cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A gradient algorithm for phase-only adaptive FIR filtering

In this paper, we describe a simple gradient algorithm for adapting the phase response of an FIR filter whose magnitude response is already specified. The algorithm is an extension of a previously-developed gradient adaptive algorithm for allpass filtering. The algorithm directly adjusts the impulse response of the FIR filter using input and desired response signals in a simple manner without the need for frequency-domain processing or coefficient monitoring. A stationary point analysis of the algorithm verifies its desirable estimation capabilities. Simulations confirm the capability of the algorithm in a filter modeling task.
Site-specific proteolysis of the MALP-404 lipoprotein determines the release of a soluble selective lipoprotein-associated motif-containing fragment and alteration of the surface phenotype of Mycoplasma fermentans.

The mature MALP-404 surface lipoprotein of Mycoplasma fermentans comprises a membrane-anchored N-terminal lipid-modified region responsible for macrophage activation (P. F. Muhlradt, M. Kieβ, H. Meyer, R. Suβmuth, and G. Jung, J. Exp. Med. 185:1951-1958, 1997) and an external hydrophilic region that contains the selective lipoprotein-associated (SLA) motif defining a family of lipoproteins from diverse but selective prokaryotes, including mycoplasmas (M. J. Calcutt, M. F. Kim, A. B. Karpas, P. F. Muhlradt, and K. S. Wise, Infect. Immun. 67:760-771, 1999). This family generally corresponds to a computationally defined group of orthologs containing the basic membrane protein (BMP) domain. Two discrete lipid-modified forms of the abundant MALP product which vary dramatically in ratio among isolates of M. fermentans occur on the mycoplasma surface: (i) MALP-404, the full-length mature product, and (ii) MALP-2, the Toll-like receptor 2-mediated macrophage-activating lipopeptide containing the N-terminal 14 residues of the mature lipoprotein. The role of posttranslational processing in the biogenesis of MALP-2 from the prototype MALP-404 SLA-containing lipoprotein was investigated. Detergent phase fractionation of cell-bound products and N-terminal sequencing of a newly discovered released fragment (RF) demonstrated that MALP-404 was subject to site-specific proteolysis between residues 14 and 15 of the mature lipoprotein, resulting in the cell-bound MALP-2 and soluble RF products. This previously unknown mechanism of posttranslational processing among mycoplasmas suggests that specific cleavage of some surface proteins may confer efficient “secretion” of extracellular products by these organisms, with concurrent changes in the surface phenotype. This newly identified form of variation may have significant implications for host adaptation by mycoplasmas, as well as other pathogens expressing lipoproteins of the SLA (BMP) family.
Photoelectric Method for Quantitative Evaluation of Mast-Cell-Associated Enzyme Activity in Human Gingival Tissues

Simple counts of mast cells per unit of human gingiva are often difficult to interpret because of the large numbers and varying sizes and shapes of the counted structures. The relatively simple photoelectric scanning method described herein eliminates tedious counting procedures while providing a measure of the relative quantity of stainable mast cell granules within the area scanned. Thus, the method may provide a better estimate of the total biologic activity than would simple mast cell counts.
Nanostructured magnesium has fewer detrimental effects on osteoblast function

Efforts have been made recently to implement nanoscale surface features on magnesium, a biodegradable metal, to increase bone formation. Compared with normal magnesium, nanostructured magnesium has unique characteristics, including increased grain boundary properties, surface to volume ratio, surface roughness, and surface energy, which may influence the initial adsorption of proteins known to promote the function of osteoblasts (bone-forming cells). Previous studies have shown that one way to increase nanosurface roughness on magnesium is to soak the metal in NaOH. However, it has not been determined if degradation of magnesium is altered by creating nanoscale features on its surface to influence osteoblast density. The aim of the present in vitro study was to determine the influence of degradation of nanostructured magnesium, created by soaking in NaOH, on osteoblast density. Our results showed a less detrimental effect of magnesium degradation on osteoblast density when magnesium was treated with NaOH to create nanoscale surface features. The detrimental degradation products of magnesium are of significant concern when considering use of magnesium as an orthopedic implant material, and this study identified a surface treatment, ie, soaking in NaOH to create nanoscale features for magnesium that can improve its use in numerous orthopedic applications.
A unique population of circulating autoantibodies promotes central nervous system remyelination

In previous studies we demonstrated that the humoral immune response directed against unique central nervous system (CNS) antigens enhanced CNS remyelination in the Theiler's virus experimental model of multiple sclerosis (MS). To expand on this observation, a mouse IgMk monoclonal antibody (mAb) which enhances CNS remyelination, was raised against normal mouse spinal cord homogenate. Characterization of this mAb revealed that it is polyreactive towards variety of intracellular antigens but also reacts to an unidentified surface antigen on oligodendrocytes. The mAb is encoded by germline immunoglobulin genes without somatic mutations consistent with the observation that it is a natural autoantibody. Recently we generated another mouse IgMk mAb raised against normal spinal cord homogenate, which also promotes CNS remyelination. Further characterization revealed that both mAbs which promote remyelination have similar binding characteristics. Conventionally Abs which recognize normal CNS components, especial...
Examining the tensions in workplace flexibility and exploring options for new directions

Workplace flexibility initiatives as a potential remedy for work–life conflicts are the focus of a considerable number of investigations. Despite their contributions, research findings reveal tensions and contradictions in the ways that employees, managers and organizations develop, enact and respond to these flexibility initiatives. This critical review identifies three primary tensions (variable vs fixed arrangements, supportive vs unsupportive work climates and equitable vs inequitable implementation of policies) that reveal inconsistent and sometimes contradictory findings. We tie these tensions, and the management of them, to an overarching dilemma in implementing workplace flexibility, the autonomy–control paradox. To develop alternatives for handling these tensions, we recommend reframing them through changing organizational cultures, adopting a philosophy of adaptability, customizing work and making workplace flexibility an employee right. We conclude by urging organizations and society to reframe...
Common variant in AMPD1 gene predicts improved clinical outcome in patients with heart failure.

Background—This study was undertaken to identify gene(s) that may be associated with improved clinical outcome in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). The adenosine monophosphate deaminase...
Using the DAS-ELISA Test to Establish an Effective Distance Between Bait Stations for Control of Linepithema humile (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Natural Areas

Linepithema humile (Mayr), the Argentine ant, is an invasive pest that has spread throughout the United States and is a problem in natural and managed habitats in South Carolina. Foraging patterns and the effectiveness of liquid baits for control of this pest have been studied in urban areas. However, similar studies have not been conducted in natural areas such as parks, picnic grounds, or campsites. L. humile populations can be large and widespread, making them a major nuisance pest for visitors to these natural areas. The primary objective of this study was to determine an effective distance between bait stations for control of L. humile in a natural area. A double antibody-sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) procedure was used to detect individual ants that consumed rabbit immunoglobin (IgG) protein for marking and tracking. In both lab and field conditions, there was a significant difference in the detection of IgG in ants fed protein marker mixed with sugar water compared with ants only fed sugar water. Additional field studies revealed that an individual ant could retain detectable levels of protein marker for 3 d and that an ant feeding on IgG containing bait could be detected over 15 m from the original bait source. Overall, we found that using liquid ant baits, with a placement of 20 m between stations, was effective in reducing L. humile numbers between April to October, 2012 in a natural park area of Lake Greenwood State Park, SC.
Urban Social Problems in Poland The Macrosocial Determinants

This article examines developmental processes in postwar Poland. The primacy of politics over economy is an ideological principle of socialist systems. Developmental processes, therefore, are controlled by political and not economic logic. After the initial period of political pluralism in Poland (1944-1948), when the improvement of social consumption was outlined as a developmental strategy, the subsequent political programs fostered overindustrialization or relative under urbanization. Polish cities were deprived of autonomous developmental functions, and various industrial branches became the only forces responsible for the social consumption provisions. Urban social problems and subsequent waves of protest resulted from the uneven distribution of the costs of growth among different sectors of society and, indirectly, from the course of industrialization-urbanization processes. Increasing social inequality, persistent housing problems and lack of municipal participatory democracy were caused by the mac...
Flexible high-loading particle-reinforced polyurethane magnetic nanocomposite fabrication through particle-surface-initiated polymerization

Flexible high-loading nanoparticle-reinforced polyurethane magnetic nanocomposites fabricated by the surface-initiated polymerization (SIP) method are reported. Extensive field emission scanning electron microscopic (SEM) and atomic force microscopic (AFM) observations revealed a uniform particle distribution within the polymer matrix. X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) revealed a strong chemical bonding between the nanoparticles and the polymer matrix. The elongation of the SIP nanocomposite under tensile test was about four times greater than that of the composite fabricated by a conventional direct mixing fabrication method. The nanocomposite shows particle-loading-dependent magnetic properties, with an increase of coercive force after the magnetic nanoparticles were embedded into the polymer matrix, arising from the increased interparticle distance and the introduced polymer?particle interactions.
Structural, magnetic, and optoelectronic properties of (diimine)(dithiolato)platinum(II) and -palladium(II) complexes and their charge-transfer adducts with nitrile acceptors.

Two new diimine dithiolato complexes, (dbbpy)Pt(dmid), 1, and (dbbpy)Pd(dmid), 2, were prepared and characterized (dbbpy ) 4,4′-di-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridine; dmid ) 2-oxo-1,3-dithiole-4,5-dithiolate). Both complexes interact with the nitrile acceptor TCNQ, and 1 also interacts with TCNQF4 and TCNE (TCNQ ) 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane; TCNQF4 ) 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane; TCNE ) tetracyanoethylene) to form supramolecular 2:1 charge-transfer solids that stack in the manner -DDADDADDA- (D ) electron donor; A ) electron acceptor). All compounds have been fully characterized by magnetic, spectroscopic, electrochemical, and single-crystal X-ray crystallographic analyses. Magnetic susceptibility studies of the charge-transfer compounds revealed that the platinumbased complexes exhibit temperature-independent paramagnetism of 10 -3 emu/mol. The donor complexes exhibit continuous absorption bands across the UV/visible and into the NIR region. Upon interaction with the nitrile acceptors, the extinction coefficients of the absorption bands increase and the energies of some d-d transitions in the NIR region change. The donor-acceptor compounds possess desired spectral features for solar cell dyes, but low conversion efficiencies resulted when a representative compound was tested in a TiO2 solar cell. The results, however, serve to illustrate that the donor-acceptor interactions persist in solution and the adsorption of the dye molecules to the semiconductor surface occurs in the absence of typical anchoring groups. Evaluation of the spectral and electrochemical data for the title compounds and the results of the preliminary solar cell study serve as guides for future research in choosing promising candidates for efficient solar cell dyes.
ARE VASODILATORS OF ANY VALUE IN THE CARE OF HOSPITALIZED ACUTE HEART FAILURE PATIENTS

Despite limited evidence, guidelines recommend the use of IV vasodilators in addition to diuretics for the treatment of acute heart failure (AHF) patients (pts) who are not hypotensive. We investigated whether pts hospitalized for AHF and treated with IV loop diuretics (D) in combination with IV
Sample size calculations for clinical trials

Sample size calculation plays an important role in clinical research. It is not only to identify signals or trends with certain statistical assurance of any preferably optimal or best clinical benefits to the patient population under study, but also to ensure that there are sufficient number of subjects enrolled in the study for providing substantial evidence of safety and efficacy of the test treatment under investigation. In practice, there may exist no closed forms for sample size calculations due to the complexity of the intended clinical trials. Different types of clinical trials e.g., noninferiority/equivalence trials, superiority trials, dose-response trials, and combinational trials are often conducted for different purposes of clinical investigations under different study designs e.g., parallel/crossover design, group sequential design, and adaptive clinical trial designs. Thus, different procedures and/or formulas may be employed for achieving study objectives with certain desirable statistical inferences at a prespecified level of significance. This article provides an overview of scientific factors study endpoint, clinically meaningful difference or treatment effect, controlling type I error rate, etc. that may have an impact on sample size calculation in clinical research. Some procedures for sample size calculation in nonstandard settings such as sample size adjustment with protocol amendments, two-stage seamless adaptive trial design with different study objectives and endpoints, and multiregional clinical trials are also discussed. WIREs Comp Stat 2011 3 414-427 DOI: 10.1002/wics.155
Characterization of thermostable Xyn10A enzyme from mesophilic Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824

A thermostable xylanase gene, xyn10A (CAP0053), was cloned from Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824. The nucleotide sequence of the C. acetobutylicum xyn10A gene encoded a 318-amino-acid, single-domain, family 10 xylanase, Xyn10A, with a molecular mass of 34 kDa. Xyn10A exhibited extremely high (92%) amino acid sequence identity with Xyn10B (CAP0116) of this strain and had 42% and 32% identity with the catalytic domains of Rhodothermus marinus xylanase I and Thermoascus aurantiacus xylanase I, respectively. Xyn10A enzyme was purified from recombinant Escherichia coli and was highly active toward oat-spelt and Birchwood xylan and slightly active toward carboxymethyl cellulose, arabinogalactouronic acid, and various p-nitrophenyl monosaccharides. Xyn10A hydrolyzed xylan and xylooligosaccharides larger than xylobiose to produce xylose. This enzyme was optimally active at 60°C and had an optimum pH of 5.0. This is one of a number of related activities encoded on the large plasmid in this strain.
Changes in marital beliefs among emerging adults: examining marital paradigms over time

Although research on marital beliefs among emerging adults has increased in recent years, most studies assume that marital beliefs are static features of emerging adulthood. Using a sample of 134 emerging adults in the United States tracked over a 1-year period, we explored if these emerging adults exhibited changes in their marital beliefs over time and what predicted such changes. We found that emerging adults in the sample showed significant growth over the 1-year period in the importance they placed on marriage while at the same time expecting to place less importance on their eventual marital role. Staying single and breaking up with a romantic partner were both related to decreases in marital salience, while cohabiting between data collections was associated with decreases in marital centrality. Finally, stronger marital salience at Time 1 was predictive of decreased binge drinking at Time 2, net of Time 1 assessments of such behavior. Such findings validate previous theoretical assumptions regarding marital beliefs. Language: en
Dialkyl aluminium amides: new reagents for the conversion of C=O into C=NR functionalities.

A new methodology for the preparation of α-diimines and β-aminoenones has been devised and represents an alternative route to these and related nitrogenous ligands bearing highly electronegative substituents.
Spa47 is an oligomerization‐activated type three secretion system (T3SS) ATPase from Shigella flexneri

Gram-negative pathogens often use conserved type three secretion systems (T3SS) for virulence. The Shigella type three secretion apparatus (T3SA) penetrates the host cell membrane and provides a unidirectional conduit for injection of effectors into host cells. The protein Spa47 localizes to the base of the apparatus and is speculated to be an ATPase that provides the energy for T3SA formation and secretion. Here, we developed an expression and purification protocol, producing active Spa47 and providing the first direct evidence that Spa47 is a bona fide ATPase. Additionally, size exclusion chromatography and analytical ultracentrifugation identified multiple oligomeric species of Spa47 with the largest greater than 8 fold more active for ATP hydrolysis than the monomer. An ATPase inactive Spa47 point mutant was then engineered by targeting a conserved Lysine within the predicted Walker A motif of Spa47. Interestingly, the mutant maintained a similar oligomerization pattern as active Spa47, but was unable to restore invasion phenotype when used to complement a spa47 null S. flexneri strain. Together, these results identify Spa47 as a Shigella T3SS ATPase and suggest that its activity is linked to oligomerization, perhaps as a regulatory mechanism as seen in some related pathogens. Additionally, Spa47 catalyzed ATP hydrolysis appears to be essential for host cell invasion, providing a strong platform for additional studies dissecting its role in virulence and providing an attractive target for anti-infective agents.
Influence of neighboring groups on the thermodynamics of hydrophobic binding: an added complex facet to the hydrophobic effect.

The thermodynamic consequences of systematic modifications in a ligand side chain that binds in a shallow hydrophobic pocket, in the presence and absence of a neighboring ligand carboxylate group, were evaluated using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Data revealed that the carboxylate significantly changes the relative thermodynamic signatures of these modifications, likely via altering the H-bonding/organization status of the hydration waters both in the unbound and the bound states. This carboxylate group was found to be proenthalpic, antientropic in some cases, and antienthalpic, proentropic in others. A remarkable enthalpy–entropy compensation relationship was also observed, reflecting the fact that the hydrophobic effect is governed by the thermodynamic status of the associated aqueous environment. This study could improve our understanding of the hydrophobic effect and may enhance our ability to design potent ligands that are capable of modulating biological processes.
Trends in Broadband Wireless Communication Systems and Software Defined Radios

Next generation wireless communication systems require a higher broadband performance to support highly realistic rich content and still be capable of seamlessly supporting integrated services using a variety of different network access systems. This paper reviews the current trends in broadband wireless communication systems, including cellular, wireless LAN, and fixed wireless access (FWA) systems. Furthermore, we describe the recent activities in the development of software defined radios (SDRs) that are essential for realizing the systems beyond 3G, with a particular focus on processor and security issues.
BOUNDING POWER SERIES REMAINDERS

We'll have more to say about these problems, but it is only fair to ask what we propose to use in place of the Lagrange remainder. The answer is surprisingly simple: estimate the tail end of the series by comparison with a geometric series. We'll give some examples shortly. One problem with Lagrange bounds is that they are useful in only one of the cases where power series arise: expanding a known function with known derivatives. This is nice for convincing students that, in principle, their calculators don't actually need massive tables inside them, but can actually calcttlate logs and trig functions. Of course, calculators don't actually use Taylor series, but that's another story: in principle they might. Power series, however, also arise as solutions to differential equations. Until recently this use had been downplayed by many numerical analysts, but new computer algorithms devised by Harley Flanders [3] may change that. Arguably, this use of power series is more valuable than the expansion of known functions via Taylor series; however, bounding of the truncation error of such a power series via a Lagrange-type remainder is generally not feasible since the derivatives of these power series are themselves power series. Geometric series, on the other hand, are relatively simple and straightforward mathematical objects; many students have seen them in high school. Geometric series are perhaps the only series whose convergence properties students really understand; everything is known: exactly when they converge, and what they converge to. They are a solid piece of real-estate in a sea of uncertainty and confusion. Students also seem relatively comfortable with the ratio test, probably because it is easy to remember and use. This should present a good opportunity for discussion of convergence in general by comparison with the geometric case. However, it is unfortunate that those books which do make this comparison rarely continue it into the area of truncation analysis. It's time for some examples. First let's consider the matter of approximating e 5. The error after truncating at the Nth term is, according to Lagrange,
Chinese and American Anomalous Experiences: The Role of Religiosity

Random samples of dormitory residents at three colleges in Xi'an, People's Republic of China (N = 314), and at the University of Maryland (N = 214), were polled regarding frequency of deja vu, night paralysis, extrasensory perception (ESP), contact with the dead, outof-body experiences, and belief in ESP. American respondents were also requested to evaluate their self-perceived religiosity and religious affiliation. Chinese students, who have received no formal religious socialization, reported higher levels of anomalous experience (except for deja vu), and greater belief in ESP, than did Americans. Frequency of American reports of anomalous experience and belief in ESP did not correlate significantly with self-evaluated religiosity or religious affiliation. The data tend to support the "experiential source" hypothesis, which suggests that elements within these experiences occur independently of culture.
The Quality Control Level Analysis of FAPAS Examining Lab's Performance Assessments

[Objective] To analyze the result of international performance assessment,which comparing our laboratory of chemical test with FAPAS,and discuss the efficient quality control measure in performance assessment.[Methods]In order to evaluate and dominate fully any uncertain factors,some certifiable testing methods were chosen,and reasonable testing technology was used in our performance assement scheme.|Z| value is an index for evaluating performance assessment of our lab.[Results] Through the effective quality control measures,in the 10 performance assessments,the qualified rate of the fixed quality parameters has reached 100% in our testing lab,and the qualified rate of the fixed quantity parameters has reached 94.2%.[Conlusion] In our lab these testing results would have been awarded a Satisfactory Z-score with FAPAS.Quality control measures played an important role in the proficiency test.
The Pineveta Tanks Site, Northwestern Arizona

The excavation of a five locus site northwest of Ash Fork, Yavapai County, Arizona, by the Arizona State Museum is reported. Four of the loci are Archaic, one being assignable to the Red Horse phas...
General Education Course Enrollment Patterns in a Community College Baccalaureate RN-To-BSN Program

This quantitative study utilizes ex post facto data to examine the graduation rates and time to degree of 240 students enrolled in a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program at a community college in Florida. The findings indicate that students who completed all general education requirements before entering the program were more likely to graduate in three years than students who completed some general education requirements after entering the program.
Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir: a pangenotypic drug to simplify HCV therapy

Treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) has evolved rapidly from an interferon based regimen of modest efficacy with significant adverse events to a well-tolerated, highly effective all-oral directly acting antiviral (DAA) therapy. Although significant improvement in sustained virologic responses (SVR) has been reported with new DAAs for genotypes 1 and 4, effective treatments for genotype 3 have been lacking, and a single pill that can yield high SVR rates against HCV genotypes 1-6 has not been available until now. Sofosbuvir (a pangenotypic NS5B inhibitor) and velpatasvir (a pangenotypic NS5A inhibitor) were recently approved in a fixed-dose combination pill. The availability of this pangenotypic pill holds promise for providing highly effective treatment with minimal laboratory testing for chronic HCV worldwide.
Are anti-ganglioside antibodies associated with proventricular dilatation disease in birds?

The identification of Parrot bornaviruses (PaBV) in psittacine birds with proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) has not been sufficient to explain the pathogenesis of this fatal disease, since not all infected birds develop clinical signs. Although the most accepted theory indicates that PaBV directly triggers an inflammatory response in this disease, another hypothesis suggests the disease is triggered by autoantibodies targeting neuronal gangliosides, and PDD might therefore resemble Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) in its pathogenesis. Experimental inoculation of pure gangliosides and brain-derived ganglioside extracts were used in two different immunization studies. The first study was performed on 17 healthy chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus): 11 chickens were inoculated with a brain ganglioside extract in Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) and six chickens inoculated with phosphate-buffered saline. A second study was performed five healthy quaker parrots (Myiopsitta monachus) that were divided into three groups: Two quaker parrots received purified gangliosides in FCA, two received a crude brain extract in FCA, and one control quaker parrot received FCA alone. One chicken developed difficult in walking. Histologically, only a mild perivascular and perineural lymphocytic infiltrate in the proventriculus. Two quaker parrots (one from each treatment group) had mild lymphoplasmacytic encephalitis and myelitis. However, none of the quaker parrots developed myenteric ganglioneuritis, suggesting that autoantibodies against gangliosides in birds are not associated with a condition resembling PDD.
Vowel coalescence and tonal merger in Chagga (Old Moshi): a natural generative approach

The first section of this paper is a discussion of the vowel coalescence process of Chagga (Old Moshi dialect). Vowel coalescence processes interact with tone rules in an interesting way. I discuss the analysis of Chagga tone which was done by Nurse and Philippson [1977J. In section 2 I discuss some problems with their analysis and suggest revisions within the Transformational Generative framework. In section 3 I offer an alternative analysis which follows the constraints on grammars imposed by Natural Generative Phonology, showing that by treating the problem morphotonemically, problems inherent to the more abstract analysis can be avoided.
DAT-SPECT imaging in cases of drug-induced parkinsonism in a specialty movement disorders practice

Abstract Objective Compare clinical characteristics and outcomes in cases where DAT-SPECT imaging is used to distinguish Parkinson's disease from Drug-Induced Parkinsonsim. Background Clinical uncertainty in diagnosing Parkinson's disease is common when patients are on dopamine-blocking medications. DAT-SPECT imaging can improve diagnostic certainty but little data are available on clinical characteristics and outcomes associated with normal and abnormal scan results. Methods Retrospective chart review of patients seen at a movement disorders center between 2011 and 2017 where DAT-SPECT was ordered to distinguish Parkinson's disease from Drug-induced Parkinsonism. Descriptive statistics were calculated for variables of interest and compared by scan result. Chi-squared analyses was carried out for categorical variables and students' t-tests for continuous values. Results 51 patients met inclusion criteria with 36 normal scans and 15 abnormal scans. Those with greater than 2 cardinal manifestations (tremor, rigidity, akinesia, postural instability) were more likely to have an abnormal scan (63.89% vs 93.33%, p = 0.04). No other clinical characteristics assessed were associated with scan results. Atypical antipsychotics (aripiprazole 39.21%, olanzapine 31.37%) and mood stabilizers (valproic acid 33.33%, lithium 17.65%) were most commonly associated with suspected Drug-induced Parkinsonism cases. A post-scan change in management occurred in 41.18% of patients. 55.56% of patients with normal scans responded to changes in the offending medication, with 16.66% taking over 3 months to show improvement. Conclusions Many DAT-SPECT scans at our institution are ordered to distinguish Parkinson's disease from Drug-induced Parkinsonism because clinical characteristics alone are unreliable. DAT-SPECT results lead to changes in management and the outcomes of these changes are consistent with scan results.
Endothelial-Dependent Mechanisms of Monocyte Recruitment

There is convincing evidence that the vascular endothelial cell lining is a major site of pathophysiologically relevant change in the blood vessel wall that occurs in response to injury, infection, mechanical perturbations, hypercholesterolemia, or other stimuli. Recent studies suggest a general dysfunction of endothelial cells in many diseases. For example, systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) is a connective tissue disease that is characterized by progressive fibrosis (excess collagen deposition) that affects small blood vessels resulting in leukocyte infiltration and damage, and often vascular dysfunction (8, 21). Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Kawasaki disease are of autoimmune origin and patients often have autoantibodies directed to a variety of cell and nuclear components that may produce vascular immune complexes and result in vessel, tissue and organ damage (11, 13). In atherosclerosis, chronic recruitment of mononuclear leukocytes to contribute to disease pathogenesis by producing cytokines and growth factors, which may in turn amplify leukocyte recruitment, induce smooth muscle cell migration into the intima and promote dysregulated growth of smooth muscle (34). In rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic systemic inflammatory disorder occurs that affects many tissues and organs, especially the joints, where the common manifestations are a nonsuppurative synovitis with lymphocytes, plasma cells and macrophages (13). The common manifestation of these diseases is sustained emigration of blood mononuclear leukocytes across vascular endothelium.
Sequential Nucleophilic "Click" Reactions for Functional Amphiphilic Homopolymers.

Amphiphilic homopolymers with high densities of functional groups are synthetically challenging. Thiol–yne nucleophilic click reactions have been investigated to introduce multiple functional groups in polymers with high density. An electron deficient alkyne group bearing methacrylate monomer was polymerized using reversible addition–fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Subsequently, the electron deficient alkyne group on polymer side chain was readily reacted with a thiol reagent using triethylamine (TEA) as the organocatalyst. This reaction was found to be very efficient under mild conditions. The resultant homopolymer bearing thiol vinyl ether functional groups could perform a second thiol addition with a stronger base, such as triazabicyclodecene (TBD), to prepare multifunctional homopolymers. This stepwise addition process was monitored by 1H NMR as well as gel permeation chromatography. The fidelity of this method was demonstrated by attaching different functionalities, including both hydrophobic and hydrophilic moieties. Furthermore, these dual functionalized polymers bearing dithioacetal groups are sensitive to reactive oxygen species (ROS), which compromises the host–guest properties of the assembly in response to this stimulus. The ROS responsive polymers reported here may have potential use in therapeutic delivery.
Telomerase Variants in Patients with Cirrhosis Awaiting Liver Transplantation

Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences that protect the ends of linear chromosomes, and they are maintained by a ribonucleoprotein complex called telomerase. Variants in genes encoding for telomerase components have been associated with a spectrum of disease in the lung, skin, bone marrow, and liver. Mutations in the telomerase reverse transcriptase and telomerase RNA component genes have been observed at a higher prevalence in patients with liver disease compared with the general population; however, the presence of variants in other components of the telomerase complex and their impact on clinical outcomes has not been explored. We evaluated 86 patients with end-stage liver disease for variants in an expanded panel of eight genes, and found that 17 patients (20%) had likely deleterious variants by in silico analysis. Seven unique likely deleterious variants were identified in the regulator of telomere elongation helicase 1 (RTEL1) gene that encodes for a DNA helicase important in telomere maintenance and genomic stability. In gene burden association analysis of their clinical data, the presence of any RTEL1 variant was associated with a 29% lower baseline white blood cell count (95% confidence interval [CI], -7% to -46%; P Value = 0.01) compared with patients without RTEL1 variants, and the presence of any exonic missense RTEL1 variant was associated with a 42% lower baseline platelet count (95% CI, -5% to -65%: P Value = 0.03). The presence of any telomerase variant was associated with an increased number of readmissions within 1 year after transplantation demonstrated by an incident rate ratio (IRR) of 3.15 (95% CI, 1.22 to 8.57). No association with survival was observed. Conclusion: Among patients who underwent liver transplantation, the presence of any exonic missense variant was associated with a longer postoperative length of stay with an IRR of 2.16 (95% CI, 1.31 to 3.68).
Transcriptomic Network Interactions in Human Skin Treated with Topical Glucocorticoid Clobetasol Propionate

Glucocorticoids are the most frequently used anti-inflammatory drugs in dermatology. However, the molecular signature of glucocorticoids and their receptor in human skin is largely unknown. Our validated bioinformatics analysis of human skin transcriptome induced by topical glucocorticoid clobetasol propionate (CBP) in healthy volunteers identified numerous unreported glucocorticoid-responsive genes, including over a thousand noncoding RNAs. We observed sexual and racial dimorphism in the CBP response including a shift toward IFN-α/IFN-γ and IL-6/Jak/Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 signaling in female skin; and a larger response to CBP in African-American skin. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis unveiled a dense skin network of 41 transcription factors including circadian Kruppel-like factor 9 (KLF9), and ∼260 of their target genes enriched for functional pathways representative of the entire CBP transcriptome. Using keratinocytes with Kruppel-like factor 9 knockdown, we revealed a feedforward loop in glucocorticoid receptor signaling, previously unreported. Interestingly, many of the CBP-regulated transcription factors were involved in the control of development, metabolism, circadian clock; and 80% of them were associated with skin aging showing similarities between glucocorticoid-treated and aged skin. Overall, these findings indicate that glucocorticoid receptor acts as an important regulator of gene expression in skin—both at the transcriptional and posttranscriptional level—via multiple mechanisms including regulation of noncoding RNAs and multiple core transcription factors.
A Narrative Review of FDA Human Factors Validation Requirement: The Needs of Key Stakeholders and Proposal of an Industry (Human Factors Service Providers) Maturity Assessment Tool:

As part of a comprehensive Quality System Regulation (QSR), the human factors (HF) validation requirement by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a relatively recent topic. Multiple issues and...
Depletion of the Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome Protein in Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells Impairs Growth, Colony Formation, and Ribosome Function.

Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by pancreatic exocrine dysfunction, skeletal abnormalities, and bone marrow failure, which can evolve to leukemia. Mutations in SBDS have been shown to cause SDS. We and other investigators have suggested that SBDS orthologs in yeast play a role in biogenesis and function of the 60S ribosomal subunit. To clarify the unknown function of SBDS in hematopoiesis, human erythroleukemia TF-1 cells were transduced with lentiviral vectors expressing the green fluorescent protein (GFP), neomycin phosphotransferase, and small interfering RNA (siRNA) against SBDS. After transduction, cells were selected for neomycin resistance and then sorted by flow cytometry. To probe for SBDS, an antibody against the carboxyl-terminus of human SBDS was generated, and individual TF-1 cell clones expressing different siRNAs were confirmed to knock down SBDS expression by Western blot analysis. Our experiments were aimed at analyzing the cellular effects of SBDS knockdown. The growth and hematopoietic colony forming potential of TF-1 knockdown cells were markedly hindered when compared to cells stably transduced with siRNA against a scrambled SBDS sequence. Using propidium iodide staining and flow cytometric analysis, we found an increased percentage of knockdown cells retained at the G0/G1 cell cycle phase. To address whether TF-1 cells expressing siRNA against SBDS have a selective deficiency of 60S ribosomal subunits, cell extracts were prepared and polysome profiles examined after sucrose gradient centrifugation. In preliminary experiments, TF-1 cells expressing siRNA against SBDS appeared to show a reduction in free 60S subunits and 80S subunits with a shift toward smaller polysomes, compared to cells expressing the scrambled sequence siRNA. We conclude that depletion of SBDS results in a significant growth and clonogenic defect in TF-1 hematopoietic cells. Our preliminary results also suggest defects in ribosome function and cell cycle transit, which may provide an integrated molecular explanation for the hematopoietic defect in SDS since nucleolar stress has been linked to cell cycle arrest and p53 stabilization.
La lítote en Sin ruido de José Corredor-Matheos

Este articulo analiza el poemario del manchego Jose Corredor-Matheos, Sin ruido (2013), desde la optica de la litote como figura de atenuacion y, con mayor alcance, como mecanismo que subsume ciert...
How to increase the role of social workers in suicide preventive interventions.

Objective:Suicide is a serious public health issue that affects individuals, families and societies all over the world. International studies provide consistent evidence that the presence of psychiatrists in a region is associated with lesser suicide rates. However, many psychiatric patients including suicidal patients do not have access to psychiatrists. This indicates that mental health and non-mental health social workers need to be involved in suicide prevention efforts. This paper is the first comprehensive work that discusses how to increase the role of social workers in the area of suicide prevention.Methods:A review of the relevant literature.Results:Increasing the role of social workers in suicide prevention efforts may reduce suicide risk in groups and people at elevated risk for suicide, as well as the general population.Conclusion:Recommendations are provided for how the social work profession can improve upon suicide prevention while incorporating universal, selective and indicated suicide preventive interventions. Social work research efforts should focus on how to increase the role of social workers in suicide prevention and the management of suicidal patients. Social work education programmes should modify their curricula and increase their attention on suicide prevention. Mental health social workers need to educate the patient and their family on suicide risk factors. Furthermore, mental health and non-mental health social workers need to educate the general public on suicide risk factors.
Implementation of IPDM in Strawberries and Other Berries

Several high value small fruit crops are grown under greenhouse conditions around the world. Integrated pest and disease management (IPDM) in greenhouse production of small fruits can take advantage of a number of practices for maintaining optimal crop health while ensuring good yields and sustainability. These practices include the use of resistant cultivars and clean plant material free of pests and diseases, effective substrate, irrigation, and nutrient management, regular monitoring and good sanitation practices, substrate disinfestation and sterilization with fumigation alternatives, modifying the environmental conditions to reduce pest and disease pressure, chemical and non-chemical control options, along with biostimulants and beneficial microbes. Several examples of successful use of these tactics are discussed and general IPDM guidelines are presented in this chapter.
Circularly Polarized Antenna Array Based on Microstrip Ridge Gap Waveguide at 60 GHz

A high gain, circularly polarized 4x4 antenna array, is proposed. A circularly polarized magneto-electric (ME) dipole element is used as a radiating element. The 4x4 antenna array excited by slots and feeding networks of microstrip ridge gap waveguide (MRGW). A compact design is archived with including the effect of the mutual coupling. The simulated 4x4 array achieved an impedance bandwidth of 20.8% for $\vert {S}11 \vert \lt $- 10 dB with a maximum gain of 20.3 dBi, which is higher than any reported 4x4 array antenna. An axial ratio bandwidth of 18.3% is achieved.
Bleeding risk after percutaneous breast needle biopsy in patients on anticoagulation therapy

Image-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) is the standard of care procedure for tissue diagnosis of suspicious breast lesions. While complications are exceedingly rare, the most common complications include bleeding and hematoma formation. With an increasing number of patients on anticoagulation therapy (AT), it is important to determine whether continuation of these medications during CNB increases bleeding risk. While previous studies have demonstrated the safety in continuation of AT during CNB, American College of Radiology (ACR) guidelines recommend practitioners decide whether cessation is necessary on a case-by-case basis as this may put patients at risk for thromboembolic events. The purpose of this review is to analyze the literature on anticoagulation and bleeding risk during CNB to guide clinical practice.
Representations of attachment security, attachment avoidance, and gender in Ugandan children.

Researchers returned to the home of Mary Ainsworth’s original attachment study to explore the contributions of Ugandan children’s representations of attachment interactions with their caregivers to...
DIAGNOSTIC DILEMMAS IN THE HISTOLOGIC EVALUATION OF SALIVARY GLAND TUMORS

SUMMARY Salivary gland tumors are often challenging lesions for the pathologist. Their heterogenous and overlapping features may be problematic. Salivary gland tumors may also resemble certain skin, odontogenic, or metastatic neoplasms. The basis for diagnosis is still routine histology in conjunction with a good history. The best method for an accurate diagnosis is an adequate biopsy, which allows for an examination of representative fields of what may be a varied tumor, and an appreciation of the tumor/stroma interface.
Metachronal waves in concentrations of swimming Turbatrix aceti nematodes and an oscillator chain model for their coordinated motions

At high concentration, free swimming nematodes known as vinegar eels (Turbatrix aceti), collectively exhibit metachronal waves near a boundary. We find that the frequency of the collective traveling wave is lower than that of the freely swimming organisms. We explore models based on a chain of oscillators with nearest-neighbor interactions that inhibit oscillator phase velocity. The phase of each oscillator represents the phase of the motion of the eel's head back and forth about its mean position. A strongly interacting directed chain model mimicking steric repulsion between organisms robustly gives traveling wave states and can approximately match the observed wavelength and oscillation frequency of the observed traveling wave. We predict body shapes assuming that waves propagate down the eel body at a constant speed. The phase oscillator model that impedes eel head overlaps also reduces close interactions throughout the eel bodies.
NMR spectroscopy of the heart: Part II

The heart has been one of the most extensively studied biological tissues using NMR spectroscopy. The importance of the heart function and the prevalence of heart disease are major reasons for this attention. However, several aspects of the heart's morphology and the availability of in vitro models suitable for NMR studies have also been important factors in the application of this technique. The purpose of this discourse is to review the techniques used to perform the NMR spectroscopy experiment on the heart, both in vitro and in vivo.