cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CO2 pneumoperitoneum improves colitis in an animal model of crohns disease

Introduction: CO2 pneumoperitoneum has the capacity to attenuate the inflammatory response in the acute inflammatory setting. However, the laparoscopic approach is also routinely used when surgical intervention is required in settings of chronic inflammation such as Crohns disease. Because some evidence suggests that minimally invasive approaches to surgery for Crohns disease results in improved outcomes compared to conventional open surgery, we hypothesized that the capnoperitoneum has therapeutic potential in chronic inflammatory settings, such as Crohns colitis. Specifically, we tested whether capnoperitoneum alone without surgical intervention could ameliorate inflammation of the bowel. Methods: Using a well established rodent model of Crohns colitis we induced Crohnslike colitis in rats. Rats were fasted for 48h prior to induction of colitis. Rats were anesthetized for instillation of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid/ethanol (300ul) into the distal colon using an 8 cm catheter per rectum. The rats were then observed and weighed daily for 8 days with water and food ad libitum. On day 9, all rats were anesthetized for 30 min, half received only anesthesia and half received a CO2 pneumoperitoneum at 4 mmHg. This 30 min procedure was repeated on days 10-12. On day 13, rats were weighed and then sacrificed, the colon harvested and scored by a doubly-blinded observer. Results: Rats in the anesthesia only group had an average damage score of 3.5 (range 3-5) whereas the CO2 pneumoperitoneum group had an average damage score of 1.2 (range 0-3). The damage score of the CO2 pneumoperitoneum group was significantly lower (p 0.05). Furthermore, both the average and total weight gain was greater in the CO2 pneumoperitoneum group than the anesthesia only group. Conclusion: This is the first and only such study to describe the potential use of the CO2 pneumoperitoneum as a means of therapy for Crohns-like inflammatory bowel disease. Our results also suggest a better weight gain following administration of CO2 pneumoperitoneum which is an important factor for Crohns patients. Finally, these data suggest that CO2 pneumoperitoneum has important biological tissue effects which significantly influence the response to chronic inflammation.
The zebrafish:scalable in vivo modeling for systems biology

The zebrafish offers a scalable vertebrate model for many areas of biologic investigation. There is substantial conservation of genetic and genomic features and, at a higher order, conservation of intermolecular networks, as well as physiologic systems and phenotypes. We highlight recent work demonstrating the extent of this homology, and efforts to develop high-throughput phenotyping strategies suited to genetic or chemical screening on a scale compatible with in vivo validation for systems biology. We discuss the implications of these approaches for functional annotation of the genome, elucidation of multicellular processes in vivo, and mechanistic exploration of hypotheses generated by a broad range of 'unbiased' 'omic technologies such as expression profiling and genome-wide association. Finally, we outline potential strategies for the application of the zebrafish to the systematic study of phenotypic architecture, disease heterogeneity and drug responses.
Necessary and sufficient conditions for weak convergence of smoothed empirical processes

Abstract Let X1,…,Xn be a sequence of i.i.d. random variables with common distribution P on the real line. Assuming that P has a smooth density, we construct a histogram based estimator Pn,H and establish weak convergence of the empirical process n (P n,H −P)(f) f∈ F under sharp conditions. If F is a class of indicators of sets, then the conditions imposed are necessary and sufficient.
Platinum(II) complexes of cis chelating phosphines with electronegative substituents containing o-Carbone as a backbone

Abstract The cis ligands (C6H5)2P[B10H10C2]PRR′ (R = R′ = C6H5, NME2 F; R = NMe2, R′ = F) and [Me2N]2P[B10H10C2] PRR′ (R = R′ = C6F5; R = NMe2, R′ = F) form chelates with platinum(II) of the type [PtCl2(ligand)]. These complexes have been characterized by infrared 1H, 19F, and 31P NMR spectroscopy and by element analyses. The predicted order of trans influences for the various donors is P(C6H5)2 > P(C6F5)2 > P(NMe2)2 > P(F)NMe2 > PF2 whereas the cis influence is P(C6F5)2 > P(F)NMe2 > P(C6H5) > P(F)NMe2 > P(C6H5)2 > P(NMe2)2.
What Determines the Formal Versus Relational Nature of Local Government Contracting

In this article, we examine the governance structures used to manage local service delivery contracts with an eye toward two specific concerns. First, we contend that public managers likely use dua...
Effects of Phragmites australis Invasion on Carbon Dynamics in a Freshwater Marsh

Common reed (Phragmites australis) is an invasive grass that is altering wetlands in the Great Lakes region. To determine the effect of Phragmites invasion on wetland carbon (C) dynamics, we investigated environmental conditions, plant litter decomposition, and release of gaseous C from sediment pools in Phragmites-dominated and pre-invaded Typha stands in a coastal freshwater marsh. Reciprocal litter bag transplant experiments revealed greater annual mass loss of both species’ litter at Phragmites-dominated sites (p 50 % lower from Phragmites litter, and responses (CO2 release) of Phragmites sediments to leachate additions were greater than those of Typha sediments, indicating differences in sediment microbial communities. Our results suggest that Phragmites invasion may increase litter decomposition and reduce CH4 emission through environmental changes that alter microbial activity and/or composition, but the net effect of these changes on wetland C accumulation will depend on net primary production.
Design Aspects for Multilayer Interconnections on ICs

The presented paper shows the necessity of sophisticated interconnection technology on VLSI and especially on forthcoming ULSI chips. New techniques have to be developed. The wire delay will become a significant problem on the way to a 0.25um technology.
Simple noise analysis applied to power combiners

The advent of ultra-low-noise amplification has shifted the emphasis of low-noise design towards passive circuitry. Expressions for the noise parameters for a passive two-port are derived in terms of the scattering matrix and applied to the problem of design of power combining circuits. Simple guidelines for low-noise combiner design are presented. >
Clinical thinking in psychiatry

I discuss the lack of precision in the term 'clinical reasoning' and its relationship to evidence-based medicine and critical thinking. I examine critical thinking skills, their underemphasis in medical education and successful attempts to remediate them. Evidence-based medicine (and evidence-based psychiatry) offer much but are hampered by the ubiquity and flaws of meta-analysis. I explore views of evidence-based medicine among psychiatry residents, as well as capacity for critical thinking in residents before and after a course in philosophy. I discuss decision making by experienced doctors and suggest possible futures of this issue.
Turn a Blind Eye If You Care: Impacts of Attitude Consistency, Importance, and Credibility on Seeking of Political Information and Implications for Attitudes

Abundant media outlets allow for much diversity of political messages and selective use among citizens. A 2-session online field study examined impacts of attitude consistency, attitude importance, and source credibility on selective exposure to political messages and subsequent attitude accessibility. The first session assessed attitudes and their accessibility. In the second session, participants browsed online search results that featured attitude-consistent and attitude-discrepant messages associated with sources of either high or low credibility; selective reading was tracked. Then attitude accessibility was measured again. Participants spent less time with attitude-discrepant messages compared to attitude-consistent messages; this pattern was particularly pronounced among participants with higher attitude importance. Low importance fostered exposure to high-credibility messages. Exposure to attitude-discrepant, high-credibility messages reduced attitude accessibility.
Small-signal modeling of series and parallel resonant converters

A small-signal modeling technique based on the extended describing function concept is applied to series-resonant converters (SRCs) and parallel-resonant converters (PRCs). The models developed include both frequency control and phase-shift control. The small-signal equivalent circuit models are also derived and implemented in PSPICE. The models are in good agreement with measurement data. The high-frequency dynamics of resonant converters around the beat frequency can be accurately modeled. These simple analytical models can be employed in the control loop design of resonant converters. >
Adenoviral expression of activated pi3-kinase rescues cardiac dysfunction and injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion in akt transgenic mice

Adenoviral Expression of Activated PI3-Kinase Rescues Cardiac Dysfunction and Injury Induced by Ischemia-Reperfusion in Akt Transgenic Mice Tomohisa Nagoshi, Takashi Matsui, Hunter C. Champion, Ling Li, David A. Kass, Anthony Rosenzweig; Program in Cardiovascular Gene Therapy, Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA; Division of Cardiology, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD
Mechanical Model of Hydrogen Bonds in Protein Molecules

The unique properties of protein molecules have motivated researchers exploit them in the design and fabrication of bio-mimetic nano devices to perform a special task. Function of protein molecules is in turn dependent on their 3D structure and their ability to modify their shape for a specific task. To study and manipulate protein molecules we need to have knowledge of mechanical properties of these molecules. In this paper a multiscale model to predict stiffness of helical protein molecules has been developed. Hydrogen bonds as major contributing factor to proteins flexibility, are modeled as elastic springs based on their empirical potential energy. Such mechanical representation of hydrogen bonds enables us to obtain the stiffness ellipsoid of hydrogen bonds which leads to an understanding of the directional stiffness of protein molecules. The model has also been applied to three different protein molecules whose stiffness were reported in the literature. The comparison shows an agreement between the stiffness computed by the proposed model and that obtained through experiments and/or Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations.
Coupling an Advanced Land Surface–Hydrology Model with the Penn State–NCAR MM5 Modeling System. Part I: Model Implementation and Sensitivity

Abstract This paper addresses and documents a number of issues related to the implementation of an advanced land surface–hydrology model in the Penn State–NCAR fifth-generation Mesoscale Model (MM5). The concept adopted here is that the land surface model should be able to provide not only reasonable diurnal variations of surface heat fluxes as surface boundary conditions for coupled models, but also correct seasonal evolutions of soil moisture in the context of a long-term data assimilation system. In a similar way to that in which the modified Oregon State University land surface model (LSM) has been used in the NCEP global and regional forecast models, it is implemented in MM5 to facilitate the initialization of soil moisture. Also, 1-km resolution vegetation and soil texture maps are introduced in the coupled MM5–LSM system to help identify vegetation/water/soil characteristics at fine scales and capture the feedback of these land surface forcings. A monthly varying climatological 0.15° × 0.15° green ...
Treatment and pathogenesis of navicular disease (‘syndrome’) in horses

Summary The future directions of navicular disease research are unclear. Often researchers investigate only one of the multitude of factors likely to be important in understanding the disease. Two exceptions to this is work done by Wright in this issue of EVJ and by MacGregor (1988) who compared a number of the treatment regimens (e.g. rest, warfarin, isoxuprine, shoeing with egg bars) and found that ∼ 75% of the horses improved in their performance. Perhaps this percentage of ‘recovered’ horses from this disease is what can be realistically expected, as often horses with navicular disease remain undiagnosed until the disease has advanced to the stage where problems exist in the foot or to where the conformation-balance of the hoof is irrecoverable. Perhaps the key to controlling the disease is prevention by maintaining good overall hoof husbandry in a conservative and consistent manner. I would advocate that efforts be made to evaluate hoof ‘balance’ and the validity of the hoof wall-pastern axis being parallel, as these are clearly of importance in this debilitating disease.
Examining Dynamically Changing Timber Market Linkages

Market integration has been widely studied in the past to gain a better understanding of how different markets for the same good interact with one another. Traditional cointegration tests have been used to perform these analyses; however, these tests can only reveal the presence of stable or average long‐term relationships. To evaluate market dynamics over time, we modify a time‐varying smooth transition autoregressive (TV‐STAR) model to examine pine stumpage markets in the US South. The proposed model incorporates an economic indicator and allows us to evaluate market integration as it changes throughout a specified time period. The potential significance of this work is twofold. First, market integration can be observed as a function of an economic indicator, and secondly, the proposed model will allow us to draw inference about market integration at specific time points.
Trends in Soil Science Education and Employment

During the last several decades, members of the SSSA have discussed several trends related to soil science education, including: (i) declining academic programs and course offerings at land grant universities, (ii) decreased enrollments, and (iii) improved employment opportunities for soil science graduates (SSSA, 2006; Ferris et al., 2010). The SSSA Advocacy/Education Task Force met in 2007 and concluded that quantitative survey information was needed to document trends in soil science academic programs, student enrollment, faculty, and job opportunities for graduates. Suggested survey topics included: · Has the recognition of soil science as a distinct discipline increased or decreased? · How has the job market changed during the past decade, and how will job opportunities for soil scientists change in the future? · How have undergraduate and graduate soils curricula changed during the last decade? · Has enrollment in soil science degree programs and courses changed during the past decade? · Has there been a change in the degree programs of students enrolling in soils courses in the past decade? · Have soil science programs been combined with other programs? Therefore, the objective of the survey was to quantify trends in student enrollment, faculty positions, pertinent educational issues in soil and related sciences, and career or job opportunities and trends. Expected outcomes included a better understanding of current educational practices and trends, and identification of specific opportunities for SSSA to enhance the practice and profession of soil science.
Recombination at Heterojunction Interfaces

Generation and recombination mechanisms at heterojunction interfaces are quantitatively discussed for lattice-matched (AlGaAs/GaAs) and lattice-mismatched (InGaAs/InP) systems. The effect of increased interface recombination on photon recycling and carrier diffusion through the interface region are estimated through a calculation based on the ambipolar diffusion equation. Experimental photoluminescence power dependencies, revealing information about generation and recombination mechanisms, fit well with calculated photoluminescence intensities. Lifetimes and interface extent can be determined by these fits.
Comparative Study of Fluoroscopy and Intracardiac Echocardiographic Guidance for the Creation of Linear Atrial Lesions

Background—Recently, attempts have been made to cure atrial fibrillation by creating multiple linear atrial lesions with radiofrequency energy. Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) offers imaging of endocardial anatomy and the ablation electrode–tissue interface not available with standard fluoroscopy. This study sought to prospectively compare fluoroscopic with ICE guidance for the creation of linear atrial lesions in a canine model. Methods and Results—The creation of 3 linear atrial lesions was attempted in each of 10 dogs, half guided by fluoroscopy alone and half by ICE. Coil-tissue contact was prospectively graded. After ablation, animals were euthanized, and the location and continuity of lesions were evaluated. ICE guidance led to a higher percentage of successful applications (P=0.02) and mean achieved temperature (P=0.004). The contact scores of excellent, fair, and poor correlated well with successful energy delivery, mean temperature, and efficiency of heating (P<0.0001). In 25% of the blinded ...
Intravenous Thrombolysis for Stroke Increases Over Time at Primary Stroke Centers

Background and Purpose— We evaluated the impact that duration as a primary stroke center (PSC) had on tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) utilization for acute ischemic stroke. Methods— A retrospective analysis of the Illinois Hospital Association CompData was performed identifying those patients with primary discharge diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke based on International Classification of Diseases version 9 codes. We assessed utilization of tPA by International Classification of Diseases version 9 procedure code (99.10). We categorized patients as cared for at non-PSC, PSC >1 year before, ≤1 year before, ≤1 year after, and >1 year after certification. We used generalized estimating equations to calculate adjusted odds ratios for tPA utilization by PSC category. Results— Among 119 539 acute ischemic stroke patients (mean age, 72 years; 55.2% women), tPA use was 1.9% but increased by PSC category ( P 1 year before PSC certification 1.4%; (3) ≤1 year before certification 3.2%; (4) ≤1 year after certification 4.3%; and (5) >1 year after certification 6.5%. Adjusting for age, insurance status, admission source, year of study, region of Illinois, and hospital bed size, the odds of tPA utilization increased with advancing stage of PSC certification (highest category: adjusted odds ratio, 2.37; 95% confidence interval, 1.52–3.71). Conclusions— Although increasing over time, stroke thrombolysis is strongly impacted by the PSC certification process. Rather than waning or stagnating, tPA utilization increases at PSC from the earliest phases of preparation through certification and subsequent maintenance.
Accelerating SPICE Model-Evaluation using FPGAs

Single-FPGA spatial implementations can provide an order of magnitude speedup over sequential microprocessor implementations for data-parallel, floating-point computation in SPICE model-evaluation. Model-evaluation is a key component of the SPICE circuit simulator and it is characterized by large irregular floating-point compute graphs. We show how to exploit the parallelism available in these graphs on single-FPGA designs with a low-overhead VLIW-scheduled architecture. Our architecture uses spatial floating-point operators coupled to local high-bandwidth memories and interconnected by a time-shared network. We retime operation inputs in the model-evaluation to allow independent scheduling of computation and communication. With this approach, we demonstrate speedups of 2–18×over a dual-core 3GHz Intel Xeon 5160 when using a XilinxVirtex 5 LX330T for a variety of SPICE device models.
Carbohydrate balance predicts weight and fat gain in adults

Background: The prevention and treatment of obesity is a public health challenge. Objective: We investigated the effects of dietary composition, insulin sensitivity (S I ), and energy balance on predicted changes in body composition. Design: In a randomized crossover design study, 39 normal-weight (n = 23), overweight (n = 8), and obese (n = 8) men and women (aged 25-36 y) each followed a 15-d isocaloric high-fat (HF; 50% fat) and high-carbohydrate [HC; 55% carbohydrate (CHO)] diet with a 4-6-wk washout period during the first year. During each treatment, energy balance was measured while the subjects were inactive by using indirect calorimetry on day 15, and S I was measured by using a euglycemic clamp study (40 mU m -2 · min -1 ) on day 16. Weight and body composition were then measured annually for 4 y. The outcomes for fat mass, percentage body fat, and weight were measured by using a linear 2-stage mixed model. Results: CHO balance (day 15) and S I (day 16) on the HC diet were highly and significantly correlated (r = 0.55, P < 0.001). On the HC diet, the subjects who had a higher positive CHO balance (day 15) gained less fat mass (P < 0.001), percentage body fat (P = 0.006), and weight (P = 0.024) over time. When adjusted for S I , CHO balance remained a significant predictor of changes in fat mass (P = 0.021) and percentage body fat (P = 0.025). Conclusions: On a HC diet, the subjects who had a higher positive CHO balance on day 15 while they were inactive gained less fat mass during 4 y, a predictive effect independent of S I . As suggested in rodents, the capacity to expand the glycogen pool might reduce energy intake and protect against fat and weight gain.
Parameter estimation of superimposed signals by dynamic programming

The problem of fitting a model composed of a number of superimposed signals to noisy data using the maximum-likelihood criterion is considered. A local interaction model is established through the study of Cramer-Rao bound. For such models, the global extremum of the criterion is found efficiently by dynamic programming. An approximate version of the algorithm is developed to further reduce the computation. Using the minimum description length principle, it is shown that the dynamic programming method can be easily adapted to determine the number of signals as well. >
Motif enrichment tool.

The Motif Enrichment Tool (MET) provides an online interface that enables users to find major transcriptional regulators of their gene sets of interest. MET searches the appropriate regulatory region around each gene and identifies which transcription factor DNA-binding specificities (motifs) are statistically overrepresented. Motif enrichment analysis is currently available for many metazoan species including human, mouse, fruit fly, planaria and flowering plants. MET also leverages high-throughput experimental data such as ChIP-seq and DNase-seq from ENCODE and ModENCODE to identify the regulatory targets of a transcription factor with greater precision. The results from MET are produced in real time and are linked to a genome browser for easy follow-up analysis. Use of the web tool is free and open to all, and there is no login requirement. Address: http://veda.cs.uiuc.edu/MET/.
EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF ADAPTATION IN clarkia xantiana:II. FITNESS VARIATION ACROSS A SUBSPECIES BORDER

Because the range boundary is the locale beyond which a taxon fails to persist, it provides a unique opportunity for studying the limits on adaptive evolution. Adaptive constraints on range expansion are perplexing in view of widespread ecotypic differentiation by habitat and region within a species' range (regional adaptation) and rapid evolutionary response to novel environments. In this study of two parapatric subspecies, Clarkia xantiana ssp. xantiana and C. x. ssp. parviflora, we compared the fitness of population transplants within their native region, in a non-native region within the native range, and in the non-native range to assess whether range expansion might be limited by a greater intensity of selection on colonists of a new range versus a new region within the range. The combined range of the two subspecies spans a west-to-east gradient of declining precipitation in the Sierra Nevada of California, with ssp. xantiana in the west being replaced by ssp. parviflora in the east. Both subspecies had significantly higher fitness in the native range (range adaptation), whereas regional adaptation was weak and was found only in the predominantly outcrossing ssp. xantiana but was absent in the inbreeding ssp. parviflora. Because selection intensity on transplants was much stronger in the non-native range relative to non-native regions, there is a larger adaptive barrier to range versus regional expansion. Three of five sequential fitness components accounted for regional and range adaptation, but only one of them, survivorship from germination to flowering, contributed to both. Flower number contributed to regional adaptation in ssp. xantiana and fruit set (number of fruits per flower) to range adaptation. Differential survivorship of the two taxa or regional populations of ssp. xantiana in non-native environments was attributable, in part, to biotic interactions, including competition, herbivory, and pollination. For example, low fruit set in ssp. xantiana in the east was likely due to the absence of its principal specialist bee pollinators in ssp. parviflora's range. Thus, convergence on self-fertilization may be necessary for ssp. xantiana to invade ssp. parviflora's range, but the evolution of outcrossing would not be required for ssp. parviflora to invade ssp. xantiana's range.
Decomposite Channel Estimation and Equalization for GMSK-based System with Transmit Diversity

In this paper, multi-channel estimation schemes for a GMSK-based system with transmit diversity (space-time coding) are presented. For such a system, the channel information (impulse response) is critical for both space-time decoding and equalization at the receiver. Three non-blind estimation schemes, which decompose the channel in the process, are proposed for the GMSK receiver to obtain the impulse response of each of the multipath channels (i.e. transmit antennas): oversampling deconvolution, minimum mean-square error, and joint adaptive and correlation estimation. Since the received signal is the sum of emitted GMSK signals, interference cancellation is employed to facilitate the estimation process. Three cancellation algorithms, including direct cancellation, mean-square cancellation, and iterative cancellation, combined with each channel estimation method are investigated and compared. The estimated channel information will feed to the receiver consisting of space-time decoder and equalizer to decode the symbols of interest. Two receiver architectures are investigated in this paper, where the first design is the space-time decoder followed by the equalizer, the other is in the reverse way (equalizer followed by space-time decoder). In each of the two receiver architectures, the channel estimation needs additional modification and so does the equalizer. The equalizer in the design is a maximum likelihood sequence estimation (MLSE) based on Viterbi algorithm. To prove the concept and algorithms, both simulation and hardware implementation are performed. From the experimental results, it is shown that all the channel estimation algorithms can produce acceptable impulse response for space-time decoding and equalizer, in which the joint adaptive estimation with iterative cancellation is superior to the others. It is also shown that the diversity gain of this transmit diversity system is as good as a system with the same degree of receive diversity.
El pasaje como modus operandi: perspectivas simultáneas y recíprocamente excluyentes en Los ingrávidos de Valeria Luiselli

El presente articulo realiza un estudio del pasaje como tema y procedimiento clave en Los ingravidos de Valeria Luiselli –obra reclamada por la critica pero poco trabajada. La novela se deja leer a partir de este motivo, que se reitera al nivel de la forma, de la trama y de su afiliacion poetica. Esta ultima cuestion se abordara a traves de una doble lectura de la obra, primero, en relacion con la literatura fantastica latinoamericana y, luego, en relacion con el hiperrealismo norteamericano de las artes plasticas. Por ultimo, proponiendo un marco de comprension para Los ingravidos, relacionamos la obra con las reflexiones de Nicolas Bourriaud acerca del arte contemporaneo radicante. Asi, se alumbraran tanto la constitucion de un espacio narrado como de un territorio cultural luiselliano. This article explores passages as a key motif and organizing structure in Valeria Luiselli’s Los ingravidos, a work praised by the critics, but so far, neglected by the scholars. The novel lends itself to a reading that focuses on this theme tracing its reiteration at the level of form, plot, and aesthetical affiliation. The latter element is addressed through a twofold analysis of relation to Latin American fantastic literature and to North American hyperrealism in the visual arts. Finally, by relating Los ingravidos to Nicolas Bourriaud’s ideas on the radicant contemporary art, the article situates the novel within a broader context, which permits an appreciation for the constitution of Luiselli’s narrated space and her cultural territory.
Rest and exercise radionuclide angiography for diagnosis in chronic ischemic heart disease.

Rest and exercise radionuclide angiography is frequently employed for the diagnosis of chest pain syndromes. Its value and limitations in this regard have been well studied, but proper utilization of the technique requires an understanding of five critical concepts: (1) Radionuclide angiography is superior to treadmill exercise testing and probably equivalent to thallium scintigraphy, although the published series did not use current methods. (2) The true specificity of radionuclide angiography is about 80%, intermediate between the early optimistic estimates and the later pessimistic ones. (3) The peak exercise ejection fraction is the preferred test parameter for diagnosis, although exercise hemodynamics, symptoms, and electrocardiographic changes should also be considered. (4) Although radionuclide angiography is clearly helpful for noninvasive diagnosis, significant numbers of patients will continue to fall in an uncertain category. (5) The proper application of the technique requires recognition of its limitations and careful attention to technical details. When properly applied, this modality can make an important contribution to clinical decision making. 58 references.
Spatial Distribution of Crown Gall in a Commercial Nursery of Weeping Fig

Agrobacterium larrymoorei causes tumors on weeping fig. The association between propagation and pathogen spread in mother trees and daughter branches was studied in a commercial nursery. The mother tree planting was scouted for tumors prior to and after propagation. Branches selected for propagation were tagged to track disease development. The spatial distribution of crown gall in the mother tree planting was characterized with runs, join-count, and spatial autocorrelation analyses. The association of disease in mother trees and daughter branches was characterized with cross-correlation analysis. The incidence of crown gall in the mother tree planting increased from 7% prior to propagation to 32% eight months after propagation. Of the 4193 daughter branches monitored, 3.8% developed tumors. Runs analysis indicated significant clustering of diseased mother trees. Significant cross-correlations between mother trees and daughter branches with symptoms of crown gall were detected out to a distance of two plants from the source. Although pruning shears were routinely soaked in a disinfectant in this nursery, the degree of sterilization achieved apparently was not sufficient to prevent pathogen transmission. This study suggests that alternative sanitation measures should be sought and that infected mother trees and their neighbors should be avoided for propagation.
The co-production of campus safety and security: a case study at the University of Georgia

Campus safety and security is a salient issue and an area of increasing concern facing educational institutions in the United States. Yet little is known regarding ongoing efforts and resulting dif...
Panel Discussion on Saving the Neighborhood: Part II

Of the many audiences for Richard Brooks and Carol Rose’s Saving the Neighborhood, the one I will talk about today, perhaps unsurprisingly, is the audience of legal historians, and especially historians of race, civil rights, and the Constitution. Historians who think about racial inequality and the Constitution have thought some, but in my view, not enough, about one of the main subjects of this book: the state action requirement and the relationship between state-mandated and privately enforced racial inequality. In my remarks today, I will briefly review how Saving the Neighborhood treats those issues and identify lessons of the book for historians and constitutional law scholars who can learn much from them.
Economic Evaluations of Thrombophilia Screening Prior to Prescribing Combined Oral Contraceptives: A Systematic and Critical Review

Combined oral contraceptives (COCs) increase the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), particularly among women with inherited clotting disorders. The World Health Organization classifies combined hormonal contraception as an “unacceptable health risk” for women with thrombogenic mutations but advises against universal thrombophilia screening before prescribing COCs given the low prevalence of thrombophilia and high screening costs. Through the lens of lifetime costs and benefits, this paper systematically and critically reviews all published economic evaluations of thrombophilia screening prior to prescribing COCs. We searched relevant databases for economic evaluations of thrombophilia screening before prescribing COCs. After extracting the key study characteristics and economic variables, we evaluated each article using the Quality of Health Economic Studies (QHES) and the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) instruments. Seven economic evaluations of thrombophilia screening before prescribing COCs met our inclusion criteria. Only the two economic evaluations focusing exclusively on selective screening exceeded the 75-point threshold for high-quality economic studies based on the QHES instrument, whereas only one of these exceeded the 85% CHEERS threshold. Only three of the seven economic evaluations performed sensitivity analysis on key parameters. Most studies underestimated the benefits of thrombophilia screening by comparing one-time costs of genetic screening against benefits per person-year, thus implicitly assuming a 1-year duration of COC use, neglecting the long-term implications of VTE and/or neglecting the lifetime benefits of awareness of inherited thrombophilia. Our review highlights the lack of methodologically rigorous economic evaluations of universal thrombophilia screening before prescribing COCs.
A Typical Day With Mild Cognitive Impairment.

The article discusses the Typical Day project which is designed to raise awareness, educate individuals, and provide opportunities for people affected by mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to photograph their daily lives and tell their stories. According to the article, the Typical Day project includes the www.MyTypicalDay.org Web site and a traveling exhibit. Professional photographer Damari McBride is addressed, along with several MCI patients from the University of Pennsylvania's Memory Center.
Reduction of Dinitrogen to Ammonia Catalyzed by Molybdenum Diamido Complexes

[Ar2N3]Mo(N)(O-t-Bu), which contains the conformationally rigid pyridine-based diamido ligand, [2,6-(ArNCH2)2NC5H3]2– (Ar = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl), can be prepared from H2[Ar2N3], butyllithium, and (t-BuO)3Mo(N). [Ar2N3]Mo(N)(O-t-Bu) serves as a catalyst or precursor for the catalytic reduction of molecular nitrogen to ammonia in diethyl ether between −78 and 22 °C in a batchwise manner with CoCp*2 as the electron source and Ph2NH2OTf as the proton source. Up to ∼10 equiv of ammonia can be formed per Mo with a maximum efficiency in electrons of ∼43%.
Overexpansion of the 29 mm SAPIEN 3 transcatheter heart valve in patients with large aortic annuli (area > 683 mm2 ): A case series.

Objectives To evaluate overexpanded 29 mm SAPIEN (S3) transcatheter heart valves in patients with aortic annuli area >683 mm2 . Background The largest valve area the 29 mm S3 is specified for is 683 mm2 . Valve overexpansion has been performed in patients with larger aortic annuli, but data are limited. Moreover, feasibility in areas >740 mm2 is unknown. Methods All 29 mm S3 transcatheter aortic valve replacements (TAVR) at a single center over 23-months were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with annulus areas >683 mm2 were included. Immediate post-TAVR hemodynamics and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) findings on post-TAVR day-1 and day-30 were recorded. Results Of 81 29 mm S3 TAVR cases, 3 (3.7%) met inclusion criteria (patients 1, 2, and 3 had CT-scan derived areas of 748.1 mm2 , 793 mm2 , and 787 mm2 , respectively). Annular eccentricity index ranged from 0.12 to 0.25. All underwent transfemoral TAVR with 29 mm S3 valves overexpanded using +4 mL of contrast. Post-dilatation with +5 mL was performed in patient 2. The average valve shortening was 10.68 mm. On day 1, patients 1 and 2 had trace and mild paravalvular leak (PVL) (respectively), whereas, patient 3 had mild-moderate PVL. Patient 1 was also noted to have trace central AR on day 1. No other central AR was noted. Immediate post-procedure aortic regurgitation (AR) index in patients 1, 2, and 3 was 43, 34, and 33 respectively. At 30 days, AR was completely resolved in patient 1, whereas AR severity in patients 2 and 3 remained similar. No patients had > moderate AR at any point during follow-up. No valve migration or embolization occurred. Patient 1 required a permanent pacemaker. No other major complications were noted. All patients were clinically stable at 30 days. Conclusions TAVR using overexpanded 29 mm S3 in valve areas >740 mm2 (up to 793 mm2 ) seemed to be safe and feasible in our small series. Further study in a larger series is needed to determine clinical outcomes in this patient population.
Applied water and mechanical canopy management affect berry and wine phenolic and aroma composition of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L., cv. Syrah) in Central California

Abstract A field study was conducted in north-central San Joaquin Valley of California to deduce the interactive effects of irrigation and mechanical canopy management on the phenolic composition of grape and wine, and volatile compounds of the wines produced from Syrah (Vitis vinifera L.). The irrigation treatments consisted of a grower control of 70% crop evapotranspiration (ETc) replacement (IRR-I) from anthesis to harvest, compared to a stronger plant water stress between fruit set and veraison with 50% ETc replacement, otherwise 70% ETc replacement rest of the season (IRR-II). Four canopy management treatments were crossed with the irrigation design. A control treatment was pruned by hand to 22 two-node spurs (C) with no further manipulation. Experimental canopy management treatments (CM) consisted in mechanically box pruning the vines to a 0.10 m hedge combined with 3 levels of mechanically shoot thinning: heavy shoot thinning (M1), light shoot thinning (M2) and no shoot thinning (M3). In this two-year study, the irrigation treatments had no impact on the canopy architecture, but mechanization treatments were effective. However, this study reports sensitivity of canopy management to weather conditions in previous and current year, therefore to vintage effect. The irrigation treatments affected berry composition more than mechanization, and the effect was insensitive of the vintage effect. The IRR-II reduced berry weight, resulting in reduced yield and crop load in both years but greater berry anthocyanins, tannins and total phenolics. For anthocyanins, this result was also confirmed on wine. One year was characterized by higher amount of precipitation at fruit set, and in this year the concentration in 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine was higher, but the concentration of terpenes and norisoprenoids was lower, with the exception of β-damascenone that was stable between years but increased with IRR-II. In typical years, where no precipitation is received in the San Joaquin Valley from fruit set to veraison, the M2 and IRR-II method may contribute to improve berry skin and wine phenolics as well as to reducing IBMP in wine while achieving high yields. This trial showed that precipitation can modulate the impact of cultural practices on grape and wine composition, and that lower irrigation amounts do not correspond to reduced wine quality even in the semi-arid and warm conditions of Central California.
4 – Meat color

The main theme of this chapter is an overview of the factors that influence meat color and myoglobin chemistry. Meat color is primarily determined by several factors interacting in concert rather than one single trait. These factors can occur both antemortem and postmortem. Several sections are included, such as established factors influencing color, typical procedures used to evaluate color, and new developments in myoglobin chemistry in relation to our fundamental knowledge of meat color. Potential areas of research include cutting edge experiments in myoglobin chemistry, particularly via proteomics and mutants. In addition, development of color measurement methodology that is able to quantify carboxymyoglobin content is needed. Understanding myoglobin chemistry and the factors influencing meat color are critical for improving shelf-life. Future research that is directed at both fundamental myoglobin chemistry and applied technologies should be valuable to the meat industry.
A Centrifuge Study of Seismic Structure-Soil-Structure Interaction on Liquefiable Ground and Implications for Design in Dense Urban Areas

Current practice in seismic design often assumes free-field conditions for the estimation of liquefaction-induced building settlement. This is inaccurate, as a structure places additional stresses ...
Treatment patterns for ductal carcinoma in situ with close or positive mastectomy margins.

BACKGROUND Mastectomy remains an effective treatment for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) but whether further therapy is warranted for close or positive margins is controversial. We aim to characterize the treatment practices of DCIS throughout the United States in patients who undergo mastectomy with close or positive margins to better understand the use of postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT). MATERIALS AND METHODS Using the 2004-2013 National Cancer Database, we identified all female patients with a diagnosis of DCIS who underwent mastectomy. Distributional characteristics were summarized for overall and margin-stratified samples. Characteristic differences were assessed by region and receipt of radiation. Chi-square and independent sample t-tests were used to assess differences for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. RESULTS In 21,591 patients who met inclusion criteria, 470 patients with close/positive margins were identified. Sixteen percent of patients with close/positive margins received PMRT compared to 1.5% with negative margins (P < 0.01). There was no difference in PMRT and patient race, insurance status, treatment facility, or endocrine therapy. Patients with close/positive margins who received PMRT were more likely to be in an urban setting from the Midwest (24.6%) and Northeast (21.8%) compared to the West (11.0%) and South (10.7%) (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Use of PMRT for DCIS following mastectomy with close/positive margins differs across the country. Regional variations in treatment patterns reinforce a need to determine whether PMRT improves survival to establish treatment guidelines.
TCRβ-expressing macrophages induced by a pathogenic murine malaria correlate with parasite burden and enhanced phagocytic activity

Macrophages express a wide array of invariant receptors that facilitate host defense and mediate pathogenesis during pathogen invasion. We report on a novel population of CD11bhighCD14+F4/80+ macrophages that express TCRβ. This population expands dramatically during a Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection and sequesters in the brain during experimental cerebral malaria. Importantly, measurement of TCRβ transcript and protein levels in macrophages in wildtype versus nude and Rag1 knockout mice establishes that the observed expression is not a consequence of passive receptor expression due to phagocytosis or trogocytosis of peripheral T cells or nonspecific antibody staining to an Fc receptor or cross reactive epitope. We also demonstrate that TCRβ on brain sequestered macrophages undergoes productive gene rearrangements and shows preferential Vβ usage. Remarkably, there is a significant correlation in the proportion of macrophages that express TCRβ and peripheral parasitemia. In addition, presence of TCRβ on the macrophage also correlates with a significant increase (1.9 fold) in the phagocytosis of parasitized erythrocytes. By transcriptional profiling, we identify a novel set of genes and pathways that associate with TCRβ expression by the macrophage. Expansion of TCRβ-expressing macrophages points towards a convergence of the innate and adaptive immune responses where both arms of the immune system cooperate to modulate the host response to malaria and possibly other infections.
Islamophobia and Public Mental Health: Lessons Learned from Community Engagement Projects

With the recent rise of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim sentiments, Muslim American communities have experienced ongoing stressors that have detrimental effects on their mental health. This challenge is further aggravated by multiple barriers to seeking help, including mental health stigma, lack of culturally and religiously sensitive mental health services, and fear of discrimination by mental health providers.
All-printed multilayer high voltage capacitors with integrated processing feedback

Abstract Template-free 3D printing of electronic devices has the potential to broaden electronics integration to include complex integrated form factors, but success requires precise, adaptive control over materials processing. The development of such manufacturing technologies requires exploration of new combinations of ink sets, printing techniques, and automation strategies. In this work, solution-cast direct-write (SC-DW) was used to print poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) dielectric films with breakdown fields of 790 V/μm, similar to commercially available biaxial-oriented polypropylene (BOPP) films. Furthermore, a complementary composite ink for printing conductive features was developed with conductivities of ˜10,000 Scm-1. A closed-loop feedback system that links deposition parameters with characterization was necessary to maintain μm-precision deposition for over 20 h without human involvement. This closed-loop control scheme enabled 3D printing of both single- and double-layer high-voltage capacitors with capacitances as large as 314 pF (at 1 kHz) and breakdown voltages over 1000 V, which is significant step towards repeatable template-free, 3D printing of electronics for rapid prototyping of multifunctional devices. The precise control over low minimum feature dimension, high breakdown voltage, and long print duration enables the exploration of a broader range of printed electronics application than conventional 3D printing techniques.