cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification of an Association of TNFAIP3 Polymorphisms With Matrix Metalloproteinase Expression in Fibroblasts in an Integrative Study of Systemic Sclerosis–Associated Genetic and Environmental Factors

Objective Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a fibrotic disease attributed to both genetic susceptibility and environmental factors. This study was undertaken to investigate the associations between SSc-associated genetic variants and the expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) genes in human fibroblasts stimulated with silica particles in time-course and dose-response experiments. Methods A total of 200 fibroblast strains were examined for ECM gene expression after stimulation with silica particles. The fibroblasts were genetically profiled using Immunochip assays and then subjected to whole-genome genotype imputation. Associations of genotypes and gene expression were first analyzed in a Caucasian cohort and then validated in a meta-analysis combining the results from Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic subjects. A linear mixed model for longitudinal data analysis was used to identify genetic variants associated with the expression of ECM genes, and the associations were validated by using a haplotype-based longitudinal association test on regions that included the loci identified. Results The single-nucleotide polymorphism rs58905141 in TNFAIP3 was consistently associated with time-course and/or dose-response expression of MMP3 and MMP1 in the fibroblasts stimulated with silica particles in both the analysis of Caucasian subjects only and the meta-analysis. Results of the haplotype-based analysis validated the association signals. Conclusion Our findings indicate that a genetic variant of TNFAIP3 is strongly associated with the silica-induced profibrotic response of fibroblasts. In silico functional analysis based on the ENCODE database revealed that rs58905141 might affect the binding activities of the transcription factors for TNFAIP3. This is the first genome-wide study of interactions between genetic and environmental factors in a complex SSc fibroblast model.
A New York initiative in medical education.

Experience de placement d'etudiants en medecine en stage en milieu extra hospitalier, particulierement en milieu rural et interet de cette initiative
Preventive Aspirin and Other Antiplatelet Medication Use Among U.S. Adults Aged ≥ 40 Years: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011-2012.

Objective.We estimated the prevalence of preventive aspirin and/or other antiplatelet medication use and the dosage of aspirin use in the U.S. adult population.Methods.We conducted cross-sectional analyses of a representative sample (n=3,599) of U.S. adults aged ≥40 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011–2012.Results.In 2011–2012, one-third of U.S. adults aged ≥40 years reported taking preventive aspirin and/or other antiplatelet medications, 97% of whom indicated preventive aspirin use. Preventive aspirin use increased with age (from 11% of those aged 40–49 years to 54% of those ≥80 years of age, p<0.001). Non-Hispanic white (35%) and black (30%) adults were more likely to take preventive aspirin than non-Hispanic Asian (20%, p<0.001) and Hispanic (22%, p=0.013) adults. Adults with, compared with those without health insurance, and adults with ≥2 doctor visits in the past year, diagnosed diabetes, hypertension, or high cholesterol were twice as likely to take preventive asp...
SU‐F‐J‐61: The Effect of CBCT Volume Cutoff On Dose Calculations for Adaptive Planning

Purpose: In adaptive re-planning, the CBCT is used to recalculate the dose and adjust the treatment plan accordingly. The limited field of view of a CBCT can cause external volume cutoff of the patient, which may cause the dose in re-planning to be miscalculated. This research determined how often this volume cutoff occurs, and how much the dose calculations are affected by this cutoff. Methods: 30 consecutive prostate patients treated on the Synergy S (Elekta AB, Stockholm, Sweden) and 28 treated on the Edge (Varian, Palo Alto, CA) linacs were included. For three patients, external contours were added to the original CTs. The external contours added included the true external volume and five others created to mimic the cutoff seen in the CBCTs. The original treatment plans were recalculated using these cutoff contours. Results: 30% of Synergy patients were affected by volume cutoff in their CBCTs, in which 75% of their CBCTs had volume cutoff that was less than 700cc, or 6% of the total patient volume imaged. At this 6% change in volume the target dose increases by <2% although there is up to a 13% increase in organ at risk dose. 11% of Edge patients were affected by volume cutoff, all of these CBCTs were affected by a volume cutoff less than 300cc, or 3% of the total imaged volume. At this 3% change in volume the target dose increases by <1% and there is up to a 7% increase in organ at risk dose. The Edge CBCT field of view diameter is 46 cm, whereas the Synergy is only 41 cm, which explains this discrepancy. Conclusion: There is no cutoff observed for 79% of patients studied. For 76% of the patients with cutoff, the target dose increases by <2%. Godley receives research grant from Elekta
The Nature of Representation

Representation is a central feature of modern democracies. Direct democracy, a classical vision, is not feasible for practical and philosophical reasons. However, there are many conceptions of representative government—descriptive, symbolic, consent, non-functional—none of which adequately captures the essential characteristics of the process. Drawing from strengths found in several conceptions, representation is best captured as a three-stage process: consent, responsiveness and accountability. This conception also allows for independence of representatives, citizen input, expectations of deliberation and repeated elections to provide for more effective decision-making. Member responsiveness is multifaceted—policy, service, allocative, symbolic—and constituent evaluations of these behaviors have been neglected in the literature.
CW and Q-switched performance of a diode end-pumped Yb:YAG laser*

Using an end-pumped technology developed at LLNL we have demonstrated a Yb:YAG laser capable of delivering up to 434 W of CW power and 226 W of Q-switched power. In addition, we have frequency doubled the output to 515 nm using a dual crystal scheme to produce 76 W at 10 kHz in a 30 ns pulse length.
Neural Crest Stem Cells Can Differentiate to a Cardiomyogenic Lineage with an Ability to Contract in Response to Pulsed Infrared Stimulation.

Introduction: Cellular cardiomyoplasty has rapidly risen to prominence in the clinic following a myocardial infarction; however, low engraftment of transplanted cells limits the therapeutic benefit to these procedures. Recently, lineage-specific stem cells differentiated into cardiomyocytes have gained much attention to assist in the repair of an injured heart tissue; however, questions regarding the ideal cell source remain. In the present study, we have identified a source that is easy to extract stem cells from and show that the cells present have a high plasticity toward the cardiomyogenic lineage. We focused on the recently discovered neural crest stem cells residing in the periodontal ligament that can be easily obtained through dental procedures. Materials and Methods: Neural crest stem cells were obtained from human excised third molars and differentiated in culture using a protocol for directed differentiation into cardiomyocytes. Differentiation of cells was assessed through gene expression and ...
Natural Organic Matter

Natural organic matter is a component of the terrestrial carbon cycle, representing both an important environmental substance and a vital component of the biological energy cycle. The reduced carbon in bioorganic compounds is kinetically stable in the presence of O 2 and, as consequence, the release of the chemical energy stored in natural organic matter requires enzymatic catalysis by a complex microbial community. Natural organic matter has a composition well suited for high carbon-use efficiency and growth yield by the microbes responsible for carbon turnover.
Myelopathy due to Spinal Cord Vasculitis

Spinal cord vasculitis is a vascular pathology in the spinal cord leading to myelopathy and it is a part of the central nervous system vasculitis.
Significance of a negative sinus P wave in lead V2 of the clinical electrocardiogram

Background A negative sinus P wave in lead V2 (NPV2) of the electrocardiogram (ECG) is rare when leads are positioned correctly. This study was undertaken to clarify the significance of an unusually high incidence of this anomaly found in ECGs at my institution. Methods One thousand four hundred thirty-five ECGs were randomly selected to determine the incidence and gender frequency in tracings showing positive (PPV2), and biphasic (BPV2) P waves in V2, as well as NPV2. To those cases with NPV2, 84 cases with that anomaly from earlier archived ECGs were added to give a larger group for analysis. Medical records were reviewed for clinical details and other archived ECGs. Results PPV2, BPV2, and NPV2 were found in 1,216 (84.5%), 150 (10.5%), and 69 cases (4.8%), respectively. Cases with NPV2 were more likely to be female (46 of 69 or 67.7%) than were those with either PPV2 (500 of 1,216 or 41.1%; p < .001), or BPV2 (71 of 150 or 47.3%; p < .01). NPV2 was commonly associated with ECG findings of left atrial abnormality (LAA), septal myocardial infarction, or a ventricular repolarization abnormality, but when multiple ECGs were available in these cases, such abnormalities were usually absent when there was either PPV2 or BPV2. Conclusions With correct precordial lead placement, NPV2 is rare and BPV2 is also uncommon, and their presence should alert one to the probability of high placement of V1 and V2, which can produce ECGs that mimic LAA, septal infarction, and ventricular repolarization abnormality.
Technology, Humans, and Society: Toward a Sustainable World

1. Sustainability, Economics and the Environment 2. Business 3. Science, Technology and Progress 4. Sustainable and Appropriate Technologies 5. Business and Technology Methods 6. Engineering Design and Innovation 7. Business and the Corporation 8. Financial Costs Issues in Sustainable Business and Government 9. Energy, Environment, Economy and Society 10. Coal 11. Petroleum and Natural Gas 12. Electric Energy 13. Nuclear Power 14. Renewable Energy 15. Wind and Solar Energy 16. Biomass, Geothermal Energy and Energy Storage 17. Natural Resources and Waste Systems 18. Agriculture, Biotechnology and Resources 19. Materials and Manufacturing 20. Transportation Systems 21. Electric and Hybrid Vehicles 22. Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Economy 23. Corporate Performance Indicators 24. Social Entrepreneurship and Investing 25. Buildings, the Internet and the Future of a Sustainable World Index
Hypoxia tolerance in coral-reef triggerfishes (Balistidae)

Despite high rates of photosynthetic oxygen production during the day, the warm waters of coral reefs are susceptible to hypoxia at night due to elevated respiration rates at higher temperatures that also reduce the solubility of oxygen. Hypoxia may be a challenge for coral-reef fish that hide in the reef to avoid predators at night. Triggerfishes (Balistidae) are found in a variety of reef habitats, but they also are known to find refuge in reef crevices and holes at night, which may expose them to hypoxic conditions. The critical oxygen tension (P crit) was determined as the point below which oxygen uptake could not be maintained to support standard metabolic rate (SMR) for five species of triggerfish. The triggerfishes exhibited similar levels of hypoxia tolerance as other coral-reef and coastal marine fishes that encounter low oxygen levels in their environment. Two species, Rhinecanthus rectangulus and R. aculeatus, had the lowest P crit (~ 3.0 kPa O2), comparable to the most hypoxia-tolerant obligate coral-dwelling gobies, while Odonus niger and Sufflamen bursa were moderately tolerant to hypoxia (P crit ~ 4.5 kPa), and Xanthichthys auromarginatus was intermediate (P crit ~ 3.7 kPa). These differences in P crit were not due to differences in oxygen demand, as all the species had a similar SMR once mass differences were taken into account. The results suggest that triggerfish species are adapted for different levels of hypoxia exposure during nocturnal sheltering within the reef.
COLREG-RRT: An RRT-Based COLREGS-Compliant Motion Planner for Surface Vehicle Navigation

Motion planning for autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs) is challenging since surface vessels are nonlinear underactuated kinodynamic systems with often large inertia. Thus, ASV planners must identify long-term trajectories in order to avoid guiding the ASV into inevitable collision states. Furthermore, maritime vessels are required to follow COLlision REGulationS (COLREGS), which dictate collision avoidance patterns. Current state-of-the-art methods are based on model predictive control (MPC) and assume that other vessels move at constant velocities without the consideration of COLREGS. In this letter, we propose COLREG-RRT, an RRT-based planner capable of identifying long-term, COLREGS-compliant trajectories with a high navigation success rate. This is achieved by conducting joint forward simulations of both the ASV and the other vessels during RRT growth in order to anticipate future collisions. The COLREGS-compliance is enforced by constructing virtual obstacles that inhibit tree growth. We demonstrate COLREGS-compliance in single-ship encounters and compare against two state-of-the-art methods in multiship encounters with up to 20 other vessels. Experiments indicate that COLREG-RRT has a 32% higher success rate and is real-time capable in the most difficult environment tested. Additionally, COLREG-RRT identifies longer trajectories, as compared to MPC. This property aids with collision avoidance with other ships.
The evolution of relative trait size and shape: insights from the genitalia of dung beetles

Insects show relatively little genital variation within species compared to extraordinary and often rapid diversification among species. It has been suggested that selection for reproductive isolation through differences in genital shape might explain this phenomenon. This hypothesis predicts that populations diverge faster in genital shape than in genital size. We tested this prediction in males from 10 dung beetle species with known phylogenetic relationships from the genus Onthophagus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), including four species for which we were able to sample multiple populations. Specifically, we compared intra- and interspecific differentiation in shape and relative sizes of genitalia and calculated their respective evolutionary rates. We compared these rates to two similarly sized non-genital traits, the head and the fore-tibia. We found significant intraspecific variation in genital shape in all four species for which multiple populations were sampled, but for three of them we also identified significant relative size variation. We also found that genital shape evolved at higher rates than relative genital size. Genital shape evolved faster than head shape, but not fore-tibia shape. However, shapes of all measured structures evolved faster than their relative size. We discuss the functional constraints that may bias the developmental evolution of relative size and shape of genitalia and other morphological traits.
Lightweight, on-body, wireless system for ambulatory voice and ambient noise monitoring

In this paper, we present a lightweight, on-body, wireless system designed for monitoring real-world, ambulatory voice characteristics. The system has the potential to provide important assessments of voice and speech disorders and the impact of environmental sound levels as individuals go about their daily life. The system's transmitter is positioned on the neck and synchronously streams dual-channel sensor data from an on-board MEMS microphone and a high-bandwidth accelerometer, which acts as a noise-robust and confidential contact microphone. These data are recorded to a receiver that can store the data locally and stream a real-time feed to a computer. We also report on the design considerations of this novel system and discuss progress leading up to the latest iteration, especially of the transmitter components on a flexible circuit. Pilot data are shown from an in-field, ambulatory recording during an individual's daily activities that included settings in quiet and with naturalistic ambient noise.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the hallmarks of aging

Aging is characterized by progressive deterioration of physiological integrity, decline in homeostasis, and degeneration of the tissues that occurs after the reproductive phase of life is complete, leading to impaired function. This deterioration is an important risk factor for chronic lung pathologies such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is a disease that develops gradually. Emphysematous changes in the lung take years to develop after exposure to cigarette smoke; hence, the vast majority of patients are elderly. There has been a dramatic increase in the life expectancy of the general population, resulting in an increased burden of chronic lung diseases. There is growing evidence that molecular mechanisms involved in aging may also play a role in COPD pathogenesis. Recently, the nine hallmarks of aging were identified. In this article, we will review the nine hallmarks of aging and how each hallmark contributes to the pathogenesis of COPD.
The Impact of Unconventional Monetary Policy on Real Estate Markets

We use a structural factor-augmented VAR and a novel daily dataset to assess the effects of unconventional monetary policy on housing and real estate markets. Findings indicate that expansionary unconventional monetary shocks lower key housing market interest rates; raise returns on homebuilder and REIT stocks; reduce insurance costs for subprime mortgage-backed and commercial real estate debt; and increase housing sentiment. While the unconventional policy effects are sizable, they differ across US geographies and are most efficacious for distressed housing markets. Finally, unconventional monetary shocks attenuate quickly, suggesting that successive rounds of easing may be necessary during times of economic weakness.
Economics and the Fisheries Management Development Process

Unregulated exploitation of fish stocks can potentially lead to the economically wasteful use of the stocks and the inputs used to exploit them. Therefore regulation to change the size, composition, and timing of landings can be justified on economic grounds if such regulation can prevent or reduce such wastes at a cost that is less than the resultant savings. To guarantee that maximum savings are achieved, the types of regulation used must encourage efficiency in effort production so that the proper amount of catch can be achieved at the lowest possible cost.
Discrete-event simulation

This book describes the fundamentals of discrete-event simulation from the perspective of highly interactive PC and workstation environments. It focuses on modeling, programming, input-data preparation, output-data analysis, and presentation of results. It includes a detailed account of alternative modeling and programming methods and a description of the principal concepts of delay systems, the generic setting for most discrete-event simulations. Examples carried throughout the book illustrate how different concepts apply. The book is intended for an introductory course on discrete-event simulation for graduate students and advanced undergraduates in the mathematical and engineering sciences, particularly operations research, industrial engineering, operations management (business), computer science, telecommunications engineering, and transportation engineering. It will also serve as a useful reference for professionals in these fields who wish to broaden their knowledge of discrete-event simulation.
To Have and to Hold: Gender Regimes and Property Rights in the Romanian Principalities before World War I:

This article focuses on the gendered aspects of the institutional framework surrounding the protection, control over, and transfer of property before 1914 in the area that became Romania in the twentieth century, from inheritance to marriage divorce, dowry, and widowhood. During the period covered here, these territories were part of several distinctive administrative regimes—the Habsburg Empire, Russia, and the Ottoman Empire—that also treated property ownership and transfer in various ways. Therefore, my analysis is comparative and offers insights into broader major historical questions, such as the relationship between religious dogma and secular law; the impact of ecclesiastical courts in relation to lay institutions in administering law and preserving property rights; and the impact of such institutions in enforcing specific gender norms.
A Theory of Natural Change Revisited: Theology, Psychology, and Pastoral Counseling

To whatever school of psychology we lay claim, it makes modest sense as pastors engaging in counseling as an act of faithfulness to the God who created the creature with the capacity to change, that we remain first and foremost the theologians we are called to be. We may lament that legions of priests and priestesses from the pantheon of classical and popular psychology have bowed the knee to an unknown God as though there were no God, and turned Psyche herself into a fragmented oracle. This reflects the pride of human achievement and the limitation of human learning. Nonetheless, it is this believer's persuasion that from cradle to grave, at the crossroads of suffering and thresholds of pain, at the heights of development and depths of regression, the beginning of wisdom is the confession of faith in the living God. Any thoroughgoing psychological theory of natural change encompasses more than psychology. Nature, including human nature, is never bereft of the forming and transforming presence of the Holy.
Variability of Resting-State Functional MRI Graph Theory Metrics across 3T Platforms.

Background and purpose Graph theory analysis of brain connectivity data is a promising tool for studying the function of the healthy and diseased brain. The consistency of resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI) connectivity measures across multiple scanner types is an important factor in designing multi-institutional research studies and has important implications for the potential use of this technique in a heterogeneous clinical setting. We sought to quantitatively study the interscanner variability of rsfMRI graph theory metrics obtained from healthy volunteers scanned on three different scanner platforms. Methods In this prospective Institutional Review Board approved study, 9 healthy volunteers were enrolled for brain MRI on three 3T scanners (Magnetom Prisma, Skyra, and Trio, Siemens, Erlangen, Germany) in three separate scan sessions within approximately 1 week. Standard preprocessing of rsfMRI was performed with SPM12. Subject scans were normalized to Montreal Neurologic Institute (MNI) space, and connectivity of 116 regions-of-interests based on the automated anatomic labeling (AAL) atlas was calculated using Conn toolbox. Whole-network graph theory metrics were calculated using Brain Connectivity Toolbox, and intraclass correlation (ICC) across three scan sessions was assessed. Results A total of 25 rsfMRI exams were completed in 9 subjects with a median-intersession time of 3 days. Among all three sessions, there was good to excellent agreement in characteristic path length and global efficiency (ICC: .79, .79) and good agreement in the transitivity, local efficiency, and clustering coefficient (ICC = .72, .69, .62). Conclusions There was high consistency of graph theory metrics of rsfMRI connectivity networks among healthy volunteers scanned on three different generation 3T MRI scanners.
Retrospective and reconsideration: The first 25 years of the Steinitz framework for landscape architecture education and environmental design

Abstract Carl Steinitz’ “Framework for Theory” is a valuable heuristic for organizing environmental design processes. Originally designed for use in the discipline of landscape architecture, it has diffused into related environmental design disciplines; its most prominent current use is in the multidisciplinary approach of geodesign. The framework has been used for academic and professional purposes and modified multiple times since it was first published in 1990. The framework has proven especially robust in providing disciplinary focus, organizing multifaceted research and planning projects, bridging individual and collective design tensions, and parsing convoluted decision-making. This article revisits the use of frameworks in the environmental design disciplines, the framework’s creation and initial publication, and considers its early positionings that, while not widely followed, offer promising disciplinary services. It further explores limitations and criticisms of the framework, contemplates its use for emerging disciplinary needs, and advocates for the framework’s use in the environmental design disciplines.
Chapter 3: Principles for Designing Research Settings to Study Spontaneous Metacognitive Activity

Drawing on current theories about the development of individuals’ metacognitive ability, a framework is proposed for designing fruitful environments for research on spontaneous metacognitive activity. Using modeling problems as examples, we argue that research settings that facilitate the study of spontaneous metacognitive activity of problem solvers need to be designed with attention to problem complexity, small group diversity, and the authentic documentation of problem-solvers’ spontaneous metacognitive activity.
Abstract 4411: Identification of novel natural compounds as potential inhibitors of cyclin dependent kinases

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second highest cause of cancer deaths in the United States according to CDC (2017). Lifestyle factors including, but not limited to, elevated Body Mass Index (BMI), obesity and diet are proposed to lead to the development of CRC with an estimated annual incidence of 95,520 cases. Increasing evidences suggest that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables will reduce incidences of colorectal adenomas. We hypothesize that the natural compounds present in fruits and vegetables, along with their metabolites generated by the gut microbiota, could be responsible for cancer prevention by targeting the cell cycle proteins. In this study, we investigated the ability of polyphenols [Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG), Catechin, Catechin Gallate (CG), and Epigallocatechin (EGC)] and their degradation products [Phloroglucinol; 2,4,6 Trihydroxybenzoic acid (2,4,6 THBA); 3,4 Dihydroxyhydrocinnamic acid (3,4-DHHCA); etc.] to inhibit the CDKs (that regulate cell cycle) activity. Our pilot studies show that the different catechin compounds and their degradation products are capable of inhibiting different CDKs, suggesting their potential role in cancer prevention. We are currently investigating the mechanism of inhibition of CDKs by these compounds utilizing biochemical and molecular docking studies. Elucidation of this pathway will suggest the role of polyphenols in the prevention of CRC as well as assist in the identification of novel compounds that can be used for both cancer prevention and therapy. Citation Format: Ranjini Sankaranarayanan, Rakesh Dachineni, Siddharth Kesharwani, Ramesh Kumar Dhandapani, Hemachand Tummala, Jayarama B. Gunaje. Identification of novel natural compounds as potential inhibitors of cyclin dependent kinases [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4411.
Block-Co-polymer-Assisted Synthesis of All Inorganic Highly Porous Heterostructures with Highly Accessible Thermally Stable Functional Centers.

Here, we propose a simple approach for the design of highly porous multicomponent heterostructures by infiltration of block-co-polymer templates with inorganic precursors in swelling solvents follo...
Randomized trial of a hospice video decision aid for patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers.

11513Background: Although hospice provides high-quality end-of-life (EOL) care for patients with advanced cancer and their family caregivers, the service remains underutilized in part due to lack o...
The Marital Implications of Bereavement: Child Death and Intimate Partner Violence in West and Central Africa

In high-mortality contexts, research examining the effects of child mortality has focused almost exclusively on couples' fertility responses while overlooking other potential family consequences. Using nationally representative survey data from 13 West and Central African countries, we estimate multilevel discrete-time hazard models to determine how women's risk of intimate partner violence (IPV) varies with the death of children. We assess heterogeneity in this association across two surrounding circumstances: children's age at death and regional prevalence of child bereavement. Findings indicate that the risk of IPV initiation rises with the death of children under age 5-for whom women are most intensely responsible-but not with the death of older children. The effect of young child bereavement is most pronounced in regions where it is least prevalent among mothers-a finding not explained by concomitant regional variation in gender inequality, family norms, and infrastructural development. These findings highlight the importance of child mortality for family outcomes beyond fertility in the African context and demonstrate the prominent role of the broader mortality context in shaping these implications.
The Land Where the Sun Rises

This hefty volume amounts to a chronological encyclopedia on the history and culture of a region that draws its other name “Anatolia” from a European perspective, “Land of the Sunrise.” It ranges f...
Late Blight of Potato and Tomato

Both potato and tomato are susceptible to late blight, an aggressive disease capable of rapidly destroying entire fields. The disease is distributed worldwide and occurs wherever tomatoes or potatoes are grown, and conditions favor disease development. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Ryan Donahoo and Pamela Roberts, and published by the UF Department of Plant Pathology, December 2012. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pp301
Brightness of the night sky affects loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtle hatchling misorientation but not nest site selection

Sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico, which are listed as either threatened or endangered under the US Endangered Species Act, face numerous threats but are particularly susceptible to the negative effects of light pollution on nesting beaches. Light pollution affects the distribution, density, and placement of nests on beaches, and disrupts seafinding in hatchlings emerging from nests; often leading to their death. Rapid urban growth near Gulf Islands National Seashore (GUIS), Florida, USA, over the last century has contributed to increased light pollution on its beaches. There is concern that light pollution is causing females to lay nests in at-risk locations subject to erosion and flooding, and is causing the observed high rates of hatchling misorientation. From 2015-2016, we measured brightness of the night sky, horizon profile, and lunar variables at GUIS at loggerhead (Caretta caretta) nests to assess the effects of brightness on laying of at-risk nests and hatchling misorientation. In addition, we quantified the effects of relocating at-risk nests on nest success. We found that contrast in brightness between the landward and seaward directions at GUIS was partially responsible for high rates of hatchling misorientation, and there was a strong moderating influence of lunar fraction and lunar altitude on hatchling misorientation: larger lunar fractions and lower lunar altitudes reduced misorientation. We did not document an effect of artificial light, horizon profile, or lunar fraction on the propensity of loggerheads to lay nests in at-risk locations, and found no evidence that relocating nests at GUIS reduced loggerhead nest success. Rather, we found nest success was improved and hatchling misorientation rates were reduced for relocated loggerhead nests.
A prospective randomized trial of desmopressin in canine mammary carcinoma.

Metastatic disease represents a serious and often fatal development in patients with solid tumours, including women with breast cancer and dogs with mammary tumours. Therefore, preventing and treating metastatic disease has remained a priority in cancer research. Desmopressin, a synthetic derivative of vasopressin, traditionally used to treat patients with bleeding disorders, has been proposed as a potential anti-metastatic agent due to its effect on haemostasis as well as multiple other anti-proliferative and anti-angiogenic mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to retest desmopressin in dogs with mammary carcinomas. A prospective randomized study was performed. Twenty-four dogs with mammary carcinomas were enrolled; 12 dogs received perioperative desmopressin and 12 received placebo. All dogs underwent standard pre-surgical staging followed by complete resection of all tumours. Intact dogs were spayed. All tumours were graded and classified according to the published guidelines. Follow-up was performed every 4 months the first year and every 6 months thereafter. Necropsies were requested on all dogs. There was no difference in time to primary metastasis or survival between desmopressin treated dogs and the placebo arm (P = .43 and .73, respectively). The distribution of negative prognostic factors, including tumour grade, stage, and high vs low bioscore (refined flexible bioscoring) category between arms was not statistically different, even though more dogs in the placebo arm had grade 3 tumours and high bioscores. Based on the results of this study, perioperative desmopressin does not prevent metastasis in dogs with mammary carcinomas.
Myocarditis caused by naturally acquired canine distemper virus infection in 4 dogs.

Canine distemper virus (CDV) has long been recognized as a cause of myocarditis; however, cases of myocarditis caused by naturally acquired CDV infection have been reported only rarely in dogs. We ...
Abiotic treatment to common bean plants results in an altered seed microbiome

Abstract We performed a pilot study in a controlled growth chamber to investigate how the seed microbiome of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. (var. Redhawk)) was altered under abiotic treatments relevant for crop management with changing climate. Bean plants were subjected to one of three treatments: 66% water withholding to simulate mild drought, 50 % Hoagland nutrient solution to simulate fertilization, or control with sufficient water and baseline nutrition. We performed 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and ITS amplicon sequencing of the endophytic metagenomic DNA to assess seed bacterial/archaeal and fungal community structure, respectively. We found that variability in the seed microbiome structure was high while alpha diversity was low, with tens of taxa present. Water withholding and nutrient addition altered the seed microbiome structure for bacterial/archaeal communities as compared to the untreated control, and each treatment resulted in a distinct microbiome structure. There were no statistically supported differences in the fungal microbiome across treatments. While we discuss several limitations of this study, the promising results suggest that further and more comprehensive investigation is needed to better understand abiotic stress-induced changes in the seed microbiome, the mechanisms that drive those changes, and the implications of seed microbiome changes for the health and stress responses of the next plant generation.
MLWAVE: A novel algorithm to classify primary versus secondary asphyxia-associated ventricular fibrillation.

Abstract Introduction/Hypothesis The outcome of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) depends on timely recognition of the underlying cause of cardiac arrest. Ventricular fibrillation (VF) waveform analysis to differentiate primary VF from secondary asphyxia-associated VF may allow tailoring of therapies to improve cardiac arrest outcomes. Therefore, the primary goal of this investigation was to develop a novel technique utilizing wavelet synchrosqueezed transform (WSST) and decision-tree classifier that was specifically adapted to discriminate between these two incidents of VF. Methods Secondary analytical investigation of electrocardiography (ECG) data obtained from swine models of either primary VF (n = 18) or secondary asphyxia-associated VF (7 min of asphyxia prior to VF induction; n = 12). In the primary analysis, WSST technique was applied to the first 35 s of the VF ECG signal to identify the most differentiating characteristics of the signal for use as features to develop a machine learning algorithm to classify the arrest as either primary VF vs. secondary asphyxia-associated VF. The performance of this new interactive Machine Learning algorithm with Wavelet Energy features of ECG (MLWAVE) was assessed using both classification accuracy and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCROC). To evaluate the validity of the new technique, the amplitude spectrum area (AMSA)-based technique, a well-established defibrillation classification method, was also applied to the same ECG signals. The classification accuracy and AUCROC were then compared between the two techniques. Results For the primary analysis evaluating the first 35 s of the VF waveform, the MLWAVE technique classified the type of VF with high accuracy (28/28 [100%], AUCROC: 1.00). The MLWAVE technique performed better than the AMSA technique across all comparisons, but given the small sample sizes, differences were not statistically significant (accuracy: 100% vs. 85.7%; p = 0.24; AUCROC: 1.00 vs. 0.82; p = 0.24). Conclusion This analytical investigation illustrates the advantages of the MLWAVE signal processing method which was associated with 100% accuracy in classifying the type of VF waveform: primary vs. asphyxia-associated. Such classification could lead to personalized tailoring of resuscitation (e.g., immediate defibrillation vs. continued CPR and treatment of reversible cardiac arrest causes before defibrillation) to improve outcomes for cardiac arrest.
The Effect of Medicare Shared Savings Program on Readmissions and Variations by Race/Ethnicity and Payer Status (December 9, 2020).

OBJECTIVE Accountable care organizations in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) in the United States attempt to reduce cost and improve quality for their patients by improving care coordination across care settings. We examined the impact of hospital participation in the MSSP on 30-day readmissions for several groups of Medicare inpatients, and by race/ethnicity and payer status. MAIN DATA SOURCE A 2010-2016 Medicare Provider Analysis and Review files. RESEARCH DESIGN With propensity score matched sample of MSSP and non-MSSP-participating hospitals, patient-level linear probability models with difference-in-differences approach were used to compare the changes in readmission rates for Medicare fee-for-service patients initially admitted for ischemic stroke, hip fracture, or total joint arthroplasty in MSSP-participating hospitals with non-MSSP-participating hospitals as well as to compare the changes in disparities in readmission rates over time. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Hospital participation in MSSP was associated with further reduced readmission rate by 1.1 percentage points (95% confidence interval: -0.02 to 0.00, P<0.05) and 1.5 percentage points (95% confidence interval: -0.03 to 0.00, P=0.08) for ischemic stroke and hip fracture cohorts, respectively, compared with non-MSSP-participating hospitals, after the third year of hospital participation in the MSSP. There was no evidence that MSSP had an impact on racial/ethnic disparities, but increased disparity by payer status (dual vs. Medicare-only) was observed. These findings together suggest that MSSP accountable care organizations may take at least 3 years to achieve reduced readmissions and may increase disparities by payer status.
Shape Change in Compressively Loaded Single Crystals

This paper presents a study of compressively loaded single crystals of tantalum. Strain gauges, interferometry, optical microscopy, and micrometers were employed to measure the deformation caused by loading. All of the measures indicated non-uniform deformation at plastic strains of less than 0.01. By using these measurements we were able to show that surface creation and shape changes of the sample introduce additional components which affected the measurement recorded by the strain gauge.
Waiting for Lord Curzon: India’s Grand Strategy in the Long Shadow of Nehru

This chapter maps the historic foundations of Indian grand strategy and the obstacles that have precluded the realization of a new one. First, it describes the contours of Nehru’s grand strategy, and the ways and means that India adopted in their pursuit. Second, it examines the factors that have galvanized debates about discarding these Nehruvian commitments. Third, the chapter describe the various contemporary, contending schools of thought about what India’s grand strategy should be. Fourth, it explores the various bureaucratic and political obstacles to this transition. The fifth section argues that what has resulted is a form of incrementalism that has nonetheless precipitated important changes in India’s political, diplomatic, and military behavior away from these past Nehruvian commitments. The chapter concludes on a skeptical note by questioning whether the contemporary Indian administration will be able to craft a coherent grand strategy, given the vociferous nature of India’s democracy and decentralized political structure.
Improving Mean Time to Failure of IoT Networks with Reliability-Aware Routing

The unprecedented scale and ubiquity of the Internet of Things (IoT) introduce a maintainability challenge. IoT networks operate in diverse and harsh environments that impose nonnegligible thermal stress on the IoT devices with no active cooling. The lifetime of these networks can be limited by the exacerbated effects of hardware failure mechanisms at high temperatures, exponentially accelerating reliability degradation. In this paper, we propose a novel reliability-driven routing approach to mitigate the reliability degradation of IoT devices and improve the network Mean Time to Failure (MTTF). Through routing, we curb the utilization of highly degrading devices, which helps to lower the device power dissipation and temperature and reduce the effect of temperature-driven failure mechanisms. The routing protocol makes the decisions based on the current reliability of the devices, the amount of degradation they will experience due to communication activity, and networking performance. We enhance the ns-3 network simulator to support our reliability modeling and evaluate the routing performance by comparing with state-of-the-art approaches.
Prophylactic colectomy: Rationale, indications, and approach.

Discerning the genetics of hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes has enabled a more individualized approach to preventing and treating colorectal cancers in affected patients and families. As these syndromes carry significant risk of colorectal cancer (nearly 100% in some cases), prophylactic colectomy is an important option for preventing cancer. This article addresses the rationale and indications for prophylactic colectomy in hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes, and provides insight into the details of surgical management. J. Surg. Oncol. 2015 111:112–117. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Microheterogeneity of l-Amino Acid Oxidase SEPARATION OF MULTIPLE COMPONENTS BY POLYACRYLAMIDE GEL ELECTROFOCUSING

Abstract Crystalline preparations of l-amino acid oxidase, which contained the three electrophoretic components, A, B, and C, were separated further into multiple components by isoelectric fractionation in a pH gradient. At least 18 peaks of coincident enzymatic activity and protein were observed when electrofocusing was carried out in a sucrose density gradient according to Vesterberg and Svensson (Acta Chem. Scand., 20, 820 (1966)). The components ranged in isoelectric point from pH 5.2 to 8.4 and differed in amino acid composition. A new technique of electrofocusing in polyacrylamide gels yielded even greater resolution. A two-dimensional separation, utilizing both electrophoresis and electrofocusing in gel, showed that A, B, and C each consisted of five or more components having different isoelectric points. This was confirmed by a study of fractions obtained by ion exchange chromatography of the enzyme and by the study of venoms from individual snakes possessing only Component A, only C, or A, B, and C. The blood, the venom, and extracts of the venom gland of a single snake exhibited identical isozyme patterns. For comparison, gel electrofocusing of d-amino acid oxidase was also carried out. Only two active components, identified as the holoenzyme and the apoenzyme, were observed.
Field-based Instruction as Part of a Balanced Geoscience Curriculum at Washington and Lee University

Traditionally at Washington and Lee University teaching in the field has been the core of our geology curriculum. We emphasize fieldwork at all levels of our instruction from the field-based introductory courses to our senior theses. We are fortunate to be located in a geologically diverse location (in the Valley and Ridge of Virginia and within minutes of the Blue Ridge Mountains). The close proximity of geologic variety allows us to spend nearly every class or laboratory period outside. We view fieldwork, however, as just the beginning of geoscience education. A crucial aspect of field geology is making observations and synthesizing the data collected. It is equally important for students to have well-developed skills in field methods, in analytical techniques, in computation and modeling, and in synthesis and presentation. To emphasize all of these aspects, our coursework is largely focused on emulating the process of research. Because we have had such a strong field emphasis, we are striving to strike...
From Nurturing the Nation to Purifying the Volk: Weimar and Nazi Family Policy, 1918–1945

1. Marriage policy in turmoil: stabilizing society, re-ordering gender roles, and guaranteeing the future 2. Divorce: balancing individual freedom and the 'public good' 3. From Mother's Day to forced sterilization: motherhood as antidote to national health 4. Alleviating the burdens of motherhood 5. Morality versus mortality: negotiating policy toward single mothers and illegitimate children 6. Forming families beyond blood ties: foster care 7. Conclusion.
Hardware and software architectures for realizing a knowledge based system on eave

Realizing the capabilities of a Knowledge Based System (KBS) in an autonomous underwater vehicle requires the integration of several hardware and software subsystems. This paper details both the VME bus based multiprocessor architecture as well as the LISP environment chosen for implementing a KBS. Overcoming the problems of execution speed and storage requirements in a real time KBS is a focus of this work. This design includes a real time operating system, PSOS, running on multiple 68020s with an interprocessor communication package handling information exchange. The high level software environment is based on Common Lisp and forms the backbone for symbolic processing. This has been implemented with Portable Common Lisp Subset, PCLS, which has been adapted to the EAVE vehicle. A unique aspect of this development effort is the utilization of several conventional technologies to realize a high performance symbolic processing system.