cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cutaneous mucormycosis of the upper extremity: A series of patients and review of the literature

We present our experience with three cases of cutaneous mucormycosis involving the upper extremity. One patient was on long-term steroid therapy for polymyalgia rheumatica and myelodysplastic syndrome. A second patient had an advanced HIV infection. The third patient presented following a renal transplantation for which he was on immunosuppressive therapy.All three patients had wide local excision of the eschar and skin graft as immediate coverage or as a delayed reconstruction. Systemic Amphotericin B treatment was given for varying durations according to the recommendation of the infectious disease service. All skin grafts healed with full resolution of the infectious process, but one patient died of pneumonia.
Introduction to the Special Issue: Humor and the Challenges of Aging

Humor, a universal language that transcends generations and cultures, helps people navigate through every stage of life. While humor benefits all people, it brings special benefits as we age. As pe...
Magneto-optical activity of Ag at the plasma frequency

Kerr activity is observed in pure Ag films in the vicinity of the plasma resonance (3.85 eV) when subjected to a strong external magnetic field. This inherent magneto-optical behaviour of Ag in a narrow wavelength range (0.12 eV) around the plasma resonance is explained utilizing the classical Lorentz-Drude model for the off-diagonal elements of the dielectric function. This activity is a consequence of a combined effect of the weakly damped free electron system and the sharp onset ofd-band transitions. The possibility of enhancing the Kerr activity of amorphous TbFeCo alloys by Ag overlayers is also investigated.
On (post)human (dis)ability

Finding the question of the human, and thus posthumanism, to involve the issue of ability, I address the intersection between disability studies and posthumanism. Some work in disability studies at least implicitly has moved in this direction; also, in What is Posthumanism? Cary Wolfe theorizes the (post)human through a discourse of ability and disability, emphasizing ‘non-power at the heart of power’ Jacques Derrida finds constitutive of the ability of the human subject, entailing the use of language. Drawing on Derrida and Emmanuel Levinas, I consider the self-disabling ability (or dis/ability) of the linguistic subject to be the nature of the human. Engaging disability studies with posthumanism reveals that what ostensibly follows the human – involving indeterminacy between the human and its technological, animal and alternatively nonhuman or inhuman others – is intrinsic to the human, to this being whose ability is its own other, whose ability suffers itself.
Gender differences in giving: Going, going, gone?

Some researchers question whether commonly assumed sex differences in charitable giving exist. The author takes a look at the evidence.
Age-related differences in neural recruitment during the use of cognitive reappraisal and selective attention as emotion regulation strategies

The present study examined age differences in the timing and neural recruitment within lateral and medial PFC while younger and older adults hedonically regulated their responses to unpleasant film clips. When analyses focused on activity during the emotional peak of the film clip (the most emotionally salient portion of the film), several age differences emerged. When comparing regulation to passive viewing (combined effects of selective attention and reappraisal) younger adults showed greater regulation related activity in lateral PFC (DLPFC, VLPFC, OFC) and medial PFC (ACC) while older adults showed greater activation within a region DLPFC. When assessing distinct effects of the regulation conditions, an ANOVA revealed a significant Age X Regulation Condition interaction within bilateral DLPFC and ACC; older adults but not young adults showed greater recruitment within these regions for reappraisal than selective attention. When examining activity at the onset of the film clip and at its emotional peak, the timing of reappraisal-related activity within VLPFC differed between age groups: Younger adults showed greater activity at film onset while older adults showed heightened activity during the peak. Our results suggest that older adults rely more heavily on PFC recruitment when engaging cognitively demanding reappraisal strategies while PFC-mediated regulation might not be as task-specific for younger adults. Older adults’ greater reliance on cognitive control processing during emotion regulation may also be reflected in the time needed to implement these strategies.
Indirect electrochemical titration of beef heart cytochrome c oxidase.

Titration of beef heart cytochrome c oxidase with electrochemically generated reductant, methyl viologen cation radical MV+, and oxidant, molecular oxygen, has enabled cycling of the oxidase repeatedly from its totally oxidized to its totally reduced forms. Spectrocoulometric results clearly show that cytochrome oxidase accepts four electrons during both reduction with MV+ and oxidation with O2. Oxidation with coulometrically generated O2 produces oxidized oxidase, with no evidence of the “oxygenated” form.
Reducing surgical site infections (SSI) in breast surgeries, including a newly identified risk for sentinel node biopsies

In 2012, 19 infections out of 561 breast surgeries (Standardized infection Ratio (SIR) 3.372, 95% CI 2.09-5.168) led to the discovery that non-sterile radiation probes pierced their sterile sheaths. After disinfecting the probes, the SSI was 0%, then subsequently increased.
Closure models for turbulent reacting flows

In this paper, a simple procedure based on fast and slow reaction asymptotics has been employed to derive first-order closure models for the nonlinear reaction terms in turbulent mass balances from mechanistic models of turbulent mixing and reaction. The coalescence-redispersion (CRD) model, the interaction by exchange with the mean (IEM) model, the three-environment (3E) model, and the four-environment (4E) model have been used to develop closure equations. The closure models have been tested extensively against experimental data for both single and multiple reactions. The closures based on slow asymptotics for the CRD, 3E and 4E models provide very good predictions of all of the experimental data, while other models available either in the literature or derived here are not adequate. The simple new closure equations developed in this paper may be useful in modeling systems involving turbulent mixing and complex chemical reactions.
The flared slot: A moderately directive flush-mounted broad-band antenna

The flared slot is a simply constructed antenna designed to be flush-mounted in a horizontal surface. Its pattern is a moderately directive pencil beam over a 4:1 frequency band, and its impedance bandwidth is essentially that of a coaxial line-to-ridged waveguide transition. Both vertically and horizontally polarized models are discussed.
Differential staining of neurons in the human retina with antibodies to protein kinase C isozymes

Monoclonal antibodies to the three isozymes of protein kinase C (PKC) (alpha, beta, and gamma) were applied to postmortem human retina. Immunostaining was done on wholemount, or cryostat-sectioned retina, and visualized after ABC/DAB procedures by light (LM) and electron (EM) microscopy. The PCK-alpha antibody stained rod bipolar cells throughout the retina. EM analysis confirmed they were PKC-alpha-immunoreactive (IR) on their characteristic dendritic and axonal synaptology. Putative blue cone bipolar cells with wide-field axon terminals, stratifying in s5 of the inner plexiform layer (IPL), were also PKC-alpha-IR, and EM showed them to engage in narrow-cleft ribbon junctions in blue cone pedicles. The PKC-beta antibody stained cone bipolar cells, many amacrine cells, and most ganglion cells. Cone bipolar cells were stained all the way into the foveal center: both midget and diffuse varieties were included. The IPL was densely PKC-IR and individual neurons could not be identified on stratification patterns. EM of the outer plexiform layer (OPL) revealed that both flat and invaginating cone bipolar types were IR and that IR axon terminals were presynaptic in all strata of the IPL. The occurrence of PKC-beta-IR bipolar axons in stratum 2 of the IPL suggests that OFF-center as well as ON-center types were included. The PKC-gamma antibody gave inferior staining compared with results from the other two antibodies; however, two varieties of wide-field monostratified amacrine cell and a large-bodied ganglion cell type were discernible. PKC in one form or another appears to be a second messenger used in neurotransmission by both rod and cone systems and ON- and OFF-center systems in the human retina.
Chemistry and biological activity of steroidal glycosides from the Lilium genus.

Covering: 1989 up to 2014 Plants from the Lilium genus are a rich source of chemical diversity and have been the focus of natural products chemistry research for over twenty years. This manuscript provides a background on the chemistry and nomenclature of steroidal glycosides, as well as a chronological account of the progress between the years of 1989 up to 2014, with respect to their isolation and characterization from the genus. This review highlights the traditional use of lilies, as both food and medicine, and brings attention to the fact that the genus contains 110 accepted species of which the chemistry and biological activity of the steroidal glycosides from the majority have not been investigated to date. Thus, making the genus a relatively untapped resource that contains a potential treasure trove of chemical diversity waiting to be discovered.
Effect of Aliovalent Substituents on the Ferroelectric Properties of Modified Barium Titanate Ceramics - Relaxor Ferroelectric Behavior

Structure–property relationships were investigated to reveal the generic influence of various substituents on ferroelectric BaTiO3. Compositional modifications of ferroelectric BaTiO3 were systematically investigated for La3+ and Nb5+ substituents. A generic influence of charged point defects in breaking down the ferroelectric domains into polar clusters was demonstrated. In both types of modified BaTiO3, relaxor ferroelectric behavior was induced for higher concentrations of substituents.
Personality and the experience of environmental adversity

Background. While psychiatric epidemiology often focuses on the causal relationship between environmental adversity and the individual (e. g. environment to person), individuals probably make important contributions to the quality of their environments (person to environment). Method. In a population based sample of > 7000 male and female adult twins, we examined the relationship between the personality trait of neuroticism (N) and the occurrence of stressful life events (SLEs) and the quality of interpersonal relationships (IPR). We compared the magnitude of the prediction of twin 1's self-reported SLEs and IPR from: (i) twin 1's self-reported N; (ii) twin 2's report of twin 1's N; and (iii) twin 2's report of twin 2's N in monozygotic pairs. Results. In our entire sample, self-report N significantly predicted the occurrence of most SLEs and all dimensions of IPR. Using the co-twin's report of N produced associations that were of the same magnitude for SLEs and modestly weaker for IPR. In monozygotic pairs, the level of N in one twin predicted SLEs and IPR in the co-twin at levels similar to those found for the co-twin's report of N. Repeating these analyses with a prospective subsample produced similar results. Conclusion. An individual's personality in adulthood plays a significant role in influencing exposure to some forms of environmental adversity and this association is not the result of reporting bias. Furthermore, this relationship is largely mediated by a common set of familial factors that predispose both to a 'difficult' temperament and to environmental adversity. Developmental models of psychiatric illness should adopt an interactionist view of individuals and their environment (person and environment).
Role Consensus and Teacher Effectiveness

Role expectations aind role performances of vocational agriculture teachers as perceived by the teachers and their sclhool adminiistrators were analyzed. Teachlers were rated on their job effectiveness according to selected criteria. Teachers rated "high" in effectiveness and their school administrators had greater agreemnent on role perception than did teachers rated "low" and their school administrators. Job satisfaction of the teacher was positively related to teacher effectiveness and to consensus on role definition. Both teachers and adlministrators had greater agreement oni role expectations than on role performiianices for the teaclher's role.
Effects of HIV-1 protease on cellular functions and their potential applications in antiretroviral therapy

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) protease inhibitors (PIs) are the most potent class of drugs in antiretroviral therapies. However, viral drug resistance to PIs could emerge rapidly thus reducing the effectiveness of those drugs. Of note, all current FDA-approved PIs are competitive inhibitors, i.e., inhibitors that compete with substrates for the active enzymatic site. This common inhibitory approach increases the likelihood of developing drug resistant HIV-1 strains that are resistant to many or all current PIs. Hence, new PIs that move away from the current target of the active enzymatic site are needed. Specifically, allosteric inhibitors, inhibitors that prohibit PR enzymatic activities through non-competitive binding to PR, should be sought. Another common feature of current PIs is they were all developed based on the structure-based design. Drugs derived from a structure-based strategy may generate target specific and potent inhibitors. However, this type of drug design can only target one site at a time and drugs discovered by this method are often associated with strong side effects such as cellular toxicity, limiting its number of target choices, efficacy, and applicability. In contrast, a cell-based system may provide a useful alternative strategy that can overcome many of the inherited shortcomings associated with structure-based drug designs. For example, allosteric PIs can be sought using a cell-based system without considering the site or mechanism of inhibition. In addition, a cell-based system can eliminate those PIs that have strong cytotoxic effect. Most importantly, a simple, economical, and easy-to-maintained eukaryotic cellular system such as yeast will allow us to search for potential PIs in a large-scaled high throughput screening (HTS) system, thus increasing the chances of success. Based on our many years of experience in using fission yeast as a model system to study HIV-1 Vpr, we propose the use of fission yeast as a possible surrogate system to study the effects of HIV-1 protease on cellular functions and to explore its utility as a HTS system to search for new PIs to battle HIV-1 resistant strains.
Hop Distance Based Routing Protocol for MANET

The hop distance based routing protocol (HDR) is an on-demand based routing protocol suited for mobile ad hoc networks integrated with wired networks. HDR considers an efficient way to build multi-hop routes with low routing overhead, through efficient route discovery and route maintenance mechanisms. HDR does this by utilizing the hop count information between mobile nodes and access points to localize the route discovery and maintenance within a limited area in order to reduce routing overhead. HDR is an adaptive protocol and does not require any user or network dependent predefined inputs in order to operate. Simulation results show that HDR is highly efficient in reducing node participation and overhead in route request operations.
Transient behavior of simplified reaction mechanisms for methane nonpremixed combustion

Abstract The transient behaviors of three simplified methane mechanisms are numerically studied for two idealized turbulent nonpremixed combustion situations: the perfectly stirred reactor and the flamdet model. Two of the simplified mechanisms contain four global steps, and one of them has truncated source terms. The third mechanism is an improved version of the four-step mechanisms with the inclusion of an additional species CH3 leading to a five-step mechanism. Comparisons of the steady-state flame results indicate that the three reduced reaction mechanisms predict the major species concentrations and the flame extinction limits in close agreement with those from a detailed mechanism. The performances of the reduced reaction mechanisms are further assessed by examining their transient responses to a simulated turbulent environment. The results reveal that truncation of global source terms leads to unsatisfactory results especially for lean flames and the performance of the five-step reduced mechanism i...
Histone H3K4 methylation keeps centromeres open for business

Nucleosomes at eukaryotic centromeres combine the histone H3 variant CENP-A and canonical H3 di-methylated at lysine 4 (H3K4me2), whose functional importance within the centromere region remains elusive. In this issue, Bergmann et al reveal a role for H3K4me2 in CENP-A maintenance, and extend the profile of centromeric histone modifications to include H3K36 methylation, typically found in transcribed regions of the genome.
Redefining risk categories for pneumococcal disease in adults: critical analysis of the evidence

Summary Objective To analyze the available published data (2005–2014) describing the prevalence of multimorbidity in adult patients with pneumococcal disease, with a focus on the comorbidities considered by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to increase the risk of pneumococcal disease in adults (immunocompetent persons with chronic medical conditions (at risk) and immunocompromised or immunosuppressed persons (high risk)). An analysis of case–control and population-based surveillance studies that have evaluated risk factors for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) was also performed in order to estimate the importance of risk stacking. Methods Studies that established the enrolment procedure for patients and reported the incidence of multimorbidity and risk factors for CAP and/or IPD were included. In order to obtain a risk stacking value based on the at-risk comorbidity odds ratios (OR), the multiplicative method described by Campbell was used. Results Thirty-eight articles were selected, 19 for multimorbidity and 19 for risk factors for CAP/IPD. With regard to multimorbidity, the prevalence among adults aged ≥65 years ranged from 23% to 98.7% for two or more comorbidities and from 18% to 89.7% for three or more comorbidities. Diabetes (DBT), chronic heart disease (CHD), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were the three most frequent comorbidities described (7.6–28.5%, 6.9–25.8%, and 3.8–15.4%, respectively). With regard to risk factors, based on the multiplicative method, the hypothetical scenario of concurrence of the three most frequent at-risk conditions (DBT+CHD+COPD) showed an OR of ≥7.5. In this group of patients, the addition of smoking, another common at-risk factor for CAP (stacking four concurrent conditions) increased the OR from 8.5 to >40. These ORs were generally similar to rates described by other authors in persons with a high risk. Conclusions The ORs for CAP and IPD of patients with two or more comorbidities, with or without smoking, were found to be similar to the ORs for CAP and IPD described in the literature for patients currently classified as high risk. The potential impact of multiple, stacking comorbidities is underestimated and there is a need for the risk categories for pneumococcal disease to be redefined.
Polarization effects and analysis in meson nucleon ---> meson meson nucleon

A general framework is developed for the description of nucleon /) The new - exchange poles. Minimum measurements required for a unique amplitude et Finally, we also he DELTA con
Continuous arteriovenous hemodiafiltration in the acute treatment of hyperammonaemia due to ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency.

Background. Acute hyperammonemia caused by urea cycle disorder is a medical emergency for which immediate managements should be taken to minimize permanent brain damage. Among different enzyme defects, ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTC) is one of the most common enzyme defect in urea cycle disorders. We utilized continuous renal replacement therapy techniques in the acute treatment of hyperammonemia due to ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency.Patients and methods. Three male neonates with elevated serum ammonia levels were shown, based on urine organic acid analysis and serum amino acid studies, to have OTC deficiency. Administration of sodium benzoate and sodium phenylacetate for activating alternative nitrogen waste pathway were used associated with protein restriction. Other modalities, including blood exchange transfusion, peritoneal dialysis, continuous renal replacement therapy were utilized in an attempt to lower serum ammonia concentration.Results. We report the successful use of continu...
Assessing Opportunity-to-Learn for Students with Disabilities in General and Special Education Classes.

Current legislation encourages schools to educate students with disabilities (SWDs) in general education settings to the greatest extent appropriate. However, it is unclear whether inclusion in general education settings provides SWDs a sufficient opportunity to learn the academic content assessed by accountability measures. This initial study was designed to (a) describe the extent to which general and special educators provide their eighth-grade classes with an opportunity to learn the state-specific standards and to (b) examine the extent to which SWDs experience a differentiated opportunity to learn compared with their overall class. Across three states, we trained 38 general and special educators to use an online teacher log to report on various opportunity-to-learn (OTL) indices for 46 mathematics and reading classes and 89 nested SWDs. Based on an average logging period of 151 days, the results indicated that this sample’s SWDs included in general education classes experienced less time on standards, more non-instructional time, and less content coverage than their overall class. Limitations and implications for policy and future research are discussed.
Perception of Physical Activity Participation of Chinese Female Graduate Students: A Case Study

Purpose: Chinese female international students (CFIS) have been identified as one of the least physically active groups in the United States. In an effort to better understand this situation, this study's purpose was to examine CFIS in American higher education in terms of the meaning they assigned to physical activity and facilitators and barriers they experienced with regard to physical activity participation. Method: Twenty CFIS from a university in the Northwest region of the United States were recruited and interviewed. All of the interviews were conducted in Mandarin Chinese and translated and transcribed into English. The 1-on-1 semistructured interviews lasted between 45 min and 60 min each. Data were analyzed by NVivo8. Results: In terms of meaning, physical activity provided the participants with a break from their academic work, allowed them some alone time, and taught them a process for accomplishing other things in their lives. Major facilitators included social influences, ample available re...
Individual differences in the ability to avoid distracting sounds

The present work aims to establish a greater understanding of the cognitive mechanisms involved in avoiding distraction from speech and nonspeech sounds. Although mixed results have been presented by research investigating the hypothesis that individuals with superior working memory abilities are better able to avoid acoustic distraction, we found that working memory correlated with some aspects of performance during distraction when carefully examined. This is consistent with the view that working memory involves resisting interference. In a large sample, we examined two different tasks accompanied by acoustic distraction—serial recall and rapid colour naming—as well as two different measures of working memory (operation span and running span). We show that the previous inability to find relations between working memory and avoidance of distraction may stem from the use of inadequate correlational techniques. Additionally, the level of difficulty of the serial recall task may be an important factor. The ...
The Grain Size and Microstructure of Jet-Electroplated Damascene Copper Films

Copper is rapidly replacing aluminum as an interconnect metal­ lization in ultralarge-scale integrated circuits (ULSIs) for better per­ formance and reliability. The methods of depositing copper include physical vapor deposition (PVD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), and electroless and electrochemical deposition (ECD) plating tech­ niques. Additive-enhanced ECD has received the most attention as the method for filling interconnect structures due to its high deposition rate, low cost of tool ownership, the ability to fill deep submicrometer damascene features, and the low resistivity of the plated copper. Jet electrochemical deposition (JECD) is a plating technique that utilizes rapid cathode rotation in conjunction with the impinge­ ment of jets of solution to sustain higher current densities and better gap-filling performance than those achieved with conventional ECD methods. 11 A successful copper electroplating process for semiconductor onchip interconnects using a damascene materials system must consis­ tently produce defect-free, large-grained films with a high degree of (111) fiber crystallographic texture. Electroplated damascene copper films are typically deposited in the presence of organic brightening additives that are used in conjunction with other organic and inor­ ganic additives to promote the ‘‘bottom up’’ filling of fine intercon­ nect features. 1
Promoting Worker-Owned Cooperatives as a CED Empowerment Strategy: A Case Study of Colors and Lawyering in Support of Participatory Decision-Making and Meaningful Social Change

Empowerment driven CED lawyering, in a transactional context, is an emerging approach to progressive lawyering that fosters the collective action and active democratic participation of low-income and working-class people to reshape our social, economic, and political system. This Article examines three main approaches to CED and argues for a CED project and lawyering approach that is empowerment focused and not limited to a geographic locality. It provides a concrete example of an empowerment driven approach that adopts an expansive definition of community through a case study of Colors, a worker-owned cooperative. Worker-owned cooperatives are ideal empowerment driven CED projects because they alter conventional wealth and power dynamics by enabling low-income working people to exercise democratic control over the formation and day-to-day governance of collective enterprises - challenging capitalism’s assumption that enterprises must be privately owned and autocratically managed. In addition, promoting worker-owned cooperatives and participatory decision-making creates opportunities for collaborative lawyering that can further empower communities. The case study carefully explores how lawyers can best support this empowerment driven CED model and identifies the challenges and opportunities lawyers face in applying it - chief among them, the need for lawyers to consciously create participatory decision-making processes that give clients a meaningful opportunity to take collective ownership of their decision-making, as well as the need for thoughtful collaboration among lawyers and activists to support such a labor- and time-intensive counseling process. The Article concludes by deriving lawyering lessons in supporting this strategy.
Ten Years After: Stream Habitat Restoration Project in Retrospect

Long-term assessments of ecosystem rehabilitation project effects are rare. Herein we describe a study of the Hotophia Creek rehabilitation project in northwest Mississippi. The stream channel was subjected to channelization ca. 1963 and experienced rapid channel erosion between 1963 and 1985, with annual suspended sediment yield exceeding 1,000 t km –2 . More than $10 million were expended on erosion control measures within the 90-km 2 watershed between 1985 and 2000, with an attendant sixfold reduction in suspended sediment yield. Fish and physical aquatic habitat data were collected for one year prior to construction of a one-km long stream habitat rehabilitation project in 1992. Habitat rehabilitation consisted of extending existing stone spurs, placing stone toe, and planting willow cuttings. Post construction monitoring was conducted for the four years following construction, and at 10 years following construction. Parallel monitoring was conducted on an untreated reference stream and on untreated reaches upstream on Hotophia Creek. Effects of rehabilitation on habitat and fish communities were found to be positive in both the short and long term. For example, after 10 years, mean water depth in the reach subjected to rehabilitation was more than twice as great as for untreated reaches upstream. Woody riparian vegetation more than doubled and large woody debris density increased by an order of magnitude in both treated and untreated streams. Fish species richness and numbers were lower after 10 years, perhaps due to reduced sampling efficiency associated with greater water depth. However, fish populations shifted away from domination by large numbers of small, opportunistic generalists and toward dominance by large-bodied, pool-dwelling species typical of more pristine streams. Prior to rehabilitation, 51% of the fish captured were cyprinids (minnows), while 10 years later 61% of the fish captured were centrarchids (sunfishes).
Comparison of antigen expression on normal urothelial cells in tissue section and tissue culture.

Abstract Antigenic characterization of urothelial cells cultured from normal adult ureter was performed. These cells were cultured using a simplified isolation and culture technique and a commercially available serum-free medium. The cells growing in these cultures had epithelioid morphology and normal quantities of DNA. The antigen expression on these cultured normal urothelial cells was evaluated using a panel of monoclonal antibodies: 5G6.4, AN43, URO-5, anti-keratin and anti-blood group antibodies, and 425 (anti-epidermal growth factor receptor). Lower levels of anti-A and AN43 binding on cultured cells were observed than are seen on urothelial cells in sections of normal ureter, while the binding of anti-blood group H, 5G6.4, and URO-5 was unchanged. Binding of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor antibody 425 was improved if the cells were grown in medium lacking epidermal growth factor. These results confirm the urothelial origin of these cultured urothelial cells but indicate that some antigenic differences between cultured normal urothelial cells and urothelial cells in situ in the normal ureter exist. (J. Urol., 144: 1288–1292, 1990)
Xolair for Chronic Itch: Magic Bullet or Marketing Hype?

In early 2013, an article in the New York Times quoted the lead author of a study on chronic itch as stating that Xolair “is the magic bullet patients have been waiting for for the last 40 years.” With a price of perhaps $500-$2000 per month, is Xolair truly a breakthrough drug? The evidence is equivocal, and this article explains how a study can be carefully designed to create the appearance of superior efficacy even if there is none: by using a higher dose of the test drug while using a lower dose of the comparator drug.
Engineering Bacterial Microcompartments: Assembly, Permeability, and Cargo Targeting

Bacterial microcompartments (BMCs) are proteinaceous organelles encapsulating enzymes involved in anabolic (CO2 fixation) or catabolic (utilization of short chain organic compounds) pathways. Encapsulation enhances catalytic efficiency by the selective concentration of the enzymes with the requisite metabolites. The shell functions as an inert, semi-permeable barrier. BMCs are both genetic and metabolic modules and they have attracted significant attention as templates for the bioengineering of metabolism. New data on BMC structure, function, assembly and engineering will be presented.
Immunotherapy in a rare case of primary pelvic retroperitoneal melanoma

Recent advances in novel immunotherapeutic and targeted therapeutic agents have increased treatment options in patients with advanced metastatic melanoma. However, evidence in the literature on whether or not extracutaneous melanoma will acquire an equivalent advantage from these therapies is very scarce. In general, extracutaneous melanomas are rare and aggressive melanomas, which are clinically and biologically unique, with higher incidence of metastatic disease and poor prognosis. In this case report, we present a very rare case of a 54-year-old woman with primary pelvic retroperitoneal melanoma treated with an anti-PD-1 antibody, pembrolizumab. Furthermore, we explore the role of novel immunotherapies in the treatment of advanced melanoma.
Community water system infrastructure assessment in rural Uganda

In 2012, the Millennium Villages Project (MVP) and its partners launched the Ruhiira Community Water Supply Project (CWSP) providing piped water to ∼5,400 people (82% of the local population). The sustainability of water systems across Africa is known to be woefully inadequate and in response the CWSP was built using a full-systems approach, considering system design from source to distribution, local economics, maintenance and adaptability. In 2013, the CWSP served the expected number of people; however, consumption was only 15% of the year-one prediction, based on the 20 L/d/person millennium development goal water access indicator. Consumption was a major determinant of financial sustainability and the CWSP operated at a loss during its first two years of operation. The CWSP reduced community members' distance to a clean water source and had a small impact on socio-economic activities, but did not lead to clear public health benefits.
LOGICS ABOVE S4 AND THE LEBESGUE MEASURE ALGEBRA

We study the measure semantics for propositional modal logics, in which formulas are interpreted in the Lebesgue measure algebra , or algebra of Borel subsets of the real interval [0,1] modulo sets of measure zero. It was shown in Lando (2012) and Fernandez-Duque (2010) that the propositional modal logic S4 is complete for the Lebesgue measure algebra. The main result of the present paper is that every logic L above S4 is complete for some subalgebra of . Indeed, there is a single model over a subalgebra of in which all nontheorems of L are refuted. This work builds on recent work by Bezhanishvili, Gabelaia, & Lucero-Bryan (2015) on the topological semantics for logics above S4. In Bezhanishvili et al., (2015), it is shown that there are logics above that are not the logic of any subalgebra of the interior algebra over the real line, (ℝ), but that every logic above is the logic of some subalgebra of the interior algebra over the rationals, (ℚ), and the interior algebra over Cantor space, .
Adaptor Protein Lnk Negatively Regulates Bcr-Abl-Induced Cell Proliferation through Inhibition of the Stat5 Signaling Pathway.

Abstract Abstract 3406 Adaptor protein Lnk negatively regulates not only several hematopoietic cytokine receptors including MPL, EpoR and c-Kit, but also non-receptor tyrosine kinases such as JAK2 and Src. Our previous studies demonstrated that Lnk, when expressed in hematopoietic cell lines, binds and regulates the mutant proteins, JAK2V617F and MPLW515L. Recent in vivo studies have shown that Lnk has an important role in the development of myeloproliferative neoplasms. These data suggest that Lnk may have the ability to inhibit constitutively activated signaling pathways in hematopoietic malignancies. However, how Lnk can attenuate the activity of Bcr-Abl is unclear. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that Lnk might play a role in regulating Bcr-Abl function. In order to assess if Lnk can inhibit the proliferation of Bcr-Abl-positive hematopoietic cells, Bcr-Abl-expressing BaF3 cells were stably transfected with either Lnk (BaF3/Bcr-Abl/Lnk) or vector only (BaF3/ Bcr-Abl). Colony-formation assays revealed that Lnk significantly inhibited the proliferation of Bcr-Abl-expressing BaF3 cells. Similarly, overexpression of Lnk inhibited growth in the human CML cell line, K562. To determine the cause of growth inhibition by Lnk, assays for apoptosis were performed. Annexin V staining demonstrated that Lnk overexpression induced apoptosis in Bcr-Abl-expressing BaF3 cells. Western blotting analysis of protein lysates from BaF3/ Bcr-Abl /Lnk cells and BaF3/ Bcr-Abl cells found that Lnk-mediated growth inhibition was associated with downregulation of the Stat5 signaling pathway, but not associated with MAPK and PI3K signaling pathways. In addition, experiments in 293T cells expressing Bcr-Abl and Stat5 with either wild-type Lnk or SH2 mutant Lnk revealed that wild-type Lnk, but not SH2 mutant Lnk, inhibited phosphorylation of Stat5. Interestingly, Lnk inhibited Bcr-Abl-induced Stat5 phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner. These data suggest that the SH2 domain of Lnk is essential for Lnk–mediated downregulation of the Stat5 signaling pathway in Bcr-Abl-positive cells. Taken together, our data suggest that Lnk inhibits Bcr-Abl-induced cell proliferation by attenuating the Stat5 signal transduction and may become a therapeutic target for Bcr-Abl-positive leukemias such as chronic myeloid leukemia and Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Node-positive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: Survival, high-risk features, and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy outcomes.

Background Data lacks to guide treatment of regionally metastatic cutaneous head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Methods We conducted a retrospective review of 80 patients treated for regionally metastatic cutaneous HNSCC. The effect of various clinicopathologic variables on overall survival (OS) was investigated, in addition to outcomes by treatment modality. Results On multivariate regression, cutaneous primary >2 cm (p = .03) and extracapsular spread (ECS; p = .01) were significantly associated with decreased OS. Location of regional metastasis (neck vs parotid vs both) had no effect on OS (p = .2), nor did the presence of a cutaneous primary at the time of presentation (p = .9). The 3-year survival was 43%, 52%, and 49% for surgery alone, adjuvant radiation, and adjuvant chemoradiation, respectively. Fifty-one percent of patients had a recurrence of their disease. Conclusion Regionally metastatic cutaneous HNSCC is an aggressive disease associated with high recurrence rates. Patients with tumors >2 cm and ECS have poorer OS despite adjuvant therapy. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 881-885, 2017.
Specificity of Reward Sensitivity and Parasympathetic-Based Regulation among Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity and Disruptive Behavior Disorders.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with disruptionsin reward sensitivity and regulatory processes. However, it is unclear whether thesedisruptions are better explained by comorbid disruptive behavior disorder (DBD)symptomology. This study sought to examine this question using multiple levels ofanalysis (i.e., behavior, autonomic reactivity). One hundred seventeen children (aged 6 to 12 years; 72.6% male; 69 with ADHD) completed theBalloon-Analogue Risk Task (BART) to assess external reward sensitivity behaviorally.Sympathetic-based internal reward sensitivity and parasympathetic-based regulationwere indexed via cardiac pre-ejection period (PEP) and respiratory sinus arrhythmia(RSA), respectively. Children with ADHD exhibited reduced internal reward sensitivity (i.e.,lengthened PEP; F(1,112)=4.01, p=0.047) compared to healthy controls and werecharacterized by greater parasympathetic-based dysregulation (i.e., reduced RSAaugmentation F(1,112)=10.12, p=0.002). However, follow-up analyses indicated theADHD effect was better accounted for by comorbid DBD diagnoses; that is, childrenwith ADHD and comorbid ODD were characterized by reduced internal rewardsensitivity (i.e., lengthened PEP; t=2.47, p=0.046) and by parasympathetic-baseddysregulation (i.e., reduced RSA augmentation; t=3.51, p=0.002) in response to rewardwhen compared to typically developing youth. Furthermore, children with ADHD and comorbid CD exhibited greater behaviorally-based external reward sensitivity (i.e.,more total pops; F(3,110)= 5.96, p=0.001) compared to children with ADHD only (t=3.87, p=0.001) and children with ADHD and ODD (t=3.56, p=0.003). Results suggest that disruptions in sensitivity to reward may be betteraccounted for, in part, by comorbid DBD.Key Words: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autonomic nervous system,disruptive behavior disorders, reward sensitivityPowered
The Effect of Gender Body-Swap Illusions on Working Memory and Stereotype Threat

The underrepresentation of women in technical and STEM fields is a well-known problem, and stereotype threatening situations have been linked to the inability to recruit and retain women into these fields. Virtual reality enables the unique ability to perform body-swap illusions, and research has shown that these illusions can change participant behavior. Characteristically people take on the traits of the avatar they are embodying. We hypothesized that female participants embodying male avatars when a stereotype threat was made salient would demonstrate stereotype lift. We tested our hypothesis through a between-participants user study in an immersive virtual environment by measuring working memory. Our results support that stereotype threat can be induced in an immersive virtual environment, and that stereotype lift is possible with fully-immersive body-swap illusions. Additionally, our results suggest that participants in a gender-swapped avatar without an induced stereotype threat have significantly impaired working memory; however, this impairment is lifted when a threat is made salient. We discuss possible theories as to why a body-swap illusion from a female participant into a male avatar would only increase working memory impairment when not under threat, as well as applications and future research directions. Our results offer additional insight into understanding the cognitive effects of body-swap illusions, and provide evidence that virtual reality may be an applicable tool for decreasing the gender gap in technology.
Multi-institutional Evaluation of Upper Urinary Tract Biopsy Using Backloaded Cup Biopsy Forceps, a Nitinol Basket, and Standard Cup Biopsy Forceps

Objective To compare the performance of 3 contemporary ureteroscopic biopsy devices for the histopathologic diagnosis of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). Methods We retrospectively reviewed 145 patients who underwent 182 urothelial biopsies using 2.4F backloaded cup biopsy forceps, a nitinol basket, or 3F standard cup biopsy forceps at 3 tertiary academic centers between 2011 and 2016. Experienced genitourinary pathologists provided an assessment of each specimen without knowledge of the device used for biopsy. For patients who underwent nephroureterectomy without neoadjuvant chemotherapy within 3 months of biopsy-proven UTUC diagnosis, the biopsy grade was compared with both the grade and stage of the surgical specimen. Results Biopsy utilization varied among the 3 institutions (P .05) and was favored over standard cup forceps specimens. Grade concordance was not affected by specimen size (P >.05), morphology (P >.1), or location (P >.5). No difference existed among the devices in the rate of acquiring a grade concordant biopsy; however, the backloaded cup forceps provided concordant biopsies that could be distinguished as low- and high-grade (P = .02). Conclusion The backloaded cup forceps and nitinol basket obtained a higher quality urothelial specimen compared with standard cup forceps. Ureteroscopic biopsy device selection did not significantly impact the accuracy of the histologic diagnosis of UTUC.
Learning Procedures from Text: Codifying How-to Procedures in Deep Neural Networks

A lot of knowledge about procedures and how-tos are described in text. Recently, extracting semantic relations from the procedural text has been actively explored. Prior work mostly has focused on finding relationships among verb-noun pairs or clustering of extracted pairs. In this paper, we investigate the problem of learning individual procedure-specific relationships (e.g. is method of, is alternative of, or is subtask of) among sentences. To identify the relationships, we propose an end-to-end neural network architecture, which can selectively learn important procedure-specific relationships. Using this approach, we could construct a how-to knowledge base from the largest procedure sharing-community, wiki-how.com. The evaluation of our approach shows that it outperforms the existing entity relationship extraction algorithms.
The Role of Affect in Extrinsic Incentives

Extrinsic incentives play a key role in motivating behavior. However, conflicting findings have been observed with respect to how the nature of an extrinsic incentive (e.g., a cash reward vs. a donation to charity) and its associated monetary amount shape motivation. We propose a framework to address these inconsistencies. Our framework decomposes the total value of an extrinsic incentive into its cognitive value (i.e., the tangible benefits to the self) and its affective value (i.e., the emotional response it triggers). By establishing these bases for valuation, we reconcile several conundrums including when donation incentives can be more motivating than monetary rewards to the self, and why monetary incentives of the same amount can be differentially motivating. The research thus addresses important practical questions about how to design incentives, and contributes to theories of motivation under incentives.
Symbiont-derived sphingolipids regulate inflammatory responses in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Abstract Farmed fish live in association with diverse bacterial communities that produce wide arrays of metabolites. In rainbow trout, the skin and the gills are colonized by Flectobacillus major, a bacterium known to produce sphingolipids (SLs). The goal of this study is to evaluate the ability of F. major SLs to regulate rainbow trout inflammatory responses. F. major SLs were delivered by themselves or in combination with Freund's Complete Adjuvant (FCA), an oil-based adjuvant known to cause severe abdominal inflammation when injected to fish. Trout injected with SL + FCA showed decreased severity of FCA toxic effects including necrosis, granuloma formation and presence of oil droplets. However, inclusion of SLs in the FCA preparation did not decrease infiltration of immune cells intramuscularly at the site of injection. Intraperitoneal or intravenous delivery of F. major SLs resulted in increased expression of IgT, IgM and TGFβ transcripts in the gills but not the head-kidney and had no effects on IL-10 expression. These results indicate the F. major SLs regulate rainbow trout inflammatory responses and indicate that this compound can have important applications in farmed fish health management.