cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Live Oral Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi Vaccines Ty21a and CVD 909 Induce Opsonophagocytic Functional Antibodies in Humans That Cross-React with S. Paratyphi A and S. Paratyphi B

ABSTRACT Live oral Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi vaccine Ty21a induces specific antibodies that cross-react against Salmonella enterica serovar Paratyphi A and Salmonella enterica serovar Paratyphi B, although their functional role in clearance remains unknown. We utilized an in vitro assay with THP-1 macrophages to compare the phagocytosis and survival of Salmonella opsonized with heat-inactivated human sera obtained before and after vaccination with Ty21a or a live oral S . Typhi vaccine, CVD 909. Opsonization with postvaccination sera predominantly increased the phagocytosis of S . Typhi relative to the corresponding prevaccination sera, and increases were also observed with S . Paratyphi A and S . Paratyphi B, albeit of lower magnitudes. Relative to prevaccination sera, opsonization with the postvaccination sera reduced the survival inside macrophages of S . Typhi but not of S . Paratyphi A or S . Paratyphi B. Higher anti- S . Typhi O antigen (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) IgG, but not IgA, antibody titers correlated significantly with postvaccination increases in opsonophagocytosis. No differences were observed between immunization with four doses of Ty21a or one dose of CVD 909. Ty21a and CVD 909 induced cross-reactive functional antibodies, predominantly against S . Typhi. IgG anti-LPS antibodies may be important in phagocytic clearance of these organisms. Therefore, measurement of functional antibodies might be important in assessing the immunogenicity of a new generation of typhoid and paratyphoid A vaccines. (The CVD 909 study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no. NCT00326443.)
The Cleansing Effect of Offshoring in an Analysis of Employment

This paper uses a partial equilibrium heterogeneous firm model to explore distinctive firm-level operational responses to offshoring and the resulting short-run employment effect. We find that the industry-level effect is unambiguously negative and this is largely due to large job destruction from the exits of the least productive firms (Cleansing Effect). The numerical analysis, calibrated to the U.S. manufacturing sector, confirms the dominance of the cleansing effect in driving the reduction in industry-level employment. Offshorers still account for the majority of total job destruction; however, this is offset by subsequent job creation, partly from the increase in export opportunities.
The Biology of Impaired Healing of Joint Tissues

Tissues that are exposed to synovial fluid when they tear (ACL, rotator cuff, meniscus, articular cartilage) are notoriously difficult to get to heal, even with surgical repair. These tissues differ from other tissues, including the medial collateral ligament (MCL) of the knee, which heals even without surgery. In an attempt to learn more about this defect in wound healing for tissues within the joint, we compared the response of tissues within the joint with those outside the joint to try to find the defective mechanism. We found that the deficiency appears to be a premature loss of the provisional scaffold in the wound site. Without this scaffold, the tissues will not reunite and any suture repair is likely to eventually fail when the sutures break. However, identification of this mechanism also gives us something to work toward – what if we could design a substitute scaffold that we could place between the torn tissue ends to stimulate healing? This will be the topic of the next two book sections on engineering a solution for ACL injury.
Triage tests should not be used to challenge the sensitivity of a full clinical examination for detecting dehydration

Journal of Pediatrics, The - In Press.Proof corrected by the author Available online since jeudi 4 fevrier 2016
Laser Annealing of Ion Implanted Semiconductors

Photon energy from laser beams can be used to rapidly heat and melt localized regions of semiconductors with a high degree of spatial and temporal selectivity. Pulsed lasers have been successfully used to anneal displacement damage and to remove other defects. However, the number density of trapped defects increases with velocity of solidification and finally thin layers turn directly amorphous after laser-melt quenching. Annealing characteristics are found to be a strong function of ion implantation variables, which determine optical properties of materials. By both solid- and liquid-phase crystallization, supersaturated solid solutions can be formed. Residual defects in SPE grown layers primarily consist of dislocation loops. Device applications utilizing these transient thermal processing techniques are reviewed briefly.
A Review of Pathophysiology and Management Options for Delayed Ejaculation

Abstract Introduction Delayed ejaculation (DE) is a poorly defined disorder that entails the delay or absence of orgasm that results in personal distress. Numerous causes of DE exist, and management must be tailored to the specific etiology to maximize treatment success. Management strategies include psychological and sexual therapy, pharmacotherapy, and penile vibratory stimulation. Aim This article intends to review the pathophysiology and treatment options for DE discussed in the literature to date. Methods A review of the literature was performed to identify and evaluate the existing data on treatment success for the various forms of DE management. Main Outcome Measures Each treatment option was evaluated for method of administration, data supporting its success for DE, and potential risks or side effects. Results Different psychosexual therapy strategies have been described for DE but with limited data to describe efficacy. There is no medication for DE approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. The quality of evidence supporting the off-label use of medications for DE is low. However, there are numerous medications reported in the literature suggested to treat the condition. Cabergoline and bupropion are the two most commonly used. In addition, penile vibratory stimulation has been described as an adjunct treatment option for DE. Conclusion There are different treatment options reported for DE, all with limited evidence supporting their efficacy. Identifying the etiology of the DE is important to appropriately target therapy. A multimodal approach combining psychosexual therapy with medications and/or penile vibratory stimulation will likely provide the best outcomes.
The Domestic Sources of Foreign Policymaking: Congressional Voting and American Mass Attitudes Toward South Africa

This paper places an individual's attitude toward South African sanctions into a causal belief system model. Specifically, the model posited here hypothesizes that Americans primarily use two general postures to orient their attitudes toward South African sanctions: general racial postures, derived from knowledge and attitudes about domestic race relations, and general foreign policy postures. Further, I hypothesize that these racial and foreign policy postures are supported and structured by partisanship, ideology, and three contextual variables: cognitive abilities, income, and region of residence. The paper finds that general racial postures eclipse all other variables in their ability to predict respondents' attitudes toward anti-apartheid sanctions. Further, members of Congress based their South African sanctions voting in 1985 and 1986 on similar domestic racial considerations. The theoretical implications of domestic racial postures structuring foreign policy attitudes are seriously addressed, both specifically for the South African case, and for other issues and the broader implications for belief system modeling, and especially mass-elite communication.
Submission of Topics for USPTO Quality Case Studies

This Comment responds to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) Request for Submission of Topics for USPTO Quality Case Studies, published December 21, 2015. As empirical scholars interested in using data to drive policy-making, we commend the USPTO’s approach of using “case studies” of the type specified in the RFC — i.e., “reviews of applications” and “examiner work products” — to help illuminate, inform, and hypothesis-test potential best practices in patent quality. However, we would like to draw attention to two, thus far largely overlooked sources of data outside the USPTO’s own prosecution records: (1) the prosecution records of foreign patent offices that examine counterparts to applications filed in the U.S. and (2) the outcomes of lawsuits and other proceedings that review the validity of issued U.S. patents. We propose three case studies that leverage these data sources for your consideration.
AN ETIOLOGIC APPROACH TO MANAGEMENT OF DUODENAL AND GASTRIC ULCERS

With rare exception, peptic ulcers can now be classified as either Helicobacter pylori-related, induced by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or related to Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Helicobacter pylori-related ulcers can be treated by eradication of H pylori or by traditional therapies, including antisecretory drugs or sucralfate. Successful eradication of H pylori requires compliance with a multidrug regimen. Therefore, candidates should demonstrate substantial motivation. In general, the greater the degree of ulcer recurrence or resistance, the stronger the indication for H pylori eradication. Sucralfate is effective in healing H pylori-related duodenal ulcers, and H2 receptor antagonists heal H pylori-related duodenal and gastric ulcers. Omeprazole provides faster healing of H pylori-related ulcers, and is particularly useful in treating large gastric ulcers. Dyspepsia induced by NSAIDs and NSAID-related endoscopic erosions are managed by stopping NSAID use or reducing the dosage; administering NSAIDs with meals; and administering H2 receptor antagonists in full split-doses. NSAID-induced duodenal ulcers and small gastric ulcers can be healed with full split-doses of H2 receptor antagonists, even while the NSAID is continued. Large (> 5 mm) NSAID-induced gastric ulcers are most efficiently treated with omeprazole, particularly if the patient continues to take the NSAID.
Contemporary outcomes of sickle cell disease in pregnancy

Background Data regarding pregnancy outcomes in sickle cell disease are conflicting. Previous studies are limited by small sample size, narrow geographic area, and a wide range of resource availability. Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the association between maternal sickle cell disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes in a contemporary North American cohort. Study Design We performed a retrospective cohort study of 2,027,323 women with singleton pregnancies delivered in California from 2005–2008. Deliveries at 42 6/7 weeks of gestation were excluded. Women with sickle cell disease were compared with control subjects. Maternal outcomes of interest included preeclampsia, preterm delivery, placental abruption, oligohydramnios, and cesarean delivery; neonatal outcomes included small for gestational age, anomalies, stillbirth, neonatal death, and infant death. Results The prevalence of sickle cell disease was 0.017%. Compared with control subjects, women with sickle cell disease were more likely to have limited prenatal care (7.4 vs 3.8%; P =.001), underlying chronic hypertension (2.3% vs 1.1%; P =.038), and fetal anomalies (14.0 vs 6.4%; P Conclusion Women with sickle cell disease are at high risk of maternal and neonatal morbidity. Low rates of fetal and neonatal death may reflect improved antenatal surveillance and management as compared with previous studies. The association between sickle cell disease and fetal anomalies warrants further investigation.
E-099 evaluation of pulsatility and resistance indices in arterial feeders of cerebral arteriovenous malformations using quantitative magnetic resonance angiography

Introduction/purpose The characterization of cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM) hemodynamics is important in the evaluation and management of AVMs. Here, we measure flow volume rate, flow velocity, pulsatility index (PI), and resistance index (RI) in arterial feeders of AVMs using quantitative magnetic resonance angiography (QMRA). Materials and methods Records of patients with cerebral AVMs evaluated at our institution between 2007–2014 and with flows obtained before treatment using QMRA were retrospectively reviewed. Flow volume rate and flow velocity were measured in primary arterial feeders (anterior cerebral artery, A2 segment; middle cerebral artery, M1 segment; posterior cerebral artery, P2 segment) and compared to their contralateral counterparts. PI = [(systolic - diastolic flow velocity)/mean flow velocity] and RI = [(systolic - diastolic flow velocity)/systolic flow velocity] were calculated for each feeder and compared to the normal contralateral vessel. The relationship between PI, RI and AVM clinical and angioarchitectural features was also assessed. Results 72 patients with a total of 98 feeder arteries were included. Cohort characteristics are summarized in Table 1. Among all feeders, mean flow volume rate (332.3 vs. 121.6 mL/min, P P P P .001) were significantly lower than in the normal contralateral vessels (Figure 1). Similar results were obtained among each feeder vessel type. There was no significant association of feeder vessel PI and RI with hemorrhagic presentation ( P = 0 .64,0.80, respectively), exclusive deep venous drainage ( P = 0 .75,0.11), venous stenosis ( P = 0 .42,0.70), single draining vein ( P = 0 .91, 0.90), or deep location ( P = 0 .32,0.78). Conclusion PI and RI can be measured using QMRA and are significantly lower in AVM arterial feeders compared to normal vessels, thereby resulting in significantly higher flow volume rates and flow velocities in feeder vessels. Although we found no significant correlation between PI, RI, and AVM angioarchitectural characteristics thought to be associated with increased hemorrhage risk, future studies with larger sample sizes may better elucidate this relationship. Disclosures S. Shakur: None. S. Amin-Hanjani: None. H. Mostafa: None. V. Aletich: None. F. Charbel: None. A. Alaraj: None.
Matrix directed adipogenesis and neurogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue and bone marrow

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can differentiate into multiple lineages through guidance from the biophysical and biochemical properties of the extracellular matrix. In this work we conduct a combinatorial study of matrix properties that influence adipogenesis and neurogenesis including: adhesion proteins, stiffness, and cell geometry, for mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue (AT-MSCs) and bone marrow (BM-MSCs). We uncover distinct differences in integrin expression, the magnitude of traction stress, and lineage specification to adipocytes and neuron-like cells between cell sources. In the absence of media supplements, adipogenesis in AT-MSCs is not significantly influenced by matrix properties, while the converse is true in BM-MSCs. Both cell types show changes in the expression of neurogenesis markers as matrix cues are varied. When cultured on laminin conjugated microislands of the same adhesive area, BM-MSCs display elevated adipogenesis markers, while AT-MSCs display elevated neurogenesis markers; integrin analysis suggests neurogenesis in AT-MSCs is guided by adhesion through integrin αvβ3. Overall, the properties of the extracellular matrix guides MSC adhesion and lineage specification to different degrees and outcomes, in spite of their similarities in general characteristics. This work will help guide the selection of MSCs and matrix components for applications where high fidelity of differentiation outcome is desired.
Einstein, Albert (1879–1955)

Albert Einstein was born in 1879 and died in 1955. He received a Nobel Prize for his explanation of the photoelectric effect. Recognized for his theory of relativity, he incidentally contributed to the study of language and philosophy. The biography critically highlights his contributions to language and linguistics.
Macrophage-derived growth factors.

In the early decades of the twentieth century biologists sought to grow cells in culture. Clotted blood was found to contain molecules that accomplished this purpose (Carrel 1912), but only later did biochemists seek to purify these molecules. By the middle of the century, biochemists and biologists sought to explain neonatal eye opening in mice in molecular terms (Cohen 1987; Levi-Montalcini 1987). Each of these goals ultimately led to the isolation of single species of molecules called growth factors by using in vitro or in vivo bioassays for growth and a biochemical algorithm for isolation. Epidermal growth factor (EGF), nerve growth factor (NGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF, or CSF-1) were isolated and directly sequenced or molecularly cloned (based on partial sequences) by these means in the 1970s and early 1980s. The production of transformed foci of cells by introduction of fragments of cloned transcripts or genes from tumors also produced a subclass of oncogenes that turned out to be growth factors [c-sis, or PDGF-B chain, and Kaposi’s sarcoma-fibroblast growth factor (kFGF, or FGF-4)]. Most recently, the formation of tumors in vivo after random integration of a highly active viral promoter upstream of cellular genes has produced the int-1 and int-2 (also known as FGF-3) growth factors. Finally, after the founding member of a growth factor family is identified with a bioassay, low-stringency cDNA library screens and polymerase chain reaction can be used to complete the family (JAKOWLEW et al. 1988; HEBERT et al. 1990). All growth factors are operationally isolated and defined by their ability to cause growth, but may also act as nonmitogenic inflammatory factors.
The Regulation of Cellular Functions by the p53 Protein: Cellular Senescence

Transformed cells have properties that allow them to survive and proliferate inappropriately. These characteristics often arise as a result of mutations caused by DNA damage. p53 suppresses transformation by removing the proliferative or survival capacity of cells with DNA damage or inappropriate cell-cycle progression. Cellular senescence, marked by morphological and gene expression changes, is a critical component of p53-mediated tumor suppression. In response to stress, p53 can facilitate an arrest and senescence program in cells exposed to stresses such as DNA damage and oncogene activation, preventing transformation. Senescent cells are evident in precancerous adenoma-type lesions, whereas proliferating, malignant tumors have bypassed senescence, either by p53 mutation or inactivation of the p53 pathway by other means. Tumors that have retained wild-type p53 often show a p53-mediated senescence response to chemotherapy. This response is actually detrimental in some tumor types, as senescent cells can drive relapse by persisting and producing cytokines and chemokines through an acquired secretory phenotype.
Reprogramming protein kinase substrate specificity through synthetic mutations

Protein kinase specificity is largely imparted through substrate binding pocket motifs. Missense mutations in these regions are frequently associated with human disease, and in some cases can alter substrate specificity. However, current efforts at decoding the influence of mutations on substrate specificity have been focused on disease-associated mutations. Here, we adapted the Proteomic Peptide Library (ProPeL) approach for determining kinase specificity to the task of exploring structure function relationships in kinase specificity by interrogating the effects of synthetic mutation. We established a specificity model for the wild-type DYRK1A kinase with unprecedented resolution. Using existing crystallographic and sequence homology data, we rationally designed mutations that precisely reprogrammed the DYRK1A kinase at the P+1 position to mimic the substrate preferences of a related kinase, CK II. This study illustrates a new synthetic biological approach to reprogram kinase specificity by design, and a powerful new paradigm to investigate structure-function relationships underpinning kinase substrate specificity.
Medicaid expansions and labor supply among low-income childless adults: evidence from 2000 to 2013.

Medicaid expansions to low-income childless adults could have unintended effects on labor supply. Using 2000–2013 current population survey data, we exploit changes in adult Medicaid eligibility across states to estimate its effect on labor supply for three samples of adults most likely to be affected by changes in Medicaid eligibility: those with less than a high school degree, a high school degree only, and income less than 300% of the federal poverty line. Medicaid eligibility was associated with a reduction in labor supply for low-income women with a high school degree. In our preferred estimations, these women were about 7 percentage points less likely to be employed than similar women in states without expanded Medicaid. Only a modest reduction was observed for weekly hours worked and then only for women with less than a high school degree and who were hourly employees (about 3 h), leading us to conclude that the effect is largely driven by those who leave the workforce. Older low-income women with a high school degree had the strongest negative response to changes in Medicaid eligibility. They were 17 percentage points less likely to be employed in states that had expanded Medicaid, possibly since these women are motivated to leave employment because they lack access to employer-sponsored insurance and have health needs that can be addressed with Medicaid coverage. Men’s employment appeared largely unaffected by changes in Medicaid eligibility.
Our Illiberal Administrative Law

In adopting the Administrative Procedure Act, the Congress intended to extend the liberal tradition - of limited government, checks and balances, and the protection of individual rights - to governance of the administrative state: The APA would give the public a way to get relief from administrative excess. Yet in the 70 years since it was enacted, evasive practices by the agencies and an increasingly deferential posture from the courts have combined to frustrate that purpose. The result is a legal regime that insulates agencies from correction and denies citizens redress. The illiberal aspects of this regime - presumptions that favor the government, unbounded delegations of authority, judicial deference on questions of law, the evasion of notice‑and‑comment rulemaking - do not arise from the APA itself but from the failure of courts and agencies to fulfill their obligations under the APA.
How Managers Build Trust Through Their Control Applications

This paper contributes to control-trust research by describing how the efforts managers make to demonstrate their trustworthiness (integrity, ability, benevolence) moderate the effects of manageria...
Images of Animals in the Early Modern Spanish Empire

By exploring popular illustrations, courtly paintings, bureaucratic documents like the relaciones geograficas, and the works of intellectuals like Oliva Sabuco and Jose de Acosta, we can still see and hear a representation of animal agency that affected women and men from the late fifteenth through to the early nineteenth centuries. In the 1970s, John Berger reminded us that ‘seeing comes before words’, but then ‘we explain that world with words’. The imagination of the early modern Spanish empire was filled by images which evoked both wonder and dread, and they were captured by brush and pen alike. Subject to human displays of dominance and acts of compassion, nonhuman animals fascinated by reminding the Spanish empire's human actors that they remained part of nature, and that we still have not mastered nature, from our bodily needs to the animals who do not always obey. Living in a sensory and sensual world, the humans who imagined the Spanish empire were also animals living in that multispecies social organism. Embodied as they were, and as we are, their experiences resonate with us today.
Conducting Summative Evaluation and Research: The Final Stage

In the evaluation planning stage (refer to Chap. 5), the preliminary plans for the summative evaluation were developed. These plans provide a framework to prepare for and carry out the summative evaluation. Research can also be conducted during the final stage. Summative evaluation occurs at a predetermined point in the WBID life cycle, usually when major revisions are no longer taking place and the online course has been used by a large number or percentage of the target population. Its purpose is to determine the value and worth of online instruction. Planning, conducting, and reporting summative evaluation and research comprise the last stage of the WBID Model.
The Effect of Glucose on the Properties of Cement Paste

This study presents the results of an investigation of the effect of glucose on the hydration, microstructure, and properties of cement pastes. The hydration was studied using non-evaporable water content measurement and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Electrical resistivity as a measure of the transport property of cement pastes was evaluated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). It was found that all cement pastes showed a similar degree of hydration at late ages. The cement paste with a low concentration of glucose (0.05%) showed a slightly higher compressive strength and electrical resistivity compared to the control cement paste. This was most likely due to improved workability and dispersion of cement particles in this cement paste. However, the cement paste with 0.25% glucose showed a lower electrical resistivity compared to the control cement paste.
Resilience, Peer Relationships, and Confidence: Do Girls’ Programs Promote Positive Change?

The purpose of this study was to analyze whether girls’ levels of resilience increased after participation in a variety of programs. In this study, 711 girls participated in one of four program types: adventure education (n = 71), experiential education (n = 164), traditional camp setting (n = 228), and mixed camp setting (n = 248). The study compared outcomes across program type to examine whether specific program types were more effective at promoting resilience in girls. The researchers analyzed data using 2 (within subjects; Time: Time 1 vs. Time 2) A~ 4 (between subjects; Program Type: Adventure Program, Experiential Program, Traditional Camp, and Mixed Camp Program) mixed model ANOVAs. Results indicate small yet significant changes in resilience for adolescent girls in all program settings. However, the degree of difference appears to be influenced by program type. Subscribe to JOREL
Across the Surface of the Sea: Maritime Interaction in the Cycladic Early Bronze Age

The creation of maritime network models has been a major focus of archaeological investigations of the Early Bronze Age in the Cyclades (Greece). While archaeologists acknowledge the importance of environmental variables for ancient seafaring, they have tended to treat the sea surface as an undifferentiated space onto which network models are imposed. The present study of Early Cycladic maritime connectivity incorporates the Aegean Sea as a varied and varying surface affected by seasonal and temporal changes. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software, I create a cost-surface model of the ancient seascape that incorporates environmental, archaeological, and technological variables. The application of a cost-surface model enables the consideration of Early Cycladic settlements not merely as points in space but as embedded within a contiguous surface of land and sea. This study highlights the complex and variable conditions facing Bronze Age seafarers. The results of the study challenge the conceptualization of the Cyclades as a unified island group; while the central Cyclades exhibit high connectivity at the local scale, islands on the edges of the cluster may have relied on less-frequent travel at the regional scale, which nevertheless persisted throughout the Early Cycladic period. Variations in wind patterns due to seasonality and directionality indicate that most journeys would require an overnight stay at the destination, suggesting the importance of maintaining intercommunity ties.
Optical CDMA for a constellation of CubeSats

In this paper, an end-to-end optical CubeSat Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system architecture is developed. The signal processing components required for successful operation are defined. Performance analysis for the uncoded case for N CubeSats is derived. Software simulations are used to obtain the performance of N CubeSats using a coded optical CDMA multiple access scheme. Results from successful completion of this investigation might be used in the future for near-Earth and deep space optical communication scenarios that require science data from CubeSats to be transmitted to Earth. An M-ary Pulse Position modulation (PPM) format is considered. Low phase offset autocorrelation and cross correlation signature sequences are used for spreading. Tradeoffs between the weights, lengths, and maximum number of such sequences are assessed, and their performance with optical PPM modulation is accurately analyzed in the presence of multiuser interference. For a hard decision optical receiver with photon counting detectors, a low rate protograph code is proposed. The code is optimized using the reciprocal channel approximation, which is a one dimensional density evolution. Performance analysis is provided for uncoded and simulated coded optical CDMA under three background noise regimes and for up to N=15 CubeSats and signature sequences of weights 5 and 3. Our results show, for example, that in the case of 2-PPM and using weight 5 signature sequences for a single CubeSat, there is a 7 dB coding gain (with respect to the uncoded case) at a BER of 10−4, whereas for 15 CubeSats there is a 12 to 15 dB coding gain at the same BER depending on the received background noise intensity. We have demonstrated that with the proposed coding scheme, the loss due to multiuser interference is less than 1 dB for 15 CubeSats. Leveraging existing laboratory hardware to test the deep-space optical CDMA concept, an experiment is performed. Four gain-switched lasers near 1550 nm are combined with a WDM multiplexer to generate 3 channels of CDMA signals plus a background noise channel. CDMA modulation signals are encoded across multiple lasers using a multi-channel logic analyzer. Light is attenuated to the single photon level and measured with a superconducting nanowire single photon detector with time-correlated single photon counting electronics.
Model-Based Diagnosis of Automotive Engines

Abstract Some results and lessons of a four year project, aimed at demonstrating the feasibility of model based diagnosis of automobile engines, are summarized. A production vehicle, arbitrarily picked from the manufacturer's lot, has been used, with standard measurement and control devices. The diagnostic approach was the technique of structured parity equations. The algorithm has been implemented, on hardware equivalent to the production devices, both in on-board and in service versions. The paper describes the extensive data collection, model identification, algorithm development and system validation effort. The project has demonstrated the feasibility of this technology on a single production vehicle though the achievable fault sensitivities have been found to be limited by unmodeled effects. Open issues include car-to-car variations and long-term behavior.
Lens proteomics: the accumulation of crystallin modifications in the mouse lens with age.

Purpose To identify modified crystallins associated with aging of lens and produce two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) proteome maps of crystallins in mouse lens. Methods Lens proteins from mice of increasing age or different strains were separated by either chromatography or 2-DE. Masses of whole proteins or tryptic peptides were analyzed by mass spectrometry. Changes in the abundance of individual crystallins were determined by image analysis of 2-DE gels. Results The measured masses of all known mouse crystallins, with the exception of gammaD and gammaF, matched the masses calculated from their reported sequences. Analysis by 2-DE indicated that most posttranslational modifications took place in mice after 6 weeks of age. Partially degraded crystallins, including betaB1, betaB2, betaB3, betaA3, alphaA, and alphaB, were found in greater proportion in the insoluble fractions. gamma-Crystallins A through F also became insoluble during aging. However, insolubilization of gamma-crystallins was associated with a decrease in isoelectric point (pI). Aging was also associated with increased phosphorylation of soluble alphaA- and alphaB-crystallins, confirmed by mass measurements of these proteins eluted from 2-DE gels. Comparison of protein profiles between several strains of mice used to produce transgenic or knockout models of cataract indicated few differences, except for an additional acidic form of a gamma-crystallin, possibly due to a polymorphism. Conclusions These results suggest that partial degradation of alpha- and beta-crystallins and increased acidity of gamma-crystallins may cause insolubilization during aging. The 2-DE proteome maps of mouse lens proteins created in this study, using immobilized pH gradients, will be useful for comparison with maps of lens proteins of mice with cataracts so that cataract-specific modifications may be identified.
Lactation and Diabetes Among Women with a History of GDM Pregnancy

Lactating women exhibit more favorable cardiometabolic profiles than non-lactating women, yet lasting effects on future disease risk remain unclear. Among women in general, lactation may protect against development of the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes in midlife. However, studies of lactation and metabolic disease after pregnancy among women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are limited by reliance on self-report of type 2 diabetes or variable time intervals for screening after GDM pregnancy. Among the offspring, consensus expert panels have concluded that breastfeeding reduces the risk of overweight by 22% to 24% among children and adolescents in developed countries. Yet, breastfeeding may not have similar effects on the offspring of women with GDM during pregnancy. Studies of breastfeeding and future diabetes in the offspring have mostly involved heterogeneous samples that combined offspring of mothers who had GDM and mothers who had pre-gestational diabetes. Given that lactation and breastfeeding promote lasting health benefits among women and children in the general population, further research targeting women with a history of GDM and their offspring is recommended.
Plasma and Liver Protein Binding of N-Acetylgalactosamine–Conjugated Small Interfering RNA

Understanding small interfering RNA (siRNA) fraction unbound (fu) in relevant physiologic compartments is critical for establishing pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationships for this emerging modality. In our attempts to isolate the equilibrium free fraction of N-acetylgalactosamine–conjugated siRNA using classic small-molecule in vitro techniques, we found that the hydrodynamic radius was critical in determining the size exclusion limit requirements for fu isolation, largely validating the siRNA “rigid rod” hypothesis. With this knowledge, we developed an orthogonally validated 50 kDa molecular-mass cutoff ultrafiltration assay to quantify fu in biologic matrices including human, nonhuman primate, rat, and mouse plasma, and human liver homogenate. To enhance understanding of the siRNA-plasma interaction landscape, we examined the effects of various common oligonucleotide therapeutic modifications to the ribose and helix backbone on siRNA fu in plasma (fu,plasma) and found that chemical modifications can alter plasma protein binding by at least 20%. Finally, to gain insight into which specific plasma proteins bind to siRNA, we developed a qualitative screen to identify binding “hits” across a panel of select purified human plasma proteins.
Electronic and Structural Comparisons between Iron(II/III) and Ruthenium(II/III) Imide Analogs.

To examine structural and electronic differences between iron and ruthenium imido complexes, a series of compounds was prepared with different phosphine basal sets. The starting material for the ruthenium complexes was Ru(NAr/Ar*)(PMe3)3 (Ru1/Ru1*), where Ar = 2,6-(iPr)2C6H3 and Ar* = 2,4,6-(iPr)3C6H2, which were prepared from cis-RuCl2(PMe3)4 and 2 equiv of LiNHAr/Ar*. The starting materials for the iron complexes were the analogous Fe(NAr/Ar*)(PMe3)3 species (Fe1/Fe1*), which were not isolated but could be generated in situ from FeCl2, PMe3, and LiNHAr/Ar*. With both iron and ruthenium, the PMe3 starting materials underwent phosphine replacement with chelating ligands to give new group 8 imido complexes in the +2 oxidation state. Addition of 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe) to M1/M1* gave Ru(NAr/Ar*)(PMe3)(dppe) and Fe(NAr/Ar*)(PMe3)(dppe). Addition of 1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane (dmpe) provided Ru(NAr/Ar*)(dmpe)2. A triphos ligand, {P(Me)2CH2}3SitBu (tP3), was also examined. Addition of tP3...
Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping: Contemporary Religious Production on a Planet Passing Tipping Points

This article argues that the religious thought and rituals of Reverend Billy Talen are a form of dark green animist religion and function as a response to perceived human destruction of the biosphere. An overview of environment-centered religions mobilized by concerns over planetary metrics is presented, followed by a case-study analysis of Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping. It is argued that the religion espoused by Reverend Billy is an example of how contemporary concerns for environmental and social health are influencing contemporary religious thought and production. The religious activism of Reverend Billy and his church, aimed at liberating life from “consumerism” and fundamentalism, presents an “ideal type” example of the development of Earth-centered protest religions that may be found at the margin of capitalist society. As evidenced by Reverend Billy, aspects of this religious development will be predicated upon anti-globalization discourses and concerns for ecosystem health and sustainability.
Establishment of a survey method to determine rice stigma length from preparation, sampling, and preservation to measurement

The lack of a unified standard for sampling stage, preservation and measurement of stigma length is the main restriction factor for the study of stigma length trait in rice. In this study, stigma l...
How We Code.

Coding data—defining concepts and identifying where they occur in data—is a critical aspect of qualitative data analysis, and especially so in quantitative ethnography. Coding is a central process for creating meaning from data, and while much has been written about coding methods and theory, relatively little has been written about what constitutes best practices for fair and valid coding, what justifies those practices, and how to implement them. In this paper, our goal is not to address these issues comprehensively, but to provide guidelines for good coding practice and to highlight some of the issues and key questions that quantitative ethnographers and other researchers should consider when coding data.
Posterior fusion for fragility type 2 odontoid fractures

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of elderly patients with type 2 odontoid fractures treated with an instrumented posterior fusion. METHODS Ninety-three consecutive patients older than 65 years of age in whom a type 2 odontoid fracture had been treated with a variety of C1-2 posterior screw fixation techniques were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS The average age was 78 years (range 65-95 years). Thirty-seven patients had an additional fracture, 30 of which involved C1. Three patients had cervical spinal cord dysfunction due to their injury. All patients had comorbidities. The average total hospitalization was 9.6 days (range 2-37 days). There were 3 deaths and 19 major complications, the most common of which was pneumonia. No patient suffered a vertebral artery injury. Imaging studies were obtained in 64 patients at least 12 months postsurgery (mean 19 months). Fusion was assessed by dynamic radiographs in all cases and with a CT scan in 80% of the cases. Four of the 64 patients did not achieve fusion (6.25% overall). All patients in whom fusion failed had undergone C1 lateral mass fixation and C2 pars (1/29, 3.4%) or laminar (3/9, 33.3%) fixation. CONCLUSIONS Instrumented posterior cervical fusions may be performed in elderly patients with acceptable morbidity and mortality. The fusion rate is excellent except when bilateral C2 translaminar screws are used for axis fixation.
A more comprehensive measure of vaccine hesitancy: Creation of the Multidimensional Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (MVHS).

This article aimed to develop the Multidimensional Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (MVHS). In Study 1 (n = 336), we identified 13 possible vaccine hesitancy dimensions and developed an item list. In Study ...
Global red and processed meat trade and non-communicable diseases.

Introduction Rapid increases in the trade of global red and processed meat impede international efforts toward sustainable diets by increasing meat consumption. However, little research has examined cross-country variations in diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) because of meat trade. We aimed to examine the impact of red and processed meat trade on diet-related NCDs and to identify which countries are particularly vulnerable to diet-related NCDs due to red and processed meat trade. Methods By selecting 14 red meat and six processed meat items, we investigated bilateral meat trade flows across 154 countries. Then, we integrated health data and information on red and processed meat trade to quantify the country-specific burden of diet-related NCDs attributable to the meat trade using a comparative risk assessment framework. Results Results show that global increases in red and processed meat trade contributed to the abrupt increase of diet-related NCDs, and the attributable burden of diet-related NCDs had large geographical variations among countries. We also identified responsible exporting countries that increase diet-related NCD risks in importing countries. Over the period from 1993 to 2018, island countries in the Caribbean and Oceania were particularly vulnerable to diet-related NCD incidents and mortality due to large meat imports. In addition, countries in Northern and Eastern Europe have exceedingly increased attributable death and disability-adjusted life year rates via meat imports. Conclusion Our findings suggest that both exporters and importers must urgently undertake cross-sectoral actions to reduce the meat trade’s health impacts. To prevent unintended health consequences due to red and processed meat trade, future interventions need to integrate health policies with agricultural and trade policies by cooperating with both responsible exporting and importing countries.
Dexamethasone is effective in treatment of infantile spasms (IS) (P3.5-012)

Objective: To report that dexamethasone may be an effective treatment of IS. Background: Most authorities recommend adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) as the first line therapy for treatment of infantile spasms (IS). United States data reports a 55% response rate (IS freedom at 3 months post therapy) for natural ACTH (nACTH) and 39% for oral steroids while United Kingdom data 76% for synthetic ACTH (sACTH) and 70% for oral prednisolone. There are rare reports of dexamethasone use for treatment of IS with efficacy and relapse rate similar to that of nACTH. Design/Methods: After IRB approval, we performed a retrospective chart review of patients admitted to Arkansas Children’s Hospital from September 2009 to December 2017. Analysis included 0–2 year old children diagnosed with infantile spasms and hypsarrhythmia on video EEG. We excluded those with Ohtahara syndrome or early myoclonic encephalopathy. We compared the response rate to various treatment regimes. Responders were divided into early responders (ER) – IS free Results: Of a total of 124 children with IS, 41 had prior brain injury, 25 had migrational or other structural abnormalities, 24 had genetic etiologies, 11 had unknown etiology with developmental delay, and 23 were cryptogenic with normal development at diagnosis. There were a total of 5 patients treated with dexamethasone with an 80% responder rate (ER+LR). Four were ER and received 20 mg/m2 dexamethasone daily for 3 days. One was NR and received 18.5 mg/m2 of dexamethasone daily for 3 days. Conclusions: Dexamethasone may be an effective treatment of IS, and further evaluation should be performed. Disclosure: Dr. Gabriel has nothing to disclose. Dr. Arya has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sharp has nothing to disclose. Dr. Samanta has nothing to disclose. Dr. Willis has nothing to disclose. Dr. Cobb has nothing to disclose. Dr. Manbeck has nothing to disclose. Dr. Phillips has nothing to disclose. Dr. Selvy has nothing to disclose. Dr. Outlaw has nothing to disclose. Dr. Cash has nothing to disclose. Dr. Christensen has nothing to disclose. Dr. Stanley has nothing to disclose. Dr. Edens has nothing to disclose.
CASE E : a hierarchical event representation for the analysis of videos

A representational gap exists between low-level measurements (segmentation, object classification, tracking) and high-level understanding of video sequences. In this paper, we propose a novel representation of events in videos to bridge this gap, based on the CASE representation of natural languages. The proposed representation has three significant contributions over existing frameworks. First, we recognize the importance of causal and temporal relationships between subevents and extend CASE to allow the representation of temporal structure and causality between sub-events. Second, in order to capture both multi-agent and multithreaded events, we introduce a hierarchical CASE representation of events in terms of sub-events and case-lists. Last, for purposes of implementation we present the concept of a temporal event-tree, and pose the problem of event detection as subtree pattern matching. By extending CASE, a natural language representation, for the representation of events, the proposed work allows a plausible means of interface between users and the computer. We show two important applications of the proposed event representation for the automated annotation of standard meeting video sequences, and for event detection in extended videos of railroad crossings.