cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genetic Susceptibility Loci for Lethal Graft-Versus-Host Disease in MHC-Identical Mice: Initial Results from a Genome-Wide Scan.

Minor histocompatibility antigens (mHAg) are T-cell peptide antigens derived from polymorphic endogenous gene products encoded throughout the genome. Despite extensive human genetic diversity, recent experimental evidence suggests that a mHAg set may be limited in size because alloimmune responses directed against them can be dominated by only a few specific peptides. To extend upon these observations, we performed a genome-wide scan to identify susceptibility loci for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in a murine model. We previously identified B10.BR ( H2 k ) mice to be resistant, and BALB.K ( H2 k ) mice susceptible, to lethal GVHD when transplanted with hematopoietic cells from MHC-matched AKR/J ( H2 k ) donors (Cao et al. PNAS2003:11571). In the present study B10.BR, BALB.K, or (B10.BR x BALB.K)F1 mice were lethally irradiated and injected with AKR/J bone marrow at radioprotective doses plus 2.0 or 3.0 x 10 6 purified splenic T-cells. Confirming our prior observations, B10.BR mice survived to day 60 whereas all BALB.K mice died prior to day 10 from GVHD. All (B10.BR x BALB.K)F1 mice also died after a median of 10 days, indicating that GVHD susceptibility in BALB.K mice is a dominant trait. (B10.BR x BALB.K)F1 mice were then backcrossed to the GVHD-resistant B10.BR parent. Resulting [B10.BR x (B10.BR x BALB.K)]BC mice (n = 180) were genotyped and similarly irradiated and injected with AKR/J bone marrow plus 3.0 x 10 6 splenic T-cells. Forty (22%) BC mice died with signs of GVHD prior to day 100. Surprisingly, a 90-marker genome-wide scan for this phenotype, lethal GVHD prior to day 100, revealed highly significant linkage ( P 001) only to chromosome 16. Linkage analysis was performed with MapManager QTX 0.29 using Kosambi’s map function. As shown in Figure 1, interval mapping for chromosome 16 with additional markers revealed a broad and complex linkage pattern encompassing 2 markers, D16Mit4 (27.3 cM) and D16Mit189 (55.2 cM), that had peak LOD scores of 8.8 and 8.0 respectively. Another genetic locus on chromosome 13 flanked by markers D13Mit248 and D13Mit149 with a peak LOD score of 2.3 by interval mapping was suggestively linked. While an evaluation of candidate genes within the support intervals is in progress, these results thus far suggest that the critical gene dose required for inducing lethal GVHD may be remarkably small. If validated as encoding for immunodominant mHAg, these results furthermore suggest that a functionally relevant mHAg set may be definable for clinical genotyping.
A decision support tool for evaluating the effectiveness and logistical considerations of biodosimetry methods: Comparing guidelines and new technologies for the response to a nuclear event

This paper introduces an early prototype of a decision support tool (DST) for evaluating the effectiveness and logistical considerations of biodosimetry methods. Biodosimetry methods allow the estimation of an individual's radiation exposure and facilitate the process of screening the population into treatment categories following a potential large-scale nuclear or radiological event. The DST was implemented using STELLA® software with preliminary comparisons among six biodosimetry methods, including the current federal guidelines. Preliminary results under the model's assumptions show a great variability among methods on their efficiency for screening large numbers of potential victims. In the future, a revised version of the DST would be a useful tool for the emergency response community to evaluate the effectiveness of various strategies for preattack stockpiling and capacity building, and postattack distribution and dispensing of biodosimetry technologies.
Congestion and race controlled software protocol methodology: Congestion controlled sequential contention resolution

The congestion-controlled sequential contention resolution (CCSCR) algorithm is developed for use in the node computers for parallel, simultaneous, synchronous, and asynchronous input and output networks. It is shown that no livelock or deadlock will occur within the CCSCR algorithm because of the inclusion of the preventative protocol techniques of the varying sequencing of message service, buffer storage arrangement, and rearrangement. Functional objectives in developing the features of the algorithm are presented: network fragmentation for heavy load, and topological variations and combinations under real-time conditions; the software theory for linking these algorithm sections together and to the main contention resolution sequencing algorithm; the artificial intelligence theoretical characteristics of self-organization and optimal stopping; and theoretical development of the time when a message transit stops prior to its normal stopping time. The CCSCR software theory provides the mathematical circuit control concepts required at three-computer-node or gateway-computer-node hardware levels, the front-end processor level, and the operating system arithmetic level. >
Variation in the nature of prebreakdown streamers in liquid dielectrics

Optical techniques have previously been established and used to record the events that lead to breakdown in liquid insulants. Schlieren, shadowgraph, and scattered light arrangements have been employed to render visible the refractive index perturbations induced by the prebreakdown disturbances [1-4]. Although some uniform field studies have been made [4], most work has been accomplished using highly divergent electrode configurations in order that polarity effects may be separated.
A review of the recent advances in antimicrobial coatings for urinary catheters.

Abstract More than 75% of hospital-acquired or nosocomial urinary tract infections are initiated by urinary catheters, which are used during the treatment of 15–25% of hospitalized patients. Among other purposes, urinary catheters are primarily used for draining urine after surgeries and for urinary incontinence. During catheter-associated urinary tract infections, bacteria travel up to the bladder and cause infection. A major cause of catheter-associated urinary tract infection is attributed to the use of non-ideal materials in the fabrication of urinary catheters. Such materials allow for the colonization of microorganisms, leading to bacteriuria and infection, depending on the severity of symptoms. The ideal urinary catheter is made out of materials that are biocompatible, antimicrobial, and antifouling. Although an abundance of research has been conducted over the last forty-five years on the subject, the ideal biomaterial, especially for long-term catheterization of more than a month, has yet to be developed. The aim of this review is to highlight the recent advances (over the past 10 years) in developing antimicrobial materials for urinary catheters and to outline future requirements and prospects that guide catheter materials selection and design. Statement of Significance This review article intends to provide an expansive insight into the various antimicrobial agents currently being researched for urinary catheter coatings. According to CDC, approximately 75% of urinary tract infections are caused by urinary catheters and 15–25% of hospitalized patients undergo catheterization. In addition to these alarming statistics, the increasing cost and health related complications associated with catheter associated UTIs make the research for antimicrobial urinary catheter coatings even more pertinent. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the history, the latest progress in development of the coatings and a brief conjecture on what the future entails for each of the antimicrobial agents discussed.
Superhydrophobic coatings on Portland cement concrete surfaces

Abstract The objective of this study was to synthesize, characterize and evaluate the nanomaterials-based superhydrophobic (super water-repellent) coatings on Portland cement concrete (PCC) surfaces. These coatings are synthesized with nanomaterials such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and silanized diatomaceous earth (DE). Using layer-by-layer (LBL) deposition technique, each coating type was deposited at four different spray durations. The water-repellency of the coated surfaces were characterized by measuring static water contact angles (WCAs). These measurements were evaluated through a statistical design-based experimental test program which revealed that the spray duration and coating type are significant variables. A skid-resistant coating composed of PTFE and PEEK was utilized to evaluate the impact of superhydrophobic coatings on pavement skid resistance.
GenomeVIP: A cloud platform for genomic variant discovery and interpretation

Identifying genomic variants is a fundamental first step toward the understanding of the role of inherited and acquired variation in disease. The accelerating growth in the corpus of sequencing data that underpins such analysis is making the data-download bottleneck more evident, placing substantial burdens on the research community to keep pace. As a result, the search for alternative approaches to the traditional "download and analyze" paradigm on local computing resources has led to a rapidly growing demand for cloud-computing solutions for genomics analysis. Here, we introduce the Genome Variant Investigation Platform (GenomeVIP), an open-source framework for performing genomics variant discovery and annotation using cloud- or local high-performance computing infrastructure. GenomeVIP orchestrates the analysis of whole-genome and exome sequence data using a set of robust and popular task-specific tools, including VarScan, GATK, Pindel, BreakDancer, Strelka, and Genome STRiP, through a web interface. GenomeVIP has been used for genomic analysis in large-data projects such as the TCGA PanCanAtlas and in other projects, such as the ICGC Pilots, CPTAC, ICGC-TCGA DREAM Challenges, and the 1000 Genomes SV Project. Here, we demonstrate GenomeVIP's ability to provide high-confidence annotated somatic, germline, and de novo variants of potential biological significance using publicly available data sets.
Design, modeling, and control of pneumatic artificial muscles with integrated soft sensing

Presented are techniques for designing, modeling, and control of reliable pneumatic artificial muscle actuators with integrated low profile sensors for position feedback. The sensor is fabricated through a three-dimensional manufacturing process based on a modified lathe approach for controlling viscous and viscoelastic materials as well as on direct writing of liquid metal. Next, a new precision pneumatic muscle design and its integration with the sensor is illustrated. A theoretical model and experimental characterization of the muscle-sensor package are presented with high correlation and repeatability. Finally, a position feedback sliding mode controller is implemented with a position error of <0.9% of maximum muscle contraction.
Friends With Performance Benefits: A Meta-Analysis on the Relationship Between Friendship and Group Performance:

The current article examines if, and under which conditions, there exists a positive relationship between working with friends and group performance. To do so, using data from 1,016 groups obtained from 26 studies, we meta-analyzed comparisons of the performance of friendship groups versus acquaintance groups. Results show that friendship has a significant positive effect on group task performance (Cohen's d = 0.31). Furthermore, this relationship was moderated by group size (i.e., the positive effect of friendship on performance increased with group size) and task focus (i.e., friendship groups performed better than acquaintance groups on tasks requiring a high quantity of output, whereas there was no performance benefit on tasks requiring a single or high-quality output). These results help to reconcile mixed findings and illustrate when friendship groups are more likely to perform better than acquaintance groups.
The Anatomy and Physiology of the Human Stress Response

In the first chapter, the following working definition of the stress response was provided: “stress is a physiological response that serves as a mechanism of mediation linking any given stressor to its target-organ effect.” By viewing the phenomenology of stress within the context of a “linking” mechanism, one can satisfy one of the most critical issues in psychosomatic medicine, that is, through what mechanisms can stressor stimuli, such as life events, lead to disease and dysfunction? The response to that query will be addressed within the next two chapters.
Psychological Theory and Scientific Method

Psychology is young as a systematic study and still younger as a true science. For many reasons its growing pains have been unusually severe and its progress fitful. The four most baffling difficulties have arisen from (1) the intangible and fluid quality of its subject matter—behavior—compared with that of older sciences; (2) the unique situation created by the scientist studying his own mind; and (3) the fact that scientific writing has found it almost impossible to disentangle itself from semiscientific, popular terminology, modes of reasoning, and “theories,” since “psychology” is such an enormous daily preoccupation of all mankind; and (4) the belatedness of true functional measurement.
The siin landscape archaeological project : Preliminary results

This article reports on archaeological and historical fieldwork carried out in western Senegal from 2001 to 2004. This research integrates different methods and lines of evidence to document long-term changes in socio-political organization and material culture in the historical kingdom of Siin during the AD 500-1900 period. By juxtaposing oral, textual, and material sources, the project promotes a critical look at conventional historical scenarios for the region, and strives for a closer understanding of the effects of political-economic conditions on local societies and their archaeological landscapes. The project’s field methodology and preliminary results from the archaeological portion of the research are discussed in this paper.
Genetical Genomics: Successes and Prospects in Plants

Sequencing of expressed genes from several plant species has revealed that there is a relatively high level of conservation in amino acid sequence among distantly related taxonomic groups, despite the tremendous phenotypic and developmental diversity in the plant kingdom. This diversity appears to be primarily created by polymorphisms that contribute to quantitative gene expression variation, rather than protein structure modification or creation of novel transcriptional units. A few studies have now demonstrated the heritability of gene expression and the dissection of its genetic control in plants. The approach – generally referred to as genetical genomics – relies on the transcript level and quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis of the transcriptome in segregating populations. In this chapter we review the principles of genetical genomics, results of these studies in plants, and the use of this approach to dissect the genetic control of phenotypic traits of biological and agricultural interest. Although still in their infancy, pioneering genetical genomics studies have shown that this approach is valuable to unravel genetic networks implicated in transcription regulation, and for the identification of genes and pathways implicated in phenotypic variation. More important, they suggest that integrative genomic methods, that merge information from variation at the level of DNA, gene expression, protein and metabolites will be essential for understanding the complexity of plants.
Prevention of Marital and Family Problems

This chapter reviews the literature on preventive programs for couples and families that focus on either averting the exacerbation of problems or improving inadequate or unsatisfactory relationships, thus decreasing the chance of exacerbation. Because space is limited, this extensive literature cannot be reviewed in detail. Short of the ideal—lengthy coverage—the next best choice was to include the available bibliographical information and to summarize exemplary programs that hold promise for future work.
A positive psychology–motivational interviewing intervention for patients with type 2 diabetes: Proof-of-concept trial:

ObjectiveEighteen million Americans with type 2 diabetes (T2D) do not follow recommended guidelines for physical activity. Motivational interviewing (MI) has had modest effects on activity and rela...
Textiles, Craft, and Precarity in Colonial and Post-Colonial Morocco

This paper explores what it means to be a "traditional" textile artisan in a modern, globalizing economy. The discussion examines three discourses that converge on artisanal textile production in colonial and post-colonial Morocco: fair trade and development-motivated representations of "craft"; colonial administrative and scholarly analyses of the Moroccan craft sector; and the words and biographies of contemporary artisans. The argument draws on over two years of ethnographic fieldwork in Morocco, research in the archives of the French Protectorate (1912-1956), and analysis of published colonial scholarship, post-colonial handicrafts policy, and representations of "traditional" crafts and their makers in today's global marketplace. While these discourses partially align in their mutual ambivalence towards capitalism, the ways they cast the relationship between artisans and their labor differ substantially. This research explores the concept of alienation within these various discourses, and troubles its relevance to scholarship on contemporary craft in non-Western contexts.
Can private schools improve school climate? Evidence from a nationally representative sample

A safe school environment is essential for effective learning and the inculcation of civic values. The article presents a comparative analysis of school climate and safety in private and public sch...
Global Wi-Fi Positioning Method Based on Online Clustering Algorithm

Wi-Fi localization is a research area that is gaining increasing attention recently. A wide range of location-based services (LBS) are attractive, such as navigating users inside shopping malls, pushing precise advertisements to the users, personalized recommendation, and proximity notification, etc. However, we observe that many previous works about Wi-Fi localization are static, in other words, they placing many access points as anchors and the precise location of access points (AP) are known. However, these methods are not fully applicable in the real world, because the number or location of Aps usually are unknown beforehand. In this paper, we propose a global Wi-Fi positioning method based on the online clustering algorithm. First, we develop an online clustering algorithm fitting for the global Wi-Fi localization where both the feature number and the record number are increasing. Then, we use the distance function and training data to map each instance into a feature vector with variable lengths. Finally, by setting up an Android experimental environment, the present method was verified. Experimental results showed the effectiveness of our method for global Wi-Fi positioning.
Intensive Neuroanatomy Boot Camp Curriculum Demonstrates Improved Neurology Residency In-Service Training Examination (RITE) Scores (P3.017)

Objective: To evaluate the success of an intensive neuroanatomy course by Residency In-Service Training Examination (RITE) performance outcomes. Background: Learning neuroanatomy is a challenging, yet critical competency for neurology residents. Data regarding teaching methods maximizing neuroanatomical education are sparse within medical literature. To enhance knowledge acquisition and retention, some authors have proposed 3-dimensional modeling, virtual reality, or cased based learning. However, current literature lacks a direct connection between these methods and improved examination scores. The RITE was developed as a trainee knowledge self-assessment tool, including neuroanatomy competency. A large study across multiple programs demonstrated the results of the RITE predicts performance on the ABPN certification examination. Design/Methods: An intensive neuroanatomy curriculum was developed blending published models of neuroanatomy teaching. All PGY-2 and PGY-4 neurology residents completed the four-week course, while PGY-3 residents did not participate. The RITE was administered to all residents one month after course completion over five consecutive years. Neuroanatomy percentiles scores were analyzed for each individual learner in three consecutive years. Results: Thirteen residents completed the study. Neuroanatomy percentile scores decreased in 85% (11/13) of residents from PGY-2 to PGY-3 year. Overall, a total of 64 percentile points in neuroanatomy were lost despite one extra year of training. Neuroanatomy percentile scores increased in 92% (12/13) of residents from PGY-3 to PGY-4 years. Interestingly, cumulative percentile points of 138 were gained in neuroanatomy, compared to only 69 cumulative percentile points overall, indicating a disproportionate improvement in neuroanatomy compared to other tested areas. Conclusions: An intensive, immersive, multimodal neuroanatomy curriculum improves RITE neuroanatomy percentile scores. Although all residents improved by PGY-4, neuroanatomy scores were significantly higher than overall improvement, indicating the curriculum is directly related to improvement. Data also suggests knowledge is not retained, however, indicated by the significant decrease during PGY-3. Future objectives would focus on longitudinal program development to enhance material retention. Disclosure: Dr. Novroski has nothing to disclose. Dr. Baldwin has nothing to disclose. Dr. Correll has nothing to disclose. Dr Noto has nothing to disclose. Dr. Avila has nothing to disclose.
"They didn't give up on me": a women's transitions clinic from the perspective of re-entering women.

Women recently released from incarceration have increased rates of co-occurring substance use, physical health, and mental health disorders. During re-entry, they face challenges navigating needed health services and social services stemming from these problems. Women’s Initiative Supporting Health Transitions Clinic (WISH-TC) is a primary care program that facilitates treatment access for re-entering women. Strategies include support and navigation assistance from peer community health workers. Thirteen participants, of whom 11 had a substance use disorder, completed semi-structured interviews about their experiences in WISH-TC as part of a process evaluation. We conducted a qualitative framework analysis informed by self-determination theory. WISH-TC supported autonomy as staff helped motivate women to work toward personal health goals. Women were empowered to have their health needs met, and consequently, prioritized attending clinic. Regarding competence, WISH-TC built upon women’s existing knowledge to increase their health literacy and better understand their individual health needs. Relatedness support, both prior to re-entry and ongoing with clinic staff, was key in women’s satisfaction with their care. The clinic made procedural changes in response to the interviews, including providing orientation for the patients and training the clinic in trauma-informed practices. Our findings highlight the potential of a program for re-entering women, including those with substance use disorders to strengthen their abilities to navigate complex healthcare and societal systems. WISH-TC helped women feel supported, motivated, and competent to address their substance use, physical, and mental health conditions.
In the Age of Cities: The Impact of Urbanisation on House Prices and Affordability

Rapid urbanisation as well as demographic and technological changes are among the trends reshaping the cities in which we live, work and play. This paper explores how these trends, the growing diversity of household types and demands, and the development of residential real estate as a mainstream investment sector impact the housing market in major cities. These factors are contributing, in many cities, to rising house prices, affordable housing shortages and inflexible housing stock. These problems in turn threaten not just financial market stability, but also quality of life and integration, as well as city competitiveness on the national and international scale. In response, the Urban Land Institute (ULI) recommends that cities should focus on creating more housing, including a more diverse range of options so that the housing stock can better meet the needs of different household types and income levels. By applying the principles of “good density”—mixed, use, well-connected environments with high-quality placemaking—integrated urban environments can be created that cater to a range of income and population groups and contribute to the vibrancy and authenticity of a city.
A phylogenomic framework for Vetigastropoda (Mollusca)

Abstract Abalones, turban snails, top snails, keyhole limpets and slit shells are just some of the diverse marine Vetigastropoda. With major lineages having ancient divergences in the Paleozoic Era, basal nodes in the phylogeny have been largely unresolved. Here we present the first genomic-scale dataset focused on vetigastropods, including a comprehensive sampling of taxa with all superfamilies and about half of the extant families (41 new transcriptomes, 49 total ingroup terminals). Our recovered topology is congruent among inference methods for the majority of nodes, and differs from previous studies, in which long branch attraction artifacts seem to be pervasive. The first three divergences sequentially separate Pleurotomarioidea, Seguenzioidea and Haliotoidea from remaining vetigastropods. Fissurelloidea is sister group to Scissurelloidea, Lepetodriloidea and Lepetelloidea, which all together are the sister group to Trochoidea. A methodological discordance exists in the position of Haliotidae and Fissurellidae, possibly due to a compounded effect of small sample bias derived from gene-wide partitioning. Dense sampling of trochoids and fissurellids also provides a backbone for family and subfamily-level relationships, with Tegulidae not monophyletic.
Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Cellular V2X Communication in Dense Vehicular Networks

Cellular Vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) communication is a major V2X solution proposed and developed by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). Our previous work has studied scalability aspects of C-V2X and demonstrated its potential for accommodating large numbers of vehicles in dense vehicular scenarios. However, existing studies in the scientific literature mostly have a network-level approach to the problem and do not assess the temporal and spatial dynamics of C-V2X networks in heavy network load situations. In this work we shed light on the spatio-temporal characteristics of these networks and investigate the effectiveness of the congestion control algorithm in dense vehicular ad-hoc networks (VANETs) in terms of settling time, stability, and reliability to be employed for the purpose of safety-critical vehicular applications, where latency plays a major role.
Reduction of Intussusception

This chapter describes the laparoscopic/surgical procedure for reduction of intussusception as performed by the following approaches: open and laparoscopic. The text includes an introduction that outlines the indications, risks, alternatives, essential steps, needed equipment, and variations in technique for the procedure in question. This is followed by a template operative dictation, which provides the reader with an operative report, such as is found in a patient chart or electronic medical record. A description is provided of the following critical concepts for this procedure: Use gentle continuous pressure at the site of intussusception to reduce it, check bowel for tears, ischemia or necrosis, and identify and remove lead point.
Radial tunnel syndrome.

Intermittent compression of the PIN within and just distal to the anatomic region known as the radial tunnel is responsible for a constellation of signs and symptoms known as radial tunnel syndrome. The five structures commonly implicated as possible offenders include the fibrous adhesions between the brachialis and brachioradialis, the leash of Henry, the fibrous edge of the ECRB, the arcade of Frohse, and fibrous bands associated with the supinator muscle. The condition is dominated by pain centered over the radial tunnel, whereas muscle weakness, if present, is clinically insignificant. Specific attention to the character and point of maximal tenderness, worsening of pain on the provocative middle finger extension and resisted supination tests, and relief of symptoms following a radial tunnel anesthetic block help diagnose RTS. Electrodiagnostic testing presently has limited use in diagnosing RTS. The management of RTS includes activity modification and other conservative measures. Most patients, however, eventually require surgery, in which routine release of all potential constricting structures is performed. Although several surgical approaches are available, the brachioradialis-ERCL interval approach is one that has been very satisfying in our hands.
Assessing Measurement Invariance for Applied Research

This book focuses on the practical application of statistical techniques for assessing measurement invariance with less emphasis on theoretical development or exposition. Instead, it describes the methods using a pedagogical framework followed by extensive illustrations that demonstrate how to use software to analyze real data. The chapters illustrate the practical methods to assess measurement invariance and shows how to apply them to a range of data. The computer syntax and data sets used in this book are available for download here: people.umass.edu/cswells.
Complex Multidisciplinary Cranial and Scalp Reconstruction for Patient Salvage.

Objective/Background Patients can develop scalp and cranial defects as a result of neoplasm, trauma, or infection. Reconstruction of these defects can be difficult in some patients and may require a multidisciplinary approach using creative solutions usually used for disease processes in other areas of the body, such as severe burns. Methods A series of 9 patients were treated using multidisciplinary techniques for reconstruction of complex cranial and scalp defects. Data on patient characteristics, initial treatment, and preparatory and definitive reconstructive treatment were retrospectively collected. Outcomes were measured as full solution, partial solution, or failure. Results Three patients had a full solution/wound closure, 5 had a partial solution, and 1 failed reconstructive attempt. Full solution patients tended to be younger, received reconstruction treatment modalities for longer periods of time, and had more definitive surgeries. Initial and preparatory surgeries did not tend to promote a full solution, though having fewer preparatory surgeries that were not related to wound vacuum-assisted closure use tended to be associated with a better outcome. Infection of the scalp or cranium did not tend to change the result. Conclusions Reconstructive salvage of complex cranial and scalp defects takes time, so patience and earlier recognition of need for atypical reconstruction is beneficial. Patient characteristics may influence outcomes, but judicious choice of materials and techniques is more critical to patient success. Use of a multidisciplinary approach to complex cranial and scalp reconstruction is a beneficial option for many patients for whom standard reconstruction methods are not viable.
Divine Mobility and Sacred Geography: Psychopomp Travel in Buddhist Art

Postmortem travel with a divine guide is a ubiquitous theme in Buddhist art. We posit that the similar depictions of divine, inaccessible geography throughout the corpus of East Asian religious art motivate the classification of spirit travel, visions, visitations, and pilgrimages under a single common category of spirit travel.
Nutrition delivery and growth outcomes in infants with long-gap esophageal atresia who undergo the Foker process

Abstract Background Predictors of growth outcomes in patients with long-gap esophageal atresia (LGEA) are not known. We examined nutrition and growth in-hospital and post-discharge in LGEA patients who underwent the Foker Process (FP). Methods Single-center, retrospective cohort study of infants with LGEA undergoing primary (non-rescue) FP from 2014 to 2020. Weight-for-age z scores (WAZ, 0 = average), macronutrient prescription, anthropometry, and clinical variables were collected. Longitudinal median regression evaluated differences in WAZ over time. Multivariable median regression examined variables associated with change in WAZ at 1 year. Results 45 patients met criteria, with median (IQR) age at repair of 4 (2, 5.8) months and WAZ of -0.96 (-1.55, -0.40). On admission, 11% were moderately (WAZ Conclusion Throughout infancy, most primary FP LGEA patients have weight for age that is below average. Using targeted nutritional intervention, those who present with malnutrition can still achieve adequate growth despite prolonged and complicated hospital courses.
Does health literacy impact technological comfort in cancer patients

Abstract Introduction As healthcare systems are adapting due to COVID-19, there has been an increased need for telehealth in the outpatient setting. Not all patients have been comfortable with this transition. We sought to determine the relationship between health literacy and technological comfort in our cancer patients. Methods We conducted a survey of patients that presented to the oncology clinics at a single-center over a 2-month period. Patients were given a voluntary, anonymous, survey during their visit containing questions regarding demographics, health literacy and technological comfort. Results 344 surveys were returned (response-rate 64.3%). The median patient age was 61 years, 70% of responders were female and the most common race was White (67.3%). Increasing patient age, male gender, Black and Native-American race, decreased health literacy and lack of home broadband were associated with lower technological comfort score. Conclusion In our cohort, patients with lower health literacy scores, older and male patients, or who have poor internet access showed a lower level of technological comfort. At risk patients can be identified and provided additional support in their use of telehealth services.
Multi-Stage Damping Factor Modulation in Optical Receiver Front-Ends

This paper presents an optical receiver in which the damping factor of both the transimpedance and post amplifiers is modulated synchronously with incoming data. Modulation of the damping factor allows the fast response of low-damping factor while mitigating the intersymbol interference (ISI) associated with underdamped systems. The extension of dynamic damping to the post amplifier is investigated through simulation using a 65-nm CMOS process at 10 Gb/s. A shunt-feedback transimpedance amplifier (SF-TIA) with cross-coupled inverters at the output, optimized to reach minimum input-referred noise is used as a reference for creating SF-TIA and Cherry-Hooper post-amplifier (CH-PA) blocks. By modulating the damping factor in both blocks, the proposed system achieves more than three times the Vertical Eye Opening (VEO) and lower input-referred noise compared to the optimized reference. Alternatively, an equal-gain modulated system has 40 % lower power consumption compared to the reference design.
Expanded renal lymphatics improve recovery following kidney injury.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a major cause of patient mortality and a major risk multiplier for the progression to chronic kidney disease (CKD). The mechanism of the AKI to CKD transition is complex but is likely mediated by the extent and length of the inflammatory response following the initial injury. Lymphatic vessels help to maintain tissue homeostasis through fluid, macromolecule, and immune modulation. Increased lymphatic growth, or lymphangiogenesis, often occurs during inflammation and plays a role in acute and chronic disease processes. What roles renal lymphatics and lymphangiogenesis play in AKI recovery and CKD progression remains largely unknown. To determine if the increased lymphatic density is protective in the response to kidney injury, we utilized a transgenic mouse model with inducible, kidney-specific overexpression of the lymphangiogenic protein vascular endothelial growth factor-D to expand renal lymphatics. "KidVD" mouse kidneys were injured using inducible podocyte apoptosis and proteinuria (POD-ATTAC) or bilateral ischemia reperfusion. In the acute injury phase of both models, KidVD mice demonstrated a similar loss of function measured by serum creatinine and glomerular filtration rate compared to their littermates. While the initial inflammatory response was similar, KidVD mice demonstrated a shift toward more CD4+ and fewer CD8+ T cells in the kidney. Reduced collagen deposition and improved functional recovery over time was also identified in KidVD mice. In KidVD-POD-ATTAC mice, an increased number of podocytes were counted at 28 days post-injury. These data demonstrate that increased lymphatic density prior to injury alters the injury recovery response and affords protection from CKD progression.
Variation of Mean Winds with Height in Hurricanes

The importance of predicting the variation of tropical cyclone winds with height has long been recognized in structural engineering literature. The purpose of this note is to show, on the basis of simplified models of the boundary layer in cyclostrophic and geostrophic flow, that the differences between profiles of tropical cyclone and extratropical storm winds appear indeed to be significant.
6 Structure and Evolution of Fish Growth Hormone and Insulinlike Growth Factor Genes

Publisher Summary This chapter examines the structure and evolution of fish growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor genes. Growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), placental lactogen (PL), and somatolactin (SL) form a family of polypeptide hormones with common structural and overlapping biological characteristics. The chapter presents a study in which amino acid sequence comparisons were carried out for GHs by aligning the conserved half-cystine residues and by introducing several deletions to maximize the homology. A comparison of structural characteristics between the fish GHs and hGH was executed using the Wisconsin GCG program package. The somatolactin precursor is a single-chain polypeptide of approximately 231 amino acid residues. Although the amino acid homology among SL, GH, and PRL is low, they are structurally related to one another because four of the six cysteine residues are present in positions similar to those in GH and PRL polypeptides. GH, PRL, and SL are all known to be actively involved in the osmoregulatory responses of teleosts. This suggests thatthat the GH-family ancestral gene may have been involved in the osmoregulation response of the deuterostome-invertebrate ancestors of chordates.
Comparison of Reinforcement Schedules in the Reduction of Stereotypy with Supported Routines

Abstract The rates and durations of stereotypic behaviors in four adolescents with severe mental retardation were measured during two daily vocational training sessions and during contiguous periods of leisure in their special education classrooms. Vocational training was conducted in two different tasks, alternating across days. The task requirements for each participant were matched to each participant’s learning and performance characteristics. The participants were exposed to a fixed ratio schedule of tokens exchangeable for food items on one task and to a variable interval schedule for the same consequences on the second task. The schedules were chosen as an initial test of a matching-law based prediction by Myerson and Hale 1984 : Variable interval reinforcement for adaptive behavior will produce less allocation of responding to maladaptive behavior than will a ratio-based intervention . When work performances stabilized, the schedules of token delivery were reversed across the tasks and performances again stabilized. Results are reported for periods when work performances met stability criteria. Stereotypy occurred more during leisure than during vocational training under either schedule. The major differences in stereotypy between leisure and vocational training were differences in episode length rather than rate of onset. Onset of stereotypy in vocational training, however, occurred at higher rates under the interval schedule than under the ratio schedule in both tasks. The results are discussed in terms of Myerson and Hale’s prediction and implications for further research and application.
Abstract 1671: Immunosuppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cells expressing PDL1 are increased in human melanoma tumor tissue

Despite the ability to elicit active immune responses, most immunotherapies fail to eliminate tumors in human cancer patients. One reason immunotherapy has not met expectations may be due to immunosuppression in the local environment of the tumor. Immunosuppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are increased in the peripheral blood of melanoma patients and the frequency of MDSCs correlates with overall survival and disease progression. Furthermore, cytokines related to the recruitment and differentiation of MDSCs are also increased in melanoma patient serum and changes in these cytokine levels may correlate with disease progression. We find an increased frequency of regulatory T cells, PD-1-expressing T cells, and PD-L1 expressing MDSCs in primary melanoma tumors, suggesting that PD-1/PD-L1 interactions may play a role in immunosuppression in the microenvironment of the tumor. We are currently investigating the mechanisms of immunosuppression used by human MDSCs and whether the suppressive function of MDSCs can be blocked with antibodies targeting PD-L1. In conclusion, we have established MDSCs as an important player in immunosuppression in melanoma patients suggesting that combinatorial treatments that reduce the frequency or activity of MDSCs may improve the effectiveness of future immunotherapies. Citation Format: Kimberly Rae Jordan, Virginia Borges, Martin D. McCarter. Immunosuppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cells expressing PDL1 are increased in human melanoma tumor tissue. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1671. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1671
Field Theoretical Methods in Cosmology

To optimally utilize all the exciting cosmological data coming in we need to sharpen also the theoretical tools available to cosmologists. One such indispensible tool to understand hot big bang cosmology is finite temperature field theory. We review and summarise the efforts made by us to use finite temperature field theory to address issues of current interest to cosmologists. An introduction to both the real time and the imaginary time formalisms is provided. The imaginary time formalism is illustrated by applying it to understand the interesting possibilty of Late Time Phase Transitions. Recent observations of the space distribution of quasars indicate a very notable peak in space density at a redshift of $2$ to $3$. It is pointed out that this may be the result of a phase transition which has a critical temperature of roughly a few meV (in the cosmological units, $~\hbar = c =k = 1$), which is natural in the context of massive neutrinos. In fact, the neutrino masses required for quasar production and those required to solve the solar neutrino problem by the MSW mechanism are consistent with each other. As a bonus, the cosmological constant implied by this model may also help resolve the discrepancy between the recently measured value of the Hubble Constant and the age of the universe. We illustrate the real time formalism by studying one of the most important time-dependent and non-equilibrium phenomena associated with phase transitions. The non-equilibrium dynamics of the first stage of the reheating process, that is dissipation via particle production is studied in scalar field theories. We show that a complete understanding of the mechanism of dissipation via particle production requires a non-perturbative resummation. We then study
Married Black men's opinions as to why Black women are disproportionately single: A qualitative study

This study's purpose was to explore the reasons Black women are disproportionately single according to the unique viewpoint of married Black men. The sample comprised 52 married Black men who resided in northeast Georgia (mean age = 43). Qualitative interviews were conducted in 2010 as part of the Pathways to Marriage study. The authors analyzed the data in a collaborative fashion and utilized content analyses to explore the relationships in the data which were derived from qualitative interviews with the men. Findings on the reasons for the disproportionality of singlehood among Black women reflected these four themes: gender relations, marriage education and socialization, individual development, and a preference for gay/lesbian relationships. Recommendations for future research are discussed.
Abrasion of 0.85% C-Steel under Natural Hawaiian Marine Conditions

A study was undertaken to obtain design data for possible damage scenarios for a planned deep-sea power cable between two Hawaiian islands. The combined results for abrasion and corrosion-erosion of cold drawn 0.85% C-steel armor wire in seawater against seabottom rocks indicate that failure of the proposed design in the desired design life due to these mechanisms is of only intermediate probability. The results also have some general applicability to abrasive wear by and of natural media. The steel and the rock wear simultaneously, with the rock wearing about 150 times faster than the steel. The results can be explained by considering the armor wire as a hard tool causing wear of the rock while abrasion of the steel is caused solely by the hard olivine grains which constitute 6 percent of the rock. Both adjusted wear rates are comparable to laboratory data on abrasion by hard abrasives. Presented as a Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers paper at the ASME/STLE Tribology Conference in Lahaina...
On learning strategies for evolutionary Monte Carlo

The real-parameter evolutionary Monte Carlo algorithm (EMC) has been proposed as an effective tool both for sampling from high-dimensional distributions and for stochastic optimization (Liang and Wong, 2001). EMC uses a temperature ladder similar to that in parallel tempering (PT; Geyer, 1991). In contrast with PT, EMC allows for crossover moves between parallel and tempered MCMC chains. In the context of EMC, we introduce four new moves, which enhance its efficiency as measured by the effective sample size. Secondly, we introduce a practical strategy for determining the temperature range and placing the temperatures in the ladder used in EMC and PT. Lastly, we prove the validity of the conditional sampling step of the snooker algorithm, a crossover move in EMC, which extends a result of Roberts and Gilks (1994).