cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Avaliação e revisão de questionários para uso entre imigrantes latinos com baixos níveis de alfabetização

A medida que numero maior de imigrantes de lingua espanhola participa de pesquisas, surgem questoes relacionadas a adequacao de instrumentos ja existentes. Questionarios, em versoes inglesas, sao frequentemente adaptados e testados com americanos de origem hispânica com nivel superior. Pouco tem sido escrito sobre testes e avaliacao desses instrumentos de pesquisa entre imigrantes com niveis mais baixos de escolaridade. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar e revisar uma bateria de questionarios para intervencao com mulheres imigrantes hispânicas. Utilizou-se um processo de tres etapas para avaliar, adaptar e testar as versoes espanholas dos instrumentos Self-Efficacy and Exercise Habits Survey, versao abreviada para imigrantes do Hispanic Stress Inventory e o Latina Values Scale. Os instrumentos revisados demonstraram validade e confiabilidade aceitaveis. As adaptacoes melhoraram a compreensao dos instrumentos, aumentando a taxa de respostas e reduzindo dados omissos e respostas extremas. Limitacoes psicometricas da adaptacao de escalas do tipo Likert tambem sao abordadas.
Behavior of oral squamous cell carcinoma in subjects with prior lichen planus.

Objective To characterize the clinical behavior of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCA) arising in patients with pre-existing oral lichen planus (OLP). Study design and setting Retrospective case-control study. Disease-free interval, time to first recurrence, subsequent therapy, and overall survival were calculated and compared between cases and controls matched for age, gender, primary site, and tumor stage. Results In 10 identified subjects with OLP/OSCCA, mean time from OLP diagnosis to OSCCA was 5.5 years. Three subjects suffered a local recurrence and two developed a second primary OSCCA. Mean actuarial survival for OLP patients was 119 months vs 42 months for the control patients, though this difference was not significant ( P = 0.201, log-rank). Conclusions OLP/SCCA subjects may exhibit better actuarial survival than SCCA patients despite a somewhat higher rate of local recurrence and second primary SCCA. Further study is required to characterize the behavior of OSCCA arising in pre-existing OLP.
Petrology of Holocene fluvial sand derived from plutonic source rocks; implications to paleoclimatic interpretation

ABSTRACT Despite the long and continued interest of sedimentary petrologists in the provenance of ancient sediments, little is known about the detrital modes of Holocene sands of known parentage. As a result it has been impossible to use the "present as a key to the past" for purposes of provenance interpretation. In order to fill this information gap and to aid in further understanding of the provenance problem, first-cycle fluvial sands derived exclusively from granitic plutons in the relatively humid Appalachian Mountains and in the relatively arid Rocky Mountains in the United States have been studied. Characterization of the climatic influence on these sands is based on the results of detailed petrographic modal-analyses of three or five size fractions of 87 sand samples. Distinctive size-dependent compositional trends exist in the modal percents of the four principal constituents of the sands; these are potentially useful in paleoclimatic interpretation. In all size fractions rock fragments are more abundant in the arid west than in the humid east. Also, though rock fragments decrease in abundance with decreasing grain size in both the west and east, the rate of decrease is much higher in the west than in the east. Feldspars increase in abundance with decreasing grain size in both regions, but the quartz/ feldspar ratio is >1 in the east and <1 in the west. This relation holds for all size classes. Accessory, minerals are much less abundant than the feldspars, but show similar trends. Quartz generally decreases in abundance with decreasing grain size in the east. In the west quartz is more abundant in medium sand than in other size fractions. A schematic model is proposed to depict evolution of sand in arid and humid climates from polymineralic coarse-grained source rocks. The model predicts the relative abundances of the four principal detrital ingredients of first-cycle sands in different size fractions as a function of their relative resistance to weathering. This study also establishes the original mineralogic maturity of first-cycle sands. "Tie-lines" are drawn between coexisting sand compositions with similar maturity using a modification of the traditional QFR triangular diagram. In addition, trends toward mineralogic maturity within the framework of such a QFR diagram are defined.
Reduced-state representations for trellis codes using constellation symmetry

This paper presents a symmetry-based technique for trellis-code state-diagram reduction that has more general applicability than the quasi-regularity technique of Rouanne et al. and Zehavi et al. for trellis codes using standard constellations and labelings. For a 2/sup /spl nu/x/-state trellis code, the new technique reduces the 2/sup 2/spl nu/x/ state diagram to 2/sup /spl nu/x+/spl nu/q/-state diagram where 0/spl les//spl nu//sub q//spl les//spl nu//sub x/. The particular value of /spl nu//sub q/ depends on the constellation labeling and the convolutional encoder. For standard rate-k/(k+1) set-partitioned trellis codes, /spl nu//sub q/=0, and the overall number of states is the same with the new technique as with quasi-regularity. For codes that are not quasi-regular (and thus not amenable to the quasi-regularity technique), the new technique often provides some improvement (when /spl nu//sub q/</spl nu//sub x/). For 8-phase-shift-keying trellis codes, the new technique always yields /spl nu//sub q/=0.
Linear models for analysis of multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms with quantitative traits in unrelated individuals

Population-based genetic association studies are increasingly used to explore the association between genetic polymorphisms and outcomes such as disease-status and disease-related quantitative traits. Because multiple polymorphisms are typically available, there are several statistical analysis strategies that might be appropriate depending on the goal of the study. In this paper, we compare several linear model parameterizations that might be used to perform a test of association between a genomic region defined by multiple SNPs and a quantitative trait. We compare via simulation the type I error and power of the omnibus F-test to detect association. As expected, there is no one most powerful test across the genetic models we considered, although tests based on simple parameterizations that do not rely on phase information can be as powerful as more complicated haplotype-based tests even when it is a haplotype that is truly associated with the trait.
Tuberous Sclerosis-associated Neoplasms Express Activated p42/44 Mitogen-activated Protein (MAP) Kinase, and Inhibition of MAP Kinase Signaling Results in Decreased in Vivo Tumor Growth

Purpose: Tuberous sclerosis (TS) is a common autosomal disorder attributable to inactivation of the tumor suppressor genes tuberin and hamartin. To determine whether mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling plays a role in the pathogenesis of TS, we stained human TS-associated neoplasms with antibodies directed against activated MAP kinase, and observed high-level expression. Experimental Design: To determine whether MAP kinase is functionally important for the development of neoplasia in TS, we established a murine model of TS-associated neoplasia (Tsc2Ang1 cells) from a tumor arising in a mouse heterozygous for tuberin. Tsc2Ang1 cells demonstrate tumorigenesis in vivo and high-level expression of activated MAP kinase in vitro. The functionality of MAP kinase signaling was assessed by inactivating MAP kinase using a dominant-negative MAP kinase kinase in tsc2ang1 cells and assessing the effect of this intervention on in vivo tumorigenicity and production of the potent angiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Results: Human TS-related neoplasms demonstrate high-level expression of activated MAP kinase, as does a tumor arising in a mouse heterozygous for tuberin. The inhibition of MAP kinase signaling by the introduction of a dominant-negative MAP kinase kinase leads to the inhibition of tumor growth in vivo and decreased production of VEGF. Conclusions: MAP kinase is activated in TS-related neoplasia in mice and humans. Inhibition of MAP kinase leads to decreased tumor growth in vivo. Pharmacological inhibition of MAP kinase may be a therapeutic target in the prevention and treatment of TS-related tumors.
Towards elimination of the dark‐rim artifact in first‐pass myocardial perfusion MRI: Removing Gibbs ringing effects using optimized radial imaging

Purpose Subendocardial dark-rim artifacts (DRAs) remain a major concern in first-pass perfusion (FPP) myocardial MRI and may lower the diagnostic accuracy for detection of ischemia. A major source of DRAs is the “Gibbs ringing” effect. We propose an optimized radial acquisition strategy aimed at eliminating ringing-induced DRAs in FPP. Theory and Methods By studying the underlying point spread function (PSF), we show that optimized radial sampling with a simple reconstruction method can eliminate the oscillations in the PSF that cause ringing artifacts. We conducted realistic MRI phantom experiments and in vivo studies (n = 12 healthy humans) to evaluate the artifact behavior of the proposed imaging scheme in comparison to a conventional Cartesian imaging protocol. Results Simulations and phantom experiments verified our theoretical expectations. The in vivo studies showed that optimized radial imaging is capable of significantly reducing DRAs in the early myocardial enhancement phase (during which the ringing effect is most prominent and may obscure perfusion defects) while providing similar resolution and image quality compared with conventional Cartesian imaging. Conclusion The developed technical framework and results demonstrate that, in comparison to conventional Cartesian techniques, optimized radial imaging with the proposed optimizations significantly reduces the prevalence and spatial extent of DRAs in FPP imaging. Magn Reson Med 72:124–136, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The role of ecotypic variation and the environment on biomass and nitrogen in a dominant prairie grass

Knowledge of the relative strength of evolution and the environment on a phenotype is required to predict species responses to environmental change and decide where to source plant material for ecological restoration. This information is critically needed for dominant species that largely determine the productivity of the central U.S. grassland. We established a reciprocal common garden experiment across a longitudinal gradient to test whether ecotypic variation interacts with the environment to affect growth and nitrogen (N) storage in a dominant grass. We predicted plant growth would increase from west to east, corresponding with increasing precipitation, but differentially among ecotypes due to local adaptation in all ecotypes and a greater range of growth response in ecotypes originating from west to east. We quantified aboveground biomass, root biomass, belowground net primary production (BNPP), root C:N ratio, and N storage in roots of three ecotypes of Andropogon gerardii collected from and reciprocally planted in central Kansas, eastern Kansas, and s6uthern Illinois. Only the ecotype from the most mesic region (southern Illinois) exhibited more growth from west to east. There was evidence for local adaptation in the southern Illinois ecotype by means of the local vs. foreign contrast within a site and the home vs. away contrast when growth in southern Illinois was compared to the most distant 'site in central Kansas. Root biomass of the eastern Kansas ecotype was higher at home than at either away site. The ecotype from the driest region, central Kansas, exhibited the least response across the environmental gradient, resulting in a positive relationship between the range of biomass response and precipitation in ecotype region of origin. Across all sites, ecotypes varied in root C:N ratio (highest in the driest-origin ecotype) and N storage in roots (highest in the most mesic-origin ecotype). The low and limited range of biomass, higher C:N ratio of roots, and lower N storage in the central Kansas ecotype relative to the southern Illinois ecotype suggests that introducing ecotypes of A. gerardii from much drier regions into highly mesic prairie would reduce productivity and alter belowground ecosystem processes under a wide range of conditions.
Molecular characterization of triple-negative breast cancers using gene expression profiling

5491 Background. Breast cancers lacking expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2 are referred to as triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC). They carry an unfavorable prognosis compared to receptor expressing cases, which is in part due to limited therapeutic options. Method. Gene expression profiling of 294 fine needle aspiration samples of breast cancer patients was performed using Affymetrix U133A GeneChips. TNBC was defined based on mRNA expression values for ESR1 and HER2/neu receptor probesets, and immunohistochemistry for PR. Unsupervised Hierarchical Clustering (UHC), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), bootstrapping, unequivocal variance t-test, Geneset Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and pathway analysis were carried out to (i) compare TNBC to receptor expressing cases (non-TNBC) and (ii) to identify subgroups within TNBC. Results. 1,871 probesets were overexpressed among TNBC (n=73) compared to non-TNBC (n=221, P-value, FDR
Introduction to Special Issue on Group Supervision of Group Psychotherapy

(1999). Introduction to Special Issue on Group Supervision of Group Psychotherapy. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy: Vol. 49, Group Supervision of Group Psychotherapy, pp. 153-157.
DECLINE IN MITRAL ANNULAR PLANE SYSTOLIC EXCURSION IN ASYMPTOMATIC PATIENTS WITH AORTIC VALVE STENOSIS AND PRESERVED SYSTOLIC FUNCTION PREDICTS THE CLINICAL NEED FOR AORTIC VALVE INTERVENTION

Mitral Annular Plane Systolic Excursion (MAPSE) is an easily acquired metric of left ventricular (LV) longitudinal shortening. We sought to investigate if a decline in MAPSE preceded the need for aortic valve intervention (AVI) in asymptomatic patients with aortic stenosis (AS) and preserved LV
Pulmonary pathology in renal transplant recipients

Studies of the lungs have revealed multiple functional and histopathological abnormalities in patients with chronic renal failure, but data following renal transplantation are extremely limited. We examined postmortem data from 20 transplant patients and found pulmonary abnormalities in most patients. The number of pulmonary abnormalities noted in patients with poor transplantation, averaged 5.3 per patient. The corresponding number was significantly less (3.4 per patient) in the group with good transplant renal function, surviving more than one year after transplantation. Pulmonary calcification, fibrosis, and hemosiderosis were found in several patients in the former group but in none of the latter group. This observation suggests reversibility of these pulmonary abnormalities with successful renal transplantation.
Development of a curriculum in molecular diagnostics, genomics and personalized medicine for dermatology trainees.

BACKGROUND Results of molecular studies are redefining the diagnosis and management of a wide range of skin disorders. Dermatology training programs maintain a relative gap in relevant teaching. OBJECTIVE To develop a curriculum in molecular diagnostics, genomics and personalized medicine for dermatology trainees at our institution. The aim is to provide trainees with a specialty-appropriate, working knowledge in clinical molecular dermatology. METHODS The Departments of Dermatology and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine collaborated on the design and implementation of educational objectives and teaching modalities for the new curriculum. RESULTS A multidisciplinary curriculum was developed. It comprises: (i) assigned reading from the medical literature and reference textbook; (ii) review of teaching sets; (iii) two 1 hour lectures; (iv) trainee presentations; (v) 1-week rotation in a clinical molecular pathology and cytogenetics laboratory; and (vi) assessments and feedback. Residents who participated in the curriculum to date have found the experience to be of value. CONCLUSIONS Our curriculum provides a framework for other dermatology residency programs to develop their own specific approach to molecular diagnostics education. Such training will provide a foundation for lifelong learning as molecular testing evolves and becomes integral to the practice of dermatology.
Effect of storms during drought on post-wildfire recovery of channel sediment dynamics and habitat in the southern California chaparral, USA

Author(s): Florsheim, Joan L; Chin, Anne; Kinoshita, Alicia M; Nourbakhshbeidokhti, Samira | Abstract: Current global warming projections suggest a possible increase in wildfire and drought, augmenting the need to understand how drought following wildfire affects the recovery of stream channels in relation to sediment dynamics. We investigated post-wildfire geomorphic responses caused by storms during a prolonged drought following the 2013 Springs Fire in southern California (USA), using multi-temporal Terrestrial Laser Scanning and detailed field measurements. After the fire, a dry-season dry-ravel sediment pulse contributed sand and small gravel to hillslope-channel margins in Big Sycamore Creek and its tributaries. A small storm in WY 2014 generated sufficient flow to mobilize a portion of the sediment derived from the dry-ravel pulse and deposited the fine sediment in the channel, totaling ~0.60 m3/m of volume per unit length of channel. The sediment deposit buried step-pool habitat structure and reduced roughness by over 90%. These changes altered sediment transport characteristics of the bed material present before and after the storm; the ratio of available to critical shear stress (t o / t c ) increased by five times. Storms during WY 2015 contributed additional fine sediment from tributaries and lower hillslopes and hyperconcentrated flow transported and deposited additional sediment in the channel. Together these sources delivered sediment on the order of six times that in 2014, further increasing t o / t c . These storms during multi-year drought following wildfire transformed channel dynamics. The increased sediment transport capacity persisted during the drought period characterized by the longer residence time of relatively fine-grained post-fire channel sedimentation. This contrasts with wetter years, when post-fire sediment is transported from the fluvial system during the same season as the post-fire sediment pulse. Results of this short-term study highlight the complex and substantial effects of multi-year drought on geomorphic responses following wildfire. These responses influence pool habitat that is critical to longer-term post-wildfire riparian ecosystem recovery.
PS1145, a novel nuclear factor-kappa B inhibitor, downregulates the proangiogenic factor Interleukin-8 in human bladder cancer cells

3028 Introduction and Objective: Interleukin (IL)-8 is an important mediator of angiogenesis in transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder. IL-8 transcription is controlled by nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). PS-1145 is a novel inhibitor of I-kappa B kinase (IKK) which is the upstream activator of NF-kB. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of PS-1145 on IL-8 expression and cell death in the RT4 (TCC) cell line. Methods: NF-κB activity was measured by electromobility gel shift assays (EMSA). Protein and mRNA levels of IL-8 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and RNase protection assays (RPA) respectively. Apoptosis was measured by propidium iodide (PI) staining followed by FACS analysis. Results: Preliminary experiments demonstrated that NF-κB was constitutively active in RT4 bladder cancer cells and PS-1145 inhibited both basal and tumor necrosis factor- inducible NF-κB activity in a concentration-dependent fashion. ELISA analyses demonstrated that PS-1145 also significantly reduced IL-8, but not VEGF protein production. PS-1145 RPA analyses confirmed that decreased IL-8 mRNA levels by 24 hours in a concentration- dependent fashion (50% inhibition at 10 micromoles and 90% at 50 micromoles). Interestingly, PS-1145, also partially decreased VEGF mRNA levels (isoforms 165 and 189). However, these effects did not translate into decreases in VEGF protein expression. PS-1145 did not induce significant levels of apoptosis as measured by PI staining and FACS analyses, even at 50 micromolar concentrations, indicating that the effects on IL-8 expression were not caused by cell death. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that PS1145 is a potent inhibitor of NF-κB and IL-8 expression. Since NF-κB activity has been implicated in chemoresistance, PS-1145 should be evaluated in combination with conventional chemotherapy. Future studies will also investigate the efficacy of PS-1145 in combination with chemotherapeutic agents in both in vitro and in vivo orthotopic bladder cancer models.
Proteomic Approach for Extracting Cytoplasmic Proteins from Streptococcus sanguinis using Mass Spectrometry

Streptococcus sanguinis is a commensal and early colonizer of oral cavity as well as an opportunistic pathogen of infectious endocarditis. Extracting the soluble proteome of this bacterium provides deep insights about the physiological dynamic changes under different growth and stress conditions, thus defining "proteomic signatures" as targets for therapeutic intervention. In this protocol, we describe an experimentally verified approach to extract maximal cytoplasmic proteins from Streptococcus sanguinis SK36 strain. A combination of procedures was adopted that broke the thick cell wall barrier and minimized denaturation of the intracellular proteome, using optimized buffers and a sonication step. Extracted proteome was quantitated using Pierce BCA Protein Quantitation assay and protein bands were macroscopically assessed by Coomassie Blue staining. Finally, a high resolution detection of the extracted proteins was conducted through Synapt G2Si mass spectrometer, followed by label-free relative quantification via Progenesis QI. In conclusion, this pipeline for proteomic extraction and analysis of soluble proteins provides a fundamental tool in deciphering the biological complexity of Streptococcus sanguinis.
Partisanship, Propaganda, and Disinformation: Online Media and the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election

In this study, we analyze both mainstream and social media coverage of the 2016 United States presidential election. We document that the majority of mainstream media coverage was negative for both candidates, but largely followed Donald Trump’s agenda: when reporting on Hillary Clinton, coverage primarily focused on the various scandals related to the Clinton Foundation and emails. When focused on Trump, major substantive issues, primarily immigration, were prominent. Indeed, immigration emerged as a central issue in the campaign and served as a defining issue for the Trump campaign. We find that the structure and composition of media on the right and left are quite different. The leading media on the right and left are rooted in different traditions and journalistic practices. On the conservative side, more attention was paid to pro-Trump, highly partisan media outlets. On the liberal side, by contrast, the center of gravity was made up largely of long-standing media organizations steeped in the traditions and practices of objective journalism. Our data supports lines of research on polarization in American politics that focus on the asymmetric patterns between the left and the right, rather than studies that see polarization as a general historical phenomenon, driven by technology or other mechanisms that apply across the partisan divide. The analysis includes the evaluation and mapping of the media landscape from several perspectives and is based on large-scale data collection of media stories published on the web and shared on Twitter.
Revision total knee arthroplasty with a cemented posterior-stabilized or constrained condylar prosthesis : a minimum 3-year and average 5-year follow-up study

The results of 57 revision total knee arthroplasties performed for aseptic failure between 1984 and 1992 with a cemented posterior-stabilized or constrained condylar prosthesis were reviewed at follow-up examinations at a minimum of 36 and an average of 62 months (range, 36-120 months). The reason for revision was aseptic loosening of 1 or both components in 32 knees (56%), instability in 16 knees (28%), polyethylene wear and osteolysis in 4 knees (7%), supracondylar femur fracture in 2 knees (4%), and a failed allograft, pain, and arthrofibrosis in 1 knee each (5% total). The average age of the patients at the time of the revision was 74 years (range, 38-90), and the original diagnosis for the majority of patients was osteoarthritis (74%). All of the revision prostheses were cemented posterior stabilized or constrained condylar-type implants. Bone deficiencies were grafted with cancellous allograft in contained defects and cortical allograft in noncontained defects. Five knees were reconstructed with allograft-prosthesis composites. The average modified Hospital for Special Surgery knee score improved from 49 to 82 (100 points possible) at final follow-up evaluation (P .05).
Mentors and Mentoring

Although there are many definitions of mentors and mentoring, there are certain common themes across the many definitions. For example, someone who coaches and tutors is often called a mentor. Someone who advises and assists in both the individual’s personal and professional life is often considered a mentor. There are cases where an organization and/or an institution serve in a mentoring capacity. The important point is that in all cases, a mentor makes an individualized, personalized effort to assist someone in achieving their goals, reaching their objectives, and/or becoming successful. And, although there are often common themes, it is the individualization of the efforts that makes mentoring really work, especially, as mentioned above, for the disadvantaged individual, regardless of how that disadvantage may be exhibited, e.g., educationally, socioeconomically, etc.
Robustness of Join-the-Shortest-Queue Scheduling to Communication Delay

An important issue facing schedulers in queueing networks (e.g. computing/communication) in practice is delayed access to communication information. In this work, we study the robustness of the widely used join-the-shortest-queue scheduling scheme under randomly delayed access to queue backlog information. We consider different information update scenarios and show that as long as the expected information delays are finite, the system is stable and the expected backlogs in the system are also finite. Through simulations, we demonstrate robustness of join-the-shortest queue scheduling and we discuss some interesting observation.
Target Binding and Sequence Prediction With LSTMs

Abstract Deep recurrent neural networks (DRNNs) have recently demonstrated strong performance in sequential data analysis, such as natural language processing. These capabilities make them a promising tool for inferential analysis of sequentially structured bioinformatics data as well. Here, we assessed the ability of Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, a class of DRNNs, to predict properties of proteins based on their primary structures. The proposed architecture is trained and tested on two different datasets to predict whether a given sequence falls into a certain class or not. The first dataset, directly imported from Uniprot, was used to train the network on whether a given protein contained or did not contain a conserved sequence (homeodomain), and the second dataset, derived by literature mining, was used to train a network on whether a given protein binds or doesn’t bind to Artemisinin, a drug typically used to treat malaria. In each case, the model was able to differentiate between the two different classes of sequences it was given with high accuracy, illustrating successful learning and generalization. Upon completion of training, an ROC curve was created using the homeodomain and artemisinin validation datasets. The AUC of these datasets was 0.80 and 0.87 respectively, further indicating the models’ effectiveness. Furthermore, using these trained models, it was possible to derive a protocol for sequence detection of homeodomain and binding motif, which are well-documented in literature, and a known Artemisinin binding site, respectively [1-3]. Along with these contributions, we developed a python API to directly connect to Uniprot data sourcing, train deep neural networks on this primary sequence data using TensorFlow, and uniquely visualize the results of this analysis. Such an approach has the potential to drastically increase accuracy and reduce computational time and, current major limitations in informatics, from inquiry to discovery in protein function research.
Characterizing the bifurcating configuration of hydrogen bonding network in interfacial liquid water and its adhesion on solid surfaces

The interfacial structures of liquid water molecules adjacent to a solid surface contribute significantly to the interfacial properties of aqueous solutions, and are of prime importance in a wide spectrum of applications. In this work, we use molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to explore the interfacial structures, mainly in term of hydrogen bonding network, of a liquid water film interacting intimately with solid surfaces, which are composed of [100] face centered cubic (FCC) lattices. We disclose the formation of a bifurcating configuration of hydrogen bonds in interfacial liquid water and ascribe its occurrence to the collective effects of water density depletion, hydrogen bonds and local polarization. Such bifurcating configuration of interfacial water molecules consists of repetitive layer by layer water sheets with intra-layer hydrogen bonding network being formed in each layer, and inter-layer defects, i.e., hydrogen bonds formed between two neighboring layers of interfacial water. A lower bound of 2.475 for the average number of hydrogen bonds per interfacial water molecule is expected. Our MD study on the interfacial configuration of water on solid surfaces reveals a quadratic dependence of adhesion on the solid–liquid affinity, bridging the gap between the macroscopic interfacial property Wadh and the microscopic parameter eSL of the depth of the Lennard-Jones solid–liquid potential.
Detection of Tumor-Associated Antigens in Plasma or Serum

Publisher Summary The introduction of the radioimmunoassay has made possible the quantitation of tumor-associated antigens in serum and plasma. In recent years, the analysis of fetal enzymes and antigens in body fluids has been utilized in an effort to detect tumors and to better understand the relationship of fetal macromolecules to the malignant process. α-Fetoprotein (α-FP) is used in the evaluation of liver tumors and then embryonic tumors. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is an indicator of colon cancer and a nonspecific cancer marker. This chapter discusses the serum determinations of fetal antigens and discusses the significance of their measurements in the diagnosis of cancer and the evaluation of therapy. α-FP has been observed in the serum of patients with embryonal malignant teratoblastomas of the testes or ovary, and α-FP assays have become useful in following the progression of these diseases. In addition to the evaluation of patients with cancer, the measurement of α-FP in maternal serum has been proposed as a marker for the detection of fetal distress and intrauterine death.
Simple animal models for microbiome research.

The health and fitness of animals, including humans, are influenced by the presence and composition of resident microbial communities. The development of rational microbial therapies to alleviate chronic immunological, metabolic and neurobiological diseases requires an understanding of the processes underlying microbial community assembly and the mechanisms by which microorganisms influence host traits. For fundamental discovery, simple animal models (that is, lower vertebrate and invertebrate species with low diversity microbiomes) are more cost-effective and time-efficient than mammal models, especially for complex experimental designs and sophisticated genetic screens. Recent research on these simple models demonstrates how microbiome composition is shaped by the interplay between host controls, mediated largely via immune effectors, inter-microorganism competition, and neutral processes of passive dispersal and ecological drift. Parallel research on microbiome-dependent host traits has identified how specific metabolites and proteins released from microorganisms can shape host immune responsiveness, ameliorate metabolic dysfunction and influence behavioural traits. In this Review, the opportunity for microbiome research on the traditional biomedical models zebrafish, Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans, which command superb research resources and tools, is discussed. Other systems, for example, hydra, squid and the honeybee, are valuable alternative models to address specific questions. Simple animal models are emerging as valuable tools for microbiome research. In this Review, Douglas discusses the opportunity for microbiome research on the traditional biomedical models Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans and zebrafish. Other systems, for example, hydra, squid and the honeybee, are valuable alternative models to address specific questions.
Lead Pipes, Prescriptive Policy and Property Values

Several recent incidences of severe waterborne lead exposure have public authorities and communities across the US rethinking their strategies to address aging water infrastructure. One common question: who should pay for updates? This paper provides evidence of positive property value capitalization effects following remediation of private lead service lines in Madison, WI. Using a 16-year panel of property transactions data and a universal and prescriptive policy change, I identify an average post-replacement price effect on the order of 3–4% of a property’s value. This implies a more than 75% average return on public and private remediation costs, suggesting homeowners strongly value the benefits of lead reduction in publicly supplied drinking water.
Differences in service utilization at an urban tribal health organization before and after Alzheimer's disease or related dementia diagnosis: A cohort study

Abstract Introduction The prevalence, mortality, and healthcare impact of Alaska Native and American Indian (ANAI) people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) are unknown. Methods We conducted a cohort study of electronic health record data that compared healthcare service utilization in patients with and without an ADRD diagnosis. Zero-inflated negative binomial regression with robust standard errors was used to estimate utilization rates. Results Compared with patients without ADRD, utilization rates were similar before but higher after ADRD diagnosis. For those with diagnosed ADRD, utilization increased gradually over time with sharp upward change during the year of diagnosis. Discussion This is the only study quantifying changes in healthcare service utilization before and after ADRD diagnosis among ANAI people, which is crucial for tailoring geriatric care for ANAI populations.
Microbiota control of maternal behavior regulates early postnatal growth of offspring

Maternal-offspring bonding and maturation of maternal behavior is necessary during the early postnatal period of an infant to promote optimal development and growth. The regulation of maternal behavior is multifactorial relying both on sensory cues including auditory and olfactory signals emitted by the infant and received by the mother, as well as proper neuroendocrine responses including that of the oxytocin system. The intestinal microbiota has emerged as a critical regulator of growth and development in the early postnatal period of an individuals life. While, this is best appreciated in the context of direct interactions between the microbiota and the infant, the microbiota can indirectly influence postnatal growth and development by regulating maternal factors. Here, we describe the identification of an intestinal E. coli strain that is pathogenic to the maternal-offspring system during the early postnatal stage of life and results in growth stunting of the offspring. However, rather than having a direct pathogenic effect on the infant, we found that this particular E. coli strain was pathogenic to the dams by interfering with the maturation of maternal behavior. The poor maternal behavior resulted in malnourishment of the pups and impaired IGF-1 signaling leading to the consequential stunted growth. Our work provides a new understanding of how the microbiota regulates postnatal growth and an additional variable that must be considered when studying the regulation of maternal behavior.
Chronic lead exposure causes theta and gamma hypersynchrony in the hippocampus and disrupts sensorimotor gating

Chronic lead (Pb2+) exposure from childhood contributes to an array of cognitive and behavioral dysfunctions including impaired attention and intellectual ability, learning and memory deficits, and delinquency. It is also an environmental risk factor for adult psychopathologies, most notably schizophrenia. Pb2+ is a potent N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist and exposure during early life elicits a cascade of cellular neurotoxic effects that alter the developmental trajectory leading to a loss of parvalbumin-expressing interneurons in hippocampus and altered synaptic transmission. Little is known, however, about the impact of chronic Pb2+ exposure on hippocampal network dynamics which serve as a link between cellular-molecular effects and cognitive-behavioral consequences of Pb2+ neurotoxicity. Here, we tested the effects of chronic Pb2+ exposure on local field potential activity (LFP) in the hippocampus of freely-behaving rats. We demonstrate that Pb2+ exposure causes striking hypersynchrony in both the theta- and gamma-frequency bands, in addition to more modest changes in delta. Next, we tested the effect of Pb2+ exposure on prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle reflex (PPI) in male and female rats at different developmental timepoints. We found that adult males (PN50 and 120), but neither females nor juvenile males, showed reduced PPI that could not be attributed to changes in the startle reflex. This pattern recapitulates sex- and age-dependencies of PPI disruption in schizophrenic patients. Overall, these results are consistent with the hypothesis that Pb2+ is an environmental risk factor for psychopathology in adulthood, especially those symptoms related to cognitive and sensory-motor gating processes that depend on rhythmic coordination of network activity in the hippocampus.
Tomato Genotype Modulates Selection and Responses to Root Microbiota

Using microbial inoculants to enhance plant health is promising for crop improvement. However, for success, knowledge of how different cultivars within a crop species select and respond to the root...
The Russian understanding of war: blurring the lines between war and peace: by Oscar Jonsson, Washington DC: Georgetown University Press, 2019, 200 pp., £24 (HB), ISBN: 9781626167339 and (PB), ISBN: 9781626167346. Index.

The United States has been at war since September 2001, killing or advising the killing of jihadists from West Africa to East Asia, and yet its presidents uniformly dissemble about whether they are...
Retrospective study on the use of lumbosacral epidural analgesia during caesarean section surgery in 182 dogs: Impact on blood pressure, analgesic use and delays.

Background We evaluated the use of lumbosacral epidural anaesthesia (LEA) in dogs undergoing caesarean section over 10 years. Methods Anaesthetic records were reviewed and divided into two treatment groups: LEA and control. Outcome variables identified a priori as potentially affected by LEA were compared between groups. Results are frequency or median (minimum-maximum). Results Ninety-five dogs received LEA and 87 did not. LEA consisted of 0.2 (0.1-0.3) ml/kg containing bupivacaine (n = 63), ropivacaine (n = 15), or lidocaine (n = 12) at concentrations ranging between 0.06% and 2%. Morphine, fentanyl, or buprenorphine were used as part of LEA. Groups were similar for demographic variables (all p > 0.06). Intravenous opioids were used more often in control than in LEA (p 0.1). Time from induction to operating room was 30 (8-75) min for control and 35 (18-65) min for LEA (p = 0.003). Discussion LEA during caesarean section in dogs was associated with lower rates of opioid administration and did not exacerbate the incidence of hypotension.
Characterization of an omnidirectional parametric loudspeaker with exponential sine sweeps

Abstract An omnidirectional parametric loudspeaker (OPL) is a sound source that is made of hundreds of ultrasonic piezoelectric transducers set on a sphere. Relying on the parametric acoustic array (PAA) phenomenon, each transducer emits an ultrasonic carrier beam modulated by an audible signal. Thanks to non-linear propagation in air, natural demodulation takes place and focused audible beams are obtained. An OPL thus emits hundreds of audible sound beams in all directions. In this work, the performance of an OPL prototype containing 750 transducers set on a sphere of radius 0.125 cm is examined in free-field conditions. The frequency response, sound pressure level (SPL) and directivity are measured using exponential sine sweeps (ESS). Compared to broad band signals such as white or pink noise, the OPL can produce higher SPLs with ESS because the acoustic power concentrates on a single frequency only. This makes the OPL suitable for room acoustic measurements. A conventional dodechaedral sound source is also measured for comparison. Results show that the OPL produces a better omnidirectional sound field above ∼ 1 kHz, but it performs worse at lower frequencies. Moreover, it presents a flatter frequency response in all directions, although it generates lower SPL values. The Directivity Index (DI) required by the ISO 3382-2 and ISO 16283-1 standards has also been computed for both sources. The OPL cannot fulfill the requirements of the standard at low frequencies. This paper also demonstrates and discusses DI measurements of high resolution both for the new OPL and the traditional onmidirectional speakers.
Defining the Neurobiological Mechanisms of Action in Aphasia Therapies: Applying the RTSS Framework to Research and Practice in Aphasia.

Abstract The Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System (RTSS; Van Stan et al., 2019) was developed as a systematic way to describe rehabilitation treatments for the purpose of both research and practice. The RTSS groups treatments by type and describes them by three elements - the treatment (i) ingredients and (ii) the mechanisms of action that yield changes in the (iii) target behavior. Adopting the RTSS has the potential to improve consistency in research, allowing for better cross-study comparisons to strengthen the body of research supporting various treatments. As it is still early in its development, the RTSS has not yet been widely implemented across different rehabilitation disciplines. In particular, aphasia recovery is one area of rehabilitation that could benefit from a unifying framework. Accordingly, this paper is part of a series where we illustrate how the RTSS can be applied to aphasia treatment and research. This paper more specifically focuses on examining the neurobiological mechanisms of action associated with experimental aphasia therapies – including brain stimulation and pharmacological intervention – as well as more traditional behavioral therapy. Key elements of the RTSS are described, and four example studies are used to illustrate how the RTSS can be implemented. The benefits of a unifying framework for the future of aphasia treatment research and practice are discussed.
Machine Learning Applied to Electronic Health Records: Identification of Chemotherapy Patients at High Risk for Preventable Emergency Department Visits and Hospital Admissions.

PURPOSEAcute care use (ACU) is a major driver of oncologic costs and is penalized by a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services quality measure, OP-35. Targeted interventions reduce preventable ACU...
Shifting Away From Fee-For-Service: Alternative Approaches to Payment in Gastroenterology

Fee-for-service payments encourage high-volume services rather than high-quality care. Alternative payment models (APMs) aim to realign financing to support high-value services. The 2 main components of gastroenterologic care, procedures and chronic care management, call for a range of APMs. The first step for gastroenterologists is to identify the most important conditions and opportunities to improve care and reduce waste that do not require financial support. We describe examples of delivery reforms and emerging APMs to accomplish these care improvements. A bundled payment for an episode of care, in which a provider is given a lump sum payment to cover the cost of services provided during the defined episode, can support better care for a discrete procedure such as a colonoscopy. Improved management of chronic conditions can be supported through a per-member, per-month (PMPM) payment to offer extended services and care coordination. For complex chronic conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, in which the gastroenterologist is the principal care coordinator, the PMPM payment could be given to a gastroenterology medical home. For conditions in which the gastroenterologist acts primarily as a consultant for primary care, such as noncomplex gastroesophageal reflux or hepatitis C, a PMPM payment can support effective care coordination in a medical neighborhood delivery model. Each APM can be supplemented with a shared savings component. Gastroenterologists must engage with and be early leaders of these redesign discussions to be prepared for a time when APMs may be more prevalent and no longer voluntary.
Process Development for Stamping A-Pillar Covers with Aluminum

In this work, performed in close collaboration with PACCAR and Magna International (Stronach Centre for Innovation, SCFI), a 6xxx series aluminum alloy was used for the development of an A-pillar cover for the cab of a typical heavy-duty Class-8 truck. The use of Al alloy for the A-pillar cover represents an approximately 40% weight savings over its steel or molded fiberglass composite counterpart. For the selected Al alloy, a small amount of cold work (5% tensile strain), following prior hot-forming, was found to significantly improve the subsequent age-hardening response. The role of solutionizing temperature and rate of cooling on the age-hardening response after paint-bake treatment were investigated. For the temperature range selected in this work, higher solutionizing temperature correlated with greater subsequent age-hardening and vice-versa. However, the age-hardening response was insensitive to the mode of cooling (water quench vs. air cooling). Finally, a two-step forming process was developed where, in the first step, the blank was heated to solutionizing temperature, quenched, and then partially formed at room temperature. For the second step, the pre-form was reheated and quenched as in the first step, and the forming was completed at room temperature. The resulting A-pillars had sufficient residual ductility to be compatible with hemming and riveting operations that occur during downstream cab assembly.