cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Medication use in an imperfect world: Drug misadventuring as an issue of public policy, Part 1

Drug misadventuring is defined, applicable public policy issues are identified and analyzed, and recommendations are suggested for reducing the magnitude and scope of drug misadventuring. The extensive use of pharmaceuticals in the United States, as well as the error-prone systems that are responsible for the appropriate preparation and distribution of drugs, has created new challenges for prescribers, dispensers, and users of drugs. The term "drug misadventuring" covers the broad array of phenomena associated with negative drug experiences. Studies conducted in the United States during the past two decades related to drug misadventuring have been inadequate. Further, extrapolation of data from these studies to the population at large has yielded false projections of the extent of the problem. Since drug misadventuring is a human problem, it is derived from the actions or inactions of a variety of "environments"--social, economic, political, and scientific-technological--that define American society. The following players directly influence decisions associated with drug misadventuring: prescribers, patients, pharmacists, manufacturers, policymakers, and third-party payers. Conflicts of interest among these groups and environmental sectors deter progress in minimizing drug misadventuring. The problem of drug misadventuring must be viewed as a problem in public policy, and new policy decisions must be constructed in the best interest of the patient. Recommendations are made for a "new order" in confronting and resolving this problem. Bold leadership and forthright discussion will be required to find solutions to the problem of drug misadventuring.
Comparison of the Rate of Renal Function Decline in NonProteinuric Patients With and Without Diabetes.

Abstract: Background: Patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) without proteinuria are often believed to have a cause of CKD other than diabetes. It was hypothesized that if this is true, the rate of renal function decline should be similar among nonproteinuric patients with and without diabetes. Methods: Patients seen in the nephrology, endocrinology and general internal medicine clinics at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) between 2008 and 2012 with hypertension and diabetes were identified by ICD9 diagnosis codes. Patients with less than 2 measures of serum creatinine, without urine studies over the study period and with proteinuria were excluded. Four hundred seventy-two patients met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and had an initial estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) between 35 and 80 mL/min per 1.73 m 2 . The annual rate of decline in eGFR was estimated for each patient from the lowest eGFR in each year by fitting a regression model with random intercept and slope. Results: In unadjusted analyses, the rate of eGFR decline was greater in patients with diabetes than without diabetes (–0.71 versus –0.30 mL·min –1 · yr –1 , P = 0.03). After adjusting for age, race, sex, baseline eGFR and use of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockade, the rate of decline was still greater among patients with diabetes than among those without diabetes (–0.68 versus –0.36 mL·min –1 · yr –1 , P = 0.03). Conclusions: Patients with diabetes had more rapid decline in kidney function compared with individuals without diabetes, despite the absence of proteinuria. These results suggest that even in the absence of proteinuria, diabetes may be associated with CKD.
Temporal aggregation for large-scale query-by-image video retrieval

We address the challenge of using image queries to retrieve video clips from a large database. Using binarized Fisher Vectors as global signatures, we present three novel contributions. First, an asymmetric comparison scheme for binarized Fisher Vectors is shown to boost retrieval performance by 0.27 mean Average Precision, exploiting the fact that query images contain much less clutter than database videos. Second, aggregation of frame-based local features over shots is shown to achieve retrieval performance comparable to aggregation of those local features over single frames, while reducing retrieval latency and memory requirements by more than 3X. Several shot aggregation strategies are compared and results indicate that most perform equally well. Third, aggregation over scenes, in combination with shot signatures, is shown to achieve one order of magnitude faster retrieval at comparable performance. Scene aggregation also outperforms the recently proposed aggregation in random groups.
What Parents and Their Gay and Bisexual Sons Say About HIV Prevention

Despite ongoing prevention efforts, young gay and bisexual men (YGBM) accounted for more than three fourths of all recent HIV infections. Furthermore, they continue to engage in high-risk sexual behaviors at alarming rates. Nowadays, families are beginning to emerge as important resources for these youth. However, the viewpoints of YGBM and their families are largely missing from HIV prevention research and intervention development. To address this gap, we solicited the opinions of YGBM and their parents as to why YGBM engage in unsafe sex and what might be done to help them avoid HIV. Participants discussed youth's sense of invulnerability, sexual arousal, parental disapproval, and lack of societal acceptance as contributors to unsafe sex. Participants called for gay-sensitive sex education and community programming as well as increased societal acceptance. Overall, respondents recommended interpersonal and structural-level interventions that emphasized the importance of reducing stigma as a key component of HIV prevention.
Thermal inactivation of a new vibrio phage.

Conclusions1. Susceptibility of the Vibrio phage to thermal inactivation is influenced by the nature of the suspending fluid. Decrease in rate of inactivation with time occurs in all of the fluids tested. 2. Several possible explanations for deviation of the inactivation curves from the plots predicted by the Mass Law have been considered.
TECHNOLOGY AND PROCESS ASSESSMENT OF USING LADAR AND EMBEDDED SENSING FOR CONSTRUCTION QUALITY CONTROL

Emerging LADAR and embedded sensing technologies are making inroads into the construction industry for quality control applications. Much of the research conducted and the practical usage to date have focused on a static snapshot evaluation of already constructed structures. A remaining question is how technologically feasible and applicable these technologies are for frequent inspection during construction. Researchers in the civil engineering, architecture, and robotics departments at Carnegie Mellon University are developing and evaluating a formalism for application of these technologies for supporting quality control on construction sites. This formalism consists of developing a formalism for planning inspections, collecting data, modeling as-built conditions, and reasoning with the as-built and as-designed models to detect deviations and defects on construction sites. A series of five case studies on commercial and light industrial construction sites were conducted within the context of that research to identify challenges and opportunities in using LADAR and embedded sensing technologies to support inspection and quality control processes on construction sites. Based on the experiences in these case studies, the authors present a technology and process assessment of the use of LADAR and embedded sensing frequently to support inspection and quality control on construction sites.
Permanent Color Standards for Folin’s Ferricyanide Sugar Method

Folin's' ferricyanide method for blood sugar estimation has been found admirably applicable to the determination of sugar in spinal fluids. This method has the distinct advantage of requiring only 0.1 cc. of spinal fluid, whereas the Folin-Wu copper method requires 2 cc. In order to make this ferricyanide method rapidly and intermittently available for general clinical .and hospital practice in the estimation of spinal fluid sugar, it seemed desirable to devise a permanent standard whereby the unstable sugar standard and the colorimeter could be eliminated. Standards so prepared furnish a rapid means for sugar measurement in spinal fluids comparable to the accepted colorimetric procedures for icterus index and the phenolsulphonephthalein tests. Folin's method is essentially the reduction of an alkaline solution of potassium ferricyanide by the sugar and the precipitation of the resulting potassium ferrocyanide as Prussian blue by the addition of ferric iron. The precipitated Prussian blue is kept in a colloidal suspension by the use of gum ghatti. Sugar values vary with the depth of the blue color produced.
Abstract 212: Prophylactic Anti-inflammatory Treatment Attenuates The Neuroinflammatory And Behavioral Effects Of Silent Cerebral Infarction

Silent brain infarction is a frequent complication of cardiac surgery and is associated with mood changes and cognitive disruption. Microsphere embolism (ME) rodent models recapitulate both the diffuse ischemic infarcts and the delayed subtle behavioral disturbances characteristic to silent infarction (SI). Previously, we have shown that ME leads to increased hippocampal inflammation, weakening of the blood brain barrier, and the infiltration of peripherally circulating inflammatory cells in rats. Given long-term increases in inflammatory activity following SI, the current study tests the efficacy of anti-inflammatory versus anti-depressant treatment strategies to reduce the inflammatory and behavioral sequelae of injury. Adult rats were administered either chronic meloxicam (preferential COX-2 inhibitor) or fluoxetine (SSRI) beginning five days prior to ME surgeries. After a two week recovery, animals were tested for anxiety-like behaviors in the open field paradigm and the hippocampus was examined for gene expression of inflammatory cytokines. Meloxicam treated animals showed a decrease in hippocampal gene expression of inflammatory markers (SPP1; p = 0.0272) and greater than a 3-fold change improvement in open field central tendency (p = 0.0003). No differences in inflammatory gene expression were observed in fluoxetine treated animals (SPP1; p = 0.3288); however, fluoxetine treatment resulted in a 2-fold change improvement in open field central tendency (p = 0.0138) suggesting that while both treatment strategies attenuate SI induced behavioral disruption, only meloxicam acts via inflammatory mechanisms. Given the long term negative consequences of increased central and peripheral inflammatory activity, the data suggest that anti-inflammatory therapeutic strategies may benefit patients at risk for SI as well as cardiac surgery candidates.
Design Concepts for NeuroCore and NeuroScience Databases

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the major components of neurocore database and their relation to the design criteria. A neurocore database consists of four main components—namely, core database, database extension interface, database federation interface, and new data types for the database created as data blades. The core framework cannot store a complete neuroscientific experiment because it lacks the extensions that allow to the full description of the experimental preparation and the types of research data that are being collected. The core schema of neurocore consists of five basic components: core experimental framework, neuroanatomical concepts, neurochemical concepts, database federation interface, and database extension interface. The core experimental framework in neurocore contains the database tables that store the information needed for storing an experiment. The neuroanatomical section of the neurocore database contains the basic neuroanatomical information needed to provide the framework for storing specific neuroanatomical data, as well as for providing the proper anatomical framework to store any neuroscience experiment within the neurocore. The federation interface enables each neurocore database to share information with other databases.
Development and Application of an Incompressible Strand Solver

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is an ever-increasing component of the naval design and analysis process. Most current high-fidelity CFD methods used by the US Navy require body-fitted volume grids, which are time-consuming and depend on seasoned engineers with significant grid generation experience. Automated grid generation using a strand gridding approach is a relatively new concept that could transform the role of higher fidelity CFD within the Navy's design and analysis process. The HPCMP CREATE-SH team seeks to expand the compressible strand solver under development as part of the HPCMP CREATE-AV effort to incompressible flow problems for applications of interest to the Navy. The completed incompressible strand solver would allow quicker turnaround time for experienced CFD engineers while allowing more naval architects to use higher fidelity CFD as a part of the overall design process. The incompressible strand solver is a new development of the HPCMP CREATE-SH Hydro team, and this work will demonstrate the solver on validation cases of naval interest.
Body contouring after obesity surgery is associated with a weight loss benefit among patients

Summary Background Patients who undergo obesity surgery often require body contouring procedures to eliminate excess skin. Recent studies suggest that body contouring surgery may provide psychological benefits to patients after obesity surgery. However, it remains unclear how body contouring may affect weight loss maintenance after obesity surgery. Methods This is a retrospective review of patients who underwent obesity surgery with or without body contouring at a single institution from 2000 to 2005. Charts were reviewed for demographic, medical, and surgical information. The primary outcome of interest was the difference in weight loss maintenance among patients who underwent body contouring versus those who did not. Results A total of 318 patients were included for analysis in this study, of which 70 underwent obesity surgery with body contouring and 248 underwent obesity surgery without body contouring. The mean change in BMI among patients who did not undergo body contouring was 19.7 kg/m 2 . The mean change in BMI among patients who underwent body contouring was 22.1 kg/m 2 . Among patients who underwent body contouring surgery, 2.9% (2/70) of patients did not maintain at least a 20% decrease in body weight during the entire follow-up period (mean follow-up time 92.2 months). Among patients who did not undergo body contouring surgery, 10% (25/248) of patients did not maintain at least a 20% decrease in body weight during the entire follow-up period (mean follow-up time 39.0 months) (χ 2 = 3.67, p = 0.055). Conclusions Body contouring surgery may have a positive effect on weight loss maintenance after body contouring determined from the mean weight change and on percentage of patients who maintain at least a 20% decrease in body weight.
Idiopathic Neonatal Hepatitis and Its Differential Diagnoses

“Idiopathic neonatal hepatitis” (INH) is a diagnosis of exclusion. The definition of INH is simply inflammation and cholestasis in the liver in an infant <3 months of age for which a diagnosis cannot be found (Childhood liver disease research and education network. http://www.childrennetwork.org/physicians/inh.html). Thus, this chapter is written mainly from the perspective of the differential diagnosis of the three different clinical presentations of INH: neonatal acute liver failure, transient cholestasis with resolution, and chronic cholestasis.
Clinical impact of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in primary prevention of total mortality in non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy: results from a meta-analysis of prospective randomized clinical trials.

Aim Primary prophylactic implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) have demonstrated a clear all-cause mortality benefit in patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy, with less compelling evidence supporting its use in patients with non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy (NICM). We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the role of ICD for reduction in total mortality in NICM patients. Methods and results An electronic search on PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and EMBASE databases was performed to identify the RCTs evaluating the role of prophylactic ICD placement in NICM patients. Mantel-Haenszel risk ratio (RR) fixed-effects model was used to summarize data across treatment arms. Random-effects model was used if heterogeneity (I2) ≥ 25. Patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemaker (CRT-P) were included in the control group. Six RCTs, with a total of 3128 patients and a mean follow-up period of 48 ± 22 months comparing ICD with medical therapy in NICM were included in this analysis. There was a significant reduction in all-cause mortality in the ICD group compared with the medical therapy group [RR 0.79, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.68-0.92; P = 0.002]. No publication bias was noted. Conclusion Currently available evidence demonstrates that the use of ICD provides a clear and significant reduction in all-cause mortality among patients with NICM.
Malformations attributed to the process of vascular disruption.

Background Several malformations have been attributed to the process of vascular disruption. The central hypothesis for this etiology is that blood flow to a structure has been altered after that structure had formed normally. The decreased blood flow leads to hypoxia, endothelial cell damage, hemorrhage, tissue loss, and repair. After recovery, some structures are normal and others show either tissue loss or structural abnormalities, such as syndactyly and constriction rings. Methods The phenotypic features of the 7,020 infants with one or more malformations, who were born to women who had always planned to deliver at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) between, 1972 and 2012, that is, maternal nontransfers, were reviewed. The phenotypes associated with vascular disruption, such as the amniotic band syndrome and terminal transverse limb defects (TTLD), were identified. Results One hundred and five fetuses and infants had malformations attributed to the process of vascular disruption. Some specific causes of the amniotic band limb deformity were identified. TTLD with associated small digit-like nubbins occurred at three levels: proximal forearm, wrist, and metacarpal-phalangeal joint. Other causes included severe hemoglobinopathies and exposures to misoprostol and to prenatal procedures. Conclusions Malformations attributed to the process of vascular disruption were a distinctive entity, among the recognized etiologies. The timing of the causative event in the first trimester was established for infants with exposures to either the prostaglandin misoprostol or the prenatal diagnosis procedure chorionic villus sampling. One challenge is to identify the developmental steps in vascular disruption when no causative exposure can be identified.
Dissertation III: Physical Systems

This proposal has two unique features. First, the literature section distills complex research in geomorphology into easily understood concepts. Further, the author explicitly cites the works from which the hypotheses are derived. Second, the methods section of this proposal provides a solid example how research methodologies are inherently linked to the literature review. Additionally, the proposal’s introduction and explanation of the methods and associated equations is both economical and effective.
Toward Child-Friendly Output and Fabrication Devices

Computer-controlled fabrication – the design and “printing” of tangible, physical objects – has seen an explosion of interest and excitement in the past several years. Three-dimensional printers, laser cutters, paper-cutting devices, computer-controlled sewing machines, milling machines, and the like have become increasingly affordable, and now permit users to create a remarkable range of physical objects in a wide array of materials. Strangely, however, this “explosion” has thus far largely ignored the remarkable potential of physical production and fabrication by children. This is a surprising oversight. After all, children’s crafts – the landscape of activities and materials that have traditionally been associated with educational construction – represent fertile ground for experimentation with novel, innovative computer-controlled fabrication devices and materials. This chapter describes a number of imaginative possibilities for such devices, blending the most expressive and content-rich aspects of children’s crafts with the powerful affordances of computer-controlled fabrication. As an example, we describe one “home-grown” prototype device, StringPrinter, designed for creating custom-decorated lengths of yarn and string for children’s craft projects. StringPrinter is not the exclusive focus of this chapter, but rather an illustration of a more general idea: it represents one (still-early) step in a much broader research agenda of creating fabrication hardware, software, and web-based systems for use by children. We use this example as a foundation for exploring much broader questions in the enhancement of children’s craft activities.
A comparison of the Avisoft (5.2) and Ultravox (2.0) recording systems: Implications for early-life communication and vocalization research.

Abstract Alterations in early-life communicative behaviors are a common feature of neurodevelopmental conditions, such as autism and epilepsy. One method of investigating communication in murine models is through analyzing ultrasonic vocalizations. These vocalizations are commonly recorded with either the Avisoft or the Ultravox recording programs. However, since no study has compared whether the systems are equally sensitive, the findings in one program may not be reproducible in the other. To directly compare the two programs, we elicited vocalizations from male and female 129SvEvTac and C57BL/6 mouse pups via the maternal isolation paradigm, recording vocalizations simultaneously with both systems. We held the detection parameters identical for each system and found that there was only a medium correlation between Avisoft and Ultravox overall. Further analysis indicated that Avisoft detected more total vocalizations, as well as more vocalizations at the set frequencies of 50, 60, and 70 kHz than Ultravox, p
Pediatric face transplantation: a viable option?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Face transplantation is no longer a young field. Reported outcomes suggest that this life-enhancing transplantation is viable and ethically justified for appropriate patients. Given that pediatric hand transplantation has been performed with promising reported outcomes, it is time to consider how to properly expand the field of face transplantation into pediatric patients. RECENT FINDINGS Appropriate collaboration between adult and pediatric colleagues can mitigate risks associated with expanding surgical innovation between respective patient demographics. The reported outcomes of the first pediatric hand transplant question the appropriateness of increasing immunosuppression burden to a patient on an existing regimen for prior solid organ allotransplantion. Young donor allografts prove to be more resilient, however, implying that managing rejection episodes is key to long-term viability. Expanding face transplants into a younger population must consider the social functions of the face, and may facilitate healthy personal development given the cultural value appearance has in real life and in social media. SUMMARY We believe that pediatric face transplantation is not just a viable option, but an ethically reasonable one as long as the field proceeds with cautious optimism.
Augmenter of liver regeneration protein deficiency promotes hepatic steatosis by inducing oxidative stress and microRNA-540 expression

Levels of augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR), a multifunctional protein, are reduced in steatohepatitis. ALR depletion from ALR flox/flox/Alb-Cre [ALR-L-knockout (KO)] mouse causes robust steatosis and apoptosis of hepatocytes, and pericellular fibrosis between 1 and 2 wk postbirth. Steatosis regresses by 4 wk upon reappearance of ALR-expressing hepatocytes. We investigated mechanisms of ALR depletion-induced steatosis. ALR-L-KO mice (1-, 2-, and 4 wk old) and Adeno-Cre-transfected ALR flox/flox hepatocytes were used for in vivo and in vitro studies. ALR depletion from hepatocytes in vivo downregulated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-α, carnitine palmitoyl transferase I (CPT1)a, peroxisomal membrane protein 70 (PMP70) (modest down-regulation), and acyl-CoA oxidase 1 (ACOX1). The markedly up-regulated (20X) novel microRNA-540 (miR-540) was identified to target PPARα, PMP70, ACOX1, and CPT1a. ALR depletion from primary hepatocytes increased oxidative stress, miR-540 expression, and steatosis and down-regulated PPARα, ACOX1, PMP70, and CPT1a expression. Anti-miR-540 mitigated ALR depletion-induced steatosis and prevented loss of PPARα, ACOX1, PMP70, and CPT1a expression. Antioxidant N-acetylcysteine and recombinant ALR (rALR) both inhibited ALR depletion-induced miR-540 expression and lipid accumulation in hepatocytes. Finally, treatment of ALR-L-KO mice with rALR between 1 and 2 wk prevented miR-540 expression, and arrested steatosis and fibrosis. We conclude that ALR deficiency-mediated oxidative stress induces generation of miR-540, which promotes steatosis by dysregulating peroxisomal and mitochondrial lipid homeostasis.-Kumar, S., Rani, R., Karns, R., Gandhi, C. R. Augmenter of liver regeneration protein deficiency promotes hepatic steatosis by inducing oxidative stress and microRNA-540 expression.
The God Card: Strategic Employment of Religious Language in U.S. Presidential Discourse

The United States, despite official separation of church and state, is a country dominated politically by Christianity. This is evident in the almost unbroken ranks of Christians elected to the presidency; Christianity is currently a prerequisite to reach the office and a factor of salience when in office. Presidential discourse is frequently infused with religious language. Content analysis of 106 “high-state” and 342 “minor-state” presidential addresses from Roosevelt to Trump provides evidence to illustrate how such language may be employed strategically. The use of general religious language and explicit references to God sharply escalated from the Reagan presidency, and, somewhat surprisingly, it is Donald Trump who is shown to have the highest rate with both these measures. There is also suggestion that this language may have been employed by some presidents to help trespass into areas of opposition strength.
A 4000-year record of hydrologic variability from the Olympic Mountains, Washington, USA:

Sedimentological and geochemical analyses of gravity and piston cores retrieved from Lake Quinault, Washington, reveal an ~4000-year flood-dominated depositional record. Individual flood event laye...
Group-level cortical and muscular connectivity during perturbations to walking and standing balance

Maintaining balance is a complex process requiring multisensory processing and coordinated muscle activation. Previous studies have indicated that the cortex is directly involved in balance control, but less information is known about cortical flow of signals for balance. We studied source-localized electrocortical effective connectivity dynamics of healthy young subjects (29 subjects: 14 male and 15 female) walking and standing with both visual and physical perturbations to their balance. The goal of this study was to quantify differences in group-level corticomuscular connectivity responses to sensorimotor perturbations during walking and standing. We hypothesized that perturbed visual input during balance would transiently decrease connectivity between occipital and parietal areas due to disruptive visual input during sensory processing. We also hypothesized that physical pull perturbations would increase cortical connections to central sensorimotor areas because of higher sensorimotor integration demands. Our findings show decreased occipito-parietal connectivity during visual rotations and widespread increases in connectivity during pull perturbations focused on central areas, as expected. We also found evidence for communication from cortex to muscles during perturbed balance. These results show that sensorimotor perturbations to balance alter cortical networks and can be quantified using effective connectivity estimation.
Dr. Diamond Replies.

The Letter to the Editor by Verhees et al. raises interesting questions about how to potentiate the mechanism of change in attachment-focused therapies.1 The basic assumption of attachment theory is that that children who grow up with insensitive or inconsistent parenting or trauma internalize a view of the world as unsafe and view themselves as unworthy of love and protection. These early relational experiences lay down the foundation of one's view of oneself and expectation of others. This schema, combined with temperament and biology, inform and influence future relationships and experiences. But for Bowlby, because the internal working model is shaped by relational experience, it is continually open for revision if the environment were to change.2 As psychotherapists, we aim to facilitate that revision.
Overflowing Channels: How Democracy Didn’t Work as Planned (and Perhaps a Good Thing It Didn’t):

When eighteenth-century revolutionary elites set about designing new political orders, they drew on commonplace theoretical understandings of “democracy” as highly undesirable. They therefore desig...
Development of an Arginine Anchored Nanoglobule with Retrograde Trafficking Inhibitor (Retro-2) for the Treatment of an Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli Outbreak.

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 (EHEC) or Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) is known to cause sporadic and epidemic gastrointestinal infections with several incidences of outbreaks. A...
Arabidopsis PIC30 encodes a major facilitator superfamily transporter responsible for the uptake of picolinate herbicides.

Picloram is an auxinic herbicide that is widely used for controlling broad leaf weeds. However, its mechanism of transport into plants is poorly understood. In a genetic screen for picloram resistance, we identified three Arabidopsis mutant alleles of PIC30 (PICLORAM RESISTANT30) that are specifically resistant to picolinates, but not to other auxins. PIC30 is a previously uncharacterized gene that encodes a major facilitator superfamily (MFS) transporter. Similar to most members of MFS, PIC30 contains 12 putative transmembrane domains, and PIC30-GFP fusion protein selectively localizes to the plasma membrane. In planta transport assays demonstrate that PIC30 specifically transports picloram, but not indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Functional analysis of Xenopus laevis oocytes injected with PIC30 cRNA demonstrated PIC30 mediated transport of picloram and several anions, including nitrate and chloride. Consistent with these roles of PIC30, three allelic pic30 mutants are selectively insensitive to picolinate herbicides, while pic30-3 is also defective in chlorate (analogue of nitrate) transport and also shows reduced uptake of 15NO3- . Overexpression of PIC30 fully complements both picloram and chlorate insensitive phenotypes of pic30-3. Despite the continued use of picloram as an herbicide, a transporter for picloram was not known until now. This work provides insight into the mechanisms of plant resistance to picolinate herbicides and also shed light on the possible endogenous function of PIC30 protein.
Recipe for Successful Meteorology Majors: Are Incoming Test Scores Indicative?

AbstractMany high school students with a passion for meteorology visit college campuses each year, inquiring about program details and learning of the rigorous math requirements and somewhat daunti...
Safety Profile and Efficacy of Cidofovir for Adenovirus in Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant Recipients Following Reduced-Intensity Conditioning

Background Adenovirus (ADV) infection remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), particularly in the pediatric population. Pre-emptive monitoring by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for ADV viremia in high risk patients permits prompt initiation of therapy. Cidofovir (CDV) is a nucleotide analogue which is utilized for treatment of ADV infections in immunocompromised patients; however, CDV can be associated with substantial dose-dependent nephrotoxicity. The use of reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) has invariably necessitated the use of anti-thymocyte globulin or alemtuzumab for rejection prophylaxis, putting patients at higher risk for viral infections. We report our single-center experience with CDV for treatment of ADV infection in 20 allo-HSCT patients. Methods We performed a retrospective review, from 2012-2019, of children with non-malignant diseases that received RIC with alemtuzumab, fludarabine, melphalan, and thiotepa. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01962415 Recipients of CDV were identified and reviewed for ADV PCR results (blood, stool, urine, respiratory viral panel), CDV course characteristics (mg/kg dose, frequency, and duration), and changes in renal function. All patients received a combination of probenecid and hydration to reduce nephrotoxicity. Results A total of 25 CDV courses, in 20 patients (median age: 4 years, range 0.6-22) were identified. Of the 20 patients, 18 patients (90%) received umbilical cord blood as their graft source. Of the 25 courses prescribed, 20 courses (80%) were in patients with a positive blood ADV PCR, and 19 courses (76%) with a positive stool ADV PCR. Typically, 5 mg/kg/dose (range 1-9) was given weekly, then every 2 weeks once viral load declined. The median number of doses of CDV was 8 doses (range 2-32) with treatment duration ranging from 7-169 days. Renal dysfunction with CDV appeared to be reversible, with 14 courses (56%) having peak serum creatinine (SCr) >50% of baseline during CDV treatment, though average rise in SCr when comparing baseline to CDV discontinuation values was 20%. Only 2 courses had a peak SCr ≥ 1 mg/dL during CDV treatment. In 16 courses (64%) CDV therapy was discontinued due to clinical resolution, PCR negativity, or a combination of both, in 6 courses (24%) patients were switched to brincidofovir, and in 1 course (4%) the patient transferred care. 18 of 20 are alive, one child died of complications of multiple infections including ADV, and another due to accelerated CNS demyelination. Conclusion CDV appeared remarkably safe and effective post RIC conditioning. Prospective screening allowed for early initiation of CDV and limiting poor outcomes associated with ADV.
Let’s Go to the Movies…for Science!

Abstract. This study examined whether watching science-related entertainment narratives can influence science learning, interest in science, and information-seeking intentions. Based on the capacit...
An oxygen partial pressure sensor

The oxygen partial pressure of the gas mixture man breathes is an important measurement. A sensor is described which makes use of the reaction of oxygen with hydrogen in the presence of catalytic platinum to produce water and electrical energy. The voltage output is a direct function of the oxygen partial pressure. Performance data are presented and a package design concept is described.
Building the evidence-base to reduce electronic health record-related clinician burden.

Clinicians face competing pressures of being clinically productive while using imperfect electronic health record (EHR) systems and maximizing face-to-face time with patients. EHR use is increasingly associated with clinician burnout and underscores the need for interventions to improve clinicians' experiences. With an aim of addressing this need, we share evidence-based informatics approaches, pragmatic next steps, and future research directions to improve 3 of the highest contributors to EHR burden: (1) documentation, (2) chart review, and (3) inbox tasks. These approaches leverage speech recognition technologies, natural language processing, artificial intelligence, and redesign of EHR workflow and user interfaces. We also offer a perspective on how EHR vendors, healthcare system leaders, and policymakers all play an integral role while sharing responsibility in helping make evidence-based sociotechnical solutions available and easy to use.
Prediction of Diabetes Using Ensemble Learning Model

Diabetes is an illness which may cause blood sugar, by producing insufficient amount of insulin. Untreated diabetes can increase the danger of heart attack, cancer, liver problem and other disorders. All over the world, billions of people are affected by diabetes disease. Early treatment of diabetes is very important to maintain a healthy lifestyle and culture. Diabetes is a major reason of global concern as the cases of diabetic patients are increasing rapidly day by day. Machine learning is an advance technical growing field which helps to understand the meaning of real data. It is widely used in healthcare community for detecting and analyzing serious and complex situations. Machine learning is a mathematical computational model which is used for learning new knowledge from its old knowledge and improves model efficiency to make more accurate results. Machine learning is the process of gathering, selecting, analyzing, and designing large real-time dataset. This research work using a special class of machine learning technique called bagging and boosting which is also known ensemble learning techniques. In this work, ensemble learning techniques are experimented on Pima Indians dataset to analyze and identify diabetic patient with highest risk factors using Python language. To classify a diabetic patient and non-diabetic patient, five different predictive models, namely random forest (RF), light gradient boost (LG Boost), extreme gradient boost (XGBoost), gradient boost (GB), and adaptive boost (AdaBoost) have been used for better prediction of diabetes.
Reliability engineering in optoelectronic devices and fiber optic transceivers

Abstract Reliability engineering, unfortunately, is not widely taught in university programs, and requires a wide range of different skills and knowledge that are often difficult to piece together. Here, we share an introduction to the basics of reliability engineering as it applies to the qualification of semiconductor lasers and fiber optic transceivers, as well as other optoelectronic devices and assemblies. In this chapter, we go through the process flow for qualifying optoelectronic devices for sale, as part of the new product development process. The chapter is organized in chronological order, starting from design, development of a reliability qualification plan, setting up reliability test capabilities, data collection and analysis, qualification report contents, and finally failure analysis. While specialized books cover individual elements such as reliability calculation, burn-in optimization, or failure analysis methods, this is the first wide-ranging summary of its kind to touch on the full range of activities required in the practice of reliability engineering relevant to optoelectronics. The best-known methods for solving common challenges and building a strong reliability test program are discussed.
Effective point-charge analysis of crystal fields: Application to rare-earth pyrochlores and tripod kagome magnets R 3 Mg 2 Sb 3 O 14

The authors describe a method to analyze crystal field excitation spectra using adjustable effective point-charges and apply to two families of materials.
3DB: A Framework for Debugging Computer Vision Models.

We introduce 3DB: an extendable, unified framework for testing and debugging vision models using photorealistic simulation. We demonstrate, through a wide range of use cases, that 3DB allows users to discover vulnerabilities in computer vision systems and gain insights into how models make decisions. 3DB captures and generalizes many robustness analyses from prior work, and enables one to study their interplay. Finally, we find that the insights generated by the system transfer to the physical world. We are releasing 3DB as a library (this https URL) alongside a set of example analyses, guides, and documentation: this https URL .
Austere Resuscitative and Surgical Care in Modern Combat Operations

To describe the design, intent, utilization, and limitations of austere resuscitative surgical care (ARSC) in modern combat operations. The dispersed nature of modern combat operations combined with growing recognition of the value of prompt surgical intervention for combat injuries has driven increased demand for small, mobile ARSC teams. Level 3 evidence suggests generally favorable outcomes for casualties treated by austere surgical teams when compared to initial treatment at higher echelons of care. Case-series have demonstrated the lifesaving potential of ARSC teams, although high-grade outcomes data is lacking. Standardized selection and training paradigms are needed for ARSC teams. Modern combat operations are geographically dispersed and have trended toward small-scale, highly specialized operations. Specially trained ARSC teams fill a critical capability gap in preventing battlefield death. Integrated surgical and tactical training networks are needed to better prepare mobile medical teams for deployment to austere environments.
7 A Note on Logical Connectives in the Huainanzi

This chapter explores the issue of textual composition in the "Jing shen" at the microlevel to open a discussion about larger questions: How did the Western Han compilers of the Huainanzi chapters construct compelling arguments on the basis of earlier traditions, including the Wenzi and parts of the Zhuangzi , apparently. As with certain passages in the Zhuangzi devoted to death, the argument seems tactical, the goal being to urge an idea usefully entertained by the listener/ reader too inclined to nerves. However, an examination of particles, shigu 是故 and gu 故, that appear in every section may serve to push these insights a bit further. Gu appears in the chapter in three ways: in the phrase shigu , in the phrase guyue ('so they say'), and by itself alone. When gu appears alone, it often indicates what motivates a legendary figure. Keywords: guyue ; Huainanzi ; Jing shen; logical connectives; shigu ; Wenzi ; Western Han; Zhuangzi
Contributions to the Total Energy of Random Alloys

We have been calculating the electronic structure of solids with no long-range order using an order-N method.1 The origin of the term order-N is that the computer time required to carry out conventional calculations on N atoms increases as N3, but computational physicists have recently developed methods for which the increase in time is only linear in N. We call the order-N method that we use the locally self-consistent multiple scattering method (LSMS),2 and it has been shown to be a completely converged method for calculations within the density functional theory local density approximation (DFT-LDA).3
Progesterone-binding Components of Chick Oviduct II. NUCLEAR COMPONENTS

Abstract Specific progesterone-binding components are shown to be present in oviduct nuclei of estrogen-treated chicks. The macromolecular complex containing 3H-progesterone can be detected by sucrose gradient centrifugation and distinguished from chick plasma transcortin by Agarose gel filtration. The nuclear binding components behave identically to the cytoplasmic components previously described in our ultracentrifugal, chromatographic, and inactivation studies. The macromolecular-progesterone complex formed in vivo or in vitro can be extracted from nuclei by 0.3 m KCl. Little or no salt-extractable progesterone-binding activity can be detected in oviduct nuclei prior to progesterone administration. The binding molecules appear to exist initially in oviduct cytoplasm, where they presumably function as specific target tissue receptors. Following injection of 3H-progesterone in vivo or incubation of oviduct slices in vitro with 3H-progesterone, a progressive increase in nuclear binding occurs. The data indicate an absolute prerequisite for an initial interaction of the steroid with the cytoplasm, and a concomitant depletion of cytoplasmic receptor as nuclear binding increases. These results, and the apparent identity of the cytoplasmic and nuclear components, support the hypothesis that the nuclear macromolecular-steroid complex arises by a hormone-dependent transfer of the cytoplasmic receptor complex into the nucleus.
COACHING COSTS AS TULLOCK COSTS: A MODEL OF RISING COACHING SALARIES

Escalating sports coaching costs have strained budgets at many universities. This paper analyses these expenditures as a form of Tullock Costs (Tullock, 1967). In this framework the money the universities receive is spent on recruiting top talent, so the schools receive little, or no, monetary gain under current scholarship rules.
The High pH Chemical and Radiation Compatibility of Various Liner Materials

A flexible membrane liner has been proposed to line a concrete vault in which liquid low-level radioactive waste will be solidified. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene liners were tested at the Pacific Northwest Laboratory in an EPA method 9090 format to determine their chemical compatibility with the waste. Radiation effects were also investigated. The liners were immersed in a highly caustic (pH>14), primarily inorganic solution at 90{degrees}C. The liners were subjected to radiation doses up to 38.9 Mrad, which was the expected dose the liner would receive over a 30-year life inside the vault. Recent changes have placed the liner outside the vault. The acceptance criteria for judging the compatibility of the liner with radiation should be different than those used for judging chemical compatibility. The radiation damage over the life of the liner can be simulated in a short-term test. Both HDPE and polypropylene liners were judged to be acceptable from a chemical and radiation standpoint when placed outside of the vault, while several other liners were not compatible. Radiation did not have a significant effect on chemical degradation rates.
Sample preparation using synthetic membranes for the study of biopolymers by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

Publisher Summary Matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has been a rapidly expanding technique in recent years. While it has become a common technique in the mass spectral analysis of biopolymer, its use has been limited to detection of extremely pure biopolymers. While many groups have demonstrated that MALDI-TOF can be used routinely to analyze synthetic peptides and proteins, analysis of peptides and proteins extracted from biological sources is not as routine. Samples containing salt, glycerol, and detergents render peptide and protein samples that are difficult to detect, or completely undetectable. Such contaminants suppress analyte signal to various degrees. This chapter reports the use of several micro-porous synthetic membranes to prepare contaminated peptides and proteins for MALDI-TOF analysis. By spotting contaminated samples directly onto activated synthetic membranes, impurities such as salts, glycerol, and detergents can be washed from the sample, while biopolymers remain intact. Following addition of matrix, samples can be desorbed and ionized directly from the membrane. The chapter reports that MALDI-TOF spectra can be acquired from contaminated peptides, proteins, and enzymatic reactions without requiring chromatographic separation or purification.