cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improvement of BSA Tannin Precipitation Assay by Reformulation of Resuspension Buffer

Analysis of protein precipitable wine tannins has become more commonplace due to the simplicity of the method and the strong association between tannin content and perception of astringency. The traditional protein precipitation method for wine measures tannins and polymeric pigments using 5% w/v sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and the alkaline buffer triethanolamine (TEA) pH 9.4 to dissolve the tannin-protein precipitate and support the colorimetric reaction with ferric chloride. However, this method results in a high background absorbance presumably due to the alkaline pH of the resuspension buffer, which has been shown to oxidize phenolics. Experimentation with several buffer formulations showed that pairing TEA with urea instead of SDS allowed formulation of buffers at lower pH. Urea-TEA buffers at pH 7 and 8 showed significantly lower background absorbance and drift over time as well as a significantly greater amount of tannin recovered. These trends in tannin content and iron reactive phenolics were maintained across a wide range of diluted samples (100–1200 mg/L catechin equivalents). Using a TEA-urea buffer at pH 7 or 8 may improve on previous methods of protein tannin precipitation by increasing yield of tannins from the wine and decreasing the background absorbance and drift.
Enumerating split-pair arrangements

An arrangement of the multi-set {1,1,2,2,...,n,n} is said to be ''split-pair'' if for all i
Self-similar solutions of screw-pinch plasma implosion

A self-similar analysis of supersonic compression of a “screw-pinch” plasma is carried out that generalizes earlier analyses of pure θ-pinch and Z-pinch implosions. Solutions are found for various implosion modes. It is shown that the screw-pinch plasma implosion differs qualitatively from θ-pinch and Z-pinch implosions.
Mating systems and sexual division of foraging effort affect puddling behaviour by butterflies.

. 1. Foraging effort can vary among age classes and between the sexes. In many Lepidoptera, young males feed from mud, dung or carrion in a behaviour known as ‘puddling’, whereas females rarely puddle. In at least one species, males transfer sodium gained from puddling to females at mating for use in egg production. 2. Here we examine sex- and age-specific puddling patterns in seven montane butterfly species. We also test the hypothesis that among species in which young males predominate at puddles, differences in age- and sex-specific puddling patterns for a given species are related to mean female lifetime mating numbers. 3. For five species, young males fed proportionately more at puddles than other sex and age classes. Two species showed anomalous feeding patterns. In one, young females predominated at puddles; in the other, butterflies were rarely found at flowers. 4. As predicted, among the five species in which young males feed proportionately more at puddles, mean number of lifetime matings by females was negatively correlated with frequency of mud puddling by older females. A second prediction that mean number of lifetime matings by females is positively correlated with frequency of mud puddling by older males was not supported. 5. The results provide support for interspecific variation in division of responsibility between the sexes for resource acquisition for female reproduction, indicating close coordination between the sexes of foraging and life-history tactics.
Parameterized mobile action generator for a wireless PCS network

While there are different research groups in the mobile computing community, most research requires mobile action data in terms of user calling and mobility patterns. Since collection of such real data is currently difficult and since most activity data is proprietary, researchers need to model this mobile activity data to evaluate their work. Sang-Eon Park and Purdy (see IEEE International Conference on Third Generation Wireless and Beyond, San Francisco, p.60- 66, 2001) model parameterized mobile actions in a wireless personal communication service (PCS) network based on three components: human behavioral daily movements cycle (traffic and labor), calling patterns, and topological localities. We have developed a mobile action generator based on the model. Our goal in designing the mobile action generator is to provide a common "benchmark" through which researchers can directly exchange performance results and avoid inaccuracies. We describe our model and the structure of our mobile action generator and present simulation results showing the performance of several call setup protocols.
Validation of enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay for measurement of faecal cortisol in fish

Quanti¢cation of glucocorticoid (GC) levels in faeces has become an established method for the non-invasive assessment of adrenocortical activity. These hormones are frequently determined in plasma samples as parameters of adrenal activity and response to stress. Because GCs are metabolized and excreted with both intact hormone and their metabolites present in faeces, the concentration of GCs can be measured in excreta. Faecal samples present the advantages of easy collection, no stress to the animal and elimination of the issue of potentially misleading acute GC spikes. The aim of this study was to determine if an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for cortisol was appropriate for monitoring adrenocortical activity in faecal casts of ¢shes. Performance of the cortisol ELISAwas validated by comparison to high-performance liquid chromatography, which is an established method for measuring free GCs and GC metabolites in faeces. Parallelism and sample extraction e⁄ciency were compared for the two methods. Pearson’s correlation across samples for these methods was 0.996. Results demonstrated that the ELISAwas an e⁄cient, sensitive and reliable method for cortisol measurement in faecal extracts, which should permit integration of non-invasive stress monitoring into studies of ¢sh behaviour and physiology.
Intracranial Monitors in Neurosurgical Critical Care

Over the past decade, intracranial monitoring devices have gained increased ­acceptance by clinicians. While monitoring devices cannot independently improve outcome, physiologic data are contributed which can be integrated into a therapeutic plan for the individual patient with an acute neurologic illness. Increasingly, anesthesiologists encounter patients with intracranial pressure (ICP) monitors, external ventricular drainage (EVD) devices, and brain tissue oxygen tension (PBO2) monitors. This chapter will focus on common complications associated with each of these monitors.
Africities: Popular Engagements of the Urban in Contemporary Africa

Accelerated urbanization in Africa has produced cities whose formal physical, political and social infrastructures are largely unable to absorb, apprehend or utilize the needs, aspirations and resourcefulness of those who live within them. As a result, the efforts to secure livelihood depend upon largely informalised processes and a wide range of provisional and ephemeral institutions which cultivate specific orientations toward, knowledge of, and practices for dealing with urban life. Soon, the majority of Africans will live in peri-urban and informal settlements, often at the physical and social margins of the city. Yet, marginalization from security of tenure, formal livelihood, and, frequently, participation in viable urban political institutions converges with new modalities of urban social production which frequently confound clear readings of the motivations and effects of various forms of collective action undertaken in the public sphere. At the same time, African cities are sites for multifaceted development and governance interventions which make largely uninspired efforts to engage such practices and institutions. Even the efforts of civil society organizations operating under the umbrella of their promotion of ‘active citizenship’ tend to impose an ineffectual normative. What I attempt to do here is discuss a range of orientations to the city and an ambivalence about the city which seems to pervade how residents in many African cities use it and what they do within it. This is an ambivalence largely about whether the city belongs to them, where the African city can best be made, and to what extent the city is a place for the reinvention of social solidarity or a circumvention of solidarity. While urban analysts have tended to focus on how such African cities are marginal within urban systems, the primary focus in this article is to begin, in a very provisional way, to identify strategic operations and sensibilities being put together to help African urban residents ‘navigate’ disparate positionalities within both local and global networks of power. These efforts at navigation give rise to particular notions of citizenship and collective responsibility whose ‘containment’ within clearly demarcated urban identities, municipal domains, and practices of urban politics becomes increasingly problematic.
Follow the leader.

Techniques to improve attendance include sponsorship of grand rounds by a community agency, avoidance of the word ‘research’ in the title and presence of nationally recognized speakers. In one study, researchers improved grand rounds attendance by 39% by implementation of five strategies: using electronic card readers to improve understanding of attendance; surveying faculty to discern attendee educational needs and preferences; creating special series and flexible timing to accommodate physician schedules; incorporating participation by internal medicine residents and faculty to increase engagement; and developing a multifaceted publicity approach of emails, flyers, brochures and posters to increase awareness 2 .
Two worlds of retirement income: A comparative analysis of retirement-income outcomes using the Luxembourg Income Study

This paper examines whether retirement-income systems allow older individuals to enjoy socially acceptable income levels independent of paid work (decommodification) and the family (defamilialization). Little research has investigated the degree to which decommodification and defamilialization levels, whether from public or private sources, vary by age. We employ the Luxembourg Income Study to compare Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Sweden, and the United States. This study applies the Pythagorean Theorem to measure autonomy, then explores whether members experience decommodification and defamilialization levels predicted for their system. Our results show Sweden and Canada provide highest autonomy levels, Finland, France and the United States provide moderate levels, and Germany low levels. We find age polarity: Swedes and Finns who are decommodified and defamilialized tend to be younger than age 70. Individuals who are decommodified and defamilialized through the retirement-income systems of Canada, France, Germany, and the United States, however, tend to be older than age 75. Some experts contend systems have converged, yet retirement-income systems do not produce similar autonomy levels. Outcomes for system members vary by age, suggesting reformers cannot take one size fits all approaches.
Abstract 3348: Naïve rat umbilical cord matrix stem cells abrogate mammary tumor growth through markedly enhanced tumor immune responses

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Mesenchymal stem cells derived from the umbilical cord matrix (UCMSC) have great potential for therapeutic use in multiple diseases including cancer. We have demonstrated that un-engineered naive human and rat UCMSC attenuate growth of several organ type tumors (Ayuzawa et al., Cancer Lett.2009; Ganta et al., Cancer Res, 2009, Doi et al., Cytotherapy 2010). Since UCMSC are easy to prepare in relatively large quantities and are poorly immunogenic in allogeneic transplantation, they are potentially useful in cancer therapy. However, the mechanism by which UCMSC attenuate tumor growth has not been studied rigorously. Hence, the objectives of this study were to examine the ability of UCMSC to control the growth of mammary tumors and to determine possible mechanisms by which UCMSC attenuate the tumor growth. Intratumoral injection of rat UCMSC markedly attenuated tumor growth of orthotopic Mat B III autografts in female F344 rat mammary gland. Histopathology of the tumors in the rat UCMSC group indicated that a large number of lymphocytes had infiltrated into the peritumoral area and were occasionally observed in the intratumoral area. Immunohistochemistry revealed that although CD3+ T lymphocytes were located mainly in the peritumoral area rather than in the intratumoral area, CD20+ cells were rarely seen suggesting that the majority of infiltrated lymphocytes in the rat UCMSC treated tumors were T cells. In addition, the treatment of rat UCMSC increased the CD 8+ cell infiltration throughout tumor tissue. CD68+ cells were scarcely observed in the tumors of the PBS control group but not in the rat UCMSC treated group. Transwell culture system-based in vitro migration assay revealed that rat UCMSC significantly enhanced migration of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. These results suggest that naive rat UCMSC attenuated mammary tumor growth at least in part by markedly enhanced host immune responses against tumors. This research demonstrates that naive rat UCMSC can be used as powerful anti-cancer therapeutic cells for breast cancer treatment. This work was supported by the Kansas State University (KSU) Terry C. Johnson Center for Basic Cancer Research, KSU CVM Dean's Fund, NIH P20 RR017686, p20 RR1556, R21CA135599 and Kansas Bioscience Authority research fund. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3348. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3348
Evaluation of Commercial Corn Hybrids for Tolerance to Corn Rootworms

Commercial corn hybrids were tested to assess several field and greenhouse techniques of evaluating corn rootworm tolerance. Root-system size and secondary root ratings obtained in the field correlated well with percentage root lodging in the field. Rootsystem size ratings obtained in the greenhouse were highly correlated with those ratings obtained in the field. Greenhouse evaluations effective detected differences among hybrids for root-damage rating, a measure of antibiosis, but field evaluations did not. Hybrids did not differ significantly for the amount of yield reduction incurred from rootworm injury.
Temporal Lobe Abnormalities Related to Autism Severity

The relation between cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and the clinical severity of symptoms in 45 autistic children, mean age 7.9 years, was determined at centres in Paris, France.
Reflection Geometry-Based Strain Analysis from 3D Seismic Data

Quantifying localized deformation in the target reservoir formations is of importance for the drilling and production of hydrocarbons. Our recent efforts have been primarily focused on generating seismic geometric attributes (discontinuity, curvature, and flexure) and applying them for qualitative description of fractured reservoirs. This study presents a new method for quantitative strain analysis based on reflection geometry from 3D seismic data, and the generated tensor could help quantify both normal strain and shear strain of reservoir formations. We apply the method to one of the major fractured reservoirs at Teapot Dome (Wyoming) that is known to be caused by bending and shearing of the reservoir formation. The results not only help differentiate shear deformation from contractional and extensional ones, but also demonstrate a good correlation between producing wells and high-strain zones. The example indicates the potential of the technology for more robust and quantitative characterization of fractured reservoirs.
Combinatorial Methodology for Screening Selectivity in Polymeric Pervaporation Membranes.

Combinatorial methodology is described for rapid screening of selectivity in polymeric pervaporation membrane materials for alcohol–water separations. The screening technique is demonstrated for ethanol–water separation using a model polyacrylate system. The materials studied are cross-linked random copolymers of a hydrophobic comonomer (n-butyl acrylate, B) and a hydrophilic comonomer (2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, H). A matrix of materials is prepared that has orthogonal variations in two key variables, H:B ratio and cross-linker concentration. For mixtures of ethanol and water, equilibrium selectivities and distribution coefficients are obtained by combining swelling measurements with high-throughput HPLC analysis. Based on the screening results, two copolymers are selected for further study as pervaporation membranes to quantify permeability selectivity and the flux of ethanol. The screening methodology described has good potential to accelerate the search for new membrane materials, as it is adaptable to ...
Racial Differences in Cigarette Smoking Among Homeless Youth

Author(s): Golinelli, Daniela; Tucker, Joan S; Shadel, William G | Abstract: IntroductionSeveral studies have reported pronounced racial/ethnic differences in smoking behavior among homeless youth. Better understanding the factors underlying racial/ethnic differences in daily smoking among homeless youth may help inform programs to reduce smoking in this population.MethodsData come from a probability sample of homeless youth in Los Angeles County collected between 2008 and 2009. The sample includes 116 African American, 99 Hispanic, and 119 White youth with ages ranging from 13 to 24 years. Chi-square tests were used to test the differences in daily smoking among African American, Hispanic, and White youth. Propensity score and doubly robust methods were used to produce a less biased estimate of the association between daily smoking and race/ethnicity after having removed the effect of potential confounders.ResultsThe daily smoking rate for White youth was 70.1%, more than 31 percentage points than the rates for either African American or Hispanic youth. Propensity score analysis revealed that the majority of the racial/ethnic differences in smoking rates could be explained by differences in homelessness severity, although background characteristics and comorbidity were relevant as well.ConclusionsAs programs are developed to reduce smoking among homeless youth, results suggest that additional outreach may be needed to engage White youth in services. Also, smoking prevention programs may benefit from incorporating a social network-based approach that assists youth in fostering relationships with lower-risk peers, as well as addressing other forms of substance use. Incorporating these elements may help reduce the large racial/ethnic disparities in daily smoking among homeless youth.ImplicationsThis report extends the small existing literature on racial/ethnic differences in smoking among homeless youth in two important respects. First, it confirms differences in daily smoking, an important indicator of dependence, across racial/ethnic groups. Second, it seeks to understand the extent to which differences in smoking can be explained by demographic characteristics (other than race/ethnicity), background factors, homelessness severity, and comorbidity characteristics known to be associated with substance use among homeless youth.
Effects of bilingualism on vocabulary, executive functions, age of dementia onset, and regional brain structure.

Objective To review the current literature on the effects of bilingualism on vocabulary, executive functions, age of dementia onset, and regional brain structure. Method PubMed and PsycINFO databases were searched (from January 1999 to present) for relevant original research and review articles on bilingualism (but not multilingualism) paired with each target neuropsychological variable published in English. A qualitative review of these articles was conducted. Results It has long been known that mean scores of bilinguals fall below those of monolinguals on vocabulary and other language, but not visual-perceptual, format cognitive tests. Contemporary studies that have reported higher mean scores for bilinguals than monolinguals on executive function task-switching or inhibition tasks have not always been replicated, leading to concerns of publication bias, statistical flaws, and failures to match groups on potentially confounding variables. Studies suggesting the onset of Alzheimer's disease occurred about 4 years later for bilinguals versus monolinguals have not been confirmed in longitudinal, cohort, community-based, incidence studies that have used neuropsychological testing and diagnostic criteria to establish an age of dementia diagnosis. Neuroimaging studies of regional gray and white matter volume in bilinguals versus monolinguals show inconsistencies in terms of both the regions of difference and the nature of the difference. Conclusions Resolving inconsistencies in the behavioral data is necessary before searching in the brain for neuroanatomical correlation. Comparisons of balanced versus language-dominant groups within the same ethnoculture combined with objective measurement of bilingualism could better match groups on potentially confounding variables. (PsycINFO Database Record
Functions of miRNAs during Mammalian Heart Development

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play essential roles during mammalian heart development and have emerged as attractive therapeutic targets for cardiovascular diseases. The mammalian embryonic heart is mainly derived from four major cell types during development. These include cardiomyocytes, endocardial cells, epicardial cells, and neural crest cells. Recent data have identified various miRNAs as critical regulators of the proper differentiation, proliferation, and survival of these cell types. In this review, we briefly introduce the contemporary understanding of mammalian cardiac development. We also focus on recent developments in the field of cardiac miRNAs and their functions during the development of different cell types.
Dynamic TDMA for Networked Embedded Systems

We present a dynamic Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) protocol for predictable communication in Networked Embedded Systems. The nodes in such systems are typically resource constrained and can communicate over low power, low bandwidth wireless links. Several TDMA protocols have been reported in the literature for similar nodes. The approach we present offers dynamic reconfiguration of the flows between nodes in the system. Our protocol uses dynamic time slots that will be assigned online to the nodes as needed. In our current architecture, a centralized coordinator directs the flow among the nodes by reconfiguring the local TDMA schedules. In the future, this protocol can be extended to fully enable reconfigurable flows in Networked Embedded Systems using a collection of decentralized controllers.
Unified data management for distributed experiments: A model for collaborative grassroots scientific networks

Abstract The rapidly growing number of grassroots ecological research networks demonstrates that ecologists have embraced distributed data collection and experimentation as a new tool for addressing global questions. A clear advantage of these networks is the ability to gather data at larger spatial and temporal scales and at relatively lower cost than could be typically accomplished by a single research team. However, a challenge arising from this structure is the need to merge distributed datasets into a coherent whole. The Nutrient Network, a coordinated distributed experiment entering its tenth year of data collection, has records from over 90 sites worldwide to date. In this paper I present lessons learned about data management from this project, focusing on such issues as standardization, storage, updates, and distribution of data within the network. I provide a relational database schema and associated workflow that could be generalized to many distributed ecological experiments or networked data observatories, especially those with need for taxonomic reconciliation of species occurrences. The success of distributed data collection efforts, especially long-term networks, will be proportional to the ability to coordinate and effectively combine project datasets.
A Prospective Test of the Hopelessness Theory of Depression in Adolescence

Depression increases sharply during adolescence. This study prospectively investigated etiological predictions from the hopelessness theory of depression (Abramson, Metalsky, & Alloy, 1989) among a sample of middle to late adolescents to examine whether this theory can be applied to this important age group. High school students completed measures of attributional style, hopelessness, negative stressors, general depressive symptoms, and specific hypothesized hopelessness depressive (HD) symptoms at two times separated by 5 weeks. Results showed that the attributional style × stress interaction predicted increases in depressive symptoms from T1 to T2. Gender moderated this interaction for the BDI such that the vulnerability–stress component held for boys, but not girls. Consistent with the vulnerability–stress component of the theory, these effects held for the increase in HD symptoms for both boys and girls, but not non-HD symptoms. Mediational analyses did not provide consistent support for hopelessness as a mediator of this association. These results were mostly the same whether the internal, stable, and global dimensions versus only the stable, global dimensions of attributional style were used to operationalize cognitive vulnerability. Overall, results suggest that the cognitive vulnerability–stress aspect of the hopelessness theory can be applied to middle to late adolescence.
A VACCINE-BASED STRATEGY FOR REDUCING CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE RISK FACTORS

Introduction: Elevated levels of serum LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides have independently been found to confer increased risk of early cardiovascular disease (CVD). Naturally occurring loss-of-function mutations in two host proteins that are involved in lipid metabolism, Proprotein
Effects of pulmonary exposure to chemically-distinct welding fumes on neuroendocrine markers of toxicity

Exposure to welding fumes may result in disorders of the pulmonary, cardiovascular, and reproductive systems. Welders are also at a greater risk of developing symptoms similar to those seen in individuals with idiopathic Parkinson's disease. In welders, there are studies that suggest that alterations in circulating prolactin concentrations may be indicative of injury to the dopamine (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra. The goal of these studies was to use an established model of welding particulate exposure to mimic the effects of welding fume inhalation on reproductive functions. Since previous investigators suggested that changes in circulating prolactin may be an early marker of DA neuron injury, movement disorders, and reproductive dysfunction, prolactin, hypothalamic tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) levels (a marker of DA synthesis), and other measures of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) function were measured after repetitive instillation of welding fume particulates generated by flux core arc-hard surfacing (FCA-HS), manual metal arc-hard surfacing (MMA-HS) or gas metal arc-mild steel (GMA-MS) welding, or manganese chloride (MnCl2). Exposure to welding fume particulate resulted in the accumulation of various metals in the pituitary and testes of rats, along with changes in hypothalamic TH and serum prolactin levels. Exposure to particulates with high concentrations of soluble manganese (Mn) appeared to exert the greatest influence on TH activity levels and serum prolactin concentrations. Thus, circulating prolactin levels may serve as a biomarker for welding fume/Mn-induced neurotoxicity. Other reproductive measures were collected, and these data were consistent with epidemiological findings that prolactin and testosterone may serve as biomarkers of welding particulate induced DA neuron and reproductive dysfunction.
Challenging Maxillary Anterior Implant-Supported Restorations: Creating Predictable Outcomes with Zirconia

The restoration of form and function with dental implants often presents challenges to the most experienced clinician. Each case category has requirements, whether it is a single tooth or a complete arch in need of restoration. The anterior zone, especially the maxilla, can present issues beyond our traditional knowledge of tooth-supported restorations. The high lip line accompanied by irregular bone loss patterns has challenged the practice of implant dentistry since the inception of reliable osseointegrated implants. In the ensuing years, the advancement of implant technology along with regenerative technologies has provided the backbone of improving treatment outcomes. Developments such as 3D radiography, advanced treatment planning software and high-performance ceramics have opened new possibilities in treatment objectives and greater understanding of the requirements for successful management of the complex anterior aesthetic zone. This chapter will explore a series of cases from the single tooth to multi-unit restorations in both the maxilla and mandibular zones. Explanation of the differential treatment choices and subsequent restorative results will be presented along with pertinent supporting evidence.
Genetics in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Pathogenesis, Prognosis, and Treatment

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), the most common form of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP), is characterized by irreversible scarring of the lung parenchyma and progressive decline in lung function leading to eventual respiratory failure. The prognosis of IPF is poor with a median survival of three to five years after diagnosis and no curative medical therapies. Though the pathogenesis of IPF is not sufficiently knownnot well understood, there is a increasing growing body of evidence that genetic factors predispose individuals to develop IPFcontribute to disease risk. Recent studies have identified common and rare genetic variants associated with both sporadic and familial forms of pulmonary fibrosis, with at least . Current data suggests that at least one-third of the risk for developing fibrotic IIP and IPF can be explained by common genetic variants. In addition, some common variants have also been associated with distinct clinical phenotypes. The IPF-associated genetic loci discovered to date are associated with IPF are implicated in diverse biological processes, including alveolar stability, host defense, cell-cell barrier function, and cell senescence. In addition, some common variants have also been associated with distinct clinical phenotypes. Identification of gene variants associated with IPF and with IPF-associated mortalityBetter understanding of how genetic variation plays a role in disease risk and phenotype could identify potential therapeutic targets and inform clinical decision-making. Future In addition, clinical studies should be designed controlling for the genetic backgrounds of subjects, since disease phenotype and clinical outcomes and therapeutic responses may differ by genotype. Further understanding of these differences will allow the development of a personalized approaches to the IPF management.
Articular Cartilage Repair of the Pediatric and Adolescent Knee with Regard to Minimal Clinically Important Difference: A Systematic Review.

ObjectiveTo perform a systematic review of clinical outcomes following microfracture (MFX), autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI), osteochondral allograft transplantation (OCA), and osteochondr...
Liquid Chromatography of Metal-Organic Complexes

Many types of metal-organic compounds have been shown to be sufficiently stable and volatile to permit their separation and quantitative determination by gas chromatography (GC) (1–6). For example, metals can be converted into neutral, volatile s-diketonates and analyzed by GC; fluorinated ligands are usually employed for chelation (1–3). Likewise, it has been shown that volatile arene metal carbonyls can be satisfactorily separated and determined by GC (4,5). In other cases, pyrolytic GC permits determination of certain complexes when elution without decomposition is not possible (6).
Height Velocity Curves in Normal and Abnormal Situations: Relationships Between Diseases – Achondroplasia, Cystic Fibrosis, Growth Hormone Deficiency and Hypothyroidism

This chapter reviews our understanding of normal growth, with an emphasis on height velocity, in average stature children. It will also include discussion of landmarks of pubertal development as it relates to growth and growth velocity. Additional considerations to optimize growth assessment include appreciation of the differences between cross-sectional and longitudinal measurements, and the symmetry/congruence (or lack thereof) of growth parameters. Two variants of normal growth, familial short stature and constitutional growth delay, are also compared. Our understanding of growth and height velocity in average stature children is then compared to that of children with achondroplasia, a short stature skeletal dysplasia that dramatically limits linear growth through effects on the growth plates of bone that are essential for linear growth regulation. It will compare achondroplasia, whose growth defect cannot be overcome by current medical measures, to other growth-limiting conditions with graded responses to nutritional or medical interventions, including cystic fibrosis and growth hormone and thyroid hormone deficiencies. These conditions demonstrate the importance of obtaining height velocity measures and that nutritional insufficiency must be distinguished from congenital, constitutional, familial, and endocrine disorders to properly understand and address growth defects.
Physiology of Ventilation During Cardiac Arrest

Ventilation—the movement of fresh air or other gas from the outside into the lungs and alveoli in close proximity to blood for the efficient exchange of gases—enriches blood with oxygen (O2) and rids the body of carbon dioxide (CO2) by movement of alveolar gas from the lungs to the outside (1).
Reconsidering the Vaulted Forms of Cuba’s National School of Ballet

The vaulted forms and undulating walkways of Cuba’s National School of Ballet (Ballet School) are considered light and graceful, and yet, despite efforts by many Cubans and non-Cubans, these structures sit unoccupied and exposed to a persistently warm and wet tropical environment. The design and construction of the Ballet School structural system was thought to be one of the few modern examples of an ancient construction technique known as tile vaulting (also Catalan vaulting or, in US, Guastavino vaulting) that has defied standardized computational analysis. Given this exciting possibility, there has been a growing interest in conducting formal engineering analyses on the structures, however their remote location has prevented any such advances. In addition to the ongoing physical deterioration of the structure from environmental exposure, the construction-record documents are in jeopardy of being lost forever, therefore, it is deemed a critical time to digitally document the structure and corresponding documents from an engineering perspective, which would grant universal access to the structure thus allowing future engineering analyses. Given the Ballet School’s complex and interwoven cultural, social, political, architectural, and engineering backstory, this work implements an interdisciplinary approach of study, which is imperative if preservation of this structural icon is to be successful. While conducting this archival work, original architectural drawings, historic photographs, and interviews with key members of the design and construction team were reconciled with fieldwork conducted in November 2016 which resulted in the major discovery of a reinforced-concrete, grid-shell system underneath the adobe tile cladding.
Comments on “measurement and relationships of density and viscosity of 1,2 propylene glycol + dimethyl sulfoxide mixtures and spectral insight”

Abstract The apparent molar volumes of both 1,2‑propylene glycol and dimethyl sulfoxide calculated by Yang and coworkers are incorrect, and not consistent with the calculated negative values for the excess molar volumes. In the case of negative excess molar volumes the apparent molar volumes of the mixture components must be less than the molar volumes of the neat mixture co-solvents. This is not the case with the apparent molar volumes given in the published paper.
Enabling MHC-mismatched hematopoietic stem cell transplants and organ graft tolerance without chemotherapy or radiation

Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation can replace diseased blood systems with a healthy one, thereby treating or curing genetic blood and immune disorders including autoimmune diseases and immunodeficiencies. However, toxic chemotherapy or radiation is necessary to ablate an animals existing blood system prior to HSC transplantation, leading to significant morbidity. To accomplish safer blood-system replacement we developed a combination of six monoclonal antibodies to safely and specifically deplete the HSCs, T cells and NK cells of immune-competent mice. Remarkably, immunologically-foreign (allogeneic) HSCs mismatched at half or all the MHC genes could engraft these antibody-treated mice, generating donor blood systems that stably co-existed with host blood cells. These chimeric immune systems were immunologically tolerant to heart tissue from the HSC donor, providing a safe platform for HSC transplantation as a means to solid organ transplantation. The ability to transplant MHC-mismatched HSCs without chemotherapy or radiation has significant ramifications for regenerative medicine.
Parental Uncertainty: Parents’ Perceptions of Health-Related Quality of Life in Newly Diagnosed Children With Cancer

Background Parents of children with cancer are predisposed to psychological distress symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, and uncertainty. This vulnerability may exacerbate underlying mood disturbances, including trait anxiety and depression, and influence parents' perception of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in their children. Objectives This study examined the relationship between parental uncertainty and parent proxy reports of HRQOL in newly diagnosed children with cancer. Methods A longitudinal descriptive approach was used to examine the relationship between parental uncertainty and parent proxy reports of HRQOL in 55 parent-child dyads. Parental trait anxiety, depression, and perceived social support were evaluated as potential predictor variables. Findings Parents of newly diagnosed children with cancer reported lower parent proxy HRQOL scores. Parental uncertainty was prevalent and affected parents' perceptions of HRQOL three months following diagnosis; however, higher social support scores buffered these negative effects.
Clinical characteristics and diagnosis progress in tuberous sclerosis complex

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an involving multiple organs and tissues of the rare autosomal dominant genetic disease.There are various clinical manifestations in patients with TSC and its diagnosis based on cli-nical characteristics.Diagnostic criteria of TSC include clinical diagnosis and gene diagnosis standard. Key words: Tuberous sclerosis complex; Clinical characteristics; Diagnosis
Racial and Ethnic Differences in Sarcoma Incidence Are Independent of Census-Tract Socioeconomic Status.

Background: Epidemiologic analyses of sarcoma are limited by the heterogeneity and rarity of the disease. Utilizing population-based surveillance data enabled us to evaluate the contribution of census tract-level socioeconomic status (CT-SES) and race/ethnicity on sarcoma incidence rates. Methods: We utilized the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program to evaluate associations between CT-SES and race/ethnicity on the incidence rates of sarcoma. Incidence rate ratios and 99% confidence intervals were estimated from quasi-Poisson models. All models were stratified by broad age groups (pediatric: 200 total cases. A P value less than 0.01 was considered statistically significant. Results: We included 55,415 sarcoma cases in 35 sarcoma subtype–age group combinations. Increasing CT-SES was statistically significantly associated with 11 subtype–age group combinations, primarily in the older age group strata (8 subtypes), whereas malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors in adults were associated with decreasing CT-SES. Nearly every sarcoma subtype–age group combination displayed racial/ethnic disparities in incidence that were independent of CT-SES. Conclusions: We found race/ethnicity to be more frequently associated with sarcoma incidence than CT-SES. Our findings suggest that genetic variation associated with ancestry may play a stronger role than area-level SES-related factors in the etiology of sarcoma. Impact: These findings provide direction for future etiologic studies of sarcomas.
Preoperative Anemia as a Risk Factor for Postoperative Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Lung Transplantation.

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of preoperative anemia on early postoperative outcomes in a population of patients undergoing lung transplantation. Design Single-center retrospective study of lung transplantation recipients between April 2013 and June 2018. The primary outcome was hospital length of stay. Setting Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, a tertiary academic medical center. Participants Patients presenting from home for lung transplantation. Interventions None. Measurements and Main Results A total of 435 patients underwent lung transplantation during the study period. After exclusion, 342 were included in the analysis. The prevalence of preoperative anemia was 54% (n = 183); however, only 11% of anemic patients received treatment for anemia before transplantation. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that lower hemoglobin levels were associated with longer hospital lengths of stay (p = 0.049). Preoperative anemia also was independently associated with an increased risk for redo surgery for bleeding (odds ratio 4.89; p = 0.007). No association between preoperative anemia and any of the other postoperative outcomes examined was found. Conclusions Preoperative anemia in patients undergoing lung transplantation is undertreated and independently associated with an increased risk for redo surgery for bleeding. Additional studies regarding reasons for this association and effect of treatment are necessary to improve outcomes.
Treatment outcomes among human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive breast cancer patients: A systematic review.

BackgroundThe incidence of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER 2) positive breast cancers is rapidly rising worldwide. Although there have been many studies on HER 2 breast cancer treatme...
Role for nitrate assimilatory genes in virulence of Ustilago maydis

Abstract Ustilago maydis can utilize nitrate as a sole source of nitrogen. This process is initiated by transporting nitrate from the extracellular environment into the cell by a nitrate transporter and followed by a two-step reduction of nitrate to ammonium via nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase enzymes, respectively. Here, we characterize the genes encoding nitrate transporter, um03849 and nitrite reductase, um03848 in U. maydis based on their roles in mating and virulence. The deletion mutants for um03848, um03849 or both genes were constructed in mating compatible haploid strains 1/2 and 2/9. In addition, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technique was used for um03849 gene to create INDEL mutations in U. maydis mating strains. For all the mutants, phenotypes such as growth ability, mating efficiency and pathogenesis were examined. The growth of all the mutants was diminished when grown in a medium with nitrate as the source of nitrogen. Although no clear effects on haploid filamentation or mating were observed for either single mutant, double Δum03848 Δum03849 mutants showed reduction in mating, but increased filamentation on low ammonium, particularly in the 1/2 background. With respect to pathogenesis on the host, all the mutants showed reduced degrees of disease symptoms. Further, when the deletion mutants were paired with wild type of opposite mating-type, reduced virulence was observed, in a manner specific to the genetic background of the mutant's progenitor. This background specific reduction of plant pathogenicity was correlated with differential expression of genes for the mating program in U. maydis.
Intraductal carcinoma of the salivary gland with NCOA4-RET: expanding the morphologic spectrum and an algorithmic diagnostic approach.

Summary After the publication of the 2017 World Health Organization Classification of Head and Neck Tumours, there has been increasing interest in the classification of newly categorized intraductal carcinomas. Intraductal carcinoma (IC) is an indolent tumor, typically arising in the parotid gland, with an intact myoepithelial layer and a cystic, papillary, often cribriform architecture. Early studies of IC identified a heterogeneous group of molecular alterations driving neoplasia, and recent studies have defined three primary morphological/immunohistochemical variants, subsequently linking these morphologic variants with defined molecular signatures. Although studies to date have pointed toward distinct molecular alterations after histological classification, this study used a novel approach, focusing primarily on six cases of IC with NCOA4-RET gene rearrangement as determined by next-generation sequencing and describing the spectrum of clinicopathologic findings within that molecularly-defined group, among them a unique association between the NCOA4-RET fusion and hybrid variant IC and the first case of IC arising in association with a pleomorphic adenoma. RET-rearranged IC show histological and immunohistochemical overlap with the more widely recognized secretory carcinoma, including low-grade morphology, a lumen-forming or microcystic growth pattern, and co-expression of S100, SOX10, and mammaglobin, findings undoubtedly leading to misdiagnosis. Typically regarded to have ETV6-NTRK3 fusions, secretory carcinomas may alternatively arise with RET fusions as well. Adding our cohort of six NCOA4-RET fusion-positive IC compared with four cases of secretory carcinoma with ETV6-RET fusions and a single case of fusion-negative IC with salivary duct carcinoma-like genetics, we propose a diagnostic algorithm that integrates histological elements, including atypia and invasiveness, and the likelihood of specific molecular alterations to increase diagnostic accuracy in what can be a very subtle diagnosis with important clinical implications.
An Insight from the CALPHAD Approach: How to Control the LaMnO3 Perovskite Formation Via the Molten Salt Synthesis

LiCl-KCl molten salt has been used as a reaction medium to synthesize various perovskite materials from oxide precursors. However, it was observed that temperature, p(O2), precursor mix ratio, etc., greatly affected the perovskite stoichiometry, phase stability, crystal structure, and the formation of various impurities (secondary phases). Thermodynamics and kinetics involved in the synthesis are complicated. Guidance from thermodynamic modeling is thus needed to control the formation of the perovskites. In the present work, for the first time we use the CALculation of PHAse Diagram (CALPHAD) approach to develop a perovskite-molten salt thermodynamic database, which is used to understand the phase equilibrium between the molten salt, precursor oxides, and the resulting LaMnO3 (LMO) perovskite. Especially, the effects of temperature, La2O3 and Mn2O3 precursor ratio, and p(O2) on the LMO phase stability were predicted. Pseudo-ternary isothermal sections were generated, which successfully predicted the coexistence of LaMnO3 and the impurity, LaOCl. Meanwhile, the molten salt thermodynamic experiments were designed and carried out to verify La and Mn's solubilities in LiCl-KCl molten salt and thermodynamic equilibria in the La-Mn-O-Li-K-Cl system. The CALPHAD predictions were in accord with the experimental observations.