cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Woman in Her 30s With a Past History of HIV Disease Presented With Recurrent Fever, Night Sweats, and Small Bilateral Pulmonary Nodules

A woman in her 30s presented with recurrent low-grade fever and cough (onset, 1 week). She reported occasional night sweats and weight loss of approximately 20 pounds over the past 4 months. She denied nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or any urinary complaints. Her past medical history was significant for chronic hepatitis C and HIV infection, the latter diagnosed in 2001. She was noncompliant with highly active antiretroviral therapy for more than 4 years and had pneumocystis pneumonia 2 years prior to this presentation. She had a 10-pack per year smoking history and reported active use of cocaine and heroin. The patient denied any occupational exposures.
Partner Involvement During Pregnancy and Maternal Health Behaviors.

Objectives Healthcare provider focus often rests solely on a pregnant woman, while a woman's partner may prove to be an ally in a pregnant woman's health behaviors. The objective of this study is to assess the role of partner support and other demographic factors affecting alcohol and drug use in pregnancy. Methods This cross-sectional cohort study at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital evaluated pregnant women and their partners and obtained sociodemographic information, medical history, tobacco and alcohol use, and results from the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire (NSSQ). Inclusion criteria were pregnant women 18-44 years old, and English fluency. Subjects without support persons were excluded. Results 198 women were evaluated. Women who reported having a partner were less likely to smoke and drink, as 2.8 % of partnered women smoked and 26 % drank, compared with 12.2 % non-partnered women smoked (p = 0.01), and 42 % drank alcohol (p = 0.07). Significant factors positively influencing the NSSQ included being married, increased household income, and higher education (p < 0.001). On multivariate regression, having a partner and higher income level were the most important predictors of the Social Support Score (p < 0.05). Conclusions for Practice Having a partner during pregnancy is an important factor in alcohol and drug use. Patients with a reliable partner were less likely to smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol in pregnancy. Increased income and relationship status are other important factors for the support of pregnant women.
A world history of war crimes: from antiquity to the present

In a refreshing shift from studies that look at the history of war and, at least over the past few centuries, reactive international laws of war and the laws of armed conflict, Michael Bryant looks...
Stability of Amlodipine Besylate in Two Liquid Dosage Forms

Abstract Objective: To determine the stability of amlodipine besylate in two liquid dosage forms under refrigeration and at room temperature. Design: Commercially available amlodipine tablets (Norvasc-Pfizer) were used to prepare two suspensions: one in extemporaneously prepared 1% methylcellulose in syrup (1:1), and another in equal volumes of commercially available OraPlus/OraSweet. Each suspension containing amlodipine 1 mg/mL was stored in 10 plastic prescription bottles; 5 were stored at 4°C and 5 at 25°C. Samples were collected immediately after preparation (day 0) and on days 7, 14,28,42,56,70, and 91. Amlodipine concentration was measured by stability-indicating HPLC method (n = 15). Setting: Research laboratory at Children's Hospital. Main Outcome Measures: Physical and chemical stability (> 90% of the initial concentration) of amlodipine in the two extemporaneously prepared suspensions during storage in plastic prescription bottles at 4°C and 25°C. Results: Observed mean concentrations exceeded 90% of the initial concentrations in both suspensions for 91 days at 4°C and 56 days at 25°C. No noticeable change in physical appearance or odor was observed; pH changed slightly in the methylcellulose-containing formulation stored at 25°C. Conclusion: Amlodipine was stable in two suspensions when stored in plastic prescription bottles for 91 days at 4°C or 56 days at 25°C. These formulations may be considered for pediatric or elderly patients who are unable to swallow tablets. The liquid dosage form would also permit accurate administration of amlodipine doses to infants and young children based on their body weight.
Predictive models for co-doping effects between combinations of donors (P/As/Sb) and acceptors (B/Ga/In)

We studied co-doping effects in silicon using first principles calculations, with particular attention to charge compensation, Coulomb interactions and strain compensation. We find that for B-doped systems, As or Sb counter-doping reduces the hole concentration, but that due to strong binding of multiple P atoms, Ga or In counter-doping can increase electron density in P doped material. For acceptor-acceptor pairing, we find the B-B interaction to be repulsive as expected due to Coulombic effects, but calculations show a surprisingly strong attractive binding between B and In, which we attribute to hole localization. However, B-In binding is not promising for enhancing hole concentration since BIn pairs are deep acceptors. Both donor-acceptor and acceptor-acceptor pairing can be helpful in reducing dopant diffusion leading to more abrupt junctions.
A Critical Role for the Retinoblastoma Tumor Suppressor Gene in Hematopoietic Stem Cells.

Abstract The retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein (RB) plays important roles in the control of the cell cycle, DNA-damage checkpoint, differentiation and apoptosis. It is estimated that RB is dysfunctional/inactivated in up to 40% of human leukemias. Positive as well as inhibitory signals are integrated into the phosphorylation of the RB protein to regulate the G1 to S-phase progression of the cell cycle. Despite the importance of RB in leukemia, the consequences of loss of RB on hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) function in vivo are still not clear and have been controversially discussed. Using Cre-enzyme expression driven by the hematopoietic specific Vav1-promotor, we generated mice that are constitutively deficient in RB (hemRb−/− animals) in HSPCs. HemRb−/− mice showed anemia with an increased number of reticulocytes in PB, consistent with a published role of RB in erythroid differentiation. In addition, the frequency of Mac-1 positive cells in BM was increased to 67% compared to 47% in control animals, whereas the frequency of B220 positive B-lymphoid cells was almost 10-fold reduced, without affecting the T-lymphoid compartment. HemRb−/− mice possessed a 3-fold enlarged spleen with a 5-fold increased number of colony-forming cells (CFCs) and severe extramedullary hematopoiesis, a phenotype also reported for animals transplanted with Rb−/− fetal liver cells. BM of hemRb−/− mice showed an almost 3-fold reduction of HSC frequency, measured by the cobblestone-area forming cell assay (CAFC) assay, but not a decrease in the number of HSCs determined by cell surface staining and flow cytometry. Upon transplantation into NOD/SCID animals or upon competitive transplantation into C57BL/6. CD45.1 animals, HSPCs from hemRb−/− mice contributed 4 to 6-fold less to hematopoiesis. HSPCs from hemRb−/− animals were neither impaired in their ability to home to the BM, nor did they show increased apoptosis. Finally, we detected a significant 4-fold decrease in stem cell function/numbers upon stress caused by 5-FU treatment in hemRB−/− mice compared to control animals. We conclude that upon transplantation/stress, HSPCs from hemRb−/− animals are impaired in their self-renewal function. HemRb−/− animals also showed a 2-fold increase in the frequency of CFCs in peripheral blood. As we detected no increased leukemia incidence in the hemRb−/− animals (now up to 1 year of age), loss of the tumor suppressor RB in hematopoietic cells might be regarded as necessary, but not sufficient for causing early onset leukemia. In summary, loss of RB results in context/localization dependent phenotypes in the hematopoietic hierarchy, influencing stem and progenitor cells in function, localization and differentiation ability.
Dielectrophoretic spectroscopy using a microscopic electrode array

Dielectrophoresis (DEP) is a commonly used technique in biomedical engineering to manipulate biomolecules. DEP is defined as the force acting on dielectric particles when they are exposed to non-uniform electric fields. DEP effect can be divided in three categories: positive (dielectric particles are attracted to the electrodes), negative, and zero force DEP. The cross-over frequency is the frequency in which the DEP force is equal to zero. The cross-over frequency depends on the conductivity and the permittivity of the particles and of the suspended medium. The DEP cross-over frequency has been utilized in detecting/quantifying biomolecules. A manual procedure is commonly used to estimate the cross-over frequency of biomolecules. Therefore, the accuracy of this detection method is significantly limited. To address this issue, we designed and tested an automated procedure to carry out DEP spectroscopy in dielectric particles dissolved in a biological buffer solution. Our method efficiently measures the effect of the DEP force through a live video feed from the microscope camera and performs real-time image processing. It records the change in the fluorescence emission as the system automatically scans the electric frequency of the function generator over a specified time interval. We demonstrated the effectiveness of the method by extracting the crossover frequencies and the DEP spectrum of polystyrene beads with blue color dye (1000 nm diameter) and green fluorescent polystyrene beads with 500 nm diameter using this procedure. This approach can lead to the development of a biosensor with significantly higher sensitivity than existing detection methods.
Tau Spread, Apolipoprotein E, Inflammation, and More: Rapidly Evolving Basic Science in Alzheimer Disease

To date, Alzheimer disease drug candidates have produced negative results in human trials, and progress in moving new targets out of the laboratory and into trials has been slow. However, based on 3 decades of previous work, there is reason to hope that amyloid-based and other novel therapies will move at a faster pace toward successful clinical trials. This article highlights selected preclinical research topics that are rapidly advancing in the laboratory.
Extended Lymph Node Dissection

Radical cystectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy remains the standard therapy for high-grade invasive bladder cancer with well-documented oncological outcomes. Several studies have demonstrated the prognostic and therapeutic benefits of an appropriately performed lymph node dissection. While the need for pelvic lymphadenectomy in the management of bladder cancer is clear, the optimal template or number of lymph nodes that should be removed remains controversial. The historical evolution and current role of an extended pelvic lymphadenectomy in the management of bladder cancer is the focus of this chapter.
Single-cell nuclei rise from the dead

High throughput, single-cell transcriptomic profiling can rapidly profile frozen mouse and human tissues.
Security Beyond CMOS: Fundamentals, Applications, and Roadmap

Hardware-oriented security and trust has traditionally relied on the dominant CMOS technology to develop security primitives and provide protection against different attacks and vulnerabilities. With CMOS nearly reaching its fundamental scaling limit and the shortcomings of current solutions, researchers are now looking to exploit emerging nanoelectronic devices for various security applications. In this paper, we discuss the unique features of three emerging nanoelectronic technologies, namely, phase-change memory, grapheme, and carbon nanotubes, and analyze how these features can aid in hardware security and trust. In addition, we present challenges and future research directions about how to effectively integrate emerging nanoscale devices into hardware security. We emphasize that an interdisciplinary initiative is needed for emerging technologies to reach their full potential in security and trust applications.
Sources of Social Support After Patient Assault as Related to Staff Well-Being:

Patient assault is a serious issue for the well-being of staff in psychiatric hospitals. To guide workplace responses to patient assault, more information is needed about social support from different sources and whether those supports are associated with staff well-being. The present study examines social support after patient assault from work-based and nonwork-based sources, and whether inpatient psychiatric staff desires support from them and perceive the support received as being effective. Received support across sources was examined in relations to staff well-being (physical health, mental health, anger, sleep quality) and perceptions of safety. Survey data was collected from 348 clinical staff in a large public forensic mental hospital. Among the 242 staff who reported an assault in the last year, 71% wanted support and 72% found effective support from at least one source. Generally, effective support from supervisors, coworkers, and their combination was associated with better well-being. Support from nonwork sources was related to less concerns about safety, but not to other well-being measures. However, 28% of staff did not receive effective support from any source postassault. Gaps in support as reported in this study and as found by other investigators call for systematic programming by hospital organizations to enhance the well-being of clinical staff, which in turn has implications for patient care.
Student evaluation of a didactic-oriented teaching model in preclinical endodontics

Background: Current millennial-generation dental students have learning preferences which differ from students of the past. Today's dental students strongly embrace cutting edge technologies, and respond well to a pre-clinical educational curriculum which embraces Evidence-Based Dentistry. Aim: Using the elements of Chickering and Gamson's Seven Principles of Good Practice in Higher Education, this study examined the effectiveness of a contemporary teaching model which differs from the traditional passive “teaching and instruction” approach. Materials and Methods: The Institutional Review Board approved this study. Students from the combined classes of 2012 and 2013 (180 of 191) completed a 25 question survey to evaluate the effectiveness of a teaching model in Pre-clinical Endodontics. Survey questions assessed relevance of class materials, professionalism, and motivation, as well as all facets of the Teaching Model. Scoring employed a three point Likert scale: Excellent (3); Good (2); and, Poor (1). Descriptive statistics were used to determine students' perceived understanding of the course. The comparison between students' mean responses in the sophomore class of spring 2012 and the class of spring 2013 was conducted using a two sample independent t-test to test for differences in mean scores among the two groups. The survey instrument used in this class assessed encouragement of contact between students and faculty (Principle 1); development of reciprocity and cooperation among students (Principle 2); encouragement of active learning (Principle 3); prompt feedback (Principle 4); emphasis of time on task (Principle 5); communicating high expectations (Principle 6); and respecting diverse talents and ways of learning (Principle 7). Results: This paper highlights a newly designed Teaching Effectiveness Model to teach pre-clinical Endodontics to sophomore dental students. Statistical analysis of Likert scale data demonstrated a relationship between the Seven Principles and the Teaching Effectiveness Model. Conclusion: The effectiveness of this teaching model was confirmed by the high pass rate scores (98, 100%) in 2012 AND 2013 classes on the endodontic section of both the written National Board of Dental Examiners and the endodontic section of the clinical state and regional board licensing exams.
Social Anxiety and Socialization Among Adolescents

This present chapter discusses the relationship between social anxiety and socialization among adolescents. In particular, the text addresses the associations among social anxiety disorder, social development, and social experiences during adolescence. Treatment implications among adolescents are highlighted in the context of a case study.
Parallel Auditory Pathways: II — Functional Properties

In the previous chapter the wiring diagram of the auditory system was described and we pointed out the functional consequences of these connectional patterns, especially how they preserve the cochlear tonotopic organization. In this chapter we discuss the physiological characteristics of the brainstem auditory nuclei in echolocating bats, considering two major challenges bats face: 1) The evaluation of target range coded by the temporal interval between an emitted pulse and echo; and 2) The localization of a sound in space which is computed from interaural intensity disparities.
Sedation in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: Challenges, Outcomes, and Future Strategies in the United States

Sedation and analgesia are required on a daily basis for infants and children in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Regardless of the patient’s age, cognitive level, underlying medical condition, or comorbid conditions, various factors may result in agitation, anxiety, and pain during the PICU process. One of the challenges of the PICU is the variability that is presented in patient type (age, weight, comorbid conditions, acute illness), procedure type and duration, and location (in the PICU versus off-site). The procedures may be brief (burn dressing changes, placement of central venous or arterial cannulae) or prolonged (mechanical ventilation) as well as non-painful requiring only sedation (imaging) or painful requiring both sedation and analgesia. When considering the patient who requires mechanical ventilation, the need for procedural sedation may last for days or even weeks as children may require prolonged sedation to overcome the pain and anxiety associated with the presence of an endotracheal tube and the requirement for ongoing mechanical ventilation. The pain and anxiety may be further magnified by psychological factors including periodic separation from parents, disruption of the day–night cycle and alterations of normal sleep patterns, unfamiliar people, the noise of imposing machines and monitoring devices, fear of death, and loss of self-control.
REVIEW: Barrett's Esophagus

Barrett's esophagus occurs more frequently than previously anticipated. Detection of Barrett's esophagus is by endoscopic biopsy in which normal squamous epithelium of the esophagus is replaced by a specialized columnar epithelium of any length. Patients with more than five years of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms, particularly those 50 years of age or older, should have upper endoscopy to detect Barrett's esophagus. With recognition of Barrett's esophagus as a premalignant lesion, the crucial issue is surveillance for detection of dysplasia. Although the natural history of dysplasia is incompletely defined, it is clear that patients with dysplasia have a higher risk for adenocarcinoma than those without dysplasia. Dysplasia is not the ideal marker for selecting patients at high risk for adenocarcinoma, however; recent studies have shown that p53 protein accumulation appears to be earlier and more specific/sensitive marker of malignant potential in Barrett's esophagus. Management of Barrett's esophagus often involves a multidisciplinary evaluation and its current status is reviewed.
Major Discrepancies of HCV Viral Loads Determined by Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Caused by Use of Collection Tubes that Differ Only with the Presence or Absence of Serum Separator.

Background For viral load (VL) analysis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) by Real Time PCR, approved collection tubes were lavender top (LTT) and plasma processing (PPT) tubes, that differ in that PPTs include plasma separator. Using a Real Time PCR method, we investigated how the results correlated for the two tube types. Methods The plasma fractions of blood samples from each of 202 patients were collected in LTT and PPT tubes at the same time and were assayed for HCV VL by the Abbott m2000 Real Time PCR System; the results were analyzed statistically. Results VLs for 103 samples for both tubes were negative. Positive results were obtained for another 79 tube pairs, including six with VLs for LTTs but values below linearity for the corresponding PPTs. For the 73 samples for which quantitative results were obtained for both tube types, VLs were statistically higher in LTTs (means 1,817,821.8 in LTTs and 1,083,669.1 in PPTs, p=0.006, alpha=0.05) using the paired t-test and confirmed by the Chi Square and McNemars tests. Conclusions VLs in LTTs are significantly higher and more sensitive than in PPTs, suggesting the necessity of standardization of collection tubes for HCV VLs.
Co-production of fully renewable medium chain α-olefins and bio-oil via hydrothermal liquefaction of biomass containing polyhydroxyalkanoic acid

Medium chain-length linear α-olefins (mcl-LAO) are versatile precursors to commodity products such as synthetic lubricants and biodegradable detergents, and have been traditionally produced from ethylene oligomerization and Fischer–Tropsch synthesis. Medium chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoic acid (mcl-PHA) can be produced by some microorganisms as an energy storage. In this study, Pseudomonas putida biomass that contained mcl-PHA was used in HTL at 300 °C for 30 min, and up to 65 mol% of mcl-PHA was converted into mcl-LAO. The yield and quality of the bio-oil co-produced in the HTL was remarkably improved with the biomass rich in mcl-PHA. Experiments with extracted mcl-PHA revealed the degradation mechanism of mcl-PHA in HTL. Overall, this work demonstrates a novel process to co-produce mcl-LAO and bio-oil from renewable biomass.
Synthesis of an Antecedent of the Productional Rule by Logical Neural Networks on a Basis of Architecture Similar of Group Method of Data Handling

Nowadays the requirements for the speediness of decisions are increasing in the context of the need to take into account a large number of factors characterizing the emerging situations. This is especially important in the digital reality of such areas as: sociology, medicine, ecology, etc. This makes it necessary to develop automated decision support systems based on existing or newly developed innovations of modern methodological capabilities and existing tools of artificial intelligence. Existing achievements of the Group Method of Data Handling (GMDH) allow to resolve the contradiction between a large number of informative features and a small training sample when developing the synthesis architecture of an artificial logical neural network, using the architecture of the GMDH as the basic structure and operating principles. Two types of neurons are considered: logic neuron and logic-arithmetic neuron (structures, training algorithms, recommendations for application are given). The configuration of the proposed artificial logical neural network as a whole is described. Presented are the results of experimental studies that prove the effectiveness of the proposed neural network for the synthesis of the antecedent of the production rule by the example of assessing the risk of death from thromboembolism in endoprosthetics.
Role of Ultrasound Guidance for Central Venous Access, Chest Tube Insertion, and Interventional Management of Cholecystitis in ICU Patients

Ultrasound guidance has been advocated as a method to potentially improve percutaneous treatment success and reduce complication rates associated with traditional surgical approaches. Procedural applications for the cardiothoracic critical care surgical patient include central venous access, insertion of chest tubes, and management of cholecystitis. The use of realtime ultrasound in central venous access has received high grade recommendations for the reduction of procedural complications, with impact more apparent in the access of the internal jugular vein compared to the subclavian or femoral veins. In the treatment of pneumothorax and pleural fluid collections, the ultrasound placement of small bore drains has similar outcomes to the conventional insertion of large bore drains placed via blunt dissection by the available low level evidence. The treatment of cholecystitis in the ICU patient by ultrasound guided gallbladder aspiration or cholecystostomy tube placement has low quality evidence to suggest a high technical success rate and low immediate procedural complication rate, despite procedural technical variability. While these ultrasound guided techniques appear to provide a safe treatment alternative to urgent or emergent cholecystectomy in the high risk patient, low level evidence suggests use as a temporizing treatment to shortly thereafter bridge for cholecystectomy.
RNA regulatory processes in RNA virus biology

Numerous post-transcriptional RNA processes play a major role in regulating the quantity, quality and diversity of gene expression in the cell. These include RNA processing events such as capping, splicing, polyadenylation and modification, but also aspects such as RNA localization, decay, translation, and non-coding RNA-associated regulation. The interface between the transcripts of RNA viruses and the various RNA regulatory processes in the cell, therefore, has high potential to significantly impact virus gene expression, regulation, cytopathology and pathogenesis. Furthermore, understanding RNA biology from the perspective of an RNA virus can shed considerable light on the broad impact of these post-transcriptional processes in cell biology. Thus the goal of this article is to provide an overview of the richness of cellular RNA biology and how RNA viruses use, usurp and/or avoid the associated machinery to impact the outcome of infection. This article is categorized under: RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease.
Targeting the site encoded by SERPINA1*E342K for treating alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency-associated liver diseases.

Alpha1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency predisposes individuals to emphysema and liver diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The deficiency results from mutations in the SERPIN1A gene encoding AAT molecules that cause hepatotoxic retention within the endoplasmic reticulum. Since the E342K mutation is the basis for destabilization leading to lung and liver pathologies, we used the crystal structure of the mutated AAT as the basis for molecular docking selection of candidate compounds that may bind and stabilize the 342K structural pocket. We identified compounds that inhibited intracellular accumulation of AAT in hepatocytes in vitro. These data suggest that drug binding to a structural site encoded by a mutation associated with AAT deficiency has the potential for clinical utility by modulating conformational transitions.
The Appeal of Influencers to the Social Media Outreach of Indian Politicians

Democracies around the world have different levels of dependence on influencers outside of mainstream politics in their outreach efforts. In this study, we examine the case of India, specifically the relationship between politicians in power and "influencers'', such as celebrities and media accounts, they follow on Twitter. We find that while politicians engage with these accounts to the same degree to which they follow them, the media accounts at the highest levels of engagement share the same ideology as the politicians who follow them. No similar alignment exists between celebrities and politicians, which requires future work of analyzing the content of engaging tweets in order to define the extent to which these accounts have political influence.
Mechanistic Studies of Bioorthogonal ATP Analogues for Assessment of Histidine Kinase Autophosphorylation.

Phosphorylation is an essential protein modification and is most commonly associated with hydroxyl-containing amino acids via an adenosine triphosphate (ATP) substrate. The last decades have brough...
The Current Microgravity Materials Science Program

A description will be made of the current materials science program within the microgravity research division. This presentation will be made at a plenary session of the biennial materials Science Conference.
The challenges of working with “real” teams: Introduction to the second installment:

We introduce the next two papers in our running special section on the challenges studying modern teams—those that may not have identifiable boundaries, stable membership, or members who belong onl...
Performance Analysis of GPU Programming Models Using the Roofline Scaling Trajectories.

Performance analysis is a daunting job, especially for the rapid-evolving accelerator technologies. The Roofline Scaling Trajectories technique aims at diagnosing various performance bottlenecks for GPU programming models through the visually intuitive Roofline plots. In this work, we introduce the use of the Roofline Scaling Trajectories to capture major performance bottlenecks on NVIDIA Volta GPU architectures, such as warp efficiency, occupancy, and locality. Using this analysis technique, we explain the performance characteristics of the NAS Parallel Benchmarks (NPB) written with two programming models, CUDA and OpenACC. We present the influence of the programming model on the performance and scaling characteristics. We also leverage the insights of the Roofline Scaling Trajectory analysis to tune some of the NAS Parallel Benchmarks, achieving up to 2\(\times \) speedup.
Re-Examining the Nexus between Madrasa Education and Politics in Bangladesh

The paper investigates the dynamics between madrasa education and party politics in Bangladesh using data gathered through in-depth field interviews with madrasa students and teachers, and it exami...
A muscle-related contractile tissue specified by MRTF-activity in Porifera

Abstract Muscle-based movement is a hallmark of animal biology, but the evolutionary origins of myocytes – the cells that comprise muscle tissues – are unknown. Sponges (Porifera) provide an opportunity to reconstruct the earliest periods of myocyte evolution. Although sponges are believed to lack muscle, they are capable of coordinated whole-body contractions that purge debris from internal water canals. This behavior has been observed for decades, but their contractile tissues remain uncharacterized. It is an open question whether they have affinity to muscle or non-muscle contractile tissues in other animals. Here, we characterize the endothelial-like lining of water canals (the endopinacoderm) as a primary contractile tissue in the sponge Ephydatia muelleri. We find tissue-wide organization of contractile actin-bundles that contain striated-muscle myosin II and transgelin, and that contractions are regulated by the release of internal Ca2+ stores upstream of the myosin-light-chain-kinase (MLCK) pathway. Further, we show that the endopinacoderm is developmentally specified by myocardin-related transcription factor (MRTF) as part of an environmentally-inducible transcriptional complex that otherwise is known to function in muscle development, plasticity, and regeneration in other animals. We conclude that the contractile machinery shared between the endopinacoderm and myocytes likely evolved in the context of a multifunctional, muscle-related tissue in the animal stem-lineage. Furthermore, as an actin-regulated force-sensor, MRTF-activity offers a mechanism for how water canals dynamically remodel in response to flow and can re-form normally from stem-cells in the absence of the intrinsic positional cues characteristic of embryogenesis in other animals.
Roflumilast treatment during forced abstinence reduces relapse to methamphetamine seeking and taking.

Methamphetamine (METH) is a psychostimulant with high abuse potential. Currently, there are no pharmacological treatments specific for METH abuse or stimulant use disorder generally. Although phosphodiesterase inhibitors have shown some promise, current animal models have not examined their use in abstinence from stimulant abuse. We employed a METH self-administration model in the rat followed by a forced abstinence period during which roflumilast, a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, was administered. A detailed behavioral analysis of chronic treatment with roflumilast during 7 days of forced abstinence showed that roflumilast reduced METH seeking and METH taking upon subsequent relapse test. Roflumilast treatment during 7 days of forced abstinence did not affect sucrose seeking and sucrose taking behaviors. These data suggest that roflumilast may be a treatment for METH use disorder that is effective when administered only during abstinence.
The Twin decadal survey testbeds in the high contrast imaging testbed facility at NASA’s jet propulsion laboratory

Following the success of the Decadal Survey Testbed (DST), the HCIT team at JPL has developed a companion testbed, the Decadal Survey Testbed 2 (DST2), that further implements lessons learned from DST and from recent modeling work at JPL in support of the HabEx concept. Commissioning for DST2 is currently targeted for Fall 2021. Here we report on the detailed design of DST2 and status of integration and testing highlighting comparisons/changes from the original DST. Expected performance is summarized here, with details of the modeling effort provided in Noyes et al. also in these proceedings.
Cost-Effectiveness of Systemic Treatments for Metastatic Castration-Sensitive Prostate Cancer: An Economic Evaluation Based on Network Meta-Analysis

Abstract Objectives To assess the cost-effectiveness of systemic treatments for metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer from the US healthcare sector perspective with a lifetime horizon. Methods We built a partitioned survival model based on a network meta-analysis of 7 clinical trials with 7287 patients aged 36 to 94 years between 2004 and 2018 to predict patient health trajectories by treatment. We tested parameter uncertainties with probabilistic sensitivity analyses. We estimated drug acquisition costs using the Federal Supply Schedule and adopted generic drug prices when available. We measured cost-effectiveness by an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). Results The mean costs were approximately $392 000 with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) alone and approximately $415 000, $464 000, $597 000, and $959 000 with docetaxel, abiraterone acetate, enzalutamide, and apalutamide, added to ADT, respectively. The mean quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) were 3.38 with ADT alone and 3.92, 4.76, 3.92, and 5.01 with docetaxel, abiraterone acetate, enzalutamide, and apalutamide, added to ADT, respectively. As add-on therapy to ADT, docetaxel had an ICER of $42 069 per QALY over ADT alone; abiraterone acetate had an ICER of $58 814 per QALY over docetaxel; apalutamide had an ICER of $1 979 676 per QALY over abiraterone acetate; enzalutamide was dominated. At a willingness to pay below $50 000 per QALY, docetaxel plus ADT is likely the most cost-effective treatment; at any willingness to pay between $50 000 and $200 000 per QALY, abiraterone acetate plus ADT is likely the most cost-effective treatment. Conclusions These findings underscore the value of abiraterone acetate plus ADT given its relative cost-effectiveness to other systemic treatments for metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer.
CREWS AS GROUPS: THEIR FORMATION AND THEIR LEADERSHIP.

Publisher Summary The objective of this chapter is to change the focus of crewmembers from solely a perspective of competent individuals coming together to do work to a perspective that acknowledges that a crew, group, or team has certain unique characteristics that cannot be explained at the individual level. Further, these group concepts are critical for performance and should be understood and leveraged by anyone who considers leading a crew. The study presents some examples of crew failure and then introduces a few critical group-based concepts. Paramount among these will be group dynamics and leadership. It details four specific areas in which the captain can create effective conditions for crew work. It briefly reviews a NASA-funded research project and examines the importance of leadership during the formation process of crews and discusses some of the unexpected results of that study. The concept of organizational shells is also introduced to explain the surprising findings. Lastly, the implications for effective crew leadership are discussed.
Chapter 19 Optic neuropathies and disorders of optic chiasma

Publisher Summary The eye, optic nerve, and chiasm are an accessible, easily quantifiable, sensory system within the brain. The retina is a highly specialized part of the brain's gray matter, while the optic nerve is a simplified central nervous system (CNS) white matter tract. Visual loss and recovery because of the optic nerve pathophysiology can be quantified by a number of modalities including visual acuity, color vision testing, pupillography, perimetry, fundoscopy, imaging, electrophysiology, and psychophysical techniques. The study of optic neuropathies has become an important tool for understanding the neurobiology, prognosis, and treatment strategies for many central nervous system diseases—for example, optic neuritis may well be a forme fruste of multiple sclerosis while anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION) is related to small vessel cerebral vascular disease. Advancing the understanding of optic neuropathies may well gain insight into therapeutic issues surrounding brain diseases such as multiple sclerosis and stroke.
Cytomegalovirus infection after bone marrow transplantation: an association with acute graft-v-host disease.

Among 181 patients undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation over a five-year period (1978 through 1982), cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection was a frequent and often lethal complication. Recipient pretransplant serology was the most important predictor of posttransplant CMV infection. CMV infection occurred in 26/137 seronegative recipients and in 28/44 seropositive recipients (P less than .001). Among patients who developed CMV infection, the time to infection was identical in seronegative and seropositive patients (median, 71 days post transplant). Bone marrow donor CMV serology did not significantly influence CMV infection rate. CMV infection was strongly associated with acute graft-v-host disease (AGVHD), occurring in 34/81 patients with AGVHD and 20/100 without GVHD (P less than .001). AGVHD preceded CMV infection by 33.7 days (mean) in patients developing both complications. Patients who developed CMV infections had also received more cellular blood products post transplant. These data suggest that CMV infection may occur through reactivation of latent virus (in seropositive recipients) or through exogenous exposure, possibly through transfused blood products, but that duration of immunoincompetence may be more critical than route of exposure in timing of clinically evident CMV infection. Prophylaxis tailored to the likely infectious source and more effective GVHD prevention both may be critical in preventing CMV infection after bone marrow transplantation.
The Wronging of Wright

The name of Abraham Gotthelf Kaestner is today familiar only to a few scholars, except perhaps in Gottingen where he spent the last 46 years of his life (1719-1800) as professor of mathematics and where his memory was honored, immediately after his death, with a marble bust.1 In his lifetime his name was on the lips of everybody in German academic circles, professors as well as students. The latter flocked to him from afar and for good reasons. It was Kaestner who raised in Germany the teaching of mathematics to a level far above to the elementary niveau which is the staple feature of Christian Wolff’s once famed textbooks. Kaestner, an avid student of Gottsched, who in the 1730s began to reshape German language, presented even the most abstract topics with elegance and clarity. In addition to being an excellent teacher, he had an eye on occasion for real depths, as shown by his postscript to the dissertation (1763) of his student, G. S. Klugel, who surveyed 30 purported proofs of Euclid’s parallel postulate. Kaestner himself tried, in vain, to construct one such proof.2 His interest in the topic did not, however, fail to produce fruits indirectly. Bolyai’s father was a student of Kaestner and so was J. M. C. Bartels, who had later, at the University of Kazan, Lobatchevsky as one of his students. Gauss, the third great personality in this connection, provided a less flattering reflection on Kaestner. While a student at Gottingen, Gauss avoided Kaestner’s lectures as being too elementary. In Gauss’ eyes, Kaestner was “the greatest mathematician among poets of his times and the greatest poet among mathematicians of the same times.”3
Analysis and optimization of distributed ESD protection circuits for high-speed mixed-signal and RF applications

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection devices can have an adverse effect on the performance of high-speed mixed-signal and RF circuits. This work presents a detailed s-parameter based analysis of the performance of these circuits with special attention to the distributed ESD protection designs. It has been shown that a 4-stage distributed ESD protection can be beneficial at frequencies greater than 3 GHz. Two generalized design optimization methodologies using coplanar waveguides are developed for the distributed structure to achieve a better impedance match over a broad frequency range. By using this optimized design, an ESD device with a parasitic capacitance of 200 fF will attenuate the RF signal power by only 0.27 dB at 10 GHz. A design strategy is also suggested for high-speed mixed-signal ICs.
Privacy Management for Facebook

As more people adopt the Internet as a medium of communication, the Internet has developed into a virtual world and this has resulted in many online social networks (SN). MySpace and Facebook, two leading online SN sites, have a combined user base of 170 million as of 2008. SN sites started to offer developers open platforms that provide users' profile information to the developers. Unfortunately, the applications can also be used to invade privacy and to harvest the users' profile information without their acknowledgement. To address this vulnerability, we propose a privacy-management system that protects the accessibility of users' profile. The system uses probabilistic approach based on information revelation of users. Our experimental result shows that the system can achieve high accuracy rate of 75%.
Virtual services: a new abstraction for server consolidation

Modern server operating systems (OS's) do not address the issue of interference between competing applications. This deficiency is a major road-block for Internet and Application Service Providers who want to multiplex server resources among their business clients. To insulate applications from each other, we introduce Virtual Services (VSs). Besides providing per-service resource budgets, VSs drastically reduce cross-service interference in the presence of shared backend services, such as databases and name services. VSs provide dynamic per-service resource partitioning and management in a manner completely transparent to applications. To accomplish this goal, we introduce a kernel-based work classification mechanism called gates. Gates track work that propagates from one service to another and are configured by the system administrator via simple rules. They automate the binding of processes and sockets to VSs, and ensure that any work done on behalf of a VS, even if it is done by shared services, is charged to the resource budget of the VS that requested it. Using our experimental Linux 2.0.36-based implementation we applied them effectively to co-hosted Web servers. Thus, nearly eliminating performance interference between the co-hosted sites.
Re-Examining the Performance Appraisal Process: Focus on Management Methods

(1970). Re-Examining the Performance Appraisal Process. Hospital Topics: Vol. 48, No. 11, pp. 33-38.
Lack of efficacy of pyridoxine (vitamin B6) treatment in acquired idiopathic sideroblastic anaemia, including refractory anaemia with ring sideroblasts

Pyridoxine, or vitamin B6, is commonly used to treat acquired idiopathic sideroblastic anaemia (AISA, including refractory anaemia with ring sideroblasts), but the efficacy of this therapy in an unselected AISA population (i.e. patients without confirmed ALAS2 or other pyridoxine-responsive germline mutations) has not been established. We reviewed clinical data from 231 patients with AISA and found that 42% of 203 evaluable patients had been treated with pyridoxine. Only 6.8% of pyridoxine-treated patients experienced a haemoglobin improvement (‡1.5 g ⁄dL) meeting 2006 International Working Group for Myelodysplastic Syndromes standardised response criteria. As some patients received combination therapy with erythropoietin or other agents, improvement could be attributed to pyridoxine monotherapy in only one patient (1.4%). Smaller, less meaningful increments in haemoglobin levels of 0.5 g ⁄dL were observed in 13.5% of patients. Response to therapy did not correlate with International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) risk group or multilineage vs unilineage dysplasia. New symptomatic peripheral neuropathy was noted in 2.3% of patients treated with pyridoxine. In this large series of unselected patients with sideroblastic anaemia, pyridoxine therapy was ineffective and was associated with a risk of adverse effects. Pyridoxine therapy should be reserved for patients with known or suspected pyridoxine-responsive mutations.
Patient volumes and pre- and postdischarge postpartum infection: A retrospective cohort study.

Background To examine the association between hospital and clinician obstetric volume and postpartum infection risk in the pre- and postdischarge periods. Methods We used data from the 2011 New York State Inpatient and Emergency Department Databases to fit generalized estimating equation models to examine the effect of hospital and clinician obstetric volume on infection before discharge and in the 30 days after discharge after delivery. Results Higher clinician volume was associated with lower predischarge infection risk (odds ratio [OR] for first vs third quartile was 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.77-0.98). There was an uncertain trend toward higher predischarge infection risk in higher volume hospitals (OR for first vs third quartile was 1.36; 95% CI, 0.79-2.34). We found no associations between patient volumes and postdischarge infections; however, power was insufficient to rule out small associations. The joint association of hospital and clinician volumes with postdischarge infection appeared submultiplicative (product term OR = 0.95; 95% CI, 0.92-0.98). Conclusion This study adds to the evidence that hospital obstetric volume is positively associated with predischarge postpartum infections, whereas clinician volume may be negatively associated with those predischarge infections. The associations between hospital obstetric volume and postdischarge infection appear to differ. These results underscore the importance of including postdischarge follow-up in hospital-based studies of postpartum infection.
Special Administrative Measures: An Example of Counterterror Excesses and Their Roots in U.S. Criminal Justice

This article examines the creation and implementation of pretrial Special Administrative Measures [SAMs], a version of pretrial solitary confinement now used most often to confine terror suspects in the federal criminal justice system. Through an in-depth archival study, this article brings attention to the importance of 20th century criminal justice trends to the 21st century response to the threat of terrorism, including an increasingly preventive focus and decreasing judicial checks on executive action. The findings suggest that practices believed to be excessive responses to the threat of terrorism are in fact a natural outgrowth of late modern criminal justice.