cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Integration of Leptin with Other Signals Regulating the Timing of Puberty

How puberty is timed remains a major unanswered question in reproductive biology. Perhaps there is no single answer because there are many factors that time puberty. Leptin may be one of these answers, but the challenge is to fit this metabolic cue into our overall understanding of how sexual maturity is timed during the life of the individual. There are a variety of considerations, among which are the definition of puberty, level of inquiry, internal versus external influences, and differences between sexes and species. This chapter attempts to place leptin into the constellation of common and unique mechanisms that have been proposed to time the irreversible transition into adulthood. Studies using sheep as an experimental model have strongly influenced the formulation of our overall view of how puberty is timed in a large mammal living in a natural environment. As will become evident, in this species, the immediate cue timing puberty is different in males and females. Therefore, while we have been historically interested in how puberty is timed in the female, the mechanisms are more complex than for the male. Thus, our investigations into the importance of leptin as a pubertal signal in the sheep have been in the male. As a prelude to discussing the role of leptin in puberty, it is essential to lay the groundwork for what constitutes puberty. A backdrop to this discussion is a consideration of the level at which the investigations are being conducted. Although it is obvious that there is no gene for puberty, the level of investigation can range from integrative biology to molecular biology. Finally, the development of animal models and approaches even within a single species, is fraught with pitfalls, and the interpretation of data depends on the model from which they are obtained.
A clustering-based approach to ontology alignment

Ontology alignment is an important problem for the linked data web, as more and more ontologies and ontology instances get published for specific domains such as government and healthcare. A number of (semi-)automated alignment systems have been proposed in recent years. Most combine a set of similarity functions on lexical, semantic and structural features to align ontologies. Although these functions work well in many cases of ontology alignments, they fail to capture alignments when terms or structure varies vastly across ontologies. In this case, one is forced to rely on manual alignment. In this paper, we study whether it is feasible to re-use such expert provided ontology alignments for new alignment tasks. We focus in particular on many-to-one alignments, where the opportunity for re-use is feasible if alignments are stable. Specifically, we define the notion of a cluster as being made of multiple entities in the source ontology S that are mapped to the same entity in the target ontology τ. We test the stability hypothesis that the formed clusters of source ontology are stable across alignments to different target ontologies. If this hypothesis is valid, the clusters of an ontology S, built from an existing alignment with an ontology τ, can be effectively exploited to align S with a new ontology τ′. Evaluation on both manual and automated high-quality alignments show remarkable stability of clusters across ontology alignments in the financial domain and the healthcare and life sciences domain. Experimental evaluation also demonstrates the effectiveness of utilizing the stability of clusters in improving the alignment process in terms of precision and recall.
Chronic Stress and Endothelial Dysfunction: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Background Endothelial dysfunction may represent an important link between chronic stress and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, few studies have examined the impact of chronic stress on endothelial dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to examine whether chronic stress was associated with flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and 2 biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction (intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and E-selectin) in a multiethnic sample of adults (ages 45-84 years). Methods Data come from the baseline examination of Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis participants. Chronic stress was assessed based on self-report of the presence and severity of ongoing problems in 5 domains. FMD was obtained using high-resolution ultrasound; biomarkers were assayed in different subsets of participants. Results Higher chronic stress was associated with lower absolute FMD (mm FMD) in models adjusted for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics (0.169mm in high-stress participants vs. 0.178 and 0.179mm in medium and low-stress participants; P for trend = 0.04). This association remained unchanged with further adjustment for behavioral and biological CVD risk factors. Higher stress was related to higher ICAM-1 in models adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics and biological risk factors (P for trend = 0.005), but this association attenuated with adjustment for cigarette smoking (P for trend = 0.07). Chronic stress was not associated with E-selectin. Conclusions Our findings suggest chronic stress is related to endothelial dysfunction, possibly in part through other stress-associated CVD risk factors such as cigarette smoking.
Multicomponent competitive monovalent cation exchange in hierarchical porous media with multimodal reactive mineral facies

This paper presents a stochastic model for multicomponent competitive monovalent cation exchange in hierarchical porous media. Reactive transport in porous media is highly sensitive to heterogeneities in physical and chemical properties, such as hydraulic conductivity (K), and cation exchange capacity (CEC). We use a conceptual model for multimodal reactive mineral facies and develop a Eulerian-based stochastic theory to analyze the transport of multiple cations in heterogeneous media with a hierarchical organization of reactive minerals. Numerical examples investigate the retardation factors and dispersivities in a chemical system made of three monovalent cations (Na+, K+, and Cs+). The results demonstrate how heterogeneity influences the transport of competitive monovalent cations, and highlight the importance of correlations between K and CEC. Further sensitivity analyses are presented investigating how the dispersion and retardation of each cation are affected by the means, variances, and integral scales of K and CEC. The volume fraction of organic matter is shown to be another important parameter. The Eulerian stochastic framework presented in this work clarifies the importance of each system parameters on the migration of cation plumes in formations with hierarchical organization of facies types. Our stochastic approach could be used as an alternative to numerical simulations for 3D reactive transport in hierarchical porous media, which become prohibitively expensive for the multicomponent applications considered in this work.
Therapies for Hemorrhagic Transformation in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Hemorrhagic transformation occurs in about 10–15% of patients with acute ischemic stroke. The treatment of hemorrhagic conversion is complex and includes blood pressure management, reversing coagulopathy, and managing its complications including increased intracranial pressure. Future research should be directed on identifying indications to treat and use of appropriate homeostatic regimens to effectively reverse the different anticoagulants and thrombolytic agents in an attempt to improve outcomes of patients with hemorrhagic transformation.
There is No “Dis” in our Abilities: Acknowledging the Experience of the Differently-Abled Community

Living with a disability, or different ability, is undeniably challenging. Not only are individuals with different abilities challenged to overcome the physical trails associated with their respective medical conditions, they must also persevere through the life-long process of reconciling their personal views of themselves with the negative perceptions and prejudices of society. The psychological consequences of this task are complex and often indelible. In addition to combating social stigma, the differently-abled community is confronted with numerous physical barriers, political restrictions, and a history plagued with inferior status. Fortunately, the world has progressed in its acceptance, and is continuing to improve its treatment of individuals with different abilities. Nevertheless, there is still great progress to be made in the movement toward equality and full inclusion. Differently-abled women, for example, are continuously faced with the trials of intersectionality, the results of being both female and differently abled, which primarily includes sexual oppression. Thus, individuals with different abilities are encouraged to be more engaged in the practice of self-advocacy. Family, friends, and allies must also maintain their support of individuals with different abilities, an element that is critical to the community’s success. Helping professionals who serve the differently-abled community are urged to educate themselves on the adversity experienced by the community, to acknowledge how other cultural identities intersect with the differently abled culture, and to employ strengths-based theoretical paradigms that will produce the most empowering results for their clients. Helping professionals with different abilities, furthermore, are called upon to lead the identity and civil rights movement of the differently-abled community.
Understanding and Improving Arterial Roads to Support Public Health and Transportation Goals.

Arterials are types of roads designed to carry high volumes of motorized traffic. They are an integral part of transportation systems worldwide and exposure to them is ubiquitous, especially in urban areas. Arterials provide access to diverse commercial and cultural resources, which can positively influence community health by supporting social cohesion as well as economic and cultural opportunities. They can negatively influence health via safety issues, noise, air pollution, and lack of economic development. The aims of public health and transportation partially overlap; efforts to improve arterials can meet goals of both professions.Two trends in arterial design show promise. First, transportation professionals increasingly define the performance of arterials via metrics accounting for pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and nearby residents in addition to motor vehicle users. Second, applying traffic engineering and design can generate safety, air quality, and livability benefits, but we need evide...
Formal Verification of Truncated Multipliers Using Algebraic Approach and Re-Synthesis

This paper presents a formal approach to verify multipliers that approximate integer multiplication by output truncation. The method is based on extracting polynomial signature of a truncated multiplier using algebraic rewriting. To efficiently compute the polynomial signature, a multiplier reconstruction approach is used to construct the precise multi- plier from the truncated one. The method consists of three basic steps: 1) determine the weights (binary encoding) of the output bits; 2) reconstruct the truncated multiplier using functional merging and re-synthesis; and 3) construct the polynomial signature of the resulting circuit. The method has been tested on multipliers up to 256 bits with three truncation schemes: Deletion, D-truncation, and Truncation with Rounding. Experimental results are compared with the state-of-the-art SAT, SMT, and computer algebraic solvers.
Abstract TMP31: Two Doses of Remote Limb Ischemic Conditioning Augment Learning in Healthy Adults

Background and Purpose: Remote limb ischemic conditioning (RLIC), delivered through brief intermittent bouts of blood pressure cuff inflation on the arm, has recently been shown to have neuroprotective effects. Because the mechanisms through which RLIC promotes tissue protection are multifactorial and epigenetic, RLIC holds promise as a neurorecovery agent to augment learning and optimize rehabilitation outcomes following a stroke. The purposes of this study were to test if RLIC enhanced motor and cognitive learning in human adults compared to a sham treatment and to determine if RLIC at 20 mmHg above systolic blood pressure would yield equivalent results as RLIC to 200 mmHg. Methods: Thirty adults were randomized to three treatment groups (n=10 per group), and participated in a 7 day protocol of RLIC/sham conditioning followed by motor and cognitive training, to induce learning. Learning was assessed at the end of the 7th day and at 2 and 4 week follow-ups. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVAs with planned post-hoc comparisons to analyze group-by-time interaction effects. Results: Despite the same initial motor performance, the two RLIC groups had larger improvements after training at Day 7 compared to the sham group (mean seconds in balance change score ± SEM; RLIC+20: 16.9 ± 1.5 secs; RLIC200: 16.6 ± 1.0 secs; sham: 9.6 ± 1.4 secs; p ≤ .001). Improvements in motor performance in the RLIC groups were retained at 2 week (p = .001) and 4 week (p ≤ .001) follow-ups. There was also a trend towards greater improvements in cognitive performance after training at Day 7 in the two RLIC groups compared to the sham group (mean correct response reaction time change score ± SEM; RLIC+20: -98.4 ± 14.2 ms; RLIC200: -93.0 ± 20.5 ms; sham: -46.6 ± 13.1 ms; p = .074). The two RLIC groups were equivalent at each time point for motor (p = 0.56 - 0.99) and cognitive (p = 0.79 - 0.97) performance. Conclusions: RLIC, induced with cuff inflation as low as 20 mmHg above systolic blood pressure, had a robust effect on both motor and cognitive learning paradigms in healthy adults. RLIC could be a low-cost and clinically-feasible strategy to augment learning and enhance neurorehabilitation following stroke.
A Phase II Clinical Trial of Low-Dose Inhaled Carbon Monoxide in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Background Preclinical studies have demonstrated that low-dose carbon monoxide (CO) can abrogate experimental lung fibrosis. To test the therapeutic role of inhaled CO, we designed a clinical study in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Methods We conducted a multicenter, phase IIa, double-blinded, sham-controlled, clinical trial. Patients with IPF were randomized to treatment with inhaled CO at 100 to 200 parts per million or to inhaled 21% oxygen for 2 h daily, twice weekly, for 12 weeks. The primary study end point was the difference in change in matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP7) serum concentration after 12 weeks of treatment. Secondary end points included pulmonary function test measures, 6-min walk distance, rates of adverse events, acute exacerbation, hospitalization and death, and quality of life measures. Results Fifty-eight subjects were randomized to treatment with inhaled CO (n = 29) or placebo (n = 29). Despite modest increases in CO blood levels, the change in MMP7 concentrations after 12 weeks of treatment did not significantly differ between the study arms (MMP7 difference at week 12, −0.90 ng/mL; 95% CI, −4.18 to 2.38 ng/mL). No differences were observed in physiologic measures, incidence of acute exacerbations, hospitalization, death, or patient-reported outcomes. Importantly, no differences in distribution of adverse events were noted between the treatment arms. Conclusions Inhaled CO is well tolerated and can be safely administered to patients with IPF in the ambulatory setting; however, inhaled CO did not result in significant changes in study end points. Our findings support testing the efficacy of inhaled therapies in future IPF clinical trials. Trial Registry ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT01214187; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov.
AHRQ's Tools for Better Practice: Helping Family Physicians Manage Today's Challenges

The AHRQ invests in innovative primary care research to generate new knowledge, synthesize existing evidence that is applicable to the primary care setting, and create tools for improving primary care practice. They would like your feedback on the tools included in this article.
Pathway to the Presidency: The Perceived Impact of Identity Structures on the Journey Experiences of Women College Presidents

This phenomenological study utilizes the framework of Intersectionality to explore the perceived impact of race, gender, and other identity structures on the journey experiences of seven White and six African American women college presidents. Findings suggest that while gender is becoming more peripheral, the interlocking tensions of race and gender often shape the journey experiences of African American women, with race appearing to be a salient factor. Despite challenges resulting from these social constructs, the women employed various strategies for navigating the presidential pipeline including mentorship, leadership development programs, and firm assurance of institutional fit.
The Malayan Emergency: Essays on a Small, Distant War: Yao, Souchou Copenhagen: NIAS Press 208 pp., $24.88 ISBN 978-8776941918 Publication Date: July 2016

Since 2001 and the beginning of America's wars in Afghanistan and (later) Iraq, scholars, historians, and military thinkers have devoted much effort to understanding the dynamics of insurgencies an...
Assessing the Potential Mechanisms of Isomerization Reactions of Isoprene Epoxydiols on Secondary Organic Aerosol

Laboratory and field measurements have demonstrated that isoprene epoxydiol (IEPOX) is the base component of a wide range of chemical species found in isoprene-derived secondary organic aerosol (SOA). To address newly raised questions concerning the chemical identities of IEPOX-derived SOA, the results of laboratory experiments carried out in bulk aqueous and organic media and analyzed via nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and computed free energies of possible products are reported. The IEPOX nucleophilic addition product 2-methyltetrol was found to react too slowly in aqueous solution to explain the previous observation of tetrahydrofuran-based species. The IEPOX isomerization reactions in organic media were shown to mainly produce 3-methyltetrahydrofuran-2,4-diols, which were also established by the computational results as one of the most thermodynamically favorable possible IEPOX reaction products. However, these isomerization reactions were found to be relatively slow as compared to nucleophil...
ICI Research Perspective: Trends in the Expenses and Fees of Mutual Funds, 2012

This study examines recent trends in the expenses and fees of mutual funds. Expense ratios of equity, bond, and hybrid funds declined in 2012 owing to reductions in the expense ratios of individual funds, an increase in the demand for index funds, and a continuing shift by investors in both actively managed and index funds toward lower-cost funds. Expense ratios of money market funds declined sharply as assets migrated toward lower-cost funds and funds continued to waive large portions of expenses. Waiving expenses helps offset the effects of the current low interest rate environment on a fund’s net yield. Expense ratios of target date mutual funds were 58 basis points in 2012, down from 67 basis points in 2008. Two factors likely played a role. First, assets in target date mutual funds have tripled since 2008, lowering fund expense ratios through economies of scale. Second, a greater concentration of assets in lower-cost target date mutual funds pushed down the average expenses of these funds.
Detection of trichinellosis in pigs by artificial digestion and enzyme immunoassay.

The objective of this study was to demonstrate the reliability of current and proposed methods for the inspection of swine and other species for infection with the parasite Trichinella spiralis. Five groups of pigs were infected with doses of 2500, 500, 100, 50, and 20 T. spiralis larvae to establish moderate and low-level infections. Pigs were bled periodically during the study for samples to be tested by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). At the conclusion of the study, pigs were slaughtered and tissues collected for analyses of worm burdens and for comparison of digestion testing methods. Comparisons of pooled sample digestion methods were made using inspection methods prescribed by European Union Directives and the USDA, Code of Federal Regulations. Pooled sample digestion testing using 1-g samples was effective for detecting pigs with larval densities of > 10 larvae per gram (LPG) of tissue but only partially effective for pigs with infections of 1 LPG. The EIA detected all T. spiralis-infected pigs, but did not detect infections in some pigs until 49 days after inoculation. These results demonstrate that the pooled sample digestion method using a 5-g sample size is the most effective inspection method for reducing the risk of human exposure to T. spiralis in pork.
Types and causes of cracking in concrete structures

Abstract: Distress mechanisms that can initiate or contribute to concrete cracking may be divided into those that occur in the plastic state and those that occur in the hardened state, and may also be differentiated by whether they arise from internal factors or from external factors, such as thermal expansion, overloading, restraint, or chemical reactions. The cracks themselves may range from minute internal microcracks to very large cracks caused by external factors of nature. A successful repair or mitigation of concrete distress requires a careful determination of the root cause of the cracking by methods that include visual observation, coring, and non-destructive testing.
The Integrated Information Theory of Consciousness

The integrated information theory (IIT) starts from phenomenology and makes a critical use of thought experiments, to claim that consciousness is integrated information. Specifically: (1) the quantity of consciousness is given by the amount of integrated information generated by a complex of elements, and (2) the quality of experience is given by the set of informational relationships within that complex. Integrated information (Φ) is defined as the amount of information generated by causal interactions within a complex of elements, above and beyond the information generated independently by its parts. Qualia space (Q) is a space where each axis represents a possible state of the complex, each point is a probability distribution of its states, and arrows between points represent the informational relationships generated by causal interactions among its elements. Together, the set of informational relationships within a complex specifies a shape in Q that in turn specifies a particular experience. Several observations concerning the neural substrate of consciousness fall naturally into place within the IIT framework. Among them are the association of consciousness with certain neural systems rather than with others; the fact that neural processes underlying consciousness can influence or be influenced by neural processes that remain unconscious; the reduction of consciousness during dreamless sleep and generalized seizures and the distinct role of different cortical architectures in affecting the quality of experience.
Utilizing Dynamic Bayes Nets to Improve Early Prediction Models of Self-regulated Learning

Student engagement and motivation during learning activities is tied to better learning behaviors and outcomes and has prompted the development of learner-guided environments. These systems attempt to personalize learning by allowing students to select their own tasks and activities. However, recent evidence suggests that not all students are equally capable of guiding their own learning. Some students are highly self-regulated learners and are able to select learning goals, identify appropriate tasks and activities to achieve these goals and monitor their progress resulting in improved learning and motivational benefits over traditional learning tasks. Students who lack these skills are markedly less successful in self-guided learning environments and require additional scaffolding to be able to navigate them successfully. Prior work has examined these phenomena within the learner-guided environment, Crystal Island, and identified the need for early prediction of students’ self-regulated learning abilities. This work builds upon these findings and presents a dynamic Bayesian approach that significantly improves the classification accuracy of student self-regulated learning skills.
The Effect of Ambient Temperature on the Modulation of Thermoregulatory Mechanisms by Selective Opioid Peptides

We have characterized the effects of highly selective opioid agonists and antagonists on body temperature, heat exchange and oxygen consumption at ambient temperatures above and below the thermoneutral zone. The thermoregulatory effects of these selective agonists differ from those seen at thermoneutral ambient. Such differences are to be expected when a system involved in thermoregulation is perturbed from its normal state.
Detecting Axion Dark Matter with Superconducting Qubits

Axion dark matter haloscopes aim to detect dark matter axions converting to single photons in resonant cavities bathed in a uniform magnetic field. A qubit (two level system) operating as a single microwave photon detector is a viable readout system for such detectors and may offer advantages over the quantum limited amplifiers currently used. When weakly coupled to the detection cavity, the qubit transition frequency is shifted by an amount proportional to the cavity photon number. Through spectroscopy of the qubit, the frequency shift is measured and the cavity occupation number is extracted. At low enough temperatures, this would allow sensitivities exceeding that of the standard quantum limit.
Performance Appraisal Problems in the Public Sector: Examining Supervisors’ Perceptions:

Employee perceptions of performance appraisal processes have received considerable attention in the public management literature, but the views of supervisors who actually conduct the appraisals ha...
Abstract #2202: Sonic hedgehog-induced expression of mRNA translation machinery components leads to differential regulation of the eIF4E and S6 kinase branches of the mTOR pathway in proliferating neural progenitors

Normal development of the cerebellum is required for proper movement coordination, balance, and posture. Cerebellar development takes place largely post-natally in mice and humans, and is marked by the rapid expansion of cerebellar granule neuron precursors (CGNPs), which proliferate in response to Sonic hedgehog (Shh) released from neighboring Purkinje neurons. These cells also require insulin-like growth factor (IGF) for their proliferation and survival. CGNPs have been proposed as cells-of-origin for certain classes of medulloblastoma, the most common solid pediatric malignancy. Aberrant activation of the Shh pathway and expression of its downstream components is implicated in medulloblastoma, and IGF pathway activity is also found in these tumors. We have investigated how the Shh pathway interacts with the mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, which induces new protein synthesis in response to IGF signaling. Phosphorylation by the kinase mTOR is understood to result in (a) inhibition of 4E-BP proteins, which results in activation of the mRNA cap-binding protein eIF4E, and (2) activation of S6 kinase, which is thought to play roles in cell size increase. We found that Shh induced increased levels and phosphorylation of 4E-BP2 in proliferating CGNPs, and increased levels of eIF4E, but decreased levels of S6 kinase activity. Further, we found that Shh up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of almost all components of the mRNA cap-binding complex, many of which are mTOR substrates. Signals to induce CGNP cell cycle exit resulted in reduction in levels of these proteins, and restoration of S6 kinase activity. Our results are consistent with a model in which cap-binding components compete with S6 kinase for phosphorylation by mTOR, to promote proliferation-associated mRNA translation, while S6 kinase plays roles in cell cycle exit and differentiation, a process associated with CGNP cell size increase. Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr 2202.
Doing things for no reason in the hospital.

Many of the things we do as doctors continue simply because “that’s the way we’ve always done it,” says Abraar Karan
ELITE: Efficiently Locating Insertions of Transposable Elements

A large fraction of mammalian genome consists of transposable elements (TEs). These elements are segments of DNA that either move or are copied from one place in the genome to another. Such movements can cause deleterious mutations and drive chromosome evolution. Existing approaches search for TE insertion (TEi) by aligning millions of mostly irrelevant short reads to either a reference genome or a TE sequence library. Here we present a new local genome assembly based pipeline, called ELITE, for identifying and characterizing TEi. ELITE uses an msBWT-based data structure to store and index all the reads from a high-throughput sequencing dataset and leverages a sampled FM-index to detect TEi efficiently. In comparison with two existing tools, ELITE is faster and has a higher precision and recall rate in predicting TEi. ELITE also works on real data, which we validated using PCR assays of surrounding genomic context. Additional features of ELITE include finding zygosity status of a predicted TEi, discovering unannotated TEs that are distantly related to the target one, and providing a summary of TEi sharing pattern within a population.
On-The-Fly Prediction of Macroscopic Cross-Section Spatial Response to TH Perturbations Through Transfer Functions: Theory and First Results

AbstractMonte Carlo (MC) codes are widely used for the accurate modeling of nuclear reactors. However, efficient inclusion of thermal-hydraulic (TH) feedback within the MC calculation sequence is s...
Listening During Political Conversations: Traits and Situations

Recent political theory in the areas of dialogic and deliberative democracy has placed particular emphasis on the importance of listening in contexts in which people disagree strongly, have competi...
The function of CD8+ T cells in severe hand, foot and mouth disease infected by enterovirus 71

Objective To investigate the correlation between the expression of peripheral blood CD8+ T lymphocytes and the severity degree of hand, foot and mouth disease(HFMD) in children infected by enterovirus(EV)71 at different ages, and further to predict the role of the expression of CD8+ T lymphocytes played in the occurrence of neurological complications infected by EV71. Methods A total of 138 peripheral blood samples derived from the confirmed HFMD cases were collected in the department of infectious disease at Kunming Children′s Hospital between March and September in 2014, including 33 mild cases, 45 severe cases, and 60 critical cases.Patient ages were 9 months to 5 years old.Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of peripheral blood CD8+ T lymphocytes in all of above patients. Results Compared to the reference value of CD8+ T lymphocytes in normal healthy children at different age groups, the percentage of peripheral blood CD8+ T lymphocytes elevated or increased slightly in patients of all ages, except the obviously increasing expression in the age group of ~2 years and decreasing expression in critical cases of the age group of ~5 years.The expression of peripheral blood CD8+ T lymphocytes significantly increased in mild and severe patients but slightly increased in critical patients of the age group of 9 to 15 months, gradually decreased in the age group of ~2 years and slightly increased in mild and severe cases but decreased in critical patients of the age group of ~5 years.There were significant differences between the patients in mild condition and in severe condition or critical condition respectively within the age group of ~2 years(P<0.05), and there were no significant differences in other age groups between different severity of disease. Conclusion There are correlations between the expression of CD8+ T cells and the severity of HFMD in patients at different ages.Especially, the patient′s condition developing into severe degree is associated with the rapid decreasing of CD8+ T cells in HFMD patients of the age group of ~2 years.CD8+ T cells play an important role in antiviral immune response in HFMD patients of ~2 years old. Key words: CD8+ T lymphocytes; Enterovirus 71; Hand, foot and mouth disease
Describing the emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment symptoms associated with Maslach Burnout Inventory subscale scores in US physicians: an item response theory analysis.

Current US health policy discussions regarding physician burnout have largely been informed by studies employing the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI); yet, there is little in the literature focused on interpreting MBI scores. We described the burnout symptoms and precision associated with MBI scores in US physicians. Using item response theory (IRT) analyses of secondary, cross-sectional survey data, we created response profiles describing the probability of burnout symptoms associated with US physicians’ MBI emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and personal accomplishment (PA) subscale scores. Response profiles were mapped to raw subscale scores and used to predict symptom endorsements at mean scores and commonly used cut-points. The average US physician was likely to endorse feeling he/she is emotionally drained, used up, frustrated, and working too hard and all PA indicators once weekly or more but was unlikely to endorse feeling any DP symptoms once weekly or more. At the commonly used EE and DP cut-points of 27 and 10, respectively, a physician was unlikely to endorse feeling burned out or any DP symptoms once weekly or more. Each subscale assessed the majority of sample score ranges with ≥ 0.70 reliability. We produced a crosswalk mapping raw MBI subscale scores to scaled scores and response profiles calibrated in a US physician sample. Our results can be used to better understand the meaning and precision of MBI scores in US physicians; compare individual/group MBI scores against a reference population of US physicians; and inform the selection of subscale cut-points for defining categorical physician burnout outcomes.
Integrative Genomic Analysis Identifies the Soluble Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products as Putatively Causal for Rheumatoid Arthritis

ABSTRACT Objectives Identifying causal biomarkers of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to improve treatment and monitor disease progression remains a critical but elusive goal. To search for putatively causal protein biomarkers of RA, we designed an integrative genomic strategy utilizing Mendelian randomization (MR), which allows for causal inference between an exposure and an outcome by incorporating genetic variants associated with an exposure (circulating protein level) and inferring its effect on the outcome (rheumatoid arthritis). Methods We utilized genetic variants associated with 71 cardiovascular disease-related proteins measured in nearly 7000 Framingham Heart Study participants in conjunction with variants associated with RA in a genome-wide association study (GWAS) from the UK Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit (19,234 cases, 61,565 controls) to identify putatively causal proteins for RA. In addition, we applied MR to study circulating rheumatoid factor (RF) levels using GWAS of RF from the UK Biobank (n=30,565) as the outcome. Results We identified the soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE), a critical inflammatory pathway protein, as putatively causal and protective for both RA (odds ratio per 1 standard deviation increment in inverse-rank normalized sRAGE level=0.482; 95% confidence interval 0.374-0.622; p=1.85×10−08) and RF levels (β [change in RF level per sRAGE increment]=-1.280; SE=0.434; p=0.003). Conclusions By integrating GWAS of 71 cardiovascular disease-related proteins, RA, and RF, we identified sRAGE as a putatively causal protein protective for both RA ad RF levels. These results highlight the AGER/RAGE axis as a promising new target for RA treatment.
Discriminating Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children Requiring Treatment from Common Febrile Conditions in Outpatient Settings.

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether patients with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) demonstrated well-defined clinical features distinct from other febrile outpatients, given the difficulties of seeing acute care visits during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic and the risks associated with both over- and underdiagnosis of MIS-C. STUDY DESIGN: This case-controlled study compared patients diagnosed with and treated for MIS-C at a large urban children's hospital with patients evaluated for fever at outpatient acute care visits during the peak period of MIS-C. Symptomatology and available objective data were extracted. Comparisons were performed using t tests with corrections for multiple comparisons, and multivariable logistic regression to obtain ORs. RESULTS: We identified 44 patients with MIS-C between April 16 and June 10, 2020. During the same period, 181 pediatric patients were evaluated for febrile illnesses in participating outpatient clinics. Patients with MIS-C reported greater median maximum reported temperature height (40°C vs 38.9, P < .0001), and increased frequency of abdominal pain (OR 12.5, 95% CI [1.65-33.24]), neck pain (536.5, [2.23-129,029]), conjunctivitis (31.3, [4.6-212.8]), oral mucosal irritation (11.8, [1.4-99.4]), extremity swelling or rash (99.9, [5-1960]), and generalized rash (7.42, [1.6-33.2]). Patients with MIS-C demonstrated lower absolute lymphocyte (P < .0001) and platelet counts (P < .05) and greater C-reactive protein concentrations (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients treated for MIS-C due to concern for potential cardiac injury show combinations of features distinct from other febrile patients seen in outpatient clinics during the same period.
Incongruous and illegitimate: Antisemitic and Islamophobic semiotic violence against women in politics in the United Kingdom

Abstract Violence against women in politics encompasses physical, psychological, economic, sexual and semiotic forms of violence, targeting women because their gender is seen as threatening to hegemonic political norms. Theoretical debates over these categories and empirical applications to global cases often overlook that backgrounds and lived experiences of women in politics can differ considerably. Using the United Kingdom as a case study, in this article I analyze different manifestations of online semiotic violence – violence perpetrated through words and images seeking to render women incompetent and invisible (Krook 2020, 187) – against female, religious-minority politicians. Through a qualitative discursive approach, I identify patterns and strategies of violence in an original dataset of Twitter posts that mention the usernames of seven prominent Muslim and Jewish female politicians. Results show that multiply-marginalized politicians are exposed to both sexist and racist rhetoric online. In this case, semiotic violence functions to render women incompetent using racist disloyalty tropes as well as to render women invisible by invalidating their testimonies of abuse.
Hearing Loss Diagnosis and Early Hearing-Related Interventions in Infants With or at High Risk for Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review:

Aim:To synthesize published evidence regarding hearing impairment diagnosis and interventions in infants with or at high risk for cerebral palsy in the first year after birth.Method:Nine databases ...
Neighborhood Environment and Child Health in Immigrant Families: Using Nationally Representative Individual, Family, and Community Datasets:

Purpose:This study aimed to examine neighborhood effects on the physical and socioemotional health of children from immigrant families, after controlling for parents’ demographic characteristics, s...
Plasticity and structure evolution of ferrite and martensite in DP 1180 during tension and cyclic bending under tension to large strains

Abstract This paper describes the main results obtained from a detailed experimental investigation into the dislocation and twinned structures that develop in dual phase (DP) steel sheets. In particular, the morphology and defect-structures present in DP 1180 steel having 55% ferrite and 45% martensite, were examined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Microstructure of the as-received DP 1180 consists of a twin-free martensite phase in the form of lath and island morphologies and a ferrite phase exhibiting a relatively low dislocation content (3.41 × 108 cm−2). The steel was deformed in simple tension (ST) to fracture and in continuous-bending-under-tension (CBT) to six cycles. As the CBT test facilitates stretching of the sheet considerably beyond the point of necking, strength increases and substantially exceeds that achieved in ST at fracture. As a consequence of plastic deformation, nano-twins are found in the island-shaped martensite, while the lath-shaped martensite remains twin-free. Additionally, some martensite regions develop a needle-like morphology after CBT. As dislocation density in the ferrite matrix increases with plastic strain, dislocation structures and accumulations of dislocations near the ferrite/martensite interface develop in the ferrite. Unlike in the as-received and ST-deformed DP 1180 samples, high density of dislocations (1.47 × 109 cm−2) and dislocation tangles are observed in ferrite regions of the CBT processed sample. We propose that the primary mechanisms enabling the achievement of high strength, while maintaining residual ductility upon CBT are intense plastic slip in the ferrite and profuse nano-twinning in the martensite regions.
Modelling and Control of a Reduced-Stage Isolated AC-DC Converter for More Electric Aircrafts

This paper presents a reduced-stage three-phase isolated AC-DC converter topology applied to regulated transformer rectifier unit (RTRU) for more electric aircrafts (MEA), requiring a high step-down in voltage conversion. Unlike the conventional two-stage AC-DC isolated converters, the DC-DC primary side full/half-bridge is eliminated in the proposed structure and three-phase bridge itself is utilized for generating high-frequency pulsating voltage, appearing across the transformer primary side. Additional advantages of this topology include zero voltage switching (ZVS) in four PFC MOSFETs, connected to the high-frequency tank, whereas all six transistors are hard-switched in case of conventional two-staged AC-DC converter. A sine-PWM based control scheme is applied with common mode duty ratio injection method to minimize the current harmonics without affecting the power factor. A LC filter is used after the PFC semi-stage to suppress the line frequency voltage ripple. Also, the PFC output capacitance requirement is greatly relaxed by allowing a larger swing in its voltage without affecting the converter operation. Simulation studies are carried out for a rated load of 5kW, with a three-phase 230V RMS, 400Hz phase voltage input and the output voltage set to 30V DC. The results demonstrate a power factor of 0.992 (lag) with an efficiency of 96.4%, and a total harmonic distortion (THD) of 3.4%. To validate the hardware implementation, considering various design constraints and limitations, experimental results are also included for a scaled down laboratory proof-of-concept.
Optimizing Visualization in the Pelvis: When More Trendelenburg Is Not Enough

Study Objective To identify challenges to visualizing the pelvis during laparoscopy, demonstrate pre-operative steps to aid visualization, and illustrate intraoperative techniques to improve visualization. Design Video demonstration. Setting Operating room – room set-up, patient positioning, surgical techniques. Patients or Participants N/A. Interventions Video demonstration. Measurements and Main Results NA. Conclusion While several barriers to optimal access and exposure in the pelvis may exist, visualization can be improved by: having a consistent and deliberate approach to operating room setup and patient positioning; using a midline port, robust uterine manipulator, and angled laparoscope; and employing temporary retraction sutures when necessary. Maximizing visualization maximizes patient safety by preventing inadvertent injury, surgeon frustration, and prolonged operating times.
An anatomical study defining the safe range of angles in percutaneous iliosacral and transsacral screw fixation.

Percutaneous iliosacral screw fixation and transsacral fixation are challenging procedures requiring extensive knowledge of sacral anatomy to avoid damaging nearby neurovascular structures. Greater knowledge of anatomical screw trajectory and size allowances would be helpful to guide surgical placement. An anatomical study of 40 cadaveric sacra in specimens ages 18-65 was performed. Three-dimensional surface scans were obtained, and computer modeling software was used to simulate a 7.3 mm diameter screw with 1 mm buffer inserted orthogonal to the sacroiliac joint in the pelvic inlet and outlet views. Transsacral screws were also inserted into S1 and S2 vertebrae. For screws orthogonal to the sacroiliac joint, the overall mean screw insertion angle was 4.1° ± 7.5° (range, -18.3° to 22.0°) in the inlet view in the posterior to anterior direction, and 21.7° ± 5.1° (range, 8.2°-36.3°) in the outlet view in the caudal to cranial direction. Before breaching the sacrum, the range of sacral tunnel lengths was between 31.1 and 70.1 mm with a range of diameters between 9.3 and 13.3 mm. Transsacral screws inserted into either the S1 or S2 vertebrae did not breach the sacrum in 40% (16/40) at each level. 30% (12/40) of sacra could not safely accommodate both S1 and S2 transsacral screws. There is an initial screw insertion angle range of -4° to 12° in the inlet view and 16°-27° in the outlet view. There was always adequate size to accept a 7.3 mm or larger screw.
Serial section analysis of myelin development in the central nervous system of the alino rat: an electron microscopical study of early axonal ensheathment.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the serial section analysis of myelin development in the central nervous system of the albino rat: an electron microscouical study of early axonal ensheathment. The process of myelination in the central nervous system is thought to begin with contact of an axon by a branch of oligodendroglial cell cytoplasm, which then simultaneously elongates and encircles the axon, eventually forming a mesaxon, when the encircling arms of cytoplasm appose one another. Understanding the process of myelination is further complicated by observations of unusual forms of ensheathment of the mature myelin sheath. Despite the numerous single section studies cited above, the true spatial relationships of the oligodendroglial cell cytoplasm investing the central axon and the mechanisms of ensheathment have remained open questions. In an attempt to gain additional information about these questions, a serial section analysis was carried out on the developing white matter of rat spinal cord.