cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Carnosol, a dietary diterpene, displays growth inhibitory effects leading to G1-phase cell cycle arrest and targets the 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway in human prostate cancer PC3 cells.

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 12-16, 2008; San Diego, CA 3813 Prostate cancer (PCa) will be diagnosed in 218,890 males in the United States in 2007 and unfortunately, there are limited options for the successful management of this disease. Recently, there have been considerable activities directed toward the identification of dietary agents for both chemoprevention and the treatment of PCa. Carnosol, a dietary diterpene found in herbs that include basil, oregano, and sage, has been shown to display potent antioxidant properties. Additionally, traditional Chinese medicine uses rosemary extracts that contain high amounts of diterpenes and triterpenes to treat inflammatory conditions. Here, we evaluated carnosol for its potential anti-cancer properties in the human PCa PC3 cells. Using an MTT assay we found that carnosol (10 - 70 µM) decreases cell viability in a time and dose dependent manner. Next, we determined whether the decrease in cell viability was due to the induction of apoptosis and/or cell cycle arrest. We evaluated the effect of carnosol (20-60 uM) using flow cytometry and found that it induces G1-phase cell cycle arrest with limited proapoptotic effect. Cell cycle and apoptosis related proteins that were found to be modulated with carnosol included cyclins, cyclin dependent kinases, p21, Bax, and Bcl-2. To establish a more precise mechanism, we performed a protein array that evaluated 639 proteins involved in cell signaling pathways. A target of interest was identified as 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a serine/threonine protein kinase involved in the regulation of energy balance of a cell. Significant upregulation of AMPK over a 48 hour period in PC3 cells treated with carnosol (40 µM) was observed. The role of AMPK has been studied in cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorders and shown to regulate fatty acid synthase and HMG-CoA reductase. It has been suggested that AMPK has an important role in carcinogenesis and should be considered as a novel target for anti-cancer drugs. We found that carnosol induces the upregulation of AMPK-β regulatory subunit having downstream effects consistent with cancer inhibition. As a result we are evaluating the role of carnosol in upregulating AMPK to modulate and interact with pathways directly or indirectly that include PTEN/PI3K/AKT and TSC2/mTOR/HSP70S6k1. Carnosol may be a novel dietary diterpene for the management of PCa.
The Magnitude of Hypotony and Time Course of Intraocular Pressure Recovery Following Anterior Chamber Cannulation in Nonhuman Primates.

Purpose To determine the magnitude of ocular hypotony and the length of recovery time to 6 and 10 mm Hg IOP following anterior chamber (AC) cannulation. Methods Bilateral IOP was recorded 500 times per second via telemetry immediately before, during, and immediately after AC cannulation with a 27-G needle in 10 different sessions at least 2 weeks apart in four male rhesus macaques (nonhuman primates; NHPs) aged 3- to 6-years old. Bilateral IOP was recorded continuously using a proven telemetry system while the NHPs were under general anesthesia during IOP transducer calibration experiments involving manometric control of IOP via AC cannulation, then continuously after the AC needles were removed until IOP recovered to precannulation levels. The change in IOP from baseline to AC cannulation was tested using the signed-rank test. The times necessary for IOP to recover to 6 and 10 mm Hg, respectively, were calculated. Results Average precannulation IOP was 11.5 mm Hg and significantly decreased to an average of 2.3 mm Hg immediately following AC needle removal (P = 0.0156). On average, IOP recovered from 2.3 to 6 and 10 mm Hg in 32.4 and 63.7 minutes, respectively. Recovery times of IOP were not affected by repeated AC cannulations every 2 weeks. Conclusions Generally, IOP recovers relatively quickly after repeated AC cannulation, and did not result in extended duration hypotony. It is important to consider hypotony in animal experiments and clinical procedures involving AC cannulation and paracentesis when consideration of IOP or its effects is important.
APPROX-NoC: A Data Approximation Framework for Network-On-Chip Architectures

The trend of unsustainable power consumption and large memory bandwidth demands in massively parallel multicore systems, with the advent of the big data era, has brought upon the onset of alternate computation paradigms utilizing heterogeneity, specialization, processor-in-memory and approximation. Approximate Computing is being touted as a viable solution for high performance computation by relaxing the accuracy constraints of applications. This trend has been accentuated by emerging data intensive applications in domains like image/video processing, machine learning and big data analytics that allow inaccurate outputs within an acceptable variance. Leveraging relaxed accuracy for high throughput in Networks-on-Chip (NoCs), which have rapidly become the accepted method for connecting a large number of on-chip components, has not yet been explored. We propose APPROX-NoC, a hardware data approximation framework with an online data error control mechanism for high performance NoCs. APPROX-NoC facilitates approximate matching of data patterns, within a controllable value range, to compress them thereby reducing the volume of data movement across the chip.Our evaluation shows that APPROX-NoC achieves on average up to 9% latency reduction and 60% throughput improvement compared with state-of-the-art NoC data compression mechanisms, while maintaining low application error. Additionally, with a data intensive graph processing application we achieve a 36.7% latency reduction compared to state-of-the-art compression mechanisms.
A system for detecting high impact-low frequency mutations in primary tumors and metastases

Tumor complexity and intratumor heterogeneity contribute to subclonal diversity. Despite advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatics, detecting rare mutations in primary tumors and metastases contributing to subclonal diversity is a challenge for precision genomics. Here, in order to identify rare mutations, we adapted a recently described epithelial reprograming assay for short-term propagation of epithelial cells from primary and metastatic tumors. Using this approach, we expanded minor clones and obtained epithelial cell-specific DNA/RNA for quantitative NGS analysis. Comparative Ampliseq Comprehensive Cancer Panel sequence analyses were performed on DNA from unprocessed breast tumor and tumor cells propagated from the same tumor. We identified previously uncharacterized mutations present only in the cultured tumor cells, a subset of which has been reported in brain metastatic but not primary breast tumors. In addition, whole-genome sequencing identified mutations enriched in liver metastases of various cancers, including Notch pathway mutations/chromosomal inversions in 5/5 liver metastases, irrespective of cancer types. Mutations/rearrangements in FHIT, involved in purine metabolism, were detected in 4/5 liver metastases, and the same four liver metastases shared mutations in 32 genes, including mutations of different HLA-DR family members affecting OX40 signaling pathway, which could impact the immune response to metastatic cells. Pathway analyses of all mutated genes in liver metastases showed aberrant tumor necrosis factor and transforming growth factor signaling in metastatic cells. Epigenetic regulators including KMT2C/MLL3 and ARID1B, which are mutated in >50% of hepatocellular carcinomas, were also mutated in liver metastases. Thus, irrespective of cancer types, organ-specific metastases may share common genomic aberrations. Since recent studies show independent evolution of primary tumors and metastases and in most cases mutation burden is higher in metastases than primary tumors, the method described here may allow early detection of subclonal somatic alterations associated with metastatic progression and potentially identify therapeutically actionable, metastasis-specific genomic aberrations.
Effect of statin on arginine metabolites in treated HIV-infection.

Abstract Background and aims Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an inhibitor of nitric oxide and an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. We examined the effect of statin on ADMA in HIV + patients on stable ART, and whether such an effect contributes to the favorable changes on carotid intima media thickness. Methods This is a secondary analysis of SATURN-HIV, in which HIV + adults on stable ART with HIV-1 RNA Results Overall, 79% were male, 68% African Americans, with a median age of 46 years. In the statin arm, no change in ADMA levels was observed at 48 weeks (0.70%), whereas a trend towards an increase in ADMA levels (23.78%) was observed in the placebo group (p = 0.06). Elevated baseline ADMA (highest tertile) was associated with a 0.04 mm increase in c-IMT (p = 0.03) after adjusting for statin and study duration. No interaction was seen between baseline ADMA and statin randomization on change in c-IMT (p = 0.21). Conclusions In HIV + subjects on ART, rosuvastatin suppressed the increase over time in ADMA levels. Elevated baseline levels of ADMA were associated with increases in c-IMT, regardless of statin assignment. The favorable effect of rosuvastatin on c-IMT appears to be independent of the arginine pathway.
Integrated mental health services in China: challenges and planning for the future.

Eager to build an integrated community-based mental health system, in 2004 China started the ‘686 Programme’, whose purpose was to integrate hospital and community services for patients with serious mental illness. In 2015, the National Mental Health Working Plan (2015–2020) proposed an ambitious strategy for implementing this project. The goal of this review is to assess potential opportunities for and barriers to successful implementation of a community-based mental health system that integrates hospital and community mental health services into the general healthcare system. We examine 7066 sources in both English and Chinese: the academic peer-reviewed literature, the grey literature on mental health policies, and documents from government and policymaking agencies. Although China has proposed a number of innovative programmes to address its mental health burden, several of these proposals have yet to be fully activated, particularly those that focus on integrated care. Integrating mental health services into China’s general healthcare system holds great promise for increased access to and quality improvement in mental health services, as well as decreased stigma and more effective management of physical and mental health comorbidities. This article examines the challenges to integrating mental health services into China’s general healthcare system, especially in the primary care sphere, including: accurately estimating mental health needs, integrating mental and physical healthcare, increasing workforce development and training, resolving interprofessional issues, financing and funding, developing an affordable and sustainable mental health system, and delivering care to specific subpopulations to meet the needs of China’s diverse populace. As China’s political commitment to expanding its mental health system is rapidly evolving, we offer suggestions for future directions in addressing China’s mental health needs.
Where do adolescent recent drinkers obtain and use alcohol

Background: Alcohol use among adolescents is a serious health issue in the United States. The purpose of the study is to determine factors associated with the locations and sources of last alcoholi...
Severe Respiratory Illness Associated with Rhinovirus during the Enterovirus D68 Outbreak in the United States, August 2014-November 2014

Background In 2014, a nationwide outbreak of severe respiratory illness occurred in the United States, primarily associated with enterovirus D68 (EV-D68). A proportion of illness was associated with rhinoviruses (RVs) and other enteroviruses (EVs), which we aimed to characterize further. Methods Respiratory specimens from pediatric and adult patients with respiratory illness were submitted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during August 2014-November 2014. While initial laboratory testing focused on identification of EV-D68, the negative specimens were typed by molecular sequencing to identify additional EV and RV types. Testing for other pathogens was not conducted. We compared available clinical and epidemiologic characteristics among patients with EV-D68 and RV species A-C identified. Results Among 2629 typed specimens, 1012 were EV-D68 (39%) and 81 (3.1%) represented 24 other EV types; 968 were RVs (37%) covering 114 types and grouped into 3 human RV species (RV-A, 446; RV-B, 133; RV-C, 389); and 568 (22%) had no RV or EV detected. EV-D68 was more frequently identified in patients who presented earlier in the investigation period. Among patients with EV-D68, RV-A, RV-B, or RV-C, the age distributions markedly differed. Clinical syndromes and intensive care unit admissions by age were largely similar. Conclusions RVs were commonly associated with severe respiratory illness during a nationwide outbreak of EV-D68, and most clinical. Characteristics were similar between groups. A better understanding of the epidemiology of RVs and EVs is needed to help inform development and use of diagnostic tests, therapeutics, and preventive measures.
Impact of cocaine use on protease inhibitor-associated dyslipidemia in HIV-infected adults

Previous studies have demonstrated a link between protease inhibitor (PI)-based therapy and lipid dysregulation. The main objective of this study was to examine whether cocaine use may modify PI-as...
MECHANISMS OF CHEMICAL MOVEMENT IN SOILS

Consideration of recent developments in miscible displacement of chemicals in saturated and unsaturated soils reveals that a number of theoretical and practical questions remain. These questions include the representation of the fluid flow velocity, the interaction of diffusive and dispersive mechanisms in reactive media, and the temporal and spatial variation of the parameters describing these processes.
Stentthrombose als Erstmanifestation einer fulminanten Pneumokokkensepsis

Eine Splenektomie ist mit dem lebenslangen Risiko fur eine fulminant verlaufende Infektion vergesellschaftet (OPSI – „overwhelming postsplenectomy infection“), welche haufig mit einer Dysbalance im Gerinnungssystem und mit hoher Letalitat einhergeht. Wir berichten uber einen 42-jahrigen Mann mit bekannter koronarer Eingefaserkrankung und Zustand nach posttraumatischer Splenektomie vor 20 Jahren, der mit Fieber und dem Bild eines akuten Vorderwandmyokardinfarktes sowie symptomatischen ventrikularen Tachykardien hospitalisiert wurde. Koronarangiographisch fand sich eine akute Stentthrombose in der proximalen LAD. Es erfolgte eine PTCA sowie eine aggressive antithrombotische Therapie. Nach anfanglicher postinterventioneller Beschwerdefreiheit kam es zur progredienten Verschlechterung der respiratorischen Situation sowie des Allgemeinzustands mit der Notwendigkeit der endotrachealen Intubation. Binnen kurzester Zeit entwickelte sich das Vollbild eines septischen Schocks. Trotz fruhzeitig eingesetzter Antibiotika, hochdosierter Katecholamine, Hydrokortison und intraaortaler Ballonpumpe verstarb der Patient 10 Stunden nach Aufnahme an einem „OPSI“ durch Pneumokokken.
A Breathing Oxygen Storage Dewar

In an effort to further improve on liquid oxygen converters that are now in use, the Cryogenic Engineering Laboratory of the National Bureau of Standards undertook the job of developing and testing an eight liter liquid oxygen storage dewar in accordance with specifications issued by the Wright Air Development Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The main items of the specifications stated that the converter be built from two concentric, stainless steel spheres, that the weight of the converter should not exceed 27 pounds and that the evaporation loss with the converter vented to the atmosphere shall not exceed three pounds of oxygen in 24 hours.
Emission of formic and acetic acids from two Colorado soils

A 'missing source' of atmospheric formic acid is consistently observed during model-measurement comparisons, and evidence from multiple environments suggests a near-surface source. Soil emissions are considered to be a small formic acid source, but estimates are based on a single study from a tropical site. Here, we investigate soil emissions of organic acids from two soils - a ponderosa pine forest (Manitou Experimental Forest Observatory), and a managed lawn (Colorado State University) using a laboratory chamber. Both soils are a source of formic and acetic acids. Under ambient conditions, formic acid emissions are 0.11 (pine forest) and 0.15 (lawn) nmol m-2 s-1, and acetic acid emissions are 0.05 (pine forest) and 0.71 (lawn) nmol m-2 s-1. Only acetic acid emissions from the forest site correlate with CO2 fluxes, but all formic and acetic acid emissions increase exponentially with temperature. Increasing soil moisture only enhances acetic acid emissions from the forest. Considering this temperature and moisture dependence, we hypothesize that while equilibrium partitioning may contribute to the forest emissions, organic acid emissions from the lawn are likely driven by microbial activity. Lactic acid was emitted from both soils, but not quantified. The observed formic acid emissions are higher than previous measurements, but still low enough that soils are unlikely the 'missing source' of atmospheric organic acids, although the variability in the soil source is substantial. We contrast observations to previous parameterizations used in models, and present recommendations for modified parameterizations for formic and acetic acid emission.
Internal cueing improves gait more than external cueing in healthy adults and people with Parkinson disease

Walking can be challenging for aging individuals and people with neurological disorders such as Parkinson disease (PD). Gait impairment characterized by reduced speed and higher variability destabilizes gait and increases the risk of falls. External auditory cueing provides an effective strategy to improve gait, as matching footfalls to rhythms typically increases gait speed and elicits larger steps, but the need to synchronize to an outside source often has a detrimental effect on gait variability. Internal cueing in the form of singing may provide an alternative to conventional gait therapy. In the present study, we compare the effects of internal and external cueing techniques on forward and backward walking for both people with PD and healthy controls. Results indicate that internal cueing was associated with improvements in gait velocity, cadence, and stride length in the backward direction, and reduced variability in both forward and backward walking. In comparison, external cueing was associated with minimal improvement in gait characteristics and a decline in gait stability. People with gait impairment due to aging or neurological decline may benefit more from internal cueing techniques such as singing as compared to external cueing techniques.
A 95%-Efficient 48V-to-1V/10A VRM Hybrid Converter Using Interleaved Dual Inductors

This paper presents a new 48 V-to-1 V hybrid converter. The converter utilizes two interleaved inductors to achieve complete soft-charging of flying capacitors to efficiently support high output currents. This dual inductor hybrid converter (DIHC) features fewer number of switches and more effective switch utilization than a recently reported hybrid Dickson converter, leading to substantially less conduction losses presented by a smaller equivalent output impedance. Experimental results verify the converter's operation principles and advantages in a 300-kHz 20-W prototype achieving 95.02% peak efficiency and 225 W/in3 power density. Its advantages and performance promise a good candidate converter architecture for applications that require large conversion ratios and high output currents, such as data centers and high-performance digital systems.
3D-Printed alternating current electroluminescent devices

This work explores the use of metal-doped zinc sulfide (ZnS) phosphor materials by harnessing their unique optical response for the development of 3D-printed electroluminescent devices. Through materials design and processing considerations, the ability to manufacture alternating current electroluminescent (ACEL) devices using commercially available fused deposition modeling (FDM) type 3D printing systems is demonstrated. ZnS-based phosphors are incorporated within a polylactic acid (PLA) host matrix and fabricated by depositing a single layer (100 μm) of PLA/phosphor-functionalized filament onto an ITO-coated glass slide, sandwiched between a second electrode comprising of 3D-printed carbon-doped conductive PLA. By applying a voltage across the PLA/phosphor layer, 3D-printed ACEL devices display a tunable bright blue/green luminescent behavior. The observed optical response is highly reproducible and dependent on both the applied voltage and frequency of excitation, where the recorded emission displays a significant blue shift with increasing excitation frequencies. ACEL devices with various geometric shapes are printed to further demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of additive manufacturing and 3D printing technologies as an additional methodology and approach for developing custom light emitting devices and displays.
Erratum to: Fast and robust stereo vision algorithm for obstacle detection

After serious investigation, the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Bionic Engineering has decided to retract the above paper due to extensive plagiarism of the following paper: Vision guided by vehicle dynamics for onboard estimation of the visibility range Clement Boussard, Nicolas Hautiere and Brigtte d’Andrea-Novel The 6th IFAC Symposium on Intelligent Autonomous Vehicles, Sept. 2007, France
Augmenting Resident Education at the RSNA Annual Meeting through RSNA Diagnosis Live.

The RSNA Diagnosis Live® annual case-based competition provides radiology residency programs with an interactive learning platform to test their knowledge of diagnostic radiology in various subspec...
Representative resolution analysis for X-ray CT: A Solid oxide fuel cell case study

Abstract A requirement to reduce dependency on high-carbon fuels has resulted in the rapid advancement of electrochemical devices. Considerable research has been applied to improve device performance and lifetime in order to compete with incumbent technologies. Of the portfolio of electrochemical conversion technologies, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) offer high fuel versatility and fast reaction kinetics without the requirement of expensive catalysts. However, degradation due to high temperature operation limits cell performance and lifetime, impeding widespread commercialisation. Due to the inherent link between microstructure and electrochemical performance, many three-dimensional (3D) characterisation techniques have been employed in the pursuit of the mitigation of degradation through rational electrode design. Instruments such as lab-based X-ray microscopes are now capable of imaging across multiple length scales, where the highest resolutions (i.e. smallest voxel lengths) are comparable to specialist synchrotron facilities. A widely used metric to describe electrode microstructure is the triple-phase boundary (TPB); the location where reactions occur within the SOFC electrode. The total TPB length is a vital metric in assessing the quality of an SOFC material, and thus many efforts have been made to determine accurate values. In order to map the TPB locations in 3D, the three constituent phases: metal, ceramic, and pore, need to be distinguished and segmented, requiring high resolutions. Although TPB values have been reported and compared extensively in the literature, the influence of the microscopic roughness is yet to be investigated. Using X-ray computed tomography (CT), here, for the first time, the effect of resolution is inspected for several key microstructural parameters. Moreover, the study is extended through the use of multiple instruments for a variety of sample structures. This work introduces the importance of the fractal properties of structures characterised using X-ray CT, which we expect to be influential across a broad range of materials. The choice of resolution when characterising a structure is important and determined by a variety of factors: instrument, feature size, image quality, etc., and should ultimately be chosen in order to efficaciously expose the features under investigation, in addition to this, metrics extracted should only be directly compared at the same resolution and, if possible, should be inspected for fractal properties via a representative resolution analysis. These conclusions are not restricted to SOFCs but should be applied to all fields of microstructural analysis.
Immune-related adverse events and anti-tumor efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed the treatment landscape for patients with many advanced malignancies, only 15–60% of patients respond, leaving a broad swath of patients who do not derive benefit. Identifying biomarkers to optimally identify patients who will benefit from ICIs is a major research focus for the oncology community. Thus far, predictive biomarker research has focused on tumor signatures such as microsatellite instability, programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and tumor mutational burden; clinical biomarkers have been far less studied. One potential clinical biomarker for ICI response in patients is immune-related adverse event (IRAE) onset. IRAEs are thought to represent bystander effects from activated T-cells and it is plausible that patients responding to ICIs would have greater likelihood of autoimmune toxicities (e.g. due to a more competent/treatment-responsive immune system, or cross-reactivity between tumor and host tissue). Earlier studies in melanoma patients however, suggested no association between IRAE onset and anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) antibody efficacy. In contrast, a growing body of literature suggests IRAE onset is predictive of anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and anti-PD-L1 antibody response across a variety of solid tumors. Most of these studies report that patients who experienced IRAEs demonstrate marked improvements in progression-free survival, overall survival and overall response rate compared to those lacking toxicity. Key questions regarding the association between IRAE onset and ICI efficacy remain. The most pertinent of these involve whether the association is only relevant for patients treated with anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 antibodies and whether IRAE site, severity, timing of onset and management influence ICI efficacy. Herein, we discuss the seminal studies which have begun to address these questions and have shaped the narrative about the predictive value of IRAE onset for patients on ICIs, in this review.
Two Variable Orthogonal Polynomials and Fejér-Riesz Factorization

We consider bivariate polynomials orthogonal on the bicircle with respect to a positive nondegenerate measure. The theory of scalar and matrix orthogonal polynomials is reviewed with an eye toward applying it to the bivariate case. The lexicographical and reverse lexicographical orderings are used to order the monomials for the Gram–Schmidt procedues and recurrence formulas are derived between the polynomials of different degrees. These formulas link the orthogonal polynomials constructed using the lexicographical ordering with those constructed using the reverse lexicographical ordering. Relations between the coefficients in the recurrence formulas are derived and used to give necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a positive measure. These results are then used to construct a class of two variable measures supported on the bicircle that are given by one over the magnitude squared of a stable polynomial. Applications to Fejer–Riesz factorization are also given.
A Cyber-Physical System for Near Real-Time Monitoring of At-Home Orthopedic Rehabilitation and Mobile-Based Provider-Patient Communications to Improve Adherence: Development and Formative Evaluation.

Background: Knee extensor muscle performance is reduced after lower extremity trauma and orthopedic surgical interventions. At-home use of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) may improve functional recovery, but adherence to at-home interventions is low. Greater benefits from NMES may be realized with closer monitoring of adherence to at-home prescriptions and more frequent patient-provider interactions. Objective: This study aimed to develop a cyber-physical system to monitor at-home adherence to NMES prescription and facilitate patient-provider communications to improve adherence in near real time. Methods: The RehabTracker cyber-physical system was developed to accomplish this goal and comprises four components: (1) hardware modifications to a commercially available NMES therapy device to monitor device use and provide Bluetooth functionality; (2) an iPhone Operating System–based mobile health (mHealth) app that enables patient-provider communications in near real time; (3) a clinician portal to allow oversight of patient adherence with device use; and (4) a back-end server to store data, enable adherence analysis, and send automated push notifications to the patient. These four elements were designed to be fully compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. The system underwent formative testing in a cohort of patients following anterior cruciate ligament rupture (n=7) to begin to assess face validity. Results: Compared with the NMES device software–tracked device use, the RehabTracker system recorded 83% (40/48) of the rehabilitation sessions, with 100% (32/32) of all sessions logged by the system in 4 out of 7 patients. In patients for whom tracking of automated push notifications was enabled, 100% (29/29) of the push notifications sent by the back-end server were received by the patient. Process, hardware, and software issues contributing to these inaccuracies are detailed. Conclusions: RehabTracker represents a promising mHealth app for tracking and improving adherence with at-home NMES rehabilitation programs and warrants further refinement and testing. Trial Registration:
Evidence on Financial Globalization and Crises: Global Imbalances

Global imbalances are defined. Several explanations for the development of large current account deficits and surpluses in key economies during the period after 1997 are discussed, including the saving-investment approach, the intertemporal approach, mercantilism and the Bretton Woods II hypothesis, and the global saving glut view. A discussion of the literature linking the financial crisis of 2008-09 to the development of global imbalances concludes.
Sex differences in immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 that underlie disease outcomes

A growing body of evidence indicates sex differences in the clinical outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)1-4. However, whether immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 differ between sexes, and whether such differences explain male susceptibility to COVID-19, is currently unknown. In this study, we examined sex differences in viral loads, SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody titers, plasma cytokines, as well as blood cell phenotyping in COVID-19 patients. By focusing our analysis on patients with mild to moderate disease who had not received immunomodulatory medications, our results revealed that male patients had higher plasma levels of innate immune cytokines and chemokines including IL-8, IL-18, and CCL5, along with more robust induction of non-classical monocytes. In contrast, female patients mounted significantly more robust T cell activation than male patients during SARS-CoV-2 infection, which was sustained in old age. Importantly, we found that a poor T cell response negatively correlated with patients' age and was predictive of worse disease outcome in male patients, but not in female patients. Conversely, higher innate immune cytokines in female patients associated with worse disease progression, but not in male patients. These findings reveal a possible explanation underlying observed sex biases in COVID-19, and provide important basis for the development of sex-based approach to the treatment and care of men and women with COVID-19.
Addressing the Origin of Photocurrents and Fuel Production Activities in Catalyst-Modified Semiconductor Electrodes

The direct integration of electrocatalysts with photovoltaic materials provides a strategy for photoelectrochemically powering chemical transformations and storing intermittent solar energy as fuel...
The technology of interpretation: new approaches to the new criticism

This essay aims to show how the development of close reading, and more specifically its relationship to authorial intention, is itself historically contingent on technological development. In histo...
Goal attainment measure for stroke self-management: An umbrella review

Self-management support (SMS) interventions help stroke survivors achieve behavior changes to control stroke risk factors. Goal-setting is a fundamental skill widely recognized as integral to SMS. Theories related to goal-setting describe a mediating effect between the quality of a goal and successful goal attainment. However, direct measurement of goal attainment and its mediated effect on sustained behavior change is not well quantified. We report findings from an updated systematic review of peer-reviewed systematic reviews to identify current valid, reliable measures of goal attainment, with specific focus on goal-attainment measurement used in SMS interventions for stroke risk factors. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were used to ensure transparent reporting. Databases used were Medline (Ovid), PubMed (National Library of Medicine), Embase (Ovid), and PsycINFO (Ovid). A priori eligibility criteria included outcome measures for goal attainment and publication in English (2006–2017), following last major review. Of 1363 citations found, 808 titles and abstracts were screened; 52 articles were included in the full review and nine in the final analysis. No measures of goal attainment in the context of SMS for stroke risk factors were identified. The only published measures of goal attainment related to stroke were in the stroke-rehabilitation context. The effect of goal attainment on effective SMS of stroke risks factors could not be determined. We conclude there remains an absence of outcome measures for goal attainment in the context of SMS and SMS interventions that target stroke risk factors.
The Theory of Emerging Adulthood 20 Years Later: A Look at Where It Has Taken Us, What We Know Now, and Where We Need to Go:

For 20 years, the theory of emerging adulthood has shaped how we think about the third decade of life. In honor of that I would like to revisit the distinct features of emerging adulthood outlined ...
Systematic identification of non-coding somatic single nucleotide variants associated with altered transcription and DNA methylation in adult and pediatric cancers.

Whole-genome sequencing combined with transcriptomics can reveal impactful non-coding single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in cancer. Here, we developed an integrative analytical approach that, as a first step, identifies genes altered in expression or DNA methylation in association with nearby somatic SNVs, in contrast to alternative approaches that first identify mutational hotspots. Using genomic datasets from the Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) consortium and the Children's Brain Tumor Tissue Consortium (CBTTC), we identified hundreds of genes and associated CpG islands for which the nearby presence of a non-coding somatic SNV recurrently associated with altered expression or DNA methylation, respectively. Genomic regions upstream or downstream of genes, gene introns and gene untranslated regions were all involved. The PCAWG adult cancer cohort yielded different significant SNV-expression associations from the CBTTC pediatric brain tumor cohort. The SNV-expression associations involved a wide range of cancer types and histologies, as well as potential gain or loss of transcription factor binding sites. Notable genes with SNV-associated increased expression include TERT, COPS3, POLE2 and HDAC2-involving multiple cancer types-MYC, BCL2, PIM1 and IGLL5-involving lymphomas-and CYHR1-involving pediatric low-grade gliomas. Non-coding somatic SNVs show a major role in shaping the cancer transcriptome, not limited to mutational hotspots.
Determinants and consequence of critical audit matter disclosure: early evidence

The Public Accounting Oversight Board’s Audit Standard 3101 (AS 3101), which requires auditors to disclose critical audit matters (CAMs), became effective for audits of large accelerated filers with fiscal years ending on or after June 30, 2019, and for all other US public companies on December 15, 2020. This initiative is a response to the gap between the users’ demand and the information provided in auditors’ reports. It is also intended to improve the relevancy of auditors’ reports. Focusing on studies of the determinants and consequence of CAMs disclosure in the US setting, this review complements and extends previous syntheses of research on expanded audit disclosures in non-US settings. More importantly, it provides preliminary insights into whether AS 3101 achieves its stated objective: making auditors’ reports more informative and more relevant to investors. This review also highlights areas where there is limited research or inconsistent results, which may help academic researchers to identify opportunities for future research.
Abstract SY06-02: Optically activated nanomedicines: Photochemical activation as a priming and imaging tool in pancreatic cancer

Optical activation of materials leads to thermal, photochemical and radiative processes which can be captured for response-based therapeutic design. The ability to use light as a reagent to provide free radical and activated oxygen-mediated cytotoxicity, combined with a control of conventional drug release, allows for the fabrication of light-controllable intelligent multiagent nanoconstructs that attack multiple pathways making nanomedicines more effective against cancer. This optically activated approach allows for a mechanistically diverse and spatiotemporally controlled strategy to tumor destruction. The molecules used for light activation have, in addition to therapeutic capabilities, finite fluorescence, creating an imaging handle and providing a built-in Theranostic process. Strategies for syntheses and applications of these nanoagents in biology and medicine will be discussed. Citation Format: Tayyaba Hasan. Optically activated nanomedicines: Photochemical activation as a priming and imaging tool in pancreatic cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr SY06-02.
Extending Rice et al. (2017): the measurement of social media affordances

In a recent issue of Journal of Communication, Rice et al. (2017) offered a measure of social media affordances that has been of decided value to its corpus. Specifically, using a grounded-theory a...
Consumer Law's Equity Gap

This article is about the views that shape and constrain the development of consumer law. Consider the market for short-term, high-cost loans. Policymakers tend to justify intervening in these markets on inefficiency grounds (consumers exhibit present bias) and rarely on equitable grounds (these loans cost too much). Why? One recent explanation suggests that policymakers may focus on inefficiency because they believe access to credit is essential for social and economic development. In this article, I offer an alternative explanation. The lack of equity in consumer law is not a function of narrow conceptions internal to consumer law but the external view that the law should prioritize efficiency and ignore equity. The dominant rationale for this view is that redistribution through legal rules distorts economic behavior more than redistribution through an income tax. Here, I discuss the longstanding and recent critiques of this rationale and build on these critiques to show why it is a fundamental mistake to ignore distribution in consumer law. In particular, background legal rules shape consumer demand in particular markets. These background conditions may mean that seemingly irrational exchanges are, in fact, rational. An approach tethered to consumer preferences may struggle to justify altering the terms of rational exchanges. In order to overcome this problem, I suggest that we center distribution in the way we justify interventions and conceptualize solutions to problems in consumer financial markets. I detail what centering distribution in consumer law might look like and conclude by considering some objections to redistributive policies in consumer law.
FADS: A framework for autonomous drone safety using temporal logic-based trajectory planning

Abstract In this work, we present an integrated Framework for Autonomous Drone Safety (FADS). The demand for safe and efficient mobility of people and goods is growing rapidly, in line with the growth in population in US urban centers. In response, new technologies to meet these urban mobility demands are also rapidly maturing in preparation for future full-scale deployment. As surface congestion increases and the technology surrounding unmanned aerial systems (UAS) matures, more people are looking to the urban airspace and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) as a piece of the puzzle to promote mobility in cities. However, the lack of coordination between UAS stakeholders, federal UAS safety regulations, and researchers developing UAS algorithms continues to be a critical barrier to widespread UAS adoption. FADS takes into account federal UAS safety requirements, UAM challenge scenarios, contingency events, as well as stakeholder-specific operational requirements. FADS formalizes these requirements, through Signal Temporal Logic (STL) representations, and a trajectory planning optimization for multi-rotor UAS fleets guarantees robust and continuous-time satisfaction of the requirements and mission objectives. The intuitive FADS user interface makes it easy to plan missions in a variety of environments; we demonstrate this through several rural and urban environment-based case studies. FADS holistically integrates high-level stakeholder objectives with low-level trajectory planning; combined with a user-friendly interface, FADS reduces the complexity of stakeholder coordination within the UAM context.
Physical Activity Moderates Inflammatory Gene Expression in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Background: While general population studies have shown associations between greater physical activity and lower inflammatory markers, effects of physical activity on systemic inflammation in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are unknown. We examined whether physical activity associates with differential expression of inflammatory genes in RA. Methods: Data derived from an observational RA cohort. Physical activity was measured with the GT9X ActiGraph Link for 7 consecutive 24-hour periods. Clinical data and peripheral whole blood for RNA sequencing were collected. Physical activity groups were defined by the highest and lowest tertiles of moderate/vigorous activity (metabolic equivalent level ≥2.00). RNA extraction, library preparation, Illumina sequencing, and gene expression data processing were performed using established methods. Genes differentially expressed in the most versus least active groups were identified using DESeq2 with the Independent Hypothesis Weighting (IHW) multiple testing procedure and adjusting for sex, age, and race/ethnicity. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) Canonical Pathway and Upstream Regulator Analyses were employed on differentially expressed genes with a P<0·1 ranked by log2-fold change to identify biological pathways affected by physical activity. Findings: 35 participants were included (mean age 56±12 years; 91% female; race/ethnicity 31% white, 9% African American, 9% Asian, 40% Hispanic). 767 genes were differentially expressed (padj<0.1) between high versus low activity groups. The high activity group exhibited downregulation of innate and adaptive immune signaling pathways implicated in RA pathogenesis including CD40, STAT3, TREM-1, IL-17a, IL-8, toll-like receptor and interferon signaling. Upstream cytokine activation states demonstrated lower TNF-alpha and interferon among individuals in the high vs. low activity group. Interpretation: RA patients who were more physically active had lower expression of genes involved in innate and adaptive immune signaling compared to those who were more sedentary, providing mechanistic evidence that physical activity may confer protective effects on RA disease outcomes. Funding: This work is supported by NIH/NIAMS R01 AR069616 and NIH/NHLBI K23HL138461-01A1. Additional support from the Rheumatology Research Foundation. Declaration of Interest: None to declare. Ethical Approval: The UCSF Institutional Review Board approved all procedures (UCSF IRB protocol #17-21790) and all participants provided written informed consent.
Introduction to Aging and Older Adults

In countries such as the United States, growing old has become a common experience. Average life expectancy at birth is now about 78 years for women and 71 years for men. Even those who are currently old can expect to live many more years; for example, at age 65, mean life expectancy is nearly 19 years for women and 15 years for men.
Interferon in the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

All of the recombinant interferons are active agents for the systemic treatment of mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome. The response rates are similar to those observed with systemic chemotherapy. There is no clear evidence that combining interferons with other systemic therapies increases the response rates. The combination of interferon with psoralen photochemotherapy provides provocative results.
A Novel Mechanism for 2-Deoxyglucose Toxicity is Mediated by Glucose Transporter Endocytosis Regulated by Arrestins and AMP-Activated Protein Kinase

Both cancer cells and yeast cells are inhibited by the presence of low concentrations of 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) although its modes of action have not been fully elucidated. Snf1 kinase, the AMP-activ...