If anyone has experienced hell - lived through a fireball

A group of special forces are ordered to search & rescue, and investigate the demolished country that has been overturned into a ruin. The team of seven men are challenged both mentally and physically, as they are overrun by opposing forces. Outnumbered and low on ammunition, can they return back to the command center safely

Gene expression signatures affected by alcohol-induced DNA methylomic deregulation in human embryonic stem cells

AbstractStem cells, especially human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), are useful models to study molecular mechanisms of human disorders that originate during gestation. Alcohol (ethanol, EtOH) consumption during pregnancy causes a variety of prenatal and postnatal disorders collectively referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). To better understand the molecular events leading to FASDs, we performed a genome-wide analysis of EtOH's effects on the maintenance and differentiation of hESCs in culture. Gene Co-expression Network Analysis showed significant alterations in gene profiles of EtOH-treated differentiated or undifferentiated hESCs, particularly those associated with molecular pathways for metabolic processes, oxidative stress, and neuronal properties of stem cells. A genome-wide DNA methylome analysis revealed widespread EtOH-induced alterations with significant hypermethylation of many regions of chromosomes. Undifferentiated hESCs were more vulnerable to EtOH's effect than their differentiated counterparts, with methylation on the promoter regions of chromosomes 2, 16 and 18 in undifferentiated hESCs most affected by EtOH exposure. Combined transcriptomic and DNA methylomic analysis produced a list of differentiation-related genes dysregulated by EtOH-induced DNA methylation changes, which likely play a role in EtOH-induced decreases in hESC pluripotency. DNA sequence motif analysis of genes epigenetically altered by EtOH identified major motifs representing potential binding sites for transcription factors. These findings should help in deciphering the precise mechanisms of alcohol-induced teratogenesis

Bringing high-grade arteriovenous malformations under control: clinical outcomes following multimodality treatment in children.

OBJECTIVE:Brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) consist of dysplastic blood vessels with direct arteriovenous shunts that can hemorrhage spontaneously. In children, a higher lifetime hemorrhage risk must be balanced with treatment-related morbidity. The authors describe a collaborative, multimodal strategy resulting in effective and safe treatment of pediatric AVMs. METHODS:A retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database was performed in children with treated and nontreated pediatric AVMs at the University of California, San Francisco, from 1998 to 2017. Inclusion criteria were age ≤ 18 years at time of diagnosis and an AVM confirmed by a catheter angiogram. RESULTS:The authors evaluated 189 pediatric patients with AVMs over the study period, including 119 ruptured (63%) and 70 unruptured (37%) AVMs. The mean age at diagnosis was 11.6 ± 4.3 years. With respect to Spetzler-Martin (SM) grade, there were 38 (20.1%) grade I, 40 (21.2%) grade II, 62 (32.8%) grade III, 40 (21.2%) grade IV, and 9 (4.8%) grade V lesions. Six patients were managed conservatively, and 183 patients underwent treatment, including 120 resections, 82 stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), and 37 endovascular embolizations. Forty-four of 49 (89.8%) high-grade AVMs (SM grade IV or V) were treated. Multiple treatment modalities were used in 29.5% of low-grade and 27.3% of high-grade AVMs. Complete angiographic obliteration was obtained in 73.4% of low-grade lesions (SM grade I-III) and in 45.2% of high-grade lesions. A periprocedural stroke occurred in a single patient (0.5%), and there was 1 treatment-related death. The mean clinical follow-up for the cohort was 4.1 ± 4.6 years, and 96.6% and 84.3% of patients neurologically improved or remained unchanged in the ruptured and unruptured AVM groups following treatment, respectively. There were 16 bleeding events following initiation of AVM treatment (annual rate: 0.02 events per person-year). CONCLUSIONS:Coordinated multidisciplinary evaluation and individualized planning can result in safe and effective treatment of children with AVMs. In particular, it is possible to treat the majority of high-grade AVMs with an acceptable safety profile. Judicious use of multimodality therapy should be limited to appropriately selected patients after thorough team-based discussions to avoid additive morbidity. Future multicenter studies are required to better design predictive models to aid with patient selection for multimodal pediatric care, especially with high-grade AVMs

IN-SYNC. V. Stellar kinematics and dynamics in the Orion A Molecular Cloud

The kinematics and dynamics of young stellar populations enable us to test theories of star formation. With this aim, we continue our analysis of the SDSS-III/APOGEE IN-SYNC survey, a high resolution near infrared spectroscopic survey of young clusters. We focus on the Orion A star-forming region, for which IN-SYNC obtained spectra of $\sim2700$ stars. In Paper IV we used these data to study the young stellar population. Here we study the kinematic properties through radial velocities ($v_r$). The young stellar population remains kinematically associated with the molecular gas, following a $\sim10\:{\rm{km\:s}}^{-1}$ gradient along filament. However, near the center of the region, the $v_r$ distribution is slightly blueshifted and asymmetric; we suggest that this population, which is older, is slightly in foreground. We find evidence for kinematic subclustering, detecting statistically significant groupings of co-located stars with coherent motions. These are mostly in the lower-density regions of the cloud, while the ONC radial velocities are smoothly distributed, consistent with it being an older, more dynamically evolved cluster. The velocity dispersion $\sigma_v$ varies along the filament. The ONC appears virialized, or just slightly supervirial, consistent with an old dynamical age. Here there is also some evidence for on-going expansion, from a $v_r$--extinction correlation. In the southern filament, $\sigma_v$ is $\sim2$--$3$ times larger than virial in the L1641N region, where we infer a superposition along the line of sight of stellar sub-populations, detached from the gas. On the contrary, $\sigma_v$ decreases towards L1641S, where the population is again in agreement with a virial state.Comment: 14 pages, 13 figures, ApJ accepte

Improving the mechanical properties of single-walled carbon nanotube sheets by intercalation of polymeric adhesives

Organic polymers, such as poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), and poly(styrene), were intercalated into single-walled carbon nanotube sheets by soaking the sheets in polymer solutions. Even for short soak times, significant polymer intercalation into existing free volume was observed. Tensile tests on intercalated sheets showed that the Young\u27s modulus, strength, and toughness increased by factors of 3, 9, and 28, respectively, indicating that the intercalated polymer enhances load transmission between nanotubes

Repetitive behavior profiles: Consistency across autism spectrum disorder cohorts and divergence from Prader–Willi syndrome

Restricted and repetitive behavior (RRB) is a group of heterogeneous maladaptive behaviors. RRB is one of the key diagnostic features of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and also commonly observed in Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS). In this study, we assessed RRB using the Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised (RBS-R) in two ASD samples (University of Illinois at Chicago [UIC] and University of Florida [UF]) and one PWS sample. We compared the RBS-R item endorsements across three ASD cohorts (UIC, UF and an ASD sample from Lam, The Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised: independent validation and the effect of subject variables, PhD thesis, 2004), and a PWS sample. We also compared the mean RBS-R subscale/sum scores across the UIC, UF and PWS samples; across the combined ASD (UIC + UF), PWS-deletion and PWS-disomy groups; and across the combined ASD sample, PWS subgroup with a Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) score ≥15, and PWS subgroup with a SCQ score <15. Despite the highly heterogeneous nature, the three ASD samples (UIC, UF and Lam’s) showed a similar pattern of the RBS-R endorsements, and the mean RBS-R scores were not different between the UIC and UF samples. However, higher RRB was noted in the ASD sample compared with the PWS sample, as well as in the PWS subgroup with a SCQ score ≥15 compared with the PWS subgroup with a SCQ score <15. Study limitations include a small sample size, a wide age range of our participants, and not controlling for potential covariates. A future replication study using a larger sample and further investigation into the genetic bases of overlapping ASD and RRB phenomenology are needed, given the higher RRB in the PWS subgroup with a SCQ score ≥15

RV dysfunction by MRI is associated with elevated transpulmonary gradient and poor prognosis in patients with sickle cell associated pulmonary hypertension

Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and pulmonary hypertension (PH) have increased mortality. SCD-PH is often complicated by high cardiac output (CO) related to anemia. The transpulmonary gradient (TPG) reflects a pressure differential across the pulmonary vascular bed without the confounding effect of CO (PVR=TPG/CO). Based on the cardiac transplant literature, a TPG ≥ 12 mmHg indicates significant pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). With PH, there is often morphologic adaptation by the right ventricle (RV). In idiopathic PAH, RV dilation and decreased function have been correlated with poor prognosis. We hypothesize that patients with SCD and a TPG ≥ 12 mmHg would have lower functional capacity, increased mortality, and evidence of RV dysfunction on cardiac MRI (CMR)

The Vehicle, Spring 1999

Vol. 40, No. 2 Table of Contents Poetry Eve\u27s DaughterSylvia Whippopage 1 When We Wore Canoes On Our ShouldersMandy Watsonpage 2 This Is Not A Poem About GrandpaJake Tolbertpage 3 Old relationshipsBrandi Kinneypage 5 UntitledErin Winnerpage 6 BraverySylvia Whippopage 6 deep dark closetNicole Smithpage 7 Belly EarthTara Coburnpage 9 The River and FireJake Tolbertpage 10 UntitledAutumn Williamspage 12 Action PotentialKim Evanspage 13 Chimerical (a song for children)D.M. Attrapepage 14 UntitledAutumn Williamspage 16 UntitledMatthew Armstrongpage 18 Building YouSylvia Whippopage 19 RunningKim Evanspage 20 Walking Jenn to WorkJake Tolbertpage 22 Looking InKim Hunterpage 23 Void Between Me and WisconsinMandy Watsonpage 24 Artwork UntitledWendy Finchpage 4 MeditationJennifer Lundpage 8 UntitledSteve Drakepage 15 MemoriesJennifer Lundpage 21 UntitledKathryn Kolasinskipage 25 Prose FoundKim Hunterpage 26 A Day in the Life of William Baxter, DriverDaniel Fitzgeraldpage 32https://thekeep.eiu.edu/vehicle/1072/thumbnail.jp