cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification of Novel Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Orf50 Transcripts: Discovery of New RTA Isoforms with Variable Transactivation Potential.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is a gammaherpesvirus that has been associated with primary effusion lymphoma and multicentric Castleman's disease, as well as its namesake Kaposi's sarcoma. As a gammaherpesvirus, KSHV is able to acutely replicate, enter latency, and reactivate from this latent state. A key protein involved in both acute replication and reactivation from latency is the replication and transcriptional activator (RTA) encoded by the gene Orf50. RTA is a known transactivator of multiple viral genes, allowing it to control the switch between latency and virus replication. We report here the identification of six alternatively spliced Orf50 transcripts that are generated from four distinct promoters. These newly identified promoters are shown to be transcriptionally active in 293T (embryonic kidney), Vero (African-green monkey kidney epithelial), 3T12 (mouse fibroblast), and RAW 264.7 (mouse macrophage) cell lines. Notably, the newly identified Orf50 transcripts are predicted to encode four different isoforms of the RTA which differ by 6 to 10 residues at the amino terminus of the protein. We show the global viral transactivation potential of all four RTA isoforms and demonstrate that all isoforms can transcriptionally activate an array of KSHV promoters to various levels. The pattern of transcriptional activation appears to support a transcriptional interference model within the Orf50 region, where silencing of previously expressed isoforms by transcription initiation from upstream Orf50 promoters has the potential to modulate the pattern of viral gene activation. IMPORTANCE Gammaherpesviruses are associated with the development of lymphomas and lymphoproliferative diseases, as well as several other types of cancer. The human gammaherpesvirus, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), is tightly associated with the development of Kaposi's sarcoma and multicentric Castleman's disease, as well as a rare form of B cell lymphoma (primary effusion lymphoma) primarily observed in HIV-infected individuals. RTA is an essential viral gene product involved in the initiation of gammaherpesvirus replication and is conserved among all known gammaherpesviruses. We show here for KSHV that transcription of the gene encoding RTA is complex and leads to the expression of several isoforms of RTA with distinct functions. This observed complexity in KSHV RTA expression and function likely plays a critical role in the regulation of downstream viral and cellular gene expression, leading to the efficient production of mature virions.
Investigation of the influence of geomechanical and hydrogeological properties on surface uplift at In Salah

Abstract Coupled reservoir and geomechanical simulations are significantly important to understand the long-term behavior of geologic carbon storage (GCS) systems. In this study, we performed coupled fluid flow and geomechanical modeling of CO2 storage using available field data to (1) validate our existing numerical model and (2) perform parameter estimation via inverse modeling to identify the impact of key geomechanical (Young's modulus and Biot's coefficient) and hydrogeological (permeability and anisotropy ratio) properties on surface uplift and the pore pressure buildup at In Salah in Algeria. Two sets of surface uplift data featuring low and high uplifts above two injection wells and the maximum change in the pore pressure due to CO2 injection were used to constrain the inverse model. Forward simulation results with representative parameter values from the literature match both low and high surface uplifts reasonably well and predicted the maximum change in the pore pressure. In particular, forward modeling results with estimated Biot's coefficients for reservoir and caprock layers, match the observed uplift well, highlighting the significance of Biot's coefficient in coupled reservoir and geomechanical models. Parameter estimation with 12 parameter sets for both low and high uplift data demonstrates that multiple sets of parameters can match the observed data equally well and the inclusion of the pore pressure data is critically important to constrain the parameter solution during inverse modeling. For a majority of cases, estimation results for both low and high uplift data show the vertical intrinsic permeability and Young's modulus of the reservoir remained close to 13 mD (1.3×10−14 m2) and 10 GPa, respectively, suggesting that these parameters may represent the actual effective properties. Additionally, higher correlations between reservoir permeability and caprock's Biot's coefficient with high surface uplift data were observed consistently under the pore pressure constraint, suggesting the inclusion of the pore pressure constraint is required to estimate the proper values of coupled flow and geomechanical properties associated with different surface uplift data. Overall, this study suggests that given limited data, including Biot's coefficient, in addition to permeability and Young's modulus can enhance parameter estimation of the geomechanical response during GCS.
Adolescent Mental Health Disorders

The occurrence of mental health disorders in adolescents is common with lifetime prevalence of any disorder being 46.3 % among 13–18 year olds. The most frequent diagnoses are ADHD followed by depression and other mood disorders. Pediatricians are often the “front line” for screening, diagnosing, and managing many of these adolescents. This chapter will review evaluation and management strategies of the three most common mental health disorders seen in adolescents in primary care. Appropriate treatment strategies of these disorders in primary care and criteria for referral to specialized mental health care treatment will also be discussed.
Homoleptic organolanthanide compounds supported by the bis(dimethylsilyl)benzyl ligand

A β-SiH functionalized benzyl anion [C(SiHMe2)2Ph]- is obtained by deprotonation of HC(SiHMe2)2Ph with KCH2Ph or by reaction of KOtBu and (Me2HSi)3CPh; LnI3(THF)n and three equivalents of this carbanion combine to provide homoleptic tris(alkyl)lanthanide compounds Ln{C(SiHMe2)2Ph}3 (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd) containing secondary metal-ligand interactions.
Establishing Information Privacy Violations: The New York Experience

Threats to information privacy—that is, to the control individuals have over access to, and the dissemination of, information about themselves and their activities—may appear in many forms. Commentators have focused recently, for example, on the threats to information privacy posed by the war on terrorism and, in particular, its invocation to sanction broad new governmental authority to intercept and review otherwise private communications, and to support the creation of a national identification system. And much has been said about the demand for personal information in the commercial market,
Antibacterial and bioactive coatings on titanium implant surfaces

Various surface modifications have been tried for enhancing osseointegration of the dental implants like mechanical and/or chemical treatments and deposition of calcium phosphate coatings. The objective of this research was to develop calcium-phosphate based thin coatings with antibacterial and bioactive properties for potential application in dental implants. Titanium (Ti) discs were immersed in different calcifying solutions: CaP (positive control), F-CaP, Zn-CaP, and FZn-CaP and incubated for 24 h. Negative control was uncoated Ti discs. Coated surfaces were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Antibacterial properties were tested using Porphyromonas gingivalis because of its strong association with periodontal and peri-implant infections. Bacterial adhesion and colonization were studied at different timepoints. The coated surfaces had compositional characteristics similar to that of bone mineral and they inhibited the growth, colonization and adherence of P. gingivalis, resulted in reduced thickness of biofilms and bacterial inhibition in the culture medium as compared to the positive and negative controls (p 0.05). It has been previously demonstrated that these coatings have excellent in vitro bioactivity (formed carbonate hydroxyapatite when immersed in a simulated body fluid). Such coatings can enhance osseointegration and prevent infection in implants, thereby improving the success rates of implants. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 2218-2227, 2017.
Dopaminergic control of anxiety in young and aged zebrafish

Changes in the expression of the dopamine transporter (DAT), or the sensitivity of dopamine receptors, are associated with aging and substance abuse and may underlie some of the symptoms common to both conditions. In this study, we explored the role of the dopaminergic system in the anxiogenic effects of aging and acute cocaine exposure by comparing the behavioral phenotypes of wild type (WT) and DAT knockout zebrafish (DAT-KO) of different ages. To determine the involvement of specific dopamine receptors in anxiety states, antagonists to D1 (SCH23390) and D2/D3 (sulpiride) were employed. We established that DAT-KO results in a chronic anxiety-like state, seen as an increase in bottom-dwelling and thigmotaxis. Similar effects were produced by aging and acute cocaine administration, both leading to reduction in DAT mRNA abundance (qPCR). Inhibition of D1 activity counteracted the anxiety-like effects associated with DAT deficit, independent of its origin. Inhibition of D2/D3 receptors reduced anxiety in young DAT-KO, and enhanced the anxiogenic effects of cocaine in WT, but did not affect aged WT or DAT-KO fish. These findings provide new evidence that the dopaminergic system plays a critical role in anxiety-like states, and suggest that adult zebrafish provide a sensitive diurnal vertebrate model for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of anxiety and a platform for anxiolytic drug screens.
Considering Creative Self-Efficacy: Its Current State and Ideas for Future Inquiry

Abstract The self-concept of creative self-efficacy (CSE), “the belief one has the ability to produce creative outcomes,” has drawn considerable research attention across different fields and operational domains, and among a variety of sample types. The intent of the current chapter is multifold. First, we provide an overview of the research to date that has addressed CSE in some manner, with insight into the types of roles CSE has played—as a correlate or outcome of individual and contextual factors, as a predictor of creativity-related outcomes, as well as a moderator and mediator in the presence of other factors. In addition to suggesting the nomological network in which CSE is embedded, the overview also suggests the utility of CSE in understanding the complex dynamics around creativity. We also address measurement aspects of CSE. Our final intent with the chapter is to illuminate some emergent research questions and potentially fruitful lines of future research inquiry that relate to CSE.
Made for Each Other: Ascomycete Yeasts and Insects

Fungi and insects live together in the same habitats, and many species of both groups rely on each other for success. Insects, the most successful animals on Earth, cannot produce sterols, essential vitamins, and many enzymes; fungi, often yeast-like in growth form, make up for these deficits. Fungi, however, require constantly replenished substrates because they consume the previous ones, and insects, sometimes lured by volatile fungal compounds, carry fungi directly to a similar, but fresh, habitat. Yeasts associated with insects include Ascomycota (Saccharomycotina, Pezizomycotina) and a few Basidiomycota. Beetles, homopterans, and flies are important associates of fungi, and in turn the insects carry yeasts in pits, specialized external pouches, and modified gut pockets. Some yeasts undergo sexual reproduction within the insect gut, where the genetic diversity of the population is increased, while others, well suited to their stable environment, may never mate. The range of interactions extends from dispersal of yeasts on the surface of insects (e.g., cactus-Drosophila-yeast and ephemeral flower communities, ambrosia beetles, yeasts with holdfasts) to extremely specialized associations of organisms that can no longer exist independently, as in the case of yeast-like symbionts of planthoppers. In a few cases yeast-like fungus-insect associations threaten butterflies and other species with extinction. Technical advances improve discovery and identification of the fungi but also inform our understanding of the evolution of yeast-insect symbioses, although there is much more to learn.
Improving on aquaporins

Biological nanopores ( 1 ) can selectively and rapidly transport ions and molecules through membranes. For example, many biological ion channels conduct only one type of ion across the cell membrane, and they do so in response to external stimuli. Aquaporins transport water at astonishingly high rates ( 2 , 3 ) and are efficient desalination units, in that they have excellent rejection of all ions, including protons. On page 792 of this issue, Tunuguntla et al. ( 4 ) present an artificial nanopore system that sustains water fluxes exceeding those of aquaporins, exhibits ionic selectivities comparable to those of biological ion channels, and consists of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) that are 10 nm long and merely 0.8 nm in diameter embedded in a lipid bilayer ( 4 , 5 ).
Specific Role of Idarubicin During Induction Therapy of Childhood Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia

The combination of an anthracycline and cytosine arabinoside (ara-C) is considered standard therapy for remission induction in acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML). Recently, (4-demethoxydaunorubicin idarubicin, IDA) has been found to be active in AML in adults. Furthermore, the therapeutic index of IDA may be higher than that of daunorubicin (DNR) regarding cardiotoxicity–a major problem, especially in children. Thus, one aim of study AML-BFM-93 was to compare IDA with DNR during induction treatment of childhood AML in a randomized trial. From January 1, 1993 to May 31, 1994, 51 children with newly diagnosed AML received 3x12 mg/m2 IDA together with ara-C and etoposide (AIE) for remission induction treatment. All children received further intensification/consolidation chemotherapy followed by cranial irradiation and maintenance chemotherapy for a total treatment duration of 18 months. 51 evaluable children 38 developed fever during bone marrow aplasia. No severe liver or kidney toxicity (WHO grade > II) was found in 51 evaluable children. The median time to recovery of the neutrophil count in 23 evaluable children was 26 days. Thirty-seven children achieved a complete remission (CR rate 73%) These preliminary data of the ongoing study show that IDA can be used for remission induction treatment in childhood AML. So far, no significant differences have been found between the IDA and the DNR groups concerning toxic deaths, non response, and remission rate. However, further follow up of this study is necessary.
A Weighted Approach for Sparse Signal Support Estimation with Application to EEG Source Localization

In sparse signal recovery problems, $\ell _1$ -norm minimization is typically used as an alternative to more complex $\ell _0$ -norm minimization. The range space property (RSP) provides the conditions under which the least $\ell _1$ -norm solution is equal to at most one of the least $\ell _0$ -norm solutions. These conditions depend on the sensing matrix and the support of the underlying sparse solution. In this paper, we address the problem of recovering sparse signals by weighting the corresponding sensing matrix with a diagonal matrix. We show that by appropriately choosing the weights, we can formulate an $\ell _1$ -norm minimization problem that satisfies the RSP, even if the original problem does not. By solving the weighted problem we can obtain the support of the original problem. We provide the conditions which the weights must satisfy, for both noise free and noisy cases. Although the precise conditions involve information about the support of the sparse vector, the class of good weights is very wide, and in most cases encompasses an estimate of the underlying vector obtained via a conventional method, i.e., a method that does not encourage sparsity. The proposed approach is a good candidate for Electroencephalography (EEG) sparse source localization, where the corresponding sensing matrix has high coherence. The performance of the proposed approach is evaluated via simulations and also via experiments on localizing active sources in the brain corresponding to an auditory task from EEG recordings of a human subject.
Melanopsin mRNA in the Iris of Red-Eared Slider Turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans)

Abstract.— The iris in Red-Eared Slider Turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans) is intrinsically photosensitive, slowly constricting the pupil when exposed to light. We hypothesized that one of the photopigments involved in the photomechanical response (PMR) is melanopsin (Opn4). The purpose of this project was to determine whether mRNA of Opn4 is present in their iris. After eyes were dissected from animals, we extracted iris tissues to carry out fluorescent in situ hybridization. Comparison of fluorescence from images revealed significant labeling in the iris for two melanopsin isoforms (Opn4x and Opn4m). We then carried out quantitative real-time PCR to identify relative expression levels of mRNA. Expressions by both isoforms in the iris were significant. In contrast to the retina, which had higher levels of Opn4m than Opn4x, the iris had higher levels of Opn4x than Opn4m. We also carried out Carr–Price reactions on tissue extracts, which were stabilized by hydroxylamine, and detected retinal oxime in the ...
Multicollinearity: A tale of two nonparametric regressions

The most popular form of artificial neural network, feedforward networks with sigmoidal activation functions, and a new statistical technique, multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) can both be classified as nonlinear, nonparametric function estimation techniques, and both show great promise for fitting general nonlinear multivariate functions. In comparing the two methods on a variety of test problems, we find that MARS is in many cases both more accurate and much faster than neural networks. In addition, MARS is interpretable due to the choice of basic functions which make up the final predictive equation. This suggests that MARS could be used on many of the applications where neural networks are currently being used.
Uteroplacental Blood Flow

Maintenance of uteroplacental blood flow is essential for fetal well-being; hence an in-depth knowledge of this subject is essential for individuals taking care of pregnant women.
Towards Explainable Networked Prediction

Networked prediction has attracted lots of research attention in recent years. Compared with the traditional learning setting, networked prediction is even harder to understand due to its coupled, \em multi-level nature. The learning process propagates top-down through the underlying network from the macro level (the entire learning system), to meso level (learning tasks), and to micro level (individual learning examples). In the meanwhile, the networked prediction setting also offers rich context to explain the learning process through the lens of \em multi-aspect, including training examples ( e.g., what are the most influential examples ), the learning tasks ( e.g., which tasks are most important ) and the task network ( e.g., which task connections are the keys ). Thus, we propose a multi-aspect, multi-level approach to explain networked prediction. The key idea is to efficiently quantify the influence on different levels of the learning system due to the perturbation of various aspects. The proposed method offers two distinctive advantages: (1) multi-aspect, multi-level: it is able to explain networked prediction from multiple aspects (i.e., example-task-network) at multiple levels (i.e., macro-meso-micro); (2) efficiency: it has a linear complexity by efficiently evaluating the influences of changes to the networked prediction without retraining.
Relevant Market Definition and Multi-Sided Platforms Post Ohio v. American Express: Evidence From Recent NCAA Antitrust Litigation

The treatment of multi-sided platforms in antitrust litigation has received increasing attention as of late, particularly evidenced in the Ohio v. American Express litigation. The potential implications of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling have garnered interest from legal scholars, litigators, and economists alike, particularly those actively involved in antitrust issues. Some have cautioned that the ruling represents the gutting of antitrust law , while others have maintained that its scope is limited and unlikely to effect a broad change in antitrust jurisprudence. To illuminate the potential nature of parties’ multi-sided platform arguments in future litigation, this article details how the multi-sided platform argument was addressed in In Re NCAA Grant-in-Aid Litigation (NCAA GIA), for which trial began in September 2018 and its implications for future litigation. In this litigation, Plaintiffs have challenged the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) cartel’s restriction on athlete compensation at the cost-of-attendance and its prohibition on payment in exchange for athletic participation (“pay-for-play”). The NCAA GIA case involves two key issues that lie at the forefront of current antitrust interest in anticompetitive conduct: the use of monopsony power to restrain wages and the complication of relevant market definition by indirect network externalities that often characterize multi-sided platforms. This article further argues that the Supreme Court’s decision Ohio v. American Express has effectively abrogated in part its previous opinion in NCAA v. Board of Regents with regard to claimed cross-platform effects. American Express has done so by neutering a key procompetitive justification the NCAA continues to offer for its restraint on athlete compensation, namely its effect on consumer demand for “amateurism”. This article investigates whether the presence of claimed indirect network effects sufficiently support the position that colleges and universities that engage in intercollegiate athletics represent multi-sided platforms. In doing so, the purpose of this article is not to analyze the economic merits of the Supreme Court’s decision with respect to relevant market definitions involving multi-sided platforms but rather to investigate its interpretation in the NCAA antitrust litigation and its implication for the seminal Board of Regents case.
EGFR and HER2 Inhibitors as Sensitizing Agents for Cancer Chemotherapy

Abstract Traditional chemotherapy drugs aim to fight cancer cell proliferation, targeting DNA or mechanisms of mitosis. Unfortunately, some chemotherapy drugs fail due to innate or acquired drug resistance. Clinical cancer therapy regimens employ multiple drugs to prevent chemoresistance and limit adverse effects for the patient. One significant reason for chemoresistance is an increased drug efflux, primarily caused by the presence (or overexpression) of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters across the cell membrane which “pump out” the chemotherapy drug. Several classic chemotherapies including doxorubicin (adriamycin), paclitaxel, topotecan, and mitoxantrone are known substrates of certain subclasses of ABC transporters. This presents a problem for the efficacy of the anticancer treatment if the tumor develops overexpression of these transporters as a mechanism of resistance. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family and the human EGFR 2 (HER2) of the receptor tyrosine kinases play essential roles in regulating cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation. Because of their pivotal role in cellular function and growth, many inhibitors of EGFR and HER2 have been approved as targeted treatments for many diseases and cancers. Many of these inhibitors also play an interesting role in cancer therapy as they have been found to sensitize chemoresistant tumors and rescue cancer cells those have stopped responding to chemotherapy treatments. This chapter will explore the EGFR and HER2 inhibitors gefitinib, erlotinib, lapatinib, afatinib, pelitinib, and osimertinib as promising clinical tools in sensitizing chemoresistant tumors.
Being Together, Worlds Apart: A Virtual-Worldly Phenomenology

Previous work in Game Studies has centered on several loci of investigation in seeking to understand virtual gameworlds. First, researchers have scrutinized the concept of the virtual world itself and how it relates to the idea of “the magic circle”. Second, the field has outlined various forms of experienced “presence”. Third, scholarship has noted that the boundaries between the world of everyday life and virtual worlds are porous, and that this fosters a multiplicity of identities as players identify both with themselves-offline and themselves-in-game. Despite widespread agreement that these topics are targets for research, so far those working on these topics do not have mutually agreed-upon framework. Here we draw upon the work of Alfred Schutz to take up this call. We provide a phenomenological framework which can be used to describe the phenomena of interest to Game Studies, as well as open new avenues of inquiry, in a way acceptable and useful to all. This helps to distinguish the core of the field from the supplemental theoretical and critical commitments which characterize diverse approaches within the field.
More Catholic than Rome; more reformed than Geneva: Joseph P. Cassidy and possibilities for renewal in the Church of England

ABSTRACTThis article traces the integration of theology, spirituality and ethics in the work of Dr Joseph P. Cassidy from his life as a Jesuit, then as a priest of the Roman Catholic Church and the...
Myocardial Adaptations to Competitive Swim Training.

Purpose Swim training is performed in the prone or supine position and obligates water immersion, factors that may augment cardiac volume loading more than other endurance sports. At present, prospective data defining the cardiac responses to swim training are lacking. We therefore studied myocardial adaptations among competitive swimmers to establish a causal relationship between swim training and left ventricular (LV) remodeling. Methods Collegiate swimmers were studied before and after a 90-d period of training intensification. Transthoracic echocardiography was used to examine LV structural and functional adaptations under resting conditions and during an acute LV afterload challenge generated by isometric handgrip testing (IHGT). A sedentary control population was identically studied with IHGT. Results In response to a discrete period of swim training intensification, athletes (n = 17, 47% female, 19 ± 0.4 yr old) experienced eccentric LV remodeling, characterized by proportionally more chamber dilation than wall thickening, with attendant enhancements of resting LV systolic (LV twist) and diastolic (early and late phase tissue velocities) function. Compared with baseline and controls, athletes posttraining demonstrated greater systolic twist impairment during IHGT. However, training-induced LV dilation coupled with gains in diastolic function offsets this acquired systolic susceptibility to acute afterload, resulting in the relative preservation of stroke volume during IHGT. Conclusion Swim training, a sport characterized by unique cardiac loading conditions, stimulates eccentric LV remodeling with the concomitant augmentation of systolic twist and diastolic relaxation. This volume-mediated cardiac remodeling appears to result in greater systolic susceptibility to acute afterload challenge. Further work is required to establish how training-induced changes in function translate to human performance and whether these are accompanied by physiologic trade-offs with relevance to common forms of heart disease.
A nomogram to predict node positivity in patients with thin melanomas helps inform shared patient decision making

Objective To develop a nomogram to estimate the probability of positive sentinel lymph node (+SLN) for patients with thin melanoma and to characterize its potential impact on sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) rates. Methods Patients diagnosed with thin (0.5-1.0 mm) melanoma were identified from the National Cancer Database 2012 to 2015. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to examine factors associated with +SLN, and a nomogram to predict +SLN was constructed. Nomogram performance was evaluated and diagnostic test statistics were calculated. Results Of the 21 971 patients included 10 108 (46.0%) underwent SLNB, with a 4.0% +SLN rate. On multivariable analysis, age, Breslow thickness, lymphovascular invasion, ulceration, and Clark level were significantly associated with SLN status. The area under the receiver operating curve was 0.67 (95% confidence interval, 0.65-0.70). While 15 249 (69.4%) patients had either T1b tumors or T1a tumors with at least one adverse feature, only 2846 (13.0%) had a nomogram predicted probability of a +SLN ≥5%. Using this cut-off, the indication for a SLNB in these patients would be reduced by 81.3% as compared to the American Joint Committee on Cancer 8th edition staging criteria. Conclusions The risk predictions obtained from the nomogram allow for more accurate selection of patients who could benefit from SLNB.
Use of a pressure-sensing walkway system for biometric assessment of gait characteristics in goats

The purpose of this study was to quantitatively assess gait characteristics and weight-bearing forces during ambulation in goats free of lameness using a pressure-sensing walkway as a biometric tool for stride, gait, and force analysis. Forty-six non-lame adult goats ranging in age from 5 to 6 years, mixed-breeds, and with a mean body weight of 52 ± 7.1 kgs were used. Goats were trained to walk over a pressure-sensing walkway. Data for analysis was collected on 2 different days, 3 days apart. On each day, 2 to 5 walking passes, in the same direction, were captured for each goat. Data from 2 valid passes meeting the criteria for consistent walking gait on each day were averaged then used for analysis. Analysis was performed, including the day-effect, for stride, gait, and force characteristics. Of the 46 goats enrolled in the study, complete data sets were achieved in 33 (72%) goats. Gait biometrics were similar among the assessment days; therefore, all data was pooled for the purpose of characterizing data for individual limb and biometric parameter comparisons at the individual goat level. Statistical analysis revealed that no difference within the paired limbs, and that there were significant differences between the front limbs and hind limbs. Maximum force and maximum peak pressure were significantly greater for the front limbs as compared with the hind limbs (p < 0.001). Based on the results, gait and force characteristics can be consistently measured in goats using a pressure-sensing walkway during a consistent walking gait. Goats apply greater force to the forelimbs during the weight-bearing phase of stride as compared with the hind limbs. The use of objective assessment tools is expected to improve the ability of researchers and clinicians to monitor changes in weight bearing and gait and will contribute to improved animal welfare.
A netcentric scientific research repository

The Internet and networks in general have become essential tools for disseminating information. Search engines have become the predominant means of finding information on the Web and all other data repositories, including local resources. Domain scientists regularly acquire and analyze images generated by equipment such as microscopes and cameras, resulting in complex image files that need to be managed in a convenient manner. This type of integrated environment has been recently termed a netcentric scientific research repository. I developed a number of data manipulation tools that allow researchers to manage their information more effectively in a netcentric environment. The specific contributions are: (1) A unique interface for management of data including files and relational databases. A wrapper for relational databases was developed so that the data can be indexed and searched using traditional search engines. This approach allows data in databases to be searched with the same interface as other data. Furthermore, this approach makes it easier for scientists to work with their data if they are not familiar with SQL. (2) A Web services based architecture for integrating analysis operations into a repository. This technique allows the system to leverage the large number of existing tools by wrapping them with a Web service and registering the service with the repository. Metadata associated with Web services was enhanced to allow this feature to be included. In addition, an improved binary to text encoding scheme was developed to reduce the size overhead for sending large scientific data files via XML messages used in Web services. (3) Integrated image analysis operations with SQL. This technique allows for images to be stored and managed conveniently in a relational database. SQL supplemented with map algebra operations is used to select and perform operations on sets of images.
Fatal arrhythmias: Another reason why doctors remain cautious about chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine for treating COVID-19.

Background Early during the current coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) received a significant amount of attention as a potential antiviral treatment, such that it became one of the most commonly prescribed medications for COVID-19 patients. However, not only has the effectiveness of HCQ remained questionable, but mainly based on preclinical and a few small clinical studies, HCQ is known to be potentially arrhythmogenic, especially as a result of QT prolongation. Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the arrhythmic effects of HCQ, as the heightened risk is especially relevant to COVID-19 patients, who are at higher risk for cardiac complications and arrhythmias at baseline. Methods An optical mapping technique utilizing voltage-sensitive fluorescent dyes was used to determine the arrhythmic effects of HCQ in ex vivo guinea pig and rabbit hearts perfused with the upper therapeutic serum dose of HCQ (1000 ng/mL). Results HCQ markedly increased action potential dispersion, resulted in development of repolarization alternans, and initiated polymorphic ventricular tachycardia. Conclusion The study results further highlight the proarrhythmic effects of HCQ.
Purines and pyrimidines

Abstract Lesch–Nyhan disease results from mutations in the gene for hypoxanthine quinine phosphoribosyltransferase hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase. Patients have varying degrees of diminished activity of the enzyme, but a majority with the complete syndrome have essentially zero activity. Patients have crystalluria, hematuria, and renal stone disease. Neurologic development is severe; patients do not walk or sit alone. Involuntary movements are characteristic. Self-injurious behavior includes characteristic biting injury, which may lead to loss of tissue about the mouth or fingers. Treatment with allopurinol prevents hyperuricemia and its consequences, but it has no effect on the neurology or the behavior. Phosphoribosylpyrophosphate syntheses deficiency leads also to clinical gout and urolithiasis. The disease is transmitted as an X-linked dominant; so females are clinically affected.
Family environment and school engagement:An investigation of cross-lagged effects

Abstract Introduction Although an extensive body of work has shown that family functioning is linked to adolescent outcomes, less is known about how the family affects school outcomes and vice versa. The present longitudinal study tested reciprocal relationships between the family environment and school engagement during the middle school years. Methods A cross-lagged latent model tested these effects in 378 Turkish youth (53.7% males; M = 11.73, SD = 0.53) evaluated annually (Waves 1, 2, and 3) in grades 6 through 8. Results Findings showed the family environment positively predicted developmental changes in school engagement at each time point (β range = 0.18 to 0.24); school engagement also positively predicted developmental changes in the family environment (β range = 0.12 to 0.28). Follow-up multigroup tests by age, sex, and family structure showed that the reciprocal links between the family environment and school engagement were invariant. Conclusions Study findings supported reciprocal longitudinal links between developmental changes of the family environment and school engagement. They extend previous research by highlighting the continued importance of the home environment on developmental changes in academic performance in adolescents, and thus, inform parents, educators, and policymakers on the relevance of the family in promoting academic engagement and achievement in adolescence.
Comparison of Zika virus inactivation methods for reagent production and disinfection methods.

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection remains a public health concern necessitating demand for long-term virus production for diagnostic assays and RD 2. Gamma-Irradiation; 3. Chemical inactivation by Beta-propiolactone (BPL) and 4. Fast-acting commercial disinfecting agents. Effectivity was measured by cytopathic effect (CPE) and plaque assay. RNA stability and antigenicity were measured by RT-PCR and MAC-ELISA, respectively. Results: Heat inactivation: Low titer samples, incubated at 56 °C for 2 h, showed neither CPE or plaques compared to high titer supernatants that required 2.5 h. Inactivation occurred at 60 °C for 60 min with all virus titers. Gamma irradiation: Samples irradiated at ≥3 Mrad for low virus concentrations and ≥5Mrad for high virus titer completely inactivated virus. Chemical Inactivation: Neither CPE nor plaques were observed with ≥0.045 % BPL inactivation of ZIKV. Disinfectant: Treatment of viral supernatants with Micro-Chem Plus™, inactivated virus in 2 min, whereas, Ethanol (70 %) and STERIS Coverage® Spray TB inactivated the virus in 5 min.
Bond coefficient, kb, of GFRP bars

Abstract Due to the increase in the number of manufacturers of GFRP bars, there is currently a variety of products in the marketplace with different physical and mechanical properties. These differences directly influence the bond coefficient, kb, a coefficient intended to relate the behavior of GFRP to that of steel bars for the computation of crack width and deflection of reinforced concrete elements. The 2015 version of the Guide for Design and Construction of Structural Concrete Reinforced with Fiber Reinforced Polymers by ACI Committee 440 recommends a kb value of 1.4 for bars that have not been experimentally tested. To establish a specific kb, bars could be experimentally tested according to the 2012 edition of Canadian Standard S806-12. This test method is rather complex and has produced kb values varying from 0.69 to 1.61 according to published literature. The study presented in this paper determined kb according to the Canadian test method and a simpler proposed variation. This comparison is based on data derived from twenty-three beams tested to determine kb for two types of GFRP bars (Type-A and Type-B) and a conventional steel bar (Type-S). Bar Type-A is sand-coated with a helical wrap surface treatment, while Type-B is helically grooved. The investigation yielded similar results for both test methods and indicated some advantages with the use of the proposed test method. The kb of the Type-A presented a slightly better (lower) kb than the Type-B.
Tick Size Pilot Program and price discovery in U.S. stock markets

Abstract We document significant changes in the relative price discovery of U.S. markets after the implementation of the SEC's Tick Size Pilot Program (TSPP). Controlling for the volume migration following the TSPP, we find systematic changes in the information share of markets, conditioned on their fee structure. Furthermore, these changes affect institutional trading. Analysis based on intermarket sweep (ISO) and non-sweep orders (NISOs) indicates that informed institutional trading using ISOs are the primary channel through which these changes transpire. These results are important for all studies that examine information propagation in financial markets and include the TSPP sample period.
Constitutive transgenic α-Klotho overexpression enhances resilience to and recovery from murine acute lung injury

Normal lungs do not express α-Klotho (Klotho) protein but derive cytoprotection from circulating soluble Klotho. It is unclear whether chronic supranormal Klotho levels confer additional benefit. T...
C. elegans colony formation as a condensation phenomenon.

Phase separation at the molecular scale affects many biological processes. The theoretical requirements for phase separation are fairly minimal, and there is growing evidence that analogous phenomena occur at other scales in biology. Here we examine colony formation in the nematode C. elegans as a possible example of phase separation by a population of organisms. The population density of worms determines whether a colony will form in a thresholded fashion, and a simple two-compartment ordinary differential equation model correctly predicts the threshold. Furthermore, small, round colonies sometimes fuse to form larger, round colonies, and a phenomenon akin to Ostwald ripening – a coarsening process seen in many systems that undergo phase separation – also occurs. These findings support the emerging view that the principles of microscopic phase separation can also apply to collective behaviors of living organisms. Phase separation phenomena have emerged as being of critical importance in biology. Here, using colony formation in C. elegans as model, the authors demonstrate that the basic concepts that underpin phase separation at a molecular level also apply to collective phenomena at the level of a population of organisms.
Analysis of Conjugate Satellite and Ground EMIC Wave Observations

Electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves are transverse electromagnetic waves typically generated in the equatorial magnetosphere by anisotropic proton distributions. These waves can resonantly interact with multiple particle populations in the inner magnetosphere believed to be an important loss mechanism for both ring current ions and radiation belt electrons, as well as a cold plasma heating source. The spatiotemporal extent of wave activity is one of the key parameters used to quantify the effects of EMIC waves on magnetospheric plasma populations. However, from single-point spacecraft measurements or ground based observations alone, it is challenging to get the full picture of wave occurrence distributions. Due to a number of processes, ground and in situ observations of EMIC wave activity, specifically, its global occurrence, duration, and frequency often exhibit noticeable variations [1]. In particular, EMIC waves in the H+ frequency band are not always seen on the ground conjugately to locations of space observations [2]. In addition, ground and space EMIC wave distributions have different dependencies on local time, L shell, and geomagnetic activity, adding to the challenge of comparing measurements across these platforms [3]. Here we address this challenge by examining the relationship between EMIC wave occurrence and power on the Van Allen Probes and conjugate CARISMA ground magnetometer stations in the Canadian sector. We apply an automated wave detection algorithm to magnetometer data [4]. We present an analysis of long-term simultaneous EMIC wave observations in space and on the ground, and study wave propagation characteristics in the He+ and H+ frequency bands during different geomagnetic conditions.
Net Costs Due to Seasonal Influenza Vaccination--United States, 2005-2009.

Background Seasonal influenza causes considerable morbidity and mortality across all age groups, and influenza vaccination was recommended in 2010 for all persons aged 6 months and above. We estimated the averted costs due to influenza vaccination, taking into account the seasonal economic burden of the disease. Methods We used recently published values for averted outcomes due to influenza vaccination for influenza seasons 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, and 2008-09, and age cohorts 6 months-4 years, 5-19 years, 20-64 years, and 65 years and above. Costs were calculated according to a payer and societal perspective (in 2009 US$), and took into account medical costs and productivity losses. Results When taking into account direct medical costs (payer perspective), influenza vaccination was cost saving only for the older age group (65≥) in seasons 2005-06 and 2007-08. Using the same perspective, influenza vaccination resulted in total costs of $US 1.7 billion (95%CI: $US 0.3–4.0 billion) in 2006-07 and $US 1.8 billion (95%CI: $US 0.1–4.1 billion) in 2008-09. When taking into account a societal perspective (and including the averted lost earnings due to premature death) averted deaths in the older age group influenced the results, resulting in cost savings for all ages combined in season 07-08. Discussion Influenza vaccination was cost saving in the older age group (65≥) when taking into account productivity losses and, in some seasons, when taking into account medical costs only. Averted costs vary significantly per season; however, in seasons where the averted burden of deaths is high in the older age group, averted productivity losses due to premature death tilt overall seasonal results towards savings. Indirect vaccination effects and the possibility of diminished case severity due to influenza vaccination were not considered, thus the averted burden due to influenza vaccine may be even greater than reported.
An Exterior Newton Method for Strictly Convex Quadratic Programming

We propose an exterior Newton method for strictly convex quadratic programming (QP) problems. This method is based on a dual formulation: a sequence of points is generated which monotonically decreases the dual objective function. We show that the generated sequence converges globally and quadratically to the solution (if the QP is feasible and certain nondegeneracy assumptions are satisfied). Measures for detecting infeasibility are provided. The major computation in each iteration is to solve a KKT-like system. Therefore, given an effective symmetric sparse linear solver, the proposed method is suitable for large sparse problems. Preliminary numerical results are reported.
Optimal sampling-based Feedback Motion Trees among obstacles for controllable linear systems with linear constraints

The RRT* algorithm has efficiently extended Rapidly-exploring Random Trees (RRTs) to endow it with asymptotic optimality. We propose Goal-Rooted Feedback Motion Trees (GR-FMTs) that honor state/input constraints and generate collision-free feedback policies. Given analytic solutions for optimal local steering, GR-FMTs obtain and realize safe, dynamically feasible, and asymptotically optimal trajectories toward goals. Second, for controllable linear systems with linear state/input constraints, we propose a fast method for local steering, based on polynomial basis functions and segmentation. GR-FMTs with the method obtain and realize trajectories that are collision-free, dynamically feasible under constraints, and asymptotically optimal within a set we define. The formulation includes linear or quadratic programming of small sizes, where constraints are identified by root-finding in low or medium order of polynomials and added progressively.