cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Antibiotic Usage in Patients with Renal Impairment

In renal disease the persistence of antibiotics, or their serum half-life, depends on the extent to which the kidneys effect their clearance. For drugs largely or moderately cleared by the kidneys, serum creatimine concentration provides a method of gauging persistence and of adjusting dose schedules to the needs of the renally compromised individual. In urinary tract infections, drugs must be selected that reach the urine in adequate concentrations for efficacy.
An Empirical Study on the Energy Consumption in Residential Buildings after Adopting Green Building Standards

Abstract In the past decades, a tremendous effort has been put into research and development of improved building systems and technologies to reduce the building energy consumption and advance energy efficiency. However, there is little to no published quantifiable evidence that assesses the energy consumption and efficiency for residential buildings with a context of green building standards. To fill this gap of information, this paper reports an empirical study that investigates the green home energy efficiency and its interaction with resident behaviors. This work uses an integrated approach of energy simulation and multivariate regression modeling. The data are from a sample of more than 300 residential units which meet the green building standards. Findings identify 43% of the annual reduction in energy usage and energy expenditures for a typical American home. Findings also identify four energy-consumption-related resident behaviors depending on which the actual energy efficiency performance of green building technology may differ.
California Active Aging Project

The mission of the California Active Aging Project is to enable and encourage Californians over 50 years of age to lead healthier lives by promoting physical activity and creating social and physical environments that support active aging. The article briefly describes the approaches the California Department of Health Services is taking to promote physical activity to older adults. Integral to the selected approaches is the translation of research into practice, engagement of diverse agencies and organizations as partners, and strengthening of community capacity to promote physical activity.
Summary and Implications

Our purpose in this final chapter is twofold. First, we review the empirical findings presented in the preceding chapters. Second, we discuss the theoretical, methodological, and policy implications of those findings.
NMR Spin-Lattice Relaxation and EPR Linewidth in High T c Materials

The nuclear-magnetic-resonance (NMR) spin-lattice relaxation rate (1/T1) and electron-paramagnetic-resonance (EPR) linewidth (T1) are calculated for La2CuO4 in both the paramagnetic and antiferromagnetic regimes. The NMR T1 at first shortens with increasing temperature in the antiferromagnetic regime, then in the vicinity of TN lengthens as (ξ/a)-1, where ξ is the two-dimensional spin-correlation length and a is the lattice constant, and then shortens above T ~ J/2, where J is the in-plane exchange coupling and then to saturate at T>J. The large broadening of the EPR at room temperature is shown to narrow with increasing temperature as (ξ/a)3, becoming observable in principal at T > 800 K. A scaling proposal is put forward for application of these results to conducting cuprates.
Fine-tune the spectrum of indium-tin-oxide nanorod arrays in the visible range

All-optical modulation of light using metallic nanostructures can potentially enable processing of information with speed in the terahertz range. This is because the optical nonlinearity of metals dictated by the electron-phonon coupling is intrinsically fast. Nobel metals have achieved great success to this end due to their superior plasmonic properties in the visible. However, each type of noble metals only works in a specific wavelength range and therefore broadband spectral response covering the wide visible spectrum can be a challenge. Here we introduce indium-tin-oxide nanorod arrays (ITO-NRAs) which exhibit broadband response covering the visible spectrum. We show that the static spectral response of ITO-NRAs does not depend on the incident polarization and is insensitive to whether the lattice is a square or a rectangle. We further demonstrate that the transmission spectrum can be slightly shifted by changing the sample temperature, as well as adjusting the doping concentration which can be achieved by annealing the sample in oxygen rich environments. When pumped by an optical pulse with photon energy above the bandgap, the transmission can be modified in the entire visible range. These preliminary results show that ITONRAs offer unique opportunities for all-optical modulation in optical frequencies.
Nuclear imprisonment of host cellular mRNA by nsp1β protein of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

Positive-strand RNA genomes function as mRNA for viral protein synthesis which is fully reliant on host cell translation machinery. Competing with cellular protein translation apparatus needs to ensure the production of viral proteins, but this also stifles host innate defense. In the present study, we showed that porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), whose replication takes place in the cytoplasm, imprisoned host cell mRNA in the nucleus, which suggests a novel mechanism to enhance translation of PRRSV genome. PRRSV nonstructural protein (nsp) 1β was identified as the nuclear protein playing the role for host mRNA nuclear retention and subversion of host protein synthesis. A SAP (SAF-A/B, Acinus, and PIAS) motif was identified in nsp1β with the consensus sequence of 126-LQxxLxxxGL-135. In situ hybridization unveiled that SAP mutants were unable to cause nuclear retention of host cell mRNAs and did not suppress host protein synthesis. In addition, these SAP mutants reverted PRRSV-nsp1β-mediated suppression of interferon (IFN) production, IFN signaling, and TNF-α production pathway. Using reverse genetics, a series of SAP mutant PRRS viruses, vK124A, vL126A, vG134A, and vL135A were generated. No mRNA nuclear retention was observed during vL126A and vL135A infections. Importantly, vL126A and vL135A did not suppress IFN production. For other arteriviruses, mRNA nuclear accumulation was also observed for LDV-nsp1β and SHFV-nsp1β. EAV-nsp1 was exceptional and did not block the host mRNA nuclear export.
When cultures clash: the story of one school’s journey from acculturation to understanding

AbstractThis qualitative case study examines the conflicts and challenges that one American junior high school experienced when a substantial number of African-American families migrated to the community from Chicago to secure Section 8 housing; their housing projects had recently been felled through the auspices of HOPE VI (Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere), a federally-funded bi-partisan initiative that sought to decentralize poverty in America. The study’s findings highlight the conflicts and tensions this in-migration caused, the school’s initial efforts to mediate them through a process of acculturation, and the progress it made once it recognized cultural difference and refused to let it function as an on-going source of cultural conflict.
Multitemperature Dissociation Rate of N2+N2→N2+N+N Calculated Using Selective Sampling Quasi-Classical Trajectory Analysis

The dissociation rate of nitrogen for the reaction N2+N2→N2+N+N was calculated as a function of a translational, vibrational, and rotational temperature, each ranging from 6000 to 60,000 K. The rat...
Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, and Surgical Treatment of Spontaneous Cervical Intradural Disc Herniations: A Review of the Literature.

Objective Spontaneous cervical intradural disc herniation (IDH) is a rare occurrence with limited and disparate information available regarding its presentation, diagnosis, and treatment. However, its accurate detection is vital for planning surgical treatment. In this review of the literature, we collected data from all cervical IDHs described to date. Particular attention was paid to diagnostic findings, surgical approach, and causation for cervical IDH, especially at the cervicothoracic junction. Methods A review for cases of cervical IDH was performed via the following search criteria: (“neck”[MeSH Terms] OR “neck”[All Fields] OR “cervical”[All Fields]) AND intradural[All Fields] AND disc[All Fields]. Thirty-seven cases of cervical disc herniation were identified. Demographic variables identified included age, sex, cervical level of herniation, history of associated cervical trauma, presence of Brown-Sequard syndrome, Horner syndrome, and other neurologic findings, radiographic findings, direction of surgical approach, and postoperative outcomes. Results A total of 37 cases of cervical IDH were identified. Most of the cases occurred at the lower levels of the cervical spine, with 35.1% at the C5–C6 level, followed by 24.3% at C6–C7, and lower still at other levels. Of the patients reviewed, 44.4% had a previous history of trauma before manifestation of symptom, with the majority being spontaneous IDH with no previous history of trauma or spine surgery. Brown-Sequard syndrome was present in 43.2% of the patients, whereas 10.8% of patients experienced Horner syndrome. The most common presentations of IDH included quadriplegia, finger/gait ataxia, radiculopathy, and nuchal pain. The degree of neurologic recovery was not associated with patient age. Most of the cervical IDHs in the literature were treated surgically via an anterior approach, but a larger portion of patients who underwent a posterior approach had improved recovery. Conclusions Cervical IDH is a rare event, with this review of the literature outlining the clinical and radiographic parameters of its presentation as well as comparing common surgical strategies for treatment. We outline theories underlying the development of cervical IDH and argue for a posterior surgical approach in which the disc herniation is sequestrated with migration.
Institutional experience with the Zenith Fenestrated aortic stent graft.

Abstract Objective The Zenith Fenestrated (ZFEN; Cook Medical, Bloomington, Ind) aortic stent graft system was approved for commercial use by the Food and Drug Administration in April 2012. We report our single-center experience of 100 consecutive patients treated with the ZFEN platform from October 2012 to March 2017. Methods A retrospective review of our prospectively maintained fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair (FEVAR) database at a tertiary care academic institution located in the Midwest United States was performed for descriptive analysis. All continuous variables are reported as a mean ± standard deviation and compared using two-sided Student t -tests. Categorical variables were compared using two-sided Fisher exact tests. Results All but one of the procedures were elective in nature. Overall intraoperative characteristics included a mean blood loss (estimated blood loss) of 388 ± 385 mL, fluoroscopy time of 63 ± 30 minutes, radiation dose of 437 ± 272 rad, contrast material volume of 99 ± 36 mL, and operative time of 236 ± 87 minutes. Average number of visceral arteries stented was 2.1 ± 0.5. Technical success was achieved in 98% of the patients. Statistically significant ( P P Conclusions In our experience, FEVAR with the ZFEN system continues to be safe and effective. There is a significant rate of reintervention observed, and close monitoring is fundamental to maintaining good clinical results.
THE BOX-COUNTING DIMENSION OF PASCAL’S TRIANGLE r mod p

We consider Pascal’s Triangle r mod p to be the entries of Pascal’s Triangle that are congruent to r mod p. Such a representation of Pascal’s Triangle exhibits fractal-like structures. When the Tri...
Responses of Daphnia magna to chronic exposure of cadmium and nickel mixtures

Abstract The present study assessed the chronic toxicity of cadmium (Cd) and nickel (Ni) mixtures to Daphnia magna. Using a titration design, Ni concentrations of 20, 40, 80, 100, 120, 140, and 160 μg/L were tested alone and simultaneously titrated in increments against a constant concentration of 1.5 μg/L Cd. The results demonstrated that Cd at 1.5 μg/L was highly toxic to D. magna, and Ni alone concentrations ≥80 μg/L were toxic to D. magna survival, reproduction, and growth. No Ni alone concentration was found to induce a toxic effect on undeveloped embryos and the time to first brood. Only the Ni alone treatment containing 200 μg/L affected the reproductive rates of D. magna. For Cd Ni mixtures, Ni concentrations of 20, 40, and 80 μg/L were found to strongly protect D. magna from Cd toxicity at the survival and growth endpoints, resulting in less-than-additive effects, but not on the reproductive endpoint. At higher concentrations, Ni exceeded the necessary concentration needed to protect D. magna, and appeared to contribute to the toxicity. Overall, the results of metal uptake support the competitive binding mechanism at the biotic ligand and explain the less-than-additive effects observed in the Cd Ni mixtures concentration. The embryonic effects of Cd Ni mixtures are not explained by the competitive binding mechanism at the biotic ligand. More research is needed to determine the mechanisms that produce embryonic impairment when cellular metals interact. Overall, the results of the present study are relevant for the development of improved environmental quality guidelines for metal mixtures.
Interaction Online: A Reevaluation

Instructors commonly assume that the successful online course must replicate its live counterpart by including a variety of interactions among student, instructor, and computer. Given the changing lifestyles prompted by an evolving Internet, an increasing student need for autonomy, and student learning styles, highly interactive courses may not necessarily be the best online approach. In this article, I review research dealing with interactive environments, present the results of my own interaction study, and propose an integrative approach for the use of interaction that sees it in light of the increasing integration of the Internet into students’ daily lives.
Linear Filter Theory

There is frequent need in thermal imaging practice to describe the responses of a system to various signals, to predict spatial resolution, and to devise image enhancement schemes. A tool which is useful for this purpose is linear filter theory1,2, a branch of Fourier transform analysis used for analyzing the signal response of the class of linear, invariant, stable systems. Linear filter theory is applicable to optical, electro-optical, mechanical, and electronic devices. It originated in the description of electrical networks and servomechanisms and was extended to optical systems. Linear filter theory forms an indispensible part of image analysis and is necessary to every thermal imaging system design evaluation.
Das „stahlharte Gehäuse“ neu betrachtet: Institutionelle Isomorphie und kollektive Rationalität in organisationalen Feldern1

In seiner Untersuchung „Die protestantische Ethik und der Geist des Kapitalismus“ warnte Max Weber vor der Eigendynamik, die der durch Askese geleitete rationale Geist entfaltet habe, und behauptete, das die rationale Ordnung unter kapitalistischen Bedingungen zu einem stahlharten Gehause geworden sei, in dem die Menschheit — von der Moglichkeit prophetischer Wiederbelebung einmal abgesehen — eingeschlossen sei, „bis der letzte Zentner fossilen Brennstoffs vergluht ist“ (Weber 1952: 181f.). Im Rahmen seiner Herrschaftssoziologie nahm Weber dieses Thema erneut auf und behauptete, das die Burokratie als organisatorische Verkorperung dieses rationalen Geistes ein so wirkungsvolles und machtiges Mittel zur Kontrolle von Mannern und Frauen sei, das der einmal in Gang gesetzte Burokratisierungsprozes unumkehrbar sei (Weber 1968). Das Bild eines stahlharten Gehauses blieb angesichts der zunehmenden Beschleunigung des Burokratisierungsprozesses standiger Begleiter der Gesellschaftswissenschaftler, doch obwohl sich die Burokratie in den achtzig Jahren seit Webers Arbeiten unablassig ausgebreitet hat, gehen wir davon aus, das nun eine andere Kraft die organisationale Rationalisierung vorantreibt.
Partially Additive Semantics of Recursion

In Section 5.2, we used partially additive semantics in Pfn to describe a number of examples of recursive specification as “power-series” maps $$\psi \left( h \right) = {H_0} + {H_1}\left( h \right) + {H_2}\left( {h,h} \right) + \cdots $$ in which the Kleene semantics could alternatively be given by the pattern-of-calls expansion.
Multiple Choice, A Publications Option for a Diverse Science

Why should a society whose journals have been serving the scientific community with distinction for many years decide on a major reorganization of those journals? Why should a society make such a change, involving user acceptance of the new format and hence sizeable financial risk, when the journals have been operating at the desired non-profit break-even level? At several meetings and in the pages of the American Physiological Society publications, the reasons for such a reorganization, and the plan itself, have been described** but neither the implementation nor the initial encouraging results have yet been recorded. This article is intended to provide a progress report on what has been done so far. We hope the story is an interesting one, telling of a publications option for a very diverse science. The field concerned became increasingly specialized; the journals of a major publisher in that field had to evolve to meet current needs.
RX-PUF: Low Power, Dense, Reliable, and Resilient Physically Unclonable Functions Based on Analog Passive RRAM Crossbar Arrays

We propose a novel architecture ("RX-PUF") for physically unclonable functions (PUF) based on analog RRAM crossbar array circuits. RX-PUF takes advantage of unique RRAM properties, such as I-V nonlinearity, and its device-to-device (d2d) variations and tunability. As a proof of concept, we have prototyped a 600 kb challenge response pair (CRP) PUF using 250 nm half-pitch (F) 20×20 crossbar arrays with passively integrated devices. The RX-PUF prototype features excellent physical characteristics, e.g. ~1600 F2/bit density and up to 41 fJ/bit energy efficiency. Its functional performance, improved by utilizing hidden input, is also very promising. The measured bit error rate (BER) was 0.7% at RT and ≤ 5.3% at 100°C, even without using any error correction methods. The measured responses showed near-ideal uniformity (50.04%) and inter-HD (50.12%) and passed all relevant NIST randomness tests. The preliminary results showed also very high resilience of RX-PUF against machine learning (ML) attacks.
Personal journey into solid state chemistry

Abstract In 1950, solid state chemistry was focused on the synthesis of new solid compounds for investigation of the relationship between structure, composition, and chemical bonding with random discovery of new physical properties of engineering interest. Metallurgy, semiconductors, ceramics, polymers, and glasses were separate disciplines. The development of quantum mechanics, the band theory of metals and semiconductors, the properties of ferroelectric and ferromagnetic ceramics, group theory and symmetry arguments for interpretation of spectroscopic and magnetic data, ionic transport in solids, and the distinction between localized and itinerant electronic behavior in solids were largely the domains of physics and physical chemistry; the interests of the solid state chemist were focused on the means of synthesis, chemical and structural characterization, ranges of stability, crystalline structure and product morphology, catalytic activity, and phase changes. Investigation of the physical properties of single crystals other than their structure was normally done by others. Only in specialized areas were the solid state chemists involved in the design of a material property rather than the improvement of a property by a local empirical approach. Since 1950, there has been an increasing confluence of physics, chemistry, and engineering that has transformed solid state chemistry into the multidisciplinary field of Materials Science and Engineering, a field in which solid materials are designed, synthesized, and characterized physically as well as chemically and structurally to obtain a desired property of engineering interest. In the following reflections, I recount my personal integration of physics and chemistry for empowering materials engineering in the service of society.
Future Directions of High Repetition Rate X-Ray Free Electron Lasers

A new scientific frontier opened in 2009 when the world’s first X-ray free electron laser (FEL), the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) facility, began operations at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. The scientific start of LCLS has arguably been one of the most vigorous and successful of any new research facility, with a dramatic effect on a broad cross section of scientific fields, ranging from atomic and molecular science, ultrafast chemistry and catalysis, fluid dynamics, clean energy systems, structural biology, high energy-density science, photon science, and advanced materials [1].
Nonunion and Reoperation After Ulna Shortening Osteotomy.

Background: The primary purpose of our study was to identify factors associated with reoperation after ulna shortening osteotomy. Our secondary aims were to determine the rate and type of reoperati...
Severe Illness Anxiety Treated by Integrating Inpatient Psychotherapy With Medical Care and Minimizing Reassurance

Illness anxiety disorder (IAD, formerly hypochondriasis) is characterized by preoccupation with fear of serious illness despite medical reassurance. IAD is common, debilitating, challenging to treat, and results in high healthcare utilization. Outpatient management of IAD is challenging because patients can compulsively seek reassurance from numerous providers, which interferes with learning more productive coping skills. We present the case of a woman with severe IAD who presented to the emergency room with increasing frequency over several months, despite regular outpatient medical visits and escalating psychiatric care. We made the unusual decision to hospitalize her for IAD for 1 month, in the absence of typical hospitalization criteria. This hospitalization allowed us to consolidate all medical and psychiatric care into a single provider team and train all staff and family to communicate with her in a consistent manner. We successfully treated her by integrating a general cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) protocol into medical care and decision-making. In response to her numerous health concerns, we minimized medical work-up, reassurance, and reactive medication changes, and instead used the concerns as opportunities to reinforce the psychotherapy. This approach allowed us to simplify her medication regimen and manage her co-morbid hypertension and vitamin deficiencies. Though inpatient hospitalization is likely infeasible in most cases of IAD, outpatient providers may create similar treatment plans based on the example of our case report, without needing highly specialized expertise. Such a plan would require a straightforward understanding of IAD psychology, which we review here, combined with readily accessible tools including a universal CBT protocol, online CBT courses, and clinical symptom scales. We discuss our approach for responding to health concerns, maintaining therapeutic alliance, integrating CBT principles into patient interactions, and managing medications. Since patients with IAD share health concerns with all providers, staff, and family, we also include our own IAD communication guide, appropriate for a general audience, that demonstrates how to respond in these conversations.
Characterization of Epiretinal Proliferation in Full-Thickness Macular Holes and Effects on Surgical Outcomes

Purpose Epiretinal proliferation is a distinct clinical entity from epiretinal membrane that classically is associated with lamellar macular holes, but its prevalence and association with full-thickness macular holes (FTMH) have not been well described. We characterized macular hole–associated epiretinal proliferation (MHEP) and its effects on long-term surgical outcomes. Design Multicenter, interventional, retrospective case-control study. Participants Consecutive eyes that underwent surgery for FTMH with a minimum of 12 months follow-up. Methods All eyes underwent pars plana vitrectomy, removal of any epiretinal membranes, and gas tamponade, with or without internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling. Spectral-domain OCT imaging was obtained before and after surgery. Main Outcome Measures Improvement in visual acuity and single-surgery hole closure rates in eyes with, versus without, MHEP at 12 months. Results Seven hundred twenty-five charts were analyzed, and 113 patients met inclusion criteria. Of 113 eyes with FTMH, 30 (26.5%) showed MHEP. Patients with FTMH and MHEP were older (P Conclusions We found that FTMH with MHEP showed poorer anatomic and visual outcomes after vitrectomy compared with FTMH without MHEP. Internal limiting membrane peeling was associated with improved closure rates and should be considered when MHEP is detected before surgery.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Childhood Traumatic Separation.

Abstract Objectives In light of the current U.S. family separation crisis, there is growing attention to Childhood Traumatic Separation, defined here as a significant traumatic stress reaction to a familial separation that the child experiences as traumatic. When living in a family setting, Childhood Traumatic Separation may interfere with the child's relationships with the current caregiver(s). Effective treatments for Childhood Traumatic Grief can be modified to address Childhood Traumatic Separation. This article describes current applications of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) for Childhood Traumatic Separation. Methods Using two composite clinical cases, TF-CBT applications for Childhood Traumatic Separation are described. These include: (1) implementing the safety component first; (2) tailoring coping skills to address the uncertainty of Childhood Traumatic Separation; (3) integrating past traumas into trauma narration and processing of the traumatic familial separation; (4) providing Childhood Traumatic Separation-focused components to address challenges of committing to new relationships while retaining connections to the separated parent; and (5) addressing role changes. Results These modifications have been implemented for many youth with Childhood Traumatic Separation and have anecdotally resulted in positive outcomes. Research is needed to document their effectiveness. Conclusions The above practical strategies can be incorporated into TF-CBT to effectively treat children with Traumatic Separation. Practical implications Practical strategies include starting with safety strategies; tailoring skills components to address the ongoing uncertainty of traumatic separation; integrating past traumas into trauma narration and processing of traumatic separation; providing traumatic separation-focused components to balance the challenges of committing to new relationships with retaining connections to the separation parent; and addressing role changes. Through these strategies therapists can successfully apply TF-CBT for Childhood Traumatic Separation.
Will a three-allele model of inheritance explain the HLA data for Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes?

The HLA data from nine published studies on Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes were examined to see whether a three-allele model for the inheritance of Type 1 diabetes at the HLA-associated locus could be rejected. None of the data rejected the three-allele model. The data were also examined to see whether they would reject a recessive model. Out of the nine data sets, five rejected a recessive and four did not. The p value for all studies together rejected a recessive. Two of the data sets allowed us to test the hypothesis that multiplex and simplex families would exhibit different modes of inheritance. Multiplex data from both data sets rejected recessive inheritance while the multiplex data from only one data set also rejected three-allele inheritance. The results of assuming a recessive model and analyzing the data from simplex families led to different results from the two data sets. In addition, data from a non-European population were examined and found to reject both recessive and three-allele inheritance for Type 1 diabetes at the HLA-associated locus.
Identifying and using value-added traits in GEM accessions (Latin American maize) to improve Corn-Belt dent corn

One waxy and three regular yellow dent com hybrids were wet milled by using two scales of laboratory (modified 100-g and 1-Kg) procedures and a pilot-plant (10-kg) procedure. The modified 100-g and I-Kg laboratory procedures gave similar yields of wetmilling fractions. Starch yields and recoveries were significantly lower for the pilot-plant ' Journal Paper 16,892 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames. Research project 0178 supported by the Center for Crops Utilization Research, the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experimental Station, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. ^ Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University, Ames, lA SOOl 1. ^ Professor, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, and Professor-in-Charge, Center for Crops Utilization Research, Iowa State University, Ames, lA 50011; and to whom correspondence should be addressed. * Research Geneticist, USDA-ARS, Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, lA 50011. ^ Laboratory Research Technician m. Center for Crops Utilization Research, Iowa State University, Ames, lA 50011. ''Professor, Department of Statistics, Iowa State University, Ames, lA 50011.
Polymicrobial Interactions Induce Multidrug Tolerance in Staphylococcus aureus Through Energy Depletion

Staphylococcus aureus is responsible for a high number of relapsing infections, which are often mediated by the protective nature of biofilms. Polymicrobial biofilms appear to be more tolerant to antibiotic treatment, however, the underlying mechanisms for this remain unclear. Polymicrobial biofilm and planktonic cultures formed by S. aureus and Candida albicans are 10- to 100-fold more tolerant to oxacillin, vancomycin, ciprofloxacin, delafloxacin, and rifampicin compared to monocultures of S. aureus. The possibility of C. albicans matrix components physically blocking antibiotic molecules from reaching S. aureus was ruled out as oxacillin, ciprofloxacin, delafloxacin, and rifampicin were able to diffuse through polymicrobial biofilms. Based on previous findings that S. aureus forms drug tolerant persister cells through ATP depletion, we examined nutrient deprivation by determining glucose availability, which indirectly correlates to ATP production via the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Using an extracellular glucose assay, we confirmed that S. aureus and C. albicans polymicrobial cultures depleted available glucose faster than the respective monocultures. Supporting this finding, S. aureus exhibited decreased TCA cycle activity, specifically fumarase expression, when grown in the presence of C. albicans. In addition, S. aureus grown in polymicrobial cultures displayed 2.2-fold more cells with low membrane potential and a 13% reduction in intracellular ATP concentrations than in monocultures. Collectively, these data demonstrate that decreased metabolic activity through nutrient deprivation is a mechanism for increased antibiotic tolerance within polymicrobial cultures.
Thoughtful Friends: Executive Function Relates to Social Problem Solving and Friendship Quality in Middle Childhood.

The present study examined links between best friendship quality, social problem solving in response to a transgression and conscious control of behavior (i.e., executive function or EF). Eighty-on...
The Natural History, Treatments, and Outcomes of Portal Vein Thrombosis in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a poorly described complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We sought to better characterize presentations, compare treatments, and assess outcomes in IBD-related PVT. Methods We conducted a retrospective investigation of IBD-related PVT at our institution. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios across treatments. Results Sixty-three patients with IBD-related PVT (26 with Crohn disease, 37 with ulcerative colitis) were followed for a median 21 months (interquartile ratio [IQR] = 9-52). Major risk factors included intra-abdominal surgery (60%), IBD flare (33%), and intra-abdominal infection (13%). Primary hematologic thrombophilias were rare and did not impact management. Presentations were generally nonspecific, and diagnosis was incidental. Ninety-two percent of patients (58/63) received anticoagulation (AC), including 23 who received direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), 22 who received warfarin, and 13 who received enoxaparin. All anticoagulated patients started AC within 3 days of diagnosis. Complete radiographic resolution (CRR) of PVT occurred in 71% of patients. We found that DOACs were associated with higher CRR rates (22/23; 96%) relative to warfarin (12/22; 55%): the hazard ratio of DOACs to warfarin was 4.04 (1.83-8.93; P = 0.0006)). Patients receiving DOACs required shorter courses of AC (median 3.9 months; IQR = 2.7-6.1) than those receiving warfarin (median 8.5 months; IQR = 3.9-NA; P = 0.0190). Incidence of gut ischemia (n = 3), symptomatic portal hypertension (n = 3), major bleeding (n = 4), and death (n = 2) were rare, and no patients receiving DOACs experienced these adverse outcomes. Conclusions We show that early and aggressive use of AC can lead to excellent outcomes in IBD-associated PVT and that DOACs are associated with particularly favorable outcomes in this setting.
Maternal Body Dissatisfaction and Accuracy of Infant Weight Perception in Families From Low-Income Backgrounds.

Abstract Objectives To examine the association between maternal body dissatisfaction and mother's (mis)perception of their infant's weight classification among families from low-income households. Methods Mother-infant dyads were recruited during well-child visits from two urban primary care clinics. Maternal body dissatisfaction was measured using the Stunkard Figure Rating Scale. Perception of infant weight was assessed using a 5-point Likert scale. Infant weight-for-length (WFL) percentiles were calculated using WHO growth charts. Associations between maternal body dissatisfaction score and mother's (mis)perception of their infant's weight classification were examined using logistic regression allowing for non-linear associations via restricted cubic splines. Results Mothers (n=180) were 26.6 ± 5.1 years old and 72% Black; infants were 8.8 ± 2.1 months old. Mean infant WFL percentile was 64 ± 26. On average, mothers wanted to be one body figure smaller than their perceived current body size. Most mothers (82%) accurately perceived their infant's weight classification while few overestimated (7%) or underestimated (11%) their child's weight category. The probability of mothers misperceiving their infant's weight classification increased as maternal body dissatisfaction increased in either extreme in unadjusted (p Conclusions Increased maternal body dissatisfaction may be associated with mother's misperception of infant weight classification. Future studies should examine this relationship in a heterogeneous population.
Linguistic Markers in Women’s Discussions on Miscarriage and Abortion Illustrate Psychological Responses to Their Experiences:

This study analyzed thousands of women’s online conversations in relation to their miscarriage or abortion experiences, classified as unplanned and planned traumas, respectively. Linguistic Inquiry...
Akt and MAPK/ERK signaling regulate neurite extension in adult neural progenitor cells but do not directly mediate disruption of cytoskeletal structure and neurite dynamics by low-level silver nanoparticles.

Abstract Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are an environmental contaminant of emerging concern. Ionic and colloidal silver has long been used for its antimicrobial properties, but with the development of engineered AgNPs, these are increasingly incorporated in the manufacture of nano-enhanced products. AgNPs are released into the environment from manufacturing plants and they can be shed from products during use and after disposal. This can lead to chronic low-level environmental exposure in animals. Unlike traditional forms of silver, the unique physical properties of AgNPs allow them to bypass biological barriers and enter tissues, like the brain, where they can bioaccumulate. Thus, it is important to understand if low-level AgNPs induce physiological changes in brain cells. Previously we found that 1.0 μg/mL AgNP exposure resulted in disruption of f-actin organization and neurite collapse in cultured differentiating adult neural stem cells, and that interaction with β-catenin signaling was involved. Here, we report that AgNP exposure may interact with pAkt signaling irreversibly or indirectly to disrupt cytoskeleton and inhibit neurite extension. Furthermore, the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway is not a target for AgNP-mediated dysregulation. Environmental exposure to low-level AgNPs therefore appears to target specific cellular mechanisms to alter brain cell physiology. Understanding these underlying mechanisms is important for decisions regulating the use and disposal of manufactured AgNPs.
New Packings in Grassmannian Space

We provide a new algebraic construction for packing subspaces in complex Grassmannian space with respect to the chordal distance metric. The proposed method extends the construction of character-polynomial (CP) subspace codes, recently proposed by the authors, to higher dimensions. Our results indicate the superiority of the packings derived from CP codes in the real Grassmannian space compared with existing explicit construction. Furthermore, we propose a concatenation method in Grassmannian space and characterize the rate and the minimum distance of a concatenated Grassmann code in terms of those of its underlying inner and outer codes. This result is then utilized to arrive at the counterpart of Zyablov bound in Grassmannian space. Finally, we construct Grassmann codes with asymptotically large blocklength simultaneously attaining non-vanishing rate and normalized minimum distance. In particular, we propose a family of concatenated Grassmann codes having CP inner codes that surpass the Zyablov bound in the low-rate regime.
The junior coach tournament attendance dilemma: How willing are parents to pay coaches to attend matches?

Many tennis coaches are paid by the hour. Unfortunately, this pay structure can contribute to poor coach attendance at tournaments. This study sought to determine whether parents would be willing to pay coaches to attend tournaments. Findings show a willingness on the behalf of parents to pay. This has implications for how coaches may reduce the financial burden of forgoing a weekend’s coaching, while potentially enhancing athlete development.
Populations using public-supply groundwater in the conterminous U.S. 2010; Identifying the wells, hydrogeologic regions, and hydrogeologic mapping units

Abstract Most Americans receive their drinking water from publicly supplied sources, a large portion of it from groundwater. Mapping these populations consistently and at a high resolution is important for understanding where the resource is used and needs to be protected. The results show that 269 million people are supplied by public supply, 107 million are supplied by groundwater and 162 million are supplied by surface water. The population using public supply drinking water was mapped in two ways: the census enhanced method (CEM) evenly distributes the population across populated census blocks, and the urban land-use enhanced method (ULUEM) distributes the population only to certain urban land use designations. In addition, a two-dimensional polygon dataset was created for the conterminous U.S. that identifies 177 unique Hydrogeologic Mapping Units (HMUs) with similar hydrogeologic characteristics. The HMUs do not overlap, but they can delineate areas where stacked hydrogeologic regions (HRs) contribute drinking water from below the surface. HRs are waterbearing geologic regions identified as either a principal aquifers (PA) or secondary hydrogeologic regions (SHR). Within each HMU, the wells were used to determine the proportion of each HR that is providing groundwater to the HMU. In 63% of the HMUs, a single HR is providing water to the public supply wells located within it, while the rest of the HMUs show that the wells are tapping up to a maximum of four stacked HRs. In total, groundwater from 108 HRs provide drinking water for public supply, six of which provide more than 50% of the groundwater used for public supply drinking water. The aquifer serving the largest number of equivalent people (>17 million) is the glacial aquifer. The HR providing the greatest number of people per km2 is the Biscayne aquifer in Florida at nearly 453 people per km2.
Angiotensin-(1-7) Enhances Mucosal Wound Healing in the Mouse Small Intestine

Purpose: Mucosal wound healing (WH) after injury due to necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or spontaneous intestinal perforation (SIP) is important to ameliorate inflammation and restore normal intestinal function. Regulators of WH could include components of the angiotensin system such as the heptapeptide angiotensin-(1-7) (Ang-(1-7)). Administration of Ang-(1-7) decreases colitis and accelerates gastric ulcer healing in experimental rodent models; these effects are likely mediated via the MAS1 receptor (MAS1R). The purpose of this study is to determine if the Ang-(1-7)/MAS1R …
Disasters and vulnerable populations: Evidence-based practice for the helping professions.

Vulnerable populations such as children, older adults, and people with disabilities are disproportionately affected by large-scale disasters. This book is a valuable resource for students and professionals in the fields of social work, counselling, nursing, and mental health who need information on the best evidence-based interventions for disaster preparedness and response with these groups. The authors review disaster theory, preparedness checklists, and best practices for crisis intervention with each population. They also discuss where to find the latest assessment tools and other resources offered by national disaster relief organisations.
The Next Generation of Physician Report Cards.

Reporting of post-CABG mortality rates has resulted in a decrease in in-hospital mortality, and non-outcome-based measures of care quality show promise of improving patient satisfaction.
On Representations of Algebraic-Geometric Codes for List Decoding

We show that all algebraic-geometric codes possess a succinct representation that allows for the list decoding algorithms of [15,7] to run in polynomial time. We do this by presenting a root-finding algorithm for univariate polynomials over function fields when their coefficients lie in finite-dimensional linear spaces, and proving that there is a polynomial size representation given which the root finding algorithm runs in polynomial time.
Excitation of photons by inflationary gravitons

We use a recent result for the graviton contribution to the one-loop vacuum polarization to solve the effective field equations for dynamical photons on a de Sitter background. Our results show that the electric field experiences a secular enhancement proportional to the number of inflationary $e$-foldings. We discuss the minimum effect this establishes for primordial inflation to seed cosmic magnetic fields.
Thin-Film (DE)MUX Based on Group-Velocity Effects

We demonstrate that group-velocity effects in a single 66-layer dielectric stack can be used to separate four channels by spatial beam shifting. A nearly linear 100-mum shift is experimentally achieved between 827 and 841 nm
Induction of luteolysis by luteinizing hormone-releasing factor (LRF) agonist: sensitivity, reproducibility, and reversibility*

The reproducibility, reversibility, and the maximal effectiveness of the luteolytic action of [D-Trp6,Pro9NEt]-LRF (luteinizing hormone-releasing factor) (LRF-agonist) were evaluated during 43 treatment cycles in 15 normal women. LRF-Ag (50 μ g) administration subcutaneously on 1 or 2days at varying times during the luteal phase of consecutive cycles was made. Successful luteolysis was achieved in 26 of 27 cycles (96%) in which LRF-Ag was administered between 5 and 8days after the luteinizing hormone (LH) peak. However, LRF-Ag treatment failed to induce luteolysis in 10 of 13 cycles (77%) when treatment began within 5days of the LH peak. The luteal phase of posttreatment cycles was functionally unaffected by prior LRF-Ag treatment. The present study has thus demonstrated the reproducibility and reversibility of LRF-Ag as a potent luteolytic agent, although its action is dependent upon the timing of administration with a window of maximal effectiveness on days 5 to 8 of the luteal phase.
Recent advances in understanding the genetic architecture of type 2 diabetes

Genome-wide association (GWAS) and sequencing studies are providing new insights into the genetic basis of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and the inter-individual variation in glycemic traits, including levels of glucose, insulin, proinsulin and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). At the end of 2011, established loci (P 0.05] variants in increasingly large sample sizes from populations around the world, and in trans-ancestry studies that successfully combine data from diverse populations. Most recently, advances in sequencing have led to the discovery of four loci for T2D or glycemic traits based on low-frequency (0.005 < MAF ≤ 0.05) variants, and additional low-frequency, potentially functional variants have been identified at GWAS loci. Established published loci now total ∼88 for T2D and 83 for one or more glycemic traits, and many additional loci likely remain to be discovered. Future studies will build on these successes by identifying additional loci and by determining the pathogenic effects of the underlying variants and genes.
Unitary Dynamics for Quantum Codewords

A quantum codeword is a redundant representation of a logical qubit by means of several physical qubits. It is constructed in such a way that if one of the physical qubits is perturbed, for example if it gets entangled with an unknown environment, there still is enough information encoded in the other physical qubits to restore the logical qubit, and disentangle it from the environment. The recovery procedure may consist of the detection of an error syndrome, followed by the correction of the error, as in the classical case. However, it can also be performed by means of unitary operations, without having to know the error syndrome.