cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A design-plan-oriented methodology for applying case-based adaptation to engineering design

Adaptation of design cases is usually the most challenging part in building any case-based reasoning design system. The success of the adaptation process in finding a solution for a new design problem determines the success of the entire case-based reasoning (CBR) system. The techniques used for generating design solutions have many common aspects among the various engineering design classes that make them amenable to be captured in a generic framework for an acceptable level of abstraction. This paper proposes a design-plan-oriented methodology for adapting design cases to produce a solution to a new design problem in the domain of engineering design. The proposed methodology uses multicase adaptation and case built-in adaptation knowledge to produce a design plan for a new design problem. We first define the model of case representation to work with the proposed methodology. We then define the overall structure of the procedural framework of this methodology and its subprocesses. The system is then demonstrated through an application from the structural engineering domain.
Strategic planning for data warehousing in the public sector

The City of St. Louis, Missouri, is a large municipality with an extremely fragmented organizational structure. The City recently undertook a major strategic planning study for development of its municipal information systems. In the course of the study, data warehousing emerged as a strategy for consolidating and sharing information among many City departments with different informational needs and a variety of computing platforms. We describe processes and analytical methods that proved useful for shaping a data warehousing strategy and for determining the contents of the data warehouse. We also present some cautionary conclusions about the development of monolithic data warehouses for decision support.
Umbrella-star block copolymers

Abstract The large scale architecture of polymers is recognized to create special properties in functional polymers. One of the more striking examples is the ability of certain diblock copolymers to associate into micelles in a selective solvent for one of the blocks.(1) The insoluble block forms a dense core that is kept in solution by a soluble corona. The diblock micelle has the overall conformation of a star polymer.(2,3) However, the self-association of block copolymers into micelles depends strongly on the chemical nature of the two blocks, on the respective sizes of the blocks and on the selective solvent. In general, it is observed that the molecular weight of the insoluble block must be kept low in order to form micelles. This is especially true when water or a polar solvent is used as the selective good solvent.(1,4) Otherwise, a cloudy unstable two phase system is produced. The association number of diblocks in micelles varies considerably and makes their systematic study difficult. The associa...
The U.S. transition from muscle extension to brain expansion

To develop perspective for the discussion of root-force influences shaping our culture today, a short oversimplified time-structuring review of important science and engineering developments is related to the 75-year life-spans of three individuals standing lifetime to lifetime. During the past 75 years the rising complexity and the profligate use of materials and fossil fuels have brought us to the end of our exponential growth journey. Rising chaos will characterize our socioeconomic systems until we evolve the essential brain-extension modeling means for developing adequate system understanding. We can expect to intervene intelligently only after we succeed in identifying leverage points in the system, and improve the quality of decision-making to guide the intervention and control processes. Free enterprise must be modified to permit the selection of priorities and goals. We have a choice ... either we make me of extended-brain-power and modeling techniques or we descend into a perpetual state of chaos.
The physical properties of coronal holes

Coronal hole data obtained by Skylab during the period May 1973 to February 1974 are reviewed for the region from the photosphere out through the low corona. Coronal holes have a significantly lower density and temperature than the typical background corona, possess an open divergent magnetic field structure, and are the source of the high-speed solar wind stream which give rise to recurrent geomagnetic storms. The photospheric, chromospheric, and coronal signatures of coronal holes are described, and the evolution of coronal holes is examined, with attention to the lifetimes, the differential rotation, and the areas covered by the holes. The association of coronal holes to large-scale magnetic fields and to disk activity is considered.
Can Vitamin D Supplementation Improve Physical Function and Quality of Life in Older Patients With Heart Failure

Although early research on vitamin D focused on the effects of vitamin D deficiency on bone metabolism, more recent work has found a vast variety of roles for vitamin D throughout the body.1 Studies suggest that too little vitamin D might increase the risk for conditions as diverse as cardiovascular disease, cancer, autoimmune disease, and depression.1 The optimal level of vitamin D is not known, but there is general agreement that serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D 80 nmol/L may be required for optimal health.2 Article see p 195 Vitamin D deficiency is common in patients with heart failure,3 and adequate vitamin D may reduce disease progression and symptom severity through suppression of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system,3 suppression of parathyroid hormone,3 reduction of cardiac remodeling,4 and improvement in muscle strength.1 As an adjunct to pharmacological treatment of heart failure, vitamin D supplementation is appealing. Vitamin D can be obtained from sun exposure, over-the-counter dietary supplements, and prescription formulations. It has several potential additional benefits, including reducing the risk for falls, and few known adverse effects until high serum concentrations are reached (25-hydroxyvitamin D ≥374 nmol/L).1 In this issue of Circulation: Heart Failure , Witham et al5 present the results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial testing the hypothesis that intermittent vitamin D supplementation improves physical function, …
Effect of sample size on the solidification temperature and microstructure of SnAgCu near eutectic alloys

The degree of undercooling of Sn in near eutectic, SnAgCu solder balls upon cooling at a rate of 1 °C/s from the melt was examined and found to increase linearly with inverse nominal sample diameter (for balls of radius between 100 and 1000 μm). The mean undercooling for SnAgCu solder balls in a flip chip assembly was 62 °C. The microstructures of these different samples were examined by means of scanning electron microscopy. The Sn dendrite arm width was observed to monotonically increase with ball diameter, indicating a possible dependence of the mechanical response of such solder balls upon size.
Tuning leakage for robust adaptive control

Designer-selected leakage constants must be well chosen in relation to the "unknown" plant and environment to avoid bursting by the adaptive controller in the absence of persistent excitation.
Impact of chronic nicotine on the development and maintenance of neuropathic hypersensitivity in the rat.

Rationale Clinical data support a correlation between smoking and the incidence and severity of some chronic pain conditions. However, the impact of nicotine on neuropathic pain has been largely ignored in the laboratory setting.
Dynamic Inputs and Resource (Mis)Allocation

We investigate the role of dynamic production inputs and their associated adjustment costs in shaping the dispersion of static measures of capital misallocation within industries (and countries). Across nine data sets spanning 40 countries, we find that industries exhibiting greater time-series volatility of productivity have greater cross-sectional dispersion of the marginal revenue product of capital. We use a standard investment model with adjustment costs to show that variation in the volatility of productivity across these industries and economies can explain a large share (80–90 percent) of the cross-industry (and cross-country) variation in the dispersion of the marginal revenue product of capital.
Porous polyethylene implant reconstruction of the orbit after resection of spheno-orbital meningiomas: a novel technique.

Abstract Background Spheno-orbital meningiomas (SOM) are complex tumors involving the middle cranial fossa and orbit. Following resection of these tumors, reconstruction of the orbit can be challenging. Inadequate reconstruction may lead to cosmetic deformities and functional complications. Objective The development of a technique for orbital reconstruction which is technically straightforward, cost-effective, with an excellent functional and cosmetic outcome. Technique Twelve patients with SOM each underwent a modified orbital-zygomatic craniotomy with osteotomies based on individual tumor location. After tumor resection, the lateral orbit and orbital roof, where necessary, were reconstructed using a 1 mm porous polyethylene sheet, customized to reconstruct the bony anatomy of the lateral and superior orbit and secured with 1.5 × 4 mm titanium screws into the orbital roof and rim. Results All patients demonstrated stabilization or improvement of vision and satisfactory cosmetic outcomes. One complication (surgical site infection) was noted. Follow-up imaging was obtained at regular intervals. The resection cavity was easily visualized without interference from the implant in each case. One patient developed tumor recurrence requiring re-operation 20 months after the initial procedure. Conclusions Use of a 1 mm porous polyethylene sheet for reconstruction of the lateral orbit offers an excellent functional and cosmetic outcome, does not interfere with postoperative imaging, is technically straightforward, and is cost-effective.
A MILLENNIUM OF GEOMAGNETISM

[1] The history of geomagnetism began around the year 1000 with the discovery in China of the magnetic compass. Methodical studies of the Earth's field started in 1600 with William Gilbert's De Magnete [Gilbert, 1600] and continued with the work of (among others) Edmond Halley, Charles Augustin de Coulomb, Carl Friedrich Gauss, and Edward Sabine. The discovery of electromagnetism by Hans Christian Oersted and Andre-Marie Ampere led Michael Faraday to the notion of fluid dynamos, and the observation of sunspot magnetism by George Ellery Hale led Sir Joseph Larmor in 1919 to the idea that such dynamos could sustain themselves naturally in convecting conducting fluids. From that came modern dynamo theory, of both the solar and terrestrial magnetic fields. Paleomagnetic studies revealed that the Earth's dipole had undergone reversals in the distant past, and these became the critical evidence in establishing plate tectonics. Finally, the recent availability of scientific spacecraft has demonstrated the intricacy of the Earth's distant magnetic field, as well as the existence of magnetic fields associated with other planets and with satellites in our solar system.
Terahertz-Emitting Silicon-Germanium Devices

In this paper we report on far-infrared emission in the 1–12 THz frequency range from strained SiGe structures. Pseudomorphic superlattices were grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) at the relatively low substrate temperature of 400°C to prevent germanium segregation. Layer thicknesses, composition, and crystallinity were confirmed by high-resolution X-ray diffraction. Devices were designed to produce confined hole states with various energy separations. Mesa devices were etched in a reactive-ion etching system and tested for edge emission over a wide range of drive currents using an FTIR spectrometer in step-scan mode. THz emission was observed in pulsed mode at current densities as low as 50 A/cm2 and at temperatures as high as 50 K, using a liquid-helium-cooled silicon bolometer detector with a lock-in amplifier. Emission spectral peaks occurred at 7.9 and 9.36 THz for two different samples, in good agreement with k·p calculations.
Anycast as a load balancing feature

Our IT organization is made up of many sub-teams, each providing a service such as DNS, LDAP, HTTP proxy, and so on. Each one is deployed globally, using their own replication mechanisms. Our team provides Load Balancing and failover services in a way that other teams can use without having to manage the underlying technology. We recently added Anycast as a service we offer to other teams that need to be able to failover between Load Balancers. While Anycast is complex and mysterious to many systems administrators, our architecture provides the service in a way that the other teams do not need to worry about the details. They simply provide the service behind Load Balancers they currently use, with an additional virtual IP address. This paper describes how Anycast works, it's benefits, and the architecture we used to provide Anycast failover as a service.
IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A WHITE-FLOWERED WILD SOYBEAN PLANT

No white-flowered accession exists among the more than 1100 Glycine soja (Sieb. and Zucc.) accessions in the USDA Soybean Germplasm Collection, although one-third of the Glycine max (L.) Merr. accessions are white flowered. One white-flowered plant was found in G. soja accession PI 424008A growing in Stoneville, MS, in 1998. The objective of this research is to clarify the origin of this white-flowered plant. Phenotypic traits and DNA markers were used to compare the white-flowered line with the putative parental line, PI 424008A. The results from all of the data show that the white-flowered plant is very similar to PI 424008A, indicating that the white-flowered plant was produced by a mutation in PI 424008A. The white-flowered line has been added to the USDA Soybean Germplasm Collection and is designated as PI 424008C.
Role of enzymatic adaptation in production of experimental alkaptonuria.

SummaryExperimental alkaptonuria of rats maintained on a high tyrosine diet is associated with an increased ratio of activity of the tyrosine transaminase to activity of the homogentisate oxidase in the liver. This type of alkaptonuria is therefore the result of an adaptive increase in relative rate of homogentisate formation, in contrast to the relative decrease in rate of homogentisate degradation believed to be responsible for hereditary alkaptonuria in man.
Demographic and intrapartum characteristics of term pregnancies with early-onset neonatal seizures.

OBJECTIVE To compare the demographic and intrapartum factors of term pregnancies in which early-onset neonatal seizures developed with the characteristics of a large, unselected control population. STUDY DESIGN Pregnancies delivered at term (gestational age > or = 37 weeks) in one birthing unit between 1984 and 1995 with a discharge diagnosis of neonatal seizures were identified. Maternal and neonatal charts of these patients were reviewed to confirm the diagnosis of early-onset seizure (EOS) which was defined as a clinical or EEG-diagnosed seizure within 72 hours of life. Demographic and intrapartum factors were compared between these EOS cases and all singleton term pregnancies delivered over the same time period in which there was no EOS. A regression model was then developed to determine factors predictive of EOS. RESULTS Of 80,561 total deliveries during the 11-year study period, there were 64,340 control and 62 EOS (0.1%) deliveries. Regression modeling identified NICU admission, depressed 1- and 5-minute Apgar scores, and neonatal intubation as predictors of EOS, but not operative vaginal, vaginal breech, or cesarean delivery. CONCLUSION Depressed condition at birth and/or the requirement for NICU care was the most important risk associated with early seizures in term infants.
In Vitro Synthesis of Cholesterol and Testosterone from Acetate by Rat Epididymis and Vas Deferens

SummaryThe epididymis and vas deferens from the rat are capable of synthesizing cholesterol and testosterone from acetate. The significance of androgen synthesis by the epididymis is discussed.
Establishment and characterization of a pseudotyped HIV assay system carrying luciferase gene

Objective To construct and characterize a pseudotyped HIV assay system containing transient HIV infectious clone and luciferase(Luc+) gene.Methods The two overlapping subgenomic fragments of 5′ and 3′ ends were generated by the Expand Long Template PCR System.We constructed the HIV-1 full-length infectious clone of pLWJ with pCR-XL-TOPO vector.The reporter gene vector of pLWJ-SV40-Luc+ was reconstructed by inserting Luc+ gene into env open reading frame of the plasmid pLWJ.Pseudoviruses were generated by co-transfection of 293T cells with the plasmid pLWJ-SV40-Luc+ and the HIV envelope expressing plasmid of VSV-G.The supernatant of co-transfected 293T cell cultures was collected and used to infect new 293T cells.The expression of the reporter gene Luc+ was determined by Luciferase Assay System in the infected cells.Results The pseudovirus assay system of Luc+ reporter VSV-G/HIV was successfully established with the infectious clone of pLWJ.The generated pseudovirus had a single-round,recombinant-based viral infectivity.The expression of Luc+ reporter gene was linearly correlated with inoculated pseudoviral dosage in 293T cells.Conclusions The new established system of pseudotyped HIV assay with a single-round,recombinant-based viral infectivity can facilitate further basic studies on HIV.
Fluctuations in microvascular blood flow parameters caused by hemodynamic mechanisms.

We have developed a mathematical model of microvascular network blood flow in which the nonlinear flow properties of blood and the nonuniform axial distribution of red blood cells in each vessel, as well as disproportionate cell partitioning at bifurcations, are all accounted for. The movements of red blood cells in the network are tracked; hence, the model is able to simulate temporal variations in local flow parameters in the network due to hemodynamic mechanisms. The model was applied to four rat mesenteric networks for which the topology, boundary conditions, blood velocity, and discharge hematocrit (Hctd) had been measured for each branch. Temporal variations in Hctd and blood velocity after simulation convergence were predicted. In some cases of the three vessels connected to a node, Hctd of one vessel fluctuates in a simple periodic form, Hctd of the second one oscillates in a more complex periodic form, whereas the Hctd of the third one does not oscillate at all. These variations were obtained with constant flow boundary conditions and, therefore, are due to hemodynamic factors alone. The temporal variations in flow parameters predicted by the model simulations are caused by hemorheological mechanisms and would be superimposed on variations caused by other mechanisms (e.g., vasomotion). The frequencies of the predicted fluctuations in blood velocity are in qualitative agreement with observed in vivo variations in dual-slit velocity in the arterioles of the cremaster muscle of anesthetized Golden hamster.
Improving penetrating capacity of spermatozoa with poor motility by addition of caffeine at coincubation with zona-free hamster ova.

La cafeine est a une concentration finale de 1mn au moment du melange avec l'ovule de hamster
Growth hormone-enhanced acid production and glutamate and glutamine utilization in LLC-PK-F+ cells

Growth hormone (GH), recombinant human (rh) GH, effects on transepithelial proton gradient, acid production, and glutamine (Gln) and glutamate (Glu-) utilization were studied in LLC-PK-F+ cells. Monolayers were incubated in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's media containing either 2 mM Gln or Glu- and 5 mM glucose plus 10% fetal bovine serum for 4 h, after which samples were taken for metabolite and acid-base parameter measurements. Monolayers grown on porous supports in Glu- media responded to 32 nM rhGH by decreasing Glu- net uptake 29% (470 +/- 135 to 336 +/- 98 nmol/4 h, P < 0.05), reflecting elimination of basolateral uptake (189 +/- 80 to 2 +/- 35 nmol/4 h, P < 0.05) as ammonium production decreased. In 2 mM Gln, rhGH decreased Gln net uptake 84% (1,096 +/- 215 to 155 +/- 150 nmol/4 h, P < 0.05), with basolateral uptake reversing to release; Glu- formation increased as ammonium production decreased. Monolayers grown on porous supports required rhGH to generate a transepithelial proton gradient within 4 h (0.01 +/- 0.05 control vs. 0.27 +/- 0.11 U for rhGH, P < 0.05); in addition, rhGH increased acid production (16.7 +/- 2.0 to 21.5 +/- 0.6 mumol x 4 h-1 x mg protein-1, P < 0.05). Adding insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) to the basolateral media decreased pH and enhanced Glu- and Gln uptake from that compartment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Plant responses to high temperatures.

Research has shown that there are wide diversities in heat tolerance among crops, and that differences occur not only between crop species, but also among genotypes within the species. Sufficient variability occurs to select for genotypes with high heat tolerance. Under field conditions, drought stress often accompanies heat stress, and there are usually interactions of plant response to these two stresses. Consequently, heat and drought resistance are usually considered together in field response, but each mechanism must be considered separately in order fully to understand the response. An example is given in which sorghum is regarded as having greater stress resistance than corn from field performance. However, results showed that cellular tolerance to high temperatures was higher in corn than in sorghum and higher in pearl millet than in corn. This was true not only of cellular membrane stability, but also of isolated chloroplast activity and photosynthesis of intact leaves under controlled conditions. Results also showed that the drought-avoidance mechanisms were inadequate in corn as compared to sorghum; therefore, corn-leaf tissue may be more frequently exposed to high temperatures owing to decreased evaporative cooling, and the critical limits of high temperature and desiccation tolerance exceeded, resulting in leaf “firing,” even though cellular tolerance is greater than that of sorghum. In pearl millet, both heat tolerance and drought-avoidance mechanisms appear well developed. Tests have shown that heat tolerance frequently correlates positively with desiccation tolerance, but because they do not always correlate, different mechanisms must be involved in each kind of tolerance. Heat hardening occurs under natural conditions and may contribute significantly to total plant performance. Once plants are heat hardened there may be long-lasting effects. The age or stage of development of the plants at which high-temperature exposure occurs may also have a marked influence on the response. The relative resistance to high-temperature injury may change among genotypes as they age. Leaf temperatures in the range of 43°–45°C may have marked effects on photosynthesis of sorghum, with distinct differences shown in genotype response. The response of hybrids to high temperatures may be determined by one or both parents. Photosynthesis by plants selected for high heat tolerance by a leaf-disc technique was shown to be more stable at high temperatures than that of plants with low heat tolerance. The leaf-disc technique may be used for rapid field screening.
Report of Four Children with Gaucher Disease and Review of Literature

Gaucher Disease (GD) is the most common type of Lysosomal Storage Disorder and it is divided into three distinct subtypes. The authors here report four different cases of Gaucher Disease, with varying clinical manifestations, and the diagnosis of each established by the low level of Beta-Glucosidase enzyme as well as genetic DNA testing. The study also highlights the importance of early diagnosis of the disease in order to initiate the appropriate therapeutic management to help prevent further progression of the disease.
Drift diffusion unipolar conduction

Closed form steady state solutions are developed for one dimensional unipolar drift-diffusion conduction between parallel plate electrodes. Under time varying conditions, a mathematical transformation converts the governing non-linear partial differential equation to a linear but non-homogeneous diffusion equation. Typical steady state and transient electric field and charge density distributions are plotted for various boundary conditions.
274. Expansion and Conversion of Patient-Derived Human Gallbladder Cells Into Insulin-Producing Pancreatic Endocrine-Like Type Cells

Islet transplantation is an efficacious therapeutic option for T1D, but, supply of donor pancreata does not meet the demand. Variable successes in generating glucose-responsive insulin-producing beta-like cells from pluripotent and differentiated cells have been reported. We report on genetic reprogramming of highly expandable patient-derived human gallbladder cells (GBCs) to produce insulin for autologous transplant. Using feeder-free and feeder-type culture methods, we expanded GBCs in vitro in the order of 10^8 total cells after 4 passages starting from 10^4 GBCs. Cultures can be maintained for at least 15 passages, albeit with slowdown in growth. Transcriptome profiling revealed GBCs to be deficient in factors important for beta-cell development, specification, and maintenance such as NEUROG3, MAFA, NKX6-1, NKX2-2, PAX4, PAX6, NEUROD1, INSM1, RFX6, GCK, and INS. MNX1 and PDX1 are moderately expressed in cultures but at significantly lower levels found in beta-cells. Viral transduction of PDX1, MAFA, and NEUROG3 (PNM) induced expression of INS at 1/10,000th compared to that of human islet cells. Transduced GBCs began to show morphological changes from a monolayer into 3D clusters as early as 2 days after transduction. Retinoic acid, GLP-1, FGF10, DAPT, T3, Alk5 inhibitor, and B27 in the reprogramming medium and the addition of PAX6 to PNM transduction highly improved both INS and NKX6-1 induction reaching 10% of islet cells. These reprogrammed GBCs also express high levels of NEUROD1, NKX2-2, RFX6, PAX4, MAFB, HOPX, SST, GHRL, CHGA, TMEM27, SYP, KCNJ11, and ABCC8 comparable to islet cells. Average transduction efficiency was 50% yielding 9% C-peptide+ cells by immunostaining. Cellular C-peptide content was equivalent to 0.3% of that of purified beta-cells. At best, we observed 5-fold increase in C-peptide concentration in response to high glucose. We further enriched for INS+ reprogrammed GBCs using a cell surface mAb (HPi1) shown to isolate human pancreatic islet cells. Immunolabeling showed that reprogramming significantly increased the percentage of Hpi1+ GBCs. RT-qPCR of Hpi1+ GBCs showed greater than 1000-fold enrichment in gene expression of INS, NKX6-1, and PCSK1 compared to Hpi1- cells. Likewise, we observed greater than 100-fold enrichment for NEUROD1, SST, GHRL, and RFX6. In addition, we saw significant increase in reprogramming efficiency by adding an isoxazole to the reprogramming medium resulting to 10-fold higher INS expression, 2.5-fold increase in the frequency of C-peptide+ cells, and significant drop in SST and GHRL expression. Reprogrammed GBCs can engraft, survive, and produce C-peptide for at least 2 weeks in under the kidney capsule, mammary fat pad, and dorsal subcutaneous fat in NSG mice. Transplant experiments in diabetic mice are ongoing. In summary, we have transdifferentiated patient-derived adult GBCs into beta-like cells ex vivo, thus showing that GBCs are potential replacement sources of autologous insulin-producing cells.
Abstract 271: Scavenger Receptor Bi is a Key Determinant and HDL is a Critical Modulator of Thymocyte Apoptosis in Sepsis

Background- Thymocyte apoptosis is a major event in sepsis; however, how this process is regulated remains poorly understood. Methods and Results- We induced sepsis in scavenger receptor BI (SR-BI) null and wild type littermates with cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). CLP induced profound thymocyte apoptosis in SR-BI +/+ mice, but no thymocyte apoptosis in SR-BI -/- mice, indicating that SR-BI is a key determinant of thymocyte apoptosis in sepsis. SR-BI controlled inducible glucocorticoid (GC) generation during sepsis, which is required for triggering thymocyte apoptosis. Unexpectedly, supplementation with GC only partly restored thymocyte apoptosis in SR-BI -/- mice. We demonstrated that HDL is a critical modulator for thymocyte apoptosis. SR-BI +/+ HDL significantly enhanced GC-induced thymocyte apoptosis but SR-BI -/- HDL had no such activity. Further study revealed that SR-BI +/+ HDL modulates GC-induced thymocyte apoptosis via promoting glucocorticoid receptor translocation, but SR-BI -/- HDL loses such regulatory activity. To understand why SR-BI -/- HDL loses its regulatory activity, we analyzed HDL cholesterol contents and found that there was 3-fold enrichment of unesterified cholesterol in SR-BI -/- HDL compared with SR-BI +/+ HDL. Importantly, normalization of unesterified cholesterol in SR-BI -/- HDL by probucol administration restored GC-induced thymocyte apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo , and incorporating unesterified cholesterol into SR-BI +/+ HDL rendered SR-BI +/+ HDL dysfunctional. Conclusions- The findings in this study reveal a previously unrecognized regulatory mechanism of thymocyte apoptosis in sepsis, involving SR-BI as a key determinant and HDL as a critical modulator.
Implementing a pharmacist-led, individualized medication assessment and planning (iMAP) intervention to reduce medication related problems among older adults with cancer

Abstract Objectives Medication-related problems (MRP) affecting older adults are a significant healthcare concern and account for billions in medication-related morbidity. Cancer therapies can increase the prevalence of MRP. The objective of this study was to test the feasibility and effectiveness of implementing a pharmacist-led individualized medication assessment and planning (iMAP) intervention on the number and prevalence of MRP. Materials and Methods This prospective pilot study enrolled oncology outpatients aged ≥ 65 years. Intervention feasibility encompassed recommendation acceptance rate and intervention delivery time. The intervention was facilitated by pharmacists where patients received comprehensive medication management at baseline and at the 30- and 60-day follow-up. Results Forty-eight eligible patients enrolled and 41 patients (85.4%) were included in the analysis. Mean age was 79.1 years [range 65–101]; 66% women, 83% Caucasian, mean comorbidity count was 7.76. Forty-six percent of the pharmacist recommendations were accepted and the prevalence of MRP at baseline versus 60-day follow-up decreased by 20.5%. The average time to conduct the initial session was 22 min versus 15 min for the follow-up sessions. Resources needed included a tracking system for scheduling follow-up calls and a database for tracking acceptance of recommendations. A total of 123 MRP were identified in 95% of patients (N = 39) with a mean of 3 MRP per patient. The mean reduction in number of MRP (3 at baseline versus 1.6 at 60-day follow-up) was 45.5%. Conclusions The pharmacist-led iMAP intervention was feasible and effective at reducing MRP. Additional inter-professional medication safety based interventions measuring patient-reported outcomes are still needed.
Knee Frontal-Plane Biomechanics in Adults With or Without Bone Marrow Edema-Like Lesions After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury.

Context: Lateral subchondral bone bruises (BBs) occur frequently with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. These BBs are associated with pain during weight bearing, leading individuals to in...
Two are better than one: Cortisol as a contingency in the association between epinephrine and self-employment

Abstract In the context of self-employment, which is characterized by risk and uncertainty, epinephrine could elicit a “fight or flight” response. However, little attention has been given to what factors could differentiate those who ‘fight’ (i.e. pursue self-employment) versus those who ‘fly’ (i.e. forgo pursuing self-employment). Moving from individual and social explanations on drivers of self-employment as an occupational choice, we propose that the association between epinephrine and self-employment could be conditional on levels of a second hormone, namely cortisol. Based on a sample of 273 individuals from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS 2) study, 2004–2006, and controlling for a wide variety of factors, epinephrine is not associated with self-employment on its own, however, it is associated with self-employment at low levels of cortisol. We are among the first to demonstrate a link between the dual influence of epinephrine and cortisol and self-employment.
A Preparation of Dogs for Self-Stimulation of the Brain

Investigations of intracranial stimulation in the dog in our laboratory have encountered two major problems in the surgical preparation: a) electrodes placed in areas which when stimulated support operant behavior in other species would not produce bar pressing for self-stimulation in the dog. Also, b) the electrode pedestal cemented to the skull would loosen during the animal’s general activity in the home cage. This paper describes the techniques developed to overcome these difficulties.
Trans Male Voice in the First Year of Testosterone Therapy: Make No Assumptions.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to prospectively examine changes in gender-related voice domain of pitch measured by fundamental frequency, function-related domains of vocal quality, range, a...
Using Bacteroidales genetic markers to assess fecal pollution sources in coastal waters

Fecal pollution is the leading cause of beach closures in coastal regions of the United States. Identification of fecal pollution sources is necessary to implement effective pollution control strategies. This study sought to determine whether humans and cattle contributed to the fecal contamination at a public beach in Alabama, USA. High levels of enterococci were observed after significant rainfall events, of which 36 samples (35.6%) exceeded USEPA's statistical threshold value of 130 CFU/100 mL. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays were used to determine general (AllBac), human- (HF183), and cattle-associated (CowM3) Bacteroidales. There was a positive correlation between the levels of enterococci and AllBac markers. Our results suggest that fecal contamination from cattle was minimal and contamination from humans appeared to originate from diffuse sources. Stormwater runoff has the potential to supply considerable loads of fecal bacteria to coastal waters. Further research is needed to determine the contribution of other animals to fecal contamination in the region.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Investigation of the Effect of pH on Micelle Formation by the Amino Acid-Based Surfactant Undecyl l-Phenylalaninate.

Micelle formation by the anionic amino acid-based surfactant undecyl l-phenylalaninate (und-Phe) was investigated as a function of pH in solutions containing either Na+, l-arginine, l-lysine, or l-ornithine counterions. In each mixture, the surfactant's critical micelle concentration (CMC) was the lowest at low pH and increased as solutions became more basic. Below pH 9, surfactant solutions containing l-arginine and l-lysine had lower CMC than the corresponding solutions with Na+ counterions. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) diffusometry and dynamic light scattering studies revealed that und-Phe micelles with Na+ counterions had hydrodynamic radii of approximately 15 A throughout the investigated pH range. Furthermore, l-arginine, l-lysine, and l-ornithine were found to bind most strongly to the micelles below pH 9 when the counterions were cationic. Above pH 9, the counterions became zwitterionic and dissociated from the micelle surface. In und-Phe/l-arginine solution, counterion dissociation was accompanied by a decrease in the hydrodynamic radius of the micelle. However, in experiments with l-lysine and l-ornithine, micelle radii remained the same at low pH when counterions were bound and at high pH when they were not. This result suggested that l-arginine is attached perpendicular to the micelle surface through its guanidinium functional group with the remainder of the molecule extending into solution. Contrastingly, l-lysine and l-ornithine likely bind parallel to the micelle surface with their two amine functional groups interacting with different surfactant monomers. This model was consistent with the results from two-dimensional ROESY (rotating frame Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy) NMR experiments. Two-dimensional NMR also showed that in und-Phe micelles, the aromatic rings on the phenylalanine headgroups were rotated toward the hydrocarbon core of micelle.
The Spatial Spectrum of Tangential Skin Displacement

The tactual scanning of five naturalistic textures was recorded with an apparatus capable of measuring the tangential interaction force with a high degree of temporal and spatial resolution. The resulting signal showed that the transformation from the geometry of a surface to the force of traction, and hence to the skin deformation experienced by a finger is a highly nonlinear process. Participants were asked to identify simulated textures reproduced by stimulating their fingers with rapid, imposed lateral skin displacements as a function of net position. They performed the identification task with a high degree of success, yet not perfectly. The fact that the experimental conditions eliminated many aspects of the interaction, including low-frequency finger deformation, distributed information, as well as normal skin movements, shows that the nervous system is able to rely on only two cues: amplitude and spectral information. The examination of the “spatial spectrograms” of the imposed lateral skin displacement revealed that texture could be represented spatially despite being sensed through time and that these spectrograms were distinctively organized into what could be called “spatial formants”. This finding led us to speculate that the mechanical properties of the finger enables spatial information to be used for perceptual purposes in humans without any distributed sensing, a principle that could be applied to robots.
Graded Signal Functions for ARTMAP Neural Networks

This study presents an analysis of a modified ARTMAP neural network in which a graded signal function replaces the standard choice-by-difference function. The modifications are introduced mathematically and the performance of the system is studied on two benchmark examples. It is shown that the modified ARTMAP system achieves classification accuracy superior to that of standard ARTMAP, while retaining comparable complexity of the internal code.
Preparing Students for the Onslaught of Technology

wrich@Wellesley.edu This paper will examine the various predictions about how technology will transform society. We live in an era of rapid technological development and deployment. Teachers are expected to prepare student for this onslaught on biomedical breakthroughs automation and communication/computer tools. In light of these advances, students need to be anticipatory and congruent with rapidly changing technologies. What should they know about technological uncertainty and security? Technological dependency? Information overload? Technology/human relations? How can we, as teachers, stimulate a discourse about technology and changes in the workplace? What should we know about futurists’ predictions for the next decade? What should be the pedagogical strategy as the 21 century becomes more technologically sophisticated? The paper will raise these questions as a stimulus for further discussion.
Glaucoma and Medical Insurance: Billing and Coding Issues

Accurate billing and coding allows you to practice medicine by providing you with the optimal and appropriate financial reimbursement for your work. Forgive the comparison, but even the most skillful car mechanic would quickly fail in business if he routinely neglected to charge for replacement parts or continually underestimated his labor time. Accurate billing ensures that you, your patient, and most likely the third-party payer are all receiving the ethically and legally appropriate charges and payments for services rendered.
Teaching Intergovernmental Relations and Management

ABSTRACTCourses on intergovernmental relations are included in many graduate programs in public administration, but little has been done to assess the content of intergovernmental education. This a...
Reduced muscle fatigue using kilohertz-frequency subthreshold stimulation of the proximal nerve.

Objective: Conventional electrical stimulation techniques targeting the motor points often induce early muscle fatigue onset that can limit clinical applications. In our current study, we evaluated the muscle activation and force generation during fatigue using a novel stimulation technique.&#13; Approach: Clustered subthreshold 80-µs current pulses at 10 kHz (high-frequency mode, HF) were delivered transcutaneously to activate the median and ulnar nerve bundles and induce dispersed activations of motor units. Conventional stimulation technique with 800-µs pulses at 30 Hz (low-frequency mode, LF) served as a control condition. Fatigue was evoked by delivering the stimuli continuously for 5 minutes, with matched initial contraction force (approximately 30% of maximal voluntary contraction) between the HF and LF modes. The elicited finger flexion forces and the muscle activation patterns quantified by high-density electromyogram (EMG) from the finger flexor muscles were compared. &#13; Main results: Our results revealed that the elicited force was prolonged under the HF stimulation mode, manifested as a slower decay of the force, a smaller absolute force decline, a higher force plateau, and a larger force-time integral, in comparison with the LF mode. The force-to-EMG ratio under the HF stimulation was also consistently higher than that under the LF mode. In addition, the EMG spatial distribution showed that the muscle activation tended to be more spread-out under the HF mode compared with the LF mode. These results indicated that the HF stimulation induced a higher efficiency of muscle activation, which can potentially reduce muscle fatigue. &#13; Significance: Our findings revealed that the subthreshold kilohertz nerve stimulation can induce temporally and spatially dispersed activation of different motor units with more efficient activation patterns. The reduced muscle fatigue can have a prominent advantage in neural rehabilitation involving transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulations.&#13;
The Romance of Heroism and Heroic Leadership

Heroes permeate our culture. But what makes a hero? And what makes heroes 'heroic'? This exciting and innovative study explores how charisma and human needs create images of individuals as heroes and villains.
Opportunities and challenges to advance the use of electronic patient-reported outcomes in clinical care: a report from AMIA workshop proceedings.

Despite the demonstrated value of patient-centered care, health systems have been slow to integrate the patient’s voice into care delivery through patient-reported outcomes (PROs) with electronic tools. This is due in part to the complex interplay of technology, workflow, and human factors that shape the success of electronic PROs (ePROs) use. The 2018 American Medical Informatics Association Annual Symposium served as the setting for a half-day interactive workshop with diverse stakeholders to discuss proposed best practices for the planning, design, deployment, and evaluation of ePROs. We provide this collective commentary that synthesizes participant feedback regarding critical challenges that prohibit the scale and spread of ePROs across healthcare delivery systems, including governance and leadership, workflow and human factors, informatics, and data science. In order to realize the promise of ePROs at scale, adaptable approaches are critical to balance the needs of individual users with health systems at large.
A Bootstrap Method for the Analysis of Physiological Data in Uncontrolled Settings

There are difficulties associated with analyzing physiological data sets, especially those that are collected at high frequency and those obtained from uncontrolled, non-laboratory task settings. D...
When Media Fuel the Crisis: Fighting Hate Speech and Communal Violence in Myanmar

In 2012 and 2017, global media images brought to the world’s attention the plight of Rohingya Muslim refugees fleeing from attacks in Myanmar and struggling to survive in overcrowded camps in neighboring Bangladesh. Facebook was widely recognized as exacerbating the violence, leveraged as part of a systematic campaign to create instability in the country. This is especially dangerous in Myanmar, a country in the process of transition from dictatorship. Drawing on an analysis of the public communications between Facebook and Myanmar civil society organizations (CSOs) and in-depth interviews with key local stakeholders, this chapter evaluates the role played by local CSOs in counteracting the immediate dangers and holding Facebook accountable for addressing these problems. This case study can help us begin to identify Facebook’s impact on communities in different contexts, in particular from outside the United States and Europe, which demand the bulk of both academic and popular media attention.
Open-source institutional guideline recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose The global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the search for ways in which to provide the best available care have created unprecedented times in terms of rapidly evolving reports of available treatment options. The primary objective of our analysis was to categorize online, open-source guidance to determine how US institutions approached their recommendations for management of patients with COVID-19 in the early weeks of the pandemic. Methods A search for open-source, online institutional guidelines for the treatment of COVID-19 was conducted using predefined criteria. The search was limited to the United States and conducted from April 12 through 14, 2020, and again on April 22, 2020. Searches were conducted at 2 points in time in order to identify changes in treatment recommendations due to evolving literature or institutional experience. Treatment recommendations, including guidance on antiviral therapy, corticosteroid and interleukin-6 inhibitor use, and nutritional supplementation were compared. Results Of the 105 institutions that met initial screening criteria, 14 institutions (13.3%) had online COVID-19 guidance available. Supportive care and clinical trial enrollment were the primary recommendations in all evaluated guidance. Recommendations to consider antimicrobial and adjunctive therapy varied. Eighty-six percent of guidelines contained recommendations for use, or consideration of use, of hydroxychloroquine. Guidance from 2 institutions mentioned use of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin in combination. Of the 13 institutions listing hydroxychloroquine dosing recommendations, 62% recommended maintenance dosing of 200 mg twice daily. Infectious diseases or other specialty consultation was required by 89% of institutions using interleukin-6 inhibitors for COVID-19 management. Conclusion Overall, the analysis revealed variability in treatment or supplemental pharmacologic therapy for the management of COVID-19.