cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anterior cruciate ligament function after tibial eminence fracture in skeletally mature patients

We compared anterior cruciate ligament function in skeletally mature patients after treatment of tibial eminence fractures with that of patients in two other groups: patients who had anterior cruciate ligament deficiency and patients who had undergone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using bone-patellar tendon-bone autografts. The Lysholm questionnaire was used to evaluate symptoms and KT-1000 arthrometry was used to determine objective knee laxity at an average follow-up of 5.2 years. Knee joint proprioception was assessed with a new method designed to test joint position sense. The Lysholm score for the tibial eminence group was 94 +/- 7. Only the patients in the anterior cruciate ligament-deficient group demonstrated statistically significantly increased laxity and inferior proprioception when the injured leg was compared with the uninjured leg. Both laxity and proprioception were statistically inferior for the anterior cruciate ligament-deficient group when compared with both the treated tibial eminence fracture group and the anterior cruciate ligament-reconstructed group. No statistically significant difference was observed between the anterior cruciate ligament-reconstructed and treated tibial eminence fracture groups. Correlation was observed between laxity and proprioception when all patients were analyzed. The results demonstrate that appropriate treatment of tibial eminence fractures restores stability and proprioception to the knee.
THE EFFECT OF INSULIN ON THE GLUCOSE-CHLORIDE RELATIONSHIP AND ANHYDREMIA IN THE BLOOD OF RABBITS

A study of the literature regarding the effect of insulin on blood volume or water content reveals the fact that a considerable controversy exists at present as to whether insulin does or does not influence the water content of the blood, producing a condition of anhydremia. For the acceptance of anhydremia as a distinct insulin effect we have the experimental evidence of Nitzescu and Mangiuca (l), Levine and Kolars (2), Drabkin and Edwards (3), Villa (4). The work of Mazzocco and Morera (5) and that of Olmstead and Taylor (6) indicates that anhydremia is not a specific insulin effect. On the other hand, the evidence presented by Widal, Abrami, Weill, and Laudat (7), and that of Haldane, Kay, and Smith (8) supports the view that a rise in blood volume (hydremia) may be the direct effect of insulin injections. Regardless of the particular direction of this water shift, the explanation offered is based on the assumption that the hypoglycemia induced by the insulin is directly responsible for disturbances in the osmotic pressure equilibrium of the body which involve this water shifting. Herrick (9), studying the simultaneous determinations of blood reducing substance and whole blood chlorides in patients undergoing the glucose tolerance test, discovered an inverse relationship between glucose and chlorides in the blood. When the glucose concentration of the blood rose, the blood chlorides fell in such proportion as to indicate a possible direct reciprocal relationship. Herrick suggests that this shifting of the chlorides is necessary in order to preserve optimal osmotic conditions in
Changes in the Indonesian Throughflow during the past 2000 yr

The Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) is the only low-latitude conduit for exchange of surface and thermocline waters between the Indian and Pacific Oceans; 80% of the ITF waters pass through the Makassar Strait. The flux of heat and salt through the strait is, in part, a function of the density difference between its southern and northern ends. Here the Mg/Ca and stable oxygen isotope compositions of the planktonic foraminifer Globigerinoides ruber sampled from two sediment cores collected at the northern and southern ends of the Makassar Strait are used to reconstruct surface-water temperature (SST), sea-surface salinity (SSS), and seawater density variability over the past 2000 yr. Maximum SST and SSS occurred at both sites between 850 and 700 yr ago, coinciding with the Medieval Solar Maximum and Medieval Warm Period (ca. 1000–700 yr ago). SST and SSS declined at both locations after 700 yr ago and reached minimum values during the Little Ice Age, between 300 and 100 yr ago. However, the magnitude of SST and SSS change over the past 2000 yr was distinctly different between the two sites, especially during the period between 2000 and 900 yr ago. This led to changes in the south to north density gradient within the Makassar Strait. Specifically, the time interval from ca. 2000 to 800 yr ago was marked predominantly by higher densities at the northern end relative to the southern end of the strait, suggesting reduced heat flux from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean. This is consistent with previous work showing that this time interval was also marked by frequent El Nino conditions. Conversely, the period from ca. 800 to 300 yr ago, including the LIA, was marked by frequent periods when surface density was higher at the southern end of the strait, indicative of enhanced heat flux to the Indian Ocean.
Routine use of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 in posterior fusions of the pediatric spine: safety profile and efficacy in the early postoperative period.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies using recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) in the adult lumbar spine have shown consistently good results, There have been no pediatric case series. OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and efficacy of rhBMP-2 use in posterior instrumented fusions of the pediatric population. METHODS: A retrospective review of 19 consecutive pediatric patients who underwent posterior occiptocervical, cervical, thoracic, lumbar, or lumbosacral spine fusion from October 1, 2007, to June 30, 2008, at Texas Children's Hospital was performed. The average age was approximately 12 years old (range, 9 months to 20 years). The minimum follow-up was 17 months (average of 19 months, range: 17-25 months), with computed tomography (CT) evaluation and grading of fusion by an independent radiologist at 3 months after surgery. RESULTS: The average CT grade was 3, indicating bilateral bridging bone. No pseudoarthroses or loss of correction was identified clinically or radiographically at 3 months and latest follow-up. There was one complication of bony overgrowth and restenosis of the spinal canal necessitating reoperation, and two superficial wound infections. There were no deep wound infections. CONCLUSION: Early outcomes using rhBMP-2 in the pediatric population show that it is a safe and efficacious adjunct to posterior spine fusions of the occipitocervical, cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and lumbosacral spine. It dependably results in the development of stable bridging bone at 3 months after surgery with good maintenance of correction and stability in long-term follow-up. Lessons learned from the case of unexpected bony overgrowth are discussed.
Carbon Storage by Forest Vegetation and Its Spatial Distribution in Shaanxi

Based on forest resource inventory data of ecological function and productivity and the Biomass Expansion Factor(BEF) method we estimated carbon storage and carbon density of forest vegetation in Shaanxi province, China. The relationship between the spatial distribution of carbon storage and regional ecological functions was also analyzed. We found that the carbon storage of arbor forest is 238.527×106tC, of which 84.36% is from natural forests and 15.64% from plantations. The average carbon density of forest vegetation in Shaanxi is 30.92 tC/hm2, less than the national mean because of the low development of forest in Shaanxi. Given that natural forest was mainly responsible for total carbon storage, it is not surprising that the average carbon density of dominant species in natural forest is higher than for plantation species. The spatial distribution of forest carbon storage is largely affected by climate conditions in Shaanxi. Total carbon storage in the Qinba Mountain Area is 183.329×106tC, accounting for 76.86% of total carbon storage. Average carbon density in the Qinba Mountain Area is 33.607 t[?]hm-2 and higher than the provincial average. Therefore, compared to the Northern Shaanxi Loess Plateau and Guanzhong Basin, the Qinba Mountain Area is the main contributor of carbon storage in Shaanxi and will play an important role in the future ecological protection, water conservation and carbon sink development. The dominant species such as Robinia pseudoacacia, Pinus tabulaefomis and Populus spp. are the main contributors to carbon storage in plantations; as Quercus spp. is in hard wood forest and Pinus tabulaefomis in natural forest. The concentrated distribution of dominant species maintained regional ecological function. According to forest vegetation partitioning, regional forest ecosystem function and productivity should correspond to the spatial distribution of carbon storage. This will be helpful to understand the ecological function and productivity of forest resources, and take a uniform understanding of forest carbon storage and carbon density in Shaanxi.
The preparation of anti-hnRNP A2/B1 polyclonal antibody and its application in non-small cell lung cancer

Objective:To prepare anti-hnRNP A2/B1 polyclonal antibody and determine its clinical significance in diagnosis and prediction of prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer and analyze the relationship between the expression of hnRNP A2/B1 and pathological features.Methods:HnRNP A2/B1 expression was induced by IPTG.The rabbit-anti-human hnRNP A2/B1 polyclonal antibodies were prepared and purified.The specimens were isolated from 45 cases of non small cell lung cancer tissues and paracancerous tissues and 16 cases of lung inflammatory pseudotumor tissues and embedded in paraffin.hnRNP A2/B1 expression was detected by immunohistochemical method using rabbit anti-human hnRNP A2/B1 polyclonal antibodies.The results were compared with imported anti-hnRNPA2/B1 monoclonal antibody to observe the clinical value of self-made polyclonal antibodies.Results:The rabbit anti-human hnRNPA2/B1 polyclonal antibody is successfully generated.The positive rate of hnRNP A2/B1 expression detected by anti-hnRNP A2/B1 polyclonal antibody was significantly higher in lung cancer tissues than that in paracancerous tissues(62.2% vs 40.0%,P=0.035) and lung inflammatory pseudotumor tissues(62.2% vs 31.3%,P=0.033).The overexpression of hnRNP A2 /B1 was positively related with age and smoking and negatively related with differentiation degree.But it was not related to tumor histological classification,gender,lymph node metastasis,TNM stage,and distant metastasis.(4) The difference in survival time was significant between the two groups.hnRNP A2/B1-positive patients had shorter survival time than hnRNP A2/B1-negative patients(P=0.048).Conclusions:The rabbit anti-human hnRNP A2/B1 polyclonal antibody is successfully generated.Overexpression of hnRNP A2/B1 in lung cancer tissues has clinical values to a certain degree for diagnosis and prediction of the prognosis of lung cancer.
A scoping review of the nurse practitioner workforce in oncology

The quality of cancer care may be compromised in the near future because of work force issues. Several factors will impact the oncology health provider work force: an aging population, an increase in the number of cancer survivors, and expansion of health care coverage for the previously uninsured. Between October 2014 and March 2015, an electronic literature search of English language articles was conducted using PubMed(®) , the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Sciences (CINAHL(®) ), Web of Science, Journal Storage (JSTOR(®) ), Google Scholar, and SCOPUS(®) . Using the scoping review criteria, the research question was identified "How much care in oncology is provided by nurse practitioners (NPs)?" Key search terms were kept broad and included: "NP" AND "oncology" AND "workforce". The literature was searched between 2005 and 2015, using the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 29 studies were identified, further review resulted in 10 relevant studies that met all criteria. Results demonstrated that NPs are utilized in both inpatient and outpatient settings, across all malignancy types and in a variety of roles. Academic institutions were strongly represented in all relevant studies, a finding that may reflect the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) duty work hour limitations. There was no pattern associated with state scope of practice and NP representation in this scoping review. Many of the studies reviewed relied on subjective information, or represented a very small number of NPs. There is an obvious need for an objective analysis of the amount of care provided by oncology NPs.
Growth stimulating activity produced by human bladder cancer cells.

AbstractGrowth promoting properties have been identified in the conditioned serum-free medium from cultures of the human transitional cell carcinoma cell line 647V. This activity appears to reside in a molecule of more than 5000MW. The factor responsible for 647V growth is distinguished from epidermal growth factor, since it fails to inhibit the specific binding of epidermal growth factor by 647V cells, and 647V cells are not stimulated to grow by epidermal growth factor. It also does not appear to be an insulin-like growth factor-like molecule since it fails to competitively bind with human insulin-like growth factor-carrier protein.
Functional Analysis of Keratin-Associated Proteins in Intestinal Epithelia: Heat-Shock Protein Chaperoning and Kinase Rescue

A growing body of evidence from several laboratories points at nonmechanical functions of keratin intermediate filaments (IF), such as control of apoptosis, modulation of signaling, or regulation of innate immunity, among others. While these functions are generally assigned to the ability of IF to scaffold other proteins, direct mechanistic causal relationships between filamentous keratins and the observed effects of keratin knockout or mutations are still missing. We have proposed that the scaffolding of chaperones such as Hsp70/40 may be key to understand some IF nonmechanical functions if unique features or specificity of the chaperoning activity in the IF scaffold can be demonstrated. The same criteria of uniqueness could be applied to other biochemical functions of the IF scaffold. Here, we describe a subcellular fractionation technique based on established methods of keratin purification. The resulting keratin-enriched fraction contains several proteins tightly associated with the IF scaffold, including Hsp70/40 chaperones. Being nondenaturing, this fractionation method enables direct testing of chaperoning and other enzymatic activities associated with IF, as well as supplementation experiments to determine the need for soluble (cytosolic) proteins. This method also permits to analyze inhibitory activity of cytosolic proteins at independently characterized physiological concentrations. When used as complementary approaches to knockout, knockdown, or site-directed mutagenesis, these techniques are expected to shed light on molecular mechanisms involved in the effects of IF loss of function.
Identification of U.S.-Grown Hop Cultivars by Hop Acid and Essential Oil Analyses

The purpose of this research was to identify hop acid and essential oil characteristics that could be used to identify hop cultivars grown in the United States. Ten commercial cultivars were analyzed: fresh hop samples were analyzed for α- and β-acid concentrations, cohumulone ratio, colupulone ratio, and essential oil composition. From the analytical data for hop acids or essential oils, dichotomous keys were developed to identify the 10 cultivars based on each
The SHAPE Lab. - New Technology and Software for Archaeologists

This volume contains the proceedings of the first conference ever of the two professional organizations, Computer Applications and Quantitive Methods in Archaeology (CAA), and the Union International des Sciences Prehistorique et Protohistorique (UISPP), Commission IV. The conference was held (April 2000) in Ljubljana, and brought together experts and members of two of the largest professional organizations in computer and quantitative methods in archaeology. Fifty-six papers from the conference are presented in the collected proceedings.
Review: Teaching Evolution in a Creation Nation by Adam Laats and Harvey Siegel

Teaching Evolution in a Creation Nation . By Adam Laats and Harvey Siegel. 2016. University of Chicago Press. (ISBN 022633130X). 138 pp. Kindle Edition. $20.00 (Amazon). I am an enthusiast of books about evolution and creationism. From Ed Larson's Pulitzer Prize–winning Summer for the Gods to Richard Dawkins's The God Delusion , I snap these volumes up whenever they become available. While the topic fascinates me, the unfortunate result of reading many books about the contention between creationism and evolution is that after some time there is substantial repetition. In every book on the topic, there is invariably a discussion of the Scopes trial, an explanation of the nature of science, an argument for how evolution meets the criteria for science but creationism does not. This book is no exception to that rule, but Laats and Siegel manage to make this oft-discussed topic feel new and interesting. The book is split into approximate thirds, with the first dealing with the historical aspects of evolution education. The second concentrates on philosophical matters, and the final third deals …
Use of femtosecond laser in cataract surgery

C is the leading cause of blindness worldwide, and cataract surgery is one of the most common surgical procedures. In developed country settings, cataract surgery is most commonly performed by phacoemulsification (PE). Recently, a new procedure, Femtosecond-laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS), has been introduced in which a laser is used to perform certain important steps of cataract surgery. There is the potential for FLACS to reduce complications of cataract surgery, in particular as they relate to corneal endothelial damage and wound architecture. The former is associated with pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (PBK), a complication of cataract surgery in which corneal endothelial cells arelost. An improvement in wound architecture may reduce the rate of post-operative endophthalmitis (POE) and wound leaks. However, actual clinical benefits from use of FLACS have not been documented in controlled studies. Further, the outcome of FLACS has not been studied in an objective and methodical way. Such studies are particularly required given the substantial increase in operative time and expense associated with FLACS. In this talk, we will objectively assess the major studies that have been published to date addressing FLACS.
Direct Unequal Cleavages: Embryo Developmental Competence, Genetic Constitution and Clinical Outcome.

Objective To investigate the prevalence, developmental potential, chromosomal constitution and clinical outcome of embryos with direct unequal cleavages (DUC). Design A retrospective observational study. Setting Academic Institution. Participant 21,261 embryos from 3,155 cycles cultured in EmbryoScope®. Results The total incidence of DUCs per embryo occupying the first three cleavages were 26.1%. Depending of the cell stage, DUC rate was 9.8% at first cleavage (DUC-1), 9.1% at second cleavage (DUC-2), and 3.7% at third cleavage (DUC-3) with 3.6% of embryos exhibiting multiple DUCs (DUC-Plus). The occurrence of DUCs was not correlated with female gamete age or source. The incidence of DUC-1 was significantly higher in embryos fertilized by epididymal and testicular sperm (13.6% and 11.4%, respectively) compared to ejaculated sperm (9.1%, all p<0.05). The total incidences of DUCs were strongly correlated with the onset of blastomere multinucleation (MNB) during the first three divisions. In MNB embryos, DUCs incidence are two to three times more likely to develop when compared to non-MNB embryos (OR = 3.11, 95% CI [2.64, 3.67] at 1-cell stage, OR = 2.64, 95% CI [2.39, 2.91] at 2-cell stage and OR = 2.51, 95% CI [1.84, 3.43] at 4-cell stage). The blastocyst formation rates gradually decreased from 61.0% in non-DUC to 40.2% in DUC-3, 18.8% in DUC-2, 8.2% in DUC-1 and 5.6% in multiple DUC embryos (DUC-Plus). The known implantation rates (FH) for day 3 (D3) transfers were 12.42% (n = 3172) in Non-DUC embryos, 6.3% (n = 127) in DUC-3, and 2.7% (n = 260) in DUC-2 embryos. No live births resulted from either DUC-1 (n = 225) or DUC-Plus (n = 100) embryo transfers. For blastocyst transfers, lower implantation rates (33.3%) but similar live birth (LB) rates (40%) were observed if DUC blastocysts were transferred. Comparatively rates in Non-DUC blastocyst were 45.2% and 34.8%, respectively. The euploid rate gradually increased from DUC-1, -2, -3 to Non-DUC (13.3%, 19.5%, 33.3%, 45.6%, p<0.001) for D3 biopsied embryos. Interestingly, the trend of decreased euploidy disappeared in DUC D5/6 biopsied embryos and similar rates were exemplified in DUC (D5 56.3%, D6 35.6%) vs. non-DUC (D5 51.4%, D6 33.8%) embryos. Conclusion Blastocyst formation, implantation potential and euploid rate were significantly reduced in DUC embryos. DUC embryos should be deselected for D3 transfers, but should be culture to blastocyst stage for possible ET.
FDG-PET Demonstrates Different Metabolic Activities among Lymphoma Subtypes.

Lymphomas may often present with more than one pathologic type in the same individual. This study assesses the variability of FDG uptake values as determined by SUV’s in various lymphoma subtypes to serve as a platform for differentiating and confirming the pathologic diagnosis in all disease sites. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the PET-CT studies of 184 lymphoma patients at initial staging or at relapse prior to therapy. Lymphoma subtypes were classified according to the WHO classification. SUV’s were obtained in a total of 1120 nodal or extranodal disease sites in 11 lymphoma subtypes. Mean SUV’s were calculated for each lymphoma subtype by dividing the total maximum SUV’s by the number of disease sites in all patients. Consequently, mean SUV +/− SD and SUV range were determined and correlated with histologic diagnosis as shown in the Table. Results: Results are summarized in Table 1. The highest mean SUV’s were obtained in aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHL) followed by Hodgkin’s disease (HD) and indolent NHL. Starting from the subtype with the highest mean SUV of the means and in a rank of decreasing order, the subtypes of lymphoma are as follows; Burkitts, DLCL, T cell rich B cell, natural killer T cell, HD, Anaplastic T-cell, mantle cell, marginal zone, follicular, T cell peripheral and chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL). Conclusions: While SUV’s may be quite variable, a general pattern does exist for each lymphoma subtype. A major discrepancy between the SUV’s and histologic diagnosis should be assessed by repeat biopsy. | Type of Lymphoma | Patient Number | Mean+/−SD | Range | |:-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------- | ----------- | ------- | | *Table does not cover all lymphoma subtypes studied in this study due to limited space, HD: Hodgkins Disease NHL: Non Hodgkins lymphoma, DLCL: Diffuse large cell lymphoma, CLL/SLL: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma | | HD | 45 | 7.5+/−3.7 | 2–22 | | Mantle cell | 8 | 6.8+/−4.9 | 2.1–21 | | DLCL | 58 | 11.3+/−7.3 | 2.2–58 | | T cell Rich B cell | 5 | 9.1+/−5.5 | 4–25 | | Burkitts | 9 | 11.8+/−10.5 | 2–44 | | Follicular | 30 | 5.1+/−2.7 | 1.6–11 | | CLL/SLL | 11 | 3.0+/−1.5 | 1.1–8.8 | | Marginal Zone | 10 | 5.5+/−3.8 | 2.1–21 | SUV Distribution Among Subtypes of Lymphoma*
Wire bond scalable design methodology

From the aspect of package design, when ASIC and FPGA are compared, the considerations are vastly different. FPGA design cycle is short and crucial time to market to supports multiple application domains and the package matrix needs to have vertical and horizontal migration. Hence, FPGA package designs need to have scalable design concept to drive short design cycle time for comparatively fast market turn-around time. Scalable design concept is a “Lego” brick approach whereby the module design could be leverage across vertical and horizontal migration of the package matrix. Besides improving the design efficiency, it'll also drive consistent performance across migration packages. To meet cost and resource effectiveness in low cost package, a new scalable design methodology is developed and established. This paper presents the scalable design methodology in wire bond package which involved a new design methodology and process flow in die pad assignment, wire bonding, bond finger placement and ball assignment. The challenges in die-package co-development requirements for the wire bond scalable design concept implementation will be discussed. The advantages and disadvantages of proposed design methodology comparing to conventional design approach from the aspect of design and performance will be studied. In summary, a more efficient scalable design methodology for at least 40% design efficiency improvement was proposed. This new methodology will help to increase the throughput to meet the short time to market for the FPGA package solutions.
Association of screening for psychosocial distress in patients with newly diagnosed stage IV NSCLC and survival.

9030 Background: While screening for psychosocial distress has become an ASCO QOPI indicator of quality cancer care, data has yet to show an association with improved cancer outcomes. We examined t...
Abstraction by Time-Scale in Qualitative Simulation for Biomedical Modeling

Abstract Qualitative simulation faces an intrinsic problem of scale: the number of limit hypotheses grows exponentially with the number of parameters approaching limits. We present a method called Time-Scale Abstraction for structuring a complex system as a hierarchy of smaller, interacting equilibrium mechanisms. Within this hierarchy, a given mechanism views a slower one as being constant, and a faster one as being; instantaneous. A perturbation to a fast mechanism may be seen by a slower mechanism as a displacement of a monotonic function constraint. We demonstrate the time-scale abstraction hierarchy using the interaction between the water and sodium balance mechanisms in medical physiology, an example drawn from a larger. fully implemented, program. Where the structure of a large system permits decomposition by time-scale, this abstraction method permits qualitative simulation of otherwise intractibly complex systems.
Development of an intelligent building controller to mitigate indoor thermal dissatisfaction and peak energy demands in a district heating system

Abstract District heating systems were gradually improved with the development of generation, storage, distribution technologies, and the demands continued to expand significantly. The percentage of houses supplied by district heating systems were fast grown up, and it was reported that the global market for the systems would expand by about 6% in the period between 2016 and 2024. However, most studies for district heating models focused on fuel use in plants, energy distribution, and carbon reduction. Many simulations adopting computing technologies dealt with mechanical performances in the systems. Also, recent statistical analyses overlooked zone-scaled thermal comfort directly affecting users' workability in buildings. This research proposes an intelligent controller to improve thermal comfort and reduce peak energy demands in a district heating system. An artificial intelligence based model with temperature and thermal comfort detectors optimizes supply air conditions to maintain desired room temperature responding to users' characteristics in four different building types. The model reduces peak demands for cooling and heating to optimize plant and distribution capacity. Comparative analyses describe the model's effectiveness that it improves thermal comfort level by 27%, and that it reduces peak energy demands by 30% in comparison with a conventional on/off controller. The model has an advantage that it properly responds to temperature changes with high performance to mitigate thermal dissatisfaction and energy loss. In spite of the sensitive controls to ensure human comfort, it is confirmed that the model can contribute to design optimization for energy supply systems in urban scaled models.
Cargo Transport and Economic Development in the Chihuahua-Albuquerque Corridor: An Emerging Binational “Megapolitan” Area?

ABSTRACTThe U. S. Department of Transportation highlights the “megaregion,” a collection of multiple metropolitan areas that experience high volumes of cargo transport between them. Researchers further identify the smaller “megapolitan area,” comprised of two or three metropolitan areas strongly connected by rail and highway. To shed light on these definitions, this article addresses the expanding bi-national economic corridor extending from Chihuahua to Albuquerque, whose core is the Paso del Norte (El Paso, Ciudad Juarez) metropolitan region. The Chihuahua-Albuquerque corridor exhibits signs of becoming a megapolitan area, due to logistics and other economic activities that increasingly bind its metropolitan areas.
Colonic diverticulosis in an infant: A clue to total colonic Hirschsprung disease

Abstract Total colonic aganglionosis is a rare phenotype of Hirschsprung disease (HD). While the diagnosis is generally established within the neonatal period there are reports of delayed presentation. In this case, we describe a 9-month old girl with no previous medical or surgical history who presented with a small bowel obstruction. A contrast enema performed as part of the work up demonstrated right sided colonic diverticula with no other anatomical abnormalities. Surgical intervention was required to manage the obstruction and colonic biopsies were consistent with HD. This case highlights the association of the unusual finding of colonic diverticula with total colonic HD in infants.
Glucose-Responsive Microneedle Patches for Diabetes Treatment:

Antidiabetic therapeutics, including insulin as well as glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and its analogs, are essential for people with diabetes to regulate their blood glucose levels. Nevertheless, conventional treatments based on hypodermic administration is commonly associated with poor blood glucose control, a lack of patient compliance, and a high risk of hypoglycemia. Closed-loop drug delivery strategies, also known as self-regulated administration, which can intelligently govern the drug release kinetics in response to the fluctuation in blood glucose levels, show tremendous promise in diabetes therapy. In the meantime, the advances in the development and use of microneedle (MN)-array patches for transdermal drug delivery offer an alternative method to conventional hypodermic administration. Hence, glucose-responsive MN-array patches for the treatment of diabetes have attracted increasing attentions in recent years. This review summarizes recent advances in glucose-responsive MN-array patch systems. Their opportunities and challenges for clinical translation are also discussed.
Genre analysis in the academic writing class: with or without corpora?

Aquest article presenta un estudi comparatiu de dues classes dissenyades per ensenyar escriptura academica en Ingles a alumnes internacionals de postgrau amb la finalitat de guiar als estudiants en l'analisi d'articles de recerca cientifica de les seves disciplines identificant convencions linguistiques i d'organitzacio frequentment usades per investigadors reconeguts en aquestes disciplines. Una de les classes va ser dissenyada per ser impartida en un laboratori amb ordinadors en el qual els alumnes investigarien un corpus d'articles que ells mateixos recollirien per a aquesta classe. L'altra classe es va dictar en un aula regular, i els alumnes d'aquesta classe van investigar copies en paper d'articles que ells van escollir entre les publicacions cientifiques de les seves disciplines. Un grup d'avaluadors entrenats va analitzar l'escriptura d'ambdues classes i van descobrir que tots els alumnes podien reproduir l'esquema d'organitzacio i les convencions linguistiques que van aprendre en les seves classes. No obstant aixo, la qualitat de l'escriptura no va presentar grans diferencies entre les dues classes. Els questionaris i entrevistes realitzats als alumnes van mostrar que l'us del corpus va ser ben rebut pels alumnes en la classe amb enfocament tecnologic, mentre que els alumnes a l'aula regular van considerar que el nombre d'articles que van analitzar era una gran limitacio per a qualsevol tipus de generalitzacio.
Improving the risk assessment capability of the revised NIOSH lifting equation by incorporating personal characteristics

The impact of manual material handling such as lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling and awkward postures have been studied, and models using these external demands to assess risk of injury have been developed and employed by safety and health professionals. However, ergonomic models incorporating personal characteristics into a comprehensive model are lacking. This study explores the utility of adding personal characteristics such as the estimated L5/S1 Intervertebral Disc (IVD) cross-sectional area, age, gender and Body Mass Index to the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation (RNLE) with the goal to improve risk assessment. A dataset with known RNLE Cumulative Lifting Indices (CLIs) and related health outcomes was used to evaluate the impact of personal characteristics on RNLE performance. The dataset included 29 cases and 101 controls selected from a cohort of 1022 subjects performing 667 jobs. RNLE risk assessment was improved by incorporation of personal characteristics. Adding gender and intervertebral disc size multipliers to the RNLE raised the odds ratio for a CLI of 3.0 from 6.71 (CI: 2.2-20.9) to 24.75 (CI: 2.8-215.4). Similarly, performance was either unchanged or improved when some existing multipliers were removed. The most promising RNLE change involved incorporation of a multiplier based on the estimated IVD cross-sectional area (CSA). Results are promising, but confidence intervals are broad and additional, prospective research is warranted to validate findings.
Impact of obesity as an independent risk factor for the development of renal injury: implications from rat models of obesity

Diabetes and hypertension are the major causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Epidemiological studies within the last few decades have revealed that obesity-associated renal disease is an emergin...
Meprin β metalloproteases associated with differential metabolite profiles in the plasma and urine of mice with type 1 diabetes and diabetic nephropathy.

Meprin metalloproteases are abundantly expressed in the brush border membranes of kidney proximal tubules and small intestines. Meprins are also expressed in podocytes and leukocytes (monocytes and macrophages). Meprins are implicated in the pathophysiology of diabetic nephropathy (DN) but underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Single nucleotide polymophisms (SNPs) in the meprin β gene were associated with DKD in human subjects. Furthermore, meprin α and β double deficiency resulted in more severe kidney injury and higher mortality rates in mice with Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetes. Identification of meprin substrates has provided insights on how meprins could modulate kidney injury. Meprin targets in the kidney include extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, modulators of inflammation, and proteins involved in the protein kinase A (PKA) and PKC signaling pathways. The current study used a global metabolomics approach to determine how meprin β expression impacts the metabolite milieu in diabetes and DKD. Low dose STZ was used to induce type 1 diabetes in 8-week old wild-type (WT) and meprin β knockout (βKO) mice. Blood and urine samples were obtained at 4 and 8 weeks post-STZ injection. Assays for albumin, creatinine, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), kidney injury molecule − 1 (KIM-1), and cystatin C were used for biochemical assessment of kidney injury. Data for biomarkers of kidney injury utilized two-way ANOVA. Metabolomics data analysis utilized UPLC-QTOF MS and multivariate statistics. The number of metabolites with diabetes-associated changes in levels were significantly higher in the WT mice when compared to meprin βKO counterparts. Annotated meprin β expression-associated metabolites with strong variable importance in projection (VIP) scores play roles in lipid metabolism (LysoPC(16:1(9Z)), taurocholic acid), amino acid metabolism (indoxyl sulfate, hippuric acid), and neurotransmitter/stress hormone synthesis (cortisol, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylene glycolsulfate, homovanillic acid sulfate). Metabolites that associated with meprin β deficiency include; 3,5-dihydroxy-3′,4′-dimethoxy-6,7-methylenedioxyflavone 3-glucuronide, pantothenic acid, and indoxyl glucuronide (all decreased in plasma). Taken together, the annotated metabolites suggest that meprin β impacts complications of diabetes such as DKD by altering distinct metabolite profiles.
A Simple Approach to Atomic Structure Characterization for Machine Learning of Grain Boundary Structure-Property Models

Grain boundaries (GBs) have a significant influence on the properties of crystalline materials. Machine learning approaches present an attractive route to develop atomic structure-property models for GBs because of the complexity of their structure. However, the application of such techniques requires an appropriate descriptor of the atomic structure. Unfortunately, common crystal structure identification techniques cannot be applied to characterize the structure of the vast majority of GB atoms (50-98% are classified as "other"). This suggests a critical need for atomic structure descriptors capable of identifying arbitrary atomic environments. In this work we present a simple procedure that facilitates the identification of arbitrary atomic structures present in GBs. We apply this approach to characterize the atomic structure of the 388 GBs from the Olmsted data set (Olmsted 2009). We show how this approach facilitates visualization of GB atomic structures in a way that reveals important structural information. We test the recently proposed hypothesis that Σ3 GBs contain facets of the GBs that form the corners of the corresponding GB plane fundamental zone. Finally, we briefly demonstrate how the structure descriptors resulting from our approach can be used as inputs to machine learning approaches for the development of atomic structure-property models for GBs.
High-Need Patients' Goals and Goal Progress in a Veterans Affairs Intensive Outpatient Care Program.

Healthcare systems nationwide are implementing intensive outpatient care programs to optimize care for high-need patients; however, little is known about these patients’ personal goals and factors associated with goal progress. To describe high-need patients’ goals, and to identify factors associated with their goal progress Retrospective cohort study A total of 113 high-need patients participated in a single-site Veterans Affairs intensive outpatient care program. Two independent reviewers examined patients’ goals recorded in the electronic health record, categorized each goal into one of three domains (medical, behavioral, or social), and determined whether patients attained goal progress during program participation. Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with goal progress. The majority (n = 72, 64%) of the 113 patients attained goal progress. Among the 100 (88%) patients with at least one identified goal, 58 set goal(s) in the medical domain; 60 in the behavioral domain; and 52 in the social domain. Within each respective domain, 41 (71%) attained medical goal progress; 34 (57%) attained behavioral goal progress; and 32 (62%) attained social goal progress. Patients with mental health condition(s) (aOR 0.3; 95% CI 0.1–0.9; p = 0.03) and those living alone (aOR 0.4; 95% CI 0.1–1.0; p = 0.05) were less likely to attain goal progress. Those with mental health condition(s) and those who were living alone were least likely to attain goal progress (interaction aOR 0.1 compared to those with neither characteristic; 95% CI 0.0-0.7; p = 0.02). Among high-need patients participating in an intensive outpatient care program, patient goals were fairly evenly distributed across medical, behavioral, and social domains. Notably, individuals living alone with mental health conditions were least likely to attain progress. Future care coordination interventions might incorporate strategies to address this gap, e.g., broader integration of behavioral and social service components.
Precedent in Contract Cases and the Importance(?) of the Whole Story

I am honored to contribute to this symposium in honor of Bill Whitford. I have been an admirer of Bill's work for the past 39 years, which encompasses my entire teaching career. Bill's scholarship on contracts and consumer law in his law review articles and in his casebook, Contracts: Law in Action, now in its third edition with Macaulay, Braucher, and Kidwell, confirms the importance of examining the non-legal forces at work in exchange transactions, the sometimes tenuous relationship between contract rules and legal decisions, the limitations of legal opinions, and the value of focusing on the relationship of contracting parties. In this essay, I begin with a brief description of Bill and his coauthors' casebook in order to capture the contributions and importance of their perspective on teaching contract law. I then turn to Bill and Stewart Macaulay's recent debate with Bob Scott on the meaning of the record in Hoffman v. Red Owl Stores, a case that figures prominently in Bill and Stewart's and most other casebooks. I use the fascinating back and forth between these three prominent authors as a jumping off point to ponder the appropriate role of telling the whole story in important cases.
Rights and Obligations in Filipino American Families

This study examines the network of rights and obligations found in the Filipino American family. I show that family and kinship links are extended to provide a broader base for interdependence and ...
Outcomes and Cost-Effectiveness of Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplant for Multiple Sclerosis.

This review presents a critical appraisal of the use of autologous hematopoietic cell transplant (AHCT) for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. We present the reader with a brief review on the AHCT procedure, its immunomodulatory mechanism of action in MS, the most recent evidence in support of its use in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), as well as its cost considerations. The first meta-analysis of clinical trials of AHCT for patients with MS demonstrated durable 5-year progression-free survival rates and low treatment-related mortality. Recently, the first randomized controlled phase III clinical trial demonstrated AHCT to be superior to best available therapy for a subset of patients with RRMS. This led to the American society for transplant and cellular therapies (ASTCT) to recommend AHCT “for patients with relapsing forms of MS who have prognostic factors that indicate a high risk of future disability.” AHCT should be considered for patients with RRMS with evidence of clinical activity who have failed 2 lines of therapy or at least one highly active disease-modifying therapy.
Families In Crisis: Nurses say advocates help them meet families' needs without shortchanging patient care.

Abstract: In the greater scheme of things, families of patients unexpectedly brought to the ED or transferred to the ICU may not be a priority. Review this program in which family advocates care for families just as nurses and physicians care for critically ill patients.
Differentiation of Mannheimia haemolytica genotype 1 and 2 strains by visible phenotypic characteristics on solid media.

Genotype 2 Mannheimia haemolytica associate with the lungs of cattle with bovine respiratory disease more frequently than genotype 1 strains. Different colony colors and morphologies were identified between genotype 1 and 2 solid media cultures. Genotype of strains, and frequency differences between them in mixed cultures are discernable by visual inspection.
Importance of Nucleophilicity of Chain-Transfer Agents for Controlled Cationic Degenerative Chain-Transfer Polymerization

Research on controlling cationic polymerization through a degenerative chain-transfer (DCT) process has primarily focused on the family of vinyl ether monomers. To expand the monomer scope, a bette...
Intraday Bid-Ask Spread Behavior in Volatility Futures Markets

The intraday spread behavior for futures illustrates a U-shaped pattern for U.S. markets, whereas for international markets it documents a declining pattern. Past U.S. research only examines estimated spread data from floor-trading. We use the electronic U.S. VIX futures to avoid this problem and to provide insight to the spread behavior for a unique market. We document two alternative spread shapes for VIX futures, a unique reverse J-shaped and a declining pattern. Moreover, we find a link between the spread shape and volatility at market close. Possible explanations include the distinct market structure and contract characteristics for the VIX futures.
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW AND THE LIMITS OF RAWLSIAN LIBERTY

This paper examines the scope of John Rawls's theory of liberty. It first develops an account of how this theory, which Rawls presents in largely abstract terms, applies in specific cases. It then argues that this account reveals that the scope of Rawls's theory of liberty is surprisingly narrow and that it does not include such seemingly obvious liberal rights as the freedom to engage in the sexual behavior of one's choice or to have access to pornography.
A reduced-precision network for image reconstruction

Neural networks are often quantized to use reduced-precision arithmetic, as it greatly improves their storage and computational costs. This approach is commonly used in image classification and natural language processing applications. However, using a quantized network for the reconstruction of HDR images can lead to a significant loss in image quality. In this paper, we introduce QW-Net, a neural network for image reconstruction, in which close to 95% of the computations can be implemented with 4-bit integers. This is achieved using a combination of two U-shaped networks that are specialized for different tasks, a feature extraction network based on the U-Net architecture, coupled to a filtering network that reconstructs the output image. The feature extraction network has more computational complexity but is more resilient to quantization errors. The filtering network, on the other hand, has significantly fewer computations but requires higher precision. Our network recurrently warps and accumulates previous frames using motion vectors, producing temporally stable results with significantly better quality than TAA, a widely used technique in current games.