cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
E-Mail Netiquette for Lawyers

This article discusses e-mail etiquette for lawyers and offers suggestions to e-mail effectively.
Thermal modeling with PC spreadsheets

It is shown how the structure of personal computer (PC) spreadsheet programs makes them an appropriate vehicle for use in multidimensional thermal modeling. The methodology of implementing spreadsheet solutions is presented, and memory requirements, iteration time, and the structure for parametric studies using PC spreadsheets are discussed. The energy balance approach to deriving the nodal equations in thermal modeling is then given in detail. An example showing how to implement a spreadsheet numerical solution for two-dimensional heat flow through a fin is presented. Heat flux, insulated, and convecting boundaries are illustrated. >
Adeno-Associated Virus Small Rep Proteins Are Modified with at Least Two Types of Polyubiquitination

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) type 2 and 5 proteins Rep52 and Rep40 were polyubiquitinated during AAV-adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) coinfection and during transient transfection in either the presence or absence of Ad5 E4orf6 and E1b-55k. Polyubiquitination of small Rep proteins via lysine 48 (K48) linkages, normally associated with targeting of proteins for proteasomal degradation, was detected only in the presence of E4orf6. The small Rep proteins were ubiquitinated via lysine 63 (K63) following transfection in either the presence or absence of E4orf6 or following coinfection with Ad5. E4orf6/E1b-55k-dependent K48-specific polyubiquitination of small Rep proteins could be inhibited using small interfering RNA (siRNA) to cullin 5.
Oscillations at odds in the heart.

Oscillations are everywhere in biology—the cell cycle, the heart beat, circadian rhythms, fertility cycles—life could not exist without them. They arise from time delays in the feedback circuits essential for regulating biological processes. As important as oscillations are to normal physiology
Utilization of organic nitrogen compounds by Hydrogenomonas eutropha

The chemolithotroph, Hydrogenomonas eutropha, was tested for its ability to utilize a variety of single nitrogen sources during growth in an atmosphere of H2O2CO2 The present data show that H. eutropha can utilize the nitrogen from many, but not all, amino acids, several sulfur-containing amino acids, glucosamine, and two aliphatic amides. The nitrogen concentration that supported maximum growth for NH4Cl, L-glutamate, L-glutamine, urea, and glycine was in the 0.010–0.019M range. H. eutropha failed to remove the nitrogen from primary and secondary amines, eycloleucine, tert-DL-leucine, DL-p-fluorophenylalanine, DL-5-methyltryptophan, creatine, and creatine. This microorganism was able to partially degrade at least six substituted indoles and/or tryptophan catabolites and six substituted imidazoles and/or histidine catabolites. All of a series of 17 dipeptides were able to serve as a nitrogen source for growth in the absence of NH4Cl. Extracts of H. eutropha were able to catalyze the hydrolysis of 16 α-dipeptides, 2 tripetides, a tetrapeptide, a polypeptide, a β-aspartyl peptide, 2 γ-glutamyl peptides, a N-acetyl amino acid, and 4 amino acid amides. These results emphasize the effectiveness of H. eutropha in utilizing a wide diversity of organic nitrogenous compounds containing amino and amide groups, heterocyclic rings, and peptide bonds.
A Promising Reconstitution Platform for PQQ-Dependent Apo-Enzymes in Chitosan–Carbon Nanotube Matrices

The prosthetic pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) and PQQ-dependent glucose dehydrogenase (PQQ-GDH) have been chemically bound to chitosan-carbon nanotube (CHIT-CNT) films, respectively, in the presence of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide. The immobilized PQQ-GDH displayed a quasi-reversible electron transfer with a formal potential E°' of -0.110 V vs Ag/AgCl, which is independent of the scan rate. Through ex situ spectrophotometric analysis, we found the bioactivity of the immobilized PQQ-GDH was retained. The enzyme-free bound PQQ exhibits a facile electron transfer with the glassy carbon electrode, suggesting that PQQ-bound CHIT-CNT films hold promise as a platform for the reconstitution of PQQ-dependent apo-enzymes, with potential application in biosensors and biofuel cells.
Stiff-person syndrome: insights into a complex autoimmune disorder

Stiff-person syndrome (SPS) is characterised by progressive rigidity and muscle spasms affecting the axial and limb muscles. Since its initial description in 1956, marked progress has been made in the clinical characterisation, understanding of pathogenesis and therapy of this disorder. SPS can be classified according to the clinical presentation into classic SPS and SPS variants: focal or segmental-SPS, jerking-SPS and progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus. Most patients with SPS have antibodies directed against the glutamic acid decarboxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme for the production of the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Antibodies directed against GABA(A) receptor-associated protein, and the glycine-α1 receptor can also be observed. Paraneoplastic SPS is commonly associated with antiamphiphysin antibodies and breast cancer. Treatment of SPS with drugs that increase the GABAergic tone combined with immunotherapy can improve the neurological manifestations of these patients. The prognosis, however, is unpredictable and spontaneous remissions are unlikely.
Cleft palate defect of Dlx1/2-/- mutant mice is caused by lack of vertical outgrowth in the posterior palate

Background: Mice lacking the activities of Dlx1 and Dlx2 (Dlx1/22/2) exhibit cleft palate, one of the most common human congenital defects, but the etiology behind this phenotype has been unknown. Therefore, we analyzed the morphological, cellular, and molecular changes caused by inactivation of Dlx1 and Dlx2 as related to palate development. Results: Dlx1/22/2 mutants exhibited lack of vertical growth in the posterior palate during the earliest stage of palatogenesis. We attributed this growth deficiency to reduced cell proliferation. Expression of a cell cycle regulator Ccnd1 was specifically down-regulated in the same region. Previous studies established that the epithelial-mesenchymal signaling loop involving Shh, Bmp4, and Fgf10 is important for cell proliferation and tissue growth during palate development. This signaling loop was disrupted in Dlx1/22/2 palate. Interestingly, however, the decreases in Ccnd1 expression and mitosis in Dlx1/22/2 mutants were independent of this signaling loop. Finally, Dlx1/2 activity was required for normal expression of several transcription factor genes whose mutation results in palate defects. Conclusions: The functions of Dlx1 and Dlx2 are crucial for the initial formation of the posterior palatal shelves, and that the Dlx genes lie upstream of multiple signaling molecules and transcription factors important for later stages of palatogenesis. Developmental Dynamics 241:1757–1769, 2012. V C 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sucrose Phosphate Synthase Expression at the Cell and Tissue Level Is Coordinated with Sucrose Sink-to-Source Transitions in Maize Leaf

Immunohistological analyses for sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) show that the protein is localized in both bundle-sheath cells (BS) and mesophyll cells (M) in maize (Zea mays) leaves. In young leaves, SPS protein was predominantly in the BS, whereas mature leaves showed nearly equal levels of signal in both BS and M. A cell-type-specific response was also seen in light and dark treatments. Dark treatments led to reduced signal in M; however, little or no change was detected in BS. We suggest that SPS in BS is engaged in sucrose biosynthesis by both photoassimilatory and starch turnover reactions in maize leaves. In addition, we suggest that the enzyme in BS may play a major role in the early biosynthesis of sucrose in young leaves. These cell-specific changes in expression in situ were in agreement with the estimates of extractable enzyme activity from isolated BS and M of mature leaves (R. Ohsugi, S.C. Huber [1987] Plant Physiol 84: 1096–1101). In contrast, western blot analyses did not show any significant changes in the levels of SPS protein in either young or mature leaves subsequent to similar dark treatments. It is interesting that the northern blot analyses indicate that the steady-state levels of SPS transcripts were markedly reduced after dark treatments of > 12 h. Overall, our results indicate that Sps gene expression in maize leaf is modulated at multiple levels of controls by both developmental and environmental factors.
Coordinated Feeding Behavior in Trichoplax, an Animal without Synapses

Trichoplax is a small disk-shaped marine metazoan that adheres to substrates and locomotes by ciliary gliding. Despite having only six cell types and lacking synapses Trichoplax coordinates a complex sequence of behaviors culminating in external digestion of algae. We combine live cell imaging with electron microscopy to show how this is accomplished. When Trichoplax glides over a patch of algae, its cilia stop beating so it ceases moving. A subset of one of the cell types, lipophils, simultaneously secretes granules whose content rapidly lyses algae. This secretion is accurately targeted, as only lipophils located near algae release granules. The animal pauses while the algal content is ingested, and then resumes gliding. Global control of gliding is coordinated with precise local control of lipophil secretion suggesting the presence of mechanisms for cellular communication and integration.
An Activity-Based Life-Cycle Assessment Method

In this paper, a new activity-based method for the concurrent assessment and tracing of costs, energy consumption and waste generation for usage in Life-Cycle Design is presented. The method is based on Activity-Based Costing (ABC). By utilizing ABC we are able to assess and trace accurately overhead - and direct costs, energy and waste generation.. The inherent uncertainty is modeled in terms of fuzzy numbers, but solved numerically using the Monte Carlo simulation technique, which allows us to perform a sensitivity analysis. This enables us to not only estimate the costs, energy consumption and waste generation, but also trace the largest contributors. The capability to trace the contributors is perhaps the most significant feature - especially when the method is employed for design. To illustrate the usage of this method, a simple case study is provided in which we explore the life-span costs, energy consumption and waste generation of a oil/gas exploration platform supply vessel operating in the North Sea.
Symptom exacerbations in trauma-focused treatments: Associations with treatment outcome and non-completion.

Trauma-focused treatments are underutilized, partially due to clinician concerns that they will cause symptom exacerbation or dropout. We examined a sample of women undergoing Prolonged Exposure (PE), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and a version of CPT (CPT-C) without a written trauma narrative to investigate the possibility of symptom exacerbation. Participants (n = 192) were drawn from two RCT's. Participants were administered self-report measures of PTSD symptoms (i.e., the PTSD Symptom Scale or Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale [PSS/PDS]) and the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale. Exacerbations were defined as increases greater than 6.15 points on the PSS/PDS. A minority of participants experienced PTSD exacerbations during treatment, and there were no significant differences across treatment type (28.6% in CPT, 20.0% in PE, and 14.7% in CPT-C). Neither diagnostic nor trauma-related factors at pre-treatment predicted symptom exacerbations. Those who experienced exacerbations had higher post-treatment PSS/PDS scores and were more likely to retain a PTSD diagnosis (both small but statistically significant effects). However, even those who experienced an exacerbation experienced clinically significant improvement by end of treatment. Further, symptom exacerbations were not related to treatment non-completion. These results indicate that trauma-focused treatments are safe and effective, even for the minority of individuals who experience temporary symptom increases.
Neptunium(III) copper(I) diselenide.

The title compound, NpCuSe2, is the first ternary neptunium transition-metal chalcogenide. It was synthesized from the elements at 873 K in an evacuated fused-silica tube. Single crystals were grown by vapor transport with I2. NpCuSe2 crystallizes in the LaCuS2 structure type and can be viewed as a stacking of layers of CuSe4 tetra­hedra and of double layers of NpSe7 monocapped trigonal prisms along [100]. Because there are no Se—Se bonds in the structure, the formal oxidation states of Np/Cu/Se may be assigned as +III/+I/−II, respectively.
3. Laparoscopic Gastric Banding

Adjustable gastric banding is a restrictive bariatric procedure during which a fluid-filled silicone band is wrapped around the gastric cardia. The volume of fluid within the band may be adjusted through percutaneous access to a subcutaneous port that is connected to the band by flexible tubing and attached to the anterior abdominal fascia. Increasing band fluid volume results in greater extrinsic compression and more limited flow of luminal contents through the gastric cardia. This chapter describes the indications, technique, and complications associated with this procedure.
Management of acute myocardial infarction in the elderly.

SUMMARY Thrombolysis and other new therapies have proved beneficial in elderly patients with myocardial infarction, but are underused in this age group. Because elderly patients are at greater cardiac risk than younger patients, they have more to gain from treatment. However, these treatments may pose more risk for elderly patients. Physicians must constantly assess the elderly patient9s risk status and make treatment decisions based on risk-benefit analysis.
Aerodynamics propulsion and longitudinal control requirements for a tilt-nacelle V/STOL with control vanes submerged in the nacelle slipstream

A longitudinal V/STOL f l ightnvclope of the Grumnian 698 tilt-nacelle design was determined, using a computer simulation in conjunction with test and estimated data for the hover, trimsition and cruise modes, For the broad range of angle of atlack and airspeeds examined, this design is fully controllable, employing a slab tail optionally geared to vanes submerged in the nacelle slipstream. Collective and differential power is also available for low-speed height and roll control, and high-speed acceleration. The aerodynamic and propulsion forces complement each other, resulting in smooth variarion of aero control and power settings in transition while yarying the airspeed. Also for the purpose of controlling attitude at a fixed airspeed, powered and aerodynamic lift may be exchanged. The aerodynamic and propulsion effects, flow field and kinematic relations were easily determined from the computer simulation graphics output. Within the simulation envelope, or up to about 200 knots. this analysis demonstrates that the airplane attitude, flight path, aerodynamic and propulsive lift can be controlled within expected operational conditions. Acap Aexit CE . CD = Dtotal 4 m s w
Effects of Bladder Geometry in Pneumatic Artificial Muscles

Designing optimal pneumatic muscles for a particular application requires an accurate model of the hyperelastic bladder and how it influences contraction force. We present here modeling and experimental data on the actuation properties of artificial muscles constructed with varying bladder pre-strain and wall thickness. The tests determine quasi-static force-length relationships during extension and contraction, for muscles constructed with unstretched bladder lengths equal to 55%, 66%, and 97% of the stretched muscle length, and two different wall thicknesses. Actuator force and maximum contraction length are found to depend strongly on both the pre-strain and the thickness of the rubber, making existing models inadequate for choosing bladder geometry. A model is presented to better predict force-length characteristics from geometric parameters, using a novel thick-walled tube calculation to account for the nonlinear elastic properties of the bladder. It includes axial force generated by stretching the bladder lengthwise, and it also describes the hoop stress created by radial expansion of the muscle that partially counteracts the internal fluid pressure exerted outward on the mesh. This effective reduction in pressure affects both axial muscle force and mesh-on-bladder friction. The rubber bladder is modeled as a Mooney-Rivlin incompressible solid. The axial force generated by the mesh is found directly from contact forces rather than from potential energy. Modeling the bladder as a thin-walled tube gives a close match to experimental data on wall thickness, but a thick-walled bladder model is found to be necessary for explaining the effects of pre-strain.
Effects of propellant on stability and buckling load of chamber under lateral pressure

Stability of solid rocket motor chambers under lateral pressure was investigated through buckling analysis and tests.The variation buckle load,mode and radial displacement(and loop strain)curves with lateral pressure were obtained from buckling analysis of the case and chamber.The turning point on chamber's displacement(and loop strain) curves is higher than that on case's curve.Calculated results reveal that propellant prominently improves the stability of chambers under lateral pressure.Buckling analysis in different propellant modulus also show that propellant modulus is in positive correlation to buckle load of chamber.Buckle mode and propellant 's contribution to chamber obtained from tests agree well with the calculated results.
Functional implications of nitric oxide produced by mitochondria in mitochondrial metabolism

The effects of endogenous production of NO., catalysed by the mitochondrial nitric oxide synthase (NOS), on mitochondrial metabolism were studied. The respiratory rates of intact mitochondria in State 4 were decreased by 40% and 28% with succinate and malate-glutamate, respectively, in the presence of L-arginine (L-Arg); conversely, the O2 uptake with NG-methyl-L-arginine (NMMA), a competitive inhibitor of NOS, was increased. The production of NO. and the inhibition of the respiratory rates were dependent on the metabolic state in which mitochondria were maintained: NO. production was probably supported by mitochondrial NADPH, the latter maintained by the energy-dependent transhydrogenase. In addition to the decline in the respiratory rate, an inhibition of ATP synthesis was also observed (40-50%) following supplementation with L-Arg. The dependence of the respiratory rates of mitochondria in State 3 and cytochrome oxidase activities on O2 concentrations with either L-Arg or NMMA indicated that both processes were competitively inhibited by NO. at the cytochrome oxidase level. This inhibition can be explained by the interaction of NO. with cytochrome oxidase at the binuclear centre. The role of NO. as a physiological modulator of cytochrome oxidase is discussed in terms of cellular metabolism.
Proceedings of the International Summit on Human Gene Editing: a global discussion—Washington, D.C., December 1–3, 2015

The US Academies of Sciences and Medicine, the Royal Society, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences convened a summit of experts in biology, medicine, law, ethics, sociology, and journalism, in December 2015 to review the state of the art in gene editing technology and discuss the medical and social ramifications of the technologies. The summit concluded with the following consensus recommendations: (1) intensive basic and preclinical research in animal and human models should proceed with appropriate legal and ethical oversight; (2) clinical applications in somatic cells must be rigorously evaluated within existing and evolving regulatory frameworks for gene therapy; (3) it would be irresponsible to proceed with any clinical use of germline editing until relevant safety and efficacy issues have been resolved and there is broad societal consensus about such a use; and (4) the international community should strive to establish generally acceptable uses of human germline editing.
Differential processing of guanylyl cyclase C along villus-crypt axis of rat small intestine

Many strains of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli produce a heat-stable peptide enterotoxin (STa) that binds to the intestinal receptor guanylyl cyclase C (GC-C). STa receptors are structurally heterogeneous, but the molecular events causing this heterogeneity remain obscure. We examined the influence of cell position along the villus-crypt axis on STa receptor heterogeneity by fractionating EDTA-dissociated cells that detached in a villus-to-crypt direction. STa affinity labeling experiments revealed that the initially released villus "tip" fraction had four major STa binding proteins (STBPs), with relative molecular weight (M(r)) of 150,000, 135,000, 125,000, and 95,000, that did not react with a GC-C carboxy-terminal antibody. Yet succeeding villus cell fractions had major immunoreactive STBPs with M(r) of 275,000 and 250,000. Limited proteolysis of these larger GC-C isoforms produced 1) smaller STBPs that had M(r) similar to those in the initial villus fraction, 2) a 65,000 M(r) protein GC-C isoform that did not bind STa, and 3) elevated basal and STa-induced cyclase activity. Our data show that STBP structural heterogeneity in the intact intestine arises largely from multisite proteolytic processing of GC-C.
The scientific revolution

By the fourteenth century, the social, political, and intellectual order of the medieval world had begun to break down. Increased urbanization and the return to a money economy eroded the structure of the feudal system, and the rise of nation–states undermined the political authority of the papacy. Intermittent wars between the emerging nation–states led to a severe economic depression. This was followed by the plague of 1348–1350, later known as the “Black Death,” which decimated the European population and bred doubt and resentment against the medieval Church, the dominant authority. Although the Church embraced Aristotle's philosophy, the threat posed by its naturalism and rationalism generated dissent and division, initially leading to attempts to divorce the separate realms of faith and reason and then to the autonomous emergence of naturalistic empirical science. Various developments contributed to the transformation of the intellectual landscape. Marco Polo's (1254–1324) exploration of China, Christopher Columbus’ (1451–1506) discovery of America in 1492, and Magellan's (1480–1521) circumnavigation of the globe expanded the horizons of the known world. Perhaps the most significant development was the invention of printing and the consequent transformation of communication. In the city of Mainz in southern Germany, Johann Gutenberg ( c . 1397–1468) created movable type and published an edition of the Bible in 1450. The consequent explosion in printed works expanded intellectual horizons by broadening access to the Bible and classical works. By 1500, about eight million volumes had been printed (Pyenson and Sheets-Pyenson, 1999); by 1600, about twenty million, with over a dozen presses established in European cities (Foote, 1991). The critical interpretation of these works by humanist scholars encouraged a more secular – and more skeptical – approach to the classical tradition and scriptural authority, and the reliable reproduction of works in physics, astronomy, and medicine transformed science into a public enterprise. In earlier centuries, the works of Aristotle, Ptolemy, and Galen had been transcribed by hand by monastic clerics, with errors compounded over generations, and read only by the educated elite. From the mid-fifteenth century onward multiple copies of scientific works were critically scrutinized by the scientific community and educated members of the lay public.
The Community College and the Business Cycle

The swings in enrollment and funding caused by the most recent recession have reminded community college leaders that the ups and downs of the economy can have a significant impact on their institu...
Pharmacokinetics of Intravenous Immunoglobulin and Outcome of Guillain-Barre Syndrome

The relation of pharmacokinetics of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) to the outcome of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) was determined in 174 adults treated at Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Design and analysis of a hybrid appointment system for patient scheduling: an optimisation approach

This paper proposes a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model for a hybrid appointment system (HAS) that schedules patients based on their preference while minimising the total loss of the system. The HAS proposed is a combination of three scheduling methods, namely walk-ins, pre-booked, and open access. The model supports the decision maker in determining the rejection and overtime rates of the health system under consideration. The HAS is analysed for the impact of different parameters, namely proportion of patients requesting open access (OA ratio), patient no-shows, and variation of service time on the optimal rejection rate and overtime rate. The results indicated that the HAS can handle variations in clinic's operational factors (variation of at least 20% in OA ratio and service time) without significantly impacting the performance measures. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis indicated that the model is not impacted when the demand fluctuation is within 40%.
Risk factors for early readmission after total pancreatectomy and islet auto transplantation.

Abstract Background Little published data exist examining causes of hospital readmission following total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (TPIAT). Methods A retrospective analysis was performed of a prospectively collected institutional TPIAT database. Primary outcome was unplanned readmission to the hospital within 30 days from discharge. Reasons and risk factors for readmission as well as islet function were evaluated and compared by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results 83 patients underwent TPIAT from 2006 to 2014. 21 patients (25.3%) were readmitted within 30 days. Gastrointestinal problems (52.4%) and surgical site infection (42.8%) were the most common reasons for readmission. Initial LOS and reoperation were risk factors for early readmission. Patients with delayed gastric emptying (DGE) were three times more likely to get readmitted. In multivariate analysis, patients undergoing pylorus preservation surgery were nine times more likely to be readmitted than the antrectomy group. Conclusion Early readmission after TPIAT is common (one in four patients), underscoring the complexity of this procedure. Early readmission is not detrimental to islet graft function. Patients undergoing pylorus preservation are more likely to get readmitted, perhaps due to increased incidence of delayed gastric emptying. Decision for antrectomy vs. pylorus preservation needs to be individualized.
Predicting species-habitat relationships: does body size matter?

Allometric scaling laws are foundational to structuring processes from cellular to ecosystem levels. The idea that allometric relationships underlie species characteristic selection scales, the spatial scales at which species respond to landscape features, has recently been investigated, however, supporting empirical evidence is scarce. Lack of pattern can be explained by inaccurate estimation, low power, confounding factors, or absence of a relationship. In this paper, we evaluate the relationship between body size and species characteristic selection scales after overcoming limitations of previous study designs. We conducted 1328 avian point counts across the state of Nebraska using the robust sampling design to account for imperfect detection. We used Bayesian latent indicator scale selection with N-mixture models to estimate species’ characteristic selection scales of six habitat features for 86 species. We propagated the uncertainty associated with assigning characteristic scales to a model of the relationship between body size and characteristic spatial scales. Species characteristic scales varied across habitat predictors, and varied in the uncertainty associated with selecting single characteristic scales. After propagating uncertainty our results do not support a relationship between species’ body size and the spatial scales at which they respond to landscape features. As species abundance integrates birth, death, immigration, and emigration processes, each of which are influenced by ecological processes manifesting at various scales, we question whether a general allometric relationship should be expected. Our results suggest that selection may act on responses to specific environmental features, rather than responses to spatial scale per se.
On Non-Local Flow Theories that Preserve the Classical Structure of Incremental Boundary Value Problems

A new non-local inelastic constitutive theory is proposed. The model retains the algebraic nature of the flow rules of conventional theories. This feature, which is in contrast to other recently proposed non-local theories, allows the problem of incremental equilibrium to be stated without extra boundary conditions or higher-order stresses. The general idea is presented both in the context of a J-2 flow theory and a single crystal plasticity theory. It is also demonstrated that reaction-diffusion type equations in the slip variables can be accommodated within the rate-independent crystal plasticity theory presented here.
On the computation of point of view

Previous work in AI story understanding has largely been used to build tools which can summarize stories and categorize them according to the events they describe (e.g., the technologies developed for the Message Understanding Conferences). These sorts of technologies are built around the assumptions that (1) events reported as facts in news stories should be "understood" as facts; (2) the style of a story, i.e., the way in which a story is told, is not of interest; and, (3) the source of a story should not influence its analysis. These assumptions are obviously unrealistic. Everyone knows that one should not believe everything in the news. But, by making these simplifying assumptions most existing story understanding systems function as gullible "readers." The focus of my current research is to build a less gullible story understander by encoding in it a means to recognize point of view. The techniques that I am developing will be useful, not only for information retrieval tasks which demand a search for credible stories, but also in future entertainment technologies which will be capable of finding and then assembling together into a unified presentation a set of texts or video clips to tell a story from an ensemble of points of view.
Social perspective-taking performance: Construct, measurement, and relations with academic performance and engagement

Abstract Social perspective-taking (SPT), the social-cognitive skill of inferring, considering, and evaluating others' perspectives, is critical in allowing students to engage not only with others in social interactions, but also with many academic materials and activities. However, due to complex conceptualizations of SPT, as well as challenges to its measurement, little research has examined the role of SPT in student learning. Using a new measure, the Assessment of Social Perspective-taking Performance (ASPP), this article presents evidence that SPT can be conceptualized as a set of measurable developmental performative skills relevant to classroom learning in early adolescence: articulation of actors' beliefs/intentions and positioning of actors in their social contexts. Examination of its psychometric properties provides evidence that ASPP can precisely assess students' SPT performance across varying levels of those skills. Lastly, we find positive associations of SPT with academic engagement and standardized test scores.
Phosphate graphene as an intrinsically osteoinductive scaffold for stem cell-driven bone regeneration

Synthetic, resorbable scaffolds for bone regeneration have potential to transform the clinical standard of care. Here, we demonstrate that functional graphenic materials (FGMs) could serve as an osteoinductive scaffold: recruiting native cells to the site of injury and promoting differentiation into bone cells. By invoking a Lewis acid-catalyzed Arbuzov reaction, we are able to functionalize graphene oxide (GO) to produce phosphate graphenes (PGs) with unprecedented control of functional group density, mechanical properties, and counterion identity. In aqueous environments, PGs release inducerons, including Ca2+ and PO43−. Calcium phosphate graphene (CaPG) intrinsically induces osteogenesis in vitro and in the presence of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs), can induce ectopic bone formation in vivo. Additionally, an FGM can be made by noncovalently loading GO with the growth factor recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2), producing a scaffold that induces ectopic bone formation with or without BMSCs. The FGMs reported here are intrinsically inductive scaffolds with significant potential to revolutionize the regeneration of bone.
Protective Effect Against Cancer of Antibodies to the Large Subunits of Both RNA Polymerases I and III in Scleroderma

Objective While compelling data suggest a cancer-induced autoimmunity model in scleroderma patients with anti-RNA polymerase III large subunit (anti-RPC155) antibodies, ~85% of these patients do not manifest cancer. This study was undertaken to determine whether additional autoantigens are targeted in anti-RPC155-positive scleroderma patients without detectable cancer. Methods The study included 168 scleroderma patients with anti-RPC155 antibodies (80 with a history of cancer and 88 with no cancer diagnosis after >5 years of follow-up). Thirty-five sera (17 from patients with cancer and 18 from patients without cancer) were randomly selected for autoantibody discovery using immunoprecipitation (IP). An ~194-kd band was enriched in the subgroup without cancer; this was identified as RNA polymerase I large subunit (RPA194). Results RPA194 generated by in vitro transcription/translation was used for IPs performed on the entire cohort to test whether anti-RPA194 was enriched among anti-RPC155-positive patients without cancer. Anti-RPA194 antibodies were significantly more common in the group without cancer (16 [18.2%] of 88) than in the group with cancer (3 [3.8%] of 80) (P = 0.003). Patients with both anti-RPA194 and anti-RPC155 were significantly less likely to have severe gastrointestinal disease than patients with anti-RPC155 only (26.3% versus 51.0%; P = 0.043). Conclusion Anti-RPA194 antibodies are enriched in anti-RPC155-positive scleroderma patients without cancer. Since somatic mutations in the gene encoding RPC155 in cancer in scleroderma patients appears to play a role in immune response initiation against RPC155 in those patients, these data raise the possibility that the development of immune responses to both RPC155 and RPA194 may influence clinical cancer emergence. Further study is required to define whether different autoantibody combinations have utility as tools for cancer risk stratification in scleroderma.
What About Me? Theorizing Power and Pushback in Advancing Marginalized Identities

In 2012, the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) received an NSF ADVANCE Institutional Transformation grant to improve the career advancement of women. The National Technical Institute for the Deaf, one of RIT’s colleges, had over 30 Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) female faculty members. The project designated a DHH female faculty team with a budget to conduct a self-directed program of development and networking: the DHH Women’s Connectivity Series. Starting in 2014, other faculty began to request access to these sessions - hearing male and female faculty, DHH male faculty, and faculty of color. They argued that they too experienced marginalization due to issues of gender, race, ethnicity and hearing loss. This article summarizes the Connectivity Series’ story of power, privilege, and pushback. How do DHH women successfully negotiate careers in academia, given the impact of intersectional minority identities (disability, gender, etc.)?
A Case Study On Approximate FPGA Design With an Open-Source Image Processing Platform

This paper presents a case study of approximate design with Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), combining an application of a color to grayscale converter and an open image/video processing platform with Verilog hardware description language (HDL). First of all, by integrating two approximations of adders and two approximations of multipliers, together with the exact design, nine different approximations of the design on color to grayscale converter are offered. Second, the image processing platform is presented to demonstrate the proposed work on Nexys-4 FPGA, enabling to capture color images through a low-cost OV7670 camera and display the grayscale results of images on a VGA-interfaced monitor. Experimental results show the difference between different approximations of the design, providing a range of design options corresponding to different quality constrains.
Patterns of End Scraper Reduction and Discard: A Case Study from the Paleoindian Record of Eastern North America

Many researchers studying the technological organization of mobile hunter-gatherers have provided expectations for the design and appearance of tool-kits based on environment. This paper examines t...
ACUTE PULMONARY EMBOLISM DURING PREGNANCY AND PUERPERIUM NATIONAL TRENDS AND OUTCOMES

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a leading cause of maternal mortality during pregnancy and puerperium, yet data regarding incidence and outcomes are limited. The National Inpatient Sample was queried to identify pregnancy-related hospitalizations in the United States from January 1, 2007 to September 30
Label-free imaging of subcellular features with mid-infrared photothermal microscopy

Mid-infrared photothermal imaging is a novel chemical imaging modality that combines high sensitivity with enhanced spatial resolution. Subcellular features in fibroblast cells and tissues are imaged and analyzed with regards to their molecular structures without the need of exogenous fluorophores at a resolution that overcomes the diffraction limited spot size of the mid-infrared excitation beam. With a phase-sensitive lock-in detection scheme, changes in the thermal diffusion properties can be detected and can provide a complementary sample characterization.
X-Cut Lithium Niobate-Based Shear Horizontal Resonators for Radio Frequency Applications

This article reports Lithium Niobate (LN) based shear horizontal (SH0) resonators utilizing suspended and solidly mounted structures for radio frequency (RF) applications. The solidly mounted SH0 structure (also termed guided SH0 structure) is advantageous in obtaining reduced temperature coefficient of frequency (TCF), reduced high frequency overtone spurious responses, and improved power handling. The demonstrated solidly mounted guided SH0 resonators exhibit a mechanical Q as high as 1316 around 950 MHz, and electromechanical coupling factor ( ${k} _{\mathrm {t}}^{\mathrm {2}}$ ) of around 21.8 % - resulting in a figure of merit ( $\mathrm {FoM}=k_{\mathrm {t}}^{\mathrm {2}}\cdot \mathrm {Q}$ ) of 288.
Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that impact disaster health research

Objective: To characterize the strengths and weaknesses of the current status of disaster research evidence; and to identify potential interventions specific to the disciplines of medicine, public health, and social sciences. Design: A mixed method study using nominal group technique and a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis. Participants: Subject matter experts (SMEs) in the fields of medicine, public health, and social sciences who are engaged in disaster research. Results: The nominal group technique achieved 100 percent response rate. After coding and analysis, ten distinct disaster research evidence themes were identified: awareness; evidence quality; funding; human resources; interdisciplinary studies; politics; research process; research topics; sectoral collaboration; and “other.” Strengths in each area were limited but focused on quality and workforce pipeline. Weaknesses were limited funding and low research quality. Opportunities included improving methods and increased interdisciplinary collaboration. The threats most consistently identified were limited funding and political influences on disaster research funding. Conclusions: Disaster research experts from three disciplines identified a number of barriers and facilitators to improving disaster-related research. The limited, inconsistent, and episodic funding and the politics related to it were the greatest and most common barriers. This weakness needs to be strategically addressed to significantly advance the field of disaster research.
Wisdom and Power: Using Information Theory to Assess the Transactional Relationship Between the Learner and the Knowledge Provider

As instructional designers continue to assess their design process, the need only intensifies for having a deeper understanding of how it connects to the relationships evolving among the instructors, students, peers, content, and the technology they use. The lenses of these relationships are alterable, especially as defined by the latter. We adopt the concept of media ecology as a means to systematically assess the impact on these interrelationships. Teaching and learning, after all, boil down to communicating information among these entities. Media ecology has been found to effectively describe these communications channels. The authors advocate the use of media ecology as a means of introducing design thinking into the enterprise of teaching of instructional technology, as it requires students to ask the right questions and causes them to interpret these relationships through a different and unique perspective. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss this viewpoint and examine how to rethink instructional design methods by focusing on and assessing how individuals transact and communicate information during the learning process.
Review of the Safety of Bipolar Radiofrequency Ablation in Patients with Chronic Pain with Implantable Cardiac Rhythm Management Devices.

Background Chronic pain, especially low back pain and hip pain, has been a growing public health concern that affects over 100 million Americans annually. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has distinct advantages over other chronic pain management modalities and its use has been increasing over the past decade. Among the growing population with comorbid conduction disorders and persistent pain, RFA and its potential interference with implantable cardiac devices is of concern.RFA is becoming a foundational element of persistent pain management and has been shown to be effective in a multitude of chronic pain syndromes. Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED), such as cardiac pacemakers or implantable cardioverter defibrillators, have been used in the treatment of cardiac conduction diseases for a number of decades. With our aging population, these diseases have increased in both incidence and prevalence. Chronic pain and cardiac conduction diseases are both common in our increasingly aging population. Objectives This study aims to determine if the literature supports the hypothesis that patients with CIEDs can safely use RFA with minimal to no interaction. Study design Systematic assessment of literature with a modified approach with bipolar RFA. Methods A narrative review with systematic assessment of the literature was carried out. In this review, we included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), open non-randomized control studies, prospective studies, retrospective studies, case series, and case reports. All types of radiofrequency utilized for pain management including pulsed and conventional were included. Outcome measures included interactions between the cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA), adverse events, RFA efficacy in treating the pain using pain scores, and other complications. Results Our search criteria yielded 4 studies for inclusion, with inclusion of 33 patients and 71 bipolar radiofrequency for treatments. No adverse events or interactions occurred between the bipolar radiofrequency device and the implanted cardiac devices in any of these patients. Bipolar radiofrequency was utilized in all patients (n = 33). Overall there were no complications or malfunctions. Limitations Small sample size, narrative review. Conclusions This study provides evidence that bipolar RFA can be safely used in patients with CIEDs for chronic pain provided that proper precautions are employed. Considerations for safe use are provided.
COVID 19 Bullous Lung Disease Superinfected by Raoultella Planticola

Introduction: Bullous lung lesions from Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia-causing pneumothorax is a rare complication, affecting up to 1% of infected patients. Raoultella Planticola is an aerobic, gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium known to cause opportunistic infection. Only three cases of R. Planticola pneumonia reported in the United States until 2017. We present a rare case of spontaneous pneumothorax from rupture of lung bulla as a late sequela from COVID-19 pneumonia and superinfection of the bulla by R. Planticola. Case: A 37-year-old man presented to the emergency department (ED) with a sudden onset of sharp right-sided chest pain and shortness of breath after an episode of dry cough. One month before the presentation, he was tested positive for COVID-19, with the only symptom being dry cough, without hospitalization or treatment. He works in construction, never smoked. On arrival, he was in respiratory distress with tachypnea. Chest radiograph revealed subcutaneous emphysema and right-sided pneumothorax with large bleb at the right mid lung field. An emergent pigtail catheter tube was placed with the resolution of pneumothorax. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from nasopharyngeal swab detected infection by COVID-19. Serologic workup revealed leukocytosis and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate: 34 mm/hr. Computed tomography (CT) showed (Image) large right-sided bulla, bilateral patchy infiltrates. Sputum analysis was negative for bacteria, fungi, and mycobacterium tuberculosis. Further workup was negative for eosinophilia, aspergillus, autoimmune diseases, and HIV. His symptoms and leukocytosis improved without needing antibiotics or steroids. Later the chest tube was removed and was discharged. Post-discharge follow-up in the pulmonary clinic, he complained of hemoptysis and was referred to the ED. Repeat CT revealed patchy ground-glass opacities, new bullae in the left lung, and resolving right lung bulla with fluid and debris in the dependent portion, which led to suspect pneumonia and bullous infection. Sputum culture grew R. Planticola, resistant to ampicillin;he was started on amoxicillin-clavulanic acid with improvement in symptoms and was subsequently discharged. A repeat follow-up CT after a month showed resolution of bullae with scarring. Discussion: Bullous lung lesions in COVID-19 pneumonia were reported in the literature irrespective of mechanical ventilation status. Although superinfection of bullous lesions is known, this is the first reported case of R. Planticola pneumonia in a patient with COVID-19 lung bullae. COVID-19 patients are at heightened risk for bullous lung lesions and superinfection by opportunistic organisms;thus, they should be followed-up closely.
How will diminishing sea ice impact commercial fishing in the Bering Sea

The Bering Sea supports one of the largest, most profitable food fisheries in the world. Commercial fisheries are the largest private-sector employer in Alaska. The extent, duration, and timing of ...