cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical application of blood purification (artificial liver) in treatment of acute liver failure in children

OBJECTIVE To investigate the clinical application, indication, timing and prognosis of blood purification (artificial liver, BP) in treatment of acute liver failure in children. METHOD Artificial liver was used to treat 30 cases of pediatric acute liver failure (PALF), who were hospitalized in pediatric intensive care unit of Bayi Children's Hospital Affiliated to Beijing Military Command General Hospital, during March 2010 to July 2013. Simple plasma exchange (PE) mode was used for PALF without complications, while PE combined with continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) mode was used for PALF with cerebral edema and/or hepatorenal syndrome and/or serious abnormality of electrolyte and acid-base balance. RESULT Sixteen cases survived and restored hepatic function, with a survival rate of 53.3%. Single PE therapy could significantly decrease total bilirubin (TBIL) from (293.96 ± 214.52) µmol/L to (155.64 ± 140.97) µmol/L (P = 0.033), increase prothrombin time activity (PTA) from (34.50 ± 18.34) % to (60.50 ± 33.97) % (P = 0.013), while it did not significantly influence ammonia from (156.43 ± 67.23) µmol/L to (124.03 ± 62.58) µmol/L (P = 0.156) and alanine transarninase (ALT) from (752.53 ± 1 291.84) U/L to (132.00 ± 98.57) U/L (P = 0.066). PE + CVVHDF therapy could significantly ameliorate TBIL from (326.90 ± 233.85) µmol/L to (157.53 ± 125.31) µmol/L (P = 0.033), ALT from (1 476.64 ± 1 728.18) U/L to (169.38 ± 207.18) U/L (P = 0.019), ammonia from (215.83 ± 83.92) µmol/L to (141.25 ± 63.09) µmol/L (P = 0.022) and PTA from (36.68 ± 23.13)% to (71.75 ± 50.50) % (P = 0.044). Prothrombin time (PT) from (29.71 ± 17.75)s to (16.27 ± 6.38)s (P = 0.008) , ALT from (1 574.11 ± 1 775.96) U/L to (145.81 ± 113.89 ) U/L (P = 0.003) , TBIL from (233.16 ± 219.70) µmol/L to (75.19 ± 86.07) µmol/L (P = 0.012) , ammonia from (182.75 ± 90.07) µmol/L to (101.81 ± 37.14) µmol/L (P = 0.002) and PTA from (38.38 ± 20.39)% to (83.13 ± 41.68)% (P = 0.001) in survived cases significantly ameliorated after BP therapy. TBIL from (394.04 ± 192.80) µmol/L to (249.34 ± 113.97) µmol/L (P = 0.023) in died cases declined significantly after BP therapy, while alteration of PT, ALT, ammonia , and PTA had no statistical significance (P > 0.10) after BP therapy. CONCLUSION PE + CVVHDF therapy could significantly ameliorate not only TBIL and PTA but also ammonia and ALT compared with single PE therapy. The decline of only an index like TBIL or ALT after BP therapy could not improve the prognosis. The inconsistency between serum bilirubin and ALT levels was an important factor that suggested poor prognosis of ALF, and it might increase survival rate to use BP therapy before that inconsistency emerged.
A comparison study of offshore wind support structures with monopiles and jackets for U.S. waters

U.S. experience in offshore wind is limited, and high costs are expected unless innovations are introduced in one or multiple aspects of the project, from the installed technology to the balance of system (BOS). The substructure is the main single component responsible for the BOS capital expenditure (CapEx) and thus one that, if improved, could yield significant levelized cost of energy (LCOE) savings. For projects in U.S. waters, multimember lattice structures (also known as jackets) can render required stiffness for transitional water depths at potentially lower costs than monopiles (MPs). In this study, we used a systems engineering approach to evaluate the LCOE of prototypical wind power plants at six locations along the eastern seaboard and the Gulf of Mexico for both types of support structures. Using a reference wind turbine and actual metocean conditions for the selected sites, we calculated loads for a parked and an operational situation, and we optimized the MP- and jacket-based support structures to minimize their overall mass. Using a suite of cost models, we then computed their associated LCOE. For all water depths, the MP-based configurations were heavier than their jacket counterparts, but the overall costs for the MPs were less than they were for jackets up to depths of slightly less than 30m. When the associated manufacturing and installation costs were included, jackets resulted in lower LCOE for depths greater than 40m. These results can be used by U.S. stakeholders to understand the potential for different technologies at different sites, but the methodology illustrated in this study can be further employed to analyze the effects of innovations and design choices throughout wind power plant systems.
Tranmission pattern differences of miracidia and cercariae larval stages of digenetic trematode parasites

Digenetic trematodes have complex life cycles involving multiple hosts and free-living larval stages. Some species have 2 lar-val stages that infect snails, with miracidia and cercariae using these molluscs as first and second intermediate hosts, respec-tively. Although both larval stages may infect the same snail species, this is accomplished using different chemical cues and may be influenced by different biotic and abiotic factors. Significant differences in the infection patterns of these parasitic stages regarding host size and density were observed in 2 separate field studies. The prevalence of sporocysts/rediae and mean abundance of Echinostoma spp. metacercariae infection were positively correlated with host size, while the prevalence of Echinostoma spp. cercariae infection was positively correlated with host density across 5 different pulmonate snail species. Larger snails within a given species tend to be older and the increased exposure time may be responsible for the positive correlations with host size. Additionally, infection by miracidia in more vagile snail hosts was influenced by trematode species richness at a sample site, which may be attributed to increased encounter rate as a result of increased movement by the snail hosts. Echinostoma spp. metacercariae prevalence was influenced by host density, possibly due to high abundances of larval clones and their response to more generalized chemical cues attributed to low host specificity by cercariae. Although they can infect the same gastropod hosts, miracidia and cercariae infection are dependent on different factors at both the individual and population level of their snail hosts.
The impact of arthritis and joint pain on individual healthcare expenditures: findings from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), 2011.

Joint pain, including back pain, and arthritis are common conditions in the United States, affecting more than 100 million individuals and costing upwards of $200 billion each year. Although activity limitations associated with these disorders impose a substantial economic burden, this relationship has not been explored in a large U.S. cohort. In this study, we used the Medical Expenditures Panel Survey to investigate whether functional limitations explain the difference in medical expenditures between patients with arthritis and joint pain and those without. We used sequential explanatory linear models to investigate this relationship and accounted for various covariates. Unadjusted mean expenditures were $10,587 for those with joint pain or arthritis, compared with $3813 for those without. In a fully adjusted model accounting also for functional limitations, those with joint pain or arthritis paid $1638 more than those without, a statistically significant difference. The growing economic and public health burden of arthritis and joint pain, as well as the corresponding complications of functional, activity, and sensory limitations, calls for an interdisciplinary approach and heightened awareness among providers to identify strategies that meet the needs of high-risk patients in order to prevent and delay disease progression.
Assessing the Effects of Rising Groundwater from Sea Level Rise on the Service Life of Pavements in Coastal Road Infrastructure

Coastal communities with road infrastructure close to the shoreline are vulnerable to the effects of sea level rise caused by climate change. The sea level in coastal New Hampshire is projected to rise by 3.9 to 6.6 ft (1.2 to 2.0 m) by 2100. Climate change vulnerability and adaptation studies have focused on surface water flooding caused by sea level rise; however, little attention has been given to the effects of climate change on groundwater. Groundwater is expected to rise with sea level rise and will intersect the unbound layers of coastal road infrastructure, thus reducing the service life of pavement. Vulnerability studies are an essential part of adaptation planning, and pavement engineers are looking for methods to identify roads that may experience premature failure. In this study, a regional groundwater flow model of coastal New Hampshire was used to identify road infrastructure for which rising groundwater will move into the unbound materials during the design life of the pavement. Multilayer ...
Measurement of the distribution of ventilation-perfusion ratios in the human lung with proton MRI: comparison with the multiple inert-gas elimination technique.

We report a comparison of a new proton MRI technique to measure regional VA/Q ratio against the multiple inert gas elimination technique (MIGET). The study reports good relationships between meas...
Through the Looking Glass: The Queer Narcissism of Selfies

A number of scholars have recently argued that the selfie needs to be understood outside of the discourse of narcissism. Rather than leaving this discourse behind, this article focuses on the “hype...
Development of the SaFETy Score: A Clinical Screening Tool for Predicting Future Firearm Violence Risk

This article describes the development and initial validation of a brief measure that could be used to identify younger individuals in the emergency department setting who many be at increased risk...
A phase II study of pembrolizumab in patients with recurrent thymic carcinoma.

8517Background: Thymic epithelial tumors are rare and thymic carcinomas represent about 10% of them and have most aggressive behavior. There are few treatment options for thymic carcinoma after failing chemotherapy. Unlike thymomas, thymic carcinomas are usually not associated with autoimmune disorders. Strong PD-L1 expression has been reported in thymic epithelial tumors. We are conducting a phase II study of pembrolizumab in patients with thymic carcinomas. Methods: Main eligibility criteria include: progression after at least one line of chemotherapy, ECOG performance status of 0-2, no history of autoimmune disease or other malignancy requiring treatment, and adequate organ function. Pembrolizumab is given at 200mg every 3 weeks. Primary objective of the study is response rate by RECIST v1.1 criteria; secondary objectives are PFS and OS, and tolerability. Results: From March 2015 the study has accrued 23 patients. 16 were male, 19 Caucasians, median age was 58 (35-75), 9 had squamous carcinoma histolog...
Modeling mechanical inhomogeneities in small populations of proliferating monolayers and spheroids

Understanding the mechanical behavior of multicellular monolayers and spheroids is fundamental to tissue culture, organism development, and the early stages of tumor growth. Proliferating cells in monolayers and spheroids experience mechanical forces as they grow and divide and local inhomogeneities in the mechanical microenvironment can cause individual cells within the multicellular system to grow and divide at different rates. This differential growth, combined with cell division and reorganization, leads to residual stress. Multiple different modeling approaches have been taken to understand and predict the residual stresses that arise in growing multicellular systems, particularly tumor spheroids. Here, we show that by using a mechanically robust agent-based model constructed with the peridynamic framework, we gain a better understanding of residual stresses in multicellular systems as they grow from a single cell. In particular, we focus on small populations of cells (1-100 s) where population behavior is highly stochastic and prior investigation has been limited. We compare the average strain energy density of cells in monolayers and spheroids using different growth and division rules and find that, on average, cells in spheroids have a higher strain energy density than cells in monolayers. We also find that cells in the interior of a growing spheroid are, on average, in compression. Finally, we demonstrate the importance of accounting for stochastic fluctuations in the mechanical environment, particularly when the cellular response to mechanical cues is nonlinear. The results presented here serve as a starting point for both further investigation with agent-based models, and for the incorporation of major findings from agent-based models into continuum scale models when explicit representation of individual cells is not computationally feasible.
Post-Tarskian truth

Bilan du debat philosophique actuel sur la notion de verite. Adoptant le theoreme de l'impossibilite de Tarski pour tester le langage arithmetique de premier ordre, l'A. mesure l'independance des quantificateurs dans le domaine de la semantique de la theorie des jeux, a l'aide des fonctions de Skolem.
Genomics—Past, Present, and Future: A Letter to My Daughter

> Eric D. Green, M.D., Ph.D. is the Director of the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). This editorial is written as a letter to his daughter, Abbey, who will graduate from high school in June 2018 . To Abbey, My Remarkable Daughter: In a few weeks, you will graduate from high school and begin the next phase of your life journey. Reflecting on this milestone, I am struck by how your life has paralleled spectacular advances in an area of biology that I have worked in for my entire career—genomics, the study of all the DNA of a living organism. When you were born in 1999, I and thousands of other genomics researchers around the world were working intensely on the Human Genome Project, a 13-year odyssey to “decode” the human genome (that is, to determine the order of the roughly 3 billion “letters” in human DNA). While you were finger-painting and napping in pre-school in 2003, we completed that effort. As you moved through grade school and middle school, we worked diligently to make sense of our genome's code by analyzing all those …
Risk Factor Burden, Heart Failure, and Survival in Women of Different Ethnic Groups: Insights From the Women's Health Initiative.

Background: The higher risk of heart failure (HF) in African-American and Hispanic women compared with white women is related to the higher burden of risk factors (RFs) in minorities. However, it is unclear if there are differences in the association between the number of RFs for HF and the risk of development of HF and death within racial/ethnic groups. Methods and Results: In the WHI (Women’s Health Initiative; 1993–2010), African-American (n=11 996), white (n=18 479), and Hispanic (n=5096) women with 1, 2, or 3+ baseline RFs were compared with women with 0 RF within their respective racial/ethnic groups to assess risk of developing HF or all-cause mortality before and after HF, using survival analyses. After adjusting for age, socioeconomic status, and hormone therapy, the subdistribution hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) of developing HF increased as number of RFs increased ( P P =0.18)—African-Americans 1 RF: 1.80 (1.01–3.20), 2 RFs: 3.19 (1.84–5.54), 3+ RFs: 7.31 (4.26–12.56); Whites 1 RF: 1.27 (1.04–1.54), 2 RFs: 1.95 (1.60–2.36), 3+ RFs: 4.07 (3.36–4.93); Hispanics 1 RF: 1.72 (0.68–4.34), 2 RFs: 3.87 (1.60–9.37), 3+ RFs: 8.80 (3.62–21.42). Risk of death before developing HF increased with subsequent RFs ( P P =0.001). The number of RFs was not associated with the risk of death after developing HF in any group ( P =0.25; interaction P =0.48). Conclusions: Among diverse racial/ethnic groups, an increase in the number of baseline RFs was associated with higher risk of HF and death before HF but was not associated with death after HF. Early RF prevention may reduce the burden of HF across multiple racial/ethnic groups.
Introduction to Large Deviations from Ergodic Phenomena

Let E be a Polish metric space and set Ω equal to the space of maps ω: {0,…, n,…} → E. For each n ≥ 0, define X(n): Ω → E so that X(n, ω) is the position of ω at time n and define θn: Ω → Ω so that X(m, θn) = X(m+n, ω)), m ≥ 0.
Predation on Cephalopods

Predation occurs throughout nature. Predators feed in order to survive long enough to reproduce. Likewise, prey animals attempt to avoid being eaten long enough to reproduce. Avoidance of predation is much more important to the prey because a failed attempt at predation only necessitates that the predator searches elsewhere for a meal.
A Hearty Dose of Noncoding RNAs: The Imprinted DLK1-DIO3 Locus in Cardiac Development and Disease

The imprinted Dlk1-Dio3 genomic region harbors a noncoding RNA cluster encoding over fifty microRNAs (miRNAs), three long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and a small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) gene array. These distinct noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are thought to arise from a single polycistronic transcript that is subsequently processed into individual ncRNAs, each with important roles in diverse cellular contexts. Considering these ncRNAs are derived from a polycistron, it is possible that some coordinately regulate discrete biological processes in the heart. Here, we provide a comprehensive summary of Dlk1-Dio3 miRNAs and lncRNAs, as they are currently understood in the cellular and organ-level context of the cardiovascular system. Highlighted are expression profiles, mechanistic contributions, and functional roles of these ncRNAs in heart development and disease. Notably, a number of these ncRNAs are implicated in processes often perturbed in heart disease, including proliferation, differentiation, cell death, and fibrosis. However, most literature falls short of characterizing precise mechanisms for many of these ncRNAs, warranting further investigation. Taken together, the Dlk1-Dio3 locus represents a largely unexplored noncoding regulator of cardiac homeostasis, harboring numerous ncRNAs that may serve as therapeutic targets for cardiovascular disease.
The Prevalence of Salient-Features Coding in Choice-Reaction Tasks

Stimulus-response translation plays a prominent role in the performance of choice-reaction tasks. Our previous work with spatial-precuing and symbolic-cuing tasks has provided evidence that the codes used for translation are based on the salient features of the stimulus and response sets. Responding is fastest for situations in which the salient features for the respective sets correspond. In this chapter, phenomena previously attributed to motor-programming processes or to direct perceptual-motor interactions are shown to be due to translational coding. These coding effects are important cognitive factors in human performance.
Shifts in Uterine Stromal Cell Populations during Pregnancy and Regression

The blastocyst of primates and rodents interacts directly with the uterine stroma during implantation and placentation to establish critical functional relationships. This confrontation between tissues of two different genotypes is tolerated during normal pregnancy. This phenomenon imparts distinction on the uterine stroma and sets it apart from most stromal compartments in the maternal system, which respond forcefully to allogeneic stimuli. Yet the uterine stroma, except for decidual cells, has been relatively little studied in terms of other cell populations and the nature of the extracellular matrix (ECM).
Atypical Presentation of Glioblastoma Multiforme.

Background Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly malignant glial tumour classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a stage IV astrocytoma. It varies in shape and size and can be cystic, vascular and necrotic. It often appears as a ring-enhancing lesion on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The most common symptoms of GBM, such as headache, vomiting and seizures, are due to increased intracranial pressure. The objective of this case report is to describe an atypical presentation of GBM. Case report A 53-year-old woman of Italian origin presented with a 2-week history of lack of coordination in her hands and some difficulty in speech. Electromyography for assessment of her arms and cranial bulbar function was normal. However, 2 days later, the patient presented to the emergency department with progressive weakness in her left arm and leg as well as difficulty in speech. Mild left facial asymmetry was noted. A brain MRI revealed a right frontal mass. Stereotactic surgical resection was performed 2 days later, and biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of GBM. Although headache and other features of raised intracranial pressure are the most common initial symptoms of GBM, any atypical neurological or psychiatric presentation in an adult patient should raise suspicion for this tumour. Conclusion Careful analysis of an adult with atypical signs and symptoms along with thorough review of radiological tests will facilitate early diagnosis of dangerous tumours such as GBM. Learning point An adult patient with symptoms that do not conform to a neurological condition should be investigated for a brain tumour.Careful history taking and examination are essential for reaching the correct diagnosis as soon as possible.Meticulous review of radiological images in order to detect subtle changes in brain anatomy is essential.
Enabling mass surveillance: data aggregation in the age of big data and the Internet of Things

The Internet of Things as envisioned – that is, an interconnected, interdependent and interoperable networked world – creates inherent dangers. Among these dangers, is the fact that it facilitates ...
Financing the sri lankan armed conflict, 1983-92

This article begins with a discussion of the various costs which occur as a result of armed conflict. It then examines the alternative ways in which wars can be financed. Sri Lanka's military expenditure increased six fold, in real terms, between 1981 and 1991. This increase appears to have been financed principally from a reduction in capital expenditures and by a diversion of expenditures away from Economic Affairs and Services, and within this category, especially agriculture. The implications for economic growth are examined. It is estimated that the conflict is resulting in a reduction in the rate of growth of GDP by half a percent per annum.
Investigating aging Americans' transportation options in the era of crowdsourcing: Questionnaire design and survey implementation through Amazon Mechanical Turk

Abstract A rapidly aging population in the United States has brought significant challenges to transportation planners and service operators. One of the most important challenges is to figure out aging Americans' travel needs in a timely manner, in order to promptly provide them with better transportation access as they age. The present research investigates how and where to collect such information. In particular, it constructs a comprehensive survey questionnaire specifically targeting aging Americans' transportation options and implements the survey using an innovative crowdsourcing platform – Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk). This study has dual aims. First, it shows the design of an all-inclusive survey that gathers meaningful insights on senior transportation options from different categories of respondents, including 1) older adults, 2) young, caregiving adults, and 3) young, non-caregiving adults. It is important to include all of these respondents, because they represent either current or future customers of senior transportation services. Second, the study demonstrates the resourceful survey implementation tool – MTurk, which provides a valuable platform to investigate timely issues such as aging Americans' travel needs. MTurk platform is able to capture all three categories of respondents; and survey respondents share a similar distribution pattern like those seen in generally accepted, representative surveys (e.g., Census and National Household Travel Survey).
Using mental contrasting with implementation intentions to reduce bedtime procrastination: two randomised trials

Objective: The importance of getting a good night sleep is critical, yet for many this remains elusive. Bedtime procrastination—the notion that people delay going to bed for no legitimate reason—is...
An Interview with Dr. Z Nicolazzo

The Journal of Critical Thought and Praxis has traditionally published interviews with individuals who have strong connections to our special issue topics. We believe that interviews are important ways to contribute to the conversation surrounding critical issues in social justice. This interview features Dr. Z Nicolazzo, whose recent visit to Iowa State University offered the opportunity for the editorial team to discuss her research and interests in Trans* Studies. This interview took place on the day that the Supreme Court of the United States began their debates on trans rights in the work place, which is mentioned and discussed in the interview.
Chapter IV – Spatial Discontiguity

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses spatial discontiguity in monkeys. Spatial discontiguity may be considered conceptually as the simplest possible barrier in a perceptual field. There are experimental situations, however, in which separation of cue and manipulanda are necessary. In these cases, highly trained intelligent monkeys struggle through endless periods of preliminary training. Nonverbal retarded children were somewhat less bound to the linear relationship between distance and discriminability and, based on their somewhat better performance, it is possible that repeated training might have been of more use to them than to the monkeys. Also, both monkeys and retarded children probably would have performed better if both the manipulandum and discriminandum were touched by Ss. In S-R association, E typically presents two discriminable stimuli simultaneously and expects S to transpose their spatial relations to a pair of identical stimuli displaced some distance from the discriminanda. There have been several attempts to explain the data for S-R separation by invoking the orienting response and adding various assumptions.
Low 25-Hydroxyvitamin D in Primary Hyperparathyroidism: Enhanced Conversion Into 1,25-Hydroxyvitamin D May Not Be “True” Deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency is reported in individuals with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP). However, decreased 25OHD may be attributed to enhanced conversion into 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)D]. To examine vitamin D metabolism in individuals with PHP, serum calcium, PTH, 25OHD, and 1,25(OH)D levels were determined in 210 adults: 102 with PHP, 40 with normal 25OHD, and 68 with vitamin D deficiency. Concentrations were redetermined in 37 individuals with PHP following vitamin D supplementation and 43 patients postsurgery. Comparisons were conducted by Student's t test and ANOVA. Correlations were assessed between PTH and 25OHD, 1,25(OH)D, and 1,25(OH)D/25OHD in individuals with PHP. Calcium, PTH, and 1,25(OH)D were higher (p < 0.001) in individuals with PHP (11.4 ± 0.4, 116 ± 21, 79 ± 6) than in individuals with normal 25OHD (9.6 ± 0.2, 49 ± 5, 57 ± 6) and vitamin D deficiency (9.3 ± 0.2, 62 ± 6, 32 ± 4). Compared with individuals with normal 25OHD (47 ± 5), 25OHD was lower (18 ± 3), but not different from subjects with vitamin D deficiency (15 ± 2). In individuals with PHP, vitamin D2 supplementation induced rises in 1,25(OH)D and calcium without lowering PTH, whereas postsurgery, calcium, PTH, 25OHD, and 1,25(OH)D normalized. Finally, in individuals with PHP, significant correlations (p < 0.01) were documented between PTH and calcium (r = 0.74), 25OHD (r = -0.43), 1,25(OH)D (r = 0.52), and 1,25(OH)D/25OHD (r = 0.46); and between 1,25(OH)D/25OHD and calcium (r = 0.47). Subnormal 25OHD in most individuals with PHP may be attributed to enhanced conversion to 1,25(OH)D-not "true" vitamin D deficiency-although in some patients, both PHP and vitamin D deficiency coexisted. Moreover, vitamin D supplementation exaggerated hypercalcemia in individuals with PHP. © 2020 The Author. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Development and Implementation of S-MAC based RPL Protocol to Increase Energy Efficiency for the TelosB

It is vital to consider the energy usage of motes when designing a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN). Protocols can be altered to their application to enhance a system’s performance. This project modifies the Routing Protocol for Low-Power and Lossy Networks (RPL) protocol using a S-MAC algorithm to increase its energy efficiency. The project began with the application and the focus of the WSN. The proposed protocol was developed within the Cooja simulator, then implemented on TelosB motes using the Contiki-NG operating system. Lastly, the WSN was tested with the proposed system and compared against its original counterpart. In conclusion it was found that the proposed method provides a significant increase in energy efficiency, extending the life of a WSN.
Presence of a mutation in PSEN1 or PSEN2 gene is associated with an impaired brain endothelial cell phenotype in vitro.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of neurodegenerative disease. It is an irreversible condition marked by irreversible cognitive loss, commonly attributed to the loss of hippocampal neurons due to the formation of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Although the sporadic form is the most prevalent, the presence of familial form (involving several genes such as APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2) of the disease is commonly used as a model for understanding the pathophysiology of the disease. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of a mutation on PSEN1 and PSEN2 genes on the BBB function using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). iPSC lines from patients suffering from a familial form of Alzheimer’s disease and harboring mutations in PSEN1 or PSEN2 were used in this study and compared to a control iPSC line. Cells were differentiated into brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) following established differentiation protocols. Barrier function was assessed by measuring TEER and fluorescein permeability, drug transporter activity was assessed by uptake assay, glucose uptake and metabolism assessed by cell flux analyzer, mitochondrial potential by JC-1, and lysosomal acidification by acridine orange. iPSC-derived BMECs from the FAD patient presenting a mutation in the PSEN1 gene showed impaired barrier function compared to the FAD patient harboring a mutation in PSEN2 and to the control group. Such impaired barrier function correlated with poor tight junction complexes and reduced drug efflux pump activity. In addition, both PSEN1 and PSEN2-BMECs displayed reduced bioenergetics, lysosomal acidification, autophagy, while showing an increase in radical oxygen species (ROS) production. Finally, PSEN1- and PSEN2-BMECs showed an elevated secretion of Aβ1–40 peptides compared to control-BMECs. Our study reports that iPSC-derived BMECs obtained from FAD patients showed impaired barrier properties and BMEC metabolism. In particular, mutation in the PSEN1 gene was associated with a more detrimental phenotype than mutation in PSEN2, as noted by a reduced barrier function, reduced drug efflux pump activity, and diminished glucose metabolism. Therefore, assessing the contribution of genetic mutations associated with Alzheimer’s disease will allow us to better understand the contribution of the BBB in dementia, but also other neurodegenerative diseases.
Pseudohyperglycemia Secondary to High-Dose Intravenous Vitamin C Managed as Diabetic Ketoacidosis: An Endocrinological Catastrophe

Abstract Objective To create awareness among health care professionals and nurses regarding interference with point-of-care (POC) blood glucose (BG) meter by high-dose intravenous vitamin C and other potential substances. We report a case that probably resulted in the death of a patient from an erroneous interpretation of POC-BG readings due to interference from high-dose vitamin C. Methods Retrospective case review Results Our patient was admitted following a syncopal episode associated with an acute non-ST elevation myocardial infarction. She was found to have significant hyperglycemia with blood glucose >600 mg/dL on POC testing, associated with moderate ketoacidosis. She was treated with intravenous insulin as a case of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). She developed severe hypoglycemia, which was confirmed on a venous BG, and her condition was complicated by an apparent stroke-like state. The patient deteriorated and subsequently died. We found no report of vitamin C causing apparent DKA, as seen in our case. Conclusion POC-BG monitoring is very commonly used in intensive care unit settings to monitor BG as they are minimally invasive, convenient, and quick. However, physicians and nurses need to be aware that certain substances can interfere with and alter POC-BG levels, leading to incorrect diagnosis of pseudohyperglycemia or pseudohypoglycemia. This may potentially lead to catastrophic consequences and result in increased morbidity and mortality in intensive care unit settings. The Food and Drug Administration advises against the use of POC-BG meters in critical settings, and they should never be used to diagnose DKA.
Phase diagrams of aqueous solutions of the potassium salts of malonic, succinic, and glutaric acids

Abstract Phase equilibria in aqueous systems of 1:1 and 2:1 KOH and the following dicarboxylic acids have been studied: malonic, succinic, and glutaric. The temperature of thermal transitions was determined in solutions of known composition using Differential Scanning Calorimetry. The identity of the least soluble solid was determined by a combination of X-ray crystallography and infrared spectroscopy. Combining these data facilitated construction of a partial phase diagram for each system. In general, the potassium salts of carboxylic acids studied here are at least as soluble as their sodium salt analogs, and generally more soluble than the parent acids with some temperature dependent exceptions. While the single potassium salts readily formed in the respective systems studied here, we did not observe the formation of any of the double salts.
Designing a three levels poster to visualize chemical reactions

Activities that engage high school students in visualizing chemical phenomena can help them develop representational competence to think about and communicate their understanding of these phenomena...
Dismantling the Black–White Achievement Gap Paradigm: Why and How We Need to Focus Instead on Systemic Change:

More than half a century of educational efforts have focused on eliminating the Black–White achievement gap. Yet, racial disparities persist. In this article, we describe the issues with educationa...
The Power, Problems, and Potential of

The “evolving standards of decency” doctrine, which affords Eighth Amendment protection to punishment practices that violate contemporary standards, has historically played a key role in interpreting the nebulous Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause, although the journey has been marked by controversy and contradictions. Today, as the continued vitality of the evolving standards doctrine has been increasingly called into question, it is worth pausing to remember where the doctrine came from, how and why it came about, and the work it has done and is poised to do going forward. This essay, a chapter in "The Eighth Amendment and Its Future in a New Age of Punishment (Cambridge U. Press 2020), touches upon each of those topics, first discussing the origins of the evolving standards doctrine and how it revitalized the Eighth Amendment, then turning to the power of the doctrine and the problems that developed as it came into full flower, and then finally turning to the doctrine’s potential going forward. The power, problems, and potential of the evolving standards doctrine are what make the doctrine a lightning rod of criticism as well as a beacon of hope for progressive decisions to come, rendering it one of the most interesting and important areas of Eighth Amendment law.
Mobilization of the Posterior Wall of the Aorta

In the ascending aorta, most of the aorta is free from attached tissues, and the adventitia is automatically available. The descending aorta, however, is attached via fibro-fatty connective tissue and small blood vessels and lymphatics to its neighboring structures (ribcage, esophagus, spine). It is very important to mobilize the posterior wall of the descending aorta completely before beginning the anastomosis (Plate 12).
Labor and neonatal outcomes after term induction of labor in gestational diabetes.

To identify the optimal gestational age (GA) for induction of labor (IOL) at term among patients with gestational diabetes (GDMA) according to perinatal outcomes. The US Natality Database from 2007 to 2010 was reviewed. Inclusion criteria were singleton delivery, IOL at 37 to 42 weeks and GDMA. Exclusion criteria included congenital anomalies, pre-gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders, previous cesarean, breech presentation and rupture of membranes. Controls were non-GDMA cases delivered in geographic and temporal proximity. Delivery mode, macrosomia and perinatal complications were analyzed. Logistic regression adjusted for confounders was used to calculate odds ratios by GA using 39 weeks non-GDMA as reference. In all, 96 964 cases and 176 079 controls were included. Increased risk for all adverse outcomes among GDMA cases was found. The nadir for intrapartum and neonatal complications was 38 and 40 weeks, respectively, whereas for cesarean and macrosomia was 39 weeks. The optimal timing for IOL at term in GDMA appears to be 39 to 40 weeks.
Preclinical rodent toxicity studies for long term use of ceftriaxone

A 6-month rodent toxicology and pharmacokinetic (PK) study was performed to provide supportive safety data for long-term use of intravenous ceftriaxone in a clinical trial in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Ceftriaxone was administered by subcutaneous injection at up to 2 g/kg/day to Sprague-Dawley Crl:CD (SD) rats. Ceftriaxone was found to be safe and well tolerated. Specifically, no significant differences in body weight and food consumption were observed between the treatment and control groups. With the exception of in red cell parameters decrease, there were no ceftriaxone-related changes in hematology, coagulation, clinical chemistry and urinalysis parameters. Injection site trauma and associated reversible anemia, likely due to chronic blood loss at the injection site, were all attributable to subcutaneous route of administration. Cecum dilatation and some skin changes were reversible after recovery period, while bile duct dilatation, observed only in a few animals, persisted. Changes in the non-glandular stomach do not have a human correlate. The no-observed-adverse-effect dose level (NOAEL) was 0.5 g/kg/day ceftriaxone in both sexes. Ceftriaxone showed rapid absorption with half-life values ranging between 1 and 1.5 hours. Additionally, there was no evidence of accumulation and a virtually complete elimination by 16 hours after the last dose. Overall there were no toxicologically meaningful drug-related animal findings associated with the long-term administration (6 months) of ceftriaxone. These results support safety of long-term use of ceftriaxone in human clinical trials.
Exploring The Basis For Parental Choice in Public Education

From the perspective of public choice theory, this article explores the relationship between student performance and certain aspects of school organization and operation. Employing multiple regression and analysis of variance techniques, we found that variation in comprehensive student assessment test scores can be explained best by variables such as income, district size, and the extent of classroom crowding. Student performance was lowest in the largest districts. Student performance tended to be better in those school districts with relatively higher incomes, fewer schools, and a lower proportion of oversized classes. These findings confirm the utility of readily available information about public schools as a basis for parental choice and lend support to public choice criticism of large, centralized, educational organizations.
Picosecond photoelectron spectroscopy of excited states at Si(111)√3 × √3 R30°-B, Si(111)7×7, Si(100)2×1, and laser-annealed Si(111)1×1 surfaces

Photoelectron spectra resulting from sequential or simultaneous absorption of two photons have been studied at four different silicon surfaces. To study energy-relaxation lifetimes, one laser pulse populates conduction states and normally unoccupied surface states, from which photoelectrons are excited by the second pulse after a preset delay. Laser pulses of 1-3-ps duration in the energy range 2.33-4.66 eV are employed at repetition rates up to 82 MHz. Very high two-photon photoelectron-count rates are achieved with the methods described, while the sample temperature remains far below thresholds for melting, and space-charge effects are negligible
Fishes of North America Endangered, Threatened, or of Special Concern: 1989

Abstract The American Fisheries Society herein provides an update of their now decade-old list of rare North American fishes. The 1989 list adds 139 new taxa to the list developed by Deacon et al. (1979) of 251 fishes and removes 26 for a total of 364 fishes in Canada, United States, and Mexico that warrant protection because of their rarity. The 26 taxa removed from the 1979 list include 16 removed because of better information on their taxonomy or status and 10 because they have become extinct. Not a single fish warranted removal from the list because of successful recovery efforts. In addition, 49 fishes have changed in status but remain on the list: 7 have improved in status, 24 have declined, and 18 have been reclassified because new information revealed that they were either more common or rarer than was earlier believed and, therefore, were incorrectly classified in 1979. Comparison of the 1979 and 1989 lists indicates that recovery efforts have been locally effective for some species, but are clea...
The case for relevant staging of germ cell tumors.

Successful treatment of germ cell tumors arising in the testes or extragonadal sites has become routine. The therapeutic approaches available for patients with germ cell tumor are determined by stage, histology, and site of tumor origin. Staging systems have played an important role in the development of therapy for patients with germ cell tumors. Staging systems must address not only the prognostic variables that determine survival but also the correct therapeutic approach available for such patients (surgery, chemotherapy, surgery plus chemotherapy). Trials are under way in many centers with the intention of reducing the intensity of therapy for patients with a good prognosis and increasing the intensity for those with a poor prognosis. The ability to compare data and, more importantly, to select safely and appropriately those patients to be placed at risk by reduced or increased intensity of therapy will require clinically relevant staging systems. Histologic type and the site of tumor origin markedly determine the clinical dilemmas existing for each group of patients. The subgroup with pure seminoma has tumors with a unique spectrum of sensitivity and toxicity to chemotherapy. A staging system for such patients must be necessity be designed specifically to meet their needs. Patients with nonseminomatous germ cell tumors have benefitted most from the introduction of chemotherapy. Tumor volume, histologic types, and site of origin greatly influence the results of treatment. Staging systems must be developed that meticulously evaluate tumor volume, secretion of serum biomarkers, and site of origin of tumor. The results of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center experience treating germ cell tumors support the use of such clinically relevant staging systems. The therapeutic dilemmas outlined for each of the histologic subtypes will serve as the basis of future studies.
Skeletal age determination based on the os pubis: A comparison of the Acsádi-Nemeskéri and Suchey-Brooks methods

After reviewing various systems of age determination based on analysis of the pubic bone, the discussion concentrates on the collection and preparation of an extensive autopsy sample (n=1225) of pubic bones from modern individuals with legal documentation of age at death (death and/or birth certificates). TheSuchey-Brooks method derived from this sample is described. TheAcsadi-Nemeskeri system is evaluated in terms of the documented collection and it is seen that their five stage method focuses only on the early and late morphological changes. The intermediate stages, in which the ventral rampart is in process of completion, are not described. Their suggested age ranges do not correspond with the documented modern sample. Based on these limitations of theAcsadi-Nemeskeri method, applications of theSuchey-Brooks system are discussed.
God and perceptual evidence

... all at once I ... felt the presence of God 1 tell of the thing just as I was conscious of it as if his goodness and power were penetrating me altogether ... I think it well to add that in this ecstasy of mine God had neither form, color, odor, nor taste; moreover, that the feeling of his presence was accompanied by no determinate localization . . . God was present, though invisible; he fell under no one of my senses, yet my consciousness perceived him.1
Risk of mistaken DNR orders

A questionnaire study was carried out among attendants at a community cancer center to determine the subjects’ preferences and understanding of the meaning of do-not-resuscitate (DNR). Only 34% correctly understood the meaning of DNR, and 66% thought that DNR was administered only to prolong life without realizing that a DNR decision would result in not being resuscitated even if the cause of the sudden death was potentially reversible. We then determined the subjects’ preferences if they had developed a treatment complication needing resuscitation and be put on the ventilator machine temporarily. When the subject was not expected to be alive in 6 months, the preference for resuscitation was not related to correct understanding. However, when the chance of cure was 30%, a preference for resuscitation was related to an incorrect understanding of the meaning of DNR. About 70% of respondents who would accept ventilator care had an incorrect understanding of DNR. The adjusted odds for the correct understanding of DNR were less for respondents who preferred resuscitation. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) was 0.58 (CI: 0.35–0.93) (p=0.02) after adjusting for age and 0.53 (CI: 0.32–0.86) (p=0.01) after adjusting for both age and treatment group. These results suggest that physicians should be open to the possibility that patients may not always understand what DNR means, and they may be placed on DNR by mistake.
Generation of cytotoxic antibodies to the B16 murine melanoma using a formalinized vaccine

The goal of our experiments was to determine the extent to which the humoral response to a melanoma vaccine elicits the production of cytotoxic antibodies in tumor-challenged mice. Mice were immunized with a vaccine produced from formalinized extracellular antigens (FECA) derived from B16 F10 melanomas. The production of antibodies that recognized the vaccine preparation was determined by ELISA, as was their cross-reactivity with the B700 melanoma antigen. The antibodies were shown to be anti-proliferative by inhibition of tritiated thymidine incorporation into the DNA of cultured target cells and cytotoxic by assays for complement-mediated and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Flow cytometric analyses indicated that approximately 60% of the target cells specifically bound antibody from the immune sera. These results confirm that B700 is a significant antigenic component of the FECA vaccine, and provide encouragement for this approach to developing useful melanoma vaccines.