cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sex-biased parental investment is correlated with mate ornamentation in eastern bluebirds

Males typically have greater variance in reproductive success than females, so mothers should benefit by producing sons under favourable conditions. Being paired with a better-than-average mate is one such favourable circumstance. High-quality fathers can improve conditions for their offspring by providing good genes, good resources, or both, so females paired to such males should invest preferentially in sons. Ornamentation has been linked to male quality in many birds, and, in support of differential allocation theory, females of several avian species invest more in entire broods when paired to attractive mates. Additionally, the females of some bird species apparently manipulate the primary sex ratio of their broods in relation to the attractiveness of their mates. However, empirical support for a link between mate ornamentation and preferential feeding of sons (another form of biased investment) is lacking. We tested for correlations between sex-biased parental investment and mate plumage colour in the eastern bluebird, Sialia sialis, a species in which juveniles have sexually dichromatic UV blue plumage. We found that the proportion of maternal feeding attempts to fledgling sons (versus fledgling daughters) was positively correlated with structurally coloured plumage ornamentation of fathers. Additionally, paternal feeding attempts to sons were correlated with plumage ornamentation of mothers and increased in fathers that had breast plumage characteristics typical of older males. These results provide further support for the idea that parental strategies are influenced by mate attractiveness and provide the first evidence that mate ornamentation can influence parental behaviour even after offspring have left the nest.
The effects of high (sodium meglumine diatrizoate, renografin-76) and low osmolar (sodium meglumine ioxaglate, hexabrix) radiographic contrast media on diastolic function during left ventriculography in patients

Although a majority of studies indicate superior hemodynamic and clinical profiles of low osmolar compared with high osmolar contrast media, the effect of these agents on diastolic left ventricular function has not been examined. We prospectively examined hemodynamic, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic indices of left ventricular function in patients undergoing contrast ventriculography with a high osmolar, ionic, monomeric contrast, diatrizoate (Renografin-76) compared with a low osmolar, ionic, dimeric contrast, ioxaglate (Hexabrix). Thirty patients were randomized to each group. There were no clinical differences between the two groups. The decrease in systemic pressures was significantly greater with diatrizoate after left ventriculography (-38.5 +/- 3.5 versus -18.2 +/- 2.3, p less than 0.001) and selective left coronary angiography (-29.5 +/- 2.4 versus -17.4 +/- 2.6, p less than 0.001). In addition, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure increased significantly more with diatrizoate (7.3 +/- 0.9 versus 2.7 +/- 0.8 mm Hg for ioxaglate, p less than 0.001). QT interval prolongation occurred in both patient groups. Diatrizoate decreased systemic vascular resistance, and increased cardiac output and left ventricular ejection fraction more than ioxaglate, while simultaneously increasing left ventricular end-diastolic volume and altering the peak atrial filling velocity. Negative dp/dt (p less than 0.05), but not Tau, computed by the logarithmic or derivative methods, was reduced by diatrizoate. These data indicate that significant alteration of diastolic filling patterns occurs with high osmolar compared with low osmolar contrast agents. Although the clinical significance of this observation is currently unknown, these data further support the reported hemodynamic superiority of the low osmolar, dimeric contrast agent ioxaglate during contrast angiography.
Nitrogen deposition in malnourished children with cystic fibrosis

To determine the protein nutritional status of 21 malnourished children with cystic fibrosis (CF), total body nitrogen (TBN) was measured and the results were compared with 21 control subjects. CF patients demonstrated a lower TBN (P less than 0.001). When matched for height (n = 10) or bone age (n = 13), the CF patients still had a depressed TBN/height or TBN/lean body mass (P less than 0.05). To assess nitrogen deposition during nutritional rehabilitation, repeat TBN measurements were performed on the 21 CF patients. Nitrogen deposition ranged from -230 to 550 g/y and correlated with weight velocity (r = 0.78, P less than 0.001). Increased nitrogen deposition (greater than 150 g/y) was generally associated with normal height gain (height velocity SD score greater than -2.00) and weight gain (greater than 2.0 kg/y). Decreased nitrogen deposition was associated with poor weight gain but did not preclude normal linear growth. These data suggest an important role for TBN estimations in defining protein nutritional status in children and indicate that skeletal growth can continue in the presence of minimal nitrogen deposition.
Patterns of convection in spherical shells

The problem of the pattern of motion realized in a convectively unstable system with spherical symmetry can be considered without reference to the physical details of the system. Since the solution of the linear problem is degenerate because of the spherical homogeneity, the nonlinear terms must be taken into account in order to remove the degeneracy. The solvability condition leads to the selection of patterns distinguished by their symmetries among spherical harmonics of even order. It is shown that the corresponding convective motions set in as subcritical finite-amplitude instabilities.
Recommendations based on users' information-centered networks

Danielle H. Lee is a doctoral candidate at the School of Information Sciences, University of Pittsburgh. She successfully passed her dissertation defense on November 9, 2012 and is now looking for an assistant professor job. She received her Master's degree in Information Science at Syracuse University. She worked for Samsung SDS Co. as a software engineer, Jangan College as an invited professor and Center for Dental Informatics, University of Pittsburgh as a researcher. She published several papers concentrating on knowledge sharing patterns on social media and personalized recommendations based on users' social networks in various journals and conferences, such as Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology; Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems; Journal of Information Processing Systems; ACM Conference on Hypertext and Hypermedia; ACM Conference on Recommender Systems; etc. She also participated in several journals and conferences (e.g. Transactions on Intelligent Systems and Technology; User Modeling and User-Adapted Interaction; Web Intelligence; User Modeling, Adaptation and Personalization; ACM Conference on Recommender Systems) as reviewers. Her research interests are personalized recommendations using users' social networks, behavioral influence and information propagation in online social networks and knowledge mining of collective intelligence.
Full genome characterization of the first G3P[24] rotavirus strain detected in humans provides evidence of interspecies reassortment and mutational saturation in the VP7 gene

During the 2008–2009 rotavirus season of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention New Vaccine Surveillance Network, one case of paediatric acute gastroenteritis associated with a rotavirus G14P[24] strain was identified. This was the first detection of the genotype G14 and P[24] in humans, and the first detection of the G14P[24] combination. To gain an insight into the origins and the evolution of this strain, we determined the complete ORF sequences of all 11 genes. A majority of the genes identified were similar to the simian strain TUCH, except for the VP1 and VP7 genes that clustered only distantly with the bovine and equine strains, respectively. In addition, this strain carried AU-1-like NSP2 and NSP4 genes. Using codon-partitioning and protein-based phylogenetic approaches, we determined that the VP7 genotype of strain 2009727118 was actually G3; therefore, the proposed full genomic classification of the 2009727118 strain is G3-P[24]-I9-R2-C3-M3-A9-N3-T3-E3-H6. These findings indicate the possibility that the 2009727118 strain originated by interspecies transmission and multiple reassortment events involving human, bovine and equine rotaviruses, resulting in the introduction of some genes into the genome of simian rotaviruses. Additionally, we found evidence of mutational saturation in the third codon position of the VP7 ORF which presented an issue with homoplasy in phylogenetic analyses.
High Performance Micromachined Planar Field-Asymmetric Ion Mobility Spectrometers for Chemical and Biological Compound Detection

The micromachined Planar High Field Asymmetric Waveform Ion Mobility Spectrometer (PFAIMS) is a novel detector for chemical and biological sensing applications. This detector fills an unmet market need, providing spectrometer capabilities and extremely high sensitivity, at a cost comparable to stand-alone sensors. The PFAIMS is quantitative, and has detection limits down to the parts-per-trillion. The performance of the PFAIMS in a number of applications ranging from industrial to biomedical, where it is used as both a stand alone sensor, and as a gas chromatographic detector are demonstrated. These applications include the detection of xylene isomers and non-invasive medical diagnosis through breath analysis.
Early versus Late Feeding after Cesarean Delivery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective This study aims to evaluate whether early feeding after cesarean delivery (CD) shortens the time to pass flatus and bowel movement. Methods Women at term undergoing CD were randomly assigned to start oral intake either within 6 hours (early feeding) or after 12 hours (late feeding) from surgery completion. Women with preeclampsia, or requiring emergent CD, additional bowel surgery, or the use of general anesthesia were excluded. Our primary outcome was time of passing first flatus following surgery completion. Secondary outcomes included time of first bowel sounds, time of first bowel movement, nausea/vomiting, and length of maternal hospital stay (clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT02396485). Results A total of 177 women were randomized to early ( n = 85) or late feeding ( n = 82). There was no loss to follow-up, and outcomes were available for all patients. There were no differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups. Early feeding resulted in shorter time to pass flatus (median [interquartile range], 715 [485–1,208] minutes vs. 1,300 [820–1,760] minutes; p p = 0.001). Time to pass bowel movement was shorter in the early-feeding group, but did not reach significance. The groups did not differ in length of stay or in rates of nausea, vomiting, or ileus. Conclusion In women undergoing CD, early oral intake is well tolerated and results in earlier return of bowel function.
Effects of elevated pCO2 on the survival, growth, and moulting of the Pacific krill species, Euphausia pacifica

While ocean acidification (OA) is expected to havewide-ranging negative effects onmarine species, organisms currently living in variable pH environments that expose them intermittently to pH values approaching those predicted for the future, may be better adapted to tolerate prolonged exposure to high pCO2 levels caused by OA. Seasonal upwelling brings low pH water to the surface along the Pacific Coast of North America. In Monterey Bay, California Euphausia pacifica, a key species supporting a diverse multi-trophic-level ecosystem, currently experiences broad pCO2 and pH ranges due to both diel vertical migrations and seasonal upwelling. We determined tolerances of E. pacifica to prolonged exposure to pH levels predicted for 2100 bymaintaining adults at twopCO2 levels (380 and 1200 matm) for 2months. Rates of survival andmoultingwere the same at both pCO2 levels. High pCO2 slowed growth in all size classes. In additional experiments to determine pCO2 threshold levels above which E. pacifica is adversely affected, survival was not affected down to pH 6.96 (6050 matm), but declined rapidly at pH 6.92 (7228 matm) and lower, with 100% mortality within 10 d at pH 6.89.
Church and State in Seventeenth-Century Massachusetts: Another Look at the Antinomian Controversy

The Erastian quality of church-state relations in seventeenth century Massachusetts has been both damned and defended by historians. Recently, there has been a basic consensus in supporting the colony government's involvement in ecclesiastical affairs, viewing it as necessary in order to protect and insure congregational purity. Civil interference in religious affairs was not a violation of the ideals of the colony's founders, but in fact the only way they knew to accomplish their goal of establishing a city upon a hill composed of individual groupings of the elect. It is possible, however, to approach the government's ecclesiastical interests from a different angle. Such involvement was necessary to protect civil stability. The state, not the religious structure, was of paramount importance, and most civil actions were channeled primarily towards insuring the viability of the former, not the sanctity of the latter. The Antinomian controversy provides us with a convenient laboratory in which to understand the driving impulse of the Massachusetts government to control ecclesiastical affairs for the sake of its own welfare. The common view is that the official response to the activities of Anne Hutchinson and her followers was essentially abstract in nature—concerned with conflicting notions of theology—and designed to enforce congregational purity.1 This is in
Comparison of respiratory dynamics of closed circuit ventilation and Jackson-Rees circuit ventilation

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of performing closed circuit ventilation with Ohmeda Excel 210 plus ventilator 7900 in the infant anesthesiaMethods Thirty lip cleft or palate cleft infants with body weight under 10 kg were enrolled into the studyIn a sequence of before and after, the parameters of respiratory dynamics were compared between closed circuit ventilation and Jackson-Rees circuit ventilation RR 22 frequency/min, I:E 1:15 and P ETCO 2 40mmHg were set as constant parameters, tidal volume (VT) was adjusted accordinglyThe total respiratory compliance (CT), airway peak pressure (Ppeak), positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), fractional concentration of CO 2 in inspiratory gas (FiCO 2), first second forced expiratory volume rate (FEV 10%) were measured during closed circuit and Jackson-Rees circuit ventilationsResults As compared with those during the Jackson-Rees circuit ventilation, PEEP increased significantly and FiCO 2 decreased markedly during the closed circuit ventilationThere were no significant differences in Ppeak, VT, CT, FEV 10%, MAC, SpO 2, HR and MAP between closed circuit ventilation and Jackson-Rees circuit ventilationConclusions It is feasible to perform closed circuit ventilation with Ohmeda Excel 210 plus ventilator 7900 in the infant anesthesia
From streamlined combinatorial search to efficient constructive procedures

In recent years, significant progress in the area of search, constraint satisfaction, and automated reasoning has been driven in part by the study of challenge problems from combinatorics and finite algebra. This work has led to the discovery of interesting discrete structures with intricate mathematical properties. While some of those results have resolved open questions and conjectures, a shortcoming is that they generally do not provide further mathematical insights, from which one could derive more general observations. We propose an approach that integrates specialized combinatorial search, using so-called streamlining, with a human computation component. We use this approach to discover efficient constructive procedures for generating certain classes of combinatorial objects of any size. More specifically, using our framework, we discovered two complementary efficient constructions for generating so-called Spatially Balanced Latin squares (SBLS) of any order N, such that 2N+1 is prime. Previously constructions for SBLSs were not known. Our approach also enabled us to derive a new lower bound for socalled weak Schur numbers, improving on a series of earlier results for Schur numbers.
Enhancing end-to-end availability and performance by leveraging internet redundancy

In this thesis, we explore an emerging area of research—enhancing end-to-end performance and availability by leveraging the redundancy of the Internet. As the Internet is increasingly utilized as a business necessity, connectivity and network availability are becoming business-critical resources since even short-lived failures can generate significant losses. While ensuring a high level of end-to-end availability and performance is critical, current routing protocols have not been successful in masking path failures and/or network congestion to endhosts. This thesis presents the results of our work to maximize end-to-end application performance and availability by effectively leveraging the inherent redundancy of the Internet infrastructure. We first characterize the Internet's topological behavior, and study the effectiveness of two widely used existing architectures: multi-homing and overlay networks. In particular, this work quantifies the extent to which the redundancy of the Internet is utilized, and identifies several problematic features of current multi-homing and overlay networks. This study will help researchers and operators to gain insights into the realistic behavior of multi-homing and overlay networks and use these insights to develop better network design and configuration. Inspired by these observations, we propose a framework for topology-aware overlay networks by incorporating topology considerations in designing overlay architectures. In this framework, we develop several heuristics for intelligent node placement by which we can ensure that each overlay node is as topologically and geographically diverse as possible. On top of this architecture, we adopt a single-hop routing mechanism for better scalability. This thesis presents measurement-based verification to conclude that the proposed single-hop overlay routing performs as well as multi-hop routing with respect to both availability and performance. Finally, we develop the architecture for FVPNs (Fault-tolerant Virtual Private Networks) as an example application. The main idea of this work is to pre-calculate and install a set of redundant, minimally overlapping paths between endpoints that can be used as backup routes when primary paths fail. With FVPNs, we would be able to provide seamless network fail-over to VPN clients, independent of underlying IP networks. Overall, we believe that this study will help researchers and operators to understand the behavior of currently existing multi-homing and overlay networks, and give them some guidelines for designing and configuring the networks for better availability and performance.
Polydnavirus Gene Products that Interact with the Host Immune System

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the polydnavirus gene products that interact with the host immune system. The Polydnaviridae is divided into the genus bracovirus (BV), which is associated with wasps in seven subfamilies of the Braconidae and the genus ichnovirus (IV), which is associated with wasps in two subfamilies of the Ichneumonidae. Strict vertical transmission as proviruses results in each wasp species carrying a genetically unique polydnavirus (PDV) isolate. Most PDV-carrying wasps also parasitize only one or a small number of host species, which are primarily larval or egg stage Lepidoptera. All PDV-carrying wasps inject the encapsidated form of their virus into host insects when they oviposit. Virions rapidly infect different host tissues and within 1–2 h begin expressing viral gene products. PDVs do not replicate in the wasp's host but a number of the genes they express are implicated in causing physiological alterations of benefit to developing offspring. Among the most important of these alterations is preventing the host's immune system from killing wasp eggs and larvae.
Under-reporting of Adverse Events in the Biomedical Literature

Purpose: To address the under-reporting of research results, with emphasis on the underreporting/distorted reporting of adverse events in the biomedical research literature. Design/methodology/approach: A four-step approach is used:(1) To identify the characteristics of literature that make it adequate to support policy; (2) to show how each of these characteristics becomes degraded to make inadequate literature; (3) to identify incentives to prevent inadequate literature; and (4) to show policy implications of inadequate literature. Findings: This review has provided reasons for, and examples of, adverse health effects of myriad substances (1) being under-reported in the premiere biomedical literature, or (2) entering this literature in distorted form. Since there is no way to gauge the extent of this under/distorted-reporting, the quality and credibility of the‘premiere’biomedical literature is unknown. Therefore, any types of meta-analyses or scientometric analyses of this literature will have unknown quality and credibility. The most sophisticated scientometric analysis cannot compensate for a highly flawed database. Research limitations: The main limitation is in identifying examples of under-reporting. There are many incentives for under-reporting and few dis-incentives. Practical implications: Almost all research publications, addressing causes of disease, treatments for disease, diagnoses for disease, scientometrics of disease and health issues, and other aspects of healthcare, build upon previous healthcare-related research published. Many researchers will not have laboratories or other capabilities to replicate or validate the published research, and depend almost completely on the integrity of this literature. If the literature is distorted, then future research can be misguided, and health policy recommendations can be ineffective or worse. Originality/value: This review has examined a much wider range of technical and nontechnical causes for under-reporting of adverse events in the biomedical literature than previous studies.
Three-dimensional photoacoustic imaging using robotically tracked transrectal ultrasound probe with elevational synthetic aperture focusing

Three-dimensional photoacoustic imaging using robotically tracked transrectal ultrasound probe is introduced to improve brachytherapy seeds detectability. The feasibility was experimentally demonstrated, and synthetic aperture focusing improved elevational resolution and signal-to-noise ratio.
MRI and Preoperative Staging in Women Newly Diagnosed with Breast Cancer

Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is well established as the most sensitive and accurate imaging modality for local-regional staging of breast cancer. It is superior to clinical examination, mammography and ultrasound, alone or combined, in delineation of size and extent of tumor, additional sites of disease, pectoralis muscle and chest wall invasion, nipple and skin involvement, as well as lymph node metastasis. However, the use of MRI for staging of newly diagnosed breast cancer has been a subject of intense debate, because the expected clinical benefits of improved staging by MRI have been called into question. The clinical outcome literature on the benefits of preoperative MRI shows conflicting results regarding re-excision rates and local recurrence rates, and the data do not support a benefit on long-term survival. There are also concerns that preoperative MRI causes delayed definitive therapy and increased mastectomy rates. This chapter details the advantages of MRI staging of newly diagnosed breast cancer, discusses the benefit of MRI staging for a subset of patients and certain clinical scenarios, and reviews the current literature with respect to the pros and cons of MRI staging.
De 4DKL bevordert juist persoonsgerichte zorg

Er is geen wetenschappelijk bewijs dat het gebruik van vragenlijsten in de eerstelijns ggz nuttig is voor het herkennen, diagnosticeren en vervolgen van psychosociale problemen.1 Dat geldt ook voor de Vierdimensionale Klachtenlijst (4DKL), want dat is voor de 4DKL nooit onderzocht. Het onderzoek dat wel gedaan is, betreft bijna uitsluitend depressievragenlijsten. Dit heeft alles te maken met de explosief toegenomen belangstelling voor depressie in de jaren tachtig, welke niet geheel toevallig volgde op de ontdekking van antidepressiva.2,3 Door de obsessie met de ‘volksziekte depressie’ werden alle psychosociale problemen die mensen kunnen hebben in een context van meer of minder ‘depressie’ geplaatst. Daarbij had de DSM-III de drempel voor ‘major depressive disorder’ flink verlaagd, zodanig dat ook normale reacties op verlies en tegenslag (‘normal sadness’) daaronder vielen.4 Geen wonder dat patienten zich vaak slecht in het label ‘depressie’ herkennen,5 en dat ook huisartsen er slecht mee uit de voeten kunnen.6 Dat heeft de persoonsgerichte zorg beslist onder druk gezet.
Prospective, Head-to-Head Study of Three Computerized Neurocognitive Assessment Tools Part 2: Utility for Assessment of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Emergency Department Patients.

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of three computerized neurocognitive assessment tools (CNTs; i.e., ANAM, DANA, and ImPACT) for assessing mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in patients recruited through a level I trauma center emergency department (ED). Methods mTBI (n=94) and matched trauma control (n=80) subjects recruited from a level I trauma center emergency department completed symptom and neurocognitive assessments within 72 hr of injury and at 15 and 45 days post-injury. Concussion symptoms were also assessed via phone at 8 days post-injury. Results CNTs did not differentiate between groups at any time point (e.g., M 72-hr Cohen's d=-.16, .02, and .00 for ANAM, DANA, and ImPACT, respectively; negative values reflect greater impairment in the mTBI group). Roughly a quarter of stability coefficients were over .70 across measures and test-retest intervals in controls. In contrast, concussion symptom score differentiated mTBI vs. control groups acutely), with this effect size diminished over time (72-hr and day 8, 15, and 45 Cohen's d=-.78, -.60, -.49, and -.35, respectively). Conclusions The CNTs evaluated, developed and widely used to assess sport-related concussion, did not yield significant differences between patients with mTBI versus other injuries. Symptom scores better differentiated groups than CNTs, with effect sizes weaker than those reported in sport-related concussion studies. Nonspecific injury factors, and other characteristics common in ED settings, likely affect CNT performance across trauma patients as a whole and thereby diminish the validity of CNTs for assessing mTBI in this patient population. (JINS, 2017, 23, 293-303).
AKT/PKB Signaling: Navigating the Network

The Ser and Thr kinase AKT, also known as protein kinase B (PKB), was discovered 25 years ago and has been the focus of tens of thousands of studies in diverse fields of biology and medicine. There have been many advances in our knowledge of the upstream regulatory inputs into AKT, key multifunctional downstream signaling nodes (GSK3, FoxO, mTORC1), which greatly expand the functional repertoire of AKT, and the complex circuitry of this dynamically branching and looping signaling network that is ubiquitous to nearly every cell in our body. Mouse and human genetic studies have also revealed physiological roles for the AKT network in nearly every organ system. Our comprehension of AKT regulation and functions is particularly important given the consequences of AKT dysfunction in diverse pathological settings, including developmental and overgrowth syndromes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, and neurological disorders. There has also been much progress in developing AKT-selective small molecule inhibitors. Improved understanding of the molecular wiring of the AKT signaling network continues to make an impact that cuts across most disciplines of the biomedical sciences.
Transition-Metal Catalysis of Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions: A Radical Alternative to SN1 and SN2 Processes

Classical methods for achieving nucleophilic substitutions of alkyl electrophiles (SN1 and SN2) have limited scope and are not generally amenable to enantioselective variants that employ readily available racemic electrophiles. Radical-based pathways catalyzed by chiral transition-metal complexes provide an attractive approach to addressing these limitations.
The Experience of Pain Dismissal in Adolescence.

CONTEXT Pain in adolescence has psychosocial effects lasting into adulthood, including increased likelihood of pain in adulthood and higher rates of depression and anxiety. Many adolescents with chronic pain describe skepticism of pain reports, but this has not yet been evaluated in a sample of typically developing adolescents. OBJECTIVE The current study sought to describe the experience of perceived pain dismissal during adolescence in a community sample. METHOD Nearly 2000 (1931) emerging adults were recruited from the community and answered open-ended questions regarding whether they had experienced dismissal of their pain in adolescence, who dismissed their pain, characteristics of the dismisser, and what that experience was like. Qualitative responses were coded using a Delphi method. RESULTS One in 10 young adults reported an experience of pain dismissal during adolescence. Young adults reported that dismissals by parents and physicians were the most distressing. Often, this experience was associated with a lasting sense of hostility toward the person who dismissed their pain, as well as anger, self-directed negativity, damage to the relationship, and feelings of isolation. CONCLUSIONS One in 10 young adults reported at least one instance of dismissed pain and half of these instances involved a parent or medical provider. Results suggest a lasting negative impact of perceived dismissal. Pain in adolescence is a complicated experience and the current study indicates that parents and physicians need further guidance on how best to respond to reports of pain.
Are Northeastern U.S. forests vulnerable to extreme drought

In the Northeastern U.S., drought is expected to increase in frequency over the next century, and therefore, the responses of trees to drought are important to understand. There is recent debate about whether land-use change or moisture availability is the primary driver of changes in forest species composition in this region. Some argue that fire suppression from the early twentieth century to present has resulted in an increase in shade-tolerant and pyrophobic tree species that are drought intolerant, while others suggest precipitation variability as a major driver of species composition. From this debate, an emerging hypothesis is that mesophication and increases in the abundance of mesophytic genera (e.g., Acer, Betula, and Fagus) resulted in forests that are more vulnerable to drought. This review examines the published literature and factors that contribute to drought vulnerability of Northeastern U.S. forests. We assessed two key concepts related to drought vulnerability, including drought tolerance (ability to survive drought) and sensitivity (short-term responses to drought), with a focus on Northeastern U.S. species. We assessed drought-tolerance classifications for species, which revealed both consistencies and inconsistencies, as well as contradictions when compared to actual observations, such as higher mortality for drought-tolerant species. Related to drought sensitivity, recent work has focused on isohydric/anisohydric regulation of leaf water potential. However, based on the review of the literature, we conclude that drought sensitivity should be viewed in terms of multiple variables, including leaf abscission, stomatal sensitivity, turgor pressure, and dynamics of non-structural carbohydrates. Genera considered drought sensitive (e.g., Acer, Betula, and Liriodendron) may actually be less prone to drought-induced mortality and dieback than previously considered because stomatal regulation and leaf abscission in these species are effective at preventing water potential from reaching critical thresholds during extreme drought. Independent of drought-tolerance classification, trees are prone to dieback and mortality when additional stressors are involved such as insect defoliation, calcium and magnesium deficiency, nitrogen saturation, and freeze-thaw events. Overall, our literature review shows that multiple traits associated with drought sensitivity and tolerance are important as species may rely on different mechanisms to prevent hydraulic failure and depleted carbon reserves that may lead to mortality.
Shrink Films: Their Manufacture, Properties, Applications

There are many kinds of natural and synthetic polymer systems which can be formed into packaging films. Well known examples are the cellulosics, polyolefins, polyesters, vinyls, and nylons. All of these may be formed into the thin (0.003" or less) sheets which constitute the films family. However, only a relatively few can be prepared in such a fashion that, when heat is applied, they will shrink-up in an orderly fashion.Paper published with permission.Compilation Copyright © 2018 ASME
THALLIUM-201 SPECT PERFORMED IN CONJUNCTION WITH TC 99M PYP IMPROVES QUANTIFICATION AND DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY OFTC 99M PYP UPTAKE FOR ASSESSMENT OF PATIENTS WITH SUSPECTED CARDIAC AMYLOIDOSIS

Myocardial Tc-99m-pyrophosphate (Tc-99m PYP) uptake is used to distinguish transthyretin associated amyloid (ATTR) from primary light chain amyloid (AL). With Tc-99m PYP SPECT alone, differentiation of myocardium and the blood pool may be imprecise and quantification of Tc-99m PYP uptake may be
Benchmarking rectal cancer care: institutional compliance with a longitudinal checklist.

Abstract Background In 2012, the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons published the Rectal Cancer Surgery Checklist, a consensus document listing 25 essential elements of care for all patients undergoing radical surgery for rectal cancer. The authors herein examine checklist adherence in a mature, multisurgeon specialty academic practice. Materials and methods A retrospective medical record review of patients undergoing elective radical resection for rectal adenocarcinoma over a 23-mo period was conducted. Checklists were completed post hoc for each patient, and these results were tabulated to determine levels of compliance. Subgroup analyses by compliance and experience levels of the treating surgeon were performed. Results A total of 161 patients underwent resection, demonstrating a median completion rate of 84% per patient. Poor compliance was noted consistently in documenting baseline sexual function (0%), multidisciplinary discussion of treatment plans (16.8%), pelvic nerve identification (8.7%) and leak testing (52.9%), and radial margin status reporting (57.5%). Junior surgeons achieved higher rates of compliance and were more likely to restage after neoadjuvant therapy (67.9% versus 29.4%, P Conclusions Checklist compliance within a high-volume, specialty academic practice remains varied. Only surgeon experience level was significantly associated with high checklist compliance. Junior surgeons achieved greater compliance with certain items, particularly those that reinforce decision-making. Further efforts to standardize rectal cancer care should focus on checklist implementation, targeted surgeon outreach, and assessment of checklist compliance correlation to clinical outcomes.
Stress, Anxiety, and Cocaine Abuse

Abstract Heightened anxiety and sensitivity to stress following chronic cocaine use are likely to increase an individual's susceptibility for relapse to drug-seeking behavior. Thus, it is important to investigate the neural mechanisms responsible for the regulation of anxiety during cocaine withdrawal and stress-induced relapse in order to identify potential targets for pharmacological intervention. This chapter will address the involvement of several neurotransmitter systems in regulating anxiety during cocaine withdrawal and stress-induced relapse mechanisms. The distinct roles of the dopamine, serotonin, corticotropin releasing factor, norepinephrine, and opioid systems in regulating the negative consequences of cocaine withdrawal and the effects of stress in eliciting relapse to drug use will be discussed. In addition, a section detailing the potential role of other neuropeptides like cholecystokinin and neuropeptide Y in cocaine withdrawal-induced anxiety and stress-induced relapse is included. It is important to consider the roles of these brain-signaling systems separately, as well as integrated in a network that functions in regulating anxiety during cocaine withdrawal and the effects of stress on drug abuse and relapse to drug use. By targeting these regulatory mechanisms, potential pharmacological targets may be identified in support of the prevention of relapse to drug use.
Identification of proteins involved in Trypanosoma brucei DNA replication fork dynamics using nascent DNA proteomics

Abstract DNA replication, transcription and chromatin remodeling are coordinated to ensure accurate duplication of genetic and epigenetic information. In regard to DNA replication, trypanosomatid parasites such as Trypanosoma brucei display unusual properties including significantly fewer origins of replication than model eukaryotes, a highly divergent Origin Replication Complex (ORC), and an apparent lack of several replication factor homologs. Although recent studies in T. brucei indicate functional links among DNA replication, transcription, and antigenic variation, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we adapted an unbiased technology for the identification of replication fork proteins called iPOND (isolation of proteins on nascent DNA) to T. brucei, its first application to a parasite system. This led to the mass spectrometric identification of core replication machinery and of proteins associated with transcription, chromatin organization, and DNA repair that were enriched in the vicinity of an unperturbed active replication fork. Of a total of 410 enriched proteins, among which DNA polymerase α and replication factor C were scoring in the top, around 25% of the proteins identified were of unknown function and, therefore, have the potential to be essential trypanosome-specific replication proteins. Initial characterization of a protein annotated as a Replication Factor C subunit (Tb927.10.7990), and a protein of unknown function (Tb927.3.5370) revealed that both proteins retain nuclear localization throughout the cell cycle. While Tb927.3.5370 appeared to be a dispensable gene, Tb927.10.7990 proved to be essential since its silencing caused a growth defect in procyclic cells, accumulation of zoids and impaired DNA replication. Future studies on the generated proteins list can contribute to the understanding of DNA replication dynamics in T. brucei and how replication is coordinated with other cellular processes to maintain genome integrity.
Early childhood risk exposures and inflammation in early adolescence

Abstract There is now reliable evidence that early psychosocial stress exposures are associated with behavioral health in children; the degree to which these same kinds of stress exposures predict physical health outcomes is not yet clear. We investigated the links between economic adversity, family and caregiving stress in early childhood and several markers of immune function in early adolescence. The sample is derived from the Family Life Project, a prospective longitudinal study of at-risk families. Socio-demographic and psychosocial risks have been assessed at regular intervals since the children were first assessed at 2 months of age. When the children were early adolescents, we conducted an in-depth health assessment of a subsample of families; blood samples were collected from venipuncture for interleukin(IL)-6, Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-alpha, and C-reactive protein (CRP), as well as glucocorticoid resistance. Results indicated limited but reliable evidence of an association between early risk exposure and inflammation in adolescence. Specifically, caregiver depressive symptoms in early childhood predicted elevated CRP almost a decade later, and the prediction was significant after accounting for multiple covariates such as socio-economic adversity, health behaviors and body mass index. Our findings provide strong but limited evidence that early stress exposures may be associated with inflammation, suggesting one mechanism linking early stress exposure to compromised behavioral and somatic health.
Quantitative Results of a National Intervention to Prevent Hospital-Acquired Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection: A Pre-Post Observational Study.

Background Many hospitals struggle to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). Objective To evaluate the effect of a multimodal initiative on CAUTI in hospitals with high burden of health care-associated infection (HAI). Design Prospective, national, nonrandomized, clustered, externally facilitated, pre-post observational quality improvement initiative, for 3 cohorts active between November 2016 and May 2018. Setting Acute care, long-term acute care, and critical access hospitals, including intensive care and non-intensive care wards. Participants Target hospitals had a high burden of Clostridioides difficile infection plus central line-associated bloodstream infection, CAUTI, or hospital-onset methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection, defined as cumulative attributable differences above the first tertile in the Targeted Assessment for Prevention (TAP) strategy. Some additional nonrecruited hospitals also joined. Intervention Multimodal intervention, including Practice Change Assessment tool to identify infection prevention and control (IPC) and HAI prevention gaps; Web-based, on-demand modules involving onboarding, foundational IPC practices, HAI-specific 2-tiered approach to prioritize and implement interventions, and TAP resources; monthly webinars; state partner-led in-person meetings; and feedback. State partners made site visits to at least 50% of their enrolled hospitals, to support self-assessments and coach. Measurements Rates of CAUTI and urinary catheter device utilization ratio. Results Of 387 participating hospitals from 23 states and the District of Columbia, 361 provided CAUTI data. Over the study period, the unadjusted CAUTI rate was low and relatively stable, decreasing slightly from 1.12 to 1.04 CAUTIs per 1000 catheter-days. Catheter utilization decreased from 21.46 to 19.83 catheter-days per 100 patient-days from the pre- to the postintervention period. Limitations The intervention period was brief, with no assessment of fidelity. Baseline CAUTI rates were low. Patient characteristics were not assessed. Conclusion This multimodal intervention yielded no substantial improvements in CAUTI or urinary catheter utilization. Primary funding source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Severe Infections of the Central Nervous System

Early recognition of an infectious syndrome and initiation of appropriate treatment improves outcome. Yet, in spite of advances in diagnosis and treatment, infections of the central nervous system (CNS) still result in significant morbidity and mortality. Choosing appropriate diagnostic studies can expedite diagnosis, avoid exposure to unnecessary invasive testing, and reduce costs of care. Awareness and early detection of known complications of CNS infections can decrease morbidity. Here we review common and rare infections that can result in severe neurologic compromise. We use a syndromic approach, emphasizing practical aspects of diagnosis and management.
Reclaiming White Spaces: Reading Trump’s Inaugural Address as a Eulogy for the

Trump’s inaugural address deviated considerably from inaugural norms. This deviation can be seen as ideological response to Obama’s infringement upon institutions of whiteness. Trump’s address espo...
Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) Mission Integration and Testing

This paper describes the plans, flows, key facilities, components and equipment necessary to fully integrate, functionally test and qualify the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) Observatory. PACE is currently in the design phase of mission implementation. It is scheduled to launch in 2022, extending and improving NASA's twenty-year record of satellite observations of global ocean biology, aerosols and clouds. PACE will advance the assessment of ocean health by measuring the distribution of phytoplankton, which are small plants and algae that sustain the marine food web. It will also continue systematic records of key atmospheric variables associated with air quality and the Earth's climate. The PACE observatory is comprised of the spacecraft and three instruments, an Ocean Color Instrument (OCI) and two polarimeters, the Hyper-Angular Rainbow Polarimeter 2 (HARP2) and the Spectro-Polarimeter for Exploration (SPEXone). The spacecraft and the OCI, which is the primary instrument, are developed and integrated at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). The OCI is a hyper-spectral scanning (HSS) radiometer designed to measure spectral radiances from the ultraviolet to shortwave infrared (SWIR) to enable advanced ocean color and heritage cloud and aerosol particle science. The HARP2 and SPEXone are secondary instruments on the PACE observatory, acquired outside of GSFC. The Hyper-Angular Rainbow Polarimeter instrument (HARP2) is a wide swath imaging polarimeter that is capable of characterizing atmospheric aerosols for purposes of sensor atmospheric correction as well as atmospheric science. The SPEXone provides atmospheric aerosol and cloud data at high temporal and spatial resolution. This paper will focus on the Integration and Test (I&T) activities for the PACE mission at NASA GSFC. This I&T phase consists of mechanical, electrical and thermal integration and test of all the spacecraft subsystems and the integration of the instruments with the spacecraft. The PACE observatory environmental tests include electromagnetic interference (EMI)/electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), vibration, acoustics, shock, thermal balance, thermal vacuum, mass properties and center of gravity. This paper will also discuss the observatory shipment to the launch site as well as the launch site processing.