cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fiber optic detection of in situ lux reporter gene activity in porous media: system design and performance

A luminescence detection system is described that couples a genetically engineered bioluminescent reporter organism and fiber optic technology for monitoring in situ reporter gene activity in porous media under dynamic conditions. The reporter bacterium used was Pseudomonas putidaRB1353, which carries plasmids NAH7 and pUTK9 that encode genes for salicylate degradation (nah) and luminescence (lux) that are regulated by the same promoter. The system can be used to examine the relationship between microbial activity and the resultant impact on biodegradation and transport of salicylate in porous media. Several batch and column experiments were conducted to analyze the performance of the fiber optic detection system. Batch studies showed that the fiber optic response in liquid cultures was linearly correlated to a calibrated system response using a liquid scintillation counter in the single photon counting mode. In column studies, it was demonstrated that decreases in salicylate and dissolved oxygen concentrations associated with biodegradation were correlated with an increase in luminescence response. The maximum luminescence given off by the reporter organism was linearly related to salicylate concentration. These results indicate that the fiber optic system can be used to monitor microbial activity under dynamic conditions. This system allows rapid, real-time, and non-destructive measurements of luminescence from a specific lux reporter microbial population in porous media. © 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Pressure-Induced Renal Injury in Angiotensin II Versus Norepinephrine-Induced Hypertensive Rats

The susceptibility to renal perfusion pressure (RPP)-induced renal injury was investigated in angiotensin II (Ang II)- versus norepinephrine (NE)-infused hypertensive rats. To determine the magnitude of RPP-induced injury, Sprague-Dawley rats fed a 4% salt diet were instrumented with a servocontrolled aortic balloon occluder positioned between the renal arteries to maintain RPP to the left kidney at baseline levels whereas the right kidney was exposed to elevated RPP during a 2-week infusion of Ang II IV (25 ng/kg per minute), NE IV (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 microg/kg per minute on days 1, 2, and 3 to 14, respectively), or saline IV (sham rats). Over the 14 days of Ang II infusion, RPP averaged 161.5+/-8.0 mm Hg to uncontrolled kidneys and 121.9+/-2.0 mm Hg to servocontrolled kidneys. In NE-infused rats, RPP averaged 156.3+/-3.0 mm Hg to uncontrolled kidneys and 116.9+/-2.0 mm Hg to servocontrolled kidneys. RPP averaged 111.1+/-1.0 mm Hg to kidneys of sham rats. Interlobular arterial injury and juxtamedullary glomerulosclerosis were largely RPP dependent in both models of hypertension. Superficial cortical glomerulosclerosis was greater and RPP dependent in NE- versus Ang II-infused rats, which was primarily independent of RPP. Outer medullary tubular necrosis and interstitial fibrosis were also primarily RPP dependent in both models of hypertension; however, the magnitude of injury was exacerbated in Ang II-infused rats. We conclude that elevated RPP is the dominant cause of renal injury in both NE- and Ang II-induced hypertensive rats and that underlying neurohumoral factors in these models of hypertension alter the pattern and magnitude of RPP-induced renal injury.
Retention and exchange of potassium in a synaptosomal fraction of mouse brain.

— Myelin, synaptosomal and mitochondrial fractions obtained from homogenates of whole mouse brain contain K+ which can exchange with 42K+ at 2o in 0·32 m-sucrose. The content and rates of exchange of K+ were greater at pH 8·2 than at 6·1. In the synaptosomal preparations, the rates of exchange and content of 42K+ and K+ declined progressively with decreasing pH. Of the total synaptosomal K+, 95 per cent could exchange with external 42K+. At pH 7·5, 20 per cent of the K+ and 78 per cent of the Na+ appeared to reside in osmotically insensitive pools. Synaptosomal K+ at 2o was slowly displaced by NaCl (0·18 m) and the rate of exchange between 42K+ and K+ was retarded. KCI (0·18 m) did not readily displace endogenous Na+. Synaptosomal K+ exchanged with exogenous K+ more rapidly than with exogenous Na+. These observations have been discussed in terms of possible roles for ion exchange as the principal means by which K+ traverses the plasma membrane at 2o.
Multi-Layer Interdigitated Power Distribution Networks

Higher operating frequencies and greater power demands have increased the requirements on the power and ground network. Simultaneously, due to the larger current loads, current densities are increasing, making electromigration an important design issue. In this paper, methods for optimizing a multi-layer interdigitated power and ground network are presented. Based on the resistive and inductive (both self- and mutual) impedance, a closed-form solution for determining the optimal power and ground wire width is described, producing the minimum impedance for a single metal layer. Electromigration is considered, permitting the appropriate number of metal layers to be determined. The tradeoff between the network impedance and current density is investigated. Based on 65-, 45-, and 32-nm CMOS technologies, the optimal width as a function of metal layer is determined for different frequencies, suggesting important trends for interdigitated power and ground networks.
Reliability and reproducibility issues in DNA microarray measurements

DNA microarrays enable researchers to monitor the expression of thousands of genes simultaneously. However, the current technology has several limitations. Here we discuss problems related to the sensitivity, accuracy, specificity and reproducibility of microarray results. The existing data suggest that for relatively abundant transcripts the existence and direction (but not the magnitude) of expression changes can be reliably detected. However, accurate measurements of absolute expression levels and the reliable detection of low abundance genes are difficult to achieve. The main problems seem to be the sub-optimal design or choice of probes and some incorrect probe annotations. Well-designed data-analysis approaches can rectify some of these problems.
Protein Inhibitor of Activated STAT Y (PIASy) and a Splice Variant Lacking Exon 6 Enhance Sumoylation but Are Not Essential for Embryogenesis and Adult Life

Protein inhibitor of activated STAT Y (PIASy) is the shortest member of the PIAS family and has been reported to modulate the transcriptional activities of STAT1, lymphoid enhancer factor 1 (LEF-1), and the androgen receptor. PIAS proteins have also been identified as E3 ligases for the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) proteins. PIASy in particular has been reported to mediate SUMO-2/3 modification of LEF-1, sequestering it into nuclear bodies, and SUMO-1 ligation to c-Myb, modulating its transcriptional activation properties. We have cloned murine Piasy and a splice variant which omits exon 6, containing the nuclear retention PINIT motif. Cell culture studies indicate that both the full length and the splice variant are localized in the nucleus but differentially enhance SUMO ligation. To further understand the functions of PIASy, we have generated PIASy-deficient mice. Surprisingly, Piasy−/− mice appear phenotypically normal. Activation of STAT1 is not significantly perturbed in Piasy−/− cells, and sumoylation patterns for SUMO-1 or SUMO-3 modification are similar when comparing tissues and embryonic fibroblasts from wild-type and knockout mice. Our study demonstrates that at steady state, PIASy is either dispensable or compensated for by other PIAS family members or by other mechanisms when deleted.
Elastic properties of polvinyl chloride gels

Young's moduli are measured by a simple compression method on plasticized polyvinyl chloride (Vinylite VYNW) compounds containing from 5 to 100% polymer covering a range of approximately seven orders of magnitude in modulus. By comparing values obtained at different temperatures, it is shown that the 60-second modulus in the range of 25°C. is largely due to entropy changes occurring during deformation of compounds containing less than about 50% polymer, but upon internal energy changes in compounds containing higher concentrations of resin. A semiquantitative description of the three-dimensional polyvinyl chloride network existing in the soft-gel region is arrived at from the kinetic theory of elasticity, and a network structure is suggested for the region of high resin content. A method for comparing relative solvent power of various plasticizers is suggested based on moduli determined in the soft-gel region. Effects of polymer composition on the network structure are also discussed.
Light quarks in the screened dyon-antidyon Coulomb liquid model. II.

We discuss an extension of the dyon-antidyon liquid model that includes light quarks in the dense center symmetric phase. In this work, like in our previous one, we use the simplest color SU(2) group. We start with a single fermion flavor ${N}_{f}=1$ and explicitly map the model onto a three-dimensional quantum effective theory with a fermion that is only ${\mathrm{U}}_{V}(1)$ symmetric. We use it to show, in the mean-field approximation, that in the dense center, the symmetric regime leads to the nonzero chiral condensate. We estimate its value and the $\ensuremath{\sigma},\ensuremath{\eta}$ meson masses. We then extend our analysis to an arbitrary number of quark flavors ${N}_{f}g1$ and colors ${N}_{c}g2$ and show that in the dense plasma phase the spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking disappears when ${N}_{f}/{N}_{c}\ensuremath{\ge}2$. A reorganization of the ensemble into a gas of dyon-antidyon molecules restores chiral symmetry but may still preserve center symmetry in the linearized approximation.
Towards a Lagrangian Description of the Gulf Stream

Abstract Downstream velocity relative to the axis of the Gulf Stream is examined through the use of data from SOFAR floats. The speed calculated from the position of the floats along constant pressure surfaces is expressed in terms of a transformed cross-stream coordinate given by temperature, which is telemetered from the floats. The result is a distribution of downstream velocity unaffected by meanders from Cape Hatteras to 46°W. The speed at 700 m is about 75 cm s−1 west of 57°W and decreases sharply to 40 cm s−1 to the east. In the deep water from 1300 to 2200 m, the core speed is 35 cm s−1 between 65° and 50°W, if it is present. The flow in the Gulf Stream may be disturbed by local processes, which are frequently observed in satellite imagery. Examples am shingles, ring formation and meanders. Although SOFAR floats are quasi-Lagrangian (isobaric) devices, the float data can give a Lagrangian description of the Gulf Stream. Above the main thermocline, a current coinciding with the tilting isotherms fr...
School-Based Intervention for Social Skills in Children from Divorced Families.

Divorce is an increasingly prevalent occurrence in society that has the potential to result in many adverse short- and long-term consequences for children and their parents. Social skills, such as those with peers, are one of the problems that may emerge for children of divorce. Despite this growing problem, there is a paucity of research available to effectively address the social skills needed to build and maintain positive peer interactions and subsequent relationships in students whose parents are no longer married. It was hypothesized that a social skills training program would be effective in remediating social skill deficits related to building relationships with peers in students from divorced families. The purpose of this study was to employ COPE, a school-based social skills program, to examine the effect on social skills in elementary students whose parents are divorced. Results of the social skills intervention indicated that the treatment was effective for most participants, but generalizatio...
Strong wind shear events and improved numerical prediction of the wind turbine rotor layer in an Iowa tall tower network

Day-ahead bids of wind farm power production depend greatly on the accuracy of wind speed forecasts. Forecasts can be improved by expanding knowledge of the wind characteristics across the wind turbine rotor layer (40 – 120 m) and examining wind direction forecasts, as errors in these forecasts can lead to missed effects of wind turbine wakes. Several high shear events with a change in wind speed of up to 15 m s -1 and changes in wind direction up to 30° between 50 and 200 m were observed across an Iowa tall tower network. The strength of these events could lead to damage of wind turbine components and therefore are important to forecast accurately. A six member Weather Research and Forecasting ensemble forecast was developed to evaluate the ability of the model to forecast wind speed, wind direction, wind shear, and stability at several levels across the rotor layer. Four bias correction methods were tested for each parameter to determine the best forecast method. After correction, wind speed forecasts were improved by up to 19%.
Two Modes of the Axonal Interferon Response Limit Alphaherpesvirus Neuroinvasion

ABSTRACT Infection by alphaherpesviruses, including herpes simplex virus (HSV) and pseudorabies virus (PRV), typically begins at epithelial surfaces and continues into the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Inflammatory responses are induced at the infected peripheral site prior to invasion of the PNS. When the peripheral tissue is first infected, only the innervating axons are exposed to this inflammatory milieu, which includes the interferons (IFNs). The fundamental question is how do PNS cell bodies respond to these distant, potentially damaging events experienced by axons. Using compartmented cultures that physically separate neuron axons from cell bodies, we found that pretreating isolated axons with beta interferon (IFN-β) or gamma interferon (IFN-γ) significantly diminished the number of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and PRV particles moving in axons toward the cell bodies in a receptor-dependent manner. Exposing axons to IFN-β induced STAT1 phosphorylation (p-STAT1) only in axons, while exposure of axons to IFN-γ induced p-STAT1 accumulation in distant cell body nuclei. Blocking transcription in cell bodies eliminated antiviral effects induced by IFN-γ, but not those induced by IFN-β. Proteomic analysis of IFN-β- or IFN-γ-treated axons identified several differentially regulated proteins. Therefore, unlike treatment with IFN-γ, IFN-β induces a noncanonical, local antiviral response in axons. The activation of a local IFN response in axons represents a new paradigm for cytokine control of neuroinvasion. IMPORTANCE Neurons are highly polarized cells with long axonal processes that connect to distant targets. PNS axons that innervate peripheral tissues are exposed to various situations that follow infection, inflammation, and damage of the tissue. After viral infection in the periphery, axons represent potential front-line barriers to PNS infection and damage. Indeed, most viral infections do not spread to the PNS, yet the mechanisms responsible are not well studied. We devised an experimental system to study how axons respond to inflammatory cytokines that would be produced by infected tissues. We found that axons respond differentially to type I and type II interferons. The response to type I interferon (IFN-β) is a rapid axon-only response. The response to type II interferon (IFN-γ) involves long-distance signaling to the PNS cell body. These responses to two interferons erect an efficient and rapid barrier to PNS infection.
Precipitation and Soil Impacts on Partitioning of Subsurface Moisture in Avena barbata

The primary objective of this study was to assess the impact of two grassland soils and precipitation regimes on soil-moisture dynamics. We set up an experiment in a greenhouse and monitored the soil moisture dynamics in mesocosms planted with Avena barbata , an annual species found in California grasslands. By repeating the precipitation input at regular intervals, we were able to observe plant manipulation of soil moisture during well-defined periods during the growing season. We found that the amount of water partitioned to evapotranspiration, seepage, and soil storage varied among different growth stages. Furthermore, both soil type and precipitation regime had a significant impact on redistributing soil moisture. Whereas in the low-precipitation treatments most water was released to the atmosphere as evapotranspiration, major losses from the high-precipitation treatment occurred as gravity drainage. Observations from this study emphasize the importance of understanding intraseasonal relationships between vegetation, soil, and water.
Anaemia Rate in Primary and Junior High School Students in Dazhou City From 1995 to 2005

Objective To investigate the anaemia rate of primary and junior high school students in 4 fixed schools of Dazhou City from 1995 to 2005 so as to provide basis for developing physical and health planning in schools.Method Hemoglobin was examined by cyanomethemoglobin method recommanded by WHO.Results In 1995, 2000 and 2005, a total of 2 446, 4 135 and 5 012 students were examined with anaemia rate of 50.53%, 26.67% and 31.10% and no severe anaemia student was detected. The anaemia rate of girl students was significantly higher than that of boy students and that of rural students was significantly higher than that of urban students.Conclusion The anaemia rate of school students in Dazhou City showed declined trend in past ten years and listed in the average level of our country.Great attention should be paid to girl and rural students.
Metabolism of trichloroethylene in liver microsomes. I. Characteristics of the reaction.

The conversion of trichloroethylene to chloral hydrate was shown to take place in liver microsomes of rats, rabbits, and dogs, in a reaction requiring NADPH and oxygen. A stable, lyophilized preparation of microsomal and soluble fractions of liver homogenates in Tris buffer was used, from which a fraction could be obtained which resembled fresh microsomes in behavior. The effects of a number of activators and inhibitors of the enzyme system are described.
Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Presenting as Painful Chewing Successfully Treated with Combined Nivolumab and Sunitinib.

Introduction Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) to the head and neck is rare. It is the third-most common cause of distant metastasis to the head and neck, after breast cancer and lung cancer. Several drugs are available to treat metastatic RCC including high-dose interleukin and targeted therapy. Immunotherapy with nivolumab was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a second-line treatment for patients with metastatic RCC. Case presentation We present a case of metastatic RCC in a 71-year-old man with a single complaint of a 1-year history of pain while chewing food. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography showed diffuse metastatic disease. Nivolumab, off-label use before its recent FDA approval, was combined with sunitinib and resulted in an excellent and ongoing response. Discussion RCC is the third-most common cause of distant metastasis to the head and neck. The patient described in this case did not have any symptoms commonly seen in RCC, such as painless hematuria, weight loss, anorexia, fatigue, or anemia, despite the bulk of his disease. The other important aspect of this case is the almost complete response of his metastatic disease to the combination of nivolumab and sunitinib that was used off label before the FDA issued the approval. Future clinical trials should look at combining immunotherapy with targeted therapy in metastatic RCC.
Predictors of Elopement Exhibited by School-Aged Children With Special Health Care Needs: Towards the Development of a Screening Instrument for Elopement

Elopement exhibited by school-aged children with special health care needs is a relatively low frequency problem behavior with the potential for severe negative consequences for the child and family. Using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Survey of Pathways to Diagnosis and Services, our results represent one of the first empirical studies of variables that may be associated with children with special health care needs engaging in elopement. Using data from a nationally representative sample of children with special health care needs, our results revealed two variables that were statistically significant predictors of parent-reported elopement in the past year: (1) the child's chronological age, and (2) the presence of an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis. We found that the likelihood of an elopement event was inversely related to age, but positively associated with the presence of an ASD diagnosis. Using parent-response items from the CDC data set, we selected a set of questions to screen for risk of elopement and analyzed their psychometric properties. We discuss the need for future research to validate this screening instrument for school-aged youth with special health care needs. Our study provides an initial psychometric analysis to support a potential screening instrument for elopement events among school-aged youth that needs to be validated by a longitudinal study of its predictive validity.
Control and Evaluation of a Powered Transfemoral Prosthesis for Stair Ascent

This paper assesses the metabolic effort exerted by three transfemoral amputees, when using a powered knee and ankle prosthesis for stair ascent, relative to ascending stairs with passive knee and ankle prostheses. The paper describes a controller that provides step-over stair ascent behavior reflective of healthy stair ascent biomechanics, and describes its implementation in a powered prosthesis prototype. Stair ascent experiments were performed with three unilateral transfemoral amputee subjects, comparing the oxygen consumption required to ascend stairs using the powered prosthesis (with a step-over gait), relative to using their daily-use energetically passive prostheses (with a step-to gait). Results indicate on average a 24% reduction in oxygen consumption and a 30% reduction in stair ascent timewhen using the powered prosthesis, relative to when using the passive prostheses. All subjects expressed a strong preference for ascending stairs using the powered prosthesis.
The Effect of Vine Kill Method on Vine Kill, Tuber Skinning Injury, Tuber Yield and Size Distribution, and Tuber Nutrients and Phytonutrients in Two Potato Cultivars Grown for Early Potato Production

Sixteen vine kill programs were tested on Bintje and Ciklamen potato cultivars grown for early potato production over a three year period near Paterson, Washington. Mechanical (flail chopping, flail chopping and undercutting), chemical (glufosinate, diquat, sulfuric acid, carfentrazone, pyraflufen-ethyl), and physical (flaming) vine kill methods, and sequential combinations of the three were effective in killing rapidly growing potato vines of Bintje and Ciklamen. Rolling and crimping did not kill vines as completely and more vine regrowth occurred than with most other methods tested. Tuber skinning injury was greatly reduced when harvesting at 4 weeks after initial vine kill than at 2 weeks. None of the vine kill programs were able to hasten skin set enough to allow tubers to be harvested at 2 weeks after initial vine kill without significant tuber skinning injury. Glufosinate treatments that were applied several days earlier than other initial vine kill treatments tended to average less skinning injury at the early harvest possibly due to more time elapsing between initial vine kill and harvest. Total tuber yield and size distribution were similar among most vine kill treatments, with the exception of the earlier applied glufosinate treatments, which tended to reduce total yield, but still yielded a similar mass of desired 25 to 35 mm diameter tubers. Tubers from vine-killed plots tended to average greater N, P, K, Fe, and Ca content than tubers from non-killed control plots of both cultivars. Tuber ascorbate levels were also greater in non-killed controls, whereas total phenolic content tended to be greatest in earlier-applied glufosinate treatments. Nonchemical vine kill methods, chemical vine kill methods, and combinations of the two were identified that killed vines well, had low skinning injury at the 4 week harvest, and yielded similar amounts of 25 to 35 mm diameter early potato tubers.
Development of a human cadaver model for training in laparoscopic donor nephrectomy.

BACKGROUND The organ procurement network recommends a surgeon record 15 cases as surgeon or assistant for laparoscopic donor nephrectomies (LDN) prior to independent practice. The literature suggests that the learning curve for improved perioperative and patient outcomes is closer to 35 cases. In this article, we describe our development of a model utilizing fresh tissue and objective, quantifiable endpoints to document surgical progress, and efficiency in each of the major steps involved in LDN. MATERIALS AND METHODS Phase I of model development focused on the modifications necessary to maintain visualization for laparoscopic surgery in a human cadaver. Phase II tested proposed learner-based metrics of procedural competency for multiport LDN by timing procedural steps of LDN in a novice learner. RESULTS Phases I and II required 12 and nine cadavers, with a total of 35 kidneys utilized. The following metrics improved with trial number for multiport LDN: time taken for dissection of the gonadal vein, ureter, renal hilum, adrenal and lumbrical veins, simulated warm ischemic time (WIT), and operative time. CONCLUSION Human cadavers can be used for training in LDN as evidenced by improvements in timed learner-based metrics. This simulation-based model fills a gap in available training options for surgeons.
Current trends in racial, ethnic, and healthcare disparities associated with pediatric cardiac surgery outcomes

Objective Despite overall improvements in congenital heart disease outcomes, racial and ethnic disparities have continued. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of race and ethnicity, as well as other risk factors on congenital heart surgery length of stay and in-hospital mortality. Design From the 2012 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids Inpatient Database (KID), we identified 13 130 records with Risk Adjustment in Congenital Heart Surgery complexity score-eligible procedures. Multivariate logistic and linear regression modeling with survey weights, stratification and clustering was used to examine the relationships between predictor variables and length of stay as well as in-hospital mortality. Results No significant mortality differences were found among all race and ethnicity groups across each age group. Black neonates and black infants had a longer length of stay (neonatal estimate = 8.73 days, P = .0034; infant estimate 1.10 days, P = .0253), relative to whites. Government-sponsored insurance was associated with increased odds of neonatal mortality (odds ratio = 1.51, P = .0055), increased length of stay in neonates (estimate = 4.26 days, P = .0009) and infants (estimate = 1.52 days, P = .0181), relative to private insurance. Government-sponsored insurance was associated with increased number of chronic conditions, which were also associated with increased LOS (estimate 8.39 days, P < .001 in neonates; estimate 3.60 days, P < .001 in infants; estimate 1.87 days, P < .001 children). Conclusions Racial/ethnic disparities in congenital heart surgical outcomes may be changing compared with previous studies using the KID database. Increased length of stay in children with government-sponsored insurance may reflect expansion of individual states government-sponsored insurance eligibility criteria for children with complex chronic medical conditions. These findings warrant cautious optimism regarding racial and ethnic disparities in congenital heart surgery outcomes.
The Platinum—Pyrimidine Blues

The platinum—pyrimidine blues, derived from cisplatin, are an interesting class of complexes with antitumour activity. They were first discovered as a result of studies on the interaction of cis-[PtCl2(NH3)2] and its aquated products with pyrimidines. The identification of DNA as the target for platinum attack naturally led to a systematic study of the reactions of the complex with nucleic acid constituents. The observation that with polyuridine no immediate reaction took place but that a blue color slowly developed in solution, from which a blue solid could be isolated, led to the preparation of a series of complexes containing substituted uracils and thymines.
Drug Abuse and Alcoholism

Publisher Summary Significant progress has been made at every level of neuroscience research in understanding the mechanisms of action of drugs of abuse following both acute and chronic administration. The mechanism of action of drugs of abuse influence catecholamines at three levels of analysis: system, cellular, and molecular. At the system level, the focus on the mesolimbic dopamine system has led to the identification of neural circuits involved in drug reward and to a new concept of the extended amygdala. Dopamine elements of this extended amygdala, notably the shell or medial aspect of the nucleus accumbens, appear to be particularly sensitive to drug and natural rewards. Chronic stimulant administration leads to a progressive increase in stimulant-induced activity, and this sensitization is environment-dependent. At the cellular level, mesolimbic system dopamine neurons respond to chronic cocaine administration by increasing their activity while their activity decreases during withdrawal. At the level of the ventral tegmental area dopamine cell bodies, repeated administration of psychostimulants results in an inhibition of GABA release that contributes to the activation of mesolimbic neurons caused by increases in adenosine tone. Nucleus accumbens neurons show enhanced responsiveness to the inhibitory actions of D1 -receptor stimulation with repeated administration, and during withdrawal show a decreased responsiveness. At the molecular level, manipulations of specific neuropharmacological elements of dopaminergic neurotransrnission, such as knockout mice, are hypothesized to provide insights into the genetic vulnerability to substance dependence. The genetic basis for traits linked to substance dependence that are affected by multiple genes can be localized on the genome using quantitative trait loci analysis. These new genetic analyses and approaches, such as molecular genome manipulations and quantitative trait loci, provide hope for identifying elements that may confer vulnerability to substance abuse and dependence.
Associations of body adiposity index, waist circumference, and body mass index in young adults

Summary Background & aims The Body Adiposity Index (BAI) is an anthropometric measure developed to estimate body composition in field settings. Although this novel measure has been validated against clinical measures of adiposity (%Fat), the relative accuracy of other anthropometric measures, such as Body Mass Index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC), have not been assessed in comparison to the BAI using a 4-compartment (4C) model. Purpose The primary aim of this study was to examine the association between BMI, WC, BAI, and %Fat in young adults, and determine the relative accuracy of each anthropometric measure when predicting %Fat. Methods BMI, WC, and BAI were assessed in a sample of young adults (n = 188, 48.4% female, 21.8 ± 4.8 years). %Fat assessed using the 4C model was derived from underwater weighing for body density, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for bone mineral content, and bioimpedance spectroscopy for total body water. Bivariate associations were assessed using Pearson's r, with the relative accuracy of each measure assessed using multivariate linear regression and compared using Akaike's information criterion, R2 and ΔR2 statistics. Results BMI, WC, and BAI were associated with %Fat (r = 0.192, 0.194, and 0.668, respectively, all p Conclusion WC and BAI are more strongly associated with %Fat as measured by the 4C model than BMI in young adults.
The feared five fungal infections in kidney transplant recipients: A single-center 20-year experience.

Invasive fungal infections are a feared complication in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). Here we present the University of Wisconsin experience with 5 invasive fungal infections-aspergillosis, cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, and coccidioidomycosis-in KTRs transplanted between 01/01/1994 and 06/30/2014. During this period, there were 128 cases of fungal infections; aspergillosis was the most common (72), followed by cryptococcosis (29), histoplasmosis (14), blastomycosis (10), and coccidioidomycosis (3). The mean interval from transplant to fungal infection was 3.19 ± 3.58 years (range 5 days-15.8 years). By 6 months postinfection, there were 53 (41%) graft failures and 24 (19%) deaths. Graft failure occurred in 46%, 38%, 21%, 40%, and 67% of patients with aspergillosis, cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, and coccidioidomycosis, respectively. Anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) induction (HR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.03-2.16; P = .04), diabetes (HR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.05-2.21; P = .03), and age (HR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.27-1.70; P ≤ .001) were associated with an increased risk for infection in univariate analysis. Multivariate adjustment retained ATG induction and older age. A large proportion of kidney transplant recipients with invasive fungal infections suffer graft failure within 3 years. Preventive, therapeutic, and monitoring strategies are needed to improve graft and patient outcomes.
Dual energy CT for evaluation of polycystic kidneys: a multi reader study of interpretation time and diagnostic confidence.

To compare dual-energy CT (DECT) iodine overlay images with renal mass protocol CT in the evaluation of polycystic kidneys with respect to reading time, diagnostic confidence, and detection of renal lesions that are not definitively benign. Following IRB approval, portal venous phase dual-source DECT scans performed between September 2013 and February 2016 from 55 patients (mean age 67 ± 15 years, 31 male, 24 female) with polycystic kidneys (4 or more cysts) were included. For each patient, two image sets were created: (1) DECT post-processed iodine overlay images and (2) simulated renal mass protocol CT images (virtual noncontrast and mixed images). Two radiologists independently retrospectively reviewed both sets at separate time points, evaluating for the presence of lesions that were not definitively benign (enhancing lesions or Bosniak IIF cysts), as well as reading times and Likert scale diagnostic confidence ratings (scaled 1–5) for the presence of non-benign lesions. Reading times were compared with a t test, diagnostic confidence with a McNemar test, and lesion number detection with Cohen’s kappa test. Iodine overlay images were read faster (mean 55 ± 26 s) than renal mass protocol (mean 105 ± 51 s) (p < 0.001). Readers assigned the highest diagnostic confidence rating in 64% using iodine overlay series, compared to 17% using renal mass protocol (p < 0.0001). The proportion of patients with recorded lesions was not significantly different between methods (p = 0.62). DECT improves lesion assessment in polycystic kidneys by decreasing reading times and increasing diagnostic confidence, without affecting lesion detection rates.
35. Interviewing children.

This article reviews best practice for interviewing childwitnesses. Inmost officially recognized abuse cases, the child previously disclosed abuse, making it possible to elicit disclosures without asking closed-ended questions. Interviewers nevertheless overuse closed-ended questions, which lead to short unelaborated responses, privilege the limited perspective of the interviewer, maximize the potential for linguistic difficulties, increase children’s tendency to guess, and risk response biases. Interviewers can avoid closed-ended questions throughnarrative practice, inwhich interviewers ask children to narrate a recent innocuous event before introducing the abuse topic; cued invitations, in which interviewers repeat details reported by children and ask for elaboration; open-endedwhquestions; and interview instructions, including asking children to promise to tell the truth. A remaining challenge is how to elicit disclosures from reluctant children. Better understanding of the dynamics of abuse disclosure and optimal interviewing strategies can assist the legal system in assessing the veracity of children’s reports. 73 A nn u. R ev . L aw . S oc . S ci . 2 01 4. 10 :7 389 . D ow nl oa de d fr om w w w .a nn ua lr ev ie w s. or g A cc es s pr ov id ed b y U ni ve rs ity o f So ut he rn C al if or ni a (U SC ) on 0 6/ 01 /1 6. F or p er so na l u se o nl y. LS10CH05-Lyon ARI 17 September 2014 10:31
Feasibility of implementing a resident oncology video curriculum.

10500Background: ACGME survey results consistently show that 40% of University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) internal medicine (IM) residents are dissatisfied with their oncology education—hi...
A Review of Predictive Analytics Solutions for Sepsis Patients.

Background Early detection and efficient management of sepsis are important for improving health care quality, effectiveness, and costs. Due to its high cost and prevalence, sepsis is a major focus area across institutions and many studies have emerged over the past years with different models or novel machine learning techniques in early detection of sepsis or potential mortality associated with sepsis. Objective To understand predictive analytics solutions for sepsis patients, either in early detection of onset or mortality. Methods and Results We performed a systematized narrative review and identified common and unique characteristics between their approaches and results in studies that used predictive analytics solutions for sepsis patients. After reviewing 148 retrieved papers, a total of 31 qualifying papers were analyzed with variances in model, including linear regression (n = 2), logistic regression (n = 5), support vector machines (n = 4), and Markov models (n = 4), as well as population (range: 24–198,833) and feature size (range: 2–285). Many of the studies used local data sets of varying sizes and locations while others used the publicly available Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care data. Additionally, vital signs or laboratory test results were commonly used as features for training and testing purposes; however, a few used more unique features including gene expression data from blood plasma and unstructured text and data from clinician notes. Conclusion Overall, we found variation in the domain of predictive analytics tools for septic patients, from feature and population size to choice of method or algorithm. There are still limitations in transferability and generalizability of the algorithms or methods used. However, it is evident that implementing predictive analytics tools are beneficial in the early detection of sepsis or death related to sepsis. Since most of these studies were retrospective, the translational value in the real-world setting in different wards should be further investigated.
Abstract 124: Recycling endosomes in mature epithelia restrain tumorigenic signaling

The effects of polarized membrane trafficking in mature epithelial tissue on cell growth and cancer progression have not been fully explored in vivo. A majority of colorectal cancers have reduced and mislocalized Rab11, a small GTPase dedicated to trafficking of recycling endosomes. Patients with low Rab11 protein expression have poor survival rates. Using genetic models across species, we show that intact recycling endosome function restrains aberrant epithelial growth elicited by APC or RAS mutations. Loss of Rab11 protein led to epithelial dysplasia in early animal development and synergized with oncogenic pathways to accelerate tumor progression initiated by carcinogen, genetic mutation, or aging. Transcriptomic analysis uncovered an immediate expansion of the intestinal stem cell pool along with cell-autonomous Yki/Yap activation following disruption of Rab11a-mediated recycling endosomes. Intestinal tumors lacking Rab11a traffic exhibited marked elevation of nuclear Yap, upd3/IL6-Stat3, and amphiregulin-MAPK signaling, while suppression of Yki/Yap or upd3/IL6 reduced gut epithelial dysplasia and hyperplasia. Examination of Rab11a function in enteroids or cultured cell lines suggested that this endosome unit is required for suppression of the Yap pathway by Hippo kinases. Thus, recycling endosomes in mature epithelia constitute key tumor suppressors, loss of which accelerates carcinogenesis. Statement of significance: Recycling endosome traffic in mature epithelia constitutes a novel tumor suppressing mechanism. Citation Format: Sayantani Goswami. Recycling endosomes in mature epithelia restrain tumorigenic signaling [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 124.
Abstract 16267: Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting versus Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients Presenting With Acute Coronary Syndrome With Culprit Unprotected Left Main Artery

Background: Outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) versus (vs) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) with unprotected left ...
Use of Simulations and Screencasts to Increase Student Understanding of Energy Concepts in Bonding

The growing popularity of flipped, blended, and online learning, combined with the need to support a student population with increasingly diverse backgrounds, has led to the development and use of ...
Risk Management and the Prudent Investor Rule

The prudent investor rule, now enacted in every state, is the centerpiece of trust investment law. In accordance with modern portfolio theory, the rule directs a trustee to implement an overall investment strategy having risk and return objectives reasonably suited to the trust. This article, recently published in Trusts & Estates magazine, summarizes the results of an earlier empirical study of the effect of the rule on asset allocation and management of market risk by bank trustees. We had two main findings. First, enactment of the rule was associated with increased stockholdings by bank trustees, but not among banks with average trust account sizes below the 25th percentile, a result that is consistent with sensitivity in asset allocation to trust risk tolerance. Second, enactment of the rule was associated with increased portfolio rebalancing by bank trustees, a result that is consistent with increased management of market risk. Given these findings, we concluded that reallocation toward additional stockholdings after enactment of the rule was correlated with trust risk tolerance and that the increased market risk exposure from those additional stockholdings was more actively managed.
Errata article for "Three point boundary value problems for ordinary differential equations, uniqueness implies existence"

This paper serves as an errata for the article “P. W. Eloe, J. Henderson, J. Neugebauer, Electron. J. Qual. Theory Differ. Equ. 2020, No. 74, 1–15.” In particular, the proof the authors give in that paper of Theorem 3.6 is incorrect, and so, that alleged theorem remains a conjecture. In this erratum, the authors state and prove a correct theorem.
Sexual Violence as an Occupational Hazard & Condition of Confinement in the Closed Institutional Systems of the Military and Detention

Women in the military are more likely to be raped by other service members than to be killed in combat. Female prisoners internalize rape by corrections officers as an inherent part of their sentence. Immigrants held in detention fearing deportation or other legal action endure rape to avoid compromising their cases. This Article draws parallels among closed institutional systems of prisons, immigration detention, and the military. The closed nature of these systems creates an environment where sexual victimization occurs in isolation, often without knowledge of or intervention by those on the outside, and the internal processes for addressing this victimization allow for sweeping discretion on the part of system actors. This Article recommends a two-part strategy to better make victims whole and effect systemic, legal, and cultural change: the use of civil lawsuits generally, with a focus on the class action suit, supplemented by administrative law to enforce federal rules on sexual violence in closed systems. This Article strives to break down the walls that separate these different closed systems into silos, toward an end of shifting laws and policy to better address the multi-faceted problem of sexual victimization.
PANCREATIC NETWORK CONTROL OF GLUCAGON SECRETION AND COUNTERREGULATION

Glucagon counterregulation (GCR) is a key protection against hypoglycemia compromised in insulinopenic diabetes by an unknown mechanism. In this work, we present an interdisciplinary approach to the analysis of the GCR control mechanisms. Our results indicate that a pancreatic network which unifies a few explicit interactions between the major islet peptides and blood glucose (BG) can replicate the normal GCR axis and explain its impairment in diabetes. A key and novel component of this network is an alpha-cell auto-feedback, which drives glucagon pulsatility and mediates triggering of pulsatile GCR by hypoglycemia via a switch-off of the beta-cell suppression of the alpha-cells. We have performed simulations based on our models of the endocrine pancreas which explain the in vivo GCR response to hypoglycemia of the normal pancreas and the enhancement of defective pulsatile GCR in beta-cell deficiency by switch-off of intrapancreatic alpha-cell suppressing signals. The models also predicted that reduced insulin secretion decreases and delays the GCR. In conclusion, based on experimental data we have developed and validated a model of the normal GCR control mechanisms and their dysregulation in insulin deficient diabetes. One advantage of this construct is that all model components are clinically measurable, thereby permitting its transfer, validation, and application to the study of the GCR abnormalities of the human endocrine pancreas in vivo.