cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CHOP Mediates Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Induced Apoptosis in Gimap5-Deficient T Cells

Gimap5 (GTPase of the immunity-associated protein 5) has been linked to the regulation of T cell survival, and polymorphisms in the human GIMAP5 gene associate with autoimmune disorders. The BioBreeding diabetes-prone (BBDP) rat has a mutation in the Gimap5 gene that leads to spontaneous apoptosis of peripheral T cells by an unknown mechanism. Because Gimap5 localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), we hypothesized that absence of functional Gimap5 protein initiates T cell death through disruptions in ER homeostasis. We observed increases in ER stress-associated chaperones in T cells but not thymocytes or B cells from Gimap5−/− BBDP rats. We then discovered that ER stress-induced apoptotic signaling through C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP) occurs in Gimap5−/− T cells. Knockdown of CHOP by siRNA protected Gimap5−/− T cells from ER stress-induced apoptosis, thereby identifying a role for this cellular pathway in the T cell lymphopenia of the BBDP rat. These findings indicate a direct relationship between Gimap5 and the maintenance of ER homeostasis in the survival of T cells.
Anionic Lipid and Cholesterol Interactions with α4β2 nAChR: Insights from MD Simulations

Anionic lipids and cholesterols (CHOL) are critical to the function of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR). We investigated their interactions with an open- and closed-channel alpha4beta2 nAChR by over 10 ns molecular dynamics simulations in a ternary lipid mixture of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl phosphatidylcholine (POPC), 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl phosphatidic acid (POPA), and CHOL with a ratio of 3:1:1 (Haddadian et al., J. Phys. Chem. B 2008, 112, 13981). On average there were 65 and 74 interfacial lipids around the closed- and open-channel alpha4beta2 nAChR, respectively, in the equilibrated simulation systems. In the open-channel system, 42% of the interfacial POPA had acyl chains partially inserted into intra- or intersubunit cavities, as compared to only 7% in the closed-channel alpha4beta2. No CHOL was found in cavities within single subunits, though some CHOL infiltrated into the gaps between subunits. Because of its smaller headgroup, POPA could access some nonannular sites where POPC could not easily reach due to steric exclusion. Furthermore, POPA acted not only as an acceptor for hydrogen bonding (H bonding) as POPC did, but also as a donor through its hydroxyl group for H bonding with the backbone of the protein. The charged headgroup of POPA allowed the lipid to form stable salt bridges with conserved Arg and Lys residues at the interfaces of the transmembrane (TM) and extracellular (EC) or intracellular (IC) domains of the alpha4beta2. A higher number of salt bridges and hydrogen bonds (H bonds) between POPA and the alpha4beta2 nAChR were found in the open system than in the closed system, suggesting a potential role of POPA in the equilibrium between different channel states. Most interfacial POPA molecules showed lower order parameters than the bulk POPA due to the mixed effect of gauche defects, hydrophobic mismatch, and the lipid orientations near the magic angle. These unique properties enable the interfacial POPA to achieve what POPC cannot with regard to specific interactions with the protein, thereby making POPA essential for the function of nAChR.
THE SAMPLING DISTRIBUTION OF LINKAGE DISEQUILIBRIUM

ABSTRACT The probabilities of obtaining particular samples of gametes with two completely linked loci are derived. It is assumed that the population consists of N diploid, randomly mating individuals, that each of the two loci mutate according to the infinite allele model at a rate µ and that the population is at equilibrium. When 4 N µ is small, the most probable samples of gametes are those that segregate only two alleles at either locus. The probabilities of various samples of gametes are discussed. The results show that most samples with completely linked loci have either a very small or a very large association between the alleles of each locus. This causes the distribution of linkage disequilibrium to be skewed and the distribution of the correlation coefficient to be bimodal. The correlation coefficient is commonly used as a test statistic with a chi square distribution and yet has a bimodal distribution when the loci are completely linked. Thus, such a test is not likely to be accurate unless the rate of recombination between the loci and/or the effective population size are sufficiently large enough so that the loci can be treated as unlinked.
9B7 - Direct frequency modulation of a semiconductor laser by ultrasonic waves

A discussion is given of frequency modulation of a semiconductor laser using ultrasonic waves. The principle used is the modulation of the dielectric constant of the material by the sound waves. This modulates the laser output due to the refractive index dependence of the mode frequencies. It is shown that a very high index of modulation can be achieved. Experimental results are reviewed for a gallium arsenide diode laser. Limitations of this technique and possible devices are considered.
Daily Injections of Fluoxetine Induce Dose-Dependent Desensitization of Hypothalamic 5-HT1A Receptors: Reductions in Neuroendocrine Responses to 8-OH-DPAT and in Levels of Gz and Gi Proteins

The present studies examined the dose-response relationship of fluoxetine-induced desensitization of hypothalamic postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptors, as measured from the reduced neuroendocrine responses to a 5-HT1A agonist. Because hypothalamic Gz proteins mediate the ACTH and oxytocin responses to 5-HT1A receptor activation, we also determined the effect of fluoxetine on the levels of Gz proteins in the hypothalamus. Rats were injected daily for 14 days with saline or with fluoxetine doses of 0.3, 1, 3, 5, 7. 5, or 10 mg/kg/day. Fluoxetine produced a dose-dependent reduction in the oxytocin, ACTH, and corticosterone responses to the 5-HT1A agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(dipropylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT, 50 micrograms/kg, s.c.). The lowest fluoxetine dose that significantly, although incompletely, reduced the neuroendocrine responses to 8-OH-DPAT was 5 mg/kg/day. The 10 mg/kg/day dose of fluoxetine maximally inhibited all neuroendocrine responses to 8-OH-DPAT. Hypothalamic levels of Gz protein were reduced by both the 7.5 and 10 mg/kg/day doses of fluoxetine, whereas Gi1 protein levels were reduced only after the highest dose (10 mg/kg/day) of fluoxetine. Gi2, Gi3, and Go levels were not reduced by any fluoxetine dose. Cytosolic levels of Gi1 and Gz proteins were unaltered, indicating that reductions in Gz and Gi1 proteins are not caused by a redistribution of the proteins from the membrane into the cytosol. The results from the present study indicate that fluoxetine-induced desensitization of hypothalamic postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptor systems is dose-dependent and may be caused in part by reductions in the hypothalamic levels of Gz proteins.
The American Local News Corpus

We present the American Local News Corpus (ALNC), containing over 4 billion words of text from 2,652 online newspapers in the United States. Each article in the corpus is associated with a timestamp, state, and city. All 50 U.S. states and 1,924 cities are represented. We detail our method for taking daily snapshots of thousands of local and national newspapers and present two example corpus analyses. The first explores how different sports are talked about over time and geography. The second compares per capita murder rates with news coverage of murders across the 50 states. The ALNC is about the same size as the Gigaword corpus and is growing continuously. Version 1.0 is available for research use.
Sharing in the Shadow of Property: Rational Cooperation in Innovation Markets

Intellectual property rests on a simple incentive rationale: without imitation barriers, innovators rationally decline to invest. But this blanket proposition is incompatible with markets where innovation proceeds without substantial recourse to intellectual property and imitation is widespread. This discrepancy sometimes drives the alternative view that intellectual property or other access barriers often or even usually are not prerequisites for intellectual production. But "utopian" understandings oversimplify the complex incentive structures and circumscribed conditions under which some markets can induce innovation without intellectual property or practical equivalents. A simple rational choice framework anticipates that "sharing regimes" - that is, innovation environments bereft of exclusionary barriers but governed by reputational norms - can sustain a viable habitat for innovation but inherently deteriorate as endowment heterogeneity, group size, asset values and capital intensities increase. Empirics substantially track theory: industries that sustain innovation without robust intellectual-property protections tend to be confined to "low-stakes" settings or make indirect recourse to other exclusionary instruments. Critically, however, it is also the case that voluntarily-formed sharing arrangements pervade even economically-intensive markets. Properly understood, these sharing arrangements do not substitute for property but provide a vital complementary mechanism that alleviates the transaction-cost burden of an exclusionary regime. Examination of three "best cases" for the view that intellectual production can proceed without intellectual property - premodern craft guilds, academic research and open source software - supports this intermediate position: sharing practices proliferate to facilitate the low-cost circulation of knowledge assets but are consistently embedded within a legal or technological infrastructure that implements some barrier to imitation.
Response to Letter Regarding Article, “Prospective Randomized Trial of Moderately Strenuous Aerobic Exercise After an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator”

We thank Dr Ayoub for his questions about our recently published trial.1 In response to the first point, the difference between the usual care (UC) and exercise training and maintenance (EX) groups in their receipt of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shocks was not statistically different during the study period. However, there were few implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shocks in both groups, limiting the power for this comparison. A slightly higher proportion of patients in …
Traffic matrix estimation from road sensor data: a case study

We present a study which aims to infer the vehicular traffic origin-destination matrix for the Los Angeles Downtown Area, from a unique real-world LA Metro data source which comprises sensor information of traffic counts and speeds obtained in real-time from LA arterial road intersections. We review the possible solution approaches and discuss the one is used here in details. The final results are presented for three different time intervals with different traffic regimes of the same day.
Abstract 3889: Direct evidence that the MRN complex is required for a pathway that processes Top2 covalent complexes

Drugs targeting topoisomerase II (Top2) such as etoposide or doxorubicin generate enzyme mediated DNA damage. During the normal Top2 reaction, the enzyme forms a covalent enzyme DNA intermediate consisting of a 5’ phosphotyrosyl linkage between the enzyme and DNA. Many compounds that generate Top2 mediated damage inhibit the enzyme-catalyzed religation step leading to DNA breaks. Therefore an important aspect of the repair of Top2 mediated damage includes removal of the protein covalently bound to DNA. One way of eliminating that protein is by proteolysis. Liu and colleagues have clearly demonstrated that proteolysis plays a role in repairing Top2 beta damage1 and it is likely that proteolysis is also important for repairing Top2 alpha mediated damage. Proteolysis cannot remove all of the peptide bound to DNA; therefore nucleolytic enzymes are also needed for repairing Top2 damage. Since the MRN complex is required for nucleolytic removal of the meiotic Top2-like protein Spo11, it has been hypothesized that the MRN complex also participates in removal of Top2 protein from DNA following cellular treatment with Top2 poisons. However, there is no direct evidence for processing of Top2 mediated damage by the MRN complex. We have used the ICE assay to directly measure Top2 covalent complexes in mammalian cells treated with Top2 poisons such as etoposide. The ICE assay uses CSCl centrifugation to isolate protein:DNA covalent complexes. We have combined this assay with siRNA knockdowns to assess whether specific protein complexes are required for processing Top2 covalent complexes. Since this assay depends on recognition of Top2 epitopes by monoclonal antibodies directed towards Top2 isoforms, we have examined levels of Top2 complexes in cells treated with the proteasome inhibitor, MG132. In cells treated with siRNA directed against Mre11, we observed an increase in Top2:DNA covalent complexes following treatment with either etoposide or mAMSA. These results provide direct evidence that the MRN complex is required for at least one pathway for removal of Top2 covalent complexes. It is likely that this MRN dependent pathway is capable of removing Top2 bound to DNA without proteolytic processing of the covalent complex. We are currently using this approach to assess other recently described processing pathways including pathways requiring CtiP and pathways requiring Tdp2. (1) Mao, Y.; Desai, S. D.; Ting, C. Y.; Hwang, J.; Liu, L. F. J Biol Chem 2001, 276, 40652. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3889. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3889
Study on the nursing cooperation in Meckel′s diverticulum resection with laparoscope in children

Objective:To study the nursing cooperation and advantages in Mecke's diverticulum resection with laparoscope in children.Methods:Laparoscopic approach operations were performed in 26 children who were diagnosed as Meckel′s diverticulum in clinic from Dec.2003 to Apr.2006.Meckel′s diverticulum resections were performed under laparoscope in 23 children, and two-hole method was used in 18 cases and three-hole method in 8 cases.Results:All laparoscopic operations were completed successfully.The operation time was different from 80 min.to 180 min.Conclusion:Laparoscopic Meckel′s diverticulum resection has advantages of minimal invasion and, rapid recovery.Nursing efficiency during operation will be improved and operation time will be shortened if the method of nursing cooperation in operation is mastered.
Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric Determination of Sodium in Drinking Water

Flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry was employed to determine the content of sodium in drinking water samples.According to sodium content in tap water in local area,the best sensitive line was selected and applied to our analysis test,and satisfactory results were obtained: detection limit for sodium was 0.20 mg/L;relative Standard Deviation was 0.035% and recoveries ranged from 99.90% to 103.45%.This method was easy,with high accuracy,and can be applied to the test of natural water sample with constant sodium content.
Cell Biological and Immunological Significance of Ganglioside Changes Associated with Transformation

Glycolipid changes associated with oncogenic transformation have been extensively studied by a number of investigators on chemical and enzymatic basis. An incomplete synthesis of complex glycolipids and an associated accumulation of its precursor glycolipids are the common change observable in many transformed cells irrespective of the transforming agents (see for reviews, Hakomori 1973; 1975; Brady and Fishman 1974; Richardson et al 1976). However, the other type of glycolipid change, i.e. a synthesis of a new glycolipid absent in normal tissue, or foreign to the host may occur in some experimental tumour and in human tumour; a novel fucolipid in rat hepatoma (Baumann et al 1978), A-like antigen in tumours of blood group 0 or B individuals (Hakomori et al 1967; Hakkinen 1970), blood group P1 and P antigen in a tumour of the rare pp individual (Levine et al 1951), and Forssman antigen in tumours of F− individuals (Hakomori et al 1977) are typical examples. These components are normally absent in progenitor cells or in host’s tissues and therefore could be a tumour-associated antigen. All of these antigens are glycosphingolipid and may be synthesized through an activation of a new glycosyltransferase which is foreign to the host (see for reviews Hakomori and Young 1978; Young and Hakomori 1978).
From Gay to Ridiculous: Duberman, Patrick, Tavel, Bernard, Ludlam

The first anthology of gay plays, published only in 1979, classifies as gay any play ‘whose central figure or figures are homosexual or one in which homosexuality is a main theme’. Editor William Hoffman pinpoints Mae West’s Drag (1927) as the first American homosexual play. In Drag, as well as her Pleasure Man (1928) Hoffman hears a plea for sexual tolerance. I hear that plea also in Lillian Hellman’s Children’s Hour (1934), but Hoffman finds that she treats homosexuality ‘with little lucidity’.
The effect of hypothermia on heparin anticoagulation as measured by activated clotting time and factor Xa inhibition

The effect of hypothermia on heparin anticoagulation was studied using (siliceous earth) activated clotting time (ACT) measured by the modified Hattersley technique and anti-factor Xa assay measured by the modified Teien technique during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Seventeen adult patients with normal blood coagulation function undergoing their first time coronary artery bypass grafting surgery or valve replacement surgery were randomly selected. Blood samples were collected 3-5 minutes after CPB initiation, before cooling at a mean temperature of 32.9°C, and then again after cooling to a mean temperature of 28.4°C. No additional heparin, citrate or packed red blood cells were added to the CPB circuit between sampling points. The mean heparin concentration measured by the anti-factor Xa assay was 4.1 ± 0.5 units/ml before cooling and 4.1 ± 0.4 units/ml after cooling. The mean ACT was 465 ± 75 seconds prior to cooling and 499 ± 69 seconds at the cold temperature (p<0.05). This suggests that the cooling process itself must induce changes in whole blood coagulation resulting in a prolongation in the ACT. The change in ACT with cooling is not due to a change in heparin concentration. The presented data supports previous research on the inadequacy of ACT to trend heparin concentration when steady state conditions are altered.
Sparse Gaussian graphical model estimation via alternating minimization

SummarySeveral methods have recently been proposed for estimating sparse Gaussian graphical models using $\ell_{1}$-regularization on the inverse covariance or precision matrix. Despite recent advances, contemporary applications require even faster methods to handle ill-conditioned high-dimensional datasets. In this paper, we propose a new method for solving the sparse inverse covariance estimation problem using the alternating minimization algorithm, which effectively works as a proximal gradient algorithm on the dual problem. Our approach has several advantages: it is faster than state-of-the-art algorithms by many orders of magnitude; its global linear convergence has been rigorously demonstrated, underscoring its good theoretical properties; it facilitates additional constraints on pairwise or marginal relationships between feature pairs based on domain-specific knowledge; and it is better at handling extremely ill-conditioned problems. Our algorithm is shown to be more accurate and faster on simulated and real datasets.
Gene therapy simplified

In this issue of Blood, [Richter et al][1] report their work on an in vivo gene transduction system using the adenovirus-based vector and hyperactive SB transposase (SB100×) system. Their results show that this system is effective and safe and performs without needing ex vivo expansion and
Determinants of Follow-Up Failure in Patients Undergoing Vascular Surgery Procedures

Background The Vascular Study Group of New England (VSGNE) requires documentation of follow-up for >80% of patients at least 9 months postprocedure. However, many participating groups fall short of this goal. We sought to identify factors independently associated with loss to long-term follow-up (LTF). Methods The VSGNE was queried from 2008 to 2012, for all carotid endarterectomy (CEA), endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (OPEN), infrainguinal bypass (INFRA), and suprainguinal bypass (SUPRA) procedures in patients who survived greater than 9 months postprocedure. Our primary endpoint was loss to LTF, with LTF defined as documentation of a phone call or office visit ≥9 months postprocedure. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of loss to LTF. Covariates included patient and procedural characteristics, and treatment center/physician. Relative contributions of covariates to the model were assessed by evaluation of the relative model Wald chi-squared values. Results We identified 14,452 procedures (6567 CEA, 2391 EVAR, 3356 INFRA, 979 OPEN, and 1159 SUPRA). Of those, 4669 (32%) were lost to LTF. Rates of loss to LTF varied by center, and ranged from 9.8% to 100%. Independent predictors of loss to LTF were history of coronary artery disease or percutaneous coronary artery intervention (odds ratio [OR] 1.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1–1.7), procedure type (OPEN, OR 1.4, 95% CI: 1.2–1.7; CEA, OR 1.2, 95% CI: 1.1–1.4; referent, EVAR), and discharge to rehab (OR 1.2, 95% CI: 1.1–1.4; referent, home). Center variation was the strongest determinant of loss to LTF with a model χ 2 over 40 times as large as the second strongest determinant. Conclusions LTF is central to outcome reporting and is vital to the success of any registry effort. In the VSGNE experience, center variation is the strongest predictor of loss to LTF, outweighing patient and procedural factors. Other predictors of loss to LTF included history of coronary revascularization, procedure type, no prior history of congestive heart failure, and discharge location. High performing centers likely have specific process measures that decrease loss to LTF. As the Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Quality Initiative continues to roll out nationally, high performing centers in VSGNE should be studied to document and propagate best practices for minimizing loss to LTF.
Left subclavian artery revascularization in zone 2 thoracic endovascular aortic repair is associated with lower stroke risk across all aortic diseases

Abstract Background The best management strategy for the left subclavian artery (LSA) in pathologic processes of the aorta requiring zone 2 thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) remains controversial. We compared LSA coverage with or without revascularization as well as the different means of LSA revascularization. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients with any aortic diseases who underwent zone 2 TEVAR deployment from 2007 to 2014. Primary end points included 30-day stroke and 30-day spinal cord injury (SCI). Secondary end points were 30-day procedure-related reintervention, freedom from aorta-related reintervention, aorta-related mortality, and all-cause mortality. Results We identified 96 patients with zone 2 TEVAR who met our inclusion criteria. The mean age of the patients was 62 years, with 61.5% male. Diseases included acute aortic dissections (n = 25), chronic aortic dissection with aneurysmal degeneration (n = 22), primary aortic aneurysms (n = 21), penetrating aortic ulcers/intramural hematomas (n = 17), and traumatic aortic injuries (n = 11). Strategies for the LSA included coverage with revascularization (n = 54) or without revascularization (n = 42). Methods of LSA revascularization included laser fenestration with stenting (n = 33) and surgical revascularization: transposition (n = 10) or bypass (n = 11). Of the 54 patients with LSA revascularization, 44 (81.5%) underwent LSA intervention at the time of TEVAR and 10 (18.5%) at a mean time of 33 days before TEVAR (range, 4-63 days). For the entire cohort, the overall incidence of 30-day stroke was 7.3%; of 30-day SCI, 2.1%; and of procedure-related reintervention, 5.2%. At a mean follow-up of 24 months (range, 1-79 months), aorta-related reintervention was 15.6%, aorta-related mortality was 12.5%, and all-cause mortality was 29.2%. The 30-day stroke rate was highest for LSA coverage without revascularization (6/42 [14.3%]) compared with any form of LSA revascularization (1/54 [1.9%]; P = .020), with no difference between LSA interventions done synchronously with TEVAR (1/44 [2.3%]) vs metachronously with TEVAR (0/10 [0%]; P = .63). There was no significant difference in 30-day SCI in LSA coverage without revascularization (2/42 [4.8%]) vs with revascularization (0/54 [0%]; P = .11). There was no difference in aorta-related reintervention, aorta-related mortality, or all-cause mortality in coverage without revascularization (5/42 [11.9%], 6/42 [14.3%], and 14/42 [33.3%]) vs with revascularization (10/54 [18.5%; P = .376], 6/54 [11.1%; P = .641], and 14/54 [25.9%; P = .43], respectively). After univariate and multivariable analysis, we identified LSA coverage without revascularization as associated with a higher rate of 30-day stroke (hazard ratio, 17.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-220.4; P = .029). Conclusions Our study suggests that coverage of the LSA without revascularization increases the risk of stroke and possibly SCI.
Rain, Riches, and Empire: The Relationship between Nations Ruling Distant Lands, Nations of Great Wealth, and Regions of Regular Moderate Atmospheric Precipitation

AbstractTwo of the great questions of human history and economics are why some nations held far-flung empires and why some presently enjoy great wealth. One factor that should be included in the inevitably multifactorial answer to these questions is regular moderate precipitation (precipitation with an average rate between 30 and 120 mm for each month). Only a small proportion of Earth’s surface has regular moderate precipitation, and most of that area is in Europe and eastern North America. Strikingly, of the 13 nations that held geographically discontinuous multicontinental transoceanic empires, 12 overlap with regions of regular moderate precipitation. Similarly, of the 20 nations with the greatest per capita GDP in 2015, 16 coincide with regions of regular moderate precipitation. These relationships are presumably rooted in the greater success, or lesser inhibition, of human construction of infrastructure, husbandry of livestock, and cultivation of crops, some combination of which likely allowed indus...
Abstract WP44: NIHSS Score Components Predict Infarct Volume in Minor Ischemic Stroke Patients

Background: Prior studies have shown a correlation between the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score and infarct volume on diffusion weighted imaging (DWI); however data are limited in patients with minor stroke whose treatment is controversial. Our aim is to determine the association between DWI lesion(s) volume and the (1) total NIHSS score and (2) NIHSS components in a population of patients with minor ischemic stroke. Methods: We included all patients with minor stroke (NIHSS 0-5) who were enrolled in the prospective Stroke Warning Information and Faster Treatment (SWIFT) study. All patients were admitted to the hospital with a final diagnosis of stroke. We calculated lesion(s) volume (cm 3 ) on DWI sequence using Medical Image Processing, Analysis, and Visualization (MIPAV, NIH, Version 7.1.1). Based on the distribution of lesion volume, we summarized the explanatory value into median cm 3 . We used non-parametric tests to study the association between the primary outcome, DWI lesion(s) volume, and the predictors (NIHSS score and its components). Results: 894 patients had a discharge diagnosis of ischemic stroke; 709 underwent MRI and 510 were DWI positive. There was a weak graded relationship between NIHSS score and median DWI lesion volume in cm 3 : (NIHSS 0: 7.1, NIHSS 1: 8.0, NIHSS 2: 17.1, NIHSS 3: 11.6, NIHSS 4: 19.0, NIHSS 5: 23.6). We also noted highly significant relationships between lesion volume and certain NIHSS components. Compared to patients without the deficit, the median lesion volume was significantly higher in patients with neglect (105.6 vs. 12.5,p=0.025), language disorder (34.6 vs. 11.9,p Conclusion: In patients with minor stroke, the nature of the neurological deficit improves prediction of infarct volume when added to the total NIHSS score. This may lead to clinical and therapeutic implications.
Elucidation of complexity and prediction of interactions in microbial communities

Summary Microorganisms engage in complex interactions with other members of the microbial community, higher organisms as well as their environment. However, determining the exact nature of these interactions can be challenging due to the large number of members in these communities and the manifold of interactions they can engage in. Various omic data, such as 16S rRNA gene sequencing, shotgun metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, metaproteomics and metabolomics, have been deployed to unravel the community structure, interactions and resulting community dynamics in situ. Interpretation of these multi-omic data often requires advanced computational methods. Modelling approaches are powerful tools to integrate, contextualize and interpret experimental data, thus shedding light on the underlying processes shaping the microbiome. Here, we review current methods and approaches, both experimental and computational, to elucidate interactions in microbial communities and to predict their responses to perturbations.
Use of an Intra-Arterial Catheter as a Provisional Conduit for Regulated Outflow Management in the Setting of Artery-Only Digital Replantation.

Successful replantation of distal digital segments necessitates the establishment of sufficient outflow to minimize congestion and progressive tissue necrosis. In cases where only arterial anastomosis is feasible, an artificial outlet must be provided to maintain physiological requirements until microvenous circulation regenerates. This can be accomplished using any number of “exsanguination techniques” designed to facilitate egress through ongoing passive blood loss. Although reportedly effective, these measures are imprecise and carry a substantial risk of infection, scarring, and/or uncontrolled hemorrhage. Herein, we describe a preemptive alternative for provisional venous drainage, whereby direct catheterization of a distal arterial branch is used to enhance the precision of outflow management following artery-only digital replantation. The establishment of intravascular access, using the technique described, permits remote manipulation of the microcirculatory environment through timed administration of heparinized saline and regulated removal of controlled volumes of blood.
Aroma Extract Dilution Analysis of Beers Dry-Hopped with Cascade, Chinook, and Centennial

Cascade, Chinook, and Centennial hops are used extensively throughout the brewing industry either individually or in various combinations to add hoppy aroma to beer. This high use of hops, particul...
Wind power bidding strategy in the short-term electricity market

Abstract This paper presents an analytical trading electricity model for wind power producers (WPPs) in the short-term electricity market in the U.S. This model addresses four specific uncertainties: real-time (RT) wind power generation, day-ahead (DA) locational marginal prices (LMPs), RT LMPs, and deviation penalty rates. The model is designed to find the optimal bidding strategy to maximize the expected revenue under these uncertainties. In addition, this paper shows that advanced forecasting techniques could be used with the proposed bidding strategy to help WPPs trade energy in short-term markets. A case study is presented to illustrate the effectiveness of this proposed bidding strategy and advanced forecasting techniques using a set of real data taken from a wind farm in the PJM electricity market.
Thermal boundary resistance correlated with strain energy in individual Si film-wafer twist boundaries

Abstract Nanoscale interfaces, such as grain boundaries (GBs) within a polycrystalline material, play an important role in suppressing the phonon heat transport. The interfacial thermal resistance RK of a GB has a strong dependence on the detailed interfacial atomic structure, including the misorientation between two grains and GB dislocations. Along this line, numerous molecular dynamics simulations on RK have been carried out on a twist Si GB. Owing to the challenge of measuring such a GB within a bulk material, these simulations are rarely compared with experimental data. In this work, a super-flexible 70-nm-thick Si thin film was hot pressed onto a Si wafer to represent a twist GB. The RK of the film-wafer interface was measured as a function of the rotation angle between the film and the wafer. The experimental data were further compared with an analytical model to interpret the twist angle dependence of the measured RK. It was found that the strain part of the grain-boundary energy is correlated with the measured twist-angle-dependent RK.
Diffusion Tensor Imaging connectivity analysis: detecting structural alterations and their underlying substrates for Optic Ataxia in correlations with “How” stream Visual Pathways

Optic ataxia is a neurological condition that shows clinical manifestations of disturbances in visual guided hand movements on reaching for a target object. Previous studies failed to provide substantial evidences for the neural structural pathway damaged by this condition. Therefore, this study was aimed to identify the neural structural connectivity between Visual cortex with Superior Parietal Lobule and to correlate its functional importance, using Diffusion Imaging fiber Tractography. The fibers were traced, and we confirmed its extension from Visual cortex (Brodmann Areas 18 and 19) to Superior Parietal Lobule (Brodmann Area 7). This new observation gives an insight to understand the structural existence and functional correlations between Visual cortex with Superior Parietal Lobule which is involved in targeting the grasping hand movements towards a visually perceived object, called visuo motor coordination pathway or how stream pathways in visual perception. The observational analysis used thirty two healthy adults, ultra-high b-value, diffusion MRI datasets from an Open access research platform. The datasets range between 20 to 49 years, in both sexes, with mean age of 31.1 years. The confirmatory observational analysis process includes, datasets acquisition, preprocessing, processing, reconstruction, fiber tractography and analysis using software tools. All the datasets confirmed that the fiber structural extension between, Visual cortex to superior parietal lobe in both the sexes may be responsible for the visual spatial recognition of objects. These new fiber connectivity evidences justify the structural relevance of visual spatial recognition impairments, such as optic ataxia. Keywords: DTI Tractography, Dorsal stream visual pathway, Superior Parietal Lobule, Where stream Visual pathways, How stream visual pathway.
Proceedings of the 2003 conference on Diversity in computing

It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to the First Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference 2003. This is the first event in a biennial conference series and it follows the very successful 2001 Richard Tapia Symposium celebrating diversity in computing. The conference honors the many contributions of Richard Tapia, a leader in the field of computational mathematics as well as a strong and outspoken advocate for diversity.This year's theme of "Building Diverse Leadership in Computing" highlights the leadership that Richard Tapia has not only exhibited throughout his career, but also the role that he has played in developing that leadership in so many others. The overall program reflects this theme in its selection of keynote and plenary speakers, who are all recognized leaders in their respective fields. In addition, the technical program co-chairs, Monica Martinez-Canales and Pamela Williams have developed a strong program consisting of contributed papers from leading-edge researchers, mini-symposia on state-of-the-art technologies, panels on various technical issues as well as diversity and outreach activities, posters, Birds-of-a-Feather sessions, and doctoral consortium.
Utopian Visions Produce Both Good & Bad Political Policies

The Great Utopian thinkers of the past: Plato, More, and Marx, were all wonderful and also terrible. Plato gave us a society of women’s liberation, but also eugenic breeding. More gave us a world of freedom of religion, but not for atheists; a world without capital punishment, but wherein the prisons were like slave labor camps. And Marx gave us a world with no economic inequality and with gender equality as well, but he also gave us “the dictatorships of the proletariat run by the Communist Party intellectuals.” So much good and so much bad has been generated by these and other utopian thinkers.
Can digital badges strengthen religious ethnic-cultural identity in a religious education setting?

ABSTRACTThrough interviews with student participants and evidence submitted to earn digital badges, a number of indicators suggest that a religious school’s digital badges can provide opportunity t...
The transition to non-imaged star maps

It is rare to find constellation images in modern-day star maps. Sometimes lines are drawn connecting major stars to produce stick-figure representations of the constellations. In other cases, there are no representations, just boundary lines drawn around the area of the sky assigned to the constellations. These maps typically show stars and deep-sky objects beyond naked-eye visibility whose positions may have been computer-generated and which are located in a coordinate system that is current and very precise. What made previous maps appealing were their anthropomorphic and historic qualities (which in past times were relevant to their mapping function), but such features are now seen as so much unnecessary superficial clutter.
Post-partum cutaneous manifestation of antiphospholipid syndrome

Abstract Antiphospholipid syndrome is a systemic autoimmune disease defined by thrombotic or obstetrical events that occur in patients with persistent antiphospholipid antibodies. The most common dermatologic presentation is livedo reticularis. However, other cutaneous manifestation can also be present. We describe a female patient that postpartum developed diffuse and rapidly progressing retiform purpura to highlight this atypical presentation noted after delivery. The diagnosis is complicated by the presence of vasculitis with fibrin thrombi in the skin biopsy in the absence of systemic vasculitis. This is of interest because vasculitis is a rare manifestation in antiphospholipid syndrome alone.
Quick and Easy Electroless Deposition and Alkanethiol Treatment To Form a Superhydrophobic Surface

In this brief experiment, students create a superhydrophobic surface as an application of polar–nonpolar interactions and redox chemistry. Half of a zinc-galvanized steel strip is coated in copper nanoparticles through electroless deposition. A layer of nonpolar octadecanethiol is added to half of that copper surface. Students classify the three resulting surfaces as polar or nonpolar using water drops as a probe. This simple procedure illustrates introductory chemical concepts while incorporating nanochemistry and illustrating surfaces of increasing technological importance.
The Threat of Continued Anti-Muslim Animus Toward American National Security

The increasing rise of anti-Muslim prejudice has generated intense national debate about the role of Islam in America. Though certain popular perception of Muslims as disproportionately inclined to engage in terrorism-related activities can sometimes be seen as signaling double standards, heated debate over the role of Islam can often translate into private bias materializing into public/institutional forms of discrimination. This paper will proceed as follows: Part I begins by canvassing evidence of the ― second wave‖ of anti-Muslim sentiment since the immediate aftermath of September 11th, 2001. It describes two particularly salient debates about the relationship of Islam in America. Part II considers the empirical evidence of discrimination’s link to national security. It also examines how counter-terrorism operations in the United States can be improved by a marked reduction in general discrimination against Muslim Americans. Part III concludes with final thoughts, including reflections on ways to reduce privately held discrimination via federal initiative
Thromboembolic Events Are Independently Associated with Liver Stiffness in Patients with Fontan Circulation

Background: Thromboembolism (TE) and Fontan-associated liver disease (FALD) are common and lead to significant morbidity in Fontan circulations. Risk factors for TE and the potential link between TE and FALD are not well understood. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between TE and the severity of FALD based on radiologic liver stiffness. Methods: Using a retrospective cohort study design, 85 Fontan patients (aged 27.7 ± 8.2 years) who had liver stiffness measurement were included. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine independent associations with TE. Results: Sixteen patients (19%) had a history of TE after the Fontan procedure at a mean age of 21.4 ± 15.0 years. Patients with TE were significantly older at the time of the last evaluation (33.8 ± 11.7 vs. 26.3 ± 6.5 years, p = 0.03). Liver stiffness by MRI and ultrasound was higher in the TE group (5.1 ± 1.4 vs. 4.3 ± 1.2 kPa, p = 0.04 and 2.8 ± 0.4 vs. 2.4 ± 0.5 m/s, p = 0.04, respectively). On multivariable analysis, higher liver stiffness (odds ratio (OR): 2.12, p = 0.03) and older age (OR: 1.11, p = 0.03) were associated with TE. Conclusions: This study found an association between TE, age, and radiologic liver stiffness.
“SOMETHING BAD CAN HAPPEN”. THE CASE OF A 73 YEAR OLD MAN WITH OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER DUE TO RIGHT HEMISPHERIC INFARCTS

Introduction Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) following Cerebrovascular Accidents (CVA) is rare but people with CVA are at a higher risk of having OCD than the general population. Here, we present the case of a man who developed OCD after finding lacunar infarcts of the right hemisphere.This is one of the few case reports as this topic is in the early stages of research. Methods Patient was assessed and followed in outpatient psychiatry clinic.The case was reviewed and compared with relevant literature. Results This is a case report of a 73 year old man with history of Type 2 Diabetes and hypertension, no reported psychiatric history or developmental issues, who was referred to our psychiatry clinic after reporting a two year history of repeated daily checks and rituals in his home which were becoming more distressing and disruptive to his daily activities.On interview the patient reported frequently checking outlets, faucets, lights, and even his own clothes for dirt, and excessive hand washing. Patient reported that these checks took up to four hours per day causing him to frequently miss prior engagements and even awakens him at night. During the interview he cleaned the chair before sitting and asked the interviewer to check for stains on his coat. He described related nonspecific obsessive and intrusive thoughts that “something bad can happen” and was worried about contamination. He expressed relief of tension when performing these compulsions. Neurological examination was unremarkable and MMSE 28. CT scan of the brain without contrast, done two years prior to presentation, showed that the patient suffered from a lacunar infarct in the anterior limb of the internal capsule, extending into the putamen (basal ganglia). A diagnosis of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorder due to Cerebral Infarction was made and he was started on an ongoing trial of Sertraline. Conclusions This case shows the rare development of OCD post cerebrovascular infarct in the right basal ganglia. Organic causes for late onset OCD should be considered when symptoms occur above age 50. Literature review suggests orbitofrontal cortex, basal ganglia and anterior cingulate cortex are most consistently implicated but not definitive. Review of cases shows that SSRI appear to be most effective in treating this rare disorder. Further studies on this topic is needed to provide additional details of the clinical features and structural/functional imaging finding. This research was funded by: NA
Earnings of foreign-born doctoral engineers in the United States: intersectionality of citizenship status and gender

Foreign-born scientists and engineers in the United States make significant contributions to their fields. While some studies of their career outcomes investigate the internal differences among imm...
Institution of an emergency department "swarming" care model and sepsis door-to-antibiotic time: A quasi-experimental retrospective analysis.

Background Prompt sepsis treatment is associated with improved outcomes but requires a complex series of actions by multiple clinicians. We investigated whether simply reorganizing emergency department (ED) care to expedite patients' initial evaluation was associated with shorter sepsis door-to-antibiotic times. Methods Patients eligible for this retrospective study received IV antibiotics and demonstrated acute organ failure after presenting to one of three EDs in Utah. On May 1, 2016, the intervention ED instituted "swarming" as the default model for initial evaluation of all mid- and low-acuity patients. Swarming involved simultaneous patient evaluation by the ED physician, nurse, and technician followed by a team discussion of the initial care plan. Care was unchanged at the two control EDs. A 30-day wash-in period separated the baseline (May 16, 2015 to April 15, 2016) and post-intervention (May 16, 2016 to November 15, 2016) analysis periods. We conducted a quasi-experimental analysis comparing door-to-antibiotic time for sepsis patients at the intervention ED after versus before care reorganization, applying difference-in-differences methods to control for trends in door-to-antibiotic time unrelated to the studied intervention and multivariable regression to adjust for patient characteristics. Results The analysis included 3,230 ED sepsis patients, including 1,406 from the intervention ED. Adjusted analyses using difference-in-differences methods to control for temporal trends unrelated to the studied intervention revealed no significant change in door-to-antibiotic time after care reorganization (-7 minutes, 95% CI -20 to 6 minutes, p = 0.29). Multivariable pre/post analyses using data only from the intervention ED overestimated the magnitude and statistical significance of outcome changes associated with ED care reorganization. Conclusions Implementation of an ED care model involving parallel multidisciplinary assessment and early team discussion of the care plan was not associated with improvements in mid- and low-acuity sepsis patients' door-to-antibiotic time after accounting for changes in the outcome unrelated to the studied intervention.