cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Association of comorbidity burden with abnormal cardiac mechanics: Findings from the HyperGEN study

Background Comorbidities are common in heart failure (HF), and the number of comorbidities has been associated with poor outcomes in HF patients. However, little is known about the effect of multiple comorbidities on cardiac mechanics, which could impact the pathogenesis of HF. We sought to determine the relationship between comorbidity burden and adverse cardiac mechanics. Methods and Results We performed speckle-tracking analysis on echocardiograms from the HyperGEN study (n=2150). Global longitudinal, circumferential, and radial strain, and early diastolic (e') tissue velocities were measured. We evaluated the association between comorbidity number and cardiac mechanics using linear mixed effects models to account for relatedness among subjects. The mean age was 51±14 years, 58% were female, and 47% were African American. Dyslipidemia and hypertension were the most common comorbidities (61% and 58%, respectively). After adjusting for left ventricular (LV) mass index, ejection fraction, and several potential confounders, the number of comorbidities remained associated with all indices of cardiac mechanics except global circumferential strain (eg, β=−0.32 [95% CI −0.44, −0.20] per 1-unit increase in number of comorbidities for global longitudinal strain; β=−0.16 [95% CI −0.20, −0.11] for e' velocity; P ≤0.0001 for both comparisons). Results were similar after excluding participants with abnormal LV geometry ( P <0.05 for all comparisons). Conclusions Higher comorbidity burden is associated with worse cardiac mechanics, even in the presence of normal LV geometry. The deleterious effect of multiple comorbidities on cardiac mechanics may explain both the high comorbidity burden and adverse outcomes in patients who ultimately develop HF.
"It was never that bad": Biased recall of grief and long-term adjustment to the death of a spouse

At 6 months following the death of their spouse, 37 participants reported their grief-related symptoms and thoughts, and then, approximately 4.5 years later, they attempted to recall how they felt at the time of the 6-month report. Although participants were far less distressed at recall than initially, they recalled their 6-month grief rather accurately. Participants did however overestimate prior grief-related intrusive ideation. Participant's current level of grief predicted what they recalled slightly better than the actual initial grief. Conversely, what they recalled predicted current levels of grief across various measures. Participants whose grief diminished relatively little over time tended to overestimate prior grief more. The retrospective reappraisal that one's past grief was not severe may indicate effective coping.
High-Performance Control of Two Three-Phase Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Machines in an Integrated Drive for Automotive Applications

The closed-loop control of an integrated dual AC drive system is presented to control two three-phase permanent-magnet motors. A five-leg inverter is employed in the drive system; three of the inverter legs are for a main traction motor, but only two are needed for a three-phase auxiliary motor by utilizing the neutral point of the traction motor. An integrated drive with reduced component count is therefore achieved by eliminating one inverter leg and its gate drivers. A modified current control scheme based on the rotor flux orientation principle is presented. Simulation and experimental results are included to verify the independent control capability of the integrated drive.
Exercise training – A beneficial intervention in the treatment of alcohol use disorders?

Abstract Background A growing body of evidence suggests that exercise training may have multiple beneficial effects in individuals with mental health or substance use disorders. Yet, relatively little knowledge exists regarding the benefits of exercise training to augment treatment for alcohol use disorders (AUDs). Purpose The purpose of this narrative review is to present a summary of the growing body of published literature supporting exercise training as a treatment strategy for individuals with AUDs. We will provide evidence on the myriad of ways in which exercise may exert a positive effect on AUD outcomes including stress, anxiety, impulsivity, and depression. Further, we will explore how these mechanisms share common neurobiological pathways. The role of exercise in enhancing the social environment and increasing individual self-efficacy to reduce excess and/or inappropriate alcohol consumption will also be discussed. Discussion We will conclude with a description of completed investigations involving exercise training and provide suggestions for next steps in this innovative field of study.
α-adrenergic receptor regulation of Ca2+/Mg2+-ATPase in brain synaptic membranes

The effects of α1 and α2 receptor ligands on Ca2+/Mg2+-ATPase have been studied using synaptosomal plasma membranes isolated from rat brain cortex. Both phenylephrine and clonidine inhibited Ca2+/Mg2+-ATPase, in a concentration-dependent fashion. IC50 values for half-maximal inhibition for phenylephrine and clonidine were 29 μM and 18 μM, respectively. The inhibitory effect of phenylephrine was reversed by the alpha antagonist prazosin while yohimbine and rauwolscine reversed the inhibition of enzyme activity by clonidine. The two antagonist subtypes were effective only against the respective agonist subtypes, demonstrating distinct subtype preferences. Analysis of the kinetics of enzyme inhibition indicate both agonists to be noncompetitive. Some evidence suggests that yohimbine may exhibit mixed agonist/antagonist properties which depend on [Ca2+]. The present study provides biochemical evidence to support auto receptor α adrenergic receptor regulation of neurotransmitter release.
African American communities and family systems: Relevance and challenges.

This article explores the uniqueness of African American couples and families both from a historic and contemporary systems perspective. We consider historical and present day ecological systems such as structural racism that impact African Americans, and African Americans’ strengths in addressing them. We discuss the relevance of a principle-based integrated behavioral and family systems model of treatment and how it can be tailored to diverse groups using core diversity principles. Presentation of an African American couple/family case highlights how the treatment was tailored through the therapist’s use of the cultural competencies of relevant knowledge, dynamic sizing, diversity skills, and awareness to tailor treatment to address four key systems-related diversity principles that address differences that often arise when treating diverse cases. These are (1) differences in worldview and values between the therapist and the members of the family, (2) differences in their experiences and contexts, (3) differences in the power that they wield in and out of the therapy session, and/or (4) the felt distance experienced by the therapist and/or the couple or family owing to one or more of the foregoing differences. Moreover, this work uses a comprehensive perspective that takes systemic, developmental, and other common factors into account for the case and every couple and family. We believe that our perspective helps to bridge cultural and other silos, such that improved services may be provided to all types of new family forms across fields of study, and across the silos of theory, research, and practice.
Changes Induced by Colonic Stents Mimic Crohn Disease

Malignancies involving the colorectum can obstruct the lumen. A self-expanding stent placed under endoscopic guidance in the obstructed area alleviates obstruction and postpones or avoids emergency surgery. If clinically indicated, the affected, stented segment is resected. The stent (Wallflex, Boston Scientific, Boston, MA) consists of wires arranged in …
Numerical Recipes in C: The Art of Scientific Computing

From the Publisher: This is the revised and greatly expanded Second Edition of the hugely popular Numerical Recipes: The Art of Scientific Computing. The product of a unique collaboration among four leading scientists in academic research and industry, Numerical Recipes is a complete text and reference book on scientific computing. In a self-contained manner it proceeds from mathematical and theoretical considerations to actual practical computer routines. With over 100 new routines (now well over 300 in all), plus upgraded versions of many of the original routines, this book is more than ever the most practical, comprehensive handbook of scientific computing available today. The book retains the informal, easy-to-read style that made the first edition so popular, with many new topics presented at the same accessible level. In addition, some sections of more advanced material have been introduced, set off in small type from the main body of the text. Numerical Recipes is an ideal textbook for scientists and engineers and an indispensable reference for anyone who works in scientific computing. Highlights of the new material include a new chapter on integral equations and inverse methods; multigrid methods for solving partial differential equations; improved random number routines; wavelet transforms; the statistical bootstrap method; a new chapter on "less-numerical" algorithms including compression coding and arbitrary precision arithmetic; band diagonal linear systems; linear algebra on sparse matrices; Cholesky and QR decomposition; calculation of numerical derivatives; Pade approximants, and rational Chebyshev approximation; new special functions; Monte Carlo integration in high-dimensional spaces; globally convergent methods for sets of nonlinear equations; an expanded chapter on fast Fourier methods; spectral analysis on unevenly sampled data; Savitzky-Golay smoothing filters; and two-dimensional Kolmogorov-Smirnoff tests. All this is in addition to material on such basic top
Implicit Mapping Dynamics

This chapter presents a Yin–Yang theory for implicit, nonlinear, discrete dynamical systems with consideration of positive and negative iterations of discrete iterative maps. In existing analysis, the solutions relative to “Yang” in nonlinear dynamical systems are extensively investigated. However, the solutions pertaining to “Yin” in nonlinear dynamical systems are not investigated yet. A set of concepts on “Yin” and “Yang” in implicit, nonlinear, discrete dynamical systems are introduced. Based on the Yin–Yang theory, the complete dynamics of implicit discrete dynamical systems can be discussed. A discrete dynamical system with the Henon map is investigated as an example. Period-m solutions, stability, and bifurcations for multi-step, implicit discrete systems will be discussed.
GEOMETRICAL ASPECTS OF STANDARD SPACES

The standard vector spaces have many important extra features that we have largely ignored up to this point. These extra features made it possible to do sophisticated calculations in the spaces and enhance our insight into vector spaces by appealing to geometry. For example, in the geometrical spaces \(\mathbb {R}^{2}\) and \(\mathbb {R}^{3}\) that were studied in algebra and calculus, it was possible to compute the length of a vector and angles between vectors. These are visual concepts that feel very comfortable to us. In this chapter we generalize these ideas to standard vector spaces and their subspaces. We will abstract these ideas to general vector spaces in Chapter 6.
Fluidization of Nano-size Particles

Fluidization and collapsing bed experiments were performed with 'Tullanox', 10 nm diameter fumed silica. The minimum fluidization velocity was determined to be 0.0115 m/s at the unusually low volume fraction of solids of 0.0077. The solids volume fraction was measured using a γ-ray densitometer. Fluidization was without large bubbles, with a high bed expansion ratio. The highest granular temperature was of the order of that of Geldart B particles, as measured by Cody et al. (1996). The sedimentation process was simulated using a two-fluid hydrodynamic model. The input into the model was a measured solids stress modulus and an agglomerate size determined from the settling curves. With these two rheological parameters, there was good agreement between the sedimentation theory and the experiment. This study shows that the standard collapse bed experiment used in industry is a good test of rheological properties of particles.
Optic Pathway Tumors and NF-1

The natural history of 33 optic pathway tumors (OPT) diagnosed in 227 children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) seen in a specialty clinic was evaluated in a prospective, longitudinal study at Children’s Memorial Hospital and Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago.
International Differences in the Marginal Product of Capital

Conventional wisdom has it that the return to capital equals the marginal product of capital. Consequently, an equal return to capital across countries is interpreted as evidence that the marginal product of capital is the same across countries. This paper shows that if a firm’s elasticity of labor supply is finite, the return to capital overestimates capital’s marginal product. A less developed country’s marginal product of capital may far exceed a developed country’s; a result that is consistent with the law of diminishing marginal returns to capital.
Activity recognition in patients with lower limb impairments: Do we need training data from each patient?

Machine learning allows detecting specific physical activities using data from wearable sensors. Such a quantification of patient mobility over time promises to accurately inform clinical decisions for physical rehabilitation. There are two strategies of setting up the machine learning problem: detect one patient's activities using data from the same patient (personal model) or detect their activities using data from other patients (global model), and we currently do not know if personal models are necessary. Here we consider the problem of detecting physical activities from a waist-worn accelerometer in patients who use a knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO) to walk. We show that while a model based on healthy subjects has low accuracy, the global model performs as well as the personal model. This is encouraging because it suggests that condition-specific activity recognition algorithms are sufficient and that no data from individual patients is necessary.
Metabolic positron emission tomography imaging of cancer: Pairing lipid metabolism with glycolysis.

Metabolic positron emission tomography imaging of cancer: Pairing lipid metabolism with glycolysis
A flow injection method for analysis of residual chlorine by the DPD procedure

A flow injection method for automating the DPD reaction with free Cl in water samples has been described. The carrier stream consists of a 1∶1 (v/v) mixture of N,N-diethyl-p-phenylene diamine (DPD) indicator and phosphate buffer. A sampling rate of 252 per hour has been obtained and the detection limit is 0.3 ppm. Substitution of DPD with N,N-p-dimethylaniline sulphate also appears to be satisfactory for Cl analysis. The effects of reagent concentrations, flow parameters and additions of anions, cations and organic haloamines on the peak height have been investigated. The ammonium-Cl reaction has been studied and potentialities of the flow technique for the analyses of chloramines have been explored.
Abstract 5585: Analysis of saliva samples from healthy adults in north central Florida for human papillomavirus infection

Background: Prevalence rates of healthy adults shedding HPV in their saliva have varied depending on the socio-economical status of the subjects. We hypothesize that samples collected from high-poverty and low-education areas of North Central Florida will have a high prevalence of HPV positive subjects. From published studies, we would expect an infection rate of 2-10% with male and female rates being similar. Methods: Through health fairs in North Central Florida, we consented and collected saliva from 148 healthy adults. Of the 148 study samples, 64% were between age 18-60 and 22% were above age 60. 32% of the saliva samples were from males and 68% were from females. Dividing the saliva samples by race, we had 41% white, 51% African American. DNA was isolated from the saliva samples and PCR was used to amplify HPV-specific DNA. Degenerate PCR primers were used for the PCR and sequencing the amplicons. All DNA samples were coded so the investigators do not know the identity of the samples until completion of all experiments. Results: We optimized the degenerate primer sets, MY09/MY11 and GP5+/GP6+, for magnesium concentration and annealing temperature. In addition we optimized a nested PCR using the degenerate primers to increase the sensitivity of HPV detection. From our direct DNA sequence analysis, we identified 10/148 (7%) HPV-positive samples. HPV-types found include: 16, 12, 32, 38, 61, 83, 72, 90, and 110. The inclusion of the primer set GP5+/GP6+ with MY09/11 resulted in an increase of total HPV-positivity from 5% to 7% and the detection of high-risk HPV types 32 and 90. Of the HPV-positive saliva samples, 9% were from 18-60 year old healthy adults and 3% were from over 60-year old adults. Adult females had a similar infection rate as adult males, 7% vs. 6%. Upon comparing race, African Americans were slightly more likely to be infected than whites, 7% vs. 5%. Of the 10 adults with detectable virus in their saliva, 70% were of the high risk HPV type. Conclusion: Our sample size was small but showed an overall infection rate of healthy adults to be similar to rates found in other studies. In our study, male and females had similar infection rates. The age 60 and younger group were found to be three times more likely to be infected than the older than age 60 group. We found no significant difference between race in our study. Citation Format: Michelle M. Hwang, Hyun-Ji Choi, Taimour Y. Langaee, Henrietta L. Logan, Kevin P. Raisch. Analysis of saliva samples from healthy adults in north central Florida for human papillomavirus infection. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 5585. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-5585
Magnetic resonance imaging of intra-pancreatic ductal nanoparticle delivery to islet cells.

Background The absence of reliable drug delivery systems to pancreatic islet cells hampers efficient treatment of type 1 diabetes. Nanoparticle delivery systems equipped with imaging capabilities could enable selective delivery to pancreatic islet cells. Biodistribution of nanoparticles is defined by several factors including the mode of administration, which determines accumulation in various organs. Methods In this study, we tested whether intrapancreatic ductal injection of magnetic nanoparticles would result in efficient cellular uptake by pancreatic islet cells. Dextran-coated iron oxide nanoparticles labeled with the near infrared fluorescent dye Cy5.5 were injected into the intrapancreatic ducts of streptozotocin-induced diabetic and healthy mice. To monitor the distribution of the nanoparticles, we performed in vivo magnetic resonance imaging followed by optical imaging and histology. Results Both imaging modalities demonstrated accumulation of the nanoparticles in the pancreas. However, histology revealed a high accumulation of nanoparticles in the insulin-producing cells in the pancreata of diabetic animals. By contrast, in nondiabetic controls, nanoparticles were mainly restricted to nonendocrine tissues. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that pancreatic ductal injection accompanied by image guidance could serve as an alternative pathway for nanoparticle delivery. We expect to utilize this intraductal delivery method for theranostic applications in type 1 diabetes.
Coastal wetlands, sea level, and the dimensions of geomorphic resilience

Abstract Geomorphic system resilience is often perceived as an intrinsic property of system structure and interactions but is also related to idiosyncratic place and history factors. The importance of geographical and historical circumstances makes it difficult to generate categorical statements about geomorphic resilience. However, network-based analyses of system structure can be used to determine the dynamical stability (= resilience) based on generally applicable relationships and to determine scenarios of stability or instability. These provide guidelines for assessing place and history factors to assess resilience. A model of coastal wetlands is analyzed, based on interactions among relative sea level, wetland surface elevation, hydroperiod, vegetation, and sedimentation. The system is generally (but not always) dynamically unstable and non-resilient. Because of gradients of environmental factors and patchy distributions of microtopography and vegetation, a coastal wetland landscape may have extensive local variations in stability/resilience and in the key relationships that trigger instabilities. This is illustrated by a case study where dynamically unstable fragmentation is found in two nearby coastal wetlands in North Carolina's Neuse River estuary—Otter Creek Mouth and Anderson Creek. Neither is keeping pace with relative sea level rise, and both show unstable state transitions within the wetland system; but locally stable relationships exist within the wetland systems.
DNA Sequence Analysis in Clinical Medicine, Proceeding Cautiously

Delineation of underlying genomic and genetic factors in a specific disease may be valuable in establishing a definitive diagnosis and may guide patient management and counseling. In addition, genetic information may be useful in identification of at risk family members. Gene mapping and initial genome sequencing data enabled the development of microarrays to analyze genomic variants. The goal of this review is to consider different generations of sequencing techniques and their application to exome sequencing and whole genome sequencing and their clinical applications. In recent decades, exome sequencing has primarily been used in patient studies. Discussed in some detail, are important measures that have been developed to standardize variant calling and to assess pathogenicity of variants. Examples of cases where exome sequencing has facilitated diagnosis and led to improved medical management are presented. Whole genome sequencing and its clinical relevance are presented particularly in the context of analysis of nucleotide and structural genomic variants in large population studies and in certain patient cohorts. Applications involving analysis of cell free DNA in maternal blood for prenatal diagnosis of specific autosomal trisomies are reviewed. Applications of DNA sequencing to diagnosis and therapeutics of cancer are presented. Also discussed are important recent diagnostic applications of DNA sequencing in cancer, including analysis of tumor derived cell free DNA and exosomes that are present in body fluids. Insights gained into underlying pathogenetic mechanisms of certain complex common diseases, including schizophrenia, macular degeneration, neurodegenerative disease are presented. The relevance of different types of variants, rare, uncommon, and common to disease pathogenesis, and the continuum of causality, are addressed. Pharmogenetic variants detected by DNA sequence analysis are gaining in importance and are particularly relevant to personalized and precision medicine.
Closed Loop Control of Physiological Variables

Abstract The limiting factor in the development of automated closed loop systems to control physiological variables is the lack of suitable sensors. Most progress has been in applications where the controlled variable is directly available (such as the arterial blood pressure) or where it can be inferred from nomnvasive measurements (such as arterial C02 tension). Although simple on-off algorithms and fixed PID controllers have been successfully used clinically, the trend is toward the use of adaptive controllers that can respond to changing patient characteristics. Combining knowledge based rules with analytical design techniques is a promising approach for controlling physiological variables.
When to use stress echocardiography in the evaluation of patients with valvular heart disease

Stress testing and stress echocardiography are firmly established diagnostic tests in the evaluation of patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease, but less established in the evaluation of patients with valvular heart disease. However, there is emerging data supporting the incremental benefit of stress testing and stress echocardiography in patients with known valvular heart disease. Particular applications include hemodynamic assessment of valve function and pulmonary response during exercise induced or chemically-induced stress to correlate with the patient’s exertional symptoms. In addition, stress testing affords the opportunity for functional assessment of ventricular systolic function for prognostication and planning for surgery.
“The land of the sick and the land of the healthy”: Disability, bureaucracy, and stigma among people living with poverty and chronic illness in the United States

Disability benefits have become an increasingly prominent source of cash assistance for impoverished American citizens over the past two decades. This development coincided with cuts and market-oriented reforms to state and federal welfare programs, characteristic of the wider political-economic trends collectively referred to as neoliberalism. Recent research has argued that contemporary discourses on 'disability fraudsters' and 'malingerers' associated with this shift represent the latest manifestation of age-old stigmatization of the 'undeserving poor'. Few studies, however, have investigated how the system of disability benefits, as well as these stigmatizing discourses, shapes the lived experience of disabling physical illness in today's United States. Here we present qualitative data from 64 semi-structured interviews with low-income individuals living with HIV and/or type 2 diabetes mellitus to explore the experience of long-term, work-limiting disability in the San Francisco Bay Area. Interviews were conducted between April and December 2014. Participants explained how they had encountered what they perceived to be excessive, obstructive, and penalizing bureaucracy from social institutions, leading to destitution and poor mental health. They also described being stigmatized as disabled for living with chronic ill health, and simultaneously stigmatized as shirking and malingering for claiming disability benefits as a result. Notably, this latter form of stigma appeared to be exacerbated by the bureaucracy of the administrating institutions. Participants also described intersections of health-related stigma with stigmas of poverty, gender, sexual orientation, and race. The data reveal a complex picture of poverty and intersectional stigma in this population, potentiated by a convoluted and inflexible bureaucracy governing the system of disability benefits. We discuss how these findings reflect the historical context of neoliberal cuts and reforms to social institutions, and add to ongoing debate around the future of public social provision for impoverished and chronically ill citizens under neoliberalism.
Phenotypic relationships among oil, protein, fatty acid composition and seed size traits in Cucurbita pepo

Abstract Pumpkin seed (Cucurbita pepo L.) is high in oil, protein and total unsaturated fatty acids (TUFA), and provides an important source of nutrition and income globally. Use of pumpkin seed in the snacking and vegetable oil industry in the U.S. is expected to rise as the market for healthy foods increases. Currently, most of the pumpkin seed consumed in the U.S. is imported, and there is need to breed high-yielding and nutritious cultivars that are locally adapted to various agro-ecological growing zones in the country. In the current study, phenotypic variation of key seed nutrition traits among 35C. pepo accessions of different seed phenotypes (hulled, semi-hulled, thin layer and ‘naked’) was determined with the primary goal of identifying the best parental material for breeding as well as elucidating phenotypic relationships among the traits. Seed oil percentage ranged from 29.33% to 48.41% and was significantly (P
Health Research Participation, Opportunity, and Willingness Among Minority and Rural Communities of Arkansas

Prior research suggests that rural and minority communities participate in research at lower rates. While rural and minority populations are often cited as being underrepresented in research, population-based studies on health research participation have not been conducted. This study used questions added to the 2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to understand factors associated with i) health research participation, ii) opportunities to participate in health research, and iii) willingness to participate in health research from a representative sample (n = 5,256) of adults in Arkansas. Among all respondents, 45.5% would be willing to participate in health research if provided the opportunity and 22.1% were undecided. Only 32.4% stated that they would not be willing to participate in health research. There was no significant difference in participation rates for rural or racial/ethnic minority communities. Furthermore, racial/ethnic minority respondents (Black or Hispanic) were more likely to express their willingness to participate.
Lethal and Sublethal Effects of Organically-Approved Insecticides against Bagrada hilaris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)1

Abstract Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is a stink bug species that preferentially attacks cruciferous crops. Because organic growers have limited insecticide tools for combating B. hilaris, the lethal and sublethal effects of organically approved insecticide products and their selected combinations against B. hilaris were examined in laboratory and field settings. In a topical spray assay, spinosad, either alone or in combination with pyrethrins, azadirachtin, and potassium salts, resulted in >95% mortality relative to the water-only treatment 48 h postapplication; whereas, stand-alone pyrethrins and azadirachtin failed to cause similar mortality rates. When adults were exposed to treated broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica Blenck) seedlings for 48 h after 0, 1, and 7 d of application, the number of feeding injury sites was significantly lower with the combined treatment of spinosad, pyrethrins, and azadirachtin than those on seedlings treated with water alone at 0 and 1 d p...
Mycoplasma enhydrae sp. nov. isolated from southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis).

Five Mycoplasma strains have been isolated from the oropharynx of southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) from the Central California Coast, USA. These strains were phenotypically and genetically characterized and compared to other established Mycoplasma species. All five strains hydrolysed arginine but not urea, but did not produce acid from glucose, and all were isolated and propagated under anaerobic and aerobic atmospheric conditions at +35–37 ˚C using either SP4 or PPLO medium supplemented with arginine. Colonies on solid medium showed a typical fried-egg appearance and transmission electron microscopy revealed a typical mycoplasma cellular morphology. Molecular characterization included assessment of the following genetic loci: 16S rRNA, 16S–23S rRNA ITS, rpoB, rpoC, polC, topIIA, tufB, arcA and smc. Complete 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that these strains were most closely related to Mycoplasma phocicerebrale , and to Mycoplasma arginini , Mycoplasma gateae and Mycoplasma canadense with nucleotide similarities of 99 and 98 %, respectively. Nucleotide analysis of other genetic loci revealed 73–91 % nucleotide similarity to the corresponding genes of the above closely related species. All five strains clustered into a distinct group on the 16S rRNA and rpoB phylogenetic trees. Serological testing via growth inhibition and metabolic inhibition tests employing antiserum to type strains of M. phocicerebrale , M. arginini , M. gateae and M. canadense failed to recognize these novel strains. Our results suggest that the strains isolated from southern sea otters represent a novel species of the genus Mycoplasma , for which the name Mycoplasma enhydrae sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is 6243-11T (=DSM 106704T=ATCC TSD-140T).
Effects of frame size and time-on-feed on carcass characteristics, sensory attributes, and fatty acid profiles of steers.

Weaned British x continental crossbred steers (n = 108, 7 to 8 mo of age) of medium or large frame were used in a replicated experiment with a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement of treatments over 2 yr. Management regimens consisted of backgrounding for 150 d and finishing for 0, 30, 60, and 90 d. Carcass data were collected, and samples from the longissimus muscle were analyzed for long-chain fatty acids, cholesterol, and the percentage of fat. Duration of finishing was a source of variation for hot carcass weight, marbling, percentage of kidney, pelvic, and heart fat, fat thickness, yield and quality grades, cooking loss, flavor intensity, and stearic, oleic, and linolenic acids (P < .05). Myristic, palmitic, and margaric acids were negatively correlated (P < .05) with juiciness and with "cowy" and "painty" taste characteristics. Frame score did not influence long-chain fatty acids; however, there was a relationship between long-chain fatty acids and management regimen. Results suggest that feeding steers a finishing diet up to 90 d after backgrounding for 150 d has a positive influence on carcass characteristics without affecting cholesterol.
Transformation of Uranyl Peroxide Studtite, [(UO2)(O2)(H2O)2](H2O)2, to Soluble Nanoscale Cage Clusters.

The dissolution behavior of uranyl peroxide studtite, [(UO2)(O2)(H2O)2](H2O)2, was examined under a wide range of alkaline aqueous environments with and without the addition of hydrogen peroxide. In the absence of added H2O2, studtite dissolved in aqueous solutions with a tetraethylammonium hydroxide to uranium molar ratio greater than 0.5, and the resulting species in solution characterized by Raman spectroscopy and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) is the uranyl peroxide nanocluster U24, [(UO2)(O2)(OH)]2424–. This is the first demonstration of the formation of uranyl peroxide nanoclusters from studtite in a solution lacking additional hydrogen peroxide. In similar systems containing added hydrogen peroxide (0.01 M – 1.0 M), studtite dissolved in solutions with a TEAOH to uranium ratio greater than 0.1, and the resulting uranyl peroxide species in solution was U28, [(UO2)(O2)1.5]2828–.
Spiritual Care in Nursing Practice in Veteran Health Care

Spiritual care is important in nursing practice, and spiritual well-being and spiritual care are associated with better health. Military veterans, a unique patient population, want spiritual care to cope with chronic conditions. It is unclear whether spiritual care is provided in veteran health care in the United States. This study used a qualitative descriptive method, guided by the Spiritual Care in Nursing Practice (SCNiP) theory, to describe spiritual care in nursing practice and facilitators/barriers in veteran health care. Individual interviews were conducted with 39 registered nurses (RNs) at a U.S. veteran health system. Findings were consistent with the SCNiP theory but revealed additional categorical attributes and processes as it applied to veteran health care. Facilitators that promoted spiritual care include nurse professionalism, collegial support, and available spiritual resources. Barriers included lack of time, task-oriented culture, unclear knowledge of accessing resources, and unclear organization policy in providing spiritual care. Findings further refined the theory.
"I'm Not like That, So Am I Gay?" The Use of Queer-Spectrum Identity Labels Among Minor-Attracted People.

Largely based on an erroneous belief that individuals who are preferentially attracted to minors are necessarily sex offenders, queer communities have distanced themselves from this population over...
All About the Bite! Increasing Student Engagement Through the Use of Shark Tank

This paper presents an active learning exercise to help introductory accounting students learn financial statement analysis. Utilizing television media, students watch a segment from the hit reality series Shark Tank, during which they are exposed to a start-up business. Students switch between instructor-led class discussion and small-group collaborative work to analyze the business, calculate financial ratios, and compare the business to a fictitious competitor. The results from pre- and post-exercise questionnaires suggest that the activity is a valuable use of class time and increases students’ ratings of the usefulness of financial statements and financial statement analysis.
Programming support for database schema refactoring (keynote)

Database-driven applications typically undergo several schema changes during their life cycle due to performance and maintainability reasons. Such changes to the database schema not only require migrating the underlying the data to a new schema but also necessitate re-implementing large chunks of the application code that query and update the database. In this talk, we describe our recent work on programming languages support for evolving database applications. Specifically, we first describe our work on verifying equivalence between database applications that operate over different schema, such as those that arise before and after schema refactoring. Next, we describe how to use this verification procedure to solve the corresponding synthesis problem: That is, given a database application and a new schema, we present a technique that can automatically synthesize a new, equivalent version of the program that operates over the new target schema.
Molecular discovery by optimal sequential search

In the development of a new compound in chemistry and molecular biology, especially a new medicine in pharmaceutical industry, we often need to find candidate(s), a molecule or molecules, with the best desired property (e.g., binding affinity in medicine) from a large set of molecules with the same scaffold but m distinct functional substitutes at each of its n different sites. The total number $$N_{\mathrm{lib}}$$ of molecules in this library is $$m^n$$ . In some cases, $$N_{\mathrm{lib}}$$ can be a very large number (e.g., millions). This is a challenging task because it is costly and often infeasible to synthesize and test all of these molecules. A new algorithm referred to as optimal sequential search is developed to overcome this difficulty. Especially, this algorithm is chemically intuitive which only uses the information of molecule composition, and accessible to practical chemists. The algorithm can be applied to small, medium and large size molecule libraries. With syntheses and property measurements for a limited number of molecules, the top best candidate molecules can be effectively captured from the whole library. Three examples with library size 64, 160,000 and 1,048,576, respectively, are used for illustration. For the first small library, syntheses and property measurements of 17 molecules are sufficient to capture the top 7 best candidate molecules; for the two medium and large libraries, syntheses and property measurements of about one thousand molecules can capture most or a large part of the top 500, especially the top 100 best candidate molecules. However, the algorithm needs to perform multiple (e.g., hundreds of) iterative syntheses and property measurements. The time cost may not be acceptable if the algorithm is performed manually. To make the algorithm practical, automation of the sequential searching process is the following task.
Low back pain and golf: A review of biomechanical risk factors

Abstract Golf is an international sport played by a variety of age groups and fitness levels, and although golf has a low to moderate aerobic intensity level, injuries are common among professional and amateur golfers. High amounts of force experienced during the golf swing can lead to injury when golfers lack appropriate strength or technique with the lower back most commonly injured. Research has indicated that trunk muscle activation, hip strength and mobility, and pelvis and trunk rotation are associated with low back pain (LBP). Based on anecdotal evidence, golf practitioners specifically address issues in weight shift, lumbar positioning, and pelvis sequencing for golfers with LBP. This review aims to elucidate the effects of proper and improper golf swing technique on LBP and to help golf practitioners understand how to approach the alleviation of LBP in their clientele.
Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy In the Modern Era: Is Regional Anesthesia Still the Answer?

ABSTRACT Ivor Lewis described his approach to resection of carcinoma of the esophagus in 1946, and his operative technique remains a mainstay of surgical treatment nearly three quarters of a century later. The integration of regional anesthesia into the perioperative management of patients undergoing open esophagectomy has been recommended based on salutary effects on outcomes, most notably postoperative pulmonary complications. With the advent of newer minimally invasive approaches, the benefits of regional blockade have been ill-defined, leading us to question the value of our long held standard.
Benign hepatocellular lesions and neoplasms: a comprehensive review

Abstract The prevalence of benign mass-forming liver lesions has significantly increased in recent years due to advances in diagnostic imaging. In general, these lesions can be either neoplastic or nonneoplastic and carry a different prognosis and management. Among benign mass-forming lesions of the liver, hemangiomas are the most common, followed by focal nodular hyperplasia, which is encountered ten times more frequently than adenomas. Hepatocellular adenomas are the third most common benign tumor of the liver. Their classification was revised in 2016 based on histomorphology and molecular signatures and includes hepatocyte nuclear factor-1 alpha (HNF1A)-mutated hepatocellular adenomas, beta-catenin 1 (CTNNB1) gene–mutated hepatocellular adenomas, interleukin-6 signal transducer gene–mutated or inflammatory/telangiectatic hepatocellular adenomas, and unclassified hepatocellular adenomas. Since then, a new subtype has been discovered, decreasing the proportion of unclassified cases. Hepatocellular adenomas have different molecular characteristics, behavior, and management, depending on the subtype. The telangiectatic subtype tends to bleed and may cause hemoperitoneum whereas the beta-catenin mutated subtype can progress to malignancy and is surgically resected independent of the size or symptoms. Other hepatic lesions include nodular regenerative hyperplasia, which occurs in the setting of blood flow alterations; and focal fatty change or benign steatotic nodules. Lastly, epithelioid angiomyolipomas are very uncommon benign mesenchymal liver tumors that belong to a family of tumor arising from perivascular epithelioid cells (PEComas) either sporadically or in the setting of tuberous sclerosis. Herein, we review these benign hepatic lesions and neoplasms and discuss the histomorphology and immunohistochemistry that allow us to render a specific diagnosis.
Reduction formulas for higher order derivations and a hypergeometric identity

A derivation (of order 1) satisfies the reduction formula $$f(x^k) = kx^{k-1}f(x)$$ for any integer k. In this article we find corresponding reduction formulas for derivations of higher order on commutative rings. More precisely, for every derivation f of order n and every positive integer k we find an explicit formula for $$f(x^k)$$ as a linear combination of $$x^{k-1}f(x),x^{k-2}f(x^2), \ldots , x^{k-n}f(x^n)$$ . The proof hinges on the hypergeometric identity $$\begin{aligned} \sum _{k \ge 0} (-1)^k \left( {\begin{array}{c}n\\ k\end{array}}\right) \left( {\begin{array}{c}n+d+1-k\\ n-j\end{array}}\right) \left( {\begin{array}{c}d+j-k\\ j\end{array}}\right) = \left( {\begin{array}{c}n\\ j\end{array}}\right) \end{aligned}$$ for any positive integer n, nonnegative integer d, and integer j satisfying $$0 \le j \le n$$ . We prove this identity via the WZ-method.
Medical-legal work

This chapter discusses the problems faced while evaluating, and sometimes testifying, as a medical expert in a legal matter. The author believes that if a significant portion of one's salary depends on courtroom testimony, then one may, over time, find it difficult to be open-minded and objective. The chapter discusses how legal work is risky on several levels. It may damage one's reputation. It may make them cynical about the judicial process. However, the most dangerous probability for the scientist-practitioner is that legal work as an expert witness can begin to limit their ability to form objective opinions. In a medical-legal testimony, one may need to be careful to not resort to the kind of advocacy that sometimes masquerades as professionally appropriate testimony. Although one hopes that the judge will be fair, he/she should keep in mind that the attorneys involved are not expected to be neutral or fair. Their job is not to seek justice; they represent the interests of their clients. They have been hired as advocates for their clients, and not as advocates of what one may consider as an objectively reasonable neuropsychological truth. The chapter discusses the inadvertent promotion of a litigious zeitgeist that the author has observed in the recent past. The chapter also explains, in detail, the benefits of forensic work. It concludes with a set of tips to prepare oneself before a testimony in order to maintain professional conduct throughout the court proceeding.
The Role of Constraints in Creative Sentence Production

Two experiments explored how people create novel sentences referring to given entities presented either in line drawings or in nouns. The line drawings yielded more creative sentences than the words, both as rated by judges and objectively by a measure of the amount of information that the sentences conveyed. A hypothesis about the cognitive processes of creation predicted this result: Creativity depends on constraints. Line drawings of entities present more information about them than nouns denoting the same entities, and so the pictures provide more constraints than the nouns. Hence, line drawings yield more creative sentences than words.
Realistic fireteam movement in urban environments

Realistic simulations of the movement of infantry in urban environments with 3D models and at interactive rates is of wide and enduring interest. Many video games have attempted it, and military simulations are increasingly doing the same. Previous attempts have fallen short in two areas: properly coordinating movement, and adequate modeling of the detection of hostile targets. Novel algorithms to simulate fireteam movement and visual scanning appropriate to urban environments are described. Measurements of the computational performance of the most expensive components of the approach are provided.
A Job Satisfaction Approach to Internal Marketing: The Case of the Financial Planning Industry

Abstract In this study, core job theory is used as a method to aid in the design of job-products and to match them with appropriate service personnel. This is the main purpose of internal marketing. We examine these issues in the context of the growing financial planning industry which faces the important issue of how to create meaningful and satisfying jobs for planners and quality service for their customers. The results of the core job theory analysis of practicing financial planners is used to explain the implications for (1) developing job-products and (2) motivating, retaining and developing employees.