cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Selective enrichment and sensitive detection of peptide and protein biomarkers in human serum using polymeric reverse micelles and MALDI-MS

Reverse-micelle forming amphiphilic homopolymers with carboxylic acid and quaternary amine substituents are used to selectively enrich biomarker peptides and protein fragments from human serum prior to matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) analysis. After depletion of human serum albumin (HSA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG), low abundance peptide biomarkers can be selectively enriched and detected by MALDI-MS at clinically relevant concentrations by using the appropriate homopolymer(s) and extraction pH value(s). Three breast cancer peptide biomarkers, bradykinin, C4a, and ITIH4, were chosen to test this new approach, and detection limits of 0.5 ng mL−1, 0.08 ng mL−1, and 0.2 ng mL−1, respectively, were obtained. In addition, the amphiphilic homopolymers were used to detect prostate specific antigen (PSA) at concentrations as low as 0.5 ng mL−1 by targeting a surrogate peptide fragment of this protein biomarker. Selective enrichment and sensitive MS detection of low abundance peptide/protein biomarkers by these polymeric reverse micelles should be a sensitive and straightforward approach for biomarker screening in human serum.
Determinants of Exchange Controls: An Integrated Approach

Abstract This study ascertains the degree to which economic and sociopolitical variables are associated with the imposition (relaxation) of exchange controls. The results can serve as a steppingstone toward the development of models aimed at estimating the probability that a particular form of exchange control may be imposed by a host government. The paper is divided into four parts. The alternative forms of exchange controls are discussed in Section I. Section II identifies the determinants of exchange controls. The empirical results are reported in Section III. The paper is summarized and concluded in Section IV.
Off-Line Peripherals for Multiple Camera-Computer Interfaces

A solution to the problem of data acquisition and processing from multiple cameras via a signle computer is presented and discussed. Off-line disc systems or video tape peripherals provide greater speed of data collection, increase the total throughput of the camera-computer system, and provide backup in case of computer breakdown. They increase the efficiency of a single computer, thus minimizing the cost of data acquisition and analysis.
Neural pathways for language in autism: the potential for music-based treatments

Language deficits represent the core diagnostic characteristics of autism, and some of these individuals never develop functional speech. The language deficits in autism may be due to structural and functional abnormalities in certain language regions (e.g., frontal and temporal), or due to altered connectivity between these brain regions. In particular, a number of anatomical pathways that connect auditory and motor brain regions (e.g., the arcuate fasciculus, the uncinate fasciculus and the extreme capsule) may be altered in individuals with autism. These pathways may also provide targets for experimental treatments to facilitate communication skills in autism. We propose that music-based interventions (e.g., auditory–motor mapping training) would take advantage of the musical strengths of these children, and are likely to engage, and possibly strengthen, the connections between frontal and temporal regions bilaterally. Such treatments have important clinical potential in facilitating expressive language in nonverbal children with autism.
Decentralized evaluation of associative and commutative functions

A family of distributed algorithms for decentralized evaluation of associative and commutative functions is presented. It is shown that if N is the member of processes which cooperate to evaluate such a function, then for each positive integer c >
Reduced physical activity increases intermuscular adipose tissue in healthy young adults

Background: Recent findings suggest that higher levels of intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) are associated with glucose dysregulation, lower levels of muscle strength, and a heightened risk of disability. Although several studies have described adaptations in muscle after reduced physical activity, the change in IMAT in healthy young adults is unknown. Objective: The objective was to determine whether reduced lower limb activity alters IMAT in healthy young adults and to assess whether this change affects muscle strength loss. Design: The subjects (6 men and 12 women aged 19-28 y) underwent a 4-wk control period, which was followed by 4 wk of unilateral lower limb suspension. Volumes of whole muscle, subcutaneous adipose tissue, and IMAT were assessed by using magnetic resonance imaging in the thigh and calf. Muscle strength was assessed during maximal voluntary isometric contractions. Results: No changes were observed in the control period. Reduced physical activity decreased thigh and calf muscle volumes by 7.4% and 7.9% (P < 0.001), respectively; no significant change in subcutaneous adipose tissue was observed. Additionally, IMAT increased in both regions; the increase was larger in the calf (20%) than in the thigh (14.5%) (P ≤ 0.005) and was partially explained by the loss in muscle (R 2 = 26%). The loss in strength was greater in the thigh (20.4%) than in the calf (15%). Strength loss was associated with increases in IMAT (P = 0.039) after adjustment for the loss in muscle, initial strength, initial IMAT, and initial muscle volume. Conclusions: IMAT accumulates markedly after reduced activity in healthy young adults. Increases in IMAT may contribute to losses in muscle strength associated with reduced physical activity, but the mechanism responsible is yet to be determined.
Flaxseed supplementation improved insulin resistance in obese glucose intolerant people: a randomized crossover design

Obesity leads to an increase in inflammation and insulin resistance. This study determined antioxidant activity of flaxseed and its role in inflammation and insulin resistance in obese glucose intolerant people. Using a randomized crossover design, nine obese glucose intolerant people consumed 40 g ground flaxseed or 40 g wheat bran daily for 12 weeks with a 4-week washout period. Plasma inflammation biomarkers (CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6), glucose, insulin, and thiobaribituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) were measured before and after of each supplementation. Flaxseed supplementation decreased TBARS (p = 0.0215) and HOMA-IR (p = 0.0382). Flaxseed or wheat bran supplementation did not change plasma inflammatory biomarkers. A positive relationship was found between TBARS and HOMA-IR (r = 0.62, p = 0.0003). The results of the study weakly support that decreased insulin resistance might have been secondary to antioxidant activity of flaxseed. However, the mechanism(s) of decreased insulin resistance by flaxseed should be further determined using flaxseed lignan.
Sorbents for Mercury Capture from Fuel Gas with Application to Gasification Systems

In regard to gasification for power generation, the removal of mercury by sorbents at elevated temperatures preserves the higher thermal efficiency of the integrated gasification combined cycle system. Unfortunately, most sorbents display poor capacity for elemental mercury at elevated temperatures. Previous experience with sorbents in flue gas has allowed for judicious selection of potential high-temperature candidate sorbents. The capacities of many sorbents for elemental mercury from nitrogen, as well as from four different simulated fuel gases at temperatures of 204−371 °C, have been determined. The simulated fuel gas compositions contain varying concentrations of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, moisture, and hydrogen sulfide. Promising high-temperature sorbent candidates have been identified. Palladium sorbents seem to be the most promising for high-temperature capture of mercury and other trace elements from fuel gases. A collaborative research and development agreement has been initiated...
Genome Sequence of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis Strain NRRL 26406, a Fungus Causing Wilt Disease on Melon

ABSTRACT Horizontal chromosome transfer introduces host-specific pathogenicity among members of the Fusarium oxysporum species complex and is responsible for some of the most destructive and intractable plant diseases. This paper reports the genome sequence of F. oxysporum f. sp. melonis (NRRL 26406), a causal agent of Fusarium wilt disease on melon.
Performance modeling of virtual collaborative environments

In this paper, we present a framework for performance modeling of virtual collaborative environments (VCE). Our model could be used as benchmarking tool for assessing the quality of experience of participants in a virtual environment. Our framework is designed to assess Second Life type of environments but could easily be extended to any kind of virtual worlds. We examine the case of users communicating via chatting and voice. We capture the performance for both cases and using response surface methodology techniques we derive a utility function that yields the performance of the examined environment given the available computing and communication resources. We propose a pricing scheme and based on this we formulate optimization problems for optimal resource allocation for VCEs.
Autonomy and Competence as Motivational Factors in Students with Learning Disabilities and Emotional Handicaps

Over 450 students (136 elementary, 321 junior and senior high school) with primary handicapping codes of learning disability (LD) or emotional handicap (EH) completed several questionnaires. All participants were from self-contained classrooms of a state-operated special education system. Questionnaires assessed students' self-perceptions and perceptions of home and classroom contexts, with all variables theoretically reflecting either the competence or the autonomy aspects of internal motivation or students' personal adjustment. Math and reading standardized achievement test scores were obtained from school records. Using multiple regression analyses, students' achievement and adjustment were predicted from the motivationally relevant self-perception and perception-of-context variables. Interestingly, different patterns of relations emerged for the students with LD and EH.
Coupling land use and groundwater models to map land use legacies: Assessment of model uncertainties relevant to land use planning

Abstract Groundwater models coupled with GIS analyses can be used to estimate the time for groundwater and solutes to be transported from each location across a watershed to surface water bodies. Coupled to backcast land use models, these estimates can be used to create land use “legacy” maps that quantify the contribution of historic land uses to the groundwater signal arriving at streams. However, groundwater models and backcast land use models contain uncertainties inherent to each model. These uncertainties may affect the outcome of the coupled model and hence their reliability to natural resource and land use planning. In this paper we demonstrate how a simple spatially explicit, multi-uncertainty metric can be used to assess uncertainties from our backcast land use change and groundwater travel time model. We couple five variants of groundwater travel time (GWTT) simulations with 12 variants of historic land uses, and analyze the resulting 60 realizations of land use legacy maps using a spatially explicit, multi-metric uncertainty score. We apply this approach to the Muskegon River Watershed in Michigan, where groundwater flow provides the vast majority of streamflow. Our results indicate that despite uncertainties inherent in both models, townships located in the north-central portion of the study watershed can benefit from using legacy maps as planning tools despite a wide range of evaluated uncertainties.
The Incomplete World of American Politics, 1815-1829: Presidents, Parties and Politics in “The Era of Good Feelings”

Beyond strong presidents and memorable administrations, other forces have influenced the shape of past American politics. Before Andrew Jackson's election in 1828, much coherence and direction existed on the political scene. There was a pervasive national partisan focus to the era despite the lack of strong presidents and great events. Specific partisan memories provoked by past conflicts and prejudices persisted, helping define what was at stake. Far from being formless, this era did not have to wait for Jackson's election to create the elements of a coherent political culture. His election reinforced what was already present.
Distinct lipid a moieties contribute to pathogen-induced site-specific vascular inflammation.

Several successful pathogens have evolved mechanisms to evade host defense, resulting in the establishment of persistent and chronic infections. One such pathogen, Porphyromonas gingivalis, induces chronic low-grade inflammation associated with local inflammatory bone loss and systemic inflammation manifested as atherosclerosis. P. gingivalis expresses an atypical lipopolysaccharide (LPS) structure containing heterogeneous lipid A species, that exhibit Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) agonist or antagonist activity, or are non-activating at TLR4. In this study, we utilized a series of P. gingivalis lipid A mutants to demonstrate that antagonistic lipid A structures enable the pathogen to evade TLR4-mediated bactericidal activity in macrophages resulting in systemic inflammation. Production of antagonistic lipid A was associated with the induction of low levels of TLR4-dependent proinflammatory mediators, failed activation of the inflammasome and increased bacterial survival in macrophages. Oral infection of ApoE−/− mice with the P. gingivalis strain expressing antagonistic lipid A resulted in vascular inflammation, macrophage accumulation and atherosclerosis progression. In contrast, a P. gingivalis strain producing exclusively agonistic lipid A augmented levels of proinflammatory mediators and activated the inflammasome in a caspase-11-dependent manner, resulting in host cell lysis and decreased bacterial survival. ApoE−/− mice infected with this strain exhibited diminished vascular inflammation, macrophage accumulation, and atherosclerosis progression. Notably, the ability of P. gingivalis to induce local inflammatory bone loss was independent of lipid A expression, indicative of distinct mechanisms for induction of local versus systemic inflammation by this pathogen. Collectively, our results point to a pivotal role for activation of the non-canonical inflammasome in P. gingivalis infection and demonstrate that P. gingivalis evades immune detection at TLR4 facilitating chronic inflammation in the vasculature. These studies support the emerging concept that pathogen-mediated chronic inflammatory disorders result from specific pathogen-mediated evasion strategies resulting in low-grade chronic inflammation.
Relating protein pharmacology by ligand chemistry

The identification of protein function based on biological information is an area of intense research. Here we consider a complementary technique that quantitatively groups and relates proteins based on the chemical similarity of their ligands. We began with 65,000 ligands annotated into sets for hundreds of drug targets. The similarity score between each set was calculated using ligand topology. A statistical model was developed to rank the significance of the resulting similarity scores, which are expressed as a minimum spanning tree to map the sets together. Although these maps are connected solely by chemical similarity, biologically sensible clusters nevertheless emerged. Links among unexpected targets also emerged, among them that methadone, emetine and loperamide (Imodium) may antagonize muscarinic M3, α2 adrenergic and neurokinin NK2 receptors, respectively. These predictions were subsequently confirmed experimentally. Relating receptors by ligand chemistry organizes biology to reveal unexpected relationships that may be assayed using the ligands themselves.
Jet Quenching from QCD Evolution

Recent advances in soft-collinear effective theory with Glauber gluons have led to the development of a new method that gives a unified description of inclusive hadron production in reactions with nucleons and heavy nuclei. We show how this approach, based on the generalization of the DGLAP evolution equations to include final-state medium-induced parton shower corrections for large ${Q}^{2}$ processes, can be combined with initial-state effects for applications to jet quenching phenomenology. We demonstrate that the traditional parton energy loss calculations can be regarded as a special soft-gluon emission limit of the general QCD evolution framework. We present phenomenological comparison of the ${\mathrm{SCET}}_{\mathrm{G}}$-based results on the suppression of inclusive charged hadron and neutral pion production in $\sqrt{{s}_{\mathrm{NN}}}=2.76\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{TeV}$ lead-lead collisions at the Large Hadron Collider to experimental data. We also show theoretical predictions for the upcoming $\sqrt{{s}_{\mathrm{NN}}}\ensuremath{\simeq}5.1\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{TeV}$ $\mathrm{Pb}+\mathrm{Pb}$ run at the LHC.
Appendiceal diameter: CT versus sonographic measurements

Ultrasound and CT are the dominant imaging modalities for assessment of suspected pediatric appendicitis, and the most commonly applied diagnostic criterion for both modalities is appendiceal diameter. The classically described cut-off diameter for the diagnosis of appendicitis is 6 mm when using either imaging modality. To demonstrate the fallacy of using the same cut-off diameter for both CT and US in the diagnosis of appendicitis. We conducted a retrospective review of patients younger than 18 years who underwent both US and CT of the appendix within 24 h. The shortest transverse dimension of the appendix was measured at the level of the proximal, mid and distal appendix on US and CT images. We compared mean absolute difference in appendiceal diameter between US and CT, using the paired t-test. We reviewed exams of 155 children (58.7% female) with a mean age of 11.3 ± 4.2 years; 38 of the children (24.5%) were diagnosed with appendicitis. The average time interval between US and CT was 7.0 ± 5.4 h. Mean appendiceal diameter measured by CT was significantly larger than that measured by US in cases without appendicitis (5.3 ± 1.0 mm vs. 4.7 ± 1.1 mm, P < 0.0001) and in cases with appendicitis (8.3 ± 2.2 mm vs. 7.0 ± 2.0 mm, P < 0.0001). Mean absolute diameter difference at any location along the appendix was 1.3–1.4 mm in normal appendices and 2 mm in cases of appendicitis. Measured appendiceal diameter differs between US and CT by 1–2 mm, calling into question use of the same diameter cut-off (6 mm) for both modalities for the diagnosis of appendicitis.
The Judiciary in Times of National Security Crisis and Terrorism: Ubi Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges, Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes? (When in Times of War the Law Falls Silent, Who will Guard the Guardians?)

Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, the Bush Administration has asserted that the Commander in Chief has the authority to detain United States citizens as enemy combatants. Post-September 11 cases have affirmed principles of judicial review established by World War II detention cases. The author suggests those principles impose limited review of policy decisions by the political branches, while critically reviewing measures that violate separation of powers and limited powers.
Chemoprevention Strategies for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Esophageal cancer is the eighth most common form of malignant disease in the world, and squamous cell carcinoma is the predominant histologic subtype (1, 2, 3). Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESC) typically remains asymptomatic until the tumor reaches an advanced stage. Thus, patients often present with incurable disease, which is reflected by the ESC 5-yr survival rate of approximately 10%. Early detection programs have been implemented in select high-risk populations. However, such initiatives have been only modestly successful, primarily because an effective, affordable, and acceptable screening technique is not currently available. Existing data from a variety of sources suggest that chemoprevention may represent a viable approach to ESC prevention. In this chapter, current concepts regarding the key aspects of ESC chemoprevention are reviewed. Risk stratification and biomarker selection are discussed initially, followed by a more comprehensive overview of promising candidate agents for future ESC chemoprevention trials.
Cinemarchitecture: Explorations into the Scopic Regime of Architecture

Film is an allied art to architecture: the two disciplines are complexly related. The settings for film are within the space posited by architecture. By the very nature of film, these spaces are sy...
Promoting ethical development in nursing education and beyond

Ethical nursing practice can be referred to as doing what is best for those who are the recipient of one's services, according to the recipient. However, clear-cut lines of what is and is not in the best interest of the patient can become blurred. Nurses often encounter situations that require them to use ethical judgment. This article discusses how ethical decision making can be developed in students, new graduates, and nurses in practice.
Antihistamines and Mast Cell Stabilizers

The allergic response is comprised of an early phase and a late phase. The early phase, which occurs within minutes of allergen exposure in sensitized individuals, is characterized by the release of preformed mediators including histamine and proteases. The late phase, which tends to occur within 3–12 h after antigen exposure, involves the recruitment of additional cells to augment the inflammation. These cells may include eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes (Fig. 37.1).
On Inequality and Limited GrowthSome World Political Effects

Today's world is poor, unequal, and ungovernable. Quantitative data and analytic arguments are offered for the present state and current trends in these three respects in the international system of nations. Assumptions and perspectives of future scarcity and limited growth are viewed in light of these existing conditions, and an effort is made to assess their expected material, psychological, and political impact. The “limited growth” perspectives are seen as one-sided and partly unrealistic over the next thirty years, and as even more doubtful over the next fifty to one hundred years. Their psychological impact is seen as manageable under conditions of high levels of international communication, cooperation, and solidarity, but as dangerous and probably destructive in their absence. Both the realism and the timing of limited growth predictions deserve more critical attention, therefore, than they have received thus far.
The quantum life

To a physicist, life seems little short of miraculous–all those stupid atoms getting together to perform such clever tricks! For centuries, living organisms were regarded as some sort of magic matter. Today, we know that no special "life force" is at work in biology; there is just ordinary matter doing extraordinary things, all the while obeying the familiar laws of physics. What, then, is the secret of life's remarkable properties?
Quit Steroids Quit Kidneys

This case discusses the pharmacokinetic interaction between tacrolimus and prednisone, leading to tacrolimus toxicity.
Roman Polanski and the 'Artists' Minister': American Criminal Law v. French Cultural Diplomacy

In 1977, famed Hollywood director Roman Polanski was convicted by a California court of unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year old he had drugged. The night before the sentencing hearing, he fled to France where, as a French citizen, he was immune from deportation and would spend the next thirty years as a fugitive. In 2009, Polanski was arrested in Switzerland at the bequest of the United States.The arrest triggered a violent reaction from the French executive branch and intellectual elites, and caused a still-ongoing disagreement between France and the U.S. This case study of the international imbroglio reveals a profound misunderstanding. While French elites fail to understand the importance of the rule of law in American society, U.S. jurists and international political scholars fail to understand the significance of French operational code — a set of political beliefs originating from the cultural matrix of a society. This case study occurs within the general comparative-law methodological framework of immersion. Immersion calls for the practice of legal hermeneutics and requires the study of politics, economics, and ethnography as integral to the understanding of any given legal system. Within this framework, I contribute foreign policy analysis and international communication theory in order to reveal the cultural meaning hidden behind the hermetic legal case and to further mutual understanding between American and French jurists and international political scholars. Specifically, I argue that the French executive branch and intellectual elites perceived American international criminal procedure efforts to arrest Polanski in Switzerland as an assault by Hollywood against French culture. In addition, the attempt by the U.S. to seize Polanski was perceived as an attack against France on the international scene — in particular, as an attempt to hinder France’s civilizing mission and the projection of its universalist mode through culture and cinema. This case study also highlights a fundamental irony in France’s position: the fact that the self-crowned spearhead against U.S. hegemony in the international legal order only relies on Gramscian arguments to better ground and justify its own civilizing mission, that is, cultural imperialism. In the end, the comparative legal analysis shows that for America, this is a criminal case of California v. Polanski, but for France, this is an international law and politics case of U.S. v. France taking place in the realm of the arts.
The Geometry of Orthogonal-Series, Square-Root Density Estimators: Applications in Computer Vision and Model Selection

We consider the geometry and model order specification of a class of density models where the square-root of the distribution is expanded in an orthogonal series. The simplicity of the resulting spherical geometry makes this framework ideal for many applications that rely on information geometric concepts like distances and manifold statistics. Specifically, we demonstrate applications of these models in the computer vision field of object recognition and retrieval. We illustrate how invariant shape representations can be used in conjunction with these probabilistic models to yield state-of-the-art classifiers. Moreover, the viability of formulating classification models that take into account shape deformation in an optimal transport context are investigated, yielding insight into the practicalities of working with the parameter space of the densities versus the Wasserstein measure space approach. The free parameters associated with these square-root estimators can be rigorously selected using the Minimum Description Length (MDL) criterion for model selection. Under these models, it is shown that the MDL has a closed-form representation, atypical for most applications of MDL in density estimation. Experimental evaluation of our techniques are conducted on one, two, and three dimensional density estimation problems in shape analysis, with comparative analysis demonstrating our approach to be state-of-the-art in object recognition and model selection.
An asynchronous direct solver for banded linear systems

Banded linear systems occur frequently in mathematics and physics. However, direct solvers for large systems cannot be performed in parallel without communication. The aim of this paper is to develop a general asymmetric banded solver with a direct approach that scales across many processors efficiently. The key mechanism behind this is that reduction to a row-echelon form is not required by the solver. The method requires more floating point calculations than a standard solver such as LU decomposition, but by leveraging multiple processors the overall solution time is reduced. We present a solver using a superposition approach that decomposes the original linear system into q subsystems, where q is the number of superdiagonals. These methods show optimal computational cost when q processors are available because each system can be solved in parallel asynchronously. This is followed by a q×q dense constraint matrix problem that is solved before a final vectorized superposition is performed. Reduction to row echelon form is not required by the solver, and hence the method avoids fill-in. The algorithm is first developed for tridiagonal systems followed by an extension to arbitrary banded systems. Accuracy and performance is compared with existing solvers and software is provided in the supplementary material.
Limb ischemic preconditioning reduce myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury for infants undergoing cardiac operation

Objective To study the feasibility and safety of limb remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) in infants and explore the protective effect on myecardium ischemia reperfusion injury for infants undergoing cardiac operation under cardiopulmonary bypass. Methods 60 infants weight less than 7 kilograms with ventricular septal defect were enrolled into the study. 30 of them (RIPC group) were ischemic preconditioned two times (24 hours and 1 hour preoperatively) by three cycles of iscbemia (5 minutes for each) and reperfusion on the left upper arm using a blood pressure cuff. Serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK) and its isoenzyme (CK-MB), and tro-ponin I (TnI) ; malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) was preoperatively detected. The expression of heat shock pro-tein 70 (HSP 70) in cardiomyocytes was determined by western blot analysis. The surgical outcome including limb movement and sensory function was also recorded. Results No limb disability or sensory disturbance or no other surgical complications was found in all infants. LDH, CK, TnI at the beginning of operation in RIPC group was higher than those in control group. After operation, leakage of heart enzymes were attenuated in RIPC group, and the serum concentration of enzymes were lower than those in the control group. The RIPC group had low coronary sinus venous concentration of MDA but high SOD. The expression of HSP70 was upregulated in cardiomyocytes of RIPC group. Conclusion The limb RIPC can be done easily and safety in infants, and BIPC can reduce the leakage of myocardial enzymes and upregu-late the expression of HSP, which possess protective effect on myocardial IRI. Key words: Ischemic preconditioning; Extremities/BS; Heat-shock proteins 70; Myocardial reperfusion injury/PC; Cardiac surgical procedures
Microbiome: Its Impact Is Being Revealed!

Thriving microbiome research for the past few years is providing new insights into biological mechanisms guiding human health and/or disease states. In this review, we will highlight the recent literature providing further evidence for the central role that the microbiota plays in association with the human host. The host microbiota, both bacteria and fungi, with their collective genome (metagenome) and metabolites (metabolome) play a key role in health and disease states. We now have enough evidence that there are strong relationships and multidirectional interactions between the human host and the commensal bacterial, fungal, and viral inhabitants. Microbiome research has been at the forefront of research as a potential future target for precision medicine with the development of novel diagnostic assays and treatment approaches. Ongoing investigations are still unraveling the mechanisms by which such organisms contribute to health and disease.
FAS apoptotic inhibitory molecule 2 is a stress-induced intrinsic neuroprotective factor in the retina

We report the neuroprotective role of FAS apoptotic inhibitory molecule 2 (FAIM2), an inhibitor of the FAS signaling pathway, during stress-induced photoreceptor apoptosis. Retinal detachment resulted in increased FAIM2 levels in photoreceptors with higher amounts detected at the tips of outer segments. Activation of FAS death receptor via FAS-ligand led to JNK-mediated FAIM2 phosphorylation, decreased proteasome-mediated degradation and increased association with the FAS receptor. Photoreceptor apoptosis was accelerated in Faim2 knockout mice following experimental retinal detachment. We show that FAIM2 is primarily involved in reducing stress-induced photoreceptor cell death but this effect was transient. FAIM2 was found to interact with both p53 and HSP90 following the activation of the FAS death pathway and FAIM2/HSP90 interaction was dependent on the phosphorylation of FAIM2. Lack of FAIM2 led to increased expression of proadeath genes Fas and Ripk1 in the retina under physiologic conditions. These results demonstrate that FAIM2 is an intrinsic neuroprotective factor activated by stress in photoreceptors and delays FAS-mediated photoreceptor apoptosis. Modulation of this pathway to increase FAIM2 expression may be a potential therapeutic option to prevent photoreceptor death.
Identifying trends in hydration behavior for modifications to the hydrophobicity of poly(n-isopropylacrylamide).

Abstract Poly(n-isopropylacrylamide), PNIPAM, is a thermo-responsive polymer that has been thoroughly studied for its many applications, such as drug delivery and actuators. Below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST), PNIPAM is well hydrated in the elongated conformation. The transition occuring at the LCST results in a less hydrated collapsed state above the LCST. This volume phase transition is dependent upon the hydration of the polymer and its hydrophobicity. Some research has been done on potential modifications of PNIPAM for applications, but until now there has not been a study of the hydration properties as a function of hydrophobicity. The work presented in this paper applies a Voronoi analysis of the hydration of PNIPAM, as well as PNIPAM with other alkyl substituents. We show from classical MD simulations that increasing hydrophobicity can increase the volume phase change, but there is a lower limit to this trend. Additionally, replica exchange molecular dynamics were conducted on PNIPAM showing a fluctuation between elongated and collapsed states near the LCST.
Code Sepsis: Rapid Methods To Diagnose Sepsis and Detect Hematopathogens : Part I: The Impact and Attributes of Sepsis

Abstract Bloodstream infections are among the top causes of death in the United States, and substantial mortality is attributed to testing delays in determinating the microbial cause(s) and selection of the appropriate antibiotic. In this review, we summarize the human and financial impact of sepsis, as well as the predisposing factors, symptoms, and common modes of bacterial pathogenesis. We also detail important clinical and laboratory criteria for the diagnosis of sepsis and key aspects of the Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines as they relate to diagnosis, therapy, and resuscitation from the septic event. Clinical laboratories must expand their understanding of the complexities related to diagnosing and treating sepsis in order to expand their role as productive members of interdisciplinary health care teams focused on improving survival from sepsis and limiting the financial impact that sepsis imposes on our health care systems.
CT and MRI in Radiotherapy

Geometric and dosimetric accuracy are two important key factors in treatment simulation and planning for advanced radiation therapy. Medical imaging, with its ability to visualize and quantify patient anatomy, plays a critical role to ensure geometric and dosimetric accuracy for radiation therapy. Among all the image modalities, Computer Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are the most commonly used ones for patient data acquisition for treatment simulation and planning. Their clinical roles and methods by which these modalities can be used to guide treatment planning and delivery are discussed in this chapter. This Chapter also provides an overview of the guidance and issues related to effective implementation of CT and MRI in routine clinical procedures in radiation therapy.
Electron Partitioning from Dinitrogenase to Substrate and the Kinetics of ATP Utilization

It now seems to be generally accepted that the flow of elec trons1,2 in the nitrogenase system is as shown in Figure 1. First let us clarify the nomenclature we will employ. The nomenclature suggested earlier by Hageman and Burris3 has been modified somewhat based on suggestions we have received from a number of colleagues. The term nitrogenase, as it applies to the whole catalytic complex capable of reducing N2, is retained in its accepted sense. As we are convinced that the Fe protein and the MoFe protein associate and dissociate at each turn of the catalytic cycle3 and that the MoFe protein binds and reduces substrates,4 we will utilize a nomenclature that reflects the function of the component proteins of nitrogenase. We will designate the MoFe protein as dinitrogenase (it really is the enzyme that reduces N2 and other substrates) and the Fe protein as dinitrogenase reductase (its only function appears to be the reduction of dinitrogenase).2,5
Spirituality and the 12 steps of substance abuse recovery.

Numerous treatment modalities incorporate spirituality as an important part of treatment. The 12-step program is one such program which claims to enhance one's spirituality, yet empirical support is limited. This preliminary study compared clients in 12-step outpatient programs to clients in non-12-step outpatient programs to assess the programs’ impact on spirituality. From scores on the Spiritual Well-Being Scale, no significant differences between 12-step programs and non-12-step programs were found, yet both treatments were found to lead to a significant increase over time of client spirituality. Individuals who prefer programs not based on the 12 steps may still experience an increase in their spirituality. Since participants in both treatment groups experienced a significant increase in spirituality, further support is found for the presence of spirituality in all clients. This finding supports the appropriateness of addressing spirituality openly in treatment.
Latinx and African American Youth Participation in Sports and Leisure: The Impact on Social Identity, Educational Outcomes, and Quality of Life

Numerous studies have documented the positive effects of participation in sports and other leisure activities; many of these studies noting the positive effects on school engagement and community engagement outside of the school environment. (Fletcher AC, Nickerson PF, Wright KL: J Comm Psychol 31:641–659, 2003; Zaff JF, Moore KA, Romano Papillo A, Williams S: J Adolesc Res 18:599–630, 2003; Eime RM, Young JA, Harvey JT, Charity MJ, Payne WR: Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 10:135, 2003, etc.). For students of color, particularly African American and Latinx children, there is concern over the continued disparities in high school completion rates and educational outcomes. In the United States, recent education policy, the Every Student Succeeds Act, acknowledged the need to look at the whole child, provide a holistic approach and focus on protective factors in neighborhoods with complex realities. In addition, it is well recognized that addressing school success must also include the need to emphasize student mental and physical well being by focusing on protective factors such as active participation in school and community activities. Considering this context, the purpose of this study is to understand how school and community activities shape the content and meaning of students’ social identities and how those social identities influence their quality of life and engagement in school. Specifically, to understand from students’ own lived experience, how they experience quality of life. This study is informed by a borderlands perspective and social identity theory and uses a qualitative design drawing from The Student Life in High Schools Project (SLP), a longitudinal study of the transition to high school. The primary source of data for this project is the individual student interviews of 64 Mexican origin and African American youth attending Chicago Public High Schools during their sophomore year of high school. The Extended Case Method (ECM) grounded in a Chicana feminist epistemology was employed. The ECM itself combines qualitative research from various traditions and emphasizes a reflexive model of science allowing for an extension of existing theories.
Finite Difference Scheme for a Convection-Diffusion Equation

First-order model equations for convection have been studied in previous chapters, i.e. the linear convection equation (2.12) and the Burgers’ equation (inviscid) (4.9). The heat equation (2.8) is a model for diffusion. When both phenomena are present, as for example in boundary-layer flows, the PDE must contain first as well as second partial derivatives in space.
William III and the Legalist Revolution

The new king recoiled from suggestions that he declare himself a conqueror, and his regime deviated from such legal protection as habeas corpus with the greatest reluctance. William was not content with the assent of the Lords to the calling of a convention. But with the reopening of the courts, it was to be expected that writs of habeas corpus would be sued out again. A bill was quickly proposed to allow the king to commit for two or three months such persons as he shall suspect to be obnoxious without the benefit of habeas corpus. The suspension of habeas corpus was, no doubt, a bitter remedy. The Whig and former Lord Mayor, Sir Robert Clayton, who supported it, noted that [h]ad it not been for the Habeas Corpus Act, there had not been many of us here now; we had been dead and rotten in prison. Clarges advised rather that great security should be demanded for the prisoners' appearance than that Bill [the Habeas Corpus Act] should be entrenched upon; a thing so sacred.
Energy and economic evaluation of ex situ aqueous mineral carbonation

Aqueous mineral carbonation has been studied at the Albany Research Center as a potential option for CO2 sequestration. Studies have focused on the reaction of Ca-, Fe-, and Mg-silicate minerals with gaseous CO2 to form geologically stable, naturally occurring solid carbonate minerals. Process development has progressed in parallel with a process evaluation study, which was conducted for a mineral carbonation unit scaled to sequester 100% of the CO2 emissions from a 1.3 GW coal-fired power plant. The carbonation plant would require roughly 55 kt/day of mineral reactant to carbonate about 24 kt/day of CO2. The overall cost estimate was approximately $54(US)/ton CO2 sequestered. The power requirement determined for the mineral carbonation unit was about 352 MW, which represents 27% of the net power plant output. Improved mineral pretreatment and reactor design indicate that costs could be reduced by improvements to the reaction efficiency. However, because the material balance is dependent on the stoichiometry of the reaction, the chemistry of the silicate ore reactants, as well as the rection efficiency, the silicate ore demand cannot be reduced beyond a theoretical ratio of about 2:1, silicate ore to CO2. Based on these factors, mineral carbonation may be best suited as a nichemore » option for sequestration, where CO2 point sources coincide with sources of the desired mineral reactants, and may also favor an in situ methodology. Laboratory studies of in situ carbonation have shown promise.« less
Mother–Infant Interaction in the Variable Foraging Demand Model

Early-life stress has emerged as a critical antecedent to a substantial portion of human mood and anxiety disorders. Animal models have been extensively utilized to determine the long-term impact of early-life stress on psychobiology and behavior. One such model, developed in nonhuman primates, focuses on the offspring of mothers confronting environmental uncertainty regarding the ease or difficulty of food procurement (variable foraging demand (VFD)) during their infants’ early development. VFD stress is transmitted to the offspring via disruption of maternal attachment. Psychopathology can be induced by this discrete period of maternal compromise, imparting pervasive and sustained biobehavioral effects within the developmental trajectory of the offspring.
Bilingual speech associations in phonetic representation

Listeners unconsciously index race, gender, and sexual orientation from little phonetic input. Psycholinguistic theory attributes this to a representation of language where episodic traces encode fine, speaker-specific acoustic detail. We examined this unconscious linguistic bias in a task with native English speaker participants. Participants were presented with two pictures, both of which were either Hispanic or Caucasian males. Simultaneously, they listened to a semantically-neutral English sentence spoken by either a bilingual Spanish-English male or a monolingual English male and were told to choose which pictured man said the sentence. When the auditory stimulus was bilingual speech, speakers were quicker to choose between the two Hispanic faces than between the Caucasian faces. However, when participants heard a monolingual voice, there was no difference in reaction time. In the second phase of the experiment, participants were instead presented with two different pictures, one Hispanic and one Caucasian. Listeners were more likely to associate bilingual English with the Hispanic male than the Caucasian male and vice versa (monolingual English with Caucasian male). These results suggest that listeners quickly index male Spanish-English speech, but monolingual English-Caucasian associations may not be as robust.Listeners unconsciously index race, gender, and sexual orientation from little phonetic input. Psycholinguistic theory attributes this to a representation of language where episodic traces encode fine, speaker-specific acoustic detail. We examined this unconscious linguistic bias in a task with native English speaker participants. Participants were presented with two pictures, both of which were either Hispanic or Caucasian males. Simultaneously, they listened to a semantically-neutral English sentence spoken by either a bilingual Spanish-English male or a monolingual English male and were told to choose which pictured man said the sentence. When the auditory stimulus was bilingual speech, speakers were quicker to choose between the two Hispanic faces than between the Caucasian faces. However, when participants heard a monolingual voice, there was no difference in reaction time. In the second phase of the experiment, participants were instead presented with two different pictures, one Hispanic and one Cau...
Pancreas Transplantation: Indications, Techniques, and Outcomes

Pancreas transplantation treats insulin-dependent diabetes with or without concurrent end-stage renal disease. Pancreas transplantation increases survival versus no transplant, increases survival when performed as simultaneous pancreas-kidney versus deceased-donor kidney alone, and improves quality of life. Careful donor and recipient selection are paramount to good outcomes. Several technical variations exist for implantation: portal versus systemic vascular drainage and jejunal versus duodenal versus bladder exocrine drainage. Complications are most frequently technical in the first year and immunologic thereafter. Graft rejection is challenging to diagnose and is treated selectively. Islet cell transplantation currently has inferior outcomes to whole-organ pancreas transplantation.