cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
“Collateral Damage” from Cephalosporin or Quinolone Antibiotic Therapy

“Collateral damage” is a term used to refer to ecological adverse effects of antibiotic therapy; namely, the selection of drug-resistant organisms and the unwanted development of colonization or infection with multidrug-resistant organisms. The risk of such damage can be assessed for different antibiotic classes by a variety of epidemiologic studies. Cephalosporin use has been linked to subsequent infection with vancomycin-resistant enterococci, extended-spectrum b-lactamase–producing Klebsiella pneumoniae, b-lactam–resistant Acinetobacter species, and Clostridium difficile. Quinolone use has been linked to infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and with increasing quinolone resistance in gram-negative bacilli, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Neither third-generation cephalosporins nor quinolones appear suitable for sustained use in hospitals as “workhorse” antibiotic therapy. Traditionally, studies of antimicrobial therapy have assessed clinical and bacteriological efficacy in the treatment of infection. This is intuitive and is clearly the most appropriate way to study the effectiveness of antibiotics. However, treatment of serious communityacquired and hospital-acquired infections with antibiotics that may be associated with “collateral damage”— that is, the selection of antibiotic-resistant organisms or Clostridium difficile and the unwanted development of colonization or infection with such organisms—also needs to be evaluated. Although such collateral damage has pertinence to the outpatient treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), here I concentrate on the effects of inpatient treatment with antibiotics commonly used for pneumonia and on the 2 antibiotic classes most commonly linked to collateral damage— cephalosporins and quinolones.
MIMO capacity with interference

System capacity is considered for a group of interfering users employing single-user detection and multiple transmit and receive antennas for flat Rayleigh-fading channels with independent fading coefficients for each path. The focus is on the case where there is no channel state information at the transmitter, but channel state information is assumed at the receiver. It is shown that the optimum signaling is sometimes different from cases where the users do not interfere with each other. In particular, the optimum signaling will sometimes put all power into a single transmitting antenna, rather than divide power equally between independent streams from the different antennas. If the interference is either sufficiently weak or sufficiently strong, we show that either the optimum interference-free approach, which puts equal power into each antenna, or the approach that puts all power into a single antenna is optimum and we show how to find the regions where each approach is best.
Engaging Youth in Food Environments Research: The Role of Participation

Minority youth in the United States experience higher rates of diet-related health disparities than their white, non-Latino counterparts. The field of community food security seeks to employ holistic constructs to better understand the social and environmental factors that impact diet-related health. Some perspectives greatly advocate the inclusion of youth in constructing problems and solutions; however, it is unclear what level or form of participatory learning and practice is necessary in community food security and food environments initiatives. This article describes a university–community partnership project that included youth as members in what we refer to as a food environments community of practice. Drawing from theories on sociocultural learning and typologies of participation we explore how our approach enabled and constrained ideal youth participation, as well as the food environments and community food security discourses and practices the youth find most relevant.
Food contaminant acrylamide increases expression of Cox-2 and nitric oxide synthase in breast epithelial cells

Acrylamide has been discovered in foods cooked at high temperature. A potentially harmful effect of this dietary component has been suggested by data indicating its association with increased breast cancer. This study investigated the potential effects of acrylamide in nontumorigenic breast cells by assessing expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cycloogenase-2 (Cox-2) and NOS activity, which are known to be early molecular changes in disease formation. Treatment of cells with acrylamide increased levels of iNOS (both expression and activity) and Cox-2. Its potent metabolite, glycidamide, also induced both iNOS and Cox-2, with induction of iNOS occurring at a lower concentration. 2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), another food-borne carcinogen, was found to induce Cox-2 expression. Combining acrylamide with PhIP did not result in a further increase. These studies suggest that further research is needed to determine the role of carcinogens formed from cooking ...
Dynamic output phase to adaptively improve the linearity of power amplifier under antenna mismatch

We present the development of a new adaptive circuit that preserves the performance of a power amplifier (PA) under impedance mismatch caused at the antennas. The circuit includes a phase detector and a phase shifter that dynamically provide the optimal phase of the reflection coefficient at the output of the PA, to achieve the optimal performance under mismatch. Using this technique, the power amplifier maintains its performance close to that at 50 /spl Omega/, even under severe mismatch of VSWR 10:1. A 900 MHz CDMA GaAs power amplifier achieves an improvement of 6.4 dB in IP3 and 6.9 dB in the P/sub 1dB/ in a high power mode (28.5 dBm) at a VSWR of 10:1. The same PA in low power mode (18.6 dBm) has improvement of 4.35 dB in IP3 and 2.3 dB in P/sub 1dB/ at a VSWR of 10:1. A SiGe PA at 2.4 GHz using the adaptive technique shows an improvement in IP3, by 5.8 dB, and in P/sub 1dB,/ by 4.5 dB, at a VSWR of 20:1.
Gene-Hormone-Environment Interactions in the Regulation of Aggressive Responses: Elegant Analysis of Complex Behavior

Photoperiodic influences on the relations between levels of a steroid hormone and aggressive behavior add a layer of complexity to our ideas about how genes influence behavior. The effects of estrogens on aggression are modulated by day length and involve both genomic and nongenomic routes of hormone action.
The Extracellular Domain of Luteinizing Hormone Receptor Dictates Its Efficiency of Maturation

The processing of luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) shows marked differences in different species. While the human LHR is predominantly expressed as the mature, 90kDa species, rat LHR exists mostly in the 70kDa precursor form. Since the extracellular domain of the LHR is unusually large in comparison with other G protein-coupled receptors, the present studies examined the role of extracellular domain in its processing. FLAG-tagged chimeric LH receptors were constructed by substituting the extracellular domain of the human receptor in rat LHR (hrr) and the extracellular domain of the rat receptor in human LHR (rhh). The intracellular processing, ligand binding and recycling of the chimeric receptors were compared with that of the wild type receptors in 293T cells. The results showed that the human and rat LHR were expressed predominantly as 90 and 70kDa species, respectively, as expected. The introduction of the rat extracellular domain into the human LHR (rhh) decreased the abundance of the mature form with an increase in the precursor form. Conversely, substitution of the extracellular domain of the rat LHR by the extracellular domain of the human LHR (hrr) led to an increase in the mature form with a corresponding decrease in the precursor form. Changes were also observed in the ligand binding and recycling of the wild type and chimeric receptors. These results suggest that the extracellular domain of the LHR is one of the determinants that confer its ability for proper maturation and cell surface expression.
Bandwidth allocation in IEEE 802.6 using non unity ratio bandwidth balancing

The allocation of bandwidth to nodes in an arbitrary ratio using the IEEE 802.6 bandwidth balancing (MAN standard) mechanism is examined, and the applications of this are demonstrated. A mathematical proof of the bandwidth allocation formula is given. Simulations are given demonstrating the possibility of running delay sensitive services such as voice and video by using this protocol. Finally, some results are presented to give the user an intuitive feel for the performance of IEEE 802.6 distributed queue dual bus (DQDB) with bandwidth balancing and to allow a comparison with other important protocols. >
Potential applications of monoclonal antibodies in cancer diagnosis and therapy.

(1985). Technology: Potential Applications of Monoclonal Antibodies in Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy. Cancer Investigation: Vol. 3, No. 6, pp. 565-584.
Post-Announcement Return Volatility And Takeover Outcomes: Evidence Of Differential Information Arrival

This paper focuses on the effects of information arrival on asset return volatility. Rather than examine aggregate patterns in daily variances, this paper exploits the information rich circumstances of merger and tender offer bids to generate hypotheses of varying information arrival, and tests those hypotheses. The results reveal that differing bid circumstances, such as the presence of competing bids, do generate different levels of volatility, and these difference are consistent with the hypothesized information arrival differences.
Cybernetic sessions: A high involvement teaching technique

Abstract A technique that has proved to be useful and has provided variety in teacher education classes at the graduate and undergraduate levels is the cybernetic session. In this session small groups of participants quickly respond to preplanned questions within a specified time frame. There are four phases: Preplanning, which is handled by the instructor, and Response Generating, Data Synthesizing, and Final Presentation, which actively involve the participants in the development of a final poster listing data generated about a specific topic. This listing can become the basis for discussion, class handouts, or further research. Cybernetic sessions may be used diagnostically to determine the known versus the unknown, to develop a common data base, to review/evaluate information, or to synthesize ideas.
Conclusion: Making the World Safer for Loving Our Neighbors

A few years ago, the librarians at my college requested faculty and staff to select their favorite books for a display. I didn’t hesitate before naming Erich Fromm’s The Art of Loving1 as one of mine. The author, a practicing psychoanalyst forced to flee Nazi Germany in 1933 and who emigrated to the United States, became a prolific writer and political activist and taught for a time at Columbia University.
Sexual outsiders: understanding BDSM sexualities and communities, by David M. Ortmann and Richard A. Sprott

The premise that BDSM is a non-deviant, and inherently non-harmful form of sexual play is an argument which permeates the book Sexual Outsiders, by David Ortman and Richard Sprott. Written as a pri...
Chemical exchange reactions for the concentration of nitrogen and oxygen isotopes

The exchange reactions of NO with 10M HNO/sub 3/ ( alpha = 1.055) and NO with N/sub 2/O/sub 3/ ( alpha = 1.031) were used to prepare 99.7% N/sup 15/. The rapid exchange rate of NO with N/sub 2/O/sub 3/ resulted in a short plate height (H.E.T.P. = 1.15 cm) so that the separation was achieved in a cascade of two columns with a total length of only 5.5 meters. In the exchange of NO with solutions of nitric acid, O/sup 18/ concentrated in the gas phase ( alpha = 1.02). A reflux system was devised for this system and short columns were successfully operated. An integrated system results in the concentration of N/ sup 15/ at one end and O/sup 18/ at the other. Experiments with a number of other exchange reactions for the concentration of O/sup 18/ or N/sup 15/ are described. These include CO/sub 2/ with water; CO/sub 2/ with amine carbamates; and NO with CuCl/sub 2/ in methanol. The characteristics of the systems which could be refluxed thermally (exchange-distillation) are of particular interest because of the relative simplicity of their operation and control. (auth)
Natural Radiation Induced Developmental Disability: An Avian Model

Radiation exposure during gestation causes mutation in the fetus leading to birth defects in the newborn. On a survey of the coastal villages of Kanyakumari District, Tamilnadu, India, high levels of background radiation were detected, which was suggestive of inducing mutations, and congenital abnormalities in the exposed population. To substantiate the dangerous impact of such natural radioactive emissions, we have established an avian model of irradiation-induced birth defect in chicks hatched from eggs exposed to natural radioactive beach sand. The hatched experimental chicks exhibited severe locomotor disability and extreme malformations. Our study proves for the first time, that natural beach sand radiation induces severe developmental abnormalities. The results of this experiment brings to light, the importance of radiation-protection during gestation and also the need for monitoring and cleaning of radioactive sand deposits in beaches all over the world.
The Measurement of Socially Responsible Leadership: Considerations in Establishing Psychometric Rigor

As educational institutions increase attention toward the preparation of future citizen leaders, the assessment of the efficacy of these interventions must increase in sophistication as well. Socially responsible leadership, and the social change model of leadership development from which it is derived, are among the most applied conceptual frameworks informing leadership education. Educational gains associated with this approach are typically assessed using the «Socially Responsible Leadership Scale» (SRLS), an instrument that has been used widely in educational research in the United States. This paper extends the psychometric understanding of the SRLS using findings from the Multi-Institutional Study of Leadership (MSL), an international research program examining developmental and educational influences on socially responsible leadership. To date, MSL has collected data in five countries at over 300 institutions of higher education with over 300,000 participants. Implications from this paper explore how the psychometric rigor of the SRLS can continue to evolve as well as considerations for the theoretical evolution of the social change model and socially responsible leadership.
Second Law Analysis of Different Channel Geometries for Micro-Mixing

Micro-mixing in different channel geometries may increase entropy generation and lead to improved efficiency of fluid mixing. The entropy generation rate corresponds to irreversibility due to the heat transfer and viscous effects in fluid flow through a channel. The objectives of this study are to validate the entropy generation rate of three expansion/contraction geometries [1] by using an analysis based on the Second Law of Thermodynamics (SLT) numerically and to study how entropy generation rate changes by placing flow obstacles in the channel. The geometries presented are not unique. In this paper the focus is on using CFD combined with the SLT as a tool to explore the effectiveness of micro-mixers. The entropy generation field in the expansion/contraction region between a 100 micrometer wide and a 200 micrometer wide rectangular micro-channel was analyzed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) ANSYS-Fluent, and compared with the experimental results from Saffaripour et al. [1]. The numerical velocity profiles in the fully developed region of the channel in the flow direction and normal to flow direction were compared with experimental profile [1], and determined to be in agreement with the experimental profile. Using CFD, the entropy generation rates were determined for combinations of channel expansion/contraction geometry and the presence/lack of flow obstacles. The results presented here show that flow obstacles, which generally lead to better mixing, also lead to higher entropy generation rates.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Pleomorphism and growth cycles in Trichophyton mentagrophytes.

Pleomorphism is the term applied to a type of cultural instability often encountered in laboratory culture of most species of dermatophytes. It is manifested by the appearance, at scattered points over the surface of a colony, of tufts of fluffy, white aerial hyphae (FIG. 3) which spread rapidly and eventually blanket most of the original aerial mycelium. When mass transfers are made from individual tufts to fresh medium, the resultant colonies are morphologically very different from the parent colony. In general, they are faster growing, less pigmented and produce fewer conidia. These variant colony types are termed "pleomorphic" and the strain from which they arose is usually referred to as the conidial or normal form (FIGS. la, 2a). The search for the causes of and the steps in the phenomenon of pleomorphism in these fungi, although extensive, has not been very fruitful. In a recent short review article on pleomorpfiism in Trichophyton mentagrophytes (Robin) Blanchard (Bistis, 1959) the results of 60 years of inquiry by various workers have been correlated with my own observations and forged into a simple testable hypothesis summarized briefly as follows. In the life history of a conidial colony of this species, mutations of various sorts would be expected to occur in a small proportion of the cells (Emmons, 1932). The detection of the pleomorphic mutations is made possible by two factors: (1) the mutant cells have the ability to proliferate in areas previously occupied by the established mycelium; (2) the aerial hyphae of the mutant grow above and over the original aerial mycelium. Each tuft of aerial mycelium, plus the underlying surface and subsurface hyphae, represents a colony, the mutant, growing within a colony, the established conidial type. Mass transfer from a tuft gives rise to a genetically homogeneous colony of a particular morphology. However, the colonies from different tufts differ in conidium production and also in other characters such as pigmentation, rate of growth, etc. A whole spectrum of types is found (Cantanei, 1929; Robbins and McVeigh, 1949) ranging from those which closely resemble
Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Small-for-Gestational-Age Birth

The aim of this analysis was to examine the effect of environmental tobacco smoke exposure on the risk of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth. The study population included 2,283 nonsmokers from a nested cohort study undertaken in southern Connecticut from 1988 to 1992. The duration and intensity of exposures incurred at multiple locations during the third trimester of pregnancy were measured by postpartum interview. The effect of exposure on birth weight and on incidence of SGA birth was assessed by multivariate logistic and linear regression. An estimated 26.5% of the women had been exposed to environmental tobacco smoke for at least 1 hour per week during the third trimester. The median duration of exposure among the exposed over all locations was 5 hours per week. The adjusted odds ratio for SGA birth in exposed mothers compared with unexposed mothers, using a dichotomous exposure variable, was 0.82 (95% confidence interval: 0.51, 1.33). The adjusted birth weight difference associated with exposure was -1.2 g (95% confidence interval: -43.3, 41.0). No effect of environmental tobacco smoke exposure on fetal growth was seen in this relatively homogeneous upper middle class group of women exposed at low levels. This is reassuring for women exposed at low levels, but it does not exclude the possibility of an effect in women exposed to higher levels of environmental tobacco smoke.
Photonic Integrated Circuits

Integrated photonics generally is the integration of multiple lithographically defined photonic and electronic components and devices (e.g. lasers, detectors, waveguides passive structures, modulators, electronic control and optical interconnects) on a single platform with nanometer-scale feature sizes. The development of photonic integrated circuits permits size, weight, power and cost reductions for spacecraft microprocessors, optical communication, processor buses, advanced data processing, and integrated optic science instrument optical systems, subsystems and components. This is particularly critical for small spacecraft platforms. We will give an overview of some NASA applications for integrated photonics.
The Engineering Behavior of Compacted Clay

This paper employs the principles of colloid chemistry and crystal chemistry to give a physical explanation of the engineering behavior of compacted clay. The relationships between clay structure and behavior are described and then illustrated with experimental data.
Application Research of Data Mining Technology Used in Condition Based Maintenance for Hydropower Plant Primary Devices

At present on-line monitoring system is widely used in hydropower plant.The monitoring system has acquired a mass of data.How to find useful information from these data and effectively improving the operating stablity of hydroelectric generating set,have recently become one of the major hydropower plant research subjects.Based on the fault diagnosis method using data mining technology,this paper has analysed the relationship among working condition,charactor signals with the faults,finally improving the condition-based maintenance of hydropower plant.
Rayleigh Scattering at X-Ray Energies

Rayleigh scattering, the elastic scattering of photons from bound electrons, promises to provide a useful tool for studying pro erties of matter, and for diagnostics in plasmas. Starting from the second order QED S-matrix, Kissel and Pratt1,2,3 have developed a method for calculating Rayleigh scattering differential amplitudes in a relativistic, single electron model in which the electrons are bound in a common central potential. The method should be valid for photon energies ranging from 0.1 keV to 10 MeV. For the work here we have used relativistic self-consistent potentials and wave functions of the type described by Liberman, Waber and Cromer4 with electron exchange effects approximated by a Konn-Sham local exchange term5.
All Brutes are Subhuman: Aristotle and Ockham on Private Negation

The mediaeval logic of Aristotelian privation, represented by Ockham's expositionof All A is non-P as All S is of a type T that is naturally P and no S is P, iscritically evaluated as an account of privative negation. It is argued that there aretwo senses of privative negation: (1) an intensifier (as in subhuman), the dualof Neoplatonic hypernegation (superhuman), which is studied in linguistics asan operator on scalar adjectives, and (2) a (often lexicalized) Boolean complementrelative to the extension of a privative negation in sense (1) (e.g., Brute). Thissecond sense, which is the privative negation discussed in modern linguistics, isshown to be Aristotle's. It is argued that Ockham's exposition fails to capture muchof the logic of Aristotelian privation due to limitations in the expressive power of thesyllogistic.
Abstract 1183: Metabolic characterization of follicular lymphoma transformation

Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA Follicular lymphoma (FL), a form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, is the second most common form of B-cell lymphoma and remains incurable in the majority of cases despite recent advances in therapy. Following an indolent phase, 50% of patients suffer disease transformation to an aggressive form of lymphoma (transformed FL; tFL). This dramatic switch in disease behavior typically culminates in rapid deterioration and patient demise. Accordingly, much effort has been focused on understanding the genetics of transformation and has resulted in the identification of key genetic lesions (e.g. MYC activation, loss of p53, cell cycle controls, activation of NFKB (TNFAIp3/A20)). However, exactly how tumor metabolism, which is altered by these genetic lesions, contributes to disease aggressiveness is not known and therefore the metabolic changes that occur upon FL transformation are poorly understood. We have developed a murine model of FL transformation that recapitulates key genetic and pathological aspects of human FL (Oricchio et al, 2011). This model allows us to study the genetics and metabolism of FL transformation. Specifically, we will systematically define the metabolic profiles of genetically defined murine lymphomas that represent different stages of transformation and cross-compare metabolic changes to primary patient samples. This ensures focus on clinically relevant changes and provides metabolic annotation of distinct tumor genotypes. This study builds on the complementary strengths of the Le lab (Johns Hopkins) in cancer metabolism and the Wendel lab (MSKCC) in modeling FL genetics. Our study shows that MYC transformed FL exhibits a distinct metabolic profile as compared to indolent follicular lymphoma or normal spleen. The most altered pathways examined thus far are glycolysis and amino acid metabolism. We believe that the transformed lymphoma is more reliant upon glycolysis and may be exhibiting aerobic glycolysis, also known as the Warburg Effect. This is substantiated from previous experiments in which a Burkitt lymphoma line, also overexpressing MYC, was found to have altered glycolytic intermediates levels. We next plan to examine the metabolic profile of other transformed follicular lymphoma models of known genetic backgrounds. We will also cross validate the transformed mouse models with follicular lymphoma patient samples of known genetic backgrounds to identify potential metabolic markers. Citation Format: Brad Poore, Ana Ortega-Molina, Christopher Nguyen, Liang Zhao, Anne Blackwell, Thomas Hartung, Hans-Guido Wendel, Anne Le. Metabolic characterization of follicular lymphoma transformation. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 1183. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-1183
Soil Property Contributions to Yield Variation Patterns

Multiple linear regression analysis was used to relate crop yield patterns observed over a seven year period (1989-1995) with patterns. in soil properties measured in 1994 for one field in central Iowa. Our results emphasize the importance of soil structure in defining water relations in agricultural systems.
Envelope curves and equidistant sets

Given two sets of points A and B in the plane (called the focal sets), the equidistant set (or midset) of A and B is the locus of points equidistant from A and B. This article studies envelope curves as realizations of focal sets. We prove two results: First, given a closed convex focal set A that lies within the convex region bounded by the graph of a concave-up function h, there is a second focal set B (an envelope curve for a suitable family of circles) such that the graph of h lies in the midset of A and B. Second, given any function yD h.t/ with a continuous third derivative and bounded curvature, the envelope curves A and B associated to any family of circles of sufficiently small constant radius centered on the graph of h will define a midset containing this graph.
Differential Effects of Time Constraints on Athletic Behavior and Survey Reports of Athletic Behavior

ABSTRACTTime constraints—having more to do than time to do it—can prevent us from doing everything we need and want to do. When lack of time constrains our behavior, the behavior linked to voluntary role identities (like being a member of a softball team or bowling league) may be the first to be cut. Although, as many of these role identities are socially desirable, survey respondents may still claim to have performed them. Thus, this study examines role behavior and its measurement in the face of time constraints. The athlete identity is examined as a potential casualty of the time crunch, used because it is a common, typically voluntary identity that has a relatively standard set of role behaviors (e.g., participating in sporting events, like games or matches, as an athlete). Situational constraints, namely, a lack of time, are brought into a model based on the structure posited in identity theory (Stryker [1980] 2003) to help explain variation between self-reported and actual role behavior. Thus, the c...
Testing an extended reasoned action framework to predict intention to purchase fruits with novel shapes.

ABSTRACTThis study explored the influence of consumers' attitudes, subjective norms, and novelty-seeking on their intention to purchase fruits of unconventional or novel shapes. Based on the results of an online survey of consumers from around the world, and guided by an extended version of the theory of reasoned action, the findings showed that consumers' intention to purchase buddha- and baby-shaped pears was determined largely by the attitudes they hold about fruits with uncharacteristic shapes, but not by subjective norms. Novelty-seeking was strongly correlated with purchase intention. Young consumers with lower incomes were more likely to buy the non-conventional-shaped products than older consumers with higher incomes.
Building resilience: an innovative reflective writing method for clinical palliative care – the 55 word story

Finding innovative reflective self-care techniques reduces the potential for burnout and the stress associated with attending to the needs of the very ill and the dying. Time is often a barrier to self care; and narrative methodologies often seem to require too much time or writing ability. We offer a novel, time efficient, practical approach for debut at AAHPM/HPNA that is useful to almost everyone.The 55 word medical narrative about clinical encounters from the perspective of the clinician is the self care therapeutic tool offered during this session. Participants will experience and leave empowered to approach the medical narrative in a brief but meaningful way. In this workshop session, participants will be introduced to pertinent research and content on narrative medicine, and will participate in writing a 55 word story about a personal or professional encounter in hospice and palliative care, or about a topic that they want to explore in palliative care such as hope, compassion, doubt, or guilt.Participants will share their 55 word story in dyads, give feedback on this method and its impact on resilience and reflection.Objectives:1. Describe a novel, effective yet brief framework for the use of medical narrative as a reflective exercise for increasing resilience within the larger literature of narrative medicine methods.2. Demonstrate and experience the 55 word medical narrative as a brief but effective reflective exercise.3. Integrate the 55 word story narrative method into various clinical care and teaching settings in palliative care.
Working with Daily Climate Model Output Data in R and the futureheatwaves Package

Research on climate change impacts can require extensive processing of climate model output, especially when using ensemble techniques to incorporate output from multiple climate models and multiple simulations of each model. This processing can be particularly extensive when identifying and characterizing multi-day extreme events like heat waves and frost day spells, as these must be processed from model output with daily time steps. Further, climate model output is in a format and follows standards that may be unfamiliar to most R users. Here, we provide an overview of working with daily climate model output data in R. We then present the futureheatwaves package, which we developed to ease the process of identifying, characterizing, and exploring multi-day extreme events in climate model output. This package can input a directory of climate model output files, identify all extreme events using customizable event definitions, and summarize the output using user-specified functions.
Co-induction of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) levels and tyrosine hydroxylase activity in cultured PC12 cells.

BH4 is the cofactor for Phenylalanine hydroxylase, as well as tyrosine and tryptophan hydroxylases, which are the rate-limiting enzymes in catecholamine (CA) and Serotonin synthesis, respectively. CTP cyclohydrolase (CTP-CH) and sepiapterin reductase (SR) catalyze the initial and final steps in BH4 biosynthesis, respectively. Because no intermediates are detected, CTP-CH is thought to be the rate-limiting enzyme in nonprimate BH4 biosynthesis. In humans, the existence of neopterin in fluids suggests that other enzymes following CTP-CH may also play a regulatory role in BH4 biosynthesis.
L’attendibilità di Pausania. Il caso di Delfi

Normal 0 14 Pausanias’s periegesis is the touchstone of humanism in the recovery of Greece. It had a definite impact on the perception of Greece in Western Europe during the Renaissance and the Enlightenment. Today all antiquity experts recognize the decisive contribution of Pausanias’s itinerary to the reconstruction and documentation of the monumental topography of ancient Greece. However, such an axiomatic position has caused many objections in earlier times, when many scholars doubted his sincerity (e.g. Wilamowitz), or his reliability. The excavations at the sanctuary of Delphi and accompanying research gave new life to many of the votives Pausanias saw and tend in many cases to justify the reliability of his text. At the same time, however, comparison of the periegetes words to the archaeological remains raised many problems, such as the identification of the offering by the citizens of Tegea, or the interminable discussion concerning whether the Treasury of the Athenians was built just before, or after the battle of Marathon. The unexpected identification of a series of sculptures with the statues from the two pediments of the 4 th century Temple of Apollo in the recent years and the important reconstruction of their representations exactly as Pausanias described them, allows today the periegetes to have the final word over his older censors.
PLANNING GUIDELINES FOR ENHANCING PLACEMAKING WITH TALL BUILDINGS

This paper provides a summary of a recent book by the author on urban design guidelines for integrating tall buildings in urban environments. The paper discusses the placemaking problems created by tall buildings, and simultaneously attempts to harness the potential of tall buildings to enhance placemaking. The research contends that instead of contributing to the problem of placelessness, well-designed tall buildings can rejuvenate cities, ignite economic activity, support social life and boost city pride through the science, engineering and craftsmanship embodied in these buildings. Although this study does not claim to possess all the solutions to these matters, it does propose 10 design and planning guidelines that can help to promote placemaking through tall buildings.
Hydrochlorothiazide vs chlorthalidone, indapamide, and potassium-sparing/hydrochlorothiazide diuretics for reducing left ventricular hypertrophy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Left ventricular hypertrophy develops in 36%-41% of hypertensive patients and independently predicts cardiovascular events and total mortality. Moreover, drug-induced reduction in left ventricular mass (LVM) correlates with improved prognosis. The optimal thiazide-type diuretic for reducing LVM is unknown. Evidence regarding potency, cardiovascular events, sodium, and potassium suggested the hypothesis that "CHIP" diuretics (CHlorthalidone, Indapamide, and Potassium-sparing diuretic/hydrochlorothiazide [PSD/HCTZ]) would reduce LVM more than HCTZ. Systematic searches of five databases were conducted. Among the 38 randomized trials, a 1% reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP) predicted a 1% reduction in LVM, P = 0.00001. CHIP-HCTZ differences in reducing LVM differed across trials (ie, heterogeneity), making interpretation uncertain. However, among the 28 double-blind trials, heterogeneity was undetectable, and HCTZ reduced LVM (percent reduction [95% CI]) by -7.3 (-10.4, -4.2), P < 0.0001. CHIP diuretics surpassed HCTZ in reducing LVM: chlorthalidone -8.2 (-14.7, -1.6), P = 0.015; indapamide -7.5 (-12.7, -2.3), P = 0.005; and all CHIP diuretics combined -7.7 (-12.2, -3.1), P < 0.001. The comparison of PSD/HCTZ with HCTZ had low statistical power but favored PSD/HCTZ: -6.0 (-14.1, +2.1), P = 0.149. Thus, compared to HCTZ, CHIP diuretics had twice the effect on LVM. CHIP diuretics did not surpass HCTZ in reducing systolic or diastolic blood pressure: -0.3 (-5.0, +4.3) and -1.6 (-5.6, +2.4), respectively. The strength of evidence that CHIP diuretics surpass HCTZ for reducing LVM was high (GRADE criteria). In conclusion, these novel results have demonstrated that CHIP diuretics reduce LVM 2-fold more than HCTZ among hypertensive patients. Although generally related to LVM, blood pressure fails to explain the superiority of CHIP diuretics for reducing LVM.
Geothermal technology: Trends and potential role in a sustainable future

Abstract Rapid population growth as well as modern technology reliance lead to a greater demand for energy consumption. An ever growing focus on creating sustainable environment requires energy sources to be used with caution. Two effective solutions to address these concerns include utilizing renewable energy resources and increasing efficiencies of current technologies. Geothermal energy provides a renewable energy source that has potential to supply reasonable amounts of electricity, heating, and cooling. The present research elaborates upon methods of harnessing energy using various geothermal technologies. Various methods of performance improvement, as well as integration of geothermal technology with other renewable energy sources are also discussed. The environmental impact and economic viability of the technology are mapped as well. The advantages and disadvantages of the technology and opportunities for improvement are explored based on the recent studies. Briefly, the potential role of geothermal technology in a sustainable future is discussed in the study. Finally, the prospective topics of future research are presented for further investigation.
FSHD1 or FSHD2: That is the question: The answer: It's all just FSHD.

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is the 3rd most common form of muscular dystrophy. While the initial pattern of muscle involvement is familiar to most clinicians (facial weakness, scapular winging, and foot drop), the genetic mechanism likely is not and is unique for the dystrophies, with epigenetic de-repression playing a key role. Epigenetic repression is the mechanism by which our cells turn sections of our DNA off. If you think of our chromosomes like a series of cookbooks, and the genes like recipes, then the way we regulate which recipes are read is by epigentic repression, which in the cell is done by methylation or other chemical mechanisms. Highly methylated areas are turned off; this would be like a book in a store still shrink-wrapped in plastic, so you cannot read what is inside. Each area of the DNA can be separately regulated, and genes whose role is DNA methylation are called chromatin repressors. Most individuals (>95%) will have FSHD type 1 (FSHD1), due to a deletion of large repeated units (RU) on the long arm of chromosome 4, typically between 1 and 10 RU.1 A minority of individuals will have FSHD type 2 (FSHD2): these individuals show digenic inheritance and have associated mutations in genes that have a role in chromatin repression ( SMCHD1 , DNMT3B ).2,3 The unified model for FSHD both emphasizes the epigenetic nature of FSHD and provides a link between FSHD1 and 2.4 In both FSHD type 1 and 2, there is decreased methylation in the D4Z4 region: in FSHD1 due to deletion of RU and in FSHD2 due to mutations affecting genes responsible for DNA methylation. To return to the cookbook metaphor, decreasing methylation on the DNA is like ripping the plastic shrink-wrap off the book, so now the recipes inside can be read. In addition to the epigenetic changes, both FSHD types 1 and 2 also require a permissive polymorphism providing a polyadenylation sequence to the DUX4 transcript (4qA allele). At its simplest level, FSHD is due to a toxic gain-of-function, where a gene contained in the D4Z4 repeats and is normally silenced, DUX4 , gets “turned on,” which is toxic to cells.
Review of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures for Sexual Dysfunction

Recently, the high prevalence of sexual dysfunctions in our society has become a topic of public awareness and has encouraged a substantial interest in the media and on the part of the pharmaceutical industry in the field of sexual functioning. This attention has resulted in an expansion in the development of measures of sexual function/dysfunction for use as outcome measures in clinical drug trials. The instruments tend to be brief self-report inventories, typically requiring no more than 20 min of respondent time for completion. All of these instruments must adhere to recently prescribed rigorous guidelines set forth by the FDA and be valid and reliable indicators of the sexual function constructs they purport to measure. The constructs that provide the framework of our diagnostic system for sexual dysfunctions are not amenable to direct physical measurement, so that they must be assessed via patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures. Although not as precise as physical measures, these psychological instruments do a capable job of quantifying and representing sexual functioning status in a concise and rigorous manner and have become indispensable tools in our clinical and research programs.
Security threats, detection, and countermeasures for physical layer in cognitive radio networks: A survey

Abstract Cyber-security threats and issues have been exponentially increasing over the last two decades, including in cognitive radio networks. These attacks and vulnerabilities negatively impact the normal functioning of these networks. Investigating these vulnerabilities and their countermeasures is a necessary step toward securing the cognitive radio based networks. Although there have numerous survey papers on cognitive radio security, a few papers related to the security issues over the physical layer which has a primordial role in establishing radio communications. Thus, an up to date overview of the ongoing research about the threats, detection, and countermeasures techniques over the physical layer is necessary. In this paper, different attacks targeting the physical layer are described and analyzed. Detection methods and countermeasures corresponding to each attack are also discussed and compared. Challenges and future directions are presented as well.
Predicting deformation behavior of α-uranium during tension, compression, load reversal, rolling, and sheet forming using elasto-plastic, multi-level crystal plasticity coupled with finite elements

Abstract An elasto-plastic self-consistent (EPSC) polycrystal plasticity formulation is adapted to model deformation of wrought α-uranium (α-U) accommodated by a combination of elasticity, dislocation glide, and deformation twinning. The EPSC model incorporates a strain-path, strain rate, and temperature sensitive dislocation density-based hardening law for the evolution of resistance to slip, twinning, and de-twinning and a slip system-level kinematic back-stress law to influence the driving force for activation. The model is used to interpret the complex deformation behavior of α-U as a function of strain-path and temperature. Samples of α-U with different initial orientation distributions are experimentally evaluated in simple compression, tension, and load reversal at room temperature and in compression and rolling at 573 K under a quasi-static deformation rate. Evolution of texture and twinning is characterized using electron backscattered diffraction and in-situ and ex-situ neutron diffraction during deformation. It is observed that the behavior of the material is highly anisotropic owing to its low-symmetry orthorhombic crystal structure and different activation stresses for crystallographic deformation modes. The model is calibrated and validated under these deformation conditions and predicts the stress-strain responses, amount of twinning, texture evolution, and lattice strains with one set of parameters for the hardening and back-stress evolution laws. Subsequently, the developed model is used as a constitutive law in the implicit finite element (FE) framework to simulate drawing of a hemispherical part from a rolled sheet of α-U. Here, the FE-EPSC model is a two-level homogenization scheme with EPSC relating the grain-level to the polycrystalline aggregate-level response, while the FE framework scales the polycrystalline to the part-level response. The simulation results and insights from the calculations, such as location dependent texture evolution is in good agreement with experiments.
The Robot Makers: An Ethnography of Anthropomorphism at a Robotics Company

This article is an ethnographic exploration of robot anthropomorphism at a robotics company. It draws on a 10-month participatory ethnography among a robotics company, an anthropologist, and a social robotics research lab. In contrast to psychological methods, this anthropological participatory ethnography integrates all stakeholders’ insights, offering holistic understandings of robots’ in situ operations throughout the fieldwork, data-sharing, interviews, and analysis. In particular, this article unravels employee social constructions of the company’s self-driving factory transport vehicles, “the robots.” These robots are deployed across a variety of warehouses and factories in North America. Our results involve an assessment of six teams at the robotics company’s headquarters: those testing robots, those developing their hardware and software, and those working with customers. We unpack trends of anthropomorphism for each of these teams and across the company.
Obesity and Medically Assisted Reproduction

The health impacts of obesity are numerous and include reduced fertility and impaired outcomes of ART. While conflicting literature exists, it appears that obesity reduces ovulation, increases Gn dose requirements, reduces clinical pregnancy rates after ART, and increases the risk of miscarriage after ART. To avoid potential risks, it is recommended that women with obesity seeking to have children through natural or assisted conception make positive lifestyle changes in regard to diet and exercise. It is not recommended that ART be withheld from women with elevated BMI, but appropriate counseling about increased risks should be given along with referrals for comprehensive weight management. Further research is needed, using consistent BMI cutoffs and prospective research design, to clarify the risks and improve outcomes for women with obesity seeking ART.
Total Intravenous Anesthesia and Acute Normovolemic Hemodilution for Sarcoma Surgery.

Despite optimal local control for high-risk soft tissue sarcomas (STS) with radiation and surgery, there are no other interventions that clearly and significantly reduce the risk of distant relapse after resection. Cytotoxic chemotherapy for localized STS is controversial and is associated with significant side effects. There are significant biologic perturbations that occur at the time of operation and numerous studies have demonstrated that surgical removal of the primary tumor can accelerate the growth of subclinical metastases. While the exact etiology of this phenomenon is unknown, there is some evidence to suggest that allogeneic blood transfusion and volatile inhaled anesthetics may be associated with tumor-promoting processes. At our institution, we have utilized acute normovolemic hemodilution and total intravenous propofol-based anesthesia to avoid these potentially detrimental factors.