cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Keynote speach

While designers have traditionally dealt with unreliable embedded memories through standard fault-tolerant techniques in the past, aggressive technology scaling and low-voltage operation (to save power) pose significant reliability challenges for distributed embedded memories. I briefly survey traditional hardware and software schemes for addressing reliability to achieve a low-power, fault-tolerant memory space, and keep production yield at tolerable levels. I then present strategies to virtualize the on-chip memory space to cope with the issues of low power, security, reliability and performance. I present the notions of Embedded Raids-on-Chip (E-RoC) and SPMVisor, holistic hardware/software solutions that virtualize the user memory space and which exploit unreliable distributed embedded memories for reduced power consumption, security, reliability and yield management.
Two year experience of a catheter-free, radio telemetric, oesophageal pH-monitoring (Bravo®) system in children at a single UK tertiary centre

Background Introducing a catheterless form of oesophageal ph-monitoring to a younger or more challenging child has now become possible. The BRAVO® pH-system is a significant advancement in the evaluation of patients with gastroesophageal reflux because of better tolerability. Aims To evaluate performance, tolerability, safety and day-to-day variability in acid reflux patterns in using the BRAVO® pH-system. Methods Retrospective review of database and case notes of all children that underwent BRAVO® pH-capsule placement from June909 to August911 was done. All the capsules were deployed 4-6 cm proximal to the Z-line of the oesophagus under the influence of general-anaesthesia and under endoscopic vision. The data from the capsules were recorded by radio-telemetry onto the pH-boxes and uploaded onto a computer designated for this purpose. The paired-t-test was used to analyse the pH-values from 2 sub-groups (group 1 with 24 hour recordings and group 2 with 48 hour recordings). Results 203 consecutive patients (122 male) of median age 9 (2-18 years) had the procedure. The youngest child weighed 9.29 kg. Successful pH data over 24 hours was obtained in 93.6% of patients and over 48 hrs in 59% of patients. Commonest indications were reflux symptoms (45%), abdominal pain (33%) and regurgitation (19.5%). In 12% of our patients with an underlying behaviour disorder the wireless pH study was preferred over a standard naso-oesophageal probe for compliance reasons. The other common indication in our centre was assessment of pre and post fundoplication, with 7 of the results indicating need for surgical management (3 laparoscopic and 4 endoscopic full thickness fundoplication). Nearly all studies (86%) were performed off acid-suppressing medications. A failure rate of 6.4%(13/203) was noted. Of the 13, 4 failed to detach from the introducer, 8 capsules detached within 1 hour of deployment and other failed due to recording-box error. There was no statistical difference between the pH-measurements of the first 24 hours with the 48-hour measurements (p=0.56). No adverse events were noted in any of our patients. Conclusions The BRAVO® pH system is a safe and effective method of recording oesophageal acid exposure. It is an acceptable alternative for children who are particularly unwilling or unable to tolerate nasopharyngeal pH-catheter. Our results support the use of pH measurement for a period of 24 hours only.
Carrying the message

Remarks from symposia organized by the Physicians for Social Responsibility on ‘The medical consequences of nuclear weapons and nuclear war.’
Skeletal Muscle TRIB3 Mediates Glucose Toxicity in Diabetes and High- Fat Diet–Induced Insulin Resistance

In the current study, we used muscle-specific TRIB3 overexpressing (MOE) and knockout (MKO) mice to determine whether TRIB3 mediates glucose-induced insulin resistance in diabetes and whether alterations in TRIB3 expression as a function of nutrient availability have a regulatory role in metabolism. In streptozotocin diabetic mice, TRIB3 MOE exacerbated, whereas MKO prevented, glucose-induced insulin resistance and impaired glucose oxidation and defects in insulin signal transduction compared with wild-type (WT) mice, indicating that glucose-induced insulin resistance was dependent on TRIB3. In response to a high-fat diet, TRIB3 MOE mice exhibited greater weight gain and worse insulin resistance in vivo compared with WT mice, coupled with decreased AKT phosphorylation, increased inflammation and oxidative stress, and upregulation of lipid metabolic genes coupled with downregulation of glucose metabolic genes in skeletal muscle. These effects were prevented in the TRIB3 MKO mice relative to WT mice. In conclusion, TRIB3 has a pathophysiological role in diabetes and a physiological role in metabolism. Glucose-induced insulin resistance and insulin resistance due to diet-induced obesity both depend on muscle TRIB3. Under physiological conditions, muscle TRIB3 also influences energy expenditure and substrate metabolism, indicating that the decrease and increase in muscle TRIB3 under fasting and nutrient excess, respectively, are critical for metabolic homeostasis.
Streptococcal diseases of childhood.

For general practitioners, who handle more than 85 per cent of all pediatric care, Postgraduate Medicine here presents authoritative, up-to-date summaries by specialists in pediatric problems.
Integrating top-down/bottom-up sustainability strategies: an ethical challenge

Sustainable use of the planet will require multiple sustainability strategies, which will range from the entire system, the entire Earth, to the local or regional. Strategies starting at the highest system level are referred to as 'top-down,' and strategies designed for components, local or regional, are referred to as 'bottom-up.' Doubtless, several intermediate levels will eventually be required, although the number is far from clear at this time. It is abundantly clear that both top-down and bottom-up strategies must be integrated effectively or neither will work well. Furthermore, there will be significant uncertainties at both levels of organization, which will be reduced as evidence accumulates. However, sustainability is too complex and dynamic to reduce scientific uncertainty to a level desired by most decision makers. A greater emphasis on sustain-ethics and value judgments will improve communications between those working at different organizational levels since humankind's wish to leave a habitable planet for its descendants and those of other life forms is clearly a value judgment.
GNA14 Somatic Mutation Causes Congenital and Sporadic Vascular Tumors by MAPK Activation.

Vascular tumors are among the most common neoplasms in infants and children; 5%–10% of newborns present with or develop lesions within the first 3 months of life. Most are benign infantile hemangiomas that typically regress by 5 years of age; other vascular tumors include congenital tufted angiomas (TAs), kaposiform hemangioendotheliomas (KHEs), and childhood lobular capillary hemangiomas (LCHs). Some of these lesions can become locally invasive and unresponsive to pharmacologic intervention, leading to significant complications. Recent investigation has revealed that activating mutations in HRAS , KRAS , NRAS , GNAQ , and GNA11 can cause certain types of rare childhood vascular tumors, and we have now identified causal recurrent somatic activating mutations in GNA14 by whole-exome and targeted sequencing. We found somatic activating GNA14 c.614A>T (p.Gln205Leu) mutations in one KHE, one TA, and one LCH and a GNA11 c.547C>T (p.Arg183Cys) mutation in two LCH lesions. We examined mutation pathobiology via expression of mutant GNA14 or GNA11 in primary human endothelial cells and melanocytes. GNA14 and GNA11 mutations induced changes in cellular morphology and rendered cells growth-factor independent by upregulating the MAPK pathway. Our findings identify GNA14 mutations as a cause of childhood vascular tumors, offer insight into mechanisms of oncogenic transformation by mutations affecting Gaq family members, and identify potential targets for therapeutic intervention.
Computational and Experimental Study on Selective sp2/sp3 or Vinylic/Aryl Carbon–Hydrogen Bond Activation by Platinum(II): Geometries and Relative Stability of Isomeric Cycloplatinated Compounds

Cyclometalating ligands 6-(1-phenylethyl)-2,2′-bipyridine (L4), 6-(1-phenylvinyl)-2,2′-bipyridine (L5), and 6-(prop-1-en-2-yl)-2,2′-bipyridine (L6) were synthesized by the Negishi coupling of 6-bro...
‘It’s never turned me back’: female mountain guides’ constraint negotiation

ABSTRACTFemales participate in outdoor adventure recreation at lower rates than males for a variety of reasons including societal gender expectations, a lack of exposure, and fear. Research indicates that females who participate in outdoor recreation are more empowered and have higher levels of self-esteem, self-worth, confidence, and body image. Thus, it is important to encourage and empower females to take part in outdoor recreation. Framed by poststructural feminism, this study seeks to move beyond a constraints perspective and towards an understanding of how gendered norms may be broken down. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to understand the lifetime experiences of professional mountain guides including the constraints faced, negotiation strategies utilized, and specific contexts within which they reached their professional level of participation.
New Insights Into Cellular Stress Responses to Environmental Metal Toxicants

Exposures to metal toxicants in the environment disrupt normal physiological functions and have been linked to the development of a myriad of human diseases. While the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying metal toxicities remain to be fully understood, it is well appreciated that metal toxicants induce cellular stresses and that how cells respond to the stresses plays an important role in metal toxicity. In this review, we focus on how metal exposures induce stresses in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to elicit the unfolded protein response (UPR). We document the emerging evidence that induction of ER stress and UPR in the development of human diseases is associated with metal exposures. We also discuss the role of the interplay between ER stress and oxidative stress in metal toxicity. Finally, we review recent advances in functional genomics approaches and discuss how applications of these new tools could help elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying cellular stresses induced by environmental metal toxicants.
Abstract 351: Late-life Activation of GPR30 by G1 Reverses Diastolic Dysfunction in Senescent Fischer344 x Brown Norway Female Rats

Introduction: The aged heart is characterized by impaired lusitropy and increased stiffness, and no proven pharmacologic interventions exist that limit these manifestations of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD). G1, a selective agonist to the estrogen receptor GPR30, attenuated the effects of estrogen (E2) loss on LVDD in a hypertensive model. To extend prior studies, we determined the cardioprotective potential of chronic GPR30 activation in the female Fischer344 x Brown Norway (F344BN) rat, a normotensive aging model. Methods and Results: Bilateral oophorectomy (OVX) or sham-operations were performed in middle- (Mid) (18 months) and Old-aged rats (27 months). At 28 months of age, Old rats were randomized to daily G1 (100 μg/kg/day, s.c.) or vehicle (VEH; soybean oil) injections (n=7 rats/group). Following 8 weeks of treatment, left ventricle (LV) mass was greater in Old vs. Mid-aged rats, independent of E2 or G1, while systolic function and LV wall thicknesses were similar among groups. Myocardial relaxation (e’) was reduced (P<0.001) and LV filling pressure (E/e’) was increased (P<0.01) in Old vs. Mid-aged rats, and this was exacerbated by OVX (P<0.01) and reversed by late-life G1 treatment. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) increased by 20% after mid-life OVX, whereas late-life E2 loss had no effect on SBP, irrespective of G1. Cardiac chymase expression was increased in E2 deficient hearts determined by Western blot and G1 modestly limited this E2/age effect. Conclusion: Our data indicate that late-life G1 treatment reverses the detrimental effects of advanced age and E2 deficiency on diastolic function, possibly via interactions with the noncanonical cardiac renin angiotensin system.
When the “Laws of Fear” Do Not Apply: Effective Counterterrorism and the Sense of Security from Terrorism:

We investigate how effective counterterrorism influences (1) confidence in government efforts to deal with terrorism and (2) the sense of insecurity from attacks. Research on “heuristic judgments” ...
Vibrational Sum-Frequency Spectroscopic Investigation of the Structure and Azimuthal Anisotropy of Propynyl-Terminated Si(111) Surfaces

Vibrational sum-frequency generation (VSFG) spectroscopy was used to investigate the orientation and azimuthal anisotropy of the C–H stretching modes for propynyl-terminated Si(111) surfaces, Si—C≡C—CH3. VSFG spectra revealed symmetric and asymmetric C–H stretching modes in addition to a Fermi resonance mode resulting from the interaction of the asymmetric C–H bending overtone with the symmetric C–H stretching vibration. The polarization dependence of the C–H stretching modes was consistent with the propynyl groups oriented such that the Si—C≡C– bond is normal to the Si(111) surface. The azimuthal angle dependence of the resonant C–H stretching amplitude revealed no rotational anisotropy for the symmetric C–H stretching mode and a 3-fold rotational anisotropy for the asymmetric C–H stretching mode in registry with the 3-fold symmetric Si(111) substrate. The results are consistent with the expectation that the C–H stretching modes of a −CH3 group are decoupled from the Si substrate due to a −C≡C– spacer. I...
Thoracic Volumes Correlated With Pulmonary Function Tests in Adult Scoliosis Patients Following Different Treatments in Adolescence

In clinical settings, doctors classify pulmonary disorders into two main categories, obstructive lung disease and restrictive lung disease. The former is characterized by the airway obstruction which is associated with several disorders like chronic bronchitis, asthma, bronchiectasis, and emphysema [1]. The latter is caused by different conditions where one of the triggers is tied to the spine deformity. In general, a pulmonary function test (PFT) [2] is used to evaluate and diagnose lung function, and physicians depend on the test results to identify the disease patterns of the patients (obstructive or restrictive lung disease). In the PFT, some parameters including total lung capacity (TLC), vital capacity (VC), and residual volume (RV) can infer the lung volume and lung capacity. Other parameters, such as forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), are often employed to assess the pulmonary mechanics.Scoliosis is an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine which involves not only the curvature from side to side but also an axial rotation of the vertebrae. Restrictive lung disease often happens in scoliosis patients, especially with severe spine deformity. Spine deformity if left untreated may lead to progression of the spinal curve, respiratory complications, and the reduction of life expectancy due to the decrease in thoracic volume for lung expansion. However, the relationship between thoracic volume and pulmonary function is not broadly discussed, and anatomic abnormalities in spine deformity (ex: scoliosis, kyphosis, and osteoporosis) can affect thoracic volume. Adequate thoracic volume is needed to promote pulmonary function. Previous literature has shown that the deformity of the thoracic rib cage will have detrimental effects on the respiratory function in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients [3–4]. In this paper, we aim to correlate thoracic volume and the parameters in PFTs in adult scoliosis patients 25–35 years after receiving treatments during their adolescence, either with physical bracing or spinal fusion surgery.Copyright © 2017 by ASME
Community-Based Partnership-Directed Research

During the last two decades of the 20th century, the number of children reported abused or neglected has risen steadily. Nearly 3 million children were involved in maltreatment reports in 1993 (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1995). Demographic data indicate that the likelihood of victimization is not equal for all children. The child victims of maltreatment are disproportionately young and from low-income households (Wolfner & Gelles, 1993). Fifty-one percent of the children reported abused or neglected in 1993 were 7 years old or younger, and almost one-third were between the ages of 3 and 7 (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1995). Repeatedly, national incidence studies have indicated a strong relationship between low-income levels and a higher-than-average risk of child maltreatment (Pelton, 1994).
Screening miRNA for Functional Significance by 3D Cell Culture System

Cell-based assays play important roles in cell biology and drug discovery. 3D cell culture, which allows cells to grow or interact with their surrounding in all three dimensions, provides more physiological information for the in vivo tests. Here, we describe a tunable collagen-based 3D cell culture system based on collagen material crosslinked with transgluminase, to study the function of miR. Methods including gel handling, proliferation assays, gene, and protein expressions in a 3D setting are described.
Eliomys quercinus (European garden dormouse)

The karyotypes presented here are gifts from Dr. A. Leonard (Centre d’Etude de l’Energie Nucleaire, Mol, Belgium) and come from direct bone marrow preparations of two animals studied. Identification of X is tentative; the Y is minute, occasional acrocentric structure was verified. The 21st and 22nd autosomes displayed have a characteristic secondary constriction with satellites.
Reclaiming Circumcision: Armenian Stories

A significant number of Armenian Americans are adopting the practice of circumcision, a procedure that historically has not been a custom among Christian Armenians. Currently, the reasons given by Armenian Americans mimic the American rationale of “health” and “hygiene,” however, historic evidence shows long-standing resistance to circumcision imposed by Islamic dominators. Circumcision was perceived by Armenians as the bodily mark that stigmatized them as forcibly Islamized. Circumcision denoted assimilation; resistance to it ensured Armenian survival. However, an unexpected shift in cultural attitudes took place among Armenians. Circumcision was rapidly embraced after genocide and the strict line between the circumcised and uncircumcised was crossed. Centuries-old denigration and rooted historical anxieties were reconciled and conveniently resolved in the “medical” justification of the practice. Armenians reclaimed the practice anew. This presentation explores the latent motives of such a cumulative ethnic response through anthropological and psychological analyses.
Cardiac Markers: A Chest Pain Center Focus

Use of cardiac biomarkers for care of patients presenting to the emergency department has a rich history beginning in the 1950s. Aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes, creatine kinase and its MB isoenzyme and myoglobin have all been utilized over the years. However a sentinel event occurred in the 1990s with the availability of assays for the myocardial specific biomarkers cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI). Along with clinical features and the electrocardiogram, cTnI and cTnT measurements are now a cornerstone for early risk stratification, the diagnosis of myocardial infarction and clinical decision-making in the context of suspected acute coronary syndrome patients in the emergency department. Point-of-care measurements of cardiac troponin and other markers have been implemented at many institutions where the central laboratory is unable to provide results in one hour or less from the time of collection. Because cTnT and cTnI are believed to be released only upon myocardial necrosis, there has been substantial effort in identifying markers of myocardial ischemia that do not necessarily have irreversible cell death. Promising markers include ischemia modified albumin, C-reactive protein, myloperoxidase as well as B-type natriuretic peptide and its biologically inactive co-metabolite NT-proBNP. Also, attention has turned to measurement of very low troponin concentrations measured using assays that are able to measure troponin reliably at concentrations 10- to 100-fold lower than the best conventional troponin assays, with the idea of specifically detecting subtle cardiac injury associated with unstable angina. There are a number of clinical confounders for measurements including renal insufficiency, end stage renal disease, blunt chest trauma, pulmonary embolism, chemotherapy and recent cardiac procedures. Interpretation of cardiac marker results in these clinical circumstances can be complicated and the clinical course of the patient relative to temporal increase in biomarkers must be taken into account.
The Hopf bifurcation analysis in a delayed fractional SIR epidemic model

In this paper, the Hopf bifurcation in a delayed fractional-order SIR epidemic model is investigated. Firstly, the associated characteristic equation is analyzed by using time delay as a bifurcation parameter. It is shown that time delay can effect the stability of the diseases prevalence. Finally, some numerical simulations are presented to illustrate our theoretical results.
THE DEFORMATION OF THIN SHELLS

ABSTRACT A shell is thin, by definition; consequently, the displacements are intimately related to the displacement of particles on a reference surface. This paper presents the compatibility equations in an invariant form and the displacements as explicit integrals of the surface strains and changes-of-curvature. The results are applicable to large deflections of thin shells under small strain.
Anti-cancer effect of resveratrol is associated with induction of apoptosis via a mitochondrial pathway alignment.

Resveratrol, a phytoalexin found in the skin of grapes, is believed to have multiple bioactivities including anti-cancer, anti-carcinogenesis and antiinflammatory. The mechanisms by which resveratrol might produce these effects are not well understood. In this study, malignant human pancreatic cancer cells were treated without or with resveratrol in combination with ionizing radiation (IR), and then the mitochondrial function of treated cells was evaluated using several standardized assays. They include the CalceinAMmethod for mitochondria transition pore; the JC-1 staining method for mitochondria membrane potential; the CM-H2DCFDA method for reactive oxygen species; and the Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) method for apoptosis/cell death. Our results indicated that (1) pore function was partially intact after resveratrol, but resveratrol probably interfered with the accumulation of intracellular Calcein AM; (2) depolarization of the mitochondria membrane was increased in the resveratrol treated cells, consistent with mitochondrial dysfunction; (3) ROS was slightly increased with resveratrol, a phenomenon that was greatly increased when this agent was combined with IR; and (4) in parallel with the above changes in mitochondrial and drug transport, cells treated with resveratrol showed increased apoptosis as measured by Annexin V/PI staining. In summary, the anti-cancer effect of resveratrol is associated with the damage of mitochondrial function that leads to increased ROS, apoptosis, and possibly intracellular drug accumulation via inhibition of proteins involved in multi-drug resistance (MDR).
Symposium on China viruses.

The concept that viruses can cause chronic disease particularly of the nervous system is not a new one (Gajdusek, 1965). Medical literature is rich with suggestions that multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica, and various forms of diffuse cerebral sclerosis are viral diseases. Leukodystrophies and subacute encephalitides are prime candidates for having viral etiologies, particularly when inclusion bodies are prominent. Virus-like particles have been observed by electron microscopy in several instances. There is speculation that diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, peroneal muscular atrophy, myasthenia gravis, the presenile dementias of Alzheimer’s and Pick’s and other central nervous system degenerations may be viral. The remarkable concentration on Guam of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinsonism-dementia also suggests viral etiologies (Reed et al., 1966).
Crossreactivity of Human versus Swine Platelet Surface Antigens Is Similar for Glycoproteins Ib and IIIa, but Not for the Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Complex.

Swine platelets are very similar to those of humans and are therefore relevant to cardiovascular research. The swine coronary circulation mimics the human circulation and is large enough to obtain multiple blood samples in survival experiments. In swine regional ischemia similar to the human condition is easily obtainable, which makes the porcine model an ideal choice to study coronary artery disease. However, little is known about the similarity between swine and human platelet surface antigens. We tested the hypothesis that certain swine platelet antigens could crossreact with antihuman antibodies. Using FITC-conjugated monoclonal murine antihuman platelet antibodies, surface antigen expression was determined for human and Yorkshire swine platelets. Expression of CD9 (p24), CD42B (Ib), CD41b (IIb), CD61 (IIIa), CD41a (IIb/IIIa), CD49b (VLA-2), CD62p, (P selectin), CD31 (PECAM-1), and CD51/CD61 (vitronectin) was measured by flow cytometry. Significant crossreactivity with human platelets was observed consistently for swine platelet GP Ib and GP IIIa. Crossreactivity of the swine GPIb and GP IIIa with the human receptors is evidence of receptor similarity between human and swine platelets. The implications of significant crossreactivity of these antigens and the lack of recognition of IIb/IIIa needs to be understood in cardiovascular research. Determining commercially available antihuman GP Ib and GP IIIa, rather than GP IIb/IIIa, would contribute to better elucidation of the effects of von Willebrand factor and the booming family of platelet inhibitors in the swine model of ischemia-reperfusion.
Comparison of cranial fluctuating asymmetry between normal and pathological specimens from a modern Thai skeletal group.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to compare fluctuating asymmetry (FA) levels across cranial modules of normal and pathological cranial specimens. It was examined whether pathological specimens have significantly higher FA scores than normal specimens in cranial regions affected by a developmental disorder. For this study, a modern Thai skeletal sample from Chulalongkorn University was analyzed. Ninety-two cranial landmarks were digitized on 66 adult and eight sub-adult normal specimens and on five pathological specimens including two adults with abnormal palates, two sub-adults with craniosynostosis, and one sub-adult with natal absence of nasal bones. In sub-adults, FA scores of specimens with developmental disorders were significantly higher than normal specimens in the entire cranium (p = 0.041) and vault (p = 0.025). However, comparisons excluding specimen with coronal craniosynostosis were not statistically significant. In adult specimens, comparisons of FA scores in each separate cranial module were also not statistically significant. These results suggest that elevated cranial FA may not be confined to the specific cranial region with the developmental disorder.
Feasibility of Online Mental Wellness Self-assessment and Feedback for Pediatric and Neonatal Critical Care Nurses.

Abstract Purpose The primary goal of this study was to test the feasibility of an educational online self-assessment of burnout, resilience, trauma, depression, anxiety, and common workplace stressors among nurses working in a pediatric intensive care unit or neonatal intensive care unit setting. The secondary, exploratory objectives were to estimate the prevalence of psychiatric symptoms in this sample and to identify those variables that most strongly predict burnout. Design and Methods Data from optional and anonymous online measures were analyzed for 115 nurses (67.9% aged 25–44; 61.7% Caucasian) working in an urban children's hospital pediatric or neonatal ICU. Multiple linear regressions identified demographic variables and workplace stressors that significantly predicted each of three components of burnout. Results Most respondents found the educational assessment and feedback to be helpful. Choosing nursing as a second career was associated with better resilience. Having worked in ICU settings longer and being older were both linked to lower levels of anxiety. Predictors of burnout varied across the three burnout subscales. Conclusions Implementation of an online self-assessment with immediate educational feedback is feasible in critical care settings. The variability of predictors across the three burnout subscales indicates the need for tailored interventions for those at risk. Future research may include follow-up of nurses to examine changes in scores over time and expansion of the tool for other medical personnel. Practice Implications An educational online self-assessment can be a helpful tool for pediatric critical care nurses experiencing varying degrees of burnout and distress.
Construct for high-level expression and low misincorporation of lysine for arginine during expression of pET-encoded eukaryotic proteins in Escherichia coli

The arginine codon AGA is rarely used in E. coli but is common in eukaryotic genes. Prior studies have shown that the low level of tRNA(UCUArg) can lead to low expression and misincorporation of lysine for arginine, during expression of genes containing AGA codons in E. coli. The chloramphenicol-selectable plasmid pJY2 is designed to facilitate the expression of such genes cloned into pET vectors: it encodes T7 lysozyme (to depress constitutive expression of the cloned gene) and tRNA(UCUArg) (to suppress lysine misincorporation at AGA codons). Using pJY2, we observed robust and translationally faithful expression of mutant ubiquitin genes in which 14% (11 out of 76) of the total codons were AGA. Competent BL21(DE3)pJY2 cells can be used to suppress lysine misincorporation and achieve high-level expression of pET-encoded target genes without modification of AGA codons in the target gene sequence.
Non-Myeloablative Allogeneic Transplantation with Post-Transplant Cyclophosphamide after Immune Checkpoint Inhibition for Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

ABSTRACT Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are approved in relapsed classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). The safety and effectiveness of allogeneic blood or marrow transplantation (alloBMT) in ICI-pretreated patients with cHL remain unclear. The aim of this study is to assess outcomes of patients with cHL receiving ICIs before alloBMT using post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (PTCy) graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. We performed a retrospective study of relapsed/refractory patients with cHL undergoing alloBMT with PTCy at Johns Hopkins between November 2004 and September 2019. Engraftment, GVHD incidence, nonrelapse mortality, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were compared between patients receiving pre-alloBMT ICI or standard salvage chemotherapy. We identified 105 consecutive relapsed/refractory patients with cHL, of whom 37 (35.2%) received ICIs and 68 (64.7%) received chemotherapy without ICIs (no-ICI) before alloBMT. ICI and no-ICI patients experienced a 3-year estimated OS of 94% versus 78% (hazard ratio [HR], 0.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.08 to 1.56; P = .17) and a 3-year estimated PFS of 90% and 65% (HR, 0.3; 95% CI, 0.09 to 1; P = .05), respectively. We observed no statically significant difference in the 12-month cumulative incidence of acute grade II to IV GVHD or in the 24-month incidence of chronic GVHD. ICIs do not increase acute or chronic GVHD incidence compared with salvage chemotherapy. Patients with cHL receiving ICIs prior to alloBMT experienced outstanding PFS and OS. Thus, ICI therapy is safe in patients with cHL when undergoing alloBMT with PTCy and may improve post-alloBMT disease progression and survival.
A multi-center analysis of cumulative inpatient opioid use in colorectal surgery patients.

Abstract Background There are little data on risk factors for increased inpatient opioid use and its relationship with persistent opioid use after colorectal surgery. Methods We identified colorectal surgery patients across five collaborating institutions. Patient comorbidities, surgery data, and outcomes were captured in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. We recorded preoperative opioid exposure, inpatient opioid use, and persistent use 90–180 days after surgery. Results 1646 patients were analyzed. Patients receiving ≥250 MMEs (top quartile) were included in the high use group. On multivariable analysis, age Conclusions We identified risk factors for high inpatient use that can be used to identify patients that may benefit from opioid sparing strategies. Furthermore, high postoperative inpatient use was associated with an increased risk of persistent opioid use.
Human Cerebral Organoids Reveal Early Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Pharmacological Responses of UBE3A

Summary Angelman syndrome is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by delayed development, intellectual disability, speech impairment, and ataxia. It results from the loss of UBE3A protein, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, in neurons of the brain. Despite the dynamic spatiotemporal expression of UBE3A observed in rodents and the potential clinical importance of when and where it is expressed, its expression pattern in humans remains unknown. This reflects a common challenge of studying human neurodevelopment: prenatal periods are hard to access experimentally. In this work, human cerebral organoids reveal a change from weak to strong UBE3A in neuronal nuclei within 3 weeks of culture. Angelman syndrome human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived organoids also exhibit early silencing of paternal UBE3A, with topoisomerase inhibitors partially rescuing UBE3A levels and calcium transient phenotypes. This work establishes human cerebral organoids as an important model for studying UBE3A and motivates their broader use in understanding complex neurodevelopmental disorders.
Chronic medical conditions and late effects after acute myeloid leukaemia in adolescents and young adults: a population-based study

Background Curative-intent treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) can lead to multiple chronic medical conditions ('late effects'). Little is known about the burden of late effects in adolescent and young adult (AYA, 15-39 years) survivors of AML. We aimed to estimate the cumulative incidence and investigate the main predictors of late effects among these patients. Methods During 1996-2012, 1168 eligible AYAs with AML who survived ≥2 years after diagnosis were identified in the California Cancer Registry. Late effects were reported from State hospital discharge data, and patients were followed through 2014. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals of late effects occurrence were estimated using Cox proportional hazard models, adjusted for sociodemographic and clinical factors. Results The most common late effects at 10 years after diagnosis were: endocrine (26.1%), cardiovascular (18.6%) and respiratory (6.6%), followed by neurologic (4.9%), liver/pancreatic (4.3%), renal (3.1%), avascular necrosis (2.7%) and second primary malignancies (2.4%). Of 1168 survivors, 547 (46.8%) received a haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). After multivariable adjustments, AYAs who underwent HSCT or had a non-favourable risk AML experienced ∼2-fold or higher increased likelihood of all late effects. Additionally, AYAs of Hispanic, Black or Asian/Pacific Islander (vs non-Hispanic White) race/ethnicity and those who resided in lower socio-economic neighbourhoods were at higher risk of numerous late effects. Conclusions Our findings underscore the need for long-term surveillance for the prevention, early detection and treatment of late effects, and can inform the development of AYA-focused consensus-based guidelines that will ultimately improve the quality of life and survival of these young vulnerable patients.
Exploiting half-wits: smarter storage for low-power devices

This work analyzes the stochastic behavior of writing to embedded flash memory at voltages lower than recommended by a microcontroller's specifications to reduce energy consumption. Flash memory integrated within a microcontroller typically requires the entire chip to operate on common supply voltage almost double what the CPU portion requires. Our approach tolerates a lower supply voltage so that the CPU may operate in a more energy efficient manner. Energy efficient coding algorithms then cope with flash memory that behaves unpredictably.Our software-only coding algorithms (in-place writes, multiple-place writes, RS-Berger codes) enable reliable storage at low voltages on unmodified hardware by exploiting the electrically cumulative nature of half-written data in write-once bits. For a sensor monitoring application using the MSP430, coding with in-place writes reduces the overall energy consumption by 34%. In-place writes are competitive when the time spent on computation is at least four times greater than the time spent on writes to flash memory. Our evaluation shows that tightly maintaining the digital abstraction for storage in embedded flash memory comes at a significant cost to energy consumption with minimal gain in reliability.
Foreword: The Administrative Law of the European Union

This special issue of Law and Contemporary Problems is devoted to the administrative law of the European Union. The foreword sets the stage by narrating the history of legal scholarship on European administration, explaining the public law methodology of the contributors, and describing the different legal styles that separate the civil from the common law traditions and that mark the contributions. The foreword then previews the individual articles, organized by the law of centralized or “direct” administration by the European Commission and the law of decentralized or “mixed” administration, in which national civil servants interact with their counterparts elsewhere and the Commission to implement European norms. It concludes with some general observations drawn from the individual contributions. Most strikingly and somewhat paradoxically, the rule of law and the Weberian ideal type of rational authority continue to serve as the font of administrative legitimacy even though the laws that govern administrative action are themselves open-textured and highly procedural - a reflection of the pluralist European polity - and therefore are far removed from the traditional portrayal of law as command.
Temperature effects on polymer-carbon composite sensors: Evaluating the role of polymer molecular weight and carbon loading

We report the effect of temperature coupled with varying polymer molecular weight and carbon loadings on the performance of polymer-carbon black composite films, used as sensing media in the JPL Electronic Nose (ENose). While bulk electrical properties of polymer composites have been studied, with mechanisms of conductivity described by connectivity and tunneling, it is not fully understood how environmental conditions and intrinsic polymer and filler properties affect polymer composite sensor characteristics and responses. Composites of polyethylene oxide (PEO)-carbon black (CB) considered here include PEO polymers with molecular weights of 20K, 600 K and 1M. The effects of polymer molecular weight on the percolation threshold of PEO-carbon composite and incremental sensor temperature effects on PEO-carbon sensor response were investigated. Results show a correlation between the polymer molecular weight and percolation threshold. Changes in sensor properties as a function of temperature are also observed at different carbon loadings; these changes may be explained by a change in conduction mechanism.
Nonprofessional Investors’ Perceptions of Corporate Governance Factors

At a fundamental level, corporate governance mechanisms promote ethical business relationships and actions. Having the proper governance mechanisms in place is especially important to the less informed, nonprofessional class of investors who may not have the ability, power or influence to monitor management. This paper presents a study of nonprofessional investors’ perceptions of the importance of corporate governance mechanisms. Based on prior literature and archival studies of corporate governance mechanisms, four broad categories of corporate governance are identified. A survey assessing investors’ perceptions of 22 corporate governance mechanisms from these broad categories was administered to 438 participants. The results from factor analysis indicate that a 10-factor solution best describes the constructs underlying investors’ perceptions of the 22 corporate governance mechanisms included in this survey. This measure is compared to corporate governance measures developed in prior literature from factor analyses of archival data. The comparison reveals several similarities between these measures and highlights areas of corporate governance that are important to investors but are not fully addressed or included in the archival studies. The information provided about investors’ perceptions of corporate governance mechanisms and the measure of corporate governance developed in this paper will be useful in aiding the design of future research investigating investors’ reactions to corporate governance information.
Lost and Found, Letters and Methods: Assessing Attitudes toward Chiropractic and Medical Care

Attitudes toward traditional and chiropractic medicine were compared using Milgram's lost letter technique. A total of 192 letters were placed on the windshields of vehicles in parking lots at six restaurants and department stores in each of four quadrants of a medium-sized, Southeastern city. These letters were addressed to "Admissions" at either a fictitious Institute of Medicine or Institute of Chiropractic Care. Return addresses included either a male or a female name. Thus, those who found a lost letter were faced with the option of returning or not returning a letter from either a male or a female, addressed to an Institute of traditional or non-traditional medicine. After examining previous studies which had used the lost letter technique, numerous methodological improvements were implemented. For example, letters were randomly assigned to potential drop spots for each of 24 study locations (six study locations in each of four city quadrants), and a Latin square design was used to control for possible order effects in the four study conditions that were implemented. Nearly 65% of the letters (124 of 192) were returned. We found: 1) letters addressed to a fictitious Institute of Chiropractic Care were just as likely to be returned as those addressed to a fictitious Institute of Medicine; 2) letters with female return addresses were as likely to be returned as those with male return addresses; 3) there was no interaction between study conditions; 4) based on what was essentially a replication study, a comparison of the pattern of returns using the first and second cycle of lost letters (n = 96 for each cycle) revealed an equivalent pattern of no-difference findings. DOI:10.2458/azu_jmmss_v1i1_kern
Peromyscus mice as a model for studying natural variation

The deer mouse (genus Peromyscus) is the most abundant mammal in North America, and it occupies almost every type of terrestrial habitat. It is not surprising therefore that the natural history of Peromyscus is among the best studied of any small mammal. For decades, the deer mouse has contributed to our understanding of population genetics, disease ecology, longevity, endocrinology and behavior. Over a century's worth of detailed descriptive studies of Peromyscus in the wild, coupled with emerging genetic and genomic techniques, have now positioned these mice as model organisms for the study of natural variation and adaptation. Recent work, combining field observations and laboratory experiments, has lead to exciting advances in a number of fields—from evolution and genetics, to physiology and neurobiology.
Constructal Placement of High-Conductivity Inserts in a Slab: Optimal Design of “Roughness”

This paper addresses the fundamental problem of how to facilitate the flow of heat across a conducting slab heated from one side. Available for distribution through the system is a small amount of high-conductivity material. The constructal method consists of optimizing geometrically the distribution of the high-conductivity material through the material of lower conductivity. Two-dimensional distributions (plate inserts) and three-dimensional distributions (pin inserts) are optimized based on the numerical simulation of heat conduction in a large number of possible configurations. Results are presented for the external and internal features of the optimized architectures: spacings between inserts, penetration distances, tapered inserts and constant-thickness inserts. The use of optimized pin inserts leads consistently to lower global thermal resistances than the use of plate inserts. The side of the slab that is connected to the high-conductivity intrusions is in effect a rough surface
An extended table of calculated (n,2n) cross sections

The table presents, for some 500 stable and unstable targets, computed values of the (n,2n) cross section for three neutron energies in the neighborhood of 14 MeV and for a fission neutron spectrum. Cross sections for (n, 3n) for fission neutrons are also given. The calculations are based on the statistical model and on empirical expressions for inelastic cross sections and level density.
Ewing's sarcoma metastatic to placenta.

Summary In a case report of Ewing's sarcoma with multiple metastases, histological findings of the placental involvement were demonstrated.
Single-strand binding protein enhances fidelity of DNA synthesis in vitro.

Abstract The effect of Escherichia coli single-strand binding protein on the accuracy of in vitro DNA synthesis has been determined by using two independent methods. By using the synthetic polynucleotide poly[d(A-T)] and measuring dGTP misincorporation or by using phi X174 DNA and measuring nucleotide substitutions, we found that binding protein increases the fidelity of DNA synthesis by as much as 10-fold. This increase is observed with DNA polymerases of divergent sources and is progressive with increasing concentration of binding protein. The increased accuracy observed with DNA polymerases lacking a 3' leads to 5' exonuclease points to a mechanism other than augmented proofreading. In accord with the properties of single-strand binding proteins, it is suggested that increased fidelity is a result of enhanced base selection by the DNA polymerase, resulting from increased rigidity of the template due to its interaction with binding protein.