cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Internal disinhibition predicts 5-year weight regain in the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR)

Background Maintenance of weight loss remains elusive for most individuals. One potential innovative target is internal disinhibition (ID) or the tendency to eat in response to negative thoughts, feelings or physical sensations. Individuals high on ID do worse on average in standard behavioural treatment programmes, and recent studies suggest that disinhibition could play a significant role in weight regain. Purpose The purpose of the current study was to examine whether ID was associated with weight change over 5 years of follow-up in the National Weight Control Registry, a registry of individuals who have successfully lost weight and maintained it. Methods From the National Weight Control Registry, 5,320 participants were examined across 5 years. Weight data were gathered annually. The disinhibition subscale of the Eating Inventory was used to calculate internal disinhibition and External Disinhibition (ED) and was collected at baseline, year 1, year 3 and year 5. Linear mixed models were used to estimate the weight loss maintained across follow-up years 1 to 5 using ID and ED as baseline and prospective predictors. Results Internal disinhibition predicted weight regain in all analyses. ED interacted with ID, such that individuals who were high on ID showed greater weight regain if they were also higher on ED. Conclusions The ID scale could be a useful screening measure for risk of weight regain, given its brevity. Improved psychological coping could be a useful target for maintenance or booster interventions.
Interval between first palliative care consultation and death in patients with advanced cancer

9028 Background: Most referrals to acute palliative care (PC) services occur late in the trajectory of the disease, although an earlier intervention can decrease patients’ (pts) symptoms distress. ...
Enrichment and Interrogation of Cancer Stem Cells

The hallmarks of cancer stem cells (CSCs) are self-renewal, tumor propagation, generation of heterogeneous progeny, and therapeutic resistance. Better understanding of CSC biology would provide insights on how to overcome major obstacles encountered during the course of cancer treatment such as resistance to therapy and distal metastasis. Studying CSCs needs special consideration given they represent a minor fraction of the tumor cell population and they dynamically transit out of the stem cell–like state. In this chapter we will describe various methods to investigate and enrich for CSCs. We will also discuss the importance of utilizing multifaceted approaches based on various principles to tackle different aspects of CSC biology.
Der Angriff auf die traditionelle Geschichtsvorstellung und die ihr entsprechende traditionelle Erzählweise

»Die Lehren der burgerlichen Okonomie von der Identitat der Interessen von Kapital und Arbeit, von der allgemeinen Harmonie und dem allgemeinen Volkswohlstand als Folge der freien Konkurrenz wurden immer schlagender von den Tatsachen Lugen gestraft. […] Aber die alte idealistische Geschichtsauffassung, die noch nicht verdrangt war, kannte keine auf materiellen Interessen beruhenden Klassenkampfe. […] Die neuen Tatsachen zwangen dazu, die ganze bisherige Geschichte einer neuen Untersuchung zu unterwerfen, und da zeigte sich, das alle bisherige Geschichte, mit Ausnahme der Urzustande, die Geschichte von Klassenkampfen war.«
A thin film TaN resistor reliability evaluation

A reliability evaluation for TaN thin film resistors based on accelerated life test experiments is presented. The resistors degrade by a gradual resistance increase and the functional dependence on time and temperature has been established. Normalized resistance increases with a ln(t) time dependence, with an activation energy of 1.55 eV. Current was shown not to be an independent acceleration factor, aside from its effect on Joule heating. Assuming a 1% failure criterion, a characteristic life of 9 × 106 h has been established for T j = 125°C. The local encapsulation environment is believed to play a role in resistor degradation. The data are consistent with a model based on gradual conversion to non-conducting of a portion of the TaN film, suggested to be oxidation originating from residual water in the benzocyclobutene encapsulating film.
Isn't School Supposed to Be Free?: An Analysis of State Constitutional Language and School Fees

American Statesman Adlai Stevenson once famously stated that the most American thing about America is the free common school system. While this may be true, many school districts facing budget crises are feeling the need to look for other sources of revenue to support their educational mission. One way to generate additional funds is through the assessment of school fees on everything from Kindergarten registration to high school transcripts to participation on athletic teams. This paper opens with an overview of “free schools” language in state constitutions. Section II discusses the prevalence of school fees in states, despite such constitutional language. Section III examines the importance of judicial interpretation of constitutional language. Section IV reviews the U.S. Supreme Court decision on school fees in Kadrmas v. Dickinson. Section V looks at state decisions that have upheld the assessment of fees in spite of “free school” constitutional language, and Section VI reviews state decisions overturning the assessment of school fees. Finally, section VII reviews a recent school fee case in Illinois and its likely appeal.
‘A Bad Mother and a Small Heap of Bones:’ Maternal Indifference in Alessandro Capone’s L’Amore Nascosto

This chapter shows how Alessandro Capone’s L’amore nascosto (2009) grants narrative agency to a ‘bad’ mother figure and compellingly stages her un-motherly feelings, yet ultimately re-affirms the naturalness of maternal love. Engaging with Rozsika Parker’s psychoanalytic notions of maternal ambivalence, guilt, and shame, Karagoz contests the film’s reduction of the protagonist’s story to a drama of maternal ambivalence—its assumption that she simultaneously loves and hates her daughter—which Karagoz describes as the master narrative of L’amore nascosto. By analyzing the interplay of devices such as framing and lighting with the film’s ambivalent narrative, with a focus on the black and white flashbacks, Karagoz demonstrates that what L’amore nascosto represents instead, through its counter narrative, is maternal indifference: a woman’s lack of interest in mothering and her inability to love her daughter.
Improved Multimodal Representation Learning with Skip Connections

Multimodal Deep Boltzmann Machines (DBMs) have demonstrated huge successes in multimodal representation learning tasks. During inference, DBMs function as Recurrent Neural Nets (RNNs) because of the intractable distributions. To learn the parameters, optimizations can alternatively be operated on these surrogate RNNs with "truncated message passing". As a consequence, the gradient will propagate through a long chain without any local guidance which can potentially affects the optimization procedure. In this paper, we address this problem by adding skip connections during back-propagation while keeping the forward propagation (inference) untouched. With skip connections, we implicitly assign local "targets" for the states of intermediate inference loops to approach. Applied to different training criteria on different data sets, we demonstrate the proposed algorithms can consistently help to train better models while at a lower cost of training time. Experimental results show that our algorithms can achieve state-of-the-art performance on the Multimedia Information Retrieval (MIR) Flickr data set.
Engineering, Components, and Software

AS a verb, “engineer” means to plan, manage, or construct. That’s what an engineer does. A craftsperson does the same but in a quite different way. “Craft” carries the meaning of individual creative effort, of ‘hand’ work, of aesthetic goals as well as utilitarian ones, of less planning and more ‘just doing.’ The engineer follows rules (learned at an accredited engineering school, of course) while a craftsperson is more likely to have served an apprenticeship, or to make it up as s/he goes along. Both have another discipline to which they may aspire though they may not attain its standard: for the craftsperson it is ‘art,’ while for the engineer it is ‘science.’
Trace elements in atmospheric wet precipitation in Detroit metropolitan area: Levels and possible sources.

Abstract Rain and snow samples were collected in the Detroit metropolitan area and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Twenty-two elements were detected in a concentration range from ∼0.03 to ∼1.8 × 103 μg/kg. An enrichment factor (EF), defined as, E F = ( X / A l ) s a m p l e ( X / A l ) c r u s t , was estimated for each element (X) detected, and used to determine possible origins of the element. Based on the hypothesis that crustal material is the only source of aluminum (Al) found in the atmospheric environment, an EF value near unity for an element suggests that crustal material is a major source of this element. If EF>10, an element is enriched in the atmosphere relative to its concentration in the earth's crust, implying a source other than the crust. Alkali, alkaline earth and lanthanide metals detected in the samples exhibit low EF values, indicating mainly a crustal source. Six elements (As, Cd, Cu, P, Pb and Zn) were significantly enriched in the samples as their EF values were greater than 10, thus originated likely from anthropogenic emissions. The relative order of the significantly enriched elements is estimated as follows: Cd > Pb > Zn > As > Cu > P. A high enrichment (EF∼100) for phosphorus was observed and caused plausibly by extensive usage of phosphorus-containing fertilizers and pesticides.
PACE Forward-Making Pharmacogenomics Testing Available for Real-Life Clinical Utility

Although pharmacogenomics (PGx) offers the promise of ensuring the right patient receives the right medication at the right dose the first time, gene-drug interaction data have yet to be seamlessly integrated into patients' health records. PGx testing that is preemptive, adaptable, current, and executable (PACE) overcomes the human and technological barriers to successful implementation, thus capitalizing on the affordable cost of such testing and clinical practice guidelines at the point of prescription ordering.
Maternal immune activation causes age-specific changes in cytokine receptor expression in offspring throughout development

Maternal infection is a shared environmental risk factor for a spectrum of neuropsychiatric disorders and animal models of maternal immune activation (MIA) exhibit a range of neuropathologies and behaviors with relevance to these disorders. In particular, MIA offspring show chronic, age- and region-dependent changes in brain cytokines, a feature seen in postmortem studies of individuals with neuropsychiatric disorders. These MIA-induced alterations in brain cytokines may index biological processes underlying progression to diagnosable neuropsychiatric disorders. However, cytokines signal through specific cytokine receptors to alter cellular processes and it is the levels of those receptors that are critical for signaling. Yet, it remains unknown whether MIA alters the expression of cytokine receptors in the brains of offspring throughout postnatal development. Here, we measured the expression of 23 cytokine receptors in the frontal cortex of MIA and control offspring from birth to adulthood using qPCR. MIA offspring show dynamic oscillating alterations in cytokine receptors during sensitive periods of neural growth and synaptogenesis. Of the many cytokine receptors altered in the FC of MIA offspring, five were significantly changed at multiple ages at levels over 2-fold relative to controls (Il1r1, Ifngr1, Il10ra, Cx3cr1 and Gmcsfr), suggesting persistent dysfunction within those pathways. In addition to facilitating immune responses, these cytokine receptors play critical roles in neuronal migration and maturation, synapse formation and elimination, and microglial function. Together with previously reported changes in cytokine levels in the brains of MIA offspring, our results show a decrease in cytokine signaling during the peak period of synaptogenesis and spine formation and an increase during periods of activity-dependent developmentand early adulthood. Overall, the oscillating, age-dependent cytokine receptor alterations in the FC of MIA offspring identified here may have diagnostic and therapeutic value for neuropsychiatric disorders with a neuro-immune etiology.
The cadherin-catenin complex is necessary for cell adhesion and embryogenesis in Nematostella vectensis

The cadherin-catenin complex is a conserved, calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion module that is necessary for normal development and the maintenance of tissue integrity in bilaterian animals. Despite longstanding evidence of a deep ancestry of calcium-dependent cell adhesion in animals, the requirement of the cadherin-catenin complex to coordinate cell-cell adhesion has not been tested directly in a non-bilaterian organism. Here, we provide the first analysis of classical cadherins and catenins in the Starlet Sea Anemone, Nematostella vectensis. Gene expression, protein localization, siRNA-mediated knockdown of α-catenin, and calcium-dependent cell aggregation assays provide evidence that a bonafide cadherin-catenin complex is present in the early embryo, and that α-catenin is required for normal embryonic development and the formation of cell-cell adhesions between cells dissociated from whole embryos. Together these results support the hypothesis that the cadherin-catenin complex was likely a complete and functional cell-cell adhesion module in the last common cnidarian-bilaterian ancestor. SUMMARY STATEMENT: Embryonic manipulations and ex vivo adhesion assays in the sea anemone, Nematostella vectensis, indicate that the necessity of the cadherin-catenin complex for mediating cell-cell adhesion is deeply conserved in animal evolution.
Abstract 187: Baseline 7 Day Follow Up Rates in Cardiology Patients: Impact of Electronic Medical Record-Based Appointment Order

Background: There has been intense focus on 7 day follow up in congestive heart failure patients, but this approach has not been emphasized in all cardiology patients. We measured baseline early fo...
Lipid-Coated, pH-Sensitive Magnesium Phosphate Particles for Intracellular Protein Delivery

To develop cationic lipid-coated magnesium phosphate nanoparticles (LPP) for intracellular catalase (CAT) delivery. Magnesium phosphate nanoparticles (MgP NP) were prepared by micro-emulsion precipitation and mixed with catalase-loaded cationic liposomes (DOTAP/cholesterol) to yield LPP formulation of catalase (LPP-CAT). The size and ζ-potential of LPP-CAT were measured by dynamic light scattering. The pH-sensitivity of LPP-CAT was determined by monitoring their degradation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and their morphologies under transmission electron microscopy (TEM) at pH 7.4 and 5.5. The ability of LPP-CAT to protect MCF-7 cells against hydrogen peroxide was measured by MTS assay. ROS levels in EA.hy926 cells were measured after treatment with LPP-CAT. LPP-CAT were successfully prepared and carried an average diameter of <300 nm and ζ -potential of about +40 mV. At pH 5.5, LPP-CAT degraded H2O2 almost 4-fold as fast as pH 7.4 and displayed drastic morphological changes of an osmotic explosion. LPP-CAT protected MCF-7 cells from lethal level of exogenous H2O2 and significantly lowered the ROS levels in EA.hy926 cells. A lipid with a pH-sensitive conformational switch (flipid) further enhanced the protein delivery of LPP-CAT. LPP represents a promising nano-system for intracellular protein delivery.
Navigating Cognitive Dissonance: A Qualitative Content Analysis Exploring Medical Students' Experiences of Moral Distress in the Emergency Department.

Background As undergraduate medical students are acculturated into clinical practice, they develop a set of refined professional values that impact their decision making. We aimed to use students' reflective narratives on ethical dilemmas to identify how students experience moral distress while working in the emergency department (ED) to better understand how to support them in the development of their own agency to act ethically. Methods Students rotating in our emergency medicine clerkship are required to submit an essay describing an ethical dilemma they encountered. We selected a random sample of these reflective pieces from the 2015 and 2016 academic years and used an exploratory qualitative thematic analytic approach to identify frequently recurring themes. This process was continued until thematic sufficiency was reached. Results Two-hundred essays were coded, and seven unique themes were identified. The moral distress students described in reflective writing narratives stemmed from patient-provider discord, uncertainty, and social injustices. In each case, students were expressing the cognitive dissonance they experienced as they began to reconcile the difference between their perceptions of optimal patient care and the actual care delivered to the patient. Conclusion Understanding medical students' cognitive dissonance in the ED will help educators support their students as they negotiate the differences between preferences and principles while being acculturated into clinical practice. Future work should develop specific interventions to promote educator understanding of learners' moral distress and to develop novel models of support for learners.
The Intersections of Identities and Justice-Oriented Efforts of Urban Literacy Educators:

This article draws from an ongoing longitudinal qualitative inquiry into the preparation and development of social justice–oriented urban English teachers. It examines the cases of three graduates ...
The Supreme Court and the Future of Marriage

In Lawrence v. Texas,' the Supreme Court,struck down a Texas law criminalizing homosexual sodomy. Justice Scalia dissented and protested that the majority had thereby undercut traditional limits on marriage, claiming that "[t]oday's opinion dismantles the structure of constitutional law that has permitted a distinction to be made between heterosexual and homosexual unions, insofar as formal recognition in marriage is concerned." The author discusses whether Justice Scalia's charge is worth taking seriously or rather should be dismissed as mere hyperbole. He concludes that Justice Scalia's concerns are quite real. The grounds on which the Lawrence majority attacked prior precedent effectively cleared the way for dismantling sexual distinctions in marriage. Specifically, the lynchpin of Justice Kennedy's approach for the Lawrence majority was to discredit the historical conclusions in Bowers v. Hardwick, the Court's 1986 decision upholding Georgia's sodomy ban as applied to homosexual conduct.
Rapid implementation of COVID-19 tracheostomy simulation training to increase surgeon safety and confidence.

Abstract Objective To determine if rapid implementation of simulation training for anticipated COVID-19 tracheostomy procedures can increase physician confidence regarding procedure competency and use of enhanced personal protective equipment (PPE). Methods A brief simulation training exercise was designed in conjunction with the development of a COVID-19 Tracheostomy Protocol. The simulation training focused primarily on provider safety, pre and post-surgical steps and the proper use of enhanced PPE. Simulation training was performed in the simulation lab at the institution over 2 days. Pre and post self-evaluations were measured using standardized clinical competency questionnaires on a 5-point Likert Scale ranging from “No knowledge, unable to perform” up to “Highly knowledgeable and confident, independent.” Results Physicians self-reported a significant increase in knowledge and competency immediately after completing the training exercise. Resident physicians increased from a mean score of 3.00 to 4.67, p-value 0.0041, mean increase 1.67 (CI 95% 0.81 to 2.52). Attending physicians increased from a mean score of 2.89 to 4.67, p-value 0.0002, mean increase 1.78 (CI 95% 1.14 to 2.42). Overall, all participants increased from a mean score of 3.06 to 4.71, p-value 0.0001, mean increase 1.65 (CI 95% 1.24 to 2.05). Discussion Implementation of this simulation training at our institution resulted in a significant increase in physician confidence regarding the safe performance of tracheostomy surgery in COVID-19 patients. Implications for practice Adoption of standardized COVID-19 tracheostomy simulation training at centers treating COVID-19 patients may result in improved physician safety and enhanced confidence in anticipation of performing these procedures in real-life scenarios.
A gamma delta+ T-cell leukemia bearing a novel t(8;14)(q24;q11) translocation demonstrates spontaneous in vitro natural killer-like activity

A highly malignant human T-cell leukemia was identified by cell surface analysis as a member of the T-cell receptor (TCR) gamma delta lineage. Cytogenetic and molecular analysis showed a novel t(8;14)(q24;q11) rearrangement involving the J delta 1 gene segment on chromosome 14 and the distal end of chromosome 8 near the c-myc proto-oncogene locus. The gamma delta TCR of the leukemia blasts was functionally intact and could be activated to generate intracellular calcium flux and to target Fc receptor-mediated redirected tumor cell lysis. In addition, non-major histocompatibility complex restricted lysis of a limited target cell panel was shown by fresh leukemic blasts and by the in vitro-maintained leukemia cells that was comparable to known T-cell lines with natural killer-like activity. These data suggest that the T-cell leukemia potentially had in vivo functional cytolytic activity. However, whether this activity did contribute to the patient's clinical condition could not be determined.
Intraoperative heparin use is associated with reduced mortality without increasing hemorrhagic complications after thoracic endovascular aortic repair for blunt aortic injury.

Abstract Objective Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is an effective treatment of blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI). However, the risks and benefits of administering intraoperative heparin in trauma patients are not well-defined, especially with regard to bleeding complications. Methods The Vascular Quality Initiative registry was queried from 2013 to 2019 to identify patients who had undergone TEVAR for BTAI with or without the administration of intraoperative heparin. Univariate analyses were performed with the Student t test, Fisher exact test, or χ2 test, as appropriate. Multivariable logistic regression was then performed to assess the association of heparin with inpatient mortality. Results A total of 655 patients were included, of whom most had presented with grade III (53.3%) or IV (20%) BTAI. Patients receiving heparin were less likely to have an injury severity score (ISS) of ≥15 (70.2% vs 90.5%; P Conclusions Intraoperative heparin use was associated with reduced inpatient mortality for patients undergoing TEVAR for BTAI, including those with major head or neck trauma and high ISSs. Heparin use did not increase the risk of hemorrhagic complications across all injury grades. Also, in patients with grade III BTAI, heparin use was associated with a reduced risk of lower extremity embolic events. Heparin appears to be safe during TEVAR for BTAI and should be administered when no specific contraindication exists.
Everyone Hates the NCAA: The Role of Identity in the Evaluations of Amateurism Transgressions: A Case Study of the Chase Young’s Loan Scandal:

This manuscript is a case study into public responses to an amateurism transgression committed by Chase Young, a former Ohio State University football player and Heisman candidate. In November of 2...
Examining sources and pathways of phosphorus transfer in a ditch-drained field

Understanding the processes that mobilize and transport dissolved phosphorus (P) during storms is critical to managing P in flat landscapes with open ditch drainage and legacy soil P. In this study, we used routine baseflow monitoring and intensive storm sampling at a ditch-drained site on Maryland's Lower Eastern Shore (July 2017-September 2018) to assess whether concentration-discharge (C-Q) relationships and chemical and isotopic hydrograph separation could provide insight into the processes that mobilize and transport dissolved P in ditch drainage. Using a segmented regression model, we determined that long-term C-Q relationships for dissolved P differed above and below a discharge threshold of 6.4 L s-1 . Intensive storm sampling revealed that small storms (n = 3) occurring at or below the discharge threshold generally exhibited complex hysteresis and dissolved P dilution patterns that were consistent with deeper (>122 cm) groundwater inputs with low dissolved P concentrations (0.04 mg L-1 ). In contrast, large storms occurring well above the discharge threshold (n = 4) induced rising water tables and preferential flow pathways that most likely tapped dissolved P-enriched shallow (<20 cm) soil waters (0.89 mg L-1 ), producing consistent clockwise hysteresis and dissolved P flushing patterns. Notably, chemical and isotope hydrograph separation during two of the largest storms revealed significant event water fractions (59-68%) that strongly suggested a role for the rapid delivery of dissolved P via preferential flow pathways. Findings highlight the need to mitigate vertical P stratification as a means for reducing dissolved P flushing from ditch-drained landscapes with legacy P.
The Past, Present, and Future of PrEP implementation Among People Who Use Drugs.

Recent HIV outbreaks among people who use drugs (PWUD) necessitate additional HIV prevention tools. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly efficacious yet uptake among PWUD remains exceedingly low. To address multilevel, complex barriers to PrEP use among PWUD, a range of intervention strategies are needed. The literature on interventions to optimize PrEP use among PWUD is nascent, comprising small pilots and demonstration projects in early phases of intervention development. Initial studies suggest that structural, healthcare, interpersonal, and individual-level interventions can improve PrEP use for PWUD, and a number of efficacy trials are underway. Future studies are needed to optimize the use of new PrEP modalities (e.g., injectable PrEP), simultaneously target multilevel challenges to PrEP use, and evaluate the integration of PrEP into other service settings and substance use treatment modalities.
IoT-based Accident Detection and Emergency Alert System for Motorbikes

This paper proposes the design of an accident detection system for motorcycles that notifies the emergency contact of the injured motorcycle driver about their precise location so that necessary medical help can be provided timely. The proposed system is based on a tilt sensor that calculates the inclination of the motorcycle and then transmits notification to the concerned people through SMS and GPRS via an online server using a GSM module. The main contribution of this paper is that the developed system has extensively been tested in real time scenario and data has been collected from ten different bikes to determine an optimum tilt angle. Moreover, crash tests have also been performed. The system has a detection rate of 97.33%.
Physical Activity in De Novo Parkinson Disease: Daily Step Recommendation and Effects of Treadmill Exercise on Physical Activity.

OBJECTIVE People with Parkinson disease (PD) have low physical activity (PA) levels and are at risk for cardiovascular events. The 3 purposes of this study were to determine a step threshold that corresponds to meeting aerobic PA guidelines, determine effects of treadmill exercise on PA, and quantify the relationship between changes in daily steps and fitness. METHODS This was a secondary analysis of the Study in Parkinson's Disease of Exercise trial, which randomized participants to high-intensity treadmill exercise, moderate-intensity treadmill exercise, or usual care for 6 months. Daily steps and moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA) were assessed at baseline and once each month using an activity monitor. Fitness was assessed via graded exercise test at baseline and at 6 months. A step threshold that corresponds to meeting PA guidelines was determined by receiver operating characteristic curves. The effect of treadmill exercise on PA was examined in those below the step threshold (ie, the least active participants). Pearson r correlations determined the relationship between daily steps and fitness. RESULTS Individuals with de novo PD (n = 110) were included. Those with ≥4200 steps were 23 times more likely (95% CI = 7.72 to 68) to meet PA guidelines than those with <4200 steps. For those with <4200 steps at baseline (n = 33), only those in the high-intensity exercise group increased daily steps (median of differences = 1250 steps, z = -2.35) and MVPA (median of differences = 12.5 minutes, z = -2.67) at 6 months. For those with <4200 steps, changes in daily steps were not associated with changes in fitness (r = .183). CONCLUSION In people with PD and <4200 daily steps at baseline, high-intensity treadmill exercise increased daily steps and MVPA, but these changes were not associated with changes in fitness. IMPACT People with PD should be encouraged to take ≥4200 daily steps to meet PA guidelines through walking.
Cell trafficking and regulation of osteoblastogenesis by extracellular vesicle associated bone morphogenetic protein 2

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are characterized by complex cargo composition and carry a wide array of signalling cargo, including growth factors (GFs). Beyond surface‐associated GFs, it is unclear if EV intralumenal growth factors are biologically active. Here, bone morphogenetic protein‐2 (BMP2), loaded directly into the lumen of EVs designated engineered BMP2‐EVs (eBMP2‐EVs), was comprehensively characterized including its regulation of osteoblastogenesis. eBMP2‐EVs and non‐EV ‘free’ BMP2 were observed to similarly regulate osteoblastogenesis. Furthermore, cell trafficking experiments suggest rapid BMP2 recycling and its extracellular release as ‘free’ BMP2 and natural occurring BMP2‐EVs (nBMP2‐EVs), with both being osteogenic. Interestingly, BMP2 occurs on the EV surface of nBMP2‐EVs and is susceptible to proteolysis, inhibition by noggin and complete dissociation from nBMP2‐EVs over 3 days. Whereas, within the eBMP2‐EVs, BMP2 is protected from proteolysis, inhibition by noggin and is retained in EV lumen at 100% for the first 24 h and ∼80% after 10 days. Similar to ‘free’ BMP2, bioprinted eBMP2‐EV microenvironments induced osteogenesis in vitro and in vivo in spatial registration to the printed patterns. Taken together, BMP2 signalling involves dynamic BMP2 cell trafficking in and out of the cell involving EVs, with distinct differences between these nBMP2‐EVs and eBMP2‐EVs attributable to the BMP2 cargo location with EVs. Lastly, eBMP2‐EVs appear to deliver BMP2 directly into the cytoplasm, initiating BMP2 signalling within the cell, bypassing its cell surface receptors.
Prescription Stimulant-Induced Neurotoxicity: Mechanisms, outcomes, and relevance to ADHD

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a relatively prevalent neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental condition characterized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition ( DSM-5 ) as difficulty sustaining attention and maintaining tasks at hand, heightened distractibility, and other deficits in executive functioning. Prescription stimulants—amphetamine (AMP) and methylphenidate (MPH)—are the first-line treatment(s) for ADHD in both pediatric and adult populations and exist in many formulations. Troublingly, the non-medical use (NMU) of amphetamine and methylphenidate is more prevalent in the American population, especially on college and university campuses, than the condition of interest. The neurotoxicological profile and NMU epidemiology of prescription stimulants is of direct relevance to primary care physicians and psychiatrists as they are the providers most frequently tasked with the treatment of ADHD and the surveillance of substance misuse behaviors in the young adult population. As comprehensive literature reviews of the mechanisms and potential adverse sequelae of prescription stimulant-induced neurotoxicity intended for medical clinicians have been quite sparse in the last decade—especially given the gravity of the issue—this article includes a brief primer on ADHD etiology and pathophysiology; considers the current state of NMU epidemiology; reviews the mechanisms of action of AMP and MPH; and, finally, summarizes known molecular and clinical manifestations of AMP and MPH neurotoxicity.
Moments of Geopolitical Choreography: Performance of Cultural Ideals in Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union and Beyond

This research analyzes the standardized regimens of bodily training characteristic of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union and dance in general. Not only were the movements of daily life such as gesture choreographed within these contexts, but also the dance scene at large was highly designed to represent the political ideals of the government. Through analysis of gesture, marching parades and mass movement choirs in Nazi Germany combined with discussion of censorship and artistic repossession in Soviet ballet, themes of conformity and individuality are extrapolated to trends in movement culture in the United States today. This is a study of bodies, not much different than our own—these bodies once moved through contexts we never will fully get to embody ourselves, but through looking at what physical movements defined their experiences, we can begin to grasp a better understanding of the history they moved through. Looking at history from the lens of movement and dance opens up a wider knowledge of the world we live in today. Dance inherently puts meaning into motion, and this written research puts physical motion into meaning. Your body is a sponge, absorbing the geopolitical climate you move through, and as you dance through life, consider the context and how it is leaving its inevitable mark on you.
Towards Video Processing

Publisher Summary The main application of digital video processing is to provide high-quality visible-light videos for human consumption. Digital video processing encompasses many approaches that derive from the essential principles of digital image processing. Indeed, it is best to become conversant in the techniques of digital image processing before embarking on the study of digital video processing. However, there is one important aspect of video processing that significantly distinguishes it from still image processing, makes necessary significant modifications of still image processing methods for adaptation to video, and also requires the development of entirely new processing philosophies. That aspect is motion. It is largely the motion of 3D objects and their 2D projections that determines our visual experience of the world. The way in which motion is handled in video processing largely determines how videos will be perceived or analyzed. Indeed, one of the first steps in a large percentage of video processing algorithms is motion estimation, whereby the movement of intensities or colors is estimated. These motion estimates can be used in a wide variety of ways for video processing and analysis.
Attributed Metagraph Modelling to Design Business Process Security Management

Cross organizational process flow is having increasing importance as organizational focus is on offshoring & outsourcing to develop complex business processes. Utilizing the development of telecommunications frameworks, IT systems are fundamental to collaborating and distributing business processes for both internal as well as external business units. But, this increased dependency exists in an ecosystem of increasing threats to information security along with market sensitivity and regulatory power. Based on recent process flow studies, we explore application of attributed metagraph representation to evaluate process security. Utilizing examples of both risk-analysis and impactmitigation, we reveal the effectiveness of attributed metagraph for business process analysis. Metagraph-based model helps in analysis of as-is processes as well as offers normative direction for process remodelling.
The Ratios of Life

Ecological Stoichiometry The Biology of Elements from Molecules to the Biosphere. Robert W. Sterner and James J. Elser. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, 2002. 463 pp., illus. $75, £52. ISBN 0-691-07490-9. Paper, $29.95, £19.95. ISBN 0-691-07491-7. Sterner and Elser build a case for the important role that understanding the distribution of elements in organisms will play in making sense of ecosystems, both terrestrial and aquatic.
Impact of nut postharvest handling, de-shelling, drying and storage on quality.

Abstract: This chapter is focused on the impact of harvest maturity and procedures used for harvesting and postharvest handling on the quality and storage potential of nuts. Quality factors of nuts include: color; texture (crispness), which is related to degree of dryness (moisture content); and flavor (oiliness, sweetness, absence of off-flavors due to development of staleness and rancidity). Deterioration rate is influenced by moisture content, incidence of decay-causing fungi, and insect damage. A safe moisture level for nuts is a water activity below 0.7 at 25°C to retard microbial growth. Nuts in the shell have longer storage potential than shelled nuts. Broken pieces are more perishable than halves or whole kernels. Storage potential depends upon the moisture content of the nuts, and temperature, relative humidity and oxygen (O2) concentration during storage. Effective control of stored-product insects and packaging in insect-proof packages to prevent insect re-infestation are critical to the preservation of nut quality and quantity. Low O2 (less than 0.5%) is a beneficial supplement to proper temperature management to maintain flavor quality and insect control. Exclusion of O2 is usually done by vacuum packaging or by nitrogen flushing of the package. The optimal range of storage temperatures is 0−10°C; the lower the temperature the longer the storage life. Some nut products can be stored frozen at −18°C for a year or longer and remain in good condition. The optimal relative humidity range is 55–70%, depending on the original moisture content of the product.
Noninvasive management of Rh partial null (D--) to supplement traditional management of Rh isoimmunization

Abstract Background Rh partial null (D−−) is a rare cause of Rh sensitization in an Rh-positive patient. Noninvasive management for this condition using middle cerebral artery Doppler studies was used to reduce invasive testing. Case An Rh D+ woman had an antibody titer of 1:512 to Rh-17, the Rh Cc/Ee protein. Rh typing revealed absence of any antigens at the Cc/Ee locus. Her husband was Rh D−−, ccee. Middle cerebral artery Doppler studies and serial amniocenteses for ΔOD 450 were performed. When testing suggested severe fetal anemia, two intrauterine transfusions were performed. Conclusion Middle cerebral artery Doppler studies can be used to predict fetal anemia before the first transfusion. However, the cutoff to predict subsequent anemia in Rh D−− after transfusion remains to be defined.
In vitro studies on single beating rat heart cells: I. Growth and organization

Summary 1. Single beating cells may be prepared from the young rat heart. 2. These cells may beat for up to 40 days. 3. The process of dedifferentiation is seemingly accompanied by loss of striations and cessation of beating. 4. The histological appearance was discussed. 5. Single independently beating cells grow into synchronously beating nets of cells and eventually develop into beating fibers. Synchrony depends upon protoplasmic contact. 6. Two types of cells are seen, independent “leading” cells which may beat spontaneously and “following” cells which beat only upon contact with beating cells.
Deactivation and shape selectivity effects in toluene nitration over zeolite catalysts

The nitration of toluene in the presence of solid acid catalysts (ZSM5, Mordenite, Beta, L, zeolites and MCM-41 and sulfated zirconia) has been studied in the vapor and liquid phases. The data indicate that the catalysts deactivate by two different modes, coke formation and pore plugging by adsorbed toluene.
The Effect of Tuition Reimbursement on Turnover: A Case Study Analysis

Tuition reimbursement programs provide financial assistance for direct costs of education and are a type of general skills training program commonly offered by employers in the United States. Standard human capital theory argues that investment in firm-specific skills reduces turnover, while investment in general skills training could result in increased turnover. However, firms cite increased retention as a motivation for offering tuition reimbursement programs. This rationale for offering these programs challenges the predictions of the standard human capital model. This paper tests empirically whether participation in tuition reimbursement programs increases employee retention using data from a non-profit institution. To document the prevalence of tuition reimbursement programs, the case study analysis is supplemented with findings from the Survey of Employer-Provided Training, 1995 (SEPT95). This paper finds that participation in tuition reimbursement programs reduces employee turnover.
Respiratory tract tumors in hamsters induced by benzo(a)pyrene

Summary Benzo( a )pyrene (BP), prepared as a colloid suspension of fine particles in 0.5% gelatin-0.9% NaCl solution, was administered by intratracheal instillation to 50 male and 50 female syrian golden hamsters. The control group, which consisted of 25 males and 25 females, received 0.5% gelatin-0.9% NaCl solution. The hamsters were treated weekly for 8 weeks and received a total dose of 111 mg of BP. BP induced respiratory tumors in 26 of the 65 hamsters examined. These tumors included squamous cell and anaplastic carcinomas, adenocarcinomas, fibrosarcomas, adenomas, polyps, and papillomas. Each segment of the respiratory tract, with the exception of the bronchi, had a similar incidence of tumors. Only two tumors were diagnosed in the bronchial region. Of 47 control hamsters, 1 animal carried a tracheal polyp. Rate of clearance of BP from lung after a single administration was dependent on the dose of carcinogen. Low doses of BP were cleared rapidly while the weekly dose instilled in this study was retained for a long time.
Bounds for error reduction with few quantum queries

We consider the quantum database search problem, where we are given a function f: [N] → {0,1}, and are required to return an x∈[N] (a target address) such that f(x)=1. Recently, Grover [G05] showed that there is an algorithm that after making one quantum query to the database, returns an X∈[N] (a random variable) such that$$ \Pr[f(X)=0] = \epsilon^3,$$ where e = |f−−1(0)|/N. Using the same idea, Grover derived a t-query quantum algorithm (for infinitely many t) that errs with probability only e2 t+1. Subsequently, Tulsi, Grover and Patel [TGP05] showed, using a different algorithm, that such a reduction can be achieved for all t. This method can be placed in a more general framework, where given any algorithm that produces a target state for some database f with probability of error e, one can obtain another that makes t queries to f, and errs with probability e2t+1. For this method to work, we do not require prior knowledge of e. Note that no classical randomized algorithm can reduce the error probability to significantly below et+1, even if e is known. In this paper, we obtain lower bounds that show that the amplification achieved by these quantum algorithms is essentially optimal. We also present simple alternative algorithms that achieve the same bound as those in Grover [G05], and have some other desirable properties. We then study the best reduction in error that can be achieved by a t-query quantum algorithm, when the initial error e is known to lie in an interval of the form [l, u]. We generalize our basic algorithms and lower bounds, and obtain nearly tight bounds in this setting.
Optimal subtractive dither for near-lossless compression

Subtractive dither is a technique which may be used to reduce the occurrence of compression artifacts from near-lossless compression. Standard subtractive dither incurs a cost, however, in the form of an increase in rate and distortion, and by giving the reconstructed signal an overall grainy appearance. It is possible to compromise between the costs and benefits of dithering by using dither signals which tend to take on smaller values than the standard dither signal. For reasonable cost and benefit metrics, the optimal dither signals are shown to be those which are uniform on intervals of the form [-k/2,k/2], where k/spl epsiv/[0,q] and q is the quantization step size. Additional results are given under more general assumptions.
Does a 48-Hour Rule Predict Outcomes in Patients with Acute Sigmoid Diverticulitis?

Sigmoid diverticulitis is an infection that resolves with conservative management in 70–85% of patients. Some patients require prolonged hospitalization or surgery during their admission. It has been taught that one should expect clinical improvement within 48 h. In this study, we examined whether basic clinical parameters (the maximum temperature and leukocyte count) of patients would predict improvement and discharge as expected, or prolonged hospitalization. Data was acquired from 198 patients admitted with acute sigmoid diverticulitis as confirmed by computed tomography (CT) scanning and physical exam. One hundred sixty-five patients recovered without surgery with an average hospital stay of 4 days: 120 were discharged within 4 days, whereas 45 patients required longer stays. Nineteen patients underwent surgery early during their admission (within 48 h). Fourteen patients did not improve over time and required surgery later during their hospital stay. The daily maximum temperature and leukocyte count of patients with prolonged stays was compared to the patients who were discharged within 4 days using analysis of variance analysis. The average maximum temperature and leukocyte count on admission were not statistically different between the groups; therefore, maximum temperature and leukocyte count on admission alone are not predictive. After the first 24 h, however, one could see a statistically significant difference in maximum temperature (p = 0.004). The leukocyte count responded significantly by hospital day 2 (p = 0.003). Both trends were significant through hospital day 4. Patients with a noticeable drop in leukocyte count and maximum temperature over the first 48 h of medical management were predictably discharged early on oral antibiotics. Patients failing to improve at 48 h required prolonged stays or surgery. By observing early trends in leukocyte count and maximum temperature of patients with diverticulitis, one can predict whether they will recover quickly as expected or if they will likely require prolonged IV antibiotics and/or surgery.
TAPESTREA: a new way to design sound

TAPESTREA is a sound design and composition framework that facilitates the creation of new sound from existing digital audio recordings, through interactive analysis, transformation and re-synthesis. During analysis, sound templates of different types are extracted using a variety of techniques. Each extracted template is transformed and synthesized independently, allowing specialized transformations on each template based on its type. The user interacts with TAPESTREA via a set of graphical interfaces that offer parametric control over every stage of analysis, transformation and re-synthesis. Synthesis is further controlled through ChucK scripts. These combined techniques form a workbench for completely transforming a sound scene, dynamically generating soundscapes, or creating musical tapestries by weaving together transformed elements from different recordings. Thus, TAPESTREA introduces a new paradigm for composition, sound design, and sonic sculpting tasks.