cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Complex coacervation of supercharged proteins with polyelectrolytes

Complexation of proteins with polyelectrolytes or block copolymers can lead to phase separation to generate a coacervate phase or self-assembly of coacervate core micelles. However, many proteins do not coacervate at conditions near neutral pH and physiological ionic strength. Here, protein supercharging is used to systematically explore the effect of protein charge on the complex coacervation with polycations. Four model proteins were anionically supercharged to varying degrees as quantified by mass spectrometry. Proteins phase separated with strong polycations when the ratio of negatively charged residues to positively charged residues on the protein (α) was greater than 1.1-1.2. Efficient partitioning of the protein into the coacervate phase required larger α (1.5-2.0). The preferred charge ratio for coacervation was shifted away from charge symmetry for three of the four model proteins and indicated an excess of positive charge in the coacervate phase. The composition of protein and polymer in the coacervate phase was determined using fluorescently labeled components, revealing that several of the coacervates likely have both induced charging and a macromolecular charge imbalance. The model proteins were also encapsulated in complex coacervate core micelles and micelles formed when the protein charge ratio α was greater than 1.3-1.4. Small angle neutron scattering and transmission electron microscopy showed that the micelles were spherical. The stability of the coacervate phase in both the bulk and micelles improved to increased ionic strength as the net charge on the protein increased. The micelles were also stable to dehydration and elevated temperatures.
Occupation-centred, occupation-based, occupation-focused: Same, same or different?: Previously published in Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy 2013; 20: 162–173

Background: Since the beginning of the occupational therapy profession, engagement in occupation has been valued as the primary therapeutic agent as well as the goal of intervention. While there are few today who would not support this idea, occupational therapists continue to struggle with implementing their beliefs through “what we do” and “how we do it”. Contributing to this problem is their failure to use terminology in a manner that clearly defines what and how occupational therapists do what they do in occupational therapy research, education, and practice. Methods: The author will, therefore, first discuss some key occupational therapy terms and propose that they represent an occupation-related taxonomy that can be used to more clearly define and describe for occupational therapists and others what they do and how they do what they do as occupational therapists. Then, with a goal of fostering critical self-reflection among occupational scientists and occupational therapy researchers, educat...
Draft Genome Sequences of 53 Genetically Distinct Isolates of Bordetella bronchiseptica Representing 11 Terrestrial and Aquatic Hosts.

ABSTRACT Bordetella bronchiseptica infects a variety of mammalian and avian hosts. Here, we report the genome sequences of 53 genetically distinct isolates acquired from a broad range of terrestrial and aquatic animals. These data will greatly facilitate ongoing efforts to better understand the evolution, host adaptation, and virulence mechanisms of B. bronchiseptica.
Extreme Vehicle Loads on Bridges: Evaluating and Regulating Farm Equipment in Wisconsin

In May 2014, the Wisconsin legislature passed Act 377. Among other things, the act creates an increased weight allowance for vehicles classified as implements of husbandry (IoH), known to most simply as farm vehicles. These vehicles, which are both large and heavy, were designed for use in the field, but in today’s modern infrastructure, they must sometimes navigate roads and bridges as well. The increased weight allowance is a modification of the federal bridge formula (FBF). It allows IoH to operate at 15% above FBF limitations for both axle and gross weights. The act includes partial exemptions for certain implements and creates a permitting structure for implements that exceed the stated limits. The act attempts to strike a balance between the needs of the farming community in Wisconsin and the effects of heavy vehicles on the inventory bridges in the state. In this paper, the work done by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Structures to render a structural recommendation concernin...
The Colonial Pygmalion: Unsettling Dinesen in Out of Africa

This paper explores the atavistic and feudal historical fantasies that structure Isak Dinesen’s 1937 memoir, Out of Africa . It analyses the imagery and symbolic logic of the memoir in conjunction with Dinesen’s letters from Africa in order to examine how Dinesen derives an idiom to speak of Africa that synthesizes the social structures of European feudalism, the discourse of the noble savage and the aesthetics of the sublime. The paper seeks to unpack the conundrum that fashions a modern, emancipated female subjectivity from the anachronistic paradigm of feudalism and within the framework of imperial domination and colonial occupation. The paper explores how Dinesen’s feudal idiom extends the genre of European pastoral to the colonial milieu and places it in the service of a larger search for a discourse of legitimacy. I argue that this is an abiding preoccupation of colonial literature. I analyze in detail the specular logic through which the narrator confronts Africa as a space that alternately panders to or challenges the psycho-political narcissism of the settler. Dinesen’s memoir reveals the myriad operations of the narcissistic structure through which the narrator strives to fill the copula of the question, “What is Africa to you or you to Africa?”
Characterization of a plasma deflagration accelerator as an ELM replicator for PFC testing

Transient events in fusion power plants such as DEMO and ITER are known to pose a severe threat to plasma facing components (PFCs) due to melting and erosion after repeated edge localized mode (ELM) loads. Experimental testing in situ of potential PFC materials at fusion relevant conditions is difficult and expensive, and no facility currently in operation accurately replicates the salient plasma environment. At Stanford University, an experimental facility designed to mimic the heat flux, particle fluence, and other key characteristics of ELMs and disruption events in a controlled setting is under development. A pulsed plasma accelerator operating in the deflagration mode is used to generate high velocity (40–100 km/s) directed plasma jets that are stagnated on target material samples. In this work, we present probe data characterizing the plasma parameters of the accelerated plume using hydrogen as the working gas, as well as preliminary target studies of copper tokens exposed to pulses at various total and peak shot energies. Results from the probe analysis indicate achieved energy fluxes and heat flux parameters that are ELM-like, and the observed damage morphologies on the witness plates indicate that initial surface roughness plays a significant role in the growth and characteristics of surface melt patterns.
A dendrimer-like DNA-based vector for DNA delivery: a viral and nonviral hybrid approach

DNA can be used as a generic delivery vector in addition to its genetic role as a antigen expression vector. This is inspired in part by the fact that DNA molecules are true polymers. Surprisingly, DNA molecules have not been used as a delivery vector material. This is probably due to the fact that almost all DNA have only two shapes: linear or circular. This chapter details our efforts in fabricating highly branched dendrimer-like DNA (DL-DNA) that may serve as a multivalent DNA delivery vector. Just like chemical dendrimers, DL-DNA is multi-valent and monodisperse. However, unlike traditional chemical dendrimers, DL-DNA is much larger (~100 nm, generation 4) and can be designed to be nonsymmetric as well. Most importantly, DL-DNA possesses two unique properties: anisotropicity and biodegradability, making multiple, specific conjugations of viral peptides possible. Our method suggests that viral-pep-tide conjugated DL-DNA vectors can deliver genes into cells without any other transfection reagents. This viral-nonviral hybrid system can be further tailored to specific cells by conjugating specific ligands. We believe that such a DL-DNA-based, viral, and nonviral hybrid assembly will provide a new platform for drug delivery in general and gene delivery in particular.
Malignant Narcissism and the Toxic Family

Chapter 3 documents the ways in which the repression and oppression of gender conformity and the class system under patriarchy have rendered the nuclear family as a toxic site of repression where malignant narcissists often reign and destroy themselves—as well as those around them. By invoking disruptive feminism, one can see the effects of malignant narcissism in toxic families in Child’s Pose, a Romanian film directed by Calin Peter Netzer; Bottled Up directed by Enid Zentelis, an independent American film that stars Melissa Leo as an enabler of her drug-addled daughter; Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia, another example of feminist dismantling of narcissism in families under patriarchy.
Influence of intrinsic kink-like defects on screw dislocation - coherent twin boundary interactions in copper

Abstract The interaction mechanisms between a dislocation and a twin boundary in nanotwinned face-centered cubic metals are well understood in terms of perfect coherent interfaces. Processes involving intrinsic incoherent twin boundary defects, however, remain largely unexplored, despite recent evidence suggesting that imperfect twin boundaries containing short kink-like step defects contribute notably to plastic deformation and twin stability in large nanotwinned grains. Here, molecular dynamics simulation is used to study the underlying interaction of screw dislocations with either 0° or 60° atomic-scale kink twin boundary defects, in order to understand how the presence of imperfect twin boundaries can alter hardening and ductility mechanisms in nanotwinned copper. It is found that kinked twin boundaries are effective in changing the mechanisms from direct dislocation transmission to dislocation absorption when the applied shear strain exceeds 1.06%, with pronounced hardening arising from such transformation. Hardening by dislocation pinning from individual kink steps is also manifest for 60° intersections. On the contrary, twin boundary defects produce no hardening at low applied strains when dislocation absorption at the twin boundary is already prevailing.
Small Things Considered

Though seawater looks uniform to our eyes, it is actually highly heterogeneous, containing vast amounts of microscopic particles, fluctuating chemical and nutri-ent gradients, and 1 billion or so diverse microbial organisms per liter. Turbu-lence, diffusion, thermal mixing, and currents add to the patchiness of ocean water, churning and stirring molecular-sized resources. Near the coastal oceans and in estuaries, especially at higher lati-tudes that have distinct seasons, varying sources of dissolved organic compounds make microgradients even more pro-nounced: during times of high river discharge, a coastal environment can become inundated with resources from washed-out terrestrial matter, often leading to phytoplankton blooms.
Conversation Analysis and Language/Literacy Teacher Identity Construction in Interviews

Ethnomethodology (EM) is an approach through which researchers consider the meaning making behind everyday activities. Related to EM, Conversation Analysis (CA) uses specific transcription conventions to examine social interaction in talk. Through an EM-informed CA approach, this chapter applies CA conventions to interviews with novice language/literacy teachers. Their verbal efforts to construct teacher identities that focused on social justice-oriented education serve as the context through which we examine methodological concepts such as turn-taking, voice inflection, and narrative constructions in relation to CA.
Amiodarone Discontinuation or Dose Reduction Following Catheter Ablation for Ventricular Tachycardia in Structural Heart Disease

Abstract Objectives This study sought to examine long-term outcomes in patients with structural heart disease in whom amiodarone was reduced/discontinued after ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation. Background VT in patients with structural heart disease increases morbidity and mortality. Amiodarone can decrease VT burden, but long-term use may result in organ toxicities and possibly increased mortality. Catheter ablation can also decrease VT burden. Whether amiodarone can be safely reduced/discontinued following ablation remains unknown. Methods We studied consecutive patients undergoing VT ablation from 2008 to 2011, typically followed by noninvasive programmed stimulation several days later. Patients were divided into 3 groups by amiodarone use: group A—amiodarone reduced/discontinued following ablation; group B—amiodarone not reduced; group C—not on amiodarone at time of ablation. Baseline characteristics and outcomes were compared between groups. Results Overall, 231 patients (90% male; mean age: 63.4 ± 12.9 years; 53.7% ischemic cardiomyopathy) were included (group A: 99 patients; group B: 29 patients; group C: 103 patients). Group B patients were older with more advanced heart failure. Group A patients less frequently had inducible VT at the end of ablation or noninvasive programmed stimulation. In follow-up, 1-year VT-free survival was similar between groups (p = 0.10). Mortality was highest in group B (p Conclusions After successful VT ablation, as confirmed by noninducibility at the end of ablation and noninvasive programmed stimulation, amiodarone may be safely reduced/discontinued without an unacceptable increase in VT recurrence. Reduction/discontinuation of amiodarone should be considered an important goal of VT ablation.
Fiber Optic Biosensors for Bacterial Detection

Rapid and specific identification of bacteria is critical for clinical and biosafety applications. Fiber optic biosensors (FOBs) are increasingly being applied to the detection of bacteria in food and water supplies, food processing facilities, and homeland security operations. These biosensors can be used for multiplexed pathogen detection or to confirm the results of other techniques, often in less than one hour. FOBs offer several advantages over conventional culture-based techniques, or polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays, in terms of speed, specificity, and depth of information content. In addition, some sensor platforms have been developed into portable systems capable of emergency field deployment. In this chapter, we will discuss the detection of bacteria using fiber optic immunosensors, nucleic acid-based FOBs in various assay formats, and several applications of these technologies.
The etiology of breast cancer--from epidemiology to prevention.

Breast cancer is likely caused by the interaction of exposure to environmental carcinogens at an early age, resulting in initiation of neoplastic transformation and growth factors that determine the likelihood of progression to clinical disease. The environmental carcinogens are numerous (each contributing relatively little to overall risk) and probably interact with genetic "host susceptibility". Most women probably have subclinical breast cancer. The growth of the breast cancer is related to sex-hormone levels at the breast and stimulation of local growth factors. Genetic factors (i.e. host susceptibility including polymorphisms related to the enzymes that affect hormone levels, estrogen/progesterone receptors, and protein synthesis) are probably very important. Reproductive and menstrual patterning during the premenopause, especially related to pregnancy, menstrual cycling and lactation are very important determinants of the risks of breast cancer. More attention needs to be placed on the determinants of menstrual cycling and hormone levels in premenopausal women, especially the relationship of obesity, fat distribution and exercise. The degree of obesity, age at onset of obesity, weight gain (peri- to postmenopausal), and possibly body fat distribution are the major determinants of postmenopausal estrogen levels are key risk factors for postmenopausal breast cancer. Dietary fat, fiber, and perhaps other nutrients, also contribute to blood estrogen levels. Other hormones, especially insulin and insulin-like growth factors, and possibly testosterone and androgens, may also contribute to the increased risk of breast cancer. The reduction of breast cancer incidence and mortality will depend, primarily, on modifications of women's lifestyles which would move them from higher to lower estrogen characteristics.
List-only Entity Linking

Traditional Entity Linking (EL) technologies rely on rich structures and properties in the target knowledge base (KB). However, in many applications, the KB may be as simple and sparse as lists of names of the same type (e.g., lists of products). We call it as List-only Entity Linking problem. Fortunately, some mentions may have more cues for linking, which can be used as seed mentions to bridge other mentions and the uninformative entities. In this work, we select most linkable mentions as seed mentions and disambiguate other mentions by comparing them with the seed mentions rather than directly with the entities. Our experiments on linking mentions to seven automatically mined lists show promising results and demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach.
Rescue Diverting Loop Ileostomy: An Alternative to Emergent Colectomy in the Setting of Severe Acute Refractory IBD-Colitis.

Background Severe acute refractory colitis has traditionally been an indication for emergent colectomy in IBD, yet under these circumstances patients are at elevated risk for complications because of their heightened inflammatory state, nutritional deficiencies, and immunocompromised state. Objective We hypothesized that rescue diverting loop ileostomy may be a viable alternative to emergent colectomy, providing the opportunity for colonic healing and patient optimization before more definitive surgery. Design This was a retrospective case series. Settings The study was conducted at a single academic center. Patients Patients with severe acute medically refractory IBD-related colitis were included. Intervention Rescue diverting loop ileostomy was the intervening procedure. Main outcome measures The primary outcome was avoidance of urgent/emergent colectomy. The secondary outcome was efficacy, defined by 3 clinical aims: 1) reduced steroid dependence or opportunity for bridge to medical rescue, 2) improved nutritional status, and 3) ability to undergo an elective laparoscopic definitive procedure or ileostomy reversal with colon salvage. Results Among 33 patients, 14 had Crohn's disease and 19 had ulcerative colitis. Three patients required urgent/emergent colectomy, 2 with ulcerative colitis and 1 with Crohn's disease. Across both disease cohorts, >80% of patients achieved each clinical aim for efficacy: 88% reduced their steroid dependence or were able to bridge to medical rescue, 87% improved their nutritional status, and 82% underwent an elective laparoscopic definitive procedure or ileostomy reversal. A total of 4 patients (11.7%) experienced a postoperative complication following diversion, including 3 surgical site infections and 1 episode of acute kidney injury. Limitations The study was limited by being a single-center, retrospective series. Conclusions Rescue diverting loop ileostomy in the setting of severe, refractory IBD-colitis is a safe and effective alternative to emergent colectomy. This procedure has acceptably low complication rates and affords patients time for medical and nutritional optimization before definitive surgical intervention. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A520.
Confirmation bias and the stereotype of the black athlete

Abstract Objectives Examine how the subtype “black athletes” differs from that of black men. More centrally, to illustrate that the category black athletes can be triggered and lead to implicit bias. This bias is implicit and impacts a perceiver's evaluation outside conscious awareness. Design and method Participants were white residents of the United States. Experiment one assessed familiarity with three qualities comprising the cultural stereotype of black athletes. Experiment two explored implicit bias from the stereotype using a within subjects design. Participants read a series of quotes and rated how strongly they implied these stereotypical qualities. Each participant rated such quotes from a black athlete, white athlete, black salesman, and a white salesman. Results Implicit bias was revealed in the type of ratings provided of black athletes. The ratings for the black athletes along these two stereotypical dimensions significantly differed from the ratings made to the same quotes when uttered by other men. Conclusions The stereotype guided how participants viewed the person's actions/words. The stereotype of black athletes is distinct from black men generally. Participants did not rate men negatively along the stereotypic dimensions when they were black salesmen, only when they were black athletes. Additionally, although the quality “athletic,” which is part of the global stereotype of black men, has a positive connotation, the stereotype that is built around this quality is not positive. It is a stereotype that this group has natural athletic ability that leads to an arrogance and lack of work ethic (since one is naturally gifted).
Visual Problems in Childhood

This chapter briefly reviews visual acuity-associated problems and methods of testing. A classification and discussion is presented including causes of visual loss, such as congenital defects, neurologic disease, inflammation, systemic disease, trauma, and others. The discussion focuses on how visual defects occur and their effect on the development of the child. The special problems encountered in managing the partially sighted or blind child are reviewed.
Regional Supply of Medical Resources and Systemic Overuse of Health Care Among Medicare Beneficiaries

Overuse of health care resources has been identified as the leading contributor to waste in the US health care system. To explore health care system factors associated with regional variation in systemic overuse of health care resources as measured by the Johns Hopkins Overuse Index (JHOI) which aggregates systemic overuse of 20 health care services. Using Medicare fee-for-service claims data from beneficiaries age 65 or over in 2008, we calculated the JHOI for the 306 hospital referral regions in the United States. We used ordinary least squares regression and multilevel models to estimate the association of JHOI scores and characteristics of regional health care delivery systems listed in the Area Health Resource File and Dartmouth Atlas. Regions with a higher density of primary care physicians had lower JHOI scores, indicating less systemic overuse (P < 0.001). Regional characteristics associated with higher JHOI scores, indicating more systemic overuse, included number per 1000 residents of acute care hospital beds (P = 0.002) and of hospital-based anesthesiologists, pathologists, and radiologists (P = 0.02). Regional variations in health care resources including the clinician workforce are associated with the intensity of systemic overuse of health care. The role of primary care doctors in reducing health care overuse deserves further attention.
Research on Work as a Calling…and How to Make It Matter

The concept of work as a calling has the potential to provide unique and powerful insights into how individuals relate to their work and organizations. However, although this concept may be one of ...
Integrative Health and Medicine: Dietary Supplements and Modalities for the Treatment of Obesity

Abstract Obesity represents a major burden on the US health care system, affecting a significant proportion of adults and adolescents. Economically it costs the US hundreds of billions of dollars per year. As such, there is strong interest in the exploration and development of new products and approaches that may hold potential for helping achieve and maintain weight loss. Successful weight loss efforts include a multifactorial approach that includes a healthy low calorie diet and regular activity. This chapter reviews the various modalities within the field of integrative health and medicine (IHM) that have been studied for their effects on obesity, with particular attention paid to the various herbal medications that fit into the biologically based systems domain. Available evidence is evaluated for both safety and efficacy of the products or approaches, with an overall conclusion as to whether a specific therapy could be explored or likely offers little benefit.
BTK signaling drives CD1d hi CD5 + regulatory B-cell differentiation to promote pancreatic carcinogenesis

The immune microenvironment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is comprised of a heterogeneous population of cells that are critical for disease evolution. Prominent among these are the specialized CD1dhiCD5+ regulatory B (Breg) cells that exert a pro-tumorigenic role by promoting tumor cell proliferation. Dissecting the molecular pathways regulating this immune sub-population can thus be valuable for uncovering potential therapeutic targets. Here, we investigate Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK), a key B-cell kinase, as a potential regulator of CD1dhiCD5+ Breg differentiation in the pancreatic tumor microenvironment. Treatment of cytokine-induced B cells in vitro with the high specificity BTK inhibitor Tirabrutinib inhibited CD1dhiCD5+ Breg differentiation and production of IL-10 and IL-35, essential mediators of Breg immunosuppressive functions. The BTK signaling pathway was also found to be active in vivo in PanIN-associated regulatory B cells. Tirabrutinib treatment of mice bearing orthotopic KrasG12D-pancreatic lesions severely compromised stromal accumulation of the CD1dhiCD5+ Breg population. This was accompanied by an increase in stromal CD8+IFNγ+ cytotoxic T cells and significant attenuation of tumor cell proliferation and PanIN growth. Our results uncover a novel role for BTK in regulating CD1dhiCD5+ Breg differentiation and emphasize its potential as a therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer.
Transversus abdominis plane block reduces pain and narcotic consumption after robot-assisted distal pancreatectomy

Abstract Background Minimizing pain and disability are key postoperative objectives of robot-assisted distal pancreatectomy (RADP). This study tested effects of bupivacaine transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block on opioid consumption and pain after RADP. Methods Retrospective case-control study (June 2012 -Oct 2017) evaluating bilateral intraoperative bupivacaine TAP block as an interrupted time series. Linear regression evaluated opioid consumption in terms of intravenous (IV) morphine milligram equivalents (MME) and controlled for preoperative morbidity. Secondary outcomes included numerical rating scale (NRS) pain scores. Results 81 RADP patients met eligibility, 48 before and 33 after implementation of TAP. Baseline characteristics were equivalent with a trend toward higher age, Charlson comorbidity, and ASA score among the TAP cohort. TAP patients consumed on average 4.52 fewer IV MME than controls during the first six postoperative hours (p = 0.032) and reported lower mean NRS scores at six (p = 0.009) and 12 h (p = 0.006) but not at 24 h (p = 0.129). Postoperative morbidity and lengths of stay (LOS) were equivalent (5 vs. 6 days, p = 0.428). Conclusion Bupivacaine TAP block was associated with significant reductions in opioid consumption and pain after RADP but did not shorten hospital LOS consistent with bupivacaine's limited half-life.
The center of olfactory bulb-seeded α-synucleinopathy is the limbic system and the ensuing pathology is higher in male than in female mice.

At early disease stages, Lewy body disorders are characterized by limbic vs. brainstem α-synucleinopathy, but most preclinical studies have focused solely on the nigrostriatal pathway. Furthermore, male gender and advanced age are two major risk factors for this family of conditions, but their influence on the topographical extents of α-synucleinopathy and the degree of cell loss are uncertain. To fill these gaps, we infused α-synuclein fibrils in the olfactory bulb/anterior olfactory nucleus complex-one of the earliest and most frequently affected brain regions in Lewy body disorders-in 3-month-old female and male mice and in 11-month-old male mice. After 6 months, we observed that α-synucleinopathy did not expand significantly beyond the limbic connectome in the 9-month-old male and female mice or in the 17-month-old male mice. However, the 9-month-old male mice had developed greater α-synucleinopathy, smell impairment and cell loss than age-matched females. By 10.5 months post-infusion, fibril treatment hastened mortality in the 21.5-month-old males, but the inclusions remained centered in the limbic system in the survivors. Although fibril infusions reduced the number of cells expressing tyrosine hydroxylase in the substantia nigra of young males at 6 months post-infusion, this was not attributable to true cell death. Furthermore, mesencephalic α-synucleinopathy, if present, was centered in mesolimbic circuits (ventral tegmental area/accumbens) rather than within strict boundaries of the nigral pars compacta, which were defined here by tyrosine hydroxylase immunolabel. Nonprimate models cannot be expected to faithfully recapitulate human Lewy body disorders, but our murine model seems reasonably suited to (i) capture some aspects of Stage IIb of Lewy body disorders, which displays a heavier limbic than brainstem component compared to incipient Parkinson's disease; and (ii) leverage sex differences and the acceleration of mortality following induction of olfactory α-synucleinopathy.
Genomic biomarkers of response to nivolumab/ipilimumab (nivo/ipi) and nivolumab (nivo) monotherapy in 108 patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.

641Background: Both the combination of nivo/ipi and nivo monotherapy have shown efficacy across multiple malignancies including clear cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (ccRCC). Biomarkers such as tumor mut...
Children’s Heart Assessment Tool for Transplantation (CHAT) Score: A Novel Risk Score Predicts Survival After Pediatric Heart Transplantation:

Background:Given the shortage of donor organs in pediatric heart transplantation (HTx), pretransplant risk stratification may assist in organ allocation and recipient optimization. We sought to con...
Finite-thickness effects in plasmonic films with periodic cylindrical anisotropy [Invited]

Finite-thickness effects are analyzed theoretically for plasma frequency and the associated dielectric response of plasmonic films formed by periodically aligned, infinitely thin, identical metallic cylinders. The plasma frequency of the system is shown to have unidirectional square-root-of-momentum and quasi-linear momentum spatial dispersion for thick and ultrathin films, respectively. This spatial dispersion and the unidirectional dielectric response nonlocality associated with it can be adjusted not only by the film material composition but also by varying the film thickness, the cylinder length, the cylinder-radius-to-film-thickness ratio, and by choosing the substrates and superstrates of the film appropriately. Application of the theory developed to finite-thickness periodically aligned carbon nanotube films is discussed.
A statistical model for tensor PCA

We consider the Principal Component Analysis problem for large tensors of arbitrary order k under a single-spike (or rank-one plus noise) model. On the one hand, we use information theory, and recent results in probability theory, to establish necessary and sufficient conditions under which the principal component can be estimated using unbounded computational resources. It turns out that this is possible as soon as the signal-to-noise ratio β becomes larger than C√k log k (and in particular β can remain bounded as the problem dimensions increase). On the other hand, we analyze several polynomial-time estimation algorithms, based on tensor unfolding, power iteration and message passing ideas from graphical models. We show that, unless the signal-to-noise ratio diverges in the system dimensions, none of these approaches succeeds. This is possibly related to a fundamental limitation of computationally tractable estimators for this problem. We discuss various initializations for tensor power iteration, and show that a tractable initialization based on the spectrum of the unfolded tensor outperforms significantly baseline methods, statistically and computationally. Finally, we consider the case in which additional side information is available about the unknown signal. We characterize the amount of side information that allows the iterative algorithms to converge to a good estimate.
Erosion and solid transport processes in the Isser Wadi watershed, Algeria

The aim of this study was to find a significant relationship between the concentration of suspended sediments and the instantaneous liquid flow in the Isser Wadi watershed, northern Algeria. The study was performed using a dataset containing 5838 values on water height, instantaneous liquid flow (Ql; in m3/s) and concentration of suspended sediments (C; in g/l) during the period 1978–2002. The results showed a slight correlation between the parameters C and Ql even after combining the series by class and determining the median concentration and the median liquid flow. Analysis of the evolution of sediment concentration in the stream and the quantification of sediment fluxes showed that the sediment supply occurs mainly during floods. Three periods of active erosion were identified, with one period of intense erosion occurring in the winter and two periods of lesser erosion occurring in the spring and autumn, respectively. A very significant relationship (Qs = 1.24 × Ql1.34, R = 0.72) was found between solid and liquid flows in suspension (Qs and Ql, respectively). This relationship was used to estimate the solid transport in this basin. This case study provides a qualitative approach to solid transport across the catchment of Isser Wadi that could support reliable database in a semi-arid environment.
Gap Filling of High-Resolution Soil Moisture for SMAP/Sentinel-1: A Two-Layer Machine Learning-Based Framework

As the most recent 3 km soil moisture product from the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission, the SMAP/Sentinel-1 L2_SM_SP product has a unique capability to provide global-scale 3 km soil moisture estimates through the fusion of radar and radiometer microwave observations. The spatial and temporal availability of this high-resolution soil moisture product depends on concurrent radar and radiometer observations which is significantly restricted by the narrow swath and low revisit schedule of the Sentinel-1 radars. To address this issue, this paper presents a novel two-layer machine learning-based framework which predicts the brightness temperature and subsequently the soil moisture at gap areas. The proposed method is able to gap-fill soil moisture satisfactorily at areas where the radiometer observations are available while the radar observations are missing. We find that incorporating historical radar backscatter measurements (30-day average) into the machine learning framework boosts its predictive performance. The effectiveness of the two-layer framework is validated against regional hold-out SMAP/Sentinel-1 3 km soil moisture estimates at four study areas with distinct climate regimes. Results indicate that our proposed method is able to reconstruct 3 km soil moisture at gap areas with higher Pearson correlation coefficient (47%/35%/20%/80% improvement of mean R, at Arizona/Oklahoma/Iowa/Arkansas) and lower unbiased Root Mean Square Error (20%/10%/7%/26% improvement of mean ubRMSE) when compared to the SMAP 33 km soil moisture product. Additional validation against airborne data and in-situ data from soil moisture networks is also satisfactory.
Efficient Data Collection and Accurate Travel Time Estimation in a Connected Vehicle Environment Via Real-Time Compressive Sensing

Connected vehicles (CVs) can capture and transmit detailed data such as vehicle position and speed through vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications. The wealth of CV data provides new opportunities to improve safety and mobility of transportation systems, which can overburden storage and communication systems. To mitigate this issue, we propose a compressive sensing (CS) approach that allows CVs to capture and compress data in real-time and later recover the original data accurately and efficiently. We evaluate our approach using two case studies. In the first study, we use our approach to recapture 10 million CV basic safety message (BSM) speed samples as well as other BSM variables. The results show that we can recover the original speed data with root-mean-squared error as low as 0.05 MPH. In the second study, a freeway traffic simulation model is built to evaluate the impact of our approach on travel time estimation. Multiple scenarios with various CV market penetration rates, On-board unit (OBU) capacities, compression ratios, arrival rate patterns, and data capture rates are simulated for our experiments. As a result, our approach provides more accurate estimation than conventional data collection methods by achieving up to 65% relative reduction in travel time estimation error. With a low compression ratio, our approach can still provide accurate estimation, therefore reducing OBU hardware costs. Lastly, our approach can improve travel time estimation accuracy when CVs are in traffic congestion as it provides a broader spatial–temporal coverage of traffic conditions and can accurately and efficiently recover the original CV data.
Association of Cost Savings and Surgical Quality With Single-Vendor Procurement for Spinal Implants.

Importance Significant cost savings can be achieved from consolidating purchases of spinal implants with a single vendor. However, it is currently unknown whether sole-source contracting or vendor rationalization more broadly affects patient care. Objectives To describe the single-vendor procurement of spinal implants, characterize the economic benefits of sole-source contracting, and gauge whether vendor rationalization is associated with a diminished quality of care. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective cohort study assessed adult patients receiving single-level lumbar interbody fusions at a single institution from January 1, 2009, to July 31, 2017. Exclusion criteria included multilevel fusions and prior spinal fusions. Exposures Patients were analyzed based on the number of vendors available to surgeons at the time of the patient’s surgery. January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2010, was defined as the multivendor period (10 vendors); January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2014, was defined as the dual-vendor period; and January 1, 2015, to July 31, 2017, was defined as the single-vendor period. Main Outcomes and Measures Rates of 12-month revision surgery, complications, 30-day readmissions, and postoperative patient-reported outcomes, as measured by 5-dimension European Quality of Life (EQ-5D) and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-Global Health (PROMIS-GH) utilities. Propensity score weighting was performed to control for confounding. The Holm method was used to correct for multiple testing. Annual cost savings associated with the dual-vendor and single-vendor periods were also reported. Results A total of 1373 patients (mean [SD] age, 59.2 [12.6] years; 763 [55.6%] female; 1161 [84.6%] white) were analyzed. Rates of revisions after adjusting for confounding were 3.2% (95% CI, 1.5%-6.7%) for the multivendor period, 4.5% (95% CI, 3.1%-6.5%) for the dual-vendor period, and 3.0% (95% CI, 1.7%-5.0%) for the single-vendor period. Complication rates were 5.3% (95% CI, 2.7%-10.1%) for the multivendor period, 7.2% (95% CI, 5.4%-9.6%) for the dual-vendor period, and 6.4% (95% CI, 4.6%-8.8%) for the single-vendor period. Readmission rates were 14.2% (95% CI, 9.7%-20.2%) for the multivendor period, 12.6% (95% CI, 10.1%-15.5%) for the dual-vendor period, and 9.7% (95% CI, 7.4%-12.7%) for the single-vendor period. Revisions, complications, and patient-reported outcomes were statistically equivalent across all periods. Readmissions were not statistically equivalent but not statistically different. The savings attributable to vendor rationalization were 24% for the dual-vendor and 21% for the single-vendor periods. Conclusions and Relevance The single-vendor procurement of spinal implants was associated with significant cost savings without evidence of an associated decline in the quality of care. Large hospital systems may consider sole-source purchasing as a viable cost reduction strategy.
Exploring the Impact of Belonging on Computer Science Enrollment Using Virtual Reality

This study was designed to examine the impact of familial background and personal connection on a student’s decision to take Computer Science (CS) courses in university. We utilized virtual reality to allow participants to embody an avatar with or without a family background in CS. This study can help determine participants’ willingness to enroll an avatar in a CS course despite a lack of personal experience. The decisions made by the participants provides insight into the relevance of family background on CS enrollment according to the participants. The results of this study were largely inconclusive but the feedback provided important information to be applied for future research in the same area of interest.
Sequential deletion of CD63 identifies topologically distinct scaffolds for surface engineering of exosomes in living human cells

Exosomes are cell-derived extracellular vesicles that have great potential in the field of nano-medicine. However, a fundamental challenge in the engineering of exosomes is the design of biocompatible molecular scaffolds on their surface to enable cell targeting and therapeutic functions. CD63 is a hallmark protein of natural exosomes that is highly enriched on the external surface of the membrane. We have previously described engineering of CD63 for use as a molecular scaffold in order to introduce cell-targeting features to the exosome surface. Despite this initial success, the restrictive M-shaped topology of full-length CD63 may hinder specific applications that require N- or C-terminal display of cell-targeting moieties on the outer surface of the exosome. In this study, we describe new and topologically distinct CD63 scaffolds that enable robust and flexible surface engineering of exosomes. In particular, we conducted sequential deletions of the transmembrane helix of CD63 to generate a series of CD63 truncates, each genetically-fused to a fluorescent protein. Molecular and cellular characterization studies showed truncates of CD63 harboring the transmembrane helix 3 (TM3) correctly targeted and anchored to the exosome membrane and exhibited distinct n-, N-, Ω-, or I-shaped membrane topologies in the exosomal membrane. We further established that these truncates retained robust membrane-anchoring and exosome-targeting activities when stably expressed in the HEK293 cells. Moreover, HEK293 cells produced engineered exosomes in similar quantities to cells expressing full-length CD63. Based on the results of our systematic sequential deletion studies, we propose a model to understand molecular mechanisms that underlie membrane-anchoring and exosome targeting features of CD63. In summary, we have established new and topologically distinct scaffolds based on engineering of CD63 that enables flexible engineering of the exosome surface for applications in disease-targeted drug delivery and therapy.
Molecular basis of cancer cell resistance to allyl isothiocyanate-induced growth inhibition

5859 In addition to exerting their anticarcinogenic activity by modulating carcinogen-metabolizing enzymes, many isothiocyanates (ITCs) also inhibit the growth of various types of cancer cells through induction of apoptosis, arrest of cell cycle progression and induction of differentiation, demonstrating their cancer therapeutic potential. However, there is significant variation in the sensitivity of cancer cell lines to the growth-inhibitory effects of ITCs, and the reason is poorly understood. Human hepatoma HepG2 cells were 6-8 times more resistant to allyl ITC (AITC) than human prostate cancer LNCaP cells, based on their IC50 values. The uptake levels of AITC in both cell lines were similar. AITC-induced cell cycle arrest does not fully account for the marked difference in growth inhibition of the two cell lines either. For example, 37% of LNCaP cells and 20% of HepG2 cells were blocked in G2/M phase after treatment with 18 μM AITC for 24 h. In contrast, AITC-induced cell death, as measured by the occurrence of sub-G1 phase cells, was markedly higher in LNCaP cells than in HepG2 cells - 47% of LNCaP cells and only 5% of HepG2 cells were in Sub-G1 phase, after treatment with 18 μM AITC for 24 h. The differential effects of AITC on cell death were closely correlated with the susceptibility of the mitochondrial membrane to AITC. For example, whereas treatment of LNCaP cells with 18 μM AITC for 1 h and 3 h caused a decrease in mitochondrial trans-membrane potential in 23% and 36% of the cells, respectively, the same treatment had no effect on the mitochondrial trans-membrane potential in HepG2 cells. Bcl-2 family proteins are known to affect the stability of the mitochondrial membrane. Indeed, the expression levels of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl, both of which are known to stabilize the mitochondrial membrane, are markedly higher in HepG2 cells, whereas Bad, which is known to destabilize the mitochondrial membrane, is significantly higher in LNCaP Cells. These results suggest that Bcl-2 family proteins affect AITC-induced mitochondrial membrane damage. The cytoprotective function of glutathione (GSH) is well known. Total intracellular GSH level in LNCaP cells (28 nmol/mg crude cell lysate protein) is approximately half of that in HepG2 cells (54 nmol/mg protein). However, while it is not yet clear to what extent the difference of GSH content in these cells contribute to the difference in AITC-induced cell death, we found that GSH depletion in HepG2 cells, through inhibition of GSH biosynthesis, did not sensitize the mitochondria in these cells to AITC. Taken together, these results suggest that the mitochondria play a major role in determining the sensitivity of cancer cells to AITC-induced cytotoxicity. Supported in part by NCI grant CA80962.