cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cardiopulmonary Dysfunction and Adiponectin in Adolescents With Type 2 Diabetes

Background Myocardial mechanics are altered in adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D); insulin resistance and adipokines have been implicated as important risk factors for cardiovascular disease, but these relationships are poorly described in adolescents. We hypothesized that obese adolescents and adolescents with T2D would have abnormal cardiac function compared to lean adolescents. In addition, we hypothesized that insulin sensitivity (IS), adiposity, and adipokines would be associated with altered cardiac strain and cardiopulmonary fitness in adolescents with T2D. Methods and Results Adolescents (15±2 years) with T2D (n=37), obesity without diabetes (n=41), and lean controls (n=31) of similar age and pubertal stage underwent echocardiography with speckle tracking, assessment of IS by hyperinsulinemic–euglycemic clamp, body composition by dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry, peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) by cycle ergometry, adiponectin, and leptin. Compared to lean and to obese controls, adolescents with T2D had significantly lower cardiac circumferential strain (CS) (−18.9±4.6 [T2D] versus −21.5±3.5 [obese] versus −22.0±4.2% [lean], P =0.04) and VO2peak (37.6±7.5 [T2D] versus 43.4±8.2 [obese] versus 47.6±8.6 mL/lean kg/min [lean], P <0.0001). In T2D youth, VO2peak was associated with CS, and the association remained significant after adjusting for age, sex, and IS (β±SE: −0.73±0.26, P =0.02). Among adolescents with T2D, CS was also associated with adiponectin, longitudinal strain with leptin, and VO2peak with adiponectin and IS. Conclusions Adolescents with T2D had abnormal CS and reduced VO2peak compared to obese and lean controls, which may represent the earliest evidence of cardiac functional impairment in T2D. Low adiponectin, rather than conventional risk factors and IS, correlated with CS, while both adiponectin and IS related to cardiopulmonary fitness.
Relativistic and electron-correlation effects on the nuclear magnetic resonance shieldings of molecules containing tin and lead atoms

The reference values for NMR magnetic shieldings, σref, are of the highest importance when theoretical analysis of chemical shifts are envisaged. The fact that the nonrelativistically valid relationship among spin-rotation constants and magnetic shieldings is not any longer valid for heavy atoms requires that the search for σref for such atoms needs new strategies to follow. We present here results of σref that were obtained by applying our own simple procedure which mixes accurate experimental chemical shifts (δ) and theoretical magnetic shieldings (σ). We calculated σ(Sn) and σ(Pb) in a family of heavy-halogen-containing molecules. We found out that σref[Sn;Sn(CH3)4] in gas phase should be close to 3864.11 ± 20.05 ppm (0.5%). For Pb atom, σref[Pb;Pb(CH3)4] should be close to 14475.1 ± 500.7 ppm . Such theoretical values correspond to calculations with the relativistic polarization propagator method, RelPPA, at the RPA level of approach. They are closer to experimental values as compared to those obtaine...
Questions and Solutions Exploration of Fire Sampling Filing for Construction Engineering

In accordance with the newly-amended Fire Prevention Law, the constructional engineering, which is included into the scope of fire-fighting design and check filing , should be filed by the system of fire prevention. The system inspects the project on random by preinstall program and inspection percentage. The result of filing inspection would be made a public announcement by the system. For closer monitoring and managing of the fire-fighting design and check filing work, the writer summarize five questions and six solutions from practical work. Its can urge the people to set up the responsibility consciousness of the constructor, the designer, the builder and the supervisor. And its can oblige them to obey the fire codes and technical norms. And then they can ensure the quality of the constructional engineering during design and build.
An Internal Dilemma: Different Approaches to Handling Melancholia in Early Modern Spanish Religious Orders

OF THESIS AN INTERNAL DILEMMA: DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO HANDLING MELANCHOLIA IN EARLY MODERN SPANISH RELIGIOUS ORDERS This study argues that religious orders in early modern Spain developed informal sets of procedures to handle the consequences of melancholia in their communities. It also argues that three influential members of these orders, San Ignacio de Loyola of the Jesuits, and San Teresa de Avila and San Juan de la Cruz of the Discalced Carmelites, tailored these protocols according to their own private concerns and experience with the disease. The changing discourse surrounding melancholia and similar diseases during the early modern period, alongside the unique environmental concerns of these newly founded orders, created a need for new methods of dealing with the disruptions caused by melancholic members of the clergy. These solutions formed out of the immediate needs within each order, but ultimately defined the relationship between melancholic brothers and sisters and their communities. KEWORDS: Early Modern Europe, Ignatius of Loyola, Teresa de Avila, Juan de la Cruz, Melancholia AN INTERNAL DILEMMA: DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO HANDLING MELANCHOLIA IN EARLY MODERN SPANISH RELIGIOUS ORDERS
Prostate Specific Antigen in Hormonally Treated Stage D2 Prostate Cancer: Is it always an Accurate Indicator of Disease Status?

AbstractThe clinical significance of serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) values in hormonally treated prostate cancer patients and the effect of hormonal therapy on the serum PSA concentration, independent of the response observed from its antitumor activity, are not well defined. To elucidate further the influence of antiandrogen therapy on serum PSA expression, 81 randomly selected patients with stage D2 prostate cancer were evaluated with respect to serum PSA concentration. These patients were divided into 2 groups on the basis of previous hormonal therapy.Group 1 consisted of 43 patients 55 to 89 years old (mean age 71 years) who had received no prior therapy for prostate cancer. Group 2 included 38 men 58 to 84 years old (mean age 72 years) who had received only androgen deprivation therapy with either bilateral orchiectomy or diethylstilbestrol. The mean interval between initiation of antiandrogen therapy and evaluation of these patients was 14 months (range 8 to 31 months). At the time of PSA det...
Use of Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystals After Transurethral Prostatectomy

AbstractA prospective randomized study of 223 consecutive patients with sterile urine undergoing transurethral prostatectomy was undertaken to examine the effects of nitrofurantoin macrocrystals on postoperative urine cultures. Patients were divided into 3 groups: group 1 received no postoperative antibiotics, group 2 received nitrofurantoin for 5 days postoperatively and group 3 received nitrofurantoin for 10 days postoperatively.Nitrofurantoin decreases the incidence of short-term (24 hours after catheter removal) postoperative bacteriuria, while having no effect on long-term (4 weeks) bacteriuria following transurethral prostatectomy. The use of postoperative nitrofurantoin is supported by its tendency to reduce the incidence of short-term urinary infection in patients with the same organisms found in cultures of the prostatic tissue. However, there was no long-term advantage in prolonging therapy for greater than 5 days. There was no difference in morbidity in the immediate postoperative period among ...
A gradient descent implementation of adaptive pulse compression

Gradient descent is an iterative method of determining the minima or maxima of a function. The algorithm can be used to solve a linear system of equations when the computational cost of a matrix inverse is too expensive for an application. Here, gradient descent is applied to Adaptive Pulse Compression (APC), yielding the GraD-APC algorithm. Specifically, a unit-gain constrained version of GraD-APC with optimal step size is derived for use with frequency modulated (FM) waveforms, particularly for cases in which the waveform time-bandwidth product is large enough to prohibit practical use of the original matrix inverse based APC. The range-profile estimation of GraD-APC is compared to that of fully adaptive APC using both simulated and experimentally measured data.
Magnetics and Magnetic Equivalent Circuits

This chapter is to set forth the basic background needed to analyze electromagnetic and electromechanical systems. After the review of magnetics, the notion of magnetic equivalent circuits (MECs) will be explored as an approximate but often fairly accurate technique for the analysis of magnetic systems. Magnetomotive force (MMF) in magnetic circuits is analogous to electromotive force in electric circuits. The chapter aims to derive Kirchhoff's MMF law for magnetic circuits and Kirchhoff's flux law for magnetic circuits. All network reduction techniques the reader is accustomed to for electric resistive circuits also apply to magnetic circuits. The chapter considers the relationship between the MEC and the corresponding electric equivalent circuit. Inductance is a metric associated with the flux linkage versus current characteristic of a magnetic device. Fringing flux is associated with air gaps in a magnetic circuit. Leakage flux refers to flux that is flowing outside of the intended path in a magnetic circuit.
A Robustness Index of Propensity Score Estimation to Uncontrolled Confounders

As a crucial component of propensity score methods for reducing selection bias, propensity score estimation can only account for observed covariates. The behaviors of sensitivity and robustness of propensity score estimation to the impact of unobserved covariates or uncontrolled confounders have not been fully understood. This chapter introduces a new technique to assess the sensitivity and robustness of propensity score estimation to the impact of uncontrolled confounders. The sensitivity is defined as a change from a propensity score that is estimated from a propensity score model including all observed covariates to a potential propensity score that would be estimated from the propensity score model adding an unobserved covariate. The robustness is subsequently defined as the probability of the sensitivity would cross a pre-specified threshold. To assess the robustness, a reference distribution of the sensitivity is derived by borrowing information from observed covariates and further approximated to one of Pearson distributions. This procedure of assessment is illustrated with empirical data on substance abuse prevention for high-risk youth.
Bridging fault simulation using Iddq, logic, and delay testing

Accepted integrated circuit verification techniques involve stuck-at fault simulation. However, it has been shown that the majority of actual physical faults in the faulty integrated circuit are bridging faults. For this reason, the interest in bridging fault simulation techniques have increase. One characteristic with bridging faults is that the bridging fault may have electrical as well as logical behavior. This characteristic makes detection of bridging faults more difficult and this characteristic increases the complexity of bridging fault simulation. The three techniques most widely used for bridging fault simulation are current testing, stuck-at testing, and delay testing. This paper compares the complexity and robustness of the three techniques and new developments in the three techniques. Results show the current testing technique to be the most robust and have the lowest complexity which approaches stuck-at fault simulation complexity.
Tax Preparation Services for Low- and Moderate-Income Households: Preliminary Evidence from a New Survey

In this paper, we examine financial service patterns among low- and moderate-income households as these patterns relate to the tax and withholding system, as well as the process of filing ones taxes. Using a unique data set of low- and moderate-income households, we argue that the federal income tax system provides a unique opportunity to influence low- and moderate-income households' financial decisions. The federal income tax system provides an interesting and important context to study the financial service patterns of low- and moderate-income households for several reasons. First, an overwhelming majority of low- and moderate-income households file tax returns and are eligible for tax refunds. Given the societal goal of redistributing income to low- and moderate-income households through the tax system, optimal income redistribution policy suggests that policymakers focus on reducing the transaction costs associated with tax filing for low-income households. Second, households who face high transaction costs in filing their taxes often face other types of financial constraints, such as not having a bank account or access to credit. Any policy initiative to lower the transaction costs in filing taxes must also consider low-income households financial services patterns and their use of AFS providers. Third, many low- and moderate-income households receive a large, lump sum at the time of their tax refund. Tax return filing and refund receipt may be important moments for household decision-making regarding saving, and thus for savings policy.
FBG-based large deflection shape sensing of a continuum manipulator: Manufacturing optimization

Real-time large deflection sensing of continuum dexterous manipulators (CDM) is essential and challenging for many minimally invasive surgery (MIS) applications. To this end, the feasibility of using Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors to detect large CDM deflections was demonstrated. Previous studies by our group proposed attaching an FBG array along with two nitinol (NiTi) wires as substrates to form a triangular cross section capable of large deflection detection for a 35 mm CDM. The strenuous fabrication procedure, however, relies on trial and error to ensure accurate attachment of components. In this paper, we propose a novel design for assembling large deflection FBG sensors utilizing a custom-design three-lumen polycarbonate tube with circular cross section. The proposed design eliminates fabrication challenges by embedding the FBG array and NiTi wires inside the tube in a more robust, repeatable, time-efficient and cost-effective (compared to multicore fibers) manner. Calibration experiments of the sensor assembly alone and inside the CDM indicate consistent linear (R2∼0.99) wavelength-curvature relationship. Experimental results show 3.3% error in curvature detection.
Dectin-3 Is Not Required for Protection against Cryptococcus neoformans Infection.

C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) are diverse, trans-membrane proteins that function as pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) which are necessary for orchestrating immune responses against pathogens. CLRs have been shown to play a major role in recognition and protection against fungal pathogens. Dectin-3 (also known as MCL, Clecsf8, or Clec4d) is a myeloid cell-specific CLR that recognizes mycobacterial trehalose 6,6’-dimycolate (TDM) as well as α-mannans present in the cell wall of fungal pathogens. To date, a potential role for Dectin-3 in the mediation of protective immune responses against C. neoformans has yet to be determined. Consequently, we evaluated the impact of Dectin-3 deficiency on the development of protective immune responses against C. neoformans using an experimental murine model of pulmonary cryptococcosis. Dectin-3 deficiency did not lead to increased susceptibility of mice to experimental pulmonary C. neoformans infection. Also, no significant differences in pulmonary leukocyte recruitment and cytokine production were observed in Dectin-3 deficient mice compared to wild type infected mice. In addition, we observed no differences in uptake and anti-cryptococcal activity of Dectin-3 deficient dendritic cells and macrophages. Altogether, our studies show that Dectin-3 is dispensable for mediating protective immune responses against pulmonary C. neoformans infection.
The impact of sterile inflammation in acute liver injury.

Background The liver has a number of functions in innate immunity. These functions predispose the liver to innate immune-mediated liver injury when inflammation goes unchecked. Significant progress has been made in the last 25 years on sterile inflammatory liver injury in a number of models; however, a great deal of controversy and many questions about the nature of sterile inflammation still exist. Aim The goal of this article is to review sterile inflammatory liver injury using both a basic approach to what constitutes the inflammatory injury, and through examination of current models of liver injury and inflammation. This information will be tied to human patient conditions when appropriate. Relevance for patients Inflammation is one of the most critical factors for managing in-patient liver disease in a number of scenarios. More information is needed for both scientists and clinicians to develop rational treatments.
Using Checklists to Rethink Library Resources and Services Training

ABSTRACTThis article presents the use of the Checklist as a tool to tailor and enhance library resource instruction and the faculty response. A checklist was developed that covered the information resources of the library and the information skills needed by pharmacy faculty. Librarians learned the value of using a checklist. Better relationships were developed with the college of pharmacy faculty. Weaknesses in the library’s training of pharmacy faculty were discovered and remedied. Checklists are used in medicine to obtain quality. Checklists can be used in medical librarianship for the same purpose.
An empirical approach towards photovoltaic parameter extraction and optimization

Abstract Solar cell modeling is deemed to be an important research area as it certifies the quality of the solar cell in terms of efficiency, peak power point, fill factor, open circuit voltage and short circuit current. The parameters usually used in current-voltage (I-V) model correlate the output current and voltage in terms of the physical parameters. In this manuscript, a mathematical model with only two parameters is developed through empirical analysis to describe the characteristics of the solar cell and hence simplify the performance analysis. The parameter extraction method follows the optimization techniques such as Levenberg-Marquardt (LM) optimization, Gauss-Newton (GN) method and Differential Evolution Algorithm (DEA) and avoids the cumbersome process like analytical analysis through bias points, peak power calculation or differential approach. When the derived results are observed on the basis of error comparison and analysis through percentage deviation, DEA is proved to be more efficient by resulting the best optimization with minimal error.
Evaluation of a Single Application of Neonicotinoid and Multi-Application Contact Insecticides for Flatheaded Borer Management in Field Grown Red Maple Cultivars

Two trials evaluated insecticides for fl atheaded borer control and effect on red maple (Acer rubrum L.) cultivar growth over 4 years. Chrysobothris femorata (Olivier) was the only species reared from borer damaged maples during the study. Soil-applied systemic insecticides (acephate, imidacloprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, and thiamethoxam) and trunk-applied contact insecticides (chlorpyrifos and bifenthrin) were tested. In the 2005 trial, a one-time drench of Allectus (imidacloprid + bifenthrin) or Discus (imidacloprid + cyfl uthrin) provided 2 to 4 years of protection with ‘Autumn Flame’ and ‘Franksred’ from C. femorata. Soil-applied experimental imidacloprid tablets prevented borer damage in the third and fourth post-treatment years, but were not as effective as imidacloprid drenches in the fi rst two years. Soil applied acephate tablets, chlorpyrifos (Dursban 4E) trunk sprays, or untreated control plants had borer damage each year, which totaled up to 41.7% damage by year 4 in ‘Autumn Flame’. Trunk diameter growth and tree canopy size was greater with Discus drench or imidacloprid tablet treatments than other treatments. In the 2006 trial, drenches of Allectus, Discus, or Safari 20SG (dinotefuran) applied in May and Discus or Arena 50WDG (clothianidin) drenches applied in March provided complete protection from C. femorata the fi rst year in ‘Fairview Flame’, ‘Franksred’, and ‘October Glory’. Discus (March) drench provided four years of complete protection among the three cultivars, while other neonicotinoid drenches had 3.7−6.3% (Arena March), 3.7−12.5% (Arena May), 0−6.3% (Discus May), 0−10.3% (Safari), and 12.5−20.5% (Flagship) total damage. Ineffective treatments included an experimental imidacloprid gel (7.4−18.8% damage), acephate tablets (18.5−75.0%), Onyx Pro Insecticide (5.1−18.8%), Dursban 2E (11.1−31.3%), one imidacloprid tablet (15.4−43.8%), or untreated plants (32.1−41.0%). This study demonstrates a single application of some neonicotinoid treatments can provide multi-year C. femorata prevention, increased maple trunk growth, and provide borer protection superior to trunk sprays. Index words: fl atheaded appletree borer (Chrysobothris femorata), Coleoptera: Buprestidae, Neonicotinoid, Acer rubrum, insecticide, tree growth. Insecticides used in this study: experimental imidacloprid tablet formulation (Merit FXT; currently marketed as CoreTect); experimental imidacloprid gel formulation; experimental acephate tablet (Borer-Stop EcoTab); bifenthrin (Onyx Pro Insecticide); chlorpyrifos (Dursban 2E or 4E); clothianidin (Arena 50WDG); dinotefuran (Safari 20SG); imidacloprid + bifenthrin (Allectus SC); imidacloprid + cyfl uthrin (Discus); thiamethoxam (Flagship 25WG); potassium polyacrylamide acrylate copolymer (Terra-Sorb Fine Hydrogel). Species used in this study: red maple (Acer rubrum L.) cultivars ‘Autumn Flame’, ‘Fairview Flame’, ‘Franksred’, and ‘October Glory’.
Population Health Management for Residents

In 2008, the Institutes for Health Improvement (IHI) identified improving the health of populations as one of the core elements of the “triple aim” for improving the US healthcare system. To address the triple aim and evolving realities of the US healthcare system, residency training programs must embrace the dual responsibility of training residents in direct patient care and population-based management. Population medicine has since become a vital component of primary care and residency training.
Modeling citation dynamics of “atypical” articles

Modeling and predicting citation dynamics of individual articles is important due to its critical role in a wide range of decisions in science. While the current modeling framework successfully captures citation dynamics of typical articles, there exists a nonnegligible, and perhaps most interesting, fraction of atypical articles whose citation trajectories do not follow the normal rise‐and‐fall pattern. Here we systematically study and classify citation patterns of atypical articles, finding that they can be characterized by awakened articles, second‐acts, and a combination of both. We propose a second‐act model that can accurately describe the citation dynamics of second‐act articles. The model not only provides a mechanistic framework to understand citation patterns of atypical articles, separating factors that drive impact, but it also offers new capabilities to identify the time of exogenous events that influence citations.
Investigation of D(d, n)He 3 Neutrons at 8.4 Mev

The angular distribution of neutrons from the reaction $\mathrm{D}(d, n){\mathrm{He}}^{3}$ has been obtained at 8.4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1 Mev incident deuteron energy for center-of-mass angles 2\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to 84\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. A single plastic crystal was used as a detector and deuterium gas at 200 psi as a target. The distribution is fitted by a sum of Legendre polynomials. It is also compared with the predictions of nuclear stripping theory, and adequate agreement is found with an angular distribution of the form $\frac{d\ensuremath{\sigma}}{d\ensuremath{\Omega}}\ensuremath{\propto}{{h}_{d}}^{2}\ensuremath{-}\frac{2}{3}{h}_{d}{h}_{{d}^{\ensuremath{'}}}+{{h}_{{d}^{\ensuremath{'}}}}^{2}$, where the ${h}_{d}$ and ${h}_{{d}^{\ensuremath{'}}}$ represent the simple Butler stripping distributions for the incident and target deuterons, respectively. The interaction radius necessary was ${R}_{0}=7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}13}$ cm.
Prognostic tools to assess candidacy for and efficacy of antibody-removal therapy

Currently, the ability to predict or monitor the efficacy of HLA antibody-removal therapies is deficient. We previously reported that titration studies are a consistent and accurate means of assessing antibody strength. To test whether titration studies can also predict which patients are better candidates for desensitization, we studied 38 patients from 3 centers (29 receiving plasmapheresis/low-dose intravenous immunoglobulin [IVIg]; 9 patients receiving high-dose IVIg). For patients undergoing plasmapheresis/low-dose IVIg, antibody titer reduction correlated with number of treatment cycles for both class I and II antibodies but only up to approximately 4 cycles. Reduction in titer slowed with additional cycles, suggesting a limit to the efficacy of this approach. Furthermore, initial titer (predesensitization) can guide the selection of candidates for successful antibody-removal treatment. In our experience, patients with antibodies at an initial titer >1:512 could not be reduced to the goal of a negative lymphocyte crossmatch, corresponding to a 1:16 titer, despite a significant increase in the number of treatment cycles. Change in mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) value did not correlate with success of treatment if initial MFI values were >10 000, likely due to single antigen bead saturation. Overall, we present a potential prognostic tool to predict candidacy and a monitoring tool to assess efficacy of desensitization treatment.
Substance Abuse, Somatization, and Personality Disorders

Neurologists are accustomed to dealing with difficult diseases. Our passion for deductive reasoning and the elegance of the localization process are what drew many of us to the field. When our skills in these areas fail, we become uncomfortable and assume that we are being faced with “a difficult patient.” Patients with substance abuse problems, somatization/medically unexplained problems, and personality disorders fall into this category. Through a series of illustrative cases (some real and some a composite) this chapter provides insight into the emergency diagnosis and management of difficult patients who present with pain as the major complaint.
AN ESTIMATE OF DOSE TO VARIOUS BODY ORGANS FROM ADMINISTRATION OF NEOHYDRIN LABELED WITH 203Hg

Abstract Neohydrin tagged with 203 Hg is a useful agent for brain tumor localization. However, its use in routine scanning has been questioned because it is known to deliver a relatively high radiation dose to the kidneys. Also, the question of the dose it delivers to the gonads has been posed. Immediately following intake, the 203 Hg will be distributed generally throughout the body. Thereafter it will be present largely in the kidneys, in the bladder, and in the ureters where its residence times will vary considerably in individual cases. For this reason, the doses to body organs, particularly to the cortex and medulla of the kidneys and to gonads, are calculated for 1 mCi·hr of source in each of the organs where the 203 Hg resides. In this form the results may be adjusted to provide an estimate of dose in an individual case. The organs are simulated by simple geometrical configurations within a man-like tissue phantom, and they have approximately the location, dimensions, and masses of “standard man”. The β -dose is computed by conventional methods, but the doses from γ -rays and X-rays are estimated by use of a Monte Carlo-type computer code. Estimates using biological data from several patients indicate that the doses to the cortex, medulla and ovaries might be roughly in the ratio 15:1:0.1. Frequently 10 μ Ci/kg is administered, and at this level the dose to the ovaries in typical cases might be of the order of 0.5 rad. Data obtained by analysis of blood and urine specimens can be used to adjust the above estimates in individual cases.
Stability analysis of complex dynamical systems

We present two new algorithms to estimate the domain of attraction of the equilibriumx=0 of a nonlinear systemx=f(x). One of these algorithms utilizes quadratic Lyapunov functions while the second algorithm makes use of norm Lyapunov functions. Both of these procedures yield estimates for the domain of attraction which are comparable to those obtained by existing methods; however, the present algorithms appear to be significantly more efficient than existing algorithms.
Selective Sample Preparation Techniques for Trace Analysis

The isolation and determination of very small quantities of materials in complex mixtures is a major problem for analytical chemists in many fields. Historically [cf. R.P. Maickel, #A-1 -Ed.], solvent extraction has been the principal technique used for sample preparation; now solid-phase materials such as bonded silicas and small-particle resins are becoming accepted as convenient and efficient extraction sorbents. Two types of these solid-phase materials are now discussed and compared: lipophilic sorbents such as C-l8 bonded silica, and anion-exchange resins.
Intraspecific variation in semicircular canal morphology-A missing element in adaptive scenarios?

OBJECTIVES Recent evidence suggests that the amount of intraspecific variation in semicircular canal morphology may, itself, be evidence for varying levels of selection related to locomotor demands. To determine the extent of this phenomenon across taxa, we expand upon previous work by examining intraspecific variation in canal radii and canal orthogonality in a broad sample of strepsirrhine and platyrrhine primates. Patterns of interspecific variation are re-examined in light of intraspecific variation to better understand the resolution at which locomotion can be reconstructed from single individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS Data was collected from high-resolution CT scans of 14 size-matched, related species. Six of these taxa have existing data on rotational head speeds. RESULTS The level of intraspecific variation was found to differ in strepsirrhine and in platyrrhine species pairs, with larger ranges of variation generally observed for the slower moving taxon than the faster moving one. Taxa that are classified as relatively agile can to some extent be separated from those who are slower-moving, but only when comparing similarly sized, closely related species with more extreme forms of locomotion. DISCUSSION Our findings agree with previous research showing that canal intraspecific variation can fluctuate according to species-specific locomotor behavior and extends this further by identifying behaviors that may be under unusual selective pressure. It also demonstrates the complexity of interpreting inner ear morphology in the context of broadly applicable locomotor "categories" of the kind commonly used in behavioral studies. We suspect that simplified models predicting vestibular sensitivity may be unable to differentiate behaviors when only a single specimen is available.
High proportions of bacteria are culturable across major biomes.

The paradigm that only 1% of microbes are culturable has had a profound impact on our understanding of microbial ecology and is still a major motivation for mostly using molecular tools to characterize microbial communities. However, this point is often expressed vaguely, suggesting that some scientists have different interpretations of the paradigm. In addition, there have been substantial advances in cultivation techniques suggesting that this paradigm may no longer be correct. To quantify bacterial culturability across six major biomes, I found that the median 16S rRNA similarity of bacteria to known cultured relatives was 97.3 ± 2.3% (s.d.). Furthermore, 52.0 ± 24% of sequences and 34.9 ± 23% of taxa (defined as >97% similar) had a closely related cultured relative. Thus, many cells and taxa across environments are culturable with known techniques, suggesting that the 1% paradigm is no longer correct.
Valve under the microscope: shining a light on emerging technologies elucidating disease mechanisms

Performing basic translational research to elucidate the underlying mechanisms driving calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) pathogenesis is a critical step for the development of early intervention strategies. CAVD is a significant worldwide healthcare burden that is increased in ageing populations, and currently no therapies exist to delay or prevent its onset and progression. In their Heart paper, Gomez-Stallons et al histologically present the progression of calcification and associated matrix changes in tissues obtained from postmortem valves with no prior diagnosis of aortic valve stenosis (AS) and patients with AS.1 This is an important study that validates mineral and extracellular matrix composition changes accompanying CAVD progression.2 An intriguing finding was that valves without clinical AS from people over 50 years all had some form of calcification present. Clinically, only 5% of people over the age of 70 years experience CAVD that results in valvular dysfunction necessitating valve replacement. This raises a crucial unanswered question: what causes some people to develop AS while in others the disease does not progress past microcalcification? Future work that elucidates these early mechanisms will be the first step in developing targeted, precision-based medicine approaches that can identify, follow and treat high-risk patients. The findings of this research provide the initial support for more in-depth work that longitudinally studies clinical, molecular, genetic and haemodynamic properties in individuals at high risk for AS. Future investigations should consider two important factors to help accelerate CAVD mechanistic discovery: terminology standardisation and optimised tissue utilisation. Standardised nomenclature of anatomical features and types of calcification is vital for facilitating cross-translational comparisons. Anatomically, human valve …
Athletic Administrators Report of Emergency Action Plan Adoption in Secondary School Athletics: The Influence of Athletic Training Services

This study describes the emergency action plan (EAP) adoption in secondary school athletics reported by athletic administrators in the United States. Utilizing best-practice criteria, a questionnaire assessed athletic administrators’ knowledge and adoption of an EAP in their athletics program. A majority of athletic administrators reported having an EAP; however, the EAP often lacked the necessary components to be compliant with best-practice guidelines. Further, access to an athletic trainer was associated with increased EAP adoption and adopting a venue specific EAP. Athletic administrators should utilize these data to facilitate improved policy adoption and management of athletics programs.Subscribe to JASM
Simulating the effects of exozodiacal dust in WFIRST CGI observations

The WFIRST Coronagraph Instrument (CGI) will image the environment close to stars at orders of magnitude higher sensitivity than current observatories. In addition to directly imaging giant exoplanets, WFIRST CGI has unprecedented sensitivity to scattered light from circumstellar dust. Most modeling has been confined to the dark-hole regime of the coronagraph (approximately 0.15 arcsec to 1 arcsec). This work uses publicly available field-dependent point spread functions to model an exozodiacal disk within the 0.15 arcsec inner working angle. For this simple Solar System-like test case, we find an approximately 25% increase in the transmitted exozodiacal flux due to light inside the inner working angle. We also describe plans to accelerate and extend this modeling to a wider range of geometries, and to quantify the impact on post-processing and source detection.
Ghosts of West Baltimore: Devin Allen’s Instagram

Devin Allen’s photography began at home: Baltimore, Maryland. In this chapter, I retain the argument that uncanniness is a disturbance of home but now add to this the notion of uncanniness as an element of the uncalled-for: something that is impolite, improper, invasive, and that exists outside morality of communality. This shift brings an ethical valence to the concept that is necessary for a reading of Allen’s explicitly activist work. It is not enough to see uncanny home in Allen’s photographs. We must also see the ethical and political point he is making: that police and other members of Baltimore’s supervisory community have behaved in improper and uncalled-for ways in Allen’s neighborhood. Moreover, the social and economic structure of the social world of this city at the edge of the southeastern United States is biased and unjust in improper and uncalled for ways, and these cause suffering for African Americans in their home place.
What effect do local political elites have on infant and child death? Elected and chiefly authority in South Africa.

Abstract Under what conditions do local political elites in new democracies promote citizen health? To address the question, this paper advances hypotheses grounded in prominent political science debates and assesses them against comprehensive, granular data from the most recent South African national census. The evidence rejects the hypotheses that relatively great partisan competition and relatively great popular participation boost local population health. The evidence provides conditional support for the hypotheses that local health outcomes are enhanced in municipalities where the national ruling party commands relatively great citizen backing and where hereditary chiefs are strong. In particular, where local strongholds of the national ruling party coincide with strong chiefly authority, the predicted probability of infant and under-five death over all households is reduced, as is the predicted probability of infant and under-five death among majority Black African households, holding other things equal. In these nuanced ways, the actors holding power at the local level matter for the survival of babies and children in South Africa. The paper contributes to scholarship on institutions in new democracies, chiefly authority, the conditions for infant and under-five survival, and the political determinants of health. In doing so, it demonstrates the value of drilling down to the local level to probe the political determinants of population health.
An Optimal Multistatic Synthetic Aperture Radar Reconstruction Filter

Approximations are used to overcome spatial and time variations in the multistatic synthetic aperture radar (MSAR) image formation process in order to define an optimal reconstruction filter that maximizes signal to noise ratio (SNR), clutter to noise ratio (CNR), and target to clutter ratio (TCR). The objective is to geolocate a known target with unknown position. The target is surrounded by homogeneous clutter while return signals are corrupted by thermal noise in each receiver.
Endograft type and anesthesia mode are associated with mortality of endovascular aneurysm repair for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms.

ObjectiveEndovascular aneurysm repair has become the primary treatment modality for ruptured infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm. This study examines the impact of endograft type on perioperative ...
Bacterial bioconvection confers context-dependent growth benefits and is robust under varying metabolic and genetic conditions

Microbial communities often respond to environmental cues by adopting collective behaviors--like biofilms or swarming--that benefit the population. Bioconvection is a distinct and robust collective behavior wherein microbes locally gather into dense groups and subsequently plume downward through fluid environments, driving flow and mixing on scales thousands of times larger than an individual cell. Though bioconvection was observed more than 100 years ago, effects of differing physical and chemical inputs, as well as its potential selective advantages to different species of microbes, remain largely unexplored. In the canonical microbial bioconvector Bacillus subtilis, density inversions that drive this flow are setup by vertically oriented oxygen gradients that originate from an air-liquid interface. In this work, we develop Escherichia coli as a complementary model organism for the study of bioconvection. We show that for E. coli and B. subtilis, bioconvection confers a context-dependent growth benefit with clear genetic correlates to motility and chemotaxis. We found that fluid depth, cell concentration, and carbon availability have complimentary effects on the emergence and timing of bioconvective patterns, and whereas oxygen gradients are required for B. subtilis bioconvection, we found that E. coli deficient in aerotaxis ({Delta}aer) or energy-taxis ({Delta}tsr) still bioconvect, as do cultures that lack an air-liquid interface. Thus, in two distantly related microbes, bioconvection confers context-dependent growth benefits, and E. coli bioconvection is robustly elicited by multiple types of chemotaxis. These results greatly expand the set of physical and metabolic conditions in which this striking collective behavior can be expected and demonstrate its potential to be a generic force for behavioral selection across ecological contexts.
Irradiation of Nf1 mutant mouse models of spinal plexiform neurofibromas drives pathologic progression and decreases survival

Background Genetically susceptible individuals can develop malignancies after irradiation of normal tissues. In the context of therapeutic irradiation, it is not known whether irradiating benign neoplasms in susceptible individuals promotes neoplastic transformation and worse clinical outcomes. Individuals with Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) are susceptible to both radiation-induced second malignancies and spontaneous progression of plexiform neurofibromas (PNs) to malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs). The role of radiotherapy in the treatment of benign neoplasms such as PNs is unclear. Methods To test whether radiotherapy promotes neoplastic progression of PNs and reduces overall survival, we administered spinal irradiation (SI) to conditional knockout mouse models of NF1-associated PNs in 2 germline contexts: Nf1 fllfl ; PostnCre + and Nf1 fl/- ; PostnCre + . Both genotypes develop extensive Nf1 null spinal PNs, modeling PNs in NF1 patients. A total of 101 mice were randomized to 0 Gy, 15 Gy (3 Gy × 5), or 30 Gy (3 Gy × 10) of spine-focused, fractionated SI and aged until signs of illness. Results SI decreased survival in both Nf1 fllfl mice and Nf1 fl/- mice, with the worst overall survival occurring in Nf1 fl/- mice receiving 30 Gy. SI was also associated with increasing worrisome histologic features along the PN-MPNST continuum in PNs irradiated to higher radiation doses. Conclusions This preclinical study provides experimental evidence that irradiation of pre-existing PNs reduces survival and may shift PNs to higher grade neoplasms.
The Rurality of Upper Extremity Firearm Injuries.

Background To highlight the unique spectrum of hand and upper extremity firearm injuries seen at a rural, Midwestern level 1 trauma center and identify modifiable factors that contribute to firearm injuries of the hand and upper extremity. Methods A retrospective review of upper extremity firearm injuries from a rural, Midwestern level 1 trauma center was collected from January 2002 to December 2019. Data acquired included injury description, demographics, injury mechanism/description/location, firearm used, toxicology, and information regarding hospitalization. Data was analyzed using Chi-squared analysis and Fisher's exact test for categorical data and the Wilcoxon rank sum test for continuous data. Results 55 patients with upper extremity firearm injuries were identified. Average age was 33.3 ± 13.0 years, 81.8% were males, and zero fatalities were identified. 58% (38) of these injuries were unintentional firearm injuries, followed by assaults at 34.6% (19). Law enforcement-related and self-inflicted injuries contributed minimally. Handguns were the most common type of firearm, used in 43.6% of cases. 7.3% (4) of injuries occurred while hunting, with 21.8% (12) total during November or December, the active deer hunting months. 92.7% (51) of all firearm injuries presented with fracture, among which 92.2% (47) met a Gustilo-Anderson classification score of at least 3A. Alcohol was detected in 20% (11) of the patients, while other drugs of abuse were detected in 36.4% (20). Conclusion Our data suggests that upper extremity firearm injuries in a rural population are unique from urban injuries in that they are predominately unintentional, isolated, and non-fatal. We identify a distinct rural cohort that may benefit from better directed interventions to prevent firearm injuries and ultimately guide firearm education and public policy.Level of Evidence: III.
Pulmonary Disease and Pediatric Tracings

Overexpansion of the lungs, with an increased amount of air between the heart and the chest wall, may be associated with generalized low voltage, as shown in Figure 156. Frequently, however, the low voltage is primarily in the limb leads, as shown in Figure 157, while the precordial lead voltage is often quite good, in V2 — V3 of that figure, for example.
A discssion of control of brain serotonin and norepinephrine by specific neural systems.

Publisher Summary Five years ago, the idea that brain 5-HT was contained in neurons was based mainly on regional brain assays and pharmacological inferences. Eventually, the neuronal localization of 5-HT was repeatedly supported by a variety of techniques. These included the correlation of brain lesions and chemical levels; the almost simultaneous development of the fluorescence histochemical technique; and the improved procedures developed for subcellular fractionation of the brain. The experimental techniques of correlating changes in amine levels with discrete brain lesions (anatomico-chemical) and the increasing knowledge of the regional location of amine containing neurons are utilized to define this neurochemical system more sharply. The concept of transynaptic neurochemotropism arose primarily because a unineuronal pathway from brainstem via hypothalamus to striatum and neo-cortex cannot be demonstrated by any technique other than fluorescence histochemistry. Rates of degeneration of fine fibers in the brain may be slower but until this particular pathway has been well studied by electron microscopy, this point will remain open. Fluorescent neurons, which are the only known source of fluorescent nerve endings, have not yet been observed higher in the brain than hypothalamus. There still appears to be room for further experimentation on the neural systems controlling brain monoamines..
Styrofoam Cup-Membrane Assembly for Studying Microorganism-Root Interactions

An assembly consisting of Styrofoam cups with membranes of varying porosities was developed to study microorganism-root interactions. The assembly permitted uniform distribution of a bacterium in soil and was simple, easy to use, and disposable. In tests with the bacterium Pseudomonas solanacearum, little difference in P. solanacearum survival was observed in the rhizosphere or nonrhizosphere of tomato.