cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aging Characteristics of Ferroelectric Epitaxial BaTiO3/YBa2Cu3O7 Heterostructures

The nature of ferroelectric aging of epitaxial BaTiO3YBa2Cu3O7 heterostructures grown by laser deposition was investigated as a function of rricrostructure in the dielctric layer. Molar amounts of SrTiO3 were then substitutionally added to analyze the effect on the rnicrostructure and electrical properties. Corresponding shifts in c/a ratio and curie temperature were correlated to changes in aging rate (%δC/decade time). Microstructural analysis was provided by high-resolution x-ray diffraction (HRXRD), and Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS). Results indicate a moderate upward shift in c/a ratios from theoretical values due to increasing lattice strain across the bilayer interface. Minimum channel yields in RBS spectra were maintained between 6-8% for BaTiO3 purities above 60 %. Dielectric measurements were conducted using an impedance analyzer equipped with an isothermal chamber capable of maintaining ±1°C. The dielectric properies were consistent with c-axis oriented BaTiO3 values (k=120, D=.02)Minimum aging rates are observed at the lower c/a ratio compositions to be as low as.07%δC/decade.
The Effects of Hacienda Culture on the Gendered Division of Labor within the Charro Community

This research examines how public performance and participation performance groups relate to gendered division of labor in the private sector within a particular Mexican subgroup. Literature on the gendered division of labor focuses on married couples but ignores men’s social networks such as hypermasculine performance groups. This article will analyze Charro communities in Mexico. Charros, in this study, are Mexican urban horsemen that incorporate a rural or hacienda culture to both their public performances of masculinity, and those they perform within private households. Regardless of their exposure to urbanized gendered ideologies, Charro community members’ traditional perceptions of gender coincide with those of hacienda culture. I conducted an ethnographic participatory observation and in-depth interviews with women and men of the Charro community. I analyzed the interactions between Charros, their performances, their practice sessions, and their personal lives and beliefs to consider how hacienda culture may produce particular views of gendered divisions of labor in the household.
Analysis on the current status of overweight and obesity in institution staff in Wuhan

Objective To investigate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in institution staff in Wuhan.Methods A total of 700 objects in Wuhan city was selected by cluster random sampling method.Questionnaire-based survey and physical examination were pereformed.Results The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were 27.34% and8.17% respectively.More specifically,prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were 37.89% and 11.49% in men,17.66% and 5.13% in women.Overweight /obesity was more often in middle-aged,married men with lower education.Conclusion The prevalence of overweight and obesity are 30.00% relatively high in institutions staff in Wuhan,therefore effective intervention should be emphasized to prevent related diseases.
Biological characteristics of Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated from different sources in Maanshan City

Objective To explore the pathogenic and molecular biological characteristics of Vibrio parahaemo.Methods V.parahaemolyticus from market food,food poisoning specimen and clinical specimen were isolated,cultured and identified.Urease production,Kanagawa phenomenon and antibiotic resistance test were determined.PCR was used to detect the existence of tlh,tdh and trh gene.Pulsed field gel electrophoresis(PFGE) was used as molecular typing method.Results Seventeen and 20 strains were positive in urease production and Kanagawa phenomenon test.The resistance rate of the strains to Cefazolin and Ampicillin were 95% and 69% respectively.All the V.parahaemolyticus were sensitive to Amikacin Cefoperazone / Subactam Ceftazidime Cefepime Cefotaxime Gentamicin Imipenem Levofloxacin Piperacillin / Tazobactam Meropenem Thirty-six,29 and 0 V.parahaemolyticus strains were positive in tlh,tdh and trh detection.Nineteen pulsotypes were identified in all of the 40 strains.Conclusion V.parahaemolyticus isolated in Ma’anshan were sensitive to most of the antibiotics tests.Most of the strains were negative in the detection of virulence gene.The result of PFGE indicated that a predominant pulsotype of V.parahaemolyticus was in this city.However,no sign of endemic of parahaemolyticus related disease was observed.
NONLINEAER STUDY ON DYNAMIC ACTION OF INTEGRATED DRILL STRING-WELL ROCK SYSTEM

In the process of drilling well, the kinematics of drill string is quite complicated. The drill string not only vibrates in longitudinal, transverse and torsional direction, but also random impacts and contacts well wall. Considering random load of drill bit and rock, contact impact of drill string and well wall, nonlinear dynamic model of drill string system coupling longi- tudinal, transverse and torsional vibration is set up, numerical method of parameter of high nonlinear dynamic model is stud- ied, kinematics law, mechanical property of drill string are dis- cussed. This can establish foundation for nonlinear dynamic theory of drill string system coupling vibration in the actual work condition, and has important theory significance and aca- demic value.
Investigations on influence of two methods on detection of EV71 virus

Objective:To compare the effects of the method of RT-PCR and RD cell-virus separation on detection of EV71 virus.Methods:Positive samples were sorted out with the method of RT-PCR and RD cell-virus separation from 151 samples,respectively.The statistic analysis was established in different classifications and total positive rates were also compared.The difference between the two methods were compared.Results:Comparing the statistics of the two different methods in different classifications,RD cell-virus separation and RT-PCR were both effective in detecting the positive samples.There is no statistical significance(P0.05).The positive rates of RD cell-virus separation and RT-PCR are 38.41% and 26.49%,respectively.There is statistical significance(χ2=4.89,P﹤0.05).Conclusion:The method of RT-PCR could be used in detecting EV71 virus and making statistical analysis in different classifications.However,as for the total positive rate of the year,the method of RD cell-virus separation should be used to make statistical analysis.
Involvement of the NMDA System in Learning and Memory

Since its discovery in the early 1950s, the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor system in the brain has been implicated in many fundamental functions, including neuronal plasticity, neurotoxicity, learning, and memory (Riedel et al., 2003). The aim of this chapter is to summarize the current findings on the role of glutamate-receptor systems in learning and memory in different animal models and humans. The structure, localization, and pharmacology of these receptors will not be discussed in this chapter. For those who are interested in these particular topics, we refer them to an excellent recent review (Riedel et al., 2003).
Radical Cation and Neutral Radical of Aza-Thia[7]helicene with SOMO-HOMO Energy Level Inversion

We report a relatively persistent, open-shell aza-thia[7]helicene with cross-conjugated electron-rich π-system. The singly occupied molecular orbital (SOMO) energy levels of both radical cation and neutral radical of the [7]helicene are below the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy levels, thereby violating the Aufbau principle. The aza-thia[7]helicene is prepared from β-hexathiophene by a three-step one-pot reaction, in which the pyrrole ring is constructed by two consecutive C–N bond formations. Chemical oxidation converts the helicene to its radical cation, while in the presence of base (Cs2CO3), the oxidation gives neutral aminyl radical, likely via proton dissociation from the aminium radical cation with a low pKa. Reaction of the aza-thia[7]helicene with NaH provides the corresponding anion, which shows characteristic cyclic voltammetry wave at anodic peak potential Epa ≈ +0.2 V. Chemical oxidation of the anion with ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate at room temperature gives persistent ne...
Aerobic Dive Limit

It seems to me that one of the most important objectives of diving physiology would be the ability to predict the limit of duration of aerobic dives by aquatic tetrapods. Such predictability would be a valuable asset in understanding the behavior of the animals and their ecology. In addition, such a prediction capacity would require a considerable understanding of the physiology of the animals, particularly partitioning of O2 stores and their management. The following chapter with its crude estimates indicates in a broad way the strengths and weaknesses of our present information on diving physiology and management of O2 stores.
The green‐eyed monster: Mate value, relational uncertainty, and jealousy in romantic relationships

This study drew on theories of evolutionary psychology to explore whether mate value discrepancy (MVD) would be associated with relational uncertainty (and its subconstructs) and if relative mate value (RMV) would moderate these associations, such that they would only be significant for lower value mates. Additionally, this article sought to examine whether relational uncertainty would partially mediate an association between MVD and jealousy, also moderated by RMV. Participants recruited from a large Southwestern university (N = 334) completed a survey containing measures to establish MVD, relational uncertainty, and jealousy. MVD was significantly positively associated with relational uncertainty and each of its subconstructs. Relational uncertainty partially mediated the association between MVD and jealousy, although moderation was not supported in any hypotheses.
Chromatographic Analysis of Inks for Forensic Science Applications.

This article reviews the use of chromatography for the separation and comparison of ink components. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) is the standard chromatographic procedure presently employed for the comparison of inks. Thin layer chromatography systems are described for the separation of different types of ink. The greater sensitivity and resolution offered by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) make it an attractive alternative to TLC for ink analysis, and recent work in this field is also outlined. Both techniques have been used for the measurement of changes occurring in the composition of inks with time, as a means of determining the age of an ink. Related analytical techniques, recent research, and future trends in ink analysis are also described.
Abstract 3708: Targeting synthetic lethality with PARP inhibition in colorectal cancer

Background: Small molecule poly ADP-ribose (PAR) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (PARPi) purportedly result in DNA damage and are promising agents in the treatment of cancer. In a quest to identify best “synthetic lethality” for treatment, we have screened various combination therapies in colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines. In addition, we have interrogated if the presence of microsatellite instability (MSI) status favor susceptibility of cells to synthetic lethality and thus acts as a prognostic marker of combination therapy. Methods: Using the SRB assay, the 12 combinations of the PARPi, veliparib (V), rucaparib (R), olaparib (Ol) and PJ34, and the cytotoxic drugs, irinotecan (I), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and oxaliplatin (Ox) were screened in HCT116 and LIM2405 cell lines. We assessed the effect of the combination using the CalcuSyn software for combination index (CI). We next evaluated the effectiveness and sequence dependence of combination in an additional 2 cell lines that had MSI status (RKO and HCT15) and 2 that had microsatellite stable (MSS) status (HT29 and SW837) and in 7 HCT116 isogenic lines (mutants of Bax, p21, p53, PTEN, Kras and DNMT and wild type of PIK). The combination of I and R was confirmed by FACS analysis in HCT116 and LIM2405. Results: Ol and R showed synergy in combination with I, whereas, V and PJ34 showed antagonism with Ox, including in Ox-sensitive cells. Single agent cytotoxicity was observed at 200nM for R, whereas V required more than 30uM. Early PARP-1 protein upregulation was observed upon Ox administration; but the changes were not reversed with either R or V. Nevertheless, R at 200nM and V 1uM significantly reduced PAR formation in Ox-sensitive cell lines. FACS analysis showed S phase arrest in SW837 (MSS) (p = 0.03) whereas G2-M arrest was observed in LIM2405 (MSI) (non-significant) upon treatment with R 400nM and I 200nM. In addition, studies using isogenic cell lines revealed the importance of p21, p53 and PTEN in exerting synergistic effect while combining R and I. Administration of I prior to R (24h each) was more cytotoxic than vice versa and simultaneous treatment in MSI cell lines. Conclusion: Among the various combinations studied, R with I was the most synergistic. The effect appears to be more pronounced when I precedes R, particularly in MSI cell lines. Alteration in cell cycle is MSI status dependent. Further work to identify mechanism of synergy is ongoing. Citation Format: Titto Augustine, Radhashree Maitra, Jinghang Zhang, Jay Nayak, Sanjay Goel. Targeting synthetic lethality with PARP inhibition in colorectal cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3708.
Morphological considerations of organic electronic films for flexible and stretchable devices

In the development of high-performance organic electronics, there has been significant effort in establishing relationships between microstructure and electronic properties, which has provided a deeper understanding of device operation and has guided performance improvements. When considering flexible and stretchable organic electronics, the mechanical behavior of the active layers becomes a critical attribute alongside electronic functionality. Thus, there is a need to establish the role of film morphology on both electronic properties and thermomechanical behavior, and the relationship between mechanical and electronic properties. In this article, we highlight recent advances in establishing these important relationships and the approaches employed to manage film morphology to optimize both mechanical behavior and device performance. Additionally, in stretchable applications, the film morphology may not be static, and capturing the microstructure changes under deformation is necessary to establish structure–property relationships over the expected physical operating space. Thus, also discuss film morphology change under large deformation for various stretchable film approaches.
Urothelial Carcinoma in a 22-Year-Old Female with Angelman Syndrome

A 22-year-old nulligravid white female with Angelman syndrome was noted to have a 4-month history of premenstrual nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. She had an echogenic focus in her bladder noted on ultrasound. She was diagnosed with low grade urothelial carcinoma after cystoscopic evaluation with biopsy and was sent to urology for further treatment. Urothelial carcinoma is rare in individuals younger than age 40. Patients may present with gross hematuria. There is often a delay in diagnosis in younger individuals with different genetic mutations noted upon diagnosis.
Approximating Language Edit Distance Beyond Fast Matrix Multiplication: Ultralinear Grammars Are Where Parsing Becomes Hard!

In 1975, a breakthrough result of L. Valiant showed that parsing context free grammars can be reduced to Boolean matrix multiplication, resulting in a running time of O(n^omega) for parsing where omega <= 2.373 is the exponent of fast matrix multiplication, and n is the string length. Recently, Abboud, Backurs and V. Williams (FOCS 2015) demonstrated that this is likely optimal; moreover, a combinatorial o(n^3) algorithm is unlikely to exist for the general parsing problem. The language edit distance problem is a significant generalization of the parsing problem, which computes the minimum edit distance of a given string (using insertions, deletions, and substitutions) to any valid string in the language, and has received significant attention both in theory and practice since the seminal work of Aho and Peterson in 1972. Clearly, the lower bound for parsing rules out any algorithm running in o(n^omega) time that can return a nontrivial multiplicative approximation of the language edit distance problem. Furthermore, combinatorial algorithms with cubic running time or algorithms that use fast matrix multiplication are often not desirable in practice. To break this n^omega hardness barrier, in this paper we study additive approximation algorithms for language edit distance. We provide two explicit combinatorial algorithms to obtain a string with minimum edit distance with performance dependencies on either the number of non-linear productions, k^*, or the number of nested non-linear production, k, used in the optimal derivation. Explicitly, we give an additive O(k^*gamma) approximation in time O(|G|(n^2 + (n/gamma)^3)) and an additive O(k gamma) approximation in time O(|G|(n^2 + (n^3/gamma^2))), where |G| is the grammar size and n is the string length. In particular, we obtain tight approximations for an important subclass of context free grammars known as ultralinear grammars, for which k and k^* are naturally bounded. Interestingly, we show that the same conditional lower bound for parsing context free grammars holds for the class of ultralinear grammars as well, clearly marking the boundary where parsing becomes hard!
Focus small to find big - the microbeam story.

AbstractPurpose: Even though the first ultraviolet microbeam was described by S. Tschachotin back in 1912, the development of sophisticated micro-irradiation facilities only began to flourish in the late 1980s. In this article, we highlight significant microbeam experiments, describe the latest microbeam irradiator configurations and critical discoveries made by using the microbeam apparatus.Materials and methods: Modern radiological microbeams facilities are capable of producing a beam size of a few micrometers, or even tens of nanometers in size, and can deposit radiation with high precision within a cellular target. In the past three decades, a variety of microbeams has been developed to deliver a range of radiations including charged particles, X-rays, and electrons. Despite the original intention for their development to measure the effects of a single radiation track, the ability to target radiation with microbeams at sub-cellular targets has been extensively used to investigate radiation-induced bi...
Mucormycosis pathogenesis: Beyond Rhizopus.

In the last two decades, extensive research has greatly expanded our knowledge of the pathogenesis of the deadly mold infection, mucormycosis.1 Clinically, mucormycosis occurs in patients who have ...
The role of H19, a long non-coding RNA, in mouse liver postnatal maturation.

H19 RNA is highly expressed at early postnatal ages and precipitously decreases at a specific time corresponding with increases in expression of genes important for mature liver function, such as drug metabolizing enzymes. H19’s role in the regulation of liver maturation is currently unknown. Using an H19 knockout mouse model to determine the role of H19 in liver development, we quantified gene expression for insulin growth factor signaling, Wnt signaling, key cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes known to change as the liver develops, and fetal and adult plasma protein produced in liver. In mice lacking H19 expression, liver weights were significantly increased immediately after birth and significant increases were found in the number of actively proliferating cells. Increases in cell proliferation may be due to increases in β-catenin protein affecting Wnt signaling, increases in insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) expression, and/or increases in insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) expression at the protein level. Loss of targeted inhibition of IGF1R by microRNA 675 (miR-675) may be the cause of IGF1R increases, as miR-675 expression is also abrogated with loss of H19 expression in our model. P450 expression patterns were largely unchanged. No change in the production of plasma proteins was found, indicating H19 may not be important for liver maturation despite its role in controlling cell proliferation during liver growth. H19 may be important for normal liver development, and understanding how the liver matures will assist in predicting drug efficacy and toxicity in pediatric populations.
Before Cultural Competence

This chapter creatively portrays how the emotionality of whiteness can stifle culturally competent counseling practices. By using narratives and critical race theory’s counterstorytelling, the chapter illustrates three various scenarios where the emotionality of whiteness enacts. This chapter seeks to provide counselors ways in which they can understand the emotionality of whiteness especially since a majority of counselors are white with an ever-increasing diverse clientele.
Sublethal and lethal effects of confinement of Caribbean spiny lobsters, Panulirus argus, in ghost traps

Ghost fishing occurs when lost or abandoned fishing gear continues to capture animals, resulting in lethal and sublethal effects. Though ghost fishing by lost traps is a known cause of lobster mortality in the Florida lobster trap fishery, the sublethal effects of long-term confinement in these traps remains largely unknown. Here, we examine the nutritional condition and overall health (e.g., incidence of injuries and disease) via three assays: a field survey to compare nutritional condition and overall health of lobsters in existing ghost traps to natural shelters via blood serum protein (BSP) and hepatopancreas dry weight indices (DWI); a field experiment to monitor the effects of confinement on individual lobsters over time; and a laboratory experiment to simulate starvation and recovery of the BSP of lobsters associated with confinement and escape from traps. Overall, lobsters in existing ghost traps were in poorer nutritional condition, had a higher prevalence of injuries and shell disease, and were lethargic. There was a clear deterioration of the health and increased mortality of lobsters as confinement duration increased in our experimental ghost traps. After 2 wks, BSP of lobsters decreased by 23.7%; lobsters in this poor nutritional condition were less likely to escape and more likely to die in traps. Laboratory experiments indicate that if escape does occur, recovery may be slow or unlikely. Our study highlights the drastic sublethal effects of long-term confinement in ghost fishing traps on lobsters and the need for further research on ways to mitigate these effects.
POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF NANOENERGETICS

Nanoenergetics has the potential to become the next generation of explosives and propellants. Nano-explosives often show better performances in terms of energy release, ignition and mechanical properties compared to their bulk counterparts. In addition to monomolecular explosives such as nano-TNT and nano-RDX, diverse energetic nanocomposites have been developed, including the nanometer-sized versions of conventional thermites (nanothermites) and those using carbon-based nanomaterials (e.g., fullerenes and carbon nanotubes). While the unique characteristics of nanomaterials allow groundbreaking applications, they also result in distinct environmental fate, transport and toxicity. The high surface to volume ratio and reactivity of nanomaterials make them highly dynamic in environmental systems. Once released in the environment, nanoenergetic chemicals will undergo transportation and transformation processes including dissolution, aggregation, adsorption, photolysis and biotransformation, which will also affect their persistence and bioavailability. This review was conducted to better understand the potential environmental fate and ecological impact of the use of nanoenergetics.
Precision Crack-Off of Ceramics

The “pinch-off” or crack-off of brittle materials was discovered in the early 1900’s by P. W. Bridgman (Bridgman, 1912; 1949) while examining the rupture of solids at high pressure. In Bridgman’s experiments, a glass rod was exposed to lateral fluid pressure while the two ends were kept free from pressure by using packing seals as in figure 1. At a certain pressure the rod broke and the divided parts were pushed out of the pressure chamber violently. The fracture surface formed was smooth and perpendicular to the axis of the rod. For brittle materials such as glass, the rupture was found to occur on a “perfectly” clean plane perpendicular to the axis. On the other hand, for ductile materials such as soft steel, copper, or aluminum, there was a significant contraction at the plane of breakage similar to the “necking” instability observed in tensile test specimens. The pressure at which this instability occurred under lateral pressure was found to be exactly the same as the stress at which necking occurred in a uniaxial tension test. The general features of the rupture phenomenon are well described by Bridgman who describes the failure during “pinching-off” as arising due to the axial tensile strain created in the solid by the lateral pressure on the curved surface. However, this does not address the question of dependence of the pressure at fracture on the surface state of a brittle solid, a fact pointed out by Bridgman himself. After Bridgman’s discovery, the crack-off effect was little investigated until the 60’s when Jaeger and Cook (1963) investigated this phenomenon in the context of the drilling of rocks. In the mid-70’s and 80’s there were several studies of this effect mainly directed at developing it as a process for slicing brittle materials, see for example Sato and Naoyuki (1975), Chandrasekar and Shaw (1988) and Santhanam (1989). Some Russian studies into this effect are briefly summarized in Cherepanov (1979).
Chapter 13 – Cardiovascular Interventions

The capacity to address cardiovascular malformations and other age-related defects has had a direct impact on patient lifetimes. More sophisticated and nuanced schemes of intervention are looking to repair tissues as much as directly replace them. Cardiac defects include valves that can lead inadequate seal pressures, other defects that can lead to regurgitation and arrhythmias. In middle-aged patients, the issues relating to coronary artery blockages and arteriosclerosis lead to a need to replace or graft these structures to isolate or bypass the blockages. Fixes have included stents, valves, and vascular grafts. Improved remote surgical interventions and catheter-based procedures are going to be increasingly more common due to the fact that they have much faster recovery times. It is worth noting that in cardiovascular medicine, transplants are also a viable alternative to synthetic approaches.
An ultra-low voltage chaos-based true random number generator for IoT applications

Abstract Low-power consumption and low-voltage operation are critical enabling features for Internet of Things (IoT) devices that are powered from energy harvesting. This paper presents a chaos-based true random number generator (TRNG) that can operate at an ultra-low voltage (ULV) and be integrated into energy-constrained IoT devices for secure communications. Folded Bernoulli maps are adopted for random number generation. Switched-capacitor chaotic circuits utilize bulk-driven amplifiers to mitigate gate leakage issue, two-stage comparators to increase voltage headroom, and low-complexity calibration schemes to ensure robustness. This system covers a wide range of process and temperature variations while consuming 142 nW from a 0.4 V supply at a bit rate of 10 kb/s. The generated bits pass National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Pub-800.22 randomness tests successfully.
Identification of Ebola Virus Inhibitors Targeting GP2 Using Principles of Molecular Mimicry.

A key step in the Ebola virus (EBOV) replication cycle involves conformational changes in viral glycoprotein 2 (GP2) which facilitate host-viral membrane fusion and subsequent release of the viral genome. Ebola GP2 plays a critical role in virus entry and has similarities in mechanism and structure to the HIV gp41 protein for which inhibitors have been successfully developed. In this work, a putative binding pocket for the C-terminal heptad repeat in the N-terminal heptad repeat trimer was targeted for identification of small molecules that arrest EBOV-host membrane fusion. Two computational structure-based virtual screens of ∼1.7 M compounds were performed (DOCK program) against a GP2 five-helix bundle, resulting in 165 commercially available compounds purchased for experimental testing. Based on assessment of inhibitory activity, cytotoxicity, and target specificity, four promising candidates emerged with 50% inhibitory concentration values in the 3 to 26 μM range. Molecular dynamics simulations of the two most potent candidates in their DOCK-predicted binding poses indicate that the majority of favorable interactions involve seven highly conserved residues that can be used to guide further inhibitor development and refinement targeting EBOV.IMPORTANCE The most recent Ebola virus disease outbreak, from 2014 to 2016, resulted in approximately 28,000 individuals becoming infected, which led to over 12,000 causalities worldwide. The particularly high pathogenicity of the virus makes paramount the identification and development of promising lead compounds to serve as inhibitors of Ebola infection. To limit viral load, the virus-host membrane fusion event can be targeted through the inhibition of the class I fusion glycoprotein of Ebolavirus In the current work, several promising small-molecule inhibitors that target the glycoprotein GP2 were identified through systematic application of structure-based computational and experimental drug design procedures.
Organic video approach: Using new media to engage native youth in science

Can storytelling—a revered teaching tradition in many Native American cultures—be used to generate enthusiasm for science and technology among indigenous children and address the achievement gap that exists between Indian and non-Indian children? The Tribal Youth Science Initiative (TYSI) is an innovative new media project for young people, ages nine to fourteen, held at the community college on the Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO) Indian Reservation (Ojibwe) in northern Wisconsin. The participants in the one-week informal science project are local middle-school-age children who live within the LCO community. Each participant is part of a video production team whose objective is to produce a science-related news story that becomes part of a combined multimedia report for a fictional local news station, the “WLCO Science Report.” In the program, the video production process becomes a vehicle for science and media skill development. Local community elders and community-based natural-resource scientists from the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) generate science topics. Instructors from the University of Wisconsin—Madison Department of Life Sciences Communication and faculty from Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Community College (LCOOCC) use pedagogies that incorporate indigenous knowledge systems.1 In its inaugural year, the program and production areas focused on culturally significant resources like wild rice, fish, water, and the Chippewa flowage.
Predictors of 30-day readmission in Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis: A cross-sectional database study

Background The predictors of readmission in Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN) have not been characterized. Objective To determine the variables predictive of 30-day readmission after SJS/TEN hospitalization. Methods We performed a cross-sectional study of the 2010-2014 Nationwide Readmissions Database. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate associations of patient demographics, comorbidities, and hospital characteristics with readmission. Aggregate and per-readmission costs were calculated. Results There were 8837 index admissions with SJS/TEN reported; of these, 910 (10.3%) were readmitted, with diagnoses including systemic infection (22.0%), SJS/TEN (20.6%), and cutaneous infection (9.1%). Associated characteristics included age 45 to 64 years (odds ratio [OR], 1.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.43-2.49), Medicaid insurance (OR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.48-2.27), and nonmetropolitan hospital admission (OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.31-2.13). Associated comorbidities included HIV/AIDS (OR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.63-3.75), collagen vascular disease (OR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.88-3.00), and metastatic cancer (OR, 2.16; 95% CI, 1.35-3.46). The median per-readmission cost was $10,019 (interquartile range, $4,788-$16,485). Limitations The Nationwide Readmissions Database lacks the ability to track the same patient across calendar years. The diagnostic code lacks specificity for hospitalizations Conclusions Thirty-day readmissions after SJS/TEN hospitalizations are common. Dedicated efforts to identify at-risk patients may improve peridischarge continuity.
Identification of a novel monocytic phenotype in Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma tumor microenvironment

Classic Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL) characteristically shows few malignant cells in a microenvironment comprised of mixed inflammatory cells. Although CHL is associated with a high cure rate, recent studies have associated poor prognosis with absolute monocyte count in peripheral blood and increased monocyte/macrophages in involved lymph nodes. Thus, the role of monocytic infiltration and macrophage differentiation in the tumor microenvironment of CHL may be more relevant than absolute macrophage numbers to defining prognosis in CHL patients and potentially have therapeutic implications. Most studies identify tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) using markers (e.g., CD68) expressed by macrophages and other mononuclear phagocytes, such as monocytes. In contrast, Class A Scavenger Receptor (SR-A/CD204) is expressed by tissue macrophages but not monocytic precursors. In this study, we examined SR-A expression in CHL (n = 43), and compared its expression with that of other macrophage markers. We confirmed a high prevalence of mononuclear cells that stained with CD68, CD163, and CD14 in CHL lymph nodes. However, SR-A protein expression determined by immunohistochemistry was limited to macrophages localized in sclerotic bands characteristic of nodular sclerosis CHL. In contrast, SR-A protein was readily detectable in lymph nodes with metastatic tumor, extra-nodal CHL, T cell/histiocyte-rich large B cell lymphoma, and resident macrophages in non-malignant tissues, including spleen, lymph node, liver and lung. The results of SR-A protein expression paralleled the expression of SR-A mRNA determined by quantitative RT-PCR. These data provide evidence that tumor-infiltrating monocyte/macrophages in CHL have a unique phenotype that likely depends on the microenvironment of nodal CHL.
Point-of-care Ultrasound Diagnosis of Acute Abdominal Aortic Occlusion.

Author(s): Bloom, Benjamin; Gibbons, Ryan; Brandis, Dov; Costantino, Thomas G. | Abstract: Acute aortic occlusion is an emergent vascular condition not encountered routinely. Given its varied presentations, including neurovascular deficits and mimicking an acute abdomen, the diagnosis is often delayed causing increased morbidity and mortality. We present a case of acute abdominal aortic occlusion masquerading as sudden onset lower extremity pain and weakness in an 86-year-old female requiring emergent thrombectomy. This is only the second case report to discuss the use of point-of-care ultrasound to expedite diagnosis and management.1
Cardiovascular mortality after intensive LDL-Cholesterol lowering: Does baseline LDL-Cholesterol really matter?

Abstract It remains controversial whether reductions in cardiovascular mortality after intensive lowering of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) depend on baseline LDL-C levels. To reassess these findings, in this brief report, we performed an updated literature search through February 2020 and selected randomized controlled trials which reported cardiovascular mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) as outcomes. We included 53 randomized controlled trials (329,897 patients) of LDL-C lowering therapies (statin, ezetimibe and PCSK9 inhibitors) and stratified the meta-analysis according to the baseline LDL-C thresholds. Our meta-analysis found that each 38.7 ​mg/dL (1 ​mmol/L) lowering in LDL-C reduced the risk of cardiovascular mortality (RR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.81–0.89), but this varied by baseline LDL-C of those in the trials (P ​= ​0.04 for interaction). The risk reduction in cardiovascular mortality was limited to trials with baseline LDL-C of >100 ​mg/dL. In contrast, the reduction in MACE was independent of baseline LDL-C levels. These findings were consistent in primary and secondary prevention settings for both outcomes and by sex for MACE. Our results support the professional cholesterol guidelines which recommend achieving a ≥50% reduction in LDL-C from baseline for high-risk patients.
Calcium enhances polyplex-mediated transfection efficiency of plasmid DNA in Jurkat cells

Jurkat, an immortalized cell line derived from human leukemic T lymphocytes, has been employed as an excellent surrogate model of human primary T-cells for the advancement of T-cell biology and their applications in medicine. However, presumably due to its T-cell origin, Jurkat cells are very difficult to transfect. Thus, for the genetic modification of Jurkat cells, expensive and time-consuming viral vectors are normally required. Despite many previous efforts, non-viral vectors have not yet overcome the hurdles of low transfection efficiency and/or high toxicity in transfection of Jurkat cells. Here, we report that a simple addition of calcium ions (Ca2+) into culture media at optimal concentrations can enhance the efficiency of the polyplex-mediated transfection using poly(ethylene imine) (PEI) by up to 12-fold when compared to the polyplex-only control. We show that calcium enhances the association between polyplex and Jurkat, which is at least partially responsible for the increase in transmembrane delivery of polyplex and consequential enhancement in expression of transgene. Other cations, Mg2+ or Na+ did not show similar enhancement. Interestingly, addition of Ca2+ was rather detrimental for the transfection of lipoplex on Jurkat cells. Observation of significant enhancement in the transfection of non-viral vectors with a simple and physiologically relevant reagent like Ca2+ in the engineering of hard-to-transfect cells such as Jurkat warrants further investigation on similar strategies.
Regenerating mixed bottomland hardwood forests in north Missouri: Effects of harvest treatment on structure, composition, and growth through 15 years

Abstract Bottomland forest ecosystems provide important economic and ecological benefits within the midwestern and southern United States, yet silvicultural guidelines for reaching management objectives have been poorly developed outside the southeastern region. Bottomland hardwood forests are highly productive and dynamic ecosystems that contain a multitude of herbaceous and woody plant species and can support an abundance of wildlife throughout stand development. In particular, oak species are often favored for timber and wildlife values but may occur in low abundance due, in part, to challenges with regeneration. This study was designed to examine the structure and composition of a mixed bottomland hardwood forest (elm/ash/cottonwood) in northeast Missouri in response to two regeneration harvest treatments (i.e., clearcut with reserves and basal area retention) and one unharvested control through 15 years after harvest. Results indicate that clearcutting had a greater effect on subsequent forest composition and stand development than partial harvesting. In particular, the clearcutting treatment increased the relative basal area of American elm and relative abundance (trees per hectare) of green ash. Results suggest that the regeneration harvests did not increase the abundance of oak regeneration. However, the growth rates and the size of oak stems within the regeneration cohort were comparable to competing species, suggesting the oaks within the regeneration cohort presumably originated from advance reproduction. Thus, these results support the importance for establishing oak advance reproduction prior to regeneration harvest within bottomland forests.
An Overview of Statistics in Education

There have been numerous applications of statistical methods to the field of education, mostly in educational measurement. This article provides short descriptions of several topics in statistics that have found applications to education and provides examples of applications of some of these topics to education.
RECONSIDERING POOR LAW INSTITUTIONS BY VIRTUALLY RECONSTRUCTING AND RE-VIEWING AN EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY WORKHOUSE

There is a fine timber moulded cornice in a front room of the building that was once the House of Industry at Gressenhall, Norfolk, while along the eastern wing of the building one can still see the architectural features of an elegant open arcade. Why were such features included on a structure built to keep the poor at work, where residents spent their days making sacks, spinning, and working in the farm fields that surrounded the institution? Creating a digital 3D model of the 1777 House of Industry has allowed us to peel back the historical residue of the post-1834 Poor Law Union workhouse and re-engage the building's architectural features in their original context. The resulting building's peculiarly elegant characteristics reflect the emerging ambitions and defensiveness characteristic of the newly constituted ‘guardians of the poor’ who constructed it, while its permeable walls indicate considerably lower barriers between the workhouse and the outside world than is generally thought. By applying an innovative, digital humanities methodology to a significant social history topic, this article argues that virtual modelling and traditional archival research can together shape a new approach to the history of the Old Poor Law's institutions for the poor.
Membrane Fluidity and Compositional Changes in Response to High Temperature Stress in Wheat

Membranes are prime targets of high temperature stress in plants. Thus, cell membrane stability has been used as a measure of heat tolerance in wheat. Under optimal temperature conditions, membranes are lipid bilayers that are largely in fluid phase. High temperatures or dehydration can cause phase transitions of membranes to non-bilayer phases. In order to maintain optimal fluidity and stability of membranes under high temperature conditions, wheat plants alter lipid compositions and reduce unsaturation levels in the fatty acid chains. Besides altering the fatty acid chains synthesized, the composition of chloroplast and thylakoid membranes may be adjusted by adjusting the diacylglycerol species channeled from the endoplasmic reticulum to chloroplasts under heat stress conditions.
Prevalence and predictors of pacing‐induced cardiomyopathy in young adult patients (< 60 years) with pacemakers

INTRODUCTION Clinical trials and observational studies of pacing-induced cardiomyopathy (PICM) have largely included elderly patients with mean age >70 years. The prevalence and predictors of PICM in younger patients (age < 60 years) after pacemaker implantation are not known. METHODS Adults (18-59 years) who received single-chamber ventricular or dual-chamber pacemakers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center from 1986 to 2015 were included. Patients without documented ventricular pacing burden and patients with baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <35% were excluded. PICM was defined as LVEF decrease of ≥ 10% and LVEF < 50% during follow-up with right ventricular pacing ≥20%, and without alternative explanations for cardiomyopathy. RESULTS A total of 325 patients were included in the study. During a median follow-up duration of 11.5 (Interquartile range 7-17) years, 38 patients (11.7%) developed PICM (1.3 per 100 patient-year). Older age (HR 2.5 for age ≥50 years, p = .013), reduced baseline LVEF (HR 2.4, p = .022), and preimplant AVB (HR 2.7, p = .007) were associated with an increased risk of PICM in the multivariate analysis. Furthermore, baseline AF conferred an increased risk of PICM only in patients without preimplant AVB but not patients with pre-implant AVB. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of PICM in young patients was low, but PICM could occur more than a decade after pacemaker implantation. Older age, baseline reduced LVEF, and preimplant AVB were associated with an increased risk of PICM in the young patient cohort.
How Phagocytes Acquired the Capability of Hunting and Removing Pathogens From a Human Body: Lessons Learned From Chemotaxis and Phagocytosis of Dictyostelium discoideum (Review)

How phagocytes find invading microorganisms and eliminate pathogenic ones from human bodies is a fundamental question in the study of infectious diseases. About 2.5 billion years ago, eukaryotic unicellular organisms-protozoans-appeared and started to interact with various bacteria. Less than 1 billion years ago, multicellular animals-metazoans-appeared and acquired the ability to distinguish self from non-self and to remove harmful organisms from their bodies. Since then, animals have developed innate immunity in which specialized white-blood cells phagocytes- patrol the body to kill pathogenic bacteria. The social amoebae Dictyostelium discoideum are prototypical phagocytes that chase various bacteria via chemotaxis and consume them as food via phagocytosis. Studies of this genetically amendable organism have revealed evolutionarily conserved mechanisms underlying chemotaxis and phagocytosis and shed light on studies of phagocytes in mammals. In this review, we briefly summarize important studies that contribute to our current understanding of how phagocytes effectively find and kill pathogens via chemotaxis and phagocytosis.
Story Comprehension in Children with ADHD

A wealth of research is available examining children's story comprehension. However, little attention has been directed toward understanding the story comprehension of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The present paper attempts to integrate the developmental literature on children's story comprehension with the little that is known about the story comprehension processes of children with ADHD. This review is guided by a network model of story representation that emphasizes the structure of causal and enabling relations between story events. Examination of the available studies indicates that children with ADHD lag behind their peers in their understanding of causal relations, and that their attentional problems may contribute to difficulties in understanding factual information in the preschool years and causally related information in the elementary years. Some evidence also is presented suggesting that children with ADHD are less effective in taking advantage of story structure features in guiding their recall of story events. Suggestions for future research are offered that would elaborate our knowledge of the developmental progression in the processing of complex information by children with ADHD.