cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immunohistochemical analysis of steroid hormone receptors in nasopharyngeal angiofibromas

Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma arises almost exclusively in pubertal and adolescent men and has potentially aggressive behavior with a spread into adjoining sinuses and bone destruction. It is classically being regarded as an androgen hormone-dependent tumor, but no in situ evaluation of androgen receptors has been done. The author has examined eight nasopharyngeal angiofibromas (six primary and two recurrent tumors) for the expression of androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) using immunohistochemical methods and compared those results with a sex- and age-matched control group consisting of eight samples of nasal turbinates. No ER or PR were found in any of the tumor components, nor have they been detected in control nasal turbinates. Angiofibromas were characterized by variable weak (+) nuclear androgen receptor immunoreactivity found in a minority of endothelial and stromal cells, similar to the normal turbinates. These results argue against the significant role of androgen receptor in the growth of nasal angiofibromas and corroborate previous observations of an unpredictable response of these neoplasms to antiandrogen therapy.
Laparoscopic gastrostomy and jejunostomy.

Background The percutaneous/endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) has rapidly replaced the surgical gastrostomy as the preferred route for enteral access. In patients who are not candidates for a PEG, we prefer a laparoscopic gastrostomy to an open gastrostomy. Similarly, in patients who require a surgical jejunostomy, we prefer a laparoscopic approach. Minimally invasive techniques have several advantages over the standard open surgery. The purpose of this article is to review the indications, various techniques, and outcomes of laparoscopic gastrostomy and jejunostomy tubes. Data sources Medline search from 1959-2002. Conclusions The PEG remains the procedure of choice for placement of a gastrostomy. Laparoscopic gastrostomy is an excellent choice for patients who are not candidates for a PEG. Similarly, laparoscopic jejunostomy is an excellent choice for patients who require enteral access, but have contraindications to a gastrostomy tube. Placement of laparoscopic gastrostomy andjejunostomy tubes can be safely performed, and the success and complication rates of these procedures compare favorably with those of the corresponding open surgical procedure. Laparotomy is rarely needed to place enteral feeding tubes. Cost analysis has shown that laparoscopic procedures are similar to open procedures.
Digital Library Adoption and the Technology Acceptance Model: A Cross‐Country Analysis

In this article, we examine, through the framework of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), some of the features that inform user acceptance of a digital library system implementation at agricultural universities in two developing countries: Kenya and Peru. This is a study not only examining factors contributing to adoption of this offline digital library, but also a cross-site comparison, meant to examine the functionality in the developing world of a theoretical model developed in and based on conditions in the developed world. As we unravel predictors of technological acceptance of a digital library implementation in the developing world, we simultaneously investigate a broader question: not just questions regarding improved research in the developing world, but on it as well. We analyze data from both sites on overall measures of perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness (two constructs of the TAM), and on individual measures making up the overall measures. We found the TAM to work well in describing factors that affect usage of digital libraries in developing countries, with perceived usefulness as the main predictor of intent to use this system (The Essential Electronic Agricultural Library, or TEEAL), and with relevance as the major constituent driver of perceived usefulness. Overall, we also found particular predictors of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use that are consistent across cultures (relevance, trust, and ease of access), while other constructs (social norm, domain knowledge, visibility, and self-efficacy) demonstrated predictive power in only one setting. While post-hoc analyses gave several clues as to drivers of these differences, this study cannot definitively address what causes differences in predictive power between sites. What is clear, however, is that application of the TAM to IT implementation in developing countries must be guided more by the specificities of local circumstances than by the performance of the TAM in highly-developed countries.
Long-term survival and disease recurrence in patients with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva

Abstract Objectives To assess time to failure and sites of failure with extended follow-up of patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the vulva. Methods. A retrospective analysis of 330 patients with primary SCC of the vulva treated at Mayo Clinic between 1955 and 1990 was conducted. The main outcome measures were the rates of treatment failure. The Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test were used to estimate the rates of overall survival, disease-free survival, and recurrence. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess independent variables as prognostic factors for treatment failure. Results All 330 patients in the cohort underwent lymphadenectomy; 113 patients (34.2%) had involvement of the inguinofemoral nodes and 88 patients (26.7%) had treatment failure. Treatment failures occurred more frequently in patients who presented with inguinal metastasis at the primary surgery and during the first 2 years of follow-up. After 2 years, both groups, with or without positive inguinal nodes, had similar treatment failure rates. Most patients with disease recurrence in the groin died within the first 2 years of follow-up. Involvement of the inguinal nodes was the main independent predictive factor for survival, disease recurrence, and metastasis. Conclusions Most treatment failures occurred during the 2 years after initial surgical management. However, in 35% of patients, disease reoccurred 5 years or more after diagnosis, which demonstrates the need for long-term follow-up. Complete ipsilateral or bilateral inguinofemoral lymph node dissection ensures a thorough evaluation and treatment of the groin.
‘Chief village in a nation of villages’: history, race and authority in Tanzania's Dodoma plan

This article explores how notions of African authenticity informed urban planning in post-colonial Africa. It examines an attempt by Tanzania's ruling party to build a new national capital in the sparsely populated region of Dodoma. Paradoxically, Dodoma's planners sought to build a modern African city based on the social principles of the traditional African village. This vision of African village authenticity legitimized Tanzania's ruling party by linking its authority to a purely African, rather than colonial, past. At the same time, it allowed politicians to criminalize urban poverty by attributing it to racial betrayal rather than broader structural failures.
A highly distributed Bragg stack with unique geometry provides effective camouflage for Loliginid squid eyes

Cephalopods possess a sophisticated array of mechanisms to achieve camouflage in dynamic underwater environments. While active mechanisms such as chromatophore patterning and body posturing are wel...
Dynamic regulation of transcriptional states by chromatin and transcription factors

The interaction of regulatory proteins with the complex nucleoprotein structures that are found in mammalian cells involves chromatin reorganization at multiple levels. Mechanisms that support these transitions are complex on many timescales, which range from milliseconds to minutes or hours. In this Review, we discuss emerging concepts regarding the function of regulatory elements in living cells. We also explore the involvement of these dynamic and stochastic processes in the evolution of fluctuating transcriptional activity states that are now commonly reported in eukaryotic systems.
Vascular Catheter Site Care: The Clinical and Economic Benefits of Chlorhexidine Gluconate Compared with Povidone Iodine

The use of chlorhexidine gluconate solution for vascular catheter insertion site care reduces the risk of catheter-related bloodstream infection by one-half, compared with povidone iodine. Our objective was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of chlorhexidine gluconate versus povidone iodine. We used data from randomized, controlled trials, meta-analyses, and epidemiologic studies to construct a decision analysis model. We estimated that use of chlorhexidine, rather than povidone, for central catheter site care resulted in a 1.6% decrease in the incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infection, a 0.23% decrease in the incidence of death, and savings of 113 dollars per catheter used. For peripheral catheter site care, the results were similar, although the differences were smaller. The results were found to be robust on multivariate sensitivity analyses. Use of chlorhexidine gluconate in place of the current standard solution for vascular catheter site care is a simple and cost-effective method of improving patient safety in the hospital setting.
When Not All That Counts Can Be Counted: Economic Evaluations And The Value Of Vaccination

With vaccination efforts forced to compete for scarce resources at a time when national health budgets, global health resources, and the global donor community are facing considerable strains, advocates of vaccines have sought to better identify, measure, and articulate the value of vaccination. Critics of current analyses of the value of vaccination argue that a broader view is required, one that includes the additional economic benefits of vaccines or acknowledges the social and ethical aims advanced by vaccination programs. Much of this work has paid inadequate attention to the need to apply any expanded view of value consistently across medical interventions, to the close and complex integration of vaccination efforts with other health initiatives, and to the fact that subjectivity and judgments are present in quantitative and qualitative evidence alike. To fully realize the value of vaccination, far more attention, investment, and research are required to better understand the deliberations and decision-making processes by which any kind of evidence is translated into policy.
College Choice Behaviors of International Students

The purpose of this article was to explore the main reasons influencing international students to study abroad. Main study abroad destinations are the United States, Australia, United Kingdom, and Canada. China is the leading sending country with 14% of the total market. This study explored the factors influencing international students to study abroad at particular higher education institutions in the United States. Data were collected through surveys in two higher education institutions in South Texas. Sequential explanatory mixed method design was used to collect and analyze the data. Their main motivation in selecting their current institution was mostly because of family and friend recommendations.
A PERFORMANCE CONSTRAINT ON THE EVOLUTION OF TRILLED VOCALIZATIONS IN A SONGBIRD FAMILY (PASSERIFORMES: EMBERIZIDAE)

Behavioral evolution can be influenced by constraints, for example, of phylogeny and performance. In this paper I describe a pattern in the evolution of birdsongs that may reflect a constraint on vocal performance. Trilled vocalizations from 34 species of songbirds (Passeriformes: Emberizidae) were analyzed. Two acoustic variables, trill rate and frequency bandwidth, were measured for different trill types. In most species, maximal values of frequency bandwidth were found to decrease with increasing trill rates. Further, trills with low trill rates exhibited wide variance in frequency bandwidth, and trills with high trill rates exhibited only narrow frequency bandwidths. The bounded nature of this pattern suggests that performance constraints have limited the evolutionary diversification of trills. In particular, I explore the role of constraints associated with vocal tract modulations during song production and evolution. Identification of this constraint may enhance our ability to explain particular patterns of trill evolution.
Attempting to Collect on Barred Mortgages

Analysis of a decision holding that attempts to collect on debts barred by antideficiency laws violated fair debt collection acts.
Computed Torque and Proportion-differential Feedback Control for Robot Bionic Knee Joint

With varying instant central of rotation, 4 links knee joint controlled by magnetic rheclogical intelligent damper is more bionic than 2 links joint. But its machine model is complex, and rotation motion control is a difficult nonlinear time varying system’s tracking control. Firstly, virtual prototype and dynamic model of biped robot leg with 4 links bionic knee joint, and Bingham model of MR damper are built. Secondly, based on the centre of instant central rotation and joint geometry, a simplified model is presented. Thigh and crus length changing is computed in the proposed model to reduce model errors. Computed torque and PD feedback control algorithm is put forward and designed for robot leg swing motion control. According to Lyapunov function, the convergence is proved based on dynamic model with modeling errors. The simulations on virtual prototype and sample machine test are done. The relation between MR damper force and knee joint rotation gait is illustrated. All results indicate that using instant centre of rotation and varying link length in dynamic modeling can reduce model errors. Based on the proposed simplified model, computed torque and PD feed back control is good for walking control of biped robot with 4 links bionic knee joint.
W -Narayana numbers

Just as Eulerian numbers generalize to Coxeter groups, so too do the Narayana numbers. There is a great deal of interest in these generalizations. Entire books could be (and have been) dedicated to the subject. We give a brief survey of this circle of ideas in this chapter, with an emphasis on parallels with our discussion of the classical case.
Transformational Autonomy and Personal Transportation: Synergies and Differences Between Cars and Planes

Highly automated cars have undergone tremendous investment and progress over the past ten years with speculation about fully-driverless cars within the foreseeable, or even near future, becoming common. If a driverless future is realized, what might be the impact on personal aviation? Would self-piloting airplanes be a relatively simple spin-off, possibly making travel by personal aircraft also commonplace? What if the technology for completely removing human drivers turns out to be further in the future rather than sooner; would such a delay suggest that transformational personal aviation is also somewhere over the horizon or can transformation be achieved with less than full automation? This paper presents a preliminary exploration of these questions by comparing the operational, functional, and implementation requirements and constraints of cars and small aircraft for on-demand mobility. In general, we predict that the mission management and perception requirements of self-piloting aircraft differ significantly from self-driving cars and requires the development of aviation specific technologies. We also predict that the highly-reliable control and system automation technology developed for conditionally and highly automated cars can have a significant beneficial effect on personal aviation, even if full automation is not immediately feasible.
The utility of diazepam loading in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal among psychiatric inpatients

The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of an objective rating scale (the modified Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol [CIWA-A]) and a diazepam loading dose (20 mg) in the management of alcohol withdrawal among hospitalized psychiatric patients. The sample consisted of 152 adult, hospitalized, psychiatric patients with comorbid alcohol dependence. Of the 152 subjects, 115 (75.7%) completed detoxification with supportive therapy only. Among the 37 patients who required pharmacotherapy (24%), 15 (40.5%) required only one 20-mg dose of diazepam, 14 (38%) required 40 mg to 100 mg, and 8 (21.6%) required doses ranging from 120 mg to 220 mg. There were no complications related to this treatment. The results suggest that the use of the objective rating scale and the diazepam loading dose appears to be safe and effective, and is a useful method for the management of alcohol withdrawal among psychiatric patients.
Hydrogenation of o-cresol on platinum catalyst: Catalytic experiments and first-principles calculations

Abstract Catalytic experiments were performed for the hydrogenation of o-cresol in n-dodecane over a platinum catalyst. Batch reactions analyzed with an in-situ ATR IR probe suggest that the hydrogenation results in the formation of the final product, 2-methyl-cyclohexanol, with 2-methyl-cyclohexanone as the intermediate product. Ab initio density-functional theory was employed to investigate the atomic-scale mechanism of o-cresol hydrogenation on the Pt(111) surface. The formation of 2-methyl-cyclohexanone was found to involve two steps. The first step is a hydrogen abstraction, that is, the H atom in the hydroxyl group migrates to the Pt surface. The second step is hydrogenation, that is, the pre-existing H atoms on Pt react with the carbon atoms in the aromatic ring. On the other hand, 2-methyl-cyclohexanonol may be produced through two paths, with activation energies slightly greater than that for the formation of 2-methyl-cyclohexanone. One path involves direct hydrogenation of the aromatic ring. Another path involves three steps, with the partial hydrogenation of the ring as the first step, hydrogen abstraction of the OH group as the second, and hydrogenation of remaining C atoms and the O atom the last.
Relevance of Health Behavior Research for Nursing

Nursing is both an art and a science. The uniqueness of nursing is the ability to integrate factors of the nurse-client relationship and science in developing interventions that maintain or improve health. There are few nursing roles and tasks that, individually, could not be performed by another health care professional. Other health care professionals, however, do not have the generalized preparation that nurses have, and as a result cannot perform the broad spectrum of nursing activities. Information about the client and the client’s environment is integrated with knowledge in a holistic way to tailor interventions for individuals and groups. Nursing has a much broader view of health promotion than other disciplines. Because nurses work with both well and ill clients, health promotion involves advancing a person’s health along a health-illness continuum. The role of the nurse may encompass the roles of client/family/community advocate, educator, consultant, and coordinator of services as well as care provider.
Entanglement swapping — when being the same is better than being different

We show that entanglement swapping can result in a state with higher concurrence than that of the input states. For pure entangled states this is most likely when the input states are of similar concurrence.
The relationship between maternal responsivity, socioeconomic status, and resting autonomic nervous system functioning in Mexican American children

Adversity, such as living in poor socioeconomic conditions during early childhood, can become embedded in children's physiology and deleteriously affect their health later in life. On the other hand, maternal responsivity may have adaptive effects on physiology during early childhood development. The current study tested both the additive and interactive effects of socioeconomic status (SES) and maternal responsivity measured at 1year of age on resting autonomic nervous system (ANS) function and trajectory during the first 5years of life. Participants came from a birth cohort comprised of Mexican-origin families living in California. Children's resting ANS functioning (respiratory sinus arrhythmia; RSA; pre-ejection period; PEP; and heart rate; HR) was collected at 1, 3.5, and 5years of age (N=336) and modeled across time using Hierarchical Linear Modeling. Consistent with hypotheses, results showed that low SES predicted flatter trajectories of resting HR and PEP over early childhood (i.e., patterns of consistently higher heart rate; shorter PEP), whereas children who experienced positive maternal responsivity had steeper trajectories in RSA and PEP over time (i.e., increasing parasympathetic activation; decreasing sympathetic activation). The interaction between SES and maternal responsivity significantly predicted RSA intercept at age 5, such that among children living in low SES environments, high maternal responsivity mitigated the negative effect of poverty and predicted higher resting RSA at 5years of age. Results are consistent with the early life programming theory that suggests that environmental influences become biologically embedded in the physiology of children living in socially disadvantaged contexts, and identify increased maternal responsivity as a developmental mechanism that could offset the deleterious effects of low SES.
An efficient and cost effective FPGA based implementation of the Viola-Jones face detection algorithm

Abstract We present an field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) based implementation of the popular Viola-Jones face detection algorithm, which is an essential building block in many applications such as video surveillance and tracking. Our implementation is a complete system level hardware design described in a hardware description language and validated on the affordable DE2-115 evaluation board. Our primary objective is to study the achievable performance with a low-end FPGA chip based implementation. In addition, we release to the public domain the entire project. We hope that this will enable other researchers to easily replicate and compare their results to ours and that it will encourage and facilitate further research and educational ideas in the areas of image processing, computer vision, and advanced digital design and FPGA prototyping.
CFD simulation of airflow inside tree canopies discharged from air-assisted sprayers

Abstract Effective pesticide application is not only essential for specialty crop industries but also very important for addressing increasing concerns about environmental contamination caused by pesticide spray drift. Numerical analysis using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) can contribute to better understanding of the transport of spray droplets carried by strong air jets from sprayers. In this research, an integrated CFD model was developed to predict air velocity distributions inside and around tree canopies blown by an air-assisted pesticide sprayer. The sprayer motion was simulated by the sliding mesh technique, and the tree canopies were defined in the computational domain as virtual porous media without their geometric modeling. Validation of the CFD model was accomplished in three steps by comparing the CFD results with previous measurements. Air velocities and airflow pressures downwind from the sprayer agreed well with the measurements when the sprayer was both stationary and in motion. The model was also able to predict accurately the peak air velocity and airflow pressure inside the canopies with average RMS errors of 1.68 m s −1 and 0.89 kg m −2 , and relative errors of 29.2% and 20.2%, respectively. Although discrepancy existed between the field experiment measurement and CFD simulation this study can conclude that the simulation will give a reasonable prediction of air distributions discharged from air-assisted sprayers. The validated CFD model was applied to predict air distribution inside canopies with various canopy dimensions and densities. The complex airflow patterns obtained by the CFD model offered advantages of analyzing effects of various factors on sprayer performance.
The evolution and diversification of the red oaks of the California Floristic Province (Quercus section Lobatae, series Agrifoliae).

Premise of the study The California Floristic Province (CA-FP) is a unique and diverse region of floral endemism, yet the timing and nature of divergence and diversification of many lineages remain underexplored. We seek to elucidate the evolutionary history of the red oaks of the CA-FP, the Agrifoliae. Methods We collected PstI-associated RAD-seq data as well as morphometrics from individuals of the four species across their ranges, including varieties and hybrids. Phylogeny and divergence times were estimated. We analyzed morphological differentiation in over 70 plants using PCA and assessed species delimitation and admixture using genotype clustering analysis in over 40 plants. Key results We find that the Agrifoliae are monophyletic and sister to all other red oak species. Within the Agrifoliae, all species are supported, with Quercus kelloggii sister to a clade of subevergreen taxa: (Quercus agrifolia - (Q. parvula + Q. wislizeni)). Molecular and morphometric analyses are equivocal for named varieties. Notably, Q. parvula var. tamalpaisensis appears to be part of a hybrid swarm between Q. parvula and Q. wislizeni. Dating estimates were concordant with previous hypotheses and geological evidence, with diversification occurring between 10 and 20 million years ago. Conclusions The Agrifoliae represent a geographically discrete, early-diverging red oak lineage that diversified during the period of drying and warming associated with Sierran uplift during the middle Miocene. Molecular differentiation within the clade supports the current taxonomy, including an east-west species level pattern (Q. parvula and Q. wislizeni) and north-south intraspecific patterns to some degree, although the latter require additional study.
A qualitative analysis of African American fathers’ struggle with reentry, recidivism, and reunification after participation in re-entry programs

The experiences of African American fathers with reentry, recidivism, and reunification after a period of incarceration and after participation in a re-entry program. Results of the thematic analys...
Abstract P284: ClusterAnalysis of Objectively Measured Physical Activity Patterns in Women in the mPEDTrial

Background: Determining patterns of physical activity throughout the day could assist in developing more personalized interventions or physical activity guidelines in general, and in particular for women, who are less likely to be physically active than men. Objective: The aims of this report are to identify clusters of women based on accelerometer measured raw metabolic equivalent values (METs) and a normalized version of the METs ≥ 3 data and to compare sociodemographic and cardio metabolic risks among these identified clusters. Methods: 215 women wearing an accelerometer for at least 8 hours per day for the last 7 days prior to the randomization visit were analyzed. A K-means clustering method, the Lloyd’s algorithm, was used. To choose the number of clusters, we used the elbow method, looking at the percentage of variance explained as a function of the number of clusters. Results: The results of k means cluster analyses of raw METs revealed three different clusters (Figure 1) and the Low Active Group (n=102) had the highest depressive symptoms score compared to the Afternoon Active (n=65) and Morning Active (n=48) groups (overall P P =.03, .02, and .03 respectively). Conclusions: Categorizing physical inactive individuals into more specific activity patterns could aid in creating timing, frequency, duration, and intensity of physical activity interventions for women. Further research is needed to confirm these cluster groups using a large national dataset.
Large-scale isolation of Chlamydomonas flagella.

Publisher Summary There are several advantages of using Chlamydomonas as a model system in which to examine flagellar function. Organism is easy to grow synchronously in large quantities in simple defined media and thus is readily amenable to biochemical analysis and the cells can be labeled in vivo with a variety of radioactive tracers. A wealth of flagellar mutants with defined lesions has been isolated. This chapter is describes how to obtain highly purified flagella from a large-scale culture of Chlamydomonas . The cultures routinely reach ∼2x l0 6 cells/ml and the volume required depends on the specific experiment. The most expedient way to harvest these large cultures is to use a tangential flow filtration system that allows for rapid concentration of cells. For smaller-scale experiments (using up to ∼8 liters of culture), centrifugation in 250-ml bottles is adequate. Once harvested and washed, the cells routinely are deflagellated with dibucaine that is rapid and highly efficient; however, Chlamydomonas do not readily recover from this treatment. Therefore, if flagellar regeneration is required, for example, for preparing mRNA enriched in flagellar sequences, an alternative method such as pH shock is to be employed.
Effect of Delignification on Hemicellulose Extraction from Switchgrass, Poplar, and Pine and Its Effect on Enzymatic Convertibility of Cellulose-rich Residues

Hemicellulose is an abundant and underutilized carbohydrate polymer in plants. The objective of this study was to understand the effect of delignification on hemicellulose extraction efficiency with different types of lignocellulosic biomass. In the case of pine, with a prior sodium chlorite or peracetic acid delignification, more than 50% of the original hemicellulose in the biomass could be extracted using a 10% sodium hydroxide solution; without delignification, only 3.4% of hemicellulose could be extracted from pine. In contrast, without prior delignification, acceptable hemicellulose extraction efficiencies (55.5% and 50.7%, respectively) were achieved from switchgrass and poplar. In addition, the effect of hemicellulose extraction processes on the enzymatic convertibility of the cellulose-rich residues after extraction was determined. The cellulose-rich residues from switchgrass after hemicellulose alkali extraction showed high glucose recovery with enzyme hydrolysis with or without prior delignification. For pine and poplar, high glucose recovery with enzyme hydrolysis of the cellulose-rich residues only occurred if the sample had a delignification step prior to hemicellulose extraction. This information on commercially available biomass feedstocks is useful for those considering isolating hemicellulose within a biorefinery concept.
Carnap’s Move to Semantics: Gains and Losses

In 1931 Walter Sellar and Robert Yeatman published a delightfully silly history of England entitled 1066 and All That 2, as they said, “comprising, all the parts you can remember including one hundred and three good things, five bad kings, and two genuine dates”.3 History, they tell us, is not what you think; it is what you can remember. So their history is simplified and garbled, and the moral point is put front and center: every development is described as a good thing or a bad thing, a good king or a bad king. What makes 1066... comic is the cleverness of its insight into what confusions people actually have and the antic candor in giving us the moral point without wasting any time on dates, motivations, or any other such confusing historical details.
CRISPR/Cas9 engineering of a KIM-1 reporter human proximal tubule cell line

We used the CRISPR/Cas9 system to knock-in reporter transgenes at the kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) locus and isolated human proximal tubule cell (HK-2) clones. PCR verified targeted knock-in of the luciferase and eGFP reporter at the KIM-1 locus. HK-2-KIM-1 reporter cells responded to various stimuli including hypoxia, cisplatin, and high glucose, indicative of upregulation of KIM-1 expression. We attempted using CRISPR/Cas9 to also engineer the KIM-1 reporter in telomerase-immortalized human RPTEC cells. However, these cells demonstrated an inability to undergo homologous recombination at the target locus. KIM-1-reporter human proximal tubular cells could be valuable tools in drug discovery for molecules inhibiting kidney injury. Additionally, our gene targeting strategy could be used in other cell lines to evaluate the biology of KIM-1 in vitro or in vivo.
Exploring the Performance of Facial Expression Recognition Technologies on Deaf Adults and Their Children

Facial and head movements have important linguistic roles in American Sign Language (ASL) and other sign languages. Without being properly trained, both human observers and existing emotion recognition tools will misinterpret ASL linguistic facial expressions. In this study, we capture over 2,000 photographs of 15 participants: five hearing, five Deaf, and five Children of Deaf Adults (CODAs). We then analyze the performance of six commercial facial expression recognition services on these photographs. Key observations include poor face detection rates for Deaf participants, more accurate emotion recognition for Deaf and CODA participants, and frequent misinterpretation of ASL linguistic markers as negative emotions. This suggests a need to include data from ASL users in the training sets for these technologies.
Pediatric spine and spinal cord trauma. State of the art for the third millennium.

The purpose of this work was to analyze the literature published in English and to review the experience of the Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) with spine and spinal cord injury (SCI) in children. Standard computerized data bases were queried for information regarding SCI, spinal injury, spinal instability, and spinal cord regeneration to produce a review of the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, outcome and directions for future research. We also reviewed our experiences in the management of infants and children with spine injuries and SCIs and with spinal instability from all causes. A total of 132 articles were identified and obtained from the Medical Library at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Ariz. and through interlibrary loan. All these articles were read, although not all were used in the final review. A review of all children with SCIs revealed that fractures treated over the past 20 years at the BNI were very rare in preadolescent children, who suffered mostly from ligamentous injury or SCI without radiographic abnormality. A total of 68 children aged 16 years or younger who had been treated over the past 15 years and who had undergone spinal fusions for trauma, congenital anomalies, or tumor resection were identified. Occipitocervical fusion is well tolerated in children as young as 11 months when internal stabilization with a threaded titanium rod is used. Posterior instrumentation, including pedicle screw fixation, is feasible in children as young as 4 years. Fusion techniques derived from the adult spinal instrumentation experience were found appropriate except for the youngest patients. Fusion in the newborn period was futile in our experience. The adolescent spine does not differ from the adult spine in terms of sensitivity or response to fixation. Children past the neonatal period can be successfully instrumented for spinal stability without apparent long-term sequelae. Related advances are needed in the area of prevention. Long-term advances in spinal cord regeneration can be expected from ongoing basic science investigations.
Longer-term open-label study of adjunctive riluzole in treatment-resistant depression.

Abstract Background While riluzole has been investigated for the treatment of depression, little is known about its longer-term efficacy and optimal treatment duration in treatment-resistant depression (TRD). The objective of this study is to characterize the longer-term outcome of adjunctive riluzole therapy for TRD in an open-label extension of an 8-week acute treatment trial. Methods The data from 66 patients with TRD who received adjunctive riluzole in a 12-week open-label extension phase were analyzed. Response rates (⩾50% reduction in the Mongomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale [MADRS] score), relapse rates (a MADRS score of ⩾22 in patients who had previously achieved response), and adverse events were examined in patients who had achieved response at the end of the acute phase and those who had not. Results Among acute phase responders, the maintained response rate was 66.7% (8/12) and the relapse rate was 8.3% (1/12). In acute phase non-responders, the response rate was 24.1% (13/54). The most commonly reported adverse event was fatigue (9.1%). Three cases were considered serious adverse events; vomiting (n = 1), shortness of breath (n = 1), and aborted suicide attempt (n = 1). Limitations This longer-term study was open-label and uncontrolled. The sample size was relatively small. Conclusions Longer-term adjunctive riluzole appears relatively well tolerated and beneficial for maintaining previous response. Additionally, approximately one fourth of patients who did not respond to 8-week antidepressant treatment might respond if treated with riluzole for 12 weeks. Those findings warrant further investigation because adjunctive riluzole could represent an option for treatment of depression when standard antidepressants have failed.
Time to Lupus Low Disease Activity State in the Hopkins Lupus Cohort: Role of African American Ethnicity

OBJECTIVE Lupus low disease activity state (LLDAS) is a potential treat-to-target goal in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study determined predictors of time to reach LLDAS in a longitudinal cohort. METHODS Patients were grouped according to LLDAS status at cohort entry. Those who did not satisfy LLDAS at cohort entry were analyzed prospectively. The Kaplan-Meier approach was used to estimate the time to LLDAS. Cox regression was used to identify patient characteristics that were associated with time to LLDAS. RESULTS The probability of LLDAS attainment within 1 year was 52% for Caucasians, 36% for African Americans, and 33% for SLE patients with renal involvement. The median time to LLDAS was 1.1 years. In multivariable models, African American ethnicity, baseline prednisone >10 mg daily, hypocomplementemia, baseline damage, and baseline renal activity remained significant predictors of longer time to attain LLDAS, while disease duration <1 year and cutaneous activity were associated with earlier attainment. CONCLUSION LLDAS is potentially attainable in the majority of SLE patients. The time to LLDAS was found to be longer in African American patients with SLE. Characteristics of African American patients with SLE, such as renal activity and hypocomplementemia, were also independent predictors of slower attainment of LLDAS. These findings point to the need to include African American patients with SLE in both clinical and pharmaceutical research.
Policy Roles in Promoting Affordable Housing for Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence.

Survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) face housing insecurity when escaping violence. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing ...
White-Collar Criminality Within the Video Game Industry:

Edwin Sutherland’s concept of white-collar crime remains incredibly influential in contemporary criminological research and thought. Sutherland’s work was critical of several of the most influentia...
Sterilization by Adaptive Immunity of a Conditionally Persistent Mutant of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis, can enter into a persistent state that confers resistance to antibacterial agents. Many observations suggest that persistent M. tuberculosis cells also evade the antimycobacterial immune mechanisms, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the current tuberculosis vaccine. Understanding the factors that contribute to persistence may enable the rational design of vaccines that stimulate effective immune killing mechanisms against persister cells. Independent mutations targeting the methionine and arginine biosynthetic pathways are bactericidal for M. tuberculosis in mice. However, in this study, we discovered that the addition of leucine and pantothenate auxotrophy altered the bactericidality of methionine auxotrophy. Whereas the leucine/pantothenate/methionine auxotrophic M. tuberculosis strain H37Rv ΔleuCD ΔpanCD ΔmetA was eliminated in immunocompetent mice, this strain persisted in multiple organs of immunodeficient Rag1-/- mice for at least a year. In contrast, the leucine/pantothenate/arginine auxotroph H37Rv ΔleuCD ΔpanCD ΔargB was eliminated in both immunocompetent and immunodeficient Rag1-/- mice. Our results showed that leucine and pantothenate starvation metabolically blocked the sterilization mechanisms of methionine starvation but not those of arginine starvation. These triple-auxotrophic strains should be invaluable tools for unravelling the bacterial and host factors that enable persistence and for vaccine development studies to assess the efficacy of vaccines that boost immune recognition of M. tuberculosis in the persistent state. The sterilization of the ΔleuCD ΔpanCD ΔmetA auxotroph in immunocompetent mice, but not in mice lacking an adaptive immune response, could provide a new system for studying the antimycobacterial killing mechanisms of adaptive immunity.IMPORTANCE The bacterial pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis can enter into a persistent state in which M. tuberculosis can evade host immunity, thereby reducing the effectiveness of current tuberculosis vaccines. Understanding the factors that contribute to persistence would enable the rational design of vaccines effective against persisters. We previously generated two attenuated, triple-auxotrophic M. tuberculosis strains that are safe to use in a biosafety level 2 laboratory. Herein, we discovered that the triple-auxotrophic strain H37Rv ΔleuCD ΔpanCD ΔmetA persisted in immunodeficient Rag1-/- mice, which lack adaptive immunity, but not in immunocompetent mice. The conditional persistence of this auxotrophic mutant, which is susceptible to the sterilizing effect of the adaptive immune response over time, provides an important tool to dissect the mycobactericidal effector mechanisms mediated by adaptive immunity. Furthermore, because of its remarkable safety attributes, this auxotrophic mutant can potentially be used to develop a practical human challenge model to facilitate vaccine development.
Binegative Myths in Pornography: An Examination of Sexual Behaviors and Aggression by Sexual Identity Categories

Research suggests individuals may learn sexual attitudes and behaviors from consuming pornography. Sexual minoritized individuals (e.g. gay, lesbian, bisexual) are more likely to use online sources...
Effects of Epoxy Molding Compound on managed NAND(mNAND) package strain enhancement

With the advance of packaging technology toward smaller and thinner form factor and higher performance, the mechanical impact has been gradually considered as one of the most critical stress testing to mobile companies. The package strain value has been defined as the index to evaluate the overall package robustness. The study demonstrates the application of three-point bending (3PB) to evaluate the package strain value and the data is analyzed by Weibull probabilistic mechanics and determined the B10 (Breakage at 10%) value. In the study, the result indicates that the package strain of the test vehicle, managed NAND (mNAND), is enhanced by increasing the toughness and decreasing the modulus of the epoxy molding compounds (EMC). In summary, the study is to provide a straightforward and feasible solution to ameliorate the package strain from EMC material selection perspective.
Focal Adhesion Kinase Drives Resistance to Therapy in HPV-Negative Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a p53-Dependent Manner.

Purpose/Objective(s) Our group has previously demonstrated focal adhesion kinase (FAK) expression is associated with radioresistance and worse outcome in human papillomavirus negative (HPV-) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNC). However, the relative importance of FAK in driving therapeutic resistance is unclear. FAK function can be inhibited by wild type (wt) p53, but p53 is mutated in over 80% of HPV(-) HNC. Based on these observations, we tested the hypothesis that mutant (mut) p53 permits or even drives FAK-mediated radioresistance. Materials/Methods Two cohorts of HPV(-) HNC tumors treated with radiation (RT), single institution (n = 81) and TCGA (n = 324), were stratified by TP53 mutational status (wt versus mut) and FAK copy number/mRNA expression. In vivo shRNA screening in 5 human HNSCC xenograft flank models was performed using libraries focused on known “druggable” proteins and DNA damage repair combined with RT or carboplatin. Correlation between FAK protein expression and sensitivity to cisplatin was evaluated in 20 TP53 mut HNC cell lines. The relationship between p53, FAK and radioresponse was examined in vitro using UMSCC (p53 null) HNC cells forced to express wt or mut TP53. FAK function was modulated in these cells using shRNA or chemical inhibition (defactinib) and response to radiation or carboplatin was evaluated via immunoblot for DNA damage repair proteins and clonogenic assay. FAK and p53 interactions were evaluated via immunoprecipitation. An in vivo immunodeficient flank model using HN31 cells expressing FAK shRNA was used to assess in vivo radioresponse. Results High levels of FAK copy number and gene expression were associated with worse disease-free survival in TP53 mut HPV(-) HNC, but not TP53 wt tumors. In vivo shRNA screening identified FAK as an excellent target for either radio- or chemosensitization. FAK protein expression was correlated with cisplatin IC50 (P = 0.0083, r = 0.572) in our HNC cell line panel. Inhibition of FAK via shRNA in the HN31(TP53 mut) cell line led to radiosensitization both in vitro and in a xenograft flank model. Defactinib treatment led to increased sensitivity to radiation or carboplatin in TP53 mut (HN31) but not TP53 wt (HN30) tumor cell lines. In UMSCC1 cells pretreated with defactinib, TP53 mut expression resulted in significant radiosensitization, but TP53 wt expression did not. To examine the physical interaction between p53 and FAK, different TP53 constructs were expressed in UMSCC1 cells. Interestingly, missense mutation does not impair the ability of p53 to bind to FAK. However, FAK phosphorylation was higher in cells expressing mut p53 compared to wt. Moreover, FAK inhibition combined with radiation led to higher levels of ɣ-H2AX in mut p53 expressing cells. Conclusion FAK is a potentially important target for therapeutic sensitization, primarily in TP53 mutated HNSCC.
Immunologic Methods: Measurement of Antigens and Antibodies

Just as the eclectic science of immunology intersects essentially all of the basic biological sciences, it makes use of many biochemical techniques such as chromatography and protein fractionation. It also employs the newer methods of molecular genetics such as gene sequencing and related techniques. Advances in technology have armed the immunologist with the powerful tools of PCR technology, immunophenotyping by flow cytometry, hybridomas and monoclonal antibodies, DNA typing, enzyme-linked immnosorbent assay (ELISA), and radiolabelling of immune system molecules. In addition, the time honored methods of precipitation, agglutination, complement fixation and related techniques long have been used by the immunologist. Since its inception, immunologic science has not only maintained a unique nomenclature but also special techniques that elucidated some of Nature’s most jealously guarded secrets through scientific investigation. Inbred mice, of known genetic constitution, and more recently transgenic animals, including knockout mice, offer new avenues for elucidating some of immunology’s most perplexing conundrums. Great tomes are currently available that describe the myriad of Immunological techniques now available. A representative number of the more commonly used ones are described here (Figures 1-4).