cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of methyl mercury on murine fetal amino acid uptake, protein synthesis and palate closure

Methylmercury (MeHg: 5 mg Hg/kg maternal body weight) in 0.13 M NaCl, 0.01 M NaH2PO4-Na2HPO4, pH 7.4 (PBS) administered to gravid CFW mice on day 12, hour 6 (12(6)) of gestation induced a high incidence of cleft palate in fetuses examined on days 15(6) (72%), 16(6) (62%) and 17(6) (40%). Palate closure (100%) in PBS control animals occurred by 14(10). One day post MeHg administration, total fetal protein was decreased 22% while DNA content was unaltered. Protein was maximally decreased (28%) on 14(6) and, thereafter, returned toward control levels. Alterations in DNA content followed a similar pattern; but the maximal decrease (32%) occurred on 15(6). The rate of fetal protein synthesis was depressed 5% at 12(9) and between 20% to 26% from this time to 13(6) (end of observation). The agreement between the calculated decrease in protein synthesis (19%) and the measured decrease in protein content (22%) suggests that a reduction in protein synthesis is responsible for the decreased fetal protein content. Placental blood flow and fetal water space, measured with 3H--H2O at 12(18), were not affected by MeHg treatment. However, fetal free amino acid concentrations at 12(18) were generally decreased (alanine, 23.0%; valine, 9.7%; methionine, 22.6%; isoleucine, 12.0%; leucine, 18.2%) while uptake of the non-metabolizable amino acid, 14C-cycloleucine, was decreased 23%. From this, it is concluded that the growth inhibitory effects of MeHg are related, at least in part, to impaired placental/fetal transfer of amino acids.
Effects of Feed Intake Restriction on Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Finishing Beef Steers12

Crossbred steers (n = 264, 311 ± 1.6 kg initial BW) were blocked by BW, randomly assigned to one of four treatments (28 pens, 7 pens per treatment), and fed a common 90% concentrate diet to determine the effects of the severity of caloric restriction on animal performance and carcass characteristics. Treatments were 1) ad libitum access to feed for 151 d (AL100); 2) 75% of DMI by AL100 for 65 d, 95% of DMI by AL100 for 65 d, and ad libitum access to feed for 21 d (AL85); 3) 80% of DMI by AL100 for 65 d, 100% of DMI by AL100 for 65 d, and ad libitum access to feed for 21 d( AL90); and 4) 85% of DMI by AL100 for 65 d, 105% of DMI by
A New Instrument to Measure Textile Fiber Friction by a Yarn-to-Yarn Technique:

A friction-testing instrument has been designed for attachment to the Instron tensile tester. It provides for dual, synchronized measurements of the friction and contact forces between fibers of ya...
Cephalometric changes after long-termearly treatment with face mask and maxillary intraoral appliance therapy

Abstract This article reports on a retrospective study of 25 children (mean age, 4 years 2 months) exhibiting Class III malocclusions and anterior cross-bites who were treated with a face mask and a maxillary intraoral appliance. Cephalometric radiographs were taken for all treated patients at three intervals: before treatment (TO), after treatment (T1), and at posttreatment follow-up (T2). A control group consisted of 10 untreated Class III children (mean age, 3 years 11 months). Cephalometric radiographs were taken periodically for observation in this group. Paired t tests and independent t tests were performed to determine the significance of skeletal and dental changes related to treatment. Early therapy produced significant skeletal and dentoalveolar changes. The maxilla moved further forward in the treated group. Mandibular growth was similar in both treated and untreated groups. There was an improvement in the maxillomandibular relationship in the treated group. This was because of the proclination of the maxillary incisors and the retroclination of the mandibular incisors. Self-correction of the original anterior cross-bite in the untreated group occurred. Long-term follow-up revealed a decrease in overjet mainly caused by the proclination of the mandibular incisors. However, positive overjet was maintained throughout the study period. Despite some relapse, the treated group showed a net positive improvement in occlusion.
Waveguides for acoustic surface waves: A review

A review is presented of the current state of knowledge concerning waveguiding structures for acoustic surface waves. The stress is on the various types of waveguide and their properties, in order to provide a guide for the applications-oriented engineer. Related matters which are treated more briefly include the reasons for using waveguides, and some applications, both actual and potential.
Influence of the geological history of the Trans‐Mexican Volcanic Belt on the diversification of Nolina parviflora (Asparagaceae: Nolinoideae)

Aim Our aims were to determine the pattern of genetic variation in the endemic shrub Nolina parviflora, and to evaluate the influence of the geological history of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB) and nearby mountainous regions on plant population divergence.
Designing for Temporal Awareness: The Role of Temporality in Time-Critical Medical Teamwork

This paper describes the role of temporal information in emergency medical teamwork and how time-based features can be designed to support the temporal awareness of clinicians in this fast-paced and dynamic environment. Engagement in iterative design activities with clinicians over the course of two years revealed a strong need for time-based features and mechanisms, including timestamps for tasks based on absolute time and automatic stopclocks measuring time by counting up since task performance. We describe in detail the aspects of temporal awareness central to clinicians' awareness needs and then provide examples of how we addressed these needs through the design of a shared information display. As an outcome of this process, we define four types of time representation techniques to facilitate the design of time-based features: (1) timestamps based on absolute time, (2) timestamps relative to the process start time, (3) time since task performance, and (4) time until the next required task.
The Rate of Convergence of Finite-Difference Approximations for Bellman Equations with Lipschitz Coefficients

We consider parabolic Bellman equations with Lipschitz coefficients. Error bounds of order h1/2 for certain types of finite-difference schemes are obtained.
Interfacial toughness and its effect on compression strength in polycarbonate/carbon fiber composites

Processing Polycarbonate/carbon fiber composites for long times at high temperatures significantly improved adhesion between the matrix and the fibers. The interfacial properties were studied by measuring transverse fracture toughness, observing fracture specimens by scanning electron microscopy, and by monitoring composite cross-sections using atomic force microscopy. The processing treatment provided an ideal method for varying the properties of the interface without changing any other properties. We used this method to study the effect of interfacial properties on the axial compression properties of unidirectional composites. Both the compression strength and compression modulus increased significantly as the fiber/matrix adhesion improved. We concluded that improving interfacial adhesion increased compression properties by inhibiting fiber microbuckling.
Microwave scattering model for grass blade structures

The EM scattering solution for a grass blade with complex cross-section geometry is considered. It was previously shown that the scattering solution for such problems, in the form of a polarizability tensor, can be obtained using the low-frequency approximation in conjunction with the method of moments. In addition, that study showed that the relationship between the polarizability tensor of a dielectric cylinder and its dielectric constant can be approximated by a simple algebraic expression. The results of that study are used to show that this algebraic approximation is valid also for cylinders with cross sections the shape of grass blades, providing that proper values are selected for each of three constants appearing in the expression. These constants are dependent on cylinder shape, and if the relationship between the constants and the three parameters describing a grass blade shape can be determined, an algebraic approximation relating polarizability tensor to blade shape, as well as dielectric constant, can be formed. This algebraic approximation can replace the cumbersome method of moments model. The moment method model is therefore used to generate a small but representative set of polarizability tensor data over the range of values commonly observed in nature. A conjugate gradient method is then implemented to correctly determine the three constants of the algebraic approximation for each blade shape. A third-order polynomial fit to the data is then determined for each constant, thus providing a complete analytic replacement to the numerical (moment method) scattering model. >
Wnt Modulating Agents Inhibit Human Cytomegalovirus Replication

Infection with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) continues to be a threat for pregnant women and immunocompromised hosts. Although limited anti-HCMV therapies are available, development of new agents is desired. The Wnt signaling pathway plays a critical role in embryonic and cancer stem cell development and is targeted by gammaherpesviruses, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). HCMV infects stem cells, including neural progenitor cells, during embryogenesis. To investigate the role of Wnt in HCMV replication in vitro, we tested monensin, nigericin, and salinomycin, compounds that inhibit cancer stem cell growth by modulating the Wnt pathway. These compounds inhibited the replication of HCMV Towne and a clinical isolate. Inhibition occurred prior to DNA replication but persisted throughout the full replication cycle. There was a significant decrease in expression of IE2, UL44, and pp65 proteins. HCMV infection resulted in a significant and sustained decrease in expression of phosphorylated and total lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (pLRP6 and LRP6, respectively), Wnt 5a/b, and β-catenin and a modest decrease in Dvl2/3, while levels of the negative regulator axin 1 were increased. Nigericin decreased the expression of pLRP6, LRP6, axin 1, and Wnt 5a/b in noninfected and HCMV-infected cells. For all three compounds, a correlation was found between expression levels of Wnt 5a/b and axin 1 and HCMV inhibition. The decrease in Wnt 5a/b and axin 1 expression was more significant in HCMV-infected cells than noninfected cells. These data illustrate the complex effects of HCMV on the Wnt pathway and the fine balance between Wnt and HCMV, resulting in abrogation of HCMV replication. Additional studies are required to elucidate how HCMV targets Wnt for its benefit.
A reconfigurable RTOS with HW/SW co-scheduling for SOPC

Emerging reconfigurable hardware, SOPC (system on programmable Chip), requires a RTOS to reuse the abundant source code. This paper presents a RTOS with the ability to co-schedule HW/SW, and discusses its architecture in detail for SOPC. The paper addresses an efficient run-time partitioning algorithm for block partitioning of FPGA. At last, a case study will be presented to validate our approach. The RTOS can decreases NRE costs and facilitates integrating hardware and software seamlessly.
The roles of environmental filtering and colonization in the fine-scale spatial patterning of ground-layer plant communities in north temperate deciduous forests

Summary 1. The majority of plant species in northern temperate deciduous forests are restricted to the ground layer, but the importance of colonization processes relative to environmental filtering in structuring spatial variation in ground-layer plant communities is poorly understood. 2. Using multivariate analyses, structural equation modelling and geostatistics, we examined interactions among ground-layer plant communities, the live overstorey and environmental gradients across a 70- to 90-year-old northern hardwood forest in Wisconsin (USA). We hypothesized that (i) fine-scale variation is related to environmental filtering rather than dispersal limitation and colonization processes; and (ii) exogenous ‘site’ filters exert more control than the composition and structure of the overstorey. 3. A transition from communities of spring ephemerals to communities of evergreen-dimorphic species is related to a hierarchy of controls driven by elevation, soil texture and associated effects on soil moisture, overstorey composition, and O-horizon and soil properties. An orthogonal axis distinguished among sparse communities associated with high levels of soil moisture early in the growing season and rich communities of early summer forbs associated with increasing O-horizon N:P and %Ca, and short-distance dispersal mechanisms. Indirect effects of tree species are significant, but cumulatively less important than exogenous site filters. 4. Synthesis. The spatial patterning of ground-layer plant communities is related to both environmental filtering and colonization. These patterns were related to species’ functional and dispersal characteristics, suggesting that processes structuring ground-layer plant communities are not merely neutral. Loose regulation of environmental and resource gradients resulting in a coarsegrained spatial patterning of plant communities observed in second-growth forests may therefore be related to a simplification in overstorey composition and the absence of heterogeneity accumulating through gap dynamics.
Spatial Diversity in Local Government Revenue Effort under Decentralization: A Neural-Network Approach

Decentralization reflects a global trend to increase the responsiveness of state and local governments to economic forces, but it raises the challenge of how to secure redistributive goals. Theoretically, as the equalizing impact of federal aid declines under devolution, we expect subnational state-level government policy to become more important, and geographic diversity in local governments' efforts to raise revenue to increase. In this paper we explore the impact of state fiscal centralization and intergovernmental aid on local revenue effort with the aid of Census of Governments data for county areas from 1987 for the Mid-Atlantic and East North Central region of the United States, with particular attention paid to rural counties. The 1987 period was chosen because it is the first year in which state policy trends diverged from federal decentralization trends and both state aid and state centralization increased while federal aid to localities continued to decline. Using a neural-network approach, we ...
Assembly of Protein Aggregates in Neurodegeneration

In recent years, it has become increasingly evident that the majority of neurodegenerative disorders is associated with the aggregation and deposition of proteins in inclusion bodies. To avoid this abnormal deposition of proteins the cells recruit molecular chaperones to suppress aggregation and the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway (UPP) to remove the aggregate-prone proteins. The UPP is the major nonlysosomal degradation pathway for intracellular proteins. UPP impairment and/or its overload are likely to be major contributors to the aggregation of ubiquitinated proteins detected in most neuronal inclusion bodies. The mechanisms leading to the formation of inclusion bodies are not well defined. In this chapter, we discuss cellular strategies to deliver substrates to the UPP and their potential contribution to the development of intracellular proteins aggregates. In the future, a better understanding of the steps leading to protein aggregation and their deposition in inclusion bodies is likely to provide opportunities for effective therapeutic interventions.
A phase II study of intravenous (IV) and intraperitoneal (IP) paclitaxel, IP cisplatin, and IV bevacizumab as first-line chemotherapy for optimal stage II or III ovarian, primary peritoneal, and fallopian tube cancer

5539 Background: IP cisplatin (Cis) plus IV/IP paclitaxel (Tax) is a standard therapy for optimally debulked ovarian cancer. Bevacizumab (Bev) is a recombinant humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody directed against vascular endothelial growth factor. Activity of Bev in recurrent ovarian cancer has been reported in phase II trials. In this study IP Cis and IV/IP Tax are combined with IV Bev as front-line therapy. Methods: Patients with optimal (<1 cm residual), FIGO stage II or III, epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal cancer, acceptable organ function, and KPS ≥ 70% are eligible. Patients receive 6 cycles of chemotherapy plus Bev: Tax 135 mg/m2 IV over 3 hours on Day 1, Cis 75 mg/m2 IP on Day 2, Tax 60 mg/m2 IP on Day 8, Bev 15 mg/kg IV on Day 1 (starting cycle 2). Bev is continued every 3 weeks for 17 treatments after chemotherapy is complete. This study will enroll 41 patients. The primary endpoint is safety and tolerability, determined by whether at least 60% of patients complete the prescrib...
Novel Biomarkers and Treatments of Cardiac Diseases.

Cardiac diseases are mainly caused by malfunction of or injuries to the hearts. Although significant advances have been made during the past decades to improve the successful rate of treatments of these diseases, they still remain the top leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. Currently, cardiac diseases are defined according to the traditional system- or organ-based classification and the identification of diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers has been focused on the heart. Therefore, the “golden standard” biomarkers are mainly cardiac muscle-related. For example, the conventional troponin (cTn) has been widely utilized for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction in the clinics. However, multiple limitations exist with clinical applications of these types of biomarkers. The ELISA based cTn detection assay is time consuming, and the dynamics of the biomarkers are not sensitive enough to represent the development of the diseases. Clearly, there is an urgent need for identifying sensitive, specific biomarkers of different types of cardiac diseases and development of new therapies for this unmet medical need. In this special issue, we have assembled a series of articles of reviews, perspectives, and original contributions from experts in current research of novel biomarkers and treatments of cardiac diseases in both basic research and clinical practice.
Adrenal cortical function in experimental alcoholism in dogs.

SummaryThe effect of acute ethanol administration on corticosteroid secretion has been studied in dogs by the direct measurement of 17-hydroxycorticosteroid concentration in peripheral plasma, Procedures associated with the basic experimental design such as repeated handling of the animals, intravenous infusion of a sizeable volume of fluid and serial blood sampling over a 6 1/2-hour span of time had no appreciable effect on steroid plasma levels. Intravenous infusion of ethanol in different doses resulted in a significant elevation of plasma 17-hydroxycorticosteroid concentration but because of a high degree of variability in the results, no definite dose-response relationship could be established. Ethanol intoxication did not alter the normal disposal rate of exogenous hydrocortisone after the intravenous administration of this steroid. These observations suggest that the ethanol-induced corticosteroid response in the dog may be mediated by ACTH secretion.
Outcome of heteroresistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in children.

Strains of Staphylococcus aureus may display heterogeneous resistance to penicillinase-resistant penicillins in vitro [1-3]. These strains contain methicillin-susceptible organisms that have the usual characteristics of nonheteroresistant S. aureus and methicillin-resistant organisms, which grow more slowly and may escape detection under ordinary conditions of culture and temperature. Only one in 104 to one in 107 organisms in such a population is resistant [3]. Reducing the incubation temperature from 37 C to at least 35 C and increasing the osmolality of the culture medium by adding NaCI enhance expression of resistance to penicillinase-resistant penicillins in this subpopulation [1-6]. This phenomenon has been called heteroresistance, intrinsic resistance, or occult resistance. We use the term heteroresistant to denote those strains of S. aureus that express resistance to penicillinase-resistant penicillins in the laboratory only when incubated at lower temperatures ( 8 gig/ml) when incubated for 24 hr on agar with or without added NaCI. Clinical microbiology laboratories have been encouraged to detect and report heteroresistant strains despite a paucity of information regarding clinical relevance. Further, it has been suggested that patients infected with heteroresistant S. aureus be isolated and treated with vancomycin as if they had infection caused by MRSA [7, 8]. Recently, strains of S. aureus have been described that require similar special culture conditions of temperature and osmolality, but longer incubation periods (48 hr) for expression of resistance to penicillinase-resistant penicillins [8]. These strains have been called acquired-resistant S. aureus. The clinical relevance of acquired resistance also is unknown, but preliminary recommendations are that these strains be reported as methicillin-resistant and that infected patients be isolated [8]. We compared the clinical and epidemiological features of pediatric patients infected with heteroresistant or acquired-resistant strains of S. aureus with those of children with methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) and MRSA infections in an attempt to understand the clinical relevance of strains of S. aureus with in vitro heteroresistance or acquired resistance to penicillinase-resistant penicillins.
High power femtosecond frequency comb for intracavity high harmonic generation

We report on a high power (~6.5 Watts) Ti:sapphire based frequency comb (50MHz) generating ~25 microjoule pulses inside an enhancement cavity. Intracavity high-harmonic generation produces over 2.5 microwatts integrated power from 73 to 53 nm.
Investigation of R417A as a Drop-In Alternative for R22 in a Residential Heat Pump

Heat pumps are efficient units for providing heating and cooling in both residential and commercial buildings. R22, however, is still being widely used in most heat pumps produced in the United States, which has been scheduled to phase-out by the end of the year 2020. At present, the majority alternatives of R22 consist of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants only. Unfortunately, these HFC replacements require synthetic oil and expensive modification. Recently, R417a, a new alternative of R22, is presented and does not require synthetic oil because R417a contains 3.4 % of R600 (butane). R600 is an excellent oil carrier. The emphasis of this paper is an attempt to document the findings of thermodynamic cycle, heat transfer, and experimental study on R417a serving as a drop-in working fluid in a two-ton split heat pump system.
In search of a second messenger for insulin.

Despite significant advances in the past few years on the chemistry and biology of insulin and its receptor, the molecular events that couple the insulin-receptor interaction to the regulation of c...
Adrenergic regulation of cyclic nucleotide levels, amylase release, and potassium efflux in rat parotid gland.

Norepinephrine and phenylephrine caused a rapid rise in the level of cyclic 39,59-GMP in slices of rat parotid gland. The increase in the cyclic GMP level caused by these agents was blocked by phentolamine but not by propranolol or atropine. Isoproterenol increased the cyclic GMP level in the parotid slightly. The stimulatory effect of isoproterenol on the parotid cyclic GMP level was blocked by propranolol. Since alpha adrenergic agonists caused a much larger increase in parotid cyclic GMP levels than isoproterenol, the response was classified primarily as an alpha adrenergic response. Alpha adrenergic agonists and 8-bromo-cyclic GMP caused K + release from parotid slices. Isoproterenol and dibutyryl cyclic AMP also caused K + release from parotid slices, but were not nearly as effective as the alpha adrenergic agonists or 8-bromo-cyclic GMP. Increased cyclic GMP accumulation was not always associated with increased K + release from parotid slices. 1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine potentiated the effect of limiting concentrations of phenylephrine on cyclic GMP accumulation but did not potentiate the effect of the same limiting concentrations of phenylephrine on K + release. Alpha adrenergic agonists inhibited the stimulation by isoproterenol of cyclic AMP accumulation. Similarly, isoproterenol reduced the ability of phenylephrine to increase the parotid slice level of cyclic GMP. Amylase release caused by alpha adrenergic agonists and isoporterenol was less than additive, whereas the amount of K + release caused by these agonists was additive. Thus the lack of additivity between the actions of alpha and beta adrenergic agonists on cyclic nucleotide levels was not always accompanied by a similar lack of additivity at the level of the physiological response.
On the Study of a Laminated Beryllium/Tungsten Target for Boron Neutron Capture Enhanced Fast-Neutron Therapy

Researchers at several fast neutron therapy (FNT) facilities have been working on the modification of their existing beams to implement boron neutron capture enhanced fast neutron therapy (BNCEFNT). The goal is to achieve a tumor dose enhancement of a traditional FNT by 15 to 20% via 10B(n,α) reactions. Most of the existing FNT facilities produce neutrons by bombarding protons or deuterons onto a beryllium (Be) target. The neutrons produced from such a target are so energetic that only a very small percentage of them are thermalized to produce 10B(n,α) reactions. The effectiveness of the B-10 enhancement can be quantitatively studied via a parameter called tumor dose enhancement factor (TDEF). It is defined as $$ TDEF = {{{D_{B - 10}}} \over {{D_n}}}{{RB{E_{B - 10}}} \over {RB{E_n}}} $$ (1) where D B-10 is the absorbed dose due to 10B(n,α) reactions, D n is the absorbed dose due to fast neutrons, RBE B-10 is the relative biological effectiveness of the absorbed dose due to 10B(n,α) reactions, and RBE n is the relative biological effectiveness of the absorbed dose due to fast neutrons.
A Session Based Spectrum Trading System Under Uncertain Spectrum Supply

Under the same network architecture, in this chapter, we introduce a session based spectrum trading system beyond transmission opportunity based spectrum trading in multi-hop CRNs. As illustrated in Chap. 1, we employ SSP to facilitate the accessing of SUs without CR capability and harvest uncertain spectrum supply. Besides, we also allow the SSP to conduct spectrum trading among CR sessions w.r.t. their conflicts and competitions. Leveraging a three-dimensional (3-D) conflict graph, we mathematically describe the conflicts and competitions among the candidate sessions for spectrum trading. Given the rate requirements and bidding values of candidate trading sessions, we formulate the optimal spectrum trading into the SSP’s revenue maximization problem under multiple cross-layer constraints. In view of the NP-hardness of the problem, we develop heuristic algorithms to pursue feasible solutions. Simulation results show the effectiveness and optimality of the proposed algorithms.
Goodbye Columbus: Accommodation Taxes and OTAs:

In 2006, the community of Columbus, Georgia, filed a lawsuit over uncollected accommodation taxes aimed at online travel agencies [OTAs]. Defendants included companies such as Expedia and Orbitz. I...
Waves in a 1D electrorheological dusty plasma lattice

The behavior of waves in a one-dimensional (1D) dusty plasma lattice where the dust interacts via Yukawa and electric dipole interactions is discussed theoretically. This study is motivated by recent reports on electrorheological dusty plasmas (e.g. Ivlev et al. 2008 Phys. Rev. Lett. 100 , 095003) where the dipole interaction arises due to an external uniaxial AC electric field that distorts the Debye sphere surrounding each grain. Application to possible dusty plasma experimental parameters is discussed.
Externally-induced meditative states: an exploratory fMRI study of architects’ responses to contemplative architecture

Abstract Built environments can induce contemplative states, but direct evidence for their impact on the brain is lacking. This exploratory work investigated brain correlates of internal states elicited by architecture designed for contemplative experience. Functional MRI and self-reports of 12 architects were assessed to study their responses to photographs of ordinary and contemplative architectures. Images of contemplative buildings: (1) induced attentive, receptive, and absorbing experiences and diminished internal dialogue; (2) involved decreased engagement of prefrontal cortex; and (3) activated the occipital lobe, precentral gyrus, and inferior parietal lobule. They suggest that viewing buildings designed for contemplation may evoke experiential and brain signatures that consistently differ from those induced by buildings that serve everyday functions. The depth of such externally induced states was inversely correlated with the engagement of the Default Mode Network. Our study points toward a novel avenue for investigating how contemplation can be cultivated in the human brain/mind.
Tension Promoted Sulfur Exchange for Cellular Delivery

Using the inherent strain in ETP compounds can shoot cargo across cell membranes without the need for endosomal escape.
How EPA research, policies, and programs can advance urban sustainability

How can a regulatory agency with historic roots in controlling pollution implement sustainability? How does an agency organized by individual media offices for air, water, toxics, and waste develop...
Team care protocols for individuals with cleft lip and palate and modified protocols for developing countries

Team care is essential to meet the medical, surgical, dental, orthodontic, and psychological needs of individuals with cleft lip and palate. The currently accepted standards of care can only be met if the appropriate specialists work together in the diagnosis and treatment planning, both immediate and long term and in the execution of the various treatments needed. Interdisciplinary team care provides the best overall outcomes for the individual and is also the most efficacious and cost-effective way of meeting the goals of treatment. Interdisciplinary cleft team members should also be a resource in educating parents, students, and other healthcare providers and may participate in research in prevention, interception, and regeneration. We present here the orthodontic protocols of the cleft and craniofacial team at the University of California at San Francisco and provide guidelines for the most essential treatment.
Matching and Regression to the Mean in Difference‐in‐Differences Analysis

Objective To demonstrate regression to the mean bias introduced by matching on preperiod variables in difference-in-differences studies. Data sources Simulated data. Study design We performed a Monte Carlo simulation to estimate the effect of a placebo intervention on simulated longitudinal data for units in treatment and control groups using unmatched and matched difference-in-differences analyses. We varied the preperiod level and trend differences between the treatment and control groups, and the serial correlation of the matching variables. We assessed estimator bias as the mean absolute deviation of estimated program effects from the true value of zero. Principal findings When preperiod outcome level is correlated with treatment assignment, an unmatched analysis is unbiased, but matching units on preperiod outcome levels produces biased estimates. The bias increases with greater preperiod level differences and weaker serial correlation in the outcome. This problem extends to matching on preperiod level of a time-varying covariate. When treatment assignment is correlated with preperiod trend only, the unmatched analysis is biased, and matching units on preperiod level or trend does not introduce additional bias. Conclusions Researchers should be aware of the threat of regression to the mean when constructing matched samples for difference-in-differences. We provide guidance on when to incorporate matching in this study design.
Anxiety Disorders Among Older Primary Care Patients

Data from the 1997 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) were accessed to obtain information about naturalistic patterns of recognition, service utilization, and treatment for late-life anxiety in primary care. The NAMCS is a national probability sample survey of office visits to non-Federal, U.S. physicians engaged in patient care. The survey was conducted by the Division of Health Care Statistics, National Center for Health Statistics, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Data are now in the public domain. For the current report, all cases indicating office visits for patients age 60 and older were selected (n = 7,687). Anxiety disorders were assigned for 1.3% (n = 99) of these visits, with anxiety disorder NOS the most frequent diagnosis. For 20.2% of these visits (n = 20), a coexistent depressive disorder also was diagnosed. Depression without coexistent anxiety was diagnosed for 2.3% of all visits (n = 176). These figures suggest that late-life anxiety may often go unrecognized and may be more difficult to detect than depression. Nevertheless, other data indicate that appropriate pharmacological treatment and mental health services or referrals are often provided when anxiety or depression is recognized. However, visits wherein these disorders are recognized require increased physician time, and significant proportions of patients in some groups may still not receive appropriate mental health care. Results are discussed in terms of the nature of usual care for late-life anxiety and the needs for future research.
Some Security Issues and Concerns in the Financial Services Industry

Because of the high value and volume of transaction in financial services, the industry is totally dependent on computers and communications and particularly concerned with cyber security. This paper provides an overview of the major security issues in financial services together with a survey of the measures the industry is taking to provide convenience to its customers while preserving acceptable levels of risk.
Nanoscale Detection of Deep Levels in CIGS using Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy

Correlation of electronic structure with nanoscale chemical and physical structure in photovoltaic (PV) materials can provide a pathway to improve fundamental understanding of the nature and impact of defects in solar cell devices. Recent advancements in scanning deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) have made it possible to better characterize defect distributions in $\mathbf{CuInGaSe}_{\pmb{2}}$ (CIGS) samples with both energy and surface lateral spatial resolution, but depth locations, as well as any information regarding chemical or structural features of the defective areas, are effectively unavailable with this technique. Here, scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) based electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) is employed toward a correlated analysis of the Ev + 0.43 eV trap level. Preliminary STEM-EELS data reveals a 0.42 eV energy loss peak located within similar intergrain regions as indicated by scanning-DLTS., suggesting correlation and the potential for further targeted chemical and structural characterization.
Corollary Discharge Signals in the Cerebellum

The cerebellum is known to make movements fast, smooth, and accurate. Many hypotheses emphasize the role of the cerebellum in computing learned predictions important for sensorimotor calibration and feedforward control of movements. Hypotheses of the computations performed by the cerebellum in service of motor control borrow heavily from control systems theory, with models that frequently invoke copies of motor commands, called corollary discharge. This review describes evidence for corollary discharge inputs to the cerebellum and highlights the hypothesized roles for this information in cerebellar motor-related computations. Insights into the role of corollary discharge in motor control, described here, are intended to inform the exciting but still untested roles of corollary discharge in cognition, perception, and thought control relevant in psychiatric disorders.
Simplified White Blood Cell Differential: An Inexpensive, Smartphone- and Paper-Based Blood Cell Count

Sorting and measuring blood by cell type is extremely valuable clinically and provides physicians with key information for diagnosing many different disease states including: leukemia, autoimmune disorders, and bacterial infections. Despite the value, the present methods are unnecessarily costly and inhibitive particularly in resource poor settings, as they require multiple steps of reagent and/or dye additions and subsequent rinsing followed by manual counting using a hemocytometer, or they require a bulky, expensive equipment such as a flow cytometer. While direct on-paper imaging has been considered challenging, paper substrate offers a strong potential to simplify such reagent/dye addition and rinsing. In this paper, three-layer paper-based device is developed to automate such reagent/dye addition and rinsing via capillary action, and separating white blood cells (WBCs) from whole blood samples. Direct on-paper imaging is demonstrated using a commercial microscope attachment to a smartphone coupled with a blue LED and 500 nm long pass optical filter. Image analysis is accomplished using an original MATLAB code, to evaluate the total WBC count, and differential WBC count, i.e., granulocytes (primarily neutrophils) versus agranulocytes (primarily lymphocytes). Only a finger-prick of whole blood is required for this assay. The total assay time from finger-prick to data collection is under five minutes. Comparison with a hemocytometry-based manual counting corroborates the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed method. This approach could be potentially used to help make blood cell counting technologies more readily available, especially in resource poor and point-of-care settings.
Orthopaedic phenotyping of NGLY1 deficiency using an international, family-led disease registry

NGLY1 deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by loss in enzymatic function of NGLY1, a peptide N-glycanase that has been shown to play a role in endoplasmic reticulum associated degradation (ERAD). ERAD dysfunction has been implicated in other well-described proteinopathies, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease. The classical clinical tetrad includes developmental delay, hypolacrima, transiently elevated transaminases, and hyperkinetic movement disorders. The musculoskeletal system is also commonly affected, but the orthopaedic phenotype has been incompletely characterized. Best practices for orthopaedic clinical care have not been elucidated and considerable variability has resulted from this lack of evidence base. Our study surveyed patients enrolled in an international registry for NGLY1 deficiency in order to characterize the orthopaedic manifestations, sequelae, and management. Our findings, encompassing the largest cohort for NGLY1 deficiency to date, detail levels of motor milestone achievement; physical exam findings; fracture rates/distribution; frequency of motor skill regression; non-pharmacologic and non-procedural interventions; pharmacologic therapies; and procedural interventions experienced by 29 participants. Regarding the orthopaedic phenotype, at time of survey response, we found that over 40% of patients experienced motor skill regression from their peak. Over 80% of patients had at least one orthopaedic diagnosis, and nearly two-thirds of the total had two or more. More than half of patients older than 6 years had sustained a fracture. Related to orthopaedic non-medical management, we found that 93 and 79% of patients had utilized physical therapy and non-operative orthoses, respectively. In turn, the vast majority took at least one medication (including for bone health and antispasmodic therapy). Finally, nearly half of patients had undergone an invasive procedure. Of those older than 6 years, two-thirds had one or more procedures. Stratification of these analyses by sex revealed distinctive differences in disease natural history and clinical management course. These findings describing the orthopaedic natural history and standard of care in patients with NGLY1 deficiency can facilitate diagnosis, inform prognosis, and guide treatment recommendations in an evidence-based manner. Furthermore, the methodology is notable for its partnership with a disease-specific advocacy organization and may be generalizable to other rare disease populations. This study fills a void in the existing literature for this population and this methodology offers a precedent upon which future studies for rare diseases can build.
Tracing the Language Roots and Migration Routes of Koreans from the Far East to Central Asia

ABSTRACTIn 1937, Soviet Koreans from the Far East were forcibly relocated by Stalin to Central Asia. This narrative of expulsion and deportation is used to explain the residence of Koreans in prese...
Association between the Charlson comorbidity index and outcomes after implantable cardioverter defibrillator generator replacement.

BACKGROUND Recipients of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) generator replacement with multiple medical comorbidities may be at higher risk of adverse outcomes that attenuate the benefit of ICD replacement. The aim of this investigation was to study the association between the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) and outcomes after ICD generator replacement. METHODS All patients undergoing first ICD generator replacement at Mayo Clinic, Rochester and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston between 2001 and 2011 were identified. Outcomes included: (a) all-cause mortality, (b) appropriate ICD therapy, and (c) death prior to appropriate therapy. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was performed to assess association between CCI and outcomes. RESULTS We identified 1421 patients with mean age of 69.6 ± 12.1 years, 81% male and median (range) CCI of 3 (0-18). During a mean follow-up of 3.9 ± 3 years, 52% of patients died, 30.6% experienced an appropriate therapy, and 23.6% died without experiencing an appropriate therapy. In multivariable analysis, higher CCI score was associated with increased all-cause mortality (Hazard ratio, HR 1.10 [1.06-1.13] per 1 point increase in CCI, P < .001), death without prior appropriate therapy (HR 1.11 [1.07-1.15], P < .0001), but not associated with appropriate therapy (HR 1.01 [0.97-1.05], P = .53). Patients with CCI ≥5 had an annual risk of death of 12.2% compared to 8.7% annual rate of appropriate therapy. CONCLUSIONS CCI is predictive of mortality following ICD generator replacement. The benefit of ICD replacement in patients with CCI score ≥5 should be investigated in prospective studies.
Silence and the ethics of partial empathy in Tahmima Anam’s The Good Muslim:

This article argues that Tahmima Anam’s novel The Good Muslim highlights the troubled relationship between empathy and silence in order to demonstrate the ethical dangers arising from the failure t...
Grassroots resistance to energy project encroachment: Analyzing environmental mobilization against the Keystone XL Pipeline

The rapid expansion of the oil and gas industry, driven by intentional energy policy decisions which unlock growth, represents a distinct threat to community safety. In response to this encroaching...
Development of a novel minimally invasive technique to washout necrotic bone marrow content from epiphyseal bone: A preliminary cadaveric bone study

Abstract Introduction Legg-Calve-Perthes disease is a juvenile ischemic osteonecrosis which produces extensive necrotic cell debris and release of damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) in the femoral head. The necrotic bone environment induces a chronic inflammatory repair response with excessive bone resorption leading to deformity and early osteoarthritis. Currently there is no minimally invasive method to clear the necrotic materials from the bone to decrease the inflammatory burden of the necrotic environment and to improve the healing process. Hypothesis We hypothesized that a novel minimally invasive two-needle saline washing technique would be effective to remove cell debris, proteins, and fat from the marrow space of porcine cadaveric humeral heads (HHs). Materials and methods Twenty-two HHs were subjected to three freeze-thaw cycles to simulate osteonecrosis prior to the wash procedure which consisted of placement of two 15-gauge intraosseous needles followed by incremental saline wash. After the washout procedure, the solutions were collected for measurements of turbidity, protein concentration, and cell count. The HHs were analyzed by optical scanning and histology. Results The solution collected after each wash showed a significant decrease in the turbidity, cell count, and protein concentration (p Discussion/conclusion The two-needle intraosseous wash technique effectively removed cell debris and proteins from the marrow space. The technique may be used to reduce the necrotic cell debris and DAMPs present in the necrotic bone. Level of evidence III, in vitro comparative study.
Crystal Structure of Keratin 1/10(C401A) 2B Heterodimer Demonstrates a Proclivity for the C-Terminus of Helix 2B to Form Higher Order Molecular Contacts.

We previously determined the crystal structure of the wild-type keratin 1/10 helix 2B heterodimer at 3.3 A resolution. We proposed that the resolution of the diffraction data was limited due to the crystal packing effect from keratin 10 (K10) residue Cys401. Cys401K10 formed a disulfide-linkage with Cys401 from another K1/10 heterodimer, creating an "X-shaped" structure and a loose crystal packing arrangement. We hypothesized that mutation of Cys401K10 to alanine would eliminate the disulfide-linkage and improve crystal packing thereby increasing resolution of diffraction and enabling a more accurate side chain electron density map. Indeed, when a K10 Cys401Ala 2B mutant was paired with its native keratin 1 (K1) 2B heterodimer partner its x-ray crystal structure was determined at 2.07 A resolution; the structure does not contain a disulfide linkage. Superposition of the K1/K10(Cys401Ala) 2B structure onto the wild-type K1/10 2B heterodimer structure had a root-mean-square-deviation of 1.88 A; the variability in the atomic positions reflects the dynamic motion expected in this filamentous coiled-coil complex. The electrostatic, hydrophobic, and contour features of the molecular surface are similar to the lower resolution wild-type structure. We postulated that elimination of the disulfide linkage in the K1/K10(Cys401Ala) 2B structure could allow for the 2B heterodimers to bind/pack in the A22 tetramer configuration associated with mature keratin intermediate filament assembly. Analysis of the crystal packing revealed a half-staggered anti-parallel tetrameric complex of 2B heterodimers; however, their register is not consistent with models of the A22 mode of tetrameric alignment or prior biochemical cross-linking studies.