilis NxT; St. Jude Medical) was advanced to the basal right ventricular (RV) septum as visualized by intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) (Figure [D] and [E]). After confirming a safe distance from the coronary septal perforator branches with both left and right coronary angiography, the interventricular septum was crossed with a 0.035-inch endovascular radiofrequency wire (PowerWire; Baylis Medical, Inc) applying radiofrequency energy at the tip of the wire (10 W for 4 seconds) and guided by direct imaging with ICE (Figure [F]; Movie SI in the Data Supplement). Once the dilator was advanced within the left ventricle over the radiofrequency wire, in order to facilitate the advancement of the sheath over the dilator, the …
Planar, Ultrathin, Subwavelength Spectral Light Separator for Efficient, Wide-Angle Spectral Imaging

We propose a planar, ultrathin, subwavelength spectral light separator that enables efficient, angularly robust, spatially coregistered decomposition of light into its spectral components. The device consists of a collection of spectrally tuned “meta-atoms” and achieves spectral selectivity by utilizing strong localized resonance supported by each individual meta-atom. The three-dimensional meta-atoms are formed by resonant subwavelength-size rectangular apertures in a planar metallic film of deep-subwavelength thickness. The overall physical cross-sectional area of the device is subwavelength, and its thickness is deep-subwavelength. Different spectral components of light are simultaneously separated and collected in different subwavelength-size aperture pairs, where each aperture pair is composed of two perpendicularly oriented, same-size apertures; and different aperture pairs collect their light from overlapping cross-sectional regions. Hence, spatial coregistration errors between different spectral c...
Advanced reconfigurable RF/microwave electronics

The radio spectrum facilitates a wide variety of applications and services but has become overly crowded, especially in the past two decades. Spectrum resources are in ever-greater demand as new applications emerge and existing ones continue to grow. Reconfigurable radios can mitigate the problems associated with limited spectrum availability and limited open bandwidth by tuning to the frequency and standard that is least heavily used at any given time. In this paper, reconfigurable electronic technologies based on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) as well as phase change materials are discussed with applications in reconfigurable radios.
Widespread Hospital Variation in Supplementation of Breastfed Newborns.

Multiple health organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics,1 endorse the recommendation for exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life. In the United States, most women initiate breastfeeding, but a majority do not meet their intended goals of duration.2 There is a complex interplay of factors that impact breastfeeding outcomes, which include sociodemographic variables, psychosocial issues, maternal health, and infant conditions. However, hospital practices also play a significant role in a mother’s experience during the birth hospitalization and can be critical in setting the stage for breastfeeding success after discharge.2 In this issue of Pediatrics , Nguyen et al3 noted that in 2014, New York had the highest national rate of formula supplementation in breastfed newborns in the first 2 days of life. These authors sought to determine the factors that influence this finding. By using birth certificate data, they included 176 764 … Address correspondence to Laura P. Ward, MD, IBCLC, Division of Neonatology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave, MLC 7009, Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039. E-mail: laura.ward{at}cchmc.org
Acute-Contact and Chronic-Systemic In Vivo Bioassays: Regional Monitoring of Susceptibility to Thiamethoxam in Soybean Aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) Populations From the North Central United States.

The risks associated with soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae), in the North Central soybean systems has fostered the adoption of prophylactic chemical control practices, such as planting seeds treated with neonicotinoid insecticides, especially thiamethoxam. Consequently, there is a concern that increased selection pressure imposed on the arthropod–pest complex by this insecticide may lead to resistance. Therefore, in vivo bioassays were conducted to determine the susceptibility of soybean aphid to thiamethoxam among North Central U.S. populations. Concentration-mortality data were collected using contact glass-vial and detached-leaf systemic bioassays. The results of these experiments indicate that both bioassays were reliable to detect shifts in susceptibility between different soybean aphid clones. The LC₅₀s of field populations of soybean aphid were significantly different when mortality was recorded in contact and systemic exposure assays. Nevertheless, the magnitude of the resistance ratios was consistent in both methods. In addition, a significant increase in the LC₅₀ and EC₅₀ values was observed among field populations tested in detached-leaf systemic bioassays. These results represent the first extensive efforts to identify the variability in susceptibility of soybean aphid to thiamethoxam in the North Central United States Therefore, our results provide a baseline for future assessment and contribute to a better understanding of the applicability of in vivo bioassays for susceptibility monitoring and resistance detection of soybean aphid to thiamethoxam.
Crystal structures of 2,4,6-tri­iodo­benzo­nitrile and 2,4,6-tri­iodo­phenyl isocyanide

The title crystals, C7H2I3N, are isomorphous. Both mol­ecules lie across two crystallographic mirror planes and a twofold axis. The principal supra­molecular inter­action is centric R22(10) CN/NC⋯I short contacts involving both ortho I atoms, with two contacts bis­ecting each cyano and iso­cyano group. These form ribbons along [010] and give rise to a planar sheet structure parallel to (100). All pairs of adjacent sheets have centric stacking, a mode not previously reported for sheets of this type. This study completes the series of homo-2,4,6-trihalobenzo­nitriles, in which I atoms give the strongest CN⋯X and NC⋯X inter­actions (X = F, Cl, Br, I).
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor modulates the function of human CD56bright NK cells

Human natural killer (NK) cells are divided into two subsets: CD56bright and CD56dim NK cells, which differ in maturation, function and distribution. Mechanisms regulating NK cell functions are not completely understood. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor, that binds to a variety of endogenous and exogenous molecules, and that has recently been shown to modulate the function and differentiation of immune cells. Here, we studied the expression of AhR and its involvement in the regulation of NK cell functions. We found that AhR mRNA is highly expressed in peripheral CD56bright NK cells and that AhR mRNA expression gradually decreases as NK cells display a more mature phenotype. CD56bright NK cells were highly sensitive to AhR ligands. Specifically, AhR ligands modulated their activation and their expression of NK cell receptors, as well as cytokine secretion which is the major function of these cells. As CD56bright NK cells are highly enriched in tissues and in tumors, our observations point to a possible effect of local AhR ligands in the regulation of the function of CD56bright tissue-resident or intratumoral NK cells.
Facial asymmetry versus facial makeup

Variations in facial appearance resulting from the application of ordinary makeup products, such as eyeliner and lipstick, are challenging for automated facial recognition. This work studies the potential of using the measurement of the inherent asymmetry between the two halves of a person's face presented in [18] as a helpful feature to overcome this challenge. We hypothesized that inherent facial asymmetry is not completely concealed by makeup or might even be increased by the application of makeup. To test our hypothesis, we applied the Eigenfaces algorithm to classify the faces of 67 ethnically diverse individuals in our labeled database, with and without makeup, based on the asymmetry feature. The database was designed so that all variations, except the application of makeup, were fixed. The use of Eigenfaces in this preliminary evaluation was intentional; the feature classification process of this method is simple, which makes the effects of asymmetry features on the classification process easier to observe, and Eigenfaces are widely used in popular computer vision packages, such as OpenCV. The results show that recognition accuracy improved by 42.36% when using our asymmetry feature compared to the classical Eigenfaces algorithm. These results are encouraging and will serve as the baseline for future experiments on new datasets with other more robust classifiers.
Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Fasciotomy for Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome.

Background Lower extremity chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) can negatively affect exercise and activity and may require operative intervention to release the fascia. Few studies have evaluated or compared patient-reported outcomes for bilateral versus single-leg staged fasciotomy and number of compartments released. Methods A total of 27 eligible patients who underwent a fasciotomy procedure for CECS at a single institution were identified. A retrospective review of the medical record was performed, and individuals were contacted by phone to collect patient-reported outcomes, including ability to return to desired exercise level, postoperative expectation assessment, European Quality of Life-Five Dimensions, and the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure sports subscale. Results A total of 21 patients were available for follow-up (average follow-up 36.9 months). The average single numeric assessment evaluation of lower-extremity function in sport was 87.5% in those who underwent a simultaneous bilateral fasciotomy (n = 10), 94% in those who had a staged unilateral fasciotomy (n = 5), and 74% in those who underwent an isolated single-leg fasciotomy. In all, 91% (n = 10) of patients who had all 4 compartments released intra-operatively were able to return to their desired exercise level versus 66.7% (n = 6) of those who did not have all 4 compartments released. Conclusion The patient-reported outcomes of a staged unilateral fasciotomy and simultaneous bilateral fasciotomy for CECS are similar. Those who did not have all 4 compartments released reported worse outcomes. Further research should be conducted on the short-term outcomes and cost-effectiveness of a bilateral versus staged fasciotomy procedure. Levels of evidence Level IV: Case series.
Large Gaps in the Range of Stable Processes

An integral test is given to determine when the probability is 1 or 0 for the range of a stable process to miss infinitely many intervals of the form (x, x + h(x)} for large x where h is a nonnegative nondecreasing function.
Synthesis and crystal structure of 4,5-dibromo(2.1.1)triblattene

Reaction of 4-bromopentacyclo[7.3.0.02,7.03,11.06,10]dodec-11-ene (1) with Br2—CCl4 afforded 4,4,5-tribromopentacyclo[7.3.0.02,7.03,11.06,10]dodecane (2) in 89–94% yield. Subsequent treatment of 2 with KOt-Bu-t-BuOH resulted in competitive elimination of the elements of HBr and of Br2 with concomitant formation of 4,5-dibromopentacyclo[7.3.0.02,7.03,11.06,10]dodec-11-ene (3, 76%) and 1 (17%), respectively. The structure of 3 was established unequivocally via application of X-ray crystallographic methods. Crystal data for 3: monoclinic, C2/c, a = 9.895(1), b = 9.0963(7), c = 12.471(1) A, β = 106.875(8)°, z = 4.
Running Head: Taxonomy of Global Management Theories

This document presents a taxonomy of 14 management theories and models that incorporate grounded theory or theoretical frameworks, addressing different aspects of leadership, organizational design, managerial roles, global business, change and innovation, e-commerce, and e-business. More than 40 references accompany this work, combining original treaties, empirical work, and media reports. All the references were extracted from scholarly databases. The taxonomy is organized in four categories: Foundational, traditional, current, and emerging global, and emerging e-commerce theories. Each table includes a description of the theory, current examples of practice or empirical applications and other significant attributes.
Case 22-2018: A 64-Year-Old Man with Progressive Leg Weakness, Recurrent Falls, and Anemia.

A Man with Leg Weakness, Recurrent Falls, and Anemia A 64-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of recurrent falls. He had proximal muscle weakness, orthostatic hypotension, and anemia....
Chasing joint work: administrators’ efforts to structure teacher collaboration

Although the benefits of teacher collaboration have been touted, school administrators often struggle to foster productive collaboration at their sites. This study takes a deep dive into teachers’ ...
Immune checkpoint inhibitors

![Figure][1] Immunotherapy, harnessing the immune system to combat cancers, has yielded promising results in patient care. Monoclonal antibodies that block the “immune checkpoint” through PD-1, PD-L1, or CTLA-4 have demonstrated impressive clinical activities against a variety of tumors
Heparinase treatment of bovine smooth muscle cells inhibits fibroblast growth factor-2 binding to fibroblast growth factor receptor but not FGF-2 mediated cellular proliferation.

On the surface of smooth muscle cells there are two types of receptors for the mitogenic and angiogenic growth factor fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2); a high affinity tyrosine kinase FGF receptor (FGFR1) and low affinity heparin./heparan-like glycosaminoglycan (HLGAG) component of surface expressed proteoglycans. It is believed that all three components; FGFR1, FGF-2, and the HLGAG chains, must form a ternary complex for maximal cellular stimulation. To carefully examine the role surface HLGAGs play in FGF-2-mediated proliferation of SMCs we have utilized HLGAG degrading enzymes heparinase I, II and III. We report that heparinase treatment of bovine smooth muscle cells inhibits the binding of 125I-FGF-2 to FGFR1, but does not inhibit FGF-2 induced cellular proliferation. Through the use of both sodium chlorate and FGF-2 mutants with deficient HLGAG-binding capabilities, we show the FGF-2-HLGAG interaction is important for FGF-2's ability to induce SMC proliferation. Finally, we report conditioned media from heparinase treated SMCs is capable of supporting FGF-2 induced proliferation in an HLGAG-free lymphoid F32 cells, suggesting that the heparinase generated fragments are responsible for the proliferative response. The data presented here suggest FGF-2 is capable of stimulating smooth muscle cell proliferation through an FGFR independent, HLGAG dependent mechanism.
Potassium and Magnesium Requirements for Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal from Wastewater

The role of potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg) in enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) by activated sludge was studied using a bench-scale continuous-flow A/O system. A synthetic wastewater containing all the nutrients required for EBPR was used as the influent feed for the control phase of the experiment. The influent feed to the test phase of the experiment was changed to totally limit specific cations. The results clearly indicated that both K and Mg were absolutely required for successful EBPR. Failure of EBPR occurred when either K or Mg were eliminated from the influent. The molar ratio of K:P during anaerobic release and aerobic uptake was observed to be 0.22 mol/mol, while Mg:P was 0.30 mol/mol. Calcium was not required for successful EBPR. Neither calcium, iron, nor sodium were co-transported with phosphorus during release and uptake.
Ethnic Heterogeneity Politics of Welfare State in the United States: A Time Series Analysis, 1940–2016

Welfare state policies in the United States have expanded significantly, with some short-term fluctuations, since the 1940s. This paper examines the politics of ethnic heterogeneity in order to explain these welfare state changes. Results from various time-series regressions of public social transfer expenditures with or without health suggest welfare state-limiting roles of race and immigration, with the growing religious heterogeneity consistently helping to bolster welfare state policies. Albeit more nuanced than groundbreaking, findings help understand the nature of the American welfare state politics driven in part by the way ethnic heterogeneity shapes the evolving public opinion and policy preferences.
Meta-analysis of effect of hormone therapies on lipid levels in breast cancer patients.

e18243Background: Breast cancer (BC) patients with hormone-sensitive tumors often receive adjuvant hormone therapy for an extended period. How this affects lipid levels is not known. This study eva...
Effects of Body Shame on Poor Health Decisions: The Mediating Role of Body Responsiveness

Body shame predicts decisions to engage in appearance-improving behaviors that compromise health, suggesting that body shame may promote the devaluing of health in service of appearance. Furthermore, body shame may drive such decisions by diminishing body responsiveness, or the valuing of health-related bodily functions. Two studies tested these ideas in undergraduate students. In Study 1 (cross-sectional), trait body shame predicted decisions to improve appearance at the expense of health, and low body responsiveness mediated this relationship, controlling for BMI and gender. In Study 2 (experimental), body shame was induced and state body shame, state body responsiveness, and the same poor health decisions were measured. State body shame and diminished state body responsiveness mediated the relationship between experimental condition and poor health decisions, controlling for trait body shame, BMI, and gender. These studies demonstrate that body shame may promote the devaluing of health via the mechanism of diminished body responsiveness.
Pediatricians Preventing Child Abuse

BACKGROUND: In 2010, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published a clinical report titled “The Pediatrician's Role in Child Maltreatment Prevention,” which outlines what the pediatrician can do to assist in preventing child abuse. The report addresses how pediatricians can recognize risk factors and provide anticipatory guidance with regards to child abuse and its related topics. OBJECTIVE: To survey how many pediatricians are providing education to caregivers regarding child …
Comparison of MS inflammatory activity in women using continuous versus cyclic combined oral contraceptives.

Abstract Background Many women with multiple sclerosis (MS) report fluctuating symptoms across their menstrual cycle. Oral contraceptives (OCs) alter hormonal levels across the menstrual cycle. While cyclic OCs administer hormones for 21 days, followed by a week of placebo, continuous OCs can administer continuous doses of hormones for up to 3 months. Previous studies have suggested that OC use is associated with lower MS-related inflammation. We hypothesized that due to reduced hormonal fluctuations, women with MS might experience less inflammatory activity (clinical relapses+MRI) on continuous OCs than on cyclic OCs. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. For women with MS aged 18–50 seen at the UCSF Center for MS and Neuroinflammation, we extracted data on OC use from the Electronic Medical Records (EMR). All variables were confirmed using manual clinical chart review. We identified 19 women with relapsing forms of MS on continuous OCs and matched them (2:1 when possible) to women on cyclic OCs for OC formulation, age, MS duration and DMT type. Inflammatory activity in the two groups was then compared using log-rank tests (time to new relapse, new T2-weighted lesion formation, and gadolinium-enhancing lesion formation) and t-tests (annualized relapse rate). We also performed subgroup analyses in women with at least 1 year (N = 28) and 2 years (N = 21) of clinical observation. A power calculation was performed. Results There was no difference in time to relapse (p = 0.50) between continuous and cycling OC users. However, continuous OC users showed a statistical trend to longer time to T2 lesion formation (p = 0.09) and longer time to contrast-enhancing lesion formation (p = 0.05). In patients with at least 1 year of observation, there was a significant difference in time to T2 lesion formation (p = 0.03) and time to contrast-enhancing lesion formation (p = 0.02). Conclusion In this exploratory study, women on continuous OCs showed a trend towards less inflammatory activity on MRI relative to women on cyclic OCs. This difference was not reflected in relapse rates. We estimate that 342 patients would be required for an adequately powered cohort study to evaluate such an effect. Our findings provide reassurance that for women using continuous OCs to alleviate menstrual fluctuations in symptoms, there is not an increase in MS-related inflammatory activity.
Biophysical characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binding with the ACE2 receptor explains increased COVID-19 pathogenesis

SARS CoV2 is a novel highly virulent pathogen which gains entry to human cells by binding with the cell surface receptor angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE2). We contrasted the binding interactions between human ACE2 and coronavirus spike protein receptor binding domains (RBDs) from (i) SARS-CoV2, (ii) the related but less virulent OC43 (Singapore COVID-19 strain), and (iii) the 2002 epidemic-causing SARS CoV1. We find that the RBDs of the spike protein of SARS-CoV2 are highly optimized to achieve the strongest possible binding interaction with ACE2 which is consistent with its enhanced pathogenicity. SARS CoV2 RBDs form the most stable complex with ACE2 (64.91%, and 28.07% higher binding scores than SARS CoV1 and OC43, respectively) while occupying the greatest number of residues in the ATR1 binding site. In fact, the spike protein RBDs from SARS-CoV2 out-compete the angiotensin 2 receptor type I (ATR1) which is the native binding partner of ACE2 by 64% in terms of binding affinity (quantified using the Rosetta scoring function). They accomplish this through strong electrostatic attachments with every fourth residue on the N-terminus alpha-helix (starting from Ser19 to Asn53) as the turn of the helix makes these residues solvent accessible. These results offer a computational explanation for the increased pathogenicity of SARS CoV2 and allude to therapeutic modalities by identifying and rank-ordering the ACE2 residues involved in binding with the virus.
Human growth hormone levels during the menstrual cycle.

The normal patterns of human growth hormone (HGH) secretion in an ovulatory mentrual cycle were studied. Nineteen normal subjects recorded daily basal body temperatures (BBT). Their mean day of BBT rise was 15.6. They were each studied on day 5 and day 25 of the cycle with an insulin tolerance test in a fasting ambulatory state using 0.1 unit of regular insulin per kilogram as a stimulus. Measurements of blood glucose and plasma HGH showed no significant difference between the two tests. Fasting nonesterified fatty acid levels (NEFA) were also measured and these were not different. One subject was followed through an ovulatory cycle with daily fasting basal blood samples and these were analyzed for their glucose and HGH content. Although the glucose level did not change the HGH level rose at ovulation and premenstrually. It is concluded that HGH secretion does not change significantly between the proliferative and the secretory phases of the menstrual cycle.
Efficient transmission of classical scrapie agent x124 by intralingual route to genetically susceptible sheep with a low dose inoculum

Abstract Scrapie is a naturally occurring prion disease of sheep and goats that results in accumulation of the misfolded prion protein (PrPSc) and progressive neurodegeneration. After inoculation with classical scrapie isolate x124, susceptibility and incubation period are associated with valine at codon 136 (V136) of the prion protein: VRQ/VRQ had the shortest incubation periods, followed by VRQ/ARQ sheep, while ARQ/ARQ sheep only developed disease after inoculation via the intracerebral route. Intralingual inoculation of TSE agents effectively transmits disease similar to intracranial inoculation; therefore, it is possible that oral lesions may facilitate susceptibility to scrapie transmission. In this study, investigated the infectivity of decreasing doses of the x124 scrapie agent (100 mg, 50 mg, 20 mg, and 10 mg) on incubation time and attack rate after experimental intralingual inoculation into VRQ/ARQ sheep. The lowest inoculum dose tested in this study effectively transmitted the x124 scrapie agent in VRQ/ARQ sheep with a 100% attack rate and no significant difference in incubation times among sheep inoculated with varying doses. Moreover, immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis revealed similar biochemical and immunohistochemical features among the four cohorts of sheep irrespective of inoculum dose. This study provides a starting point for further investigation to determine the minimum infectious dose of x124 scrapie in sheep and its effect on attack rate and incubation time, central for assessing the potential risk of scrapie occurrence in sheep flock.