cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Economic openness and rural communities in Guatemala

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe some effects of the economic policies implemented by the Guatemalan government on rural communities.Design/methodology/approach – A comparison of the trends in corn prices over time between Guatemala and the USA was used to determine which year the impact of economic openness policies began. Then, changes in the area harvested of corn and other agricultural products and diet composition and consumption patterns over this time period were used to assess effects on rural communities.Findings – The trend in Guatemala's corn price and the trend in the US's corn price are similar in the period from 1988 to 2005. There has been a reduction of in the area of corn harvested and an increase in the area harvested of other agricultural products for 1980‐2005. Also, it appears that there has been a change in the food energy consumption, food proteins source and caloric intake Guatemalans.Research limitations/implications – Field interviews are needed to examine in de...
Extreme drug resistance assay results do not influence survival in women with epithelial ovarian cancer.

Abstract Objectives Extreme drug resistance (EDR) assays have been used to identify chemotherapy regimens that are least likely to be of clinical benefit in the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). We sought to examine the impact of EDR assay-guided therapy on the outcome of patients with EOC in the primary and recurrent settings. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of demographic, pathologic, EDR assay and clinical outcome data from 377 patients with EOC who had an assay sent at the time of their primary or subsequent cytoreductive surgeries. Multivariate analyses were performed using Cox proportional hazards method to identify and estimate the impact of independent prognostic factors on time to progression (TTP), overall survival (OS) and survival after recurrence (RS). Results Increasing age was associated with a worse OS and RS (HR=1.34; 95% CI, 1.14–1.58 and HR=1.14; 95% CI, 1.00–1.31, respectively for each decade increase in age). Surgical outcome in the setting of primary or secondary cytoreduction remained an important predictor of survival. Compared with patients with microscopic residual disease, patients who were left with 0.1 to 1.0 cm and >1.0 cm residual disease had an increased risk of recurrence (HR=1.94; 95% CI, 1.33 to 2.84 and HR=3.61; 95% CI; 2.07 to 6.39, respectively) and death (HR=1.59; 95% CI, 1.03 to 2.45; and HR=2.14; 95% CI, 1.09 to 4.20, respectively). For patients who recurred, those who did not undergo secondary cytoreductive surgery and patients who were left with >1.0 cm residual had an increased risk of death compared to patients with microscopic residual (HR=2.13; 95% CI, 1.28 to 3.54; and HR=2.84; 95% CI, 1.71 to 4.71, respectively). EDR assay results analyzed for single agents or combinations of chemotherapies failed to independently predict patient outcomes no matter if the assay was performed at the time of the primary surgery or recurrence. Conclusion EDR assay results do not independently predict or alter the outcomes of patients with EOC who are treated with the current standards of primary cytoreductive surgery followed by platinum and taxane combination chemotherapy.
Direct multiphoton excitation of molecular ions produces selectively excited fragments

Strong field induced vacuum ultraviolet fluorescence in argon and molecular nitrogen reveals many excitation processes. Intriguingly, direct laser excitation is exclusive to molecules and selectively produces excited ion fragments with 2s holes.
Slicing across Kingdoms: Regeneration in Plants and Animals

Multicellular organisms possessing relatively long life spans are subjected to diverse, constant, and often intense intrinsic and extrinsic challenges to their survival. Animal and plant tissues wear out as part of normal physiological functions and can be lost to predators, disease, and injury. Both kingdoms survive this wide variety of insults by strategies that include the maintenance of adult stem cells or the induction of stem cell potential in differentiated cells. Repatterning mechanisms often deploy embryonic genes, but the question remains in both plants and animals whether regeneration invokes embryogenesis, generic patterning mechanisms, or unique circuitry comprised of well-established patterning genes.
Induced Travel Demand: Research Design, Empirical Evidence, and Normative Policies

Claims of induced travel demand have seemingly paralyzed the ability to rationalize road development in the United States. Methodological issues related to resolution of analysis, measurement, spec...
Ryanodine and the left ventricular force–interval and relaxation–interval relations in closed-chest dogs: insights on calcium handling

Objective: Although the myocardial force–interval and relaxation–interval relations are considered to be mechanical expressions of myocardial Ca2+ handling, correlation of these phenomena with altered Ca2+ kinetics in the intact state is limited. Thus, I sought to determine the impact of selective impairment of physiologic sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release, achieved by the use of the drug ryanodine, on these relations in the intact animal. Methods: Twelve dogs instrumented with left ventricular manometers and piezoelectric dimension crystals were studied before and after ryanodine (4 μg/kg intravenously). End-systolic elastance was measured at paced heart rates of 120–180 bpm to determine the force-frequency response. Mechanical restitution and relaxation restitution were determined by measuring contractile (single beat elastance) and relaxation (peak negative d P /d t ) responses for beats delivered at graded extrasystolic intervals, with normalized responses expressed as a function of extrasystolic interval. Results: Ryanodine accelerated mechanical restitution (time constant 60.3±3.9 versus 81.7±10.1 ms, p <0.05) and reduced maximal contractile response (107.5±2.1 versus 122.1±5.7%, p <0.05), slowed early relaxation restitution (time constant 65.5±13.8 versus 36.8±3.8 ms, p <0.05) without changing late relaxation restitution kinetics, and amplified the force-frequency response (end-systolic elastance, 180 bpm, 19.4±4.3 versus 11.4±1.2 mm Hg/ml, p <0.05). Conclusions: These findings suggest that in the intact animal, Ca2+ handling by the sarcoplasmic reticulum is a primary determinant of mechanical restitution and early relaxation restitution, but not late relaxation restitution. Conversely, ryanodine induced augmentation of the force-frequency response indicates a central role for sarcolemmal Ca2+ influx in producing frequency potentiation.
Developmental stage- and cell cycle number-dependent changes in characteristics of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocyte adherence to placental chondroitin-4-sulfate proteoglycan.

The adherence of Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells (IRBCs) in the human placenta is mediated by chondroitin-4-sulfate (C4S). Although IRBC binding to C4S has been unequivocally established, the adherence characteristics of IRBCs at different stages of parasite development and through successive parasite generations after selection for C4S adherence are not known. Here we show that IRBCs acquire a significant capacity to bind to C4S at as early as 14 h and exhibit maximum binding at 22 to 26 h postinvasion. Surprisingly, the IRBC binding ability decreases by ∼50% at the late trophozoite and schizont stages. The binding strength of the IRBCs also gradually decreases during successive generations after selection for C4S binding, and at the 32nd generation, the binding capacity was only ∼31% of that of IRBCs at the 2nd generation, suggesting that IRBCs eventually lose their C4S-adherent capacity. We also tested the susceptibility of the adhesive protein(s) on the IRBC surface to trypsin treatment at different stages of parasite development. The data show that IRBCs with late trophozoites are more resistant to trypsin treatment than those containing early trophozoites, indicating that parasite proteins expressed on the IRBC surface during trophozoite maturation partially mask accessibility of adhesive protein for binding to C4S. These data provide important insights into the expression pattern of the C4S-adhesive protein(s) on the IRBC surface, emphasizing the need for understanding the regulation of genes involved in IRBC binding to C4S. Our data also define the parasite stage at which IRBCs are suitable for studying structural interactions with C4S.
Chemical Analysis of Alaskan Iq’mik Smokeless Tobacco

Introduction Iq'mik, a form of smokeless tobacco (ST), is traditionally used by Cup'ik and Yup'ik Eskimo people of western Alaska. Iq'mik is sometimes incorrectly considered to be a healthier alternative to smoking because its ingredients are perceived as "natural." Our chemical characterization of iq'mik shows that iq'mik is not a safe alternative to smoking or other ST use. Methods We measured nicotine and pH levels of tobacco and ash used to prepare iq'mik. We also characterized levels of toxins which are known to be present in ST including tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using chromatographic separations coupled with isotope dilution mass spectrometry. Results Nicotine content in the iq'mik tobacco was very high, ranging from 35 to 43 mg/g, with a mean of 39 mg/g. The pH of the iq'mik tobacco-ash mixture was 11, an extremely high level compared with most ST products. High levels of PAHs were seen in the fire-cured tobacco samples with a benzo[a]pyrene level of 87 ng/g. Average TSNA levels in the tobacco were 34, 2,700, and 340 ng/g for 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL), N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN), and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), respectively. Conclusions Iq'mik contains high levels of the more easily absorbed unionized nicotine as well as known carcinogenic TSNAs and PAHs. The perception that iq'mik is less hazardous than other tobacco products due to the use of "natural" ingredients is not warranted. This chemical characterization of iq'mik gives a better understanding of the risk of possible adverse health effects of its use.
Diabetes-causing gene, kruppel-like factor 11, modulates the antinociceptive response of chronic ethanol intake.

Background Alcohol (EtOH [ethanol]) is an antinociceptive agent, working in part, by reducing sensitivity to painful stimuli. The transcription factor Kruppel-like factor 11 (KLF11), a human diabetes-causing gene that also regulates the neurotransmitter metabolic enzymes monoamine oxidase (MAO), has recently been identified as an EtOH-inducible gene. However, its role in antinociception remains unknown. Consequently, we investigated the function of KLF11 in chronic EtOH-induced antinociception using a genetically engineered knockout mouse model. Methods Wild-type (Klf11+/+) and KLF11 knockout (Klf11−/−) mice were fed a liquid diet containing EtOH for 28 days with increasing amounts of EtOH from 0% up to a final concentration of 6.4%, representing a final diet containing 36% of calories primarily from EtOH. Control mice from both genotypes were fed liquid diet without EtOH for 28 days. The EtOH-induced antinociceptive effect was determined using the tail-flick test before and after EtOH exposure (on day 29). In addition, the enzyme activity and mRNA levels of MAO A and MAO B were measured by real-time RT-PCR and enzyme assays, respectively. Results EtOH produced an antinociceptive response to thermal pain in Klf11+/+ mice, as expected. In contrast, deletion of KLF11 in the Klf11−/− mice abolished the EtOH-induced antinociceptive effect. The mRNA and protein levels of KLF11 were significantly increased in the brain prefrontal cortex of Klf11+/+ mice exposed to EtOH compared with control Klf11+/+ mice. Furthermore, MAO enzyme activities were affected differently in Klf11 wild-type versus Klf11 knockout mice exposed to chronic EtOH. Chronic EtOH intake significantly increased MAO B activity in Klf11+/+ mice. Conclusions The data show KLF11 modulation of EtOH-induced antinociception. The KLF11-targeted MAO B enzyme may contribute more significantly to EtOH-induced antinociception. Thus, this study revealed a new role for the KLF11 gene in the mechanisms underlying the antinociceptive effects of chronic EtOH exposure.
Evaluation of supersingular integrals : Second-order boundary derivatives

The boundary integral representation of second-order derivatives of the primary function involves second-order (hypersingular) and third-order (supersingular) derivatives of the Green's function. By defining these highly singular integrals as a difference of boundary limits, interior minus exterior, the limiting values are shown to exist. With a Galerkin formulation, coincident and edge-adjacent supersingular integrals are separately divergent, but the sum is finite, while the individual hypersingular integrals are finite. Moreover, the cancellation of the supersingular divergent terms only requires a continuous interpolation of the surface potential, and there is no continuity requirement on the surface flux. The algorithm is efficient, the non-singular integrals vanish and the singular integrals are computed entirely analytically, and accurate values are obtained for smooth surfaces. However, it is shown that a (continuous) linear interpolation is not appropriate for evaluation at boundary corners.
PATIENT-REPORTED OUTCOMES OF QUALITY OF LIFE, FUNCTIONING, AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOM SEVERITY IN MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER COMORBID WITH PANIC DISORDER BEFORE AND AFTER SSRI TREATMENT IN THE STAR*D TRIAL

Background Panic disorder (PD) is highly comorbid with major depressive disorder (MDD) with potential impact on patient-reported outcomes of quality of life (QOL), functioning, and depressive symptom severity. Methods Using data from the sequenced treatment alternatives to relieve depression (STAR*D) trial, we compared entry and post-SSRI-treatment QOL, functioning, and depressive symptom severity scores in MDD patients with comorbid PD (MDD+PD) to MDD patients without PD (MDDnoPD). We also compared pre- and posttreatment proportions of patients with severe impairments in quality of life and functioning. Results MDD+PD patients experienced significantly lower QOL and functioning and more severe depressive symptoms than MDDnoPD patients at entry. Following treatment with citalopram, both groups showed significant improvements, however, nearly 30–60% of patients still suffered from severe quality of life and functioning impairments. MDD+PD patients exited with lower QOL and functioning than MDDnoPD patients, a difference that became statistically insignificant after adjusting for baseline measures of depressive symptom severity, functioning, and QOL, comorbid anxiety disorders (PTSD, GAD, social, and specific phobias), age, and college education. Conclusions Functional outcomes using QOL and functioning measures should be utilized in treating and researching MDD so that shortfalls in traditional treatment can be identified and additional interventions can be designed to address severe baseline QOL and functioning deficits in MDD comorbid with PD.
Molecular imaging: New applications for biochemistry

Molecular imaging can reveal in vivo analysis and quantification of biochemical reactions. To enable cell-surface imaging of receptors, novel ligands have been developed which can be radiolabeled or imaged by bioluminescence. Specific examples include somatostatin receptors, estrogen and progesterone receptors, receptors involved in adhesion and externalization of phosphatidyl serine as an indicator of apoptosis. Central nervous system imaging can be carried out using ligands for receptors including dopamine, serotonin and Gamma amino butyric acid (GABA). In addition, tumor and metabolic imaging can be carried out with the Na-K ATPase pump using the tracer thallium-201 for SPECT or F-18 FDG for PET imaging. Finally, novel receptors or endogenous metabolic pathways can be analyzed combining cell-gene therapy to create specific tracer targets in cells that can be studied by molecular imaging. The challenge of molecular imaging is to first identify key pathways that are unique for a specific disease processes, such as atherosclerosis, cancer, CNS disorders, immunologic and arthritis disorders and next to devise a high-affinity specific small molecular ligand that can be adapted to be a radiolabeled tracer to study this pathway. Advances in genomics and proteomics combine with new peptide-chemistry approaches should provide a large number of targets and tracers in the near future to achieve these imaging objectives.
Vascular and neuro-ophthalmic pathology of elaeophorosis in elk.

Elaeophora schneideri was identified as the cause of a specific neuro-ophthalmic disorder of elk (Cerrus canadensis) in Arizona, Colorado. New Mexico, and Wyoming. This intra-arterial nematode was found within the cephalic arterial system in 10 of 16 elk with visual disturbances. Pathologic findings indicated that the parasite and the vascular lesions which it caused resulted in impairment of cephalic arterial circulation. Blindness and death were attributed to ischemic damage in the brain, eyes, and optic nerves. Although E. schneideri is a relatively common parasite of deer and domestic sheep in certain mountainous regions of the western and southwestern United States, it had not been reported in elk prior to this study.
Further Psychometric Support for the 10‐Item Version of the Perceived Stress Scale

Because of increased stress conditions in college students, updated psychometrics of the Perceived Stress Scale, 10-item version (PSS-10; S. Cohen & G. Williamson, 1988) are necessary. Participants were 281 undergraduates at 3 public universities. An exploratory factor analysis revealed a 2-factor structure measuring Perceived Helplessness and Perceived Self-Efficacy. Normative results, internal consistencies, and construct validity were supported. The current findings reveal that the PSS-10 is a reliable and valid instrument for assessment of perceived stress in college students.
Hit-and-run, hit-and-stay, and commensal bacteria present different peptide content when viewed from the perspective of the T cell

Different types of bacteria face different pressures from the immune system, with those that persist ("hit-and-stay") potentially having to adapt more in order to escape than those prone to short-lived infection ("hit-and-run"), and with commensal bacteria potentially different from both due to additional physical mechanisms for avoiding immune detection. The Janus Immunogenicity Score (JIS) was recently developed to assess the likelihood of T cell recognition of an antigen, using an analysis that considers both binding of a peptide within the antigen by major histocompatability complex (MHC) and recognition of the peptide:MHC complex by cognate T cell receptor (TCR). This score was shown to be predictive of T effector vs. T regulatory or null responses in experimental data, as well as to distinguish viruses representative of the hit-and-stay vs. hit-and-run phenotypes. Here, JIS-based analyses were conducted in order to characterize the extent to which the pressure to avoid T cell recognition is manifested in genomic differences among representative hit-and-run, hit-and-stay, and commensal bacteria. Overall, extracellular proteins were found to have different JIS profiles from cytoplasmic ones. Contrasting the bacterial groups, extracellular proteins were shown to be quite different across the groups, much more so than intracellular proteins. The differences were evident even at the level of corresponding peptides in homologous protein pairs from hit-and-run and hit-and-stay bacteria. The multi-level analysis of patterns of immunogenicity across different groups of bacteria provides a new way to approach questions of bacterial immune camouflage or escape, as well as to approach the selection and optimization of candidates for vaccine design.
Ovarian development and ovipositional preference of the western corn rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) variant in east central Illinois.

The rotation of maize, Zea mays L., and soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., has been the traditional cultural tactic to manage the western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, in the Corn Belt. The reduced effectiveness of this rotation as a pest management tool in east central Illinois, northern Indiana, and southern Michigan can be explained by the shift in the ovipositional behavior of the new variant of western corn rootworm. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of maize, soybean, oat, Avena sativa L., stubble, and alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., on the ovarian development and ovipositional preferences of the variant western corn rootworm. Field research was conducted near Urbana, IL, during 1998–2000. Gravid females were present throughout the season in all crops, and due to the prolonged period in which western corn rootworm females can lay eggs, none of the crops were immune from oviposition. Results indicated that the western corn rootworm variant oviposits in maize, soybean, oat stubble, and alfalfa. In 1998 and 1999, maize was the preferred oviposition site among crops; however, in 2000, maize, soybean, and oat stubble treatments had similar densities of western corn rootworm eggs. Lack of oviposition preference of the western corn rootworm variant demonstrated in this experiment represents a reasonable explanation of why the effectiveness of the rotation strategy to control western corn rootworm has diminished.
The prevalence of chronic pelvic pain and irritable bowel syndrome in two university clinics

AbstractVery little is known about the prevalence of chronic pelvic pain or its comorbidity with irritable bowel syndrome. In order to obtain a prevalence estimate of chronic pelvic pain, a questionnaire was given to 651 women in two university clinics. Approximately 38% of the women had a lifetime prevalence of chronic or intermittent pelvic pain, and 12% reported current pain. Women with pelvic pain were also significantly more likely than women without pain to express other pain and aversive symptoms such as bowel problems, menstrual and sexual dysfunction, and to have higher psychological distress scores on the General Health Questionnaire. Of the 250 women who reported pelvic pain, 79% also met criteria for probable irritable bowel syndrome. Patients meeting criteria for both chronic pelvic pain and irritable bowel syndrome were more likely to have relatives with pain, meet caseness criteria for psychiatric diagnosis on the General Health Questionnaire and had a greater number of other types of pain ...
Sequence homologies among intestinal and renal Na+/glucose cotransporters

Sodium-dependent glucose transport occurs in the intestine and kidney of most animal species. The cDNA encoding the Na+/glucose cotransporter from rabbit jejunum was used to examine the distribution of homologous mRNA in other rabbit tissues and in the intestines of other species. Northern blots of mRNA extracted from various tissues were probed with radiolabeled cDNA of the cloned rabbit transporter. The probe hybridized with mRNA of approximately 2.2 kb from rabbit jejunum, renal cortex, and renal medulla, indicating that related mRNA of the same size is found in these tissues. With the use of the same cDNA probe, a 1.6-kb partial-length clone encoding 484 amino acids was isolated from a rabbit renal cortex cDNA library. There was greater than 99% identity between the cDNA sequences, and 100% identity between the amino acid sequences, of the renal clone and the rabbit intestinal Na+/glucose cotransporter. The 2.2-kb transcript was seen in mRNA from duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, with a distribution that matched the Na+/glucose transport capacity in these tissues. A faint signal at 2.2 kb was also seen in colon mRNA. There was no detectable hybridization to blots of stomach and heart mRNA. The rabbit probe also hybridized to intestinal mRNA from a number of species from trout to humans. We conclude that a Na+/glucose cotransporter of rabbit renal cortex is very similar to that of the intestine and that the intestinal transporter has been conserved during evolution.
Atypical Leber’s Optic Neuropathy

The diagnosis of Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) in 6 female atypical cases seen at Harvard, Emory, and Johns Hopkins Medical Centers required molecular analysis and demonstration of the 11778 mitochondrial DNA mutation for accurate confirmation.
Tunable single-frequency erbium-doped fiber ring laser for microwave photonics applications

We propose and demonstrate a novel wavelength tunable single-frequency erbium-doped fiber ring laser. The single-frequency operation is realized by using a coupler loop mirror with an Er/sup 3+/-doped fiber saturable absorber, which acts as a narrow band optical filter. The fiber laser can find applications in microwave photonics systems.
Abstract IA14: Single-cell sequencing in cancer genomics

Comprehensive analyses of cancer genomes promise to inform prognoses and precise cancer treatments. A major barrier, however, is inaccessibility of metastatic tissue. A potential solution is to characterize circulating tumor cells (CTCs), but this requires overcoming multiple hurdles. This talk will present a collaborative research program that has generated an integrated process to isolate, qualify, and sequence whole exomes of CTCs with high fidelity, using a census-based sequencing strategy. Power calculations suggest that mapping of >99.995% of the standard exome is possible in CTCs. We validated our process in two prostate cancer patients including one for whom we sequenced CTCs, a lymph node metastasis, and nine cores of the primary tumor. 51 of 73 CTC mutations (70%) were observed in matched tissue. Moreover, we identified 10 early-trunk and 56 metastatic-trunk mutations in the non-CTC tumor samples and found 90% and 73% of these, respectively, in CTC exomes. The talk will also present some technical considerations for enabling single-cell sequencing of tumor cells, including a description of statistical methods to quantitatively assess the amplification bias resulting from whole-genome amplification of single-cell genomic DNA. This study establishes a foundation for CTC genomics in the clinic, and initial applications to patient monitoring will be described. Citation Format: J. Christopher Love. Single-cell sequencing in cancer genomics. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Translation of the Cancer Genome; Feb 7-9, 2015; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(22 Suppl 1):Abstract nr IA14.
SIPRI’s New Long Data-set on Military Expenditure: The Successes and Methodological Pitfalls

SIPRI has collected data on military expenditure almost since its foundation in the 1960s, but various historical difficulties led to breaks in the consistency of the data series, so that until rec...
Engineering Microneedle Patches for Vaccination and Drug Delivery to Skin

Microneedle patches (MNPs) contain arrays of solid needles measuring hundreds of microns in length that deliver drugs and vaccines into skin in a painless, easy-to-use manner. Optimal MNP design balances multiple interdependent parameters that determine mechanical strength, skin-insertion reliability, drug delivery efficiency, painlessness, manufacturability, and other features of MNPs that affect their performance. MNPs can be made by adapting various microfabrication technologies for delivery of small-molecule drugs, biologics, and vaccines targeted to the skin, which can have pharmacokinetic and immunologic advantages. A small number of human clinical trials, as well as a large and growing market for MNP products for cosmetics, indicate that MNPs can be used safely, efficaciously, and with strong patient acceptance. More advanced clinical trials and commercial-scale manufacturing will facilitate development of MNPs to realize their potential to dramatically increase patient access to otherwise-injectab...
Bacteria and bioactivity in Holder pasteurized and shelf stable human milk products

Background: Historically, Holder pasteurization has been used to pasteurize donor human milk available in a hospital setting. There is extensive research that provides an overview of the impact of Holder pasteurization on bioactive components of human milk. A shelf-stable (SS) human milk product, created using retort processing, recently became available; however, to our knowledge, little has been published about the effect of retort processing on human milk. Objective: We aimed to assess the ability of retort processing to eliminate bacteria and to quantify the difference in lysozyme and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) activity between Holder pasteurized (HP) and SS human milk. Methods: Milk samples from 60 mothers were pooled. From this pool, 36 samples were taken: 12 samples were kept raw, 12 samples were HP, and 12 samples were retort processed to create an SS product. All samples were analyzed for total aerobic bacteria, coliform bacteria, Bacillus cereus, sIgA activity, and lysozyme activity. Raw samples served as the control. Results: One raw sample and 3 HP samples contained B. cereus at the time of culture. There were no detectable bacteria in SS samples at the time of culture. Raw samples had significantly greater lysozyme and sIgA activity than HP and SS samples (P < 0.0001). HP samples retained significantly more lysozyme and sIgA activity (54% and 87%, respectively) than SS samples (0% and 11%, respectively). Conclusions: Human milk processed using Holder pasteurization should continue to be screened for the presence of B. cereus. Clinicians should be aware of the differences in the retention of lysozyme and sIgA activity in HP and SS products when making feeding decisions for medically fragile or immunocompromised infants to ensure that patients are receiving the maximum immune protection.
Cultural intersections in music therapy: Music, health, and the person, edited by A., Whitehead-Pleaux, & X., Tan, Dallas, TX, Barcelona Publishers, 2017, 298 pp., $39.00, Hardback, ISBN: 9781937440978, E-ISBN: 9781937440985

Cultural Intersections in Music Therapy: Music, Health, and the Person is a wonderful and timely book for the field of music therapy. It is sometimes difficult for a book to meet the needs of stude...
The Ionic Hall Effect in Crystals

An argument is presented that, for isolated point defects migrating in an ionic crystal, there should be no Hall effect to first order. This is a result of the fact that the jumping ion cannot be deflected without a change in its energy. In most (but not all) of the Hall experiments on superionic conductors, however, there are reports of Hall signals for which the Hall mobility is found to be equal to the drift mobility. Possible reasons for this are presented. Recent experimental results of Liou et al, in which a Hall mobility equal to the drift mobility was observed for AgI but not for AgBr, are consistent with the present argument.
Development of the Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Rating of Treatment Intensity (PNORTI)

Measures of treatment intensity for childhood cancer are needed in research in order to control for variability in treatments. Existing measures of treatment intensity for childhood cancers do not reflect the complexities of treatment protocols for central nervous system (CNS) tumors. This paper describes the development of the Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Rating of Treatment Intensity (PNORTI). PNORTI development occurred in three phases. Phase 1: five experts in pediatric neuro-oncology created a 5-point scale of treatment intensity and 42 pediatric neuro-oncology providers completed a three-part online questionnaire to evaluate the classification system and apply the rating system to 16 sample patients. Validity was determined by respondents classifying therapy modalities into intensity levels. Inter-rater reliability was calculated from ratings of the 16 sample patients. Phase 2: three experts revised the PNORTI based on survey results and 18 pediatric neuro-oncology providers evaluated the classification system. Phase 3: ten experts in pediatric neuro-oncology refined and finalized the PNORTI and rated 10 sample patients using the PNORTI. Agreement between median ratings of the survey respondents and criterion raters for chemotherapy intensity (r‘s = .82 and 1.0) and overall treatment intensity level (r‘s = .91 and .94) were high in Phases 1 and 2. Inter-rater reliability also was very high when using the PNORTI to classify the 16 sample patients in Phase 1 (median agreement of r = .93 and rICC = .99) and the 10 sample patients in Phase 3 (median agreement of r = .92 and rICC = .98). The PNORTI is a valid and reliable method for classifying the intensity of different treatment modalities used in pediatric neuro-oncology.
The Burden of Bearing Witness: The Impact of Testifying at War Crimes Tribunals:

Intersections exist regarding how institutions and individuals respond in the wake of mass violence, and we explore one theoretical perspective: resilience—the ability to overcome in the face of ad...
Institutional Isomorphism in Religious Entities of Post‐Soviet Tajikistan

Grounded in institutional isomorphism theory, the paper analyzes the extent to which the process of homogenization (isomorphism) can be useful in our understanding of changes within religious entities. Examining the emergence and development of religious entities in post-Soviet Tajikistan, I find that three isomorphic mechanisms are less dependent on the impact of religious institutional environments and interaction among religious organizations. Rather, isomorphic changes are manifested as the result of interaction with the state. Mimetic and normative processes are observed in a weak state, whereas coercive isomorphism is exerted under the influence of a strong state. A relative heterogeneity of the religious field is observed in the first two stages of the development of religious entities. Once the state expands its regulation and control, religious entities become more homogeneous in structure and administration due to coercive isomorphism. Implications for extending the concept of institutional isomorphism beyond traditional organizational fields are discussed.
Azido alkanes as convenient reporters for mobility within lipid membranes

Abstract A test compound featuring azido and cyano end groups linked by an alkyl spacer, az-(CH2)11-CN (az11CN), was designed as a probe of mobility of synthetic lipid membrane interiors and mobility of solvents accessed via 2DIR spectral diffusion measurements. The results indicate that the az11CN compound is oriented in lipid membranes such that the azido group is well inside the membrane, while the cyano group resides in the region of moderate polarity around the carbonyl groups of the lipid. The lineshape of the azido moiety transition at 2100 cm−1 shows significant broadening in nonpolar solvents such as hexane. In silico analysis demonstrated that the structural softness of the azido group, intrinsic Fermi resonance at the azido site, and broad wagging, twisting, and rocking vibrational CH2 bands of the alkane chain result in a large number of Fermi resonances with the fundamental transition at 2100 cm−1, thus providing a smooth and featureless linewidth.
Reimagining Science and the Ivory Tower

I had my big aha moment about the future of science and the supposed influence of “market forces” during a conversation with a first-year graduate student in molecular and biochemical nutrition at ...
Re-Evaluation Based on Personal History

One could evaluate oneself in ways to increase positive affect (or decrease negative affect) in a particular life domain. This is a strategy that serves to enhance subjective well being. This strategy focuses on changing affect in a particular life domain by manipulating the expectancies or standard of comparison in evaluating one’s current state of affairs in that domain. In this chapter I will show the reader how subjective well being can be influenced positively through a variety of principles related to self-evaluation using personal history as a standard of comparison. These principles include adaptation-level, range-frequency, adaptation over time, and sensitisation.
Neural Constraints Affect the Ability to Generate Hip Abduction Torques When Combined With Hip Extension or Ankle Plantarflexion in Chronic Hemiparetic Stroke.

Stroke lesions interrupt descending corticofugal fibers that provide the volitional control of the upper and lower extremities. Despite the evident manifestation of movement impairments post-stroke during standing and gait, neural constraints in the ability to generate joint torque combinations in the lower extremities are not yet well determined. Twelve chronic hemiparetic participants and eight age-matched control individuals participated in the present study. In an isometric setup, participants were instructed to combine submaximal hip extension or ankle plantarflexion torques with maximal hip abduction torques. Statistical analyses were run using linear mixed effects models. Results for the protocol combining hip extension and abduction indicate that participants post-stroke have severe limitations in the amount of hip abduction torque they can generate, dependent upon hip extension torque magnitude. These effects are manifested in the paretic extremity by the appearance of hip adduction torques instead of hip abduction at higher levels of hip extension. In the non-paretic extremity, significant reductions of hip abduction were also observed. In contrast, healthy control individuals were capable of combining varied levels of hip extension with maximal hip abduction. When combining ankle plantarflexion and hip abduction, only the paretic extremity showed reductions in the ability to generate hip abduction torques at increased levels of ankle plantarflexion. Our results provide insight into the neural mechanisms controlling the lower extremity post-stroke, supporting previously hypothesized increased reliance on postural brainstem motor pathways. These pathways have a greater dominance in the control of proximal joints (hip) compared to distal joints (ankle) and lead to synergistic activation of musculature due to their diffuse, bilateral connections at multiple spinal cord levels. We measured, for the first time, bilateral constraints in hip extension/abduction coupling in hemiparetic stroke, again in agreement with the expected increased reliance on bilateral brainstem motor pathways. Understanding of these neural constraints in the post-stroke lower extremities is key in the development of more effective rehabilitation interventions that target abnormal joint torque coupling patterns.
ANTIGENIC SITES ON THE G1 GLYCOPROTEIN OF LA CROSSE VIRUS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN NEUTRALIZATION

Publisher Summary La Crosse (LAC) virus, a medically important Bunyavirus, has been chosen as a model to study the molecular mechanism of neutralization. When LAC virus is incubated with trypsin or chymotrypsin, a 20K to 53K Da region at the presumed amino terminus of the Gl glycoprotein is proteolytically removed. However, a significant amount of viral infectivity remains after the protease treatment. Polyclonal antibody binds to the part of Gl remaining virion associated, but only 1 to 1.5 logs of virus are neutralized in 60 min compared with over 4 logs of control virus in 20 min. This implies that there are multiple antibody binding sites on Gl and that the ones critical for neutralization are either removed or altered by the proteases. Another interpretation previously proposed is that antibody molecules must bind to at least two different antigenic sites on the Gl glycoprotein. When one of these sites is removed by proteases, antibody binding to the remaining site on the Gl polypeptide does not completely block virus–cell interaction.
Transient modeling of borehole breakouts: A coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical approach

Abstract Wellbore breakout is critical in drilling operations, which can lead to a significantly enlarged borehole size. Wellbore breakout is a time-dependent process due to fluid seepage and temperature diffusion between the wellbore and formation. This paper presents a transient thermal-hydro-mechanical model for quantifying this time-dependent process. The model is developed based on a finite difference method that can solve the governing equations of unsteady-state fluid seepage and heat transfer. So it captures time-dependent diffusions of pore pressure and temperature around the wellbore. The model is validated with existing analytical solutions. The simulation results show that fluid seepage from the wellbore to the formation induces additional stresses in the near-wellbore region, which increase wellbore breakouts and makes it a time-dependent process. Cooling the formation around the wellbore has an opposite effect to fluid seepage on breakouts, i.e., mitigating breakouts. The proposed model provides a useful tool towards evaluating time-dependent breakouts.
Syndesmotic Fixation With Suture Button: Neurovascular Structures at Risk: A Cadaver Study.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to describe the anatomic variations in the saphenous nerve and risk of direct injury to the saphenous nerve and greater saphenous vein during syndesmotic...
Factors Associated With a Delay in Achieving Full Knee Extension Before Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Background:Arthrofibrosis commonly occurs after an acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and following ACL reconstruction and can lead to poor outcomes. Preoperative stiffness has been show...
Frequency analysis and optimization of the diffractive plenoptic camera

Two different configurations of the Diffractive Plenoptic Camera (DPC), the DPC and the Intermediate Image (II) DPC, had previously been built and their performances compared. The DPC couples a diffractive optic with plenoptic camera designs that provide snapshot spectral imaging capabilities but produce rendered images with low pixel count and low spatial resolution. The IIDPC, a modified setup of the DPC, was introduced as a system that could improve the spatial resolution. The IIDPC improved resolution over a narrow centralized spectral range, while the DPC had sustained resolution over a larger spectral range. Further study of both systems was desired to understand what the limiting factor in their performance was. Frequency analysis of both systems was carried out to determine the limiting component of each system. The limiting optic in both systems was determined to be the Microlens Array (MLA).
Toward an understanding of the distinctiveness of body-image constructs in persons categorized with overweight/obesity, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.

Abstract Objective We examined distinctiveness of different aspects of body-image disturbance in persons categorized with eating/weight disorders. We compared dissatisfaction with weight/shape, overvaluation of weight/shape, preoccupation with weight/shape, and fear of weight gain – in three study groups of persons categorized with overweight/obesity [O/O], bulimia nervosa [BN], and binge-eating disorder [BED] and examined how each body-image construct relates to clinical measures within and between the study groups. Method 1017 community volunteers completed measures of body-image, eating-disorder psychopathology, and depression. Participants were categorized into three study groups: O/O (N = 511), BN-purging type (N = 167), and BED (N = 339). Results Groups differed significantly on the four body-image constructs (medium-to-large effect sizes) with a consistent severity gradient with BN greater than BED greater than O/O. Both within and between groups, the four body-image constructs varied in strengths of association among themselves and with clinical measures. Analyses revealed considerable variability in variance accounted for in the clinical measures; distinctive significant patterns observed across the groups included: dissatisfaction with BMI, preoccupation and fear with eating concerns and restraint, and overvaluation with depression. Conclusion Clinical manifestations of body-image disturbances are complex and show important differences across study groups defined as overweight/obesity, BN, and BED. Improved understanding of distinctions between different body-image constructs and their differential salience across different eating/weight disorders is needed to improve case conceptualization and treatment formulation.
Viscoelastic and dynamic properties of polymer grafted nanocomposites with high glass transition temperature graft chains

The viscoelastic and dynamic properties of dynamically asymmetric polymer-grafted nanocomposites (PGNs) are studied via molecular dynamics simulations. The model PGN is made up of two chains having a large glass transition temperature ( T g ) difference, where the grafted chains have the higher T g. The viscoelastic and dynamic properties were studied at temperatures between the T g s of the graft and matrix polymers as a function of the average brush height. Simulation results showed that the static and dynamic properties of the glassy brush played an important role in reinforcing the overall nanocomposite. Although the bare nanofiller containing nanocomposite showed increased shear storage moduli compared to the neat low- T g polymer, PGNs presented the greatest increases in the shear storage modulus. In addition, the shear storage modulus increased with increasing average brush height, reaching a maximum value at the brush height limit. Analysis of the simulation results revealed that the reinforcement of the shear storage modulus was mainly related to the slowing down of the dynamics of matrix polymer chains. The following mechanisms were identified that were responsible for this effect: (i) High- T g grafted chains act as obstacles for matrix polymer chains. (ii) With increasing average brush height, grafted and matrix chains form a well-mixed morphology at the nanofiller interface, which leads to further slowing down of the matrix chain dynamics. (iii) Finally, at the brush height limit, grafted chains form a stiff and immobile percolated network, which leads to the observed maximum in the shear storage modulus.
Data integrity attack detection in smart grid: a deep learning approach

Cybersecurity in smart grids plays a crucial role in determining its reliable functioning and availability. Data integrity attacks at the physical layer of smart grids are mainly addressed in this paper. State vector estimation (SVE) methods are widely used to detect such attacks, but such methods fail to identify attacks that comply with physical properties of the grid, known as unobservable attacks. In this paper, we formulate a distance measure to be employed as the cost function in deep-learning models using feed-forward neural network architectures to classify malicious and secured measurements. Efficiency and performance of these models are compared with existing state-of-the-art detection algorithms and supervised machine learning models. Our analysis shows better performance for deep learning models in detecting centralised data attacks.
A Pregnant Woman Presenting With Progressively Worsening Dyspnea and Pneumothorax.

Case Presentation A 29-year-old Ukrainian woman presented to the obstetric clinic at 28 weeks’ gestation with pregnancy complicated by intrauterine growth restriction. She reported progressively worsening dyspnea during her pregnancy and was found to have significant hypoxia with an oxygen saturation of 84% on room air prompting admission for further evaluation. Oxygen saturation improved to 92% on 10 L of supplemental oxygen. On further questioning, she was found to have a history significant for pleurodesis as a treatment for recurrent pneumothoraces and nephrectomy for a benign renal mass several years prior while living in Ukraine.