cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Discrete Propagation in Numerically Simulated Nocturnal Squall Lines

Abstract Simulations of a typical midlatitude squall line were used to investigate a mechanism for discrete propagation, defined as convective initiation ahead of an existing squall line leading to a faster propagation speed for the storm complex. Radar imagery often shows new cells appearing in advance of squall lines, suggesting a causal relationship and prompting the search for an “action-at-a-distance” mechanism to explain the phenomenon. In the simulations presented, the identified mechanism involves gravity waves of both low and high frequency generated in response to the latent heating, which subsequently propagate out ahead of the storm. The net result of the low-frequency response, combined with surface fluxes and radiative processes, was a cooler and more moist lower troposphere, establishing a shallow cloud deck extending ahead of the storm. High-frequency gravity waves, excited in response to fluctuations in convective activity in the main storm, were subsequently ducted by the storm’s own upp...
Speeding Up Proton Transfer in a Fast Enzyme: Kinetic and Crystallographic Studies on the Effect of Hydrophobic Amino Acid Substitutions in the Active Site of Human Carbonic Anhydrase II.

Catalysis of the hydration of CO2 by human carbonic anhydrase isozyme II (HCA II) is sustained at a maximal catalytic turnover of 1 mus-1 by proton transfer between a zinc-bound solvent and bulk solution. This mechanism of proton transfer is facilitated via the side chain of His64, which is located 7.5 A from the zinc, and mediated via intervening water molecules in the active-site cavity. Three hydrophilic residues that have previously been shown to contribute to the stabilization of these intervening waters were replaced with hydrophobic residues (Y7F, N62L, and N67L) to determine their effects on proton transfer. The structures of all three mutants were determined by X-ray crystallography, with crystals equilibrated from pH 6.0 to 10.0. A range of changes were observed in the ordered solvent and the conformation of the side chain of His64. Correlating these structural variants with kinetic studies suggests that the very efficient proton transfer (approximately 7 micros-1) observed for Y7F HCA II in the dehydration direction, compared with the wild type and other mutants of this study, is due to a combination of three features. First, in this mutant, the side chain of His64 showed an appreciable inward orientation pointing toward the active-site zinc. Second, in the structure of Y7F HCA II, there is an unbranched chain of hydrogen-bonded waters linking the proton donor His64 and acceptor zinc-bound hydroxide. Finally, the difference in pKa of the donor and acceptor appears favorable for proton transfer. The data suggest roles for residues 7, 62, and 67 in fine-tuning the properties of His64 for optimal proton transfer in catalysis.
Adaptive noise filtering using an error-backpropagation neural network

A neural network of the feedforward-error backpropagation type proposed by D.E. Rumelhart et al. (1986) was applied to filter noise from spectral data commonly encountered in infrared absorption of molecular transitions. The purpose was to gain insight into the way a neural network can be trained to remove noise from a noise-corrupted signal with implications for signal processing in general. The neural network simulation was implemented in Fortran and run on a VAX 8800. Training of the neural network occurred on a set of spectral data with random transitions and line shape parameters. Preliminary results of the performance of the adopted neural network are reported and discussed along with observed limitations. Future improvements on noise filtering using a neural network are proposed. >
Embodied bicycle commuters in a car world

AbstractAs an initiative to increase cycling, bike to work (BTW) events emphasize a pragmatic approach in which people learn through sensory experience. Pragmatism contends that the lived experience of the commuter within fluid geographies of social and physical conditions informs commuting knowledge and behavior. I researched how bicyclists participate in the 2012 BTW event in Lake Tahoe (USA) and how these experiences facilitate the process of becoming bicycle commuters. My study included participant observations, interviews, video observations, and route mapping. I analyzed this data with thematic and narrative analyses. I find that the BTW event illuminates bicycling, a normally invisible practice in a car world, and creates temporary bicycle-friendly spaces that provide the embodied experience and knowledge of bicycle commuting within context. Through this lived experience, participants can break free from unconscious car-based patterns and become embodied bicycle commuters who engage in active reneg...
The Use of Database Influence Factors to Maintain Currency in an Evaluated Chemical Database

Maintaining currency of thermophysical property values in a chemical database with the rapid pace of published new experimental data is particularly difficult for evaluated databases. Evaluated databases that provide recommended values for each of the properties require labor intensive evaluation of not only the newly published property values, but also all related property values stored in the database. One possible solution to this problem is the establishment of a triage system to evaluate the potential influence of new data on recommended property values. Such a priority assignment system for the DIPPR®801 Pure Chemical Database has been developed. Evaluation of the potential impact of new data on the recommended values is done through a correlation for the Influence Factor (IF) that includes weighting factors for the type of property, the experimental methodology, the quality of the data, the quantity of data upon which the current recommendation is based, and the significance of the potential change. Database IFs help prioritize review work on the DIPPR®801 database and thereby contribute to its quality and currency.
The NASDAQ Restructuring: Do Names Even Matter?

This paper examines the impact of NASDAQ’s July 2006 restructuring to create the new Global Select and Global Markets. The new tiers changed NASDAQ from a two-tiered marketplace (National and Capital Markets) to a three-tiered marketplace (Global Select, Global, and Capital Markets). I examine the asset-pricing impact on NASDAQ-listed firms affected by the restructuring, as well as any changes to NASDAQ’s ability to compete with the NYSE for new listings. While initial data analysis indicates a potential announcement effect for Global Select Market stocks, further analysis indicates little more than a momentum effect from overall market movement in the weeks prior to the creation of the new tier. Additionally, analysis shows that NASDAQ became less competitive against NYSE in attracting new listings after the restructuring. These findings cast doubt on any utility resulting from the restructuring.
Redox characterization of simulated nuclear waste glass

Ferrous/ferric equilibria were determined in an alkali-iron borosilicate glass of the type that is presently being considered for nuclear waste disposal. Theoretical redox behavior is found at conditions more reducing than 1 kPa. Deviation from this behavior at more oxidizing conditions results from mutual interactions between the iron redox couple and other multivalentions in the glass. The results suggest that the ferrous/ferric ratio can be used as a quantitative indicator of the glass oxidation state in these complex glasses. Implications regarding redox control of the vitrification process are discussed.
Increasing delay-Doppler resolution using chirp diversity and nonlinear processing

In this paper, we study the resolution properties of linear FM pulses (chirps). Based on the ambiguity surface properties of chirp pulses, we propose a transmission strategy and a processing algorithm that has better delay-Doppler resolution than traditional matched filtering. It is shown that the improvement in resolution is accompanied by a small degradation in detection performance.
Metal-Ceramic Interactions: II, Metal-Oxide Interfacial Reactions at Elevated Temperatures

Interfacial reactions of various metals (Be, Mo, Nb, Ni, Si, Ti, and Zr) with dense oxide specimens (Al2O3, BeO, MgO, ThO2, and TiO2) were investigated at temperatures up to 1800°C. The reactions in general occurred in the same order as thermodynamic stabilities indicated. Four general types of behavior were observed. There was little or no reaction at 1400°C., but considerable reaction took place in many systems at 1800°C.
Total Ischemia Time Alters the Longitudinal and Circumferential Shortening of the Right Ventricle in Transplanted Hearts

Objectives. Ischemia time is a risk factor for mortality and right ventricular (RV) failure after heart transplantation. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of ischemia time on known transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) parameters of RV function and on a novel quantitative measurement of RV circumferential shortening. Methods. Right and left ventricular (LV) function was evaluated retrospectively in 20 consecutive patients after heart transplant using known TEE parameters as well as a quantitative measurement of circumferential contraction. The control group consisted of 20 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with no documented RV dysfunction. Results. Posttransplant TEE parameters of RV function were depressed compared with post–cardiopulmonary bypass CABG patients. Significant correlation was observed between tricuspid annular planar systolic excursion, basal, mid, and global circumferential shortening and total ischemia time. Conclusion. Total ischemia time of...
Randomized Controlled Trial of Rituximab in Patients With Graves' Orbitopathy

Context: Graves' orbitopathy (GO) is a potentially sight-threatening disease for which available medical therapy is not uniformly successful. Multiple case series suggest that rituximab (RTX) may be effective therapy for GO patients. Objective: To determine the efficacy of RTX in GO. Design: It is a prospective, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial. Setting: The study was conducted at a large academic private practice. Patients: Twenty five patients with active moderate to severe GO were enrolled, and 21 completed the study to the primary endpoint. Interventions: Two RTX infusions (1000 mg each) or two saline infusions were given 2 weeks apart. Main Outcome Measures: The primary endpoint was a reduction in clinical activity score (CAS) assessed as a continuum and separately as improvement by ≥2 points at 24 weeks. Secondary endpoints included success and failure rates, proportions showing clinically significant improvement in proptosis, lid fissure width, diplopia score, lagophthalmos and d...
Expert systems in engineering

An overview of expert systems development and some engineering applications are presented. The characteristics of expert systems are first described. Three applications of expert systems, in factory scheduling, maintenance, and electronic testing, are briefly examined. Their advantages and disadvantages are discussed. >
Diet, Plasma Carotenoids, and Sexual Coloration in the Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia Guttata)

Abstract Carotenoid-based colors serve important sexual-signaling functions in many animals, but the proximate factor(s) underlying their expression has sparked controversy. In particular, the relative contributions of dietary and physiological mechanisms have been questioned of late. However, no studies have concurrently quantified levels of food intake or pigment processing in any species to examine the comparative effects of pigment acquisition and use on integumetary coloration. Here, we studied within- and between-sex patterns of food intake and plasma pigment circulation in the Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata) to assess how sexually dichromatic, carotenoid-based bill pigmentation serves as an indicator of pigment access in the diet and carotenoid transport through the bloodstream. First, in a food-choice study, we found that males and females did not consume different types or amounts of food, despite dramatic sex differences in bill coloration. Similarly, variability in carotenoid-based bill pigme...
The Danger of Following Rules: Reflections on "Eichmann in Jerusalem"

In this article I build upon Hanna Arendt’s reflections on the “banality of evil” to elaborate on the dangers of unreflectively embracing abstract norms and bureaucratic reasoning as guidelines and justifications for behavior. By offering validation for our actions (or the lack thereof) regardless of their likely effects, abstract norms and rules harbor the danger of appeasing consciences and relieving us from our responsibility towards other human beings. I exemplify the effects of bureaucratic reasoning through the United Nations’ failures in Rwanda and Srebrenica. In Eichmann in Jerusalem Hannah Arendt warned against the banal evil hidden in the uncritical following of accepted norms and rules of behavior. I conclude that in order to avoid the danger of becoming Eichmanns of some sort we need to carefully and prudently assess the potential effects of our actions and embrace responsibility for the consequences they may produce in the concrete circumstances we engage with.
The teacher leadership process: Attempting change within embedded systems

This embedded case study examines the leadership practices of eleven teacher leaders in three urban schools to identify how these teacher leaders attempt to change the teaching practice of their colleagues while working as professional learning community leaders and as mentors for new teachers. Using a theoretical framework integrating complex systems theory with Kotter’s (Leading change. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 1996) eight steps for leading organizational change, we analyze the work and perspectives of individual teacher leaders, and we examine how teams of teacher leaders and principals function collectively in their efforts to lead instructional change. Our findings have implications for schools seeking to utilize teacher leadership as a reform strategy for authentic instructional improvement.
Changes in depressive symptoms during widowhood among older Mexican Americans: the role of financial strain, social support, and church attendance.

ABSTRACTObjectives: This study examines how depressive symptoms change during the widowhood process among older adults of Mexican descent. This research also investigates whether financial strain, social support, and church attendance moderate changes in depressive symptoms in the context of widowhood.Method: This study uses seven waves of data from the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly collected at approximately two-year intervals. This research applies multiphase growth models to examine changes in depressive symptomatology before, during, and after the transition to widowhood (the measurement wave at which spousal bereavement was first reported) among 385 older adults of Mexican descent who experienced the death of a spouse during the survey.Results: This study demonstrates that older adults of Mexican descent experienced a significant increase in depressive symptoms pre-widowhood and in particular, during the transition to widowhood. The levels and rates of cha...
Central oxytocin systems may mediate a cardiovascular response to acute stress in rats

The role of central nervous system arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OXY) in the cardiovascular response to acute stress was examined using three experimental models: pharmacological antagonism of central AVP-OXY receptors; lesions of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN); and rats genetically lacking in AVP synthesis, i.e., the Brattleboro strain. Central administration of an AVP-OXY antagonist abolished the increase in heart rate (HR) seen following acute footshock stress. The group receiving centrally administered antagonist increased HR 15 +/- 17 (SE) beats/min, whereas, in contrast, the group receiving intravenous administration of the antagonist showed a 66 +/- 17 beats/min increase, and the group receiving intraventricular antagonist vehicle showed a 101 +/- 14 beats/min increase in response to stress. In a second study, electrolytic lesions of the PVN also blocked the increase in HR seen following stress, 20 +/- 12 beats/min for PVN-lesioned rats, 74 +/- 25 beats/min for sham lesion rats, and 93 +/- 7 beats/min for rats with a lesion not destroying the PVN. In the final study, the responses of Brattleboro rats, i.e., rats genetically deficient in vasopressin synthesis, were equivalent to their Long-Evans controls (131 +/- 13 and 147 +/- 12 beats/min, respectively). In each of these studies, the blood pressure responses to the stressor were equivalent for control and experimental groups. The results of these studies suggest that a neuropeptide system originating in or passing through the PVN may play an important role in the cardiovascular responses to stress and further suggest that the central OXY system may be one pathway mediating this response.
Erlotinib for the treatment of brain metastases in non-small cell lung cancer.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Brain metastases (BM) are a common and lethal complication of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with up to 40% experiencing this complication. The use of erlotinib, a small molecule epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor, holds promise in this somewhat refractory cohort of patients, and has become the subject of active clinical investigation.Areas covered: This review covers the preclinical and clinical studies of erlotonib as it relates to its use in the treatment of NSCLC patients with BM. A literature search in part utilized the PubMed database up through Dec 2015.Expert opinion: Preclinical and retrospective data for erlotinib provide evidence of CNS penetration, and objective responses in the setting of BM from EGFR mutated NSCLC. Phase I and II data have demonstrated the feasibility of concomitant delivery of erlotinib and WBRT in the treatment of BM from NSCLC. Phase II/III data however, from non-EGFR mutation enriched populations, have demonstrated no benefit in p...
To 'Advice and Delay': The Role of Interest Groups in the Confirmation of Judges to the Federal Courts of Appeal

Political and partisan battles over nominees to the federal courts of appeal have reached unprecedented levels. This article considers the reasons for this change in the process. Using evidence from law and political science, this article proposes that current confirmation struggles are greatly influenced by increased involvement of interest groups in the process. The article tests the role of interest groups through an in-depth examination of George W. Bush’s nomination of Leslie H. Southwick to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Utilizing the Southwick case study, the article provides evidence of how interest groups impact the confirmation process by designating certain nominees as “controversial.”The article proposes that the “controversial” label impacts how senators and the public view particular nominees and has had a direct and significant impact on the fate of nominees. Specifically, interest groups shift the incentives of individual senators, prompting senators to utilize institutional tools of delay in an effort to defeat nominees.The conclusion is that only structural changes adopted by the Senate as a whole — such as setting strict time limits on addressing nominations, or eliminating the filibuster for judicial nominees — can resolve the politicalization of the confirmation process.
Hydrostatic Pressure—Temperature effects on Deep-sea Colonisation

A diverse benthic and bathypelagic fauna was first incontrovertably established by the deep-sea samples of H.M.S. Challenger , and demonstrated the ability of organisms to live and reproduce in the deep, dark and cold abyssal environment of enormous hydrostatic pressure as high as 1000 atm (14 000 psi) on trench floors at 10 000 metres. The investigations of Regnard (1891), Fontaine (1930) and Ebbecke (1935) established that various shallow animals have the capacity to withstand increased hydrostatic pressure. This paper deals with the response of whole organisms, mainly shallow-water metazoans, to hydrostatic pressure-temperature effects. The level of occurrence of pressure-induced increased activity (R 1 ), onset of paralysis or tetany (T) and LD 50 are discussed for tropical and temperate marine species in relationship to temperature and hydrostatic pressure. The pressure sensitivity and resistance exhibited by different species are examined in relation to various hypotheses and theories such as (1) group effect, in which Schlieper (1968) claims that those shallow species that belong to the group which has successfully colonised the deep sea, such as Echinodermata, Mollusca, Isopoda, have a higher pressure resistance; (2) pressure resistance as a species or genetic property; (3) environmental impact, in which deeper species have a greater pressure resistance; and (4) finally a re-examination of temperature and pressure effects as these relate to deep-sea colonisation.
Nursing care in electroconvulsive therapy.

Maintenance electroconvulsive therapy remains an infrequently used and insufficiently researched treatment for the prevention of relapse and recurrence of affective illnesses. The foundation for this treatment is examined by reviewing the relevant scientific literature, with particular attention to identifying those patients who may benefit most from this form of therapy, as well as establishing standard techniques of application. A critical assessment of current research is made, and areas for future investigation are proposed.
The transfer of safety training in work organizations: a systems perspective to continuous learning.

The effectiveness of safety and health programs can be evaluated from a "transfer" perspective, which evaluates the effectiveness of training in individual programs, and from a "systems" perspective that contends that a safety training program cannot be isolated from the organizational system of which it is a part. This chapter explores the effectiveness of training from a systems perspective and includes recommendations for improving safety and health training. Language: en
Risks and safety of combination therapy for hypothyroidism.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Hypothyroidism is currently a condition that can be treated, but not cured. Although levothyroxine reverses stigmata of hypothyroidism in most individuals, some patients feel dissatisfied with ‘monotherapy’, and this has stimulated interest in ‘combination therapy’ with both levothyroxine and liothyronine.Areas covered: A search of PubMed was conducted using terms including hypothyroidism, treatment, benefits, risks, and safety. Based on the articles identified, the body of evidence regarding the efficacy of traditional levothyroxine is reviewed. Concerns with levothyroxine therapy including impaired quality of life in treated patients, thyroxine-predominant hormone ratios, and inadvertent iatrogenic thyroid disease are discussed. The trials of combination therapy performed since 1999 were reviewed. The heterogeneity of these trials, both in terms of design and results, is discussed. The potential for new trials to determine whether combination therapy can reverse the dissatisfaction...
Research Advances in Rice Leaf Color Mutations

It's easy to observe rice color mutations because of their obvious phenotypic variations.Leaf color related genes play an important role in the process of rice chloroplast formation and growth as well as chlorophyll metabolism.So far,leaf color controlling genes are found in all chromosomes of rice.This review mainly presents the formation mechanism of rice leaf color from the synthesis and degradation of chlorophyll,the phenotypic variations of rice leaf color and the molecular mechanism of leaf color changes.
MR ANGIOGRAPHY OF THE ABDOMINAL AORTA

MR angiography has become a powerful tool for the examination of abdominal aortic pathology, including aortic aneurysm, dissection, and occlusion. This article reviews the techniques, indications, and imaging findings obtained from MR angiography of the abdominal aorta. In addition, the role of MR angiography relative to existing modalities is discussed.
The use of lidocaine to reduce the pain of myochrysine injections for children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Myochrysine (gold sodium thiomalate, GSTM) injections are the therapy of choice for children with refractory juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. In this single blinded study 8 children receiving GSTM were asked to rate their discomfort after a total of 185 injections of GSTM to which were added in random fashion either 0, 0.1, or 0.25 ml of 1% lidocaine. The addition of 0.1 ml of lidocaine was associated with a reduction of the mean complaint of pain on an ordinal pain score of 1-10 from 4.32 for injections containing no lidocaine to 2.54 for injections containing 0.1 ml (p less than .01). Addition of 0.25 ml of lidocaine did not provide a significant increase in pain reduction (p greater than .05).
Putting chromium on the map for N2 reduction: production of hydrazine and ammonia. A study of cis-M(N2)2 (M = Cr, Mo, W) bis(diphosphine) complexes

The first complete structurally and spectroscopically characterized series of isostructural Group 6 N2 complexes is reported. Protonolysis experiments on cis-[M(N2)2(PEtNRPEt)2] (M = Cr, Mo, W; R = 2,6-difluorobenzyl) reveal that only Cr affords N2H5+ and NH4+ from the reduction of the N2 ligands.
Antecedent thermal injury worsens split-thickness skin graft quality: A clinically relevant porcine model of full-thickness burn, excision and grafting

Current standard of care for full-thickness burn is excision followed by autologous split-thickness skin graft placement. Skin grafts are also frequently used to cover surgical wounds not amenable to linear closure. While all grafts have potential to contract, clinical observation suggests that antecedent thermal injury worsens contraction and impairs functional and aesthetic outcomes. This study evaluates the impact of antecedent full-thickness burn on split-thickness skin graft scar outcomes and the potential mediating factors. Full-thickness contact burns (100°C, 30s) were created on the backs of anesthetized female Yorkshire Pigs. After seven days, burn eschar was tangentially excised and covered with 12/1000th inch (300μm) split-thickness skin graft. For comparison, unburned wounds were created by sharp excision to fat before graft application. From 7 to 120days post-grafting, planimetric measurements, digital imaging and biopsies for histology, immunohistochemistry and gene expression were obtained. At 120days post-grafting, the Observer Scar Assessment Scale, colorimetry, contour analysis and optical graft height assessments were performed. Twenty-nine porcine wounds were analyzed. All measured metrics of clinical skin quality were significantly worse (p<0.05) in burn injured wounds. Histological analysis supported objective clinical findings with marked scar-like collagen proliferation within the dermis, increased vascular density, and prolonged and increased cellular infiltration. Observed differences in contracture also correlated with earlier and more prominent myofibroblast differentiation as demonstrated by α-SMA staining. Antecedent thermal injury worsens split-thickness skin graft quality, likely by multiple mechanisms including burn-related inflammation, microscopically inadequate excision, and dysregulation of tissue remodeling. A valid, reliable, clinically relevant model of full-thickness burn, excision and skin replacement therapy has been demonstrated. Future research to enhance quality of skin replacement therapies should be directed toward modulation of inflammation and assessments for complete excision.
Impact of materials engineering on edge placement error (Conference Presentation)

Transistor scaling has transitioned from wavelength scaling to multi-patterning techniques, due to the resolution limits of immersion of immersion lithography. Deposition and etch have enabled scaling in the by means of SADP and SAQP. Spacer based patterning enables extremely small linewidths, sufficient for several future generations of transistors. However, aligning layers in Z-direction, as well as aligning cut and via patterning layers, is becoming a road-block due to global and local feature variation and fidelity. This presentation will highlight the impact of deposition and etch on this feature alignment (EPE) and illustrate potential paths toward lowering EPE using material engineering.
On Kalman Filtering with Compromised Sensors: Attack Stealthiness and Performance Bounds

Control systems operate under the assumption that sensors are trustworthy. Yet, when communication channels are unprotected or sensors are accessible from networked stations, malicious users can compromise the system by spoofing the measured information. We consider a linear time-invariant system with a single sensor, where the state is estimated by a Kalman filter. We assume the presence of an attacker with the ability to modify the measurements arbitrarily, which are then processed by the Kalman filter for as long as the attacker remains undetected. The objective of the attacker is to maximize the mean square error of the Kalman filter. We adopt a notion of attack stealthiness based on the Kullback–Leibler divergence measure, and characterize the worst case degradation induced by an attacker with a fixed stealthiness level. Additionally, we characterize optimal attack strategies that achieve our bound of performance degradation, thereby proving tightness of our result.
The Pilot Valley Shoreline: An Early Record of Lake Bonneville Dynamics

Abstract The Pilot Valley shoreline is named for distinctive gravel beaches on the eastern, northern, and western sides of Pilot Valley playa, Utah. The shoreline has been identified across the Bonneville basin where it is characterized by one to three beach crests between ~ 1305 and 1309 m elevation, all overlain by deep-water marl of Lake Bonneville. It thus represents the lowest and earliest recognized shoreline of Lake Bonneville. Features of the shoreline indicate that both high wave energy and high stream sediment discharge contributed to shoreline development. Basin hypsometry did not play a role in the development of the shoreline, which must have been caused by a combination of climatically driven hydrologic and storm factors, such as reduced precipitation that stabilized lake level and increase in storm-driven wave energy. The Pilot Valley shoreline is poorly dated at about 30 ka. If it is somewhat older, correlation with Greenland Interstadial 5.1 at 30.8–30.6 ka could explain the stabilization of lake level.
A CRISPR Activation Screen Identifies a Pan-avian Influenza Virus Inhibitory Host Factor.

Summary Influenza A virus (IAV) is a pathogen that poses significant risks to human health. It is therefore critical to develop strategies to prevent influenza disease. Many loss-of-function screens have been performed to identify the host proteins required for viral infection. However, there has been no systematic screen to identify the host factors that, when overexpressed, are sufficient to prevent infection. In this study, we used CRISPR/dCas9 activation technology to perform a genome-wide overexpression screen to identify IAV restriction factors. The major hit from our screen, B4GALNT2, showed inhibitory activity against influenza viruses with an α2,3-linked sialic acid receptor preference. B4GALNT2 overexpression prevented the infection of every avian influenza virus strain tested, including the H5, H9, and H7 subtypes, which have previously caused disease in humans. Thus, we have used CRISPR/dCas9 activation technology to identify a factor that can abolish infection by avian influenza viruses.
Minimal Clinically Important Difference for Safe and Simple Novel Acute Ischemic Stroke Therapies

Background and Purpose—Determining the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) is essential for evaluating novel therapies. For acute ischemic stroke, expert surveys have yielded MCIDs that ...
Gaining Access to Providing Medical Care to Male Sport Teams: The Female Athletic Trainer Perspective.

Context: Female athletic trainers (ATs) can face barriers to employment within the profession. Although there is evidence for an increasing percentage of women in athletic training, the portion pr...
The need for software specific natural language techniques

For over two decades, software engineering (SE) researchers have been importing tools and techniques from information retrieval (IR). Initial results have been quite positive. For example, when applied to problems such as feature location or re-establishing traceability links, IR techniques work well on their own, and often even better in combination with more traditional source code analysis techniques such as static and dynamic analysis. However, recently there has been growing awareness among SE researchers that IR tools and techniques are designed to work under different assumptions than those that hold for a software system. Thus it may be beneficial to consider IR-inspired tools and techniques that are specifically designed to work with software. One aim of this work is to provide quantitative empirical evidence in support of this observation. To do so a new technique is introduced that captures the level of difficulty found in an information need, the true, often latent, information that a searcher desires to know. The new technique is used to compare two domains: Natural Language (NL) and SE. Analysis of the data leads to three significant findings. First, the variation in the distribution of difficulty of the SE information needs differs from that of the NL information needs; second, collection age plays a role in the differences between the NL collections; and finally, the retrieval model used has little impact on the results.
Reliability of Hip Rotation Range of Motion in Supine and Seated Positions

Context: Hip rotation range of motion (ROM) is commonly assessed in individuals with lower extremity or spine pathology. It remains unknown which hip rotation ROM testing position is most reliable. Objective: To compare interrater and intrarater reliabilities between hip internal rotation (IR) and external rotation (ER) ROM in supine and seated positions. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Setting: University research laboratory. Participants: A total of 19 participants (11 females and 8 males; age = 23.5 [1.2] y; height = 173.2 [8.6] cm; and mass = 69.2 [13.4] kg) without hip, knee, low back, or sacroiliac pain within the preceding 3 months or history of hip or low back surgery were recruited. Interventions: Three testers obtained measures during 2 testing sessions. Passive supine and seated hip IR and ER ROM were performed with the hip and knee flexed to 90°. Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome measures were hip IR and ER ROM in supine and seated positions (in degrees). Interrater and int...
Distributed Apprenticeship in Online Communities

Supporting learning in online communities is an important direction for the future of human–computer interaction as people increasingly leverage social technologies to support professional growth a...
FCM data analysis on heterogeneous specimens

Most clinical specimens, whether normal/reactive or harboring neoplastic cells, are heterogeneous. The highest degree of heterogeneity is seen in bone marrow samples. Solid lymphoid tissues such as tonsils and lymph nodes are less heterogeneous because the granulocyte/monocyte component is usually insignificant. The benign nonpurulent effusion, when not overloaded with a large number of macrophages or mesothelial cells, is the least complicated type of specimen consisting of B- and T-cells in a similar proportion to that seen in the blood. The FCM 2D projections in heterogeneous samples are inherently complex, displaying multiple clusters, some of which may be overlapping. The task in analyzing these dot plots is twofold: first, to determine whether the sample is benign/reactive or contains a neoplastic population (which may or may not be evident at first glance) and, second, to characterize the tumor cells, if present. In some malignant conditions such as myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), CML, or CMMoL, an overt neoplastic cluster (i.e., increased blasts) may not be present. The FCM graphics often demonstrate several features useful for recognizing these disorders however, such as an altered proportion of the granulocytic or monocytic component and qualitative antigenic abnormalities on the myeloid (e.g., altered maturation curves), monocytic, or erythroid elements.
Theoretical Study of Protein-Ligand Interactions Using the Molecules-in-Molecules Fragmentation-Based Method.

We have recently significantly expanded the applicability of our Molecules-in-Molecules (MIM) fragmentation method to large proteins by developing a three-layer model (MIM3) in which an accurate quantum-mechanical method is used in conjunction with a cost-effective, dispersion-corrected semiempirical model to overcome previous computational bottlenecks. In this work, we develop MIM3 as a structure-based drug design tool by application of the methodology for the accurate calculation of protein–ligand interaction energies. A systematic protocol is derived for the determination of the geometries of the protein–ligand complexes and to calculate their accurate interaction energies in the gas phase using MIM3. We also derive a simple and affordable procedure based on implicit solvation models and the ligand solvent-accessible surface area to approximate the ligand desolvation penalty in gas-phase interaction energy calculations. We have carefully assessed how closely such interaction energies, which are based o...
The bloom is (slightly) off the rose: the motherhood effect on psychological functioning in successive pregnancies.

Objective: To examine the maternal psychological state during the course of two successive pregnancies.Methods: The sample consisted of 73 women drawn from a larger maternal–fetal cohort that parti...
Effect of chronic administration of a gonadotropin-releasing agonist on luteal function and pregnancy rates in dairy cattle.

Increased embryonic losses may be associated with inadequate progesterone (P4) concentrations in high-producing lactating dairy cattle. The objectives of the present studies were to determine if chronic administration of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist, Deslorelin, would increase circulating P4 concentrations and subsequently increase pregnancy rates in dairy cattle. Administration of Deslorelin for 12 days increased (p < .05) luteal volume and circulating P4 concentrations in primiparous lactating dairy cows, but increased only luteal volumes in multiparous cows. Treatment with Deslorelin increased Day 45 pregnancy rates in cows as compared to untreated controls. Chronic treatment with Deslorelin in dairy cattle; (a) increased luteal volume of the primary CL, (b) induced accessory CL, (c) increased circulating P4 concentration in primiparous cows only, (d) did not lengthen the estrous cycle upon removal of treatment, and (e) increased pregnancy rates. Although luteal volume was increased in multiparous cows and circulating P4 concentrations were not with Deslorelin treatment, there was an apparent effect on pregnancy rates. This hormonal strategy may represent a suitable model to address local effects of P4 and GnRH/luteinizing hormone on uterine environment and subsequent embryonic survival.
Serum and Dietary Folate and Vitamin B12 Levels Account for Differences in Cellular Aging: Evidence Based on Telomere Findings in 5581 U.S. Adults.

Folate and vitamin B12 are essential for a variety of metabolic processes. Both micronutrients have been shown to reduce oxidative stress significantly. The present cross-sectional investigation evaluated the association between serum and dietary folate and vitamin B12 levels and leukocyte telomere length, an index of cellular aging influenced by oxidative stress. The study included 5581 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Because participants were randomly selected, results are generalizable to all civilian, noninstitutionalized U.S. adults. A blood draw provided DNA and serum folate and B12 information. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction method was used to measure telomere length. The Bio-Rad Quantaphase II folate and vitamin B12 radioassay kit was used to quantify levels of folate and vitamin B12. Dietary folate and vitamin B12 were assessed using a multipass 24 h recall. In some models, age, race, smoking pack-years, alcohol use, body mass index, total physical activity, hours fasted before the blood draw, and diabetes status were employed as covariates to minimize their influence. Findings showed that for each additional year of chronological age, telomeres were 15.6 base pairs shorter, on average (F = 378.8, p < 0.0001). Men had shorter telomeres than women after adjusting for all the covariates (F = 6.8, p = 0.0146). Serum (F = 10.5, p = 0.0030) and dietary (F = 5.0, p = 0.0325) folate concentrations were each linearly related to telomere length in women, but not in men, after controlling for age and race. Serum vitamin B12 and telomere length had a nonsignificant, inverse relationship in women, with age and race controlled (F = 2.8, p = 0.1056), but no relation in men. Dietary vitamin B12 was linearly related to telomere length in women, after adjusting for age and race (F = 4.3, p = 0.0468), but not in men. Overall, evidence indicates that folate and vitamin B12 levels, especially folate, account for meaningful differences in cell aging in women, but not in men.
TMOD-37. INTRAVITAL MONITORING DYNAMIC TUMOR MICRO-ENVIRONMENTAL EVOLUTION FOLLOWING HYPOXIA-INDUCED NECROSIS IN GLIOBLASTOMA

The onset of necrosis correlates with malignant progression in virtually all human cancers. Whether necrosis arises from or promotes rapid tumor expansion remains unknown, primarily due to insufficient model systems necessary for capturing these dynamic changes as they develop. In glioblastoma (GBM; WHO grade IV), the most malignant primary brain tumor, the development of central necrosis precedes rapid, radial expansion precipitously leading to patient mortality. While genetic alterations in GBM have been highly characterized, the resultant biological adaptations leading to accelerated tumor growth require further mechanistic investigation. The onset of necrosis dramatically changes the tumor microenvironment (TME), evolving from a sheet-like growth of infiltrating malignant cells undergoing gradual expansion to a complex 3-D microsystem comprising diverse cell types and spatially segregated signaling networks. To reveal the dynamic temporal and spatial changes promoting progression, we are generating mouse models that more appropriately capture events found in human gliomas, accounting for unique microenvironmental stressors often lacking in GBM animal models, specifically central necrosis. We developed a novel method combining hypoxia-induced focal necrosis within high-grade gliomas with intravital microscopy to study TME restructuring and its impact on glioma progression in real time. As translational applications, we are investigating how hypoxia and necrosis promote glioma stem cell (GSC) enrichment in their peri-necrotic niche and how the massive influx of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) promotes glioma progression. Our studies use both genetically characterized patient-derived orthotopic GBM xenografts in humanized mice, alongside an immunocompetent RCAS/tv-a model, to determine how antagonizing these processes impacts disease progression and outcomes across multiple GBM subtypes. Our preliminary data indicate substantial differences pre- and post-necrosis regarding GSC and TAM enrichment and their biological impact, however, these mechanisms have not yet been studied. Our models capture glioma growth dynamics, GSC enrichment, and TAM influx, facilitating innovative therapeutic interventions to improve patient outcome.
Multimodal Therapeutic Approach of Cytokine Release Syndrome Developing in a Child Given Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Modified T Cell Infusion

Objectives To describe a pediatric case of cytokine release syndrome secondary to chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Design Case report. Setting PICU. Patients A 14-year-old boy with refractory B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia given chimeric antigen receptor cells developed severe cytokine release syndrome 7 days after the drug product infusion with progressive respiratory failure. He was admitted to PICU with a clinical picture of acute respiratory distress syndrome, requiring mechanical ventilation, and secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Interventions Hemoadsorption with cartridge column (Cytosorb) in combination with continuous renal replacement therapy was associated to the anti-cytokine therapy (tocilizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-6 receptor). Measurements and main results Decrease of the inflammatory biomarkers (ferritin, interleukin-6, interleukin-10) in the first 96 hours associated with a progressive improvement of acute respiratory distress syndrome (Pao2/Fio2 ratio) 7 day after the start of the multimodal treatment. Conclusions This case suggests that hemoadsorption with cartridge column in combination with continuous renal replacement therapy and tocilizumab is safe and potentially effective in pediatric patients with severe cytokine release syndrome.
Homelessness as Difficult Knowledge in Early Childhood Education.

Homelessness is an important social issue relevant to all children’s lives in the United States, yet it has been little explored in early childhood education. Navigating a multiple-case study that focuses on teacher candidates’ experiences with homelessness in school, this study illustrates how homelessness is addressed in early childhood education. The data showed that teacher candidates encountered limited discussions of the topic in their own school experiences. Furthermore, the teacher candidates realized that children today are in a similar situation, whereby homelessness is rarely discussed in school, and hold considerably distorted perspectives on it. They also found that teachers in their field placements tended to avoid conversations on homelessness with children in the classroom. Thus, this study opens a space to discuss how homelessness is addressed in early childhood education, as well as how teachers can better understand it and make a difference in children’s lives.