cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interspecies Interactions Determine the Impact of the Gut Microbiota on Nutrient Allocation in Drosophila melanogaster

The animal gut is perpetually exposed to microorganisms, and this microbiota affects development, nutrient allocation, and immune homeostasis. A major challenge is to understand the contribution of individual microbial species and interactions among species in shaping these microbe-dependent traits. Using the Drosophila melanogaster gut microbiota, we tested whether microbe-dependent performance and nutritional traits of Drosophila are functionally modular, i.e., whether the impact of each microbial taxon on host traits is independent of the presence of other microbial taxa. Gnotobiotic flies were constructed with one or a set of five of the Acetobacter and Lactobacillus species which dominate the gut microbiota of conventional flies (Drosophila with untreated microbiota). Axenic (microbiota-free) flies exhibited prolonged development time and elevated glucose and triglyceride contents. The low glucose content of conventional flies was recapitulated in gnotobiotic Drosophila flies colonized with any of the 5 bacterial taxa tested. In contrast, the development rates and triglyceride levels in monocolonized flies varied depending on the taxon present: Acetobacter species supported the largest reductions, while most Lactobacillus species had no effect. Only flies with both Acetobacter and Lactobacillus had triglyceride contents restored to the level in conventional flies. This could be attributed to two processes: Lactobacillus-mediated promotion of Acetobacter abundance in the fly and a significant negative correlation between fly triglyceride content and Acetobacter abundance. We conclude that the microbial basis of host traits varies in both specificity and modularity; microbe-mediated reduction in glucose is relatively nonspecific and modular, while triglyceride content is influenced by interactions among microbes.
A bivalent ligand (KMN-21) antagonist for μ/κ heterodimeric opioid receptors

In an effort to develop antagonists for kappa-mu opioid receptor heterodimers, a series of bivalent ligands 3-6 containing kappa- and mu-antagonist pharmacophores were designed and synthesized. Evaluation of the series in HEK-293 cells revealed 4 (KMN-21) to selectively antagonize the activation of kappa-mu heterodimers, suggesting possible bridging of receptors when the bivalent ligand spacer contains 21 atoms.
CPPC: correctable parity protected cache

Due to shrinking feature sizes processors are becoming more vulnerable to soft errors. Write-back caches are particularly vulnerable since they hold dirty data that do not exist in other memory levels. While conventional error correcting codes can protect write-back caches, it has been shown that they are expensive in terms of area and power. This paper proposes a reliable write-back cache called Correctable Parity Protected Cache (CPPC) which adds error correction capability to a parity-protected cache. For this purpose, CPPC augments a write-back parity-protected cache with two registers: the first register stores the XOR of all data written to the cache and the second register stores the XOR of all dirty data that are removed from the cache. CPPC relies on parity to detect a fault and then on the two XOR registers to correct faults. By a novel combination of byte shifting and parity interleaving CPPC corrects both single and spatial multi-bit faults to provide a high degree of reliability. We compare CPPC with one-dimensional parity, SECDED (Single Error Correction Double Error Detection) and two-dimensional parity-protected caches. Our experimental results show that CPPC provides a high level of reliability while its overheads are less than the overheads of SECDED and two-dimensional parity.
Interdisciplinary courses in electronics packaging using multiple instructors

Two graduate-level courses were developed to support a research program in advanced electronics packaging at the University of Arkansas. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of electronics packaging technology, the course material was prepared and taught by faculty members from several departments. The goal of the two courses was not to make students experts in all the specialty areas covered, but to provide them with a basic understanding of the many disciplines involved in electronics packaging and the technical skills required to be professionally successful in the field. Consequently, students from several engineering and basic science departments were exposed to technical subjects from a number of different disciplines, each taught by a different instructor. The organizational philosophy, as well as the actual organization of the two courses, the performance and comments of students who have completed the courses, and the level of success of the courses as perceived by both the students and the instructors is discussed.
Ultra wide band communication systems using orthogonal frequency coded SAW correlators

This paper examines ultra-wideband (UWB) communication systems utilizing orthogonal frequency coded surface acoustic wave (SAW) correlators. Orthogonal frequency coding (OFC) and pseudo-noise (PN) coding provides a means for UWB spreading of data. The use of OFC spectrally spreads a PN sequence beyond that of CDMA because of the increased bandwidth; allowing for improved correlation gain. The transceiver approach is still very similar to that of the CDMA approach but provides greater code diversity. Use of SAW correlators eliminates many of the costly components that are needed in the IF block in the transmitter and receiver, and reduces much of the signal processing requirements. The OFC SAW correlator consists of a dispersive OFC transducer and an apodized output transducer. The dispersive filter was designed using seven contiguous chip frequencies within the transducer. Each chip is weighted in the transducer to account for the varying conductance of the chips and to compensate for the output transducer apodization. Since each chip in the OFC transducer has a different local carrier frequency, inter-electrode reflections are greatly reduced compared to a single carrier frequency. In general, this allows quarter-wavelength electrodes to be used in narrow bandwidth correlator designs; however, for bandwidths above 25%, as in the ultra-wideband case, sixth-wavelength electrodes are used to eliminate bulk mode conversion effects within the transducer. Experimental correlator results of an OFC SAW correlation filter are presented. The dispersive filter was designed using seven contiguous chip frequencies within the transducer. SAW correlators with fractional bandwidth of approximately 29% were fabricated on lithium niobate (LiNbO3) having a center frequency of 250 MHz and the filter has a processing gain of 49. A coupling of modes (COM) model is used to predict the experimental SAW filter response. Good correlation between the predicted COM responses and the measured device data is obtained and presented. Discussion of the filter design, analysis and measurements are presented. Results are shown for operation in a matched filter correlator for use in an UWB communication system and compared to predictions, showing good results. The results demonstrate that OFC SAW devices can be used for UWB communication transceivers.
Modeling the biomechanical and injury response of human liver parenchyma under tensile loading

The rapid advancement in computational power has made human finite element (FE) models one of the most efficient tools for assessing the risk of abdominal injuries in a crash event. In this study, specimen-specific FE models were employed to quantify material and failure properties of human liver parenchyma using a FE optimization approach. Uniaxial tensile tests were performed on 34 parenchyma coupon specimens prepared from two fresh human livers. Each specimen was tested to failure at one of four loading rates (0.01s(-1), 0.1s(-1), 1s(-1), and 10s(-1)) to investigate the effects of rate dependency on the biomechanical and failure response of liver parenchyma. Each test was simulated by prescribing the end displacements of specimen-specific FE models based on the corresponding test data. The parameters of a first-order Ogden material model were identified for each specimen by a FE optimization approach while simulating the pre-tear loading region. The mean material model parameters were then determined for each loading rate from the characteristic averages of the stress-strain curves, and a stochastic optimization approach was utilized to determine the standard deviations of the material model parameters. A hyperelastic material model using a tabulated formulation for rate effects showed good predictions in terms of tensile material properties of human liver parenchyma. Furthermore, the tissue tearing was numerically simulated using a cohesive zone modeling (CZM) approach. A layer of cohesive elements was added at the failure location, and the CZM parameters were identified by fitting the post-tear force-time history recorded in each test. The results show that the proposed approach is able to capture both the biomechanical and failure response, and accurately model the overall force-deflection response of liver parenchyma over a large range of tensile loadings rates. Language: en
Sample sizes for event rate equivalence trials using prior information

Trials for demonstrating the ‘equivalence’ of active standard and test treatments generally require large sample sizes that depend on the definition of ‘equivalence’ and the overall event rate when the outcome is incidence of an event such as morality. The planning of sample sizes for such trials requires specification of a value for the overall event rate. This value often will reflect the outcomes of previous trials of the standard treatment, and is subject to uncertainty that needs some accommodation, to protect against an inadequate sample. Bayes and Empirical Bayes methods can be used to incorporate information from one or more previous trials into the sample size calculation when equivalence means high confidence that the event rate ratio is less than some specified value.
Linear ablation for atrial fibrillation: Have we come full circle?*

The evolution of effective and broadly applicable strategies for percutaneous ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) has followed a complex course over the past decade. In 1994, Swartz et al. [(1)][1]reported successful percutaneous ablation of AF with multiple long linear lesions. Conceived as a
MEDON MEETS A CYCLOPS? ODYSSEY 22.310–80 *

ὣς φάτο, τοῦ δ’ ἤκουσe Μέδων πeπνυμένα eἰδώς·πeπτηὼς γὰρ ἔκeιτο ὑπὸ θρόνον, ἀμφὶ δὲ δέρμαἕστο βοὸς νeόδαρτον, ἀλύσκων κῆρα μέλαιναν.So [Telemachus] spoke, and wise Medon heard him; for he had crouched down and was lying under a chair, and had wrapped around himself the newly flayed skin of an ox, avoiding grim death. (Od. 22.361–3) Immediately following the death of the suitors, near the end of Odyssey 22, we witness three scenes of supplication in quick succession. The first and unsuccessful suppliant is Leodes, the only suitor to survive, albeit briefly, the Mnesterophonia. The second and third suppliants, respectively, are the bard Phemius and the herald Medon. Leodes pleads directly with Odysseus for his life, citing his previous conduct, that he had said or done no wrong to the women of the household. He also claims that he had actually attempted to keep the suitors' bad behaviour in check, an assertion corroborated by the narrator's own words (21.146–67). Odysseus rejects Leodes' plea and decapitates the prophet, putting a sudden end to his supplication (22.310–29). After this failed supplication, Phemius nervously considers either seeking refuge at the altar of Zeus Herkeios, located in Odysseus' courtyard, or directly supplicating Odysseus. He chooses the latter and also appeals to Telemachus as witness that he sang for the suitors only under compulsion (330–53). Telemachus intervenes and Medon, who overhears Telemachus' plea for mercy on behalf of Phemius and Medon, suddenly jumps up, throws off the ox hide under which he has escaped notice, grasps Telemachus by the knees, and asks the young man to vouch for and save him from Odysseus too (354–77).
Origins of Clinical Innovations: Why Practice Needs Science and How Science Reaches Practice

Contemporary autism services, while superior to those of the past, are not nearly good enough. Treatment innovations are urgently needed. We survey some of the activities from which treatment innovations may arise and identify translational scholarship as an especially promising source. We also identify reasons why translational scholarship emerges too infrequently and suggest some ways that autism practitioners may help to stimulate new translational thinking.
Vision status of primary and middle school students in Shanghai 2008-2010

[Objective]To know the status of poor eyesight among primary and middle school students in Pudong new area of Shanghai,provide the basis for further visual acuity protection of teenagers.[Methods]The data of visual acuity test of 10 sentinel schools during 2008-2010 academic years were selected by cluster sampling,and were statistically analyzed.[Results]The incidence of poor eyesight among primary and middle school students in Pudong new area during 2008-2010 was 60.19%,and the annual incidence of poor eyesight in three years was 63.26%,61.36% and 55.56%,respectively.The incidence of poor eyesight among students increased with increasing grade,and there was significant difference in the incidence of poor eyesight among different grades.[Conclusion]The incidence of poor eyesight among primary and middle school students in Pudong new area shows a downward trend.The related departments should improve the schoolhouse hardware and learning environment,strengthen the education of visual acuity protection,and provide the effective and safe measures of prevention and treatment,in order to effectively control the occurrence and development of myopia.
Wafer-level process variation-driven probe-test flow selection for test cost reduction in analog/RF ICs

We introduce a methodology for dynamically selecting whether to subject a wafer to a complete or a reduced probe-test flow, while ensuring that the concomitant test cost savings do not compromise test quality. The granularity of this decision is at the wafer-level and is made before the wafer reaches the probe station, based on an e-test signature which reflects how process variations have affected this particular wafer. While the proposed method may offer less flexibility than approaches that dynamically adapt the test flow on a per-die basis, its implementation is simpler and more compatible with most commonly used Automatic Test Equipment. Furthermore, unlike static test elimination approaches, whose agility is limited by the relative importance of the dropped tests, the proposed method is capable of exploring test cost reduction solutions which maintain very low test escape rates. Decisions are made by an intelligent system which maps every point in the e-test signature space to either the complete or the reduced test flow. Training of the system seeks to maximize the number of wafers subjected to the reduced flow for a given target of test escapes, thereby enabling exploration of the trade-off between test cost reduction and test quality. The proposed method is demonstrated on an industrial dataset of a few million devices from a Texas Instruments RF transceiver.
Pharmaceutical care in emergency contraception

Widespread availability and use of EC could significantly reduce the high rate of unintended pregnancy. EC, like other contraceptive methods, prevents ovulation, fertilization, and/or implantation. EC is extremely safe and highly effective, especially when taken very soon after unprotected intercourse. Pharmacists are ideally positioned to educate patients about EC and to provide EC where collaborative drug therapy agreements allow.
111 years of Brownian motion

We consider the Brownian motion of a particle and present a tutorial review over the last 111 years since Einstein's paper in 1905. We describe Einstein's model, Langevin's model and the hydrodynamic models, with increasing sophistication on the hydrodynamic interactions between the particle and the fluid. In recent years, the effects of interfaces on the nearby Brownian motion have been the focus of several investigations. We summarize various results and discuss some of the controversies associated with new findings about the changes in Brownian motion induced by the interface.
NON-SELFADJOINT SEMILINEAR EQUATIONS AT SIMPLE RESONANCE IN THE ALTERNATIVE METHOD

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on non-self-adjoint semilinear equations at simple resonance in the alternative method. Since the introduction of methods of functional analysis into the classical bifurcation process of Poincare, Lyapunov, and Schmidt, the theory of alternative methods has developed. The central idea is the splitting of a given operational equation Ex = Nx in suitable spaces, into a system of auxiliary and bifurcation equations. The chapter presents an assumption where E is a non-self-adjoint linear operator in a Hilbert space S. It presents a new method of splitting equation Ex = Nx into auxiliary and bifurcation equations, and discusses a case where N is Lipschitzian.
Anomaly Detection in Social-Economic Computing

Anomaly detection has been intensively studied in a variety of research fields, including system and network intrusion detections, fraud detections, etc. Current anomaly detection techniques vastly focus on the detection of the anomalous data. This type of approach could be efficient for the sake of system and network intrusion detection. However, for the social related fraud detection, it is not thorough enough for only applying such approach. One reason is that the ignored social or economic environment can directly affect consumers, who can also be the impersonators. Thereby, in this paper, based on the assumption in microeconomics that every single individual can be treated as a consumer, we propose a novel anomaly detection model via social-economic computing. To the best of our knowledge, this is the pioneer research for anomaly detection in social-economic computing.
Traumatic Lumbar Puncture (TLP) Is Not Associated with Worse Outcome in Adults with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) or Burkitt-Type Leukemia/Lymphoma (BLL) Receiving Hyper-CVAD Regimens.

Background: TLP has been associated with worse outcome in pediatric ALL patients (pts). However, this has not been well studied in adults with ALL or BLL. Our aim was to investigate the prognostic significance of CNS status at presentation in adult ALL pts undergoing frontline therapy with hyper-CVAD (fractionated cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone alternating with methotrexate and cytarabine) or variations incorporating rituximab and/or imatinib. Pts were stratified to receive standard intrathecal treatments (IT) with methotrexate alternating with cytarabine based on CNS risk assessment (proliferative index ≥ 14% or serum lactate dehydrogenase ≥ 1400) [Cortes et al, Blood 86:2091, 1995]. Low risk pts received 6 IT, high or indeterminate risk 8 IT, and BLL 16 IT. Methods and Results: Cerebrospinal fluid was assessed after IT approximately day 2 of induction therapy. CNS status at presentation was defined as: CNS 1 (not traumatic; 10 RBCs/μL with leukemic blasts). TLP- (traumatic without leukemic blasts). Two hundred eighty two pts were reviewed up to January 2007; the median age was 42 years (range, 15–84). Diagnosis was ALL in 229 (81%) and BLL in 53 (19%). In the ALL subset, 48 pts (17%) were Philadelphia positive. Median WBC and platelet count were 3.2 x 109/L and 65 x 109/L, respectively. At the time of first LP, 119 (42%) pts had circulating (PB) blasts. CNS risk was high in 34% (plus 17% with BLL), indeterminate in 20%, and low in 21%. The remainder (7%) had definitive CNS disease and were not classified. PB blasts and CNS risk did not appear to affect the CNS relapse rate. By multivariate analysis, age, thrombocytopenia, leukocytosis and presence of t(4;11) were associated with worse survival in this selected group, while CNS status at presentation was not (Table 1). Conclusion: CNS status at first LP does not appear to affect prognosis of adults with de novo ALL or BLL receiving frontline therapy with hyper-CVAD based regimens. TLP or the presence of PB blasts at the time of first LP does not appear to increase the risk of CNS relapse.
Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology of the American Black Bear (Ursus americanus).

Museum specimens (maxillae and/or mandibles) from 371 American black bears (Ursus americanus) acquired between 1889 and 2006 were examined macroscopically according to predefined criteria, and 348 were included in this study. Of the 348 specimens, 126 (36.2%) were from male animals, 106 (30.5%) were from female animals and 116 (33.3%) were from animals of unknown sex. Specimen ages ranged from young adult (n = 63, 18.1%) to adult (n = 285, 81.9%), with juveniles excluded from the study. The number of teeth available for examination was 12,019 (82.2%); 7.0% of teeth were absent artefactually, 0.4% were deemed absent due to acquired tooth loss and 9.7% were absent congenitally. In 43 specimens (12.3%), 82 teeth (0.68%) were small vestigial structures with crowns that were flush with the level of surrounding alveolar bone. The remaining teeth (99.3%) were of normal morphology. Only three supernumerary teeth and three instances of enamel hypoplasia were encountered. Persistent deciduous teeth or teeth with an aberrant number of roots were not encountered in any of the specimens. Approximately one-third of the teeth examined (4,543, 37.8%) displayed attrition/abrasion, affecting nearly all of the specimens (n = 338, 97.1%). Incisor and molar teeth accounted for 52.5% and 34.3% of the affected teeth, respectively, with significantly more adults affected than young adults. Dental fractures were noted in 63 bears, affecting 18.1% of specimens and 1.0% of the total number of present teeth. The canine teeth were most often fractured, with adults having significantly more complicated crown fractures of these teeth than young adults. There were 11 specimens (3.2%) that displayed periapical lesions, affecting 12 (0.1%) dental alveoli. There were 179 specimens (51.4%) displaying bony changes indicative of periodontitis, affecting 816 (6.8%) dental alveoli. The proportion of adult bears affected by periodontitis (57.9%) was significantly greater than that of young adults (22.2%). Exactly half of the specimens (n = 174) possessed lesions consistent with mild temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis. The occurrence and severity of the dental pathology encountered in this study may play an important role in the morbidity and mortality of the American black bear.
Holocene evolution of lakes in the forest-tundra biome of northern Manitoba, Canada

Abstract The late-Quaternary paleoenvironmental history of the western Hudson Bay region of Subarctic Canada is poorly constrained. Here, we present a regional overview of the post-glacial history of eight lakes which span the forest-tundra biome in northern Manitoba. We show that during the penultimate drainage phase of Lake Agassiz the lake water had an estimated pH of ∼6.0, with abundant quillwort (Isoetes spp.) along the lakeshore and littoral zone and some floating green algae (Botryococcus spp. and Pediastrum sp.). Based on multiple sediment proxies, modern lake ontogeny in the region commenced at ∼7500 cal yrs BP. Pioneering diatom communities were shaped by the turbid, higher alkalinity lake waters which were influenced by base cation weathering of the surrounding till following Lake Agassiz drainage. By ∼7000 cal yrs BP, soil development and Picea spp. establish and the lakes began a slow trajectory of acidification over the remaining Holocene epoch. The natural acidification of the lakes in this region is slow, on the order of several millennia for one pH unit. Each of the study lakes exhibit relatively stable aquatic communities during the Holocene Thermal Maximum, suggesting this period is a poor analogue for modern climatic changes. During the Neoglacial, the beginning of the post-Little Ice Age period represents the most significant climatic event to impact the lakes of N. Manitoba. In the context of regional lake histories, the rate of diatom floristic change in the last 200–300 years is unprecedented, with the exception of post-glacial lake ontogeny in some of the lakes. For nearly the entire history of the lakes in this region, there is a strong linkage between landscape development and the aquatic ecosystems; however this relationship appears to become decoupled or less strong in the post-LIA period. Significant 20th century changes in the aquatic ecosystem cannot be explained wholly by changes in the terrestrial ecosystem, suggesting that future changes to the lakes of N. Manitoba will be strongly influenced by direct climatic effects to the lakes.
Impact of PET staging in limited-stage SCLC.

7098 Background: Although PET/CT has been established for the initial staging of NSCLC, it is still unproven for SCLC. This study examines clinical outcome in patients with limited-stage SCLC stage...
Ultrasound comparison of external and internal neck anatomy with the LMA Unique

Introduction Internal neck anatomy landmarks and their relation after placement of an extraglottic airway devices have not been studied extensively by the use of ultrasound. Based on our group experience with external landmarks as well as internal landmarks evaluation with other techniques, we aimed use ultrasound to analyze the internal neck anatomy landmarks and the related changes due to the placement of the Laryngeal Mask Airway Unique. Methods Observational pilot investigation. Non-obese adult patients with no evidence of airway anomalies, were recruited. External neck landmarks were measured based on a validated and standardized method by tape. Eight internal anatomical landmarks, reciprocal by the investigational hypothesis to the external landmarks, were also measured by ultrasound guidance. The internal landmarks were re-measured after optimal placement and inflation of the extraglottic airway devices cuff Laryngeal Mask Airway Unique. Results Six subjects were recruited. Ultrasound measurements of hyoid-mental distance, thyroid-cricoid distance, thyroid height, and thyroid width were found to be significantly (p < 0.05) overestimated using a tape measure. Sagittal neck landmark distances such as thyroid height, sternal-mental distance, and thyroid-cricoid distance significantly decreased after placement of the Laryngeal Mask Airway Unique. Conclusion The laryngeal mask airway Unique resulted in significant changes in internal neck anatomy. The induced changes and respective specific internal neck anatomy landmarks could help to design devices that would modify their shape accordingly to areas of greatest displacement. Also, while external neck landmark measurements overestimate their respective internal neck landmarks, as we previously reported, the concordance of each measurement and their respective conversion factor could continue to be of help in sizing extraglottic airway devices. Due to the pilot nature of the study, more investigations are warranted.
Extended Unterminated Line (EUL) for accurate and efficient crosstalk measurement

Traditional crosstalk measurements require more ports on the test equipment, especially for differential configuration and are therefore costly. Another challenge is the need of perfect termination on the non-measurement ports, which is not practical in the actual implementation. In this paper, we introduce a novel crosstalk measurement method using the EUL (Extended Unterminated Line) structure. The test method overcomes the aforementioned shortcomings of the traditional techniques with minimum amount of test ports, and are suitable for non-50-ohm interconnects such as 40-Ohm for DDR or 85-Ohm for PCI Express. We report both simulation and measurement results to validate the EUL algorithm.
Retroviruses and Their Roles in Chronic Inflammatory Diseases and Autoimmunity

Major advances in understanding the complex processes that regulate the immune system have been achieved. Elucidating the causes of human diseases characterized by inappropriate activation of the immune system, however, remains an elusive goal. Chronic inflammatory diseases or autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), appear to involve multifactorial pathogenic mechanisms. A genetic basis for susceptibility is established by the observation that occurrence of autoimmune diseases is substantially increased among family members of patients and is often related to inheritance of various genes in the human major histocompatibility complex (MHC). For example, the incidence of SLE is elevated in individuals that express certain haplotypes of the D-regulated (DR) and class III (complement, C) regions of the MHC (Doherty et al., 1992; Reveille, 1992). Other factors are also involved since only a fraction of SLE patients have the common haplotypes, and the concordance rate for SLE in identical twins is only about 30% (Christian et al., 1975; Imamura et al., 1975; Arnett and Shulman, 1976; Block et al., 1976). Many autoimmune diseases afflict predomi-nantly women, suggesting that hormonal factors may contribute to disease development and progression (Alarcon, 1993; Carlsten and Tarkowski, 1993). Furthermore, Afro-Americans are afflicted with SLE approximately three times as frequently as Americans of European descent, but blacks living in Africa do not appear to develop the disease with the same prevalence as their European or American counterparts (Clark et al., 1993).
Neotoma cinerea (Bushy-tailed wood rat)

Skin biopsies of three males and one female were kindly made available by Dr. B. O’Gara, who trapped these animals in Missoula County, Montana, USA.
Polycomb Proteins and their Roles in Skin Development and Regeneration

Polycomb repressive complexes (PRC) are essential chromatin regulators that control tissue development and stem cells. While studies have revealed the functions of Polycomb proteins in embryonic stem cells and mammalian tissues, the exact mechanisms of Polycomb function largely remain to be elucidated. Here, we will discuss evidence of the essential roles of Polycomb proteins in the skin, including their roles in the control of development, wound healing and regeneration, as well as in triggering common skin diseases, including cancer and psoriasis.
Zinc Finger Readers of Methylated DNA

DNA methylation is a prevalent epigenetic modification involved in regulating a number of essential cellular processes, including genomic accessibility and transcriptional outcomes. As such, aberrant alterations in global DNA methylation patterns have been associated with a growing number of disease conditions. Nevertheless, the full mechanisms by which DNA methylation information is interpreted and translated into genomic responses is not yet fully understood. Methyl-CpG binding proteins (MBPs) function as important mediators of this essential process by selectively reading DNA methylation signals and translating this information into down-stream cellular outcomes. The Cys2His2 zinc finger scaffold is one of the most abundant DNA binding motifs found within human transcription factors, yet only a few zinc finger containing proteins capable of conferring selectivity for mCpG over CpG sites have been characterized. This review summarizes our current structural understanding for the mechanisms by which the zinc finger MBPs evaluated to date read this essential epigenetic mark. Further, some of the biological implications for mCpG readout elicited by this family of MBPs are discussed.
Hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension and chronic lung disease: caveolin-1 dysfunction an important underlying feature.

Caveolin-1 (cav-1) has been shown to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension (PH). In the monocrotaline model of PH, the loss of endothelial cav-1 as well as reciproca...
Brain eRacing: An Exploratory Study on Virtual Brain-Controlled Drones

As Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) technology become more ubiquitous, lower cost and expands from research laboratories to user’s home, there is an emerging field and application on brain-controlled games. The use of BCI for gaming does not only allows an extra channel of communication between player and game systems, but it also extends its use to users with physical disabilities. This paper presents a brain-controlled drone game, where users can control a drone avatar with their brain-waves through motor imagery. To control the game, players wear a non-invasive BCI device, which measures and decodes the brain activity into game commands. Furthermore, this paper presents the results of a exploratory study performed to evaluate the gameplay experience, how the game changes participants affective state, and evaluate the user’s perception towards brain-controlled games. Our findings show that players had a statistically significant increase in their positive affect score during the gameplay, as well as an increase in alertness, attentiveness, and inspiration.
Challenges, opportunities and solutions in hypoplastic left heart syndrome: Surveillance strategies for the patient with HLHS and a Fontan circulation

Abstract Children with single ventricle heart disease undergo a series of palliative surgeries that culminates in the Fontan operation. Directing systemic venous blood into the pulmonary arteries in the absence of a sub-pulmonary ventricle results in a significant increase in central venous pressure. Related to this aspect of Fontan physiology, a myriad of disease-specific comorbidities have been identified. As the type and severity of end-organ damage has been catalogued, multidisciplinary clinics and surveillance testing algorithms have been developed. To better understand current challenges and opportunities to surveillance testing after Fontan operation, individuals and programs providing care for patients with Fontan physiology were surveyed. From this data, quality metrics and hypotheses can be generated, so that the next iteration of learning networks and research protocols can be informed by both historical practice and nascent outcomes data.
More than “The Public”: A Case Study of Resident Inclusion in Decision-Making at Point Reyes National Seashore

The recent controversy over commercial uses on parkland at Point Reyes National Seashore (PRNS) has inspired this case study, which seeks to explore the integration of park residents into decision-making processes of the United States National Parks system. Specifically, this research evaluates the tensions between the various users at PRNS and explores the potential impact of a citizen’s advisory commission at PRNS in terms of increasing interactions between the National Park Service (NPS), park residents, and the public. To carry out these objectives, this case study compares recent interactions at Point Reyes with those that took place during previous decades when an active citizens advisory commission was in place. This case study finds that the advisory commission at Point Reyes played a vital role as an intermediary, which facilitated productive interactions between the key local community, residents, and NPS.
Stage Review of Matrix Theatre’s Two Trains Running

A review of Two Trains Running by August Wilson, staged at Matrix Theatre in Los Angeles, California from March 1 through March 3, 2019.
Structural and chemical analyses of a thermally grown oxide scale in thermal barrier coatings containing a platinum-nickel-aluminide bondcoat

The structure and chemistry of the thermally grown oxide scale in a thermalbarrier coating having an electron beam-physical vapor depositedyttria-partially stabilized zirconia (YPSZ) topcoat and aplatinum–nickel–aluminide (Pt–Ni–Al) bondcoat werestudied using transmission electron microscopy. The scale consisted ofhexagonal aluminum oxide (α-Al2O3) in both as-coated and thermallycycled specimens; no metastable Al2O3 polymorphs were observed. In as-coatedspecimens, the scale's grains had a fine, columnarmorphology. ZrO2-rich dispersoids were observed both intra- andintergranularly throughout the scale. Thermally cycled specimens had aduplex scale structure: one band of grains adjacent to the YPSZ had anequiaxed morphology and contained ZrO2-rich dispersoids; a second band ofdispersoid-free grains adjacent to the bondcoat had a coarse, columnarmorphology. Porosity and cracks were associated with the interface betweenthe bands. The formation of the banded morphology and the cracking areproposed to be associated with the presence of the ZrO2-rich dispersoids.
The impact of age and sex on mouse models of melioidosis

Mouse models have been used to generate critical data for many infectious diseases. In the case of Burkholderia pseudomallei, mouse models have been invaluable for bacterial pathogenesis studies as well as for testing novel medical countermeasures including both vaccines and therapeutics. Mouse models of melioidosis have also provided a possible way forward to better understand the chronicity associated with this infection, as it appears that BALB/c mice develop an acute infection with B. pseudomallei, whereas the C57BL/6 model is potentially more suggestive of a chronic infection. Several unanswered questions, however, persist around this model. In particular, little attention has been paid to the effect of age or sex on the disease outcome in these animal models. In this report, we determined the LD50 of the B. pseudomallei K96243 strain in both female and male BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice in three distinct age groups. Our data demonstrated a modest increase in susceptibility associated with sex in this model, and we documented important histopathological differences associated with the reproductive systems of each sex. There was a statistically significant inverse correlation between age and susceptibility. The older mice, in most cases, were more susceptible to the infection. Additionally, our retrospective analyses suggested that the impact of animal supplier on disease outcome in mice may be minimal. These observations were consistent regardless of whether the mice were injected with bacteria intraperitoneally or if they were exposed to aerosolized bacteria. All of these factors should be considered when designing experiments using mouse models of melioidosis.
Management of Recurrent Anterior Shoulder Instability After Surgical Stabilization in Children and Adolescents

Recurrent shoulder instability after stabilization is common in pediatric and adolescent athletes. The purpose of this review is to understand the risk factors that lead to failure of primary surgery and management principles in the setting of recurrent instability following surgical stabilization. Rates of recurrence after primary and revision surgical stabilization remain higher than desirable. Risk factors for failure in include glenoid and humeral bone loss, capsular or ligamentous laxity, and young age though few studies have focused specifically on the adolescent population. Arthroscopic, open, and bone block techniques have been described in this population similar to adults. Failure after a primary shoulder stabilization remains a common problem in adolescents in no small part because a high proportion of these athletes return to high levels of activity. A thorough understanding of the index procedure and patient-specific risk factors for failure are key to successful planning of revision surgery. The current literature does not allow for firm treatment recommendations in individual pediatric or adolescent athletes, but the guiding principles are similar to those in adults. Specifically, all bony and soft tissue pathology should be identified and assessed, with an understanding that simply repeating the steps of the index procedure typically results in poor outcomes, and often an “escalation” of surgical complexity is required at the time of revision. When appropriately indicated, arthroscopic or open soft tissue procedures and Latarjet coracoid transfer can be safely and successfully implemented for revision shoulder stabilization in young athletes.
Lattice Anharmonicity of Stereochemically Active Lone Pairs Controls Thermochromic Band Gap Reduction of PbVO3Cl

Stereochemically active lone pairs of electrons play an important role in a diverse range of physical phenomena in many materials, ranging from semiconducting halide perovskites to thermochromic in...
The geographic distribution of the US pediatric dermatologist workforce: A national cross-sectional study.

Background /objectives Although 82% of pediatricians report that their patients have difficulty accessing pediatric dermatologists, the regions with greatest need for the specialty are not well-defined. We aimed to determine the geographic distribution of pediatric dermatologists relative to the number of children and pediatric generalists. Methods We performed a cross-sectional study of all US board-certified pediatric dermatologists, generalists (defined as pediatricians and family medicine physicians), and children in 2020. Data were obtained from the Society for Pediatric Dermatology, American Board of Pediatrics, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, and US Census Bureau. Number of children, pediatric dermatologists, and pediatric generalists were tabulated in each county and state, and the distributions of pediatric dermatologists and generalists relative to the population of children were quantified with the Gini coefficient. Results Of 317 pediatric dermatologists, 243 (76.7%) were women and 311 (98.1%) worked in a metropolitan county. A pediatric dermatologist was present in 41/50 (82%) states and 142/3228 (4.4%) counties. Not a single pediatric dermatologist was found in 54/92 (58.7%) counties with 100 000-199 999 children, 15/53 (28.3%) counties with 200 000-499 999 children, and 4/13 (30.8%) counties with ≥500 000 children. The Gini coefficient for the state-level distribution of pediatric dermatologists relative to population of children was 0.488 compared to 0.132 for that of pediatric generalists. Conclusion There is a maldistribution of pediatric dermatologists, resulting in children with unmet dermatologic needs in nine states and 96 heavily populated counties. These results can inform initiatives to recruit pediatric dermatologists and to expand telehealth access to specific high-density areas.
Mutational analysis of DinG-family helicase YoaA: its expression and interaction with replication clamp-loader protein HolC in E. coli

ABSTRACT The XP-D/DinG family of DNA helicases participate in a variety of ways to preserve genomic stability in all three domains of life. We investigate here the genetic role of one of these proteins,YoaA, of Escherichia coli. In E. coli,YoaA has been identified as having a role in tolerance to the nucleoside azidothymidine (AZT), a DNA replication inhibitor. It is of particular interest because of its physical interaction with a component of the DNA polymerase III holoenzyme, HolC (or χ). We have proposed that this interaction competes with HolC’s interaction with HolD (or ψ) and the rest of the replisome. In this work, we map the residues of YoaA that are required for HolC interaction to the C-terminus of the protein by yeast two-hybrid analysis. We also confirm by gene fusions that YoaA is induced as part of the SOS response to DNA damage and define an upstream “LexA box” sequence in its regulation. Induction of YoaA by AZT is biphasic throughout growth of the culture with an immediate response after treatment and a slower response that peaks in the late log phase of growth. This growth-phase dependent induction by AZT is not blocked by the lexA3 (Ind-) allele, which normally negates its self-cleavage, implying another means to induce the DNA damage response that responds to the nutritional state of the cell.
Emergency department bounceback characteristics for patients diagnosed with COVID-19.

Abstract Background The global healthcare burden of COVID-19 continues to rise. There is currently limited information regarding the disease progression and the need for hospitalizations in patients who present to the Emergency Department (ED) with minimal or no symptoms. Objectives This study identifies bounceback rates and timeframes for patients who return to the ED due to COVID-19 after initial discharge on the date of testing. Methods Using the NorthShore University Health System's (NSUHS) Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW), we conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of patients who were tested positive for COVID-19 and were discharged home on the date of testing. A one-month follow-up period was included to ensure the capture of disease progression. Results Of 1883 positive cases with initially mild symptoms, 14.6% returned to the ED for complaints related to COVID-19. 56.9% of the mildly symptomatic bounceback patients were discharged on the return visit while 39.5% were admitted to the floor and 3.6% to the ICU. Of the 1120 positive cases with no initial symptoms, only four returned to the ED (0.26%) and only one patient was admitted. Median initial testing occurred on day 3 (2–5.6) of illness, and median ED bounceback occurred on day 9 (6.3–12.7). Our statistical model was unable to identify risk factors for ED bouncebacks. Conclusion COVID-19 patients diagnosed with mild symptoms on initial presentation have a 14.6% rate of bounceback due to progression of illness.
METHODOLOGY TO ASSESS THE QUALITY OF SERVICE PROVISION

This paper presents a new methodology to assess the quality of service (QoS) provision for Staffordshire University’s network communications infrastructure (SUNCI) providing services to over 10000 users. The authors discuss a new approach to evaluate the SUNCI QoS provision, by adding a component of measurements to the existing model presented by Walker [1]. The authors utilize the current SUNCI, as a testing platform to assess QoS provision in the light of users’ perception, and compare it with the network traffic measurements and online monitoring reports. Users’ perception of telecommunications’ network infrastructure QoS provision is critical to successful business management operation of any organization. This paper offers a cost effective approach to assess the QoS provision within the Staffordshire University (SU) campus network, which could be easily adapted to any university campus network in the world. The paper show the evidence that there is a good correlation between the users’ perception acquired via a survey questionnaire and the network measurements results.
The Effect of Dietary Saturated and Unsaturated Fatty Acid on Gene Expression and Fatty Acid Composition of Various Tissues in Pre-ruminant Calves

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of dietary saturated fatty acids (SFA) and unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) on polymorphonuclear (PMN) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells' (...
Cellular effects of platinum chemotherapeutics: Alterations by antidepressants and heparan sulfate proteoglycans

CELLULAR EFFECTS OF PLATINUM CHEMOTHERAPEUTICS: ALTERATIONS BY ANTIDEPRESSANTS AND HEPARAN SULFATE PROTEOGLYCANS By Brigitte J Engelmann, B.S. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Biology at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University 2012 Major Director: Nicholas P. Farrell/Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Chemical Biology Ph.D. Program Co-Director: John J. Ryan/Professor of Biology The work discussed here is divided into two projects. The first project involves the interactions between antidepressants and the platinum based chemotherapeutics while