cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inbreeding in horsenettle influences herbivore resistance

1. Plant traits (e.g. nutrition, allelochemistry) are an important determinant of the feeding preferences and performance of insect herbivores. Recent evidence suggests that plant inbreeding can affect plant–insect interactions by impacting host-plant quality and resistance to herbivory. 2. The effect of inbreeding on host-plant quality for, and resistance against, the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta L., was assessed in the wild solanaceous weed horsenettle, Solanum carolinense L. Caterpillar preference, relative growth rate (RGR), total leaf consumption (TC), and per cent total nitrogen in leaves were examined using selfed and outcrossed progeny of eight maternal plants. 3. Inbreeding significantly influenced insect preference, with caterpillars preferring leaf discs from selfed versus outcrossed plants. There was also a breeding effect for RGR and TC, with both higher on selfed plants. No breeding effect for per cent total nitrogen was observed. 4. The results of this study indicate that inbreeding decreased resistance against the tobacco hornworm, but did not affect plant quality. Decreased plant resistance will likely alter interactions with the herbivore community and could also have important consequences for plant–herbivore–natural enemy interactions.
Perceived discrimination, socioeconomic status, and mental health among Latino adolescents in US immigrant families

Abstract The association between interpersonal discrimination and mental health among Latino adolescents has been relatively well studied. Less is known about perceived societal discrimination or how discrimination may differentially impact Latino adolescents with recent immigration histories. Further, while personal and family characteristics have often been posited to influence the association between discrimination and health outcomes, little attention has been paid to potentially moderating influences of social status. Using data from the first two rounds of the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study (CILS) study, we estimate a series of logit regression models to investigate the association between discrimination (societal and interpersonal) and mental health (depressive symptoms and self-esteem) among Latino adolescents with recent immigration histories, and test how this association differs by parental socioeconomic status (SES). Results show a negative association between perceived societal and interpersonal discrimination and mental health, inconsistent associations between SES and mental health, and some evidence of a moderating role of parental SES. Specifically, higher SES appears to attenuate the detrimental effect of discrimination on depressive symptoms, particularly in contexts of interpersonal discrimination. Our findings support increased attention to measuring the impact of perceived societal discrimination on mental health outcomes as well as further examination of the intervening role of social status.
Deductibility of Treble Damages Paid for Breach of National Health Service Corps Scholarship Contracts, Part Ii: The Misuse of Irc Section 265(A)(1) in 'Stroud V. Us' and of the Origin of the Claim Test in 'Keane V. Cir'

A deduction for treble damages paid for breach of the taxpayer's National Health Service Corps medical service obligation was erroneously denied under IRC 265(a)(1) in 'Stroud v. US', 906 F. Supp. 990 (1995). The provision does not apply because taxpayer's damages were not a cost of earning a tax-exempt scholarship which had been received many years earlier, but rather a deductible cost of buying out one employment obligation in order to earn taxable income in another. The history of IRC 265(a)(1) is analyzed and criticized. In 'Keane v. CIR', 75 TCM 2046 (1998), the taxpayer's deduction for current interest on a note for damages for breach of an NHSC scholarship contract was erroneously denied (as in Stroud as well). The note was not for a student loan, as the court stated, but for deductible damages as in Stroud. The origin of the government's claim for damages was not the scholarship awarded in the remote past, but rather the more proximate breach of the scholarship contract. The origin of the claim doctrine is analyzed as it applies to two possible origins in the past. Also, both courts are criticized for overlooking the only relevant issue as to deductibility of the interest, namely, whether the physicians were employees or self-employed. The rule that employee business interest is personal and nondeductible is analyzed and criticized.
L-band and P-band studies of vegetation at JPL

Longer wavelength radar signals are known to penetrate deeper into foliage. L-Band and P-band radars have been used extensively by the remote sensing community for vegetation studies. Radar interferometry, in particular polarimetric radar interferometry has been shown to be able to estimate vegetation structure parameters, for example vegetation height, to meter level accuracy with suitable imaging geometries. Several proposed mission including the ESA BIOMASS and NASA NISAR are planned to operate at these higher frequencies and to estimate various biophysical vegetation parameters. This paper will present some results of polarimetric-interferometric studies of temporal and tropical forests using airborne L-band and P-band radar data collected by the UAVSAR and AIRMOSS radars and comparing them to in situ measurements. These will be used to inform the ability to extract vegetation information for these spaceborne missions.
Solving inverse source problems by the Orthogonal Solution and Kernel Correction Algorithm (OSKCA) with applications in fluorescence tomography

We present a new approach to solve the inverse source problem arising in Fluorescence Tomography (FT). In general, the solution is non-unique and the problem is severely ill-posed. It poses tremendous challenges in image reconstructions. In practice, the most widely used methods are based on Tikhonov-type regularizations, which minimize a cost function consisting of a regularization term and a data fitting term. We propose an alternative method which overcomes the major difficulties, namely the non-uniqueness of the solution and noisy data fitting, in two separate steps. First we find a particular solution called the orthogonal solution that satisfies the data fitting term. Then we add to it a correction function in the kernel space so that the final solution fulfills other regularity and physical requirements. The key ideas are that the correction function in the kernel has no impact on the data fitting, so that there is no parameter needed to balance the data fitting and additional constraints on the solution. Moreover, we use an efficient basis to represent the source function, and introduce a hybrid strategy combining spectral methods and finite element methods in the proposed algorithm. The resulting algorithm can dramatically increase the computation speed over the existing methods. Also the numerical evidence shows that it significantly improves the image resolution and robustness against noise.
Surveillance and analysis of health qualities in army socialization support hotels

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to assess the health conditions in army hotels so to create a comfortable accommodation environment.METHODS Indoor air quality and facility conditions of 19 army hotels in Jinan were determined.RESULTS Compliance rates of carbon monoxide level,noise level,relative humidity,and temperature were relatively poor,with the percentages of 86.7%,86.7%,63.3%,and 60.0%,respectively.Wind speed and formaldehyde level were in compliance with the national standards.Compliance rate of kitchen utensils was poor,but that of cups and saucers in guest rooms was satisfactory.The differences in relative humidity and carbon monoxide level in hotels of different classes were statistically significant(P﹤0.05).CONCLUSION Strengthening the management of army socialization support hotels and improving the indoor air and health qualities are advised.
Contagion and the Behavior of International Equity Funds

Recent work examinimg the behavior of international equity investors at the micro level has enriched our understanding of how financial shocks get transmitted across countries. While there is some evidence for herding and momentum trading, funds clearly do not all move together. Contagion phenomena can partly be explained by portfolio rebalancings, suggesting that it may be useful for policymakers to monitor the composition of funds’ portfolios at the micro level. Emerging market funds tend to avoid opaque markets, in particular during crises. Therefore, becoming more transparent may reduce the unpleasant side effects of international capital mobility for emerging markets.
Short-term, postoperative breast cancer outcomes in patients with advanced age

Abstract Background This study compares early postoperative breast cancer outcomes between patients 80 years and older (older patients) and those younger than 80 years ( Methods The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was used to identify patients who had breast surgery between 2005 and 2013 for malignancy. Results Older patients had a significantly higher percentage of comorbidities and partial mastectomies. Postoperatively, they had higher rates of pneumonia, urinary tract infection, cardiac arrest, and mortality but had lower rates of wound dehiscence, deep wound, and organ space infections. Thirty-day mortality is independently associated with hypertension, coronary artery disease, American Society of Anesthesiology class IV, and older age. Conclusions The overall perioperative morbidity and mortality after breast surgery, regardless of age, is low. Older patients had a significantly higher rate of mortality and systemic complications but a lower rate of wound complications, likely because of less invasive surgical procedures.
Tracing technology diffusion of social media with culturally localized user experience approach

This paper examines two recent technology diffusion cases of social media in a global context, Facebook Japan and Sina Weibo. By tracing the local development of two social media technologies and probing into the deeper issues behind their peculiar use patterns, it presents a new framework--Culturally Localized User Experience (CLUE) for culturally sensitive design and argues the integration of action and meaning in design is key to the success of global social media.
Talking out of order: task order and retrieval of grammatical gender and phonology in lexical access

ABSTRACTDespite early evidence that grammatical gender is retrieved prior to phonology in lexical access, more recent studies demonstrating task effects and non-converging evidence raise doubts about the extent to which this is a general feature of the language production system. We employed the dual-choice go/no-go paradigm with event-related potentials (ERPs) in order to further clarify the time course of retrieval of grammatical gender and phonology. Specifically, we examined how task order influences the relative timing with which these features are retrieved. Results find no clear evidence that grammatical gender is retrieved prior to phonology in a serial manner. Instead, the relative timing with which these features are retrieved is subject to task order, suggesting that prior estimates of lexical access obtained with this paradigm may be confounded by task effects. Overall, our result support parallel access models of feature retrieval during lexical access and suggest that attentional biases may ...
Die neuen Klassifikationen von epileptischen Anfällen und Epilepsien

Die Klassifikations- und Terminologiekommission der Internationalen Liga gegen Epilepsie (ILAE) hat 2010 einen revidierten Vorschlag zur Einteilung epileptischer Anfalle und Epilepsien vorgelegt, der auch in deutscher Ubersetzung verfugbar ist. Im Jahr 2016 wurden von dieser Kommission eine operationale Klassifikation epileptischer Anfalle und neue Konzepte fur die Klassifikation von Epilepsien vorgestellt.
Emergency physician performed tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion in the evaluation of suspected pulmonary embolism

Abstract Objectives: The primary objectives were to describe the diagnostic characteristics tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) for pulmonary embolism (PE) and to optimize the measurement cutoff of TAPSE for the diagnosis of PE. Secondary objectives included assessment of interrater reliability and the quantitative visual estimation of TAPSE. Methods: This is a prospective observational cohort study involving a convenience sample of patients at an urban academic emergency department. Patients underwent focused right heart echocardiogram (FOCUS) before computed tomographic angiography (CTA) for suspected PE. Results: A total of 150 patients were enrolled, 32 of whom (21.3%) were diagnosed as having a PE. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis yielded 2.0 cm as the optimal cutoff for TAPSE in the diagnosis of PE, with a sensitivity of 72% (95% confidence interval [CI], 53-86), a specificity of 66% (95% CI, 57-75), and an area under the curve of 0.73 (95% CI, 0.65-0.83). In patients with tachycardia or hypotension, post hoc analysis demonstrated that FOCUS is 100% (95% CI, 80-100) sensitive for PE, whereas TAPSE is 94% (95% CI, 71-99) sensitive for PE. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.87 (95% CI, 0.79-0.93). Emergency physicians with training in echocardiography accurately visually estimated TAPSE, with a κ statistic of 0.94 (95% CI, 0.87-0.98). Conclusions: Emergency physicians with training in echocardiography can reliably measure TAPSE and are able to accurately visually estimate TAPSE as either normal or abnormal. When using an abnormal cutoff of less than 2.0 cm, TAPSE has moderate diagnostic value in patients with suspected PE. On post hoc analysis, TAPSE and FOCUS appear to be highly sensitive for PE in patients with tachycardia or hypotension.
Do insights from mice imply that combined Th2 and Th17 therapies would benefit select severe asthma patients

Asthma is a multi-faceted syndrome, and understanding the key cellular and molecular participants is an important objective, so that clinicians can deliver targeted care. Most asthmatics can be effectively treated through the use of beta-agonists and corticosteroids. However, there remains a considerable percentage of individuals with an asthma diagnosis for whom these conventional therapeutic approaches are ineffective. These patients are considered to have severe disease (1), and severe asthma disproportionately accounts for the socioeconomic impacts of asthma. It has become an important objective for researchers to identify the contributors to severe asthma and to develop approaches to target these events. While allergic asthma is typically caused by an over-exuberant type-2 response (now appreciated to come from CD4 T helper cells and type-2 innate lymphoid cells), in which cytokines including IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 drive IgE class switching, eosinophil development and survival, and mucus production, the asthma community has for some time appreciated the epidemiological connections between severe asthma and neutrophils. Elevated levels of sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage neutrophils correlate with more severe disease. Mechanistic insight into the cause of elevated airspace/airway neutrophils came from the findings that IL-17 (typically IL-17A and IL-17F) derived predominantly from CD4 + T helper cells (Th17 cells; although type-3 innate lymphoid cells and other leukocytes are producers as well) is an important promotor of neutrophil production and influx in severe asthma. Mouse models of disease demonstrated that Th17 cells were sufficient to cause steroid-refractory disease, and other work demonstrated that Th17 cells were in some instances necessary for several pathophysiological manifestations in asthma models (2). However, the mechanistic contribution of IL-17 and even of neutrophils remains both controversial and contentious. Nonetheless, there are disorders in which IL-17 and neutrophils are important contributors to disease, and IL-17—neutralizing approaches have been developed and are being evaluated clinically. Whether neutralization of IL-17 in selected populations of severe asthmatics will be safe and elicit benefit remains to be fully elucidated, and animal models are an important stepping stone to such definitive clinical trials.
Deubiquitinase USP18 Loss Mislocalizes and Destabilizes KRAS in Lung Cancer.

KRAS is frequently mutated in lung cancers and is associated with aggressive biology and chemotherapy resistance. Therefore, innovative approaches are needed to treat these lung cancers. Prior work implicated the IFN-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) deubiquitinase (DUB) USP18 as having antineoplastic activity by regulating lung cancer growth and oncoprotein stability. This study demonstrates that USP18 affects the stability of the KRAS oncoprotein. Interestingly, loss of USP18 reduced KRAS expression, and engineered gain of USP18 expression increased KRAS protein levels in lung cancer cells. Using the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide, USP18 knockdown significantly reduced the half-life of KRAS, but gain of USP18 expression significantly increased its stability. Intriguingly, loss of USP18 altered KRAS subcellular localization by mislocalizing KRAS from the plasma membrane. To explore the biologic consequences, immunohistochemical (IHC) expression profiles of USP18 were compared in lung cancers of KrasLA2/+ versus cyclin E engineered mouse models. USP18 expression was higher in Kras-driven murine lung cancers, indicating a link between KRAS and USP18 expression in vivo To solidify this association, loss of Usp18 in KrasLA2/+ /Usp18-/- mice was found to significantly reduce lung cancers as compared with parental KrasLA2/+ mice. Finally, translational relevance was confirmed in a human lung cancer panel by showing that USP18 IHC expression was significantly higher in KRAS-mutant versus wild-type lung adenocarcinomas.Implications: Taken together, this study highlights a new way to combat the oncogenic consequences of activated KRAS in lung cancer by inhibiting the DUB USP18. Mol Cancer Res; 15(7); 905-14. ©2017 AACR.
Transcranial focused ultrasound: a new tool for non-invasive neuromodulation

Ultrasound (US) is widely known for its utility as a biomedical imaging modality. An abundance of evidence has recently accumulated showing that US is also useful for non-invasively modulating brain circuit activity. Through a series of studies discussed in this short review, it has recently become recognized that transcranial focused ultrasound can exert mechanical (non-thermal) bioeffects on neurons and cells to produce focal changes in the activity of brain circuits. In addition to highlighting scientific breakthroughs and observations that have driven the development of the field of ultrasonic neuromodulation, this study also provides a discussion of mechanisms of action underlying the ability of ultrasound to physically stimulate and modulate brain circuit activity. Exemplifying some forward-looking tools that can be developed by integrating ultrasonic neuromodulation with other advanced acoustic technologies, some innovative acoustic imaging, beam forming, and focusing techniques are briefly reviewed. Finally, the future outlook for ultrasonic neuromodulation is discussed, specifically in the context of applications employing transcranial focused ultrasound for the investigation, diagnosis, and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.
Macrophage anti-viral responses to diabetogenic Coxsackie virus infections are mediated by free radicals (BA6P.134)

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) induces Type-1 diabetes (T1D) by directly killing pancreatic β-cells, triggering pro-inflammatory cytokine production, and promoting autoreactive T cell maturation. We hypothesize that free radical synthesis in T1D can synergize and enhance autoimmune responses in T1D onset and progression. Free radicals can be identified by immuno-spin trapping with 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) and utilizing a DMPO-specific antibody to detect DMPO-radical adducts. We previously reported a delay in spontaneous T1D onset in Non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice impaired in NADPH Oxidase (NOX)-derived superoxide synthesis (NOD. Ncf1 m1J ). Bone marrow-derived macrophages (BM-Mϕ) from NOD. Ncf1 m1J mice infected with Coxsackie virus CB3 strain displayed a significant decrease ( p Ncf1 m1J BM-Mϕ also exhibited a decrease in Tnfa ( p =0.0037) and Ifih1 ( p =0.002) mRNA accumulation in contrast with NOD BM-Mϕ. These findings suggest that anti-viral responses in NOD. Ncf1 m1J BM-Mϕ are redox-regulated and were compromised by ROS-deficiency. Our results further illustrate the importance of NOX-derived superoxide in modulating autoimmune responses in T1D. Future studies will utilize immuno-spin trapping to visualize the interface between free radicals and immune cells during T1D progression.
Autologous Fat Grafting as a Novel Antiestrogen Vehicle for the Treatment of Breast Cancer.

Background Adipose fat transfer is increasingly used for contour corrections of the tumor bed after lumpectomy and breast reconstructions after mastectomy. The lipophilic nature of the fat tissue may render adipocytes an ideal vehicle with which to deliver a high boost of an antiestrogen to the tumor bed to serve as an adjunct systemic hormonal therapy. The authors therefore tested whether adipocytes could safely be loaded with an antiestrogen and allow for release at therapeutic concentrations to treat breast cancer. Methods Adipose tissue was collected from patients undergoing autologous fat grafting. The influence of adipose tissue on tumorigenesis was determined both in vitro and in vivo using breast cancer cell lines. Ex vivo, adipose tissue was assessed for its ability to depot fulvestrant and inhibit the growth of breast cancer cell lines. Results Adipose tissue harvested from patients did not promote breast cancer cell growth in vitro or in an in vivo mouse model. Adipose tissue was successfully loaded with fulvestrant and released at levels sufficient to inhibit estrogen receptor signaling and growth of breast cancer cells. Conclusions This work supports the hypothesis that adipose tissue used for autologous fat grafting can serve as a novel method for local drug delivery. As this technique is used to reconstruct a variety of postsurgical defects following cancer resection, this approach for local drug delivery may be an effective alternative in therapeutic settings beyond breast cancer.
Sampling time calibration method for multi-channel interleaved ADCs

A calibration technique for timing skew of parallel time-interleaved analog-to-digital converters is presented. The proposed method detects the sampling time errors from the output samples and corrects them using programmable delay cells. A theoretical background of the proposed method is supplied and the approach is analyzed for two-, three-, and four-channel architectures before being extended to any number of interleaved sampling channels.
Early-life Medicaid Coverage and Intergenerational Economic Mobility.

New data reveal significant variation in economic mobility outcomes across U.S. localities. This suggests that social structures, institutions, and public policies—particularly those that influence...
Invadosome-mediated human extracellular matrix degradation by Entamoeba histolytica

Entamoeba histolytica is a protozoan parasite that causes invasive amoebiasis when it invades the human colon. Tissue invasion requires a shift from an adhesive lifestyle in the colonic lumen to a motile and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradative lifestyle in the colonic tissue layers. How the parasite regulates these two lifestyles is largely unknown. Previously, we showed that silencing the E. histolytica surface metalloprotease EhMSP-1 results in parasites that are hyperadherent and less motile. To better understand the molecular mechanism of this phenotype, we now show that the parasites with EhMSP-1 silenced cannot efficiently form specialized dot-like polymerized actin (F actin) structures upon interaction with the human ECM component fibronectin. We characterized these F actin structures and found that they are very short-lived structures that are the sites of fibronectin degradation. Motile mammalian cells form F actin structures called invadosomes that are similar in stability and function to these amoebic actin dots. Therefore, we propose here that E. histolytica forms amoebic invadosomes to facilitate colonic tissue invasion.
The Bruce and Palomar – Schmidt Proper Motion Surveys

The Proper Motion Survey on plates taken with the Bruce telescope of the Harvard Observatory was begun in 1928 with a fellowship from the Guggenheim Foundation. The plates used have a scale of 1 mm = 59”, generally go down to 16 m pg though a few long exposure plates almost reach 18 m pg and the survey is considered reasonably complete for the larger motions down to 14.5 m pg.
In Situ Shape and Distance Measurements in Neutron Scattering and Diffraction

Neutron scattering combined with selective isotopic labeling and contrast matching is useful for obtaining in situ structural information about a selected particle, or particles, in a macromolecular complex. The observed intensities, however, may be distorted by inter-complex interference and by scattering-length-density fluctuations of the (otherwise) contrast-matched portions. Methods have been proposed to cancel out such distortions (Hoppe’s method, the Statistical Labeling Method, and the Triple Isotopic Substitution Method). With these methods as well as related unmixed-sample methods, structural information about the selected particle(s) can be obtained without these distortions. We have generalized these methods so that, in addition to globular particles in solution, they can be applied to in situ structures of systems having underlying symmetry and/or net orientation as well. The information obtainable from such experiments is discussed.
Association of an Endoribonuclease with the Avian Myeloblastosis Virus Deoxyribonucleic Acid Polymerase

Abstract A ribonuclease degrading only RNA complexed to DNA is found associated with the avian myeloblastosis virus DNA polymerase. A convenient and sensitive assay for the enzyme is degradation of [3H]poly(A) complexed to poly(dT). Using this assay, nuclease and DNA polymerase activities are inseparable by DEAE-Sephadex or phosphocellulose ion exchange chromatography or by glycerol gradient centrifugation. Poly(A) labeled selectively at each end can be used to demonstrate that the nuclease is an endonuclease, and chromatography of the digestion products of poly(A) confirms this result. The oligonucleotide digestion products can be further digested to 5'-AMP by venom phosphodiesterase, indicating that they are terminated by 3'-OH groups.
Numerical Simulations of the Performance of Scramjet Engine Model with Pylon Set Located in the Inlet

This work is devoted to numerical simulations of the flow in the scramjet engine model with hydrogen/air mixture combustion. The sub-scale model consists of the inlet with pylons, fuel injectors located on pylons, mixing region, combustion chamber, and nozzle. The goal of this work is to obtain efficient and stable combustion in the combustion chamber and thrust using this design, and to compare it with other existing scramjet engine models. A pylon set is proposed for installation in the rectangular inlet to decrease drag of the inlet and to create several air/fuel mixing layers to increase mixing efficiency. A movable cylindrical rod was placed in the combustor to initiate shock-induced combustion. Numerical simulations were conducted using the NASA CFD code VULCAN and performance of this scramjet engine model was computed. These simulations showed that efficient combustion and resulting thrust addition in the case of this design significantly exceeds the drag introduced by the obstacle in the combustor. As a result, in the relatively short combustor, we obtained the combustion efficiency, \(\eta_{c}=0.85\), and a relatively high value of the engine model specific impulse, \(I_{sp}=1, 275\,\textrm{s}\).
Micro-Reflector Integrated Multichannel μLED Optogenetic Neurostimulator With Enhanced Intensity

This paper reports the fabrication and characterization of an optical neuro-stimulator array that consists of 32-channel microscale light-emitting diodes (µ-LEDs) coupled with microscale reflectors for intensity enhancement. The hemi-spherical micro-reflector is able to collect the rear side emission of LED while also acting as a collimator to focus the diverged LED light, aiming towards driving power minimization through light intensity increase, for wireless neuro-stimulator applications. The micro-reflector was constructed by wet etching of silicon followed by aluminum coating as the reflective mirror. The reflective cavity was filled with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) that acts as the planarization polymer to facilitate device integration with the µ-LED chip. Deviation of hemi-spherical geometry cavities due to the uneven lateral and vertical etching rate was shown, and the surface morphology was characterized experimentally. Optical intensity enhancement was studied in both simulation and experiments, demonstrating that the micro-reflector enables 65% intensity enhancement. The reflector-coupled LED had an operating temperature increase of <1oC, well within the ANSI/AAMI safety limit for biomedical implants. The potential of the stimulator for use in optogenetics was validated by in-vitro experiments.
Prediction of Lymph Node Maximum Standardized Uptake Value in Patients With Cancer Using a 3D Convolutional Neural Network: A Proof-of-Concept Study.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study is to determine whether a convolutional neural network (CNN) can predict the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of lymph nodes in patients with cancer u...
Development of selective small molecule MDM2 degraders based on nutlin

Abstract Tumor suppressor protein p53 is important to the regulation of many cellular processes and the prevention of cancer development. In some cancer cells, the function of p53 is inhibited by murine double minute 2 protein (MDM2). To restore the function of p53, the inhibition or depletion of MDM2 has become a potential therapeutic treatment. We have successfully developed a series of small molecule MDM2 degraders that can promote the proteolysis of MDM2 oncoprotein, thus reactivating tumor suppressor p53. The superior degrader features a nutlin-based MDM2 ligand and a lenalidomide-based cereblon E3 ubiquitin ligase ligand with a short linker between the two ligands. At low nanomolar concentrations in RS4; 11 leukemia cells, this degrader promotes efficient degradation of MDM2. It also inhibits the proliferation of leukemia cells with an IC50 value of 3.2 nM and induces apoptosis effectively. All of these data indicate that MDM2 degraders are promising therapeutics for the treatment of cancers, such as leukemia.
THE GENESIS OF SENIOR INCOME TAX BREAKS

This article conducts two investigations — searching historical documents and testing the conclusions drawn with an econometric model of policy adoption—into why federal and state governments began...
Resident involvement in minimally-invasive vs. open procedures

Abstract Background The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of resident involvement on surgical outcomes in laparoscopic compared to open procedures. Methods The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program 2007–2012 was queried for open and laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (VHR), inguinal hernia repair (IHR), splenectomy, colectomy, or cholecystectomy (CCY). Multivariable regression analyses were performed to assess the impact of resident involvement on surgical outcomes. Results In total, 88,337 VHR, 20,586 IHR, 59,254 colectomies, 3301 splenectomies, and 95,900 CCY were identified. Resident involvement was predictive for major complication during open VHR (AOR, 1.29; p Conclusions The results of this study suggest that resident participation has a similar impact on surgical outcomes during laparoscopic and open surgery, and is generally safe.
Penyiapan calon guru untuk anak berkebutuhan khusus di Indonesia: Kondisi saat ini dan Tantangan

Perkembangan layanan pendidikan khusus menuntut penyiapan kompentensi calon guru yang sesuai dengan tantangan saat ini. Penelitian ini mereviu kurikulum prodi pendidikan khusus jenjang S-1 ( n = 7) dari total 18 prodi pendidikan khusus di Indonesia. Analisis kurikulum dilakukan dengan dua fokus, yaitu: matakuliah dengan fokus jenis kebutuhan khusus dan matakuliah pendukung kompetensi utama guru khusus (contoh: asesmen, intervensi akademik, intervensi perilaku, layanan transisi, dan layanan kompensatoris). Prosentase matakuliah penunjang kompentensi utama guru pendidikan khusus masih sangat terbatas (rerata = 47%). Hampir ke-tujuh prodi dalam penelitian ini terfokus pada jenis kekhususan yang ditawarkan dalam matakuliah wajib maupun pilihan berdasarkan kebutuhan khusus. Selain itu, matakuliah untuk menunjang kemampuan guru untuk menerapkan intervensi perilaku maupun layanan transisi tidak selalu dijumpai di setiap prodi pendidikan khusus. Pergeseran fokus kearah kebutuhan khusus disarankan untuk membekali calon guru pendidikan khusus.
Predator demographics and dispersal in alfalfa trap‐cropped strawberry

Alfalfa, Medicago sativa L. (Fabaceae), is a highly preferred host plant of Lygus spp. (Hemiptera: Miridae). As such, intercropping alfalfa trap‐crops in strawberry production can serve as a sink for both Lygus (primarily Lygus hesperus Knight) and its natural enemies. Here we investigated the population dynamics and dispersal characteristics of the generalist predator complex in strawberry fields with alfalfa trap‐crops spaced 50 rows (62 m) apart. Predator abundance was determined by counting six focal taxa collected from strawberry and alfalfa. The data revealed that Orius spp. (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) were the numerically dominant predator taxa, comprising 84% of the focal predator population. In general, the population densities obtained for the various taxa throughout this agroecosystem were unexpectedly uniform. Predator movement from a central alfalfa trap‐crop row was determined using a protein mark–capture procedure. Most protein‐marked predator specimens were collected less than 2 m from the centrally marked alfalfa row, indicating that the trap‐crop often produces a predator sink. Results suggest that alfalfa is a useful cultural (trap‐cropping) and a biological (refuge for natural enemies) control tactic for managing Lygus spp. in strawberries.
Robot-assisted removal of inferior vena cava filter

Abstract This case describes a 57-year-old morbidly obese woman with complications of a permanent Bard inferior vena cava (IVC) filter (BD Bard, Covington, Ga) placed in 2005. She complained of recurrent abdominal pain for 6 years associated with constipation, nausea, and bloating. Computed tomography venography showed an IVC filter with malposition, strut fracture, and extrusion, and a fractured strut protruded outside of the vena cava, adjacent to the distal right common iliac artery. The da Vinci Xi Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, Calif) was used to remove the IVC filter and its displaced fractured strut. The operation time was 189 minutes, with an estimated blood loss of 200 mL. She was discharged home on postoperative day 2 with no complications. She had complete resolution of abdominal pain at her follow-up appointment.
Statistical Fragility of Surgical and Procedural Clinical Trials in Orthopaedic Oncology.

The fragility index (FI) is a powerful tool that can be used to assess the statistical strength of a study outcome. This metric is defined as the number of patients who would need to have an alternative outcome to convert a clinical trial result from statistically significant to not statistically significant, or vice versa. No studies to date have used the FI to evaluate surgical and procedural clinical trials in the orthopaedic oncology literature. The primary purpose of this study was to use the FI to evaluate the statistical strength of widely cited surgical and procedural clinical trials in orthopaedic oncology. Methods We performed a PubMed search for orthopaedic oncology clinical trials in high impact orthopaedics-focused, oncology-focused, and general medicine journals. For each study included in this analysis, we calculated the FI for all identified dichotomous, categorical outcomes. Results We identified 23 studies with 48 outcomes. Twelve of these outcomes were statistically significant, with a median FI of two. Nine studies addressed the number of patients lost to follow up, and the FI was less than the number of patients lost to follow up for most outcomes (60%) in these studies. Conclusions The orthopaedic oncology literature has substantial statistical fragility, likely explained by a high number of patients lost to follow up and small sample sizes. More multicenter, cooperative studies are necessary to increases the robustness of clinical research in orthopaedic oncology.
Autonomic dysregulation and sleep homeostasis in insomnia.

Study objectives Insomnia is common in older adults, and is associated with poor health, including cognitive impairment and cardio-metabolic disease. Although the mechanisms linking insomnia with these comorbidities remain unclear, age-related changes in sleep and autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulation might represent a shared mechanistic pathway. In this study, we assessed the relationship between ANS activity with indices of objective and subjective sleep quality in older adults with insomnia. Methods Forty-three adults with chronic insomnia and 16 age-matched healthy sleeper controls were studied. Subjective sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), objective sleep quality by electroencephalogram spectral components derived from polysomnography, and ANS activity by measuring 24-h plasma cortisol and norepinephrine (NE). Results Sleep cycle analysis displayed lower slow oscillatory (SO: 0.5-1.25 Hz) activity in the first cycle in insomnia compared to controls. In insomnia, 24-h cortisol levels were higher and 24-h NE levels were lower than controls. In controls, but not in insomnia, there was a significant interaction between NE level during wake and SO activity levels across the sleep cycles, such that in controls but not in insomnia, NE level during wake was positively associated with the amount of SO activity in the first cycle. In insomnia, lower 24-h NE level and SO activity in the first sleep cycle were associated with poorer subjective sleep quality. Conclusion Dysregulation of autonomic activity may be an underlying mechanism that links objective and subjective measures of sleep quality in older adults with insomnia, and potentially contribute to adverse health outcomes.
Revisiting an Old Conundrum: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Intravesical Therapy for Treatment of Urothelial Carcinoma of the Prostate.

Background The optimal management of non-invasive (mucosal and/or ductal) urothelial carcinoma of the prostate remains elusive and there is a paucity of data to guide treatment. Objective Our objective was to systematically review and synthesize treatment responses to conservative management of non-invasive prostatic urothelial carcinoma using intravesical therapy. Methods A systematic literature search using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, and Web of Science databases from inception to November 2019 was performed. Risk of bias assessment was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for non-randomised studies. Pooled estimates of complete response in the bladder and prostate and prostate only were performed using a random effects model. Pre-specified subgroup analyses were generated to assess differences in complete responses for: BCG therapy vs other agents, ductal vs mucosal involvement, CIS vs papillary tumors and TURP vs no TURP. Results Nine studies including 175 patients were identified for inclusion in the systematic review and meta-analysis. All were retrospective case series and most evaluated response to BCG therapy. The pooled global complete response rate for intravesical therapy was 60%(95%CI: 0.48, 0.72), and for prostate 88%(95%CI: 0.81, 0.96). Pre-specified analyses did not demonstrate statistically significant differences between subgroups of interest. Conclusions Management of non-invasive prostatic urothelial carcinoma using intravesical therapy yields satisfactory results. Caution should be taken in treating patients with papillary tumors and ductal involvement, as data for these populations is limited. TURP may not improve efficacy, but is required for staging. Current recommendations are based on low quality evidence, and further research is warranted.
Thermomechanical Behavior of NiTi-8Hf Low-Temperature Shape Memory Alloys

The actuation response of NiTi-8Hf alloys with low transformation temperatures was investigated. Four alloys with Ni-rich compositions of Ni50.3Ti41.7Hf8, Ni51Ti41Hf8, Ni51.5Ti40.5Hf8, and Ni52Ti40Hf8 (at.%) were melted, and subjected to several aging heat treatments between 450 and 550 °C. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of H-phase precipitates, which varied in shape and size as a function of Ni content and aging condition. When aged at 550 °C for 3 h, the lowest Ni-containing alloy showed a preferential heterogeneous distribution of the H-phase precipitates with elongated lenticular shapes, while higher Ni resulted in a uniform distribution of less elongated particles. Uniaxial constant force thermal cycling experiments were used to reveal the shape memory properties of each alloy. In many aged conditions, no transformation peaks were observable in the DSC data. This absence of peaks in the DSC is attributed to the compounded effects of suppressed martensitic transformation due to higher off-stoichiometric Ni, and the strain fields around the precipitates that prevent transformation under stress-free cycling. However, these effects can be overcome by undercooling or thermally cycling under an applied stress. Thus, fully developed hysteresis loops were observed in the thermomechanical data for all aging conditions. The shape memory effect in compression showed maximum recoverable transformation strains of 3.7% in the lowest Ni containing alloy, which decreased with the addition of Ni to 1.7% in the 52Ni alloy. Inversely, the dimensional stability improved with added Ni, showing nearly zero residual strain in the higher Ni-containing alloys for stresses as high as 1 GPa.
Molecular properties affecting the hydration of acid–base clusters

In the atmosphere, water in all phases is ubiquitous and plays important roles in catalyzing atmospheric chemical reactions, participating in cluster formation and affecting the composition of aerosol particles. Direct measurements of water-containing clusters are limited because water is likely to evaporate before detection, and therefore, theoretical tools are needed to study hydration in the atmosphere. We have studied thermodynamics and population dynamics of the hydration of different atmospherically relevant base monomers as well as sulfuric acid–base pairs. The hydration ability of a base seems to follow in the order of gas-phase base strength whereas hydration ability of acid–base pairs, and thus clusters, is related to the number of hydrogen binding sites. Proton transfer reactions at water–air interfaces are important in many environmental and biological systems, but a deeper understanding of their mechanisms remain elusive. By studying thermodynamics of proton transfer reactions in clusters containing up to 20 water molecules and a base molecule, we found that that the ability of a base to accept a proton in a water cluster is related to the aqueous-phase basicity. We also studied the second deprotonation reaction of a sulfuric acid in hydrated acid–base clusters and found that sulfate formation is most favorable in the presence of dimethylamine. Molecular properties related to the proton transfer ability in water clusters are discussed.
Nasal Reconstruction after Mohs Cancer Resection: Lessons Learned from 2553 Consecutive Cases.

Background Nasal defects following Mohs resection are a reconstructive challenge, demanding aesthetic and functional considerations. Many reconstructive modalities are available, each with varying utility and efficacy. The goal of this study was to provide an algorithmic approach to nasal reconstruction and illustrate lessons learned from decades of reconstructing Mohs defects. Methods A retrospective review was conducted of consecutive patients who underwent nasal reconstruction after Mohs excision from 2003 to 2019 performed by the senior author (J.F.T.). Data were collected and analyzed regarding patient and clinical demographics, defect characteristics, reconstructive modality used, revisions, and complications. Results A total of 2553 cases were identified, among which 1550 (1375 patients) were analyzed. Defects most commonly affected the nasal ala (48.1 percent); 74.8 percent were skin-only. Full-thickness skin-grafts were the most common reconstructive method (36.2 percent); 24.4 percent of patients underwent forehead flaps and 17.0 percent underwent nasolabial flaps. The overall complication rate was 11.6 percent (n = 181), with poor wound healing being most common. Age older than 75 years, defects larger than 2 cm2, and active smoking were associated with increased complication rates. Conclusions Nasal reconstruction can be divided based on anatomical location, and an algorithmic approach facilitates excellent results. Although local flaps may be suitable for some patients, they are not always the most aesthetic option. The versatility and low risk-to-benefit profile of the forehead flap make it a suitable option for elderly patients. Although reconstruction is still safe to be performed without discontinuation of anticoagulation, older age, smoking, and large defect size are predictors of complications. Clinical question/level of evidence Therapeutic, IV.
Perceptions, concerns, and management of white-tailed deer among municipal officials

Municipal governments are emerging as important stakeholders in managing the populations and geographic distributions of whitetailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in urban and suburban areas of the Northeastern United States. To understand the variation in municipal- level concerns about deer and municipal policies related to deer management, we distributed a questionnaire to all 351 municipalities across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 2017 (response rate = 74%) and collected data on local bylaws that influence hunting access. We found that concerns about deer vary across the state and some municipalities are taking action to manage increasing deer populations. In particular, our analysis established the importance of deer and deer management in the suburban regions of Massachusetts, while uncovering many local differences within similar suburban areas. The varying relationships between deer populations, public concerns, and municipal actions illustrated the complex role of municipal decisionmakers in shaping wildlife management programs.
Hypertriglyceridemia in Critically Ill Patients With SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

BackgroundPatients with SARS-CoV-2 infection could develop severe disease requiring critical care admission. Case reports indicated high incidence of hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) in critically ill pa...