cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Recent development of transient electronics

Abstract Transient electronics are an emerging class of electronics with the unique characteristic to completely dissolve within a programmed period of time. Since no harmful byproducts are released, these electronics can be used in the human body as a diagnostic tool, for instance, or they can be used as environmentally friendly alternatives to existing electronics which disintegrate when exposed to water. Thus, the most crucial aspect of transient electronics is their ability to disintegrate in a practical manner and a review of the literature on this topic is essential for understanding the current capabilities of transient electronics and areas of future research. In the past, only partial dissolution of transient electronics was possible, however, total dissolution has been achieved with a recent discovery that silicon nanomembrane undergoes hydrolysis. The use of single- and multi-layered structures has also been explored as a way to extend the lifetime of the electronics. Analytical models have been developed to study the dissolution of various functional materials as well as the devices constructed from this set of functional materials and these models prove to be useful in the design of the transient electronics.
Extra-luminal sigmoid sinus granulation tissue resulting in otitic hydrocephalus

Summary A four-year-old male presented to the emergency department with bilateral cranial nerve VI palsy following a failed outpatient course of antibiotics for acute mastoiditis. Imaging revealed a right sigmoid sinus flow defect. Urgent mastoidectomy with removal of the right sigmoid sinus osseous plate was performed. Intraoperatively, extensive granulation tissue was encountered compressing the sinus. The cranial nerve deficit resolved overnight, and follow-up imaging revealed restoration of venous outflow. As a result, the flow void was determined to be a result of compression of the sinus rather than thrombosis, and a prolonged course of systemic anticoagulation was avoided.
Active image pair selection for continuous person re-identification

Most traditional multi-camera person re-identification systems rely on learning a static model on tediously labeled training data. Such a framework may not be suitable for situations when new data arrives continuously or all the data is not available for labeling beforehand. Inspired by the ‘value of information’ active learning framework, we propose a continuous learning person re-identification system with a human in the loop. In brief, we term this ‘continuous person re-identification’. The human in the loop not only provides labels to the incoming images but also improves the learned model by providing most appropriate attribute based explanations. These attribute based explanations are used to learn attribute predictors along the way. The overall effect of such a stratgey is that starting with a few annotated images, the system begins to improve via a symbiotic relationship between the man and the machine. The machine assists the human to speed the annotation and the human assists the machine to update itself with more annotation so that more and more distinct persons are re-identified as more and more images come in. Using a benchmark dataset, we validate our approach and compare with state-of-the-art methods.
Serial Bone Marrow Studies in Pernicious Anemia. III. Occurrence of Protoporphyrin in Human Bone Marrow

SummaryThe occurrence of protoporphyrin was studied in 133 sternal bone marrow specimens. Protoporphyrin was :mostregularly present in marrow samples containing predominately normoblastic young red blood cells.Ninety-six sternal bone marrow specimens from 12 patients with Addisonian pernicious anemia before and after liver extract injection were obtained by serial sternal punctures at 24-hr intervals. The appearance of protoporphyrin was coincidental with the increase of immature red cells of normoblastic type in the marrow.
Gender and Impulsivity: Effects on Cue-Induced Alcohol Craving.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have demonstrated that trait impulsivity is linked to increased risk of developing alcohol-use disorders and other substance abuse. Impulsivity has also been shown in some studies to potentiate cue-induced drug cravings. Despite considerable evidence of gender differences in impulsivity and drug craving among individuals suffering from alcohol dependence and other drug use, little research has focused on these processes in healthy young men and women who may be at risk for developing alcohol-use disorders. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between impulsivity and cue-induced craving, as well as possible gender differences in these effects among healthy young adults. METHODS: To that end, female (n = 22) and male (n = 14) social drinkers aged 18 to 25, recruited from an urban university campus, completed the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale and reported their alcohol cravings immediately before and after laboratory exposure to alcohol cues. RESULTS: Findings indicated that exposure to cues elicited increased alcohol cravings, but these effects did not differ by gender. Interestingly, a significant interaction of impulsivity and gender revealed that impulsivity predicted significantly higher cue-induced cravings in women, but not men. CONCLUSIONS: Findings underscore the importance of better understanding the interaction of situational factors (e.g., exposure to alcohol cues) and dispositional factors (e.g., impulsivity) as potential contributors to drinking motivation. Future prospective research is needed to identify gender-specific risk factors for the development of problem drinking.Copyright © 2016 by the Research Society on Alcoholism. Language: en
Nodular Regenerative Hyperplasia of the Liver: Report of Three Cases and Review of the Literature

Nodular regenerative hyperplasia of the liver is characterized grossly by diffusely nodular liver resembling micronodular cirrhosis. Viewed microscopically, the nodules consist of regenerative parenchyma without fibrosis, which are usually smaller than the hepatic lobule. Nodular regenerative hyperplasia is distinct from other nodular lesions of the liver such as cirrhosis, partial nodular transformation, focal nodular hyperplasia, and adenoma. Although nodular regenerative hyperplasia is seldom reported, it may occur more frequently than it is recognized.
Copper (Cu)-silica nanocomposite containing valence-engineered Cu: a new strategy for improving the antimicrobial efficacy of Cu biocides.

Copper (Cu) compounds are widely used as antibacterial/antifungal agents for protecting food crops. Prolonged use of Cu biocides would lead to undesirable Cu levels in agricultural soil. In the absence of a suitable alternative, prudent use of Cu biocides is required. This paper reports for the first time a composite material of sol–gel silica host matrix loaded with mixed-valence Cu as an alternative to conventional biocides. In this composite material, Cu is present in different oxidation states. The hydrophilic silica matrix serves as a water-dispersible delivery vehicle for antimicrobial Cu. It is hypothesized that a mixed-valence Cu system, specifically enriched with Cu(0) and Cu(I), will exhibit enhanced antimicrobial efficacy over traditional Cu(II) compounds. Materials were characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for the determination of particle size, morphology, crystallinity, and Cu oxidation states. Antimicrobial studies against Xa...
The reticulocyte count as an indicator of the rate of erythropoiesis.

The reticulocyte count is widely used as an indicator of the rate of production of red blood cells. Stohhnan expresses the view of many in stating that, "In most instances the reticulocyte count and bone marrow examination will give enough information for the clinical evaluation of red cell production in anemias." Occasionally, however, discrepancies between the reticulocyte count and other independent measurements of erythropoiesis have been noted (c./., Seip and Baldini and Pannacciulli). Crosby states "Reticulocyte counts may be normal when red cell production is more than five times the normal rate." In patients with Di Guglielmo's syndrome, "the degree of reticulocytosis may not reflect the rate of bone marrow red cell production." A discrepancy between the reticulocyte count and the rate of red cell synthesis calculated from Cr red cell survival has been observed in Hodgkin's disease. There are at present 2 readily available methods of estimating the erythropoietic rate: (1) from independent measurements of the total red cell volume and erythrocyte life-span, the red cell renewal rate can be calculated; (2) with radioiron, the turnover rate of red cell iron can be calculated by several methods of analysis varying in complexity, and from this measurement a red cell renewal rate can be derived. Both methods require steady state conditions, or knowledge of the rate of deviation from the steady state.
Anatomic Repair of Plantar Plate With Flexor Tendon Sheath Reinforcement: Case Series.

Plantar plate pathology has gained considerable attention in recent time, and with this increased awareness multiple treatments have been proposed. There have been no comparison studies between these treatments. The authors feel a direct approach for anatomic repair allows for plantar plate repair and tightening to desired tension, without any plantar prominences or potentially irritating hardware. In addition if the plantar plate is found to be attenuated or there is a lack of residual tissue, the described imbrication utilizing the flexor digitorum longus sheath, which is not possible with hardware or newest instrumentation, allows for a robust repair. The presented case series provides results from consecutive patients treated with proposed concurrent plantar and dorsal incisions, providing proof of concept and viability of novel technique.Levels of Evidence: Level V: Case series
Abstract P3-07-18: Utilization and impact of oncotype DX 21- gene breast cancer assay in clinical practice across the US: 2010-2012 National cancer data base analysis

Oncotype DX (OD), initially used for early stage estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), node-negative (LN-) invasive breast cancers (BC) and later also for ER+ and 1-3 LN+BC, provides a low, intermediate or high 10-year risk recurrence score (LRS, IRS or HRS) for BC. Based on the score, the addition of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) to endocrine therapy is recommended for HRS; no benefit for LRS, and unclear benefits for IRS. The test has been in use since 2004. Payment for OD was approved by the Centers for MedicareM 406525 were ER+. 86409 patients with known OD results were analyzed (23.7% of ER+). Patients age range from 19-90 (mean 58.8, median 59 years); 99.1% were females. 57.9% of tests followed National Comprehensive Network (NCCN)-defined intermediate risk guidelines (ER+/LN- tumors >1cm), while 15.5% of tests included N1 disease and 25.7% included T1a, T1b and T3 tumors. LRS had 90.1% negative predictive value (NPV) for no AC administration. IRS had 47.4% positive predictive value (PPV) and HRS had 88.9% PPV for AC administration. The OD is obtained in almost ¼ of ER+BC patients across the US. Its application across geographic and racial groups is fair. Factors influencing patient selection for OD test and AC administration upon obtaining IRS results require further study. Citation Format: Orucevic A, Heidel RE, Bell JL. Utilization and impact of oncotype DX 21- gene breast cancer assay in clinical practice across the US: 2010-2012 National cancer data base analysis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-07-18.
Distraction Phenomenon After Lengthening of Spinal Growing Rods: A Case Report.

The treatment of early-onset scoliosis remains challenging, and growing-rod instrumentation has been shown to be an option for allowing trunk and lung development while partially straightening and controlling spine deformity1-4. Initial treatment with single rods had an unacceptable risk-benefit ratio3-6, and dual rods are currently preferred, achieving corrections from 30% to 64% at the time of the final spinal fusion3,7. Unfortunately, dual-rod systems retain complication rates ranging from 19% to 58%2,3,8,9 in instrumented patients. The most common complications include wound infections, skin breakdown, proximal and distal junctional kyphosis, and implant-related complications (e.g., rod breakage, implant prominence, and hook and/or screw pullout)8,10. Spontaneous fusion rates of 89% were also reported as a potential complication associated with submuscular rod placement and surgical procedures at early ages7,11, sometimes requiring osteotomies during the final posterior fusion7. To the best of our knowledge, there is no prior report of distraction phenomenon related to the growing-rod lengthening procedure. The patient’s parents were informed that data concerning the case would be submitted for publication, and they provided consent. A two-day-old girl was urgently transferred to our hospital because of a thoracic mass that grossly resembled arachnoid tissue. Radiographs showed a right thoracic curve measuring 15° from T1 to T10, a localized kyphosis of 57° from T5 to T7, and a global kyphosis of 18° from T2 to T12. Additional image investigation revealed a congenital malformation with butterfly vertebrae from T5 to T7 and a posterior vertebral defect with incomplete laminae extending from T3 to T6. Magnetic resonance imaging showed that the mass had grown out from the spinal cord. The patient underwent neurosurgery, and the final histologic characteristics …
Microvascular Dysfunction in Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or stress-induced cardiomyopathy, is characterized by transient cardiac dysfunction, usually but not always triggered by physical or emotional stress. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy may mimic an acute coronary syndrome due to an overlapping presenting clinical spectrum. Typically, apical involvement with hypercontraction of basal left ventricle (apical type) is predominant, but atypical types involving basal, midventricular, and right ventricular myocardium have also been described. To date, the exact pathogenic mechanism of this disease remains unclear however sympathetic or catecholaminergic hyperactivity, mutivessel coronary vasospasm, microcirculatory disorder, and estrogen deficiency have been proposed to be the likely underlying pathogenic mechanisms. In this review, we specifically highlight the association of microcirculatory dysfunction in takotsubo cardiomyopathy which has been more recently recognized as an important pathogenetic contributor to this disease.
LExL: A Learning Approach for Local Expert Discovery on Twitter

In this paper, we explore a geo-spatial learning-to-rank framework for identifying local experts. Three of the key features of the proposed approach are: (i) a learning-based framework for integrating multiple factors impacting local expertise that leverages the fine-grained GPS coordinates of millions of social media users; (ii) a location-sensitive random walk that propagates crowd knowledge of a candidate’s expertise; and (iii) a comprehensive controlled study over AMT-labeled local experts on eight topics and in four cities. We find significant improvements of local expert finding versus two state-of-the-art alternatives.
Arteriovenous Malformations: How We Changed Our Practice

Brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a cluster of direct connections of arteries to draining veins without an intervening capillary bed [4]. The three main components of an AVM are one or more feeding arteries, the nidus as the site of the arteriovenous shunt, and the draining venous structures. Arteriovenous malformations are high-flow, low-resistant shunts due to a significant pressure difference between the arterial and venous side. The pressure gradient and resultant high flow trigger remodeling of both arteries and draining veins. Arteries may be dilated and thin walled due to degeneration of the media and elastic lamina or thickened from endothelial proliferation, hypertrophy of the media, and changes in the basal lamina. Remodeling of the venous system is referred to as arterialization and includes thickening of the wall due to cellular proliferation without an organized elastic lamina [4, 10]. The draining veins commonly coalesce and form a major draining vein that eventually drains into a dural venous sinus. The pathogenesis of the AVM has not been fully elucidated. The predominant theory is that AVMs are congenital in nature and result from incomplete or abnormal resolution of a primitive vascular plexus that occurs during early embryogenesis [2]. One explanation for why they are rarely detected in utero or in infants is that they first appear in utero but then continue to grow after birth. There is also growing evidences for postnatal de novo formation of these lesions [7, 17, 21]. Recent studies have identified some of the factors that may be involved in the formation of AVMs. One of them is endothelin-1, found throughout the normal cerebral vasculature, and a potent vasoconstrictor that plays a role in vascular cell growth. Local repression of endothelin-1 within the AVM has been implicated in the pathophysiology underlying AVMs [23]. Endothelial cell-specific tyrosine kinases that are normally found in developing embryonic blood vessels and vascular endothelial growth factor have been shown to be increased in association with AVMs [12].
Associations of Macro- and Microvascular Endothelial Dysfunction With Subclinical Ventricular Dysfunction in End-Stage Renal Disease

Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) suffer high rates of heart failure and cardiovascular mortality, and we lack a thorough understanding of what, if any, modifiable factors contribute to cardiac dysfunction in these high-risk patients. To evaluate endothelial function as a potentially modifiable cause of cardiac dysfunction in ESRD, we investigated cross-sectional associations of macro- and microvascular dysfunction with left and right ventricular dysfunction in a well-controlled ESRD cohort. We performed comprehensive echocardiography, including tissue Doppler imaging and speckle-tracking echocardiography of the left and right ventricle, in 149 ESRD patients enrolled in an ongoing prospective, observational study. Of these participants, 123 also underwent endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery (macrovascular function). Microvascular function was measured as the velocity time integral of hyperemic blood flow after cuff deflation. Impaired flow-mediated dilation was associated with higher left ventricular mass, independently of age and blood pressure: per 2-fold lower flow-mediated dilation, left ventricular mass was 4.1% higher (95% confidence interval, 0.49-7.7; P=0.03). After adjustment for demographics, blood pressure, comorbidities, and medications, a 2-fold lower velocity time integral was associated with 9.5% higher E/e' ratio (95% confidence interval, 1.0-16; P=0.03) and 6.7% lower absolute right ventricular longitudinal strain (95% confidence interval, 2.0-12; P=0.003). Endothelial dysfunction is a major correlate of cardiac dysfunction in ESRD, particularly diastolic and right ventricular dysfunction, in patients whose volume status is well controlled. Future investigations are needed to determine whether therapies targeting the vascular endothelium could improve cardiac outcomes in ESRD.
Microprobe analysis of urinary stones

The commonly used methods for stone analysis have many limitations in their sensitivity and reliability. X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy frequently overlook minor components of the stones. Preliminary data indicate that the sensitivity to crystal identification is severalfold greater in a combination of energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) than in X-ray diffraction or IR spectrometry. EDX exceeds other methods in sensitivity for the detection of minor and rare inorganic components of urinary stones. Furthermore, EDX combined with SEM morphology also shows a remarkable sensitivity in the detection of uric acid and urates. SEM is also very helpful for studying the growth of urinary stones. As opposed to the existing concept that crystal aggregation plays a major role in stone formation, SEM demonstrated that stone growth involves extensive twinnings and surface nucleating, including deposition of the organic matrix. Although EDX is unable to dissect and analyze its chemical composition, SEM assists in the visualization of the organic matrix in urinary stones. Thus, it is highly suitable for the study of the mechanism of stone formation as well.
Obstacles to preventive care for individuals with disability: Implications for nurse practitioners

Background and purpose Individuals with disabilities have been identified as a population with a significantly lower usage of preventive services. Nurse practitioners (NPs) provide a key access point in the healthcare delivery system for preventive services for vulnerable populations such as those with disabilities. It is essential to understand existing barriers that prohibit access to effective preventive care for this vulnerable population. Methods Systematic search and review of Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Medline, PubMed, Google Scholar, and government reports and World Health Organizations reports. Twenty-six articles were included in the review. Conclusions This literature review confirmed previous notions that people with disabilities are receiving much fewer preventive services than the general population. The studies reviewed identified four major barriers that contributed to the lack of preventive care. These barriers included physical environment and system, transportation, provider knowledge and attitude, and financial. Recognition of the obstacles that this subpopulation faces in accessing preventive care services is the first step to effectively remedying this problem. Implications for practice Preventive services have been identified as one of the cornerstones to improving health and quality of life. By understanding the circumstances that restrict those with disabilities from accessing preventive services, NPs can provide meaningful and effective solutions.
Integrating consumer preferences in renewable energy expansion planning using agent-based modeling

As share of renewable sources in the energy sector is increasing, the energy production and distribution network's centralized structure is changing to numerous small-scale distributed networks. Energy consumers in the residential sector are increasingly becoming energy producers by adopting rooftop photo voltaic (PV) systems. However, increasing rooftop PV adoption has contributed to diminishing revenues for utility companies. This paper describes an agent-based model that has been developed to help utility companies better understand the impacts of consumers' preferences and behaviors on adding renewable sources to their energy mix. Experimental results demonstrate that including both consumers and utility companies as stakeholders can help the utilities alleviate revenue losses due to increasing rooftop PV adoption while meeting their renewable energy expansion targets.
The electro-thermal stability of tantalum relative to aluminum and titanium in cylindrical liner ablation experiments at 550 kA

Presented are the results from the liner ablation experiments conducted at 550 kA on the Michigan Accelerator for Inductive Z-Pinch Experiments. These experiments were performed to evaluate a hypothesis that the electrothermal instability (ETI) is responsible for the seeding of magnetohydrodynamic instabilities and that the cumulative growth of ETI is primarily dependent on the material-specific ratio of critical temperature to melting temperature. This ratio is lower in refractory metals (e.g., tantalum) than in non-refractory metals (e.g., aluminum or titanium). The experimental observations presented herein reveal that the plasma-vacuum interface is remarkably stable in tantalum liner ablations. This stability is particularly evident when contrasted with the observations from aluminum and titanium experiments. These results are important to various programs in pulsed-power-driven plasma physics that depend on liner implosion stability. Examples include the magnetized liner inertial fusion (MagLIF) prog...
AN ANALYTICAL MODEL FOR STRESS ANALYSIS AND FAILURE PREDICTION OF BONDED JOINTS WITH TAPERED EDGES

An analytical model has been developed for the analysis of bonded composite-to-metal joints subject to axial tensile or compressive load on the substrate. Two joint configuration are considered which simulate bonded composite patch repair such as fatique life enhancement and crack patching. While the metallic susstrate is of uniform thickness, the composite patch has a thickness tapered from the central portion to its edges. The model calculates axial forces/stresses in the substrate and patch, shear stress in the adhesive, and peel stresses on the substrate-adhesive and patch-adhesive interfaces. The residual stresses after curing due to thermal mismatch between the substrate and patch are considered. Based on the stress results obtained and the strength allowables of the joint member materials, the joint failure load is predicted and the failure mode is examined. Eight typical failure modes are considered and the associated safety margins are determined.
Robotic Colorectal Surgery Learning Curve and Case Complexity.

Abstract Purpose: To understand the role of case complexity in the learning curve for robotic colorectal surgery. Materials and Methods: Sixty-two patients who underwent robot-assisted colorectal s...
An Integrative Literature Review of Basal-Bolus Insulin Versus Sliding-Scale Insulin for Glycemic Management in the Hospitalized Type 2 Diabetic

Diabetes is an increasingly common chronic disease that affects the body’s normal ability to control blood glucose levels due to impaired use of the hormone insulin. It is estimated that one out of every four adults who are hospitalized also have a diagnosis of diabetes. Diabetic inpatients face unique challenges in regards to managing their blood glucose while hospitalized due to the physiological stress of acute illness. Unfortunately, those who experience inadequate blood glucose management in the hospital are at an increased risk for poor patient outcomes, such as infection, increased length of stay, and death. There are multiple medications used to regulate blood sugar levels; however, the most commonly prescribed treatment for inpatients is the traditional sliding-scale regimen followed by the basal-bolus insulin regimen. An integrated literature review was conducted to determine if basal-bolus insulin is more effective than sliding-scale insulin in managing blood glucose levels of diabetic inpatients. Four well-known databases were searched and five relevant quantitative research articles were obtained and analyzed. The majority of the evidence supports basal-bolus insulin as the most effective treatment for managing blood glucose and preventing hyperglycemia without increasing the risk for hypoglycemia. Health care providers should order basal-bolus insulin accordingly in order to improve patient outcomes. Future research that questions why sliding-scale insulin is still widely prescribed may identify barriers related to ordering basal-bolus insulin and assist in decreasing related adverse events.
Quantitative Proteomics Reveals Changes in Transporter Protein Abundance in Liver, Kidney and Brain of Mice by Pregnancy.

BACKGROUND Few studies have systematically investigated pregnancy-induced changes in protein abundance of drug transporters in organs important for drug/xenobiotic disposition. OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to compare protein abundance of important drug/xenobiotic transporters including Abcb1a, Abcg2, Abcc2, and Slco1b2 in the liver, kidney and brain of pregnant mice on gestation day 15 to that of non-pregnant mice. METHODS The mass spectrometry-based proteomics was used to quantify changes in protein abundance of transporters in tissues from pregnant and non-pregnant mice. RESULTS The protein levels of hepatic Abcc2, Abcc3, and Slco1a4 per μg of total membrane proteins were significantly decreased by pregnancy by 24%, 72%, and 70%, respectively. The protein levels of Abcg2, Abcc2, and Slco2b1 per μg of total membrane proteins in the kidney were significantly decreased by pregnancy by 43%, 50%, and 46%, respectively. After scaling to the whole liver with consideration of increase in liver weight in pregnant mice, the protein abundance of Abcb1a, Abcg2, Abcc2, Abcb11, Abcc4, Slco1a1, and Slco1b2 in the liver was ~50-100% higher in pregnant mice, while those of Abcc3 and Slco1a4 were ~40% lower. After scaling to the whole kidney, none of the transporters examined were significantly changed by pregnancy. Only Abcg2 and Abcb1a were quantifiable in the brain and their abundance in the brain was not influenced by pregnancy. CONCLUSION Protein abundance of drug transporters can be significantly changed particularly in the liver by pregnancy. These results will be helpful to understand pregnancy-induced changes in drug/xenobiotic disposition in the mouse model.
Interactions of Glycine Soja Genotypes with Fast and Slow Growing Soybean Rhizobia

Fast growing soybean rhizobia were reported to be ineffective in N2- fixation with several N. American soybean cultivars, though they were effective with cv. Peking and a Glycine soja (wild soybean) line from China (Keyser et al. 1982). In further investigation of their effectiveness with Glycine species, they were compared with effective slow growing soybean rhizobia on G. soja lines from China, Korea and Japan.
Unmixing for Causal Inference: Thoughts on McCaffrey and Danks.

AbstractMcCaffrey and Danks have posed the challenge of discovering causal relations in data drawn from a mixture of distributions as an impossibility result in functional magnetic resonance (fMRI)...
Assessing visual STM in infants and adults: eye movements and pupil dynamics reflect memory maintenance

Though previous work has demonstrated substantial short-term memory (STM) development in the first year of life (e.g., Ross-Sheehy, S., Oakes, L. M., & Luck, S. J. 2003. The development of visual s...
Quantitative decision making for a groundwater monitoring and subsurface contamination early warning network.

Abstract With the increased development of oil and gas activities in northern Colorado, public concerns over the environmental impacts associated with well drilling and hydraulic fracturing have continued to rise. Issues such as leakages of “toxic” products from oil and gas operations to the subsurface environment (such as groundwater contamination) have led to community action and state regulations related to the establishment of groundwater quality monitoring sites in oil and gas activity areas, particularly those adjacent to urban development. Colorado Water Watch was a groundwater quality monitoring network comprised of seven monitoring wells in northern Colorado to monitor groundwater quality near oil and gas wells and give early warnings of contamination. Our study is aimed at developing a quantitative methodology to find ideal monitoring locations as well as evaluate them. We utilized hydraulic and geological data to select the most preferred sites to monitor groundwater quality, understand the temporal trends and identify unique anomaly signals in the oil and gas active area (Wattenberg field, northern Colorado). In addition to the site selection methodology, water quality data from Colorado Water Watch over 2 years is used to do evaluate the performance using entropy information and Principal Component Analysis. The analysis indicates that the earliest functional monitoring site (CHILL) is the most informative monitoring well, and the most recently installed monitoring sites (Gilcrest and LaSalle) are the least informative and least important stations due to their low data efficiency.
Arithmetic in Base Ten

Before You Get Started. The whole literate world has been taught that every nonnegative integer can be represented by a finite string of digits, and that different strings of digits correspond to different integers. None of this is in our axioms, so it must be established. You know that the string 365 means 5+6 ∙ 10+3 ∙ 100 and you know that the string 371 means 1+7 ∙ 10+3 ∙ 100. These sums add up to different integers. Are you sure? How do you know? Are you equally sure when you have two strings of 400 digits that are not exactly the same? And while we are questioning basic things, here is another problem: In elementary school you learned how to add strings of integers like 365 and 371. How did you do it? And why does it work? Can you write down the instructions so that someone could add other numbers? How did your elementary-school teacher explain addition to you?
The Healthy Immigrant Effect and the Question of Acculturation

This chapter explores what has been termed the “healthy immigrant effect,” which is the paradoxical phenomenon of surprisingly low levels of health problems in immigrants from a poor or non-industrialized country to a highly Westernized and wealthier one. The immigrants have better than expected health indicators despite their worse socioeconomic conditions that lead to the immigration. These health indicators include mental health measures, as recently migrated women have less problems during pregnancy and during the delivery and postpartum stage. There is less frequency of maternal depression, obesity, and substance use. The babies have adequate weight and less postnatal complications. These health indicators worsen as the woman and her family become more “acculturated” to the lifestyle of the host country. This has been thought to be associated with less exercise, a worse diet, more reliance on sugars and “junk food,” increased television viewing among others. This affects also the health status of young children. These effects have been shown in the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, and other European countries. With increased discrimination and racism, there are calls for the “total assimilation” of immigrants. This chapter questions that recommendation and highlights the protective effects of traditional cultural practices, cultural identity, and forging “new identities” in the host country, leading to pluri-culturalismor biculturalism. Other cultures might not just be “tolerated” but their protective effects and resilience could be valued.
Purulent Pericarditis Caused by Bacteroides fragilis : A Rare Complication of Cholangitis

Bacterial infection is a rare cause of pericarditis especially in the post-antibiotic era. When compared to viral or idiopathic etiologies, purulent pericarditis carries a higher risk for complications. While most cases are due to Staphylococcus aureus , we present a rare case of pericarditis due to Bacteroides fragilis originating from a liver abscess and leading to pericardial effusion. Our case highlights the need to maintain a high clinical suspicion of bacterial infection when patients present with sepsis and have evidence of pericarditis. Cardiol Res. 2019;10(5):309-311 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/cr904
A Niche for Plasma Cells: The Skin.

Antibodies are key components of the skin immune barrier, and antibodies directed toward skin structures can result in disease. Wilson et al. (2019) show that healthy skin is a niche for antibody secreting plasma cells and plasmablasts, and that inflammation and immunization increase their numbers. This work advances our understanding of skin associated B and plasma cells in health and disease.
Fatal overdose prevention and experience with naloxone: A cross-sectional study from a community-based cohort of people who inject drugs in Baltimore, Maryland.

Introduction Overdose is a leading cause of death in the United States, especially among people who inject drugs (PWID). Improving naloxone access and carrying among PWID may offset recent increases in overdose mortality associated with the influx of synthetic opioids in the drug market. This study characterized prevalence and correlates of several naloxone outcomes among PWID. Methods During 2018, a survey to assess experience with naloxone was administered to 915 participants in the AIDS Linked to the IntraVenous Experience (ALIVE) study, an ongoing community-based observational cohort of people who currently inject or formerly injected drugs in Baltimore, Maryland. We examined the associations of naloxone outcomes (training, supply, use, and regular possession) with socio-demographic, substance use and healthcare utilization factors among PWID in order to characterize gaps in naloxone implementation among this high-risk population. Results Median age was 56 years, 34% were female, 85% were African American, and 31% recently injected. In the past six months, 46% (n = 421) reported receiving training in overdose prevention, 38% (n = 346) had received a supply of naloxone, 9% (n = 85) had administered naloxone, and 9% (n = 82) reported usually carrying a supply of naloxone. Recent non-fatal overdose was not associated with any naloxone outcomes in adjusted analysis. Active opioid use (aOR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.03, 4.28) and recent treatment of alcohol or substance use disorder (aOR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.13, 3.56) were associated with regularly carrying naloxone. Conclusion Further work is needed to encourage PWID to carry and effectively use naloxone to decrease rates of fatal opioid overdose. While accessing treatment for substance use disorder was positively associated with carrying naloxone, EMS response to 911 calls for overdose, the emergency department, and syringe services programs may be settings in which naloxone access and carrying could be encouraged among PWID.
Accessing Pentagonal Bipyramidal Geometry with Pentadentate Pincer Amido-bis(amidate) Ligands in Group IV and V Early Transition Metal Complexes

A family of amido-bis(amidate) proligands (1a–1d) [LH3] with sterically bulky carboxamide arms is described. The ligands can be used to promote pentagonal bipyramidal geometries in titanium complex...
The effect of treatment on the microbiota of patients diagnosed with colonic lesions

Background. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a worldwide health problem. Despite growing evidence that members of the gut microbiota can drive tumorigenesis, little is known about what happens to the microbiota after treatment for an adenoma or carcinoma. This study tested the hypothesis that treatment for adenoma or carcinoma alters the abundance of bacterial populations associated with disease to those associated with a normal colon. We tested this hypothesis by sequencing the 16S rRNA genes in the feces of 67 individuals before and after treatment for adenoma (N = 22), advanced adenoma (N = 19), and carcinoma (N = 26). Results. There were large changes to the bacterial communities associated with treatment across the three groups. The communities from patients with carcinomas changed significantly more than those with adenoma following treatment (P-value 0.05). Although treatment was associated with intrapersonal changes, the change in the abundance of individual OTUs to treatment was not consistent within diagnosis groups (P-value > 0.05). Because the distribution of OTUs across patients and diagnosis groups was irregular, we used the Random Forest machine learning algorithm to identify groups of OTUs that allowed us to successfully distinguish between pre and post-treatment samples for each of the diagnosis groups. Although the three models successfully differentiated between the pre and post-treatment samples, there was little overlap between the OTUs that were indicative of treatment. Next, we used a larger cohort that contained individuals with normal colons and those with adenomas, advanced adenomas, and carcinomas to determine whether individuals who underwent treatment were more likely to have OTUs associated with normal colons. We again built Random Forest models and measured the change in the positive probability of having one of the three diagnoses. Only patients who had carcinomas experienced a significant decrease in positive probability of having a lesion after treatment (P-value 0.05). Conclusions. By better understanding the response of the microbiota to treatment for adenomas and carcinomas, it is likely that biomarkers will be validated that can be used to quantify the risk of recurrence and the likelihood of survival.
Emerging investigator series: 3D printed graphene-biopolymer aerogels for water contaminant removal: a proof of concept

Graphene-based 3D macroscopic aerogels with their hierarchical porous structures and mechanical strength have been widely explored for removing contaminants from water. However, their large-scale manufacturing and application in various water treatment processes are limited by their scalability. In this study, we report a proof-of-concept direct ink writing (DIW) 3D printing technique and subsequent freeze-drying to prepare graphene-biopolymer aerogels for water treatment. To provide appropriate rheology for DIW printability, two bio-inspired polymers, polydopamine (PDA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA), were added to the graphene-based ink. The biopolymers also contributed to the contaminant removal capacity of the resultant graphene-polydopamine-bovine serum albumin (G-PDA-BSA) aerogel. The physicochemical properties of the aerogel were thoroughly characterized from the nano- to macroscale. The 3D printed aerogel exhibited excellent water contaminant removal performance for heavy metals (Cr(VI), Pb(II)), organic dyes (cationic methylene blue and anionic Evans blue), and organic solvents (n-hexane, n-heptane, and toluene) in batch adsorption studies. The electrostatic interaction dominated the removal of heavy metals and dyes while the hydrophobic interaction dominated the removal of organic solvents from water. Moreover, the aerogel showed superb regeneration and reuse potential. The aerogel removed 100% organic solvents over 10 cycles of regeneration and reuse; additionally, the removal efficiencies for methylene blue decreased by 2–20% after the third cycle. The fit-for-design 3D printed aerogel was also effectively used as a bottle-cap flow-through filter for dye removal. The potential and vision of the 3D printing approach for graphene-based water treatment presented here can be extended to other functional nanomaterials, can enable shape-specific applications of fit-for-purpose adsorbents/reactors and point-of-use filters, and can materialize the large-scale manufacturing of nano-enabled water treatment devices and technologies.
Approach for semi-automated measurement of fiber diameter in murine and canine skeletal muscle

Currently available software tools for automated segmentation and analysis of muscle cross-section images often perform poorly in cases of weak or non-uniform staining conditions. To address these issues, our group has developed the MyoSAT (Myofiber Segmentation and Analysis Tool) image-processing pipeline. MyoSAT combines several unconventional approaches including advanced background leveling, Perona-Malik anisotropic diffusion filtering, and Steger's line detection algorithm to aid in pre-processing and enhancement of the muscle image. Final segmentation is based upon marker-based watershed segmentation. Validation tests using collagen V labeled murine and canine muscle tissue demonstrate that MyoSAT can determine mean muscle fiber diameter with an average accuracy of ~92.4%. The software has been tested to work on full muscle cross-sections and works well even under non-optimal staining conditions. The MyoSAT software tool has been implemented as a macro for the freely available ImageJ software platform. This new segmentation tool allows scientists to efficiently analyze large muscle cross-sections for use in research studies and diagnostics.
A fast algorithm for reconstruction of spectrally sparse signals in super-resolution

We propose a fast algorithm to reconstruct spectrally sparse signals from a small number of randomly observed time domain samples. Different from conventional compressed sensing where frequencies are discretized, we consider the super-resolution case where the frequencies can be any values in the normalized continuous frequency domain [0; 1). We first convert our signal recovery problem into a low rank Hankel matrix completion problem, for which we then propose an efficient feasible point algorithm named projected Wirtinger gradient algorithm(PWGA). The algorithm can be further accelerated by a scheme inspired by the fast iterative shrinkage-thresholding algorithm (FISTA). Numerical experiments are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of our proposed algorithm. Different from earlier approaches, our algorithm can solve problems of large scale efficiently.
A Control Architecture for Lightweight Virtual Networks

As an IP network is supportable over multiple different layer 2 networks, so a virtual network is supportable over multiple different resource allocation mechanisms. This fact is obscured in the literature as the goal -- the privileging of certain user traffic by segregating it from other traffic -- is tightly bound with the means of achieving it -- e.g., the differentiation of traffc at routers based on the bits in the type of service field of the IP packet. We propose an IP control plane capable of supporting the dynamic creation of lightweight virtual networks and requiring minimal support from network devices. The latter is achieved by minimizing what is required from network elements, while taking advantage of what is available.
Synthetic Studies on Molecular Recognition

Molecular recognition lies at the heart of biochemistry. The specific interactions between biological molecules (e.g. enzymes and their substrates) lead to a selectivity of structure and function and permits the necessary complexity of all life forms. This chapter outlines recent developments in the mimicking of molecular recognition processes by entirely synthetic systems. A number of artificial receptors have been constructed and shown to form strong and selective, non-covalent, complexes with their, often biologically-important, substrates. Hydrogen bonding and n-n stacking interactions have been used as the principal binding forces in these recognition processes. This work leads not only to potentially useful receptors for such targets as drugs and toxins but also to insights into the role of different binding interactions in molecular recognition.
Voluntary IAS and U.S. GAAP Adoption by Continental European Firms: The Role of Labor Relations

We investigate the decision by a sample of Continental European firms to voluntarily adopt the International Accounting Standards (IAS) or U.S. GAAP. The strong employment protection laws in Continental Europe lead to labor practices that lack responsiveness to firm underlying economic performance. We argue that by switching to IAS/U.S. GAAP, a Continental European company can more credibly communicate with its labor force, and/or a potential third party (e.g. a government labor office, an arbitrator, or a labor court judge in the case of labor disputes), the true economic conditions of the firm and potentially reduce the costs associated with labor force adjustments. We expect the costs of rigid labor practices, thus the potential benefits of switching to IAS/U.S. GAAP, to be particularly high for firms with low labor productivity. Therefore, we predict that 1) firms with low labor productivity are more likely to adopt IAS/U.S. GAAP after controlling for other factors potentially affecting the adoption decision; 2) firms adopting IAS/U.S. GAAP and with low labor productivity report lower earnings than before the adoption and the earnings change is more negative than for similar non-adopting firms; 3) firms adopting IAS/U.S. GAAP and with low labor productivity are more likely to reduce labor forces than before the adoption and the reduction in labor forces is more pronounced than for similar non-adopting firms. Our results are consistent with these predictions.