cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Glial Cell Line–Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Its Receptor Ret Is a Novel Ligand-Receptor Complex Critical for Survival Response during Podocyte Injury

Glomerulosclerosis correlates with a reduction in podocyte number that occurs through mechanisms that include apoptosis. Whether glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), a growth factor that is critical for neural and renal development, is a survival factor for injured podocytes was investigated. Ret, the GDNF receptor tyrosine kinase, was upregulated in podocytes in the passive Heymann nephritis and puromycin aminonucleoside (PA) nephrosis rat models of podocyte injury. In addition, Ret mRNA and protein were upregulated in mouse podocytes in vitro after injury that was induced by sublytic C5b-9 and PA. GDNF, which also was induced during podocyte injury, inhibited significantly the apoptosis of podocytes that was induced by ultraviolet C irradiation. Knockdown of Ret expression by small interference RNA in podocytes exacerbated apoptosis that was induced by both ultraviolet C and PA. Ret knockdown, upon injury, decreased AKT phosphorylation, suggesting that the phosphoinositol-3 kinase/AKT pathway mediated the survival effect of GDNF on podocytes. Consistent with this hypothesis, the selective phosphoinositol-3 kinase inhibitor LY294002 blocked the survival-promoting effects of GDNF. In conclusion, GDNF is a novel podocyte survival factor. Furthermore, Ret is highly upregulated during podocyte injury in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that Ret activation is a critical adaptive response for podocyte remodeling and repair.
Vasopressors and Development of Pressure Ulcers in Adult Critical Care Patients

Background Vasopressors are lifesaving agents used to raise mean arterial pressure in critically ill patients in shock states. The pharmacodynamics of these agents suggest vasopressors may play a role in development of pressure ulcers; however, this aspect has been understudied. Objective To examine associations between type, dose, and duration of vasopressors (norepinephrine, epinephrine, vasopressin, phenylephrine, dopamine) and development of pressure ulcers in medical-surgical and cardiothoracic intensive care unit patients and to examine predictors of the development of pressure ulcers in these patients. Methods A retrospective correlational design was used in a sample of 306 medical-surgical and cardiothoracic intensive care unit patients who received vasopressor agents during 2012. Results Norepinephrine and vasopressin were significantly associated with development of pressure ulcers; vasopressin was the only significant predictor in multivariate analysis. In addition, mean arterial pressure less than 60 mm Hg in patients receiving vasopressors, cardiac arrest, and mechanical ventilation longer than 72 hours were predictive of development of pressure ulcers. Patients with a cardiac diagnosis at the time of admission to the intensive care unit were less likely than patients without such a diagnosis to experience pressure ulcers while in the unit. Conclusion The addition of vasopressin administered concomitantly with a first-line agent (often norepinephrine) may represent the point at which the risk for pressure ulcers escalates and may be an early warning to heighten strategies to prevent pressure ulcers. Conversely, because vasopressors cannot be terminated to avert development of pressure ulcers, these findings may add to the body of knowledge on factors that potentially contribute to the development of unavoidable pressure ulcers.
Further Reflections on Cash Discounts

PROFESSOR Grant (1985) correctly points out that retailers incur security and other costs related to the acceptance of cash, check, or credit card. Therefore, the financial difference to the retailer of the various payment methods is not simply the factoring fees and delayed remuneration associated with credit card purchases. In the Appendix we formally incorporate these complications in our computation of the optimal discount.
Stabilization Tactics in Latin America: Menem, Cardoso, and the Politics of Low Inflation

In the 1990s presidents Carlos Menem of Argentina and Fernando Henrique Cardoso of Brazil both accomplished something of a macroeconomic miracle. They managed to bring their countries' chronically high inflation rates down close to zero and keep them very low for more than five years, after decades of price instability and unsuccessful attempts at stabilization. Some of the shine has since come off both achievements. A currency crisis forced Brazil to devalue in 1998, and in 2002 fear of a left-wing victor in the presidential election roiled markets again. In Argentina Menem's successor, Fernando De la Rfia, struggled in vain to generate growth and fend off a debt default, currency crisis, and run on the banks. He left office in late 2001 amid street violence and a plummeting peso. It is thus worth emphasizing just how historically unusual the reemergence of price stability in Brazil and Argentina in the 1990s was. As of 2002, Brazil's inflation had been under 10 percent for five years, and Argentina's had for eight. In each country, inflation for the first time in forty years stayed this low for more than one year. No equivalent eight-year spell of low inflation had occurred in Argentina since 1944. Brazil had not had a five-year period with such stable prices since before 1937. Argentina's commitment to stable money was so entrenched by the late 1990s that it survived a four-year recession and 18 percent unemployment. It took a major political crisis-and three presidents-to break the dollar peg. Even if this recession is taken into account, Argentine growth in the 1990s was higher than in any decade since the 1950s. How did these political leaders stabilize prices when so many before them had failed? Political economists have offered a number of explanations. Some emphasize crisis, social "wars of attrition," or the electoral cycle. Others contend that Menem's left-wing Peronist credentials gave him greater credibility in demanding sacrifice from the working class. Although these factors may contribute to an answer, they do not provide a convincing account. Both achievements rested on a particularly effective political strategy that demobilized key beneficiaries of inflationary policies and created confidence in the durability of reforms.
Analytic transfer function of the forward propagation of diffuse photon density waves in turbid media

Interest in using optical radiation to image and diagnose human breast cancer is motivating researchers to clearly understand light propagation through human tissue.
Pulling the Trigger: Dehumanization of African Americans and Police Violence

Police shootings and killing of African American targets has reached epidemic proportions and has captured the attention of the entire country. Research in social psychology has studied many dimensions of this layered issue, and has generated disparate findings regarding the role of racial bias in police violence. The process of implicit dehumanization of African Americans, especially youth, has been proposed as particularly salient in making shoot/don’t shoot decisions. This paper suggests that the paradigm of dehumanization could complete the understanding of racialized police violence and reconcile contradictory research findings, while highlighting areas for future research.
Selective Dimerization of Propylene with Ni-MFU-4l

We report the selective dimerization of propylene to branched hexenes using Ni-MFU-4l, a solid catalyst prepared by cation exchange. Analysis of the resulting product distribution demonstrates that the selectivity arises from 2,1-insertion and slow product reinsertion, mechanistic features reproduced by a molecular nickel tris-pyrazolylborate catalyst. Characterization of Ni-MFU-4l by X-ray absorption spectroscopy provides evidence for discrete, tris-pyrazolylborate-like coordination of nickel, underscoring the small-molecule analogy that can be made at metal–organic framework nodes.
Variability in the Relationship of Hemoglobin A1c and Average Glucose Concentrations: How Much Does Race Matter?

Bergenstal and colleagues' study contributes to our understanding of racial differences in HbA1c. The editorialists discuss the findings, explain why they do not suggest limited utility of HbA1c in...
Hormones and programmed cell death: insights from invertebrate studies.

Publisher Summary This chapter deals with the use of invertebrates to study cellular and molecular aspects of neuronal death. The identified neurons in these animals that are well known for their stereotyped morphologies and patterns of connectivity may likewise have stereotyped, predictable fates. Thus, one can examine not only the changes that occur after degeneration begins, but also the events that precede death. Much of this work has been done on insects, in which neuronal death plays a prominent role both during embryogenesis and at metamorphosis. The neurons that die during the latter period include both immature cells and mature, functioning neurons that are used during larval life but then discarded. The occurrence of cell death as part of metamorphosis means that these events have come under the control of the hormones that regulate metamorphosis. Besides being able to manipulate the timing of cell death by endocrine manipulations, hormones have also provided useful tools for probing cellular interactions in the degeneration response.
Mortality Benefit of Recombinant Human Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist for Sepsis Varies by Initial Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Plasma Concentration.

Objective Plasma interleukin-1 beta may influence sepsis mortality, yet recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist did not reduce mortality in randomized trials. We tested for heterogeneity in the treatment effect of recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist by baseline plasma interleukin-1 beta or interleukin-1 receptor antagonist concentration. Design Retrospective subgroup analysis of randomized controlled trial. Setting Multicenter North American and European clinical trial. Patients Five hundred twenty-nine subjects with sepsis and hypotension or hypoperfusion, representing 59% of the original trial population. Interventions Random assignment of placebo or recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist × 72 hours. Measurements and main results We measured prerandomization plasma interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist and tested for statistical interaction between recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist treatment and baseline plasma interleukin-1 receptor antagonist or interleukin-1 beta concentration on 28-day mortality. There was significant heterogeneity in the effect of recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist treatment by plasma interleukin-1 receptor antagonist concentration whether plasma interleukin-1 receptor antagonist was divided into deciles (interaction p = 0.046) or dichotomized (interaction p = 0.028). Interaction remained present across different predicted mortality levels. Among subjects with baseline plasma interleukin-1 receptor antagonist above 2,071 pg/mL (n = 283), recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist therapy reduced adjusted mortality from 45.4% to 34.3% (adjusted risk difference, -0.12; 95% CI, -0.23 to -0.01), p = 0.044. Mortality in subjects with plasma interleukin-1 receptor antagonist below 2,071 pg/mL was not reduced by recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (adjusted risk difference, +0.07; 95% CI, -0.04 to +0.17), p = 0.230. Interaction between plasma interleukin-1 beta concentration and recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist treatment was not statistically significant. Conclusions We report a heterogeneous effect of recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist on 28-day sepsis mortality that is potentially predictable by plasma interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in one trial. A precision clinical trial of recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist targeted to septic patients with high plasma interleukin-1 receptor antagonist may be worthy of consideration.
BASED-FREE ACTIONS OF FINITE GROUPS ON HILBERT CUBES WITH ABSOLUTE RETRACT ORBIT SPACES ARE CONJUGATE

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses based-free actions of finite groups on Hilbert cubes with absolute retract orbit spaces are conjugate. Every finite group, G , can act on the Hilbert Cube, Q , semi-freely with a single fixed point. As Q has the fixed point property, this must be the simplest sort of action, which is termed as based-free. A particularly pretty construction of a based-free G -action, a, on a Hilbert cube is the following: if G act on itself by left translation and extend this in the natural way to the cone, C(G) , on G. If Q G be the product of countably infinitely many copies of C(G) and take for σ the diagonal action. R.D.Anderson proved that Q G is a Hilbert cube and posed in the mid-60s the problem of classifying based-free G -actions on Q .
Applications of MRI for Evaluating Osteoarthritis

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides a unique opportunity to explore osteoarthritis in ways that were unimaginable in the past. While MRI has not replaced radiography in clinical practice, it has many advantages for exploring the cause of pain and dysfunction in diarthroidal joints, and for following the course of therapy. MRI offers three principal advantages over conventional radiography for evaluating the health of joints: a multiplanar tomographic viewing perspective, unparalleled soft tissue contrast, and digital image format. MRI techniques that have been developed harness different tissue characteristics in cartilage and surrounding structures to allow examination of all components of the joint simultaneously. This capability for whole-organ imaging of the joint is unprecedented in medical imaging and cogent to the current view of osteoarthritis as a disease of organ failure. MRI is thus a valuable tool with unprecedented and unparalleled capabilities for evaluating osteoarthritis and its progress and provides a unique opportunity for exploration of this highly prevalent and debilitating disease.
MECHANISM FOR THE INTERCONVERSION OF CHEMICAL AND OSMOTIC FREE ENERGY

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the mechanism of active transport at the level of the transport protein molecule. Ion translocation has to occur by movement of the ion binding site with bound ion attached, which is accomplished by means of a conformational change in the protein. The movement of the ion between fixed sites facing the two sides of the membrane cannot lead to active transport. Free energy transduction steps have to be thermodynamically coupled so that the total free energy change in each step is small. When the chemical potential of the bound ion changes, there has to be a compensating change in the same step, either in the chemical substrate or in the conformational free energy of the protein itself. This is a kinetic and not thermodynamic requirement. The first alternative (direct exchange) applies to the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump. The protein conformational transition itself contributes little to free energy bookkeeping.
Growth and Toxicity Studies on Rats Fed Chlorella 71105

Chlorella 71105, prepared by mass culture techniques, was used in this work. In preliminary studies, young-adult male rats were fed a 21 per cent Chlorella (10 per cent available protein) diet for 110 days with Chlorella as the sole source of protein. The rats appeared normal and healthy, and displayed satisfactory growth. Male weanling rats were fed 92 per cent Chlorella (minerals, vitamins, and agar to make 100 per cent of the ration) for 37 days. These rats also displayed normal appearance and growth rate. The growth of four groups of male weanling littermates fed ad lib. on Chlorella , Chlorella supplemented with 2 per cent L-methionine, casein, and egg protein were compared with a “normal” growth curve. Test rats were fed at 10 per cent available protein level for 7 months and grew in a satisfactory manner. Rats representing “normal” growth were fed a “lab ration” containing 24 per cent crude protein. The rats fed casein weighed an average of 579 gm; those on Chlorella and L-methionine, 453 gm; and those on Chlorella , 402 gm. Chlorella rations were acceptable to rats. Three of 20 weanling rats consuming rations containing Chlorella developed a symmetrical alopecia (loss of hair), which started with the hindquarters and spread over the entire abdomen. A green color appearing on the rats' fur (rats fed Chlorella ) was due simply to external staining by the ration. No gross adverse effects were observed on rats fed Chlorella ; however, histological examinations did reveal some anomalies, particularly in the salivary gland and pancreas of a few of the animals. Further studies will be undertaken in an effort to resolve these provocative histological findings.
Enhancements and Extensions to OSEE Contamination Inspection

Optically Stimulated Electron Emission (OSEE) is a non-contacting method found to be very sensitive to some contaminants on metal surfaces. It has been developed in the aerospace community as an inspection tool for verifying cleanliness of surfaces prior to bonding. Issues of stability and long term variability in commercially available OSEE instruments motivated an effort. at NASA Langley Research Center to improve the technology. This effort has gone through three stages: a science base study, development of an improved instrument for rocket motor inspection, and application of OSEE to a wider class of inspections.
Effect of edge-sealing on resistance of glueline treated Douglas-fir laminated veneer lumber to Formosan termite attack

The potential for formosan termite attack of glueline treated Douglas-fir laminated veneer lumber (LVL) was investigated along with the potential for limiting such attack through topical wax coatings. Termites rapidly attacked non-glueline treated LVL. Wax coatings reduced attack, but even wax with 10 ppm imidacloprid was not completely protective on non-glueline treated LVL. Glueline treated LVL was far more resistant to termite attack, but eventually experienced attack. Application of a wax coating with 10 ppm imidacloprid provided the best performance. The results illustrate the benefit of supplemental insecticide/wax coatings for protecting cuts in LVL.
Ongoing Etonogestrel Contraceptive Implant Use Throughout Pregnancy

Abstract Case reports of pregnancies with inadvertent etonogestrel contraceptive implant exposure in the first-trimester have not demonstrated teratogenic risks or adverse pregnancy outcomes. We report the clinical observations of a 15-year-old nulligravida who continued her etonogestrel contraceptive implant throughout pregnancy and delivery, without any adverse maternal or neonatal outcomes. The patient then continued her contraceptive implant as a reliable postpartum contraceptive method. Although her favorable outcomes are consistent with available pharmacologic literature, more data is needed regarding maintenance of a contraceptive implant during a desired pregnancy.
The game-theoretic model and experimental investigation of cyber wargaming:

We demonstrate that game-theoretic calculations serve as a useful tool for assisting cyber wargaming teams in identifying effective strategies. We note a significant similarity between formulating ...
Cross-Domain Pseudo-Sensor Information Measure

In a companion paper, we introduce the concept of a cross-domain pseudo-sensor comprising a combination of one or more hard and soft sensors as part of our method of Information Based Sensor Management (IBSM). Previously we defined two information measures associated with IBSM based on changes in Shannon entropy. The first measure is situation information defined on the Bayes net (BN) component of the situation information expected value network (SIEV-net). This situation information measure is defined as a global measure of the change in uncertainty in all the nodes of the BN. The second measure is sensor information defined on a norm of an error covariance matrix associated with the kinematic state estimator or other physical measurement. In this paper, we extend the concepts of situation information and sensor information to include cross-domain (hard/soft) pseudo-sensor measurements. We also discuss the issue of contemporaneity of the cross-domain measurements. The result extends the applicability of IBSM to soft sensors as well as cross-domain pseudo-sensors.
Technolingualism: The Mind and the Machine, by James Pfrehm

Technolingualism: The Mind and the Machine James Pfrehm London, England: Bloomsbury Academic US $88 (Hardback) US $20.53 (Paperback) ISBN 9781472578334 304 pages 2018
Development of machine learning algorithms for prediction of mortality in spinal epidural abscess.

Abstract Background Context In-hospital and short-term mortality in patients with spinal epidural abscess (SEA) remains unacceptably high despite diagnostic and therapeutic advancements. Forecasting this potentially avoidable consequence at the time of admission could improve patient management and counseling. Few studies exist to meet this need, and none have explored methodologies such as machine learning. Purpose The purpose of this study was to develop machine learning algorithms for prediction of in-hospital and 90-day postdischarge mortality in SEA. Study Design/Setting Retrospective, case-control study at two academic medical centers and three community hospitals from 1993 to 2016. Patients Sample Adult patients with an inpatient admission for radiologically confirmed diagnosis of SEA. Outcome Measures In-hospital and 90-day postdischarge mortality. Methods Five machine learning algorithms (elastic-net penalized logistic regression, random forest, stochastic gradient boosting, neural network, and support vector machine) were developed and assessed by discrimination, calibration, overall performance, and decision curve analysis. Results Overall, 1,053 SEA patients were identified in the study, with 134 (12.7%) experiencing in-hospital or 90-day postdischarge mortality. The stochastic gradient boosting model achieved the best performance across discrimination, c-statistic=0.89, calibration, and decision curve analysis. The variables used for prediction of 90-day mortality, ranked by importance, were age, albumin, platelet count, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, hemodialysis, active malignancy, and diabetes. The final algorithm was incorporated into a web application available here: https://sorg-apps.shinyapps.io/seamortality/ . Conclusions Machine learning algorithms show promise on internal validation for prediction of 90-day mortality in SEA. Future studies are needed to externally validate these algorithms in independent populations.
In the dance studio: An art and engineering exploration of human flocking

Flock Logic was developed as an art and engineering project to explore how the feedback laws used to model flocking translate when applied by dancers. The artistic goal was to create choreographic tools that leverage multiagent system dynamics with designed feedback and interaction. The engineering goal was to provide insights and design principles for multiagent systems, such as human crowds, animal groups, and robotic networks, by examining what individual dancers do and what emerges at the group level. We describe our methods to create dance and investigate collective motion. We analyze video of an experiment in which dancers moved according to simple rules of cohesion and repulsion with their neighbors. Using the prescribed interaction protocol and tracked trajectories, we estimate the time-varying graph that defines who is responding to whom. We compute status of nodes in the graph and show the emergence of leaders. We discuss results and further directions.
Comparison Analysis of Cylindrical and Rectangular Linear Permanent Magnet Transverse-Flux Machines for Wave Energy Applications

The paper presents design and analysis of cylindrical and rectangular permanent magnet linear transverse-flux generators of different configurations. The machines are viewed as direct-drive generators for ocean-wave energy conversion systems, and are studied by using 3D FEM and circuit software. Electromechanical characteristics of the machines such as: back EMF and power density are compared in the paper.
Drugs In the Workplace: A Manager's Guide

Drugs in the workplace is a growing problem that threatens a valuable human resource the employee. Managers in the hospitality industry can take a proactive stance in meeting the problem head on. The authors discuss what managers can do.
Failure to Rescue in Bariatric Accreditation: Ideal Marker for Quality Improvement

One hundred million Americans are obese and are at risk for obesity-related comorbidities. Bariatric surgery is the most effective, long-term weight-loss intervention for obese individuals, and the number of bariatric operations is on the rise. The MBSAQIP not only ensures its accredited institutions have the resources in place to provide multidisciplinary, comprehensive care, it emphasizes data collection, reporting, and continual review. An increasingly important outcome being reported is failure to rescue (FTR). FTR is defined as mortality after a treatable complication and is not only a crucial clinical outcome but serves as a measure of hospital quality and safety. FTR may be the most effective way to identify which bariatric centers exceed expectations.
Nurses' attitudes, beliefs, and emotions toward caring for adults with intellectual disabilities: An integrative review.

Background Negative health-care provider attitudes are a contributing factor to the myriad health disparities faced by people with intellectual disabilities (ID). Nursing comprises the nation's largest health-care profession, yet no integrative review on this topic is found. Purpose To organize findings of studies exploring nurses' attitudes, beliefs, and emotions about caring for adults with ID, to identify areas for future research, and to discuss recommendations for nursing practice. Methods Whittemore and Knafl's integrative review method guided this study. Results Twenty studies were conducted across eight countries, dichotomized according to mainstream or ID nursing specialty, and were mostly setting-specific. Common themes included: "knowing the person," "paternalism/infantilization," "communication challenges," "organizational support," "time," and "ID-specific knowledge and experience." Mainstream nurses' emotions were primarily negative, whereas ID nurses experienced conflicting positive and negative emotions. Antecedents and effects of nurse attitudes and emotions on the quality of care of adults with ID were identified. Conclusions/implications Despite recent increased research on this topic across multiple countries, further research is needed. The findings of this study will aid the development of strategies to address negative nurse attitudes toward caring for adults with ID and act as a foundation for future research beyond the descriptive stage.
Derivation and Validation of a Simplified Clinical Prediction Rule for Identifying Children at Increased Risk for Clinically Important Traumatic Brain Injuries Following Minor Blunt Head Trauma

Objective To develop a simplified clinical prediction tool for identifying children with clinically important traumatic brain injuries (ciTBIs) after minor blunt head trauma by applying machine learning to the previously reported Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network dataset. Study design The deidentified dataset consisted of 43 399 patients Results None of the 4 machine learning models was superior to the no information rate. Children without clinical evidence of a skull fracture and with Glasgow Coma Scale scores of 15 were at the lowest risk for ciTBIs (0.48%; 95% CI 0.42%-0.55%). Conclusions Machine learning algorithms were unable to produce a more accurate prediction tool for ciTBI among children with minor blunt head trauma beyond the absence of clinical evidence of skull fractures and having Glasgow Coma Scale scores of 15.
Consensus molecular subtype (CMS) as a novel integral biomarker in colorectal cancer: A phase II trial of bintrafusp alfa in CMS4 metastatic CRC.

4084Background: Consensus Molecular Subtype 4 (CMS4) colorectal cancer (CRC) features increased TGFβ signaling, which may account for de novo resistance to immunotherapy for patients (pts) with mic...
Nature as a Motif in Arabic Andalusian Poetry and English Romanticism

This paper examines some tenets in the Andalusian and Romantic poetry and shows how poets such as Ibrahim Ibn Khafāja (1058-1138) and William Wordsworth (1770 –1850) used nature as a motif in their poetry. Relying on a historical approach, this paper links smaller features such as themes and literary devices in the Andalusian and Romantic poetry with larger features, including genre, traditions, and cultural system. I argue that the emphasis on both the larger and smaller features of poetry creates what Franco Moretti calls “distant reading.” Comparing and contrasting Ibn Khafāja’s “the Mountain” and Wordsworth’s “the Daffodils,” for instance, introduces nature as a recurrent theme in both Andalusian and Romantic literary traditions, reinforcing Johann Wolfgang Goethe’s description of poetry as a common possession of humanity” (Goethe 229). In addition to that, comparing the images and themes in both the Andalusian and Romantic poetry not only shows internally linked meanings, but it creates what Cesar Dominguez, et al, call “a space for polyglottism, multidisciplinarity, scholarly collaboration” (75). Reading these works and movements closely and distantly serves as a cross-cultural dialogue between the Arabic and English poetic conventions. While Ibn Khafāja and Wordsworth lived in different places and times, wrote in different languages, and did not have the same socio-political circumstances, their poems show the richness and multiplicity of the historical experience of world literature.
Promoting Housing Affordability by Making Cities Smarter About Land-Use Regulation

Although the meaning of the term smart cities is a matter of debate, it often connotes the use of sensors and big data to improve local government service delivery. In this commentary, I use the te...
Discernment between candidate mechanisms for KRAS G13D colorectal cancer sensitivity to EGFR inhibitors.

Phase three clinical trial evidence suggests that colorectal cancers with the KRAS G13D mutation may benefit from EGFR inhibitors, like cetuximab, in contrast to the other most common KRAS mutations. A mechanism to explain why this mutation behaves differently from other KRAS mutations had long been lacking. Two recent studies have reproduced KRAS G13D specific sensitivity to cetuximab in cellular models, and both have implicated the tumor suppressor NF1 as a critical variable in determining sensitivity and resistance. One study proposes a mechanism that focuses on the inhibition of active, GTP-bound wild-type RAS, which is proposed to occur to a greater extent in KRAS G13D tumors due to the inability of KRAS G13D to bind NF1 well. The other study suggests NF1 can convert GTP-bound KRAS G13D to inactive, GDP-bound KRAS G13D. Here, we report an inability to reproduce cellular and biophysical studies that suggested NF1 has strong GTPase activity on KRAS G13D. We also report additional data that further suggests only WT RAS-GTP levels are reduced with EGFR inhibition and that KRAS G13D is impaired in binding to NF1. These new experiments further support a mechanism in which cetuximab inhibits wild-type (HRAS and NRAS) signals in KRAS G13D colorectal cancers.
Clostridium difficile exploits a host metabolite produced during toxin-mediated infection

Several enteric pathogens can gain specific metabolic advantages over other members of the microbiota by inducing host pathology and inflammation. The pathogen Clostridium difficile (Cd) is responsible for a toxin-mediated colitis that causes 15,000 deaths in the U.S. yearly1, yet the molecular mechanisms by which Cd benefits from toxin-induced colitis remain understudied. Up to 21% of healthy adults are asymptomatic carriers of toxigenic Cd2, indicating that Cd can persist as part of a healthy microbiota; antibiotic-induced perturbation of the gut ecosystem is associated with transition to toxin-mediated disease. To understand how Cd metabolism adapts from a healthy gut to the inflamed conditions its toxins induce, we used RNA-seq to define the metabolic state of wild-type Cd versus an isogenic mutant lacking toxins in a mouse model. Combining bacterial and mouse genetics, we demonstrate that Cd utilizes sorbitol derived from both diet and host. Host-derived sorbitol is produced by the enzyme aldose reductase, which is expressed by diverse immune cells and is upregulated during inflammation, including during Cd toxin-mediated disease. This work highlights a mechanism by which Cd can utilize a host-derived nutrient generated during toxin-induced disease by an enzyme not previously associated with infection.
Technical note: an algebraic method for calculating fecal output from a pulse dose of an external marker

Fecal output estimates derived from a one-compartment, Gamma-2, age-dependent model were compared with estimates derived algebraically by computing the area under the marker excretion curve for lambs given a pulse dose of ytterbium-labeled forage. Lambs were fed one of four diets (as-fed basis): 100% alfalfa hay, 100% prairie hay, 50:50 alfalfa:sorghum grain, and 50:50 prairie hay:sorghum grain. For the one-compartment model, fecal output was calculated as the dose of Yb (micrograms) divided by the initial concentration in the compartment (micrograms of Yb/gram of DM) multiplied by the age-dependent rate constant (hours-1). For the algebraic method, fecal output was calculated as the dose of Yb divided by the area under the marker excretion curve ([micrograms of Yb/gram of fecal DM].hours), both with the full complement of fecal samples and with fecal samples collected at 12-h intervals. Fecal output estimated by the three methods did not differ (P > .15) from measured fecal output (total collection). Marker retention time calculated from the one-compartment, age-dependent model was numerically greater (P > .10) than retention time calculated algebraically (sum of concentration x time divided by sum of concentrations weighted for collection interval) for lambs fed all four diets. These results suggest that the area under the marker excretion curve generated from a pulse dose of Yb-labeled forage will provide estimates of fecal output that do not differ from those calculated from a one-compartment, age-dependent model.
MXene-Graphene Field-Effect Transistor Sensing of Influenza Virus and SARS-CoV-2

An MXene-graphene field-effect transistor (FET) sensor for both influenza virus and 2019-nCoV sensing was developed and characterized. The developed sensor combines the high chemical sensitivity of MXene and the continuity of large-area high-quality graphene to form an ultra-sensitive virus-sensing transduction material (VSTM). Through polymer linking, we are able to utilize antibody-antigen binding to achieve electrochemical signal transduction when viruses are deposited onto the VSTM surface. The MXene-graphene VSTM was integrated into a microfluidic channel that can directly receive viruses in solution. The developed sensor was tested with various concentrations of antigens from two viruses: inactivated influenza A (H1N1) HA virus ranging from 125 to 250,000 copies/mL and a recombinant 2019-nCoV spike protein ranging from 1 fg/mL to 10 pg/mL. The average response time was about ∼50 ms, which is significantly faster than the existing real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method (>3 h). The low limit of detection (125 copies/mL for the influenza virus and 1 fg/mL for the recombinant 2019-nCoV spike protein) has demonstrated the sensitivity of the MXene-graphene VSTM on the FET platform to virus sensing. Especially, the high signal-to-viral load ratio (∼10% change in source-drain current and gate voltage) also demonstrates the ultra-sensitivity of the developed MXene-graphene FET sensor. In addition, the specificity of the sensor was also demonstrated by depositing the inactivated influenza A (H1N1) HA virus and the recombinant 2019-nCoV spike protein onto microfluidic channels with opposite antibodies, producing signal differences that are about 10 times lower. Thus, we have successfully fabricated a relatively low-cost, ultrasensitive, fast-responding, and specific inactivated influenza A (H1N1) and 2019-nCoV sensor with the MXene-graphene VSTM.
Thoracic Surgery Foundation Research Awards: Leading the Way to Excellence.

Abstract Background Combining clinical and research excellence has become an increasingly difficult endeavor for thoracic surgeons, with typical success rates for the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and the National Cancer Institute being 25.1% and 11.3%, respectively. The Thoracic Surgery Foundation (TSF), which is an arm of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, provides research awards and grants aimed at early career faculty to assist in securing federal peer-reviewed funding. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of these awards. Methods Faculty awardees of the TSF research awards from 1995 to 2019 were included in the study. The scholarly work of awardees was assessed by using Scopus , MEDLINE, and Google Scholar for publications, citations, and h-index. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) RePorter and the Federal RePorter were used to search for any grants awarded to these individuals. For publications and citations associated with a TSF grant, a 4-year window from the time of the research award was used. Results Fifty-two research awards were given to early career faculty during this study period, and 8 (15%) were awarded to MD PhDs. Six (12%) of awardees were female. Cardiac faculty members were awarded 27 (52%) awards, and general thoracic faculty members were awarded 25 (48%); of the cardiac faculty, 4 (17.4%) were congenital cardiac faculty. In the 4-year period after the TSF grant award, the mean number of published articles per awardee was 23 (interquartile range [IQR], 12 to 36), with a median citation count of 147 (IQR, 32 to 327). The current median h-index was 26 (IQR, 15 to 36), with 2323 (IQR, 1173 to 4568) median citations. Forty-eight percent of all awardees received at least 1 subsequent grant; 40.4% of these awardees received grants from the NIH, and 25% had 2 or more NIH grants. Comparing academic position at the time of the award with current position, 54% of awardees had an advancement in their professional rank. On analyzing leadership positions, 42% of awardees were division chiefs, 21% were associate clinical directors, and 28% were clinical directors. Conclusions Being a recipient of the TSF award may position an individual to excel in academic medicine, with a large portion of awardees improving their academic standing with time. The rate of successful NIH grant funding after being a TSF awardee is higher than typical institutional success rates.
Source apportionment and quantification of liquid and headspace leaks from closed system drug-transfer devices via Selected Ion Flow Tube Mass Spectrometry (SIFT-MS).

A system to differentiate and quantify liquid and headspace vapor leaks from closed system drug-transfer devices (CSTDs) is presented. CSTDs are designed to reduce or eliminate hazardous drug (HD) exposure risk when compounding and administering HDs. CSTDs may leak liquid, headspace, or a mixture of the two. The amount of HD contained in liquid and headspace leaks may be substantially different. Use of a test solution containing two VOCs with differences in ratios of VOC concentrations in the headspace and liquid enables source apportionment of leaked material. SIFT-MS was used to detect VOCs from liquid and headspace leaks in the vapor phase. Included in this report is a novel method to determine the origin and magnitude of leaks from CSTDs. A limit of leak detection of 24 µL of headspace vapor and 0.14 µL of test liquid were found using Selected Ion Flow Tube Mass Spectrometry (SIFT-MS).
Use of Artificial Intelligence in Market Intelligence System

Implementation of GPS enabled new signals to enhance the quality, as well as efficiency of agricultural operations, and thereby, increase the overall productivity in future. The major problem is that the environment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not exactly the same as farmers’ field which makes the testing, validation and successful rollout of AI and other related (Industry 4.0 revolution) technologies much more riskier and laborious than in other industries. Sometimes the cost associated with implementation of AI in agriculture becomes so high and unaffordable due to unpredictability associated with each and every aspect of agriculture such weather, pests, soil, etc. Increasing consumption and rising requirement of better yield are estimated to be one of the major factor that is fueling the demand of automating farming operations. The farmers want to shift more towards automation to enhance yield and improve the product quality. This technology assist farmers in enhancing their crop yield and product quality by analyzing and correlating large amount of structured and unstructured data from multiple sources to extract actionable insights to enhance yield.
Scalable Optimization Methods for Incorporating Spatiotemporal Fractionation into Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy Planning

It has been recently shown that an additional therapeutic gain may be achieved if a radiotherapy plan is altered over the treatment course using a new treatment paradigm referred to in the literatu...
Sexual Dimorphisms in Spatial Memory, Facial Recognition, and Reaction Time

Objectives: Literature suggests that there is a female advantage in facial recognition, and a male one in spatial memory. Researchers in this study investigated whether females outperformed males on a Novel Faces and Places (NFAP) test, which uses both facial recognition and spatial memory measures. NFAP was adapted from the Novel Image Novel Location (NINL) test (Piper, Acevedo, Edwards, Curtiss, McGinnis, & Raber, 2011a). Methods: College students (N=95) completed a demographics survey and took NFAP at one of 5 different display duration conditions. Results: No significant differences were found among the sexes for total NFAP score or for novel faces or novel places identification. However, females had faster reaction times overall, and particularly when making correct judgments. Female correct reaction time was significantly faster than female incorrect reaction time and than both male correct and incorrect reaction times. Also observed was a display duration effect, where a 15 second display duration yielded the highest scores compared to 12, 9, 6, or 3 seconds. Conclusion: These findings indicate that males and females process visual information in different ways. Though no significant differences in score were found, the female advantage seen in NINL did in fact disappear on NFAP as was hypothesized.
Method of gasification in IGCC system

Abstract A coal gasifier is designed to operate at the temperature range of 1200–1300 °C. The 1200 °C sets the lower limit to the carbon reforming efficiency of the high temperature reformer, and the 1300 °C is the lower limit of the fluid temperature of coal slags, below which they may be collected as non-fluid slag. The gasifier is connected to two syngas burners where a portion of product syngas is combusted with O2 gas and produce ultra hot H2O and CO2 gases, these two gases enter into the gasifier and maintain the gasifier temperature at above 1200 °C and reform carbon into syngas. The temperature of the gasifier is controlled by the flow of O2 gas into the syngas burner, where O2 gas is completely consumed and none left to enter into the gasifier. This removes any possibility of forming oxidated products, and compressed CO2 gas spray coal powder into the gasifier column and non-fluid slag is collected at the bottom. A higher level integration of oxidation–reduction cycle is shown for a IGCC system, wherein the exhaust gas of syngas turbine drives the reduction reaction of coal gasification. A smooth and uniform temperature control within the gasifier assures high efficiency of carbon reforming and quality of product syngas. Conventional Lurgi gasifier relies on its large heat capacity and accumulating coal slag along the inner walls of the gasifier has made the gasifier bigger, lately as large as a three story building. The gasifier of the present design is constructed much smaller in its size, but with greater reforming efficiency.
Self-Dual Spherical Grids

Self-dual plane graphs have been studied extensively. C. A. B Smith and W. T. Tutte published A class of self-dual maps in 1950; in 1992, Archdeacon and Richter described a method for constructing all self-dual plane graphs and a second construction was produced by Servatius and Christopher in 1992. Both constructions are inductive. In this paper, we produce four templates from which all self-dual plane graphs with maximum degree 4 (self-dual spherical grids) can be constructed. The self-dual spherical grids are further subdivided into 27 basic automorphism classes. Self-dual spherical grids in the same automorphism class have similar architecture. A smallest example of each class is constructed.
Peritoneal Cavity Lymphatics

Intraperitoneal fluid is absorbed continuously by convective flow into the peritoneal cavity lymphatics [1, 2]. The importance of lymphatic absorption from the peritoneal cavity in the pathophysiology of ascites is well established [3–16] and the considerable absorptive capacity of the peritoneal cavity lymphatics has been exploited clinically to perform intraperitoneal blood transfusions in the fetus and in children [17–21]. Nevertheless, until recently, studies of the kinetics of peritoneal dialysis ‘ascites’ have neglected the role of the peritoneal cavity lymphatics and have focused only on fluid and solute exchange between the peritoneal microcirculation and the hypertonic dialysis solution instilled into the peritoneal cavity [22–34]. Recent investigations, however, have demonstrated a significant contribution of lymphatic absorption to loss of ultrafiltration and solute clearances after long-dwell peritoneal dialysis exchanges [35–39].
“Does Race Really Matter?” Secondary Students' Constructions of Racial Dialogue in the Social Studies

Abstract The examination of race and racism has been largely absent from much of social studies research and theory. Despite the growing racial and ethnic diversity in the nation's schools, many social studies teachers lack a theoretical framework to help students learn about, analyze, and discuss the role that race and racism have played historically in the United States. Using a critical race theoretical framework, this study documents the findings from a study in a middle school U.S. history classroom that was centered on students' interpretations of race relations in the United States. The findings from this qualitative study indicated that students viewed this particular class as helpful in understanding race, and subsequently race relations. However, they felt their previous social studies classes had not been useful in helping them develop greater racial awareness. The primary themes that were identified from the students' data were the invisibility of race, the role of the social studies in creati...