cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the Occurrence of the Caribbean Species Haustellum Chrysostoma (GASTROPODA: MURICIDAE) in the Pliocene of Western Ecuador

A reconnaissance trip along the coast of western Ecuador to the south of the city of Bahia de Caraquez, Manabi Province (text-fig. 1), proved to be unproductive from the perspective of fossil mollusks. The sea cliffs are very impressive (text-fig. 2), with magnificent exposures accessible at low tide by driving along the beach. Although Bristow (1976, p. 1981 lists about two dozen species of mollusks from the "Borbon Formation," in the "coast section south of Bahia," we were unable to find his locality. There was a single thin lens exposed, which yielded a few poorly preserved shells and this may be his locality, now weathered and essentially gone. Or, he may have collected somewhere farther down the beach than we went. In any case, in spite of closely examining the cliffs for several kilometers to the south of Bahia, we saw only one fossiliferous lens.
Assessing association between IWantTheKit risk quiz tool and sexually transmitted infection positivity in male users for sexually transmitted infection screening

Our previous pilot study during 2010–2013, based on the IWantTheKit (IWTK) home self-collection program for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), showed that voluntary risk score tool predicted STIs well in female volunteers compared to their male counterparts. Risk score became a required part of the IWTK program in August 2013. We investigated association of IWTK risk score and presence of STI in 592 male participants living in Maryland and Washington DC from August 2013 to April 2015. The risk score quiz includes questions on demographic and sexual risk behavior. Data were analyzed using the Cochran-Armitage test for trend to determine if prevalence of STIs (Chlamydia, gonorrhea, or trichomoniasis) increased with the higher risk score category. Overall, 57% of participants were aged < 30 years (mean: 30.1 ± 9.3 years); 42% white, 42% black, and 16% other races. The majority (67%) of participants had medium risk scores of 3–6, followed by high scores of 7–10 (22%), and 0–2 (11%). The overall prevalenc...
A Riemannian Framework for Linear and Quadratic Discriminant Analysis on the Tangent Space of Shapes

We present a Riemannian framework for linear and quadratic discriminant classification on the tangent plane of the shape space of curves. The shape space is infinite dimensional and is constructed out of square root velocity functions of curves. We introduce the idea of mean and covariance of shape-valued random variables and samples from a tangent space to the pre-shape space (invariant to translation and scaling) and then extend it to the full shape space (rotational invariance). The shape observations from the population are approximated by coefficients of a Fourier basis of the tangent space. The algorithms for linear and quadratic discriminant analysis are then defined using reduced dimensional features obtained by projecting the original shape observations on to the truncated Fourier basis. We show classification results on synthetic data and shapes of cortical sulci, corpus callosum curves, as well as facial midline curve profiles from patients with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
Structural basis of human PR/SET domain 9 (PRDM9) allele C-specific recognition of its cognate DNA sequence.

PRDM9 is the only mammalian gene that has been associated with speciation. The PR/SET domain 9 (PRDM9) protein is a major determinant of meiotic recombination hot spots and acts through sequence-specific DNA binding via its C2H2 zinc finger (ZF) tandem array, which is highly polymorphic within and between species. The most common human variant, PRDM9 allele A (PRDM9a), contains 13 fingers (ZF1–13). Allele C (PRDM9c) is the second-most common among African populations and differs from PRDM9a by an arginine-to-serine change (R764S) in ZF9 and by replacement of ZF11 with two other fingers, yielding 14 fingers in PRDM9c. Here we co-crystallized the six-finger fragment ZF8–13 of PRDM9c, in complex with an oligonucleotide representing a known PRDM9c-specific hot spot sequence, and compared the structure with that of a characterized PRDM9a-specific complex. There are three major differences. First, Ser764 in ZF9 allows PRDM9c to accommodate a variable base, whereas PRDM9a Arg764 recognizes a conserved guanine. Second, the two-finger expansion of ZF11 allows PRDM9c to recognize three-base-pair-longer sequences. A tryptophan in the additional ZF interacts with a conserved thymine methyl group. Third, an Arg–Asp dipeptide immediately preceding the ZF helix, conserved in two PRDM9a fingers and three PRDM9c fingers, permits adaptability to variations from a C:G base pair (G–Arg interaction) to a G:C base pair (C–Asp interaction). This Arg–Asp conformational switch allows identical ZF modules to recognize different sequences. Our findings illuminate the molecular mechanisms for flexible and conserved binding of human PRDM9 alleles to their cognate DNA sequences.
Among, Within, and Between: Attorneys on Reconciliation in Divorce Proceedings

This article describes the findings from attorney interviews conducted as part of a qualitative study examining barriers to reconciliation among divorcing parents in a large Midwestern state. A systems theory approach provided the framework for investigating key components of the divorce process and incorporated statutory analysis and in-depth interviews with divorcing spouses, family law judges, and attorneys. Results indicated extensive variation in attorney perceptions of the lawyer's role in facilitating reconciliation. Major themes revealed reconciliation constraints related to statutory requirements, mistrust of opposing counsel, lack of experience, inadequate family law education, and attorney beliefs about clients.
Modeling and analysis of flux distribution and bioproduct formation in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 using a new genome-scale metabolic reconstruction

Abstract Cyanobacteria are prokaryotes capable of performing oxygenic photosynthesis. This makes them an attractive candidate for genetic engineering to produce commercially important chemicals. However, optimally harnessing this potential requires an understanding of metabolic regulation in cyanobacteria under photoautotrophic conditions. Here we present an updated genome-scale metabolic network reconstruction (iSynCJ816) of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. This updated model, containing 816 genes and 1045 reactions, builds upon previously published models. New features include an unconstrained photo-respiratory reaction mechanism and a mechanism to account for changes in energy absorption from light at different wavelengths. We used Flux Balance Analysis (FBA) to calculate the flux distribution within iSynCJ816 and compared in silico predictions with values obtained by previous in vivo metabolic flux analyses in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. A qualitative growth comparison of 167 gene-deletion mutants with experimental studies resulted in an accuracy rate between 70 and 79%. We used the model to estimate both the maximum theoretical yield of each metabolite and the feasibility of engineering Synechocystis to increase CO2 fixation. We found that it is theoretically possible to increase CO2 fixation by up to 35% from wild-type levels. We also carried out a dynamic flux balance analysis of fluxes throughout a light-dark cycle and obtained results that qualitatively matched experimental observations.
Firearm Surrender Laws: Prompting Promise for Women's Health.

The editorialists discuss how Diez and colleagues' findings inform a simmering national debate about firearm-related policy and see them as a call to action for health care professionals.
Exploring Early Exits: Doctoral Attrition in the Biomedical Sciences:

High attrition rates have been a defining characteristic of doctoral education for decades, representing a loss of time, talent, and effort for departing students and their faculty. This qualitativ...
Improving CT quality with optimized image parameters for radiation treatment planning and delivery guidance

Abstract Background and purpose CT scan protocols are often created with imaging parameters set to minimize imaging dose with acceptable image quality for diagnostic purpose. This study aimed to optimize CT imaging parameters to help accurately delineate structures for radiation therapy planning and delivery guidance. Materials and methods Imaging parameters were optimized with CT data acquired for a phantom to create image quality enhancement (IQE) protocols, which were subsequently used to scan a prostate and a pancreatic cancer patient who underwent image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT). The patient images were compared with those scanned with standard clinical protocols, the quality of these images was assessed with various methods (survey, inter- and intra-observer variations, and dice coefficient analysis) for the two patient cases. Results An effective tube current–time product of ∼1000 mAs was found to be a reasonable choice to balance CT quality and CT dose. With increased dose and penetration taken into account, 100 and 120 kV tube voltages were found appropriate for the IQE protocols. The inter- and intra-observer variations for the IQE data were smaller than those with the standard protocols. Dice coefficient analysis indicated that the IQE protocols lead to improved dice coefficient by as much as 8 percentage points for the two cases studied. Conclusion CT image quality can be improved with the IQE protocols created in this study, to provide better soft tissue contrast, which would be beneficial for use in radiation therapy, e.g., for planning data acquisition or for IGRT for hypo-fractionated treatments.
DDR4 transmitter with AC-boost equalization and wide-band voltage regulators for thin-oxide protection in 14-nm SOI CMOS technology

A DDR4 transmitter (TX) for direct-attach memory on a processor chip is presented as well as the design of the associated low-dropout linear voltage regulators (LDO) that generate the split-mode supply voltages for the thin-oxide protection of the TX output stages operated from the 1.2 V DDR4-supply. The TX uses AC-boost equalization. Signal-integrity (SI) simulations have shown that pre-emphasis equalization is better suited to meet the DRAM eye mask specification than de-emphasis equalization. The LDO design is optimized for good frequency compensation at large load variations, which typically occur during burst-mode transmissions in DDR memory links. A wide-band low-output impedance buffer located between the LDO's error amplifier and the power transistor is proposed that implements a load-sensing and current-injection scheme to extend the low-output impedance range of the buffer, which in turn stabilizes the dominant output pole over a wider di/dt-range. The design is implemented in 14-nm silicon-on-insulator (SOI) CMOS technology, and the key performance measures are 2.8 pJ/b efficiency of the TX when driving with 34 Ω into a 40 Ω DRAM load and a figure-of-merit (FOM) of 96 ps for the LDO.
Philoctete’s Healing: Echoes of Dante’s Purgatorio in Walcott’s Omeros

A complex reading adventure is the one awaiting the reader of Omeros, a book-length poem published by Derek Walcott in 1990 and, with a title reminiscent of the Greek poet par excellence, an ideal text to talk about re-writings and re-readings of the Western literary tradition. As readers, we enter Omeros expecting a re-writing of the Odyssey. We find, instead, a text that recalls, in its structure, themes and prosody, Dante’s Commedia, in particular, the Purgatorio.In our reading of Walcott alongside with Dante, we will concentrate on the character of Philoctete with whom Omeros begins and on the theme of healing that he embodies. While Philoctetes is a minor character in Homer’s Odyssey, Walcott’s appropriation of the Greek character in Omeros is enhanced by his reading of Dante. The theme of healing is pervasive in Walcott’s Omeros, but it is even more emblematic in Dante’s vision of repentance and salvation in the second cantica of his Commedia: the Purgatorio. Interestingly, in Walcott’s “postcolonial Purgatory,” Philoctete remains a minor character and is not turned into a postcolonial hero.Our analysis will focus on the theme of healing, on the vision of history that is unlocked through a comparison between the authors’ worlds, and on Dante’s and Walcott’s creative use of terza rima, the aspect of the poems that – before anything else – brings them together.
Laser Ablation for Venous Reflux

Endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) has revolutionized the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency secondary to superficial venous reflux. It is one of the endothermal ablation techniques that has supplanted the open surgical ligation and stripping of the saphenous vein. Over the years, there has been an evolution in EVLA technology as well as technique. With each iterative improvement, there has been a corresponding improvement in safety and efficacy. A variety of parameters that will be discussed include the laser wavelength, fiber tip, power, and linear endovenous energy (LEED), among others. Lastly, the complications and outcomes of data in patients treated with EVLA will be reviewed.
Bridging the Cultural Divide Between Oncology and Palliative Care Subspecialties: Clinicians' Perceptions on Team Integration.

Purpose Palliative care improves symptom burden, distress, patient and family satisfaction, and survival for patients with cancer. Oncology professional societies endorse the integration of palliative care into routine care for patients with advanced cancers. Despite this, cultural differences between medical subspecialties and the limited number of clinicians trained in palliative care lower the adoption of integrated care models. We assessed oncologists' and palliative care clinicians' perceptions about integrating oncology and palliative care using a nurse delivering palliative care to patients newly diagnosed with lung cancer. Methods We conducted semistructured telephone interviews with 7 oncology clinicians and 12 palliative care clinicians purposively sampled across 6 geographically diverse Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers (VAs). Oncologists were asked about their perspectives and experiences with consulting palliative care services. Palliative care clinicians were asked about their experiences with receiving consultations from subspecialties. Both were asked about utilizing a registered nurse to deliver telephone-based palliative care to patients newly diagnosed with lung cancer. Interviews were analyzed using traditional content analysis approaches. Results We identified 2 main themes: (1) tensions, differences, and mistrust between services occur in the least integrated teams and (2) open communication, sharing common goals, and promoting oncology "buy in" build trust and foster collaboration between teams. Clinicians described qualities important to possess to promote successful adoption of a nurse-led model of palliative care. Conclusions Integration between oncology and palliative care among the 6 VA medical centers varies considerably. Nurses delivering palliative care embedded in oncology teams may facilitate the integration of these subspecialties.
Asthma across the lifespan: Time for a paradigm shift

We have a unique opportunity to significantly reduce the worldwide burden of asthma in children and affect respiratory outcomes in adults. However, this will require a paradigm shift that is directed at altering the natural history of asthma, reducing asthma exacerbations, and preventing long-term adverse outcomes of childhood asthma. Attention should continue to be directed toward minimizing risk, as well as impairment, with a goal to achieve optimal control. Based on several National Institutes of Health studies conducted over the last 10 years, we now have the tools necessary to accomplish this goal. The tools include assessment of lung function over time or defining trajectories of lung growth, the Composite Asthma Severity Index score, a panel of useful biomarkers, the Seasonal Asthma Exacerbation Prediction Index score, and rapidly advancing technology that includes adherence monitoring. Future guideline revisions should consider incorporating recommendations to follow spirometry over time and defining trajectories of lung growth to assess risk for reduced lung growth and early decline, asthma burden by using biomarkers to select and monitor therapy, assessment of social determinants of health, evaluation of risk for seasonal exacerbations, and consideration of electronic adherence monitoring for difficult-to-manage asthma. Guidelines should continue to include a core dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of intermittent and mild and moderate persistent asthma and include additional sections dedicated to the management of severe asthma.
Dependence of innate lymphoid cell 1 development on NKp46

NKp46, a natural killer (NK) cell-activating receptor, is involved in NK cell cytotoxicity against virus-infected cells or tumor cells. However, the role of NKp46 in other NKp46+ non-NK innate lymphoid cell (ILC) populations has not yet been characterized. Here, an NKp46 deficiency model of natural cytotoxicity receptor 1 (Ncr1)gfp/gfp and Ncr1gfp/+ mice, i.e., homozygous and heterozygous knockout (KO), was used to explore the role of NKp46 in regulating the development of the NKp46+ ILCs. Surprisingly, our studies demonstrated that homozygous NKp46 deficiency resulted in a nearly complete depletion of the ILC1 subset (ILC1) of group 1 ILCs, and heterozygote KO decreased the number of cells in the ILC1 subset. Moreover, transplantation studies confirmed that ILC1 development depends on NKp46 and that the dependency is cell intrinsic. Interestingly, however, the cell depletion specifically occurred in the ILC1 subset but not in the other ILCs, including ILC2s, ILC3s, and NK cells. Thus, our studies reveal that NKp46 selectively participates in the regulation of ILC1 development.
A Systematic Review of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) Among Port Workers

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common and costly health problems that inflict port workers around the globe. Given that MSDs are results of many interwoven factors and their prevalence rates vary among different body sites, this review study aims to investigating the causes, prevalence and intervention means for MSDs among port workers. The study entailed a sizeable search of academic databases. Based on reviewed literature, the present study summarized lower back as the most affected body part by MSDs, followed with lower back, neck, shoulder and joint among port workers. Further, ergonomic studies and applications designed to prevent and alleviate port-related MSDs are badly proposed.
Permafrost Degradation and Subsidence Observations during a Controlled Warming Experiment

Global climate change has resulted in a warmer Arctic, with projections indicating accelerated modifications to permafrost in the near future. The thermal, hydrological, and mechanical physics of permafrost thaw have been hypothesized to couple in a complex fashion but data collection efforts to study these feedbacks in the field have been limited. As a result, laboratory and numerical models have largely outpaced field calibration datasets. We present the design, execution, and initial results from the first decameter-scale controlled thawing experiment, targeting coupled thermal/mechanical response, particularly the temporal sequence of surface subsidence relative to permafrost degradation at depth. The warming test was conducted in Fairbanks, AK, and utilized an array of in-ground heaters to induce thaw of a ~11 × 13 × 1.5 m soil volume over 63 days. The 4-D temperature evolution demonstrated that the depth to permafrost lowered 1 m during the experiment. The resulting thaw-induced surface deformation was ~10 cm as observed using a combination of measurement techniques. Surface deformation occurred over a smaller spatial domain than the full thawed volume, suggesting that gradients in cryotexture and ice content were significant. Our experiment provides the first large field calibration dataset for multiphysics thaw models.
A case of a co-secreting TSH and growth hormone pituitary adenoma presenting with a thyroid nodule

Co-secreting TSH and growth hormone pituitary adenomas are rare. We present a case of a 55-year-old woman who presented with symptoms of neck fullness. Ultrasound revealed multiple thyroid nodules and examination revealed several clinical features of acromegaly. She was found to have a co-secreting TSH and growth hormone pituitary macroadenoma. She underwent surgical resection followed by gamma knife radiation, which resulted in complete remission of her TSH and GH-secreting adenoma. Learning points: TSH-secreting pituitary adenomas are rare and about one-third co-secrete other hormones. Thyroid nodules are common in acromegaly and can be the presenting sign of a growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma. In the workup of acromegaly, assessment of other pituitary hormones is essential, even in the absence of symptoms of other pituitary hormone dysfunction. Complete remission of co-secreting GH and TSH pituitary macroadenomas is possible with surgery and radiation alone. Background TSH and growth hormone co-secreting pituitary adenomas are a rare phenomenon. TSH-secreting pituitary adenomas account for less than 3% of all pituitary adenomas. They typically present with either symptoms of tumor growth or symptoms of hyperthyroidism. The patient in this case initially presented with a thyroid nodule and was eventually found to have a co-secreting TSH and GH pituitary macroadenoma. Our patient achieved remission without somatostatin analog therapy, which is unlike many other cases of TSH and GH co-secreting pituitary adenomas (1, 2, 3).
Urinary β2-microglobulin and disease activity in patients with tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis syndrome.

Urinary β2-microglobulin (Uβ2M) is elevated in tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis (TINU) syndrome and has emerged as an important diagnostic tool. This study aims to determine whether Uβ2M correlates with uveitis activity in TINU. Retrospective observational case series of nine patients with TINU and ≥ 30 days follow-up. Presenting symptoms, visual acuity, uveitis characteristics, follow-up, Uβ2M, serum creatinine (SCr), urinalysis, and renal biopsy results were collected. A correlation between Uβ2M and anterior chamber (AC) cell (r = 0.69, 95% CI 0.46–0.84), flare (r = 0.65, 95% CI 0.39–0.81), trended toward a stronger correlation than SCr and AC cell (r = 0.59, 95% CI 0.29–0.79), flare (r = 0.52, 95% CI 0.19–0.75). Uβ2M decreased over 1–2 years while SCr returned to normal within a few months. Uβ2M correlate with uveitis activity and trend down over the course of TINU. Uβ2M may serve as a useful tool in determining where patients are in their systemic disease course.
Retinoic acid signaling and the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium

Abstract Vitamin A (retinol) has long been recognized as indispensable for mammalian development, differentiation and homeostasis, and plays a critical role in germ cell development. Early studies of vitamin A deficient (VAD) male rats revealed severe fertility defects, suggesting that vitamin A has an essential role in both establishing and maintaining normal spermatogenesis. Nearly a century after these initial findings it has become clear that retinoic acid (RA), the active metabolite of vitamin A, and its receptors are part of an intricate and precisely regulated system that controls a myriad of fundamental aspects of spermatogenesis. However, layers of redundancy in the retinoid metabolic and signaling pathway continue to cloud the picture and challenge investigators. Recent advances outlined in this review have provided some clarity regarding RA production and its essential role in establishing and maintaining the spermatogenic wave.
Air pollution survey across the western Mediterranean Sea: overview on oxygenated volatile hydrocarbons (OVOCs) and other gaseous pollutants

Despite the Mediterranean Sea basin is among the most sensitive areas over the world for climate change and air quality issues, it still remains less studied than the oceanic regions. The domain investigated by the research ship Minerva Uno cruise in Summer 2015 was the Tyrrhenian Sea. An overview on the marine boundary layer (MBL) concentration levels of carbonyl compounds, ozone (O3), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) is reported. The north-western Tyrrhenian Sea samples showed a statistically significant difference in acetone and SO2 concentrations when compared to the south-eastern ones. Acetone and SO2 values were higher in the southern part of the basin; presumably, a blend of natural (including volcanism) and anthropogenic (shipping) sources caused this difference. The mean acetone concentration reached 5.4 μg/m3; formaldehyde and acetaldehyde means were equal to 1.1 μg/m3 and 0.38 μg/m3, respectively. Maximums of 3.0 μg/m3 for formaldehyde and 1.0 μg/m3 for acetaldehyde were detected along the route from Civitavecchia to Fiumicino. These two compounds were also present at levels above the average in proximity of petrol-refining plants on the coast; in fact, formaldehyde reached 1.56 μg/m3 and 1.60 μg/m3, respectively, near Milazzo and Augusta harbors; meanwhile, acetaldehyde was as high as 0.75 μg/m3 at both sites. The levels of formaldehyde agreed with previously reported measurements over Mediterranean Sea and elsewhere; besides, a day/night trend was observed, confirming the importance of photochemical formation for this pollutant. According to this study, Mediterranean Sea basin, which is a closed sea, was confirmed to suffer a high anthropic pressure impacting with diffuse emissions, while natural contribution to pollution could come from volcanic activity, particularly in the south-eastern Tyrrhenian Sea region.
Syntheses, crystal structures, and comparisons of rare-earth oxyapatites Ca2RE8(SiO4)6O2 (RE = La, Nd, Sm, Eu, or Yb) and NaLa9(SiO4)6O2

Six different rare-earth oxyapatites, including Ca2RE8(SiO4)6O2 (RE = La, Nd, Sm, Eu, or Yb) and NaLa9(SiO4)6O2, were synthesized using solution-based processes followed by cold pressing and sinter­ing. The crystal structures of the synthesized oxyapatites were determined from powder X-ray diffraction (P-XRD) and their chemistries verified with electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). All the oxyapatites were isostructural within the hexa­gonal space group P63/m and showed similar unit-cell parameters. The isolated [SiO4]4− tetra­hedra in each crystal are linked by the cations at the 4f and 6h sites occupied by RE3+ and Ca2+ in Ca2RE8(SiO4)6O2 or La3+ and Na+ in NaLa9(SiO4)6O2. The lattice parameters, cell volumes, and densities of the synthesized oxyapatites fit well to the trendlines calculated from literature values.
Poster: Time Encoding for Energy Efficiency and Scalability in Wireless Networks

Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN) desire 1) energy efficiency, 2)long communication range, and 3) scalability for ubiquitous connectivity. Existing technologies any two and trade off the third. We propose a differential time modulation that is energy efficient in a large-scale, long-range network.
Residential mobility in early childhood and obesity at kindergarten age among children from the United States.

BACKGROUND Children who frequently move have poorer behavioural, emotional, and overall health. For similar reasons, the experience of changing home may contextualize children's risk for obesity. Few studies have assessed the relationship between residential mobility and obesity; even fewer explore this relationship with assessment of obesity before school age. METHODS We analysed data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort. Obesity at kindergarten age was determined from measured height and weight. Early childhood residential mobility was categorized as not moving or having moved once, twice, or three or more times. Analyses are weighted to be representative of children from the United States and variance estimates account for the complex survey design. RESULTS The prevalence of obesity at kindergarten age was 17.5%, and most children (71%) moved in early childhood. Compared with children who did not move, the adjusted odd ratios for obesity at kindergarten age were 0.72 (95% CI, 0.57-0.92), 0.70 (95% CI, 0.55-0.89), and 0.64 (95% CI, 0.50-0.84) for children who experienced 1, 2, or 3+ moves. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that obesity and mobility in early life are associated, but not in the way we might expect. Residential mobility may fit into a broader picture of instability and, on its own, may not elevate a child's risk for obesity.
Hydrogen peroxide triggers an increase in cell surface expression of system xc− in cultured human glioma cells

Abstract System xc− exchanges extracellular cystine for intracellular glutamate across the plasma membrane of many cell types. One of the physiological roles of System xc− is to provide cystine for synthesis of the antioxidant glutathione. Here we report that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) triggers the translocation of System xc− to the plasma membrane within 10 min of the initial exposure. Specifically, we observed a three-fold increase in 35S- l -cystine uptake following a 10 min exposure to 0.3 mM H2O2. This effect was dose-dependent with an EC50 for H2O2 of 65 μM. We then used cell surface biotinylation analysis to test the hypothesis that the increase in activity is due to an increased number of transporters on the plasma membrane. We demonstrated that the amount of transporter protein, xCT, localized to the plasma membrane doubles within 10 min of H2O2 exposure as a result of an increase in its delivery rate and a reduction in its internalization rate. In addition, we demonstrated that H2O2 triggered a rapid decrease in total cellular glutathione which recovered within 2 h of the oxidative insult. The kinetics of glutathione recovery matched the time course for the recovery of xCT cell surface expression and System xc− activity following removal of the oxidative insult. Collectively, these results suggest that oxidants acutely modulate the activity of System xc− by increasing its cell surface expression, and that this process may serve as an important mechanism to increase de novo glutathione synthesis during periods of oxidative stress.
Experiments on the Effects of Positive and Negative Perceptions of A Public Sector Profession

AbstractDespite an increase in research on how performance information regarding public agencies affects citizens’ evaluations of public agencies, we know very little about how performance informat...
Study on the time of amounted to peak of human adipose-derived stromal cells differentiation into neural precursor cells in vitro

Objective To reseach the time point of the highest percentage of neural precursor cells derived from adipose stromal cells (ADSCs) in vitro, and to observe the ultrastructure features of neural precursor cells. Methods Used the β-mercaptoethanol to induce ADSCs to differentiate into neural precursor cells and neuron-like cells. The morphology of the uninductedcells and inducted cells were observed with inverted phase contrast microscope. The expression of nestin which was the marker of neural precursor cell in each group was detected using immunofluorescence staining method. The ultrastructural feature of cells which was induced for 3 hours were observed. Results The highest ratio of positive expression of nestin was 3 hours following induction,with the ratio ( 86.25 ± 4.82) %. There were many protuberance on the cell membrane under transmission electron microscopy.There were plenty of organelles in the neural precursor cells. The neural precursor cells had a large size nucleus,large nucleoplasmic index, much extended chromatin,and less condensed chromatin. The nucleus had double-layer nuclear envelope, more nuclear pore on the nuclear envelope. Conclusion The time point of the highest percentage of neural precursor cells derived from ADSCs is 3 hours,and the ultrastructral feature of induced neural precursor cells confirm that cells at this time point are in a state of split active period. Key words: Adult adipose-derived stromal cell; β-Mercaptoethanol; Induced differentiation; Neural precursor cells; Ultrastructure
A Three-Way Accuracy Comparison of the Dexcom G5, Abbott Freestyle Libre Pro, and Senseonics Eversense Continuous Glucose Monitoring Devices in a Home-Use Study of Subjects with Type 1 Diabetes.

Background: There is a dearth of comparative accuracy studies of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices in the home-use setting, and none with the Eversense implantable CGM. Methods: We evalua...
Did You Get My Snap? Snapchat as a Health Education Tool for Hospitalized Adolescents.

Abstract Purpose Given the popularity of Snapchat with teens, we used this tool to disseminate reproductive health information to adolescent patients. Methods We developed a unique Snapcode linked to educational materials located on a cloud service and accessible via the Snapchat app. The Snapcode was printed on a business card and distributed to hospitalized adolescents. We tracked card distribution and how often the materials were accessed through our cloud service and through Snapchat. Results A total of 236 cards were distributed to teens with 117 unique scans and 122 views of the PDF. Of the teens who received the card (N = 236), 49.5% of teens used the Snapcode to access reproductive health education. Conclusions Snapchat is a promising way to distribute educational materials to adolescents in a discrete manner on a platform many teens use. This mechanism demonstrates a way for providers to use Snapchat as a tool to provide education to hospitalized adolescents.
Tumor Innervation: Cancer Has Some Nerve

Over the past decade, several landmark reports have demonstrated that the nervous system plays an active role in cancer initiation and progression. These studies demonstrate that ablation of specific nerve types (parasympathetic, sympathetic, or sensory) abrogates tumor growth in a tissue-specific manner. Further, many tumor types are more densely innervated than their normal tissues of origin. These striking results raise fundamental questions regarding tumor innervation, how it is initiated, and how it molecularly contributes to disease. In this review, we aim to address what is currently known about the origin of tumor-infiltrating nerves, how they may be recruited to tumors, and how their presence may give rise to aggressive disease.
Economic and workload impact of therapeutic interchange of inhaler medications and nebulizer solutions

PURPOSE To examine the financial impact of automatic formulary substitution of nebulization solutions for pressurized metered dose inhalers and dry powder inhalers and the effect of the automatic substitution initiative on respiratory care practitioner (RCP) workload at a community hospital. METHODS A retrospective observational study was conducted in a 326-bed nonacademic community hospital. Adult patients who received respiratory medications and had an inpatient stay, were admitted for observation, or had an emergency room visit from December 2016 through February 2017 (the control group) or from December 2017 through February 2018 (the study group) were included in the analysis. The primary outcomes were the cost of respiratory medications per hospital stay and the number of RCP visits per hospital stay. The secondary outcome was the cost of wasted doses per hospital stay. RESULTS A total of 3,766 patients were included in the study: 2,030 in the study group and 1,736 in the control group. The mean cost of respiratory medications per hospital stay was significantly lower in the study group vs the control group ($13.29 vs $36.48, P < 0.001). The mean number of RCP visits per hospital stay was also statistically lower in the study group vs the control group (11.6 vs 12.9, P = 0.04). The mean cost of wasted doses was significantly lower in study group vs the control group ($0.25 vs $22.91, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Automatic formulary substitution of nebulization solutions for inhaler medications significantly decreased medication costs without increasing the average number of RCP visits per hospital stay.
The Israel-Palestine Conflict: A History

Now in its fourth edition, James L. Gelvin's award-winning account of the conflict between Israel and Palestine offers a compelling, accessible and current introduction for students and general readers. The book traces the struggle from the emergence of nationalism among the Jews of Europe and the Arab inhabitants of Ottoman Palestine through to the present, exploring the external pressures and internal logic that have propelled it. Placing events in Palestine within the framework of global history, The Israel-Palestine Conflict: A History skilfully interweaves biographical sketches, eyewitness accounts, poetry, fiction, and official documentation into its narrative. This updated edition features new material on the fate of the two-state solution during the Trump/Netanyahu era, alongside an expanded glossary and suggestions for further reading.
Estimating Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial Participant Posttrial Survival Using Pooled Epidemiologic Cohort Data

Background Intensive systolic blood pressure treatment (<120 mm Hg) in SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial) improved survival compared with standard treatment (<140 mm Hg) over a med...
Glocality, Reflexivity, Interculturality, and Worldmaking: A Framework for Critical Global Teaching

At the time of this writing, we are closing the unprecedented year of 2020 and embarking further into the new decade. The year 2020 rendered powerful reminders of our global interconnectedness, int...
Telehealth Training for Surgeons to Empathetically Deliver Bad News Via Video-Mediated Communication.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a sudden increase in the need to effectively use telehealth in all realms of health care communication, including the delivery of bad news.MethodsA singl...
Asarum chueyi (Aristolochiaceae), a new species from the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Tennessee and Virginia, USA

The forests of eastern North America continue to yield new species, despite more than 200 years of botanical exploration. As a result of fieldwork conducted from 2012–2014, a new Asarum (Aristolochiaceae) species was found in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Tennessee and Virginia. This species, A. chueyi , is here distinguished from other North American Asarum species by a unique combination of several morphological characters (calyx tube shape, style extension length, abaxial sepal reticulation, and stamen morphology). Furthermore, a taxonomic key to the species of Blomquist’s informal Virginica group, along with a new combination for Hexastylis sorriei Gaddy, which has not been validly published in Asarum , is provided.
Mir-15/16 antagonizes c-Myb to control natural killer cell maturation (LYM7P.714)

NK cells develop in the bone marrow and complete maturation in peripheral organs, but the factors controlling maturation are incompletely understood. The miR-15/16 family is highly expressed in NK cells, and to study its role in NK cells, we generated a novel mouse model of NK-specific miR-15/16 deficiency (15aKO). 15aKO NK cells have a deficiency of mature (CD11b+CD27-) NK cells, with no alterations in total NK cell numbers or death, consistent with a block in maturation. The transcription factor Myb is expressed highly in immature NK cells, nearly absent in mature NK cells, and has been implicated in NK maturation. We found that miR-15/16 represses Myb, and Myb levels are increased in 15aKO NK cells. To directly investigate the role of Myb in NK cells, we developed a novel NK maturation system in which immature primary NK cells are transduced, adoptively transferred, and matured in vivo. As in the 15aKO mouse, transferred 15aKO NK cells had defective maturation. However, both 1) restoration of miR-15/16, or 2) knockdown of Myb, rescued maturation of the 15aKO NK cells, demonstrating that miR-15/16’s repression of Myb is critical to proper NK cell maturation. Furthermore, WT NK cells overexpressing Myb did not mature as well as control (WT NK+GFP) cells. Thus, the regulation of Myb by miR-15/16 is essential for NK cell maturation, revealing a novel mechanism controlling NK cell development.
Altered Innate Immune Functioning of Dendritic Cells in Elderly Humans: A Role of Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase-Signaling Pathway

Aging represents a state of paradox where chronic inflammation is associated with declining immune responses. Dendritic cells (DCs) are the major APCs responsible for initiating an immune response. However, DC functions in aging have not been studied in detail. In this study, we have compared the innate immune functions of monocyte-derived myeloid DCs from elderly subjects with DCs from young individuals. We show that although phenotypically comparable, DCs from the aging are functionally different from DCs from the young. In contrast to DCs from the young, DCs from elderly individuals display 1) significantly reduced capacity to phagocytose Ags via macropinocytosis and endocytosis as determined by flow cytometry; 2) impaired capacity to migrate in vitro in response to the chemokines MIP-3β and stromal cell-derived factor-1; and 3) significantly increased LPS and ssRNA-induced secretion of TNF-α and IL-6, as determined by ELISA. Investigations of intracellular signaling revealed reduced phosphorylation of AKT in DCs from the aging, indirectly suggesting decreased activation of the PI3K pathway. Because the PI3K-signaling pathway plays a positive regulatory role in phagocytosis and migration, and also functions as a negative regulator of TLR signaling by inducing activation of p38 MAPK, this may explain the aberrant innate immune functioning of DCs from elderly subjects. Results from real-time PCR and protein expression by flow cytometry demonstrated an increased expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog, a negative regulator of the PI3K-signaling pathway, in DCs from the aging. Increased phosphatase and tensin homolog may thus be responsible for the defect in AKT phosphorylation and, therefore, the altered innate immune response of DCs from elderly humans.
The Quest to Achieve True “Top Quartile” Status: Creating and Sustaining an Affirming Law School Community

confess. I am a consummate eavesdropper. Airports, flights in the cramped quarters of coach class, coffee shops, conventions, and law school functions are some of the venues that provide fertile sources of others’ conversations. It has dawned on me as I listen to this real-time chatter that most of it is negative, and that the negativity index tends to increase significantly when the topic of discussion turns to the workplace. Recently, for example, two strangers on an airplane made happy references to family members and hobbies, until the discussion veered into their professions and places of employment. One worked in computer sales for a prominent national chain, but based on his description, he was stuck in a company led by a group of morons and backbiters who knew little about how to run an effective sales operation. I was delighted to overhear that the other worked for a major university. Unfortunately, however, that university turned out to be an apparently abominable place to work for numerous reasons. When I attend national meetings of law professors, my trained ears frequently pick up equally unflattering references to law schools, faculties, and deans. Indeed, deans appear to be nothing but a bunch of numbskulls. After listening to many a professor’s description of his or her law school, a neutral observer would surmise that the poor soul teaches in a subsidiary of hell itself. Remembering the biblical reference to getting the beam out your own eye first, I began to reflect on my own behavior as a faculty member and former dean. Have I been unduly negative, cynical, or pessimistic when it comes to discussing my own law school and its mission? Yes, yes, and yes. Based on my experiences on two law faculties and my observations on ABA site evaluation teams over the past twenty years, it strikes me that law faculties are often like an archipelago, with each island occupied by one faculty member. Living on your own island is not a good thing. It breeds disinterest and indifference concerning what is taking place on the other islands. The general goals and missions of the law school to such faculties stand at a distant and low
Acyl phosphate: Hexose phosphotransferase: Purification and properties of the enzyme from Aerobacter aerogenes and evidence for its common identity with hexose phosphate: Hexose phosphotransferase☆

Abstract An enzyme that catalyzes the phosphorylation of hexoses with acyl phosphates, phosphoramidate, and certain sugar phosphates has been purified about 700-fold from extracts of Aerobacter aerogenes PRL-R3. The enzyme phosphorylates d-glucose (K m = 1.6 × 10 −4 m ) and d -mannose (K m = 1.2 × 10 −2 m ) at carbon atom 6, but d -fructose appears to be phosphorylated at either carbon atom 1 or 6. The K m value for the most effective phosphoryl donors (acetyl phosphate, carbamyl phosphate, phosphoramidate, and d-mannose 6-phosphate) is about 4 × 10 −4 m
Runtime Verification of C Programs

We present in this paper a framework, Rmor , for monitoring the execution of C programs against state machines, expressed in a textual (non-graphical) format in files separate from the program. The state machine language has been inspired by a graphical state machine language Rmor recently developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, as an alternative to using Linear Temporal Logic (LTL) for requirements capture. Transitions between states are labeled with abstract event names and Boolean expressions over such. The abstract events are connected to code fragments using an aspect-oriented pointcut language similar to AspectJ 's or AspectC 's pointcut language. The system is implemented in the C analysis and transformation package Cil , and is programmed in Ocaml , the implementation language of Cil . The work is closely related to the notion of stateful aspects within aspect-oriented programming, where pointcut languages are extended with temporal assertions over the execution trace.
Inconsequence of Galaxy Major Mergers in Driving Star Formation at z>1: Insights from Cosmological Simulations

Utilizing a high-resolution (114 pc/h) adaptive mesh-refinement cosmological galaxy formation simulation of the standard cold dark matter model with a large (2000-3000 galaxies with stellar mass greater than 1e9 Msun) statistical sample, we examine the role of major mergers in driving star formation at z>1 in a cosmological setting, after validating that some of the key properties of simulated galaxies are in reasonable agreement with observations, including luminosity functions, SF history, effective sizes and damped Lyman alpha systems. We find that major mergers have a relatively modest effect on star formation, in marked contrast to previous idealized merger simulations of disk galaxies that show up to two orders of magnitude increase in star formation rate. At z=2.4-3.7, major mergers tend to increase the specific star formation rate by 10-25% for galaxies in the entire stellar mass range 10^9-10^12 Msun probed. Their effect appears to increase with decreasing redshift, but is capped at 60% at z=1.4-2.4. Two factors may account for this modest effect. First, SFR of galaxies not in major mergers are much higher at z>1 than local disk galaxy counterparts. Second, most galaxies at z>1 have small sizes and contain massive dense bulges, which suppress the merger induced structural effects and gas inflow enhancement. Various other predictions are also made that will provide verifiable tests of the model.
Traveling-wave photodetector with integrated light amplification

The performance of novel amplifying waveguide detectors is investigated. A quantum efficiency of 80% is measured. Performance limitations are analyzed using three-dimensional device simulation and an optimized design is proposed.