cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Power and Limits in Medical Decision Making.

Medical decisions are, and should be, made by small groups of individuals interacting together. At the limit, a patient and a physician come together to make a choice (Whitney et al. 2003). More of...
Ketogenic Diet and Hormonal Therapy in Prevention of Evolution of West Syndrome to Lennox-Gastaut

Medical records of 98 patients diagnosed with West syndrome and monitored at Sanggye Paik Hospital, Seoul, Korea, for at least 3 years were retrospectively reviewed to assess etiology, age at onset, value of various therapies, and the rate of evolution from West syndrome to Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
Don't Politicize Science (Unless You're on My Side): Review of Chris Mooney's 'the Republican War on Science' (Revised and Updated)

Chris Mooney's Republican War on Science argues that the political right, and in particular the Bush Administration, are guilty of rampant political science abuse, defined as any attempt to inappropriately undermine, alter, or otherwise interfere with the scientific process, or scientific conclusions, for political or ideological reasons. Mooney correctly identifies many example of such abuse by conservative organizations and Republican politicians, but some of his charges are overwrought, if not misleading. Overall the book has three central flaws. First, Mooney has a penchant for characterizing some legitimate science-related policy positions with which he disagrees as abuses of science. Second, he exhibits a blind spot to the misuse and politicization of science by those who espouse political agendas with which he agrees. Third and most important, Mooney pays little attention to the larger institutional context that generates political pressures on science. The politicization of science is a real problem, yet lacking any serious consideration of the broader institutional context in which such politicization occurs, Republican War ultimately fails in its diagnosis and prescriptions.
Simulating electron and ion temperature in a global ionosphere thermosphere model: Validation and modeling an idealized substorm

Abstract Electron and ion temperatures control many chemical and physical processes in the ionosphere–thermosphere system. Recently, improved electron and ion energy equations were implemented in the Global Ionosphere Thermosphere Model (GITM). The source energy of the electron temperature (Te) includes thermal conduction, heating due to photoionization, elastic collisions with ions, elastic and inelastic collisions with neutrals, auroral precipitation, and heat flux from inner magnetosphere. The source terms in the ion temperature (Ti) equation include thermal conduction, and elastic collisions with electrons and neutrals. The new implementation of Te improved the ionospheric density at middle and high latitudes with respect to IRI. The improved GITM also reproduced the diurnal variation in Te and Ti observed by incoherent scatter radars at low and middle latitudes. The model was used to investigate an idealized substorm statistically described by Clausen et al. (2014) . It was found that the responses of the E-region Ne and Te were highly correlated with the variation in auroral hemispheric power. The change of the F-region Te was correlated with the E-region Te and Ne, which was consistent with observations. The response of the F-region Ne to the particle precipitation was delayed by about 30 min, and lasted significantly longer than the enhanced precipitation. The variations of Ti in both the E- and F-regions were dominated by IMF-driven ion drifts through frictional energy coupling with the neutrals. It was also found that the increase of the mid-latitude heat flux by one order of magnitude enhanced Te, electron density and TEC by up to 120%, 80% and 80% respectively between dusk and midnight.
Biconnected tree for robust data collection in advanced metering infrastructure

Although mesh and tree communication network topologies both bear some advantages, none of them alone can satisfy the robustness and real-time requirements of data collection in the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). To address this problem, a biconnected tree based topology is proposed in this work. Specifically, in order to mitigate the effects of unreliable spanning tree-based communication links, an augmented tree with 2-connectivity is designed to enhance the robustness of the AMI tree yet keeping the overhead and delay low. As a result, the proposed biconnected AMI tree will continue to sustain the communication between functioning Smart Meters (SMs) when any single communication link fails. At the same time, it maintains low signaling overhead and meets the real-time requirement of data collection. The detailed algorithms to create such biconnected AMI tree and related theoretical analysis are provided. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
An aspartic proteinase expressed in the equine placenta.

The pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAG) are a large and diverse group of proteins produced by the placenta of cattle, sheep, pigs, and presumably most other species within the Artiodactyla order.1,2 PAG are members of the aspartic proteinase gene family having greatest sequence identity (~50%) with pepsinogens.1 However, analysis of the putative amino acid sequence of several PAG cDNA revealed that most of these molecules are probably not proteinases due to mutations in key residues involved directly or indirectly in the catalytic mechanism.3 Neither native or recombinant PAG have detectable enzymatic activity in proteinase assays with 14C-hemoglobin as substrate. However, these changes within the active site do not interfere with their ability to bind peptide ligands since both native and recombinant PAG can be isolated by affinity chromatography with pepstatin agarose (JG, SX, RMR; unpublished).
Cu Deposition from HF Solutions and Effects on Regrowth of Si Native Oxide

Cu was deposited onto Si(100) wafers from 1% HF solutions containing CuCl2. Cu K edge glancing-angle x-ray fluorescence (GAXF) measurements were used to determine surface concentrations and to elucidate the chemical state and morphology of the deposits. Total reflection x-ray fluorescence (TXRF) measurements were used to calibrate edge jumps to absolute surface concentrations. X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectra indicated that the Cu deposits were metallic at concentrations of 10{sp14} - 10{sp16} atoms cm{sp−2}, and extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra evidenced that the Cu was present as three-dimensional fcc crystallites. Cu{sp0} deposition from HF solutions is inferred to proceed by an electroless process, that is made more favorable by complexation of Si{sp4+} by F{sp−}. Contaminated wafers were stored in air and the effects of Cu on regrowth of Si native oxide were investigated using Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). The induction period for native oxide regrowth on unrinsed wafers markedly decreased when Cu microcontamination was present, consistent with a catalytic effect. Rinsed wafers had higher initial oxide coverages but were oxidized more slowly in air than unrinsed wafers.
Building on the Ancestors: Mortuary Structures and Extended Agency in the Late Prehispanic Colca Valley, Peru

Theoretical approaches to the agency of inanimate objects have gained traction in bioarchaeological conceptualizations of the dead body and its capacity to shape human action and emotion. In the late prehispanic Andes (ad 1000–1532), new forms of burial involving above-ground funerary structures emplaced ancestral bodies on the landscape and facilitated their incorporation into the unfolding affairs of political and social life. Architectural data from the funerary complex of Yuraq Qaqa in the central Colca Valley suggest that the sequential construction of funerary chambers played a vital role in the elaboration of ancestral agency and its extension into past and future time. Applying a morphogenetic approach to the long-term development of the site, this study demonstrates how the agency of the dead body emerges in relation to other forms of materiality and operates across multiple temporal scales inclusive of, but not limited to, the interval of human–corpse interaction.
Tracheoesophageal fistula: An unusual presentation of upper airway obstruction

Abstract: A 35-year-old female athlete presented with increasing dysphagia and dyspnea. Initial investigations led to a diagnosis of achalasia; she was treated with calcium channel antagonists without improvement and was sent to the pulmonary department for further investigations. Abnormal spirometry raised questions of variable intrathoracic obstruction, and flexible bronchoscopy revealed a congenital “H”-type tracheoesophageal fistula. She was referred to surgery for transtracheal resection and repair of the fistula.
Lymphoblastic lymphoma following prenatal exposure to phenytoin

Purpose : Oncogenesis has been associated with prenatal exposure to phenytoin, concomitant with or independent of the fetal hydantoin syndrome. The majority of reported cases have been embryonal tumors of neural crest origin and have occurred in the first 3 years of life. Patients and Methods : We report a boy who was exposed to phenytoin throughout gestation and later developed T-lymphocyte lymphoblastic lymphoma, a previously unreported malignancy associated with in utero phenytoin exposure. Previously reported cases of neoplasia occurring after such exposure are tabulated. Conclusion : The actual transplacental oncogenic potential of phenytoin and the epidemiology of this association are poorly understood. Phenytoin-induced alterations in lymphocyte-mediated immunosurveillance or oxidative metabolic clearance may be etiologic. Inquiry into prenatal phenytoin exposure should be done in any child who develops cancer, especially those who develop a rare tumor or present with a more common tumor at an unusually young age. Continued documentation of such cases will advance the understanding of phenytoin-associated transplacental oncogenesis.
The Substantially Impaired Sex: Uncovering the Gendered Nature of Disability Discrimination

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 was a landmark piece of legislation that prohibited private-sector employers from discriminating against qualified disabled workers. Although the Act is over a quarter-century old, legal scholars have never considered whether the Act has been uniformly efficacious — that is, whether the Act has served all subpopulations of disabled workers equally well. This scholarly neglect is surprising, given that prior economics research indicates that the ADA has been less effective for disabled women than for disabled men. This Article steps back and asks why the Act might have resulted in differential effects for men and women. The ADA provides precisely the same remedies for qualified disabled workers, without taking workers’ sex into account. The Act’s approach assumes that disability discrimination is the same (or highly similar) both in nature and in strength for men and women, but this Article questions that assumption. An empirical examination of all ADA charges filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reveals a negative interaction between disability discrimination and sex: Disabled workers who are in the minority sex within their workplaces are more likely to encounter discrimination than are disabled workers who are in the majority sex. Because many more industries are majority-male than majority-female, the result of this sex-disability interaction is higher overall rates of disability discrimination against women. Using this empirical evidence, the Article concludes that if disabled women are ever to achieve an equivalent legal remedy for disability discrimination to disabled men, courts must no longer ignore the exacerbating effects of sex discrimination on disability discrimination. Indeed, the case of disabled women highlights the need for courts to reform judicially created proof structures in employment discrimination cases, which — although already the object of much scholarly scrutiny — are particularly unworkable for disabled women.
FOXC1-induced Gli2 activation: A non-canonical pathway contributing to stemness and anti-Hedgehog resistance in basal-like breast cancer

The Forkhead box C1 (FOXC1) transcriptional factor is a critical biomarker for basal-like breast cancer (BLBC). We recently reported that FOXC1 promotes cancer stem cell properties in BLBC by activating Smoothened (SMO)-independent Hedgehog (Hh) signaling, suggesting a FOXC1-mediated mechanism for BLBC cell function and anti-Hh therapy resistance.
Approach to Reptile Emergency Medicine

This article summarizes the physiology and anatomy of reptiles, highlighting points relevant for emergency room veterinarians. Other systems, such as the endocrine and immune systems, have not been covered. The many other aspects of reptile species variation are too numerous to be covered. This article provides an overview but encourages clinicians to seek additional species-specific information to better medically diagnose and treat their reptile patients.
Modularization Design of Radar Signal Measurement and Processor

The factors that need to be considered in the modularization design of digital equipment are expounded,and the design method that integrates the radar signal measurement and processor designed by multiple boxes and PCBs in the past to one module board by the application of ultra large-scale programmable integrated circuit FPGA are introduced. The radar signal measurement and processor accomplished by this method has the characteristics of integrating multiple functions and reprogramming hardwares, and has multiple kinds of interfaces. So it can be used extensively.
Darwinism and Culture

Most writers on the emotions and on human nature seem to be treating rather of matters outside nature than of natural phenomena following nature's general laws. They appear to conceive man to be situated in nature as a kingdom within a kingdom: for they believe that he disturbs rather than follows nature's order, that he has absolute control over his actions, and that he is determined solely by himself.
Minor Coat and Heat Shock Proteins Are Involved in the Binding of Citrus Tristeza Virus to the Foregut of Its Aphid Vector, Toxoptera citricida

ABSTRACT Vector transmission is a critical stage in the viral life cycle, yet for most plant viruses how they interact with their vector is unknown or is explained by analogy with previously described relatives. Here we examined the mechanism underlying the transmission of citrus tristeza virus (CTV) by its aphid vector, Toxoptera citricida, with the objective of identifying what virus-encoded proteins it uses to interact with the vector. Using fluorescently labeled virions, we demonstrated that CTV binds specifically to the lining of the cibarium of the aphid. Through in vitro competitive binding assays between fluorescent virions and free viral proteins, we determined that the minor coat protein is involved in vector interaction. We also found that the presence of two heat shock-like proteins, p61 and p65, reduces virion binding in vitro. Additionally, treating the dissected mouthparts with proteases did not affect the binding of CTV virions. In contrast, chitinase treatment reduced CTV binding to the foregut. Finally, competition with glucose, N-acetyl-β-d-glucosamine, chitobiose, and chitotriose reduced the binding. These findings together suggest that CTV binds to the sugar moieties of the cuticular surface of the aphid cibarium, and the binding involves the concerted activity of three virus-encoded proteins. IMPORTANCE Limited information is known about the specific interactions between citrus tristeza virus and its aphid vectors. These interactions are important for the process of successful transmission. In this study, we localized the CTV retention site as the cibarium of the aphid foregut. Moreover, we demonstrated that the nature of these interactions is protein-carbohydrate binding. The viral proteins, including the minor coat protein and two heat shock proteins, bind to sugar moieties on the surface of the foregut. These findings will help in understanding the transmission mechanism of CTV by the aphid vector and may help in developing control strategies which interfere with the CTV binding to its insect vector to block the transmission.
Diagnostic utility of arborizing stromal meshwork fragments in mucinous tumors.

Introduction Arborizing stromal meshwork fragments (ASMFs) have been proposed as a useful clue to differentiate mucin associated with mucinous adenocarcinoma from contaminating mucus during endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration. Our aim was to retrospectively review cytology cases with mucinous material to determine the utility of ASMFs in diagnosing mucinous tumors. Material and Methods Diff-Quik stained smears from archival cytology cases (N = 40) were reviewed, including adenocarcinomas with mucinous features, cystic mucinous neoplasms, and control cases with mucin contamination. Specimens were procured by image-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) (16 cases), endoscopic ultrasound-guided FNA (22 cases), pathologist-performed FNA (1 case), and fluid drainage (1 case). All cases were reviewed for ASMFs, which were defined as metachromatic, spidery extensions with frayed edges within a background of mucinous material. Results ASMFs were identified in 4 (10% of cases, 14% of adenocarcinomas) cases of metastatic gastrointestinal mucinous adenocarcinomas in various locations (liver, lymph node, lung, and bone), but absent in mucin contamination. ASMFs in Diff-Quik stained smears were magenta-colored and corresponded to intervening stroma between dissecting mucin in the tumor. Nonarborizing desmoplastic stroma, inspissated mucus, cartilage fragments, transgressing vessels in renal cell carcinoma, and mucus-like material in pancreatic pseudocysts can morphologically mimic ASMFs. Conclusion These data show that ASMFs may be encountered in some (14%) cases of adenocarcinoma with mucinous differentiation. When present, ASMFs can be diagnostically helpful to differentiate adenocarcinoma with mucinous features from contaminating mucus, if reliably distinguished from mimics. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Health informatics in the public health 3.0 Era: Intelligence for the chief health strategists

While just 10 years ago the health system largely relied on paper, today nearly all hospitals and three-fourths of office-based physicians are using certified electronic health records (EHRs), in part, as a result of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act of 2009.1 Moreover, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, more than 90% of Americans now have health insurance, meaning we now have the opportunity to have a clinical record of our care experience that can support longitudinal follow-up and improved population-level surveillance.2 Looking forward, we can clearly envision a health care landscape where data are abundant and flowing and used to guide care delivery decisions—a learning health system described in our Nationwide Interoperability Roadmap.3
Multiscale Coarse-Graining of Polarizable Models through Force-Matched Dipole Fluctuations.

An extension of the multiscale coarse-graining method (MS-CG) to polarizable coarse-grain (CG) models is presented. In the extension, force matching is used to derive charged dimers that mimic the dipole behavior, including electronic polarizability, of fine resolution systems. The extended MS-CG method separates short-range and electrostatic forces and treats the polarization interactions by representing dipole fluctuations with a harmonic bond reminiscent of the Drude oscillator. The new method is first tested on several flexible alcohols, where the transferable head groups in the atomistic field lead to transferable electrostatics in the CG field. The method is then applied to a polarizable methanol model, where the CG dimer is able to match the atomistic dipole distribution. Force fields are benchmarked with radial distribution functions and dielectric constants. The static dielectric constants agree well with atomistic models, but the faster dynamics in the CG ensembles leads to significant deviation...
Decision Theory: Classical

This article summarizes the basic elements of statistical decision theory as formulated by Wald, Neyman and Pearson, and others. It briefly describes how these elements appear in common problems involving the binomial and normal distributions. The article then describes some classical themes in decision theory, including characterization of admissible procedures, minimaxity, sequential problems, hypothesis testing, invariance, and asymptotics. Finally, some more contemporary decision theoretic developments are then surveyed, including Bayesian decision theory and nonparametric function estimation.
Comments on monoreflections in unital archimedean lattice-ordered groups and rings

In quite general concrete categories, the monore ections which are H- closed (closed under homomorphic image) are the \naturally occuring" ones, since each is comprised of objects closed under some family of functorial implicit operations. In the specic categories under consideration here, we have earlier shown the class of H-closed monore ections to be a set, indeed, relatively small. In spite, or because of that very few non-H-closed monore ections have been exhibited, in fact, none in the categories considered here. We shall exhibit many and assuming no measurable cardinal, a proper class. Mathematics Subject Classication (2010): Primary 06F20, 18A40, 03E55; Secondary 46A40, 54F15, 18A20. Key words : Lattice-ordered group, Archimedean, monore ection, H-closed, implicit op- eration, Cook's arc, proper class.
Cutaneous Deficiency of Filaggrin and STAT3 Exacerbates Vaccinia Disease In Vivo

Rationale Defects in filaggrin and STAT3 are associated with atopic dermatitis (AD) and susceptibility to severe skin infection. Methods We evaluated skin infection with the current smallpox vaccine, ACAM-2000, in immunosuppressed mice with combined cutaneous deficiency in filaggrin and STAT3. In parallel, early events post-infection with ACAM-2000 were investigated in cultured keratinocytes in which filaggrin expression was knocked down via siRNA. Results Immunosuppressed, filaggrin-deficient mice, treated with the topical STAT3 inhibitor Stattic® prior to ACAM-2000 infection, demonstrated rapid weight loss, prolonged vaccinia burden in skin, and dermatitis. The TGF-β family ligand activin A was upregulated ten-fold in infected skin. Topically-applied ALK5/TGβR1 signaling inhibitor synergized with vaccinia immune globulin (VIG) to promote vaccinia clearance and limit weight loss. In cultured keratinocytes, filaggrin-directed siRNA inhibited programmed necrosis and inflammatory cytokine release induced by ACAM-2000, while viral growth was increased. Conclusions Our findings may point to a novel role for filaggrin in early antiviral responses in skin. In wounded skin with underlying barrier defects, chronically elevated activin A levels may contribute to skin remodeling and cutaneous pathogen persistence. Inhibition of ALK5/TGFβR1 signaling may provide a novel co-therapeutic approach, together with VIG, to limit cutaneous spread of vaccinia.
Political Economy, Capability Development, and Fundamental Cause: Integrating Perspectives on Child Health in Developing Countries

Several dominant theoretical perspectives attempt to account for health disparities in developing countries, including political economy, the capability approach, and fundamental cause. This study combines the perspectives in a multi-level analysis of child malnutrition and diarrhea in order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of who faces increased health risks and who is shielded from them. Using the Demographic and Health Surveys and World Bank data, I estimate a series of models that predict the likelihood of child malnutrition and diarrhea, based on a set of country- and individual-level explanatory variables. Results suggest that at the individual-level, household wealth and maternal education are the most robust predictors of child health. These social factors are even more important than more proximate factors like clean water or sanitation. At the country-level, gross domestic product (GDP) per capita reduces malnutrition, but does not significantly affect incidence of diarrhea. Contrary to the predominant economic development paradigm, health care and education are more important in accounting for the prevalence of diarrhea than GDP. Finally, trade in and of itself is not harmful to well-being in developing countries. It is when countries become too dependent on one or a few commodities that trade starts to have detrimental costs. Thus, a synthesis of theoretical frameworks best illustrates the complex web of social structural factors that manifest as unequal life chances for children.
The Bitter and Biting Humor of Sarcasm in Medieval and Early Modern Literature

Even though the phenomenon of ‘sarcasm’ seems not yet to have existed in the pre-modern world, a careful selection of relevant texts from medieval and early modern German, Anglo-Norman, Middle English, and Latin texts amply proves the opposite. Sarcasm is possibly the worst form of comedy or humor, being biting, angry, and reflecting a sense of desperation. While previous scholarship has extensively worked on irony, satire, and parody, the existence of sarcasm at that early time also deserves to be taken into account, since it often appears to undermine harshly the idyllic impressions of courtly life and threatens to destroy the last shreds of social harmony and to remove any hope for the reconstruction of a happier form of cohabitation and collaboration.
A Longitudinal Analysis of Stepfamily Relationship Quality and Adolescent Physical Health.

Abstract Purpose Approximately one third of youth are estimated to live with a biological parent and stepparent before reaching adulthood. Additional research is warranted whereby stepfamily processes are identified that drive variation in youth adjustment, particularly physical health. We examined stepfather–child, mother–child, and stepcouple relationship quality as predictors of levels and changes in adolescent physical health over time. Methods We used a nationally representative sample of 1,233 adolescents living in biological mother–stepfather families from waves I (1994–1995) and II (1996) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. We incorporated measures of stepfather–child, mother–child, and stepcouple relationship quality, as well as adolescent reports of 10 physical health symptoms at waves I and II. Structural equation modeling was used to examine associations between wave I stepfamily relationships and adolescent physical symptoms at waves I and II. We used a zero-inflated negative binomial model to establish the validity of wave II adolescent physical symptoms as a predictor of an index of diagnosed chronic illnesses by wave IV (ages 26–32 years). Results Stepfather–child and mother–child relationship quality were negatively correlated with concurrent levels of adolescent physical symptoms. Stepfather–child relationship quality was negatively associated with change in adolescent physical symptoms over time. Adolescents with higher levels of physical symptoms at wave II were more likely to report chronic illnesses by adulthood. Conclusions Stepfather–child relationship quality is a robust predictor of adolescent physical health throughout adolescence and is linked to chronic illness diagnoses in young adulthood. Future research should explore further the mechanisms that underlie this association.
Simulations of hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and small hydrocarbon sorption in a nitrogen-rich rht-metal–organic framework

Grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations of gas sorption were performed in Cu-TDPAH, also known as rht-MOF-9, hereafter [1], a metal–organic framework (MOF) with rht topology consisting of Cu2+ ions coordinated to 2,5,8-tris(3,5-dicarboxyphenylamino)-1,3,4,6,7,9,9b-heptaazaphenalene (TDPAH) ligands. This MOF is notable for the presence of open-metal copper sites and high nitrogen content on the linkers. [1] Exhibits one of the highest experimental H2 uptakes at 77 K/1 atm within the extant rht-MOF family (ca. 2.72 wt%) and also has strong affinity for CO2 (5.83 mmol g−1 at 298 K/1 atm). Our simulations, which include explicit many-body polarization interactions, accurately modeled macroscopic thermodynamic properties (e.g., sorption isotherms and isosteric heats of adsorption (Qst)) as well as the binding sites for H2, CO2, CH4, C2H2, C2H4, and C2H6 in the MOF. Four different binding sites were observed through analysis of the radial distribution function (g(r)) about the two chemically distinct Cu2+ ions, simulated annealing calculations, and examination of the three-dimensional histogram showing the sites of occupancy: (1) at the Cu2+ ion facing toward the center of the linker (CuL), (2) at the Cu2+ ion facing away from the center of linker (CuC), (3) nestled between three [Cu2(O2CR)4] units in the corner of the truncated tetrahedral (T-Td) cage and (4) straddling the copper nuclei parallel to the axis of the Cu–Cu bond within the T-Td cage. The low-loading (initial) binding site in the MOF is highly sensitive to the partial charges of the Cu2+ ions that were used for parametrization. It was discovered that most sorbates prefer to sorb onto or near the Cu2+ ions that exhibit the greater partial positive charge (i.e., at site 1). The simulated H2 and CO2 sorption results obtained using a polarizable potential for the respective sorbates are in good agreement with the corresponding experimental data, especially near ambient pressure. Simulations of gas sorption were also performed in [1] using nonpolarizable potentials for the individual sorbates; these include potentials from the TraPPE force field for most sorbates.
Abstract 223: Optimization of Apolipoprotein A-1 Mimetic Peptides for Lipid Binding and Lecithin-cholesterol Acyltransferase Activation

Introduction: Apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) mimetic peptides present an exciting avenue in the clinical development of synthetic HDL (sHDL), offering a more feasible and economical approach in sHDL production. One such example is ETC-642, or 22A—a 22 amino acid ApoA-I mimetic peptide tested in single and multiple dose clinical trials. The goal of this study is to understand how specific amino acid substitutions affect physico-chemical properties of 22-mer peptides and correlate them with the ability to form stable nano-sized sHDL particles and promote LCAT activity. Methods/Results: For this study, we used the 22A peptide (PVLDLFNELLNELLEALKQKLK or ETC-642) and designed 10 variants comprised of a single amino acid substitution, denoted 22A-1-10. We used computational programs FMAP (Folding of Membrane-Associated Peptides), PPM2.0 and FRAMEWORK to select peptides that are predicted to form α-helices, have good membrane penetration (>7.8 A) with low transfer energy to membranes (ΔG transfer helix helix varied from -18.4 to -24.4 kcal/mol, and G transfer varied from -11.1 to -17.2 kcal/mol for the synthesized peptides. The percent peptide α-helicity in lipid bound form was measured by circular dichroism spectroscopy and was found to vary dramatically between 19 and 82%. The lipid solubilization kinetics were determined using UV absorbance to measure turbidity. The particle size and stability of resulting HDL particles were measured by dynamic light scattering and gel permeation chromatography. The peptides with low predicted energy of lipid binding exhibited high helicity and formed stable HDL particles with sizes less than 20 nm. The HDLs formed from apoA-I peptides with high helicity were also able to activate LCAT and facilitate sterol esterification with a K cat of 5 to 30 min -1 . Conclusions: Our data shows that that minimalistic changes in primary structure of ApoA-1 peptide can lead significant changes in physico-chemical properties. Peptides with degree of α-helicity exhibited superior lipid binding and formed stable HDL particles of small size able to interact with LCAT.
The Kansas City Flash Flood of 12 September 1977

On 12 September 1977, severe flash flooding in Kansas City, Mo., resulted in widespread damage and 25 fatalities. It was the worst flash flood of modern times in this area in terms of loss of life and damage. Meteorological analysis of the flood situation indicates the key ingredients for the unprecedented flooding were: 1) two heavy convective rain events occurring in essentially the same location within a 20 h period, and 2) the formation by the first storm system of a small-scale surface boundary wave that concentrated the low-level convergence over the Kansas City area for an extended period of time preceding the second event. Total rainfall amounts for the 24 h storm period were >16 inches (40 cm). Rainfall rates were as high as 8 inches (20 cm) in 4 h during the flooding on the evening of the 12th. Besides the conventional surface and upper air observational network, radar and satellite input were of significant value in analyzing the storm evolution.
How Important Are Anaerobic Bacteria in Aspiration Pneumonia: When Should They Be Treated and What Is Optimal Therapy

Anaerobic bacteria are infrequent pulmonary pathogens, and, even then they are, they are almost never recovered due to the need for specimens uncontaminated by the upper airway flora and failure to do adequate anaerobic bacteriology. These bacteria are relatively common in selected types of lung infections including aspiration pneumonia, lung abscess, necrotizing pneumonia and emphyema. Preferred antibiotics for these infections based on clinical experience are clindamycin and any betalactam-betalactamase inhibitor.
Temporal trends in liver cancer mortality by educational attainment in the United States, 2000-2015.

Background Liver cancer is the most rapidly rising cause of cancer death in the United States. However, it is unclear whether the mortality trend differs by socioeconomic and/or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection status. Methods Joinpoint analyses and Poisson regression modeling were performed to examine trends in death rates from liver cancer by education and HCV infection status among persons aged 25 to 74 years from 2000 to 2015. Disparities in liver cancer mortality were measured as a relative index of inequality by education. Results From 2000 to 2015, the overall liver cancer death rate (per 100,000 persons) increased from 7.5 to 11.2 in men and from 2.8 to 3.8 in women. The increase was generally steeper in less educated groups for women and was confined to persons with ≤15 years of education for men. Consequently, the relative disparity increased until 2006 and then levelled off in women, whereas it continued to increase from 3.49 (95% CI, 3.08-3.97) to 7.74 (95% CI, 7.13-8.40) in men, with the increase more pronounced for HCV-related liver cancer than HCV-unrelated liver cancer. Conclusions The increases in liver cancer death rates in the United States have largely been confined to less educated persons, especially among men. Enhanced and targeted efforts are needed to halt and reverse the undue growing burden of liver cancer in lower socioeconomic groups.
Large-scale changes in cortical dynamics triggered by repetitive somatosensory electrical stimulation.

Repetitive somatosensory electrical stimulation (SES) of forelimb peripheral nerves is a promising therapy; studies have shown that SES can improve motor function in stroke subjects with chronic deficits. However, little is known about how SES can directly modulate neural dynamics. Past studies using SES have primarily used noninvasive methods in human subjects. Here we used electrophysiological recordings from the rodent primary motor cortex (M1) to assess how SES affects neural dynamics at the level of single neurons as well as at the level of mesoscale dynamics. We performed acute extracellular recordings in 7 intact adult Long Evans rats under ketamine-xylazine anesthesia while they received transcutaneous SES. We recorded single unit spiking and local field potentials (LFP) in the M1 contralateral to the stimulated arm. We then compared neural firing rate, spike-field coherence (SFC), and power spectral density (PSD) before and after stimulation. Following SES, the firing rate of a majority of neurons changed significantly from their respective baseline values. There was, however, a diversity of responses; some neurons increased while others decreased their firing rates. Interestingly, SFC, a measure of how a neuron’s firing is coupled to mesoscale oscillatory dynamics, increased specifically in the δ-band, also known as the low frequency band (0.3- 4 Hz). This increase appeared to be driven by a change in the phase-locking of broad-spiking, putative pyramidal neurons. These changes in the low frequency range occurred without a significant change in the overall PSD. Repetitive SES significantly and persistently altered the local cortical dynamics of M1 neurons, changing both firing rates as well as the SFC magnitude in the δ-band. Thus, SES altered the neural firing and coupling to ongoing mesoscale dynamics. Our study provides evidence that SES can directly modulate cortical dynamics.
Gender Differences in Mental Health, Institutional Misconduct, and Disciplinary Segregation:

Despite a growing body of research on the use of disciplinary segregation within prisons, limited research has examined the role that mental health plays in this context, particularly across gender...
Application of proteomic tools in meat quality evaluation

Abstract Meat quality attributes such as color, tenderness, and water-holding capacity are influenced by the protein profile of meat. Proteomic approaches provide novel tools to examine many of these proteins at a biochemical and molecular level simultaneously. In general, the proteomic approaches can be either gel-based or gel-free. In this chapter both of these approaches are discussed along with some commonly used methodologies. Further, research using these tools to examine meat quality aspects such as color, tenderness, and water-holding capacity are detailed. Proteomics have enabled us to understand the cellular and biochemical mechanisms governing the quality of fresh muscle foods. Over time, further developments in phenotyping tools and biomarker discovery and quantification might aid in the application of these tools for animal selection and carcass segregation based on quality.
Organizational Characteristics and the Adoption of Electronic Health Records Among Nursing Homes in One Southern State.

Electronic health records (EHRs) can improve quality of care and patient safety, as demonstrated in a variety of health care settings. However, greater use of EHRs in nursing homes (NHs) is needed....
Reimagining Institutional Research Training: Coordinating a Highly Interactive Community of Young Investigators Prepared to Excel.

The challenges facing the nephrology workforce have been well documented ([1][1]–[⇓][2][3][3]). These challenges are reinforced by recent fellowship match data ( ), providing sustained headwinds to research recruitment efforts. However
Bayesian Deep Deconvolutional Learning.

A Bayesian generative model is developed for deep (multi-layered) convolutional dictionary learning. A novel probabilistic pooling operation is integrated into the deep model, yielding efficient bottom-up (pretraining) and top-down (refinement) probabilistic learning. After learning the deep convolutional dictionary, testing is implemented via deconvolutional inference. To speed up this inference, a new statistical approach is proposed to project the top-layer dictionary elements to the data level. Following this, only one layer of deconvolution is required during testing. Experimental results demonstrate powerful capabilities of the model to learn multi-layer features from images, and excellent classification results are obtained on the MNIST and Caltech 101 datasets.
Radiation-induced spinal cord glioblastoma subsequent to treatment of medulloblastoma: case report

Medulloblastomas are one of the most common malignant pediatric brain tumors. Therapy has evolved into multimodality treatments consisting of surgery, radiation, and adjuvant chemotherapy. While craniospinal radiation remains standard for patients older than 3 years of age, it is not free of side effects and long-term complications. The development of malignant gliomas following therapy is a well-documented phenomenon. However, the majority of these radiation-induced glioblastomas (RIG) are intracranial, and intraspinal lesions are rare. The patient is a 22-year-old female with a history of a posterior fossa medulloblastoma diagnosed 8 years prior for which she underwent surgical resection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy and craniospinal radiation. Surveillance imaging showed no evidence of recurrence or new lesions for the following 5 years. She presented with nausea and vomiting and imaging revealing a new intramedullary cervical spinal cord lesion. She then developed acute quadriplegia several days after presentation. She underwent a cervical laminectomy and resection of this lesion, which was initially diagnosed as recurrent medulloblastoma before genomic analysis ultimately revealed it to be a RIG. Spinal RIGs that occur secondary to treatment for an intracranial neoplasm are exceedingly rare. The majority of spinal cord RIGs have been reported secondary to treatment for tumors outside of the neuroaxis, while the majority of RIGs secondary to treatment for intracranial tumors remain intracranial. Nevertheless, RIGs are associated with a short clinical history, aggressive progression, and poor outcome.
Minor salivary gland mesenchymal stromal cells derived from patients with Sjӧgren's syndrome deploy intact immune plasticity.

Abstract Background aims Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) provide minor salivary glands (MSGs) with support and niche cells for epithelial glandular tissue. Little is known about resident MSG-derived MSCs (MSG-MSCs) in primary Sjӧgren's syndrome (PSS). The authors’ objective is to define the immunobiology of endogenous PSS MSG-MSCs. Methods Using culture-adapted MSG-MSCs isolated from consenting PSS subjects (n = 13), the authors performed in vitro interrogation of PSS MSG-MSC immunobiology and global gene expression compared with controls. To this end, the authors performed phenotypic and immune functional analysis of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and intercellular adhesion marker 1 (ICAM-1) before and after interferon γ (IFNγ) licensing as well as the effect of MSG-MSCs on T-cell proliferation. Considering the female predominance of PSS, the authors also addressed the influence of 17-β-estradiol on estrogen receptor α-positive-related MSC function. Results The authors found that MSG-MSCs deployed normal immune regulatory functionality after IFNγ stimulation, as demonstrated by increased protein-level expression of IDO, PD-L1 and ICAM-1. The authors also found that MSG-MSCs suppressed T-cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner independent of 17-β-estradiol exposure. Gene ontology and pathway analysis highlighted extracellular matrix deposition as a possible difference between PSS and control MSG-MSCs. MSG-MSCs demonstrated increased α-smooth muscle actin expression in PSS, indicating a partial myofibroblast-like adaptation. Conclusions These findings establish similar immune regulatory function of MSG-MSCs in both PSS and control patients, precluding intrinsic MSC immune regulatory defects in PSS. PSS MSG-MSCs show a partial imprinted myofibroblast-like phenotype that may arise in the setting of chronic inflammation, providing a plausible etiology for PSS-related glandular fibrosis.
721 A Pandemic’s Impact on Nightmare Frequency

Introduction: Nightmares have been defined as bad dreams that produce awakenings and have content which can be recalled upon awakening. Frequent nightmares have been linked to many negative outcomes, such as depression and suicide. Research has demonstrated that stress can impact the likelihood and frequency of nightmare occurrences. Furthermore, extreme stress (such as trauma) can produce chronically recurring nightmares. Given the rise in societal stress as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, one could expect an increase in nightmares within the general population. With this in mind, our project sought to examine if nightmares are occurring more frequently during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods: Our project measured sleep quality and disordered symptoms in N = 2,126 undergraduate college students from the years 2017 to 2020 via online surveys. Data from 2020 was only gathered after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic (which was defined as March 11th 2020). Nightmares were assessed with a self-report questionnaire which asked, “have you experienced a nightmare within the past month”, to which respondents could respond with “yes”, “no”, or “unsure”. Prior to this question participants were told a nightmare is being defined as a bad dream that wakes one up and has remembered dream content upon awakening. Frequencies between years were compared using ANOVA techniques. Results: In regard to the percentage of our sample that reported a nightmare during the previous month, the year 2020 was significantly higher (41.1%;F = 10.27, p < 0.001) than all other years assessed (2017 = 27.0%;2018 = 25.3%;2019 = 31.7%). Furthermore, there was no significant difference between any of the pre-Covid-19 years. Conclusion: In 2020, A higher percentage of students reported experiencing a nightmare within the past month than any of our other captured years. Given our 2020 data only assessed students post the start of the pandemic, the significant increase of nightmares experienced by our sample could be related to stress produced by the Covid- 19 pandemic. Considering that nightmares have been found related to several negative outcomes, such as depression and suicide, both assessment of, and treatments for nightmares may be especially needed during our current climate.
20-Hydroxyecdysone stimulation of juvenile hormone biosynthesis by the mosquito corpora allata.

Juvenile hormone III (JH) is synthesized by the corpora allata (CA) and plays a key role in mosquito development and reproduction. JH titer decreases in the last instar larvae allowing pupation and metamorphosis to progress. As the anti-metamorphic role of JH comes to an end, the CA of the late pupa (or pharate adult) becomes again “competent” to synthesize JH, which plays an essential role orchestrating reproductive maturation. 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) prepares the pupae for ecdysis, and would be an ideal candidate to direct a developmental program in the CA of the pharate adult mosquito. In this study, we provide evidence that 20E acts as an age-linked hormonal signal, directing CA activation in the mosquito pupae. Stimulation of the inactive brain-corpora allata-corpora cardiaca complex (Br-CA-CC) of the early pupa (24 h before adult eclosion or −24 h) in vitro with 20E resulted in a remarkable increase in JH biosynthesis, as well as increase in the activity of juvenile hormone acid methyltransferase (JHAMT). Addition of methyl farnesoate but not farnesoic acid also stimulated JH synthesis by the Br-CA-CC of the −24 h pupae, proving that epoxidase activity is present, but not JHAMT activity. Separation of the CA-CC complex from the brain (denervation) in the −24 h pupae also activated JH synthesis. Our results suggest that an increase in 20E titer might override an inhibitory effect of the brain on JH synthesis, phenocopying denervation. All together these findings provide compelling evidence that 20E acts as a developmental signal that ensures proper reactivation of JH synthesis in the mosquito pupae.
Is security a great principle of computing

In the 1960s, when computing was still a young discipline, the core courses were automata theory, logic design, numerical analysis, programming, and language translation. These courses represented the core technologies in which a basis of math and science existed. Today there are 20 core technologies and their representatives compete fiercely for slots in the stable of required courses.