cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Resistance of red cells to dialuric acid of premature infants with retrolental fibroplasia.

Summary1. The erythrocytes of 5 normal premature infants and of 9 with retrolental fibroplasia have been examined for a deficiency of vit. E by the hemolysis test of Rose and Gyorgy. The red blood cells from all of the infants were resistant to hemolysis by dialuric acid. 2. We have confirmed the validity of the hemolysis test for a deficiency of tocopherol in the rat.
The effect of a low essential fatty acid diet on hibernation in marmots

We investigated the effect of an essential fatty acid (EFA)-deficient diet on hibernation patterns in yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventris). Fatty acid (FA) analysis of white adipose tissue (WAT) from animals maintained for 2 mo on the EFA-deficient diet suggested that little or no EFAs were present in the gonadal or omental fat depots. Hibernation about lengths of the EFA-deficient animals were significantly shorter (P < 0.01) than control animals. Stated another way, these animals aroused twice as frequently compared with control animals and used more energy to survive winter. Analysis of WAT composition and blood samples revealed that animals were highly lipolytic during winter. Furthermore, the release of FAs was not random: linoleate (cis-9,cis-12-octadecadienoic acid; 18:2, a diene EFA) was significantly (P < 0.05) under-represented in venous outflow from the gonadal WAT pad based on the percentage of this species in WAT. The concentration of saturated FAs was higher than that predicted from the WAT-FA composition. We conclude that linoleate is preferentially retained within WAT and that concentrations of this EFA may influence hibernation behavior. Thus EFAs may have a thermoregulatory role in hibernation in addition to their role as essential precursors for physiologically important lipids after hibernation is over.
Creativity-Centered Design from an Ecologically Grounded Perspective: Activities and Resources in Palafito 1.0

In this paper three methodological approaches to creativity-centered design are identified: the computational approach, the dialogical perspective and the ecologically grounded framework. These methods relate to the current definition of ubiquitous music (ubimus). Both social and material factors that shape creative musical phenomena within ubiquitous music making are addressed. The second section discusses a design study highlighting the concepts laid out in the first part: activities and resource usage. A split between creative products and resources, which points to three material observables, frames this discussion: resources, products and by-products, including creative waste. Two new design qualities are proposed: volatility and rivalry. The paper concludes with a summary of the study results, suggesting further explorations of the ecological framework in ubiquitous music experiments.
An electronic bulletin board for instruction in reproductive endocrinology in a residency in obstetrics and gynecology

Objective To explore the role of an electronic bulletin board as a means of computer-based learning in reproductive endocrinology for residents in obstetrics and gynecology. Design An electronic bulletin board was networked to all residents to present a formal lecture series in reproductive endocrinology and an informal question, answer, and discussion session after each lecture. Ten lectures were presented, one each month, throughout the academic year followed by question, answer, and discussion sessions. All lectures could be stored in an electronic file folder or printed as hard copy for review. A questionnaire was distributed at the conclusion of the project to assess previous resident experience with computers, resident response to, and utilization of the bulletin board. Setting A residency program in obstetrics and gynecology in a major medical center. Participants Twenty-four residents in a 4-year program. Main Outcome Measures Previous computer experience, ease of use, resident participation, and satisfaction with the bulletin board. Results Sixty-five percent of the residents considered themselves computer literate and 33% previously had taken a course in computer technology. Computer experience in word processing, spreadsheet, and database management was related by 55%, 40%, and 25% of the residents, respectively. Ninety-five percent of the residents accessed the bulletin board for the lectures and found this system a convenient means of review. Sixty percent reviewed the lectures and stored them in an electronic file folder for later review. Forty percent printed the lecture on hard copy. On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 = lowest; 5 = highest), overall resident satisfaction was high at 4.5. Conclusion Our data suggest a potential role for electronic bulletin boards as a complement to standard teaching protocols in resident education. The relative ease of use and satisfaction suggest that these techniques are feasible and offer an effective method of on-line instruction.
Contrastive Analysis of Microseismic Events for Immediate Rockburst in Deep Tunnels with Different Excavation Methods

Based on continuous and real-time microseismic monitoring for construction process of diversion tunnels and drain tunnels in a hydropow er station,the microseismic information of tunnels excavated by drill-and-blast method and tunnel boring machine( TBM) w ere compared and analyzed. The results show that duirng the preparation and germination of immediate rockbursts in deep-buried tunnel excavation,the distribution of microseismic events and energy release gradually convert from discrete to relatively concentrative mode in spatial domain,and the number of microseismic events increases obviously. Accumulated released energy of microseismic events and average released energy of plastic volume increase. Energy release of tunnels excavated by TBM is bigger than that by drill-and-blast method. Before the occurrence of strong rockbursts, there are a lot of mild and moderate rock bursts in the excavation by TBM,w hich is not found in drill-and-blast method excavation.
Immunomodulation of lower polypeptide from sea cucumber in mice

Objective To investigate the immunomodulation of lower polypeptide from sea cucumber in mice.Methods Effects of polypeptide from sea cucumber on the immunity were studied by the observation of the serum hemolysins level(HC_(50)),the plaque-forming cell (PFC),the phagocytosis of the phagocytes and the activities of NK cells.Results To compare experiment groups with control group,the enhancement facilitation of HC_(50),PFC,phagocytosis ability of macrophage and activity of NK cell was observed.Conclusion The results indicated that polypeptide from sea cucumber has the function of immunomodulation in mice.
Risk Factors for Complications during Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy for Adult Orthopedic and Neurosurgical Infections

OBJECTIVES Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) is an effective way of treating infections, but complications are common. We identified patient characteristics and OPAT treatment factors associated with increased risk of OPAT-related complications. METHODS We used a retrospective cohort design that assessed 337 adult patients treated with OPAT for orthopedic and neurosurgical infections between August 1, 2008 and May 30, 2010. Independent variables included demographics, infection characteristics, lead time factors, OPAT treatment factors, and comorbid conditions. Multivariable log-binomial regression was used to estimate the risk of OPAT complications. RESULTS The mean patient age was 55 years (range 19-87), 86% had an orthopedic infection, and 44% were treated with intravenous vancomycin. OPAT complications were seen in 45% (152/337) of the cohort. Risk ratios for OPAT complications were 1.9 (95% confidence interval 1.4-2.5) in patients having no primary care provider, 1.7 (95% confidence interval 1.3-2.1) for those treated with vancomycin. CONCLUSIONS Identifying specific patient characteristics and OPAT treatment factors could facilitate OPAT process improvements to reduce the risk of OPAT complications for vulnerable patients.
Influencing factors on infections of human intestinal helminthes in suburb of Shangyu City

The infections of human intestinal helminthes and socioeconomic status were investigated in suburb of Shangyu City in 1990 and 2005, respectively. The results showed that the economic status, the save drinking water and latrines, working environment, and health habits and consciousness of the residents improved obviously. The infection rate of intestinal helminthes decreased significantly and the prevalence of intestinal helminthosis was controlled effectively.
New approaches in polymer surface modification

Synthetic and analytical procedures for preparation of surface functionalized polyolefins are described within the general context of polymer surface functionalization. Graft chemistry leading to surfaces with different solvent-polymer interactions specific to the graft microstructure and to temperature are described.
Changes in Gas-Phase Air Pollutants across New York State, USA

ABSTRACTOver the past several decades, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) has monitored air quality in urban, suburban, and rural locations across the state. Such data are used to determine compliance with national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS), as well as track the effectiveness of pollutant emission controls. This paper summarizes the changes in gas-phase criteria and related pollutants on an annual, seasonal and diurnal basis across New York, USA. Annual average and peak concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) have decreased by 50% or more since 1980 across New York, generally consistent with anthropogenic emissions reductions across different source sectors over the past 35 years. At the same time, annual average concentrations of the secondary pollutant ozone (O3) appear flat or are increasing even though peak daily 8-hour concentrations have declined. This pollutant will likely remain a challenging public health issue for the foreseeable future.
Molecular modeling of drug-DNA complexes: An update

Publisher Summary This chapter covers the advances since 1995 in DNA and DNA:ligand molecular modeling. The application of molecular modeling (and structural biology as a whole) to nucleic acids is, and will continue to be, increasingly important in future, particularly in light of the complete mapping of the human genome. The ability to target a particular gene or control region of genetic DNA in a sequence-specific fashion is one of the biggest challenges in drug design today. There are several DNA-based approaches that are currently under investigation to do this, such as the antigene (targeting transcription by triplex formation), antisense (targeting translation), and aptamer (posttranslational, targeting particular proteins) approaches. The advances in molecular modeling have been significant. Several forms of DNA in various applicable experimental conditions can now be reproduced and similar hydration and ion associations can be observed in some systems. It is hoped that this is just the beginning for reliable simulations that can rationalize experimental observations and then can be used to predict and design new experiments. It is apparent for most biologically relevant systems that a multidisciplinary approach, including biochemistry, bioinformatics, biophysics, chemical synthesis, molecular biology, and structural biology [nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X-ray crystallography, molecular modeling], is needed to fully elucidate the system of interest.
Reproductive Outcomes Following Maternal Exposure to the Events of September 11, 2001, at the World Trade Center, in New York City.

Objectives. To estimate associations between exposure to the events of September 11, 2001, (9/11) and low birth weight (LBW), preterm delivery (PD), and small size for gestational age (SGA).Methods. We matched birth certificates filed in New York City for singleton births between 9/11 and the end of 2010 to 9/11-related exposure data provided by mothers who were World Trade Center Health Registry enrollees. Generalized estimating equations estimated associations between exposures and LBW, PD, and SGA.Results. Among 3360 births, 5.8% were LBW, 6.5% were PD, and 9% were SGA. Having incurred at least 2 of 4 exposures, having performed rescue or recovery work, and probable 9/11-related posttraumatic stress disorder 2 to 3 years after 9/11 were associated with PD and LBW during the early study period.Conclusions. Disasters on the magnitude of 9/11 may exert effects on reproductive outcomes for several years. Women who are pregnant during and after a disaster should be closely monitored for physical and psychol...
Decoupling linear and nonlinear regimes: an evaluation of efficiency for nonlinear multidimensional optimization

Solving a large subset of multidimensional nonlinear optimization problems can be significantly improved by decoupling their intrinsically linear and nonlinear parts. This effectively decreases the dimensionality of the problem, reduces the search space and improves the efficiency of the optimization. This decoupled approach is generalized with mathematical formalism and its superiority over standard methods empirically verified and quantified on a couple of examples involving $$\chi ^2$$ź2 curve fitting to data.
The early effect of breast density legislation on mammogram reporting.

1052 Background: Federal legislation mandating mammographic breast density reporting to patients has been introduced to Congress. California enacted breast density notification legislation (SB1538)...
On patience: thinking with and beyond Karl Barth

This article has three goals: (1) to provide a careful analysis of Barth's treatment of divine patience in Church Dogmatics II/1; (2) to show how Barth's thinking about divine patience helps to illumine his account of human being and human activity in later portions of the Church Dogmatics; and (3) to offer a series of constructive suggestions which connect Barth's theology with liberationist visions of human existence.With respect to Church Dogmatics II/1, I argue that Barth breaks with a number of earlier thinkers and focuses attention on God's exercise of patience, treating it as a key dimension of God's creative and providential work. This exercise of patience means, specifically, that God accords creatures their own integrity and a capacity for free action, tempers God's punishment of sin and, in Christ, fulfils but does not temporally close the covenant. My analysis of divine patience in II/1 then serves as an interpretative key for reading later volumes of the Dogmatics. It sets in vivid relief Barth's belief that Christ's fulfilment of the covenant, achieved through Christ's life, suffering, death and resurrection, is the condition of possibility for humans being able to act with genuine integrity and consequence in the created realm. I propose, too, that Barth develops his thinking about patience by emphasising the ‘pressure’ of the patient God's empowering command – a command which is a constant summons, directed towards each and every human being, to live freely into God's future through acts of gratitude, obedience and responsibility, and to play some part in bringing creation to its glorious end. Finally, I explore the convergence between certain aspects of the Church Dogmatics and anti-essentialist construals of the self in contemporary theology. I aim to identify points of connection between Barth and thinkers like Marcella Althaus-Reid, and I voice support for a style of scholarship which elides the distinction between ‘systematic’ and ‘liberationist’ modes of inquiry.
Status, Networks, and Opinion Change: An Experimental Investigation:

This study evaluates two prominent sociological theories of interpersonal influence: status characteristics theory and social influence network theory. In application to status settings, we test so...
The Effects of Strategy Training and an Extrinsic Incentive on Fourth- and Fifth- Grade Students’ Performance, Confidence, and Calibration Accuracy

This study investigated the influence of strategy training instruction and an extrinsic incentive on American fourth- and fifth-grade students’ (N = 35) performance, confidence in performance, and ...
Institutions and Ideas: The Political, Economic, and Social Context for the Bologna Process

Institutions and ideas provide the political economy explanations for higher education policy reform in Europe since the Bologna Process was launched on June 19, 1999. The idea originated with the countries of France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom with the Sorbonne Declaration on May 25, 1998. The political economy context interacts with educational reforms through three explanatory policy processes: (1) globalization, (2) intergovernmentalism, and (3) Europeanization. The focus is on national policy reform for degree-structure criteria within the EHEA, as part of the evolution of the Bologna Process action lines. The theoretical foundations are regional integration and institutional change. This book has a mixed methodological research approach and provides the rationale for the case study countries, Portugal and Spain. The policy reforms are to complement the EU’s common market, known as the Single Market, strengthening the case for the Bologna Process.
Model for Development of Electric Breakdown in Liquids and Stability Analysis

A semi-numerical model is presented for the development of electric breakdown in liquids based on nanosecond time scale. In this model, breakdown starts in the pre-existed bubble at the tip of the electrode. Formation of plasma immediately makes the surface of the bubble charged to the potential of the electrode, and the imbalance between the electrostatic force and surface tension makes the bubble elongate at high speed. Numerical estimations made using this model are in good agreement with published experimental data. Linear analysis also shows that the instability of the Rayleigh-Taylor type develops in the plasma-gaseous channel surface points with high curvature.
Wait-citizenship: youth civic development in transition

AbstractThis paper builds a theory of wait-citizenship, wherein the lack of opportunities for structural inclusion has contributed to young people’s liminal positioning in society and their struggles to become social adults while seeking equality, democratic freedoms, and a sense of belonging. Two decades after civil war, Guatemalan youth are routinely reminded of the fragility of their democracy and instructed not to make demands for inclusive and transformative citizenship. As young people become ‘wait-citizens’ they develop strategies for navigating precarious openings between dangerous actions and coercive structures, often in ways that do not conform to Western, liberal expectations. The paper argues for broader conceptions of civic agency to account for how young people make decisions about exercising their civic voice, particularly in settings where legacies of authoritarianism constrain long-awaited democratic freedoms.
Health and Health Needs of Children of Women Seeking Services for and Safety From Intimate Partner Violence.

Children exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) are at increased risk for health problems. The moment that a mother seeks services for or safety from IPV may be a window of opportunity to offer...
Crystal-Phase Control of Catalytically Grown Colloidal CdTe Quantum Wires: Dual Role of n-Tetradecylphosphonic Acid

n-Tetradecylphosphonic acid (TDPA) is an acid and also a source for a strong-binding ligand, n-tetradecylphosphonate (TDPT), for the preparation of the cadmium precursor Cd(DOPT)x(TDPT)1–0.5x (where DOPT = di-n-octylphosphinate). The reaction chemistry of the cadmium precursor and tri-n-octylphosphine telluride (TOPTe) is manipulated to favor the formation of a CdTe solute if the catalytic role of TDPA as an acid is predominant; otherwise the stabilization of the cadmium precursor by TDPT incorporation results in a significant excess of Te in the reaction mixture. These exert opposite consequences on the crystal-phase purity of colloidal CdTe quantum wires (QWs) grown from initial bismuth (Bi) nanoparticles. Primary dissolution of the available CdTe or Te into Bi nanoparticles affords liquid (y ≈ z) or solid (y ≪ z) BixCdyTez catalysts, respectively. The solid catalysts enable the solution–solid–solid growth of nearly phase-pure wurtzite QWs, whereas the liquid catalysts fulfill the solution–liquid–solid ...
Travel and Movement as Science and Inquiry: Zen and Phenomenology

In this chapter, we provide a methodological and theoretical justification for travel and movement in clinical psychology. We draw on various world traditions—Buddhism (especially Zen) and phenomenology (especially Husserl)—in order to both analyze and offer ways to overcome the problems of insularity. In so doing, we reposition the world and its betterment as integral to clinical psychology. We then examine the possibility of traveling into the world, without presupposition, in order to see how suffering appears in all its forms—psychological, social, cultural, and beyond. Social justice and social movements naturally become an integral component of this work.
Mathematical Model for the Emission Infrared Tomography of the Temperature Field in an Isotropic Layer

We consider a mathematical model for the determination of the temperature field in a layer that emits, absorbs, and scatters infrared radiation both in the volume and on the surface. Within the framework of the model, we formulate nonlinear direct and inverse problems of emission infrared tomography of the temperature field in the layer according to known space-and-angular distributions of the flows of infrared radiation emitted into the ambient medium. The iterative-variational methods are proposed for the solution of the indicated direct and inverse problems. As a specific example, we perform the numerical analysis of the developed algorithms.
The Tissue Microenvironment as an Epigenetic Tumor Modifier

The transition from normal to cancerous tissue frequently takes years to occur. Epithelial tumors in particular can exist as premalignant lesions for prolonged periods of time, and even then only a low proportion of benign tumors undergo malignant transformation (1,2). Once tumors have formed, their behavior is often erratic, so that determining a treatment strategy based on current clinical criteria can be challenging. For example, some tumors may grow and invade aggressively, while tumors of similar grade can experience extended periods of dormancy (3–5). Tumor metastasis and drug responsiveness are also just as difficult to predict (6–8). This behavioral variability despite similarity in tumor phenotype demonstrates that cancer is a complex disease that is likely regulated by multiple pathways. Studies in humans and animals have shown that malignant transformation occurs through a series of increasingly abnormal morphologic stages (9). These tissue morphologies have been histologically and behaviorally classified as benign, dysplastic, and premalignant, and they culminate with the transformation of the premalignant lesion into an invasive and often metastatic tumor (10). Extensive molecular and genetic data has shown that the progressively altered precancerous tissues harbor an increasingly perturbed and unstable genome. This has led to the formulation of the “multihit gene model” of tumor progression. The multihit gene model maintains that tumors arise through a combination of hereditary genetic alterations and the accumulation of incremental and sequential somatic changes in the target genome (11–13). Central to this paradigm is the concept that cumulative mutations, amplifications, and/or deletions occur in critical genes. These mutations release the targeted cells from their normal growth and survival constraints, and permit them to invade into the surrounding tissue and survive, grow, and metastasize (14). Tumor suppressor proteins, by virtue of their critical role in cell-cycle checkpoint control and as regulators of the apoptosis/stress response, play an important role in this process. Accordingly, much effort has been extended to delineate how tumor suppressors influence the pathogenesis of cancer.
Global Methane Biogeochemistry

Methane is the most abundant hydrocarbon in the atmosphere. It plays important roles in atmospheric chemistry and the radiative balance of the Earth. Methane has been studied as an atmospheric constituent for over 200 years. A 1776 letter from Alessandro Volta to Father Campi described the first experiments on flammable ‘air’ released by shallow sediments in Lake Maggiore. This chapter attempts to summarize our current knowledge of the global methane budget, our understanding of physical and microbiological controls on CH 4 sources and sinks, and how well models are representing these processes.
SEROLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS OF BAYLISASCARIS PROCYONIS IN PRIMATES USING A HUMAN ELISA TEST.

The usefulness of a human enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for serological diagnosis of Baylisascaris procyonis larva migrans was assessed in nonhuman primates (NHP). The test was originally developed as an assay performed on human samples at Purdue University. Six participating zoos submitted 258 NHP serum samples, spanning these major phylogenetic groups: 1) great apes (n = 84), 2) lesser apes (n = 17), 3) Old World monkeys (n = 84), 4) New World monkeys (n = 20), and 5) prosimians (n = 53). Sera were tested in duplicate using a microtiter-well ELISA with B. procyonis larval excretory-secretory proteins as antigen, and serum from an experimentally infected baboon (Papio anubis) served as positive control. The ELISA clearly identified seropositive animals in all zoos. With putative cutoffs of optical density (OD) measured at 405 nm (OD405) of 0.250 = positive, 149 of 258 (57.8%) were clearly negative (mean OD 0.046), and 78 of 258 (30.2%) were clearly positive (mean OD 0.657, range 0.253–1.773), the rest being indeterminate. Of these, 15 were high positive with OD 1.095–1.773 (mean 1.314). Positive animals were seen from all zoos; 76 (97.4%) were great apes, lesser apes, or Old World monkeys. The four highest ODs were in a siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus), lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus), Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii), and western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), all from different zoos. Prosimians had a mean OD of 0.039 and New World monkeys 0.021, indicating that human reagents either did not work for these groups or few infected animals were represented. These results indicate that the human ELISA for B. procyonis works well for at least higher phylogeny NHP and that serologic evidence of infection is surprisingly common, correlating with what is known for exposure to this parasite in zoos.
Pulse Rate Variability in Emergency Physicians During Shifts: Pilot Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: The high prevalence of physician burnout, particularly in emergency medicine, has garnered national attention in recent years. Objective means of measuring stress while at work can facilitate research into stress reduction interventions, and wearable photoplethysmography (PPG) technology has been proposed as a potential solution. However, the use of low-burden wearable biosensors to study training and clinical practice among emergency physicians (EP) remains untested. Objective: This pilot study aimed to (1) determine the feasibility of recording on-shift photoplethysmographic data from EP, (2) assess the quality of these data, and (3) calculate standard pulse rate variability (PRV) metrics from the acquired dataset and examine patterns in these variables over the course of an academic year. Methods: A total of 21 EP wore PPG biosensors on their wrists during clinical work in the emergency department during a 9-hour shift. Recordings were collected during the first quarter of the academic year, then again during the fourth quarter of the same year for comparison. The overall rate of usable data collection per time was computed. Standard pulse rate (PR) and PRV metrics from these 2 time points were calculated and entered into Student t tests. Results: More than 400 hours of data were entered into these analyses. Interpretable data were captured during 8.54% of the total recording time overall. In the fourth quarter of the academic year compared with the first quarter, there was no significant difference in median PR (75.8 vs 76.8; P=.57), mean R-R interval (0.81 vs 0.80; P=.32), SD of R-R interval (0.11 vs 0.11; P=.93), root mean square of successive difference of R-R interval (0.81 vs 0.80; P=.96), low-frequency power (3.5×103 vs 3.4×103; P=.79), high-frequency power (8.5×103 vs 8.3×103; P=.91), or low-frequency to high-frequency ratio (0.42 vs 0.41; P=.43), respectively. Power estimates for each of these tests exceeded .90. A secondary analysis of the resident-only subgroup similarly showed no significant differences over time, despite power estimates greater than .80. Conclusions: Although the use of PPG biosensors to record real-time physiological data from EP while providing clinical care seems operationally feasible, this study fails to support the notion that such an approach can efficiently provide reliable estimates of metrics of interest. No significant differences in PR or PRV metrics were found at the end of the year compared with the beginning. Although these methods may offer useful applications to other domains, it may currently have limited utility in the contexts of physician training and wellness.
A Review of Public Administration Research: Where Does Public Procurement Fit In?

ABSTRACTThis study conducts a content analysis of public procurement research in top ranked public administration journals to identify prevalent procurement topics and where gaps exist. This resear...
The Impetus for Resilience and Change in Business Education and Management Research

In the past hundred years, business schools in the United States have had to be resilient and undergo change in order to address various challenges. They have faced issues pertaining to their legit...
Development of Past Tense Counterfactual Sentences: Examining Production and Comprehension in Adolescents and Adults.

Purpose The primary purpose of this study was to examine the development of past tense counterfactual (PTCF) sentences (“If the dog had stayed in the house, he would not have bitten the police offi...
E-cigarette-Induced Pulmonary Inflammation and Dysregulated Repair are Mediated by nAChR α7 Receptor: Role of nAChR α7 in ACE2 Covid-19 receptor regulation

Electronic cigarette (e-cig) vaping is increasing rapidly in the United States, as e-cigs are considered less harmful than combustible cigarettes. However, limited research has been conducted to understand the possible mechanism that mediate, toxicity and pulmonary health effects of e-cigs. We hypothesized that sub-chronic e-cig exposure induces inflammatory response and dysregulated repair/extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, which occur through the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR α7). Adult wild-type (WT), nAChRα7 knockout (KO), and lung epithelial cell-specific KO (nAChRα7 CreCC10) mice were exposed to e-cig aerosol containing propylene glycol (PG) with or without nicotine. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) and lungs tissues were collected to determine e-cig induced inflammatory response and ECM remodeling, respectively. Sub-chronic e-cig exposure with nicotine increased the inflammatory cellular influx of macrophages and T-lymphocytes including increased pro-inflammatory cytokines in BALF and increased ACE2 Covid-19 receptor, whereas nAChR α7 KO mice show reduced inflammatory responses associated with decreased ACE2 receptor. Interestingly, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), such as MMP2, MMP8, and MMP9 were altered both at the protein and mRNA transcript levels in female and male, but WT mice exposed to PG alone showed a sex-dependent phenotype. Moreover, MMP12 was increased significantly in male mice exposed to PG with or without nicotine in a nAChR α7-dependent manner. Additionally, sub-chronic e-cig exposure with or without nicotine altered the abundance of ECM proteins, such as collagen and fibronectin significantly in a sex-dependent manner, but without the direct role of nAChR α7 gene. Overall, sub-chronic e-cig exposure with or without nicotine affected lung inflammation and repair responses/ECM remodeling, which were mediated by nAChR α7 in a sex-dependent manner.
Can a digital workbook informed by pedagogical principles improve coaching behavior

Effective coaching is central to athletic development, including, among other things, the creation of a mastery-oriented learning environment, helping athletes improve their technique, and helping ...
Pegylated arginine deiminase depletes plasma arginine but maintains tissue arginine availability in young pigs.

Pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG20) results in the depletion of arginine with the production of isomolar amounts of citrulline. This citrulline has the potential to be utilized by the citrulline recycling pathway regenerating arginine and sustaining tissue arginine availability. The goal of this research was to test the hypothesis that ADI-PEG20 depletes circulating arginine in pigs but maintains tissue arginine concentration and function, and to characterize the kinetics of citrulline and arginine. Two multitracer approaches (bolus dose and primed-continuous infusion) were used to investigate the metabolism of arginine and citrulline in Control (n = 7) and ADI-PEG20 treated (n = 8) pigs during the postprandial period. In addition, blood pressure was monitored by telemetry, and multiple tissues were collected to determine arginine concentration. Plasma arginine was depleted immediately after ADI-PEG20 administration, with an increase in plasma citrulline concentration (P 0.10) blood pressure, whole body protein synthesis, or urea production. Despite the lack of circulating arginine in ADI-PEG20-treated pigs, most tissues were able to maintain concentrations similar (P > 0.10) to those in Control animals. The kinetics of citrulline and arginine indicated the high citrulline turnover and regeneration of arginine through the citrulline recycling pathway. ADI-PEG20 administration resulted in an absolute and almost instantaneous depletion of circulating arginine, thus reducing global availability without affecting cardiovascular parameters and protein metabolism. The citrulline produced from the deimination of arginine was in turn utilized by the citrulline recycling pathway restoring local tissue arginine availability.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Pegylated arginine deiminase depletes circulating arginine, but the citrulline generated is utilized by multiple tissues to regenerate arginine and sustain local arginine availability. Preempting the arginine depletion that occurs as result of sepsis and trauma with arginine deiminase offers the possibility of maintaining tissue arginine availability despite negligible plasma arginine concentrations.
Renal angiomyolipoma rupture in a young female with COVID-19.

While primarily a respiratory illness, infection with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is associated with pathologic changes in coagulation, characterized by both thromboembolic and bleeding events. We present the case of a 22-year-old female diagnosed with renal angiomyolipoma (AML) rupture 2 weeks after COVID-19 infection, ultimately requiring admission for hemorrhage control via endovascular embolization. Emergency medicine physicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for renal AML rupture and other spontaneous bleeding events in patients with recent COVID-19 infection due to a possible correlation between the two.
Adherence to care transitions recommendations among high-risk hospitalized older patients

Background/objectives Evidence on the effectiveness of inpatient hospital geriatric consultation is scant, and it is unknown whether adherence to specific recommendations will improve care and patient outcomes. This study was conducted to provide insights from a quality improvement project that may help guide further improvements in the effectiveness of these consultations made as a component of a care transitions program (CTP). Design Secondary analysis of the implementation of a multicomponent CTP for high-risk hospitalized patients aged 75 and older. Setting A 400-bed community teaching hospital. Participants Two hundred and two patients admitted to non-ICU beds who met high-risk criteria. Intervention Inpatient comprehensive geriatric consultation including care transition recommendations, telephone and in-person follow-up weekly for 4 weeks after discharge, and collaboration with post-acute organizations and primary care and specialist physicians to implement recommendations. Measurements Primary outcomes for this analysis was 30-day hospital readmissions and adherence to transition of care recommendations. Results The 142 patients with at least one post-discharge visit received 936 care transition recommendations. Overall, 663 (71%) of the 936 care transition recommendations were adhered to (71%). The adherence rate was lower in the 22 patients who were readmitted to the hospital within 30 days (63%) compared to 72% adherence in the 120 patients who were not readmitted. This was not a statistically significant difference, and there were no significant differences in the number and percent adherence in any recommendation category between the two groups. Conclusion We found adherence to just over two-thirds of care transition recommendations, similar to a small number of other studies. We did not find a relationship between the number of recommendations and adherence to them with 30-day readmissions to the hospital. Future studies of CTPs should consider several strategies may enhance geriatric consultation care transitions recommendations and adherence to them, and improve patient outcomes.
Pension System in Guinea Bissau: Key Challenges and Prospects for the Future

The government of Guinea Bissau is considering implementing the pension fund included in the 2015 Budget Law. It requested a technical assistance from the World Bank to conduct an initial diagnostic of the pension system with a focus on the public service pension scheme. The objective of this note is an initial step to respond to this request. The analysis shows that it is not recommendable for Guinea Bissau to set up a pension fund for the public service pension scheme at this stage. Although the 2015 Budget Law envisages to create a pension fund, its financing (6 percent of payroll) would not be enough to pay existing pensions. Importantly, creating a pension fund in a weak governance environment is extremely risky while the establishment of a strong regulatory framework would be a prior condition for the implementation of such a pension fund. As such, establishing a pension fund for the public service employees would bring significant administrative and fiscal challenges and therefore is not in the interest of the pensioners. However, some measures could be taken immediately to improve the public services pension schemes. These measures include to review and update the list of current beneficiaries including “proof of life,” systematically make pension payments through the banking system and introduce some administrative reforms. Changes to the parameters of the current public pension could be also be adopted to provide more equitable pension benefits. The government may also want to consider developing a model like World Bank’s PROST toolkit to: (i) assess the fiscal costs of the current scheme, and (ii) evaluate different pension reform options. The World Bank’s pension reform options simulation toolkit, PROST, models pension contributions, entitlements, system revenues and system expenditures over a long period. It is designed to help policy-making make informed policy decisions and is currently used in 46 countries. The World Bank could provide technical assistance to develop such a model although the ability to develop this model will depend on the availability of sufficient data. As a conclusion, the Government of Guinea Bissau is advised to maintain the current institutional structure of the public service pension scheme, introduce administrative reforms and develop and introduce a coherent reform package on the basis of a model like PROST to introduce parametric reforms to improve fiscal sustainability and equity.
An interdomain hydrogen bond in the Rag GTPases maintains stable mTORC1 signaling in sensing amino acids.

Cellular growth and proliferation are primarily dictated by the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), which balances nutrient availability against the cell's anabolic needs. Central to the activity of mTORC1 is the RagA–RagC GTPase heterodimer, which under favorable conditions recruits the complex to the lysosomal surface to promote its activity. The RagA–RagC heterodimer has a unique architecture in that both subunits are active GTPases. To promote mTORC1 activity, the RagA subunit is loaded with GTP and the RagC subunit is loaded with GDP, while the opposite nucleotide-loading configuration inhibits this signaling pathway. Despite its unique molecular architecture, how the Rag GTPase heterodimer maintains the oppositely loaded nucleotide state remains elusive. Here, we applied structure–function analysis approach to the crystal structures of the Rag GTPase heterodimer and identified a key hydrogen bond that stabilizes the GDP-loaded state of the Rag GTPases. This hydrogen bond is mediated by the backbone carbonyl of Asn30 in the nucleotide-binding domain of RagA or Lys84 of RagC and the hydroxyl group on the side chain of Thr210 in the C-terminal roadblock domain of RagA or Ser266 of RagC, respectively. Eliminating this interdomain hydrogen bond abolishes the ability of the Rag GTPase to maintain its functional state, resulting in a distorted response to amino acid signals. Our results reveal that this long-distance interdomain interaction within the Rag GTPase is required for the maintenance and regulation of the mTORC1 nutrient-sensing pathway.
Principal component analysis revealed multiple consistent responses to naturalistic stimuli in children and adults

Functional MRI (fMRI) study of naturalistic conditions, e.g. movie watching, usually focuses on shared responses across subjects. However, individual differences have been attracting increasing attention in search of group differences or associations with behavioral outcomes. The individual differences are typically studied by directly modeling the pair-wise intersubject correlation matrix or projecting the relations onto a single dimension. We contend that it is critical to examine whether there are one or more consistent responses underlying the whole sample, because multiple components, if exist, may undermine the intersubject relations using the previous methods. We propose to use principal component analysis (PCA) to examine the heterogeneity of brain responses across subjects and project the individual variability into higher dimensions. By analyzing an fMRI dataset of children and adults watching a cartoon movie, we showed evidence of two consistent responses in supramarginal gyrus and attention-related regions. While the first components represented a response pattern mostly in older children and adults, the second components mainly represented the younger children. The second components in the supramarginal network resembled a delayed version of the first PCs for 4 seconds (2 TR), indicating slower responses in the younger children than the older children and adults. The analyses highlight the importance of identifying multiple consistent responses in responses to naturalistic stimuli. This PCA-based approach could be complementary to the commonly used intersubject correlations to analyze movie watching data.
Disease of the left main coronary artery: Surgical treatment and long-term follow Up in 267 patients

Of 4,196 patients undergoing coronary angiography, 297 (7 percent) had left main coronary arterial narrowing. In 188 (4.5 percent) the narrowing was greater than or equal to 70 percent and in 109 (3 percent) it was between 50 and 69 percent. Three patients (1 percent) died at cardiac catheterization. Saphenous vein bypass graft surgery was performed in 267 patients with an operative mortality of 7 percent: in 179 patients the left main coronary narrowing was greater than or equal to 70 percent (operative mortality 9 percent), and in 88 between 50 and 69 percent (mortality rate 2 percent). There was an average of 2.6 grafts per patient. The course of these patients was followed up for 4 3/4 years. At 1 year there was a 92.2 percent survival rate. The rate of survival at 2, 3 and 4 3/4 years, was 91, 89 and 86 percent, respectively. After saphenous vein bypass graft surgery, 75 percent of patients are angina-free and 22.4 percent are in improved condition. Grafts were studied in 51 patients and 85 percent of 128 grafts were found to be patent. It appears that there is improvement in survival and a reduction of symptoms after saphenous vein bypass graft surgery in patients with left main coronary arterial narrowing.
EVALUATION OF BRIDGE OVERLOADS

The New Mexico overload route system is described. The system has the capability of comparing the capacity of all bridges along any proposed routing of an overload vehicle within the State of New Mexico. If a proposed route does not have the capacity for a given overload, an alternate route can be chosen quickly and easily. This new system utilizes bridge capacity ratings determined by the statewide inventory and inspection program. The system takes an overload wheel configuration and load distribution and computes an equivalent HS loading which is then compared to the stored capacity of each bridge. If a chosen route is inadequate, the program will indicate which structure is inadequate and for what reason. The system saves valuable engineering time, decreases the potential for error, and provides almost immediate answers on overload questions.
Homotopy invariance of η-invariants

Abstract Intersection homology and results related to the higher signature problem are applied to show that certain combinations of η-invariants of the signature operator are homotopy invariant in various circumstances.
Laboratory Astrophysics in Solar System Studies - an Overview

The compositions of the numerous bodies in the Solar System are determined from remote sensing observations, most often spectroscopic, and in some cases direct sampling. Laboratory studies of materials and processes are an essential component of the analysis and interpretation of all compositional data. Planetary atmospheres are composed of gases and aerosols, while the surfaces of the terrestrial planets, asteroids, comets, and planetary satellites are composed of minerals, ices, and organic solids. The principal spectroscopic characteristics of each of these materials are reviewed here. The tables present a synopsis of our current knowledge of the compositions of the principal bodies in the Solar System.
Pyrimidine Synthesis in Neurospora crassa: Gene-Enzyme Relationships

A new series of pyrimidine-requiring mutants of Neurospora has been isolated and all enzymes involved in pyrimidine biosynthesis are represented by at least one mutant. Among these mutants is included a single isolate for a new locus, pyr-6. This mutant is deficient in dihydroorotase (DHOase) and represents the only enzymatic step in orotate synthesis for which no mutant previously had been found. This mutant, which mapped genetically on the right arm of linkage group V, is unlinked to any of the other pyrimidine mutants. The DHOase-deficient mutant is also characterized by an unexpected growth behavior. The pyr-1 locus has been specifically associated with a lack of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHOdehase). Mutants isolated in this series for other pyrimidine loci have been related to previously isolated mutants by allelism, recombination, and accumulation studies.