cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Empirical Assessment of Consumers' Preferences for Coffee

This study examines the purchasing behavior of inner-city and suburban shoppers for more than 265 brands and varieties of coffee. Weekly data for the 2011 calendar year are used for this study and these data represent purchases of shoppers in four stores in Columbus, Ohio. A national supermarket chain provided the data from a common price zone, meaning identical prices across all stores. The major premise of the research is that inner-city shoppers will show greater pricesensitivity toward the purchase of all brands of coffee.
First Report of an Egg Parasitoid Reared from Neomusotima conspurcatalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), A Biological Control Agent of Lygodium microphyllum (Schizaeales: Lygodiaceae)

Neomusotima conspurcatalis Warren (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) was first released in Florida, USA, as a biological control agent of Lygodium microphyllum (Cavanilles) R. Brown (Schizaeales: Lygodiaceae), Old World climbing fern, in 2008. The first egg parasitoid, a Trichogramma sp. (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), was reared from N. conspurcatalis in 2013. The parasitoid is widely distributed in south Florida, where its egg mass parasitism rates can reach 100%. Sumario Neomusotima conspurcatalis Warren (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) fue liberado por primera vez en la Florida, EE.UU., como un agente de control biologico de Lygodium microphyllum (Cavanilles) R. Brown (Polypodiales: Lygodiaceae), el helecho trepador del Viejo Mundo, en 2008. El primer parasitoide de huevos, un Trichogramma sp., fue criadocriado de N. conspurcatalis en 2013. El parasitoide se distribuye ampliamente en el sur de Florida, donde sus tasas de parasitismo de masas de huevos pueden llegar al 100%. View this article in BioOne
Secreted IGFBP5 mediates mTORC1-dependent feedback inhibition of IGF-1 signalling

The PI(3)K-Akt-mTORC1 pathway is a highly dynamic network that is balanced and stabilized by a number of feedback inhibition loops. Specifically, activation of mTORC1 has been shown to lead to the inhibition of its upstream growth factor signalling. Activation of the growth factor receptors is triggered by the binding of their cognate ligands in the extracellular space. However, whether secreted proteins contribute to the mTORC1-dependent feedback loops remains unclear. We found that cells with hyperactive mTORC1 secrete a protein that potently inhibits the function of IGF-1. Using a large-scale, unbiased quantitative proteomic platform, we comprehensively characterized the rapamycin-sensitive secretome in TSC2(-/-) mouse embryonic fibroblasts, and identified IGFBP5 as a secreted, mTORC1 downstream effector protein. IGFBP5 is a direct transcriptional target of HIF1, which itself is a known mTORC1 target. IGFBP5 is a potent inhibitor of both the signalling and functional outputs of IGF-1. Once secreted, IGFBP5 cooperates with intracellular branches of the feedback mechanisms to block the activation of IGF-1 signalling. Finally, IGFBP5 is a potential tumour suppressor, and the proliferation of IGFBP5-mutated cancer cells is selectively blocked by IGF-1R inhibitors.
Regulating Mortgage Leverage: Fire Sales, Foreclosure Spirals and Pecuniary Externalities

The US housing boom was accompanied by a rise in mortgage leverage. The subsequent bust was accompanied by a rise in foreclosure. This paper introduces a dynamic general equilibrium model to study how leverage and foreclosure affect house prices. The model shows how foreclosure sales, through their effect on housing supply, amplify and propagate house price drops. A calibration to match the bust shows consumption and housing need to be sufficiently complementary to fit the data. Since leverage plays a key role in foreclosure, a regulator can reduce systemic risk by placing a cap on leverage. Counterfactual experiments show that in a world with less leverage, the same economic shock leads to less foreclosure and less severe, shorter busts in house prices. A 90% cap on loan-to-value ratios in 2006 predicts house prices would have fallen 12% rather than 18% as in the data. The regulator faces a trade-off in that less leverage means less housing for constrained households, but also fewer foreclosures and less severe busts in house prices. A regulator with reasonable preference parameters would choose a cap of 95%.
Effect of experimentally induced calcium deficiency on development, metabolism and liver morphogenesis of the chick embryo

To study the effects of systemic calcium deficiency on embryonic development, chick embryos maintained in long-term shell-less cultures were compared to control embryos incubated in ovo with respect to various parameters of metabolism and growth. After incubation day 14, retarded growth and development were apparent in shell-less embryos which exhibited severe hypocalcaemia and hyperphosphataemia. A development-specific necrosis of the liver tissues was observed in both shell-less and control embryos, but the frequency and extent of tissue abnormality were significantly greater in the former. Serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase were considerably elevated in shell-less embryos. Electrophoretic analysis revealed that the relative levels of two major serum proteins were also altered in shell-less embryos.
Using an Improved Cybersecurity Kill Chain to Develop an Improved Honey Community

Over the last 10 years we have seen a continual growth in the number of break-ins at government sites as well as commercial businesses. We have seen large data breaches at governmental organizations such as the South Carolina Department of Revenue (DoR) and commercial ventures such as Target. In the case of the South Carolina DoR the credentials of an employee were compromised by an external entity. The intruders then further compromised other parts of the network in order to find potentially profitable data and began the exfiltration of information from within the network. In this paper we will present the concept of a Honey Community that provides a means for alerting local and state communities and large organizations when they are under attack. It also provides a means to analyze the changing state of the attacks on their systems in order to determine ways to improve security.
Comics in public health: the sociocultural and cognitive influence of narrative on health behaviours

In health communication, comics are an unlikely but viable channel. Through the psychological and cognitive effects of embodiment and narrative, the translation of lived experiences into stories can powerfully instruct. In this article I discuss comics as a crucial tool for public health communication, given their ability to reflect cultural norms and to resonate within specific social contexts. My discussion draws on theories of cognition, narratology, comic scholarship and the social cognitive theory of health. I also narrate an autography of two projects that use comics to educate underserved communities about diabetes management. In this article I suggest that comics should be used in public health to (1) value the audience as non-experts and (2) communicate narratives of lived experience. Both can positively impact health behaviours.
Clinton's Legacy: The Clinton Persona

When historians look back on the Clinton presidency, I think they will be more fascinated by Clinton himself than by the accomplishments and failures of his administration, the impact of his foreign and domestic policy on the country, or even his impeachment and its implications for the presidency. In other words, the most endearing legacy of the Clinton years may very well be Clinton himself: a president whose persona became the overriding issue of his administration, a complex individual but also one who has been easily stereotyped by late-night humorists and political opponents, a magnet that both attracts and repels, a focus of adulation and condemnation, a larger-than-life Baby Boomer. What factors have enabled Clinton to
Carbocationic polymerizations in supercritical carbon dioxide

The first carbocationic polymerization of isobutylene (IB) in supercritical carbon dioxide (SC·CO2) has been accomplished. It was demonstrated that in CO2 at 32.5°C and ∼ 120 bar the 2-chloro-2,4,4-trimethyl-pentane (TMPCl)/SnCl4 and TMPCl/TiCl4 initiating systems lead to ∼30% IB conversion, and gave polyisobutylenes (PIB) with Mn∼2000 and Mw/Mn∼2.0. This is the highest temperature IB was ever polymerized to reasonably high molecular weight products. Polymerizations at 32.5 °C under similar but conventional (non-living) conditions in the absence of SC·CO2 would yield only very low molecular weight oligomers (∼tetramers). The structure of the PIBs obtained in SC·CO2 is virtually identical to those obtained at much lower temperatures in conventional liquid-phase systems indicating the presence of chain transfer to monomer in both systems. In contrast to TMPCl initiated polymerizations, the 1,3-bis-(2-hydroxy-2-propyl)-5-tert-butylbenzene (HPBB) initiator in conjunction with BCl3 and SnCl4 yields only oligomers (Mn∼500) in SC·CO2.
Gauge choices in the Hamiltonian theory of fractionally filled Chern bands

This paper discusses the Hamiltonian theory of the fractional quantum Hall effect applied to the fractional Chern insulators. The authors work out the optimization of the gauge choice and propose that the gauge choice that maximizes the overlap with the fractional quantum Hall model state also minimizes the variational energies in the Hamiltonian theory.
Cross-linked Chitosan and Poly(allyl amine) Thin Films

The alternation of chitin layers with various compounds allows nature to create novel materials with selective refractive properties. Various organisms employ layered materials for survival; for example, in butterflies such materials cause the apparent disappearance and reappearance during flight to evade predators. The selective light refraction is achieved through control of the thickness and index of refraction of the multiple layers. With the ultimate goal of reproducing these layers, thin single films of chitosan, the soluble form of chitin, and poly(allyl amine) have been prepared and their optical properties analyzed. Ellipsometry, reflectance IR, reflectance spectroscopy, SEM and software modeling were used to characterize these films. Possible applications for optical layered materials range from medical diagnostics to environmental monitoring.
Plasma-Based Actuators for Cylinder Wake Vortex Control

A number of methods have been developed over the years to affect the wake of a circular cylinder. These include oscillation of the cylinder normal to the direction of flow, rotational oscillation, and blowing and suction through slots. While each of these methods has been found effective for operation at low Reynolds numbers, their low bandwidth, resonance, or form factor make them generally unsuitable for robust operation. As the field of flow control aims to affect flows of Reynolds numbers of technical interest, there is a need for actuators with higher bandwidth and non-resonant behavior for robust mitigation of Karman Vortex Street-induced drag and oscillatory lift. The dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma electrode has been developed as a flow control actuator over the last few years, showing the ability to affect flow behavior in a range of applications. In this effort, the DBD plasma actuator is applied to a circular cylinder at a Reynolds number of 7400. Hot film measurements show that vortex shedding frequency can be driven to the actuator forcing frequency, exhibiting "lock-in" behavior similar to that previously shown with the other forcing methods. Preliminary data indicates that plasma actuators are effective in controlling vortex shedding frequency and in achieving spanwise coherent shedding. They also can alter the vortex shedding frequency within forcing amplitude/frequency bands similar to that for the above methods at lower Reynolds number. Flow visualization shows the actuators have significant authority in affecting flow separation and wake behavior.
Load balance algorithm for control system with multiple actuators

To improve the demand dispatch algorithm normally adopted by the control system with multiple actuators nowadays,a load balance algorithm named "bias feedforward" is put forward,which can rapidly clear up the interior demand disturbance.It introduces the bias of actuator and the contribution coefficient to calculate the reference variable,which is then fed to the supervisory controller to adjust its output demand and the contributions of actuators in advance for eliminating the interior disturbance caused by bias regulation.Its convergence is proved theoretically.
Generalized Solutions to Monge–Ampère Equations

Let \(\Omega \) be an open subset of \(\mathbb{R}^{n}\) and \(u: \Omega \rightarrow \mathbb{R}\). Given \(x_{0} \in \Omega \), a supporting hyperplane to the function u at the point (x0,u(x0)) is an affine function l(x) = u(x0) + p ⋅ (x − x0) such that u(x) ≥ l(x) for all \(x \in \Omega.\)
Collective Killings in Rural China During the Cultural Revolution: Patterns of Killing

In Chapter 1, I propose two contrasting models of collective killings. The state-policy model traces the source of killings to a state's policy of elimination and expects the policy to be carried out by state organizations and military personnel. My community model, conversely, suggests that collective killings could occur absent a genocidal state policy, and local conditions could turn conflict into atrocities, perpetrated by civilian killers. In Chapter 1, I also present a series of factors based on aspects of state mobilization and state breakdown, which I argued would help promote killings at the local level. In Chapters 2 through 7, I present extensive evidence supporting the community model and casting doubt on the state-policy model. In 1967 and 1968, there was no central Chinese policy calling for the wholesale destruction of any segment of the population. Neither were the collective killings committed by professional execution squads coordinated by a central command. There are vast variations in the collective killings across provinces, counties, townships, and villages. The state-policy model is generally concerned only with national-level atrocities and conditions, but these patterns of killings call for serious attention to local conditions to explain them. Exploring the implications of these variations is the task I take up in this chapter. I address why some communities had extensive collective killings while similar communities did not – or, to put it differently, which factors account for the cross-unit variations?
Evaluation of Systems for Intrinsic Safety

Evaluation of a system, i.e., equipment and associated wiring, to determine whether it is intrinsically safe in accordance with the requirements of ISA Recommended Practice RP12.2, is not, and cannot be, a “cookbook” procedure. ISA RP12.2 adequately states the essential energy limitations and specifies the considerations of failure against which to judge the system. However, it is not practical to list all possible specific constructional features which would render a particular mode of failure highly improbable or “for all practical purposes” impossible. The requirements of RP12.2 must be applied to a particular system with judgment. This judgment must be based on knowledge of the technology underlying the specific requirements of RP12.2. This is emphasized in RP12.2, paragraph 2.4: “This Recommended Practice is intended to promote uniformity among specialists. It is intended that it be applied only by those who have carefully studied the subject. This Recommended Practice is not an instruction manual for untrained persons.”
Dynamic and Distributed Matching

This chapter presents mechanisms for real-time optimization of dynamic and uncertain matching processes, and control of distributed decision-makers in the system. Several numerical examples are presented for illustrating the mechanics and applications of each method. The purpose is to demonstrate the fundamentals and major classes of real-time optimization techniques, show how to model distributed matching processes via multi-agent systems and task administration protocols, and discuss major challenges of such dynamic and distributed systems associated with “AI”—artificial intelligence; analytics and informatics.
Estimating mating rates in wild Drosophila melanogaster females by decay rates of male reproductive proteins in their reproductive tracts

Female Drosophila melanogaster frequently mate with multiple males in nature as shown through parentage analysis. Although polyandry is well documented, we know little about the timing between mating events in wild Drosophila populations due to the challenge of following behaviours of individual females. In this study, we used the presence of a male reproductive protein that is transferred to the female during mating (Sex Peptide, SP) to determine whether she had recently mated. We sampled females throughout the day, conducted control matings to determine the decay rate of SP within the female reproductive tract and performed computer simulations to fit the observed proportion of mated females to a nonhomogenous Poisson process that defined the expected time between successive matings for a given female. In our control matings, 100% of mated females tested positive for SP 0.5 h after the start of mating (ASM), but only 24% tested positive 24 h ASM. Overall, 35% of wild-caught females tested positive for the presence of SP. Fitting our observed data to our simple nonhomogenous Poisson model provided the inference that females are mating, on average, approximately every 27 h (with 95% credibility interval 23-31 h). Thus, it appears that females are mating a bit less frequently that once per day in this natural population and that mating events tend to occur either early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
Effect of surface roughness and H-termination chemistry on diamond's semiconducting surface conductance

Abstract The H-terminated surface of diamond when activated with NO2 produces a surface conduction layer that has been used to make FETs. Variations in processing can significantly affect this conduction layer. This article discusses the effect of diamond surface preparation and H termination procedures on surface conduction. Surface preparations that generate a rough surface result in a more conductive surface with the conductivity increasing with surface roughness. We hypothesize that the increase in conductance with roughness is the result of an increase of reactive sites that generate the carriers. Roughening the diamond surface is just one way to generate these sites and the rough surface is believed to be a separate property from the density of surface reactive sites. The presence of C in the H2 plasma used for H termination decreases surface conductance. A simple procedure for NO2 activation is demonstrated. Interpretation of electrical measurements and possible alternatives to activation with NO2 are discussed. Using Kasu's oxidation model for surface conductance as a guide, compounds other than NO2 have been found to activate the diamond surface as well.
Markers of diuretic resistance in emergency department patients with acute heart failure

Loop diuretics are common therapy for emergency department (ED) patients with acute heart failure (AHF). Diuretic resistance (DR) is a term used to describe blunted natriuretic response to loop diuretics. It would be important to detect DR prior to it becoming clinically apparent, so early interventions can be initiated. However, several definitions have been proposed, and it is not clear if they identify similar patients. We compared these definitions and described the clinical characteristics of patients who fulfilled them. To qualify for this secondary analysis of 1033 ED patients with AHF, all patients needed to receive intravenous diuretics in the ED and have urine available within 24 h of their ED evaluation. A poor diuretic response, suggesting DR, was characterized by (1) a fractional sodium excretion (FeNa) of less than 0.2%; (2) spot urinary sodium of less than 50 meq/L; and (3) a urinary Na/K ratio <1.0. McNemar’s test was used to compare the different cohorts identified by the three definitions. Secondary analyses evaluated associations between each DR definition and hospital length of stay (LOS), ED revisits and rehospitalizations for AHF, and mortality using the Wilcoxon rank-sum tests and linear regression or Pearson chi-square test and logistic regression, as appropriate. The median age of the 187 patients was 64, and 50% were African-American. There were 5.9% of patients with a FeNa less than 0.2%, 17.1% had urinary sodium less than 50 meq/L, and 10.7% had a urinary Na/K ratio <1.0. The three definitions identified significantly different patients with very little overlap (p < 0.02 for all comparisons). There were 37 (19.8%) patients who were readmitted to the ED or hospital or died within 30 days of ED evaluation. Patients with spot urinary sodium less than 50 meq/L were more likely to be readmitted (p = 0.03). The patient proportion with poor natriuresis and DR varies depending on the definition used. Early ED therapy would be impacted at different rates if clinical decisions are made based on these definitions. These findings need to be further explored in a prospective ED-based study. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00508638
Moving a Mountain: The Extraordinary Trajectory of Same-Sex Marriage Approval in the United States:

Most public opinion attitudes in the United States are reasonably stable over time. Using data from the General Social Survey and the American National Election Studies, I quantify typical change r...
Chapter 16 - Bionanotubules formed from liposomes.

Abstract Bionanotubules are lipid-bound cylindrical structures with typical diameters in the tens of nanometers and length than can span up to hundreds of micrometers. Besides being observed in nature, bionanotubules can be prepared synthetically by various methods, some of which involve the extension of these structures from lipid vesicles. We describe the formation of lipid nanotubules from liposomes prepared with various lipid mixtures including phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidic acid, and various fluorescent phospholipids. We depict the methods used to extend bionanotubules from surface-attached vesicles, using electric fields as the driving force for bilayer extension and tubular growth. These methods include liposome preparation, surface attachment, and tubular extension by applying modest electric fields (
The Use of the Fluidigm C1 for RNA Expression Analyses of Single Cells

Understanding the transcriptional heterogeneity that occurs on the level of a single cell is critical to understanding the gene-regulatory mechanisms underlying development and disease. Population-level whole-transcriptome profiling approaches average gene expression across thousands to millions of cells and are unable to delineate the transcriptional signature of individual cells. Considerable biological heterogeneity between individual cells arises from differences in cell lineage, environment, or response to stimulus. The development of single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) enabled a high-resolution and unbiased analysis of cell transcriptomes. This unit describes a procedure utilizing an automated microfluidic platform, the Fluidigm C1 system, to simultaneously isolate dozens of single cells in a size- and shape-dependent manner. The microfluidic platform processes cells in individual nanoliter-scale reactions to convert their contents into double-stranded cDNA. This cDNA is used to make dual-indexed libraries using the Illumina Nextera XT library preparation kit for eventual RNA-seq analysis. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Echocardiographic Instrumentation and Principles of Doppler Echocardiography

Echocardiography has emerged as the principal tool for noninvasive assessment of the cardiovascular system. The basic principles of echocardiography, including the mechanical features of echocardiographic equipment, are no different from diagnostic ultrasound in general. Nevertheless, there are aspects of echocardiography that set it apart from general ultrasonography. Because the heart is a moving organ, and because echocardiography must additionally capture that movement, an understanding of echocardiography requires an understanding of both cardiac anatomy and physiology. This chapter reviews the basic principles of echocardiography and serves as a basis for understanding the specific disease processes discussed in the remainder of this text.
THIN-FILM POLYCRYSTALLINE SOLAR CELLS

ABSTRACT In spite of early expectations that a number of efficient thin film polycrystalline solar cells with efficiency greater than 10% would soon be developed, to date only systems based on p-type CdTe or CuInSe2 have proven to be viable candidates. Solar cells based on a-Si:H are today's frontrunners, but cells based on CdTe and CuInSe2 continue to attract appreciable attention. One of the reasons for this is the wide variety of preparation techniques that have proved to be useful; these include close-spaced vapor transport, sintering, electrodeposition, spray pyrolysis, sputtering, various types of deposition from the vapor, and in situ formation of the film by chemical reaction. In this paper we review the properties of CdTe-based and CuInSe2-based solar cells, with ZnCdS or transparent conducting oxide n-type window layers. We consider also the possible uses of these thin-film polycrystalline cells in tandem solar cell structures.
The Imago Dei and the Imago Mundi

This chapter reflects on transhumanism from a Christian perspective, specifically with reference to the Biblical teaching that human beings are made in the “image” and “likeness” of God. It considers a version of that teaching that is seemingly as permissive as could be about “transhumanist technologies,” and concludes that even that version places significant limits on the pursuit and adoption of such technologies. Those limits are far more restrictive than the limits (if any) acknowledged by prominent transhumanists, particularly those with a specific focus on proposals aimed at substantially lengthening the average human lifespan.
Measuring early mathematics knowledge via number skills and task types

Early number skills are a critical aspect of early mathematics development. However, the constructs that comprise early number skills differ across assessments, and previous studies have proposed v...
The Regulation of Digital Investment Advice

Digital investment advice, or robo-advice, is a growing trend in the financial services industry. It is expected that by 2022, robo-advisers will manage over $4 trillion in assets. Robo-advice covers a wide range of services, however all involve advice derived from algorithms. This article will discuss what robo-advice is as well as how it is regulated by the SEC and FINRA.
Use Differential Geometry with the Secret Ingredient: Gradients!

Amongst the programs for various applications, I would like to insert a sales pitch. The mathematical device I will describe has already served me well and I hope to convince you of its general usefulness.
Mass Ejections Observed in Radio Propagation Measurements Through the Solar Corona

A wide variety of radio propagation and scattering phenomena observed when a radio source is occulted by the solar corona, often referred to as radio occultation measurements, has formed the basis for probing the corona for over four decades. These measurements serve as an important bridge between white-light coronagraph and in situ plasma measurements beyond 0.3 AU. In the past, temporal variations that seemed different from the background solar wind were usually identified as transients and thought to represent propagating interplanetary disturbances such as coronal mass ejections (CMEs) observed in white-light coronagraphs. Recent progress has surprisingly shown that these temporal variations can also represent the rotation of quasi-stationary spatial structures such as coronal streamers across the radio path. This paper summarizes our current understanding of temporal variations, including CMEs, observed in radio occultation measurements. Two regions of enhanced density and density fluctuations appear to be associated with CMEs. The first region represents the compressed plasma ahead of the CME, while the second region appears to be associated with the main body of the CME observed in white-light coronagraph measurements and the CME identified at 1 AU by in situ plasma measurements based on counterstreaming suprathermal electrons. Single magnetic field polarity reversals are generally found ahead of the second region and most likely represent the deflection of the ambient magnetic field ahead of the advancing CME, or the draping of the ambient magnetic field around the front of the CME. Multiple magnetic field polarity reversals, which are sometimes observed within the second region of the CME, are suggestive of large internal field rotation, magnetic ropes, and magnetic clouds.
E-005 Transradial access in the pediatric population

Introduction/Purpose The transradial approach (TRA) for neurointerventional procedures has recently garnered interest as an alternative to the traditional transfemoral approach (TFA) in adult patients. While the benefits of the TRA have been well reported in adult patients, there is a paucity of reports in the literature regarding its use in the pediatric and adolescent populations. The paucity of literature regarding the TRA for neurointerventional procedures in the pediatric population is likely due to fear of spasm in the narrow caliber radial artery as well as the perceived difficulty in navigating the cerebrovasculature through the TRA. At our institution we have implemented the radial first approach in most adult diagnostic and interventional cases. More recently, we have transitioned to the use of the TRA in pediatric patients as well. Here we present the first reported case series utilizing the TRA in the pediatric population, demonstrating its safety and efficacy for both diagnostic and neurointerventional procedures. Materials and methods N/A Results We retrospectively collected data on patients undergoing transradial intervention from July 2018 to Feb 2019. We have 4 pediatric patients in whom the TRA was used. Indications included JNA embolization (2), right ICA pseudoaneurysm which failed medical management (1), and right cerebellar AVM (1). In all cases, a 6F sheath with a 6F ENVOY guide catheter (Codman- DePuy Synthes, Raynam, MA) was used. One patient developed radial artery vasospasm, and 5 mg verapamil was administered intraarterially post-procedure. The patient did not have any complaints post-procedurally. All preprocedural objectives were met, and none of the interventions required changing to the TFA. The radial artery remained patent in all 4 patients post-procedurally. Conclusion The TRA is safe, effective, and well tolerated in the pediatric population. Most importantly, the risk of bleeding and arterial damage, the most common complications following interventional procedures, is essentially eliminated with the TRA. Ultrasound guided measurement of the artery to ensure caliber over 2 mm is recommended in this population to avoid complications. Disclosures N. Majmundar: None. P. Patel: None. V. Dodson: None. I. Bach: None. J. Liu: None. L. Tomycz: None. P. Khandelwal: None.
Neurovista: Concept to first-in-man: The war story behind launching a venture to treat epilepsy

Many medical (and nonmedical) technologies are the fruit of years and even decades of work by dedicated members of startup companies and commitment of capital by their investors. The launching of a medical device venture is fraught with many risks, but the personal, societal, and potential financial rewards of developing therapies that improve the lives of others makes the risk and sacrifice worthwhile. The litany of risks and challenges can be daunting, and persistence is the key ingredient to every incremental iota of success achieved. This is a personal war story behind the launching of a medical device venture that developed an implanted seizure prediction system (NCT01043406). The intent is to share the experience so that others with interest in the field may learn from the experience and also decide whether such an endeavor is something that they want to undertake.
Safety of salpingectomy at time of delivery.

The most common methods of sterilization during cesarean delivery rely on excision of a mid-segment of the fallopian tube. Contemporary data suggest ovarian cancers may originate in the fimbriae of...
Cryptosporidium parvum Elongation Factor 1α Participates in the Formation of Base Structure at the Infection Site During Invasion

Background Cryptosporidium is a genus of apicomplexan parasites, the causative agents of cryptosporidiosis in humans and/or animals. Although most apicomplexans parasitize within the host cell cytosols, Cryptosporidium resides on top of host cells, but it is embraced by a double-layer parasitophorous vacuole membrane derived from host cell. There is an electron-dense band to separate the parasite from host cell cytoplasm, making it as an intracellular but extracytoplasmic parasite. However, little is known on the molecular machinery at the host cell-parasite interface. Methods Cryptosporidium parvum at various developmental stages were obtained by infecting HCT-8 cells cultured in vitro. Immunofluorescence assay was used to detect CpEF1α with a polyclonal antibody and host cell F-actin with rhodamine-phalloidin. Recombinant CpEF1α protein was used to evaluate its effect on the invasion by the parasite. Results We discovered that a C parvum translation elongation factor 1α (CpEF1α) was discharged from the invading sporozoites into host cells, forming a crescent-shaped patch that fully resembles the electron-dense band. At the same time, host cell F-actin aggregated to form a globular-shaped plug beneath the CpEF1α patch. The CpEF1α patch remained for most of the time but became weakened and dissolved upon the completion of the invasion process. In addition, recombinant CpEF1α protein could effectively interfere the invasion of sporozoites into host cells. Conclusions CpEF1α plays a role in the parasite invasion by participating in the formation of electron-dense band at the base of the parasite infection site.
Biogeography of American Northwest Hot Spring A/B'-Lineage Synechococcus Populations.

Island biogeography studies of unicellular cyanobacteria inhabiting hot springs have begun to challenge the notion that “everything is everywhere and nature selects.” However, detailed analyses of how diversity is patterned relative to physical separation and physiochemical differences among springs, especially at local to regional scales, have been limited by the low resolution provided by the molecular markers studied. We analyzed large datasets obtained by high-throughput sequencing of a segment of the photosynthesis gene psaA from samples collected in hot springs from geothermal basins in Yellowstone National Park, Montana, and Oregon, all known from previous studies to contain populations of A/Bʹ-lineage Synechococcus. The fraction of identical sequences was maximal (0-21%) among springs separated by 800 km shared sequence variants extremely rarely (<1%). Phylogenetic analyses provided evidence for endemic lineages that could be related to geographic isolation and/or geochemical differences on regional scales. Ecotype Simulation 2 was used to predict putative ecotypes and their membership and canonical correspondence analysis was used to examine the geographical and geochemical bases for variation in their distribution. Across the range of Oregon and Yellowstone, geographical separation explained the largest percentage of the differences in distribution of ecotypes (9.5% correlated to longitude; 9.4% latitude), with geochemical differences explaining the largest percentage of the remaining differences in distribution (9.3%-7.4% correlated to magnesium, sulfate, and sulfide). However, among samples in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, geochemical differences significantly explained the distribution of ecotypes (6.5%-9.3% correlated to magnesium, boron, sulfate, silicon dioxide, chloride, and pH). Nevertheless, differences in the abundance and membership of ecotypes in Yellowstone springs with similar chemistry suggested that allopatry may be involved even at local scales. Synechococcus populations have diverged both by physical isolation and physiochemical differences, and populations on surprisingly local scales have been evolving independently.
Pulsed Neutron Spectroscopy of Low Dimensional Magnets: Past, Present, and Future

The early 1990s saw the first useful application of pulsed neutron spectroscopy to the study of excitations in low dimensional magnetic systems, with Roger Cowley as a key participant in important early experiments. Since that time the technique has blossomed as a powerful tool utilizing vastly improved neutron instrumentation coupled with more powerful pulsed sources. Here we review representative experiments illustrating some of the fascinating physics that has been revealed in quasi-one and two dimensional systems
Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Target Engagement of a Healthy Physical Activity Promotion Intervention for Bulimia Nervosa: Development and Evaluation via Case Series Design

Abstract Bulimia nervosa (BN) is characterized by a pattern of binge eating and compensatory behaviors as well as an overemphasis on body weight and shape in self-evaluation. Although cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is efficacious, recent reviews suggest that only 30% of patients reach abstinence at posttreatment. One potential reason for these poor outcomes is that CBT fails to adequately reduce elevated negative affect (NA) and shape and weight concern, which have been shown to be correlated with poorer treatment outcomes in BN. Therefore, novel treatment components that focus on improving NA and shape and weight concern are needed in order to enhance outcomes. Promoting physical activity (PA) is a promising avenue through which to reduce NA and improve body image in healthy individuals, other clinical populations (e.g., individuals with depression or anxiety), and individuals with eating disorders. While prescribing PA for individuals with BN has been controversial (due to concerns that exercise maybe be used to compensate for binge episodes or become driven or compulsive), this approach may have many benefits, including promoting healthy lifetime exercise habits that reduce likelihood of relapse through the improvement of emotion regulation skills and weight regulation. Given the promise of PA for targeting key maintenance factors of BN, we developed a 12-session healthy PA promotion intervention for BN and tested initial feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary target engagement in an iterative case series design (n = 3). The treatment provided cognitive-behavioral skills designed to identify, practice, and achieve behavioral goals while asking patients to engage in up to 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA per week, which was preplanned during each session with the client’s therapist. Results suggested that the healthy PA promotion intervention was both feasible and acceptable to deliver. In addition, the intervention resulted in a clinically significant decrease in BN symptom frequency in each participant. Further, participants showed clinically significant decreases in NA and shape and weight concern. The current study demonstrates that healthy PA interventions can have beneficial effects on BN symptoms, NA, and shape and weight concern. However, due to the small sample size, conclusions must be treated with caution. Future research should investigate additional approaches for promoting healthy PA and include a larger sample in order to further test initial efficacy of this treatment approach.
Factors affecting in the use of weather stations data in predicting surface soil moisture for agricultural applications

Weather stations often provide key information related to soil moisture, temperature and evaporation are used by farmers to decide farm operations of nearby agricultural fields. However, the site c...
Burned Out at the Bedside: Patient Perceptions of Physician Burnout in an Internal Medicine Resident Continuity Clinic.

Background Burnout is high among resident physicians and may be associated with suboptimal patient care and reduced empathy.
The armed police in the British colonial tradition

The model of policing which originated in Ireland was designed to police a foreign land and is known as the colonial system. Describes the influence of the colonial model in the development of the armed police in India, used for order maintenance rather than the prevention and detection of crime. Contrasts with the Metropolitan Police system are drawn and the history of the Indian police is outlined. Although successful in protecting British commercial and political interests in the past it no longer serves the more recent needs of India, e.g. dealing with underlying social problems, allowing democratic ideals and freedom. A civilian model needs to be developed.
Regulation of renal epithelial cell affinity for calcium oxalate monohydrate crystals

The binding and internalization of calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) crystals by tubular epithelial cells may be a critical step leading to kidney stone formation. Exposure of MDCK cells to arachid...
A comparison of whole blood and plasma osmolality and osmolarity.

Background Substituting whole blood osmolality for plasma osmolality could expedite treatments otherwise delayed by the time required to separate erythrocytes from plasma. The purpose of this study was to compare the measured osmolality (mmol/kg) and calculated osmolarity (mmol/l) of whole blood and plasma. Methods The osmolality of whole blood and plasma was measured using freezing point depression by micro-osmometer and osmolarity calculated from biosensor measures of sodium, glucose, and blood urea nitrogen. The influence of sample volume was also investigated post hoc by comparing measured osmolality at 20 and 250 μl. Results Sixty-two volunteers provided 168 paired whole blood and plasma samples for analysis. The mean difference (whole blood − plasma; ±standard deviation) in osmolality was 10 ± 3 mmol/kg. Whole blood was greater than plasma in 168 of 168 cases (100%) and data distributions overlapped by 27%. The mean difference in osmolarity was 0 ± 2 mmol/l. Whole blood was greater than plasma in 90 of 168 cases (56%) and data distributions overlapped by 90%. The osmol gap (osmolality − osmolarity) was 16 ± 6 mmol for whole blood and 7 ± 5 mmol for plasma. Ten volunteers were tested on one occasion post hoc to investigate the potential effects of sample volume. The difference between whole blood and plasma was reduced to 3 ± 2 mmol/kg with a larger (250 μl vs. 20 μl) sample volume. Conclusions This investigation provides strong evidence that whole blood and plasma osmolality are not interchangeable measurements when a 20 μl sample is used.
Safety and Effectiveness of Topical Anesthetics in Corneal Abrasions: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Abstract Background Topical anesthetics are used in the emergency department (ED) to relieve eye pain and allow eye examinations in patients with corneal abrasions. There is concern for delayed corneal healing, which is associated with the long-term use of topical anesthetics, so outpatient use is not recommended. Objectives We sought to systematically study the effectiveness and complications associated with the short-term use of topical anesthetics (≤72 hours) in the management of patients presenting to EDs with corneal abrasions. Methods Four electronic databases were searched from inception of the database until April 2014. We included studies of patients >16 years of age who were using topical anesthetics for Results A total of 140 patients (68 in the intervention group and 72 in the control group) from 2 randomized trials were included in the analysis. Comparing control patients who did not use topical anesthetics to study patients who did use topical anesthetics, this meta-analysis found no significant difference in pain scores (standardized mean difference −1.01 [95% confidence interval {CI} −2.39 to 0.38), corneal healing (OR 1.31 [95% CI 0.53–3.27), or persistent symptoms (OR 0.98 [95% CI 0.06–16.69). The 2 trials reported no adverse effects. Conclusion There were no differences regarding pain, persistent symptoms, or corneal healing when comparing short-term use of topical anesthetics to placebo in the treatment of corneal abrasion. Data on safety are sparse, and the use of this treatment is currently not supported by evidence.
Factors influencing the relationship between a newborn assessment of gestational maturity and the gestational age interval.

Summary. This study examines the correlation and agreement between the calculated ‘gestational interval’ from the date of last menstrual period (LMP) and the Ballard newborn assessment of gestational maturity. It then investigates selected maternal socio-demographic, prenatal, intrapartum and infant factors which may account for differences between these two gestational age determination methods. Single live-born deliveries (n = 10 794) were selected from a 1982–1986 medical university perinatal information data system for analysis. The Ballard assessment overestimates the LMP at earlier gestational ages and underestimates in the post-term range. The discrepancy between LMP and Ballard varies across the range of gestational age values and the extent of variation differs by several maternal and infant risk factors. These findings suggest considerable bias may result from the indiscriminate case mixing of LMP and Ballard values for use in gestational age research or in standardising developmental tests. We highlight the deficiencies in using correlation coefficients or mean differences to assess agreement between these measures.
Treatment of a Class II, Division 1, malocclusion with the extraction of maxillary canines and mandibular first premolars.

Abstract This is the case report of a patient whose healthy but malformed maxillary canines and normal mandibular first premolars were extracted in order to correct a Class II, Division 1, malocclusion. Maxillary premolars were substituted for the extracted canines. (Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2000;117:459-64)
Charmed-Baryon Spectroscopy from Lattice QCD with N_f=2+1+1 Flavors

We present the results of a calculation of the positive-parity ground-state charmed-baryon spectrum using 2+1+1 flavors of dynamical quarks. The calculation uses a relativistic heavy-quark action for the valence charm quark, clover-Wilson fermions for the valence light and strange quarks, and HISQ sea quarks. The spectrum is calculated with a lightest pion mass around 220 MeV, and three lattice spacings (a \approx 0.12 fm, 0.09 fm, and 0.06 fm) are used to extrapolate to the continuum. The light-quark mass extrapolation is performed using heavy-hadron chiral perturbation theory up to O(m_pi^3) and at next-to-leading order in the heavy-quark mass. For the well-measured charmed baryons, our results show consistency with the experimental values. For the controversial J=1/2 Xi_{cc}, we obtain the isospin-averaged value M_{Xi_{cc}}=3595(39)(20)(6) MeV (the three uncertainties are statistics, fitting-window systematic, and systematics from other lattice artifacts, such as lattice scale setting and pion-mass determination), which shows a 1.7 sigma deviation from the experimental value. We predict the yet-to-be-discovered doubly and triply charmed baryons Xi_{cc}^*, Omega_{cc}, Omega_{cc}^* and Omega_{ccc} to have masses 3648(42)(18)(7) MeV, 3679(40)(17)(5) MeV, 3765(43)(17)(5) MeV and 4761(52)(21)(6) MeV, respectively.