cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Secreted Factor Coordinates Environmental Quality with Bacillus Development

Entry into sporulation is governed by the master regulator Spo0A. Spo0A accumulates in its active form, Spo0A-P, as cells enter stationary phase. Prior reports have shown that the acute induction of constitutively active Spo0A during exponential growth does not result in sporulation. However, a subsequent study also found that a gradual increase in Spo0A-P, mediated through artificial expression of the kinase, KinA, during exponential growth, is sufficient to trigger sporulation. We report here that sporulation via KinA induction depends on the presence of an extracellular factor or factors (FacX) that only accumulates to active levels during post-exponential growth. FacX is retained by dialysis with a cutoff smaller than 500 Dalton, can be concentrated, and is susceptible to proteinase K digestion, similar to described quorum-sensing peptides shown to be involved in promoting sporulation. However, unlike previously characterized peptides, FacX activity does not require the Opp or App oligopeptide transporter systems. In addition, FacX activity does not depend on SigH, Spo0A, or ComX. Importantly, we find that in the presence of FacX, B. subtilis can be induced to sporulate following the artificial induction of constitutively active Spo0A. These results indicate that there is no formal requirement for gradual Spo0A-P accumulation and instead support the idea that sporulation requires both sufficient levels of active Spo0A and at least one other signal or condition.
Aerooptical Interactions in Turbulent Compressible Separated Shear Layers and the Interfacial-Fluid-Thickness Approach

The interfacial-fluid-thickness (IFT) approach is extended to investigate the structure of highgradient regions of the density field and their eect on the aberrations of optical wavefronts in turbulent compressible separated shear layers. A new aerooptics facility was designed and built to allow simultaneous imaging of the density field and the flow-generated optical wavefront distortions. This novel facility consists of a main Aerooptics Pressure Vessel that has an inside diameter of 4 feet, an internal height of 8 feet, and it can be pressurized up to 20 atm. Benchmark testing of the new Aerooptics Pressure Vessel Facility enabled the simultaneous measurement of density-field images and optical-wavefront images from a turbulent separated shear layer at low-compressibility (Mc 0.15) and medium-compressibility (Mc 0.47) conditions. The variations in interfacial fluid thickness or inverse of the local density gradient were extracted from the density-field images in order to examine their direct eect on the propagation of optical wavefronts. One of the major benefits of using the IFT approach is being able to identify spatially isolated high-gradient networks corresponding to locally-thin interfaces, which were observed to dominate the large-scale aerooptical distortions on the basis of direct correlation between the measured optical wavefront distortions and the instantaneous flow structure. The high-gradient networks of the density field, and their eect on the optical wavefront distortions, are compared to the shear-layer mixing-field counterparts. The IFT approach suggests a new way to model the flow-generated aerooptical distortions at large Reynolds numbers for incompressible, low-, medium-, and high-compressibility flow conditions.
Newest Development of CO_2 Sequestration in the World

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the major greenhouse gas(GHG). CO2 sequestration, as a CO2 emission control technology, is given more and more attention. This review introduces the newest development of CO2 sequestration in some developed country in the world.
Chemically activated cow bone for increased fluoride removal from drinking water

Thermally activated cow bone is widely utilized for treating fluoride impacted drinking water to meet the World Health Organization guideline value of 1.5 mg/L. However, the fluoride removal capacity of bone char is low, leaving room for further improvement. This study, therefore, strives to improve the fluoride adsorption capacity of cow bone by using chemical activation in place of thermal activation. Chemically activated cow bones (CABs) had, on average, a four-fold higher fluoride adsorption capacity than bone char. Characterization of the most effective CAB were made to explore potential reasons for the increased fluoride adsorption capacity. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the CAB showed formation of bassanite and monetite minerals which may be responsible for the higher fluoride adsorption capacity. Chemical activation is also a lower-cost production process than the thermal activation of cow bone. Further, a higher mass of media was recovered per unit mass of starting material during chemical activation. Therefore, this research shows that increased fluoride removal capacity can be achieved with chemical activation of cow bone while reducing activation costs and greatly increasing product yield per unit mass of starting material, all of which support further evaluation and field testing of this material.
Continuous bladder irrigation in the monoplace hyperbaric chamber: Two case reports.

Introduction Radiation-induced hemorrhagic cystitis is a serious side effect of radiation therapy. Anemia requiring transfusion can ensue. Treatment methods include bladder irrigation, fulguration, and hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy. Failure of treatment leads to cystectomy associated with a high risk of severe complications (42%) and mortality (16%). Continuous bladder irrigation (CBI) is often required to prevent further clot formation. HBO2 supports the healing process of radiation cystitis. In patients requiring CBI, the time in HBO2 can help cause clot accumulation and obstruction. We describe a method of providing CBI in a monoplace hyperbaric chamber. Materials and methods An IV to catheter adapter is used, allowing an IV pump to control CBI flow into the chamber. Drainage is collected in an extra-large (2- to 5-liter) bag. The rate is set so the volume does not exceed the bag's capacity. The bag is placed in a manner that precludes spilling and allows monitoring of outflow. Results CBI was successfully maintained. Brief cases are presented and issues discussed. Summary/conclusions CBI is easily maintained in a monoplace hyperbaric chamber, with readily available equipment allowing for uninterrupted CBI of hemorrhagic cystitis. HBO2 helps mitigate the potential side effects of other interventions in a previously irradiated area.
How Do Students Reason About Chemical Substances and Reactions

The central goal of this work is to illustrate how the analysis of chemistry student thinking based on the identification of implicit assumptions about the nature of chemical substances and processes, together with the elicitation of shortcut reasoning strategies used to make judgments and decisions, can help us better explain the difficulties that our students face when asked to use atomic–molecular models of matter to analyze structure–property relationships. This way of conceptualizing student reasoning has several pedagogical advantages. First, it helps us make sense of and bring coherence to a variety of reported alternative conceptions and common student errors in different chemistry topics. Moreover, it facilitates making predictions about students’ ideas and difficulties in many areas. Finally, it provides a framework for analyzing progression of understanding with training in the discipline.
Hazards of Working in the Operating Room

The practice of anesthesiology is associated with exposure to many potential hazards, both physical and psychological. Operating room (OR) personnel are routinely exposed to low levels of anesthetic gases, radiation, and infectious disease and occasionally to high levels of psychological stress. Anesthesiologists should be aware of these potential hazards so that they can take steps to mitigate these risks by the application of proper safety precautions.
Gyro-aided visual tracking using iterative Earth Mover's Distance

An efficient gyro-aided iterative Earth Mover's Distance (iEMD) algorithm for visual tracking is proposed in this paper. The Earth Mover's Distance (EMD) is used as the similarity measure to search the optimal template candidates in color-spatial space in a video sequence. The computation of the EMD is formulated as the transportation problem from linear programming. The efficiency of this optimization problem limits its use for visual tracking. To efficiently track a target, a monotonically convergent iterative optimization algorithm is developed. Based on the current location of the template candidate, the EMD is calculated and reformulated as the function of the weights of the template candidate. Then the derivative of the EMD with respect to the template displacement is calculated to search for the new position of the target. The iEMD tracking algorithm assumes small inter-frame movement in order to guarantee convergence. When the camera is mounted on a moving robot, e.g., a flying quadcopter, the camera could experience sudden and rapid motion leading to large inter-frame movements. In order to ensure that the tracking algorithm converges, synchronized gyroscope information is utilized to compensate for the rotation of the camera. Three publicly available datasets are used to validate the proposed algorithm. This algorithm is compared with the Mutual Information tracker and the kernel-based Mean-shift tracker by tracking an object undergoing severe illumination changes. The iEMD algorithm outperforms the others in terms of accuracy. The robustness of this algorithm to the ego-motion of the camera is also illustrated.
Laparoscopic Approach for Thermoablation Microwave in the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Single Center Experience

Abstract Background: The surgical therapy of choice for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is liver transplantation (LT) or hepatic resection, although only a small percentage of patients can undergo these procedures. Microwave thermal ablation (MWTA) can be an effective alternative treatment for HCC that complicates a cirrhotic liver disease, either as a final procedure or for downstaging patients on the waiting list for LT, or in combination with resective surgery to achieve oncological radicality. Objective: The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate experience with the laparoscopic approach of MWTA at our center. Materials and Methods: In a cohort of 35 consecutive patients undergoing MWTA with laparoscopic approach between January, 2013 and May, 2016, we reviewed the demographic data, the Barcelona clinic liver cancer stage, the severity of cirrhotic liver disease, the size of the ablated lesion, the duration of the procedure, and complications occurring within 90 days of surgery. Results: M...
Casein kinase 1-epsilon deletion increases mu opioid receptor-dependent behaviors and binge eating1.

Genetic and pharmacological studies indicate that casein kinase-1 epsilon (Csnk1e) contributes to psychostimulant, opioid, and ethanol motivated behaviors. We previously used pharmacological inhibition to demonstrate that Csnk1e negatively regulates the locomotor stimulant properties of opioids and psychostimulants. Here, we tested the hypothesis that Csnk1e negatively regulates opioid and psychostimulant reward using genetic inhibition and the conditioned place preference assay in Csnk1e knockout mice. Similar to pharmacological inhibition, Csnk1e knockout mice showed enhanced opioid-induced locomotor activity with the mu opioid receptor agonist fentanyl (0.2 mg/kg i.p.) as well as enhanced sensitivity to low-dose fentanyl reward (0.05 mg/kg). Interestingly, female knockout mice also showed a markedly greater escalation in consumption of sweetened palatable food – a behavioral pattern consistent with binge eating that also depends on mu opioid receptor activation. No difference was observed in fentanyl analgesia in the 52.5 °C hot plate assay (0–0.4 mg/kg), naloxone conditioned place aversion (4 mg/kg), or methamphetamine conditioned place preference (0–4 mg/kg). To identify molecular adaptations associated with increased drug and food behaviors in knockout mice, we completed transcriptome analysis via mRNA sequencing of the striatum. Enrichment analysis identified terms associated with myelination and axon guidance and pathway analysis identified a differentially expressed gene set predicted to be regulated by the Wnt signaling transcription factor, Tcf7l2. To summarize, Csnk1e deletion increased mu opioid receptor-dependent behaviors, supporting previous studies indicating an endogenous negative regulatory role of Csnk1e in opioid behavior.
Time-Correlated, Single-Photon Counting Methods in Endothelial Cell Mechanobiology

While mechanical forces are known to guide the development of nearly all biological tissues including bone, cartilage, and many soft tissues, much attention has focused on endothelial cell mechanobiology and the role of blood flow-induced forces in regulating the health of blood vessels. It is now well accepted that modulation of endothelial cell physiology and pathophysiology by fluid mechanical forces is a principal reason why atherosclerotic lesions are located at areas of disturbed flow including at arterial branch points and areas of high arterial curvature. However, the molecular identity of endothelial cell mechanosensors remains elusive largely due to the complexity of cell mechanics and to the difficulty in identifying when and where a candidate mechanosensor has been perturbed. Thus, new methods of cell-specific mechanical modeling along with molecular-scale readouts of perturbation by force are needed to help unravel the magnitude-, time-, and position-dependent responses of endothelial cells to mechanical forces.
Combustion synthesis of transition metal nitrides

Owing to the high heats of reaction between refractory metals and nitrogen, refractory metal nitrides can be synthesized within seconds via self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) reactions. The combustion reactions utilize pelletized or loosely packed metal systems, and are initiated by an external heat source. The high initial porosity of loosely packed powders guarantees the completion of reaction and the achievement of high yield under relatively low nitrogen pressures. The reaction product is a very fine powder which can be easily densified.
Response of Cross-Ply and Quasi-Isotropic Laminates to Distributed Dynamic Surface Loads

The dynamic surface load problem for elastic solids has been investigated extensively because of its importance in a variety of engineering applications including nondestructive evaluation (NDE) [1]. To the authors’ knowledge the theoretical solution to the problem of the anisotropic and heterogeneous plate has not appeared in the literature to date. The two-dimensional line load problem of the multilayered laminate has been considered by Green and Baylis [2] and others. The formal solution of the three dimensional problem for a multilayered, angle-ply laminate subjected to spatially periodic distributed surface loads has been given by Mai [3]. Mai and Lih [4,5] have examined the response of a unidirectional fiber composite plate subjected to transient point and line loads.
A note on soil and water mercury levels in Israel and the Sinai

Mercury analyses were carried out on 25 soil samples and 6 water samples collected during visits to 21 sites in Israel and the Sinai in December 1972 and February to June 1974. Water samples all yielded less than 1 µg kg−1 of Hg although mineral scale from municipal water in Rehovot contained 220 µg kg−1 and Dead Sea salt crystals contained 1000 µg kg−1.
Power Grid Security Improvement by Remedial Action Schemes Using Vulnerability Assessment Based on Fault Chains and Power Flow

The risk of large-scale blackouts and cascading failures in power grids can be due to vulnerable transmission lines and lack of proper remediation techniques after recognizing the first failure. In this paper, we assess the vulnerability of a system using fault chain theory and a power flow-based method, and calculate the probability of large-scale blackout. Further, we consider a Remedial Action Scheme (RAS) to reduce the vulnerability of the system and to harden the critical components against intentional attacks. To identify the most critical lines more efficiently, a new vulnerability index is presented. The effectiveness of the new index and the impact of the applied RAS is illustrated on the IEEE 14-bus test system.
Clinical and Molecular Factors Associated With Histologic Response to Topical Steroid Treatment in Patients With Eosinophilic Esophagitis.

Background & Aims Few factors have been identified that can be used to predict response of patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) to topical steroid treatment. We aimed to determine whether baseline clinical, endoscopic, histologic, and molecular features of EoE can be used to predict histologic response. Methods We collected data from 97 patients with EoE, from 2009 through 2015, treated with a topical steroid for 8 weeks; 59 patients had a histologic response to treatment. Baseline clinicopathologic features and gene expression patterns were compared between patients with a histologic response to treatment ( Results Baseline dilation was the only independent predictor of non-response (odds ratio [OR], 0.30; 95% CI, 0.10–0.89). When an alternate response ( Conclusions In an analysis of 97 patients with EoE, we found dilation to be the only baseline factor associated with non-response to steroid treatment (
Feasibility and accuracy of speckle tracking echocardiography in emergency department patients.

Abstract Background Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is a novel technology that measures regional wall-motion abnormalities that may speed diagnosis and intervention of acute coronary occlusion in Emergency Department (ED) patients with non-ST elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS). STE provides an objective measurement of myocardial strain that is superior to visual assessment of wall motion when performed as part of a point-of-care (POC) echocardiogram. We determined the feasibility and preliminary accuracy of POC STE operated by emergency providers when compared to comprehensive echocardiography or final diagnosis of ACS. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 187 emergency provider POC echocardiograms with STE from 7/2014–5/2016 for suspected ACS at a large academic trauma center. Feasibility of POC STE was determined by calculating the percentage of complete exams (adequate apical 4-chamber and parasternal short axis views) out of all STE exams. We then used two different criterion standards for calculating diagnostic accuracy of STE: comprehensive echocardiograms with wall motion abnormalities or formal diagnosis of ACS based on elevated cardiac troponins, unstable angina, percutaneous coronary intervention, or coronary artery stenosis >70% on catheterization. Results Of 187 STE studies performed, 75 (40%) were considered complete. Ultrasound-experienced providers had higher rates of complete exams (65% vs. 35%, P = 0.01). 16 of 75 exams (21%) were positive for myocardial strain, and of these 16 (100%) were admitted, 12 (75%) had positive troponins, 6 (46%) had positive comprehensive echocardiograms, and 3 (19%) had PCI or >70% stenotic lesion on catheterization. Compared with comprehensive echocardiography, POC STE had 35% sensitivity, 70% specificity, 46% positive predictive value (PPV), and 59% negative predictive value (NPV). Compared with formal diagnosis of ACS, POC STE had 29% sensitivity, 88% specificity, 75% positive predictive value (PPV), and 51% negative predictive value (NPV). Conclusion STE is a potentially feasible adjunct to standard bedside echocardiography in ED patients with suspected ACS when operated by experienced ultrasound-trained physicians in the ED. This data shows STE performed by emergency providers is not yet sensitive enough alone to diagnose ACS, and has low accuracy when compared to comprehensive echocardiography. However, the PPV and specificity improve when performed by expert ultrasound-trained providers. STE should be considered for inclusion in the Emergency Ultrasound Fellowship curriculum.
Patient Perspectives Regarding Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation in Myelofibrosis

ABSTRACT Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) is a curative treatment for patients with myelofibrosis (MF); however, many HCT-eligible patients decline this potentially life-saving procedure. The reasons behind this decision are not clear. We sought to survey patients with MF to understand their perspective on HCT. A 63-question survey was posted on myeloproliferative neoplasm patient advocacy websites. A total of 129 patients with MF responded to the survey. Among these patients, 49 (41%) were referred for HCT, and 41(32%) attended the transplantation consult. Of the patients who attended the transplantation consult, 24 (59%) did not plan on going on to HCT, and 16 (41%) intended to proceed with HCT. Reasons for the decision to not undergo transplantation included the desire to not be ill, desire to not spend time in the hospital, and concerns about overall quality of life. Specifically, concerns related to financial impact and the risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) were expressed. Patients who decided to proceed with HCT felt that this would extend their survival and allow them to be around family for longer. This is the first survey to investigate patient perceptions regarding HCT for MF. Less than one-half of the patients were referred for HCT, and of those, less than one-half planned on proceeding with the transplantation, suggesting that many patients do not receive this life-saving procedure. Further exploration of the basis of patients' reluctance to proceed with HCT is warranted.
Noise-Assisted Multivariate EMD-Based Mean-Phase Coherence Analysis to Evaluate Phase-Synchrony Dynamics in Epilepsy Patients

Spatiotemporal evolution of synchrony dynamics among neuronal populations plays an important role in decoding complicated brain function in normal cognitive processing as well as during pathological conditions such as epileptic seizures. In this paper, a non-linear analytical methodology is proposed to quantitatively evaluate the phase-synchrony dynamics in epilepsy patients. A set of finite neuronal oscillators was adaptively extracted from a multi-channel electrocorticographic (ECoG) dataset utilizing noise-assisted multivariate empirical mode de-composition (NA-MEMD). Next, the instantaneous phases of the oscillatory functions were extracted using the Hilbert transform in order to be utilized in the mean-phase coherence analysis. The phase-synchrony dynamics were then assessed using eigenvalue decomposition. The extracted neuronal oscillators were grouped with respect to their frequency range into wideband (1–600 Hz), ripple (80–250 Hz), and fast-ripple (250–600 Hz) bands in order to investigate the dynamics of ECoG activity in these frequency ranges as seizures evolve. Drug-refractory patients with frontal and temporal lobe epilepsy demonstrated a reduction in phase-synchrony around seizure onset. However, the network phase-synchrony started to increase toward seizure end and achieved its maximum level at seizure offset for both types of epilepsy. This result suggests that hyper-synchronization of the epileptic network may be an essential self-regulatory mechanism by which the brain terminates seizures.
Inflammation and Liver Cancer: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with chronic inflammation and fibrosis arising from different etiologies, including hepatitis B and C and alcoholic and nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases. The inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 and their downstream targets nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 drive inflammation-associated HCC. Further, while adaptive immunity promotes immune surveillance to eradicate early HCC, adaptive immune cells, such as CD8+ T cells, Th17 cells, and B cells, can also stimulate HCC development. Thus, the role of the hepatic immune system in HCC development is a highly complex topic. This review highlights the role of cytokine signals, NF-κB, JNK, innate and adaptive immunity, and hepatic stellate cells in HCC and discusses whether these pathways could be therapeutic targets. The authors will also discuss cholangiocarcinoma and liver metastasis because biliary inflammation and tumor-associated stroma are essential for cholangiocarcinoma development and because primary tumor-derived inflammatory mediators promote the formation of a “premetastasis niche” in the liver.
Allopregnanolone as a Therapeutic to Regenerate the Degenerated Brain

Neurosteroids regulate both regeneration and repair systems in the brain. Among this class of molecules, allopregnanolone (Allo) is the first regenerative therapeutic that has been extensively investigated in animal models and more recently in humans for its capacity to promote regeneration in the central and peripheral nervous system. In preclinical analyses, Allo induced generation and survival of new neurons in the hippocampus of aged mice and in transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which was associated with restoration of learning and memory function. Allo is a proliferative factor for both neural stem cells and pre-progenitor oligodendrocytes, increasing both the number of newly generated cells and their survival. Safety characteristics of Allo regulation of neurogenesis indicate that the regenerative system it affects is tightly regulated with closely guarded thresholds for both activation and magnitude of proliferation. In the brain of mice with AD, Allo increased liver X receptor and pregnane X receptor expression, reduced s-amyloid and microglial activation, and increased markers of white matter generation. Results of preclinical studies indicate that an optimal treatment regimen of Allo to promote endogenous regeneration is one that is administered once per week over the course of several months. Allo dose and frequency of exposure are determining factors regulating its therapeutic efficacy. Previous and current human safety exposure data supported by extensive preclinical efficacy data are strong foundations for the clinical development of Allo as a therapeutic to regenerate the degenerated brain.
Analysis of Temporal Relationships between ASD and Brain Activity through EEG and Machine Learning

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that impairs normative social cognitive and communicative function. Early diagnosis is crucial for the timely and efficacious treatment of ASD. The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule Second Edition (ADOS-2) is the current gold standard for diagnosing ASD. In this paper, we analyse the short-term and long-term relationships between ASD and brain activity using Electroencephalography (EEG) readings taken during the administration of ADOS-2. These readings were collected from 8 children diagnosed with ASD, and 9 low risk controls. We derive power spectrums for each electrode through frequency band decomposition and through wavelet transforms relative to a baseline, and generate two sets of training data that captures long-term and short-term trends respectively. We utilize machine learning models to predict the ASD diagnosis and the ADOS-2 scores, which provide an estimate for the presence of such trends. When evaluating short-term dependencies, we obtain a maximum of 56% accuracy of classification through linear models. Non-linear models provide a classification above 92% accuracy, and predicted ADOS-2 scores within an RMSE of 4. We use a CNN model to evaluate the long-term trends, and obtain a classification accuracy above 90%. Our findings have implications for using EEG as a non-invasive bio-marker for ASD with minimal feature manipulation and computational overhead.
Effectiveness of the active learning in organic chemistry faculty development workshops

Active learning has been shown to improve student outcomes and learning, yet organic chemistry instructors have been slow to adopt these pedagogies. The Chemistry Collaborations, Workshops, and Communities of Scholars (cCWCS) Active Learning in Organic Chemistry (ALOC) workshops have sought to facilitate the adoption of active learning methods by helping participants define active learning and understand best practices, persuading them to incorporate these practices into their teaching, and supporting their implementation efforts through an online community, Organic Educational Resources (OrganicERs.org). The effectiveness of the workshops was measured over a two-year period using teaching self-efficacy and teaching practices instruments. Comparison to pre-workshop self-efficacy surveys found significant and sustained gains for knowledge about and belief in the efficacy of active learning methods (d = 1.18 compared to pre-workshop responses) and confidence in intention to implement (d = 0.60). Belief that they were implementing more active learning in their classrooms (d = 0.85) was corroborated by the teaching practices survey and survey of class time allocation which also showed statistically significant (p < 0.001) and sustained growth in student centered teaching (d = 1.00), formative assessment (d = 1.04), student–student interactions (d = 0.96), and the amount of class time spent with students working in groups (d = 0.68) for the workshop participants. Gains for participants in the 3 hour Active Learning in Organic Chemistry workshops at the 2016 Biennial Conference on Chemical Education (BCCE) were smaller than those in the 4 day ALOC workshops, but still meaningful. These results indicate that the 2015 and 2016 Active Learning in Organic Chemistry faculty development workshops effectively increased participants’ knowledge about, belief in the efficacy of, and implementation of active learning methods.
Leprocaulon beechingii (Leprocaulaceae), a new species from the southern Appalachian Mountains of eastern North America

Leprocaulon beechingii is described as new to science based on collections from exposed rock outcrops in the southern Appalachian Mountains in eastern North America. Taxonomic placement in Leprocaulon, and delimitation from other members of the genus with usnic acid, is supported by molecular phylogenetic analyses of ITS and mtSSU sequence data. The species is readily recognized by its occurrence on non-calcareous rocks, normandinoides-type placodioid thallus, and the production of usnic acid and zeorin.
Mining social interaction data in virtual worlds

Virtual worlds and massively multi-player online games are rich sources of information about large-scale teams and groups, offering the tantalizing possibility of harvesting data about group formation, social networks, and network evolution. However these environments lack many of the cues that facilitate natural language processing in other conversational settings and different types of social media. Public chat data often features players who speak simultaneously, use jargon and emoticons, and only erratically adhere to conversational norms. This chapter presents techniques for inferring the existence of social links from unstructured conversational data collected from groups of participants in the Second Life virtual world.
On Voronoi diagrams and dual Delaunay complexes on the information-geometric Cauchy manifolds.

We study the Voronoi diagrams of a finite set of Cauchy distributions and their dual complexes from the viewpoint of information geometry by considering the Fisher-Rao distance, the Kullback-Leibler divergence, the chi square divergence, and a flat divergence derived from Tsallis' quadratic entropy related to the conformal flattening of the Fisher-Rao curved geometry. We prove that the Voronoi diagrams of the Fisher-Rao distance, the chi square divergence, and the Kullback-Leibler divergences all coincide with a hyperbolic Voronoi diagram on the corresponding Cauchy location-scale parameters, and that the dual Cauchy hyperbolic Delaunay complexes are Fisher orthogonal to the Cauchy hyperbolic Voronoi diagrams. The dual Voronoi diagrams with respect to the dual forward/reverse flat divergences amount to dual Bregman Voronoi diagrams, and their dual complexes are regular triangulations. The primal Bregman-Tsallis Voronoi diagram corresponds to the hyperbolic Voronoi diagram and the dual Bregman-Tsallis Voronoi diagram coincides with the ordinary Euclidean Voronoi diagram. Besides, we prove that the square root of the Kullback-Leibler divergence between Cauchy distributions yields a metric distance which is Hilbertian for the Cauchy scale families.
Transcriptomic comparison of human and mouse brain microvessels

The brain vasculature maintains brain homeostasis by tightly regulating ionic, molecular, and cellular transport between the blood and the brain parenchyma. These blood-brain barrier (BBB) properties are impediments to brain drug delivery, and brain vascular dysfunction accompanies many neurological disorders. The molecular constituents of brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) and pericytes, which share a basement membrane and comprise the microvessel structure, remain incompletely characterized, particularly in humans. To improve the molecular database of these cell types, we performed RNA sequencing on brain microvessel preparations isolated from snap-frozen human and mouse tissues by laser capture microdissection (LCM). The resulting transcriptome datasets from LCM microvessels were enriched in known brain endothelial and pericyte markers, and global comparison identified previously unknown microvessel-enriched genes. We used these datasets to identify mouse-human species differences in microvessel-associated gene expression that may have relevance to BBB regulation and drug delivery. Further, by comparison of human LCM microvessel data with existing human BMEC transcriptomic datasets, we identified novel putative markers of human brain pericytes. Together, these data improve the molecular definition of BMECs and brain pericytes, and are a resource for rational development of new brain-penetrant therapeutics and for advancing understanding of brain vascular function and dysfunction.
Predictors of Mind–Body Therapy Use Among Sexual Minority Older Adults

Introduction: Sexual minority (SM; lesbian, gay, bisexual) older adults age 50+ experience a higher prevalence of chronic disease and disability, as well as a poorer physical and mental health status, compared with their heterosexual peers. Many adults use complementary and integrative therapies, particularly mind-body therapies, as health-enhancing approaches and to support well-being. However, no study to date has examined the use of mind-body therapies among SM older adults. Materials and Methods: Data were from the 2017 National Health Interview Survey. Descriptive and summary statistics were calculated to describe use of mind-body therapies by SM older adults (aged 50+). The authors also tested associations between use of mind-body therapies and health and well-being among SM older adults and compared associations with their non-SM counterparts. Results: SM older adults reported higher usage (36%) of mind-body therapies compared with heterosexual adults (22%), with lesbian women reporting the highest use (39.4%). Having a SM identity was associated with mind-body therapy use; SM older adults were 57% more likely to use a mind-body therapy. Conclusion: Mind-body therapies may be a useful tool for SM older adults to enhance their health and well-being. Future qualitative research is needed to investigate more deeply the reasons SM older adults use mind-body therapies. To advance the health and well-being of SM older adults, the authors also need intervention studies that explore the effectiveness of mind-body interventions and the possible need for tailoring these to the unique needs of this population.
Influence of Gestational Age and Mode of Delivery on Neonatal Outcomes in Prenatally Diagnosed Isolated Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia.

Aim The optimal gestational age (GA) at delivery and mode of delivery (MoD) for pregnancies with fetal congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is undetermined. The impact of early term (37-38 weeks 6 days) versus full term (39-40 weeks 6 days) and MoD on immediate neonatal outcomes in prenatally diagnosed isolated CDH cases was evaluated. Material and methods A retrospective chart review of pregnancies evaluated and delivered with the prenatal diagnosis of CDH between July 1, 2008, and December 31, 2018. The primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge. Secondary outcomes included neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) length of stay (LOS), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) requirement and need for supplemental oxygen at day 30 of life. Results A total of 296 patients were prenatally evaluated for CDH and delivered in a single center during the study period. After applying exclusion criteria, data were available on 113 women who delivered early term and 72 women who delivered full term. Survival to hospital discharge was comparable between the 2 groups - 83.2% in the early term versus 93.1% in the full term (p = 0.07; 95% CI of 0.13-1.04). No difference was observed in any other secondary outcomes. MoD was stratified into spontaneous vaginal, induced vaginal, unplanned cesarean and scheduled cesarean delivery with associated neonatal survival rates of 74.2, 90.6, 89.7 and 88.2%, respectively, p = 0.13. The 5-min Apgar score was higher in the elective cesarean group (7.94) followed by the induced vaginal delivery group (7.8) compared to 7.17 and 7.18 in the spontaneous vaginal and unplanned cesarean groups, respectively (p = 0.03). The GA and MoD did not influence survival to hospital discharge nor NICU LOS in multivariate analysis. Conclusions Though there were no significant differences in neonatal outcomes for early term compared to full term deliveries of CDH neonates, a trend toward improved survival rates and lower ECMO requirements in the full term group may suggest an underlying importance GA at delivery. Further studies are warranted to validate these findings.
Beef cattle feedlot surface water containing multi-class agrochemicals elicits physiological and behavioral responses among Daphnia pulex

Despite increasing public concern about air and water pollution risks posed by concentrated animal feeding operation areas (CAFOs), there is little information about bioavailability and ecosystem impacts of agrochemicals used to increase productivity. In this study, we investigated the toxicity of wastewaters originating from beef cattle feeding operation on Daphnia pulex. Specifically, we assessed lethal and chronic sublethal exposure effects using various endpoints including survival, oxygen consumption, morphology, reproduction, and swimming behavior. Exposure assessments (acute and chronic) were performed with ten (10) surface water samples collected from on-site retention ponds designated as A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, and R (reference site). Surface water samples were diluted to yield five concentrations (stock, 1 × , 2 × , 3 × , and 4 ×) as treatments and deionized water was used as control. Results showed site-specific and concentration-related effects on toxicity endpoints. Among treatments, significant (p < 0.05) increase in mortality rate (for A, E, F, and H) and decreasing total body length and width (for B, C, D, and G) of D. pulex were observed with increasing wastewater concentration. However, treatments did not have significant effect on swimming behavior (average speed) after exposure to the wastewater samples from all sites except for site E. Evidence from this study suggested that surface waters near beef cattle feed yards affected physiological responses in D. pulex and therefore may similarly affect organisms in the surrounding aquatic ecosystems.
Successful Outcomes With Transplanting Kidneys From Deceased Donors With Acute Kidney Injury Necessitating Temporary Renal Replacement Therapy: Avenue for Increase in Organ Utilization

Background: Our aim was to determine outcomes with transplanting kidneys from deceased donors with severe acute kidney injury requiring acute renal replacement therapy. Methods: We included all patients who received deceased donor kidney transplant during 2008 to 2019. We compared the graft survival, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and findings on surveillance biopsy in three groups of deceased donor kidneys: Acute Kidney Injury stage 3 (AKIN3) with RRT, AKIN3 without RRT, and <85% Kidney Donor profile Index (KDPI) donors without AKI (AKIN 0). Findings: There were 172 recipients who received a kidney from donors with Acute Kidney injury stage 3 (AKIN3) requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT). We compared the study group to 528 recipients who received a kidney from donors with AKIN stage 3 not on RRT and 463 recipients who received 2 on protocol biopsy at 4 months and 1 year was similar across the three groups. Interpretation: Transplanting selected kidneys from deceased donors with AKIN3 requiring RRT is safe and has excellent outcomes. Funding Statement: None. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Ethics Approval Statement: This study was approved by the Mayo Clinic Institutional Review Board as a retrospective, single center case control study of patients receiving deceased donor kidney transplantation during 2008 to 2019.
Induction of the integrated stress response in the rat cornea.

Abstract Keratoconus (KC), a progressive, degenerative corneal disease, represents the second leading indication for corneal transplantation globally. We have previously demonstrated that components of the Integrated Stress Response (ISR) are upregulated in human keratoconic donor tissue, and treatment of normal tissue with ISR agonists attenuates collagen production. With no consistently accepted animal models available for translational KC research, we sought to establish an in vivo model based on ISR activation to elucidate its role in the development of the KC phenotype. Four-week-old female SD rats were treated with topical SAL003 formulated as a nanosuspension or vehicle every 48 h for four doses. Animals were subject to monitoring for ocular inflammation and discomfort before being euthanized at 1, 14, or 28 days after treatment was withdrawn. Schirmer's tear test, intraocular pressure, and body weight measurements were obtained at baseline and prior to euthanasia. Globes were subject to routine histopathology, immunohistochemistry for ATF4, and qPCR for Col1a1 expression. ANOVAs and Student's t tests were used to assess statistical significance (α = 0.05). SAL003 treatment did not produce any adverse ocular or systemic phenotype but did result in decreased keratocyte density. Col1a1 transcripts were reduced, corresponding to nuclear ATF4 expression within the axial cornea. In vivo topical treatment with a gel-formulated ISR agonist recapitulates key features of the activated ISR including nuclear ATF4 expression and decreased extracellular matrix (ECM) production. Exogenous ISR agonists may present one approach to establishing a rodent model for keratoconus, a charge essential for future evaluations of pathogenesis and therapeutic interventions.
Radical SAM Enzyme QmpB Installs Two 9-Membered Ring Sactionine Macrocycles during Biogenesis of a Ribosomal Peptide Natural Product

We report the reaction catalyzed by QmpB, a new radical S-adenosylmethionine enzyme encoded by a ribosomal peptide natural product gene cluster in Streptococcus suis. Using isotopic labeling, site-directed mutagenesis, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and multidimensional NMR spectroscopy, we show that QmpB installs two 9-membered ring sactionine bridges, connecting a Cys residue with an upstream Asn via an α-thioether bridge, with the two macrocycles separated by a single residue. QmpB is only the second type II sactionine synthase characterized to date.
Erythrocytic Deformability in Cystic Fibrosis

A changed erythrocytic (RBC) deformability has been described in various pathological entities, but to our knowledge not in cystic fibrosis (CF). In the latter, both the basic membrane defect nature of the anomaly and a number of its complications suggest a decreased RBC deformability. The RBC deformability of 20 children randomly selected from among the CF patients under the care of the Dept. of Pediatrics was investigated, the result was compared with that for 20 age and sex matched healthy children.
Classification and novel class detection in data streams with active mining

We present ActMiner, which addresses four major challenges to data stream classification, namely, infinite length, concept-drift, concept-evolution, and limited labeled data Most of the existing data stream classification techniques address only the infinite length and concept-drift problems Our previous work, MineClass, addresses the concept-evolution problem in addition to addressing the infinite length and concept-drift problems Concept-evolution occurs in the stream when novel classes arrive However, most of the existing data stream classification techniques, including MineClass, require that all the instances in a data stream be labeled by human experts and become available for training This assumption is impractical, since data labeling is both time consuming and costly Therefore, it is impossible to label a majority of the data points in a high-speed data stream This scarcity of labeled data naturally leads to poorly trained classifiers ActMiner actively selects only those data points for labeling for which the expected classification error is high Therefore, ActMiner extends MineClass, and addresses the limited labeled data problem in addition to addressing the other three problems It outperforms the state-of-the-art data stream classification techniques that use ten times or more labeled data than ActMiner.
STUDIES IN ACUTE RENAL FAILURE. III. RENAL HISTOLOGIC ALTERATIONS IN ACUTE RENAL FAILURE IN THE RAT.

Summary The morphologic characteristics of experimental pigment nephropathy are presented. These are divided into four major stages. Some of the implications of these changes are discussed. In particular, it is suggested that the basic process in this form of renal disease is tubular obstruction and that oliguria and necrosis are concomitant effects of such obstruction.
STUART HALL SOBRE RAZA Y RACISMO: ESTUDIOS CULTURALES Y LA PRÁCTICA DEL CONTEXTUALISMO

Stuart Hall's work on race cannot be separated from his work in cultural studies, and in particular, from his commitment to a radical contextualism. In this article, I argue that Stuart Hall's work on race and racism in the context of his own long-standing commitment to a radically contextualist practice, and in particular, with the notion of historical specificity.
Improvements in noble gas separation methodology: A nude cryogenic trap

[1] A new noble gas cryogenic trap design employing polished stainless steel as the active trapping surface is described and tested. This trap offers significant advantages over the charcoal trap systems now commonly used for the preparation of noble gas samples for mass spectrometric analysis. Aliquots of Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe are quantitatively trapped at less than 9 K and selectively released (≥99% at 20 K, 85 K, 110 K, 135 K, respectively). These release temperatures are significantly lower than obtained with conventional charcoal traps. The sorption-desorption characteristics of the trap for the individual gases and neon-argon mixtures are examined in detail as a function of trap temperature. The low release temperatures and improved separation for these noble gases will decrease processing times, reduce blanks and memory, and enhance the purity of noble gas sample preparation as compared to charcoal traps.