cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Active immunity to Pneumocystis carinii reinfection in T-cell-depleted mice.

Immunocompetent C.B-17 mice were immunized against Pneumocystis carinii by several intratracheal inoculations with infective P. carinii. These mice and another group of C.B-17 mice naive to P. carinii were then depleted of CD4+ cells by treatment with both anti-CD4 and anti-Thy1 monoclonal antibodies. Both groups of mice were then challenged with an infective inoculum containing 10(7) P. carinii organisms by intratracheal instillation. The mean log10 counts of P. carinii nuclei in the lungs of the nonimmune mice were 4.98, 5.89, and 6.77 when they were killed at 4, 10, and 19 days, respectively, after challenge. The P. carinii counts in the lungs of the immune mice were significantly lower at each time point and below detectable levels at 10 and 19 days. Analysis of P. carinii DNA by PCR revealed no detectable P. carinii in the lungs of the immunized mice at either 10 or 19 days, whereas all of the nonimmunized mice contained P. carinii DNA at all time points. The sera of immune but not nonimmune mice contained P. carinii-specific immunoglobulin G. These results indicate that immunization of an immunocompetent host against P. carinii can protect against P. carinii pneumonia even after the host is depleted of CD4+ cells. In addition, the results are consistent with the possibility that antibodies were responsible for the observed protection against P. carinii.
Saving lives with contraceptive coverage.

ecently, I viewed an infographic in the offices of the small-effect size. The average length of coverage was only 5.1 R Population Foundation of India that read: “Family planning saves women’s lives.” This simple slogan captures the profound impact that birth spacing has on preventing death in the developing world, where 479,000 women die each year because of postpartum hemorrhage. This slogan explains the reason that government support for birth spacing is so important. Birth spacing or optimal interpregnancy intervals (IPIs) is also a crucial issue in the United States, where the maternal and fetal consequences of short IPI are well-documented. Short IPIs of <6 months are at higher risk of small-for-gestational-age, preterm, and low birthweight infants, as well as maternal morbidity and death. IPIs of <12 months are at higher risk for fetal death, stillbirth, and early neonatal death. As a source of health disparities, short IPIs are associated disproportionately with being African American, Latino, <25 years old, less educated, unmarried, of higher parity, smokers, and/or without adequate or any prenatal care. Short IPIs contribute to an estimated 8% of low birthweight and preterm infants among African American and Latino mothers. The adverse consequences of short IPIs have made reducing the number of IPIs of <18 months a “Healthy People 2020: objective. Thus, family planning saves lives. These observational studies that describe the benefits of birth spacing are not new; however, helping all women achieve optimal birth intervals remains an elusive goal. In 2014, Thiel de Bocanegra et al published an article in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology that showed that contraceptive coverage through California Family Planning Access, Care, and Treatment (Family PACT) was associated with a decreased rate of IPI. Thus, a policy-level intervention led to an increased IPI. In this issue of the Journal, Rodriquez et al, and members of the previous team, take this analysis 1 step further to describe the effect of contraceptive coverage on decreasing rates of preterm birth, which in turn could prevent poor neonatal and infant outcomes. The current study actually is a study of access to insurance—a study of a supply-side intervention. Indeed, the lack of uptake of insurance and contraception might explain the
Re-irradiation of laryngeal carcinoma : techniques and results

Abstract Purpose: Occasionally in the long-term survivors of early carcinoma of the larynx, following radiation therapy a second carcinoma may arise from the previously irradiated larynx. Traditionally, management of such lesions is by non-radiation means in the belief that a further full course of radiation therapy is not possible and may exceed the tolerance of the normal laryngeal structures. Unfortunately, surgical treatment of the second carcinoma is often either total or partial laryngectomy which may not be acceptable to the patients and therefore radiation therapy is used as an alternative. Methods and Materials: This paper presents our experience in re-irradiation of laryngeal carcinomas arising from the previously irradiated larynx. As of October 1992 a total of 20 patients were available for evaluation. Most patients had Stage I and II laryngeal carcinoma and received high doses of re-irradiation ranging from 60 to 70 Gy either by conventional or accelerated hyperfractionation schemes. Results: The 5-year actuarial local control and survival rates were 60 to 93%, respectively. The majority of the survivors had relatively normal and functional larynges. Those who failed locally had total laryngectomy without significant postoperative complications. Conclusion: With this information the radiation tolerance of laryngeal structures is found to be much higher than commonly believed and re-irradiation for early carcinoma of the larynx is possible and proved to be a useful alternative to surgery and laryngectomy is therefore reserved for failure. The techniques of re-irradiation will be discussed.
Six host range variants of the xenotropic/polytropic gammaretroviruses define determinants for entry in the XPR1 cell surface receptor

Background The evolutionary interactions between retroviruses and their receptors result in adaptive selection of restriction variants that can allow natural populations to evade retrovirus infection. The mouse xenotropic/polytropic (X/PMV) gammaretroviruses rely on the XPR1 cell surface receptor for entry into host cells, and polymorphic variants of this receptor have been identified in different rodent species.
A FREE BOUNDARY PROBLEM IN AN ANNULUS

If Q is a ring region with starlike boundary components a and /?, then we show for each X > 0 there exists a ring region u C SI with 3u = «Uy,iiny = 0 such that there is a harmonic function Kin u satisfying (a) V(z) = 0 for z G a, (b) V(z) =1 for z G y, (c) | grad V(z) |= X for z G y n Q. Furthermore, we show when w is not equal to £2; that is, there is a non-trivial solution.
Differentially flat design of under-actuated planar robots: Experimental results

Control of nonlinear under-actuated systems is an area of ongoing research. In certain applications, under- actuated systems are unavoidable. For instance, a biped can not have an actuator between the foot and the ground. In industrial robots, under-actuation can minimize cost and dead weight. Differential flatness, if applicable, provides a systematic approach to plan and control feasible trajectories for such systems. Recently, the authors have formulated a philosophy to design under-actuated planar manipulators that are differentially flat [1]. The design philosophy has two sufficient conditions: (i) an inertia distribution scheme, and (ii) an actuator and torque spring placement scheme. The philosophy covers a broad range of n-DOF manipulator designs with the degree of under- actuation varying from 1 to n - 1 as opposed to under-actuation by one or two in most of the literature on under-actuated manipulators. This paper presents a 3-DOF planar manipulator designed on the basis of this philosophy and an experimental study of controllers based on its differential flatness property. It is demonstrated experimentally that the differential flatness based controllers are able to track the desired trajectories with small tracking errors even in the presence disturbances like friction, parameter uncertainty etc. It is shown via simulation that the errors observed in the trajectories can be attributed to the friction present at the unactuated joint.
Herbivory in a fragmented tropical forest: Patterns from islands at Lago Gatún, Panama

By imposing density-dependent mortality upon their hosts, specialistinsect herbivores are thought to contribute to the maintenance of tree diversityin tropical forests. Forest fragmentation may alter patterns of herbivory,however, which may have important implications for tree species diversity inforest remnants. To explore effects of fragmentation on patterns of herbivory,we assessed folivory by Lepidopteran larvae on saplings of four focal treespecies on eight artificial, forested islands at Lago Gatun, Panama. Weexplored the importance of island area, distance to larger land, exposure to dryseason winds, tree species, and season in determining proportions of new leavesdamaged by caterpillars, and proportions of leaf area lost to caterpillars,during two dry and wet seasons. We found that both measures of herbivoryincreased markedly with island area, that island isolation had no apparenteffect on herbivory, and that interactions between season and exposure, andbetween tree species and season, were important determinants of herbivory rates.In addition, we observed species-specific differences in herbivory among hostplants under various conditions imposed by fragmentation. We conclude thatpatterns of herbivory by Lepidopteran larvae are sensitive to fragmentation inthis tropical forest. Differential herbivory among the four tree speciesconsidered here may have important implications for tree species dynamics on theislands of Lago Gatun.
Reusable roadside impact attenuation devices

Advanced computer and materials technologies are employed to develop reusable, maintenance-free roadside safety hardware. These devices dissipate large amounts of kinetic energy, undergo significant deformations and strains without fracturing, and regain their original shapes and energy dissipation potentials upon removal of the impact load. It is demonstrated that computer simulation is a cost effective design optimization tool whose use can reduce the number of expensive full scale crash tests required to develop new safety hardware.
Controlled and enhanced dielectric properties of high-titanium containing LixTi0.1Ni1xO via chemical composition-tailoring

Abstract Tuning the dielectric properties via composition-tailoring is demonstrated for variable-lithium, constant-titanium co-doped nickel oxide (Li x Ti 0.1 Ni 1⿿ x O; x = 0.05⿿0.30; referred to LTNO). The effect of variable Li-content on the structure and dielectric properties of LTNO is investigated. X-ray diffraction studies confirm the formation of a cubic NiO phase in LTNO for x = 0.05⿿0.30. However, lattice parameter reduction was evident with increasing Li-content. Composition-driven giant dielectric constant (10 4 ⿿10 5 ) was observed for a higher lithium content ( x = 0.15⿿0.30) leading to realization of LTNO ceramics. The origin of the high dielectric constant observed in these low density LTNO ceramics is attributed to the Maxwell⿿Wagner polarization mechanism.
Keynote Address: Inside the United States Sentencing Commission: Federal Sentencing Policy in 2001 and Beyond

This article discusses the proposed amendments to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines sent to Congress in May 2001. It provides an insiders look into the Sentencing Commission's procedures, the creation of successful guidelines, and the difficulties of responding to the many groups affected by the Commission's decisions. In May 2001, the Commission submitted amendments to Congress that contained twenty-six topics. Amongst the topics covered were Economic Crimes, Illegal Reentry, Ecstasy Crimes, Abuse of Persons, Terrorism, and Circuit Conflicts. The specific categories of activity addressed by the amendments under each of the aforementioned headings are discussed in turn, along with justification and reasoning behind Commission decisions regarding each. The article also delineates the impetus for Guideline changes and the process of amending the Guidelines. It focuses on how proposed Guideline amendments are prepared and elucidates some of the important practices and concerns of the Commission in this process. Particularly, the article explains the computerized data systems utilized for information on sentencing and the importance of the drafting process. It also discusses the role of public input and the complex problem of maintaining proportionality in the Guidelines. Finally, the article addresses the importance of working with Congress, and discusses some issues that the Commission hopes to address in the future.
Catheter-directed thrombolysis of arterial thrombosis

Thrombotic or embolic arterial occlusive disease can lead to profound ischemia and, without emergent revascularization, is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Significant advances in the management of arterial occlusive disease range from newer thrombolytic agents to innovative catheter designs to enhance thrombolysis and thrombectomy. Most of these advances have been directed toward the management of acute limb ischemia; therefore, we review the management of limb ischemia with emphasis on endovascular interventions.
A note on the parenteral administration of starch

Very little work has been done on the question of the production of a protective amylase after the parenteral administration of starch. Most observers agree that the blood normally contains a starch-splitting enzyme. There is also abundant evidence that the term amylase is applied to a variety of starch-splitting enzymes characterized chiefly by the extent of the hydrolysis, such as the production of soluble starch, dextrins, and reducing sugars. We have found that the blood of a given animal may vary considerably from day to day, sometimes producing dextrins slowly and reducing sugars rapidly, or dextrins rapidly and reducing sugars slowly. It is evident that the study of the formation of a protective amylase after parenteral introduction of starch calls for a quantitative study of at least three phases of starch hydrolysis.We have at hand data on seven dogs. These animals have received both single and repeated intravenous injections of soluble starch. No constant or significant increase in the amylolyti...
The study of producing microbial fertilizer by fermentation which took the brewery wastewater sludge as raw material

This paper studies on producing microbial fertilizer by fermentation which took the brewery wastewater sludge as raw material.The influences of the sludge and chlorine dioxide addition,fermentation conditions and medium to the growth and reproduction of phosphorus solubilizing bacteria D-P2 were studied,by single factor and orthogonal experiments.The results showed that adding brewery wastewater sludge 60% of water,chlorine dioxide 1.0% of sludge addition,inoculation 8%,initial pH value 7.0,at 32℃ for 28h and then the effective bacteria up to 2.8×109cfu/ml,higher than the amount of national phosphorus solubilizing bacteria fertilizer standard specified.
We’ve Been Framed! A Focus on Identity and Interaction for a Better Vision of Racialized Social Movements:

Social movement scholarship has historically focused on both relative deprivation and resource mobilization theories. In recent years, the field has shifted attention to concentrate on “framing.” D...
In Vitro Electrophysiological Mapping of Stem Cells

The use of stem cells for cardiac regeneration is a revolutionary, emerging research area. For proper function as replacement tissue, stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (SC-CMs) must electrically couple with the host cardiac tissue. Electrophysiological mapping techniques, including microelectrode array (MEA) and optical mapping, have been developed to study cardiomyocytes and cardiac cell monolayers, and these can be applied to study stem cells and SC-CMs. MEA recordings take extracellular measurements at numerous points across a small area of cell cultures and are used to assess electrical propagation during cell culture. Optical mapping uses fluorescent dyes to monitor electrophysiological changes in cells, most commonly transmembrane potential and intracellular calcium, and can be easily scaled to areas of different sizes. The materials and methods for MEA and optical mapping are presented here, together with detailed notes on their use, design, and fabrication. We also provide examples of voltage and calcium maps of mouse embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (mESC-CMs), obtained in our laboratory using optical mapping techniques.
Prevention of catheter-induced urinary tract infections.

Must the urinary catheter be outlawed or do methods exist to forestall the bacteriuria and related, often dangerous, complications that almost invariably accompany its use? This symposium discusses the new approaches that are proving effective in minimizing the hazards of urinary catheterization for the great majority of patients.
NUV performance of e2v large BICMOS array for CASTOR

We have characterized the e2v CIS113 16 μm pitch 4608 x 1920 back-illuminated CMOS (BICMOS) array with near Ultraviolet (NUV) sensitization surface processing and measured its quantum efficiency over the wavelength range from 150 to 350 nm. The Cosmological Advanced Survey Telescope for Optical and UV Research (CASTOR), one of the top priorities in the Canadian astronomical community’s decadal plan, is a space-based survey mission that would provide panoramic, high-resolution imaging of 1/8th of the sky in the UV/optical (150-550 nm) spectral region. This small-satellite class mission would provide high angular resolution ultra-deep imaging in three broad filters to supplement data from planned international dark energy missions (Euclid, WFIRST) as well as from the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST). One of the leading technical risks on this mission is the UV sensitivity required to approach 26th magnitude in the near UV band. In this paper we briefly describe the architecture of this new high speed, high sensitivity CMOS detector and report on the results of our characterization and the implications for the proposed CASTOR survey mission.
Toxicological and Environmental Aspects Related to the Use of Plant Oils as Fuels

Both in Europe and in the United States programs are underway to test the feasibility of using plant-derived oils as diesel fuels, either as full replacement (Europe) or as blend with petroleum-based diesel fuel (USA). This chapter will present and discuss data about toxicological and environmental aspects related to the use of Biodiesel. Due to the lack of a sufficient number of studies with Biodiesel addressing these issues, comparisons will be made with numerous data from petroleum-based diesel studies aimed at the toxicology and potential carcinogenicity of petroleum diesel exhaust. Individual presentations will compare available data about the mutagenic potential of diesel exhaust, discuss Biodiesel fuel constituents and their relationship to exhaust constituents, and finally, evaluate their ecotoxicological impact including biodegradability and effects on aquatic/marine life. These discussions will form the basis for answering a key question: Can we provide useful information to plant scientists about relationships between harmful products in the exhaust and their fuel precursors which will aid in the breeding of genetically altered oil-producing plants yielding improved Biodiesel fuel so that undesirable exhaust constituents are minimized?
Oromotor Dyspraxia in Benign Childhood Epilepsy

A six year old right handed boy with prolonged intermittent drooling, oromotor dyspraxia, and benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes is reported from the Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Centre Hospitalier, Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland.
On the utility death spiral and the impact of utility rate structures on the adoption of residential solar photovoltaics and energy storage

Abstract Today, many electric utilities are changing their pricing structures to address the rapidly-growing market for residential photovoltaic (PV) and electricity storage technologies. Little is known about how the new utility pricing structures will affect the adoption rates of these technologies, as well as the ability of utilities to prevent widespread grid defection. We present a system dynamics model that predicts the retail price of electricity and the adoption rates of residential solar photovoltaic and energy storage systems. Simulations are run from the present day to the year 2050 using three different utility business models: net metering, wholesale compensation, and demand charge. Validation results, initialized with historical data for three different cities, agree well with expert forecasts for the retail price of electricity. Sensitivity analyses are conducted to investigate the likelihood of a “utility death spiral”, which is a catastrophic loss of business due to widespread grid-defection. Results indicate that a utility death spiral requires a perfect storm of high intrinsic adoption rates, rising utility costs, and favorable customer financials. Interestingly, the model indicates that pricing structures that reduce distributed generation compensation support grid defection, whereas pricing structures that reward distributed generation (such as net metering) also reduce grid defection and the risk of a death spiral.
We are cosmic nomads

The Greek philosopher Heraclitus (535–475 BC) founded a philosophy on the premise that everything is in a state of "flux" (Τα παντα ρη) or, more loosely, "everything flows".
Model Uncertainty Effect on Asset Prices

We develop a weighted‐average approach of pricing under model uncertainty, where several plausible models are considered instead of a perfect one. The model uncertainty effect from this weighted‐average approach is significantly different from the conventional wisdom, in which the true price must be bounded by prices in all plausible models. We identify under what circumstances the model uncertainty effect is significant and reveal serious risk management challenges for researchers, regulators, and market participants.
The role of X(p) constraints in linear, extremal inversion of explosion profile data

abstract We demonstrate the utility of imposing epicentral distance constraints upon the delay time extremal inverse problem. The inference of delay times from a seismic profile is straightforward and stable since the association of these times with specific ray parameters is unnecessary. The estimation of distance data at specific ray parameters is a much noisier and unstable process, but can provide coarse constraints upon the inverse problem. These distance data act as linear smoothing constraints upon the delay time inverse problem. Furthermore, if a triplication exists in the observed travel-time data, the requirement of such a triplication can be imposed upon the extremal inverse problem using linear programming. Travel-time data from Eastern Iceland and the Pacific Basin are used to demonstrate the value of these constraints.
The nature of forestry.

The author identifies the primary purpose of forests as the improvement of the life-quality of humankind through the control and management of trees and their associated ecosytems. The various elements of the science of forestry are outlined and the economic and social aspects of the forest industries are explained. The issues around valuation of forestry, including the most suitable approach to valuation, are discussed and the author concludes that State investment in forestry is commercially justified in itself even before social values are considered.
A Compatibility Approach to Identify Recombination Breakpoints in Bacterial and Viral Genomes

Recombination is an evolutionary force that results in mosaic genomes for microorganisms. The evolutionary history of microorganisms cannot be properly inferred if recombination has occurred among a set of taxa. That is, polymorphic sites of a multiple sequence alignment cannot be described by a single phylogenetic tree. Thus, detecting the presence of recombination is crucial before phylogeny inference. The phylogenetic-based methods are commonly utilized to explore recombination, however, the compatibility-based methods are more computationally efficient since the phylogeny construction is not required. We propose a novel approach focusing on the pairwise compatibility of polymorphic sites of given regions to characterize potential breakpoints in recombinant bacterial and viral genomes. The performance of average compatibility ratio (ACR) approach is evaluated on simulated alignments of different scenarios comparing with two programs, GARD and RDP4. Three empirical datasets of varying genome sizes with varying levels of homoplasy are also utilized for testing. The results demonstrate that our approach is able to detect the presence of recombination and identify the recombinant breakpoints efficiently, which provides a better understanding of distinct phylogenies among mosaic sequences.
Screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) curriculum integration and sustainability: Social work and nursing faculty perspectives

ABSTRACTBackground: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has funded grants to universities to provide training and conduct research on the dissemination of screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) to health care professionals. However, when it comes to integrating SBIRT content into an existing curriculum, difficulties can arise. When there is so much content already in the curriculum, adding more can be challenging. Additionally, some faculty believe that course curricula should be driven by the expertise and knowledge of faculty, not by opportunities afforded because of grant funding. Methods: Using qualitative semistructured faculty interviews and thematic data analysis, this study explored the process and content issues surrounding the integration of SBIRT content into the Master of Social Work (MSW) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) curricula at one university. Results: Guidelines for the successful integration of SBIRT content into MSW a...
Huntington modeling improves with age.

Direct conversion of adult Huntington’s disease patient fibroblasts into medium spiny neurons recapitulates hallmark phenotypes such as cell death, in contrast to models that lack epigenetic markers of aging. This successful ‘disease-in-a-dish’ highlights the benefits of capturing age in an adult-onset disorder model.
Camptothecin Efficacy to Poison Top1 Is Altered by Bisphenol A in Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is used heavily in the production of polycarbonate plastics, thermal receipt paper, and epoxies. Ubiquitous exposure to BPA has been linked to obesity, diabetes, and breast and reproductive system cancers. Resistance to chemotherapeutic agents has also been shown in cancer cell models. Here, we investigated BPA’s ability to confer resistance to camptothecin (CPT) in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). MEFs are sensitive to CPT; however, co-exposure of BPA with CPT improved cell survival. Co-exposure significantly reduced Top1-DNA adducts, decreasing chromosomal aberrations and DNA strand break formation. This decrease occurs despite BPA treatment increasing the protein levels of Top1. By examining chromatin structure after BPA exposure, we determined that widespread compaction and loss of nuclear volume occurs. Therefore, BPA reduced CPT activity by reducing the accessibility of DNA to Top1, inhibiting DNA adduct formation, the generation of toxic DNA strand breaks, and improving cell su...
Community Processes: Warning and Evacuation

Almost every day people evacuate from their homes, businesses or other sites, and even ships in response to actual or predicted threats or hazards. Evacuation is the primary protective action utilized in large-scale disasters such as hurricanes, floods, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, releases of hazardous or nuclear materials, and high-rise building fires and explosions. Although often precautionary, protecting human lives by withdrawing populations during times of threat remains a major emergency management strategy. There have been some instances in which removal of property and livestock to safer places has been a major evacuation activity for some businesses such as automobile or boat dealers or specialty farm managers, but these evacuation activities lack systematic validation. Although there is some excellent research on evacuation behavior in other countries, such as the Holland floods in the early 1950s, the focus of this chapter is on evacuation behavior in the United States.
Optimizing graph algorithms on pregel-like systems

We study the problem of implementing graph algorithms efficiently on Pregel-like systems, which can be surprisingly challenging. Standard graph algorithms in this setting can incur unnecessary inefficiencies such as slow convergence or high communication or computation cost, typically due to structural properties of the input graphs such as large diameters or skew in component sizes. We describe several optimization techniques to address these inefficiencies. Our most general technique is based on the idea of performing some serial computation on a tiny fraction of the input graph, complementing Pregel's vertex-centric parallelism. We base our study on thorough implementations of several fundamental graph algorithms, some of which have, to the best of our knowledge, not been implemented on Pregel-like systems before. The algorithms and optimizations we describe are fully implemented in our open-source Pregel implementation. We present detailed experiments showing that our optimization techniques improve runtime significantly on a variety of very large graph datasets.
Development of Thermoregulation

Animals live in a world in which the ambient temperature may fluctuate over the course of minutes or seasons. The young of various species and of different ages within species use diverse strategies to maintain their thermal homeostasis. Neonatal thermoregulation may involve physiological and/or behavioral responses, not only by the offspring, but by the parent as well. The development of thermoregulation therefore may be understood best by an analysis of the interactions between mother and young.
The Impact of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Technology and Education on Academic Research

Surveys of institutional representatives of member institutions and faculty members engaged in the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Technology and Education (NIPTE) revealed that NIPTE is having a positive impact on academic research in the area of pharmaceutical technology by aligning research directions with FDA needs, by providing funding that may not be available elsewhere, and by creating a collegial and collaborative relationship among researchers in this area from various institutions. NIPTE is contributing to the viability of pharmaceutics and pharmaceutical engineering research in academic settings. Some responders cite the fluctuations in funding and relative low levels of funding received as a problem in maintaining programs, but most perceived a positive impact.
Early clinical results with the Tendyne transcatheter mitral valve replacement system

Transcatheter mitral valve replacement is an emerging technology for the treatment of mitral valve regurgitation. Numerous devices are in development and in various stages of clinical investigation. The Tendyne system (Tendyne Holdings, LLC, a subsidiary of Abbott Vascular, Roseville, Minnesota) is a fully repositionable and retrievable, transapical transcatheter mitral valve replacement platform. The results of the early feasibility studies in the U.S. are highly encouraging and a pivotal randomized trial is underway. The Tendyne transcatheter mitral valve replacement valve may prove to be a safe, less invasive approach to treatment of mitral valve disease.
Loss of TNFAIP3 enhances MYD88L265P-driven signaling in non-Hodgkin lymphoma

MYD88 mutations are one of the most recurrent mutations in hematologic malignancies. However, recent mouse models suggest that MYD88L265P alone may not be sufficient to induce tumor formation. Interplay between MYD88L265P and other genetic events is further supported by the fact that TNFAIP3 (A20) inactivation often accompanies MYD88L265P. However, we are still lacking information about the consequence of MYD88L265P in combination with TNFAIP3 loss in human B cell lymphoma. Review of our genetic data on diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM), found that a large percentage of DLBCL and WM cases that have a MYD88 mutation also harbor a TNFAIP3 loss, 55% DLBCL and 28% of WM, respectively. To mimic this combination of genetic events, we used genomic editing technology to knock out TNFAIP3 in MYD88L265P non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) cell lines. Loss of A20 expression resulted in increased NF-κB and p38 activity leading to upregulation of the NF-κB target genes BCL2 and MYC. Furthermore, we detected the increased production of IL-6 and CXCL10 which led to an upregulation of the JAK/STAT pathway. Overall, these results suggest that MYD88L265P signaling can be enhanced by a second genetic alteration in TNFAIP3 and highlights a potential opportunity for therapeutic targeting.
A Robust Patterning Technique for Electron Microscopy-Based Digital Image Correlation at Sub-Micron Resolutions

Digital image correlation of scanning electron microscope images is a powerful technique for measuring full-field deformation at microstructural length scales. A major challenge in applying this technique is the fabrication of speckle patterns small enough to facilitate full-field measurements with high spatial resolutions and at high magnifications. Current approaches are inconsistent, damaging to the substrate, or highly substrate dependent, which requires researchers to recalibrate or develop new patterning approaches when changing materials systems. Here, multi-layered Au, Ti, and Ag sputtered coatings are reconfigured in a NaCl solution to quickly form DIC-appropriate speckle patterns. Our proposed technique is shown to be substrate independent, as demonstrated on neat epoxy, Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy, and tetragonal zirconia polycrystal samples, and allows for controllable particle distributions by varying the sputtered Ag layer thickness. Patterns produced by the proposed technique enable the use of correlation window (subset) sizes smaller than 1 μm, small enough to capture highly localized deformation gradients at material discontinuities areas. Capabilities of this method in characterizing highly heterogeneous deformation conditions at sub-micron scales are demonstrated by measuring localized deformations in a single fiber model composite system.
The Problems of Teaching Administrative Law: We Can't Solve Them Alone

This piece describes some of the difficulties in teaching Administrative Law and offers suggestions on how to solve them.
Effect of rain leakage on hygrothermal performance of highly insulated wood-framed walls: a stochastic approach1

Wind-driven rain is one of the most important moisture sources that may lead to moisture damage risks of building envelopes, particularly when the rainwater unintentionally infiltrates into the env...
From Civic Virtue to the Informal Sphere

Democratic governance—whether within or beyond national borders—depends not just on robust formal institutions, but also on the existence of some form of solidarity outside of them. Philosophers have developed two methodological tendencies in analyzing extra-institutional life: individualistic civic virtue approaches and more holistic informal sphere approaches. Understanding democratic solidarity in terms of civic virtue is inadequate for modern, complex societies, however. Rather than putting forward ideals of individual character, theorists should articulate principles of democratic solidarity for the informal sphere: the complex web of social relations, statuses, and interactions that emerge in everyday life.
Chapter 8 – Influenza Forensics

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the biological features of influenza that have repeatedly allowed outbreaks to emerge undetected. It first briefly reviews influenza genetics and evolution and then reviews those aspects of human and swine influenza evolution during the past century required to frame the current knowledge of the origin of the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic. It also provides an overview of symptoms, diagnostics, surveillance, and techniques of molecular evolution and phylogenetics required to study the origin and spread of new strains and finishes by considering how current forensic techniques would suffice in the investigation of a criminal release. The influenza viruses comprise three genera in the family Orthomyxoviridae. The genera are, in practice, referred to as “types” A, B, and C. However, in terms of their potential to cause harm to humans, the influenza viruses can be divided into two categories. An influenza virus need not be unusually deadly to cause harm. The current 2009 H1N1 pandemic serves as an example of the social and economic disruption that can ensue from any outbreak of a novel influenza strain. The H1N1 2009 pandemic tested our capacity for influenza outbreak investigation at a time when a relative wealth of forensic technology was at our disposal. Nonetheless, the origin of the H1N1 2009 virus remains unknown, as are the exact origins of all past influenza pandemic strains.
The metabolic and performance effects of carbohydrate timing in resistance trained males undergoing a carbohydrate restricted diet.

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the importance of carbohydrate (CHO) timing while consuming a carbohydrate restricted diet (CRD) and completing a high-intensity exercise program. E...
Ergonomics in the Unit: Modeling the Environment Around the Endoscopist

Abstract Strain and injury related to endoscopy are frequently reported. Recent studies have shown that female gender may be independently associated with musculoskeletal injury (MSI). Incorporation of ergonomic principles into endoscopic practice helps to prevent MSI caused by sustained high force exertion, awkward postures, and repetitive motion. The strategies that can be implemented in the endoscopy unit to minimize injury risk and create a safe environment include: ergonomic endoscope instrument redesign, integrating adjustable elements into the endoscopy suite, providing supportive equipment, and implementing an ergonomic checklist and time out into the work flow. Additionally, an ergonomic approach to endoscopy while pregnant can help address new musculoskeletal challenges. This article reviews ergonomic issues arising in endoscopy with a focus on women in the field.
Time for Clinic: Fourth-Year Primary Care Exposure and Clinic Preparedness Among Internal Medicine Interns.

Internal medicine (IM) residency graduates consistently report being less prepared for outpatient practice than inpatient medicine. Although an initial study suggested interns arriving for IM residency reported low levels of preparedness for continuity clinic, the impact of education and experience during the undergraduate medical education to graduate medical education transition on ambulatory training is unclear. To describe end of medical school primary care exposure among entering IM interns and its association with self-assessed preparedness for residency continuity clinic. Cross-sectional survey of 161 entering IM interns in 2019. Entering interns at four geographically diverse IM residency programs (University of Chicago, University of North Carolina, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Washington), representing 81 US medical schools. A total of 139 interns (86%) responded to the survey. Surveyed interns reported a median of zero days of general internal medicine (GIM) clinic (interquartile range [IQR]: 0–20 days) and 2.5 days of multispecialty adult primary care (IQR: 0–26.5 days) during fourth year of medical school. The median last exposure to primary care was 13 months prior to internship (IQR: 7–18 months). Interns who rated themselves as prepared for primary care clinic reported a median of twenty more multispecialty adult primary care days (20 vs. 0 days; p < 0.01) and fourteen more GIM clinic days (14 vs. 0 days; p < 0.01) than their unprepared counterparts. The experiences were also more recent, with six fewer months between their last multispecialty adult primary care exposure and the start of internship (9 vs. 15 months; p < 0.01). The majority of incoming IM interns had no primary care training during the fourth year of medical school. At the start of residency, IM interns who felt more prepared for their primary care clinic reported more recent and more numerous primary care experiences.
Hack for Hire: Investigating the emerging black market of retail email account hacking services

Hack-for-hire services charging $100-$400 per contract were found to produce sophisticated, persistent, and personalized attacks that were able to bypass 2FA via phishing. The demand for these services, however, appears to be limited to a niche market, as evidenced by the small number of discoverable services, an even smaller number of successful services, and the fact that these attackers target only about one in a million Google users.
Recent advances in the synthesis and applications of magnetic polymer nanocomposites

Abstract The rapid growth of the global population, urbanization, and environmental awareness resulted in a significant increase of the demand for clean water. As a result, water pollution associated with industrial activities became a major global concern, and organic pollutants in addition to heavy metals are the main culprits when it comes to industrial waste. Significant advancements were achieved in the last two decades in wastewater purification techniques, and among them, the use of solid adsorbents is probably the process that attracts the most scientific interests. This technique has the advantage of being simple and efficient while remaining cost-effective. This review provides an overview on the different synthesis methods of magnetic particles and corresponding polymer nanocomposites, as well as recent advances in the use of these adsorbents in water decontamination. The deficiencies and challenges pertaining to the application of this type of adsorbent materials at large industrial scales are highlighted and recommendations for future research focus areas are suggested.
I text for I COUGH: A clinical pilot study to evaluate the impact of text messaging upon postoperative ambulation in the hospital

Abstract Background The “I COUGH” protocol is associated with improved postoperative pulmonary outcomes, and ambulation is an essential component. I COUGH is an acronym for Incentive spirometry, Coughing, Oral care, Understanding (patient and staff education), Getting-out-of-bed, and Head-of-bed elevation. This trial sought to enhance one component, specifically ambulation after operations. Methods Randomized trial of inpatients in a safety-net, academic medical center. The intervention group received standard I COUGH education along with text message reminders to ambulate postoperatively, whereas the control group received standard education alone. Postoperative walking frequency was compared to each participant’s ambulation on the day prior to enrollment. Results The intervention group had an average improvement of 1.8 ± 1.8 walks per day per patient, while the average change for the control group was 0.2 ± 1.0 walks per day per patient. This represents a 9-fold increase in ambulation for the intervention group (p = 0.03). Conclusions Implementation of text message reminders increased ambulation and improved adherence to the I COUGH protocol following operations. This system should be further investigated as an adjunct to postoperative care.
How People Judge Institutional Corruption

Institutional corruption refers to actions that are legal yet carry negative consequences for the greater good. Such legal yet harmful behaviors have been observed among politicians and donors who establish quid-pro-quo relationships in exchange for money and among doctors who receive gifts from pharmaceutical companies in return for recommending the companies’ drugs. How does the general public reconcile the tension between the legal status of an action and its impact on the greater good and judge the action’s moral acceptability? We explored this question empirically by comparing the relative weight people give to the legal status of actions and to the impact of actions when judging moral acceptability. Results show that people unequivocally rely on legal status and ignore the impact of the actions. We conclude that people outsource their moral judgments to the law. The law does not simply reflect people’s sense of corruption but determines it. Together, our research suggests a surprising and ironic role for the law: that it diminishes independent, critical thinking.
Leveraging quorum sensing to manipulate microbial dynamics

Abstract Quorum sensing allows bacteria to coordinate social behavior by detecting and responding to population density. Although there is large diversity in quorum-sensing signals, these networks, which commonly modulate virulence, have consequently become a promising target to mitigate pathogens. Quorum-sensing inhibitors and quorum-quenching enzymes have both been proposed as promising antivirulence therapies, and recent efforts have engineered inhibitors with subnanomolar activity. Studies elucidating quorum-sensing mechanisms have also enabled reprogramming of these systems to engineer synthetic microbial consortia with robust dynamics, enabling interkingdom signaling by engineering mammalian cells to detect quorum-sensing–mediated virulence. This review discusses recent advancements in repurposing quorum sensing to engineer novel multicellular behavior and new therapeutic strategies.
The impact of community work: how to gather evidence

The Impact of Community Work: How to Gather Evidence is an impressive integration of theory and practice guiding community workers through the rationale, methods, and ethics for assessing community...
A comparison of non-traditional online and traditional wet-lab experiences in human anatomy and physiology: An innovative approach for pre-licensure nursing education.

Abstract Background The contributions of student laboratory experiences to student learning in pre-licensure science classes are not well understood. Despite the generally accepted premise that traditional hands-on laboratory experiences are essential to knowledge construction and superior to non-traditional online experiences, the literature suggests that both experiences promote equal levels of student learning. Objectives We compared academic performance of students enrolled in a Human Anatomy and Physiology II course with hands-on laboratory to that of students enrolled in the same course but with online laboratory by examining several measures of student learning. Design and participants This was a quasi-experimental study of undergraduate students aged 18–22 years enrolled in equivalent human anatomy and physiology courses on two separate campuses of a private research university in the United States. One course was associated with hands-on laboratory while the other course was associated with online laboratory. Methods The Human Anatomy and Physiology Society standardized exam was administered as a pre-test/post-test assessment at the beginning and end of the academic year. Lecture exam scores, laboratory exam scores, and overall course grades served as measures of student learning. Comparisons of student performance between hands-on and online laboratory groups were made using t-tests. Results Student performance on the pre-test and overall course grades from Human Anatomy and Physiology (part I) were not different between groups. While students in the online lab group did earn significantly higher Human Anatomy and Physiology (part II) course grades, their performance on lecture exams, laboratory exams, and the post-test assessment was not different. Conclusions Students in a pre-licensure prerequisite course with online laboratory demonstrated mastery of basic science concepts equal to or better than students in the same course with traditional hands-on laboratory. Online laboratory experiences may represent an appropriate, accessible and cost-effective teaching modality for pre-licensure coursework.