cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Activation in frog atrial trabeculae: dependence on temperature and length.

Isolated frog atrial trabeculae were activated using the method of Na+ withdrawal to induce contractures of relatively steady tension. External Na+ concentration [( Na+]o) during contractures was varied between 0.25 and 45 mM. Isometric contracture tension was measured at cold (4 degrees C) and warm (20 degrees C) temperatures. In addition, rapid temperature jumps (complete in approximately 400 ms) were imposed during cold contractures, resulting in tension transients that consisted of an initial increase in tension followed by a decrease, the latter phase being greater at small and moderate reductions in [Na+]o. Peak contracture tension varied with relative muscle length. The trabeculae became more sensitive with stretch to Na+ withdrawal at 20 degrees C and generated relatively greater tensions at a given [Na+]o. The initial tension increase after a temperature jump was directly proportional to the peak contracture tension immediately preceding the increase in temperature and was therefore interpreted as reflecting an effect of the higher temperature on the attached force-generating cross bridges. The effects of cold and warm steady temperatures and temperature jumps during isometric twitches were also studied. Peak twitch tension varied inversely with temperature (stimulus frequency = 0.2 Hz). In contrast, temperature jumps imposed during the rising phase of twitches at a steady cold temperature (approximately 4 degrees C) resulted in a large initial increase in tension followed by relaxation at a rate that was characteristic of the elevated temperature. The results suggest that, at the warmer temperature (approximately 20 degrees C), activation (i.e., number of attached cross bridges) of the myocardium is significantly less than maximal during the twitch response. The dependence of the tension vs. [Na+]o curves and the tension transients resulting from the temperature jumps on relative muscle length provide evidence for a length dependency of contractile activation in intact atrial trabeculae under conditions of steady-state tension development.
Ownership, Technology, Content, and Context in the Continuing Search for Media Effects

This chapter argues that the several traditions of communications research converge on the problem of explaining media efffects. The critical tradition emphasizes the role of media ownership in purveying false consciousness and reinforcing the status quo. Technological theorists are concerned with how media structure the ways in which we think and organize. Theorists of content are interested in the persuasive powers of the media, while the (neglected) tradition of contextual studies suggests that the key to effect is in the way in which the audience is “situated.”
Automated logistic processing and downtime analysis of commercial level multi-pass corn stover harvesting systems

As cellulosic ethanol production reaches commercial scale, it is important to maximize efficiencies throughout the supply chain in order to keep an economically feasible feedstock. One important sub-process is the harvesting of feedstock that will be converted into ethanol. The cost to harvest and transport corn stover is a large component of the total cost and is estimated at $82/std. ton; however, this can be reduced to $47/std. ton with improvements to the supply chain (Shah, 2013). For a large scale facility, capable of producing 30 million gallons of ethanol, 375,000 tons of dry material per year will be required to keep the facility running at full capacity; this material will need to be harvested from approximately 190,000 acres, based on a two ton per acre take-rate. The main harvest method is a multi-pass system that requires several agriculture machines working in synchronization to produce a dense and transportable material. Over 200 tractors coupled to shredders, balers and stackers are required in order to achieve the full harvest within 30 day window. The objective of this research was to automate the analysis of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) data in order to provide more adequate real time performance of crews and machines that will drive key supply chain assessments. Results of this work analyzed production scale harvest data during the fall of 2012 and 2013; during 2012 6,000 hectares were harvested while 24,300 hectares were harvested in 2013. The results of this research will benefit cellulosic harvesters, processors and analyzers by providing informative supply chain logistics.
Description and evaluation of the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) modeling system version 5.1.

The Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model is a comprehensive multipollutant air quality modeling system developed and maintained by the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Research and Development (ORD). Recently, version 5.1 of the CMAQ model (v5.1) was released to the public, incorporating a large number of science updates and extended capabilities over the previous release version of the model (v5.0.2). These updates include the following: improvements in the meteorological calculations in both CMAQ and the Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) model used to provide meteorological fields to CMAQ, updates to the gas and aerosol chemistry, revisions to the calculations of clouds and photolysis, and improvements to the dry and wet deposition in the model. Sensitivity simulations isolating several of the major updates to the modeling system show that changes to the meteorological calculations result in enhanced afternoon and early evening mixing in the model, periods when the model historically underestimates mixing. This enhanced mixing results in higher ozone (O3) mixing ratios on average due to reduced NO titration, and lower fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations due to greater dilution of primary pollutants (e.g., elemental and organic carbon). Updates to the clouds and photolysis calculations greatly improve consistency between the WRF and CMAQ models and result in generally higher O3 mixing ratios, primarily due to reduced cloudiness and attenuation of photolysis in the model. Updates to the aerosol chemistry result in higher secondary organic aerosol (SOA) concentrations in the summer, thereby reducing summertime PM2.5 bias (PM2.5 is typically underestimated by CMAQ in the summer), while updates to the gas chemistry result in slightly higher O3 and PM2.5 on average in January and July. Overall, the seasonal variation in simulated PM2.5 generally improves in CMAQv5.1 (when considering all model updates), as simulated PM2.5 concentrations decrease in the winter (when PM2.5 is generally overestimated by CMAQ) and increase in the summer (when PM2.5 is generally underestimated by CMAQ). Ozone mixing ratios are higher on average with v5.1 vs. v5.0.2, resulting in higher O3 mean bias, as O3 tends to be overestimated by CMAQ throughout most of the year (especially at locations where the observed O3 is low); however, O3 correlation is largely improved with v5.1. Sensitivity simulations for several hypothetical emission reduction scenarios show that v5.1 tends to be slightly more responsive to reductions in NO x (NO + NO2), VOC and SO x (SO2 + SO4) emissions than v5.0.2, representing an improvement as previous studies have shown CMAQ to underestimate the observed reduction in O3 due to large, widespread reductions in observed emissions.
Basic calcium phosphate crystal-associated musculoskeletal syndromes: an update.

Purpose of review Basic calcium phosphate (BCP) crystals are associated with two important musculoskeletal syndromes. Deposition of BCP crystals in tendons, bursae, and other soft tissues around joints causes calcific periarthritis, whereas intra-articular BCP crystals contribute to osteoarthritis and cause the highly destructive arthritis known as Milwaukee Shoulder Syndrome. The epidemiology and natural history of these syndromes are poorly understood, and because the pathogenesis remains unclear, few targeted therapies are available. I will review new developments in this field. Recent findings I will discuss a case collection of calcific periarthritis of the hip, and evidence-based management strategies for shoulder calcific periarthritis that might be applied to calcific periarthritis at other locations. I will summarize several recent articles addressing mechanisms of crystal formation and identifying pathways through which BCP crystals produce tissue damage and explore some newly identified risk factors for pathologic mineralization. Summary We are making slow, but steady progress in understanding the clinical presentation of calcific periarthritis in sites other than the shoulder. A growing appreciation of the mechanisms through which BCP crystals mediate tissue damage should lead to the development of novel management strategies for these common musculoskeletal syndromes.
CXCR4 blockade decreases CD4+ T cell exhaustion and improves survival in a murine model of polymicrobial sepsis

Sepsis is a dysregulated systemic response to infection involving many inflammatory pathways and the induction of counter-regulatory anti-inflammatory processes that results in a state of immune incompetence and can lead to multi-organ failure. CXCR4 is a chemokine receptor that, following ligation by CXCL12, directs cells to bone marrow niches and also plays an important role in T cell cosignaling and formation of the immunological synapse. Here, we investigated the expression and function of CXCR4 in a murine model of polymicrobial sepsis. Results indicate that CXCR4 is selectively upregulated on naive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and CD4+ central memory T cells following the induction of sepsis, and that CXCR4 antagonism resulted in a significant decrease in sepsis-induced mortality. We probed the mechanistic basis for these findings and found that CXCR4 antagonism significantly increased the number of peripheral CD4+ and CD8+ T cells following sepsis. Moreover, mice treated with the CXCR4 antagonist contained fewer PD-1+ LAG-3+ 2B4+ cells, suggesting that blockade of CXCR4 mitigates CD4+ T cell exhaustion during sepsis. Taken together, these results characterize CXCR4 as an important pathway that modulates immune dysfunction and mortality following sepsis, which may hold promise as a target for future therapeutic intervention in septic patients.
Lack of Benefit of Heliox During Mechanical Ventilation of Subjects With Severe Air-Flow Obstruction.

BACKGROUND: The value of heliox (helium-oxygen mixture) for patients with severe air-flow obstruction is uncertain. The purpose of this study was to determine whether heliox could reduce the degree of hyperinflation and hypercapnia in mechanically ventilated patients with severe air-flow obstruction. METHODS: This was a single-center, prospective observational study conducted in a medical ICU of an academic medical center. We assessed the impact of heliox (65–70% helium, 30–35% oxygen) on airway pressures and arterial blood gases of 13 subjects undergoing mechanical ventilation for severe asthma ( n = 8) or exacerbation of COPD ( n = 5). RESULTS: As compared with ventilation with air-O 2 , heliox resulted in a reduction in peak airway pressure (54.1 ± 12.6cm H 2 O vs 47.9 ± 10.8 cm H 2 O, P P aCO 2 (64.3 ± 14.9 mm Hg vs 62.3 + 15.1 mm Hg, P = .01). In contrast, there was no change in plateau pressure (25.3 ± 5.5 cm H 2 O vs 25.8 ± 5.6 cm H 2 O, P = .14) or total PEEP (13.4 ± 3.8 cm H 2 O vs 13.3 ± 4.1 cm H 2 O, P = .79) in response to heliox. CONCLUSIONS: In mechanically ventilated subjects with severe air-flow obstruction, administration of heliox had no effect on indices of dynamic hyperinflation (plateau pressure and total PEEP) and resulted in only a small reduction in P aCO 2 .
The pitfalls of empirical fitting of glass relaxation data with stretched exponents

A stretched exponent is commonly used to fit experimental relaxation data for glasses, which typically exhibit a range of time constants. While it has been supported by theory for various processes, mostly near and above the glass transition temperature, Tg, it is also commonly used in phenomenological fits below Tg without a mechanistic model. The properties of the stretched exponent, and sample data for the enthalpy release and dynamic-mechanical response of metallic glasses, are used to show that in the absence of a mechanistic model, stretched-exponent fits easily lead to artifacts and flawed conclusions.
Drug-Using Female Sex Workers and HIV Risk: A Systematic Review of the Global Literature

This review examines the global literature concerning HIV risk among drug-using female sex workers (DU-FSWs). In the context of HIV prevention, the possible synergetic effects of sexual risk and drug-related risk merit a systematic review to get a better understanding of such effects among this highly vulnerable population. In particular, we look at research on the association between drug use and HIV risk among female sex workers (FSWs) in terms of multiple indicators such as HIV infection, needle sharing, and unprotected sex.The current review, through synthesizing the findings from 41 studies conducted in multiple nations, reveals a complex picture of HIV risk for DU-FSWs across diverse societies. Research findings are mixed but tend to show that drug-related and sex-related risk behaviors accelerated the risk of HIV/STI among DU-FSWs, underscoring considerable vulnerabilities. However, findings about the level of the association and significance, as well as the mechanisms of HIV transmission, are inconsistent among various empirical studies. The variations in findings may be attributed to the specificities of diverse social contexts, various characteristics of the study samples, and different measurements in different studies. The mixed findings point to the need for more empirical studies targeting DU-FSWs to understand how drug use and sexual risk interactively affect this population differently in different social contexts. Future research should focus on multiple-level risk/preventive factors, assess the overlap between drug-using networks and sexual networks, and identify the synergetic dynamics between drug use and sex work. Development of conceptual frameworks and methodological innovations are also needed.
Recent Trends in Local-Regional Recurrence Rates: Implications for Therapeutic Intervention

Local and regional recurrences pose a significant therapeutic challenge in the field of breast cancer. Unfortunately, between 5 and 10% of patients will have this form of recurrences. This article seeks to review recent declines in locoregional recurrence risk and discuss the potential implications for the extent of therapeutic intervention currently implemented and how this may change in the future. Recurrence rates have significantly decreased in recent times. Additionally, the vast amount of clinical research in the field of breast cancer allows for guidelines and traditional treatments to be updated and revamped as novel information is discovered. Patients who had neoadjuvant chemotherapy have been shown to experience a higher rate of recurrence in comparison with patients that had adjuvant chemotherapy. Radiotherapy is now recommended for patients with one to three positive lymph nodes. Axillary resections have been shown to provide no benefits to patients undergoing radiotherapy. Local and regional recurrence rates are decreasing lately both due to improvements in various therapeutic interventions and in implementation of breast cancer screening so that cancers may be caught earlier. Due to declines in local recurrence risk, it may be reasonable to scale back surgical, chemotherapeutic, and radio-therapeutic interventions.
Evaluating a 'non-diet' wellness intervention for improvement of metabolic fitness, psychological well-being and eating and activity behaviors.

Context: Current public health policy recommends weight loss for obese individuals, and encourages energy-restricted diets. Others advocate an alternative, ‘non-diet’ approach which emphasizes eating in response to physiological cues (eg hunger and satiety) and enhancing body acceptance. Objective: To evaluate the effects of a ‘health-centered’ non-diet wellness program, and to compare this program to a traditional ‘weight loss-centered’ diet program. Design: Six-month, randomized clinical trial. Setting: Free-living, general community. Participants: Obese, Caucasian, female, chronic dieters, ages 30–45 y (n=78). Interventions: Six months of weekly group intervention in a non-diet wellness program or a traditional diet program, followed by 6 months of monthly after-care group support. Outcome Measures: Anthropometry (weight, body mass index); metabolic fitness (blood pressure, blood lipids); energy expenditure; eating behavior (restraint, eating disorder pathology); psychology (self-esteem, depression, body image); attrition and attendance; and participant evaluations of treatment helpfulness. Measures obtained at baseline, 3 months, 6 months and 1 y. Results (1 y after program initiation): Cognitive restraint increased in the diet group and decreased in the non-diet group. Both groups demonstrated significant improvement in many metabolic fitness, psychological and eating behavior variables. There was high attrition in the diet group (41%), compared to 8% in the non-diet group. Weight significantly decreased in the diet group (5.9±6.3 kg) while there was no significant change in the non-diet group (−0.1±4.8 kg). Conclusions: Over a 1 y period, a diet approach results in weight loss for those who complete the intervention, while a non-diet approach does not. However, a non-diet approach can produce similar improvements in metabolic fitness, psychology and eating behavior, while at the same time effectively minimizing the attrition common in diet programs.
An Introduction to Perimetry and the Normal Visual Field

The analysis of the visual field is an important part of the neurologic and ophthalmologic examination. The eye exists to see, and more than 40% of the human brain is involved in visual processing in some fashion. Not surprisingly, many diseases of these two structures affect vision. Assessing the visual field is often helpful in localizing, diagnosing, and following the course and efficacy of treatment of these diseases.
Locus of control: A review of cross-cultural research☆

Abstract This paper reviews some 70 reports of cross-cultural research in locus of control done prior to 1981. Findings of cross-cultural and cross-ethnic similarities and differences are generally inconsistent and inconclusive. Neither do studies of antecedents, correlates, and consequents of the construct enhance our faith in its universal generality. Issues such as cross-cultural conceptual and functional equivalence, dimensionality, appropriateness of measuring instruments, modes of cross-cultural comparison, and theoretical contribution are raised. Potential fruitfulness of research on the control dimension is asserted, given that we attain some modifications in our methodology.
History of Special Education

The field of special education has an extensive and vibrant past that has been fashioned by a myriad of philosophical, sociopolitical, economic, and legal factors intricately tied to society’s treatment of individuals with disabilities. Marked by ongoing debates about purposes, groups served, effective practices, and outcomes, the field of special education has experienced periods of rapid expansion and has evolved from segregation to inclusion. This article outlines the main events, factors, and movements that have influenced the development of special education from its philosophical origins as a care-taking enterprise focused on deaf and blind individuals to its transformation to serving individuals with a wide range of disabilities and being an integral part of the educational system in many parts of the world.
Damage Detection by Template Matching of Scattered Waves

A method based on template matching is presented to detect and locate damage in buildings following severe shaking by an earthquake. The templates are constructed by finite‐element simulations of a suite of damage scenarios, with the solutions evaluated at the location (and orientation) of each sensor in the structure. The damage detection is carried out by cross‐correlating the templates with recordings acquired from earthquakes. A dense distributed network of sensors is important for detecting anomalies in the presence of ambient noise. The cross correlation of the templates with themselves provides a measure of the resolution of the damage location.
Response to What Is God’s Good Future? Right Relationships with All Things

In his article, Steven Bouma-Prediger makes a strong case for all of Earth belonging to God and God alone. But I wonder, has he worn out that phrase? Might this essential and foundational truth hav...
A theoretical turn in the study of India-US relations

The relationship between India and the United States has been a complicated one. These three well-researched books furnish readers with new insights into the dynamics of the relationship. They demo...
Incidence of and risk factors (RFs) for development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for pancreatic cancer: A single institutional review.

398Background: PD may increase the risk of development of NAFLD, a precursor for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and cirrhosis. Studies have not clearly identified consistent RFs for NAFLD, but patie...
Direct Carbon Fuel Cell-Cleaner and Efficient Future Power Generation Technology

Increasing greenhouse effect due to the burning of fossil fuels has stirred the attention of researchers towards cleaner and efficient technologies. Direct carbon fuel cell (DCFC) is one such emerging technology that could generate electricity from solid carbon like coal and biogas in a more efficient and environmental-friendly way. The mechanism involves electrochemical oxidation of carbon to produce energy and highly pure carbon dioxide. Due to higher purity, the produced carbon dioxide can be captured easily to avoid its release in the environment. The carbon dioxide is produced in a gaseous state while the fuel used is in a solid state. Due to different phases, all of the fuel can be recovered from the cell and can be reused, ensuring complete (100%) fuel utilization with no fuel losses. Moreover, DCFC operates at a temperature lower than conventional fuel cells. The electric efficiency of a DCFC is around 80% which is nearly double the efficiency of coal thermal plant. In addition, DCFC produces pure carbon dioxide as compared to the thermal power plant which reduces the cost of CO2 separation and dumping. In different types of DCFCs, molten carbon fuel cell is considered to be superior due to its low operating temperature and high efficiency. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the direct carbon fuel cell technology and recent advances in this field. The paper is focused on the fundamentals of fuel cell, history, operating principle, its types, applications, future challenges, and development.
Propagation of Giardia duodenalis cysts in immunosuppressed CF-1 mice.

Abstract This study developed and evaluated Giardia duodenalis cyst propagation using a dexamethasone immunosuppressed CF-1 mouse model as an alternative to a previously described Mongolian gerbil model. The CF-1 mouse model shed significantly more cysts per animal during a 16–18 h collection period compared to the gerbil (averages: 7.8 × 106 cysts/CF-1 mouse and 2.5 × 106 cysts/gerbil). In addition, the patency period for this model differed from both G. muris in mice and G. duodenalis in gerbils in that cysts were shed continuously for over 20 days. Results further showed that the β-giardin gene sequences from gerbil derived and mouse derived G. duodenalis were identical, after 34 serial passages through the CF-1 mouse model. Overall, the CF-1 mouse model produced higher concentrations of cysts per animal, and were genetically and phenotypically stable based on β-giardin gene sequences.
Analysis of collagen architecture alterations in human ovarian cancer and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis via SHG pixel based polarization analyses (Conference Presentation)

Both ovarian cancer and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are accompanied by significant collagen remodeling in the respective extracellular matrix (ECM). These diseases have similar attributes and collagen alterations can be probed with the same methods. Remodeling can be reflected in increased collagen concentration, changes in alignment within fibrils and fibers and/or up-regulation of different collagen isoforms. We used pixel-based SHG polarization analyses to discriminate the macro/supramolecular collagen structure in human tissues by: i) determination of the helical pitch angle via the single axis molecular model, ii) dipole alignment within fibrils via anisotropy, and iii) chirality via SHG circular dichroism (SHG-CD). For ovarian cancer, the largest differences were between normal stroma and benign tumors, consistent with gene expression showing Col III is up-regulated in the latter. The tissues also displayed differing SHG anisotropies and SHG-CD responses, consistent with randomization of Col I alignment in fibrils in all tumors. These results collectively indicate the fibril assemblies are distinct in all ovarian tissues and likely result from synthesis of new collagen rather than remodeling of existing collagen. For IPF, the largest change was in the SHG-CD response, indicating the fibrotic collagen has different helical structure than that of normal tissues. Interestingly, for both diseases, no increase in Col IIII was found, in contrast to previous reports by immunostaining. We suggest these polarization-based metrics could form the basis of a new classification scheme and complement conventional classification based on genetic profiles and conventional histology for these diseases as well as other cancers and fibroses.
Amnesia and the nation

In his book, Joyce, Race and Empire, Vincent Cheng did much to situate modernism and Irish identity within the field of colonial cultural production. With a keen eye on the geopolitical subtexts of...
Can noninvasive testing identify benign patterns of suggested pre-excitation on electrocardiogram?

BACKGROUND The presence of anterograde conduction through an accessory pathway (AP) has been linked to sudden cardiac death. Unfortunately, pre-excitation associated with classic pathways can be difficult to differentiate from benign APs such as nodofascicular fibers. OBJECTIVE Identifying characteristics on electrocardiogram (ECG) and exercise that differentiate classic and benign AP connections in suggested pre-excitation patterns. METHODS Retrospective review of patients presenting between 1995 and 2017 with ventricular pre-excitation on ECG, determined to have either typical left-lateral AP during electrophysiology study (EPS), or benign, or no AP determined by either transesophageal electrophysiology study (TEP), or EPS. RESULTS A total of 96 patients were included, 14.2 years (4-24), 45% female, 90% Caucasian. Of these, 60 (63%) had a classic APs identified on EPS and 58 (97%) underwent successful ablation. Conversely, 36 (37%) had benign pathways identified. ECG findings differed between the groups: PR-interval 102 versus 120 ms (P < .0001), QRS-duration 110 versus 102 ms (P < .0001), QRS-axis 74 versus 59 degrees (P = .0005), and QRS onset to peak R/S in limb leads 64 versus 42 ms (P < .0001), and precordial leads 66 versus 46 ms (P < .0001). Change in QRS duration during exercise differed between the groups: 25 versus 2 ms (P < .0001) and ECG characteristics identified the presence of an AP with 97% sensitivity and 94% negative predictive value. CONCLUSION Classic and benign APs exhibit different ECG characteristics, though clinical overlap does not allow for absolute differentiation. These data may help with risk stratification decision making though does not obviate the need for additional invasive testing.
A facile, one-step procedure for the conversion of 2-(trimethylsilyl) ethyl glycosides to their glycosyl chlorides

Abstract Treatment of a variety of protected 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl (SE) mono, di and trisaccharide glycosides and hemiacetal sugars with α, α-dichloromethyl methyl ether (DCMME) in the presence of ZnCl2, SnCl4 or FeCl3 in dichloromethane gave their corresponding 1,2-cis glycosyl chlorides in excellent yields.
Regulation of Nitrogen Metabolism in Mycelial Fungi

Nitrogen is found in nearly all of the complex biological macromolecules and is a major component of proteins and of nucleic acids. The mycelial fungi can utilize many different compounds as nitrogen sources, and possess a myriad of different nitrogen catabolic pathways plus a global, hierarchal regulatory system to govern their efficient use. This complex regulatory circuit functions to insure that a constant nitrogen supply is readily available for growth, even in the face of widely different or rapidly changing environments. This chapter will focus primarily upon Aspergillus nidulans and Neurospora crassa, since nearly all of our understanding of nitrogen metabolic regulation in mycelial fungi has been obtained with these two organisms. Many other fungal species almost certainly possess similar nitrogen control systems.
Prediction of phase transition in CaSiO3 perovskite and implications for lower mantle structure

ABsTRACI' First-principles linear-response calculations were used to investigate the lattice dynamics of what is thought to be the third most abundant phase in the lower mantle, CaSi03 perovskite. The commonly assumed cubic structure (Pm3m) was found to be dynamically unstable at all pressures, exhibiting unstable modes along the Brillouin zone edge ftom the M point to the R point. On the basis of these results, we predict that the ground-state structure of CaSi03 perovskite is a distorted phase with lower than cubic symmetry. We predict that a phase transition occurs in CaSi03 perovskite within the Earth's lower mantle from the low-temperature distorted phase to the high-temperature cubic phase. The predicted phase transition possibly explains some of the seismologicalobservations of reflective features within the lower mantle.
Dedicated to the Mission: Strategies US Department of Veterans Affairs Home-Based Primary Care Teams Apply to Keep Veterans at Home

Background/objectives The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) Program provides interdisciplinary, long-term primary care for frail, disabled, or chronically ill veterans. This research identifies strategies used by HBPC teams to support veterans in their homes, rather than in institutionalized care. Design Focus groups and semistructured interviews were conducted with HBPC interdisciplinary team (IDT) members, including program directors, medical directors, and key staff, from September 2017 to March 2018. Field observations were gathered during visits to veterans' homes and IDT meetings. Setting In-person site visits were conducted at eight HBPC Programs across the United States. Sites varied in location, setting, and primary care model. Participants A total of 105 HBPC professionals. Measurement Qualitative thematic content analysis. Results Four main strategies drive and support the shared mission of IDTs to support veterans at home: fostering frequent communication among IDT members, veterans, caregivers, and outside agencies; development of longitudinal, trusting, reliable relationships within IDTs and with veterans and caregivers; ongoing, consistent education for IDT members and veterans and caregivers; and collaboration within and outside IDTs. Adhering to this mission meant providing timely and efficient care that kept veterans in their homes and minimized the need for acute hospitalizations and nursing home placement. Conclusion HBPC IDTs studied worked together across disciplines to effectively create a dedicated culture of caring for veterans, caregivers, and themselves, leading to keeping veterans at home. Focusing on the strategies identified in this research may be useful to achieve similar positive outcomes when caring for medically complex, homebound patients within and outside the VA. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:2511-2518, 2019.
Helicopter wire strike protection and prevention devices: Review, challenges, and recommendations

Abstract Rotorcraft are commonly required to fly at low altitudes and this places them at a high risk of striking various types of obstacles. Wires, in particular, are very difficult to discern and easily blend in the background which explains why wire strikes are a major cause of helicopter accidents. In the context of helicopter operations, a wire hazard is any wire or structure supporting those wires that presents a danger to the aircraft. Data from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) shows that wire strikes were responsible for 124 fatalities between 1994 and 2018. Data on civil helicopter wire strikes further show that the majority of helicopter models involved fall in the lightweight category. In this study, existing aircraft-mounted and ground-based wire strike prevention and protection technologies are reviewed, along with some other potential technologies that have not been specifically developed for use on helicopters but that might be able to prevent wire strikes. In particular, commercially available wire detection systems such as laser scanning systems, database-dependent warning systems, wire cutters, radar scanners and aerial markers are surveyed and evaluated against each other. Publicly available databases of transmission lines in the U.S. are identified and documented for the development of wire strike prevention technologies for lightweight helicopters. The feasibility of creating useful maps of wires from tabulated data or image data is discussed and various Electronic Flight Bag manufacturers are surveyed and compared to determine the feasibility of integrating and displaying such information in the cockpit. Challenges of implementing safety devices, in particular wire cutters, on lightweight helicopters are also discussed and recommendations are provided to improve helicopter wire strike safety. Finally, a multi-criteria decision-making analysis is carried out to rank wire strike safety devices and compare the robustness of their rankings with respect to various operator's preference scenarios. It is shown that the Electronic Flight Bag (EFB), the Wire Strike Protection System (WSPS), the Obstacle Collision Avoidance System (OCAS), and the wire markers perform best regardless of the scenario.
On the Differential Roles of Mg2+, Zn2+, and Cu2+ in the Equilibrium of β-N-Methyl-Amino-L-Alanine (BMAA) and its Carbamates

β-N-methyl-amino-L-alanine (BMAA) in the presence of bicarbonate (HCO3−) undergoes structural modifications generating two carbamate species, α-carbamate and β-carbamate forms of BMAA. The chemical structure of BMAA and BMAA-carbamate adducts strongly suggest they may interact with divalent metal ions. The ability of BMAA to cross the blood-brain barrier and possibly interact with divalent metal ions may augment the neurotoxicity of these molecules. To understand the effects of divalent metal ions (Mg2+, Zn2+, and Cu2+) on the overall dynamic equilibrium between BMAA and its carbamate adducts, a systematic study using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is presented. The chemical equilibria between BMAA, its carbamate adducts, and each of the divalent ions were studied using two-dimensional chemical exchange spectroscopy (EXSY). The NMR results demonstrate that BMAA preferentially interacts with Zn2+ and Cu2+, causing an overall reduction in the production of carbamate species by altering the dynamic equilibria. The NMR-based spectral changes due to the BMAA interaction with Cu2+ is more drastic than with the Zn2+, under the same stoichiometric ratios of BMAA and the individual divalent ions. However, the presence of Mg2+ does not significantly alter the dynamic equilibria between BMAA and its carbamate adducts. The NMR-based results are further validated using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, observing the n ➔ π interaction in the complex formation of BMAA and the divalent metal ions, with additional verification of the interaction with Cu2+ using UV-Vis spectroscopy. Our results demonstrate that BMAA differentially interacts with divalent metal ions (Mg2+ < Zn2+ < Cu2+), and thus alters the rate of formation of carbamate products. The equilibria between BMAA, the bicarbonate ions, and the divalent metal ions may alter the total population of a specific form of BMAA-ion complex at physiological conditions and, therefore, add a level of complexity of the mechanisms by which BMAA acts as a neurotoxin.
Decreased Hepatocyte Autophagy Leads to Synergistic IL-1β and TNF Mouse Liver Injury and Inflammation.

Background and aims The proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β has been implicated in the pathophysiology of nonalcoholic and alcoholic steatohepatitis. How IL-1β promotes liver injury in these diseases is unclear, as no IL-1β receptor-linked death pathway has been identified. Autophagy functions in hepatocyte resistance to injury and death, and findings of decreased hepatic autophagy in many liver diseases suggest a role for impaired autophagy in disease pathogenesis. Recent findings that autophagy blocks mouse liver injury from lipopolysaccharide led to an examination of autophagy's function in hepatotoxicity from proinflammatory cytokines. Approach and results AML12 cells with decreased autophagy from a lentiviral autophagy-related 5 (Atg5) knockdown were resistant to toxicity from TNF, but sensitized to death from IL-1β, which was markedly amplified by TNF co-treatment. IL-1β/TNF death was necrosis by trypan blue and propidium iodide positivity, absence of mitochondrial death pathway and caspase activation, and failure of a caspase inhibitor or necrostatin-1s to prevent death. IL-1β/TNF depleted autophagy-deficient cells of ATP, and ATP depletion and cell death were prevented by supplementation with the energy substrate pyruvate or oleate. Pharmacological inhibitors and genetic knockdown studies demonstrated that IL-1β/TNF-induced necrosis resulted from lysosomal permeabilization and release of cathepsins B and L in autophagy-deficient cells. Mice with a tamoxifen-inducible, hepatocyte-specific Atg5 knockout were similarly sensitized to cathepsin-dependent hepatocellular injury and death from IL-1β/TNF in combination, but neither IL-1β nor TNF alone. Knockout mice had increased hepatic inflammation, and IL-1β/TNF-treated, autophagy-deficient AML12 cells secreted exosomes with proinflammatory damage-associated molecular patterns. Conclusions The findings delineate mechanisms by which decreased hepatocyte autophagy promotes IL-1β/TNF-induced necrosis from impaired energy homeostasis and lysosomal permeabilization and inflammation through the secretion of exosomal damage-associated molecular patterns.
Celebrating PSA 90 Years: Presenting the Past and Present to Address the Challenges Facing Millennials in the Future:

Since its founding in 1929, the Pacific Sociological Association (PSA) has undergone a variety of changes as it has adapted to shifts in society, developments in the discipline, and an increasingly...
E-217 Voxel based calculation of aneurysm volume and morphological characteristics

Introduction Various embolization techniques are available for intracranial aneurysms. The volume of an aneurysm is of interest for the device selection and delivery of a variety of embolization techniques, such as: coils, liquid embolics, flow disruptors, and flow diverters. Accurate aneurysm sizing and volumetric information can help interventionalists assess flow and stability pre-treatment, and assess potential remnant or recanalization risks post-treatment. Materials and Methods This research project applies voxel-based volume calculations, from patient MRI medical imaging data, to determine accurate 3-D aneurysm volume calculations. Additionally, the application can display clinically relevant parameters, such as aneurysm neck diameter, dome height and midline-dome width (for dome: neck (D:N) ratio calculations. To develop the calculations, formalin-fixed canine aneurysms model samples are measured with a Bruker 7T® MRI and reconstructed in 3-D. (figure 1). The images is be processed using a MATLAB® algorithm. This algorithm patches together image segments from MRI and micro CT scans of animals and/or humans. The application acquires 3D MRI data, discretizes the domain intrasaccular aneurysm space, and evaluates the volume of the aneurysm sac. This data is compared to physical measurements of excised aneurysms and calibrated 2-D angiographic images. Results Imaging processing techniques may be used to determine the domain of aneurysms with unprecedented precision, with less than 5% volumetric error, whereas current measurement techniques, especially in 2-D planes have errors as high as 30%. This technique helps determine the macroscopic properties of aneurysms, as well as accurately calculate the volumes of heterogeneous features such as blebs or abnormal aneurysm shapes. Conclusion This project brings together clinical and engineering expertise to translate medical imaging data directly into volumetric measurements with highly precise calculations that are currently not available from 2-D angiographic images. Measuring the size and dimensional properties of aneurysms with voxel-based volume calculations provides a fast, reliable and repeatable resource for aneurysm assessment. This technique will help interventionalists appropriately asses risk and treatment options for a broad variety of aneurysm morphologies. Disclosures C. Settanni: None. T. Becker: 1; C; STTR (NIH). 2; C; Aneuvas. W. Merrit: 1; C; STTR(NIH). 2; C; Aneuvas.
Calcifying Synovial Sarcoma of the Tongue with SS18 Rearrangement: A rare variant in a rare location.

Synovial sarcoma is a soft tissue malignancy harboring t(X;18) resulting in fusion of two genes SS8 (at 18q11) and SSX (1, 2 or 4 at Xp11) forming the gene fusion product SS18-SSX. It affects adults in their 3rd-4th decades, most frequently in the para-articular regions of the extremities. Less than 10% of the cases occur within the head and neck region and of these, 60% occur in the neck and only 10% occur in the oral cavity. We report a synovial sarcoma of the tongue in a 14-year-old female patient with unusual histology. The patient presented with a mass occupying most of the tongue with extension into the floor of mouth and the lingual gingiva of the anterior mandibular teeth. The tumor was composed of a highly cellular proliferation of spindle cells in a herringbone pattern with many small vessels but without glandular structures, and with extensive calcifications throughout the tumor. Tumor cells were positive for epithelial membrane antigen and transducin-like enhancer of split-1, and fluorescence in situ hybridization studies identified SS18 gene rearrangement. The patient was managed with two debulking procedures followed by chemoradiation and is currently alive with disease.
Vaping while high: Factors associated with vaping marijuana among youth in the United States

Abstract Introduction The use of e-cigarette and other vaping devices have become popular among youth in US. In addition to nicotine, vaping devices can be used to vaporize marijuana. However, factors associated with vaping marijuana among youth remain unexplored. This study examined the rates of vaping marijuana and its correlates among youth in the US. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of survey data from the 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey of middle-and high-schoolers who provided information regarding ever use of vaping devices to vape marijuana (n = 10,680). Multivariable regression model was conducted to assess factors associated with vaping marijuana. Results Overall, 26.2 % of participants reported ever vaping marijuana. High-schoolers [vs middle-schoolers; aOR = 2.16,95 %CI:1.76−2.67], Hispanics [vs Whites; aOR = 2.30,95 %CI:1.90−2.80], and Blacks [vs Whites; aOR = 1.42,95 %CI:1.04−1.92] were more likely to ever vape marijuana. Those who perceived e-cigarette as equally addictive to cigarettes, were less likely to ever vape marijuana [aOR = 0.79, 95 %CI:0.65−0.97]. In addition, those who reported ever trying cigarettes [aOR = 1.63,95 %CI:1.29−2.06], cigars [aOR = 2.62, 95 %CI:2.08−3.30], or hookah [aOR = 2.88,95 %CI:2.14−3.89] were more likely to ever vape marijuana. Lifetime frequency of e-cigarette use was associated with greater odds of ever vaping marijuana (p-values Conclusion Large numbers of youth in the US have ever vaped marijuana. Our findings indicate that sociodemographic characteristics, tobacco product use, frequency of e-cigarette use are important factors associated with vaping marijuana. Tobacco control campaigns targeted at curbing the use of e-cigarette and other vaping devices among youth in the US should be extended to address vaping substances other than nicotine such as marijuana.
Understanding Male to Female Transgender Surgery and Associated Complications—a Comprehensive Review

Recent social, legal, and medical advances have significantly increased transgender visibility and the need for widely available access to care for these patients. The past decade has seen an increase in the literature providing insight into the demographics, access to care, and surgical techniques related to transgender care. This review attempts to offer a basic overview of male-to-female transgender surgery, with insights into the major complications that may occur intraoperatively or postoperatively. Overall, the field of transgender reconstructive surgery is relatively nascent, and with increasing advances in surgical techniques and postoperative management, some of these complications may be addressed and avoided.
Comparative plasma and urine concentrations of flunixin and meloxicam in show goats

The allowable tolerance for a drug is based on edible tissue, yet a majority of livestock shows use urine samples to test for the presence of performance enhancing drugs. Currently, there is limited data on the relationship between urine and plasma or target tissue concentrations used for withdrawal time calculations in food animal species. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare plasma and urine concentrations in goats administered 1 of 2 nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, flunixin meglumine and meloxicam, in order to determine withdrawal intervals for animals where urine is routinely tested at livestock shows.