cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Iron Transport in Escherichia coli: Relationship Between Chromium Sensitivity and High Iron Requirement in Mutants of Escherichia coli

Utilization of iron (Fe3+) by Escherichia coli depends upon a system which is determined by at least two genetic loci. Mutants which carry a deletion of the tonB-trp region of the chromosome grow only when very high concentrations of iron are present in the medium. These strains are sensitive to chromic ion (Cr3+) and, unlike the parent strain, fail to grow on MnSO4 when FeSO4 is not added to the medium. A second type of mutant, Chr2, which was isolated on the basis of its sensitivity to chromic ion, also requires a high concentration of iron for growth. This mutant can be distinguished phenotypically from the deletion mutants since it grows normally on low concentrations of iron, provided citrate is added to the medium. The chromium sensitivity of both types of mutants can be reversed by high concentrations of exogenous iron. The data are interpreted to indicate that the E. coli mutants studied are defective in iron transport and that residual iron transport is in some way inhibited by chromic ion.
Universal scaling laws for quench and thermal hydraulic quenchback in CICC coils

A set of universal scaling relations is presented describing the propagation of quench in CICC (cable-in-conduit superconducting magnet) magnets. Four distinct types of behavior are possible depending upon the length of the coil and the magnitude of the quench induced pressure rise. The boundaries separating these regions can be simply expressed in terms of L/sub q/ the initial quench length, and J the stabilizer current density, the two parameters likely to vary during standard operation. The phenomenon of thermal hydraulic quenchback (THQB) is also considered. It is shown that the conditions for the onset of THQB can also be cast as a set of universal scaling relations and easily superimposed on the quench diagram. >
Growing Up Girl in Working-Poor America: Textures of Language, Poverty, and Place

This article explores the psychosocial histories of three girls growing up in an urban neighborhood with historical ties to rural Appalachia. The article adopts a discursive lens for understanding class-specific identities in the life histories of these young subjects. Central to the analyses that shape the paper are close studies of language. At the same time, it situates the study of discourse and subjectivity within the textures of landscape and narrative, an analytical focus influenced by the writings of Mikhail Bakhtin. The result is a novelistic understanding of how material landscape, class-specific discourse, emotional response, and imaginative reinvention become refracted dimensions of voice and subjectivity. Such understandings are offered as an apt starting point for pedagogy that addresses the tensions experienced by girls living in working-poor America.
Effective cervical neoplasia detection with a novel optical detection system: a randomized trial.

Abstract Objective. To assess whether the use of a novel optical detection system (ODS) as an adjunct to colposcopy increases the detection of biopsy-confirmed CIN 2,3. Methods. This is a multicenter two-arm randomized trial comparing colposcopy alone with colposcopy plus a pre-commercial ODS system that utilizes fluorescence, white light tissue reflectance, and cervical video imaging. Patients were recruited from 13 colposcopy clinics in a variety of practice settings. 2299 women referred for the evaluation of an abnormal cervical cytology were randomized with stratification by cytology; subsequently 113 women were excluded for a variety of reasons. The main study outcomes were differences in true-positive rates (CIN 2,3 and cancer identified) and false-positive rates between the study arms. Results. The true-positive (TP) rates were 14.4% vs. 11.4% ( p =0.035, one-sided) for the combined colposcopy and ODS arm compared to colposcopy-only arm, respectively, in women with either an atypical squamous cell (ASC) or low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) cytology result. TP rates were similar between the two arms among women referred for the evaluation of HSIL. The 26.5% gain in true-positives observed with the use of ODS and colposcopy among women referred for an ASC or LSIL cytology was achieved with only a fractional increase in number of biopsies obtained per patient (0.30) and a modest increase in false-positive rate (4%). In the combined colposcopy and ODS arm among women with ASC or LSIL, the PPV of biopsies indicated by ODS was 15.0% and the PPV of biopsies indicated by colposcopy was 15.2%. Joint hypothesis testing indicates that ODS and colposcopy provides benefit compared to colposcopy alone among women with ASC or LSIL. Conclusions. Combining ODS with colposcopy provides a clinically meaningful increase in the detection of CIN 2,3 in women referred for the evaluation of mildly abnormal cytology results.
Metabolic Toxicity Screening Using Electrochemiluminescence Arrays Coupled with Enzyme-DNA Biocolloid Reactors and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

New chemicals or drugs must be guaranteed safe before they can be marketed. Despite widespread use of bioassay panels for toxicity prediction, products that are toxic to a subset of the population often are not identified until clinical trials. This article reviews new array methodologies based on enzyme/DNA films that form and identify DNA-reactive metabolites that are indicators of potentially genotoxic species. This molecularly based methodology is designed in a rapid screening array that utilizes electrochemiluminescence (ECL) to detect metabolite-DNA reactions, as well as biocolloid reactors that provide the DNA adducts and metabolites for liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis. ECL arrays provide rapid toxicity screening, and the biocolloid reactor LC-MS approach provides a valuable follow-up on structure, identification, and formation rates of DNA adducts for toxicity hits from the ECL array screening. Specific examples using this strategy are discussed. Integration of high-throughput versions of these toxicity-screening methods with existing drug toxicity bioassays should allow for better human toxicity prediction as well as more informed decision making regarding new chemical and drug candidates.
Measuring TeV cosmic rays at the High Altitude Water Cherenkov Observatory

The High-Altitude Water Cherenkov Observatory, or HAWC, is an air shower array designed to observe cosmic rays and gamma rays between 100 GeV and 100 TeV. HAWC, located between the peaks Sierra Negra and Pico de Orizaba in central Mexico, will be completed in the spring of 2015. However, the observatory has been collecting data in a partial configuration since mid-2013. With only part of the final array in data acquisition, HAWC has already accumulated a data set of nearly 100 billion air showers. These events are used to calibrate the detector angular reconstruction using the shadow of the Moon, and to measure the anisotropy in the arrival directions of cosmic rays above 1 TeV. Using data recorded between June 2013 and July 2014, we have observed a significant 10 −4 anisotropy consisting of three statistically significant “hotspots” in the cosmic ray flux. We will discuss these first results from HAWC and compare them to previous measurements of anisotropy in the northern and southern sky.
The Structure of a BamA-BamD Fusion Illuminates the Architecture of the β-Barrel Assembly Machine Core

The β-barrel assembly machine (BAM) mediates folding and insertion of integral β-barrel outer membrane proteins (OMPs) in Gram-negative bacteria. Of the five BAM subunits, only BamA and BamD are essential for cell viability. Here we present the crystal structure of a fusion between BamA POTRA4-5 and BamD from Rhodothermus marinus. The POTRA5 domain binds BamD between its tetratricopeptide repeats 3 and 4. The interface structural elements are conserved in the Escherichia coli proteins, which allowed structure validation by mutagenesis and disulfide crosslinking in E. coli. Furthermore, the interface is consistent with previously reported mutations that impair BamA-BamD binding. The structure serves as a linchpin to generate a BAM model where POTRA domains and BamD form an elongated periplasmic ring adjacent to the membrane with a central cavity approximately 30 × 60 A wide. We propose that nascent OMPs bind this periplasmic ring prior to insertion and folding by BAM.
Chemopreventive agent methylseleninic acid induces G1 cell cycle arrest in prostate cancer cells through p53-independent p21cip1 induction

A127 Inhibition of cancer cell proliferation through the induction of G1 cell cycle arrest by methylselenol may, to some extent, account for the cancer chemopreventive activity of selenium. Previous studies have documented the induction of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor proteins p21cip1 and/or p27kip1 and G1 arrest by the methylselenol precursor methylseleninic acid (MSeA) in prostate and other cancer cells. However, whether these CDK inhibitors play a critical mediator role in G1 arrest by MSeA has not been addressed. In the present work, we show exposure of p53-mutant DU145 prostate cancer (PCa) cells to sub-apoptotic concentrations of MSeA induced p21cip1 mRNA (3 h) and protein (6 h) much faster than p27kip1 mRNA (12 h) and protein (12 h). Immunoprecipitation detected increased binding of p21cip1 to CDK2 and CDK6 in MSeA-exposed DU145 cells. Knocking down of p21cip1 by siRNA completely abolished G1 arrest induction by MSeA in DU145 cells, yet si-p27kip1 had no effect. G1 arrest was observed in p53-wild type LNCaP PCa cells and p53-null PC-3 PCa cells by MSeA in close association with p21cip1 induction and si-p21cip1 attenuated G1 arrest in these cells. In terms of in vivo relevance, we observed an induction of p21cip1 by a chemopreventive level of MSeA intake as early as 72 h after treatment in DU145 xenograft model. Our data support p53-independent induction of p21cip1 by MSeA to mediate the G1 arrest effect in PCa cells. The universality of p21cip1-mediated G1 cell cycle arrest by MSeA in other organ sites and cell types awaits further investigation. Grant supports: National Cancer Institute CA92231, CA95642; Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Program: DAMD17-02-1-0007.
The Push-Pull Mechanism of Dealkylation in Soman-Inhibited Cholinesterases and Their Mutants

Mechanistic studies of the early phases of the inactivation of cholinesterases (ChEs) by 2-(3,3-dimethylbutyl) methylphosphonofluoridate (soman) were carried out in this laboratory and the results of these studies were reported in a series of papers. The main conclusions were reviewed in an article (1) in which the underlying reason for the irreversible inhibition was proposed to be differences in the stereochemical arrangement at the transition states for enzyme acylation by the natural substrate and enzyme phosphonylation by the organophosphorus compounds. The stereochemical relationship between ligands in pentacoordinate phosphonyl transients and the histidine of the catalytic triad, S200, H440, E327 in Torpedo californica (Tc) acetylcholinesterase (AChE), disfavors the proton transfer sequence requisite in acylation and deacylation of the catalytic S in serine hydrolases (2–4). The consequence is that the catalytic H remains protonated after leaving-group departure and the acid/base apparatus is thus impaired. A significant implication of this mechanism is the lack of general base catalysis of the hydrolysis of the phosphonylated enzyme adducts and thus a near absence of dephosphonylation. The article of 1988 also speculated on the need for a catalytic triad involving a carboxylic acid and the presence of a W in the binding region. These were in fact found in the crystal structure of the Tc AChE (5).
Rotary Microspine Rough Surface Mobility

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is developing a class of lightweight, highly mobile, crash-proof robots for reconnaissance and security applications. Arrays of independently compliant rotary microspines are used to build wheels that enable the robots to climb stairs, mount curbs, and climb rough vertical walls. This study presents many improvements to the rotary microspine wheels and several new configurations of the robotic platforms, including miniaturized robots weighing less than 10 g. New microspine flexure materials are presented including viscoelastic flexures that dampen the impact of individual hook elements, and mass-manufacturable microspines made using a single cast process over steel wire in place of elastic flexures. Rapid iteration of microspine designs was done using shape deposition manufacturing and a single-wheeled test robot. This process allowed new wheel concepts to go from design to testing in just three days. In addition, new configurations of robots with a powered wheel in the tail have improved reliability and demonstrated new capabilities like climbing heavily painted curbs, climbing stairs with overhanging face angles, and vertical climbing of concrete block buildings as tall as six stories. These results are presented in this paper and in the accompanying video.
Application and Economic Analysis of Screw Expander in Fossil Power Plant Heat Cycle

Screw expander is a new power machine using low energy.Using equivalent enthalpy method to analyze appliance and economic in fossil power plant heat cycle,and indicate the application area.
CONFIRMATION OF URBAN FRINGE AREA BASED ON REMOTE SENSING AND MESSAGE ENTROPY——A CASE STUDY OF JINGZHOU,HUBEI PROVINCE

Affected by development of city and countryside,city fringe area is a special economic and geographical unit,and a major area for city spreading.But,the range of city fringe is uncertain and the method of demarcation is qualitative.In this paper,a model of message entropy for land use was established based on the theory of information entropy and the feature of land use in city fringe.As a case of Jingzhou City in Hubei Province,and by using satellite imagery landsat dated of October 2000,the model of information entropy for land use was applied in combination with remote sensing(RS) and geographic information system(GIS) techniques.Through analyzing the distribution characteristics of entropy,the range of city fringe in Jingzhou is confirmed with the entropy values of 60 and 30.Finally,the range with the area of 124.4 km2 including 25 villages is obtained.With this method,the feature of high precision and real time is shown.If the satellite image of the higher resolution and other model were adopted,the precision of partition should be enhanced.
Integrating Gestalt psychotherapy into social work practice with adult oncology patients

ABSTRACTThis article will provide an examination of Gestalt psychotherapy and its application to adult cancer patients. Gestalt psychotherapy can be utilized as a psychosocial intervention targeted to meet the needs of oncology patients. The following article will examine Gestalt therapy theory and review basic principles to utilize in clinical practice. The authors will highlight the populations to which Gestalt has been applied, and additional case vignettes will demonstrate concrete ways to incorporate this theory into practice with oncology patients.
Emissions Trading Scheme and Gas Flaring in the United Kingdom Continental Shelf: A Comment

The United Kingdom's Emissions Trading Scheme has its roots in the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme and these are both hinged on the effectiveness of the “cap and trade system”.The system and the scheme have had their criticisms, especially with regard to their capacity to actually regulate atmospheric pollution and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.This article examines the scheme and its system.It concludes that the scheme cannot be said to be wholly effective.
Chapter 14 – Evolution of Tool Use

The profound reliance of the human species on tools for its survival and adaptation is unique in the animal world. Prehistoric evidence for tool use as an adaptive strategy in human evolution extends back at least 3.3 million years, when stone tools began to be found at prehistoric sites in Africa in regions containing fossils of early bipedal ancestors. Archaeological research documents a long period of dependence on stone tools through a succession of ancestral species and a gradually accelerating pace of technological change, with emergence of large complex societies and rapid technological proliferation only within the past 10,000 years.
Exploring Preterm Mothers' Personal Narratives: Influences and Meanings

In this article we report on a study exploring personal narratives of mothers of former preterm infants and the attributed meaning related to that experience over time. Using narrative inquiry as the research method, in-depth, unstructured interviews were conducted with 6 preterm mothers. Findings reveal that a preterm mother's experience is informed by contextual, intrapersonal, and interpersonal dynamics, some predating the birth often with effects that continue for years beyond it. By learning a preterm mother's unique experience and its attributed meaning, nurses can better understand the resulting effect on maternal/family health and well-being and tailor nursing interventions accordingly.
Transient Headache and CSF Lymphocytosis

A transient syndrome of migrainous headache with neurologic deficits and CSF lymphocytic pleocytosis is described in 7 young adult patients examined at the Strong Memorial Hospital, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY.
An H4K16 histone acetyltransferase mediates decondensation of the X chromosome in C. elegans males

In C. elegans, in order to equalize gene expression between the sexes and balance X and autosomal expression, two steps are believed to be required. First, an unknown mechanism is hypothesized to upregulate the X chromosome in both sexes. This mechanism balances the X to autosomal expression in males, but creates X overexpression in hermaphrodites. Therefore, to restore the balance, hermaphrodites downregulate gene expression twofold on both X chromosomes. While many studies have focused on X chromosome downregulation, the mechanism of X upregulation is not known. To gain more insight into X upregulation, we studied the effects of chromatin condensation and histone acetylation on gene expression levels in male C. elegans. We have found that the H4K16 histone acetyltransferase MYS-1/Tip60 mediates dramatic decondensation of the male X chromosome as measured by FISH. However, RNA-seq analysis revealed that MYS-1 contributes only slightly to upregulation of gene expression on the X chromosome. These results suggest that the level of chromosome decondensation does not necessarily correlate with the degree of gene expression change in vivo. Furthermore, the X chromosome is more sensitive to MYS-1-mediated decondensation than the autosomes, despite similar levels of H4K16ac on all chromosomes, as measured by ChIP-seq. H4K16ac levels weakly correlate with gene expression levels on both the X and the autosomes, but highly expressed genes on the X chromosome do not contain exceptionally high levels of H4K16ac. These results indicate that H4K16ac and chromosome decondensation influence regulation of the male X chromosome; however, they do not fully account for the high levels of gene expression observed on the X chromosomes.
Variable accuracy device modeling for event-driven circuit simulation

This paper presents a complete variable accuracy device modeling methodology which varies the error tolerances and device model accuracy during the simulation based upon the dynamic state of operation of the circuit and the circuit topology. The number of device model evaluations required and the average device model evaluation time are minimized. >
Expanding SimSET to include block detectors: performance with pseudo-blocks and a true block model

We present a study that introduces two approaches to implementing block detectors into SimSET and compares their performance. SimSET is a photon tracking simulation package, which currently incorporates only detectors made of a solid annulus of scintillator material. A pseudo-block approximation has been imposed on the solid annulus of conventional SimSET by discarding interactions in annulus segments that span the angular block gap. This yields blocks that are annulus segments, not rectangles. This is a quick and easy approximation of block structure, which brings SimSET results closer to actual scanner measurements. Even better agreement is expected with a deeper modification of the SimSET code that implements true rectangular blocks in the detector module (to be released late 2007/early 2008). This approach enables the greatest amount of variability and trueness to detail. We compare results from both block structure implementations to the conventional SimSET results and to measurements from a GE DSTE PET/CT scanner. Differences are evaluated in terms of sensitivities, crystal maps, and energy spectra, as well as in benchmark time tests of the simulation runs and their ease of use. Either implementation of block structure can aid in improving simulation accuracy by ameliorating one known cause of discrepancies, the geometric nature of the block detectors.
Local and Regional Anesthesia in the Emergency Room

Regional anesthesia is being increasingly adapted into emergency department practice as training and technological improvements (e.g., ultrasound) become more prevalent. The same precautions and considerations for patients receiving nerve blocks in the perioperative setting should be followed for patients in the emergency department. Occasionally, specialized regional procedures, such as “hematoma blocks,” are used in emergency practice and are associated with rare but significant complications, for example, local anesthetic toxicity. Accurate documentation relating to the block, good communication among the health care team, and a readily available and appropriately stocked block cart are essential for safe regional anesthesia in the emergency department. Administration of the block should be done as close to the time of injury as possible. Choosing the appropriate local anesthetic can help avoid complications of prolonged block, premature block resolution, and systemic toxicity. Intoxicated patients present various challenges to performance of regional anesthesia in an emergency setting; alternative or modified measures (e.g., sedation or delaying the block) may have to be undertaken if the patient is not deemed competent to tolerate a nerve block.
Photoacoustic‐Guided Surgery with Indocyanine Green‐Coated Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticle Clusters

A common cause of local tumor recurrence in brain tumor surgery results from incomplete surgical resection. Adjunctive technologies meant to facilitate gross total resection have had limited efficacy to date. Contrast agents used to delineate tumors preoperatively cannot be easily or accurately used in the real-time operative setting. Although multimodal imaging contrast agents are developed to help the surgeon discern tumor from normal tissue in the operating room, these contrast agents are not readily translatable. This study has developed a novel contrast agent comprised solely of two Food and Drug Administration approved components, indocyanine green (ICG) and superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles-with no additional amphiphiles or carrier materials, to enable preoperative detection by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and intraoperative photoacoustic (PA) imaging. The encapsulation efficiency of both ICG and SPIO within the formulated clusters is ≈100%, and the total ICG payload is 20-30% of the total weight (ICG + SPIO). The ICG-SPIO clusters are stable in physiologic conditions; can be taken up within tumors by enhanced permeability and retention; and are detectable by MR. In a preclinical surgical resection model in mice, following injection of ICG-SPIO clusters, animals undergoing PA-guided surgery demonstrate increased progression-free survival compared to animals undergoing microscopic surgery.
Associations Between Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy and Complications for Patients with Ductal Carcinoma In Situ.

Purpose To examine the associations between sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and complications among older patients who underwent breast-conserving surgery (BCS) for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).
Unemployment and Marital Quality in Great Recession America: An Exploratory Canonical Correlation Analysis:

To contribute to the literature on unemployment and marital quality in light of rapid social, economic, and political changes that characterized the past decade (2008-2018), this exploratory study ...
The Performance of BCMA-Aided Healthcare Service: Implementation Factors and Results

Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA) system has been adopted by healthcare providers. Besides its benefits in reducing medication errors, cost and time, various side effects and new medication errors have been reported; however, the nature of the new problems has not been studied systematically. Although there are many studies focusing on IT implementation, very few studies addressing technology acceptance have been done in healthcare context. Due to the complex and dynamic features of the healthcare system, it is necessary to study how new technology acceptance models can be applied in this field. In this study, a model related to BCMA implementation will be constructed to enable the prediction and control of medication error reduction and side effects generation. To achieve that, the relationship between different implementation measures will be studied, and then predictive variables will be selected to construct the model for different measures.
Motor System; Overview

The motor system controls the initiation, execution, and coordination of all movements. There are three general types of movements: reflex movements, rhythmical movements, and voluntary movements. The motor system requires continual sensory input to produce accurate and appropriate movements. There are five types of prototypic movement syndromes: upper motor neuron syndromes, basal gangliar syndromes, cerebellar syndromes, lower motor neuron syndromes, and muscle or myopathy syndromes.
Transdermal Delivery of Levonorgestrel. V. Preparation of Devices and Evaluation in Vitro

Transdermal devices were prepared and evaluated for their ability to codeliver levonorgestrel and the permeation enhancers ethyl acetate and ethanol in vitro. The 24-hr devices were prepared with membranes composed of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVAc) copolymers. The vinyl acetate (VAc) content of the membranes (50 ± 10 or 100 ± 10 µm thick) was varied from 12 to 25% to give a range of permeabilities toward the enhancers. The reservoir used was ethyl acetate/ethanol (7:3, v/v; 0.5 ml) containing excess solid levonorgestrel and gelled with 2% hydroxypropyl cellulose. The higher VAc content membranes (18 and 25%) exhibited relatively high release rates of EtAc and EtOH leading to depletion of ethyl acetate and ethanol from the reservoir by the end of 24 hr. As a result, the transdermal flux of levonorgestrel, evaluated using rat skin, reached a maximum at about 8 hr and thereafter diminished to zero by 24 hr. The less permeable membranes (12 and 15% VAc content) led to a more sustained release of enhancers, but due to lower solvent delivery to the skin, levonorgestrel flux was substantially lower. There was a direct relationship between drug delivery through skin and the amount of solvent delivered until release of the enhancers had diminished. The potential use of ethyl acetate in transdermal drug delivery is also discussed.
Compressive Terahertz Imaging Using a Single-Bit Sensor

We present a single-pixel imaging system for the Terahertz (THz) band, capable of producing high-resolution images via a single-bit sensor and compressive reconstruction. To acquire the “single-bit” data, intensity measurement for each binary mask pattern is compared with the response for its complementary version. As such, by recording only the “sign” of the difference between the two complementary-mask measurements, we are able to recover images at 690 GHz using only 25% of the conventional number of measurements as dictated by the Nyquist rate. We also demonstrate that the single-bit compressive THz imaging exhibits the improved noise performance as compared with the conventional compressive sensing (CS) approaches. We also show that the single-bit THz CS is more effective under lower SNR illumination compared to the conventional CS, hence, has the potential to significantly lower the cost of the source illuminating the scene. Finally, a simple comparator can be used as the analog-to-digital conversion device for the single-bit measurements that suggests the possibility of realizing a very low cost, high-performance imaging system for ubiquitous THz imaging applications.
Impact of Yoga on Inflammatory Biomarkers: A Systematic Review.

Background:Many chronic conditions, including heart disease, cancer, and rheumatoid arthritis, are associated with underlying chronic inflammatory processes. Literature reviews have analyzed a vari...
Strategy for Structural Elucidation of Polysaccharides: Elucidation of a Maize Mucilage that Harbors Diazotrophic Bacteria

The recruitment of a bacterial consortium by the host is a strategy not limited to animals but is also used in plants. A maize aerial root mucilage has been found that harbors nitrogen fixing bacteria that are attracted to the carbohydrate rich environment. This synbiotic relationship is facilitated by a polysaccharide, whose complicated structure has been previously unknown. In this report, we present the characterization of the maize polysaccharide by employing new analytical strategies combining chemical depolymerization, oligosaccharide sequencing, and monosaccharide and glycosidic linkage quantitation. The mucilage contains a single heterogeneous polysaccharide composed of a highly fucosylated and xylosylated galactose backbone with arabinan and mannoglucuronan branches. This unique polysaccharide structure may select for the diazotrophic community by containing monosaccharides and linkages that correspond to the glycosyl hydrolases associated with the microbial community. The elucidation of this com...
Seeking Truth in Terrazzo: Digital Practices and Traditional Crafts

This essay poses questions about the ubiquity of terrazzo in our contemporary moment. Originally an aggregate material created by skilled craftsmen, terrazzo has since been reduced to a pattern pri...
Avian Sarcoma and Leukosis Virus Envelope Glycoproteins Evolve to Broaden Receptor Usage Under Pressure from Entry Competitors

The subgroup A through E avian sarcoma and leukosis viruses (ASLV(A) through ASLV(E)) are a group of highly related alpharetroviruses that have evolved their envelope glycoproteins to use different receptors to enable efficient virus entry due to host resistance and/or to expand host range. Previously, we demonstrated that ASLV(A) in the presence of a competitor to the subgroup A Tva receptor, SUA-rIgG immunoadhesin, evolved to use other receptor options. The selected mutant virus, RCASBP(A)Δ155–160, modestly expanded its use of the Tvb and Tvc receptors and possibly other cell surface proteins while maintaining the binding affinity to Tva. In this study, we further evolved the Δ155–160 virus with the genetic selection pressure of a soluble form of the Tva receptor that should force the loss of Tva binding affinity in the presence of the Δ155–160 mutation. Viable ASLVs were selected that acquired additional mutations in the Δ155–160 Env hypervariable regions that significantly broadened receptor usage to include Tvb and Tvc as well as retaining the use of Tva as a receptor determined by receptor interference assays. A similar deletion in the hr1 hypervariable region of the subgroup C ASLV glycoproteins evolved to broaden receptor usage when selected on Tvc-negative cells.
Disentangling EMTALA from Medical Malpractice: Revising EMTALA’s Screening Standard to Differentiate between Ordinary Negligence and Discriminatory Denials of Care

Congress’ intent in enacting the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) was to prohibit hospital emergency rooms from refusing to treat patients because they were unable to pay or due to other discriminatory reasons. EMTALA requires emergency departments to screen all patients who present for treatment and to stabilize or transfer those identified to be suffering from emergency conditions.In practice, however, many of the EMTALA cases that have reached courts have been dismissed as being state law medical malpractice claims, not EMTALA. The confusion between EMTALA and medical malpractice resulted from an extremely vague statutory screening standard, requiring hospital emergency departments to render “an appropriate medical screening examination,” without defining what such a screening entailed.As medical costs continue to escalate, and we grow more concerned about our ability to finance our medical care and to ensure access to the ever-growing numbers of uninsured, it becomes of paramount importance to utilize our healthcare dollars efficiently. A more tightly constructed EMTALA screening standard would do a better job of differentiating between EMTALA and medical malpractice, saving legal costs for claimants and hospitals and conserving judicial resources.This article will review the historic problem of “patient dumping,” and how EMTALA was promulgated to cure the problem. It takes a detailed look at EMTALA’s exceedingly vague screening standard, and how the courts have transformed it into a more defined standard.Nevertheless, the author points out how the currently accepted screening standard falls short. The author suggests a revised standard that will weed out negligence claims and restore EMTALA to its intended task - prohibiting hospital emergency rooms from refusing treatment for discriminatory reasons.
3D Bioprinting Technologies

Bioprinting technology offers capabilities for the design and fabrication of biological and tissue structures. Some of the field’s products are already impacting human health. Research to increase the complexity and functionality of bioprinted structures through innovation in bioprinting hardware, techniques, and materials continues to expand, with the aim of ultimately producing patient-specific tissue constructs. This chapter offers an introduction to the field, first by considering the emergence of bioprinting in relationship to enabling technologies. Because of the intense interest and continuing growth of the bioprinting, specific terminology and potential points of confusion across academic publications are discussed. The three main classes, or modalities, of bioprinting technologies are covered—extrusion-based bioprinting, droplet-based bioprinting, and bioprinting achieved through directed application of energy, such as light, to a bioink. The strengths and weaknesses of these techniques are discussed next, to highlight the potential of varying approaches and to point to opportunities for advances. Finally, some recent advances in bioprinting that are addressing challenges that exist in the three modalities are introduced to highlight innovative approaches that have and will continue to advance the field beyond limitations in the processes used.
256 Detection of NCOA2/3 gene fusions in uterine tumors resembling ovarian sex cord tumors (UTROSCT)

Objectives Uterine tumors resembling ovarian sex cord tumors (UTROSCT) are rare mesenchymal neoplasms of uncertain histogenesis that are challenging to diagnose due to their morphological and immunohistochemical overlap with more conventional entities. While DNA sequencing has failed to identify recurring mutations in these tumors, RNA sequencing recently detected NCOA2/3 fusions in two small series. The objective of this study was to further describe the characteristics of two UTROSCTs. Methods We retrospectively evaluated the clinicopathological and immunohistochemical features of two UTROSCTs, and performed RNA sequencing to detect gene fusions. Results The patients were 52 and 57 years old, tumors measured 5 and 12 cm, and were confined to the myometrium. Both showed multiple histologic patterns including diffuse, cord-like, and trabecular, with rhabdoid cells focally present. One UTROSCT had significant cytologic atypia and brisk mitotic activity, but both lacked necrosis and lymphovascular invasion. Variable immunohistochemical expression for calretinin, inhibin, WT-1, ER, CD10, and pankeratin was noted. RNA sequencing detected an ESR1-NCOA3 fusion in one tumor, whereas the other had a GREB1-NCOA2 rearrangement. The former patient is alive and well five months after diagnosis, while the latter recurred two years later, and is currently alive with disease (six years after original diagnosis). Conclusions The detection of NCOA2/3 fusions in two additional UTROSCTs further supports this rearrangement as a characteristic finding in these rare tumors. Additional studies are warranted to determine its sensitivity and specificity in UTROSCTs compared to other gynecologic neoplasms.
Non-Contact Thermoacoustic Sensing and Characterization of Plant Root Traits

Measuring below-ground plant and soil traits such as root biomass, water distribution, and soil compaction is of high interest to plant breeders and agronomists alike. However, there are limited technologies available that can sense these traits. Current methods for sensing roots are either invasive or not readily field deployable. Thus, we propose a novel non-contact thermoacoustic sensing system that can be used to characterize roots in a high-throughput, non-invasive and nondestructive fashion. Upon microwave excitation, the dielectric contrast between roots and soil generates an ultrasound signal via the thermoacoustic effect. Detection of the ultrasound signal in air is achieved using highly sensitive capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers with minimum detectable pressures as low as 278 µP a RMS , in order to overcome the large interface loss due to the impedance mismatch at the soil-air boundary. In this paper, we demonstrate a system that can detect agarose-based root phantoms in two different soil types. A linear-regression mapping of the received thermoacoustic data to properties like soil water content, root osmotic potential and root size shows excellent correlation, with R2 greater than 0.9 in all cases.
Nanomaterials for Cartilage Regeneration

Repair and regeneration of cartilage tissue has always posed difficulties owing to its avascular, aneural structure and its sparsely distributed cellular arrangement within a dense extracellular matrix. This is why damage to cartilage tissue such as acute trauma, repetitive trauma, inflammatory disease, or wear due to aging eventually results in osteoarthritis. In addition to being a challenging disease for both patients and physicians, osteoarthritis is also a significant public health issue that requires the attention of healthcare planners. In the osteochondral tissue damage, it is important to provide a tissue scaffold and support biosignaling molecules due to its dense extracellular structure as well as cell-based treatments. Therefore, the importance of nanomaterials in tissue regeneration studies is gradually increasing. Nanomaterials are defined as structural elements smaller than 100 nm in at least one dimension, and they offer us the ability to control various properties of materials by assembling them at nanometric proportions. With their excellent biomimetic and physicochemical properties, nanomaterials open up new possibilities and horizons as integration, interaction and signaling in structural and cellular dimensions. This chapter will discuss the opportunities provided by nanomaterials in cartilage regeneration.
Changes in the Place of Death in the United States.

Changes in Where Americans Die Between 2003 and 2017, there were nearly 35.2 million natural deaths in the United States. This analysis shows that home has surpassed the hospital as the most common...
Abstract A62: Inhibition of tumor growth by novel CART redirected against cells expressing high levels of fibroblast activation protein

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) support tumor growth and metastasis of virtually all solid tumors, making them a potential “universal therapeutic target.” However, there are challenges to designing CAF targeted therapies. First, CAFs are heterogeneous, consisting of tumor-promoting and tumor-restraining populations. Second, molecular targets expressed strictly by tumor-promoting CAFs have yet to be defined. Nonetheless, Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP) is selectively overexpressed on tumor-promoting CAFs. Moreover, deleting FAP+ cells inhibits tumor growth in preclinical models due to reductions in stroma-dependent signals that support tumor cell survival, growth, and progression and in stroma-derived immunosuppressive factors and can enhance efficacy of other therapies when given in combination. Prior studies in preclinical models suggest, however, that selective elimination of FAPhigh cells while sparing normal FAP+ cells that typically express lower levels of FAP may be necessary to avoid toxicity due to on-target, off-tumor effects. Thus, the aim of this study was to generate a FAP-chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) that selectively targets FAPhigh cells but that exhibits minimal activity against FAPlow cells for use in future clinical trials. We generated a FAP-CAR containing a scFv based on a monoclonal antibody (mAb) we generated that reacts with human and mouse FAP, the CD8 transmembrane region, and the CD3z and 41BB cytoplasmic domains. We show that primary human T cells transduced with this novel FAP-CAR exhibit strong reactivity against cells expressing high levels of human or mouse FAP but not FAPlow or FAP-negative cells. Moreover, these FAP-CART cells inhibited the growth of human FAP-negative A549 tumor xenografts infiltrated by FAP+ murine CAFs in NSG mice. Based on these characteristics, this novel FAP-CAR will be developed for use in clinical trials for human cancer patients. Citation Format: Estela Noguera-Ortega, Leslie Todd, James Monslow, Jing Sun, Steven M. Albelda, Ellen Pure. Inhibition of tumor growth by novel CART redirected against cells expressing high levels of fibroblast activation protein [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy; 2019 Nov 17-20; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2020;8(3 Suppl):Abstract nr A62.
Multivariate Time Series Modeling for Long Term Partial Discharge Measurements in Medium Voltage XLPE Cables

A multivariate time series analysis was performed for a system of several PD response variables, i.e. average charge, number of discharge pulses, average charge current, and largest repetitive discharge magnitude over the data acquisition period. Experimental lifelong PD data obtained from cable samples subjected to accelerated degradation was used to study the dynamic trends and relationships among those aforementioned response variables. Stochastically formulated cointegrated variables recognized by those tests can be combined to form new stationary variables to estimate the parameters for the Vector Auto Regression (VAR) and Vector-Error Correction (VEC) models. The validity of both models was evaluated by generating Monte Carlo and Minimum Mean Squared Error (MMSE) simulated forecasts. True observed data and forecasted data mean values lie within the 95th percentile confidence interval responses which demonstrates the soundness and accuracy of both models. A life-predicting model based on the cointegrating relations between the multiple response variables, correlated with experimentally evaluated time-to-breakdown values, can be used to set an emergent alarming trigger and as a step towards establishing long-term continuous monitoring of partial discharge activity.
Continuous roll-to-roll patterning of three-dimensional periodic nanostructures.

In this work, we introduce a roll-to-roll system that can continuously print three-dimensional (3D) periodic nanostructures over large areas. This approach is based on Langmuir-Blodgett assembly of colloidal nanospheres, which diffract normal incident light to create a complex intensity pattern for near-field nanolithography. The geometry of the 3D nanostructure is defined by the Talbot effect and can be precisely designed by tuning the ratio of the nanosphere diameter to the exposure wavelength. Using this system, we have demonstrated patterning of 3D photonic crystals with a 500 nm period on a 50 × 200 mm2 flexible substrate, with a system throughput of 3 mm/s. The patterning yield is quantitatively analyzed by an automated electron beam inspection method, demonstrating long-term repeatability of an up to 88% yield over a 4-month period. The inspection method can also be employed to examine pattern uniformity, achieving an average yield of up to 78.6% over full substrate areas. The proposed patterning method is highly versatile and scalable as a nanomanufacturing platform and can find application in nanophotonics, nanoarchitected materials, and multifunctional nanostructures. A scalable printing process offers a high-yield way to produce 3D nanostructures. Repeating 3D nanostructures have useful properties such as controlling the transmittance and reflectance of light. They can also function as solar-cell or battery components and can form materials with novel properties. Chih-Hao Chang and his team from North Carolina State University, United States, developed a roll-to-roll patterning method to produce 3D nanostructures. Their system utilizes nanospheres that self-assemble into periodic patterns, followed by nanolithographic printing using laser light. In this technique, the diffraction of the laser light by the nanospheres creates 3D periodic nanostructures on an underlying photosensitive layer. Chang’s team demonstrated the process by producing crystals that more effectively reflect specific wavelengths of light. The team showed the process offers an assembly yield over 85%, without the need for expensive hardware.
Race, Gender, and the Development of Cross-Race Egalitarianism.

Over the course of development, children acquire adult-like thinking about social categories such as race, which in turn informs their perceptions, attitudes, and behavior. However, children’s developing perceptions of race have been understudied particularly with respect to their potential influence on cross-race egalitarianism. Specifically, the acquisition of racial constancy, defined as the perception that race is a concrete and stable category, has been associated with increased awareness of racial stereotypes and group status differences. Yet, little work has investigated behavioral outcomes stemming from the acquisition of racial constancy beliefs. Here, we investigate whether the presence or absence of racial constancy beliefs differentially predicts inequality aversion with racial ingroup versus outgroup members for young children. White children (N = 202; ages 3–8) completed three sticker resource-allocation games with either a White or a Black partner shown in a photograph, after which racial constancy was measured. Results revealed that the acquisition of racial constancy interacted with partner race to predict inequality aversion outcomes in one game; however, age and gender also exerted strong effects.
Gun Violence, Structural Violence, and Social Justice

This chapter provides an overview of the topic of structural violence as it relates to gun violence. It posits potential evidence-based, social justice-focused solutions practicable for now and generations to come.