cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parameterization of phosphine ligands demonstrates enhancement of nickel catalysis via remote steric effects

The field of Ni-catalysed cross-coupling has seen rapid recent growth because of the low cost of Ni, its earth abundance, and its ability to promote unique cross-coupling reactions. Whereas advances in the related field of Pd-catalysed cross-coupling have been driven by ligand design, the development of ligands specifically for Ni has received minimal attention. Here, we disclose a class of phosphines that enable the Ni-catalysed Csp3 Suzuki coupling of acetals with boronic acids to generate benzylic ethers, a reaction that failed with known ligands for Ni and designer phosphines for Pd. Using parameters to quantify phosphine steric and electronic properties together with regression statistical analysis, we identify a model for ligand success. The study suggests that effective phosphines feature remote steric hindrance, a concept that could guide future ligand design tailored to Ni. Our analysis also reveals that two classic descriptors for ligand steric environment-cone angle and % buried volume-are not equivalent, despite their treatment in the literature.
Staged Surgery for Advanced Thyroid Cancers: Safety and Oncologic Outcomes of Neural Monitored Surgery

Objective Thyroidectomy with extensive multicompartment bilateral neck dissections for advanced-stage thyroid cancer may lead to increased risk of complications, including bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) paralysis and hypoparathyroidism. A planned staged approach derived from a detailed preoperative radiographic map is associated with a low complication profile. This study evaluates oncologic results and safety of neural monitored, staged thyroid cancer surgery for management of advanced thyroid cancer. Study Design Case series with chart review. Setting Tertiary care center. Subjects and Methods With institutional review board approval, 35 consecutive patients with advanced thyroid malignancy and extensive nodal disease managed with staged surgery between January 2004 and May 2013 by the senior author (G.W.R.) were identified, and the oncologic and surgical outcomes were reviewed. Results In total, 37.2% of patients had stage III or IV disease, with extrathyroidal extension in 71.4%, vascular invasion in 51.4%, and RLN invasion in 17% of patients. A total of 34% patients had positive lymph nodes in more than 5 nodal compartments; the average positive lymph node yield was 17, and extranodal extension was present in 51%. Three patients had RLN sacrifice, and there were no other cases of temporary or permanent RLN paralysis; permanent hypoparathyroidism and chyle leak occurred in one patient each. Locoregional recurrence occurred in 5.7% of patients after a 147-week mean follow-up. In patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma, median postoperative nonstimulated and stimulated thyroglobulin levels were 0.2 and 0.75 ng/mL, respectively. Conclusion A neural monitored, staged surgical approach was conducted without significant adverse events in this small sample and represents and effective alternative strategy option to simultaneous bilateral surgery in the management of thyroid cancer with extensive neck metastases.
Analysis of Time-on-Task, Behavior Experiences, and Performance in Two Online Courses with Different Authentic Learning Tasks

This paper reports the findings of a comparative analysis of online learner behavioral interactions, time-on-task, attendance, and performance at different points throughout a semester (beginning, during, and end) based on two online courses: one course offering authentic discussion-based learning activities and the other course offering authentic design/development-based learning activities. Web log data were collected to determine the number of learner behavioral interactions with the Moodle learning management system (LMS), the number of behavioral interactions with peers, the time-on-task for weekly tasks, and the recorded attendance. Student performance on weekly tasks was also collected from the course data. Behavioral interactions with the Moodle LMS included resource viewing activities and uploading/downloading file activities. Behavioral interactions with peers included discussion postings, discussion responses, and discussion viewing activities. A series of Mann-Whitney tests were conducted to compare the two types of behavioral interactions between the two courses. Additionally, each student's behavioral interactions were visually presented to show the pattern of their interactions. The results indicated that, at the beginning of the semester, students who were involved in authentic design/development-based learning activities showed a significantly higher number of behavioral interactions with the Moodle LMS than did students involved in authentic discussion-based learning activities. However, in the middle of the semester, students engaged in authentic discussion-based learning activities showed a significantly higher number of behavioral interactions with peers than did students involved in authentic design/development-based learning activities. Additionally, students who were given authentic design/development-based learning activities received higher performance scores both during the semester and at the end of the semester and they showed overall higher performance scores than students who were given authentic discussion-based learning activities. No differences were found between the two groups with respect to time-on-task or attendance.
Synthetic Control of Crystallite Size of Silver Vanadium Phosphorous Oxide (Ag0.50VOPO4·1.9H2O): Impact on Electrochemistry

This report describes a synthetic approach to control the crystallite size of silver vanadium phosphorous oxide, Ag0.50VOPO41.9H2O, and the impact on electrochemistry in lithium based batteries. Ag0.50VOPO41.9H2O was synthesized using a stirred hydrothermal method over a range of temperatures. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to confirm the crystalline phase and the crystallite size sizes of 11, 22, 38, 40, 49, and 120 nm. Particle shape was plate-like with edges 10 microns. Under galvanostatic reduction the samples with 22 nm crystallites and 880 nm particles produced the highest capacity, ~25% more capacity than the 120 nm sample. Notably, the 11 nm sample resulted in reduced delivered capacity and higher resistance consistent with increased grain boundaries contributing to resistance. Under intermittent pulsing ohmic resistance decreased with increasing crystallite size from 11 nm to 120 nm implying that electrical conduction within a crystal is more facile than between crystallites and across grain boundaries. This systematic study of material dimension shows that crystallite size impacts deliverable capacity as well as cell resistance where both interparticle and intraparticle transport are important.
Troponin C Mutations Partially Stabilize the Active State of Regulated Actin and Fully Stabilize the Active State When Paired with Δ14 TnT

Striated muscle contraction is regulated by the actin-associated proteins tropomyosin and troponin. The extent of activation of myosin ATPase activity is lowest in the absence of both Ca2+ and activating cross-bridges (i.e., S1-ADP or rigor S1). Binding of activating species of myosin to actin at a saturating Ca2+ concentration stabilizes the most active state (M state) of the actin–tropomyosin–troponin complex (regulated actin). Ca2+ binding alone produces partial stabilization of the active state. The extent of stabilization at a saturating Ca2+ concentration depends on the isoform of the troponin subunits, the phosphorylation state of troponin, and, in the case of cardiac muscle, the presence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy-producing mutants of troponin T and troponin I. Cardiac dysfunction is also associated with mutations of troponin C (TnC). Troponin C mutants A8V, C84Y, and D145E increase the Ca2+ sensitivity of ATPase activity. We show that these mutants change the distribution of regulated actin s...
BMI-for-age graphs with severe obesity percentile curves: tools for plotting cross-sectional and longitudinal youth BMI data

Severe obesity is an important and distinct weight status classification that is associated with disease risk and is increasing in prevalence among youth. The ability to graphically present population weight status data, ranging from underweight through severe obesity class 3, is novel and applicable to epidemiologic research, intervention studies, case reports, and clinical care. The aim was to create body mass index (BMI) graphing tools to generate sex-specific BMI-for-age graphs that include severe obesity percentile curves. We used the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention youth reference data sets and weight status criteria to generate the percentile curves. The statistical software environments SAS and R were used to create two different graphing options. This article provides graphing tools for creating sex-specific BMI-for-age graphs for males and females ages 2 to <20 years. The novel aspects of these graphing tools are an expanded BMI range to accommodate BMI values ˃35 kg/m2, inclusion of percentile curves for severe obesity classes 2 and 3, the ability to plot individual data for thousands of children and adolescents on a single graph, and the ability to generate cross-sectional and longitudinal graphs. These new BMI graphing tools will enable investigators, public health professionals, and clinicians to view and present youth weight status data in novel and meaningful ways.
Assessment of Left Atrial Fibrosis by Late Gadolinium Enhancement Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Methodology and Clinical Implications

Recently, studies using late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to identify structural changes of atrial tissue have contributed significantly to understanding the pathophysiology and progression of atrial fibrillation (AF). Moreover, imaging of atrial fibrosis using MRI has evolved to be a tool to improve clinical outcome of AF ablation procedures by allowing a patient-specific individualized management approach. LGE-MRI has been shown to predict AF ablation outcome based on pre-procedural imaging to define the extent of atrial fibrosis. The results of the ongoing DECAAF II (Delayed-Enhancement MRI Determinant of Successful Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation) trial might extend ablation strategies from pulmonary vein isolation alone to a substrate-based approach. Furthermore, an improved understanding of the underlying mechanisms of atrial structural remodeling is crucial in order to reduce the occurrence of AF-associated complications (e.g., ischemic stroke and heart failure). This review article provides current methodology of atrial fibrosis imaging using LGE-MRI and delineates actual clinical implications and future directions for this imaging approach.
Wavelength-Dependent Coupling of Ultrafast Filaments to Solid Surfaces

Plasma luminosity is essential to remote sensing based on filament-induced breakdown spectroscopy. We present the measurements of dynamics and luminosity of plasmas produced by 0.4, 0.8, and 2.0 µm filaments on a copper surface.
Cardiac Transplantation: Current Status and Limitations

Surgical replacement with an allograft is the definitive therapy for end-stage myocardial disease. Carrel and Guthrie were early pioneers in the field, notably with respect to vascular anastomotic techniques [1]. Further advancements are credited to Mann and his colleagues at Mayo [2] as well as Shumway and Lower at Stanford [3]. Barnard in South Africa (1967) [4] and Shumway at Stanford [1968] were the early successful pioneers in human allograft heart transplantation. The introduction of immunosuppressant therapies in the 1980s was a great boost to this field.
Inflammation, Chronic Disease, and Cancer: Is Psychological Distress the Common Thread?

Mounting evidence suggests that the inflammatory mechanism plays a central role in the development and exacerbation of multiple chronic illnesses, including gastrointestinal, pulmonary, and cardiovascular disease, as well as obesity and rheumatoid arthritis. It has further been suggested that chronic inflammation is correlated with various types of cancer. While multiple studies have demonstrated that certain chronic diseases predict increased risk of malignancies, recent scholarship suggests that the inflammatory mechanism may in fact serve as a major factor in the pathogenesis of cancer. As psychological stress is known to influence individual levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, it is possible that mental health problems such as chronic stress and depression may indirectly contribute to cancer development.
Disease Severity in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Patients with No Prior Diagnosis of Cirrhosis – A Unique Insight Using Vibration-Controlled Transient Elastography (VCTE)

Background and Hypothesis: The severity of fibrosis is a strong prognostic indicator in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, routine evaluation with a liver biopsy in patients with NAFLD is not feasible and as such, the assessment of disease severity is often limited in small sample sizes. Vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) is a non-invasive tool that can simultaneously assess for both liver fibrosis and steatosis by estimating liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) respectively. The aim of the current study is to estimate the prevalence of (1) abnormal LSM indicative of any fibrosis based on LSM ≥ 6.5 kPa, (2) compensated Advanced Chronic Liver Disease (cACLD) – suggestive(10-15kPa) and highly suggestive (>15 kPa), and (3) severe steatosis Experimental Design or Project Methods: Patients seen at digestive and liver disorders clinic at Indiana University Hospital that underwent VCTE between 8/2013-4/2018 were identified from the Fibrocan502 Touch data table. The ICD10 codes used as the indication for performing the VCTE were extracted and confirmed with the review of electronic health records. Results: 1240 patients met the criteria. The prevalence of abnormal LSM in the study cohort was 66% with 38.5 % having LSM suggestive of cACLD and 22% having LSM highly suggestive of cACLD. The prevalence of severe steatosis was 77%. The proportion of NAFLD patients with cACLD (suggestive and highly suggestive) during the study period was not significantly different (Figure1). Conclusion and Potential Impact: There are many NAFLD patients with liver stiffness indicative of abnormal LSM and 22% have LSM that is highly suggestive of cACLD. The proportion of patients with cACLD is steady over the study duration.
An Interesting Observation Regarding Retrograde Vertebral Artery Flow in Patients With Dialysis Access Fistulas

Objectives Retrograde vertebral artery flow, the steal phenomenon, is most frequently caused by a flow-limiting stenosis of the proximal subclavian artery. The reversal of flow can be incomplete, resulting in bidirectional flow: retrograde in systole and antegrade in diastole. Less often, retrograde vertebral artery flow is the consequence of increased subclavian flow, as might occur with a well-functioning dialysis access fistula. Our objective was to evaluate bidirectional vertebral artery flow associated with dialysis access fistulas. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the direction of flow through the vertebral artery in systole and diastole of 335 patients with dialysis fistulas who had undergone extracranial cerebral vascular Doppler examinations. Results Fifteen patients had retrograde flow in their vertebral artery ipsilateral with the side of their fistula. There was completely reversed flow in 1 patient and bidirectional flow in the other 14. For each of these 14, the flow was antegrade in early systole and retrograde in diastole. Compression of the fistula restored the antegrade flow. Conclusions Under conditions of reduced subclavian artery flow, bidirectional vertebral artery flow will be retrograde in early systole and antegrade in diastole. Under conditions of increased subclavian artery flow, bidirectional flow through the vertebral artery will be antegrade in early systole and retrograde in diastole.
Role of electrons in collision cascades in solids. II. Molecular dynamics

We present a model for the role of electrons in collision cascades in solids in which the coupling between ions and electrons is calculated using first-principles models and introduced into the classical ion equations of motion using our modified Langevin dynamics [A. Tamm et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 185501 (2018)]. This model gives a full picture of the entire collision process, from the ballistic to the thermal phases of a cascade, giving a detailed representation of the energy exchange between ions and electrons until their final thermalization, removing in this way some ad hoc assumptions used in the state-of-the-art two-temperature model. This work is separated into two papers: Part I [M. Caro et al., Phys. Rev. B 99, 174301 (2019)] reports on the ab initio methodology used to translate stopping power into the parametrized dissipation function. Part II applies the nonadiabatic ion dynamics using the dissipation functions developed in Part I to specific collision cascade events.
Probing Disorder in High-Pressure Cubic Tin (Iv) Oxide: A Combined X-Ray Diffraction and Absorption Study

The transparent conducting oxide, SnO2, is a promising optoelectronic material with predicted tailorable properties via pressure-mediated band gap opening. While such electronic properties are typically modeled assuming perfect crystallinity, disordering of the O sublattice under pressure is qualitatively known. Here a quantitative approach is thus employed, combining extended X-ray absorption fine-structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy with X-ray diffraction, to probe the extent of Sn—O bond anharmonicities in the high-pressure cubic (Pa\bar{3}) SnO2 – formed as a single phase and annealed by CO2 laser heating to 2648 ± 41 K at 44.5 GPa. This combinational study reveals and quantifies a large degree of disordering in the O sublattice, while the Sn lattice remains ordered. Moreover, this study describes implementation of direct laser heating of non-metallic samples by CO2 laser alongside EXAFS, and the high quality of data which may be achieved at high pressures in a diamond anvil cell when appropriate thermal annealing is applied.
Asymptomatic Bacterial Vaginosis Is Associated With Depletion of Mature Superficial Cells Shed From the Vaginal Epithelium.

Previous studies have described bacterial vaginosis (BV) as associated with increased cell-shedding from the cervicovaginal epithelium. Cell-shedding in excess of cell-proliferation is thought to decrease epithelial barrier function and increase susceptibility to infection. This study evaluated the number of shed cells in mid-vaginal smears from women with a diagnosis of symptomatic BV (sBV, n = 17), asymptomatic BV (aBV, n = 71), or no BV (n = 104) by Amsel criteria. The sBV smears contained significantly more shed cells (median 158/100X field) than no BV smears (median 91/100X field), p = 7.2e-9. However, we observed that aBV smears contained significantly fewer shed cells (median 35/100X field) than no BV smears, p = 22.0e-16. The sizes of cell-aggregates (cells shed in sometimes multilayered sections with intact cell-cell attachments) followed the same pattern. Cell-aggregates in sBV smears were significantly larger (median approximately 220,000 μm2) than those in no BV smears (median approximately 50,000 μm2), p = 1.8e-6, but cell-aggregates in aBV smears were significantly smaller (median approximately 7,000 μm2) than those in no BV smears, p = 0.0028. We also compared the superficial cell index (SCI), a measure of cervicovaginal epithelial cell maturity, in no BV and aBV smears with relatively low numbers of shed cells (≤50/100X field). The SCI of no BV smears was significantly higher (median 0.86) than that of aBV smears (median 0.35), p = 4.3e-98, suggesting a depletion of mature cells with exposure and shedding of underlying immature cells in aBV with low number of shed cells. These results indicate that aBV may contribute disproportionately to the increased susceptibility to reproductive tract infections associated with BV. Our findings remained true when considering only those smears in which the microbiota comprised a diverse set of strict and facultative anaerobic bacteria (Community State Type IV (n = 162), thus excluding those dominated by Lactobacillus spp. This is consistent with our developing hypothesis that high-shedding sBV and low-shedding aBV could be temporally separated phases of the same condition, rather than two separate forms of BV. These findings might inform future work on clinical management of symptomatic and asymptomatic bacterial vaginosis.
A unified framework for simultaneous assessment of accuracy, between-, and within-reader variability of image segmentations.

Medical imaging is utilized in a wide range of clinical applications. To enable a detailed quantitative analysis, medical images must often be segmented to label (delineate) structures of interest;...
THERAPEUTIC TARGETING OF BRAIN ARACHIDONIC ACID CASCADE IN BIPOLAR DISORDER BY LOW DOSE ASPIRIN AND CELECOXIB.

ABSTRACT Background Studies in unanesthetized rats suggest that mood stabilizers approved for treating bipolar disorder downregulate brain arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism. AA plays a role in neurotransmission and neuroinflammation, among other processes. Other drugs that reduce brain AA metabolism may add to mood stabilizer action. Methods We reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and population studies to examine whether celecoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitor, and acetylsalicylate (aspirin), a COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitor and acetylator, were useful in bipolar disorder patients on mood stabilizers. COX-1 and COX-2 metabolize AA to bioactive eicosanoids. Results Celecoxib significantly enhanced mood stabilizer efficacy in two 6-week RCTs involving 86 manic bipolar inpatients, and in one 8-week RCT on 49 patients with treatment-resistant bipolar depression. With regard to aspirin, a Dutch pharmacoepidemiological study involving 5145 subjects taking lithium reported symptom reduction with added chronic low dose 30-80 mg/day aspirin, while a Danish study on 321,350 subjects taking chronic 75-150 mg/day aspirin found fewer manic episodes than in subjects not on aspirin. Finally, a recent 6-week RCT using low-dose aspirin and/or minocycline showed a specific positive effect of aspirin. Conclusions Efficacy of both celecoxib and aspirin as adjuncts to mood stabilizers in the treatment of bipolar disorder is consistent with the AA hypothesis for mood stabilizer action in that disorder.
The role of therapeutic plasma exchange in clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis with MDA-5 antibody: A case report and review of the literature

Clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM) is a rare, aggressive variant of dermatomyositis associated with interstitial lung disease (ILD) and refractoriness to immunosuppressants. Antibodies against melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA-5) are often found in patients with CADM. We report a patient with advanced CADM with ILD and MDA-5 antibodies who failed to improve with immunosuppressants. We performed 2 TPE over 3 days, using 5% albumin as replacement fluid. Although five total TPE were planned, he was transferred for lung transplant evaluation after the second TPE; he died 16 days after transfer without receiving a transplant. A literature review identified four patients with CADM and MDA-5 antibodies treated with TPE; all experienced symptomatic improvement of their ILD. We attribute our patient's outcome to the advanced nature of his disease rather than a failure of TPE. Additional research may indicate a possible reclassification of CADM with MDA-5 antibodies in future ASFA guidelines.
Successful treatment of highly recurrent facial baroparesis in a frequent high-altitude traveler: a case report

Facial baroparesis is a palsy of the seventh cranial nerve resulting from increased pressure compressing the nerve along its course through the middle ear cavity. It is a rare condition, most commonly reported in barotraumatic environments, in particular scuba diving and high-altitude air travel. We report here an unusual case of highly frequent baroparesis, workup, and successful treatment. A 57-year-old Caucasian male frequent commercial airline traveler presented with a 4-year history of recurrent episodes of right-sided facial paralysis and otalgia, increasing in both frequency and severity. Incidents occurred almost exclusively during rapid altitude changes in aircraft, mostly ascent, but also during rapid altitude change in an automobile. Self-treatment included nasal and oral decongestants, nasal corticosteroids, and warm packs. Temporal bone computed tomography (CT) scan revealed possible right-sided dehiscence of the tympanic bone segment; audiogram and magnetic resonance imaging of the internal auditory canals were unremarkable. After a diagnosis of facial nerve baroparesis was made, the patient underwent myringotomy with insertion of a pressure equalization tube (PET) into the right tympanic membrane. Despite re-exposure to altitude change multiple times weekly post-treatment, the patient reported being symptom-free for more than 6 months following intervention. Prompt PET insertion may represent the preferred treatment for individuals who suffer recurrent episodes of facial baroparesis. Education regarding this rare condition may prevent unnecessary testing and treatment of affected patients. Future studies should explore the pathophysiology and risk factors, compare therapeutic options, and provide follow-up data to optimize the management of affected patients.
Upending a global debate: An empirical analysis of the U.S. Supreme Court's use of transnational law to interpret domestic doctrine

Over the last ten years, judges, scholars, and policy makers have argued— quite vehemently at times—about whether U.S. courts should use transnational sources of law to interpret domestic legal doctrine. All eyes in this debate focus on the U.S. Supreme Court and its alleged use and misuse of transnational law. And almost all the debates are normative. Some scholars and judges argue the Court is correct to use transnational law. Others believe to do so is constitutional apostasy. Still, the controversy seems to have generated more heat than light. Among the clamor can be found little empirical work on the conditions under which Supreme Court Justices actually use transnational law. Is it in fact the case that only liberal Justices employ transnational law—or do conservatives as well? In addition, there is little work on which countries Justices cite when they do use transnational law. Do they cherry pick whichever country works best in a given case, or is there a constraint via legitimacy on which countries to examine and cite? The authors provide one of the most systematic empirical explorations of the Court’s use of transnational law to date. Their results challenge conventional wisdom and upend the existing debates over transnational law. The data show that Justices are more likely to reference transnational law when they exercise judicial review and when they overturn precedent, which likely explains much of the controversy around the practice. Importantly, the data show, further, that all Justices cite transnational law. Liberals cite transnational law when they render liberal decisions, and conservatives cite transnational law when they render
CellWalkR: An R Package for integrating single-cell and bulk data to resolve regulatory elements

While single-cell open chromatin (scATAC-seq) data allows for the identification of cell type-specific regulatory regions, it is much sparser than bulk data. CellWalkR is an R package that performs an integration of external labeling and bulk epigenetic data with scATAC-seq using a network-based random walk model to help overcome this sparsity. Outputs include cell type labels for individual cells and regulatory regions. Availability and implementation: CellWalkR is freely available as an R package under a GNU GPL-2.0 License, and can be accessed from https://github.com/PFPrzytycki/CellWalkR with an accompanying vignette for analyzing example data.
Correlations Between Community-Level HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis Coverage and Individual-Level Sexual Behaviors among US Men Who Have Sex with Men

Background HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been associated with changes in sexual behavior after PrEP initiation. However, behavioral differences may also emerge among PrEP non-users in communities with high PrEP coverage. Methods We used demographic, behavioral, and sexual network data from ARTnet, a cross-sectional study of US men who have sex with men conducted during 2017-2019. Multivariable regression models with a Bayesian modeling framework in which individuals were nested within their residential geographic areas were used to estimate associations between area-level PrEP coverage and five sexual behavior outcomes (number of total, main, and casual male partners [network degree]; count of one-time partnerships; and consistent condom use in one-time partnerships), controlling for individual PrEP use. Findings PrEP coverage ranged from 10.3% (Philadelphia) to 38.9% (San Francisco). Total degree was highest in Miami (1.35) and lowest in Denver (0.78), while the count of one-time partners was highest in San Francisco (11.7/year) and lowest in Detroit (1.5/year). Adjusting for individual PrEP use and demographics, community PrEP coverage was associated with higher total degree (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR]=1.73; 95% CrI, 0.92-3.44), casual degree (aIRR=2.05; 95% CrI, 0.90-5.07), and count of one-time partnerships (aIRR=1.90; 95% CrI, 0.46-8.54). Without adjustment for individual PrEP use, these associations were amplified. There were weaker associations with main degree (aIRR=1.21; 95% CrI, 0.48-3.20) and consistent condom use in one-time partnerships (aIRR=1.68; 95% CrI, 0.86-3.35). Interpretation Most of the associations between community PrEP coverage and sexual behavior were explained by individual PrEP use. However, there were residual associations after controlling for individual PrEP use, suggesting that PrEP coverage may partially drive community-level changes in sexual behavior.
Contesting the Global Order: The Radical Political Economy of Perry Anderson and Immanuel Wallerstein: by Gregory P. Williams, Albany, New York, State of New York University Press, 2020, 256 pp., $95.00 (hardcover), ISSN: 978-1-4384-7965-1

C. Wright Mills wrote that “ordinary men” are seldom “aware of the intricate connection between the patterns of their own lives and the course of world history,” or of “the kinds of history-making ...
Transcription factor MEF2D is required for the maintenance of MLL-rearranged acute myeloid leukemia.

ABSTRACT Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with MLL-rearrangement (MLL-r) comprises approximately 10% of all AML cases and portends poor outcomes. Much remains uncovered on how MLL-r AML drives leukemia development while preventing cells from normal myeloid differentiation. Here, we identified that transcription factor MEF2D is a super-enhancer-associated, highly expressed gene in MLL-r AML. Knockout of MEF2D profoundly impaired leukemia growth, induced myeloid differentiation, and delayed oncogenic progression in vivo. Mechanistically, MEF2D loss led to robust activation of a CEBPE-centered myeloid differentiation program in AML cells. Chromatin profiling revealed that MEF2D binds to and suppresses the chromatin accessibility of CEBPE cis-regulatory regions. In human acute leukemia samples, MEF2D expression showed a strong negative correlation with the expression of CEBPE. Depletion of CEBPE partially rescued the cell growth defect and myeloid cell differentiation induced by the loss of MEF2D. Lastly, we show that MEF2D is positively regulated by HOXA9, and downregulation of MEF2D is an important mechanism for DOT1L inhibitor-induced anti-leukemia effects. Collectively, our findings suggest that MEF2D plays a critical role in human MLL-r AML and uncover the MEF2D-CEBPE axis as a crucial transcriptional mechanism regulating leukemia cell self-renewal and differentiation block.
Tourenplanunq mit zusätzlichen Nebenbedingungen

Auser den ublichen Restriktionen der Tourenplanung — begrenzte Fahrzeugkapazitaten bei heterogenem Fuhrpark, begrenzte Tourdauer, Kundenzeitfen-ster — treten in Problemen der Praxis haufig noch zusatzliche Bedingungen auf, wie verbotene Fahrzeug/Kunden-Zuordnungen, Fahrzeugzeitfenster und eingeschrankte zeitliche Verfugbarkeit der auszuliefernden Ware. Alle diese Bedingungen schranken direkt oder indirekt die mogliche Zuordnung der Touren zu den Fahrzeugen ein. Wahrend solche Einschrankungen bei Anwendung von Standardmethoden meist erst in einem zweiten Schritt nach der eigentlichen Tourenplanung berucksichtigt werden, stellen wir eine Erweiterung des Savingsverfahrens vor, bei der alle Bedingungen schon in den Aufbau der Touren integriert sind. Dabei wird standig eine zulassige Zuordnung der Touren zu den Fahrzeugen eingehalten. Auf diese Weise lassen sich auch mehrfache Einsatze eines Fahrzeugs erfassen.
Abstract A83: Nuclear morphometry differentiates chronic pancreatitis, IPMN, and pancreatic carcinoma

Background: It can be difficult to distinguish between chronic pancreatitis (CP), IPMN, and pancreatic carcinoma (PC) on tissue biopsy. Nuclear morphometry can measure up to 93 unique nuclear features based on standard histopathology. The goal of this work is to build novel, objective, and accurate prediction tools, based on nuclear morphometric signatures in high resolution images of nuclei of histologic sections, for classifying pancreatic tissues into three distinct groups. Materials & Methods: 44 patients who underwent pancreatic resections were identified. 12 cases of CP, 16 cases of IPMN, and 16 cases of PC were utilized in this pilot study. 180 ± 22 nuclei from each lesion were imaged with high resolution microscopy. Clincodemographic data was obtained retrospectively from the medical record. Statistically significant nuclear features were determined by a fully automated penalized multinomial regression algorithm in order to determine a multi-class classifier and simultaneously identify important nuclear features. The LASSO penalty function, and associated regularization parameter, is adaptively chosen by cross validation to prevent over-fitting. In order to test the veracity of the automated algorithm, we randomly removed 25% of the cases as a training set and utilized the remaining cases as a test set; this was repeated 10 times. Results: The average age was 64 ± 15 years, with patients in the CP being slightly younger; 63% were male. Median follow-up time was 3 years in the CP group, 3 years in the IPMN group, and 5 years in PC group. The method described automatically identified 6 unique and statistically significant nuclear features (corrected overall P Conclusions: Nuclear morphometry classifies pancreatic lesions into CP, IPMN, and PC with 84.5% accuracy using a fully automated algorithm to determine statistically significant and unique nuclear features. Since the incorrectly classified lesions had a larger proportion of mixed nuclei, diagnostic uncertainty may be determined in a quantitative manner allowing for a confidence probability estimation of whether a given lesions should be classified as a CP, IPMN, or PC. Further studies will validate these results in a resected cohort as well as a cohort based on biopsied specimens alone. Citation Format: Evan S. Glazer, Hao Zhang, Kimberly A. Hill, Charmi Patel, Stephanie T. Kha, Peter H. Bartels, Michael L. Yozwiak, Hubert G. Bartels, Joseph C. Watkins, David S. Alberts, Robert S. Krouse. Nuclear morphometry differentiates chronic pancreatitis, IPMN, and pancreatic carcinoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer: Innovations in Research and Treatment; May 18-21, 2014; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(13 Suppl):Abstract nr A83.
The Laplace Transform

It is useful to be able to express a given function as a sum of functions of some specified type, for example as a sum of exponential functions. We have done this for smooth periodic functions: if u ∊ P, then $$u\left( x \right) = \sum\limits_{ - \infty }^\infty {{a_n}{e^{inx}},}$$ (1) where $${a_n} = \frac{1}{{2\pi }}\int_0^{2\pi } {u\left( x \right)} {e^{ - inx}}dx.$$ (2)
Local public health system partnerships.

Objectives.Interorganizational collaboration aimed at community health improvement is an expectation of local public health systems. This study assessed the extent to which such collaboration occur...
Local area gigabit networking

It is noted that networks using gigabit speeds are just starting to become available and offer a whole new set of problems and potentials. The author addresses what the higher speeds are being used for, the 'standards' efforts specifying the higher-speed channels, the network architectures being proposed, and some of the open problems requiring extensive further work. It is noted that HIPPI (High Performance Parallel Interface) and FC (Fibre Channel) will provide some of the basic building blocks for these networks. Further work needs to be done in higher-layer protocols and long-distance networks to achieve national goals. >
Password-authenticated session-key generation on the internet in the plain model

The problem of password-authenticated key exchange (PAKE) has been extensively studied for the last two decades. Despite extensive studies, no construction was known for a PAKE protocol that is secure in the plain model in the setting of concurrent self-composition, where polynomially many protocol sessions with the same password may be executed on the distributed network (such as the Internet) in an arbitrarily interleaved manner, and where the adversary may corrupt any number of participating parties. In this paper, we resolve this long-standing open problem. In particular, we give the first construction of a PAKE protocol that is secure (with respect to the standard definition of Goldreich and Lindell) in the fully concurrent setting and without requiring any trusted setup assumptions. We stress that we allow polynomially-many concurrent sessions, where polynomial is not fixed in advance and can be determined by an adversary an an adaptive manner. Interestingly, our proof, among other things, requires important ideas from Precise Zero Knowledge theory recently developed by Micali and Pass in their STOC'06 paper.
Laparoscopic "radical appendectomy" is an effective alternative to endoscopic removal of cecal polyps.

Background: The endoscopic removal of cecal polyps can be complicated by hemorrhage, perforation, or incomplete resection. Laparoscopic radical appendectomy represents a safe alternative for the definitive resection and accurate pathologic evaluation of selected cecal polyps. Methods: Patients with cecal cap polyps not involving the ileocecal valve were candidates for laparoscopic radical appendectomy. Intraoperative colonoscopy and resection of the appendix and cecum to the level of the ileocecal valve were accomplished via three midline ports. For each patient, histologic evaluation by frozen section ruled out malignancy and ensured complete resection. Results: Five patients, four of whom had significant medical comorbidities, presented with large adenomatous polyps contained within the cecum. Each polyp was determined to be unresectable endoscopically; therefore, a laparoscopic radical appendectomy was performed. One patient with cirrhosis also underwent intraoperative liver ultrasonography and biopsie...
Effective cross sections and sources in moving material

The transport equation if formulated against a moving background in the presence of external forces using the effective cross section and source formalism. One-dimensional slab and spherical geometries and two-dimensional cylindrical geometry are treated. Material acceleration terms are expanded, effective cross sections are generated, and moving sources are defined. Legendre expansion that can be coupled to standard multigroup cross sections and sources are suggested. Multigroup representations for the acceleration terms are also obtained. Specific applications are presented and contrasted. The treatment is appropriate for Eulerian reference frames.
Neural plasticity and neurorehabilitation: Teaching the new brain old tricks

Following brain injury or disease there are widespread biochemical, anatomical and physiological changes that result in what might be considered a new, very different brain. This adapted brain is forced to reacquire behaviors lost as a result of the injury or disease and relies on neural plasticity within the residual neural circuits. The same fundamental neural and behavioral signals driving plasticity during learning in the intact brain are engaged during relearning in the damaged/diseased brain. The field of neurorehabilitation is now beginning to capitalize on this body of work to develop neurobiologically informed therapies focused on key behavioral and neural signals driving neural plasticity. Further, how neural plasticity may act to drive different neural strategies underlying functional improvement after brain injury is being revealed. The understanding of the relationship between these different neural strategies, mechanisms of neural plasticity, and changes in behavior may facilitate the development of novel, more effective rehabilitation interventions for treating brain injury and disease. Learning outcomes: Readers will be able to: (a) define neural plasticity, (b) understand how learning in the intact and damaged brain can drive neural plasticity, (c) identify the three basic neural strategies mediating functional improvement, and (d) understand how adjuvant therapies have the potential to upregulate plasticity and enhance functional recovery.
A Process Monitoring System for Process-Based Product Validation

A process monitoring and visualization system was developed for three-axis milling. The hardware consisted of several sensors that monitored spindle power, cutting force, machine vibration, and acoustic emission output. The visualization routine then color-coded the sensor data and overlaid them onto a 3-D CAD model of the machined part. Hyperpoints were used to relate the sensor data to part geometry. The hyperpoints were Cartesian points in space that augmented the 3-D CAD model with additional information such as force or vibration sensor readings. The key strategy was to detect, diagnose, and correct machining errors at the earliest possible opportunity. In the experimental work, the sensors were integrated into an open architecture machine tool platform. Therefore, the paper also describes the advances in machine tool functionality and process capability that were made possible by using the open architecture controller. Results for two standard test parts are presented.
Re-skilling for the digital humanities: measuring skills, engagement, and learning

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe an assessment design for the Developing Librarian training program. The Developing Librarian training program created by and for librarians and professional staff in the Humanities and History division is a two-year training program to acquire new skills and methodologies to support the digital humanities. The program is based on the assumption that learning must happen in context; therefore the training is project based with all participants engaged in building a digital humanities research site as a team. This approach enables participants to learn about new tools in a sustained manner that parallels the way humanities researchers are likely to use them. Design/methodology/approach – In order to measure the success of achieving this goal, program designers defined three objectives: learn tools and methods that support the emerging research needs and trends in the humanities; create a more interesting and engaging work environment for librarians and prof...
Which doctor? Combining vignettes and item response to measure clinical competence

Abstract We develop a method in which vignettes–a battery of questions for hypothetical cases–are evaluated with item response theory to measure the clinical competence of doctors. The method, which allows us to simultaneously estimate competence and validate the test instrument, is applied to a sample of medical practitioners in Delhi, India. The method gives plausible results, rationalizes different perceptions of competence in the public and private sectors and pinpoints several serious problems with health care delivery in urban India. The findings confirm, for instance, that the competence of private providers located in poorer areas of the city is significantly lower than those in richer neighborhoods. Surprisingly, similar results hold for providers in the public sector with important implications for inequalities in the availability of health care.
Ions and the Germination of Spores of Bacillus cereus T

DETAILED experimental analysis of the two major types of aerobic bacterial spores, namely, strains of Bacillus megaterium which respond germinatively to the presence of glucose or an L-alanine–inosine mixture1, have been completed2,3. Both organisms exhibited a non-specific requirement for ions, either inorganic or organic, for germination. In solutions of appropriate salts, the exogenous requirements for the above-mentioned organic compounds could be varied, and even eliminated altogether. The over-riding factor in the germination of these two types is ions. We proposed that many ions are intrinsically germinative for these organisms, that the organic adjuvants (glucose, L-alanine, inosine) are dependent on salts for maximal germinative powers, and that they augment the germinative capacity of ions3. This situation we call ‘ionic germination’.
NUTRITIONAL EVALUATION OF PORCINE GLOBIN USING Tetrahymena pyriformis STRAIN E

Tetrahymena pyriformis strain E was used to compare the nutritive value of globin before and after peptic hydrolysis. In addition, the nutritive value was determined for shy protein, peanut protein, casein and gluten both as a sole source of nitrogen and combined with globin in isonitrogenous amounts. The nutritive value of casein ranked the highest followed by peanut protein, soy protein, globin and gluten. Peptic hydrolysis of globin, gluten and soy protein increased the cellular growth of T. pyriformis while hydrolysis had no effect on cellular growth when casein or peanut protein were used as the amino acid source. The ranking of nutritive values after peptic hydrolysis was as follows: casein, soy protein, gluten, peanut protein and globin. This indicates a difference in the availability of amino acids from some intact proteins. The nutritive value of globin was increased by blending the globin with other proteins. The Tetrahymena assay with peptic hydrolysis is an excellent procedure for the rapid screening of the quality of individual proteins or blends.
Urban Specialization in the World-System: An Investigation of Historical Cases

In the history of urban sociology in the United States, much of urban-growth theory has been limited to a national level of analysis. From classical-location to uneven-development theories, concept...
A Deficit of Proteoglycans on the Bladder Uroepithelium in Interstitial Cystitis

Abstract Physical and immunohistochemical data confirm that the luminal surface of the bladder is richly endowed with proteoglycans. Their likely function is to make the bladder nonadherent and produce a water layer to exclude salts and urinary proteins from the surface. IC patients are shown to have a deficit of chondroitin sulphate from the luminal surface as determined by immunohistochemistry. These studies strongly support previous hypotheses suggesting an etiologic role for loss of barrier function in IC and a rationale for replacement therapy with chondroitin sulphate.