cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Constitutive versus Activation-dependent Cross-Presentation of Immune Complexes by CD8+ and CD8− Dendritic Cells In Vivo

Murine splenic dendritic cells (DCs) can be divided into two subsets based on CD8alpha expression, but the specific role of each subset in stimulation of T cells is largely unknown. An important function of DCs is the ability to take up exogenous antigens and cross-present them in the context of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules to CD8(+) T cells. We previously demonstrated that, when cell-associated ovalbumin (OVA) is injected into mice, only the CD8(+) DC subset cross-presents OVA in the context of MHC class I. In contrast to this selectivity with cell-associated antigen, we show here that both DC subsets isolated from mice injected with OVA/anti-OVA immune complexes (OVA-IC) cross-present OVA to CD8(+) T cells. The use of immunoglobulin G Fc receptor (Fc(gamma)R) common gamma-chain-deficient mice revealed that the cross-presentation by CD8(-) DCs depended on the expression of gamma-chain-containing activating FcgammaRs, whereas cross-presentation by CD8(+) DCs was not reduced in gamma-chain-deficient mice. These results suggest that although CD8(+) DCs constitutively cross-present exogenous antigens in the context of MHC class I molecules, CD8(-) DCs only do so after activation, such as via ligation of Fc(gamma)Rs. Cross-presentation of immune complexes may play an important role in autoimmune diseases and the therapeutic effect of antitumor antibodies.
Hyperkalemia from preoperative non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and angiotensin II receptor blockers in patients with nephropathy

Hyperkalemia is sometimes life-threatening and is common in patients with severe renal insufficiency [1]. Some medications such as cyclooxygenase (COX-1, COX-2) inhibitors, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) reduce the elimination of renal potassium resulting in hyperkalemia. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are often prescribed as pain killers but have known adverse effects on kidney function. Thus, the elderly and patients at risk for diabetic nephropathy, long-lasting hypertension, or dehydration are more susceptible to the adverse effects of these drugs [2]. An episode of decreased renal function can be underestimated when the signs are asymptomatic, transitory, and non-anuric. Recently, ARBs have been prescribed in patients with hypertension to maintain appropriate renal perfusion by decreasing the glomerular filtration burden. ARBs protect renal and cardiac function by lowering oxidative stress, which is associated with chronic changes in the kidneys, heart, and blood vessels. However, ARBs decrease renal blood flow and reduce the elimination of potassium through the kidney under relatively dehydrated conditions [3] and a hypertensive state. Oral administration of ARBs in patients with chronic renal failure has resulted in serum potassium increases of up to 2 mEq/L during an operation. Although the patient was not suspected to have diabetic nephropathy because of normal creatinine clearance and negative urine protein, a preoperative ACE inhibitor and ARB prescription could lead to hyperkalemia and an abnormal electrocardiogram during an operation [4]. Dehydration has been discussed as a factor in reducing renal blood flow [5]. Thus, chronic administration of ARBs overlapped on possible preoperative dehydration can affect the elimination of potassium resulting in hyperkalemia. In addition to chronic treatment with an ARB, renal side effects of NSAIDs are relatively common and as prevalent as 5%. NSAIDs affect kidney function in two ways: interstitial nephritis due to an immunological reaction and prerenal failure due to reduced renal plasma flow [2]. Activating the renninangiotensin system to increase glomerular filtration pressure is necessary to maintain sufficient filtration. This physiological mechanism requires sufficient local synthesis of vasodilatory prostaglandins (PGE2, PGI2, PGD2) to counteract the action of angiotensin II on vascular tone. Because NSAIDs inhibit the PG-mediated vasodilation of afferent arterioles and glomerular capillaries, renal blood flow is critically affected in those patients at risk [2]. It is also advisable for anesthesiologists to consider the possibility of renal dysfunction in patients at risk with medication even though there is little chance to identify abnormal signs or abnormal laboratory nephropathy findings. It is more important to perform careful monitoring preoperatively and to evaluate renal function and effective circulatory volume.
ROLE OF OPERATOR SUBSITES IN ARC REPRESSION

Abstract By binding to adjacent subsites in its 21 base-pair operator, Arc represses transcription from two divergent promoters, P ant and P mnt , in the immunity I operon of bacteriophage P22. Arc dimers bind to each subsite with nanomolar affinities and interact through protein – protein interactions to stabilize binding further. Here, we show that an Arc dimer bound to a single subsite reduces the rate of RNA polymerase open-complex formation and represses transcription from P ant and P mnt promoter variants to varying degrees. Occupancy of the subsite proximal to the P ant − 35 region results in significantly greater repression than occupancy of the −10 proximal subsite. For repression of P mnt , Arc bound at the −10 proximal subsite is more effective than Arc bound at the −35 proximal subsite. Because of the divergent orientations of the two promoters, the −35 proximal site in P ant is the same as the −10 proximal site in P mnt . Thus, in both cases, the same operator subsite is primarily responsible for repression of transcription initiation.
Otitis externa: review and clinical update

Otitis externa can take an acute or a chronic form, with the acute form affecting four in 1 000 persons annually and the chronic form affecting 3-5% of the population. Acute disease commonly results from bacterial (90% of cases) or fungal (10% of cases) overgrowth in an ear canal subjected to excess moisture, or to local trauma. Chronic disease often is part of a more generalised dermatologic or allergic problem. Symptoms of early acute and most chronic disease include pruritus and local discomfort. If left untreated, acute disease can be followed by canal oedema, discharge, and pain, and eventually by extra-canal manifestations. Topical application of an acidifying solution is usually adequate in treating early disease. An antimicrobial containing ototopical is the preferred treatment for later-stage acute disease, and oral antibiotic therapy is reserved for advanced disease or those who are immunocompromised. Preventative measures reduce recurrences, and typically involve minimising ear canal moisture, trauma, or exposure to materials that incite local irritation or contact dermatitis.
Rewriting the Werewolf and Rehabilitating the Irish in the Topographia Hibernica of Gerald of Wales

In his twelfth-century travel narrative, the Topographia Hibernica (The Topography of Ireland), Gerald of Wales writes of an encounter between a priest and a pair of Irish werewolves, who ask the priest to administer the viaticum to the sickly she-wolf before her death. Observing the werewolves’ devout words and sincere demeanor, the priest complies, but his actions are later questioned in a synod. Postcolonial scholarship interprets Gerald’s account as a pro-Norman depiction of the Irish as barbarians, which is a tenable reading in the first recension of the text. However, such an interpretation is complicated by passages Gerald adds in four subsequent recensions. This article offers a corrective reading by examining the content of Gerald’s later recensions that has been repeatedly overlooked, and by suggesting that the episode is most significantly shaped by Gerald’s identity as a clerical reformer, rather than as a court writer seeking to debase the Irish.
Review of Doing Statistical Mediation & Moderation, by Paul E. Jose

As noted by Paul Jose in Doing Statistical Mediation & Moderation, although there are many articles on mediation and moderation, most do not focus on the actual procedures for estimating these mode...
A conceptual framework for navigating the superficial territories of the face: Relevant anatomic points for the dermatologic surgeon

Recent publications in the dermatologic surgery literature have sparked a re-emergence of interest in anatomy relevant for the Mohs surgeon necessitating a re-visit of under-appreciated concepts, regarding the topography of the face and its visceral contents from a surgically relevant perspective. This paper presents a pre-operative review and a conceptual framework for intra-operative planning for Mohs micrographic surgery and reconstruction. The key concepts presented are based on a series of (1) reviews regarding clinically significant points aimed at improving outcomes for reconstructive surgery, (2) anatomical dissections of fresh frozen cadavers, and (3) surgical experience of the authors. Basic anatomical concepts have been assimilated, surgically evaluated and re-directed toward the dermatologic surgeon in the hope that improved anatomic competence will reduce surgical hesitance.
Multi-item auctions defying intuition?

The best way to sell n items to a buyer who values each of them independently and uniformly randomly in [c, c+1] is to bundle them together, as long as c is large enough. Still, for any c, the grand bundling mechanism is never optimal for large enough n, despite the sharp concentration of the buyer's total value for the items as n grows. Optimal multi-item mechanisms are rife with unintuitive properties, making multi-item generalizations of Myerson's celebrated mechanism a daunting task. We survey recent work on the structure and computational complexity of revenue-optimal multi-item mechanisms, providing structural as well as algorithmic generalizations of Myerson's result to multi-item settings.
Economic Status and High School Attendance

remembered longer. Moreover, skill in sociological analysis should be acquired which can be used by the individual in his profession or in everyday life as a citizen in a democracy. Especially is this type of study believed to be significant in teacher-training where the need is great for demonstrating both the function of the school as a community institution and the nature of a community or region.
Challenges to Sea Otter Recovery and Conservation

Similar to other species that in recent centuries experienced unregulated human exploitation, sea otters were extirpated throughout large portions of their historic range in the North Pacific. For most of the twentieth century, with cessation of the fur trade and because of concerted efforts at conservation, sea otters recovered much of their historic range and abundance. Late in the twentieth century, increased predation by killer whales in southwest Alaska drove sea otter populations to a few percentage points of their prior abundance, and one of the nation’s largest oil spills in south-central Alaska caused the death of several thousand animals and required more than two decades for recovery. In California, entanglement in fishing gear and environmental degradation, among other factors, have contributed to slow growth in sea otter abundance. We discuss the role of density dependence and spatial structuring of populations in reduced rates of sea otter recovery recently detected in the Northeast Pacific, and consider the potential effects of multiple low-level and cumulative threats on sea otter populations. The resilience demonstrated by sea otters over the past century will be tested in upcoming decades as human activities continue to degrade nearshore coastal areas of the North Pacific.
Histologic, morphometric, and biochemical evolution of vein bypass grafts in a nonhuman primate model: III. Long-term changes and their modification by platelet inhibition with aspirin and dipyridamole

The objectives of this study were to elucidate the long-term influence on vein bypass grafts of platelet inhibition and its late discontinuation. Cephalic vein grafts were interposed bilaterally in the femoral arteries of stump-tailed macaque monkeys fed a diet that sustains plasma cholesterol levels of approximately 225 mg/dl. Fifteen animals were divided into three groups of five animals each. Group I received no medications and served as a control group. Group II received for the full duration of the study a combination of aspirin, 80 mg/day, and dipyridamole, 50 mg/day. Group III received the same regimen of platelet inhibition as in group II during the first 9 months, but were not treated during the subsequent 9-month interval. Grafts were excised for analysis from groups I and II at both 9 and 18 months and from group III at 18 months. Cholesterol content in group I grafts was 470 +/- 89 micrograms/100 mg at 9 months and 388 +/- 127 micrograms/100 mg at 18 months. In group II grafts, cholesterol content was 208 +/- 72 micrograms/100 mg at 9 months (p less than 0.001 compared with group I) and 266 +/- 84 micrograms/100 mg at 18 months. In group III grafts, cholesterol content was 249 +/- 71 micrograms/100 mg at 18 months. Differences in cholesterol content among the three groups of grafts at 18 months were not found to be statistically significant. Stepwise regression analysis at 18 months showed that cholesterol content was best predicted by medial fibrosis (r2 = 0.66) followed by abundance of foam cells (increase in r2 = 0.26) in group I, by fibrin in group II (r2 = 0.63), and by prevalence of macrophages in group III (r2 = 0.74). In all groups, platelets, fibrin, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes were less abundant than they had been at 3 months. Cross-sectional area occupied by the intima was not influenced by platelet inhibition.
CD30-targeting drugs: cure for mastocytosis?

CD30 is an established therapeutic target of the CD30-targeting antibody-drug conjugate brentuximab-vedotin in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma2 and anaplastic large cell lymphoma.3 Recent reports have also demonstrated brentuximab-vedotin efficacy in relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma4 and primary effusion lymphoma.5 Valent and colleagues have recently shown that CD30 is aberrantly expressed in the cytoplasm of neoplastic mast cells in patients with advanced systemic mastocytosis (SM).6 In the current study, the authors asked whether CD30 is expressed on the surface of neoplastic mast cells in advanced systemic mastocytosis and whether this surface structure may serve as a therapeutic target in mastocytosis. The authors found that CD30 is expressed on the surface of neoplastic mast cells in 3/25 patients (12%) with indolent SM (ISM), 4/7 patients (57%) with aggressive SM (ASM) and 4/7 patients (57%) with mast cell leukemia (MCL). The immature RAS-transformed human mast cell line MCPV-1.1 also expressed cell surface CD30, whereas the KIT-transformed human mast cell line HMC-1.2 expressed no detectable CD30. In most patients, CD30 expression in mast cells was confirmed by immunohistochemistry on bone marrow sections. Using flow cytometric analysis, the authors demonstrated a correlation between the type of systemic mastocytosis and the surface CD30 expression on mast cells. CD30 levels on mast cells in patients with advanced disease (ASM and MCL) were higher than in ISM patients (median CD30 MFI: ASM/MCL 4.24 vs ISM 1.88, P < .05).
Resurrection of the octocorallian genus Antillogorgia for Caribbean species previously assigned to Pseudopterogorgia , and a taxonomic assessment of the relationship of these genera with Leptogorgia (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Gorgoniidae)

The genus Antillogorgia Bayer, 1951 is resurrected for species of zooxanthellate, pinnately-branched gorgonians with sc-lerite complements that include well-developed scaphoids, and inhabit coral reefs of the western Atlantic, particularlyfrom the Bahamas through the Caribbean. These species were previously assigned to the Indo-Pacific genus Pseu- dopterogorgia Kukenthal, 1919 by Bayer, 1958 (thus making Antillogorgia a junior synonym of Pseudopterogorgia), butare shown here to warrant generic separation. Both morphological as well as molecular evidence is provided to justify distinguishing the two genera. Taxonomic relationships to a third gorgoniid genus, Leptogorgia, are also discussed.
Comparison of Nd 1.06- and 1.33-μm operation in various hosts

Since operation of Nd:YAG lasers, especially at 1.06 μm, is well known, this paper compares the operation of several different Nd lasers with Nd:YAG. Lasers were operated on both the 4F3/2 to 4/11/2 transition, nominally 1.06 μm, and the 4F3/2 to 4/13/2 transition, nominally 1.33 μm. Lasers were operated to the extent possible continuously, normal mode, and Q-switched. A comparison of the operation of Nd:YAG, Nd:YLF, Nd:BEL, and Nd:Cr:GSGG was performed on this basis. Results of this comparison will be presented.
Losing a battle but winning the war: moving past preference–performance to understand native herbivore–novel host plant interactions

Introduced plants can positively affect population viability by augmenting the diet of native herbivores, but can negatively affect populations if they are subpar or toxic resources. In organisms with complex life histories, such as insects specializing on host plants, the impacts of a novel host may differ across life stages, with divergent effects on population persistence. Most research on effects of novel hosts has focused on adult oviposition preference and larval performance, but adult preference may not optimize offspring performance, nor be indicative of host quality from a demographic perspective. We compared population growth rates of the Baltimore checkerspot butterfly, Euphydryas phaeton, on an introduced host, Plantago lanceolata (English plantain), and the native host Chelone glabra (white turtlehead). Contrary to the previous findings suggesting that P. lanceolata could be a population sink, we found higher population growth rates (λ) on the introduced than the native host, even though some component parameters of λ were higher on the native host. Our findings illustrate the importance of moving beyond preference-performance studies to integrate vital rates across all life stages for evaluating herbivore-host plant relationships. Single measures of preference or performance are not sufficient proxies for overall host quality nor do they provide insights into longer term consequences of novel host plant use. In our system, in particular, P. lanceolata may buffer checkerspot populations when the native host is limiting, but high growth rates could lead to crashes over longer time scales.
DyFAV: Dynamic Feature Selection and Voting for Real-time Recognition of Fingerspelled Alphabet using Wearables

Recent research has shown that reliable recognition of sign language words and phrases using user-friendly and non-invasive armbands is feasible and desirable. This work provides an analysis and implementation of including fingerspelling recognition (FR) in such systems, which is a much harder problem due to lack of distinctive hand movements. A novel algorithm called DyFAV (Dynamic Feature Selection and Voting) is proposed for this purpose that exploits the fact that fingerspelling has a finite corpus (26 letters for ASL). The system uses an independent multiple agent voting approach to identify letters with high accuracy. The independent voting of the agents ensures that the algorithm is highly parallelizable and thus recognition times can be kept low to suit real-time mobile applications. The results are demonstrated on the entire ASL alphabet corpus for nine people with limited training and average recognition accuracy of 95.36% is achieved which is better than the state-of-art for armband sensors. The mobile, non-invasive, and real time nature of the technology is demonstrated by evaluating performance on various types of Android phones and remote server configurations.
Characterizations of Distributions by Generalized Order Statistics

In this chapter characterizations of distributions based on generalized order statistics will be considered.
Measuring Value and Real Impact

Publishing a scholarly journal requires the means and necessity for metrics by which its success is measured. The utility of such a journal to a very diverse group of users suggests multiple criteria for evaluation. The value and use of citations as one of those criteria is discussed, as is an article that explores these issues in greater detail.
IER3IP1 deficiency leads to increased β-cell death and decreased β-cell proliferation

Mutations in the gene for Immediate Early Response 3 Interacting Protein 1 (IER3IP1) cause permanent neonatal diabetes mellitus in human. The mechanisms involved have not been determined and the role of IER3IP1 in β-cell survival has not been characterized. In order to determine if there is a molecular link between IER3IP1 deficiency and β-cell survival and proliferation, we knocked down Ier3ip1 gene expression in mouse MIN6 insulinoma cells. IER3IP1 suppression induced apoptotic cell death which was associated with an increase in Bim and a decrease in Bcl-xL. Knockdown of Bim reduced apoptotic cell death in MIN6 cells induced by IER3IP1 suppression. Overexpression of the anti-apoptotic molecule Bcl-xL prevents cell death induced by IER3IP1 suppression. Moreover, IER3IP1 also regulates activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR). IER3IP1 suppression impairs the Inositol Requiring 1 (IRE1) and PKR-like ER kinase (PERK) arms of UPR. The cell proliferation of MIN6 cells was also decreased in IER3IP1 deficient cells. These results suggest that IER3IP1 suppression induces an increase in cell death and a decrease in cell proliferation in MIN6 cells, which may be the mechanism that mutations in IER3IP1 lead to diabetes.
Motivic analogues of MO and MSO

We construct algebraic unoriented and oriented cobordism, named MGLO and MSLO , respectively. MGLO is defined and its homotopy groups are explicitly computed, giving an answer to a question of Jack Morava. MSLO is also defined and its coefficients are explicitly computed after completing at a prime p . Similarly to MSO , the homotopy type of MSLO depends on whether the prime p is even or odd. Finally, a computation of a localization of the homotopy groups of MGLR is given.
Sustainable consumption and the problem of resilience.

The twenty-first century is likely to witness increased levels of weather-related disasters, droughts, epidemics, food shortages, habitat destruction, and resource conflicts. Those environmental an...
CHANNELING AT EXTREMELY HIGH BUNCH CHARGES AND SOLID STATE PLASMA ACCELERATION

Plasma and laser acceleration suggest possible ways to circumvent the limitations of conventional acceleration technology. The potentially high plasma densities possible in solids might produce extremely high acceleration gradients. The daunting challenges of solid state plasmas are discussed. Crystal channeling has been suggested as a mechanism to ameliorate these problems. However a high-density plasma in a crystal lattice could quench the channeling process. There is no experimental or theoretical guidance on channeling for intense charged particle beams. An experiment has been carried out at the Fermilab A0 photoinjector to observe electron channeling radiation at high bunch charges. An electron beam with up to 8 nC per electron bunch was used to investigate the electron-crystal interaction. No evidence was found of quenching of channeling at charge densities two orders of magnitude larger than in earlier experiments. Possible new channeling experiments are discussed for the much higher bunch charge densities and shorter times required to probe channeling breakdown and plasma behavior.
SAH Models: Review, New Modification, and Prospective

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a devastating type of hemorrhagic stroke. It is characterized by spontaneous or traumatic bleeding in the subarachnoid space and is associated with a high rate of morbidity and mortality. A reproducible animal model of SAH that mimics the acute and delayed brain injury history after SAH will be an invaluable tool for exploring the underlying mechanisms of SAH-induced brain injury and evaluating potential therapeutic interventions. At present, a number of models have been developed, mainly the double injection model and the endovascular puncture model. While different species have been studied, rodents have become the most popular and widely utilized animal subjects. In this summary, we will explore in detail the various models and animal species. We will also introduce the emerging modified model, which was recently developed within the past 5 years, and discuss the prospective study.
Integrating Compensatory and Noncompensatory Decision-Making Strategies in Dynamic Task Environments

This article summarizes the ongoing work to analyze compensatory and noncompensatory decision making behaviors using a common framework known as Brunswik’s Lens Model. The authors begin with a survey of existing work in modeling compensatory decision making behavior using the Lens Model and an overview of initial forays into noncompensatory modeling. An example is provided of an instance in which both compensatory and noncompensatory decision making may occur in the same task under different circumstances. Formulations of the Lens Models to account for both types of decisions behaviors are then discussed followed by speculations on a consolidated framework to incorporate both models.
Stigma, gender dysphoria, and nonsuicidal self-injury in a community sample of transgender individuals.

Abstract We investigated rates of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and correlates of past-year NSSI among transgender people to better understand factors contributing to this health disparity. A community-based sample of 332 transgender people participated in quantitative in-person interviews. The mean age of participants was 34.56 years (SD = 13.78, range = 16–87). The sample was evenly divided between transfeminine spectrum (50.3%) and transmasculine spectrum identities (49.7%) and was diverse in race/ethnicity. We evaluated associations between sociodemographic characteristics, stigma, hypothesized resilience factors, and identity variables with past-year NSSI. 53.3% of participants reported ever having self-injured in their lifetime. Past-year NSSI was reported by 22.3% of the sample and did not significantly differ based on gender identity. In logistic regression models, past-year NSSI was associated with younger age and felt stigma (perceived or anticipated rejection), but not enacted stigma (actual experiences of discrimination), and with gender dysphoria. Efforts to address the high rates of NSSI among transgender people should aim to reduce felt stigma and gender dysphoria, and promote transgender congruence. Future research using a developmental approach to assess variations in NSSI across the life course and in relation to transgender identity development may illuminate additional processes that affect NSSI in this population.
Food Security and 10-Year Cardiovascular Disease Risk Among U.S. Adults.

Introduction Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of mortality in the U.S. Although the risk of cardiovascular disease can be mitigated substantially by following a healthy lifestyle, adhering to a healthy diet and other healthy behaviors are limited by reduced food security. This study aims to determine the association between food security and cardiovascular disease risk. Methods Three samples from the 2007–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were examined: (1) 7,340 non-fasting adults (aged 40–79 years); (2) 13,518 non-fasting adults (aged 20–64 years); and (3) 6,494 fasting adults (aged 20–64 years). Food security was assessed using the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module, with households categorized as having full, marginal, low, or very low food security. Regressions were conducted in 2018 to test the associations between food security status and odds of ≥20% 10-year cardiovascular disease risk among middle-aged to older adults (OR, 95% CI) and cardiovascular disease risk factors among all adults (β, 95% CI). Results Compared with adults with full food security, those with very low food security had higher odds of ≥20% 10-year cardiovascular disease risk (OR=2.36, 95% CI=1.25, 4.46), whereas those with marginal food security had higher systolic blood pressure (β=0.94 mmHg, 95% CI=0.09, 1.80). Compared with adults with full food security, adults with different levels of food security had higher BMIs (marginal: 0.76, 95% CI=0.26, 1.26; low: 0.97, 95% CI=0.34, 1.60; and very low: 1.03, 95% CI=0.44, 1.63) and higher odds of current smoking (marginal: OR=1.43, 95% CI=1.17, 1.75; low: OR=1.47, 95% CI=1.22, 1.77; and very low: OR=1.95, 95% CI=1.60, 2.37). Conclusions Adults with food insecurity have elevated cardiovascular disease risk factors and excess predicted 10-year cardiovascular disease risk. Substantially improving food security may be an important public health intervention to reduce future cardiovascular disease in the U.S. population.
108 Evaluation of psychometric properties of the patient-reported outcomes measurement information system physical function 10-item short form in systemic lupus erythematosus

Background While the PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) physical function short form 10a (PF10a) is both practical and acceptable for implementation in routine clinical practice, its psychometric properties have not been evaluated in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). We examined the validity and responsiveness of PF10a in SLE among a racially/ethnically diverse clinic population and developed estimates of the minimally important difference (MID). Methods Data were derived from electronic health records for all SLE patients seen in a university-based rheumatology clinic between 2013 and 2018. We evaluated the PF10as floor and ceiling effects among different racial/ethnic groups. Construct validity was assessed by examining Spearmans correlation coefficients between the PF10a and other patient-reported (pain (scale 0–10) and pain visual analogue scale (VAS) (scale 0–100)), physician-reported (SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI)) and laboratory (erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)) measures. Known-group validity was assessed by evaluating effect size (Cohens d) between categories of pain (no pain vs. moderate-severe pain). We used standardized response means to examine the responsiveness of the PF10a to longitudinal changes in pain and SLEDAI. MID was estimated using distribution based and anchor-based methods. Results We included 612 patients in cross-sectional analyses of validity and 462 patients in longitudinal analyses of responsiveness. Mean age was 40.5±14.6, 87% were female and 32% Caucasian. The PF10a had ceiling effects above the commonly accepted criteria of 15% among Caucasian (23%), Asian (23%) and Other (17%) race/ethnicities, and no floor effects. Construct validity analyses showed strong correlations (=0.66, p Conclusions Although the PF10a showed some ceiling effects, it had good validity in this young racially/ethnically diverse sample with SLE. The PF10a was responsive to improvements in pain and disease activity. The anchor-based MIDs appear to be similar to those reported for PF10a in rheumatoid arthritis. This information supports the use of the PF10a in SLE and provides important information to facilitate interpretation of scores. Funding Source(s): UCSF PREMIER
Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema

After treatment for breast cancer, many patients are forced to endure lifelong problems, such as lymphedema (LE), musculoskeletal problems, and psychosocial problems. Every patient with breast cancer-related LE (BCRL) should be assessed thoroughly for physical and psychological needs by a multidisciplinary team. In recent years, there has been increasing awareness of diagnosis and treatment of BCRL, and BCRL will be discussed in detail in this chapter.
Neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver malignancy worldwide and a major cause of cancer-related mortality for which liver resection is an important curative-intent treatment option. However, many patients present with advanced disease and with underlying chronic liver disease and/or cirrhosis, limiting the proportion of patients who are surgical candidates. In addition, the development of recurrent or de novo cancers following surgical resection is common. These issues have led investigators to evaluate the benefit of neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment strategies aimed at improving resectability rates and decreasing recurrence rates. While high-level evidence to guide treatment decision making is lacking, recent advances in locoregional and systemic therapies, including antiviral treatment and immunotherapy, raise the prospect of novel approaches that may improve the outcomes of patients with HCC. In this review, we evaluate the evidence for various neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies and discuss opportunities for future clinical and translational research.
25 Ways to Make the Tax Code Simpler, Fairer, and More Efficient

Viard proposes 25 changes intended to improve the simplicity, efficiency, and fairness of the income tax system. The proposals would have various revenue and distributional effects, which could be offset, if desired, through changes in tax brackets. Many of these ideas are taken from the national taxpayer advocate’s annual reports and the Joint Committee on Taxation’s March 2001 and January 2005 reports. The task force should also draw heavily from the many other valuable proposals in those reports.
Content analysis of online product descriptions from cannabis retailers in six US states.

Abstract Background As the purchase of cannabis becomes legalized in US states, cannabis marketing presents an unexplored regulatory landscape. Research examining other consumer products indicates marketing informs consumer product perceptions, use expectancies, and behavior. The current study examined how cannabis products are described on US cannabis retailer websites. Methods We used the National Cannabis Industry Association website to identify 27 retailers, linked to brick-and-mortar locations in six states, who advertised cannabis flower products online, and thematically coded descriptions of each product sold (N=428). Results Cannabis strain product descriptions fell into six categories: psychoactive effects, physical effects, social effects, sensory profile, therapeutic and curative claims, and negatives/warnings. Relaxation/stress relief (47.4%) and happiness (43.9%) were the most commonly described psychoactive effects, and relaxation/sedation was the most common physical effect (41.6%). Many products noted sensory characteristics, such as fruity (38.1%) or sweet (31.3%) taste/smell. A significant number of retailers claimed that strains could relieve pain and depression. Reports of potential side effects or warnings were less common. Conclusion Online cannabis retailers are making potentially unsubstantiated product claims. Future work should examine the potential for these claims to inform consumer behavior. Regulations should ensure that cannabis labeling does not mislead consumers or promote unsafe use.
Obstacles to skin self-examination: are frontier adults inclined abstainers?

Individuals residing in U.S. frontier counties have limited access to dermatology care and higher melanoma mortality rates. Given these limitations, frontier residents rely disproportionately on sk...
Chapter 22 – Growth and Survival of Microbial Pathogens in Cheese

Cheesemaking evolved centuries ago as a means of preserving raw milk via fermentation. Selection of the beneficial natural flora in milk (i.e., lactobacilli, streptococci, and lactococci), or a direct addition of these organisms as starter cultures, helps to preserve products and allows competition with microbial contaminants, including human pathogens. Cheeses can become contaminated with pathogens as a result of their presence in the raw milk used for cheesemaking and subsequent survival during the cheesemaking process. Alternatively, bacterial pathogens can contaminate cheese via postprocessing contamination if sanitation and other measures in the processing plant are not sufficient to prevent recontamination. Although infrequent, cheeses have been linked with documented cases and outbreaks of foodborne illness. The combination and interaction of a number of factors, including acidity, salt content, and water activity, will dictate the potential for survival and growth of microbial pathogens. This chapter provides an overview of microbial pathogens in cheese and the factors that affect their growth and survival.
Effects of stress on eating behaviours in adolescents: a daily diary investigation.

Objective: The current study aimed to use ecologically valid assessments to examine within- and between-person associations between adolescents’ daily stress and unhealthy eating behaviours. Design...
Effect of Composition and Octane Sensitivity of Gasoline Surrogates on PAH Emissions

Primary reference fuels consisting of a mixture of n-heptane and iso-octane have traditionally been used as surrogates to mimic the combustion and emission behavior of gasoline and diesel fuels. However, several recent studies have demonstrated the need to develop more complex surrogates with three or more components in order to better represent the behavior of both conventional and newly emerging fuels, and for a wide range of combustion modes. This is due to the fact that PRF surrogates cannot be used to rate gasoline in terms of RON (research octane number) and octane sensitivity (S) since different PRF surrogates are needed to match the gasoline behavior at different operating conditions. This chapter discusses research dealing with the effects of fuel composition and S on PAHs emissions in laboratory-scale configurations, which include counterflow diffusion and partially premixed flames, and jet-stirred reactor focusing on fuel pyrolysis. Several surrogates with a RON = 70 and S = 0–5.6, and with two, three, and four components containing different amounts of n-heptane, iso-octane, toluene, and ethanol, are considered. For counterflow diffusion flames with binary mixtures (n-heptane/toluene and iso-octane/toluene), results indicate a non-monotonic variation of PAH emission with respect to toluene fraction in the mixture, implying a synergistic effect on PAH emissions at higher toluene content. For the ternary blends investigated, results indicate that RON and S are not true indicators of PAHs emissions. Rather the PAHs emissions are related to the blend composition. On the other hand, for quaternary blends, results indicate a correlation between S and PAH emissions. Thus, an important observation is that the composition of multi-component fuel mixture has a major effect on PAH and soot emissions. In contrast, the effect of S on PAH and soot emissions are not very clear and requires further studies that can explore fuel blends for a wider range of RON and S values.
Nineteenth-Century Poetic Tributes and Elegies to Robert Bloomfield

Even as the recovery of Robert Bloomfield’s career has accelerated over the past decade, a fully-textured understanding of his contemporary influence remains surprisingly elusive. This article offe...
A Simultaneous-Equation Model of Estimating Exchange Rate Pass-Through in Malaysia

Based on an extended IS-LM-AS model, this study finds that a 1% depreciation of the Malaysian ringgit tends to cause the CPI to rise by 0.1194%. Moreover, more M2 money supply, a lower government borrowing as a percent of GDP, a higher crude oil price, a higher U.S. CPI, and a higher expected consumer price index tend to raise Malaysia’s CPI. Therefore, exchange rate pass-through (ERPT) to the consumer price in Malaysia is partial and incomplete.
Discovery of an indole-substituted furanone with tubulin polymerization inhibition activity.

Abstract Analogs of diarylpyrrolinone lead compound 1 were prepared and tested for anti-proliferative activity in U-937 cancer cells. Alterations of 1 focused on modifying the two nitrogen atoms: a) the pyrrolinone nitrogen atom was substituted with a propyl group or replaced with an oxygen atom (furanone), and b) the substituents on the indole nitrogen were varied. These changes led to the discovery of a furanone analog 3b with sub-micromolar anti-cancer potency and tubulin polymerization inhibition activity.
Metal hybrids processed by high-pressure torsion: synthesis, microstructure, mechanical properties and developing trends

The tradeoff between strength and ductility has long been identified as the ‘Achilles’ heel’ of the mechanical properties in engineering applications. Metal hybrids processed by severe plastic defo...
Transitioning to telegenetics in the COVID-19 era: Patient satisfaction with remote genetic counseling in adult neurology.

The COVID-19 pandemic rapidly changed genetic counseling services across the United States. At the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), a large academic hospital in an urban setting, nearly all genetic counseling (GC) visits for adult-onset disorders within the Department of Neurology were conducted via secure videoconferencing (telegenetics) or telephone between March and December 2020. Although telemedicine services have been steadily emerging, many clinical programs, including the neurogenetics program at UPenn, had not built infrastructure or widely utilized these services prior to the pandemic. Thus, little is known about patient attitudes toward receiving clinical GC services remotely. From May 18 to October 18, 2020, all individuals seen remotely for GC in adult neurology via telephone or telegenetics were surveyed about their satisfaction with telehealth GC (N = 142), with a response rate of 42% (N = 60/142). Telephone and telegenetics services were referred to as 'telehealth' in the surveys to capture patient perspectives on all remote GC services, though the majority (N = 49/60) of these visits were completed via telegenetics. Surveys included the modified telehealth usability questionnaire (MTUQ), genetic counseling satisfaction scale (GCSS), and novel questions about future telehealth use. Preliminary results suggest that patients were satisfied with receiving remote GC services in adult neurology, with most participants strongly agreeing to all items about satisfaction with telehealth. Just 2% of participants preferred only in-person visits in the future, but every participant was willing to consider using telehealth for future visits if their genetic counselor felt it was appropriate. Most participants preferred a hybrid model (73%), and some (25%) preferred only telehealth for future visits. Additionally, we found no differences in satisfaction with remote services based on visit type (initial vs. results disclosure) nor age. We conclude that remote GC is an acceptable method for the provision of services in adult neurology that is well-received by patients.
Clonal Populations with Special Reference to Bacillus sphaericus

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses clonal populations with special reference to Bacillus sphaericus . The word clone denotes a group of bacterial cultures isolated independently from different sources, in different locations, and perhaps at different times but showing so many identical phenotypic and genotypic traits that the most likely explanation for this identity is that the cultures were derived essentially from the virtually complete asexual reproduction of a common ancestor. According to this chapter, the only practical way of determining chromosomal genotypes in the large number of isolates required for these studies of genetic variation in natural populations is by multilocus electrophoresis of enzymes. Multilocus enzyme electrophoresis has long been a standing method in eukaryotic population Genetics. The chapter emphasizes that the clonal population can only supplement existing information, while at the best it may lead to new insights into the bacterial populations that one uses.
Bowel movement, use of laxatives and risk of colorectal adenomatous polyps among women (United States).

Background: Infrequent bowel movements and use of laxatives have been hypothesized to increase risk of colorectal neoplasia. However, the few existing epidemiologic studies in humans have been inconclusive.
ASSESSMENT OF PINE BIOMASS DENSITY THROUGH MID-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY AND MULTIVARIATE MODELING

The assessment of wood biomass density through multivariate modeling of mid-infrared spectra can be useful for interpreting the relationship between feedstock density and functional groups. This study looked at predicting feedstock density from mid-infrared spectra and interpreting the multivariate models. The wood samples possessed a random cell wall orientation, which would be typical of wood chips in a feedstock process. Principal component regression and multiple linear regression models were compared both before and after conversion of the raw spectra into the 1st derivative. A principal component regression model from 1st derivative spectra exhibited the best calibration statistics, while a multiple linear regression model from the 1st derivative spectra yielded nearly similar performance. Earlywood and latewood based spectra exhibited significant differences in carbohydrate-associated bands (1000 and 1060 cm -1 ). Only statistically significant principal component terms (alpha less than 0.05) were chosen for regression; likewise, band assignments only originated from statistically significant principal components. Cellulose, lignin, and hemicelllose associated bands were found to be important in the prediction of wood density.
The design and numerical analysis of vortex methods

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses some recent progress in the design and numerical analysis of vortex methods for incompressible fluid flow in two or three space dimensions. These methods have been developed for the simulation of high Reynolds number or inviscid fluid flows. Vortex methods have a number of attractive computational advantages when compared to conventional finite difference or finite element methods for this class of problems. As vortex methods are neither finite difference nor finite element methods, a different point of view and techniques are required for the numerical analysis of these methods. This chapter focuses on the formulation of these methods and the recent theoretical analysis, which indicates their flexibility, higher order accuracy, and nonlinear stability.
Scaling trends in DRAM technology

Summary form only given. Trends in scaling DRAM to 0.11 /spl mu/m and below are reviewed. Scaling techniques used in earlier generations for the array access transistor and the storage capacitor are running into limitations, necessitating changes in electrical operating mode, cell structure, and processing innovations. Although a variety of options exist for advancing the technology, including low-voltage operation, non-planar array transistor MOSFETs, and novel capacitor structures and materials, uncertainties exist over the which of these will prove workable in manufacturing. This paper discusses the interrelationships among the DRAM scaling requirements and solutions.