cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A hypothesis of chronic back pain: ligament subfailure injuries lead to muscle control dysfunction

Clinical reports and research studies have documented the behavior of chronic low back and neck pain patients. A few hypotheses have attempted to explain these varied clinical and research findings. A new hypothesis, based upon the concept that subfailure injuries of ligaments (spinal ligaments, disc annulus and facet capsules) may cause chronic back pain due to muscle control dysfunction, is presented. The hypothesis has the following sequential steps. Single trauma or cumulative microtrauma causes subfailure injuries of the ligaments and embedded mechanoreceptors. The injured mechanoreceptors generate corrupted transducer signals, which lead to corrupted muscle response pattern produced by the neuromuscular control unit. Muscle coordination and individual muscle force characteristics, i.e. onset, magnitude, and shut-off, are disrupted. This results in abnormal stresses and strains in the ligaments, mechanoreceptors and muscles, and excessive loading of the facet joints. Due to inherently poor healing of spinal ligaments, accelerated degeneration of disc and facet joints may occur. The abnormal conditions may persist, and, over time, may lead to chronic back pain via inflammation of neural tissues. The hypothesis explains many of the clinical observations and research findings about the back pain patients. The hypothesis may help in a better understanding of chronic low back and neck pain patients, and in improved clinical management.
Management of patients with hepatitis B virus-induced cirrhosis.

Approximately 350 million people worldwide are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). If left untreated, approximately 20% will develop cirrhosis and complications of end-stage liver disease [1,2]. Antiviral therapy may decrease the progression to cirrhosis, hepatic decompensation and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Until recently, the only treatment for chronic hepatitis B was standard interferon (IFN). Interferon has limited efficacy, and may be associated with severe sepsis and worsening of hepatic failure in patients with decompensated cirrhosis [3,4]. The availability of oral antiviral agents with a better safety profile has significantly changed the management of end-stage liver disease caused by HBV. Lamivudine has been shown to suppress HBV replication, and to improve or stabilize liver function in patients with compensated as well as in those with decompensated cirrhosis [5,6]. Adefovir dipivoxil has also demonstrated efficacy in patients with decompensated cirrhosis and lamivudine-resistant HBV [7]. Oral nucleos(t)ide agents have delayed or obviated the need for liver transplantation in some patients, but transplantation is still required for those who present with advanced liver failure [8,9]. This article will focus on the use of antiviral agents for the treatment of HBV-cirrhosis.
Risk of other autoimmune diseases increased in people with Graves' disease or Hashimoto's thyroiditis relative to the general UK population

Commentary on: K Boelaert, PR Newby, MJ Simmonds, et al.. Prevalence and relative risk of other autoimmune diseases in subjects with autoimmune thyroid disease. Am J Med2010;123:183.e1–9.
Regulatory Solutions to the Problem of High Generic Drug Costs

Recent reports have highlighted dramatic price increases for several older generic drugs, including a number of essential products used to treat deadly infectious diseases. Although most of these medicines have been widely available at reasonable prices for decades, some manufacturers have seized on unique features of the pharmaceutical marketplace to seek substantial profits. In this Perspective, we examine limitations in current price regulation among public and private payors and consider several reforms that could address the problem of expensive generic drugs through improved competition.
Nano-scale Chemistry of Complex Self-Assembled Nanostructures in Epitaxial SiGe Films

Heteroepitaxy of SiGe alloys on Si (001) under certain growth conditions has previously been shown to cause self-assembly of nanostructures called Quantum Dot Molecules, QDMs, where pyramidal pits and 3D islands cooperatively form. QDMs have potential applications to nanologic device architectures such as Quantum Cellular Automata that relies on localization of charges inside islands to create bi-stable logic states. In order to determine the applicability of QDMs to such structures it is necessary to understand the nano-scale chemistry of QDMs because the chemistry affects local bandgap which in turn affects a QDM’s charge confinement property. We investigate the nanoscale chemistry of QDMs in the Si0.7Ge0.3/Si (100) system using Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES). Our AES analysis indicates that compressively strained QDM pit bases are the most Ge rich regions in a QDM. The segregation of Ge to these locations cannot be explained by strain energy minimization.
Exudative Polymorphous Vitelliform Retinopathy: Importance of Early Recognition of the Condition in Patients with Metastatic Melanoma

Because of the advent of monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of metastatic melanoma, patients with this disease are surviving longer. Early recognition of the disease has therefore become even more important. We present a patient with vitelliform maculopathy, a paraneoplastic retinal maculopathy that is under-recognized. Clinically the retinal findings of serous detachments and pigmentary macular changes are remarkable, while at the same time these patients have surprisingly very few symptoms. This is in contrast to patients who develop melanoma associated retinopathy (MAR) who are very symptomatic early in the disease, but with more subtle retinal findings. Monoclonal antibody treatment is changing the survival rates in metastatic disease making early diagnosis even more important. Exudative polymorphous vitelliform maculopathy (EPVM) needs to be recognized early to avoid delay in diagnosis of metastatic disease.
Chloroplast Genetic Engineering Via Organogenesis or Somatic Embryogenesis

Chloroplast genetic engineering offers a number of unique advantages, including high-level transgene expression, multigene engineering in a single transformation event, transgene containment via maternal inheritance, lack of gene silencing, position and pleiotropic effects and undesirable foreign DNA. More than 40 transgenes have been stably integrated and expressed via the tobacco chloroplast genome to confer desired agronomic traits or express high levels of vaccine antigens and biopharmaceuticals. Despite such significant progress, this technology has not been extended to other important plant species. For example, Arabidopsis may be an ideal model system for chloroplast functional genomics. The employment of chloroplast transformation technology in Arabidopsis has been hampered by the lack of an efficient and reproducible protocol that provides fertile chloroplast transgenic plants. Transformation of the Arabidopsis chloroplast genome was achieved via organogenesis but the efficiency was at least a 100-fold lower than in tobacco and had the drawback of polyploidy in the leaf tissue that resulted in sterile transgenic plants. This problem can be overcome by adapting procedures that are now available to regenerate plants from both diploid and tetraploid explants via callus. In addition, it is feasible to regenerate Arabidopsis via somatic embryogenesis. Recent breakthroughs in highly efficient plastid transformation of recalcitrant crops such as cotton and soybean have opened the possibility of engineering Arabidopsis plastid genome via somatic embryogenesis. Therefore, protocols of recent improvements in tissue culture, DNA delivery, and the novel vector designs are provided here in order to achieve highly efficient plastid transformation in Arabidopsis.
Tagging Juvenile Blue Crabs, Callinectes Sapidus, With Microwire Tags: Retention, Survival, and Growth Through Multiple Molts

ABSTRACT During an 80-day laboratory experiment we analyzed the retention of coded microwire tags implanted into 56 juvenile blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus, and compared their growth and mortality rates with those of an equal number of untagged crabs. The initial size of the crabs ranged from 29-67-mm carapace width as measured to the base of the lateral spines; 83% of the crabs molted at least twice and more than one-third molted 3 times. Though some confounding cannibalism occurred, we concluded that 96-98% of the tagged crabs retained the tag through the first molt, with no known losses through subsequent molts. No differences were evident in mortality between tagged and untagged crabs. Growth, expressed as increase in carapace width, and the intermolt period, were not different between the 2 groups. Microwire tags provide an effective long-term marking system for juvenile and adult blue crabs because (1) retention rate is high, (2) tags have no effect on growth or survival, and (3) large numbers of crabs can be batch-marked efficiently under field conditions.
Obese adolescents with type 2 diabetes perform worse than controls on cognitive and behavioral assessments

Background Children with type 1 diabetes demonstrate worse cognitive performance compared with their peers. Little is known regarding the cognitive and behavioral performance in obese adolescents with type 2 diabetes. Methods Cross sectional evaluation of 20 obese adolescents with type 2 diabetes and 20 healthy adolescents was performed in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cognitive tests that included measures of processing speed, working memory, verbal and semantic fluency and parent reports of executive function and problem behavior were compared. Academic achievement and the relationship between cognitive/behavioral scores and diabetes duration and diabetes control (hemoglobin A1c) were assessed in the type 2 diabetes group only. Results The type 2 diabetes group had mean duration of diabetes of 2.8 ± 2.2 yr and hemoglobin A1c of 7.9 ± 2.2%. Adolescents with type 2 diabetes scored lower than controls on tests of working and verbal memory and processing speed (all p < 0.05) and worse for Internalizing, Externalizing, and Total Problems behaviors on the Child Behavior Checklist (all p < 0.05). Adolescents with type 2 diabetes scored below the population mean in academic achievement, most notably calculation. Working memory and processing speed were negatively correlated with duration of diabetes (r = −0.50 and −0.47, respectively, p < 0.05). Conclusions Obese youth with type 2 diabetes score poorly compared with controls on multiple assessments of cognitive function and adaptive behavior. Further work is needed to determine if these effects are driven by obesity, diabetes or other demographic and socioeconomic risk factors.
The influence of liberal education on professional nursing practice: a proposed model

Nursing has embraced philosophically the importance of liberal education to professional practice. Yet there has been little exploration of how and if liberal education influences professional action. Based on a series of studies designed to examine the role of liberal education in professional practice, this article describes six competencies related to liberal and professional education and puts forth a model of practice that appears to be influenced by liberal education.
Airflow patterns around mushrooms and their relationship to spore dispersal

Analysis of airflow patterns around models of mushrooms and fresh fruiting bodies in a low speed wind tunnel showed division of the airstream at the leading edge of the cap, an increase in wind speed a few millimeters above and below the cap, and the development of a mantle of very slow-moving air closer to the lower surface. Mushroom caps with a pronounced bell shape offered the greatest interrup- tion to airflow and showed the maximum reduction in wind speed beneath their lower surface. Calcula- tions suggest that the measured decrease in wind speed may reduce the number of spores that are blown back into the cap, promoting dispersal from the fruiting body.
Bringing hope: Preface to the Turning the Tide on Poverty special issue

The US South is often characterized as a region on the rise, an area with an expanding population, a growing magnet for educated workers, a place with a business-friendly mindset, and an area with ...
Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Tools for Collecting Patient-Reported Outcomes in Children With Juvenile Arthritis

To evaluate the precision and construct validity of pediatric Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) instruments in a population of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients and parent proxies.A convenience sample of JIA patients and parents of JIA patients completed PROMIS instruments for 8 domains: anger, anxiety, depressive symptoms, fatigue, mobility, pain interference, peer relationships, and upper-extremity function. Short form and computerized adaptive test (CAT) scores were derived from item bank responses. Raw scores were translated to standardized T scores with corresponding SEs. Discrimination between inactive versus active disease was evaluated as an indicator of each measure's construct validity. SEs were plotted to evaluate each instrument's relative precision. Patient-parent concordance was assessed using intraclass correlations (ICCs).A total of 228 patients and 223 parents participated, providing 71-78 responses per domain. Patient- and parent-reported anger, fatigue, mobility, and pain interference scores significantly differed between those with inactive and active disease. Anxiety, depressive symptoms, and peer relationships differed by disease activity levels for parent-report only. Short forms and CATs provided comparable reliability to the full item banks across the full range of each outcome. Patient-parent agreement ranged from ICC 0.3 to 0.8. CATs did not reduce the number of items for any domain compared to the short form.Precision and discriminatory abilities of PROMIS instruments depend on health domain and report type (self-report versus parent proxy-report) for children with JIA. Varying levels of patient-parent concordance reinforces the importance of considering both perspectives in comprehensive health outcomes assessments.
Factors driving the diffusion of medical marijuana legalisation in the United States

AbstractIn the past 20 years, the drive to legalise medical marijuana (cannabis) has gained national attention with the public and policy makers. Beginning in 1996 states started implementing MMLs (medical marijuana laws), and by the end of 2015, 23 states and the District of Columbia had adopted laws legalizing marijuana use for medical purposes. We find that measures of policy diffusion and political culture are important drivers of adoption. However, the relative effects of positive pressure from neighbouring states and negative pressure from the ideological distance between adopting and non-adopting states is such that complete diffusion is unlikely.
Womb fantasies: subjective architecture in postmodern literature, cinema, and art

In the years after World War II, the physical space of the womb became suffused with meaning. In this evocative study, Caroline Rupprecht explores how the postwar avant-garde elaborated what she ca...
The potential impact of enhanced accident tolerant cladding materials on reactivity initiated accidents in light water reactors

Here, advanced cladding materials with potentially enhanced accident tolerance will yield different light-water-reactor performance and safety characteristics than the present zirconium-based cladding alloys. These differences are due to cladding material properties, reactor physics, thermal, and hydraulic characteristics. Differences in reactors physics characteristics are driven by the fundamental properties (e.g., absorption in iron for an iron-based cladding) and also by design modifications necessitated by the candidate cladding materials (e.g., a larger fuel pellet to compensate for parasitic absorption). Potential changes in thermal hydraulic limits after transition from the current zirconium alloy cladding to the advanced materials will also affect the transient response of the integral fuel. This paper describes three-dimensional nodal kinetics simulations of a reactivity-initiated accident (RIA) in a representative state-of-the-art pressurized water reactor with both nuclear-grade iron-chromium-aluminum (FeCrAl) and silicon-carbide (SiC-SiC)-based cladding materials. The impact of candidate cladding materials on the reactor kinetics behavior of RIA progression versus that of reference Zr cladding is predominantly due to differences in (1) fuel mass/volume/specific power density, (2) spectral effects due to parasitic neutron absorption, (3) control rod worth due to hardened (or softened) spectrum, and (4) initial conditions due to power peaking and neutron transport cross sections in the equilibrium cyclemore » cores resulting from hardened (or softened) spectrum. This study shows similar behavior for SiC-SiC-based cladding configurations on the transient response versus reference Zircaloy cladding. However, the FeCrAl cladding response indicates similar energy deposition, but with significantly shorter pulses of higher magnitude. This is due to the shorter neutron generation time of the models with FeCrAl cladding. Therefore, the FeCrAl-based cases have a more rapid fuel thermal expansion rate, and the resultant pellet-cladding interaction may occur more rapidly. This study shows that cladding material and fuel design make a difference for RIA response, including for both core response as well as for fuel response.« less
Roles for Intestinal Bacteria, Viruses, and Fungi in Pathogenesis of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and Therapeutic Approaches.

Intestinal microbiota are involved in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and pouchitis. We review the mechanisms by which these gut bacteria, fungi, and viruses mediate mucosal homeostasis via their composite genes (metagenome) and metabolic products (metabolome). We explain how alterations to their profiles and functions under conditions of dysbiosis contribute to inflammation and effector immune responses that mediate inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) in humans and enterocolitis in mice. It could be possible to engineer the intestinal environment by modifying the microbiota community structure or function to treat patients with IBD—either with individual agents, via dietary management, or as adjuncts to immunosuppressive drugs. We summarize the latest information on therapeutic use of fecal microbial transplantation and propose improved strategies to selectively normalize the dysbiotic microbiome in personalized approaches to treatment.
An Overview of the Air Force Institute of Technology’s Human Systems Master’s Degree Program

The US Air Force employs systems today to perform tasks we could only have dreamed of in the past. The evolution of the Wright Brother’s flying machine permits operators to fly farther, faster, and higher than originally imagined. Too often, however, the complexity of these and other DoD systems lead to complex, non-intuitive user controls and interfaces that produce less than optimal performance or excessive system brittleness. The Air Force Institute of Technology’s (AFIT) Human Systems specialization, sponsored by the research branch of the US Air Force 711th Human Performance Wing, is designed to provide students with systems engineering and human factors knowledge to permit them to contribute to the research and development of complex systems and systems of systems. This specialization within AFIT’s systems engineering programs, introduces the student to the interdisciplinary technical and management processes for integrating human considerations within the design of complex systems.
Seismic stability of cohesive soil slopes

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a re-evaluation of the Fourth Avenue landslide in Anchorage that occurred during the 1964 Alaskan earthquake. This re-evaluation reveals that the slide was caused by a large undrained strength loss and the development of an undrained residual strength condition in the Bootlegger Cove clay. A constant volume ring shear apparatus was developed to measure the undrained peak and residual shear strength of cohesive soils. In this chapter, the results of constant volume ring shear tests on Bootlegger Cove clay are presented and compared to back-calculated shear strength values. The comparison shows that slide blocks, which moved less than one-half foot, mobilized the undrained peak shear strength. Slide blocks that moved more than one-half foot mobilized the undrained residual strength. The results of this study suggest that the peak undrained shear strength should be used to evaluate the seismic stability of cohesive soil slopes. If sliding is triggered due to earthquake shaking, an undrained residual strength can be mobilized and should be used to estimate the permanent lateral displacements.
Colony Stimulating Factor-1 Receptor Expressing Cells Infiltrating the Cornea Control Corneal Nerve Degeneration in Response to HSV-1 Infection.

Purpose Herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) is a leading cause of neurotrophic keratitis, characterized by decreased or absent corneal sensation due to damage to the sensory corneal innervation. We previously reported the elicited immune response to infection contributes to the mechanism of corneal nerve regression/damage during acute HSV-1 infection. Our aim is to further establish the involvement of infiltrated macrophages in the mechanism of nerve loss upon infection. Methods Macrophage Fas-Induced Apoptosis (MAFIA) transgenic C57BL/6 mice were systemically treated with AP20187 dimerizer or vehicle (VEH), and their corneas, lymph nodes, and blood were assessed for CD45+CD11b+GFP+ cell depletion by flow cytometry (FC). Mice were ocularly infected with HSV-1 or left uninfected. At 2, 4, and/or 6 days post infection (PI), corneas were assessed for sensitivity and harvested for FC, nerve structure by immunohistochemistry, viral content by plaque assay, soluble factor content by suspension array, and activation of signaling pathways by Western blot analysis. C57BL6 mice were used to compare to the MAFIA mouse model. Results MAFIA mice treated with AP20187 had efficient depletion of CD45+CD11b+GFP+ cells in the tissues analyzed. The reduction of CD45+CD11b+GFP+ cells recruited to the infected corneas of AP20187-treated mice correlated with preservation of corneal nerve structure and function, decreased protein concentration of inflammatory cytokines, and decreased STAT3 activation despite no changes in viral content in the cornea compared to VEH-treated animals. Conclusions Our results suggest infiltrated macrophages are early effectors in the nerve regression following HSV-1 infection. We propose the neurodegeneration mechanism involves macrophages, local up-regulation of IL-6, and activation of STAT3.
Expanding Medication Decision Support in Community Pharmacies without Sacrificing Usability

Patient safety has been an area of intense attention and research across disciplines for nearly two decades, with medication safety being a key concern. Many community pharmacies have installed sof...
Burning off the fat oppression: Self-compassion exercises for personal trainers

ABSTRACTThe learning objective with this treatise is the disruption of fat oppression. The unique focus is personal trainers in fitness centers. Personal trainers make a living from their ability to transform the appearance of their clients to meet the fit, thin, and sculpted body ideal. Personal trainers themselves are scrutinized for their body capital, while they in turn may perpetuate an anti-fat bias. The proposed exercises in self-compassion are designed to create a climate of self-care and care for others, whereby the ultimate goal is to shift the focus in fitness centers from appearance to health and well-being.
An Introduction to Blockchain

This technical note explains what blockchain is, what it allows, as well as discusses its advantages and potential issues to consider further. It also provides an example of an application in which blockchain technology is used and describes regulatory and governance considerations. It can be used in a financial institutions or fintech course along with a case on digital currencies. Excerpt UVA-F-1810 Rev. Dec. 7, 2017 An Introduction to Blockchain I love this stuff—bitcoin, blockchain technology—and what the future holds…huge new markets and products will be built on these platforms. Abby Johnson, CEO of Fidelity Introduction . . .
Expressing (inter)subjectivity with universal quantification: A pragmatic account of Plural NP + dou expressions in Mandarin Chinese

Abstract Dou ‘all, already, even’ is one of the most frequently used adverbs in Mandarin Chinese. While there is a vast literature on the nature and development of this token (widely known as a ‘universal quantifier’), there is virtually no analysis of dou expressions in interactive discourse. In this paper we use conversational data to investigate the discourse contexts and social interactive functions of dou expressions. Our findings show that quantification expressions with dou are more commonly used for (inter)subjectivity - building rapport, establishing common ground, and mitigating (apparently) conflicting stances - than for objectivity. We propose a continuum of rapport and the underlying intersubjectivity principle to account for the diverse range of uses of dou expressions in conversation. We take this to show that a discourse pragmatic approach can shed new light on seemingly objective expressions in Chinese and beyond.
Nonlinear and Quantum-Light Scattering from Gold Nanorods

We study the spectral dependence of the scattered light from Au nanorods illuminated by 50-fs pulses resonant with the longitudinal plasmon, and determine the origin of the scattering in terms of the plasmon modes. We project the expected spectrum under illumination from a squeezed optical pump.
Clarifying regional hydrologic controls of the Marañón River, Peru through rapid assessment to inform system-wide basin planning approaches

We use remote sensing to enhance the interpretation of the first baseline dataset of hydrologic, isotopic and hydrochemical variables spanning 620 km of the upper Maranon River, in Andean Peru, from the steep alpine canyons to the lower lying jungle. Remote, data-scarce river systems are under increased hydropower development pressure to meet rising energy demands. The upstream-downstream river continuum, which serves as a conduit for resource exchange across ecosystems, is at risk, potentially endangering the people, environments, and economies that rely on river resources. The Maranon River, one of the final free-flowing headwater connections between the Andes and the Amazon, is the subject of myriad large-scale hydropower proposals. Due to challenging access, environmental data are scarce in the upper Maranon, limiting our ability to do system-wide river basin planning. We capture key processes and transitions in the context of hydropower development. Two hydrologic regimes control the Maranon dry-season flow: in the higher-elevation upper reaches, a substantial baseflow is fed by groundwater recharged from wet season rains, in contrast to the lower reaches where the mainstem discharge is controlled by rain-fed tributaries that receive rain from lowland Amazon moisture systems. Sustainability of the upper corridor’s dry-season baseflow appears to be more highly connected to the massive natural storage capacity of extensive wetlands in the puna (alpine grasslands) than with cryospheric water inputs. The extent and conservation of puna ecosystems and glacier reservoirs may be interdependent, bringing to bear important conservation questions in the context of changing climate and land use in the region. More generally, this case study demonstrates an efficient combined remote sensing and field observation approach to address data scarcity across regional scales in mountain basins facing imminent rapid change.
Advertising in a Quantified World: A Proposed Model of Consumer Trust, Attitude Toward Personalized Advertising And Outcome Expectancies

AbstractAs consumers increasingly integrate quantified self (QS) health and fitness tracking devices into their lives, the data they amass not only offer to help users live healthier lives, but als...
Surgical treatment of severe congenital ptosis using deep temporal fascia

Purpose: To evaluate the surgical outcome of a frontalis sling using deep temporal fascia in the treatment of severe congenital ptosis (SCP). Methods: A retrospective, interventional case series was performed. The study involved 25 patients with SCP (>4 mm). All patients underwent frontalis sling surgery with deep temporal fascia between 2004 and 2012 with a follow-up period of 12 months at a minimum. Data regarding eyelid position, eyelid symmetry, cosmetic outcomes, and postoperative complications were evaluated. Results: The mean age at surgery was 7.68 years (range 4-17 years) with an average follow-up of 60 months (range is 12-108 months). The functional success rate was 88% (22/25). Ptosis recurred in 8% (2/25) of patients, overcorrection was present in 4% (1/25) of patients. The patients with ptosis recurrence underwent reoperation. The preoperative margin-to-reflex distance (MRD1) was -0.85±0.87 mm (range, -2.5 to + 0.5 mm), while the postoperative MRD1 was + 2.1 ± 1.05 mm (range, -1.5 to + 4 mm) (p < .0001). Lid symmetry (asymmetry < of 1 mm of MRD1 between the two eyes) was present in all the successful cases. Postoperative complications included transient exposure keratopathy (32%) and inflammatory brow reaction (8%). Conclusions: Frontalis sling operation with deep fascia temporalis is very effective in the treatment of SCP with excellent long-term functional and cosmetic successes.
Effect of the Orally Active Growth Hormone Secretagogue MK-677 on Somatic Growth in Rats

Purpose Growth hormone secretagogues (GHSs) possess the ability to release growth hormone (GH) in the body. This study aimed to investigate the effects of MK-677, an orally active GHS, on somatic growth in rats.
Comparative pharmacokinetics of spectinamide 1599 after subcutaneous and intrapulmonary aerosol administration in mice.

Abstract Spectinamides are a novel series of spectinomycin analogs being developed for the treatment of tuberculosis. Intrapulmonary aerosol (IPA) administration of lead spectinamide 1599 has previously been shown to be more efficacious than subcutaneous (SC) administration at comparable doses. The objective of the current study was to characterize the disposition of 1599 in plasma and lungs in mice in order to provide a potential rationale for the observed efficacy differences. 200 mg/kg of 1599 was administered to healthy BALB/c mice by SC injection or by IPA delivery. Plasma and major organs were collected at specified time points until 8 h after dosing. Drug concentrations were measured by LC-MS/MS and analyzed by noncompartmental pharmacokinetic analysis. 1599 demonstrated rapid absorption into plasma after IPA and SC administration, resulting in very similar plasma exposure for both routes. In contrast, drug exposure in the lungs was 48 times higher following IPA as compared to SC administration, which is highly desirable as the lungs are the main site of infection in pulmonary TB. The higher local exposure in the lungs is likely the basis for the increased efficacy after IPA compared to SC administration. Overall, this study supports the pulmonary route as a potential pathway for the treatment of tuberculosis with 1599.
A Novel Role for the Endocannabinoid System in Ameliorating Motivation for Alcohol Drinking and Negative Behavioral Affect after Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats.

Abstract Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with psychiatric dysfunction—including pain, cognitive impairment, anxiety, and increased alcohol use. We previously demonstrated that inhibiting...
Multiplicity functions of quasars: predictions from the MassiveBlackII simulation

We examine multiple AGN systems (triples and quadruples, in particular) in the \texttt{MassiveBlackII} simulation over a redshift range of $0.06\lesssim z \lesssim 4$. We identify AGN systems (with bolometric luminosity $L_{\mathrm{bol}}>10^{42}~\mathrm{ergs/sec}$) at different scales~(defined by the maximum distance between member AGNs) to determine the AGN multiplicity functions. This is defined as the volume/ surface density of AGN systems per unit \textit{richness} $R$, the number of AGNs in a system. We find that gravitationally bound multiple AGN systems tend to populate scales of $\lesssim0.7~\mathrm{cMpc}/h$; this corresponds to angular separations of $\lesssim100~\mathrm{arcsec}$ and a line of sight velocity difference $\lesssim200~\mathrm{km/sec}$. The simulation contains $\sim 10$ and $\sim100$ triples/quadruples per $\mathrm{deg}^2$ up to depths of DESI ($g\lesssim24$) and LSST ($g\lesssim26$) imaging respectively; at least $20\%$ of these should be detectable in spectroscopic surveys. The simulated quasar ($L_{\mathrm{bol}}>10^{44}~\mathrm{ergs/sec}$) triples and quadruples predominantly exist at $1.5\lesssim z \lesssim 3$. Their members have black hole masses $10^{6.5}\lesssim M_{bh}\lesssim 10^{9}~M_{\odot}/h$ and live in separate (one central and multiple satellite) galaxies with stellar masses $10^{10}\lesssim M_{*}\lesssim 10^{12}~M_{\odot}/h$. They live in the most massive haloes (for e.g. $\sim 10^{13}~M_{\odot}/h$ at $z=2.5$; $\sim 10^{14}~M_{\odot}/h$ at $z=1$) in the simulation. Their detections provide an exciting prospect for understanding massive black hole growth and their merger rates in galaxies in the era of multi-messenger astronomy.
Using spatial context to identify lithic selection behaviors

Abstract To differentiate between “tools” and “debris”, lithic analysts usually rely on the presence or absence of retouch, traces of use-wear, or extrapolation of the “desired end products” through the reconstruction of the chaine operatoire. These methods usually fail to identify the full range of unretouched lithics utilized, especially at the assemblage scale. The spatial context of lithic pieces is often overlooked as an additional tool to identify tool selection. This paper presents the results of a study of seven open-air Middle Paleolithic sites in France, where lithic production and selection can be segregated in space. Two interrelated methods are utilized, one which relies on refitting data and the other which focuses on the differential spatial distribution of lithic artifacts. At these sites, the selected lithics identified using these methods match up well with what archaeologists have long thought to be “desired end products” but many of these sought pieces were also left with the manufacturing debris, indicating that lithics were produced in mass irrespective of immediate demand. The methods presented in this paper can therefore provide answers to many salient questions regarding lithic production and selection and are applicable to any context where lithic production has a strong spatial signature.
Neutrophil response to LIF: lack of glucocorticoid effect despite enhanced chemokinesis.

Effects of glucocorticoids on human neutrophil responses to leukocyte migration inhibition factor (LIF) and neutrophil chemokinesis were examined using an agarose gel technique. The roles of endogenous monohydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETE) and prostaglandins (PG) in basal neutrophil chemokinesis were also examined. Methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS) in concentrations up to 200 μg/ml failed to inhibit the neutrophil response to LIF. MPSS enhanced neutrophil chemokinesis in a dose-related manner at concentrations from 2 μg/ml to 200 μg/ml (P < 0.01). Since inhibition of membrane phospholipase activity by MPSS is known to decrease production of HETE and PG, the present data suggest that HETE and PG do not mediate basal neutrophil chemokinesis. This was confirmed by selectively inhibiting HETE production with the lipoxygenase inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) or PG production with the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin. Neutrophil chemokinesis was unaffected by 10−5 M NDGA (P< 0.05) or 10−5 indomethacin (P < 0.05).
Union of rotational and vibrational modes in generator-coordinate-type calculations, with application to neutrinoless double-β decay

Good many-body methods for medium and heavy nuclei are important. Here we combine rotational motion with vibrational modes in a novel generator-coordinate method (GCM): starting from a mean-field solution (Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov), we create nonorthogonal reference states from low-lying quasiparticle Tamm-Dancoff modes, and then project onto states of good angular momentum and particle number. The results we benchmark against full shell model calculations. Even with just a few such modes we find improvement over standard GCM calculations in excitation spectra. We also find significant improvement in $0\ensuremath{\nu}\ensuremath{\beta}\ensuremath{\beta}$ nuclear matrix elements.
Tight, Loose, or Decoupling? A National Study of the Decision-Making Power Relationship between District Central Offices and School Principals.

Do school district central offices and school principals have the same level of influence on school decisions? What does the district–principal power relationship look like? These two questions are...
Asynchronous Distributed Event-Triggered Coordination for Multi-Agent Coverage Control

This paper re-visits a multi-agent deployment problem where agents are restricted from requesting information from other agents as well as sending acknowledgments when information is received. These communication constraints relax the assumptions of instantaneous communication and synchronous actions by agents (request and response actions). In this paper, we propose a fully asynchronous communication aware solution to the multi-agent deployment problem that uses an event-triggered broadcasting strategy. Unlike all existing triggered solutions, our event-triggered broadcasting algorithm relies on agents to decide when to broadcast (push) information to others in the network without the need for a response from other agents. In addition, the proposed strategy determines how best to move when up-to-date information is unavailable and cannot be requested. The algorithm is capable of achieving similar levels of performance to that of a continuous or periodic strategy. Our solution is proven to achieve asymptotic convergence and simulation results are provided to demonstrate that the proposed event-triggered broadcasting algorithm can achieve an adequate level of performance under the communication constraints.
First-Trimester Prognosis When an Early Gestational Sac is Seen on Ultrasound Imaging: Logistic Regression Prediction Model.

OBJECTIVES To determine the factors that jointly and independently affect first-trimester outcome of very early intrauterine pregnancies (those whose sonogram shows a gestational sac with no identifiable yolk sac or embryo) and develop a mathematical model and Web-based calculator that computes prognosis based on these factors. METHODS Our study population included 590 very early pregnancies scanned between January 1, 2012, and June 30, 2018, with known outcomes (live or spontaneous loss) at 14 weeks. We recorded patient age, mean sac diameter (MSD), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) rise, and presence/absence of: vaginal bleeding, history of infertility, prior miscarriage, and pregnancy via assisted reproductive technology. We assessed the correlation between each of these factors and outcome and performed stepwise logistic regression to determine the subset that independently correlated with outcome. RESULTS Patient age, MSD, hCG rise, vaginal bleeding, history of infertility, and assisted reproductive technology pregnancy were significantly correlated with outcome (P < .05, t test for age and MSD, χ2 for the others). Stepwise logistic regression identified age, MSD, hCG rise, and vaginal bleeding as the subset of factors that independently predicted outcome. The regression model's area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.823. We incorporated the regression model into a Web-based calculator (https://tinyurl.com/Prognosis-PD) that predicts the outcome of an early intrauterine pregnancy based on these 4 key variables. CONCLUSIONS The prognosis of very early intrauterine pregnancies is related to several clinical, biochemical, and sonographic factors. The factors that independently correlate with first-trimester outcome are patient age, MSD, hCG rise, and vaginal bleeding. The logistic regression model predicts outcome based on these variables.
Medication Costs Harm Patients With Multiple Sclerosis.

Governmental policies aimed to reduce costs to patients of multiple sclerosis (MS) disease modifying therapy (DMT). Closing the Part D coverage gap intended just that—to reduce patient cost burden. Hartung et al.1 found this policy ineffective. Simultaneous pharmaceutical price increases offset reductions in patients9 personal costs.
Social Life in the Movies : How Hollywood Imagines War, Schools, Romance, Aging, and Social Inequality

Through an analysis of hundreds of Hollywood movies, this book examines some of the most contentious social issues of our time, including racism, social inequality, sexism, and gerontophobia. With studies of some of the most enduring film genres in Hollywood’s history, including romantic films such as Casablanca, war movies from World War II through the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, alienation films, including Five Easy Pieces and Lost in Translation, the school movie, from Goodbye, Mr. Chips to other films set in academia, including Dead Poets Society and Dangerous Minds, the book outlines and demonstrates the sociological approach to viewing films and highlights the socially conservative nature of much Hollywood movie production, which draws on common stereotypes and reinforces dominant cultural values - but is also capable of challenging and serving to change them.
An Integrated Fault Isolation and Prognosis Method for Electric Drive Systems of Battery Electric Vehicles

The electric drive system is a key subsystem of battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Abnormalities in the electric drive system components may lead to performance degradation in the drive system and, more severely, loss of power in the vehicle. This article presents an integrated prognosis system for early detection and isolation of the electric drive system and component faults. The system first calculates multiple health features, known as health indicators derived from the available onboard sensor signals. Then, an integrated prognostic and fault isolation strategy is used to isolate the root cause of electric drive faults by monitoring the performance of the multiple health indicators. The prognostic system uses a hierarchical approach: it first determines if there is a degradation in the electric drive system by comparing the system achieved torque with the estimated torque and, then, goes further to check multiple component-level health indicators for the various components comprising an electric drive system, including motor stator winding, three-phase current sensors, and resolver. After a component has been detected to degrade to a certain level, the prognosis system sends out an alert before the severe performance reduction of the drive system occurs, thus protecting the customers from loss of propulsion and walk home situations.
Functional optimization of fluidic devices with differentiable stokes flow

We present a method for performance-driven optimization of fluidic devices. In our approach, engineers provide a high-level specification of a device using parametric surfaces for the fluid-solid boundaries. They also specify desired flow properties for inlets and outlets of the device. Our computational approach optimizes the boundary of the fluidic device such that its steady-state flow matches desired flow at outlets. In order to deal with computational challenges of this task, we propose an efficient, differentiable Stokes flow solver. Our solver provides explicit access to gradients of performance metrics with respect to the parametric boundary representation. This key feature allows us to couple the solver with efficient gradient-based optimization methods. We demonstrate the efficacy of this approach on designs of five complex 3D fluidic systems. Our approach makes an important step towards practical computational design tools for high-performance fluidic devices.
Ethics in Caring for Sexual and Gender Minority Patients

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations face multiple health and healthcare disparities. A growing body of research has focused on the unique skin health needs of SGM persons and the role of dermatologists in providing care to SGM patients. Socioeconomic inequities, stigma, discrimination, and distrust of the healthcare system further exacerbate disparities to accessing comprehensive dermatologic care. This chapter will review examples of clinical and ethical issues that may arise in providing comprehensive dermatologic care to SGM persons, such as contraception and isotretinoin treatment for acne, gender-affirming dermatologic procedures, and counseling regarding illicit filler injections.
A gestão da mobilidade acadêmica internacional nas instituições de ensino superior católicas brasileiras

A internacionalizacao do ensino superior apresenta-se como tematica atual num mundo globalizado, onde as instituicoes de diferentes paises se relacionam. Nesse sentido, a mobilidade academica internacional faz parte da internacionalizacao e precisa ser gerenciada para que tais experiencias sejam proveitosas. Neste cenario, o presente artigo busca refletir sobre os instrumentos de gestao da mobilidade academica utilizados por Instituicoes de Ensino Superior (IES) vinculadas a Associacao Nacional de Educacao Catolica (ANEC). Para isso, a metodologia utilizada foi estudo de casos multiplos, com analise baseada na Tecnica de Analise de Conteudo. A coleta de dados ocorreu por meio de questionario anonimo enviado para os coordenadores que trabalham nas IES pertencentes a ANEC. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que os instrumentos de gestao da mobilidade academica mais utilizados pelas IES pesquisadas sao os relatos de experiencia, enquanto devolutiva dos estudantes que retornam do exterior, direcionados aos colegas do seu curso e para outros alunos. A partir da pesquisa podemos concluir que a projecao de futuro da IES passa pela importância atribuida para as experiencias de mobilidade academica que servem como subsidios para o planejamento estrategico da instituicao e seu posicionamento perante o mundo.
Flexible iron oxide supercapacitor electrodes by photonic processing

We report the preparation of flexible and nano-porous iron oxide-reduced graphitic oxide (Fe2O3–rGO) electrodes using a novel photonic processing method. Due to this unique technique, high-temperature thermal processing could be accomplished on inexpensive and low-temperature substrates instantaneously as opposed to longer processing times of conventional thermal processing. The nano-porous morphology of the electrode not only accommodates the volume changes of the electrode but also facilitates the transport of the electrolyte ions into the electrodes. The as-prepared electrode showed excellent electrochemical performance with an initial specific capacitance of 179 F/g at 2 A/g. Moreover, it exhibited excellent specific capacitance retention after 5000 cycles (70%), revealing its superior cyclic stability. Along with having specific capacitance comparable to that of rigid electrodes, the as-prepared electrode is bendable and lightweight, signifying its potential application in foldable and wearable consumer electronic devices which require continuous energy supply while going through physical deformation.