cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Side-chain Charge Effects and Conductance Determinants in the Pore of ClC-0 Chloride Channels

The charge on the side chain of the internal pore residue lysine 519 (K519) of the Torpedo ClC-0 chloride (Cl−) channel affects channel conductance. Experiments that replace wild-type (WT) lysine with neutral or negatively charged residues or that modify the K519C mutant with various methane thiosulfonate (MTS) reagents show that the conductance of the channel decreases when the charge at position 519 is made more negative. This charge effect on the channel conductance diminishes in the presence of a high intracellular Cl− concentration ([Cl−]i). However, the application of high concentrations of nonpermeant ions, such as glutamate or sulfate (SO42−), does not change the conductance, suggesting that the electrostatic effects created by the charge at position 519 are unlikely due to a surface charge mechanism. Another pore residue, glutamate 127 (E127), plays an even more critical role in controlling channel conductance. This negatively charged residue, based on the structures of the homologous bacterial ClC channels, lies 4–5 A from K519. Altering the charge of this residue can influence the apparent Cl− affinity as well as the saturated pore conductance in the conductance-Cl− activity curve. Amino acid residues at the selectivity filter also control the pore conductance but mutating these residues mainly affects the maximal pore conductance. These results suggest at least two different conductance determinants in the pore of ClC-0, consistent with the most recent crystal structure of the bacterial ClC channel solved to 2.5 A, in which multiple Cl−-binding sites were identified in the pore. Thus, we suggest that the occupancy of the internal Cl−-binding site is directly controlled by the charged residues located at the inner pore mouth. On the other hand, the Cl−-binding site at the selectivity filter controls the exit rate of Cl− and therefore determines the maximal channel conductance.
Separation, Assimilation or Accommodation: Contrasting Ethnic Minority Policies

Separation, Assimilation or Accommodation: Contrasting Ethnic Minority Policies. By Terrence E. Cook. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers, 2003. 216p. $64.95.Terrence Cook's book in the main focuses on ethnic minority policy strategies across the globe. The author distinguishes three main policy modes regarding ethnic relations: separation, assimilation, or accommodation. The book revolves around a consideration of these three main modes and two subtypes of each policy option—for example, assimilation as a strategy of a stronger ethnic group and assimilation when initiated by a weaker minority group, usually a minority. In so doing, he presents a fairly exhaustive catalog of global ethnic relations.
Corepressor-dependent silencing of fetal hemoglobin expression by BCL11A

Reactivation of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) in adults ameliorates the severity of the common β-globin disorders. The transcription factor BCL11A is a critical modulator of hemoglobin switching and HbF silencing, yet the molecular mechanism through which BCL11A coordinates the developmental switch is incompletely understood. Particularly, the identities of BCL11A cooperating protein complexes and their roles in HbF expression and erythroid development remain largely unknown. Here we determine the interacting partner proteins of BCL11A in erythroid cells by a proteomic screen. BCL11A is found within multiprotein complexes consisting of erythroid transcription factors, transcriptional corepressors, and chromatin-modifying enzymes. We show that the lysine-specific demethylase 1 and repressor element-1 silencing transcription factor corepressor 1 (LSD1/CoREST) histone demethylase complex interacts with BCL11A and is required for full developmental silencing of mouse embryonic β-like globin genes and human γ-globin genes in adult erythroid cells in vivo. In addition, LSD1 is essential for normal erythroid development. Furthermore, the DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) is identified as a BCL11A-associated protein in the proteomic screen. DNMT1 is required to maintain HbF silencing in primary human adult erythroid cells. DNMT1 haploinsufficiency combined with BCL11A deficiency further enhances γ-globin expression in adult animals. Our findings provide important insights into the mechanistic roles of BCL11A in HbF silencing and clues for therapeutic targeting of BCL11A in β-hemoglobinopathies.
Effects of available sugar on the reproductive fitness and vectorial capacity of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae (Diptera: Culicidae).

Abstract Although females of most mosquito species are known to use sugar as a necessary source of energy, female Anopheles gambiae Giles sensu stricto are thought to use it facultatively or not at all. However, field evidence of sugar-free living is inconclusive, and the implications for reproductive fitness and vectorial capacity are unknown. To evaluate the role that sugar may play in the ecology of these mosquitoes, mated female An. gambiae in the laboratory were given access to either no food (water only), 10% sucrose, human blood, or human blood + 10% sucrose, and comparisons of daily mortality, fecundity, and biting frequency were made. The effect of sugar availability on vectorial capacity and the intrinsic rate of increase, a measure of fitness, then were determined. Females (pooled and individual) given blood + sugar lived significantly longer than did those on the other diets. Daily fecundity was higher for females given blood alone than for those fed blood + sugar (13 versus 9 eggs per female ...
The Information Content of Sonar Echoes

An information statistic is defined which quantifies sonar localization performance. The evolution of the a posteriori distribution and the localization information statistic are evaluated as functions of the number of pings for an idealized sonar model.
Twitter Geolocation and Regional Classification via Sparse Coding.

We present a data-driven approach for Twitter geolocation and regional classification. Our method is based on sparse coding and dictionary learning, an unsupervised method popular in computer vision and pattern recognition. Through a series of optimization steps that integrate information from both feature and raw spaces, and enhancements such as PCA whitening, feature augmentation, and voting-based grid selection, we lower geolocation errors and improve classification accuracy from previously known results on the GEOTEXT dataset.
Hyperspherical approach to a three-boson problem in two dimensions with a magnetic field

We examine a system of three-bosons confined to two dimensions in the presence of a perpendicular magnetic field within the framework of the adiabatic hyperspherical method. For the case of zero-range, regularized pseudopotential interactions, we find that the system is nearly separable in hyperspherical coordinates and that, away from a set of narrow avoided crossings, the full energy eigenspectrum as a function of the two-dimensional (2D) $s$-wave scattering length is well described by ignoring coupling between adiabatic hyperradial potentials. In the case of weak attractive or repulsive interactions, we find the lowest three-body energy states exhibit even-odd parity oscillations as a function of total internal 2D angular momentum and that for weak repulsive interactions, the universal lowest energy interacting state has an internal angular momentum of $M=3$. With the inclusion of repulsive higher angular momentum we surmise that the origin of a set of ``magic number'' states (states with anomalously low energy) might emerge as the result of a combination of even-odd parity oscillations and the pattern of degeneracy in the noninteracting lowest Landau level states.
Fibula Jaw in a Day: State of the Art in Maxillofacial Reconstruction.

Microvascular free tissue transfer has been one of the greatest milestones in reconstruction of the mandible and maxilla after tumor ablative surgery. Although fibula free flap reconstruction allows for immediate bony reconstruction, dental rehabilitation usually requires 6 to 12 months before it is completed. This can have a serious psychological impact on patients because they go without teeth during this timeframe. The "jaw-in-a-day" procedure was previously described by a group at New York University Medical Center. It allowed for tumor removal and full jaw reconstruction and dental rehabilitation in 1 surgery. This report describes 3 patients treated with this novel technique and adds to the 4 cases previously reported in the literature. To their knowledge, the authors are the second group to report on this technique. A series of photographs and videos are referenced in this article to illustrate the different steps used in this procedure.
The Chemical Interface of Microwave Plasma Deposited SiO2 Films

The bulk and interfacial chemistry of a microwave plasma deposited SiO2 film has been studied. The SiO2 was deposited on single crystal Si using a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) technique. The deposition was accomplished by injecting 2% SiH4 in helium downstream of a N20 microwave-generated discharge. Materials properties of these films were characterized using a combination of surface analytical techniques: Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS). The width of the interface was determined by AES-depth profiling to be less than 5.0 nm. Normal and grazing-angle XPS measurements indicated the presence of unique N and Si chemical species at the SiO2/Si interface. The SIMS data confirmed the presence of interfacial and bulk nitrogen, as well as detecting the presence of hydrogen and fluorine in the bulk oxide. The relationship between the analytical results and electrical data, obtained using MOS structures fabricated from the deposited oxide, will be discussed.
Some Properties of Contrasting End-Member High Calcium Fly Ashes

High-calcium fly ashes with CaO contents >20% do not necessarily contain the glass type found to be characteristic of such ashes in previous results. Instead of this glass (asymmetrical x-ray maximum at 32 deg. CuK-alpha radiation), the fly ash may contain a lower calcium content glass (symmetrical x-ray maximum near 27 deg.) and a substantial content of crystalline CaO. The properties of a representative fly ash of each type are briefly illustrated, and the characteristics of fly ash pastes and of cement-fly ash pastes produced from the two fly ashes are examined.
Vertical transmission of La Crosse virus (California encephalitis group): transovarial and filial infection rates in Aedes triseriatus (Diptera: Culicidae).

La Crosse (LAC) virus remained infective to warm-blooded hosts after 8 successive transovarial passages in the mosquito Aedes triseriatus . Virtually all transovarially infected females (98%) transmitted LAC virus to their offspring, and the mean percentage of infected offspring from an infected female was 71%, a rate that remained essentially constant from one generation to the next. These results indicate that the virus can persist 4 years or longer in the absence of horizontal amplification in vertebrate hosts and the data provide a basis for estimating, during anyone season, the amount of amplification necessary to maintain the virus at existing endemic levels.
Integrins in Wound Repair

The integrin family of cell adhesion receptors consists of over 20 members, which mediate cell surface interactions with extracellular matrix or (in some cases) with other cells (Akiyama et al., 1990b; Albelda and Buck, 1990; Clark, 1990; Hemler, 1990; Hogg, 1991; Ruoslahti, 1991; Shattil and Brugge, 1991; Yamada, 1991; Damsky and Werb, 1992; Ginsberg et al., 1992; Hynes, 1992; Akiyama and Yamada, 1993; Gailit and Clark, 1993; Glukhova and Thiery, 1993; Gumbiner, 1993; Juliano and Haskill, 1993; Sastry and Horwitz, 1993; Sonnenberg, 1993; Tuckwell et al., 1993; Zetter, 1993; Springer, 1994). Each integrin is a heterodimer, consisting of one a and one β subunit in a noncovalent complex. As summarized in Fig. 1, only certain combinations of integrins are observed: major groupings include integrins of the β1 subfamily and integrins containing the αv subunit. Changes in either the α or the β subunit of integrin heterodimers alter their specificity for ligands, as summarized in Table I.
Introduction to “Artistic Awakening in Ankara,” “The Artist and Politics,” and “The Burden of the Intellectual” by Bülent Ecevit

This essay analyzes three polemic newspaper articles written in the early 1950s by the art critic, gallerist, and future Turkish prime minister Bulent Ecevit (1925–2006), “Artistic Awakening in Ankara” (1953), “The Artist and Politics” (1954), and “The Burden of the Intellectual” (1956). It argues that Ecevit's articles document a local intelligentsia's efforts to theorize the role of art in Turkish society at a crucial moment of political transformation. As Turkey abandoned its authoritarian past in order to conduct its inaugural experiment with multi-party democracy, Ecevit's columns took up two of the period's most pressing questions: the extent to which the state should control the local art world, and in what ways Turkey's newly enfranchised citizens might enact their individual rights within the realm of culture. The essay also demonstrates the importance of these three articles to Ecevit's subsequent political and intellectual trajectory: they were central to his lifelong efforts to continue the pr...
341 MANDIBULOACRAL DYSPLASIA: AN UNUSUAL CASE OF A RARE DISORDER.

Mandibuloacral dysplasia (MAD) is a rare condition characterized by postnatal growth retardation, craniofacial anomalies including mandibular hypoplasia and bird-like facies, skeletal anomalies such as progressive osteolysis of the terminal phalanges and clavicles, and skin changes such as mottled hyperpigmentation and atrophy. Historically, it has been referred to as a progeroid syndrome because of similarities to progeria. The literature contains approximately 50 reports of MAD patients since 1960. To our knowledge, mutation analyses of MAD patients have identified mutations in 23 individuals, the majority of which were found in LMNA , a gene encoding the protein lamin A. Lamin A provides mechanical support to the nucleus and anchors heterochromatin to the inner nuclear membrane. We describe a 30-year-old male with a diagnosis of MAD who has bird-like facies with prominent eyes and beaked nose; acroosteolysis with resorption of the distal portions of his fingertips, clavicles, and mandible; and moderate mental retardation. He was born at term and the pregnancy was complicated by maternal drug and alcohol use. Low birth weight and dysmorphic features were noted at birth. Motor, cognitive, and growth delays were noted in infancy. He is now wheelchair bound because of bone loss and chronic bone and joint pain. Evaluations to date have failed to show evidence of cardiac, renal, or hepatic disease. Laboratory studies have been normal and included cholesterol and triglyceride levels, liver function tests, electrolytes, and glucose levels. Routine chromosome analysis revealed a normal 46, XY male karyotype. Mutation screening of genomic DNA showed him to be homozygous for R527H, the most common LMNA mutation for MAD individuals. Literature review reveals no cases of MAD with mental retardation. Thus, this is an unusual finding unique to our patient. Possible explanations for his mental retardation include fetal affects of alcohol and drug abuse and post-translational modifications of lamin A. This case serves to further characterize the phenotypic spectrum of this rare condition.
Pharmacologic treatment of multiple sclerosis

INTRODUCTION Multiple sclerosis (MS) is probably caused by many pathological factors, both intrinsic and extrinsic. DEVELOPMENT When we consider the aetiology of MS, we have to take three basic factors into account: 1. Immunological factors: evidence of involvement of the immune system has been found in plasma, tissues and CSF; 2. Viral factors: epidemiological studies suggest that MS may be a result of contact with environmental factors during childhood or adolescence, and 3. Genetic factors although there is no evidence that MS is inherited directly, there is between 12 and 15 times more involvement of persons from affected families than from the general population. Regarding treatment, since this is a polysymptomatic disorder, the specialist should choose the most suitable drug or intervention in each case, according to the alterations which affect quality of life or the severity of the presenting symptom. Three pharmacological treatments are emphasized: steroids, immunomodulation and immunosuppression. CONCLUSION In this article we review the aetiology of MS and its pharmacological treatment.
Long-term social integration and community support

TBI often results in reduced social participation. This decrease in social participation is independent of injury severity and time since injury. Thus, it is one of the many stable hallmarks of TBI. Changes in social participation have been related to many factors, including emotional dysregulation and disturbance and executive dysfunction. While there are evidenced-based treatments available to improve mood and executive functioning, none of the research has examined the impact of the various treatments on social participation or social integration. Therefore, while it is reasonable to expect that individuals who are feeling better about themselves and who improve their approach to day-to-day function will also experience increased social contact, there is no evidence to support this claim. This chapter reviews the literature on post-TBI social integration and its relationship to depression and executive dysfunction. In addition the intervention research in this area is briefly examined.
Myocardial ischemia during cardiopulmonary bypass. The hazards of ventricular fibrillation in the presence of a critical coronary stenosis.

The effect of a critical coronary artery stenosis on myocardial blood flow and metabolism in the fibrillating heart was assessed by placing 10 dogs on cardiopulmonary bypass, venting the ventricle, inducing ventricular fibrillation, and applying critical stenosis to the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). Endocardial and epicardial blood flows were measured by the radioactive microsphere technique prior to the application of the stenosis and after one hour and 2 hours of fibrillation. Intramyocardial oxygen tension (Po2) and carbon dioxide tension (Pco2) were continuously monitored in the IAD-supplied myocardium by a mass spectrometer probe inserted at midmyocardial depth. Selective arterial-coronary venous lactate differences were determined at control, one hour, and 2 hours. At the end of the 2 hour period, vital dye injection defined the distribution of the LAD. Endocardial flow to the myocardium of the stenosed LAD was reduced by 50 per cent after one hour and by 70 per cent after 2 hours (p
Anomalous effects and possible environmental symmetry "violation" in heavy-ion collisions

The heavy ion collision provides a unique many-body environment where local domains of strongly interacting chiral medium may occur and in a sense allow environmental symmetry “violation” pheomena. We briefly review recent progress in both the theoretical understanding and experimental search of various anomalous transport effects (such as the Chiral Magnetic Effect, Chiral Separation Effect, Chiral Electric Separation Effect, Chiral Electric/Magnetic Waves, etc) in the hot QCD fluid created by such experiments.
Clinical Excursions for Prelicensure Nursing Students

Abstract The first day of clinical for prelicensure nursing students is often filled with excitement and anxiety and fear. Clinical experiences have been identified by nursing students as one of the most anxiety-producing components of the nursing program. Students often worry about being unprepared for clinical practice and unable to perform and are intimidated by the staff nurses and the environment. Clinical units are sometimes unsupportive environments for nursing students as well. Nurse educators have attempted to decrease the anxiety through a variety of strategies. To make the most of valuable clinical time, the clinical excursion was created. The clinical excursion was designed to expose students to the clinical setting prior to the beginning of their clinical course, increase their comfort and acclimation to the clinical setting, and provide opportunities to utilize the skills and knowledge gained so far in class and skills laboratory. Students' confidence and preparedness for their first full clinical rotation improved greatly with the introduction of clinical excursions.
A radical coupled pathway to a stable and terminally bound titanium methylidene

Radical coupling or oxidation of the titanium(III)dimethyl precursor (PNP)Ti(CH3)2 produced the dimethyl compounds, (PNP)Ti(CH3)2(X) (X = TEMPO, OMes*, OTf), which then thermally extrude methane to cyclometallate (X = TEMPO) or form the methylidene (X = OMes* or OTf). Various NMR spectral experiments in addition to 13C isotopic labeling, and structural studies are reported.
Estrogen receptor-α genotype is associated with prostate cancer risk among men of African descent

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 45, 2004 4018 Estrogen receptor-α is a ligand-activated transcription factor that mediates the genomic effects of estrogen. Estrogen receptor-α is expressed in prostatic cells and is thought to play a role in prostate cancer. Several recent studies have suggested that alleles at the estrogen receptor-α (ESR1) locus are associated with prostate cancer in populations of Caucasian European descent. Much less is known about the role of ESR1 polymorphisms in the genetic susceptibility to prostate cancer among populations of African origin. Thus, in the current project we examined the relationship between polymorphisms of the ESR1 (IVS1-401T>C; IVS1-354A>G) gene and prostate cancer in The Tobago Prostate Survey, an ongoing population-based screening study of all men between the ages of 40-79 years on the Caribbean island of Tobago. This population of Tobago is almost homogeneously of African origin. Thus, the study provides a unique opportunity to analyze the genetic epidemiology of prostate cancer in a population which originates from the same region of West Africa as do most African-Americans. All men were screened with serum PSA and digital rectal examination (DRE). Men with an abnormal DRE or PSA elevation >4 ng/ml underwent sextant transrectal prostate needle biopsy with ultrasound guidance. Repeat biopsies were performed in cases with high-grade PIN or atypia. Repeat assessment of all men with non-cancer biopsies were reevaluated at 2 years with PSA and DRE. A total of 2,969 of 5,000 eligible men in the population have been screened. ESR1 genotyping has been completed in 220 cases and 353 controls to date. We used logistic regression to estimate the risk of prostate cancer associated with ESR1 genotype. Genotype frequencies were in Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium in cases and controls. The IVS1-354A>G, but not IVS1-401T>C, polymorphism was significantly associated with prostate cancer. Among cases, 10.9% were homozygous for the minor allele at the IVS1-354A>G site compared with 5.9% of controls ( P =0.03), equivalent to an age-adjusted odds ratio of 2.02 (95% CI: 1.04, 3.94). We conclude that estrogen receptor-α allelic variation may contribute to increased susceptibility to prostate cancer among men of African origin. Further studies with larger sample size and additional markers within and flanking the ESR1 locus are needed to confirm this hypothesis.
Acute and mid-term outcomes of stent implantation for recurrent coarctation of the aorta between the Norwood operation and fontan completion: A multi-center Pediatric Interventional Cardiology Early Career Society Investigation.

OBJECTIVES We sought to evaluate outcomes of stent implantation (SI) for recurrent coarctation of the aorta (RC) following the Norwood operation. BACKGROUND RC is common following the Norwood operation. Balloon angioplasty (BA) is standard treatment but may result in unsatisfactory relief of RC. SI may improve RC, but outcome data are limited. METHODS We performed a multi-center retrospective study of patients who underwent SI for RC between the Norwood operation and Fontan completion. Outcomes were examined, including procedural success, serious adverse events (SAE), and freedom from re-intervention. A core laboratory was utilized to review angiograms. Coarctation Index (CI) was calculated before and after SI. Paired t-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to compare pre- and post-SI variables. RESULTS Thirty-three patients at 8 centers underwent SI for RC at a median age of 5 months (IQR 4.1, 13.3) and weight of 5.9 kg (5.2, 8.6). Aortic arch gradient improved from 20 (15, 24) to 0 (0, 2) mmHg following SI (P < 0.0001). The median CI improved from 0.54 (0.43, 0.62) to 0.97 (0.89, 1.06) following SI (P < 0.0001). There were no procedural deaths but SAEs occurred in 12 (36%) patients. During a median follow-up duration of 29.7 months (6.8, 48.0), freedom from death or heart transplant was 82%, and from re-intervention was 45%, with median time to re-intervention of 20.1 months (11.4, 40.3). CONCLUSIONS SI for treatment of RC in patients after the Norwood operation provides excellent acute relief of obstruction. Intraprocedural hemodynamic instability is common and re-intervention is frequent at mid-term follow-up.
Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of WZ4002 analogues as EGFR inhibitors

A series of thirty two anilinopyrimidines derived from WZ4002 has been synthesized and evaluated for percentage inhibition of six different EGFR kinases using LanthaScreen binding assay method (EGFR d746 - 750) or Z'LYTE assay method (EGFR-WT, EGFR d746 - 750, EGFR T790M, EGFR T790M L858R, EGFR C797S and EGFR T790M L858R C797S). Ortho-hydroxyacetamide 10 exhibited complete inhibition of all the six kinases at 10µM. Against the triple mutant, EGFR T790M C797S L858R, compounds 9-12 exhibited complete inhibition at 10µM and nearly complete inhibition at 1µM. The target compounds were also evaluated using the MTT assay to determine their cytotoxic activity against human non-small cell lung cancer cells (PC9, PC9GR and H460) and mouse leukemic cells (Ba/F3 WT and Ba/F3T 3151). Overall, 7, 9-12, 30 and 31 were found to be the most potent compounds across all five cell lines.
Assessing Vulnerabilities to Corruption: Indicators and Benchmarks of Government Performance

What kinds of evidence can help reformers identify anti-corruption priorities, apply effective countermeasures, and track the effects of their efforts? Indicators of government performance, compared to benchmarks from comparable agencies, offer numerous advantages over perception-based indices. Performance indicators allow estimates of the effects of past corruption, identify current vulnerabilities, and track trends in terms that are easily understood and point to appropriate controls. Gathering, analyzing, and acting upon indicators and benchmarks can be good-governance activities in themselves. They create opportunities for productive interaction with citizens and allow effective managers and political leaders to claim credit for success. The strategy can emphasize integrity and accountability rather than merely stigmatizing agencies, programs, and officials as corrupt.
Best Practices for Fresh Juice Production

In late 1995 an outbreak of Salmonella was traced to unpasteurized orange juice. In response to the outbreak, the Florida Citrus Commission has recommended several amendments to the Department of Citrus Rules. Regardless of the outcome of these amendments, there exists a series of “best practices” to help insure the production of a consistent product of sound nature. This paper focuses on best practices in process design, equipment and facility design. A brief overview of microbiology is given with attention to source of contamination and environmental conditions for microbial growth.Paper published with permission.Compilation Copyright © 2018 ASME
The isolation and characterization of cell wall proteins from Zea mays seedlings

Antibodies raised against cell wall proteins inhibit auxininduced growth of Zea mays coleoptile segments. The inhibition of growth was attributed to a specific antibody-antigen interaction within the cell wall matrix. This conclusion was based on the observations that only serum containing antibodies against cellwall proteins inhibited growth, that gamma globulins purified from active serum inhibited growth, and that a specific subfraction of isolated cell wall proteins could precipitate the growth inhibiting antibody. A bioassay was developed to evaluate cell wall-protein fractions for their ability to precipitate the growth inhibiting antibody. The total complement of proteins isolated from the cell walls of Zea mays seedlings was fractionated by cation exchange and gel filtration chromatography. The antigens responsible for the anti-growth antibodies were identified as an acidic group of proteins with apparent molecular weights in a range of 20-25,000. This subfraction of cell wall proteins was not effective in hydrolyzing cell wall polysaccharides.
HYALURONAN AND TISSUE ENGINEERING

ABSTRACT Hyaluronan (HA) can be fabricated into a number of different physical formats including liquids of various viscosities, strands, weaves, sponges and fleeces. All of these formats have uses as delivery vehicles for cells or bioactive molecules for implantation into in vivo sites. Moreover, the physical, chemical, and biological properties of these HA scaffolds can be altered to provide different breakdown kinetics, different cell and molecular attachment domains, and different porosities and hydrophobicities. Importantly, HA in high and low molecular weight configurations have been shown to have different inductive, inhibitory or stimulatory effects on certain cell types. Thus, HA delivery vehicles could be used in a variety of Tissue Engineering constructs. We have used HA sponges to investigate their intrinsic and extrinsic repair/ regeneration potential in a full-thickness osteochondral defect in rabbit knees. The results provide the basis for defining the optimal characteristics of this class of delivery vehicles for skeletal tissue regeneration. Specifically, multifunctional delivery vehicles are required and they must exhibit different signaling capabilities at different stages of the repair process. By controlling the intrinsic breakdown characteristics of these HA delivery vehicles, the kinetics and sequence of the repair process can be precisely controlled. In other words, the change in phase of the delivery vehicle from high to low molecular weight polymer can be the trigger for several biological events. Indeed, the release of HA oligomers has profound biological ramifications in in vivo sites. Both theoretical and practical information forms the basis for considering HA scaffolds for use in Tissue Engineering strategies especially for the regeneration of skeletal tissues.
Pore-Scale Simulations of Porous Electrodes of Li–O2 Batteries at Different Saturation Levels

This study reconstructs pore-scale structures of battery electrodes from scanning electron microscopy images, quantitatively studies the distribution of the electrolyte at various saturations, and simulates the discharge performance of Li–O2 batteries. This research sheds lights on the critical role of liquid–gas two-phase mass transfer within the porous electrode on the electrochemical performance of batteries. It is found that fully saturated electrodes (100% saturation) have high oxygen-transfer resistance, which will impede the battery performance at typical electrode thickness (∼200 μm). On the contrary, overdried battery (with <50% saturations) electrodes have poor electrochemical performance because dry pores are inactive for electrochemical reactions. In addition, the low electrolyte saturation level leads to low ionic conductivity and high mass transfer resistance of the lithium ion. Carefully designed electrodes with the mixture of lyophilic and lyophobic pores could achieve similar discharge ca...
Can Virtual Reality Improve the Health of Older Sports Fans

According to Gallup, 57% of people age 50 and older are sports fans. Television audiences across most professional sports boast older demographics in increasing numbers. For example, the average age of a baseball viewer is 57, up from 52 in 2006. This is a huge market opportunity for the sports industry, although we cannot ignore older adults in longterm care, especially those who are bedridden or immobile or those who feel lonely and/or are socially isolated.
Failed Olecranon Fixation

A case of a transverse olecranon fracture is shown which was initially treated with open reduction and internal fixation with a plate construct that was complicated by failure of fixation and subsequently revised with removal of hardware and triceps advancement.
Plant-Based Diets and Hypertension:

Hypertension is a global epidemic and a risk factor for many adverse outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and death. Lifestyle plays a significant role in the development and maintenance of hypertension, and guidelines from several organizations recommend lifestyle modifications as first-line intervention for hypertensive patients. Data supporting the use of plant-based diets in the treatment of hypertension goes back almost a century. More recently, clinical trial data, including randomized controlled trials, have established plant-based diets as an effective lifestyle intervention for high blood pressure (BP). Plant-based diets differ from the standard American diet in a myriad of ways, with some substances being present in either substantially higher or lower amounts. Although the precise mechanism of a plant-based diet's beneficial effects on BP is unknown, many of these differences may be responsible. Attributes of a plant-based diet that may lower BP include a lower energy content leading to weight loss, a lower sodium content, an increased potassium content, reduced oxidative stress, higher bioavailability of the vasodilator nitric oxide, and beneficial effects on the microbiome. The evidenced-based benefits of plant-based diets in treating hypertension should lead providers to advocate for this dietary pattern for their patients.
Back on Track: Wyomia Tyus, Breaking Historical Silences, and the Sporting Activist Legacies of 1968

AbstractAfter her Olympic gold medal winning performance (her third over two Olympiads) as a member of the 4 × 100 metre relay team in 1968, US sprinter Wyomia Tyus dedicated the victory to fellow ...
Training Deep Spiking Neural Networks for Energy-Efficient Neuromorphic Computing

Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs), widely known as the third generation of neural networks, encode input information temporally using sparse spiking events, which can be harnessed to achieve higher computational efficiency for cognitive tasks. However, considering the rapid strides in accuracy enabled by state-of-the-art Analog Neural Networks (ANNs), SNN training algorithms are much less mature, leading to accuracy gap between SNNs and ANNs. In this paper, we propose different SNN training methodologies, varying in degrees of biofidelity, and evaluate their efficacy on complex image recognition datasets. First, we present biologically plausible Spike Timing Dependent Plasticity (STDP) based deterministic and stochastic algorithms for unsupervised representation learning in SNNs. Our analysis on the CIFAR-10 dataset indicates that STDP-based learning rules enable the convolutional layers to self-learn low-level input features using fewer training examples. However, STDP-based learning is limited in applicability to shallow SNNs (≤4 layers) while yielding considerably lower than state-of-the-art accuracy. In order to scale the SNNs deeper and improve the accuracy further, we propose conversion methodology to map off-the-shelf trained ANN to SNN for energy-efficient inference. We demonstrate 69.96% accuracy for VGG16-SNN on ImageNet. However, ANN-to-SNN conversion leads to high inference latency for achieving the best accuracy. In order to minimize the inference latency, we propose spike-based error backpropagation algorithm using differentiable approximation for the spiking neuron. Our preliminary experiments on CIFAR-10 show that spike-based error backpropagation effectively captures temporal statistics to reduce the inference latency by up to 8× compared to converted SNNs while yielding comparable accuracy
Bovine cardiac mesothelial hyperplasia: a common incidental finding in adult cattle.

Cardiac mesothelial hyperplasia forming pale plaque lesions on the epicardial surface is a common incidental finding in the hearts of aged humans. A similar phenomenon with a more papillary appearance has also been reported as an incidental finding in dogs and mice. These lesions are believed to occur in response to friction between the epicardium and overlying pericardium. We investigated this lesion in adult cattle, a phenomenon that has been associated with bovine leukemia virus infection and epicardial lymphoma. We examined 73 hearts from adult cattle, predominantly of dairy breeds: 53 from a rendering facility and 20 from a state diagnostic laboratory. Cardiac mesothelial hyperplasia was much more prevalent in cattle than in other reported species (97% of examined hearts). The most common distribution was overlying the great vessels in a dark red papillary pattern. Cardiac mesothelial hyperplasia was also variably observed on all 4 cardiac chambers and the pericardium. Occasionally these lesions took on a smooth plaque-like appearance resembling those observed in humans. The lesions varied from 0.25 cm2 to covering 90% of the epicardial surface. No association was observed between cardiac mesothelial hyperplasia and bovine leukemia virus infection or cardiac lymphoma. Cardiac mesothelial hyperplasia was a common incidental finding in bovine hearts that must be distinguished from neoplasia and acute or chronic inflammation.
Addiction from the harmful dysfunction perspective: How there can be a mental disorder in a normal brain

Is addiction a medical disorder, and if so, what kind of disorder is it? Addiction is considered a brain disease by NIDA, based on observed brain changes in addicts that are interpreted as brain damage. Critics argue that the brain changes result instead from normal neuroplasticity and learning in response to the intense rewards provided by addictive substances, thus addiction is not a disorder but rather a series of normal-range if problematic choices. Relying on the harmful dysfunction analysis of medical disorder to evaluate disorder versus nondisorder status, I argue that even if one accepts the critics' reinterpretation of NIDA's brain evidence and rejects the brain disease account, the critics' conclusion that addiction is not a medical disorder but is rather a matter of problematic nondisordered choice does not follow. This is because there is a further possible account of addiction, the evolutionary "hijack" view, that holds that addiction is due to the availability of substances and stimuli that were unavailable during human species evolution and that coopt certain brain areas concerned with human motivation, creating biologically undesigned peremptory desires. I argue that if the hijack theory is correct, then it opens up the possibility that addiction could be a true motivational medical disorder for which there is no underlying neurological-level dysfunction. Finally, I explore the implications of this account for how we see the social responsibility for addiction and how we attempt to control it.
Surgical Intervention for Laryngomalacia: Age-Related Differences in Postoperative Sequelae.

Objective:Identify risk factors and determine perioperative morbidity of children undergoing surgery for laryngomalacia (LM).Methods:A retrospective analysis of the multi-institutional American Col...
When COVID-19 Meets Pandemic Hope: Existential Care of, and in, the Impossible

This article is an adaptation of a talk given to the International Institute for Existential-Humanistic Psychology in Beijing, China, March 14, 2020. I describe the existential concerns embedded in...
Intention to Behavior: Using the Integrative Model of Behavioral Prediction to Understand Actual Control of PrEP Uptake Among Gay Men

PrEP is an effective daily prevention medicine used to reduce risks of HIV infections. Previous research has pointed out the intention-behavior gap on PrEP uptake among gay men. The current study built on research examining how the integrative model of behavioral prediction (IMBP) factors influences PrEP uptake among gay men to explore how actual control variables, namely skills and environmental constraints, moderated the intention-behavior relationship. We used results from formative interviews to construct a survey and collected data from 420 gay men. Results showed several factors that were associated with PrEP uptake among gay men. Specifically, the lack of access to an LGBTQ-friendly healthcare provider(s) and lack of English fluency had significant main effects on PrEP uptake behavior, while lack of access to a healthcare provider and lack of healthcare system knowledge were significant moderators of the intention-behavior relationship. This study advances our understanding of the IMBP and offers practical implications for PrEP promotion. Limitations and suggestions for future studies are discussed.
Miller-Fisher Syndrome Presenting as Facial Diplegia With COVID-19 Co-Infection

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has reportedly been associated with various neurological manifestations, including unilateral facial palsy and, very rarely, facial diplegia. We present a unique case of Miller-Fisher Syndrome (MFS), a variant of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) that was noted in conjunction with a COVID-19 infection. In this case, a patient presented with bilateral facial palsy, dysarthria, right sided hemiparesis, ataxia, and the confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 infection. His computed tomography (CT) scan of the brain and serology test results did not support alternate etiologies for facial palsy. His cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) studies demonstrated albuminocytologic dissociation, which was consistent with the diagnosis of MFS and further supported by his ataxia and ophthalmoplegia. A five-day course of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy combined with physical, occupational, and speech therapy improved his recovery.
Responsiveness of senescent mice to the antitumor properties of corynebacterium parvum.

The antitumor properties of Corynebacterium parvum have been studied in young (3- to 8-month-old) and aged (18 or more months old) BALB/c mice given s.c., i.m., i.p., or i.v. transplants of the highly malignant, weakly immunogenic line 1 lung carcinoma, and in aged (25- to 33-month-old) BALB/c mice bearing primary mammary tumors. These aged BALB/c mice were shown to be less immunoresponsive than their younger counterparts, and this, in combination with nonimmunological factors, made them more sensitive to the lethal effects of the line 1 carcinoma. Correspondingly, C. parvum proved to have less antitumor activity in aged mice than it did in young mice. In spite of this relatively weaker antitumor activity for C. parvum in aged mice, repeated injections of this agent were able to induce temporary regressions of the primary mammary tumors studied and thereby prolong survival time.
An Assessment of the Red Maple Resource in the Northeastern United States

The red maple resource in the northeastern United States has exhibited dramatic gains in the past 3 decades in terms of stem numbers and net volume. Growing stock and sawtimber volumes have displayed extraordinary growth compared to other species, and red maple is replacing important market species that have historically been used in the Northeast. The increase in red maple has salient implications for foresters, primary and secondary manufacturers, and wood technologists. Data from the USDA Forest Service's (USFS) Forest Inventory and Analysis program were used to provide a regional assessment of the red maple resource. The analysis includes the location, concentration, volume, quality, and current utilization of red maple in the USFS's 13-state Northeastern Region. Study results indicate red maple is a significant and increasing component of northeastern forests, with Pennsylvania, New York, and Maine holding the largest volumes of red maple. Red maple, expressed as a percentage of USFS hardwood tree grades, is distributed primarily in grades 3 and lower. Finally, development of innovative markets and novel products, understanding consumers via consumer behavior research, and innovative silvicultural treatments will be required to increase the utilization of red maple.
Do Painless Environmental Policies Exist

This paper reports an experimental test of the Porter Hypothesis that environmental regulations create innovation offsets that would not otherwise be undertaken. Using a process analysis framework to consistently account for non-separabilities in production and pollution abatement practices, the findings suggest productivity gains can appear to be greater with environmental regulations than without even though they are not. This result which would seem to support the Porter argument, is the result of inadequacies in the methods used to decompose the influences to productivity change. Thus, the experiments offer one explanation for why it has been difficult in practice to reject the hypothesis.
Proteinpolysaccharide Complex from Bovine Nasal Cartilage A COMPARISON OF LOW AND HIGH SHEAR EXTRACTION PROCEDURES

Two procedures for isolating 80 to 85% of the total hexuronic acid from bovine nasal cartilage as proteinpolysaccharide complex are described and compared. The first method, termed disruptive, extracts the complex by exhaustive high speed homogenization of the tissue in salt solutions of low ionic strength; proteinpolysaccharides used in most previous investigations were extracted similarly. The preparation is then purified by precipitation as the cetylpyridinium salt. The second method, termed dissociative, avoids shear by extracting proteinpolysaccharides into solvents containing optimal concentrations of various electrolytes and then utilizes equilibrium density gradient sedimentation to remove glycoprotein and soluble collagen. The effects of pH, temperature, and nature and concentration of electrolyte on the efficiency of dissociative extraction are presented; of the parameters investigated, only the type and concentration of electrolyte appear to be critical. Although both procedures yield products which exhibit bimodal distributions of sedimentation coefficients in the ultracentrifuge, the disruptive method denatures the macromolecules and decreases their average sedimentation coefficients. The faster sedimenting mode reversibly disaggregates under dissociative extraction conditions, suggesting that disaggregation is fundamental to the extraction process. Aggregation appears to be effected through strong ionic interactions; however, reduction and alkylation of cystine residues prevents reaggregation, suggesting that the interaction also depends on the conformation of protein moieties of the macromolecules.