cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cordycepin inhibits polyadenylation and induces cell death in multiple myeloma cells

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 46, 2005 630 Multiple myeloma (MM) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are indolent cancers, and hence are not amenable to traditional DNA-targeting strategies. Since MM and leukemia cells actively synthesize RNA for cellular physiological processes and for cell survival, we hypothesized that RNA processing events are potential therapeutic targets for these diseases. Processing of pre-mRNA into mature mRNA involves three major steps: 5’-end methylguanosine capping, 3’-end cleavage and polyadenylation, and intron splicing. The addition of a 3′-end poly(A) tail to eukaryotic mRNAs is required for the transport of RNA from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, translation efficiency, and the regulation of mRNA degradation. RNA poly(A) tail length has been shown to regulate RNA stability, and thus polyadenylation inhibition may be an attractive RNA-targeted strategy for the treatment of MM and CLL. Furthermore, several studies have illustrated that compared to normal cells, tumor cells have higher expression of poly(A) polymerase (PAP), the enzyme responsible for catalyzing poly(A)-tail addition. Based on these observations we hypothesized that PAP inhibition may be a potential target for cancer treatments. Our previous studies demonstrated that PAP inhibition could be achieved using C8-substituted adenosine analogs. Specifically, 8-amino-ATP, 8-azido-ATP and 8-chloro-ATP were shown to inhibit poly(A)-tail synthesis by yeast PAP causing chain termination ( J Biol Chem 279: 40405, 2004). To build upon these observations, a known polyadenylation inhibitor, cordycepin (3′-deoxyadenosine) was assessed in a MM cell line, MM.1S, in the presence of adenosine deaminase inhibitors coformycin and deoxycoformycin. Cordycepin inhibited MM.1S cell growth, and following continuous incubation for 48 and 72 hours, the IC50 for cordycepin was measured to be 10 μM and 2 μM, respectively. To determine if this inhibition was due to apoptosis induction, the treated cells were stained with Annexin V and analyzed using flow cytometry. Treatment with 10 μM of cordycepin resulted in 10% and 50% Annexin positive cells after 24 and 48 hours, respectively. Cells treated with 10 μM cordycepin had a time-dependent accumulation of the triphosphate metabolite, 3′dATP. At 6 hours, the intracellular level of 3′dATP was approximately 40 μM. This concentration has been shown to inhibit polyadenylation and is above the K m value (6 μM) measured for 3′dATP with yeast PAP. Taken together, the results presented here support the hypothesis that polyadenylation inhibition may prove to be a valuable strategy to target indolent cancers. Futher studies will be conducted to evaluate the downstream effects following PAP inhibition in this cell line.
Feasibility study of Tethered Capsule Endomicroscopy (TCE) deployment in the small intestine (Conference Presentation)

Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) is a poorly understood disease of the small intestine that causes nutrient malabsorption in children, predominantly from low and middle income countries. The clinical importance of EED is neurological and growth stunting that remains as the child grows into adulthood. Tethered capsule endomicroscopy (TCE) has the potential to improve the understanding of EED and could be used to determine the effectiveness of EED interventions. TCE in the adult esophagus and the duodenum has been demonstrated for Barrett`s esophagus and celiac disease diagnosis, respectively. While adult subjects can independently swallow these capsules, it is likely that infants will not, and, as a result, new strategies for introducing these devices in young children aged 0.5-2 years need to be investigated. Our first approach will be to introduce the TCE devices in infants under the aid of endoscopic guidance. To determine the most effective method, we have tested endoscopic approaches for introducing TCE devices into the small intestine of living swine. These methods will be compared and contrasted to discuss the most effective means for endoscopic tethered capsule introduction into the small intestine.
Evaluation of food-based attractants for drosophila suzukii (diptera: Drosophilidae)

The Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is a highly invasive species attacking a wide range of ripening soft-skinned fruits. A series of laboratory choice tests were conducted to determine whether different levels of rice vinegar affected attraction of Merlot wine to D. suzukii, as well as to compare attractiveness of two common fermentation food baits: wine-vinegar and yeast-sugar water mixtures. The relative attraction of various combinations was used to develop a bait whose effectiveness was tested in the field. In laboratory choice experiments, wine-vinegar (80:20, v:v, hereafter referred to as wine) was more preferred over a yeast-sugar water mixture (hereafter referred to as yeast) by D. suzukii. Combination baits, either a mixture of wine and yeast or a mixture of wine and a supernatant from the yeast (comboS), were significantly more attractive than each product alone. The two combination baits were equally attractive to D. suzukii, so were the yeast and its supernatant, suggesting that yeast supernatant could be used as a replacement for the yeast-sugar mixture currently used for trapping D. suzukii. The additive effect between wine and yeast supernatant in the field was not as profound as observed in the laboratory. In the field trial, numerically more male and female D. suzukii were captured in traps baited with comboS than those baited with the wine or yeast alone; however, significant differences were only found between the comboS and wine or between the comboS and yeast in some weeks over the period of the experiment.
Validating bladder cancer xenograft bioluminescence with magnetic resonance imaging requires correction for hypoperfusion, hypoxia and necrosis.

493 Purpose: Bioluminescent imaging allows longitudinal assessment of tumor burden in orthotopic tumor models. One limitation we have encountered in bladder xenografts is poor correlation between tumor size (weight or volume) and luminescence in several cell lines. We wished to confirm this discrepancy with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We hypothesized that the lack of correlation was due to hypoxia and necrosis in the tumors. Materials and Methods: Orthotopic bladder tumors were established in 5 week old nude mice with 100,000 KU7 or 500,000 253J-BV cells (10 mice each) that had been previously transduced with a lentiviral luciferase construct. Bioluminescence (In Vivo Imaging System, Xenogen Corp., Almeda, CA) and MRI imaging (Bruker Biospin 4.7T scanner) were performed weekly within 24 hours of each other. Tumor volume was calculated from T1 and T2 weighted images at each time point and dynamic contrast studies were completed for the final two time points. The mice were sacrificed at four weeks 45 minutes after intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg piminidazole. The tumors were excised, weighed and frozen whole. Step sections were obtained at 1 mm intervals. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemical analysis of piminidazole adduct formation were performed to assess hypoxia and necrosis. CD31 staining was used to quantitate vascularity. Relative areas of each section containing total tumor, hypoxic tumor and necrotic tumor were quantitated with ImagePro software (Media Cybernetics, Silver Spring, MD) Results: KU7 xenograft bioluminescence showed minimal correlation to tumor volume on MRI during the first two weeks of imaging but none thereafter (R 2 2 =0.93 at 4 weeks) in 253J-BV xenografts, where hypoxia and necrosis were less prominent. MRI tumor volume tripled in size between the first and second week in KU7 but remained constant in 253J-BV. Conclusion: The correlation between tumor bioluminescence and tumor size depends on the growth kinetics of the individual cell line used in xenograft studies. These parameters do not correlate in xenografts that rapidly outgrow their vascular supply and develop broad areas of hypoxia and necrosis. In these cases, however, the bioluminescence does yield information about the amount of viable tumor, and should therefore still be considered a useful parameter.
Edoxaban (Savaysa) for the Prevention of Thromboembolic Events.

Edoxaban is an alternative to warfarin and other oral anticoagulants for the prevention of stroke in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and for the treatment of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
Prognostic factors that predict failure of manipulation under anesthesia for the stiff total knee arthroplasty: A systematic review.

Abstract Purpose Prognostic factors associated with Manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) failure remain unknown. Methods A systematic review of the literature was performed to identify studies that reported prognostic factors associated with MUA for postoperative stiffness. Results 7 studies analyzing prognostic factors associated with MUA outcomes were included. Several studies note pre-MUA ROM to be a significant prognostic factor affecting post-MUA ROM at final follow-up. Knees with 70°. Conclusions The strongest prognostic factor for decreased ROM after MUA is severe pre-MUA stiffness.
Clostridium difficile cure with fecal microbiota transplantation in a child with Pompe disease: a case report

Recurrent Clostridium difficile infection is a growing problem among children due to both the increasing survival of medically fragile children with complicated chronic medical conditions resulting in prolonged antibiotic exposure and hospitalization and the emergence of strains of Clostridium difficile that are hypervirulent and associated with high rates of relapse. This case describes a medically complex 21-month-old Hispanic girl with Pompe disease and B cell immunodeficiency with recurrent Clostridium difficile infection refractory to antimicrobial management. She presented with nine recurrent episodes of Clostridium difficile infection including fever, foul smelling diarrhea, and respiratory distress with failed sustained responses to compliant treatment using metronidazole and pulsed vancomycin therapy. Maternal donor fecal microbiota transplantation was performed with complete symptom resolution and produced a sustained cure, now 5 years in duration. This patient presented with symptomatic Clostridium difficile at an early age causing significant morbidity and reduced quality of life. After nearly one year of failed medical management, fecal microbiota transplantation provided a cure. Further evidence-based research is necessary to test the safety and efficacy of this low technology, low cost, and morbidity-sparing therapy in children.
A Meta-Knowledge Architecture for Planning and Explanation in Repair Domains

The creation of intelligent systems for use in diagnosis and repair advisory domains has been a popular research topic in the applied artificial intelligence (AI) community during recent years {9,10,16,21}. These systems have been built utilizing a wide variety of architectures. Most early systems focused on the coding of experiential knowledge in the form of if-then style rules {15,18}. Initially, little emphasis was given to the need for incorporation of so-called “deep” knowledge about the physical principles of the systems studied. More recent research has addressed this issue by investigating ways of combining qualitative and quantitative modelling methodologies with inference techniques {17}. However, numerous problems remain to be solved in this domain. For example, little work has been conducted on methods of characterizing control knowledge in diagnosis and repair advisory systems. The research presented in this chapter focuses on this problem. A meta-level architecture that implements a control paradigm that can accommodate both “shallow” and “deep” reasoning mechanisms in a flexible plan-based architecture has been constructed and tested.
Contrarianism and Creativity

Originality is a critical aspect of creativity, and the contrarian tactic has a high probability of leading to an original idea or behavior. This article explores the pros and cons of the contrarian tactic. It appears that contrarianism can be useful, some of the time, but that it is far from sufficient for creative performance. It does not guarantee creativity and may lead the potential creator astray.
5G NR PDCCH: Design and Performance

This paper analyzes physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) for 5G New Radio (NR) technology defined as part of Rel-15 3GPP physical layer specifications. The particular combination of design elements makes NR PDCCH unique compared to the PDCCH or EPDCCH designs in LTE. We focus on the physical aspects of NR PDCCH structure and provide an in-depth summary of the design considerations, analysis of novel search space (SS) design options to better balance the PDCCH blind decoding (BD) and channel estimation capabilities, and performance evaluation of various transmission schemes and configurations supported by NR PDCCH. This study attests the flexibility and robustness of NR PDCCH design in addition to potential further enhancements for the scenarios with more stringent reliability requirements, e.g., URLLC applications.
Gay Blood Revisionism: A Critical Analysis of Advocacy and the

Since 1984, federal guidelines have effectively banned the donation of blood by any male who has had sex with another male since 1977. Despite this seemingly facially discriminatory policy, one of the few federal policies that makes any differentiation based on sexual orientation, advocacy around the issue has been limited. While there have been occasional calls for the policy's repeal, no litigation has been filed, and no national advocacy campaign has emerged. In fact, of the websites of major gay rights organizations, only one even mentions the policy. Yet individuals continue to engage in acts of advocacy calling for change - labeling the policy as "absurd," discriminatory, and even unconstitutional. This article examines the social movement activity around the policy, highlighting factual and logical flaws in arguments made by activists, and comprehensively reviewing the actual history behind the policy. Applying legal and social movement theory, it attempts to explain why no legal action has been filed, why social movements have been unsuccessful, and why young gay men, on college campuses in particular, continue to vehemently protest the policy as an issue of "basic human rights." The article concludes with proposals to change the conversation around the policy to explicitly acknowledge competing principles: public health's precautionary principle, and a nondiscrimination principle espoused by LGBT activists. Ignoring epidemiological realities, I argue, will never successfully lead to regulatory change.
Surgical approach and the impact of epidural analgesia on survival after esophagectomy for cancer: A population-based retrospective cohort study.

Background Esophagectomy for esophageal cancer carries high morbidity and mortality, particularly in older patients. Transthoracic esophagectomy allows formal lymphadenectomy, but leads to greater perioperative morbidity and pain than transhiatal esophagectomy. Epidural analgesia may attenuate the stress response and be less immunosuppressive than opioids, potentially affecting long-term outcomes. These potential benefits may be more pronounced for transthoracic esophagectomy due to its greater physiologic impact. We evaluated the impact of epidural analgesia on survival and recurrence after transthoracic versus transhiatal esophagectomy. Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed using the linked Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database. Patients aged ≥66 years with locoregional esophageal cancer diagnosed 1994–2009 who underwent esophagectomy were identified, with follow-up through December 31, 2013. Epidural receipt and surgical approach were identified from Medicare claims. Survival analyses adjusting for hospital esophagectomy volume, surgical approach, and epidural use were performed. A subgroup analysis restricted to esophageal adenocarcinoma patients was performed. Results Among 1,921 patients, 38% underwent transhiatal esophagectomy (n = 730) and 62% underwent transthoracic esophagectomy (n = 1,191). 61% (n = 1,169) received epidurals and 39% (n = 752) did not. Epidural analgesia was associated with transthoracic approach and higher volume hospitals. Patients with epidural analgesia had better 90-day survival. Five-year survival was higher with transhiatal esophagectomy (37.2%) than transthoracic esophagectomy (31.0%, p = 0.006). Among transthoracic esophagectomy patients, epidural analgesia was associated with improved 5-year survival (33.5% epidural versus 26.5% non-epidural, p = 0.012; hazard ratio 0.81, 95% confidence interval [0.70, 0.93]). Among the subgroup of esophageal adenocarcinoma patients undergoing transthoracic esophagectomy, epidural analgesia remained associated with improved 5-year survival (hazard ratio 0.81, 95% confidence interval [0.67, 0.96]); this survival benefit persisted in sensitivity analyses adjusting for propensity to receive an epidural. Conclusion Among patients undergoing transthoracic esophagectomy, including a subgroup restricted to esophageal adenocarcinoma, epidural analgesia was associated with improved survival even after adjusting for other factors.
FULMINANT RHEUMATOID HEART DISEASE

Rheumatoid arthritis is known for its ability to erode joints. However, the cardiovascular effects are significant, yet rarely diagnosed and discussed. A 46 year old African American woman with a remote history of treated syphilis, treated rheumatoid arthritis, and recent diagnosis of ANCA negative
What Does the TIMSS Tell Us About Teacher Effectiveness

The central aim of this report was to investigate what international comparative assessments could reveal about the role of teachers in influencing student outcomes. A series of analyses attempted to identify potential trends in teacher quality and instructional metrics over time and their relationship with student achievement, but found no strong evidence for consistent predictable relationships between commonly-employed indicators of teacher effectiveness and student outcomes (both within and across educational systems). Further, although inequality in student outcomes remains pervasive across education systems, teacher quality is less subject to inequality, and, indeed, many countries have seen a rise in formal preparation to teach mathematics over the twenty years of IEA’s Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). While improving conventional measures of teacher quality may not have a significant impact on educational inequality, there is some evidence that increasing the average amount of time spent on teaching mathematics may reduce inequalities in student achievement. Researchers and policymakers should be extremely cautious about applying the associations identified in one education systems to a very different educational context. The results indicate that teachers with similar experience, credentials, and instructional strategies may regardless produce quite different results, indicating that parents, policymakers, community institutions, and cultural context likely play a powerful role in determining student outcomes.
Comparative Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Children: Racial Disparity May Begin Early in Childhood.

African American (AA) adults are reported to have lower levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) as compared to Caucasian adults. CRF is linked to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We hypothesized that the disparities start early in childhood. This was a retrospective analysis of the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). We included normal healthy children, ≤ 18 years of age, who had normal electrocardiograms and normal cardiac function. We excluded patients with congenital heart disease, obesity and suboptimal exercise test. The entire cohort was divided into two groups based on race (Caucasian vs. AA) and then further subcategorized by gender. The cohort of 248 patients had a mean ± SD age of 14.4 ± 2.1 years. 158 (60.8%) were males and 158 (60.8%) were Caucasians. Oxygen consumption was higher among Caucasian children when compared to the AA children (48.7 ± 7.9 vs. 45.4 ± 7 mL/kg/min, p = 0.01). This racial disparity continued to persist when comparisons were performed separately for girls and boys. Upon comparing the four groups, the AA females were found to have the lowest values of VO2max, exercise time and METS (p = 0.001). Thus, in conclusion, the AA children have significantly lower level of CRF, as measured by VO2max and exercise time. The racial disparity is independent of gender. African American females show the lowest level of aerobic capacity. The findings of our study suggest that the racial disparity in the CRF levels seen in the adult population may begin early in childhood.
3D printing in spine surgery

The applications of three-dimensional (3D) printing, or additive manufacturing, to the field of spine surgery continue to grow in number and scope especially in recent years as improved manufacturing techniques and use of sterilizable materials have allowed for creation of 3D printed implants. While 3D printing in spine surgery was initially limited to use as visual aids in preoperative planning for complex pathology, it has more recently been used to create intraoperative patient-specific screw guides and templates and is increasingly being used in surgical education and training. As patient-specific treatment and personalized medicine gains popularity in medicine, 3D printing provides a similar option for the surgical fields, particularly in the creation of customizable implants. 3D printing is a relatively new field as it pertains to spine surgery, and as such, it lacks long-term data on clinical outcomes and cost effectiveness; however, the apparent benefits and seemingly boundless applications of this growing technology make it an attractive option for the future of spine surgery.
MLL Fusion Driven Activation of CDK6 Potentiates Proliferation in MLL-rearranged Infant ALL

Abstract Abstract 1426 MLL-rearranged acute lymphoblastic leukemia represents a highly aggressive and clinically unfavorable type of childhood leukemia, displaying unique gene expression signatures. Nevertheless, the overwhelming number of differentially expressed genes made it difficult to elucidate the actual “drivers” of the leukemia. However, recent advances demonstrated that MLL fusion proteins recruit the histone methyltransferase DOT1L, leading to H3K79 methylation. Hence, genomic regions displaying aberrant enrichment of H3K79 methylation are prone to mark genes transcriptionally activated by the MLL fusion protein itself. Based on this concept, two independent studies recently identified gene signatures consisting of genes likely to represent direct MLL fusion targets. Yet, functional validation of such genes so far remains unacknowledged. In the present study we confirmed that CDK6 (cyclin-dependent protein kinase 6) represents a direct target of MLL-AF4 in t(4;11)-positive ALL cells. In contrast to its functional homologue CDK4, ChIP-sequencing analysis showed the presence of both MLL and AF4, as well as H3K79 methylation at the CDK6. Moreover, CDK6 mRNA appeared significantly (p Taken together we conclude that CDK6 up-regulation in MLL-rearranged ALL is directly mediated by the MLL fusion itself and provides these cells with a proliferation advantage. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Implementation and results of a practical grading system for blunt thoracic aortic injury.

Abstract Objective We previously proposed a grading system for blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI) designed to guide therapy. This study analyzed our outcomes since implementing this system. Methods A single-center, retrospective study was conducted of consecutive patients presenting with BTAI between January 2014 and December 2017. This grading system classified injuries into minimal, moderate, or severe on the basis of computed tomography imaging. Primary end points included timing of operation and mortality. Secondary end points included associated injuries, aortic anatomy, and operative details as well as 30-day follow-up. Results During the study period, 87 patients with BTAI were identified. The majority of patients had a moderate injury occurring just distal to the left subclavian artery (LSA); 59 patients underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), whereas none of the patients with minimal injury (n = 24) required surgical treatment. The mean time to repair was 53 hours (1-191 hours) for moderate injury and 3.6 hours (0-7 hours) for severe injury. The average diameter and length of the endograft was 26 mm and 112 cm, respectively, and the LSA was covered in 42% of patients. Intravascular ultrasound to confirm sizing was used in 83% of cases. Most patients (92%) received intravenous heparin during TEVAR; the remainder received only heparin sheath flush because of concern for intracranial hemorrhage. None of the patients underwent LSA revascularization or developed stroke or spinal cord ischemia as a result of the procedure. Operative complications were seen in 6% of patients and included 1 femoral pseudoaneurysm, 1 lower extremity compartment syndrome, 1 type II endoleak requiring LSA embolization, and 1 intracranial bleed. The 30-day mortality was 7% (one aorta-related death). On 30-day postoperative follow-up, computed tomography imaging uniformly revealed positive aortic remodeling, and no secondary aortic intervention was required. Conclusions Institutional implementation of our grading system has streamlined treatment of BTAI, and our results confirm the following: patients with minimal injury do not require surgical treatment; patients with moderate injury can safely undergo TEVAR in a semielective manner once they are stable from other injuries; and patients with severe injury require emergent repair. These procedures are expeditious and can be successfully performed percutaneously with a single endograft. Complications are rare, and follow-up reveals excellent remodeling of the aorta, likely resulting in lengthened interval surveillance requirements for these patients.
Regionally-stratified tornadoes: Moisture source physical reasoning and climate trends

Abstract The moisture origins and associated physical mechanisms for tornadoes of various climatic regions of the United States were investigated. The NOAA Air Resources Laboratory HYSPLIT model and a moisture attribution algorithm were used in conjunction with statistical analyses to explore these relationships on a climate scale (1981–2017). It was found that moisture sources of United States tornadic convection exhibit distinctive regionality. For example, moisture contributions to east coast tornadoes primarily emanate from the Atlantic Ocean as opposed to the Gulf of Mexico. Moisture sources of a class of non-significant severe thunderstorms also show regionality based on the location of storm occurrence with latitudinal differences to that of tornadic storms. Moisture increases for tornadic and non-significant severe storms were shown to be closely related to the respective air parcel's temperature, with underlying sea surface temperatures playing a less important role. Long-term trends of moisture uptake and horizontal advection were also explored using the Mann-Kendall test and linear regressions. Both statistical analyses demonstrate that the magnitude of advective fluxes and the rate of moisture increases have been rising since the 1980s, which can increase the complexity of forecasting downstream convection. The potential ramifications of these trends on storm development and prediction are discussed to conclude the article.
A step forward in predicting anterograde crossing success for infrapopliteal chronic total occlusions

Forty to fifty percent of critical limb ischemia patients have infrainguinal chronic total occlusions, frequently below-the-knee. With probabilities ranging from 21 to 90%, the Infrapop-CTO Score presented here in CCI predicts the likelihood of anterograde crossing of infrapopliteal chronic total occlusions (CTO). Based on cap morphology, occlusion length, calcification, and restenosis status, the score is easily assessed in the lab. An unfavorable Infrapop-CTO Score of 5 or 6, particularly coupled with convex proximal and distal caps (chronic total occlusion plaque [CTOP] Type IV), portends very low (21%) probability of successful anterograde crossing. An initial retrograde crossing strategy should be considered in these patients when technically feasible, followed by combined anterograde-retrograde intervention.
Chapter 5 – Electronic Flash

Publisher Summary This chapter explains the need to use the camera's designated sync shutter speed. It explains various techniques by which a crime scene photographer can control the flash output. It also explains bracketing with flash. It concludes with the benefits of bounce flash and the ways to use this technique. Many flash units allow the crime scene photographer to choose from the manual, automatic, or dedicated flash exposure modes. The more controls that any photographer has at his or her disposal, the more precision that can be expected in the final product: a well-exposed photograph. Some techniques may work under certain circumstances, and others may work better in other conditions. The common exposure errors that may be encountered were pointed out. When wide extremes of light are in the scene, ranging from extremely bright areas to very dark areas, the sensor, by itself, will not be able to capture details in both of these extremes. Details will be lost either in the highlight areas or in the shadow areas. Some areas will be either overexposed or badly underexposed. Rather than lose potentially important information in either area, photographer can use fill-in flash to ensure that details in both exposure extremes are captured. Certain types of evidence are best lit with the light coming from the side. Reflectors can also be used to soften the hard shadows cast by oblique flash and illuminate evidence hidden in the shadow area.
Developing Vulnerability Index to Quantify Urban Heat Islands Effects Coupled with Air Pollution: A Case Study of Camden, NJ

Extreme heat events at urban centers in combination with air pollution pose a serious risk to human health. Among these are financially distressed cities and neighborhoods that are facing enormous challenges without the scientific and technical capacity for planning and mitigation. The city of Camden is one of those economically distressed areas with a predominantly minority population, a high unemployment rate, high poverty rates, and poor air quality (PM2.5 and ozone), and it remains vulnerable to heat events. This paper focuses on studying a coupled effect of Urban Heat Islands (UHIs) and Ozone-PM2.5 pollution at the neighborhood-scale in the city of Camden, using fine scale remotely sensed land-surface temperature and air quality data from the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) Modelling System in the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) platform. To assess the impact of urban microclimate on the city of Camden, NJ, residents’ health, we identified several environmental and social parameters as the root causes of vulnerability imposed by extreme-heat and poor air quality. Vulnerability in terms of environment and social wellbeing was spatially quantified as two conceptual vulnerability-index models (i.e., environmental vulnerability index (EVI) and a social vulnerability index (SVI)) using multiple linear regression algorithm. Factors such as remotely sensed earth surface properties, built-environment components, air quality, and socio-economic data were incorporated in a holistic geographic approach to quantify the combined effect. Surface temperature gradient and Proportional Vegetation (Pv) generated from 30 m resolution Landsat 8 were sampled along with other variables in the city of Camden, NJ. Models incorporating Pv suggest better fit than models with normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Water fraction (33.5%, 32.4%), percentage imperviousness (32.5%, 32%), Pv (20.5%, 19.6%), and digital elevation model (DEM) (9%, 8%) have the highest contributions in both models. Two output maps identified the vulnerable neighborhoods in the city through comprehensive GIS analysis: Lanning Square, Bergen Square, Central Waterfront, Gateway, Liberty Park, and Parkside. This can provide useful information for planners and health officials in targeting areas for future interventions and mitigations.
Optimizing Safety for Surgical Patients Undergoing Interhospital Transfer

Interhospital transfers play a key role in ensuring that patients receive necessary care. However, patients who are transferred between hospitals are a vulnerable population, and outcomes of transferred patients are suboptimal. Despite the critical nature of interhospital transfers, only limited effort has been dedicated to standardization and improvement of the transfer process. Studying and adapting quality improvement efforts directed at other transitions of care, particularly those that cross between different facilities and care teams "such as the transition from hospital to home or extended care facilities" may improve the care of surgical patients transferred between acute care institutions.
General Principles for the Nonequilibrium Relaxation of Populations in Quantum Materials

Nonequilibrium experiments often lean on intuition from equilibrium physics, but that leads to misconceptions. A new analysis using many-body theory outlines a better approach to understanding these complex systems.
Neoliberalism, welfare, and mass male circumcisions in Turkey

This article explores the neoliberalization of mass male circumcisions, a type of social assistance in Turkey. Male circumcision is a religious and medical practice widely performed in Muslim-major...
A multifaceted comprehensive student success plan for accelerated BSN students in a concept-based curriculum

Abstract Nursing Program leaders must identify strategies to ensure student retention and success. Prematriculation support, learning, and course assessments are valid components of an effective student success plan (SSP). Using standardized, nationally normalized examinations effectively manages student progression and identifies at-risk students. To ensure student success in a 12-month concept-based curriculum, we implemented an innovative multifaceted SSP where students: 1) could access web-based resources offering studying and learning tools; 2) had their learning styles evaluated, with results summarized to guide them; and 3) were continuously encouraged to proactively learn. Individualized SSPs encompass data from prematriculation assessments, faculty-constructed exams, and standardized tests. The Learning Navigator (LN) assisted students throughout their curriculum in various support capacities. Ongoing evaluation of student success strategies ensures effectiveness, and a multifaceted SSP offers numerous opportunities to succeed by encouraging students to partner with faculty and support staff and take initiative in their academic success.
Discrete Element Modeling (DEM) based investigation of tribocharging in the pharmaceutical powders during hopper discharge.

Abstract Triboelectric charging is defined as the phenomenon of charge transfer between two different material surfaces when they are brought into contact and separated. The focus of this research is the development of a Discrete Element Method (DEM) based simulation model to predict tribocharging during hopper discharge. Due to decreased particle-wall interactions and reduced particle wall contact times, net charges generated during hopper discharge are low. The simulation model confirmed this effect and was implemented to predict the triboelectric behavior of glass beads and MCC particles during hopper flow, along with the prediction of percent charged and uncharged particles. Approximately one-third of the particles were predicted to remain uncharged during the hopper discharge simulations for mono-dispersed particles, thus rendering a comparatively high amount of charge distribution into a small concentration of materials. The DEM model acted as a tool to predict charges that can be generated during hopper discharge at a specified geometry, with a potential to mitigate particle charging, when used for appropriate selection of hopper angles, and hopper wall materials.
Racial differences in no-show rates for screening mammography.

Background Differences in utilization of screening mammography partly explain the increased breast cancer mortality observed in African American (AA) women compared with non-Hispanic White women. However, the contribution of noncompliance from women who do not come for their scheduled screening mammography appointment (ie, no-shows) is unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate racial differences in no-show rates for screening mammography. Methods Women scheduled for routine screening mammograms between January 2018 and March 2018 were identified from the Joanne Knight Breast Health Center at Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Using a case-control design, this study retrospectively identified patients who no-showed for their mammograms (cases) and randomly sampled an equal number of patients who completed their mammograms (controls). These participants were compared by race. The main outcome measure was whether AA race was associated with no-shows for screening mammography. Results During the study period, 5060 women were scheduled for screening mammography, and 316 (6.2%) did not keep their appointment (ie, they no-showed). Women who no-showed were more likely to be AA than women who kept their appointment (odds ratio, 2.64; 95% confidence interval, 1.90-3.67). Even after adjustments for marital status, insurance type, and place of residence, AA race was still significantly associated with no-shows for screening mammography. Conclusions This study identified a no-show rate of 6.2% for screening mammography at the authors' institution. Women who no-showed were more likely to be AA than women who completed their mammogram even after adjustments for multiple factors. These data can be leveraged for future studies aimed at improving mammography attendance rates among AA women.
Opinions of adults affected with later-onset lysosomal storage diseases regarding newborn screening: A qualitative study

Lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) are a heterogeneous group of conditions causing substrate accumulation leading to progressive organ damage. Newborn screening (NBS) for several LSDs has become available in recent years due to advances in technology and treatment availability. While early initiation of treatment is lifesaving for those with infantile presentations, controversy continues regarding diagnosis of milder, later-onset diseases in infancy, including creation of pre-symptomatic populations of 'patients-in-waiting', the potential for medicalization, stigmatization, and/or discrimination. In-depth interviews were conducted with 36 adults [11 with Fabry disease (FD), 8 with Gaucher disease (GD), and 17 with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD)], to determine their perspectives on NBS for their respective conditions. Thirty-four of 36 participants were in favor of NBS; both participants not in favor had GD1. Emergent themes influencing participants favorably toward NBS included earlier age of onset, a long diagnostic odyssey, less efficacious treatment, and the desire to have made different life decisions (e.g., relationships, career, or lifestyle) with the knowledge of their diagnosis. Concerns about insurance discrimination and psychological or physical burdens were associated with less favorable opinions of NBS. The ability for parents to make future reproductive decisions based their child's NBS result was considered favorably by some participants and unfavorably by others. Participants' specific condition (GD1, FD, or LOPD) contributed to these experiences differently. Participants with LOPD and FD favored NBS to initiate earlier treatment and prevent irreversible organ damage, whereas fewer patients with GD1 mentioned this benefit. Participants with LOPD had the longest diagnostic odyssey, while those with FD were more likely to report feeling misunderstood and experiencing accusations of malingering, both contributing to favorable views of NBS. Results expand prior quantitative findings by illuminating how participants' lived experiences can shape opinions about NBS. By understanding how currently affected individuals perceive the lifelong impact of a NBS result, genetic counselors can provide better anticipatory guidance to the parents of individuals diagnosed with a later-onset LSD by NBS.
Are macronutrients and micronutrients therapeutic for restoring performance of trees affected by citrus greening? A discussion of current practices and future research opportunities

Citrus greening, also called Huanglongbing (HLB), has affected citrus production globally. In Florida, the disease has decimated citrus production area and overall fruit yields. Emerging results sh...
Poly(allylamine)/tripolyphosphate coacervates for encapsulation and long-term release of cetylpyridinium chloride

Abstract Complex coacervates formed through the association of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) with pentavalent tripolyphosphate ions (TPP) have low solute permeabilities and enable multi-month release of small, water-soluble molecules. To this end, we have recently shown PAH/TPP coacervates to be highly effective in encapsulating and slowly releasing bioactive anionic surfactants. Here, we extend this work to the encapsulation and release of cationic surfactants and exploring the effects of the PAH/TPP/surfactant mixing order. Using cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) as a model cationic amphiphile, we show that (like their anionic counterparts) cationic surfactants can be encapsulated in PAH/TPP coacervates in high concentrations (exceeding 20% of the coacervate weight). The high loadings evidently reflect the CPC/TPP association (which concentrates the CPC within the forming coacervates) and are maximized at high CPC concentrations, low PAH/TPP concentrations, and when the CPC is initially mixed with the TPP. This CPC encapsulation significantly affects the PAH/TPP coacervate properties (likely due to the considerable CPC/TPP association strength) and makes the coacervates opaquer and higher swelling, but less adhesive and less susceptible to spreading from their application sites. Besides increasing with their CPC content, the coacervate swelling varies with the PAH/TPP/CPC mixing order and is greatest when the CPC and TPP are mixed first. Once loaded, the CPC can be released over multiple months, with some control over the release rates (which, initially, are on the order of 10 µg/d, but tend to gradually fall below ~1 µg/d within the first 1 – 4 weeks). These findings suggest that PAH/TPP coacervates may be suitable for the low-dosage sustained release of cationic surfactants in applications where the release media has a low volume and is not frequently exchanged. More broadly, this work also indicates that: (1) effective encapsulation of active small molecules within polyelectrolyte/small multivalent counterion coacervates does not (when the payload associates with the small multivalent ions) require payload/polymer affinity; and (2) nonequilibrium effects during the formation of these payload-bearing coacervates can have long-term consequences on their properties and performance.
Safety Management Model of Construction Project Based on the Cooperation Between Owner and Contractor

In addition to the contractor's own inadequate safety management ability, a very important reason for the frequent occurrence of injuries and fatalities in project construction lies in the owner's lack of participation and support for the construction process. This paper analyzes the attributes of both owners and contractors and their game relationships and behavioral choices in project safety management, and based on the problems of owners and contractors in production safety management, it proposes a model in which owners and contractors are jointly committed to project safety management, which takes the safety management manuals, procedural documents and operating instructions jointly prepared before the start of construction as a model in which owners and contractors jointly implement safety management basis, by clarifying the respective safety responsibilities and obligations of the two parties, and regulating the safety management behavior of the owner and the contractor in the construction process, thereby reducing the differences between the two parties on safety issues in the project construction process, and exerting the respective advantages of the two parties to effectively prevent and control project injuries and fatalities.
AIRPHOTO INTERPRETATION OF FLOOD PLAIN SOILS

URBAN PLANNERS AND DEVELOPERS ARE GIVING INCREASING EMPHASIS TO THE PROBLEMS OF LAND USE ON FLOOD PLAINS. IN ORDER TO PLAN EFFECTIVELY FOR LAND USE ON FLOOD PLAINS, BOTH THE DISTRIBUTION OF SOIL TYPES ON THE FLOOD PLAIN AND THE FLOOD FREQUENCY MUST BE KNOWN. THE USE OF AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION TECHNIQUES TO ESTIMATE FLOOD PLAIN SOIL CONDITIONS IS DESCRIBED. NEW TECHNIQUES OF AIRBORNE REMOTE SENSING CAN ALSO PROVE USEFUL IN FLOOD PLAIN SOIL STUDIES. IMAGING SENSORS SUCH AS INFRARED PHOTOGRAPHY, COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY, INFRARED IMAGERY, AND SIDE-LOOKING AIRBORNE RADAR, AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF NONIMAGING SENSORS, ARE DESCRIBED. IN ORDER TO PLAN SUCCESSFULLY FOR LAND USE ON FLOOD PLAINS, ALL AVAILABLE PLANNING TOOLS MUST BE UTILIZED. PLANNERS AND DEVELOPERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT MUCH VALUABLE INFORMATION ABOUT FLOOD PLAIN SOILS CAN BE OBTAINED THROUGH AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION STUDIES. /ASCE/
Longitudinal Analysis of Factors Associated with Successful Outcomes for Transition-Age Youths with Visual Impairments:

IntroductionTransition-age youths with visual impairments have higher rates of unemployment than their peers without impairment, and factors associated with success after graduation have been exami...
Studies on the formation of transfer ribonucleic acid-ribosome complexes. IV. A new assay for codon recognition and interaction of transfer ribonucleic acid with 50 S subunits.

Abstract Aminoacyl transfer RNA bound to 70 S ribosomes in the presence of a template was resistant to digestion by pancreatic ribonuclease. On the basis of this observation, a convenient sensitive assay for codon recognition and aminoacyl-tRNA binding to ribosomes was described. The protection occurred as a result of the association of aminoacyl-tRNA with the 50 S subribosomal particle; thus, the assay provided a sensitive functional test involving the specific interaction of tRNA with the 50 S subunit of Escherichia coli ribosomes. The kinetics of attachment of 50 S subunits to 30 S ribosome-polyribonucleotide template-aminoacyl-tRNA complexes was studied by the assay. Furthermore, the assay provides an additional parameter for evaluating the site of action of antibiotics and other substances interfering with protein biosynthesis.