cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Habitat alteration increases invasive fire ant abundance to the detriment of amphibians and reptiles

Altered habitats have been suggested to facilitate red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) colonization and dispersal, possibly compounding effects of habitat alteration on native wildlife. In this study, we compared colonization intensity of wood cover boards by S. invicta among four forest management treatments in South Carolina, USA: an unharvested control (>30 years old); a partially thinned stand; a clearcut with coarse woody debris retained; and a clearcut with coarse woody debris removed. Additionally, we compared dehydration rates and survival of recently metamorphosed salamanders (marbled salamanders, Ambystoma opacum, and mole salamanders, A. talpoideum) among treatments. We found that the number of wood cover boards colonized by S. invicta differed significantly among treatments, being lowest in the unharvested forest treatments and increasing with the degree of habitat alteration. Salamanders that were maintained in experimental field enclosures to study water loss were unexpectedly subjected to high levels of S. invicta predation that differed among forest treatments. All known predation by S. invicta was restricted to salamanders in clearcuts. The amount of vegetative ground cover was inversely related to the likelihood of S. invicta predation of salamanders. Our results show that S. invicta abundance increases with habitat disturbance and that this increased abundance has negative consequences for amphibians that remain in altered habitats. Our findings also suggest that the presence of invasive S. invicta may compromise the utility of cover boards and other techniques commonly used in herpetological studies in the Southeast.
Drinking produced by blood volume manipulation in weanling and adult rats

Twenty-five- and 90-day-old rats were subjected to extracellular volemic stress induced by subcutaneous injections of formalin or polyethylene glycol. Young rats responded to volemic stress by increasing their intake of water, as did adults; however, young rats showed a hyperreactivity (exaggerated intake) to volemic stress. This finding may reflect a behavioral compensation for the immaturity of the young animals’ excretion controlling mechanisms.
Selenium modification of nucleic acids: preparation of oligonucleotides with incorporated 2'-SeMe-uridine for crystallographic phasing of nucleic acid structures.

Selenium modification of nucleic acids: preparation of oligonucleotides with incorporated 2′-SeMe-uridine for crystallographic phasing of nucleic acid structures
Prevalence of CGG expansions of the FMR1 gene in a US population‐based sample

The primary goal of this study was to calculate the prevalence of the premutation of the FMR1 gene and of the "gray zone" using a population-based sample of older adults in Wisconsin (n = 6,747 samples screened). Compared with past research, prevalence was relatively high (1 in 151 females and 1 in 468 males for the premutation and 1 in 35 females and 1 in 42 males for the gray zone as defined by 45-54 CGG repeats). A secondary study goal was to describe characteristics of individuals found to have the premutation (n = 30, 7 males and 23 females). We found that premutation carriers had a significantly higher rate of divorce than controls, as well as higher rates of symptoms that might be indicative of fragile X-associated tremor ataxia syndrome (FXTAS; numbness, dizziness/faintness) and fragile X primary ovarian insufficiency (FXPOI; age at last menstrual period). Although not statistically significant, premutation carriers were twice as likely to have a child with disability.
Oxidative Stress Is Increased in Critically Ill Patients with Acute Renal Failure

Patients with acute renal failure (ARF) experience a high mortality rate. Dysregulated inflammation and altered metabolism may increase oxidative stress in ARF patients. Thirty-eight patients who met the Program to Improve Care in Acute Renal Disease (PICARD) Study inclusion criteria underwent plasma protein oxidation and plasma cytokine measurements. For comparison, similar measurements were also performed in 21 critically ill patients without ARF, 28 patients with ESRD, and 49 healthy subjects. Plasma protein thiol oxidation was measured by spectrophotometry. Plasma protein carbonyl content and cytokine concentrations were measured by ELISA. Plasma protein thiol oxidation and carbonyl content were markedly different in ARF patients compared with healthy subjects, ESRD patients, and critically ill patients (P < 0.001 in all cases). There were significant but less marked differences in plasma protein oxidation between ESRD patients and critically ill patients compared with healthy subjects. Plasma protein thiol oxidation in ARF patients improved with dialysis (P < 0.001); however, there was significant plasma oxidant reaccumulation during the interdialytic period (P < 0.001) not due to rebound equilibration of compartmentalized solutes. Plasma proinflammatory cytokine levels were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in ARF patients and critically ill patients than in healthy subjects. Plasma protein oxidation is markedly increased in ARF patients compared with healthy subjects, ESRD patients, and critically ill patients. Increased oxidative stress may be an important target for nutritional and pharmacologic therapy in ARF patients.
The Rebudgeting Process in State Government: The Case of Missouri:

State budgets change during the year, but why they change and how the changes affect present and future budgetary policy remains largely unexplored. This article examines these two questions by studying the process through which the budget changes after appropriations have been approved, a process referred to as rebudgeting, in the state of Missouri. Findings indicate that rebudgeting in Missouri arises largely because of managerial needs and environmental pressures. If the content of annual budget was not allowed to adjust to these forces, the effectiveness of budgeting in general would likely decline. The findings also suggest that deviations from the appropriated budget may affect how the legislature and the executive define the budget base, and it reflects the predominant budgetary role the governor plays during the fiscal year. Finally, the data indicate that changes are facilitated not only by budgetary surpluses, as has previously been argued, but also by fiscal stress.
Contact erosion in automotive DC relays

Contact degradation of automotive relays was studied to understand the relationships between switching operations (make, break, and make-and-break) and loads (resistor, lamp, and motor). This information is essential in proper relay design, specification, and application in an automotive electrical system. Contact resistance was measured and the eroded surfaces were analyzed to explain the degradation process. Significant dependence of degraded contact resistance on types of load and switching operation was found. Prominent pips and craters that can cause premature relay failures were formed during the make operation by anode-to-cathode transfer. Break arcs transferred material from cathode to anode and formed a porous layer to increase contact resistance. The amount of material transferred decreased with shorter arcing time, which also decreased with load inductance. The degradation process is explained as an interaction among switching mechanics, load current characteristics, and arc phenomena. >
Effects of Depressive and Other Psychiatric Disorders on Anticoagulation Control in a Pharmacist-Managed Anticoagulation Clinic

Background: The impact of psychiatric disorders on International Normalized Ratio (INR) control and adverse events for patients receiving warfarin has not been fully elucidated. Objective: To determine the effect of depressive and other psychiatric disorders on anticoagulation control in a pharmacist-managed anticoagulation clinic. Methods: A retrospective chart review evaluated outcomes of patients with no history of psychiatric disorders and compare it with that of patients with either a history of depression or any form of psychiatric disorder. Data was obtained from patient medical records over a 24-month period. The primary outcome was a comparison of time in therapeutic range, calculated using 3 separate methods (percentage of INRs in therapeutic range, a modified Rosendaal’s linear interpolation, and mean INR in goal). Results: A total of 151 patients met the inclusion criteria (control = 79, psychiatric disorders = 72 patients). Control patients had a significantly greater proportion of INRs in th...
Prostatic adenocarcinoma metastases mimicking small cell carcinoma on fine-needle aspiration.

Prostate adenocarcinoma (PA) is known to metastasize widely to bone, lung, lymph nodes, and other sites. We have observed a rare, although distinctive, neuroendocrine (NE) cytomorphology of metastatic PA on fine-needle aspiration (FNA) that mimics small cell carcinoma (SCC). From a total of 117 cases, eight cases of metastatic PA diagnosed on FNA showed cytomorphologic features indistinguishable from SCC. All specimens were reviewed, along with immunoperoxidase (IPOX) studies using prostate specific (PSA, PSAP) and NE markers (synaptophysin, chromogranin, etc.). The patients ranged in age from 51-68 (mean age = 63). The PSA levels at the time of FNA ranged from <0.1 to 2,892 ng/ml (normal postprostatectomy <0.2 ng/ml). Sites of FNA included liver (two), soft tissue (five), and lymph node (one). FNA was performed from 11 mo to 6 yr after the initial diagnosis of the primary tumor. All primary PA were of high Gleason grade ranging from 7-9. None of the primary PA showed neuroendocrine morphology. Cytomorphologic characteristics observed on FNA included predominantly single cells with occasional sheets or loose cell aggregates. A predominant NE nuclear morphology was evident (i.e., hyperchromasia, fine dusty chromatin, inconspicuous nucleoli, nuclear molding, chromatinic crush artifact, karyorrhexis, mitoses, etc.), with none of the tumors displaying glandular formation. Taken together, these features gave these metastases a cytomorphology indistinguishable from SCC. IPOX studies revealed PSA-positivity (5/7), PSAP-positivity (4/7), and only focal NE markers positivity (3/6). Metastatic prostate carcinoma may rarely mimic a SCC (6.8% in this study). This often necessitates further patient workup to identify the primary source for the patient's metastasis, particularly if the patient has multiple lesions. An accurate diagnosis of these lesions as PA metastases is essential for effective, timely treatment and therapeutic design.
"GET ME MY AGENT!" CONCEPTS IN HUMAN INTERACTION WITH AUTONOMOUS SPACECRAYFT

Advances in spacecraft autonomy will bring with them new modes of interaction between ground-based users and the spacecraft. The dialogue between users and spacecraft will move from the current exchange of telemetry streams and command sequences to one based on plans, goals, and constraints. User interaction mechanisms, both in displays and controls and in the underlying software structures that support them, will have to reflect this change in the nature of the dialogue. This paper discusses concepts for structuring that dia- logue and for building mechanisms to support it, based on current ideas for and experiences with autonomous spacecraft and on results from other domains on human supervisory control of 'automation.
Air and sea surface temperature measurements using a 60 GHz microwave rotating radiometer

Data obtained from a single-channel 5-mm radiometer on a research vessel were used for study of sea water temperature and the temperature profile in the lower atmosphere. The technique has shown an accuracy for air-water temperature difference retrieval of about 0.1 K. Experimental values of air temperature gradient are compared with model predictions both under stable and unstable conditions.
The Clinical Blurring-Speed Study

The accidental discovery that dyslexics have two blurring speeds led to the realization that the Staten Island, Queens and blind blurring-speed studies were contaminated by unknown mixtures of diagnostic sequential blurring speeds (SBS) versus compensatory single-targeting blurring speeds (STS). In retrospect, it appeared highly likely that the unwitting measurement of STS rather than SBS significantly contributed to the older dyslexic Group II blurring speeds in the Staten Island study, the “overlap” blurring speeds in the Queens Study, the DD recognition speeds in the blind blurring-speed study, and a majority of the so-called paradoxical blurring speeds characterizing the data to date. In a bilateral effort to improve the diagnostic accuracy of the blurring-speed methodology while testing the validity of the Staten Island blurring-speed study, the author initiated a new clinical study aimed at the statistical evaluation of SBS versus STS in DD versus normal controls.
Triple SILAC quantitative proteomic analysis reveals differential abundance of cell signaling proteins between normal and lung cancer-derived exosomes.

Abstract Exosomes are 30–100 nm sized membrane vesicles released by cells into the extracellular space that mediate intercellular communication via transfer of proteins and other biological molecules. To better understand the role of these microvesicles in lung carcinogenesis, we employed a Triple SILAC quantitative proteomic strategy to examine the differential protein abundance between exosomes derived from an immortalized normal bronchial epithelial cell line and two non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines harboring distinct activating mutations in the cell signaling molecules: Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) or epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). In total, we were able to quantify 721 exosomal proteins derived from the three cell lines. Proteins associated with signal transduction, including EGFR, GRB2 and SRC, were enriched in NSCLC exosomes, and could actively regulate cell proliferation in recipient cells. This study's investigation of the NSCLC exosomal proteome has identified enriched protein cargo that can contribute to lung cancer progression, which may have potential clinical implications in biomarker development for patients with NSCLC. Biological significance The high mortality associated with lung cancer is a result of late-stage diagnosis of the disease. Current screening techniques used for early detection of lung cancer lack the specificity for accurate diagnosis. Exosomes are nano-sized extracellular vesicles, and the increased abundance of select protein cargo in exosomes derived from cancer cells may be used for diagnostic purposes. In this paper, we applied quantitative proteomic analysis to elucidate abundance differences in exosomal protein cargo between two NSCLC cell lines with distinctive oncogene mutations and an immortalized normal bronchial epithelial cell line. This study revealed proteins associated with cell adhesion, the extracellular matrix, and a variety of signaling molecules were enriched in NSCLC exosomes. The present data reveals a protein profile associated with NSCLC exosomes that suggests a role these vesicles have in the progression of lung carcinogenesis, as well as identifies several promising candidates that could be utilized as a multi-marker protein panel in a diagnostic platform for NSCLC.
Connecting Political Communication with Urban Politics: A Bourdieusian Framework

In this article, I connect political communication with urban politics by conceptualizing an interdisciplinary urban politics research framework. Drawing on Pierre Bourdieu’s theories of practice and communication, I offer an urban politics research model that simultaneously addresses the dimensions of power struggle and symbolic struggle in urban politics. The theoretical modeling is discussed from an interdisciplinary approach to social studies and constructed with a methodological suggestion of tripartite social network analysis.
Smith's Moral Problem

Compte-rendu de l'ouvrage de M. Smith intitule «The moral problem» (1994) qui traite de la double question de l'objectivite et du caractere pratique du jugement moral, d'une part, de la relation entre raison normative et motivation (internalisme/externalisme), d'autre part
The Plane Crashed It September 11 Narratives From Mennonite Children of New York City

September 11 narratives from Mennonite children of New York City (NYC) are presented in the form of research poetry.
Predicting Teacher Likelihood to Use School Gardens: A Case Study.

ABSTRACTA quantitative survey, built around the theory of planned behavior, was used to investigate elementary teachers' attitudes, school norms, perceived behavioral control, and intent in both current and ideal teaching situations toward using gardens in their curriculum. With positive school norms and teachers who garden in their personal time, 77% of teachers' current intent to use school gardens was explained through backward linear regression. School gardens are more likely to be successful if teachers who garden in their personal time can serve as mentors to other teachers and promote positive norms and attitudes toward using gardens in the curriculum.
Research and design of a new e-commerce website

As we know,the small and medium-sized enterprises in our country mainly use three channels to carry on network marketing,the comprehensive search engine,portal website and B2B website. According to the statistics,there are more than 3000 B2B websites in our country at present. Obviously,we have enough e-commerce resources. But how to help enterprises make good use of such huge information resources? We had come up with an idea——let the computer search and release the information on the websites automatically. In this text,we provide the basic design of the database of this kind of websites,and offer the solution to some key technology difficulties,which based on the deep analysis of the basic function of the websites.
P03.13 The project connect parental monitoring intervention: population-level effects on adolescent perceptions of parental enforcement of family rules

Background The relationship between parental monitoring and adolescent risk behaviour is well established. Both overall parental knowledge of adolescent activities and parental enforcement of family rules are associated with a decreased likelihood of sexual initiation. Few interventions exist to improve parents’ monitoring efforts with their children, particularly at a population-level. Project Connect is a low-cost highly sustainable approach using distribution of print modules to influence parental monitoring practices. Methods Twelve high schools and fourteen middle schools in a public school district in Los Angeles, California were matched on geography, teen birth and Chlamydia rates and then randomly assigned to intervention and comparison conditions. Survey data were collected from 28,470 male and female students sampled cross-sectionally every year for five years, from randomly selected required classes. The sample was 78.6% Latino and 10.6% African American; the mean age was 15.4. Intervention materials were mailed to all parents in intervention schools (more than 33,000). Analyses were conducted in SPSS 21 with linear mixed models that accounted for students being potentially sampled in multiple years. Results Across all years, intervention school students reported higher enforcement of family rules than comparison school students (F [1,28470] = 5.25, p = 0 .022). Although student reports of family rules enforcement increased across the five years for both intervention and comparison students (F [4,28470] = 9.66, p 0.001) there was a significant interaction between condition and time, with intervention students’ reports of family rules increasing more than comparison students’ (F [4,28470] = 2.54, p = 0 .038). Intervention effects on student reported parental knowledge were non-significant. Conclusions We observed a population-level intervention effect on adolescent perceptions of parental enforcement of family rules using a brief, easily administered print-based intervention. Project Connect materials may be used to increase this protective factor against sexual initiation in a variety of contexts where parents of adolescents may be reached, including schools, physician’s offices and clinics, and community-based organisations. Disclosure of interest statement Nothing to declare.
Analysis of Nonideal, Interacting, and Noninteracting Systems by Sedimentation Velocity Analytical Ultracentrifugation

Analysis of ideal associating systems has been described in detail previously (Rivas et al., Methods 19:194–212, 1999): the reader is referred to that article for the basic theory. We will extend that analysis to nonideal and self- and hetero-associating systems by adding terms for deviations from both thermodynamic ideality and hydrodynamic ideality. In this chapter we will consider several effects of non-ideality on the sedimentation process.
Decision-making and goal-setting in chronic disease management: Baseline findings of a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Objective Growing interest in collaborative goal-setting has raised questions. First, are patients making the ‘right choices’ from a biomedical perspective? Second, are patients and providers setting goals of appropriate difficulty? Finally, what types of support will patients need to accomplish their goals? We analyzed goals and action plans from a trial of collaborative goal-setting among 302 residents of a high-poverty urban region who had multiple chronic conditions. Methods Patients used a low-literacy aid to prioritize one of their chronic conditions and then set a goal for that condition with their primary care provider. Patients created patient-driven action plans for reaching these goals. Results Patients chose to focus on conditions that were in poor control and set ambitious chronic disease management goals. The mean goal weight loss −16.8lbs (SD 19.5), goal HbA1C reduction was −1.3% (SD 1.7%) and goal blood pressure reduction was −9.8 mmHg (SD 19.2 mmHg). Patient-driven action plans spanned domains including health behavior (58.9%) and psychosocial (23.5%). Conclusions High-risk, low-SES patients identified high priority conditions, set ambitious goals and generate individualized action plans for chronic disease management. Practice implications Practices may require flexible personnel who can support patients using a blend of coaching, social support and navigation.
Preview of TCAS II Version 7

The Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System II (TCAS II) is an airborne system that uses active surveillance to alert the pilot of an equipped aircraft to the presence of other nearby aircraft...
Data Science in Service of Performing Arts: Applying Machine Learning to Predicting Audience Preferences

Performing arts organizations aim to enrich their communities through the arts. To do this, they strive to match their performance offerings to the taste of those communities. Success relies on understanding audience preference and predicting their behavior. Similar to most e-commerce or digital entertainment firms, arts presenters need to recommend the right performance to the right customer at the right time. As part of the Michigan Data Science Team (MDST), we partnered with the University Musical Society (UMS), a non-profit performing arts presenter housed in the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. We are providing UMS with analysis and business intelligence, utilizing historical individual-level sales data. We built a recommendation system based on collaborative filtering, gaining insights into the artistic preferences of customers, along with the similarities between performances. To better understand audience behavior, we used statistical methods from customer-base analysis. We characterized customer heterogeneity via segmentation, and we modeled customer cohorts to understand and predict ticket purchasing patterns. Finally, we combined statistical modeling with natural language processing (NLP) to explore the impact of wording in program descriptions. These ongoing efforts provide a platform to launch targeted marketing campaigns, helping UMS carry out its mission by allocating its resources more efficiently. Celebrating its 138th season, UMS is a 2014 recipient of the National Medal of Arts, and it continues to enrich communities by connecting world-renowned artists with diverse audiences, especially students in their formative years. We aim to contribute to that mission through data science and customer analytics.
Preclinical Development of Bispecific Chimeric Antigen Receptor Targeting Both CD19 and CD22

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood malignancy. Despite advances in upfront therapy, relapsed and refractory ALL remains a primary cause of cancer-related mortality in children. Immunotherapy using genetically engineered T cells expressing chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) targeting CD19 has demonstrated dramatic clinical results in children and young adults with pre-B cell ALL with a 70-90% complete remission rate in multiple clinical trials. However, not all patients respond and at least 10% of patients will relapse due to loss of the targeted CD19 epitope. CD22 is another pan-B cell surface antigen that is broadly expressed on ALL blasts and has been targeted successfully using immunoconjugates. We have recently developed a highly active CD22 CAR currently being tested in a clinical trial. Conceptually, dual targeting both CD19 and CD22 on Pre-B ALL with a single bispecific CAR may result in enhanced avidity and increased T cell activation which may result in additive or synergistic responses compared to targeting a single antigen. In addition, since there are heterogeneous expression levels of CD19 and CD22 on leukemic blasts, dual targeting may also provide a more broadly active therapy. Finally, simultaneously targeting of both CD19 and CD22 on the surface of pre-B cell ALL may reduce the likelihood of antigen escape due to downregulation or deletion. We describe the preclinical development of two novel CD19 and CD22 bispecific CARs assembled with CD19 and CD22 single chain fragment variable regions (scFv) binding domains on a single construct. T cells transduced the CD19/CD22 bispecific CARs have comparable CAR surface expression when compared to T cells expressing either the CD19 or CD22 CAR. T cells expressing the bispecific CAR are active in vitro against ALL cell lines expressing both CD19 and CD22 as measured by interferon gamma production and chromium release. In vitro activity is maintained against K562 cells expressing either CD19 or CD22 alone. Interestingly, the order and the linker between the CD19 and CD22 scFvs in the CAR construct has a major impact on the efficacy of the dual CAR with a membrane-distal CD22 binding scFv demonstrating improved efficacy. Finally, in xenograft models both bi-specific CARs efficiently eradicate ALL cell lines and patient derived xenografts. In vivo treatment of a Crisper-knockdown-CD19-negative leukemia line and a CD19-negative patient-derived xenograft is ongoing. In summary, CD19/CD22 bispecific CARs demonstrate robust pre-clinical activity against pre-B cell ALL and provides a strategy to improve the clinical efficacy of CAR therapy. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Histogram particle swarm optimization (HistPSO): Evolving non-parametric acceleration distributions

Particle swarm optimization (PSO) is a biologically-inspired optimization algorithm, which has evolved over time and has been extensively studied and meta-optimized. To solve an optimization problem, the algorithm sends a plethora of particles into the search space, each particle searching for, ideally, the global optima. The velocity of these particles are determined by three components: a social component; a personal component, and a momentum component. The social and personal components of the standard PSO rely on a uniform-random distribution. There has been work on changing this distribution from being uniform-random to Gaussian; this paper aims at generalizing this distribution. Through use of another PSO, the distributions are learned over a set of objective functions, resulting in the proposed algorithm HistPSO. A novel approach is used to represent the distributions as piecewise uniform distributions on sub-intervals of the [0, c] interval where c is either c\ or c 2 depending whether the distribution represents the personal or social component of the PSO velocity equation. HistPSO is then tested on two other objective functions on which it had not been trained, as well as the three objective functions from which it learned. The results are then compared with a meta-optimized version of the standard PSO algorithm and the two results are compared to find that HistPSO performs comparably, and in some cases outperforms the meta-optimized standard PSO.
Generation and Characterization of Breather Solitons in an On-Chip Microresonator

We show the generation of breather solitons and characterization of the spectral dynamics in an on-chip SiN microresonator. The breather soliton exhibits asymmetric breathing with respect to the center of the spectrum.
In vivo imaging of the progression of acute lung injury using hyperpolarized [1-13 C] pyruvate.

Purpose To investigate pulmonary metabolic alterations during progression of acute lung injury. Methods Using hyperpolarized [1-13C] pyruvate imaging, we measured pulmonary lactate and pyruvate in 15 ventilated rats 1, 2, and 4 h after initiation of mechanical ventilation. Lung compliance was used as a marker for injury progression. 5 untreated rats were used as controls; 5 rats (injured-1) received 1 ml/kg and another 5 rats (injured-2) received 2 ml/kg hydrochloric acid (pH 1.25) in the trachea at 70 min. Results The mean lactate-to-pyruvate ratio of the injured-1 cohort was 0.15 ± 0.02 and 0.15 ± 0.03 at baseline and 1 h after the injury, and significantly increased from the baseline value 3 h after the injury to 0.23 ± 0.02 (P = 0.002). The mean lactate-to-pyruvate ratio of the injured-2 cohort decreased from 0.14 ± 0.03 at baseline to 0.08 ± 0.02 1 h after the injury and further decreased to 0.07 ± 0.02 (P = 0.08) 3 h after injury. No significant change was observed in the control group. Compliance in both injured groups decreased significantly after the injury (P < 0.01). Conclusions Our findings suggest that in severe cases of lung injury, edema and hyperperfusion in the injured lung tissue may complicate interpretation of the pulmonary lactate-to-pyruvate ratio as a marker of inflammation. However, combining the lactate-to-pyruvate ratio with pulmonary compliance provides more insight into the progression of the injury and its severity. Magn Reson Med 78:2106–2115, 2017. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Left Bundle Branch Block in a 29-Year-Old Non-Competitive Runner

Left bundle branch block (LBBB) is an electrocardiogram (EKG) abnormality that represents disruption of the normal electrical conduction system. While commonly found in patients with cardiomyopathies, it may manifest even in the absence of any other cardiac disease. Transient LBBB is likely a common intermediate step in the progression from a normal EKG to chronic LBBB. Given that a chronic LBBB portends poor outcomes, transient LBBB may be an early indication to initiate cardiopulmonary evaluation. We present a case of a 29-year-old Caucasian male with multiple admissions for chest pain which progressed from a normal EKG to transient LBBB, to chronic LBBB over a 2-year period. J Med Cases. 2017;8(3):86-89 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc2760w
Phosphoproteomics links glycogen synthase kinase-3 to RNA splicing

Protein kinases play essential biological roles by phosphorylating a diverse range of signaling molecules, but deciphering their direct physiological targets remains a challenge. A new study by Shinde et al. uses phosphoproteomics to identify glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) substrates in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), providing a broad profile of GSK-3 activity and defining a new role for this central kinase in regulating RNA splicing.
Enantiomeric dissection of the effects of the inotropic agent, EMD 53998, in single cardiac myocytes.

The effects of the thiadiazinone derivative, 5-\[1-(3,4-dimethoxybenzoyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrochinolin-6-yl]-6-met hyl-3,6- dihydro-2H-1,3,4-thiadiazin-2-on (EMD 53998), and of its (+)EMD 57033 and (-)EMD 57439 enantiomers, were tested on the contractile properties and cytosolic [Ca2+\] ([Ca2+]i) transients of single intact guinea pig cardiac myocytes. Cells were loaded with the ester form of the fluorescent probe, indo-1, and bathed in a N-2-hydroxyethyl-piperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid-buffered solution at 25 degrees C (1 mM of CaCl2, 1 Hz stimulation rate). All three substances exerted a pronounced increase in twitch amplitude: the maximal effect of the racemate (380% of control value) was approximately the sum of the effects of its two enantiomers (186 and 236% of control value for the (+)- and (-)-enantiomer, respectively). The [Ca2+]i transient, measured as the 410-to-490 nm indo-1 fluorescence ratio transient after excitation, was increased by the racemate and its (-)-enantiomer (172 and 152% of control value, respectively), but was not increased by the (+)-enantiomer. The racemate and the (-)-enantiomer, but not the (+)-enantiomer, markedly reduced the contraction duration and [Ca2+]i transient duration. In unstimulated cells resting length was significantly reduced by the (+)-enantiomer, and this was accompanied by a decrease in indo-1 fluorescence; the (-)-enantiomer had no effect on either parameter. In the presence of 2,3 butanedione monoxime (BDM), which markedly reduces twitch amplitude by inhibiting cross-bridge mechanics, addition of the (+)-enantiomer restored the twitch contraction to above the pre-BDM level without augmenting the [Ca2+]i transient. In contrast, the (-)-enantiomer failed to reverse the BDM-induced contractile depression, even though it caused a significant increase of the [Ca2+]i transient. Thus, in intact cells the positive inotropic effect of EMD 53998 is due to specific properties of its enantiomers: the (-)-enantiomer has adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate-like effects (increase in amplitude and reduction of [Ca2+]i transient and contraction durations), whereas the (+)-enantiomer enhances the myofilament-Ca2+ interaction.
World War I: Militarization of Chemistry

The opening act of the toxic gases deployment took place at the early months of WWI, when the French army fired tear gas grenades (filled with ethyl bromoacetate) against German soldiers (August 1914) [1].
New guidelines for managing hypercholesterolemia.

Objective: To summarize for pharmacists the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III), recently issued guidelines for managing hypercholesterolemia, from the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP). Data Sources: Executive summary of ATP III, and other pertinent literature as determined by the author. Study Selection: Not applicable. Data Extraction: By the author. Data Synthesis: Like previous guidelines issued by NCEP, ATP III focuses on lowering of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) as a primary focus and using exercise, diet, and pharmacotherapy as a primary means of lowering patients' coronary heart disease (CHD) risks. The new guidelines recognize LDL-C levels of less than 100 mg/dL as optimal for all patients, and increase attention on high triglyceride levels (above 200 mg/dL). ATP III places more emphasis on identifying patients at risk for CHD and CHD events (e.g., myocardial infarctions, revascularization procedures). To apply the recommendations of ATP III in pharmaceutical care practice, pharmacists should follow a six-step process: (1) Assess the patient's lipid profile (full panel, not just total cholesterol); (2) assess and categorize the patient's CHO risk (using a point system reflecting the levels of risk inherent in certain factors); (3) establish treatment goals and approaches (the greater the risk, the more aggressive the management); (4) initiate therapeutic lifestyle changes (including new recommendations for low intake of saturated fats and dietary cholesterol); (5) initiate LDL-C lowering drug therapy (often with combination therapy); and (6) consider other lipid factors (particularly hypertriglyceridemia and the metabolic syndrome). Conclusion: Most patients who begin lipid-lowering therapy stop it within 1 year, and only about one-third of patients reach treatment goals. The release of the ATP III guidelines provides pharmacists a great opportunity to enhance pharmaceutical care services directed specifically at patients with hyperlipidemia.
Hox genes and annelid-arthropod relationships

The title of this paper is the same as the provisional title of the topic upon which I was asked to speak at this symposium. I can think of no better title, nor can I think of a worse one. For the phrasing of the title implies that annelids have some special relationship to arthropods, such as that formalized by Cuvier nearly 200 years ago with his Phylum Articulata. It also might imply that homeobox genes can either provide insights into how overtly tagmatized arthropods evolved from a presumably homonomous, annelid-like ancestor, a scenario advanced by Snodgrass (1938), or at least furnish data pertinent to resolving annelid—arthropod relationships. Upon closer examination, an a priori juxtaposition of annelids, arthropods, and homeoboxes has no logical justification. There is evidence that annelids and arthropods are not sister groups (Tiegs and Manton, 1958; Eernisse et al., 1992; Raff, 1994). Furthermore, the utility of homeobox genes as a source of systematic characters is an open question.
Nutrition Label Use and Its Association With Dietary Quality Among Latinos: The Roles of Poverty and Acculturation.

Abstract Objective To investigate how acculturation and poverty are independently and jointly associated with the use of the Nutrition Facts panel (nutrition label) and to examine the extent to which nutrition label use moderates the association of poverty and acculturation on dietary quality among Latinos. Design Cross-sectional analysis of the 2007/2008 and 2009/2010 waves of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Participants A total of 3,696 adults (aged >19 years) self-identified as Latino/Hispanic with food label use data from the most recent Consumer Behavior Phone Follow-Up Modules. Main Outcome Measure(s) Nutrition label use and dietary quality. Analysis Logistic regression. Results Acculturation moderated the association of income on the likelihood of using nutrition labels, such that lower-income English-speaking Latinos were half as likely as higher-income English-speakers to use nutrition labels (P = .01, odds ratio [OR] = 0.44, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.24–0.81); however, Spanish speakers were equally likely to use nutrition labels across income levels (P = .99; OR = 1.00; 95% CI, 0.77–1.31). Nutrition label use moderated the association of acculturation on diet. Among English-speaking Latinos, those who read nutrition labels had less than half the risk for poor diet (P =.001; OR = 0.43; 95% CI, 0.26–0.69); however, label use was not significantly associated with the diet quality of Spanish speakers (P = .07; OR = 0.82; 95% CI, 0.67–1.02). Nutrition label use decreased the risk for poor dietary quality regardless of poverty status. Conclusions and Implications Overall, results demonstrated a positive association between the use of the Nutrition Facts panel for Latinos and dietary quality. An important nutrition education strategy among bicultural Latinos at risk for a poor diet as a result of acculturation may include label reading comprehension. This approach may also address the low rates of label use. The study provides evidence of segmented assimilation in which low-income, bicultural Latinos follow an underclass pattern of acculturation demonstrated by a lower likelihood of reading nutrition labels and higher-income, bicultural Latinos follow the more successful selective pattern.
Trachelectomy for reproductive-aged women with early-stage cervical cancer: minimally invasive surgery versus laparotomy.

Background A recent trial demonstrated decreased survival in women with early-stage cervical cancer who underwent radical hysterectomy via minimally invasive surgery compared with laparotomy; however, outcomes following trachelectomy have yet to be studied. Objective To examine trends, characteristics, and survival of reproductive-aged women with early-stage cervical cancer who underwent minimally invasive trachelectomy. Study Design This is a retrospective study examining the National Cancer Database between 2010 and 2015. Women aged Results A total of 246 women were included, 144 (58.5%, 95% confidence interval, 52.4%–64.7%) of whom had trachelectomy with a minimally invasive surgery approach. Median age was similar between the minimally invasive surgery and laparotomy groups (median, 31 vs 29 years, P = .20). There was a significant increase in the use of minimally invasive surgery from 29.3% in 2010 to 75.0% in 2015 (P Conclusion Minimally invasive surgery has become the dominant modality for trachelectomy in reproductive-aged women with stage IA2-IB cervical cancer after year 2011. Survival of women with stage IA2-IB cervical cancer who underwent trachelectomy is generally good regardless of surgical modality. Although our study showed no difference in survival between the minimally invasive surgery and laparotomy approaches, effects of MIS on survival remain unknown and further study is warranted.
The pornified presidency: hyper-masculinity and the pornographic style in U.S. political rhetoric

Donald Trump’s success in the 2016 election, despite allegations of sexual assault and sexual harassment, raises questions about how he survived the type of political scandal that traditionally sin...
Word skipping during the lexical acquisition process.

During reading, most words are identified in the fovea through a direct fixation; however, readers also identify some words in the parafovea without directly fixating them. This word skipping proce...
The AB5 Experiment – Should States Adopt California’s Worker Classification Law?

A worker’s classification as either independent contractor or employee drives whether a worker is entitled to minimum wage, overtime, worker’s compensation, unemployment compensation, anti-discrimination protection, NLRA protections, and many other safety-net protections. During COVID-19, unemployment protections were extended to independent contractors, but this is not the norm and likely will not continue post-pandemic. Classifying certain workers, particularly those who work in the gig economy, is challenging, so states are looking for an answer – either through their own innovation or through that of other states. California’s answer was AB5. AB5’s goals were to correct misclassification issues for app-based drivers and other workers. A plethora of workers including court reporters, freelance writers and photographers, coaches, truckers, performing artists (mimes, magicians, comedians, etc.), and musicians rebuked AB5. AB5 is well known beyond California’s borders as it received, and continues to receive, nationwide attention because it reclassified app-based drivers (such as Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, etc.) as employees. This reclassification was ineffectual because Uber’s Prop 22 passed in November 2020 rendering app-based drivers exempt from California’s worker classification law. As Justice Brandeis said, one of the benefits of federalism is that states can act as “laboratories of democracy.” Experimental federalism can provide for collective learning across the states if they are all experimenting, but often states look to one another for innovative solutions so that they can free-ride instead of experiment. Some states that are looking for an improved worker classification law seek to learn from, and potentially free-ride on, California’s AB5 “experiment.” In considering whether to adopt AB5 or a similar statute, states should consider, at a minimum, three factors: relevancy of the law to their state, ease in obtaining information about the law, and the costs to adopt, implement, and enforce the law. This article assists policymakers and interest groups by providing a detailed look at the AB5 experiment including the impact of Uber’s Prop 22. This article applies the aforementioned three factors and determines that California’s law, while well-intentioned is likely not valuable for, or adoptable by, other states or the federal government partly because it contains 109 exemptions. Ultimately, this article concludes that to maximize the benefits of experimental federalism, a group of states, both homogenous and heterogenous to California, should experiment with more novel approaches to reach a more optimal solution to worker (mis)classification. Adopting California’s worker classification law will result in states following a sub-optimal law and delay states from reaching a better solution. Workers need protections, but California’s worker classification law does not sufficiently satisfy this need.
A Robust, Relaxation–Free Multiphysics Iteration Scheme for CMFD–Accelerated Neutron Transport k–Eigenvalue Calculations–I: Theory

This paper presents a new robust scheme for coupled physics nuclear reactor calculations. We focus specifically on high-fidelity whole-core transport calculations with coarse mesh finite difference...
Modifying Polydiacetylene Vesicle Compositions to Reduce Non-Specific Interactions

Polydiacetylene (PDA) vesicles provide useful stimuli-responsive behavior as well as by the modular structure afford a means for the design of sensing and delivery systems with tunable target specificity. To reduce inherent non-specific interaction with either anionic or cationic formulations of polydiacetylene vesicles, we explored the use of various lengths of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) amphiphiles for integration and polymerization within PDA vesicles. Our results established that as little as 1% of polyethylene glycol amphiphile integration into anionic vesicles was sufficient to significantly reduce non-specific association with mammalian cells. Similarly integrating a low percent of PEG amphiphile content within cationic vesicles could also significantly reduce non-specific cell association, and moreover reduced cytotoxicity. These results may be prove useful in augmenting PDA vesicles formulations for reduced non-specific interaction which is of particularly interest to enhancing selectivity in vesicles designed with integrated targeting moieties for sensing and drug delivery applications.
Evaluation and Management of Delirium

Delirium, sometimes referred to as encephalopathy, is an acute confusional state that is both common in hospitalized patients and associated with poor outcomes. For patients, families, and caregivers, delirium can be a traumatic experience. While delirium is one of the most common diagnoses encountered by the consulting neurologist, the majority of the time it will have been previously unrecognized as such by the care team. Neurologic syndromes such as dementia or aphasia can either be misdiagnosed as delirium or may coexist with it, necessitating careful neurologic assessment. Once the diagnosis of delirium has been established, a careful evaluation for predisposing and precipitating factors can help uncover modifiable contributors, which should be addressed as part of a multicomponent, primarily nonpharmacologic intervention. Importantly, delirium management, which begins with comprehensive prevention, should emphasize the humanity of the delirious patient and the challenges of caring for this vulnerable population. When considered, delirium represents an important opportunity for the neurologist to substantially enhance patient care.