cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanism of diuretic response associated with atrial tachycardia.

Left atrial pacing was performed in three groups of anesthetized dogs. In the first group of eight intact dogs a mean increase in atrial rate (AR) from 140 +/- 7 to 244 +/- 6 was associated with a decrease in urinary osmolality (U osmol) from 631 +/- 72 to 264 +/- 43 mosmol/kg (P less than .001), and free-water clearance (CH20) increased from -.325 +/- .06 to +.355 +/- .15 ml/min (P less than .001). At the same time left atrial pressure (LAP) increased from 6 +/- 1 to 15 +/- 1 mmHg (P less than .001). A second group of studies was performed in six hypophysectomized, steroid-replaced animals receiving 40-50 muU/kg per min of antidiuretic hormone (ADH). In these animals AR was increased from 148 +/- 17 to 250 +/- 17 but diuresis did not occur. In these studies Uosmol was 690 +/- 55 before and 704 +/- 49 mosmol/kg after atrial pacing and CH20 also did not change. Left atrial pressure increased from 10 +/- 2 to 19 +/- 2 mmHg during atrial pacing. A third group of studies was performed in five animals with bilateral cervical vagotomy. In these animals AR was increased from 159 +/- 6 to 258 +/- 17 and LAP increased from 7 +/- 1 to 16 +/- 2 mmHg. Osmolality increased from 808 +/- 72 to 1,049 +/- 65 musmol/kg (P less than .005) and CH20 was unchanged. These results, therefore, indicate that atrial tachycardia primarily increases renal water excretion by suppressing ADH release. This reflex is dependent on the integrity of cervical vagal pathways.
Three-dimensional matrix stiffness and adhesive ligands affect cancer cell response to toxins

There is an immediate need to develop highly predictive in vitro cell-based assays that provide reliable information on cancer drug efficacy and toxicity. Development of biomaterial-based three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models as drug screening platforms has recently gained much scientific interest as 3D cultures of cancer cells have been shown to more adequately mimic the in vivo tumor conditions. Moreover, it has been recognized that the biophysical and biochemical properties of the 3D microenvironment can play key roles in regulating various cancer cell fates, including their response to chemicals. In this study, we employed alginate-based scaffolds of varying mechanical stiffness and adhesive ligand presentation to further explore the role of 3D microenvironmental cues on glioblastoma cell response to cytotoxic compounds. Our experiments suggested the ability of both matrix stiffness and cell-matrix adhesions to strongly influence cell responses to toxins. Cells were found to be more susceptible to the toxins when cultured in softer matrices that emulated the stiffness of brain tissue. Furthermore, the effect of matrix stiffness on differential cell responses to toxins was negated by the presence of the adhesive ligand RGD, but regained when integrin-based cell-matrix interactions were inhibited. This study therefore indicates that both 3D matrix stiffness and cell-matrix adhesions are important parameters in the design of more predictive in vitro platforms for drug development and toxicity screening.
Fuzzy Evaluation on the Validity of System Dynamics Models

How to evaluate the validity of the system dynamics models, which is a subject of interest to us. Generally speaking, it is necessary to test the model extensively from different angles, so that people can understand and believe in that model all through, this is so called the validity of the model. Of course, this shouldn’t be all right to evaluate the validity of the whole model only depend on a single test. Hence, the problem is how to evaluate completely the validity of the model through multiple tests. In practice, this is a problem about the synthetical evaluation. The synthetical evaluation can use the approach to find the sum, namely keep the score for the result of each test and then count up them. It can also use the weighted average method. But they aren’t suitable to evaluate the validity of the models. Because the validity is a fuzzy conception. Only using a simple fraction to evaluate the validity of the system dynamics model is not precise. Therefore, it probably is a better method to evaluate the validity of the model synthetically using the fuzzy sets theory. This paper discusses the multilevel evaluation system and fuzzy synthetical evaluation method for the validity of the system dynamics model, and gives a computation example at last. The example proves that fuzzy synthetical evaluation can give satisfactory results.
Finding the needles in the haystack: efficient intelligence processing

As a result of communication technologies, the main intelligence challenge has shifted from collecting data to efficiently processing it so that relevant, and only relevant, information is passed on to intelligence analysts. We consider intelligence data intercepted on a social communication network. The social network includes both adversaries (eg terrorists) and benign participants. We propose a methodology for efficiently searching for relevant messages among the intercepted communications. Besides addressing a real and urgent problem that has attracted little attention in the open literature thus far, the main contributions of this paper are two-fold. First, we develop a novel knowledge accumulation model for intelligence processors, which addresses both the nodes of the social network (the participants) and its edges (the communications). Second, we propose efficient prioritization algorithms that utilize the processor’s accumulated knowledge. Our approach is based on methods from graphical models, social networks, random fields, Bayesian learning, and exploration/exploitation algorithms.
Signatures of Structural Recovery in Polystyrene by Nanocalorimetry

The intrinsic isotherm, asymmetry of approach, and memory effect experiments are performed for a high fictive temperature polystyrene glass in enthalpy space using nanocalorimetry. Using aging at times as short as 0.01 s and relatively high aging temperatures allows the complete evolution of all three of the signatures of structural recovery to be obtained for the first time in enthalpy space. The results from down jump experiments are compared to those obtained at lower temperatures using conventional differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) with respect to the time required to reach equilibrium, the apparent activation energy, and the Tool–Narayanaswamy–Moynihan (TNM) model parameters, and these results are independent of the measurement method being used; on the other hand, the physical aging rate is higher for the high fictive temperature glass.
Human Nature, Cooperation, and Organizations

Jones and Stout ( 2015 ) have shed much needed light on an organizational reality that industrial and organizational psychologists have unfortunately not paid much attention to: nepotism and cronyism (or what Jones and Stout have called social connection preference; SCP). Jones and Stout ( 2015 ) have made a good case (a) that SCP is pervasive, (b) that there are good reasons to believe that policies (and beliefs) against SCP are frequently counterproductive, (c) that SCP involves compelling moral dilemmas, and (d) that there are workable solutions to dealing with these moral dilemmas. I would like to offer a few observations about some additional issues involved in SCP: bias against SCP; SCP and cooperation; and nepotism, altruism, and personnel decisions criteria.
Mobile, Social, and Wearable Computing and the Evolution of Psychological Practice.

Psychological assessment and intervention are extending from the clinic into daily life. Multiple forces are at play: Advances in mobile technology, constrained clinical care, and consumer demand for contextualized, nonstigmatizing, and low-cost alternatives are beginning to change the face of psychological assessment and interventions. Mobile, social, and wearable technologies are now enabling individuals to measure themselves and to integrate myriad forms of help and entertainment. The massive data sets generated by self-tracking of mood and passive sensing of voice, activity, and physiology may eventually reorganize taxonomies of mental health concerns. Compelling mobile therapies will also emerge, involving contextually appropriate, entertaining, and dynamic feedback to provide help in the context of daily life. The efficacy of such applications will be tested through citizen science as well as clinical trials. This article reviews technical advances that can be applied to enhance assessment and intervention and dramatically increase access to psychotherapy. It is recommended that, in addition to exploring clinically oriented products, practitioners should support patients’ use of direct-to-consumer applications in ways that align with therapeutic objectives.
Reisen mit Kindern in Malariagebiete – Vorbereitung und Prävention

Mit zunehmender Migration und Reiseaktivitat reisen immer mehr Kinder einschlieslich Sauglinge und Kleinkinder in Malariaendemiegebiete. Insbesondere Kinder aus Immigrantenfamilien sind zumeist von reiseassoziierter Malaria betroffen. Regelmasiges Befragen nach Reiseplanen bei hausarztlichen Vorsorgeuntersuchungen von Kindern ermoglicht eine zeitgerechte reisemedizinische Beratung. Die ausfuhrliche Beratung muss die betreuenden Eltern / Betreuungspersonen uber die genaue und aktuelle Darstellung des Malariarisikos am Reiseziel und die Notwendigkeit einer sofortigen medizinischen Abklarung von fieberhaften Erkrankungen wahrend und nach der Reise informieren. Methoden der Moskitostichvermeidung (Expositionsprophylaxe) und medikamentoser Malariaprophylaxe (Chemoprophylaxe) konnen sicher und effektiv auch bei Sauglingen und Kleinkindern eingesetzt werden. Die genaue Dosierung der Chemoprophylaxe orientiert sich am Korpergewicht. Eine sorgfaltige Anpassung der Vorgehensweise bei der Anwendung der Expositionsprophylaxe und Chemoprophylaxe an das Alter und Entwicklungsstadium des zu beratenden Kindes in der Reisesprechstunde verspricht den besten Schutz vor einer Malaria und ein sicheres Reisen in die meisten Malariaendemiegebiete.
Variations in Retail Sales between Cities

Variations in the level of retail sales between cities are governed by a different set of forces than are variations in sales to individual consumers. This study seeks to determine the factors infl...
Rab11 Regulates the Mast Cell Exocytic Response

Stimulated exocytic events provide a means for physiological communication and are a hallmark of the mast cell-mediated allergic response. In mast cells these processes are triggered by antigen crosslinking of IgE bound to its high-affinity receptor, FcϵRI, on the cell surface. Here we use the endosomal v-SNARE VAMP8, and the lysosomal hydrolase β-hexosaminidase (β-Hex), each C-terminally fused to super-ecliptic pHluorin, to monitor stimulated exocytosis. Using these pHluorin-tagged constructs, we monitor stimulated exocytosis by fluorimetry and visualize individual exocytic events with total internal reflection (TIRF) microscopy. Similar to constitutive recycling endosome (RE) trafficking, we find that stimulated RE exocytosis, monitored by VAMP8, is attenuated by expression of dominant negative (S25N) Rab11. Stimulated β-Hex exocytosis is also reduced in the presence of S25N Rab11, suggesting that expression of this mutant broadly impacts exocytosis. Interestingly, pretreatment with inhibitors of actin polymerization, cytochalasin D or latrunculin A, substantially restores both RE and lysosome exocytosis in cells expressing S25N Rab11. Conversely, stabilizing F-actin with jasplakinolide inhibits antigen-stimulated exocytosis but is not additive with S25N Rab11-mediated inhibition, suggesting that these reagents inhibit related processes. Together, our results suggest that Rab11 participates in the regulation necessary for depolymerization of the actin cytoskeleton during stimulated exocytosis in mast cells.
Effect of Oral Estriol on Cervical Secretions and on Ovulatory Response in Infertile Women

Estriol in oral doses of 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0mg was administered for 10 days prior to ovulation to six infertile women. All patients kept basal body temperature records and all had frequent examinations of the cervical mucus, the latter recorded as the modified cervical score. Plasma levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, progesterone, and estriol were determined serially using specific radioimmunoassay techniques in one control cycle and in the three subsequent cycles of treatment. Ten other patients with infertility due to cervical factors were also treated with 0.25mg of estriol. Improvement of the cervical score was consistent and statistically significant during treatment with 0.25mg of estriol, while higher doses of this estrogen had less consistent and statistically not significant effect. The day of the plasma estradiol peak and gonadotropin surge was not changed by 0.25mg of estriol. However, a delay of2 to 9 days in the plasma estradiol and gonadotropin rise was observed in three of six patients receiving 0.5 and 1.0mg of estriol. Three conceptions occurred during treatment. It is concluded that the administration of estriol in a dose of0.25mg/day during the follicular phase of the cycle may be beneficial to infertile patients with a cervical factor. An improved cervical score results from a synergistic effect between endogenous estrogens and exogenous estriol. However, higher doses of estriol may postpone the endogenous estradiol surge and ovulation until after completion of treatment. Thus, no additive effect of endogenous estradiol and exogenous estriol on the cervical mucus is observed.
Mitochondrial Inner Membrane Biomimic for the Investigation of Electron Transport Chain Supercomplex Bioelectrocatalysis

Researchers have proposed that the efficiency of the electron transport chain is due to the synergy among complexes I, III, and IV in the membrane. In this paper, the enzymes of the supercomplex were isolated together, reconstituted into lipids that mimic the inner membrane of mitochondria, and immobilized in a tethered lipid bilayer on a gold electrode. The supercomplex enzymes retained their activity with the addition of their substrates and were inhibited by their respective toxins. The bioelectrocatalytic studies indicate the interdependence of the activity of the different complexes in the bioelectrocatalysis of the electron transport chain supercomplex. These fundamental studies provide a starting point to consider the use of supercomplexes and enzyme cascades for bioenergy conversion applications and biosensing through the regulation of the activity by inhibition.
Car Seat Safety: Typologies of Protective Health and Safety Behaviors for Mothers in West Virginia.

Objective Parenting practices differ for a variety of reasons, and three parenting behaviors may be directly influenced by research, policy, and overall parenting trends: car safety seats, vaccination, and breastfeeding. Mothers were categorized in terms of their rear-facing car safety seat utilization and its relationship to other parental health and safety behaviors. Methods A cross-sectional, online survey of mothers of children under 3 years of age (n = 124) was conducted. Items assessed mother’s perceived risk and worry about being in an automobile accident, as well as duration of rear-facing car seat utilization. A cluster analysis based on these variables was performed to differentiate the sample into four distinct groups. Outcomes were knowledge of car safety seats, breastfeeding duration, and adherence to vaccination schedules. Results The sample was predominantly White, had an average age of 32 years, had breastfed, and had at least some college education. Two groups of interest had (Group 1) long duration of rear-facing use with low perceived risk and worry and (Group 2) short use with high perceived risk and worry. Fisher’s Exact test indicated Group 1 had higher knowledge of airbag use with car seats (p = 0.035), lower intentions to use the recommended vaccinations schedule (p = 0.005), and were more likely to breastfeed (p = 0.044) for longer duration (p = 0.012). Conclusion Propensity for mothers’ risk aversion may be the crucial element in both an appropriate duration of rear-facing car safety seat use and refusal of recommended vaccination schedule.
Reactivation of p53 by MDM2 inhibitor MI-77301 for the treatment of endocrine-resistant breast cancer

Endocrine therapy has been highly effective for the treatment of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, but endocrine resistance develops in a significant proportion of patients. In an effort to develop novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of endocrine-resistant breast cancer, we have evaluated a potent and specific MDM2-p53 interaction inhibitor, MI-77301, which has been advanced into clinical development, for its therapeutic potential and mechanism of action in vitro and in vivo in WHIM9 and WHIM18 patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. Both WHIM9 and WHIM18 PDX models exhibit estradiol-independent tumor growth and are resistant to fulvestrant, a highly effective and selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD). MI-77301 activates wild-type p53 in WHIM9 and WHIM18 cells in vitro and in xenograft tumor tissues in vivo, and it effectively induces upregulation of p21 and cell-cycle arrest in vitro in both models. Although fulvestrant fails to inhibit tumor growth in either of the xenograft models, MI-77301 is highly effective in inhibition of tumor growth at a well-tolerated dose schedule. This study provides a preclinical rationale for evaluation of MI-77301 or other MDM2 inhibitors as a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of endocrine-resistant breast cancer retaining wild-type p53. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(12); 2887-93. ©2016 AACR.
Quantitative assessment of CD3, CD8, and CD20 in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and predictive value for response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer.

1027 Background: Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) have been associated with response to neoadjuvant therapy. However, typical analysis of TILs is subjective, semi-quantitative and does not differentiate between subpopulations. Here we describe a quantitative objective method for measurement of TIL subsets, including CD3, 8, and 20 and assess their predictive value for therapeutic response. Methods: We used a quantitative immunofluorescence (QIF) assay to measure stromal expression of CD3 (T cell), CD8 (cytotoxic T cell), and CD20 (B cell) on a single slide using AQUA technology. This method was validated by comparison to flow cytometry on fresh tonsil tissue. To assess the predictive value of TIL markers, we used a cohort of 105 consecutive (2002 - 2010) invasive breast cancer patients that received neoadjuvant therapy and had obtainable pre-surgical biopsy tissue. Percentage TIL infiltrate in the tumor stroma was estimated by two pathologists on H and E stained slides of these biopsies. Images from ...
Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 growth in multiple gene knockouts predicts interactions among hormonal, biotic and abiotic stress responses

Among other environmental factors, phytopathogens have key roles in limiting global crop production. While an in-depth understanding of plant-pathogen interactions is therefore necessary to develop sustainable crop protection strategies, the genetic basis of plant-pathogen interactions is poorly understood. In this study, we tested the growth and resistance of an important phytopathogen, Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato DC3000 (Pst DC3000), in 80 gene knockouts, identified previously through genome-wide association mapping of global Arabidopsis thaliana populations. Amongst these, most of the genes are previously known to regulate multiple functions in plants including cellular mechanisms, growth, reproduction, hormonal signaling, and tolerance to both biotic and abiotic stresses (extreme temperature, drought, salinity, pollutants, and nutrient stresses, etc.). The Pst DC3000 demonstrated two distinct growth patterns in all gene knockouts, showing maximum growth after 4 or 7 days of inoculation (DOI). Mostly, the wild-type (Col-0) demonstrated higher phytopathogen growth than almost all gene knockouts after 4 or 7 DOI. The differential abundance of Pst DC3000 in the multiple gene knockouts reveals a number of new genes important for plant defense. Meanwhile, our results and a review of previous literature suggest interaction of plant defense with plant growth, reproduction, hormonal and abiotic stress tolerance. Thus in future studies, a mechanistic understanding of the genetic, ecological and physiological basis of plant-pathogen interactions, and pleiotropic interactions may prove instrumental in developing sustainable plant protection practices.
Transcendental Idealism: What and Why?

Guyer argues that the traditional distinction between “one-world” and “two-world” interpretations of transcendental idealism is misleading; everyone has always recognized that there is a distinction between our representations and things external to them, and the question is only what Kant says about the latter. Does he strip them of spatiotemporality while leaving their existence untouched, as he says in the Prolegomena, or not? Guyer claims that Kant’s position is clear: there are things in themselves, independent of our representations, but they are not spatiotemporal, even though that is how we represent them. He then argues that recent attempts to reconstruct his argument without this dubious premise cannot do without it.
Understanding and Serving Adolescent Females with Emotional Disabilities and Executive Dysfunction in a Residential Treatment Setting

Executive functioning has become an important part of helping to understand and serve students with academic and emotional disabilities (EDs). This study sought to understand the profile of female student with ED in a residential treatment center. First, the study investigated the validity of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, Parent Rating Scale (BRIEF). The BRIEF is an 86-item checklist that covered eight different aspects of EF. Each item was a statement in which the case manager of each of the 93 students responded never, sometimes, or often. These scales included (1) inhibit, (2) shift, (3) emotional control, (4) initiate, (5) working memory, (6) plan/organize, (7) organization of materials, and (8) monitor. The majority of the 93 participants demonstrated executive dysfunction. Next, divergent validity of the BRIEF was investigated using a principal components analysis. The Basic Academic Skills Inventory (BASI) was used to evaluate the reading and math abilities of participants. The relationship between the BRIEF and the BASI was investigated using a correlation analysis. One factor best explained the structure of the BRIEF and correlated moderately with measures of academics. It is clear that executive functioning is a critical area that we must consider as part of our usual psychological evaluation/intervention tools. Many students with emotional and academic difficulties will benefit from executive functioning interventions such as directing student attention, help in planning, and homework organization management skills. How these findings should relate to the role of school and clinical psychologists will be addressed.
Implications of Observed and Simulated Soil Carbon Sequestration for Management Options in Corn-based Rotations

Managing cropping systems to sequester soil organic C (SOC) improves soil health and resilience to changing climate. Perennial crops, no-till planting, manure, and cover crops can add SOC; however, their impacts have not been well documented in the northeastern United States. Our objectives were (i) to monitor SOC from a bioenergy cropping study in Pennsylvania that included a corn ( L.)-soybean [ (L.) Merr.]-alfalfa ( L.) rotation, switchgrass ( L.), and reed canarygrass ( L.); (ii) to use the CQESTR model to predict SOC sequestration in the bioenergy crops (with and without projected climate change); and (iii) to use CQESTR to simulate influence of tillage, manure, cover cropping, and corn stover removal in typical dairy forage (silage corn-alfalfa) or grain corn-soybean rotations. Over 8 yr, measured SOC increased 0.4, 1.1, and 0.8 Mg C ha yr in the bioenergy rotation, reed canarygrass, and switchgrass, respectively. Simulated and measured data were significantly correlated ( < 0.001) at all depths. Predicted sequestration (8-14 Mg C ha over 40 yr) in dairy forage rotations was much larger than with corn-soybean rotations (-4.0-0.6 Mg C ha over 40 yr), due to multiple years of perennial alfalfa. No-till increased sequestration in the simulated dairy forage rotation and prevented a net loss of C in corn-soybean rotations. Simulations indicated limited impact of cover crops and manure on long-term SOC sequestration. The low solids content of liquid dairy manure is the likely reason for the less-than-expected impact of manure. Overall, simulations suggest that inclusion of alfalfa provides the greatest potential for SOC sequestration with a typical Pennsylvania crop rotation.
Extraction of Macroscopic Effective Properties

In order to introduce fundamental concepts pertaining to effective properties of electromagnetic media, we initially start with static, lossless, conditions. Afterwards, we consider more general, thermally-sensitive, time-transient scenarios and the corresponding numerical methods.
Suppressor Cells in Aging

It is well known that after a certain optimal age the immune system declines in function. This is not particularly surprising since the lymphoid system is not unique in showing declining function with age. What strikes some people as paradoxical is that this decline is often accompanied by an increase in autoantibody production. However, with the general recognition in the past few years that there are subsets of T cells which act to suppress the immune response, a hypothesis linking declining T cell function with increasing autoantibody production has gained acceptance in some circles. The apparent paradox could be resolved by hypothesizing that the increase in autoantibody production is the result of a decrease in suppressor T cell function. Support for this thesis has been found in the observation that athymic nude mice have more autoantibodies than do their littermate controls which have a thymus (Morse et al., 1974). Further support has been gleaned from studies on the NZB mouse, which have been interpreted to indicate that the autoantibody production that these mice are famous for is associated with a loss of suppressor T cell function (Steinberg et al., 1975; Talal and Steinberg, 1974).
A Hybrid Approach for Arabic Diacritization

The orthography of Modern standard Arabic (MSA) includes a set of special marks called diacritics that carry the intended pronunciation of words. Arabic text is usually written without diacritics which leads to major linguistic ambiguities in most of the cases since Arabic words have different meaning depending on how they are diactritized. This paper introduces a hybrid diacritization system combining both rule-based and data- driven techniques targeting standard Arabic text. Our system relies on automatic correction, morphological analysis, part of speech tagging and out of vocabulary diacritization components. The system shows improved results over the best reported systems in terms of full-form diacritization, and comparable results on the level of morphological diacritization. We report these results by evaluating our system using the same training and evaluation sets used by the systems we compare against.. Our system shows a word error rate (WER) of 4.4% on the morphological diacritization, ignoring the last letter diacritics, and 11.4% on the full-form diacritization including case ending diacritics. This means an absolute 1.1% reduction on the word error rate (WER) over the best reported system.
Antibacterial colorants for textiles

Abstract: Many colorants, whether natural or synthetic, possess some inherent functions in addition to their colors. These properties can be utilized in textile dyeing processes to bring the particular functions to textiles. In other words, dyeing textiles with these colorants can combine dyeing and functional finishing, a greener process than current separated wet treatments in terms of reduced generation of waste water and consumption of energy. Antimicrobial colorants are one of the functional colorants that have been widely employed in textile applications. This chapter provides a review on antimicrobial colorants with detailed discussions of synthetic and natural colorants, as well as some colorants produced from micro-organisms and photo-active colorants.
Nonlinear dynamics and noise in fisheries recruitment: A global meta‐analysis

The relative importance of environmental and intrinsic controls on recruitment in fishes has been studied for over a century. Despite this, we are not much closer to predicting recruitment. Rather, recent analyses suggest that recruitment is virtually independent of stock size and, instead, seems to occur in distinct environmental regimes. This issue of whether or not recruitment and subsequent production are coupled to stock size is highly relevant to management. Here, we apply empirical dynamical modelling (EDM) to a global database of 185 fish populations to address the questions of whether or not variation in recruitment is (a) predictable and (b) coupled to stock size. We find that a substantial fraction of recruitment variation is predictable using only the observed history of fluctuations (~40% on average). In addition, although recruitment is often coupled to stock size (107 of 185 stocks), stock size alone explains very little of the variation in recruitment; In ~90% of the stocks analysed, EDM forecasts have substantially lower prediction error than models based solely on stock size. We find that predictability varies across taxa and improves with the number of generations that have been sampled. In the light of these results, we suggest that EDM will be of greatest use in managing relatively short‐lived species.
New form for reduced modeling of soot oxidation: Accounting for multi-site kinetics and surface reactivity

Abstract New formulation is introduced to model surface oxidation of soot particles. In the new development, the surface is represented by an arbitrary number of reactive sites and their physically-founded transformations. The latter are combined and integrated with gas-phase and particle-dynamics models. The surface reaction model defines two state properties and establishes a structural relationship between them that guides evolution of the surface. This new model form for the surface-chemistry led to close reproduction of shock-initiated oxidation of soot: CO profiles in two experiments performed at substantially different temperatures, 1990 and 2780 K, as well as CO production rates over a wide range of temperatures, 1652–3130 K, all without employing the parameter-α empiricism of the previous model formulation.
Design, implementation and experimental testing of an inertial sensor system to quantify wing deflection

This research investigates a novel approach of using inertial micro-electromechanical sensors in combination with a Kalman state estimator to quantify wing deflection of a highly flexible morphing wing. Motivated by NASA's and Boeing?s collaborative research into multiobjective control of a highly flexible morphing wing, the work described herein illustrates the development and implementation of wing shape output feedback part of such a system. Equations for prediction and measurement are developed to estimate bending and torsion. Initially a static structural model serves as a means to construct deflection measurements using sensor data. System inputs are obtained using 3-axis accelerometers and gyroscopes. Sensor fusion of accelerometer and gyroscopic data is discussed. The system is expanded to incorporate a structural dynamics finite element model for the prediction and advanced inertial measurement unit motion processors to take measurements. Sensor analysis is performed to determine sensor specific performance characteristics which are used for the state estimator design. Extensive bench and wind tunnel testing of the final system design was conducted. The implementation, static and dynamic deflection testing and results of the system design are discussed. Future work is proposed and includes the development of a more advanced structural FEM model and the use of higher accuracy sensors units.
Isotope Effects Reveal the Template Influence on the Crystal Growth of a Metal–Halide Network

Crystallization requires the organization of matter into structures with long-range translational order. However, because crystal growth exhibits non-Arrhenius kinetics, it is not possible to apply...
The Millennium Development Goals in Latin America and the Caribbean: Progress, Priorities and IDB Support for Their Implementation

This report presents a brief summary of Latin America and the Caribbean progress in attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), some suggestions to adapt the MDG agenda to the realities and stages of development of the countries of the region, a summary of recent Inter-American Development Bank activities to support the MDGs, and some reflections on priorities for the period to 2015 and beyond.
Technique, Outcomes With Navigational Bronchoscopy Using Indocyanine Green for Robotic Segmentectomy.

Background The objectives of this study were to present outcomes of robotic segmentectomy and the investigators' preferred technique for nodule localization using indocyanine green both bronchoscopically and intravenously. Methods This study was a retrospective review of a consecutive series of patients scheduled for robotic segmentectomy from a single surgeon's prospectively collected database. Results Between January 2010 and October 2018, there were 245 consecutive patients who underwent planned robotic segmentectomy by one surgeon. Of these 245 patients, 93 (38%) received indocyanine green by electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy, and all 245 received intravenous indocyanine green. Median time for navigational bronchoscopy was 9 minutes. Navigational bronchoscopy with indocyanine green correctly identified the lesion in 80 cases (86%). The preferred technique was as follows: 0.5 mL of 25 mg of indocyanine green diluted in 10 mL of sterile water given bronchoscopically, followed by a 0.5-mL saline flush, staying at least 4 mm from the pleural surface. The remaining 9.5 mL of indocyanine green was administered intravenously after pulmonary artery ligation. An R0 resection was achieved in all 245 patients, a median of 17 lymph nodes were resected, and the average length of stay was 3.1 days (range, 1 to 21 days). Major morbidity occurred in 3 patients, and there were no 30- or 90-day mortalities. Conclusions Robotic segmentectomy is safe, with excellent early clinical outcomes. In this series, electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy and indocyanine green localization were efficient and effective at identifying the target lesion. Intravenous indocyanine green delineated the intersegmental plane.
Therminator DNA Polymerase: Modified Nucleotides and Unnatural Substrates

A variant of 9°N DNA polymerase [Genbank ID (AAA88769.1)] with three mutations (D141A, E143A, A485L) and commercialized under the name "Therminator DNA polymerase" has the ability to incorporate a variety of modified nucleotide classes. This Review focuses on how Therminator DNA Polymerase has enabled new technologies in synthetic biology and DNA sequencing. In addition, we discuss mechanisms for increased modified nucleotide incorporation.
Theatre improvisation training to promote social cognition: A novel recovery‐oriented intervention for youths at clinical risk for psychosis

Aim Few interventions address social cognition or functioning in individuals at clinical risk (CR) for psychosis. Theatre Improvisation Training to Promote Social Cognition (TIPS) is a manualized intervention based on drama therapy. We aim to describe TIPS, evaluate feasibility and acceptability, and present a preliminary investigation of outcomes in a quasi-experimental design. Methods Thirty-six CR participants (15-25 years) were ascertained from the Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort. Twenty-six completed the TIPS protocol: 18 weekly 2-hour group sessions led by a theatre director and actor-assistant. Participants engaged in collaborative acting and improvisation exercises. Baseline and follow-up assessments included the Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms (CAINS), Structured Interview for Prodromal Syndromes, Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) and Penn Computerized Neurocognitive Battery (CNB), which includes social cognitive tests. Acceptability was assessed using focus groups. Preliminary outcomes were compared to CR controls who were not enrolled in the study but completed follow-up assessments using the same methods. Results There were no significant differences in baseline demographics, psychosis symptoms, or cognition between those who did and did not complete the protocol. Overall, TIPS was considered feasible and acceptable among CR. Preliminary outcomes suggest that TIPS may be effective in improving positive and negative psychosis-spectrum symptoms and GAF, but not performance on facial emotion processing. Conclusions TIPS is a promising and acceptable intervention that may improve symptoms and functioning in CR while providing a framework for participants to develop more empowered and confident ways of relating to others. Larger randomized controlled trials investigating TIPS efficacy are warranted.
Assignment of methyl NMR resonances of a 52 kDa protein with residue-specific 4D correlation maps

Methyl groups have become key probes for structural and functional studies by nuclear magnetic resonance. However, their NMR signals cluster in a small spectral region and assigning their resonances can be a tedious process. Here, we present a method that facilitates assignment of methyl resonances from assigned amide groups. Calculating the covariance between sensitive methyl and amide 3D spectra, each providing correlations to Cα and Cβ separately, produces 4D correlation maps directly correlating methyl groups to amide groups. Optimal correlation maps are obtained by extracting residue-specific regions, applying derivative to the dimensions subject to covariance, and multiplying 4D maps stemming from different 3D spectra. The latter procedure rescues weak signals that may be missed in traditional assignment procedures. Using these covariance correlation maps, nearly all assigned isoleucine, leucine, and valine amide resonances of a 52 kDa nonribosomal peptide synthetase cyclization domain were paired with their corresponding methyl groups.
The 'entourage effect' or 'hodge-podge hashish': the questionable rebranding, marketing, and expectations of cannabis polypharmacy

ABSTRACTIntroduction: The concept of a cannabis ‘entourage effect’ was first coined as a hypothetical afterthought in 1998. Since then, multiple scientific reviews, lay articles, and marketing camp...
Novel methods for the analysis of toxicants in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples from e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury cases: Selected petroleum distillates.

Rationale Over 2700 e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) cases were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) during August 2019-February 2020. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid samples from 51 EVALI and 99 non-EVALI cases were analyzed for toxicants including petroleum distillates. We describe a novel method to measure petroleum distillates in BAL fluid using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Methods n-Hexane, n-heptane, n-octane, methylcyclopentane, and cyclohexane were measured in BAL fluid specimens by headspace solid-phase microextraction/GC/MS. We created and characterized BAL fluid pools from non-EVALI individuals to determine assay accuracy, precision, linearity, limits of detection (LODs), and analytical specificity. All measurements were conducted in accordance with the rigorous method validation procedures of CDC's Division of Laboratory Sciences. Results Matrix validation experiments showed that calibration curves in BAL fluid and saline had similar slopes, with differences less than 5%. Assay precision ranged from 1.98% to 18%. In addition, the LODs for the five analytes ranged from 0.05 to 0.10 μg/L, and their linearity was confirmed with R2 values >0.99. The analysis of selected petroleum distillates in BAL fluid analysis was shown to be comparable with their analysis in blood in which the 95th percentiles are below detection. Conclusions We developed and validated a method to quantify petroleum distillates in BAL fluid specimens using GC/MS. The assay provided precise and accurate analyses of EVALI and non-EVALI BAL fluid specimens in support of CDC's EVALI response. This method is applicable to the determination of a broad range of volatile organic compounds in BAL fluid specimens.
The role of diet in the obesity epidemic

Abstract Studies have shown that food consumption increases when more food is available. Over the past decades, per capita, US food availability has increased by three-fold; however, the way our diet affects our energy balance is complex. Daily energy expenditure depends on total energy intake (kilocalories consumed), macronutrient composition (fat, protein, and carbohydrates), the energy density of the food (kilocalories per gram of food), and the timing of the food intake. Besides, economic and policy influences to maximize food production have to build industrialized systems that produce and market highly processed foods rich in corn, soy, sugars, etc. The unnaturally high amounts of salt, sugar, fat, and flavor additives increase consumption. Also, changes in behavior and lifestyle with snacking between meals and more people eating in restaurants likely lead to increased calorie intake, thereby causing obesity.
Socioeconomic and racial disparities in the risk of congenital anomalies in infants of diabetic mothers: A national population-based study.

Summary We used a national population-based database to study socioeconomic and racial disparities associated with congenital anomalies in 293,498 infants of diabetic mothers. Risk of anomalies in infants of diabetic mothers was highest in poor families (13.3%) compared to the rich families (10.9%), and black families had the highest risk of anomalies (14.0%) compared to white families (11.8%).
Bacterial Whole Genome Sequencing on the Illumina iSeq 100 for Clinical and Public Health Laboratories

Bacterial whole-genome sequencing (WGS) provides clinical and public health laboratories an unprecedented level of information on species identification, antimicrobial resistance, and epidemiologic typing. However, multiple barriers to widespread adoption still exist. This research describes bacterial WGS using the Illumina iSeq 100 instrument to overcome some of these barriers. Using an in-house, high-quality single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis pipeline and a commercial whole-genome multilocus sequence typing program, the sequencing of Acinetobacter baumannii, Burkholderia cepacia, Clostridioides difficile, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, and Staphylococcus aureus isolates was validated. The genome coverage range was 17× to 149×, with a mean of 59×. The limit of detection for single-nucleotide polymorphisms was 30×. Overall platform base calling accuracy was >99.999%. Reproducibility and repeatability of base calling inferred from whole-genome multilocus sequence typing was species dependent and ranged from >97% similarity for P. aeruginosa to >99.9% similarity for S. aureus. Resistance gene and multilocus sequence typing allele identification was 100% concordant with expected results. A simple, modified library preparation reduces the per-sample cost by half to give overall theoretical sample costs ranging from approximately $50 to $100 for library preparation and sequencing. The iSeq 100 provides a cost-effective and easy-to-use platform for clinical and public health laboratories to sequence bacterial isolates for a wide range of potential applications.
Heterosynaptic Plasticity Normalizes Cortical Excitatory-Inhibitory Balance

Excitation in neural circuits must be carefully controlled by inhibition to regulate information processing and limit over- or under-excitability. During development, inhibitory and excitatory inputs in the cerebral cortex are initially mismatched but become co-tuned, although the mechanisms for balancing inhibition with excitation have remained unknown. Here we show how coordinated long-term synaptic modifications calibrate excitatory and inhibitory synaptic weights across multiple inputs. We simultaneously monitored several inputs onto mouse auditory cortical pyramidal neurons, and induced plasticity at one set of inputs by pairing presynaptic and postsynaptic activity. Changes also occurred at other inputs including heterosynaptic modifications of the largest unpaired excitatory and inhibitory inputs, computed by postsynaptic neurons over a ten-minute period. These distributed changes collectively normalized correlation across synapses, balancing inhibition with excitation. Thus the overall neuronal synaptic weight distribution is monitored on-line, with specific adjustments occurring across multiple inputs to both enhance newly-relevant stimuli while preserving excitability.
A pilot radiogenomic study of DIPG reveals distinct subgroups with unique clinical trajectories and therapeutic targets

An adequate understanding of the relationships between radiographic and genomic features in diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is essential, especially in the absence of universal biopsy, to further characterize the molecular heterogeneity of this disease and determine which patients are most likely to respond to biologically-driven therapies. Here, a radiogenomics analytic approach was applied to a cohort of 28 patients with DIPG. Tumor size and imaging characteristics from all available serial MRIs were evaluated by a neuro-radiologist, and patients were divided into three radiographic response groups (partial response [PR], stable disease [SD], progressive disease [PD]) based on MRI within 2 months of radiotherapy (RT) completion. Whole genome and RNA sequencing were performed on autopsy tumor specimens. We report several key, therapeutically-relevant findings: (1) Certain radiologic features on first and subsequent post-RT MRIs are associated with worse overall survival, including PD following irradiation as well as present, new, and/or increasing peripheral ring enhancement, necrosis, and diffusion restriction. (2) Upregulation of EMT-related genes and distant tumor spread at autopsy are observed in a subset of DIPG patients who exhibit poorer radiographic response to irradiation and/or higher likelihood of harboring H3F3A mutations, suggesting possible benefit of upfront craniospinal irradiation. (3) Additional genetic aberrations were identified, including DYNC1LI1 mutations in a subgroup of patients with PR on post-RT MRI; further investigation into potential roles in DIPG tumorigenesis and/or treatment sensitivity is necessary. (4) Whereas most DIPG tumors have an immunologically “cold” microenvironment, there appears to be a subset which harbor a more inflammatory genomic profile and/or higher mutational burden, with a trend toward improved overall survival and more favorable radiographic response to irradiation, in whom immunotherapy should be considered. This study has begun elucidating relationships between post-RT radiographic response with DIPG molecular profiles, revealing radiogenomically distinct subgroups with unique clinical trajectories and therapeutic targets.
Best Practices in Patient-Centered Care: Nursing Theory Reflections.

The utilization of nursing theories should serve as the foundation of policies that guide care for patients and those they love. The author of this paper explores linking conceptual elements within...