cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High frequencies of Caspase-3-expressing M. tuberculosis-specific CD4 T cells are associated with active tuberculosis

Background The identification and treatment of individuals with tuberculosis (TB) is a global public health priority. Accurate diagnosis of pulmonary active TB (ATB) disease remains challenging and relies on extensive medical evaluations and detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) in the patients’ sputum. Further, the response to treatment is monitored by sputum culture conversion, which takes 3–6 weeks for results. Here, we sought to identify blood-based host biomarkers associated with ATB and hypothesized that frequencies of Mtb-specific CD4 + IFN-g + T cells expressing caspase-3 would decrease following anti-TB treatment. Caspase-3, a member of cysteine proteases’ family, is highly expressed in CD4 effector T cells and has been shown to regulate T cell activation, cell cycle entry, proliferation and apoptosis. Methods Using polychromatic flow cytometry, we evaluated the expression of the active form of caspase-3 on Mtb-specific CD4 + T cells from individuals with asymptomatic latent Mtb infection (LTBI) (n=22), ATB (n=18), and from ATB patients undergoing anti-TB treatment (n=7). Results Frequencies of Mtb-specific IFN-g + CD4 + T cells that expressed active caspase-3 were higher in individuals with ATB compared to those with LTBI suggesting that apoptotic pathways are operant during pulmonary ATB. This marker also distinguished individuals with untreated ATB from those who had successfully completed anti-TB treatment and correlated with decreasing mycobacterial loads during treatment. Conclusion We have identified caspase-3 on Mtb-specific CD4 + T cells as a marker that distinguishes ATB and LTBI and may provide a tool for monitoring treatment response and cure.
Management of High-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome

High-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (HR-MDS) are usually defined by the International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) risk classes intermediate-2 and high. Untreated patients with HR-MDS have poor prognosis with a median survival of less than one year. The discovery of the clinically-significant activity of DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTi) in MDS has been a major advancement. In addition to supportive care, clinical trials, and DNMTi therapy, the typical therapeutic options for HR-MDS include allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) and intensive chemotherapy. Since most patients with HR-MDS are not candidates for alloHSCT due to co-morbidities and lack of appropriate donors, DNMTi therapy has become standard of care first-line therapy for HR-MDS. While not curative, DNMTi therapy results in hematologic improvements including transfusion-independence, delayed leukemic progression, and in case of azacitidine, survival prolongation. Many unanswered questions remain regarding the optimal use of DNMTi therapy. More data is needed about the best schedules, doses, possible combinations and sequencing with other drugs, biomarkers and models to predict response, and duration of therapy. Although several cycles of DNMTi therapy are needed before responses are typically seen, the optimal number of cycles and the role of maintenance therapy after achieving best response need further exploration. The survival advantage in HR-MDS with azacitidine therapy extends to any hematological response, but it is not clear if survival is improved for patients whose best response is stable disease. As more data emerges on the mechanism of action of DNMTi and their effects on methylation, immune system, hematopoietic stem cells, synergism with other agents, the deployment of these agents will likely result in better outcomes in HR-MDS. Patients with primary or secondary resistance to DNMTi therapy have dismal prognosis and very limited therapeutic options. Development of novel agents or ways to restore or prevent emergence of resistance remains a high-priority research area. Understanding the mechanisms of resistance may allow for the rational design of drugs that would prevent emergence of resistance or restore sensitivity to DNMTi therapy. Several novel agents are undergoing evaluation for HR-MDS. The elucidation of the complex pathogenetic mechanisms of the disease will hopefully allow for development for more targeted therapies.
Metadata change in traditional library collections and digital repositories: exploratory comparative analysis

This paper reports preliminary results of a comparative study of metadata change over time in two different environments -- digital repository and bibliographic utility used for cooperative cataloging -- and with two different metadata schemes -- a local version of Dublin Core and Machine Readable Cataloging (MARC). The findings with regards to metadata change types and subtypes observed, as well as the most frequently occurring change categories and metadata fields in which the change occurs most frequently are presented, and the implications are discussed.
An Overview of the Alamo Architecture

This chapter presents an overview of the Alamo architecture and the execution monitoring framework that has been added to the Icon programming language. Alamo stands for A Lightweight Architecture for Monitoring, and describes the overall system design. Each implementation of Alamo is a framework for writing execution monitors using some monitoring language to monitor programs in some target language; typically, the monitoring language and target language are the same. So far, Alamo has been implemented for both the Icon and ANSl C languages [37].
Annotation and features of non-native Mandarin tone quality.

Native speakers of non-tonal languages, such as American English, frequently have difficulty accurately producing the tones of Mandarin Chinese. This paper describes a corpus of Mandarin Chinese spoken by non-native speakers and annotated for tone quality using a simple good/bad system. We examine interrater correlation of the annotations and highlight the differences in feature distribution between native, good non-native, and bad non-native tone productions. We find that the features of tones judged by a simple majority to be bad are significantly different from features from tones judged to be good, and tones produced by native speakers.
Exercise And Heart Failure: Advancing Knowledge And Improving Care

Exercise limitation is the hallmark of heart failure, and an increasing degree of intolerance is associated with poor prognosis. Objective evaluation of functional class (e.g., cardiopulmonary exercise testing) is essential for adequate prognostication in patients with advanced heart failure and for implementing an appropriate exercise training program. A graded exercise program has been shown to be beneficial in patients with heart failure and has become an essential component of comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation in these patients. An exercise program tailored to the patient's preferences, possibilities, and physiologic reserve has the greatest chance of being successful. Despite being safe, effective, and a guideline-recommended treatment to improve quality of life, exercise training remains grossly underutilized. Patient, physician, insurance and practice barriers need to be addressed to improve this quality gap.
Homing Improvement: Boosting T Cell Trafficking for Cancer Immunotherapy

Advances in T cell tumor immunotherapy have raised hopes for this approach to become a significant treatment for a variety of cancers. Recent successes in leukemia using CAR-modified T cells and in metastatic melanoma using tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes have provided impetus to expand adoptive cellular immunotherapy into treatment of solid tumors. In this setting, adoptively-transferred T cells face a hostile tumor environment that suppresses their anti-tumor functions. In addition, T cells activated and expanded outside of the lymph node lack naturally imprinted homing cues and often exhibit poor homing to most sites of tumor growth. This significant problem has limited the application of cellular tumor immunotherapy to a select few malignancies. However, new ideas to improve the migration of transferred T cells have been generated and tested in preclinical models. Super-charging inflammatory migration of T cells is possible by modulating any number of components in the leukocyte migration machinery, from chemo-attractants, to integrins, to extracellular matrix adhesion ligands. Promising results suggest that the homing problem can indeed be overcome to remove a major barrier in allowing cellular tumor immunotherapy to achieve its full potential as a cancer treatment.
Diverse Intestinal Bacteria Contain Putative Zwitterionic Capsular Polysaccharides with Anti-inflammatory Properties.

Zwitterionic capsular polysaccharides (ZPSs) are bacterial products that modulate T cells, including inducing anti-inflammatory IL-10-secreting T regulatory cells (Tregs). However, only a few diverse bacteria are known to modulate the host immune system via ZPS. We present a genomic screen for bacteria encoding ZPS molecules. We identify diverse host-associated bacteria, including commensals and pathogens with known anti-inflammatory properties, with the capacity to produce ZPSs. Human mononuclear cells stimulated with lysates from putative ZPS-producing bacteria induce significantly greater IL-10 production and higher proportions of Tregs than lysates from non-ZPS-encoding relatives or a commensal strain of Bacteroides cellulosilyticus in which a putative ZPS biosynthetic operon was genetically disrupted. Similarly, wild-type B. cellulosilyticus DSM 14838, but not a close relative lacking a putative ZPS, attenuated experimental colitis in mice. Collectively, this screen identifies bacterial strains that may use ZPSs to interact with the host as well as those with potential probiotic properties.
Correlation of Pre-Explant Lactate Dehydrogenase Concentrations and Findings During Post-Explant Pump Analysis of the HeartMate II Left Ventricular Assist Device.

Background Analyses of the HeartMate II left ventricular assist device are routinely performed after explant if returned to the manufacturer. Findings from manufacturer-reported pump analyses have not been correlated with pre-explant serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) values. Methods Between May 2004 and December 2014, 502 patients underwent primary HeartMate II implantation. Seventy pumps were explanted in 58 patients and returned to the manufacturer for pump analysis: 51 (73%) for suspected pump thrombosis, 12 (17%) for device-related infection, and 7 (13%) for percutaneous lead fracture. Median time from implant to explant was 12.4 months (range, 1 to 57 months). Results Pump thrombus was confirmed in 53 of 70 pumps (76%). Stratified by major clinical indications for explant of suspected pump thrombus or infection and lead fracture, the presence of pump thrombus was identified in 47 of 51 (92%) and 6 of 19 (32%), respectively. The median of 1) all LDH values, 2) maximum LDH values, and 3) interval change in LDH between 6 and 2 months before device explant were 1,061, 1,940, and −27 IU/L with thrombus present and 533, 504, and 13 IU/L in the absence of thrombus. Density estimation of LDH concentrations identified that a LDH value of 1,155 IU/L in the 6 months preceding pump thrombus had a 78% sensitivity and 90% specificity for findings of pump thrombus at the time of pump analysis. Conclusions Pre-explant LDH concentrations significantly correlated with findings on manufacture-performed pump analysis. These data validate LDH surveillance as an important clinical tool for identification of pump thrombus.
Stability of Plates Using the Finite Element Method

The finite element method of structural analysis is extended to the problem of stability of plates. Stability coefficient matrices are derived for rectangular plates for constant and variable direct stresses and shear stresses. These, in conjunction with the stiffness matrix, allow an easy modification of the conventional plate stiffness matrix to include the effects of in-plane stresses, thus giving a simple and rapid formulation of stability problems for plates. The method is applicable to a wide variety of problems. This includes plates with variable moment of inertia, anisotropic plates, plates with any type of edge or body loadings, plates subjected to thermal stresses and plates coupled with other elements such as beams, ribs, etc., with all types of boundary conditions.
Relationships between Undergraduate Research and the Advanced Undergraduate Teaching Laboratory

I will present a model for a complementary relationship between an undergraduate research program and the undergraduate teaching laboratory in materials science. One clear example is using the teaching laboratory to prepare students to do more independent undergraduate research by emphasizing appropriate skills and knowledge, but there are several others. Undergraduate researchers can work with faculty to develop novel experiments and apparatus that can be used in the teaching laboratory. Undergraduates can gain working knowledge of common research techniques and equipment within their program. The ideas should be applicable to any institution placing a priority on undergraduate research and undergraduate education.
Zebrafish as a Model of Kidney Disease

Animal models have been an invaluable means to advance biomedical research as they provide experimental avenues for cellular and molecular investigations of disease pathology. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a good alternative to mammalian models that can be used to apply powerful genetic experimental methods normally used in invertebrates to answer questions about vertebrate development and disease. In the case of the kidney, the zebrafish has proven itself to be an applicable and versatile experimental system, mainly due to the simplicity of its pronephros, which contains two nephrons that possess conserved structural and physiological aspects with mammalian nephrons. Numerous genes that were not previously related to kidney conditions have now been linked to renal diseases by applying genetic screening with the zebrafish. In fact, a large collection of mutations that affect nephron formation and function were generated through phenotype-based forward screens. Complementary reverse genetic approaches have also been insightful, with methods spanning the use of antisense morpholino oligonucleotides to genome editing approaches such as the CRISPR/Cas9 system, to selectively knock down or knock out genes of interest to see if they produce kidney phenotypes. Acute kidney injury (AKI) has also been easily modeled in the zebrafish by injecting nephrotoxins, directly inducing damage through surgical intervention, or by generating transgenic lines that express compounds in a tissue-specific manner that when exposed to certain drugs promote an apoptotic response within cells. In this chapter, we provide an overview of these various approaches as well as discuss many of the contributions that have been achieved through the use of zebrafish to model kidney disease.
"Algorithms ruin everything": #RIPTwitter, Folk Theories, and Resistance to Algorithmic Change in Social Media

As algorithmically-driven content curation has become an increasingly common feature of social media platforms, user resistance to algorithmic change has become more frequent and visible. These incidents of user backlash point to larger issues such as inaccurate understandings of how algorithmic systems work as well as mismatches between designer and user intent. Using a content analysis of 102,827 tweets from #RIPTwitter, a recent hashtag-based backlash to rumors about introducing algorithmic curation to Twitter's timeline, this study addresses the nature of user resistance in the form of the complaints being expressed, folk theories of the algorithmic system espoused by users, and how these folk theories potentially frame user reactions. We find that resistance to algorithmic change largely revolves around expectation violation, with folk theories acting as frames for reactions such that more detailed folk theories are expressed through more specific reactions to algorithmic change.
Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Understanding of mitochondrial dysfunction in CFS will clearly benefit from more study. Our findings warrant detailed studies on larger patient and control populations. The siting of mitochondrial impairment may lead to approaches for alleviating some of the symptoms of CFS. Studies on the effects of cytokines on cellular and mitochondrial bioenergetics are important to see whether cytokines or similar molecules are involved in linking CFS immune disturbances to mitochondrial dysfunction, and to better understand the consequences of cytokine therapies for cancer and viral infection.
Validating an abbreviated version of the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire

Objectives A shorter version of the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (OBQ-44) is needed to promote the use of this measure in research and increase our understanding of cognitive phenomena maintaining obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Additionally, an abbreviated version of the OBQ-44 would encourage frequent monitoring of dysfunctional beliefs in intensive care settings. This study aimed to validate a nine-item version of the questionnaire (OBQ-9). Method Participants seeking intensive/residential treatment for OCD (N = 311) completed relevant measures on a weekly basis and at admission and discharge. Results A confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the OBQ-9's factor structure replicated the three-factor solution of the OBQ-44. The OBQ-9 demonstrated good psychometric properties and convergent validity and was sensitive to treatment effects. Finally, the OBQ-9 subscales predicted specific OCD dimensions over and above depressive symptoms. Conclusion The OBQ-9 appears to be a psychometrically sound tool for routine outcome monitoring of dysfunctional beliefs in hospital-based settings.
Identification and removal of contaminant sequences from ribosomal gene databases: Lessons from the Census of Deep Life

Earth’s subsurface environment is one of the largest, yet least studied, biomes on Earth, and many questions remain regarding what microorganisms are indigenous to the subsurface. Through the activity of the Census of Deep Life (CoDL) and the Deep Carbon Observatory, an open access 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence database from diverse subsurface environments has been compiled. However, due to low quantities of biomass in the deep subsurface the potential for incorporation of contaminants from reagents used during sample collection, processing, and/or sequencing is high. Thus, to understand the ecology of subsurface microorganisms (i.e., the distribution, richness, or survival), it is necessary to minimize, identify, and remove contaminant sequences that will skew the relative abundances of all taxa in the sample. In this meta-analysis we identify putative contaminants associated with the CoDL dataset, recommend best practices for removing contaminants from samples, and propose a series of best practices for subsurface microbiology sampling. The most abundant putative contaminant genera observed, independent of evenness across samples, were Propionibacterium, Aquabacterium, Ralstonia and Acinetobacter. While, the top five most frequently observed genera were Pseudomonas, Propionibacterium, Acinetobacter, Ralstonia, and Sphingomonas. The majority of the most frequently observed genera (high evenness) were associated with reagent or potential human contamination. Additionally, in DNA extraction blanks we observed potential archaeal contaminants, including methanogens, which have not been discussed in previous contamination studies. Such contaminants would directly affect the interpretation of subsurface molecular studies, as methanogenesis is an important subsurface biogeochemical process. Utilizing previously identified contaminant genera, we found that ~27% of the total dataset were identified as contaminant sequences that likely originate from DNA extraction and DNA cleanup methods. Thus, controls must be taken at every step of the collection and processing procedure when working with low biomass environments such as, but not limited to, portions of Earth’s deep subsurface. Taken together, we stress that the CoDL dataset is an incredible resource for the broader research community interested in subsurface life, and steps to remove contamination derived sequences must be taken prior to using this dataset.
Wide-band circular polarized cross bowtie antenna in LWIR

In recent years, plasmonic resonant antennas have seen widespread consideration in many detection and chemistry applications due to their potential for enhancing and confining the emission and polarization of electromagnetic fields. Examples include optical couplers to ultra-compact photodetectors, high-resolution optical microscopy, enablers of single molecule Raman signal detection and heating elements that facilitate nanostructure growth. An asymmetric cross-bowtie antenna is investigated for providing a broad circular polarized frequency response in the long wave infrared (LWIR). The asymmetric cross-bowtie antenna is constructed with two perpendicular bowtie antennas with differing arm lengths. The asymmetric cross-bowtie antenna is numerically analyzed using a finite element method (FEM) solver; Ansys High Frequency Structural Simulator (HFSS). The two perpendicular bowtie antennas, under illumination, provide a wide-band localized circularly-polarized field within a shared antenna feed-gap. At the center frequency of 28.3 THz (10.6μm), a circularly-polarized state over 30% bandwidth is achieved. The antenna is then loaded with a metal-oxide-metal diode in order to design a circularly polarized antenna-coupled detector.
Effects of Cholinergic Lesions and Cholinesterase Inhibitors on Aromatase and Estrogen Receptor Expression in Different Regions of the Rat Brain.

Abstract Cholinergic projections have been shown to interact with estrogens in ways that influence synaptic plasticity and cognitive performance. The mechanisms are not well understood. The goal of this study was to investigate whether cholinergic projections influence brain estrogen production by affecting aromatase (ARO), or influence estrogen signaling by affecting estrogen receptor expression. In the first experiment, ovariectomized rats received intraseptal injection of the selective immunotoxin 192IgG-saporin to destroy cholinergic inputs to the hippocampus. In the second experiment ovariectomized rats received daily intraperitoneal injections of the cholinesterase inhibitors donepezil or galantamine for 1 week. ARO activity and relative levels of ARO, ERα, ERs, and GPR30 mRNAs were quantified in the hippocampus, frontal cortex, amygdala and preoptic area. Results show that the cholinergic lesions effectively removed cholinergic inputs to the hippocampus, but had no significant effect on ARO or on relative levels of ER mRNAs. Likewise, injections of the cholinesterase inhibitors had no effect on ARO or ER expression in most regions of the brain. This suggests that effects of cholinergic inputs on synaptic plasticity and neuronal function are not mediated by effects on local estrogen production or ER expression. One exception was the amygdala where treating with galantamine was associated with a significant increase in ARO activity. The amygdala is a key structure involved in registering fear and anxiety. Hence this finding may be clinically relevant to elderly patients who are treated for memory impairment and who also struggle with fear and anxiety disorders.
The Extracellular Domain of Pollen Receptor Kinase 3 is structurally similar to the SERK family of co-receptors.

During reproduction in flowering plants, the male gametophyte delivers an immotile male gamete to the female gametophyte in the pistil by formation of pollen tubes. In Arabidopsis thaliana, two synergid cells situated on either side of the egg cell produce cysteine-rich chemoattractant peptide LURE that guides the pollen tube to the female gametophyte for sexual reproduction. Recently, in Arabidopsis thaliana, Pollen Receptor Kinase 3 (PRK3), along with PRK1, PRK6, and PRK8, have been predicted to be the receptors responsible for sensing LURE. These receptors belong to the Leucine Rich Repeat Receptor Like Kinases (LRR-RLKs), the largest family of receptor kinases found in Arabidopsis thaliana. How PRKs regulate the growth and development of the pollen tube remains elusive. In order to better understand the PRK-mediated signaling mechanism in pollen tube growth and guidance, we have determined the crystal structure of the extracellular domain (ecd) of PRK3 at 2.5 A, which resembles the SERK family of plant co-receptors. The structure of ecdPRK3 is composed of a conserved surface that coincides with the conserved receptor-binding surface of the SERK family of co-receptors. Our structural analyses of PRK3 have provided a template for future functional studies of the PRK family of LRR-RLK receptors in the regulation of pollen tube development.
Virtual Reality, Intraoperative Navigation, and Telepresence Surgery

A part of the expertise of the operating surgeon is the practiced development of motor skills. These skills are attained by practice in multiple environments, including the animal laboratory and the operating room. The surgeon starts as a surgical assistant and gradually is granted increased responsibilities in performing the critical portions of operative procedures. Building on many years of experience using types of radiographic images of the brain and spine for intraoperative navigation, neurosurgeons, working with bioengineers and computer scientists, have developed methods of image-guided computer-assisted and computer-directed operative procedures using anatomic and pathologic structures identified in volumetric three dimension reformatted brain and spine images co-registered to the physical operative workspace using a variety of three-dimensional digitizers. With the computation power available today, such image sets can be used to create a virtual environment within which a surgeon could realistically both practice skills and attain new skills. This can now be accomplished with partial immersion. It is realistic to contemplate in the near future a total immersion environment realistically simulating all of the sensations and forces associated with an actual operative field. We have termed this development a “surgical holodeck.” This chapter reviews the development and application of these methods, which are the foundation of a simulation environment close to the real operative suite.
Geometries Associated with Partially Ordered Sets

The subsets of a finite partially ordered set P-which occur as the tops of chains of length ≥ k in some k- and (k - 1)-saturated chain partition of P are shown to be the bases of a combinatorial geometry GK (P), thus affirming a conjecture of Greene. The identity map on P is a strong map Gk - 1 (P) → Gk (P) for k = 1, 2,…, and is representable as a linear map over every sufficiently large field. GK (P) is a gammoid, but every gammoid is a subgeometry of G2(P) for some partially ordered set P of height 3.
Repair as Transition: Time, Materiality, and Hope

In the concluding essay of the volume, Steven Jackson reflects upon common issues of the contributions assembled in the volume. He comments on the diversity of breakdown and repair situations encountered, up north and down south, and on what can be learned from their comparison. As a reminder of and a response to the fallibility of things, the everyday practice of repair provides him with a starting point for renewed theoretical and philosophical reflection. Taking his cue from the revisited “settings,” “networks,” and “politics,” Jackson concludes that repair engages the material and temporal organization of the worlds around us, and thus commits us to an attitude of pragmatic hope—where “us” includes repair workers, the authors of this introduction, and the intended readers of this volume.
CHAPTER 34 – Chemical and Physical Properties of Polyglutamine Repeat Sequences

This chapter discusses the chemical and physical properties of polyglutamine (polyGln) repeat sequences. An important subset of the trinucleotide repeat diseases is the group involving expansion of an inframe CAG repeat in an open reading frame, leading to the expression of an expanded polyGln sequence. The sizes, predicted structures, cellular locations, and functions of the polyGln-containing proteins associated with these diseases vary. The expanded polyGln can also alter the structure and function of its host protein, either through a simple steric effect or due to a propagation of altered structure that is initiated by the polyGln segment. Alternatively, expanded polyGln might affect the trafficking and subcellular localization of the protein in which it occurs. There are also several ways in which repeat expansion might alter the properties of the polyGln segment itself. Repeat expansion might alter the polyGln folding thermodynamics such that the expanded polyGln segments take on a different three-dimensional structure that has toxic properties. Alternatively, toxic properties may come about via the ability of repeat expansion to magnify the intrinsic tendency of the polyGln sequence to form aggregates.
Implementing Immune Effector Cell Education for Nursing Staff

Topic Significance & Study Purpose/Background/Rationale Immune effector cell therapy (IECT) has recently emerged as a revolutionary treatment approach for several hematologic malignancies but is associated with unique administration and management considerations. With the growing number of IECT products commercially available and in clinical trials, there is an educational need for staff caring for patients receiving these therapies. Oncology nurses play a crucial role in IECT toxicity assessment/management and patient education, and thus require immunotherapy-specific training. In order to meet this need in a National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, a nursing specific IECT class was designed to train nurses and meet regulatory requirements. Methods, Intervention, & Analysis Class materials were created using resources from the National Cancer Institute, Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, the Food and Drug Administration, Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy, and package inserts. Topics reviewed included scientific underpinnings of immunology and IECT, cellular therapy products, toxicity assessment and management for cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity, administration considerations, regulatory standards, and future directions. Nurses also completed mandatory Risk Evaluation Mitigation Strategy programs for commercially available IECTs. Hematology/HCT nurse educators and a clinical nurse specialist delivered the content over two hours. Teaching methods included lecture, printed material, video, and case studies. Nurses who administer IECT or provide patient care post-therapy were required to attend the training. Upon completion of a class evaluation, attendees received continuing education credits. Findings & Interpretation Thirty sessions were offered over a three month period. Over 100 inpatient, outpatient, and triage nurses attended the training. Class evaluations revealed the content and materials met the participants' educational needs. Many nurses stated the class increased their knowledge of IECT treatment principles and nursing specific considerations, and commonly cited toxicity management strategies as the topic most useful to their practice. Discussion & Implications Due to the rapid changing landscape of cancer care, education must focus on the current and future state of immuno-oncology. Because IECT differs significantly from traditional cancer treatments, even experienced oncology nurses will require education and training specific to these new therapies. Understanding principles of immunotherapies and side effect profiles is fundamental to establishing a solid knowledge base for oncology nurses in this new age of cancer treatment.
Use of Aerosolized Antibiotics in Gram-Negative Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Trauma Patients.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is associated with significant morbidity (ventilator days, ICU days, and cost) and mortality increase in trauma patients. Multidrug-resistant strains of causat...
A generalized model for the transport properties of air components and mixtures

A generalized correlation for the transport properties (viscosity and thermal conductivity) of pure fluids is presented. The new formulation, which is applicable to the whole fluid region, is based on Eyring’s significant liquid structure theory. We have incorporated a modification of Eyring’s reaction rate theory for liquid viscosity and gas kinetic theory for the dilute gas viscosity and thermal conductivity. An empirical hyperbolic secant function is used for the critical region transport property enhancements. In addition to transport properties for the pure cryogenic fluids, the formulation has been applied to the viscosity and thermal conductivity for mixtures of nitrogen, oxygen and argon, including air, in both gas and liquid phases. The accuracy of the formulation is assessed based upon comparisons to experimental data for both pure fluids and mixtures. The wide-range formulation is explicit in viscosity and thermal conductivity as functions of temperature and density. Wide-range equations of state developed earlier for each pure fluid and for air were used to calculate the densities of the fluids at specific temperatures and pressures in the development of the generalized correlation.
ECG AI-Guided Screening for Low Ejection Fraction (EAGLE): Rationale and design of a pragmatic cluster randomized trial.

Background A deep learning algorithm to detect low ejection fraction (EF) using routine 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) has recently been developed and validated. The algorithm was incorporated into the electronic health record (EHR) to automatically screen for low EF, encouraging clinicians to obtain a confirmatory transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) for previously undiagnosed patients, thereby facilitating early diagnosis and treatment. Objectives To prospectively evaluate a novel artificial intelligence (AI) screening tool for detecting low EF in primary care practices. Design The EAGLE trial is a pragmatic two-arm cluster randomized trial ( NCT04000087 ) that will randomize >100 clinical teams (i.e., clusters) to either intervention (access to the new AI screening tool) or control (usual care) at 48 primary care practices across Minnesota and Wisconsin. The trial is expected to involve approximately 400 clinicians and 20,000 patients. The primary endpoint is newly discovered EF ≤50%. Eligible patients will include adults who undergo ECG for any reason and have not been previously diagnosed with low EF. Data will be pulled from the EHR, and no contact will be made with patients. A positive deviance qualitative study and a post-implementation survey will be conducted among select clinicians to identify facilitators and barriers to using the new screening report. Summary This trial will examine the effectiveness of the AI-enabled ECG for detection of asymptomatic low EF in routine primary care practices and will be among the first to prospectively evaluate the value of AI in real-world practice. Its findings will inform future implementation strategies for the translation of other AI-enabled algorithms.
Assessment of executive function (EF) among pediatric survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

9584 Background: Childhood ALL survivors are at increased risk of impaired EF. Both parent ratings and performance-based measures are used to identify vulnerable patients. We seek to assess the ass...
Ovarian Sex Cord Stromal Tumor, Steroid Cell, NOS in an Adolescent: A Case Report.

Abstract Background Ovarian steroid cell tumor, not otherwise specified (NOS), is a rare type of sex cord stromal tumor, which often presents with androgenic symptoms and has a high frequency of malignancy. Case This is a case of a 14-year-old Native American girl who presented with acne, amenorrhea, and virilization and was found to have a 2.9-cm solid ovarian mass. Initial pathology revealed steroid-appearing cells with round nuclei, clear/vacuolated cytoplasm, and a low mitotic index. Final diagnosis was ovarian steroid cell tumor, NOS Stage IA. A laparoscopic left salpingo-oophorectomy was subsequently performed. No tumor recurrence was noted 2 years after her initial diagnosis. Summary and Conclusion Long-term data on these tumors are limited; however, malignancy, recurrence, and death have been reported. This suggests that close follow-up is essential for appropriate management.
Microscopic Entropy of AdS$_3$ Black Holes Revisited

We revisit the microscopic description of AdS$_3$ black holes in light of recent progress on their higher dimensional analogues. The grand canonical partition function that follows from the AdS$_3$/CFT$_2$ correspondence describes BPS and nearBPS black hole thermodynamics. We formulate an entropy extremization principle that accounts for both the black hole entropy and a constraint on its charges, in close analogy with asymptotically AdS black holes in higher dimensions. We are led to interpret supersymmetric black holes as ensembles of BPS microstates satisfying a charge constraint that is not respected by individual states. This interpretation provides a microscopic understanding of the hitherto mysterious charge constraints satisfied by all BPS black holes in AdS. We also develop thermodynamics and a nAttractor mechanism of AdS$_3$ black holes in the nearBPS regime.
Chemical durability and surface alteration of lanthanide zirconates (A2Zr2O7: A = La-Yb)

Abstract Chemical durability of lanthanide zirconates (A2Zr2O7) (A = La-Yb) under near-field environments is important for evaluating their application as potential nuclear waste forms. In this work, A2Zr2O7 (A = La-Yb) are synthesized by spark plasma sintering with controlled microstructure and their chemical durability are evaluated in a nitric acid solution (pH = 1). Scanning transmission electron microscopy analysis reveals an amorphous passivation film either enriched with Zr or lanthanide. The complex chemistry of the passivation films can be correlated with a transition in corrosion mechanisms from a preferential release of lanthanide in La2Zr2O7 to a preferential release of Zr in Er2Zr2O7 and Yb2Zr2O7. These results suggest a dominant mechanism of incongruent dissolution and surface reorganization for the formation of passivation films. Strong correlations are identified between the leaching rates and cation ionic size, ionic potential, electronegativity differences between A-site cation and Zr, and bonding valence sum of oxygen, suggesting important impacts of structural and bonding characteristics in controlling chemical durability of lanthanide zirconates.
An Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation First Strategy in COVID-19 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

COVID-19 can be associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) which increases the likelihood of morbidity and mortality. Ventilator-induced lung injury (VLI) is a known complication of mechanical ventilation (MV) and can further compound lung injury and recovery. Escalation to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can be required in patients who deteriorate on MV. We report our experience with complete avoidance of MV using an ECMO First strategy deployed in an awake non-intubated COVID-19 patient with severe pneumonia.
A Student-Driven Community Engagement Model for School Nutrition Education Programs.

BACKGROUND: Parental engagement in nutrition education programs often focuses on direct communication with parents. While this is an important component for the success of nutrition education, the role that students can play in connecting the program to their home is often overlooked. METHODS: Feedback from students participating in a nutrition education program was used to develop an intervention that allowed students to take snacks they prepared in class home to their families. Change in parental awareness and family communication about the program was assessed in response to this intervention. A total of 257 third-grade students and 80 of their parents completed surveys to assess communication and interest in learning more about nutrition through the program. RESULTS: A significant increase in family awareness and communication about the nutrition program was reported in response to the intervention that gave the students the ability to share food they made in class with their families. CONCLUSIONS: Community engagement for school nutrition education programs is effective in stimulating family conversation about nutrition when methods are cognizant of students potential and motivation for driving these conversations. Our model for student-centered community engagement can be used by nutrition education programs to increase parental engagement.
Mass Appeal: The Formative Age of the Movies, Radio, and TV

Mass Appeal describes the changing world of American popular culture from the first sound movies through the age of television. In short vignettes, the book reveals the career patterns of people who became big movie, TV, or radio stars. Eddie Cantor and Al Jolson symbolize the early stars of sound movies. Groucho Marx and Fred Astaire represent the movie stars of the 1930s, and Jack Benny stands in for the 1930s performers who achieved their success on radio. Katharine Hepburn, a stage and film star, illustrates the cultural trends of the late 1930s and early 1940s. Humphrey Bogart and Bob Hope serve as examples of performers who achieved great success during the Second World War. Walt Disney, Woody Allen, and Lucille Ball, among others, become the representative figures of the postwar world. Through these vignettes, the reader comes to understand the development of American mass media in the twentieth century.
Surveying Hard-to-Reach Groups Through Sampled Respondents in a Social Network

The sampling frame in most social science surveys misses members of certain groups, such as the homeless or individuals living with HIV. These groups are known as hard-to-reach groups. One strategy for learning about these groups, or subpopulations, involves reaching hard-to-reach group members through their social network. In this paper we compare the efficiency of two common methods for subpopulation size estimation using data from standard surveys. These designs are examples of mental link tracing designs. These designs begin with a randomly sampled set of network members (nodes) and then reach other nodes indirectly through questions asked to the sampled nodes. Mental link tracing designs cost significantly less than traditional link tracing designs, yet introduce additional sources of potential bias. We examine the influence of one such source of bias using simulation studies. We then demonstrate our findings using data from the General Social Survey collected in 2004 and 2006. Additionally, we provide survey design suggestions for future surveys incorporating such designs.
In vitro somatic growth and reproduction of phenylamide-resistant and -sensitive isolates of Phytophthora erythroseptica from infected potato tubers in Idaho

Pink rot of potato, most commonly caused by Phytophthora erythroseptica, is a major field and post-harvest problem in southern Idaho, USA, particularly since 1998 when isolates resistant to the phenylamide fungicide metalaxyl-M (mefenoxam) were detected. Isolates of P. erythroseptica were collected from infected tubers in 2001 and 2002 from six Idaho counties and tested for resistance to metalaxyl-M on amended agar. Metalaxyl-M resistant (MR) and metalaxyl-M-sensitive (MS) isolates were identified in six counties; 160 isolates were highly resistant, seven moderately resistant and 57 sensitive to metalaxyl-M with mean EC50 values of 182, 23 and 0·5 mg L−1 ai metalaxyl-M, respectively. Mycelial growth rates and oospore production in agar were assessed for 20 MS and 20 MR isolates at 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30°C. Growth rates of MR isolates were between 2·5 and 3·1 times greater (P < 0·05) than those of MS isolates at 10, 15, 20 and 25°C, and oospore production was between 6·8 and 20·5 times greater (P < 0·0001) for MR than for MS isolates at the same temperatures. Colony growth in V8 broth at 18°C was greater for MR than MS isolates (P < 0·0032). However, zoospore production at 18°C was greater for MS than for MR isolates (P < 0·0109), and zoospore production mm−1 of colony circumference was also greater for MS than for MR isolates, 14 191 and 9959, respectively (P = 0·0109). Sexual reproduction of MR isolates in nature may be greater than MS isolates, but MS isolates may be more asexually fit based on the fitness parameters studied.
PAC-Man: Game over for the pulmonary artery catheter?

Subjects and intervention: Patients identified by the treating physician as someone who should be managed using invasive hemodynamic monitoring were randomized to management with (n=519) or without (n=522) a PAC. Subsequent clinical management was at the discretion of the treating clinician. Patients allocated to management with a PAC had the catheter placed as soon as possible after randomization. ICUs were stratified a priori depending on whether they wished to have the option of using an alternative cardiac output-monitoring device (other than CVP monitoring and clinical examination) in control patients.
An Invitation to Split Quaternionic Analysis

Six years after William Rowan Hamilton’s discovery of quaternions, in 1849 James Cockle introduced the algebra of split quaternions. (He called them “coquaternions.”) In this paper we define regular functions on split quaternions and prove two different analogues of the Cauchy-Fueter formula for these functions.
Congestive heart failure in copper-deficient mice.

Copper Deficiency (CuD) leads to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in various experimental models. The morphological, electrophysiological, and molecular aspects of this hypertrophy have been under investigation for a long time. However the transition from compensated hypertrophy to decompensated heart failure has not been investigated in the study of CuD. We set out to investigate the contractile and hemodynamic parameters of the CuD mouse heart and to determine whether heart failure follows hypertrophy in the CuD heart. Dams of FVB mice were fed CuD or copper-adequate (CuA) diet starting from the third day post delivery and the weanling pups were fed the same diet for a total period of 5 weeks (pre- and postweanling). At week 4, the functional parameters of the heart were analyzed using a surgical technique for catheterizing the left ventricle. A significant decrease in left ventricle systolic pressure was observed with no significant change in heart rate, and more importantly contractility as measured by the maximal rate of left ventricular pressure rise (+dP/dt) and decline (�dP/dt) were significantly depressed in the CuD mice. However, left ventricle end diastolic pressure was elevated, and relaxation was impaired in the CuD animals; the duration of relaxation was prolonged. In addition to significant changes in the basal level of cardiac function, CuD hearts had a blunted response to the stimulation of the -adrenergic agonist isoproterenol. Furthermore, morphological analysis revealed increased collagen accumulation in the CuD hearts along with lipid deposition. This study shows that CuD leads to systolic and diastolic dysfunction in association with histopathological changes, which are indices commonly used to diagnose congestive heart failure. Exp Biol Med 228:811–817, 2003