cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transthyretin slowly exchanges subunits under physiological conditions: A convenient chromatographic method to study subunit exchange in oligomeric proteins

Transthyretin (TTR) subunits were labeled with a charge-modifying tag to evaluate the possibility of subunit exchange between tetramers under physiological conditions. Starting with a mixture of two TTR homotetramers, one having all subunits tagged at the N termini and the other composed of untagged subunits, heterotetramer formation as a function of time and temperature was evaluated using ion exchange chromatography. The data indicate that the subunit exchange can occur under native conditions at physiological pH in vitro, albeit slowly. Wild-type TTR exchanges subunits on a timescale of days at 37°C and on a timescale of hours at 4°C. The familial amyloid polyneuropathy-associated variant V30M exchanges subunits at the same rate as wild-type TTR at 4°C but slower and less efficiently at 37°C. Small molecule tetramer stabilizers abolish TTR subunit exchange, supporting a dissociative mechanism.
Adherence to Active Play and Electronic Media Guidelines in Preschool Children: Gender and Parental Education Considerations

The primary purpose of the present study was to examine adherence to current active play and electronic media use guidelines in a sample of US preschool-aged children and to examine whether differences occurred across gender and parental education. 164 parents completed an on-line survey to estimate preschool children’s active play and sedentary behaviors. For weekdays, 50% of the sample met the active play guideline with this increasing to 65% during the weekend. With respect to electronic media use, 90% of the sample met guidelines during the week, with the percentage meeting guidelines dropping to 78% during the weekend. A greater percentage of preschool children from high parental education families (83.4 ± 3.3) met electronic media use guidelines on the weekends, compared to preschool children from low parental education families (59.4 ± 8.1) (p = 0.002). Our findings indicate that a substantial portion of preschool children are not meeting active play guidelines and that adherence to active play and electronic media use guidelines may be influenced by parental education.
Viscous Flow in Glass During Phase Separation

The isothermal viscosities of two borosilicate glasses, one a commercial glass widely used for chemical glassware, increase by 4 to 5 orders of magnitude with heat-treatment time near the annealing point. The glasses are basically sodium borosilicates but differ greatly in phase-separation characteristics. Electron micrographs were used to analyze the development of microstructure during the suspected phase separation. In both glasses, structure development is primarily responsible for the viscosity increase. An analysis of the data and a theoretical interpretation of the effect are presented.
The Agribusiness Industry: New Opportunities for Business Graduates

Abstract A strong and attractive job market is available for individuals possessing agribusiness management skills. The agribusiness industry constitutes approximately 16% of the U.S. gross national product. During the past decade, the agribusiness sector has undergone overwhelming changes that have affected every phase of the industry. The global market, the advent of high-tech production practices and an integrated system of production, marketing, processing, and distribution have necessitated the need for more competent personnel, creating a market for trained and experienced agribusiness managers. The USDA estimates that the demand for graduates with strong agribusiness-management and financial-analysis credentials is likely to reach approximately twice the number of actual graduates. Thus, students desiring to pursue a career in the agribusiness sector can receive the necessary training from universities offering an agribusiness master's degree.
Back to school blues: Seasonality of youth suicide and the academic calendar

Previous research has found evidence of academic benefits to longer school years. This paper investigates one of the many potential costs of increased school year length, documenting a dramatic decrease in youth suicide in months when school is not in session. A detailed analysis does not find that other potential explanations such as economic conditions, weather or seasonal affective disorder patterns can explain the decrease. This evidence suggests that youth may face increased stress and decreased mental health when school is in session.
Investigation of metal ion binding in phosphonoacetaldehyde hydrolase identifies sequence markers for metal-activated enzymes of the HAD enzyme superfamily

The 2-haloalkanoic acid dehalogenase (HAD) family, which contains both carbon and phosphoryl transferases, is one of the largest known enzyme superfamilies. HAD members conserve an alpha,beta-core domain that frames the four-loop active-site platform. Each loop contributes one or more catalytic groups, which function in mediating the core chemistry (i.e., group transfer). In this paper, we provide evidence that the number of carboxylate residues on loop 4 and their positions (stations) on the loop are determinants, and therefore reliable sequence markers, for metal ion activation among HAD family members. Using this predictor, we conclude that the vast majority of the HAD members utilize a metal cofactor. Analysis of the minimum requirements for metal cofactor binding was carried out using Mg(II)-activated Bacillus cereus phosphonoacetaldehyde hydrolase (phosphonatase) as an experimental model for metal-activated HAD members. Mg(II) binding occurs via ligation to the loop 1 Asp12 carboxylate and Thr14 backbone carbonyl and to the loop 4 Asp186 carboxylate. The loop 4 Asp190 forms a hydrogen bond to the Mg(II) water ligand. X-ray structure determination of the D12A mutant in the presence of the substrate phosphonoacetaldehyde showed that replacement of the loop 1 Asp, common to all HAD family members, with Ala shifts the position of Mg(II), thereby allowing innersphere coordination to Asp190 and causing a shift in the position of the substrate. Kinetic analysis of the loop 4 mutants showed that Asp186 is essential to cofactor binding while Asp190 simply enhances it. Within the phosphonatase subfamily, Asp186 is stringently conserved, while either position 185 or position 190 is used to position the second loop 4 Asp residue. Retention of a high level of catalytic activity in the G185D/D190G phosphonatase mutant demonstrated the plasticity of the metal binding loop, reflected in the variety of combinations in positioning of two or three Asp residues along the seven-residue motif of the 2700 potential HAD sequences that were examined.
Probabilistic boosting-tree: learning discriminative models for classification, recognition, and clustering

In this paper, a new learning framework - probabilistic boosting-tree (PBT), is proposed for learning two-class and multi-class discriminative models. In the learning stage, the probabilistic boosting-tree automatically constructs a tree in which each node combines a number of weak classifiers (evidence, knowledge,) into a strong classifier (a conditional posterior probability). It approaches the target posterior distribution by data augmentation (tree expansion) through a divide-and-conquer strategy. In the testing stage, the conditional probability is computed at each tree node based on the learned classifier, which guides the probability propagation in its sub-trees. The top node of the tree therefore outputs the overall posterior probability by integrating the probabilities gathered from its sub-trees. Also, clustering is naturally embedded in the learning phase and each sub-tree represents a cluster of certain level. The proposed framework is very general and it has interesting connections to a number of existing methods such as the A* algorithm, decision tree algorithms, generative models, and cascade approaches. In this paper, we show the applications of PBT for classification, detection, and object recognition. We have also applied the framework in segmentation
Lifting the Mask: Identification of New Small Molecule Inhibitors of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Group 2 Capsule Biogenesis

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the leading cause of community-acquired urinary tract infections (UTIs), with over 100 million UTIs occurring annually throughout the world. Increasing antimicrobial resistance among UPEC limits ambulatory care options, delays effective treatment, and may increase overall morbidity and mortality from complications such as urosepsis. The polysaccharide capsules of UPEC are an attractive target a therapeutic, based on their importance in defense against the host immune responses; however, the large number of antigenic types has limited their incorporation into vaccine development. The objective of this study was to identify small-molecule inhibitors of UPEC capsule biogenesis. A large-scale screening effort entailing 338,740 compounds was conducted in a cell-based, phenotypic screen for inhibition of capsule biogenesis in UPEC. The primary and concentration-response assays yielded 29 putative inhibitors of capsule biogenesis, of which 6 were selected for further studies. Secondary confirmatory assays identified two highly active agents, named DU003 and DU011, with 50% inhibitory concentrations of 1.0 µM and 0.69 µM, respectively. Confirmatory assays for capsular antigen and biochemical measurement of capsular sugars verified the inhibitory action of both compounds and demonstrated minimal toxicity and off-target effects. Serum sensitivity assays demonstrated that both compounds produced significant bacterial death upon exposure to active human serum. DU011 administration in mice provided near complete protection against a lethal systemic infection with the prototypic UPEC K1 isolate UTI89. This work has provided a conceptually new class of molecules to combat UPEC infection, and future studies will establish the molecular basis for their action along with efficacy in UTI and other UPEC infections.
Novel three-dimensional organoid model for evaluation of the interaction of uropathogenic Escherichia coli with terminally differentiated human urothelial cells.

Human bladder 5637 cells cultivated under microgravity conditions formed organoids that displayed characteristics of in vivo tissue-specific differentiation. Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strain CP9 colonized and penetrated the organoids and induced α-hemolysin-mediated exfoliation of uroepithelial cells. We propose these uro-organoids as models that simulate the interactions between UPEC and terminally differentiated human urothelium.
Composite delayed neutron energy spectra for thermal fission of /sup 235/U

Composite delayed neutron energy spectra from the thermal neutron fission of /sup 235/U have been measured for eight delay-time intervals between 0.17 and 85.5 s. This experimental technique combines a helium-jet and tape transfer system with a beta-neutron time-of-flight spectrometer. The neutron energy range of 0.01 to 2.0 MeV is spanned with /sup 6/Li-glass, plastic, and liquid scintillators. Spectra are compared to ENDF/B-V as well as to individual precursors' data and average energies are tabulated for the present and previous compilations. An equilibrium spectrum is also calculated and compared to ENDF/B-V and individual precursor measurements.
Intrapericardial tumbling bullet.

Foreign bodies of the pericardium are rare and they are associated most commonly with significant trauma. The diagnosis of a pericardial foreign body can be difficult. One must distinguish between foreign matter in the cardiac chamber or free-floating in the mediastinum. Serial chest X-rays and fluoroscopy were most helpful to us. Neither CT scan nor an echocardiogram were particularly helpful. To prevent pericarditis, either sterile or non-sterile, with potential for other significant complications, removal of a pericardial foreign body is always indicated. Language: en
Micro Evolution

This column discusses changes to IEEE Micro, including possible future developments such as an all-digital format and broadening the magazine's scope.
Deterrence Failure and Crisis Escalation

This study builds on earlier work on extended (third-party) immediate deterrence. We analyze fifty-eight cases and summarize previous findings that extended deterrence is likely to succeed when the immediate or short-term balance of forces favors the defender, when any previous crisis involving the same adversaries resulted in stalemate rather than clear victory for either, and when the military and diplomatic bargaining process is characterized by tit-for-tat or firm-but-flexible strategies rather than bullying or appeasement. The long-term balance of forces and the defender's possession of nuclear weapons make little difference. We then focus on cases where deterrence has failed and the defender must make a decision whether to fight. The defender is more likely to fight when the short-term balance of forces favors it, when it is bound to the third party by alliance ties or geographic proximity, and when it has followed a firm-butflexible bargaining strategy during the crisis. Generally, these results emphasize the importance of different interests and perspectives of attackers and defenders. Even clear-sighted vision of its own interests may bring war if a state fails to tread a delicate balance between making credible threats and humiliating its adversary.
Internal ballistic calculation of solid rocket motors

Some independent random variables of internal ballistic calculation for solid motor were established. Among them the relation of grain burning area versus web was obtained by analyzing the motor test results and inversely calculating from the p-t curve based the dimensionless web. According to the internal ballistic foreshowing models of solid rocket motors, the interior ballistic performances were simulated and computed by using Monte-Carlo method. The results show that the computation method is feasible and the data are confident.
"Private-collective" Innovation and Efficiency Enhancement:An Experimental Study

In organizations there are always some dilemmas caused by the conflict between individual rationality and collective rationality.At first,this paper uses game theory to predict the dilemma that the "private-collective" innovation model will cause.Then the existence of this puzzle is verified,and the efficiency decrease is found to be a dynamic process.Furthermore,this paper proves that the between-group competition can solve such puzzle with low cost.
IP address auto-configuration scheme based on OLSR for MANET

As most IP address auto-configuration protocols are too complexity and inefficiency on overhead,are impracticable for especially large-scale MANET.OLSR is a kind of proactive routing protocol,the whole addresses information of network are available and the MPR technique is used to lower overhead of network resources.To allocate IP addresses for new nodes quickly,proposed a new scheme based on OLSR.With a little modification of TC message of OLSR,it could guarantee the uniqueness of addresses in using.The proposed scheme also operates simple without brings much overhead besides that of OLSR protocol.It is applicable to large-scale MANET.
Repeated Isoflurane Exposures Impair Long-Term Potentiation and Increase Basal GABAergic Activity in the Basolateral Amygdala

After surgery requiring general anesthesia, patients often experience emotional disturbances, but it is unclear if this is due to anesthetic exposure. In the present study, we examined whether isoflurane anesthesia produces long-term pathophysiological alterations in the basolateral amygdala (BLA), a brain region that plays a central role in emotional behavior. Ten-week-old, male rats were administered either a single, 1 h long isoflurane (1.5%) anesthesia or three, 1 h long isoflurane exposures, separated by 48 h. Long-term potentiation (LTP) and spontaneous GABAergic activity in the BLA were studied 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month later. Single isoflurane anesthesia had no significant effect on the magnitude of LTP. In contrast, after repeated isoflurane exposures, LTP was dramatically impaired at both 1 day and 1 week after the last exposure but was restored by 1 month after the exposures. Spontaneous receptor-mediated IPSCs were increased at 1 day and 1 week after repeated exposures but had returned to control levels by 1 month after exposure. Thus, repeated exposures to isoflurane cause a long-lasting—but not permanent—impairment of synaptic plasticity in the BLA, which could be due to increased basal GABAergic activity. These pathophysiological alterations may produce emotional disturbances and impaired fear-related learning.
EVALUATION OF NIALAMIDE ON THE COAGULATION OF BLOOD: INTRODUCTION OF A NEW TECHNIC FOR MEASURING ADHESIVENESS OF THE PLATELETS.

Nialamide at a single oral dose of about 3 mg./Kg. body weight produced decreased prothrombin activation by rendering the platelets less effective. It also decreased the adhesiveness of the platelets as measured by two different technics. A new technic for measuring the adhesiveness of the platelets has been described. It utilized a principle by which venous blood directly circulated through a column of fine glass beads, after which the platelets were reduced in number.
A Theoretical Study of Phosphoryl Transfers of Tyrosyl-DNA Phosphodiesterase I (Tdp1) and the Possibility of a “Dead-End” Phosphohistidine Intermediate

Tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase I (Tdp1) is a DNA repair enzyme conserved across eukaryotes that catalyzes the hydrolysis of the phosphodiester bond between the tyrosine residue of topoisomerase I and the 3'-phosphate of DNA. Atomic level details of the mechanism of Tdp1 are proposed and analyzed using a fully quantum mechanical, geometrically constrained model. The structural basis for the computational model is the vanadate-inhibited crystal structure of human Tdp1 (hTdp1, Protein Data Bank entry 1RFF ). Density functional theory computations are used to acquire thermodynamic and kinetic data along the catalytic pathway, including the phosphoryl transfer and subsequent hydrolysis. Located transition states and intermediates along the reaction coordinate suggest an associative phosphoryl transfer mechanism with five-coordinate phosphorane intermediates. Similar to both theoretical and experimental results for phospholipase D, the proposed mechanism for hTdp1 also includes the thermodynamically favorable possibility of a four-coordinate phosphohistidine "dead-end" product.
Motion of carbon nanotubes based polymer nanocomposites subjected to multi-directional deformation

Abstract Interesting behavior is observed in the electrical resistance across the thickness of glass fibers/epoxy/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) laminate when the laminate is subjected to uniaxial stress along its length. Normally, when a tensile stress is applied along the length of the laminate, Poisson coupling would result in a decrease in the thickness of the laminate. One may expect that this would give rise to smaller electrical resistance across the thickness of the laminate due to the smaller dimension. However, the opposite is observed, ie., an increase in electrical resistance across the thickness. Additional experiments with loading along different directions were imposed on the laminate and electrical resistance was measured. An explanation is provided for this behavior. The results from these simple experiments and the proposed explanation can provide insight into the effect of the motion of the nanostructure on the macro electrical resistance behavior of polymer composite structures containing CNTs when the structure is subjected to multi-directional deformation.
Law and Ethics for Software Deception

We have discussed many ways in which deception can be used with cybersystems, both for offense and defense. Many of these can be highly effective. However, deception is not always permitted by laws, policies, and ethical principles. We need to consider these limits. We first examine ethics, the theory of under what circumstances some deception is acceptable, and then the legal problems that can be posed by cyberdeception.
Software Solutions for Reproducible RNA-seq Workflows

Computational workflows typically consist of many tools that are usually distributed as compiled binaries or source code. Each of these software tools typically depends on other installed software, and performance could potentially vary due to versions, updates, and operating systems. We show here that the analysis of mRNA-seq data can depend on the computing environment, and we demonstrate that software containers represent practical solutions that ensure the reproducibility of RNAseq data analyses.
Expanding the Tent: How Training and Education Partnerships with Other Professions Can Enhance Both EM and BH

Abstract This chapter describes the benefits for both emergency management (EM) and disaster mental health (DMH) of learning more about each other’s fields. DMH professionals are encouraged to learn about the Federal Response Plan and the National Incident Management System. Emergency managers are encouraged to learn more about DMH and community-based psychological first aid (CBPFA). Resources for cross-training in each field are discussed. Also explored is the value for both professions of having DMH professionals participate in emergency response and disaster relief operation drills. Obstacles to cross-training are noted. Numerous case examples are provided. From an EM perspective, discussion includes identification of allied professions that work with emergency managers and can help to enhance behavioral health objectives, assessment of the current state of training and education opportunities available to emergency managers and allied professions to facilitate integration of disaster behavioral health (DBH) and EM.
Correlated fluorescence-atomic force microscopy studies of the clathrin mediated endocytosis in SKMEL cells

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) is one of the central pathways for cargo transport into cells, and plays a major role in the maintenance of cellular functions, such as intercellular signaling, nutrient intake, and turnover of plasma membrane in cells. The clathrin-mediated endocytosis process involves invagination and formation of clathrin-coated vesicles. However, the biophysical mechanisms of vesicle formation are still debated. Currently, there are two models describing membrane bending during the formation of clathrin cages: the first involves the deposition of all clathrin molecules to the plasma membrane, forming a flat lattice prior to membrane bending, whereas in the second model, membrane bending happens simultaneously as the clathrin arrives to the site to form a clathrin-coated cage. We investigate clathrin vesicle formation mechanisms through the utilization of tapping-mode atomic force microscopy for high resolution topographical imaging in neutral buffer solution of unroofed cells exposing the inner membrane, combined with fluorescence imaging to definitively label intracellular constituents with specific fluorophores (actin filaments labeled with green phalloidin and clathrin coated vesicles with the fusion protein Tq2) in SKMEL (Human Melanoma) cells. An extensive statistical survey of many hundreds of CME events, at various stages of progression, are observed via this method, allowing inferences about the dominant mechanisms active in CME in SKMEL cells. Results indicate a mixed model incorporating aspects of both the aforementioned mechanisms for CME.
Immigration Politicking and the Perceptions of Latino Voters in Arizona

On April 23, 2010, Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona signed into law a bill that had been passed out of the Arizona legislature earlier that month along nearly perfect partisan lines. The Arizona House of Representatives passed the bill 35–21 on April 13 and the Arizona Senate passed the bill 17–11 on April 19. Only one Republican, Senator Carolyn Allen, voted against the bill. Although most observers anticipated she would sign the bill into law, Brewer took her time explaining that she needed to carefully study the law. At a highly covered press conference, she did exactly what most observers expected her to do. In the aftermath of the bill’s signing, protests for and against the law broke out and lawyers for both sides scrambled to defend and challenge the law.
Effectiveness of the Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) in a pediatric psychiatry clinic: A retrospective chart review.

The Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) is endorsed as a first-line treatment for tic disorders, but it is not widely available. This is partially due to an enduring misconception that behavior therapy results in tic worsening, as well as the perception that treatment manuals are too inflexible for use in clinical settings. In an effort to address these concerns, the present study was conducted with two primary goals: (1) use existing clinical data to assess the effectiveness of CBIT in a pediatric clinic and (2) systematically examine similarities and differences between the CBIT protocol and clinic-based treatment in a subset of patients identified as treatment successes. We conducted a chart review of pediatric outpatients who received the CBIT intervention. Clinical characteristics, clinician symptom severity ratings, and session content data were extracted. A repeated-measures t test was used to determine whether the change in symptom severity was significant, and one-sample t tests were used to compare clinic-based treatment against the manual. Clinic-based CBIT treatment significantly reduced tic symptom severity, t(9) = 5.08, p = .001, d = 1.68. Moreover, this significant reduction was found with flexible use of the CBIT manual. While it is unclear if CBIT or other components of treatment were responsible for the treatment effects, the results suggest that for at least some pediatric patients with tic disorders, positive treatment outcomes can be achieved when CBIT is flexibly applied in a clinical setting.
Auditory Event-Related Potentials in the Interictal Phase of Migraine Indicate Alterations in Automatic Attention.

Migraine has been characterized by interictal cortical hyperresponsivity. We compared event-related brain potentials (ERPs) to unattended tone pairs in migraineurs (interictal) versus non-headache controls, with particular interest in attention-related activity (i.e., the N1 component). Electroencephalograms were recorded from 11 interictal migraineurs and 14 headache-free controls while they watched a silent video. Pairs of 50-ms tones with 500-ms inter-tone intervals were presented with inter-pair intervals of 1 or 5 s. P1, N1, P2, and N2 components were analyzed. N1 peak amplitudes were larger in migraineurs than in controls, especially after the 5-s inter-pair interval. However, there was no difference between groups in the attenuation of the N1 (i.e., no interaction). P2 peak amplitudes were larger in migraineurs, but only after the first tone in the pair. The three migraineurs without aura had larger N1s than the eight with aura. Our findings are consistent with interictal hyperresponsivity of cortical generators of these ERPs in migraineurs. However, areas that inhibit the responses with stimulus repetition do not seem to be affected.
Warranty system-cost analysis using quasi-renewal processes

In this paper, we present two alternative quasi renewal processes based on the quasi-renewal process recently developed by Wang and Pham [17]. The first alternative process is an altered quasi-renewal process with random parameter and the other is a mixed quasi-renewal process considering replacements and repairs. These mixed and altered quasi-renewal processes are used for developing the warranty cost models, reliability and other measures for k-out-of-n systems. A numerical example is discussed to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed methodology.
Prevalence and Risk of Violent Ideation and Behavior in Serious Mental Illnesses: An Analysis of 63,572 Patient Records:

Research has consistently demonstrated that people diagnosed with serious mental illness (SMI) are at increased risk for violent ideation and behavior (VIB) and that this is especially the case for SMI patients with comorbid substance use disorders (SUD). Despite this, what is still largely unknown is the relative prevalence of VIB across diagnostic categories, whether the rates of VIB in SMI groups exceed the rates observed in people with SUD only, and which demographic factors increase the likelihood of VIB under different circumstances for people with SMI. To address these questions, we analyzed the intake records of 63,572 patients diagnosed with SMIs (i.e., schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and unipolar depression), substance use disorders, and non-SMI psychiatric disorders. Raw prevalence rates for a combined metric of VIB were established and compared for each group, and a series of logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate how various demographic factors influenced the likelihood of VIB endorsement in each study group. Our results revealed that (a) patients with SMI conditions had higher rates of VIB than both patients with non-SMI psychopathology and those with substance use disorders only; (b) patients with SMI and comorbid substance use pathology were responsible for the majority of VIB within each SMI condition; and (c) men with SMI conditions had higher prevalence rates of VIB than females. In addition, we found that for every SMI diagnosis, comorbid substance use disorders and younger age were related to greater risk for VIB, and where race and gender were found to significantly alter the likelihood of VIB endorsement, African American status and female gender were independently related to greater risk. The implications of these findings and directions for future research are discussed.
Reactions of Electron-Deficient Intermediates

The reactions to be described in this chapter have in common the formal involvement of even-electron intermediates having unfilled orbitals of low energy. The most familiar of these intermediates are carbonium ions. Sections 9.4 and 9.6 contain examples of reactions of carbonium ions that are of synthetic value; the discussion of these.reactions supplements the more mechanistically-oriented discussion presented in Part A, Chapter 5. Also important are the neutral divalent carbon and monovalent nitrogen species, carbenes and nitrenes, respectively.
Nail Reactions to Antibiotics, Antimalarials, and Other Medications

Many drug classes have been associated with drug-induced nail abnormalities, including antimicrobials, antimalarials, cardiovascular agents, anti-inflammatories, antirheumatics, hormones, neuropsychiatric medications, as well as other agents. The specific nail dystrophies changes that result with each individual agent is determined by the portion of the nail apparatus affected. Photoonycholysis, chromonychia, dyspigmentation of the nail unit, altered growth rate, Beaus’s lines, onychomadesis, paronychia, and periungual pyogenic granulomas represent many common sequelae associated with systemic therapy. These subsequent drug-related dystrophies are often largely asymptomatic and self-limited, however are nonetheless important for clinicians to recognize.
Hypertension and heart disease are associated with development of brain atrophy in multiple sclerosis: a 5-year longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are more frequent in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients when compared to controls. In particular, CVDs are linked with higher accumulation of lesions and advanced brain atrophy. OBJECTIVE To investigate whether CVDs contribute to accelerated lesion accumulation and brain atrophy over 5 years in patients with MS. METHODS 194 MS patients and 43 controls without neurologic disease were followed for 5 years. Full physical, neurological evaluation, and structured questionnaire investigating CVD and risk factors (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, heart disease, smoking, diabetes, obesity/overweight) were collected using interview-based questionnaire and further cross-reference with electronic medical records. Lesion and brain atrophy outcomes were assessed with 3T MRI. ANCOVA adjusted for age, gender, and disease duration were used accordingly. False discovery rate correction was performed using Benjamini-Hochberg correction. RESULTS Patients with diagnosis of heart disease showed higher white matter and whole brain volume loss compared to those without (-4.2% vs. -0.7%, P = 0.01 and -3.4% vs. -1.6%, P = 0.01, respectively). The percentage lateral ventricle volume change in MS patients with hypertension was higher compared to non-hypertensive patients (24.5% vs. 14.1%, P = 0.05). Hyperlipidemia, smoking, and obesity/overweight were not associated with progression of MRI-derived outcomes. CVDs did not contribute to larger lesion volume accrual over the 5-year period. The presence of CVDs was not associated with MRI-derived changes in the controls. CONCLUSIONS Hypertension and heart disease contribute to advanced brain atrophy in MS patients. CVDs did not contribute to additional lesion accrual. CVD comorbidities in MS patients may contribute to neurodegenerative tissue injury that can be detected with brain MRI.
Educator Sexual Misconduct: A Statutory Analysis:

Educator sexual misconduct is a problem that has gained increased attention because of the high-profile cases reported by the news media. Yet, the diversity in state law regarding this offense rema...
"It Felt Like I Was Smoking Nothing:" Examining E-cigarette Perception and Discontinuation among Young Adults.

Objective In this study, we sought to understand why young adults from urban low-income regions discontinue using e-cigarettes. Methods We recruited 97 tobacco users aged 18-26 years from Baltimore, Maryland to participate in 17 focus groups. Qualitative data were analyzed using framework analysis. Results Being less satisfying than combustible tobacco, perceived cumulating costs, and negative physical effects were expressed as top reasons for never using or discontinuing the use of e-cigarettes. Conclusion Understanding why young adults discontinue e-cigarette use is critical to inform e-cigarette intervention efforts and public policy. If e-cigarettes are to be promoted as harm reduction devices for combustible tobacco users, it will be important to ensure that they are affordable, satisfying, and formulated to minimize negative physical effects.
Associations between language and literacy skills and sight word learning for native and nonnative English-speaking kindergarteners

This study, which was drawn from a larger published work, examined language proficiency and literacy skills predictive of learning content and function words via the commonly used practice of flashcard word reading, which tests word knowledge in isolation. The current study also investigated differences in word learning performance between students of different language backgrounds (native and nonnative English speakers), and between students at the same grade level but in different alphabetic phases of word reading development. Kindergarten students (n = 81) practiced learning to read content and function words on flashcards. Analyses examined the extent to which students’ baseline English language skills, phonemic awareness, spelling knowledge, and/or word reading predicted performance on the word learning task. Results of linear regressions demonstrated that language skills accounted for a significant amount of unique variance in reading function words in isolation, but this was not the case for reading content words in isolation. Further, results indicated that baseline alphabetic phase, and not language background, moderated the relationship between language skills and word learning, such that language skills predicted function word learning only for full alphabetic readers and not partial alphabetic readers. Results are discussed in terms of implications for the teaching of function words as dependent on children’s relative phase of literacy development rather than their language backgrounds.
Optical and Compositional Engineering of Wide Band Gap Perovskites with Improved Stability to Photoinduced Phase Segregation for Efficient Monolithic Perovskite/Silicon Tandem Solar Cells

Metal halide perovskites are promising candidates for the wide band gap top cell in tandem solar cells. By introducing a tin oxide buffer layer via atomic layer deposition, we have improved the efficiency of monolithic, two-terminal, perovskite/silicon tandems to 23.6% by combining an infraredtuned silicon heterojunction bottom cell with the more stable cesium formamidinium lead halide perovskite. We show that further improvements to current and voltage can be made by introducing a PDMS scattering layer to reduce front surface reflection and using compositional engineering to simultaneously increase bandgap and Voc, while mitigating voltage losses arising from photo-induced halide segregation.
Interictal spike connectivity in human epileptic neocortex.

Abstract Objective Interictal spikes are a biomarker of epilepsy, yet their precise roles are poorly understood. Using long-term neocortical recordings from epileptic patients, we investigated the spatial-temporal propagation patterns of interictal spiking. Methods Interictal spikes were detected in 10 epileptic patients. Short time direct directed transfer function was used to map the spatial-temporal patterns of interictal spike onset and propagation across different cortical topographies. Results Each patient had unique interictal spike propagation pattern that was highly consistent across times, regardless of the frequency band. High spiking brain regions were often not spike onset regions. We observed frequent spike propagations to shorter distances and that the central sulcus forms a strong barrier to spike propagation. Spike onset and seizure onset seemed to be distinct networks in most cases. Conclusions Patients in epilepsy have distinct and unique network of causal propagation pattern which are very consistent revealing the underlying epileptic network. Although spike are epileptic biomarkers, spike origin and seizure onset seems to be distinct in most cases. Significance Understanding patterns of interictal spike propagation could lead to the identification patient-specific epileptic networks amenable to surgical or other treatments.
The Structural Model: a theory linking connections, plasticity, pathology, development and evolution of the cerebral cortex

The classical theory of cortical systematic variation has been independently described in reptiles, monotremes, marsupials and placental mammals, including primates, suggesting a common bauplan in the evolution of the cortex. The Structural Model is based on the systematic variation of the cortex and is a platform for advancing testable hypotheses about cortical organization and function across species, including humans. The Structural Model captures the overall laminar structure of areas by dividing the cortical architectonic continuum into discrete categories (cortical types), which can be used to test hypotheses about cortical organization. By type, the phylogenetically ancient limbic cortices-which form a ring at the base of the cerebral hemisphere-are agranular if they lack layer IV, or dysgranular if they have an incipient granular layer IV. Beyond the dysgranular areas, eulaminate type cortices have six layers. The number and laminar elaboration of eulaminate areas differ depending on species or cortical system within a species. The construct of cortical type retains the topology of the systematic variation of the cortex and forms the basis for a predictive Structural Model, which has successfully linked cortical variation to the laminar pattern and strength of cortical connections, the continuum of plasticity and stability of areas, the regularities in the distribution of classical and novel markers, and the preferential vulnerability of limbic areas to neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases. The origin of cortical types has been recently traced to cortical development, and helps explain the variability of diseases with an onset in ontogeny.
Recollections of My International Experiences

I never had any aspirations to do international service until I was in a part-time private practice with Dr. James E. McDonald (Jay), president of a very small NGO, FOCUS, which initially worked in Haiti but later dedicated its efforts in Abak, Nigeria. I had three children, was widowed, and so was not able to leave Chicago. Still, I was intrigued with the challenges of being an ophthalmologic volunteer internationally, and when the nest cleared, I took the first opportunity to join Jay and the FOCUS volunteers to spend a few weeks in Abak, Nigeria. There we were working very hard to see an enormous clinical volume.
RsQTL: correlation of expressed SNVs with splicing using RNA-sequencing data

Summary: RsQTL is a tool for identification of splicing quantitative trait loci (sQTLs) from RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data by correlating the variant allele fraction at expressed SNV loci in the transcriptome (VAFRNA) with the proportion of molecules spanning local exon-exon junctions at loci with differential intron excision (percent spliced in, PSI). We exemplify the method on sets of RNA-seq data from human tissues obtained though the Genotype-Tissue Expression Project (GTEx). RsQTL does not require matched DNA and can identify a subset of expressed sQTL loci. Due to the dynamic nature of VAFRNA, RsQTL is applicable for the assessment of conditional and dynamic variation-splicing relationships. Availability and implementation: https://github.com/HorvathLab/RsQTL.
Strap stabilization for proximal junctional kyphosis prevention in instrumented posterior spinal fusion

This is a retrospective, single-institution, cohort study. To evaluate the association of Mersilene tape use and risk of proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK), after surgical correction of adult spinal deformity (ASD) by posterior instrumented fusion (PIF). PJK, following long spinal PIF, is a complication which often requires reoperation. Mersilene tape, strap stabilization of the supra-adjacent level to upper instrumented vertebra (UIV) seems a preventive measure. Patients who underwent PIF for ASD with Mersilene tape stabilization (case group) or without (control group) between 2006 and 2016 were analyzed preoperatively to 2-year follow-up. Matching of potential controls to each case was performed. Radiographic sagittal Cobb angle (SCA), lumbar lordosis, pelvic tilt, sacral slope, and pelvic incidence were measured pre- and postoperatively, using a deformity measuring software program. PJK was defined as progression of postoperative junctional SCA at UIV ≥ 10°. Eighty patients were included: 20 cases and 60 controls. The cumulative rate of PJK ≥ 10° at 2-year follow-up was 15% in cases versus 38% of controls (OR = 0.28; P = 0.04) with higher latent period in cases, (20 vs. 7.5 months), P = 0.018. Mersilene tape decreased risk of PJK linked with the impact of the following confounders: age, ≥ 55 years old (OR = 0.19; 0.02 ≥ P ≤ 0.03); number of spinal levels fused 7–15 (OR = 0.13; 0.02 ≥ P ≤ 0.06); thoracic UIV (T12–T1) (OR = 0.13; 0.02 ≥ P ≤ 0.06); BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2 (OR = 0.22; 0.03 ≥ P ≤ 0.08); and osteoporosis (OR = 0.13; 0.02 ≥ P ≤ 0.08). Mersilene tape at UIV + 1 level decreases the risk of PJK following PIF for ASD. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.
Desensitization in Mechanical Circulatory Support Patients Awaiting Heart Transplantation: What is the Post-Transplant Outcome?

Purpose Sensitization occurs with blood transfusions in recipients of left ventricular assist device (LVAD). 30% of LVAD patients develop a panel reactive antibody (PRA) screen of >= 10%. Highly sensitized patients have an increased morbidity and mortality after heart transplantation. Desensitization therapy is considered for patients with PRAs> 50%. Below are the results of desensitization therapies in mechanical circulatory support (MCS) patients. Methods From 2010-2016, 49 MCS patients who underwent desensitization therapy were compared to a control group who underwent desensitization but did not have MCS support. Desensitization therapy used in both groups included combinations of rituximab/IVIG and plasmapheresis/bortezomib. Baseline PRAs prior to desensitization were repeated 2-4 weeks after treatment. For patients who underwent heart transplantation, outcomes included 1-year survival, freedom from cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), freedom from non-fatal major adverse cardiac events (NF-MACE, defined as myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention, new congestive heart failure, pacemaker/implantable cardioverter-defibrillator placement, and stroke), and freedom from any treated rejection (ATR), acute cellular rejection (ACR), and antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). Results Desensitization therapy was successful in both MCS and control groups, resulting in an average of 12% decrease in PRA. When subgrouped into Class 1 versus Class 2 antibodies, Class 1 antibodies appeared to have a better response after desensitization therapy (PRA decrease of 15% in Class 1 versus a decrease of 9% in Class 2). Patients on MCS support appear to have a numerical lower incidence of AMR with comparable first-year survival, freedom from CAV, NF-MACE, ATR, and ACR. Conclusion Desensitization of MCS patients appeared to be beneficial. Removal of the MCS device at the time of transplant may be a factor in potentially less AMR post-transplant.
Molecular structure of arsabenzene: analysis combining electron diffraction and microwave data

Abstract The average ( r z structure of vapor-phase C 5 H 5 As, the arsenic congener of pyridine, was deduced. Vibrational corrections of diffraction data and rotational constants were made via a normal coordinate analysis. The heterocyclic molecule was found to have a rigorously planar, C 2v structure with geometric parameters very close to those inferred from an earlier analysis of the diffraction data alone, but uncertainties were reduced substantially by incorporation of the spectroscopic information in refinements. Amplitudes of vibration were determined from both the diffraction and normal coordinate analyses. Principal structural parameters and uncertainties (2.5σ) were r g (C-As) = 1.850(2) A, r g (C 2 -C 3 ) = 1.392(9) A, r g (C 3 -C 4 = 1.400(10) A, r g (C-C mean) = 1.396(2) A, ∠CAsC = 97.0(3)°, ∠AsCC = 125.3(7)°, and ∠C 3 C 3 = 123.9(13)°. Structural characteristics are those expected for an aromatic molecule.
Clinical considerations of coagulopathy in acute liver failure

Acute liver failure (ALF) is the rapid onset of severe liver dysfunction, defined by the presence of hepatic encephalopathy and impaired synthetic function (international normalized ratio of ≥1.5) in the absence of underlying liver disease. The elevated international normalized ratio value in ALF is often misinterpreted as an increased hemorrhagic tendency, which can lead to inappropriate, prophylactic transfusions of blood products. However, global assessments of coagulopathy via viscoelastic tests or thrombin generation assay suggest a reestablished hemostatic, or even hypercoagulable, status in patients with ALF. Although the current versions of global assays are not perfect, they can provide more nuanced insights into the hemostatic system in ALF than the conventional measures of coagulopathy.