cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling of 3D magnetic equilibrium effects on edge turbulence stability during RMP ELM suppression in tokamaks

Recent experimental observations have found turbulent fluctuation structures that are non-axisymmetric in a tokamak with applied 3D fields. In this paper, two fluid resistive effects are shown to produce changes relevant to turbulent transport in the modeled 3D magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equilibrium of tokamak pedestals with these 3D fields applied. Ideal MHD models are insufficient to reproduce the relevant effects. By calculating the ideal 3D equilibrium using the VMEC code, the geometric shaping parameters that determine linear turbulence stability, including the normal curvature and local magnetic shear, are shown to be only weakly modified by applied 3D fields in the DIII-D tokamak. These ideal MHD effects are therefore not sufficient to explain the observed changes to fluctuations and transport. Using the M3D-C1 code to model the 3D equilibrium, density is shown to be redistributed on flux surfaces in the pedestal when resistive two fluid effects are included, while islands are screened by rotation in this region. The redistribution of density results in density and pressure gradient scale lengths that vary within pedestal flux surfaces between different helically localized flux tubes. This would produce different drive terms for trapped electron mode and kinetic ballooning mode turbulence, the latter of which is expected to be the limiting factor for pedestal pressure gradients in DIII-D.
Corrigenda - Models for nearly every occasion: Part II - Two box models.

In volume 14, issue 1 of Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, an incorrect equation is shown in “Models for Nearly Every Occasion: Part II - Two Box Models”, by Gary H. Ganser and Pau...
Characteristics, correlates, and assessment of psychosis in Parkinson disease without dementia.

Abstract Introduction Considering that psychosis in Parkinson disease (PD) is associated with worse outcomes, including dementia, we aimed to study the characteristics, correlates, and assessment of PD psychosis in those without dementia. Methods 101 PD subjects without dementia (Montreal Cognitive Assessment ≥21/30) were recruited to participate in a study of neuropsychiatric symptoms in PD. This study included a baseline standard neurological exam and common PD symptom assessments. Using the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS) and separate assessment of visual illusions and sense of presence, NINDS-NIMH criteria for PD psychosis were applied. Results Of the 33 (32.7%) PD subjects who met diagnostic criteria for psychosis in PD, visual illusions were most common (72.7%), followed by visual hallucinations (39.4%). Adjusted for presence of REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) (p = 0.097), use of dopamine agonists (OR = 3.7, p = 0.012) and greater autonomic symptom burden (OR = 1.1 (per 1-unit change in score on SCOPA-AUT), p = 0.012) were associated with greater risk of psychosis. Use of dopamine agonists (OR = 5.0, p = 0.007), higher MDS-UPDRS Part II score (OR = 1.1, p = 0.010), and presence of RBD (OR = 4.8, p = 0.012) were independent predictors of visual hallucinations and visual illusions. MDS-UPDRS item 1.2 score ≥1 had highly correlated with the SAPS score (r = 0.65, p Conclusion This study confirms the association between dopamine agonists and psychosis in PD patients without dementia. The association of RBD, autonomic symptoms, and MDS-UPDRS Part II scores with psychosis underscore its link to brainstem dysfunction and greater PD motor symptom severity.
RNA editing of CAPS1 regulates synaptic vesicle organization, release and retrieval.

Calcium-dependent activator protein for secretion 1 (CAPS1) facilitates the docking and priming of synaptic and dense core vesicles. A conserved hairpin structure in the CAPS1 pre-mRNA allows an post-transcriptional adenosine-to-inosine RNA editing event to alter a genomically-encoded glutamate to a glycine codon. Functional comparisons of CAPS1 protein isoforms in primary hippocampal neurons show that elevation of edited CAPS1 isoforms facilitates presynaptic vesicle clustering and turnover. Conversely, non-edited CAPS1 isoforms slow evoked release, increase spontaneous fusion, and loosen the clustering of synaptic vesicles. Therefore, CAPS1 editing promotes organization of the vesicle pool in a way that is beneficial for evoked release, while non-edited isoforms promote more lax vesicle organization that widens distribution, attenuates evoked release and eases the control of spontaneous fusion. Overall, RNA editing of CAPS1 is a mechanism to fine tune neurotransmitter release.
Dye-Sensitized Hydrobromic Acid Splitting for Hydrogen Solar Fuel Production

Hydrobromic acid (HBr) has significant potential as an inexpensive feedstock for hydrogen gas (H2) solar fuel production through HBr splitting. Mesoporous thin films of anatase TiO2 or SnO2/TiO2 core–shell nanoparticles were sensitized to visible light with a new RuII polypyridyl complex that served as a photocatalyst for bromide oxidation. These thin films were tested as photoelectrodes in dye-sensitized photoelectrosynthesis cells. In 1 N HBr (aq), the photocatalyst undergoes excited-state electron injection and light-driven Br– oxidation. The injected electrons induce proton reduction at a Pt electrode. Under 100 mW cm−2 white-light illumination, sustained photocurrents of 1.5 mA cm–2 were measured under an applied bias. Faradaic efficiencies of 71 ± 5% for Br– oxidation and 94 ± 2% for H2 production were measured. A 12 μmol h–1 sustained rate of H2 production was maintained during illumination. The results demonstrate a molecular approach to HBr splitting with a visible light absorbing complex capable...
Model-Based Approach for Engineering Resilient System-of-Systems: Application to Autonomous Vehicle Networks

Autonomous Systems (e.g., self-driving vehicles) and autonomous systems network are becoming increasingly more feasible for real-world deployment with the advent of the Internet-of-Things (IoTs) and advances in sensing and machine reasoning technologies. Autonomous vehicle networks are system-of-systems and are amenable to model-based analysis and design. This paper presents a model-based approach for analyzing and designing resilient SoS subject to a variety of disruptions. The specific SoS addressed in this paper is an autonomous (i.e., self-driving) vehicle network. The approach employs deterministic and probabilistic modeling, and use-case patterns to model SoS behavior and explore mechanisms for introducing resilience into systems and SoS. Exemplar use cases for self-driving vehicles are provided to illustrate key aspects of the overall approach.
Higher education administrators’ response to student activism and protests

This study examines college and university leaders’ responses to student activism and protest on U.S. college campuses between Fall 2014 to Summer 2016. using a phenomenological research tradition. The results revealed that while different types of institutional brands benefit from activism, the difference seemed to be realized in the resources the institution allocates to support and foster activism and inclusion. The views of constituencies revealed varying ideas and opinions, but the best leaders will navigate the path that enables tough decisions without alienating key players who are critical to the success of the efforts.
OUTCOME OF TRANSCATHETER AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT USING SAPIEN3 IN PATIENTS WITH EXTRA LARGE AORTIC ANNULUS

Little is known about outcome of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) using Sapien 3 (S3) (Edwards Lifescience, Irvine, CA) in patients with aortic annulus area of more than 683 mm2. The aim of this study is to investigate procedural outcomes and short-term mortality in patients with aortic
Spatiotemporal changes in conterminous US wildfire exposure from 1940 to 2010

This study utilizes fine-scale, built-environment data in conjunction with past wildfire events to assess historical spatiotemporal changes in wildfire likelihood and societal exposure to wildfires for the conterminous USA. Results indicate that conterminous US wildfire exposure has increased substantially over the past 70 years due to escalating wildfire likelihood and an expanding human-developed footprint. Although wildfire exposure has increased as a whole throughout the conterminous USA, the relative contributions of wildfire likelihood and the built environment to exposure vary from region to region. Wildfire likelihood plays a larger role in exposure in the western USA due to a greater frequency of large wildfires. Conversely, built-environment density has a stronger influence on exposure than wildfire likelihood within the eastern and central USA. In all, the total number of homes and total developed land area prone to wildfire impacts has increased by nearly 1350% since 1940 throughout the conterminous USA. Findings presented in this study highlight the importance of considering both hazard likelihood and built-environment magnitude when assessing wildfire exposure. Given the rapid historical amplifications of both wildfire likelihood and societal exposure, communities in wildfire-prone areas should implement and/or continually evolve their existing wildfire prevention strategies to include the effects of expanding development to reduce future damages and losses. The continual enactment and adaptation of wildfire suppression and mitigation strategies will ultimately result in more disaster-resilient communities as climate and society continue to influence the future US wildfire exposure.
This Is Who We Are: Promoting Professional Behaviors and Civility in Nursing Education

Background : Incivility, lack of professionalism, distrust and uncaring behaviors negatively impact the teaching and learning environment. Nurse educators concluded that many of these disturbing trends could be prevented and/or managed effectively if faculty and students were educated about expected professional behaviors. Aim : To promote a healthy academic community through the engagement in activities focused on professional behaviors among nursing faculty and students. Methods : Professional development activities were planned to promote a healthy academic community by educating faculty and student participants regarding professional behaviors in the teaching and learning environment. Faculty and student initiatives were designed to promote wellness, professionalism, civility, caring, and trust. The initial activities were entitled, “This Is Who We Are.” Results : Initial outcomes included a position statement created and signed by faculty to facilitate professional behaviors. Students created and signed a position statement exemplifying the desired behaviors of the cohort. Conclusions : Engagement activities are ongoing involving all faculty and all nursing student cohorts during their first semester in nursing school with additional training and updates planned. Initial anecdotal evidence from faculty and students regarding the benefits of these offerings are strongly supportive and demonstrate the beginning steps to a healthy academic environment in nursing education.
MEAN-FLOW MEASUREMENTS IN THE BOUNDARY LAYER AND WAKE AND WAVE FIELD OF A SERIES 60 CB=0.6 SHIP MODEL - PART 1: FROUDE NUMBERS 0.16 AND 0.316

Part 1 of this two-part paper presents results from a towing-tank experiment conducted in order to explicate the influence of wavemaking by a surface-piercing body on its boundary layer and wake and provide detailed documentation of the complete flow field appropriate for validating computational methods. Mean-velocity and pressure field measurements were performed for Froude number 0.16 and 0.316 for a 3.048 m Series 60 CB=0.6 hull form at numerous stations from the bow to the stern and into the near wake. For Froude number = 0.316, free-surface effects are very significant, whereas for Froude number = 0.16, they are negligible, except near the bow, such that comparison of the results enables the identification of the salient features of the wave induced effects. Wave profiles and local and global elevations were also measured. In addition, resistance tests were conducted. The experimental equipment and procedures are described and the results are discussed to point out the essential differences between the flows at low and high Froude number. On the forebody, the differences are primarily in the outer (inviscid) flow, except at the bow, whereas on the afterbody and in the near wake, both the inner (inviscid) and outer flows are altered. The results are discussed to assess the nature of the interaction between wavemaking and the boundary layer and wake. Most of the interaction can be explicated as a result of the wave elevations, wave-induced pressure gradients, and the displacement effects of the boundary layer. Part 2 concerns scale effects on near-field wave patterns and comparisons between the experimental results and inviscid theory.
Sensorineural hearing loss caused by NSAID-induced aseptic meningitis

Aseptic meningitis is a rare complication of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use. Otologic symptoms may include sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus. A 66-year-old woman sought the care of an otologist for sudden bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and a substantial increase in baseline tinnitus. The patient had previously undergone a left tympanoplasty secondary to cholesteatoma and had been treated for atypical face pain with ibuprofen taken every six hours for three months. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with gadolinium demonstrated abnormal enhancement of the dura mater and the surrounding basal cisterns, with extension of enhancing dura mater into the internal auditory canals. Cerebrospinal fluid examination revealed evidence of aseptic meningitis. An audiogram confirmed new bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Hearing loss and tinnitus resolved and no abnormalities were observed with MRI when nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication was discontinued. Otolaryngologists are well aware of the otologic sequelae in patients with meningitis. However, NSAIDs need to be considered as possible causal agents in the evaluation of meningitis with otologic symptoms.
Local Analysis of Weakly Connected Maps

In previous chapters we studied dynamics of weakly connected networks governed by a system of ordinary differential equations. It is also feasible to consider weakly connected networks of difference equations, or mappings, of the form $$ X_i \mapsto F_i \left( {X_i ,\lambda } \right) + \varepsilon G_i \left( {X_i ,\lambda ,\rho ,\varepsilon } \right),{\text{ i = 1,}} \ldots {\text{,n, }}\varepsilon \ll {\text{1,}} $$ (1) where the variables X i ∈ ℝ m , the parameters λ ∈ Λ,ρ ∈ R and the functions F i and G i have the same meaning as in previous chapters. The weakly connected mapping (7.1) can be also written in the form $$ X_i^{k + 1} = F_i \left( {X_i^k ,\lambda } \right) + \varepsilon G_i \left( {X^k ,\lambda ,\rho ,\varepsilon } \right),{\text{ i = 1,}} \ldots {\text{,n, }}\varepsilon \ll {\text{1,}} $$ where X k is the kth iteration of the variable X. In this chapter we use form (7.1) unless we explicitly specify otherwise.
On the space of ends of infinitely generated groups

Abstract We study the space of ends of groups. For a finitely generated group, this is a Cantor space as soon as it is infinite. In contrast, we show that for infinitely generated countable groups, it exhibits several behaviors. For instance, we show that for the free product Z ⁎ Q , it is a Cantor space, while for a free group of infinite rank, it is not metrizable. For arbitrary countable groups, we actually establish an alternative: the space of ends is either metrizable, or has a continuous map onto the Stone-Cech compactification of N. We also show that the space of ends of a countable group has a continuous map onto the Stone-Cech boundary of N if and only if the group is infinite locally finite, and that otherwise it is separable. For arbitrary groups, we also prove that the space of ends, if infinite, has no isolated point. We also consider these questions for locally compact groups; also we extend Holt's theorem by showing that non-σ-compact regionally elliptic groups are 1-ended.
An Unexpected Case of Intestinal Ischemia (this Is a Case of Bowel Obstruction Due to Meckel's Diverticulum)

Case Presentation A full term previously healthy 5 month old male infant presented with sudden onset non-bloody, non-bilious vomiting associated with feeds, fever, and lethargy. In the emergency department, he was febrile and tachycardic. Physical examination was significant for lethargy, dry mucous membranes, and grunting without increased work of breathing or adventitious lung sounds. His abdomen had normoactive bowel sounds, mild distention, generalized tenderness, and rigidity. Initial laboratory results including CMP, amylase, lipase, lactate, CBC, fibrinogen, and CRP were all within normal limits. Sepsis evaluation only yielded positive rhinovirus/enterovirus on respiratory PCR panel. Abdominal x-rays showed multiple …
Cannabis Use Motivations among Adults Prescribed Opioids for Pain versus Opioid Addiction.

Abstract Background Cannabis has been linked to reduced opioid use, although reasons for cannabis use among adults prescribed opioids are unclear. Aims The purpose of this study was to determine whether motivations for cannabis use differ between adults prescribed opioids for persistent pain versus those receiving opioids as medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. Design A cross-sectional survey design was used. Participants Adults prescribed opioids for persistent pain (n = 104) or opioid use disorder (n = 139) were recruited from outpatient settings. Methods Data were collected on surveys asking about cannabis use and compared the two populations. A series of regression models examined population characteristics and cannabis use motivations using validated measures of the Marijuana Motives Measure scale. Results More than half the sample (n = 122) reported current, daily cannabis use and 63% reported pain as a motivation for use. Adults with persistent pain were more likely to be older, female, and have higher levels of education (p Conclusions Both studied populations have unmet health needs motivating them to use cannabis and commonly use cannabis for pain. Persistent pain participants were less likely to use cannabis for euphoric effects or withdrawal purposes. Nurses should assess for cannabis use, provide education on known risks and benefits, and offer options for holistic symptom management.
QPI Allows in vitro Drug Screening of Triple Negative Breast Cancer PDX Tumors and Fine Needle Biopsies

The development of resistance to initially successful cancer therapies is a major cause of the morbidity and mortality associated with cancer. Identifying evolving resistance at an early stage could inform clinical decision making to adapt therapies before resistant cancer cell phenotypes have become clonally dominant or metastasized. This goal of early detection has prompted heavy investments in liquid biopsy, organoid, and high-throughput screening methodologies. Recently, High-Speed Live-Cell Interferometry (HSLCI), a quantitative phase imaging (QPI) methodology, was shown to predict triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patient-derived xenograft (PDX) sensitivity to carboplatin only 40 hours after tumor removal from a mouse. Before HSLCI can be tested in the clinic, it must be adapted for minimally invasive sample acquisition techniques, throughput must be increased to enhance drug screening capacity, and, like any screening method, protocols must be adjusted to reflect drug-specific effects. To overcome these barriers, the system’s hardware was redesigned to increase throughput six-fold and enable the simultaneous screening of multiple therapeutics, and experiments were expanded to include several new classes of drugs. Additionally, the updated system was then incorporated into fine needle biopsy-compatible protocols that were developed for HSLCI and yielded data concordant with recently-published in vivo screens.
Queer Immaterial Labor in Beauty Videos by LGBTQ-Identified YouTubers

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender beauty vloggers on YouTube exist at the margins of a historically gender- and sexually normative, white-dominated beauty industry. Through an analysis of six queer beauty vloggers, four of whom are also people of color, we argue that this group leverages the affordances of the media peripheries, here online platforms, and capitalizes queer cultural repertoires, such as camp, coming-out narratives, and reading to assert their expertise and authenticity. We propose a specification of Lazzarato’s term with “queer immaterial labor” that (1) recognizes that immaterial labor is not performed in the same way by participants in online spaces but is intersectionally structured through sexuality, race, and gender; and (2) acknowledges the cultural practices that queer people, including queer people of color, have honed over long histories of marginalization and community formation.
INDEX PD/PA PROVIDES EFFECTIVE RISK STRATIFICATION IN PATIENTS DEFERRED BASED ON NON-ISCHEMIC FFR

Deferring PCI based on a non-ischemic FFR has been well established and incorporated into guidelines. The deferred population, however, constitutes a heterogeneous group in terms of future events warranting further risk stratification. 575 consecutive patients with 664 non-ischemic lesions based on
Mass producing European cinema: studiocanal and its works: by Christopher Meir, London, Bloomsbury Academic, 2019, 272 pp., £72.00 (hardback), ISBN 978-1-5013-2712-4

Rather than scrutinising particular national cinemas in Europe, many scholars in European film studies have increasingly argued that European cinema maintains its own dynamics as a whole, and an an...
Approximate Dynamic Programming for Military Medical Evacuation Dispatching Policies

Military medical planners must consider how aerial medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) assets will be dispatched when preparing for and supporting high-intensity combat operations. The dispatching authori...
Role of OATP1B1 and OATP1B3 in Drug-Drug Interactions Mediated by Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors

Failure to recognize important features of a drug's pharmacokinetic characteristics is a key cause of inappropriate dose and schedule selection, and can lead to reduced efficacy and increased rate of adverse drug reactions requiring medical intervention. As oral chemotherapeutic agents, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are particularly prone to cause drug-drug interactions as many drugs in this class are known or suspected to potently inhibit the hepatic uptake transporters OATP1B1 and OATP1B3. In this article, we provide a comprehensive overview of the published literature and publicly-available regulatory documents in this rapidly emerging field. Our findings indicate that, while many TKIs can potentially inhibit the function of OATP1B1 and/or OATP1B3 and cause clinically-relevant drug-drug interactions, there are many inconsistencies between regulatory documents and the published literature. Potential explanations for these discrepant observations are provided in order to assist prescribing clinicians in designing safe and effective polypharmacy regimens, and to provide researchers with insights into refining experimental strategies to further predict and define the translational significance of TKI-mediated drug-drug interactions.
A narrative review of the last decade's literature on the diagnostic accuracy of septic arthritis of the native joint

While septic arthritis can be a straightforward diagnosis, there are many cases when the diagnosis is difficult to make. The aim of this study was to review the last decade’s literature on the diagnosis of septic arthritis of the native joint in adults and summarize that data in an easy to follow algorithm to clarify how the last decade’s data may be applied to the diagnosis of septic arthritis. A search of PubMed and CINAHL databases was performed to identify studies that compared results diagnostic tests for septic arthritis. We cross referenced this search with searches of additional databases (including Cochrane Library and Scopus) to confirm similar search results. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS) tool was used by two independent reviewers to determine study quality and risk of bias. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria to the initial search, 15 papers total were included for analysis. All 15 papers were of high quality methodology as determined by the QUADAS tool. There were 26 different diagnostics tests used across the 15 papers included for review. Three of those diagnostic tests had specificity and sensitivity greater than 80%. Eight tests had a positive likelihood ratio of ≥10. Three tests had a negative likelihood ratio < 0.1, indicating that they may help to rule out septic arthritis. A flowchart was created to summarize the findings of our review, so that physicians may reference this visual in making the appropriate diagnosis when the commonly held standards of cell count, gram stain, and culture aren’t enough to make the diagnosis.
Thomas De Quincey’s Opium-Eaters and the Art of Making Applications

Thomas De Quincey repeatedly showed that he was intrigued by cryptographic communications, and the most important coded writing in his Confessions of an English Opium-Eater (1821) concerns the iden...
Observations from Contraction–Scour Experiments Conducted with a Large Rectangular Channel

AbstractThis paper presents observations on clear-water and live-bed contraction scour caused by subcritical flow along a large rectangular channel. Three contraction ratios (contraction width/appr...
Is CTLA4 targeting the Achilles' heel of Merkel cell carcinoma?

Background: Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC) is a cutaneous malignancy with neuroendocrine differentiation, linked to infection with polyomavirus (MCPyV) in 80% of cases. PD1 inhibitors have recently been approved for this indication with ORR, 33-56%;CR, 11-24%;PFS, about 17 months;OS, about 12 months. Nivolumab was tested in the neoadjuvant setting with similar responses with pathological CR, 47%. Methods: Adjuvant pilot study (NCT03798639) with two immunotherapy regimens administered for one year to patients with completely resected MCC at high risk of recurrence (primary lesion of 2 cm2 or greater, positive or close margins ( < 2 cm), perineural or lymphovascular invasion, mitotic index ≥ 20 mitotic figures per mm2 , lymph node involvement (stage pIIIA or pIIIB) with or without extracapsular extension, or completely resected stage IV disease). Arm 1, nivolumab 480 mg q 4 wks and radiation therapy (RT) 50-60 Gy in 25-30 fractions, per standard of care. Arm 2, nivolumab 240 mg q 2 wks and ipilimumab 1 mg/kg q 6 wks. Primary objective was feasibility and completion of treatment in this population. Safety profile (CTCAE v5.0) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) after 18 months were secondary endpoints. Patients were randomly allocated 1:1. Results: Ten patients were screened from January 2019 until April 2020, when COVID put the study on hold and the sponsor discontinued the free drug supply. Seven were enrolled. Four were allocated to Arm 1 and three to Arm 2. Patient characteristics in Table. All patients have completed treatment and are in follow-up. Arm 1: all four patients completed radiation therapy and immunotherapy with no dose modifications or delays. Arm 2: one patient had nivolumab delayed 2 weeks for cellulitis, and another missed the last four last doses of nivolumab for cholecystitis and pancreatitis requiring surgery, unrelated to the immunotherapy. Adverse events (AE) were as expected. Arm1 caused more grade 2 and 3 AEs then Arm2 (no grade 3). One patient each discontinued treatment, in Arm 1 for progression and Arm 2 for immunotoxicity (temporal arteritis grade 2). One recurrence was observed in Arm 1 and none in Arm 2. Conclusions: The number of patients expected to recur at 1 year is 20%. Our observed data is insufficient to establish efficacy. However with no patient recurring in the ipilimumab arm after 18 months of follow-up and lower observed side effects, we would favor this regimen for the next trial.
Atopic Dermatitis in Domestic Animals: What Our Current Understanding Is and How This Applies to Clinical Practice

Atopic dermatitis is a clinical syndrome that affects both people and animals. Dogs closely mimic the complexity of the human skin disease, and much progress has been made in recent years in terms of our understanding of the role of skin impairment and the identification of new treatments. Cats and horses also develop atopic syndromes which include both cutaneous and respiratory signs, yet studies in these species are lagging. It is now recognized that atopic dermatitis is not a single disease but a multifaceted clinical syndrome with different pathways in various subgroups of patients. Appreciating this complexity is clinically relevant as we develop more targeted treatments which may work well in some patients but not in others. Different phenotypes of atopic dermatitis have been described in dogs, and it is possible that phenotypes related to breed and age may exist in other animals similar to how they are described in people. The awareness of different mechanisms of disease leads to the desire to correlate different phenotypes with specific biomarkers and responses to treatment. In this review, the current understanding and updated information on atopic syndrome in animals are described, highlighting opportunities for further studies in the future.
Impacts of Extracts From Styrax officinalis L. on Seedling Growth of Salvia sclarea L.

Many plant species synthesize different biochemical substances from their various organs (leaves, flowers, fruits and roots, etc.). While some of these biochemical substances which are known as allelochemicals have a stimulating effect on the growth and development of other plants, some of them have an inhibitory effect. In this study, the effect of extracts obtained from the Styrax officinalis L., which spreads naturally in the Mediterranean and Aegean regions, on the seedling growth of Salvia sclarea L. were investigated. In the study, the extracts prepared with water at 5% concentration from dry fruit peel and seed coat of S. officinalis, and tap water as control were used. According to the results of this study, it was determined that the fruit peel and seed coat extracts obtained from S. officinalis had a significant inhibitory effect on the emergence of S. sclarea seeds and its seedling growth. The inhibitory effect of fruit peel was higher than that of seed coat.
Some fluctuation results for weakly interacting multi-type particle systems

Abstract A collection of N -diffusing interacting particles where each particle belongs to one of K different populations is considered. Evolution equation for a particle from population k depends on the K empirical measures of particle states corresponding to the various populations and the form of this dependence may change from one population to another. In addition, the drift coefficients in the particle evolution equations may depend on a factor that is common to all particles and which is described through the solution of a stochastic differential equation coupled, through the empirical measures, with the N -particle dynamics. We are interested in the asymptotic behavior as N → ∞ . Although the full system is not exchangeable, particles in the same population have an exchangeable distribution. Using this structure, one can prove using standard techniques a law of large numbers result and a propagation of chaos property. In the current work we study fluctuations about the law of large number limit. For the case where the common factor is absent the limit is given in terms of a Gaussian field whereas in the presence of a common factor it is characterized through a mixture of Gaussian distributions. We also obtain, as a corollary, new fluctuation results for disjoint sub-families of single type particle systems, i.e. when K = 1 . Finally, we establish limit theorems for multi-type statistics of such weakly interacting particles, given in terms of multiple Wiener integrals.
Lung nodule detection via Bayesian voxel labeling

This paper describes a system for detecting pulmonary nodules in CT images. It aims to label individual image voxels in accordance to one of a number of anatomical (pulmonary vessels or junctions), pathological (nodules), or spurious (noise) events. The approach is orthodoxly Bayesian, with particular care taken in the objective establishment of prior probabilities and the incorporation of relevant medical knowledge. We provide, under explicit modeling assumptions, closed-form expressions for all the probability distributions involved. The technique is applied to real data, and we present a discussion of its performance.
Quo vadis , enzymology?

Enzymology has been a vital link between chemistry and biology in the second half of the twentieth century. A range of emerging scientific challenges is presenting the field with exciting opportunities to continue thriving in the future.
Apoptosis Signaling: A Means to an End

Publisher Summary A highly conserved family of cysteine proteases (caspases) that cleave specific proteins, including other caspases, at the C-terminal end of aspartic acid residues, mediates the degradative phase of apoptosis. A family of naturally occurring inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAP) blocks the activity of caspases and may target active caspases for degradation, thereby averting apoptosis at critical commitment steps of the pathway. The mammalian family members, c-IAP1 and 2, function to inhibit the activation of caspase-8, an initiator caspase responsible for the cleavage and activation of downstream effector caspases. X-linked IAP (XIAP) inhibits both effector caspase-3 and caspase-9, another initiator caspase. Procaspase-9 has a large prodomain containing a protein interaction domain called a caspase recruitment domain (CARD) that structurally resembles death domains (DD) and death effector domain (DED) and also forms a death fold. A group of related molecules known as the Bcl-2 family proteins can target the mitochondria and regulate membrane permeabilization. Bcl-2 related proteins are categorized by their ability to either induce or inhibit apoptosis. The classes include antiapoptotic members Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL that prevent mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization, whereas another class proapoptotic members Bax and Bak produce it. The ability of Bax and Bak to induce permeabilization may depend on oligomerization. Bax and Bak, which are highly homologous, exist as inactive monomers that can be induced to oligomerize by BH3-only proteins. Antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family members may function not only to protect mitochondria from membrane permeabilization, but also to repress cell cycle entry. The ability of Bcl-2 to prevent or delay entry into G1 appears to be independent of its role in maintaining mitochondria integrity.
Structural Rearrangement and Subunit Composition of RNA from Released Soehner-Dmochowski Murine Sarcoma Virions

Two types of genomic, high-molecular-weight RNA species were found in Soehner-Dmochowski murine sarcoma virions released from virus-induced rat tumor cells grown in tissue culture. The type of RNA species observed depended on the length of exposure of the tumor cells to radioactive precursor. Early RNA of virions labeled up to 4 h with radioactive uridine had a sedimentation coefficient of 50S, and late RNA of virions labeled for 24 h had a sedimentation coefficient of 58S. Thermal transitions of early and late RNA indicated a difference in the configuration or structure of these two types of RNA. The late RNA may represent either a different configurational state of the early RNA or an aggregate molecule of two early RNA components joined together. Heat dissociation revealed that the major subunit of both RNA types was a 28S species, which was not susceptible to degradation by the addition of micrococcal nuclease to virions. A transitional, intermediate RNA species with a sedimentation coefficient of 37 to 40S was detected when early RNA was dissociated by dimethyl sulfoxide or heat at temperatures suboptimal for complete conversion. No free RNA subunit components were detected in virions harvested at intervals as short as 30 s or 5 min. A model for the assembly of genomic RNA from 28S RNA subunits is proposed.
Role of TGF-β signaling in uterine carcinosarcoma.

// Shailendra Kumar Dhar Dwivedi 1 , Scott D. McMeekin 1 , Katrina Slaughter 1 and Resham Bhattacharya 1 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma, USA Correspondence to: Resham Bhattacharya, email: // Keywords : uterine carcinosarcoma, EMT, c-Myc, TGF beta Received : January 20, 2015 Accepted : March 03, 2015 Published : March 30, 2015 Abstract Uterine carcinosarcomas (UCS) are rare (3-4%) but highly aggressive, accounting for a disproportionately high (16.4%) mortality among uterine malignancies. Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) is a multifunctional cytokine that regulates important cellular processes including epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Existence of biphasic elements and a report demonstrating amplification of TGFβ at 19q13.1 prompted us to investigate the role of TGFβ signaling in UCS. Here we demonstrated the components of TGFβ pathway are expressed and functional in UCS. TGFβ-I induced significant Smad2/3 phosphorylation, migration and EMT responses in UCS cell lines which could be attenuated by the TGFβ receptor I (TGFβR-I) or TGFβ receptor I/II (TGFβR-I/II) inhibitor developed by Eli Lilly and company. Importantly, TGFβ-I induced proliferation was c-Myc dependent, likely through activation of cell cycle. c-Myc was induced by nuclear translocation of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT-1) in response to TGFβ-I. Inhibition of NFAT-1 or TGFβR-I blocked c-Myc induction, cell cycle progression and proliferation in UCS. In corroboration, mRNA levels of c-Myc were elevated in recurrent versus the non-recurrent UCS patient samples. Interestingly, in the absence of exogenous TGFβ the TGFβR-I/II inhibitor enhanced proliferation likely through non-Smad pathways. Thus, inhibition of TGFβR-I could be efficacious in treatment of UCS.
Automatic Channel Network Extraction From Remotely Sensed Images by Singularity Analysis

The quantitative analysis of channel networks plays an important role in river studies. To provide a quantitative representation of channel networks, we propose a new method that extracts channels from remotely sensed images and estimates their widths. Our fully automated method is based on a recently proposed multiscale singularity index that strongly responds to curvilinear structures but weakly responds to edges. The algorithm produces a channel map using a single image where water and nonwater pixels have contrast, such as a Landsat near-infrared band image or a water index defined on multiple bands. The proposed method provides a robust alternative to the procedures that are used in the remote sensing of fluvial geomorphology and makes the classification and analysis of channel networks easier. The source code of the algorithm is available at http://live.ece.utexas.edu/research/cne/ .
Cap‐Dependent Translation Initiation Factor eIF4E: An Emerging Anticancer Drug Target

Cancer cells tend to be more highly dependent on cap-dependent translation than normal tissues. Thus, proteins involved in the initiation of cap-dependent translation have emerged as potential anti-cancer drug targets. Cap-dependent translation is initiated by the binding of the factor eIF4E to the cap domain of mRNA. Detailed x-ray crystal and NMR structures are available for eIF4E in association with cap-analogs, as well as domains of other initiation factors. This review will summarize efforts to design potential antagonist of eIF4E that could be used as new pharmacological tools and anti-cancer agents and. Insights drawn from these studies should aid in the design of future inhibitors of eIF4E dependent translation initiation. C
The uncomfortable reality … We simply do not know if general anesthesia negatively impacts the neurocognitive development of our small children

Annually in the United States more than one million children under the age of 5 years are exposed to anesthetics for therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. Pre-clinical data in animal models has consistently shown that anesthetic exposure to the developing brain results in long-term cognitive deficits. Current clinical data addressing the safety of these pharmaceutical agents on the developing human brain is limited. Recently, there has been an enormous amount of attention directed at this potential public health issue in both pre-clinical investigations and ongoing human research. A number of these studies should add to our understanding about the impact anesthetic exposure will have on the developing human brain. Until then, there is little data that absolutely reassures clinicians and parents that the pharmaceutical agents used are indeed safe for our children. The uncomfortable reality is that despite the fact that there are more than one million children younger than 5 years old who receive general anesthesia in the United States annually, and thousands more who are deeply sedated for imaging and diagnostic studies or as a necessary adjunct to care in the intensive care unit, there is little data that assures clinicians and parents that the pharmaceutical agents used are indeed safe for the developing brain. That said, there are no convincing human data to suggest that they are not.
Effect of Dietary Factors upon the Resistance of Albino Mice to Experimental Infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Layton, Herbert W. (Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Ill.), and Guy P. Youmans. Effect of dietary factors upon the resistance of albino mice to experimental infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. J. Bacteriol. 90:958–964. 1965.—Each of the major nutritional components of a synthetic diet was quantitatively altered to determine its effect upon the resistance of albino mice to infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The animals were challenged after the first 2 weeks of feeding, and the percentage that survived acute death was determined statistically. The level of protein which provided the greatest percentage of survival was 30%; increases or decreases from this level were detrimental. The optimal fat level was found to be 5% for either corn oil or coconut oil. Survival decreased when greater amounts of oil were added, and this effect was especially marked for 40% coconut oil. Vitamin A enhanced survival when increased from the normal level of 20,000 units per kg of diet to 160,000 units, but further increases were harmful. An amount of 75 g/kg of a vitamin B complex mixture afforded optimal resistance, but 25-g shifts in either direction lowered this resistance. Vitamin K-free diets resulted in high levels of survival, and addition of the vitamin resulted in proportional decreases in resistance.
The gene as theme in the paradigm of cancer

I was indeed honoured to give the Silvanus Thompson Memorial Lecture, grateful to those who thought me worthy of it, and somewhat in awe when I view the list of previous lecturers, beginning with Lord Rutherford in 1918. The Rontgen Society was founded in 1897, with Silvanus Thompson as its first President, and this society became the forerunner of the British Institute of Radiology. A physicist and historian of science, Silvanus Thompson was a prolific lecturer and writer on a wide range of scientific and technical subjects. He made important contributions in electrical machinery, optics and X rays, but he is best known as an interpreter of science to the non-scientific public and for his popular works “Elementary Lessons in Electricity and Magnetism” (1881) and “Calculus made Easy” (1910). Like so many later physicists who turned their attention to medicine in general, and radiology in particular, he was a devout practising Quaker. This was of critical importance to his career, for at that period, it ex...
How could a child use verb syntax to learn verb semantics

Abstract I examine Gleitman's (1990) arguments that children rely on a verb's syntactic subcategorization frames to learn its meaning (e.g., they learn that see means ‘perceive visually’ because it can appear with a direct object, a clausal complement, or a directional phrase). First, Gleitman argues that the verbs cannot be learned byb observing then situations in which they are used , because many verbs refer to overlapping situations, and because parents do not invariably use a verb when its perceptual correlates are present. I suggest that these arguments speak only against a narrow associationist view in which the child is sensitive to the temporal contiguity of sensory features and spoken verb, If the child can hyppthesize semantic representations corresponding to what parents are likely to be referring to, and can refine such representations across multiple situations, the objections are blunted;, indeed, Gleitman's theory requires such a learning process despite her objections to it. Second, Gleitmans suggests that there is enough information in a verb's subcategorization frames to predict its meaning ‘quite closely’ . Evaluating this argument requires distinguishing a verb's root plus its semantic content (what She boiled the water shares with The water boiled and does not share with She broke the glass ), and a verb frame plus its semantic perspective (what She boiled the water shares with She broke the glass and does not share with The water boiled ). I show that learning a verb in a single frame only gives a learner coarse information about its semanic perspective in that frame (e.g., number of arguments, type of arguments); it tells the learner nothing about the verb root's content across frames (e.g., hot bubbling liquid). Moreover, hearing a verb across all its frames also reveals little about the verb root's content. Finally, I show that Gleitman's empirical arguments all involve experiments where children are exposed to a single verb frame, and therefore all involve learning the frame's perpective meaning, not the root's content meaning, which in all the experiments was acquired by observing the accompanying scene. I conclude that attention to a verb's syntactic frame can help narrow down the child's interpretation of the perspective meaning of the verb in that frame, but disagree with the claim that there is some in-principle limitation in learning a verb's content.
Esophageal perforation preceding fatal closed head injury in a child abuse case

This is a case describing an extensive esophageal perforation in a 15-day-old infant with an unclear mechanism of injury, who at 3 months of age presented as the victim of child abuse from a fatal closed head injury. Extensive esophageal perforation in a neonate or infant is usually induced by trauma, either accidental or non-accidental. When the given history does not correlate with the degree of injury, child abuse must be strongly suspected and a thorough social investigation must be undertaken.