cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE DISINFECTION SITUATION AND PROBLEMS EXISTED IN CHINESE MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS

Objective To understand the disinfection and sterilization situation in our medical institutions and to provide information for hospital disinfection and isolation work.Methods Investigation and retrieval of literatures were used to do statistical analysis for literatures about hospital disinfection investigation and research published on "Chinese Journal of Disinfection" from year 2007-2009.Results The average passing rates of disinfection and sterilization quality ranged from 79.00%~96.76% in continuous 3 years in internal medical institutions.The highest passing rate was from enterprise medical institutions and the lowest passing rate was from individual medical institutions.The total average passing rate of sterilization effect of pressure-steam sterilizer was 94.11%.The lowest passing rate was from room air in medical institutions which was 63.26%.The main problems existed in disinfection and sterilization in medical institutions were deficient or hysteretic in related standards.Deficiency of professional disinfection technology and disagreement of disinfection knowledge about medical environment led to poor hygienic quality.Conclusion The level of disinfection and sterilization knowledge of internal medical institutions is low,regulations and standards are not carried out powerfully or hysteretic in contents.So the total quality of disinfection and sterilization is not high.
Pursuit of rigor in research: Illustration from coopetition literature

Abstract We propose that rigor consists of three key aspects: conceptual (the theoretical lens, constructs, and logic used to understand a phenomenon), methodological (how data are collected and analyzed to capture a phenomenon), and empirical (how findings are organized, distilled, and related to the theory). We discuss rigor in the context of coopetition research and explain how rigor could be enhanced in future research. For each aspect of rigor, we discuss what it means to conduct rigorous research, review the current state of coopetition research using a rigor lens, and systematically discuss ways of improving rigor in future research. We suggest that pursuit of research with greater level of rigor would help increase the impact of coopetition research and contribute to the creation of cumulative knowledge on the topic.
WE-FG-207B-08: Dual-Energy CT Iodine Accuracy Across Vendors and Platforms

Purpose: Although a major benefit of dual-energy CT is its quantitative capabilities, it is critical to understand how results vary by scanner manufacturer and/or model before making clinical patient management decisions. Each manufacturer utilizes a specific dual-energy CT approach; cross-calibration may be required for facilities with more than one dual-energy CT scanner type. Methods: A solid dual-energy quality control phantom (Gammex, Inc.; Appleton, WI) representing a large body cross-section containing three Iodine inserts (2mg/ml, 5mg/ml, 15 mg/ml) was scanned on these CT systems: GE HD-750 (80/140kVp), prototype GE Revolution CT with GSI (80/140kVp), Siemens Flash (80/140kVp and 100/140kVp), and Philips IQon (120kVp and 140kVp). Iodine content was measured in units of concentration (mg/ml) from a single 5mm-thick central image. Three to five acquisitions were performed on each scanner platform in order to compute standard deviation. Scan acquisitions were approximately dose-matched (∼25mGy CTDIvol) and image parameters were as consistent as possible (thickness, kernel, no noise reduction applied). Results: Iodine measurement error ranges were −0.24ߝ0.16 mg/ml for the 2mg/ml insert (−12.0 − 8.0%), −0.28–0.26 mg/ml for the 5mg/ml insert (−5.6 − 5.2%), and −1.16−0.99 mg/ml for the 15mg/ml insert (−7.7 − 6.6%). Standard deviations ranged from 0 to 0.19 mg/ml for the repeated acquisitions from each scanner. The average iodine measurement error and standard deviation across all systems and inserts was −0.21 ± 0.48 mg/ml (−1.5 ± 6.48%). The largest absolute measurement error was found in the 15mg/ml iodine insert. Conclusion: There was generally good agreement in Iodine quantification across 3 dual-energy CT manufacturers and 4 scanner models. This was unexpected given the widely different underlying dual-energy CT mechanisms employed. Future work will include additional scanner platforms, independent verification of the Iodine insert standard concentrations (especially the 15 mg/ml insert), and how much measurement variability can be clinically tolerated. This research has been supported by funds from Dr. William Murphy, Jr., the John S. Dunn, Sr. Distinguished Chair in Diagnostic Imaging at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Conclusion: Philosophical Psychoanalysis?

To conclude, I’d like to provide some thoughts on the meta-theoretical status of my argument. What, finally, is the ‘Real’, both in terms of its position within Lacan’s wider metapsychology and his theory of the subject, and how might it dramatize wider questions around the relationship between philosophy and psychoanalysis? Whilst only implicit, these questions are nonetheless hinted at in the last chapter, where my attempt to reconstruct Lacan’s theory of the body in and around the concept of the Real begs the wider question of the status of the theory that results. Is what results a theory of the body, of materiality, of the material signifier and of the subject strictly proper to psychoanalysis? And if so, how does my philosophical methodology — reconstructive, synthetic — gain an epistemological hold on what is, after all, a problem of clinical import?
The Public Northern Bloc

The Global Establishment blurs the line between private and public elites, between private and public interest. At local and national tiers, and at regional and global ones, TNEs and Northern public elites in both North and South have mutually beneficial linkages. Interviews with TNE executives, for example, have shown that respondents feel their home government should provide ‘inducements’ for their FDI in the South (Frank 1980:114). A ‘partnership’ between ‘private and public capital’ is evident (Bodenheimer 1981:325). Public elites help private elites secure a stable climate for profit-taking, while the latter help the former maintain political power (see Domhoff 1990a).
BLUE CRAB HEMOCYTES: A PRELIMINARY STUDY

ABSTRACT: A preliminary study on hemocyte activity of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus , revealed that hemocytes are very labile in vitro. Adhesion and phagocytosis of horse red blood cells by crab hemocytes was low. After separation into three subpopulations of hemocytes, using continuous Percoll gradients, viability was low. The problems associated with the preparation of monolayers of blue crab hemocytes for immunological assays are discussed.
OBSERVATION OF REPETITION-RATE DEPENDANT EMISSION FROM AN UN-GATED THERMIONIC CATHODE RF GUN

Recent work at Fermilab in collaboration with the Advanced Photon Source and members of other national labs, designed an experiment to study the relationship between the RF repetition rate and the average current per RF pulse. While existing models anticipate a direct relationship between these two parameters we observed an inverse relationship. We believe this is a result of damage to the barium coating on the cathode surface caused by a change in back-bombardment power that is unaccounted for in the existing theories. These observations shed new light on the challenges and fundamental limitations associated with scaling an ungated thermionic cathode RF gun to high average current machines.
Cyst Fluid Cytologic Analysis in the Differential Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cystic Lesions

Pancreatic cystic lesions include inflammatory pseudocysts, benign serous cystadenomas, and mucinous neoplasms, some of which are malignant. Cytologic analysis of cyst fluid has been proposed to diagnose pancreatic cysts before definitive therapy. The authors report an analysis of 31 pancreatic cyst aspirates: 9 pseudocysts, 5 serous cystadenomas, 8 mucinous cystic neoplasms, 4 mucinous cystadenocarcinomas, 2 papillary cystadenocarcinomas, 1 mucinous ductal adenocarcinoma with cystic degeneration, and 2 cystic islet cell tumors. All pseudocysts were correctly classified as probable inflammatory lesions, because of the presence of abundant acute inflammation and histiocytes and the absence of glandular epithelium. Three of five serous cystadenomas were correctly classified, based on the presence of small cuboidal cells in clusters with microvesicular cytoplasm containing glycogen. Eleven of 12 mucinous tumors contained round cells with large cytoplasmic mucin vacuoles or columnar cells containing cytoplasmic mucin. Malignancy was diagnosed in 5 of 7 carcinomas, 1 case was classified as suspicious for malignancy, and 1 case was nondiagnostic because of the absence of a cellular component. The authors concluded that pancreatic cyst fluid cytologic analysis is useful in differentiating mucinous from nonmucinous pancreatic cysts and may provide definitive evidence of malignancy. In some cases, serous cystadenoma can be diagnosed based on cytologic analysis. An inflammatory smear without epithelial cells suggests a pseudocyst, but these findings are nonspecific, as a similar pattern may occur when a cystic neoplasm undergoes degenerative changes. Therefore, pseudocyst remains a diagnosis of exclusion.
Risk Assessment and Decision Analysis Within Surgical Applications

Risk is an omnipresent and recurring concern within any surgical application. Even within routine procedures with a high likelihood of success and a limited probability of complications, intra- and postoperative complications may arise that place patients at risk for substantial health consequences. Equally challenging includes the task of communicating such risks to patients, where even slight changes to how risk is conveyed can substantially alter a patient’s perspective and wishes for potential surgical procedures in various applications. As such, physicians must be mindful not only of the likelihood and consequences of risk inherent within surgical applications, but also how such risks are discussed with patients and their families when discussing surgical and non-surgical options to address set health concerns. This chapter seeks to provide an overview and introduction to risk for such physicians, and offer insight regarding how tools of decision analysis may facilitate surgical decision making and frame the likelihood and consequence of potential complications to occur during and after such procedures are undertaken. Additional comments will be centered on the impact that risk communication may have upon patient decision making when considering surgical options. While introductory in nature, this chapter may serve as a helpful outline of how to understand, derive, and communicate risks that remain an intrinsic piece of all medical decision making.
Convexification and real-time on-board optimization for agile quad-rotor maneuvering and obstacle avoidance

In this paper, we apply lossless and successive convexification techniques and employ real-time on-board convex optimization to perform constrained motion planning for quadrotors. In general, this problem is challenging for real-time on-board applications due to its non-convex nature. The ability to generate feasible trajectories quickly and reliably is central to operating high-performance aerial robots in populated spaces. Motivated by our earlier research on convexification of non-convex optimal control problems, we use these convexification techniques to cast the problems into one (or a sequence of) Second-Order Cone Programming (SOCP) problem(s). In doing so, we are able to attain our solutions by leveraging modern advances in Interior Point Method (IPM) algorithms. Here, we focus on 3-degree-of-freedom trajectory generation, whereby closed-loop control is used to track a translational trajectory computed on-board at the onset of the maneuver. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of convexification techniques used in real-time on-board trajectory generation for high-performance quad-rotor flight. We present two example scenarios: (1) a case where lossless convexification is used to increase the available control envelope, thus enabling an agile flip maneuver, and (2) a case where both convexification techniques are used to compute a path through a flight space containing ellipsoidal keep-out zones. We present flight demonstration results obtained using the Autonomous Control Laboratory's (ACL's) custom quad-rotor platforms and SOCP optimization software. Additionally, computation timing statistics for the example scenarios obtained using a series of mobile ARM and Intel processors show a minimum mean computation time of 36.5 and 122.2 milliseconds, respectively.
Effect of heat stress on the interaction of Streptococcus uberis with bovine mammary epithelial cells.

Heat stress (HS) negatively affects milk production and has been associated with decreased immune function, and increased rate of intramammary infections (IMI). Research has shown that HS affects gene expression, cell cycle, and cell metabolism in bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMEC). Since BMEC are an initial target of mastitis pathogens, we studied adherence to and internalisation of S. uberis into HS-BMEC, as well as the effect that this interaction has on host cells by measuring HS-BMEC viability and membrane integrity. Results reported in this Research Communication showed that HS reduced cell viability and induced membrane damage. However, these pathological changes, as well as the rate of adherence and internalisation of S. uberis into BMEC, were augmented when S. uberis was cocultured with HS-BMEC. These results may help to understand the pathogenesis of S. uberis IMI as well as the increased susceptibility of mammary glands to IMI in cows subjected to HS.
Pilocarpine disposition and salivary flow responses following intravenous administration to dogs.

Oral doses of pilocarpine increase salivary flow rates in patients afflicted with xerostomia (dry mouth). This study examined the pharmacokinetics of and a pharmacodynamic response (salivation) to intravenous pilocarpine nitrate administration in dogs. Disposition was linear over a dose range of 225–600 µg/kg; plasma concentrations were 10–120 µg/L. Elimination was rapid and generally biphasic, with a terminal elimination half-life of approximately 1.3 hr. The systemic clearance of pilocarpine was high (2.22 ± 0.49 L/kg/hr) and its steady-state volume of distribution (2.30 ± 0.64 L/kg) was comparable to that of many other basic drugs. All doses of pilocarpine induced measurable submaxillary and parotid salivary flow rates which could be maintained constant over time. Cumulative submaxillary saliva flow was linearly related to total pilocarpine dose. Plasma pilocarpine concentration was linearly related to both steady-state and postinfusion submaxillary salivary flow rates.
Smart Machining Systems: Issues and Research Trends

Smart Machining Systems (SMS) are an important part of Life Cycle Engineering (LCE) since its capabilities include: producing the first and every product correct; improving the response of the production system to changes in demand (just in time); realizing rapid manufacturing; and, providing data on an as needed basis. Thereby, SMS improve the performance of production systems and reduce production costs. In addition, an SMS not only has to improve a particular machining process, but it also has to determine the best optimized solution to produce the part faster, better, at lower cost, and with a minimum impact on the environment. In addition, new software tools are required to facilitate the improvement of a machining system, characterized by a high level of expertise or heuristic methods. A global approach requires integrating knowledge/information about the product design, production equipment, and machining process. This paper first discusses the main characteristics and components that are envisioned to be part of SMS. Then, uncertainties associated with models and data and the optimization tasks in SMS are discussed. Robust Optimization is an approach for coping with such uncertainties in SMS. Current use of machining models by production engineers and associated problems are discussed. Finally, the paper discusses interoperability needs for integrating SMS into the product life cycle, as well as the need for knowledge-based systems. The paper ends with a description of future research trends and work plans.
Role Development and Recovery

When people participate in mental health consumer-run organizations (CROs), they frequently develop socially supportive friendship roles, empowering leadership roles, or both. The role framework suggests both of these roles can lead to a variety of participation benefits. This chapter presents results from a study examining the differential influence of these two types of roles on recovery. In an analysis of 250 CRO members from 20 CROs, the study uses structural equation modeling to examine the relationship between role involvement and recovery. Findings indicate both roles are related to recovery, however socially supportive friendship roles have a stronger relationship than empowering leadership roles. Discussion focuses on how CROs can promote the development of a socially supportive and empowering environment.
Some Approaches for the Study of Ribosome-tRNA Interactions

The organelle in all cells which accomplishes protein biosynthesis is the ribosome. Amino acids are polymerized into a protein chain by the ribosome according to information encoded in an mRNA molecule. As substrates the ribosome uses aminoacyl-tRNA's (aa-tRNA's). In this paper some known features of the interaction of tRNA's with ribosomes will be summarized. Then a few brief examples will be given to show how affinity labeling and fluorescence techniques offer the promise of greatly extending our knowledge about ribosome-tRNA interactions.
Detection of p53 Protein Aggregation in Cancer Cell Lines and Tumor Samples

The p53 protein plays a central role in regulating apoptosis. The loss of functional p53 is common in many cancers. In cancer cells, the dysfunctional p53 protein often maintains a misfolded, inactive conformation due to genetic mutations or posttranslational deregulation. The misfolded p53 protein can aggregate and form amyloid-like oligomers and fibrils, which abrogate the pro-apoptotic functions of p53. Therefore, the aggregation of p53 may be a crucial factor in carcinogenesis, tumor progression, and the response of cancer cells to apoptotic signals. In this chapter, we provide details on various methods for detecting p53 aggregation in cancer cell lines and tumor samples.
Scaffolding The Development of Early Self-Regulation: The Role of Structure and Routine In Children's Daily Activities

Learning to self-regulate one’s behavior is a core developmental task in early childhood. Regulation of behavior is a challenge for young children largely due to cognitive constraints, specifically in the areas of attention and memory. As such, it has been theorized that both caregivers and a child’s environment can support the development of behavioral self-regulation by providing cues as to what constitutes acceptable behavior in any given context. Although much research has been conducted on the role caregivers play in this regard, little is known about how a child’s environment may also serve to support emerging self-regulation of behavior. The present study sought to identify differences among children’s daily activities in terms of their degree of structure and routine and how they related to changes in patterns of self-regulated behavior over time. Twenty-one children ages 6 to 60 months in three agegraded classrooms at a constructivist child-care center were video-taped at three measurement points over a six-month period as they engaged in a variety of daily activities (i.e., free play, meals and clean-up). Trained observers coded for nine self-regulatory behaviors and the daily activities during which they occurred. It was hypothesized that structured and routine daily activities would scaffold the development of self-regulation and internalization such that these behaviors would occur more frequently during activities high in structure and routine. Over time, practice during activities that are high and low in structure and routine should support self-regulated behavior in the absence of structure and routine as well. Overall, results demonstrated that ii in the presence of environmental cues for expected behavior (i.e., structure and routine) children tend to engage in more self-regulated behavior than in the absence of
Two-Dimensional Dynamic Metasurface Apertures for Computational Microwave Imaging

We propose a single-port, two-dimensional dynamic metasurface aperture capable of generating a multitude of distinct illumination patterns at microwave frequencies. The proposed device consists of a printed cavity, with the upper conducting surface patterned with independently tunable metamaterial elements. We present numerical simulations demonstrating the operation of the proposed device in computational microwave imaging. We also investigate parameters influencing its performance and discuss its potential advantages over other devices used for computational microwave imaging.
Music-instruction intervention for treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder: a randomized pilot study.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a common sequelae of severe combat-related emotional trauma that is often associated with significantly reduced quality of life in afflicted veterans. To date, no published study has examined the effect of an active, music-instruction intervention as a complementary strategy to improve the psychological well-being of veterans with PTSD. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility and potential effectiveness of an active, music-instruction intervention in improving psychological health and social functioning among Veterans suffering from moderate to severe PTSD. The study was designed as a prospective, delayed-entry randomized pilot trial. Regression-adjusted difference in means were used to examine the intervention’s effectiveness with respect to PTSD symptomatology (primary outcome) as well as depression, perceptions of cognitive failures, social functioning and isolation, and health-related quality of life (secondary outcomes). Of the 68 Veterans who were self- or provider-referred to the program, 25 (36.7%) were ineligible due to (i) absence of a PTSD diagnosis (n = 3); participation in ongoing intense psychotherapy (n = 4) or inpatient substance abuse program (n = 2); current resident of the Domiciliary (n = 8) and inability to participate due to distance of residence from the VA (n = 8). Only 3 (4.4%) Veterans declined participation due to lack of interest. The mean age of enrolled subjects was 51 years old [range: 22 to 76]. The majority was male (90%). One-quarter were African American or Black. While 30% report working full or part time, 45% were retired due to disability. Slightly over one-quarter were veterans of the OEF/OIF wars. Estimates from regression-adjusted treatment effects indicate that the average PTSD severity score was reduced by 9.7 points (p = 0.01), or 14.3% from pre- to post-intervention. Similarly, adjusted depressive symptoms were reduced by 20.4% (− 6.3 points, p = 0.02). There were no statistically significant regression-adjusted effects on other outcomes, although the direction of change was consistent with improvements. Our findings suggest that the active, music-instruction program holds promise as a complementary means of ameliorating PTSD and depressive symptoms among this population. Trial registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with protocol number Medical College of Wisconsin PRO00019269 on 11/29/2018 (Retrospectively registered).
Colorectal Cancer in the Young: Does Screening Make Sense?

Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is recommended to reduce CRC mortality. This review outlines key factors to consider when recommending screening, including disease burden, screening benefits and harms, and remaining knowledge gaps. In response to increasing rates of CRC incidence among younger (age < 50 years) adults, the American Cancer Society published guidelines in May 2018 recommending average-risk CRC screening beginning at age 45 (vs. 50) years. Rates of young-onset CRC have increased in the USA since the early 1990s. However, there is very little empirical evidence of screening effectiveness in younger adults, and few studies have reported harms of routine screening in this age group. Further, we know little about the natural history of CRC in younger adults. Uncertainty surrounding the efficacy of CRC screening in younger adults suggests the benefits may be small. Precision cancer screening—or modified screening regimens based on risk—may improve the balance of screening benefits and harms beyond conventional age-based strategies.
Flavor modification of yellow pea flour using supercritical carbon dioxide + ethanol extraction and response surface methodology

Abstract Reduction of volatile aroma compounds that are the source of undesirable flavor is crucial for quality, acceptability, and marketability of products made with pea (Pisum sativum L.) flour. Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction was applicable for flavor modification of pea flour. Percentage ethanol, temperature, and pressure were optimized using a central composite rotatable design under response surface methodology. The minimum total volatile content (0.55 μg/g) was obtained significantly (p
Association of Longitudinal Trajectory of Albuminuria in Young Adulthood With Myocardial Structure and Function in Later Life: Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study.

Importance Albuminuria, as measured by single urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) levels, is associated with cardiac remodeling and adverse clinical outcomes. The longitudinal patterns of change in UACR through young adulthood and their associations with myocardial structure and function later in life remain unclear. Objective To describe the trajectory of albuminuria as measured by UACR across a 20-year span and evaluate the association of albuminuria trajectory with echocardiographic indices of structure and function in middle age. Design, Setting, and Participants In the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, a prospective cohort of black and white participants aged 18 to 30 years at baseline (March 1985 to June 1986) were evaluated over 30 years. Participants underwent evaluations at 4 urban US sites. Data were collected from March 1985 to May 2016, and data were analyzed from September 2018 to April 2019. Exposures Trajectories of UACR from the year 10 examination to the year 30 examination as determined by latent class modeling. Main Outcomes and Measures Echocardiographic indices of myocardial structure, systolic function, and diastolic function at the year 30 examination. Results Of the 2647 included participants, 1441 (54.4%) were white, 1206 (45.6%) were black, and the mean (SD) age was 35.2 (3.6) years. A total of 5 trajectory groups of UACR were identified, including 1718 participants (64.9%) in the low-stable group, 682 (25.8%) in the moderate-stable group, 116 (4.4%) in the high-stable group, 88 (3.3%) in the moderate-increasing group, and 43 (1.6%) in the high-increasing group. Apart from the high-increasing cohort, the remaining 4 groups had median baseline UACR levels less than 30 mg/g. Male sex, current smoking, diabetes, and elevated blood pressure were more common in the moderate-increasing and high-increasing UACR groups. After adjustment for clinical variables and baseline UACR levels, there were significant differences in left ventricular (LV) mass by trajectory group (mean [SE] LV mass: high-increasing, 98.4 [3.4] g/m2; moderate-increasing, 91.7 [2.2] g/m2; high-stable, 86.0 [2.1] g/m2; moderate-stable, 82.3 [0.8] g/m2; low-stable, 78.6 [0.5] g/m2;P Conclusions and Relevance There are distinct patterns of change in albuminuria among young adults over a 20-year span, and these trajectory groups cannot be identified by baseline UACR level alone. Dynamic changes in albuminuria are independently associated with adverse alterations to cardiac structure, LV systolic function, and LV diastolic function.
Antipsychotic Medications and DNA Methylation in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder: A Systematic Review.

The pharmacoepigenetics of antipsychotic treatment in severe mental illness is a growing area of research that aims to understand the interface between antipsychotic treatment and genetic regulation. Pharmacoepigenetics may some day assist in identifying treatment response mechanisms or become one of the components in the implementation of precision medicine. To understand the current evidence regarding the effects of antipsychotics on DNA methylation a systematic review with qualitative synthesis was performed through Pubmed, Embase and Psychinfo from earliest data to June 2019. Studies were included if they analyzed DNA methylation in an antipsychotic-treated population of patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Data extraction occurred via a standardized format and study quality was assessed. Twenty-nine studies were identified for inclusion. Study design, antipsychotic type, sample source, and methods of DNA methylation measurement varied across all studies. Eighteen studies analyzed methylation in patients with schizophrenia, four studies in patients with bipolar disorder, and seven studies in a combined sample of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Twenty-two studies used observational samples whereas the remainder used prospectively treated samples. Six studies assessed global methylation, five assessed epigenome-wide, and 15 performed a candidate epigenetic study. Two studies analyzed both global and gene-specific methylation, whereas one study performed a simultaneous epigenome-wide and gene-specific study. Only three genes were analyzed in more than one gene-specific study and the findings were discordant. The state of the pharmacoepigenetic literature on antipsychotic use is still in its early stages and uniform reporting of methylation site information is needed. Future work should concentrate on using prospective sampling with appropriate control groups and begin to replicate many of the novel associations that have been reported.
Precise and Programmable Detection of Mutations Using Ultraspecific Riboregulators.

Summary The ability to identify single-nucleotide mutations is critical for probing cell biology and for precise detection of disease. However, the small differences in hybridization energy provided by single-base changes makes identification of these mutations challenging in living cells and complex reaction environments. Here, we report a class of de novo-designed prokaryotic riboregulators that provide ultraspecific RNA detection capabilities in vivo and in cell-free transcription-translation reactions. These single-nucleotide-specific programmable riboregulators (SNIPRs) provide over 100-fold differences in gene expression in response to target RNAs differing by a single nucleotide in E. coli and resolve single epitranscriptomic marks in vitro. By exploiting the programmable SNIPR design, we implement an automated design algorithm to develop riboregulators for a range of mutations associated with cancer, drug resistance, and genetic disorders. Integrating SNIPRs with portable paper-based cell-free reactions enables convenient isothermal detection of cancer-associated mutations from clinical samples and identification of Zika strains through unambiguous colorimetric reactions.
Ballistic energy transport in PEG oligomers

Energy transport between the terminal groups of the azido-PEG-succinimide ester compounds with a number of repeating PEG units of 0, 4, 8, and 12 was studied using relaxation-assisted two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy. The through-bond energy transport time, evaluated as the waiting time at which the cross peak maximum is reached, T max , was found to be linearly dependent on the chain length for chain lengths up to 60 A suggesting a ballistic energy transport regime. The through-bond energy transport speed is found to be ca. 500 m/s. The cross-peak amplitude at the maximum decays exponentially with the chain length with a characteristic decay distance of 15.7 ± 1 A. Substantial mode delocalization across the PEG bridge is found, which can support the energy propagation as a wavepacket.
Need to Seed? Ecological, Genetic, and Evolutionary Keys to Seed-Based Wetland Restoration

As we approach the Decade of Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030), there is renewed focus on improving wetland restoration practices to reestablish the habitat and climate mitigation functions and services that wetlands provide. A first step in restoring these functions and services is to reestablish the native vegetation structure and composition through strategic seed-based approaches. These approaches should be driven by ecological, genetic, and evolutionary principles, along with consideration for economics, logistics, and other social constraints. Effective seed-based approaches must consider the chosen species, seed sourcing, dormancy break and germination requirements, seed enhancement technologies, potential invaders, seeding densities, and long-term monitoring. Choice of species should reflect historical plant communities and future environmental conditions, species that support functional goals including invasion resistance, and seed availability constraints. Furthermore, seeds should be sourced to ensure ample genetic diversity to support multifunctionality and evolutionary capacity while also considering the broad natural dispersal of many wetland species. The decision to collect wild seeds or purchase seeds will also impact species choice and genetic diversity, which can have cascading effects for functional goals. To ensure seedling establishment, seed dormancy should be addressed through dormancy breaking treatments and the potentially narrow germination requirements of some species will require targeted sowing timing and location to align with safe sites. Other seed enhancements such as priming and coatings are poorly developed for wetland restoration and their potential for improving establishment is unknown. Because wetlands are highly invasion prone, potential invaders and their legacies should be addressed. Seeding densities should strike a balance between outcompeting invaders and preserving valuable seed resources. Invader control and long-term monitoring is key to improving revegetation and restoration. Here, we review scientific advances to improve revegetation outcomes, and provide methods and recommendations to help achieve the desired goals. Gaps in knowledge about seed-based wetland restoration currently exist, however, and untested practices will certainly increase risks in future efforts. These efforts can be used to better understand the ecological, genetic, and evolutionary processes related to wetland seeds, which will bring us one step closer to seed-based restoration of functions and services needed for human and ecological communities.
Log-Linear Reformulation of the Noisy Channel Model for Document-Level Neural Machine Translation

We seek to maximally use various data sources, such as parallel and monolingual data, to build an effective and efficient document-level translation system. In particular, we start by considering a noisy channel approach (CITATION) that combines a target-to-source translation model and a language model. By applying Bayes’ rule strategically, we reformulate this approach as a log-linear combination of translation, sentence-level and document-level language model probabilities. In addition to using static coefficients for each term, this formulation alternatively allows for the learning of dynamic per-token weights to more finely control the impact of the language models. Using both static or dynamic coefficients leads to improvements over a context-agnostic baseline and a context-aware concatenation model.
Self-similar decay of the drag wake of a dimpled sphere

Recent experimental results from the drag wake of a dimpled sphere show that the observed wake growth and decay are inconsistent with a widely accepted, 100-year-old scaling law for these quantities. While previous experiments have found a similar discrepancy just behind the wake source, this work shows that the new law holds over a full decade in scaling of distance. The theory behind the existing wake scaling law is revisited, and a faulty assumption which may account for the discrepancy is identified.
The Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation as a Novel Therapy for Treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea—A Literature Review

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder that affects all age groups and is associated with many co-morbid diseases (especially cardiovascular diseases). Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the gold standard for treating OSA. However, adherence to PAP therapy has been a major challenge with an estimated adherence between 20% and 80%. Mandibular advancement devices (MAD) are a good alternative option if used in the appropriate patient. MAD are most effective in mild and moderate OSA but not severe OSA. Surgical options are invasive, not appropriate for severe OSA, and associated with pain and long healing time. Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HGNS), or upper airway stimulation (UAS), is a novel therapy in treating moderate and severe degrees of OSA in patients who cannot tolerate CPAP therapy. We reviewed the MEDLINE (PubMed) database. The search process yielded 303 articles; 31 met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were included. We concluded that hypoglossal nerve stimulation is a very effective and novel alternative therapy for moderate and severe OSA in patients who cannot tolerate CPAP therapy. Adherence to HGNS is superior to CPAP. However, more developments are needed to ensure the highest safety profile.
Engaging Families in the Intensive Care Unit to Support ICU Survivors

Family-centered care is an approach to engage and support families in a respectful manner throughout a hospital admission. By incorporating family-centered care into daily ICU practice, families receive the tools to mitigate stress and become more effective caretakers. Family-centered care encompasses effective communication, daily family-centered rounds, frequent family meetings, and the provision of family support zones.
Interim results of aasur: A single arm, multi-center phase 2 trial of apalutamide (A) + abiraterone acetate + prednisone (AA+P) + leuprolide with stereotactic ultra-hypofractionated radiation (UHRT) in very high risk (VHR), node negative (N0) prostate cancer (PCa).

5012Background: Standard of care in VHR PCa is radiation therapy (RT) with 18-36 months (mos) of androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT). With this regimen, chronic ADT toxicity is significant and bioch...
Electrokinetic-Noise-Assisted Barrier Crossing in a Nanofluidic Environment

We experimentally and theoretically study the dynamics of DNA driven by artificial electrokinetic noise back and forth between neighboring nanopits inside a nanofluidic device. The dynamics are consistent with a noise-assisted barrier-crossing process, exhibiting a rapid increase in the hopping rate with noise level beyond a threshold. A simple Arrhenius model with a fixed energy barrier of several ${k}_{B}T$ describes the hopping dynamics well at low noise levels but to accurately describe the dynamics over a wider range, we develop a numerical model that additionally accounts for the lateral extent of the free-energy landscape. The experimental and numerical methods reported here significantly expand the range of noise levels and time scales over which activated DNA hopping processes can be controlled and investigated.
Effects of Garlic Allium sativum Powder on Nutrient Digestibility, Haematology, and Immune and Stress Responses in Eurasian Perch Perca fluviatilis Juveniles.

The supplementation of fish diets with phytogenics can increase growth performance and can modulate immune system response. European perch Perca fluviatilis (initial weight 25.0 ± 0.4 g) were fed a diet including 0 (Control), 10 (G10), 20 (G20), and 30 (G30) g kg-1 garlic powder. No significant difference in the growth parameters and somatic indices were observed. Significantly higher fat digestibility was observed in G10 and G30 diets compared to in the control and G20 diets(p < 0.05). Significantly greater red blood cell and white blood cell counts were observed with the G10 diet (p < 0.05). Garlic significantly decreased serum cholesterol in all of the experimental groups. Serum albumin was significantly higher in the G10 and G20 diets (p < 0.05). Immediately after the overcrowding stress challenge, the garlic groups showed significantly higher cortisol levels than the control group, while no significant difference was observed in the glucose concentration among groups. At 1 h post-stress, all of the groups that had been fed a garlic-supplemented diet showed lower cortisol levels than the control group, and this trend was maintained at 6 and 24 h post stress (p < 0.05), and glucose level in all garlic groups was significantly lower than control (p < 0.05). Garlic at 10 g kg-1 in feed can improve apparent fat digestibility and selected blood parameters and can enhance resistance against high-density and net handling stress in Eurasian perch.
Skin Sterility After Application of a Vapocoolant Spray Part 2

Refrigerant sprays have been used for pain relief at the time of minor office procedures. However, their sterility remains in question. This study investigates the microbiologic effect of this vapocoolant when sprayed after 70 % isopropyl alcohol skin preparation. In 50 healthy volunteers, three skin culture samples were collected: Group 1 prior to alcohol application; Group 2 after preparation with alcohol, and Group 3 after preparation with alcohol followed with vapocoolant spray. Samples were cultured in a blinded fashion and analyzed after 5 days of incubation. Gram staining was performed when cultures were positive. Bacterial growth was found in 98 % of samples prior to any skin preparation. This was reduced to 54 % after alcohol use (Group 2). Spraying with the skin refrigerant further reduced bacterial growth to 46 % (Group 3). The results showed a significant reduction in the number of positive bacterial cultures following skin preparation with alcohol and when alcohol prep was followed by vapocoolant spray (p < 0.001) compared to initial cultures. No statistical difference was observed between Groups 2 and 3 (p = 0.74). The use of the vapocoolant spray does not compromise the sterility of the skin following alcohol prep. Both 70 % isopropyl alcohol antiseptic preparation and skin preparation followed by vapocoolant spray significantly reduce skin colonization when compared to unprepared skin (p < 0.001). This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
Automatic Cutback Furrow Irrigation System Design

A field method for determining the size of a constantly decreasing furrow irrigation stream just adequate to prevent runoff after an initial stream has advanced the length of the furrow is described. This reduced stream can be approximated by several streams of constant flow, each applied for equal times. Use of the constant streams makes the irrigation system amenable to automatic methods of water application. Assuming that stream size is to be varied by regulating head-on spiles set in the walls of the irrigation lateral, procedures for determining spile size, variation in elevation of adjacent banks of spiles, and heads on the spiles for each discharge are presented. Equations are given for the number of furrows to be irrigated from each bay of the lateral with a given water supply. Methods for determining times of application and volumes of water supplied by the initial stream and each of the reduced streams are given. An example illustrates the application of all procedures and equations.
Fluorescence Microscopy: From Principles to Biological Applications

Microscopes are tools invented by humans to study specimens at spatial and temporal resolution that exceed the human eye. Today the researcher has a wide range of microscopes to employ in order to answer carefully poised experimental questions. The key is to match the research questions with the appropriate microscope. In order to optimize the success it is necessary to understand the physical principles of the microscope, how to properly align the instrument, and how to correctly use the instrument. The object of the investigation or measurement is also a major consideration as well as the preparation of the specimen, the interaction of the specimen, and the radiation from the microscope. Often the words “quantitative microscopy” appear in publications; but all measurements contain errors, and the critical investigator must be able to understand the sources of error in a measurement and, if possible, mitigate the magnitude of the errors. Validation of microscopic measurements across disparate types of microscopes is a useful approach. The critical elements in optical microscopy include: optical aberrations, sampling errors, nonphysiological specimen preparation, such as over expression of genetic fluorescent proteins, the deleterious effects of the light source on biological specimens, nonlinear effects in the detector and amplifiers, and artifacts of image analysis and image interpretation.
The Killer Will Remain Free: On Pat Parker and the Poetics of Madness.

Poet and scholar Kazim Ali reads Pat Parker's Movement in Black intimately, one poet to another, uncovering the shadow-fact of the lives of most people of color: not only the anger that is somehow sublimated into every part of our lives but also the issue that carrying this feeling around has on our mental health itself—that “anger” and “madness” might have sources in one another. Ali concludes that Parker offers a brutal and clear-eyed and ultimately hopeful assessment of the conditions that were faced at the time, and even now, by communities of color.
An assessment of the base blanket for ITER

Ideally, the ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) base blanket would provide the necessary tritium for the reactor to be self-sufficient during operation, while having minimal impact on the overall reactor cost, reliability, and safety. A solid breeder blanket was developed in the CDA phase in an attempt to achieve such objectives. The reference solid breeder base blanket configurations at the end of the CDA phase have many attractive features such as a tritium breeding ratio (TBR) of 0.8-0.9 and a reasonably low tritium inventory. However, some concerns regarding the risk, cost, and benefit of the base blanket were raised. These include uncertainties associated with the solid breeder thermal control and the potentially high cost of the amount of Be used to achieve high TBR and to provide the necessary thermal barrier between the high-temperature solid breeder and low-temperature coolant. The basis for the selection of a breeding blanket is discussed in light of the incremental risk, cost, and benefits relative to a nonbreeding blanket. Key issues associated with the CDA breeding blanket configurations are analyzed. Alternative schemes that could enhance the attractiveness and flexibility of a breeding blanket are explored. >