cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Medical Management of Intracranial Atheroclerotic Stenosis

Intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) is a risk factor for ischemic stroke, and the primary aim of management is stroke prevention. The natural history of ICAS is influenced by symptomatic versus asymptomatic status, with symptomatic ICAS having a high recurrent stroke risk. The risk of stroke in symptomatic ICAS is dependent on many factors which will be reviewed in this chapter, including timing after symptoms, degree of stenosis, gender, and possibly other radiographic features (location of stenosis, radiographic progression). Medical management of symptomatic ICAS should include secondary prevention strategies. Based upon the WASID study, aspirin is preferred over Warfarin. Vascular risk factor modification should be promoted in all patients with ICAS to reduce recurrent stroke and vascular events. Despite medical therapy, symptomatic ICAS is associated with a significant recurrent stroke risk.
A simple protein extraction method for proteomic studies on olive leaves

Researchers have encountered difficulties in extracting proteins from olive leaves because of the high content of interfering compounds in this tissue. Recently, after testing several methods, a phenol-SDS method was devised to extract proteins from olive leaves for proteomic studies. This method is tricky and the use of phenol, a very corrosive agent, requires careful handling. We therefore tested the phenol-SDS method along with a slightly modified standard method that gave equal, or better, results on two dimensional electrophoresis gels. This simpler and more convenient method of protein extraction from olive leaves is described here.
The Physiologic Role of Glucagon

Several very interesting papers dealing with the physiology of glucagon have been presented at this meeting and they bear witness to the revival of interest in glucagon which has taken place in the last few years. In order to summarize this work I recently found it necessary to read and, hopefully, digest more than 750 papers published since 1963 alone (Foa, 1967)*. Allow me then to follow the advice given by Professor Trabucchi in his opening address and attempt to give you a broad line summary of the problem, propose a few working hypotheses and suggest a possible physiologic role for glucagon, limiting to a minimum the presentation of new experimental data and the citation of old, although perhaps, in Dr. Guillemin’s words, “prophetic literature”. We have heard a great deal this morning about gastrointestinal glucagon.
Reduced cellular immune response in social insect lineages

Social living poses challenges for individual fitness because of the increased risk of disease transmission among conspecifics. Despite this challenge, sociality is an evolutionarily successful lifestyle, occurring in the most abundant and diverse group of organisms on earth--the social insects. Two contrasting hypotheses predict the evolutionary consequences of sociality on immune systems. The social group hypothesis posits that sociality leads to stronger individual immune systems because of the higher risk of disease transmission in social species. By contrast, the relaxed selection hypothesis proposes that social species have evolved behavioural immune defences that lower disease risk within the group, resulting in lower immunity at the individual level. We tested these hypotheses by measuring the encapsulation response in 11 eusocial and non-eusocial insect lineages. We built phylogenetic mixed linear models to investigate the effect of behaviour, colony size and body size on cellular immune response. We found a significantly negative effect of colony size on encapsulation response (Markov chain Monte Carlo generalized linear mixed model (mcmcGLMM) p < 0.05; phylogenetic generalized least squares (PGLS) p < 0.05). Our findings suggest that insects living in large societies may rely more on behavioural mechanisms, such as hygienic behaviours, than on immune function to reduce the risk of disease transmission among nest-mates.
Thermoelectric Properties of Er-doped InGaN Alloys for High Temperature Applications

Thermoelectric (TE) properties of erbium-silicon co-doped InxGa1-xN alloys (InxGa1-xN: Er + Si, 0≤x≤0.14), grown by metal organic chemical vapor deposition, have been investigated. It was found that doping of InGaN alloys with Er atoms of concentration, N[Er] larger than 5x1019 cm-3, has substantially reduced the thermal conductivity, κ, in low In content InGaN alloys. It was observed that κ decreases as N[Er] increases in Si co-doped In0.10Ga0.90N alloys. A room temperature ZT value of ~0.05 was obtained in In0.14Ga0.86N: Er + Si, which is much higher than that obtained in un-doped InGaN with similar In content. Since low In content InGaN is stable at high temperatures, these Er+Si co-doped InGaN alloys could be promising TE materials for high temperature applications.
Studies With Corrugated and Wirebound Containers for Packaging Fresh Poultry

Abstract PROCESSORS must make a decision between wirebound wooden containers and waterproof corrugated containers for shipping fresh poultry. Maintenance of product temperature below 5°C. is imperative in order to meet USDA requirements for safe delivery of fresh poultry. Bacterial growth processes accelerate rapidly as temperatures increase. With temperatures in excess of 5°C. some pathogenic types will increase in numbers. Investigators at Package Research Laboratory (1956) compared weight losses of birds packed in corrugated and wirebound containers and found a 2.61 lb. average weight loss of all birds in each corrugated container, and a 2.22 lb. average loss of all birds in each wirebound container after 76 hours. Davis (1964) stated that corrugated containers could contain the same amount of poultry, but required half the amount of ice to maintain temperatures below 5°C. In wirebound containers, surface openings permitted air circulation and rapid ice melt. Concern was expressed that fluid containing bacteria . . .
Nanoparticles as Adhesives for Soft Polymeric Materials

The ability of nanoparticles to remain adsorbed at an interface between two soft materials makes it possible to use them as efficient adhesives. Using a combination of the molecular dynamics simulations and theoretical calculations, we establish conditions for different regimes of interfacial confinement of nanoparticles between two polymeric gels. Depending on the relative strength of the capillary and elastic forces acting on a nanoparticle in contact with substrates, a nanoparticle could be in the bridging, the Pickering, or the submerged state. The work of adhesion for a nanoparticle reinforced interface was derived analytically and obtained in simulations from the potential of mean force for separation of two gels. Simulations show that the work required for separation of two gels with nanoparticles confined at interface could be up to 10 times larger than the work of adhesion between two neat gels without the nanoparticle reinforcement. These results provide a valuable insight in understanding the m...
Design of absolute non-concentrated Instant Communication system model based on JXTA-P2P

This paper presents a sort of absolute non-concentrated instant communication system model based on JXTA-P2P, which aims at getting rid of the limit of traditional communications with center Server, reducing the cost of communications and so on. This model completely abandons the concept of center Server, introduces some concepts such as Node, Group and the like, and implements absolute distributed network communications. The establishment of this model can solve the problem of network communications by virtue of the failure of center Server, reduce the cost of communications in the medium sized and mini-type network. It provides a feasible and valid scheme to achieve high efficiency communications with each node in medium sized and mini-type network.
Glucose metabolism during the menstrual cycle: Assessment with the euglycemic, hyperinsulinemic clamp

To assess tissue sensitivity to insulin during the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle, two-step euglycemic, hyperinsulinemic clamp studies in combination with tritiated glucose infusion and indirect calorimetry were performed in regularly menstruating women in randomized order. There was no difference in the basal follicular and luteal phase levels of glucose, insulin or glucose turnover. A low-dose (0.25 mU/kg/min) insulin infusion suppressed endogenous hepatic glucose production. There was no difference in tissue insulin sensitivity during a high-dose insulin infusion (1.0 mU/kg/min). Nonoxidative glucose disposal also was similar in the basal and insulin infusion periods. Under euglycemic, hyperinsulinemic conditions, there is no difference in tissue sensitivity to insulin, and intracellular pathways of glucose disposal are not altered by the stage of the menstrual cycle.
Potential health risks of nanoparticles in foods, beverages and nutraceuticals

Abstract: Nanotechnology is the twenty-first-century discipline concerned with studying and engineering manufactured materials with one dimension less than 100 nm that possess unique properties because of their size. The purpose of this chapter is to overview the occurrence and safety implications of this diverse group of materials used in foods, food packaging, beverages and nutraceuticals. Topics to be dealt with include formal definitions, aspects of their origin, properties and potential biological effects on human consumption of nanomaterial containing food products as well as strategies for risk assessment. Naturally occurring versus manufactured materials, as well as materials specifically designed to take advantage of unique physical properties inherent to the nanoscale will be presented, as well as how these factors impact the development of risk assessment models to avoid health effects.
A one-dimensional heterodyne lens-free OPA camera

This paper presents a thin silicon-photonics integrated one-dimensional lens-free camera based on an optical phased array receiver on an SOI process. The camera has beam steering range in excess of 60° with no blind spots, a beam width of 0.74°, and is used to form images.
How Providers Can Assess Their Patients’ Adherence in Clinical Settings

While large databases are excellent tools for studying patterns of adherence in large populations, and electronic monitoring gives valuable data in clinical trials, different methods are needed to ascertain patients’ adherence behavior in the clinical setting. Electronic monitors are too expensive (generally US$100–150) for everyday clinical use, and many patients would not consent to be electronically monitored. Therefore, clinicians need to be conscious of how to question patients to get useful data on adherence patterns [1].
Maximalism versus Omnism about Permissibility

Roughly speaking, maximalism is the view that only certain options are to be assessed in terms of whether they have some right-making property (such as that of producing optimal consequences), whereas omnism is the view that all options are to be assessed in terms of whether they have this property. I argue that maximalism is preferable to omnism because it provides a more plausible solution to what's known as the problem of act versions and is not subject to any significant problems of its own. If I'm right, then most moral theories, which are versions of omnism, need revision.
The measure of success: geographic isolation promotes diversification in Pachydactylus geckos

Geckos of the genus Pachydactylus and their close relatives comprise the most species-rich clade of lizards in sub-Saharan Africa. Many explanations have been offered to explain species richness patterns of clades. In the Pachydactylus group, one possible explanation is a history of diversification via geographic isolation. If geographic isolation has played a key role in facilitating diversification, then we expect species in more species-rich subclades to have smaller ranges than species in less diverse subclades. We also expect traits promoting geographic isolation to be correlated with small geographic ranges. In order to test these expectations, we performed phylogenetic analyses and tested for correlations among body size, habitat choice, range sizes, and diversification rates in the Pachydactylus group. Both body size and habitat use are inferred to have shifted multiple times across the phylogeny of the Pachydactylus group, with large size and generalist habitat use being ancestral for the group. Geographic range size is correlated with both of these traits. Small-bodied species have more restricted ranges than large-bodied species, and rock-dwelling species have more restricted ranges than either terrestrial or generalist species. Rock-dwelling and small body size are also associated with higher rates of diversification, and subclades retaining ancestral conditions for these traits are less species rich than subclades in which shifts to small body size and rocky habitat use have occurred. The phylogeny also illustrates inadequacies of the current taxonomy of the group. The results are consistent with a model in which lineages more likely to become geographically isolated diversify to a greater extent, although some patterns also resemble those expected of an adaptive radiation in which ecological divergence acts as a driver of speciation. Therefore, the Pachydactylus group may represent an intermediate between clades in which radiation is adaptive versus those in which it is non-adaptive.
The Biology of Free Guanidine As Revealed by Riboswitches

The experimental validation of three distinct riboswitch classes has revealed that many bacterial cells naturally produce guanidine, and that living systems have evolved a variety of genes involved in the metabolism and transport of this toxic metabolite. There are numerous biochemical curiosities and mysteries that spring from these advances, which will make for interesting research topics in the coming years.
Assessing recent declines in Upper Rio Grande runoff efficiency from a paleoclimate perspective

Recent decades have seen strong trends in hydroclimate over the American Southwest, with major river basins such as the Rio Grande exhibiting intermittent drought and declining runoff efficiencies. The extent to which these observed trends are exceptional has implications for current water management and seasonal streamflow forecasting practices. We present a new reconstruction of runoff ratio for the Upper Rio Grande basin back to 1571 C.E., which provides evidence that the declining trend in runoff ratio from the 1980s to present day is unprecedented in context of the last 445 years. Though runoff ratio is found to vary primarily in proportion to precipitation, the reconstructions suggest a secondary influence of temperature. In years of low precipitation, very low runoff ratios are made 2.5–3 times more likely by high temperatures. This temperature sensitivity appears to have strengthened in recent decades, implying future water management vulnerability should recent warming trends in the region continue.
Palliative treatment of patients with inoperable locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell cancer, using a low-dose and personalized chemotherapeutic regimen

Inoperable or metastatic head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) is known to be associated with a poor patient prognosis. First line therapies include a Taxol, platinum-based antineoplastic and fluorouracil (FU) treatment regimen (TPF) or a platinum-based antineoplastic, FU and EGFR inhibitor treatment regimen (PFE). The toxicity of these regimens is one of the major limiting factors, particularly for palliative treatment. The present study is a retrospective study of 15 patients with HNSCC, where the treatment goal was palliative. Of the 15 patients, 8 received a TPF, while 7 received a PFE. A total of 129 treatment cycles were administered with a median of 9 cycles (range, 3-14). Chemotherapy began with low doses and was subsequently titrated up based on tolerance and response. Positive responses were noted with the lower doses compared with the conventional doses, and maximal doses were not required. The median dose of cisplatin, paclitaxel and 5-FU administered was 40 mg/m2, 80 mg/m2 and 360 mg/m2/day for 5 days, respectively. Cetuximab was used at a standard dose. At the initial follow-up (mean, 64 days; 3 cycles), a 100% disease control rate (DCR) and 80% overall response rate (ORR) was achieved. A positive response, 60% DCR and 60% ORR, was maintained until the late stages of the study (mean, 217 days; 9 cycles). Following termination of chemotherapy after >9 cycles, 4 patients remained disease free for ~1 year. A total of 3 patients exhibited a pathologic complete response despite radiologically exhibiting residual disease. The median progression-free survival time was 10.03 months and the overall survival time was 15.77 months. The only grade 3 hematologic toxicity noted was neutropenia in 3 (20%) patients. Grade 3 vomiting was noted in 1 (6.67%) patient and grade 3 stomatitis was noted in 1 (6.67%) patient. Due to low toxicity patients exhibited improved tolerance to this approach, particularly in terms of palliative care. Furthermore, these results are in contrast to the axiom that increased doses are more effective.
THE NATURE AND FUNCTION OF COST KEEPING IN A LATE NINETEENTH-CENTURY SMALL BUSINESS

J. Henry Rushton was the preeminent American builder of canoes and small pleasure boats in the late nineteenth-century. Beginning in the mid 1890s, Rushton personally maintained books of cost recor...
Chevron's Sliding Scale in Wyeth v. Levine, 129 S. Ct. 1187 (2009)

In Wyeth v. Levine the Supreme Court once again failed to reconcile the interpretive presumption against preemption with the sometimes competing Chevron doctrine of deference to agencies' reasonable statutory interpretations. Rather than resolve the issue of which principle should govern where the two principles point toward opposite results, the Court continued its recent practice of applying both principles halfheartedly, carving exceptions, and giving neither its proper weight. This analysis situates Wyeth within the larger framework of the Court's recent preemption decisions in an effort to explain the Court's hesitancy to resolve the conflict. The analysis concludes that the Court, motivated by its strong respect for congressional intent and concern to protect federalism, applies both the presumption against preemption and the Chevron doctrine on a sliding scale. Where congressional intent to preempt is clear and vague only as to scope, the Court is usually quite deferential to agency determinations, but where congressional preemptive intent is unclear, agency views are accorded less weight.The Court's variable approach to deference is defensible as necessary to prevent unauthorized incursion into areas of traditional state sovereignty, but its inherent unpredictability sows confusion among regulated parties, and the need for flexibility prevents the Court from adopting any of the more predictable across-the-board approaches to deference proposed by the Court's critics. A superior approach would combine the Court's concern for federalism with the certainty of a bright-line rule by granting deference to agency views where Congress has spoken via a preemption clause of ambiguous scope and no deference where Congress has remained silent.
Structure Sensitivity and Supported Platinum Catalysts

The hydrogenolysis of cyclopropane and methylcyclopropane, the hydrogenation of propylene, and the isotopic exchange between deuterium and cyclopentane and 3,3-dimethylbutane have been investigated on sets of Pt/SiO2 and Pt/Al2O3 catalysts of a wide range of percentage exposed. The catalysts have been characterized by hydrogen chemisorption and in the case of Pt/SiO2 by X-ray line profile analysis and transmission electron microscopy. The temperature of pretreatment by hydrogen has a larger effect upon turnover frequencies per surface atom of platinum than does variation in percentage exposed. The reverse tends to be true for selectivities.
Provitamin A Carotenoids and Immune Function

Vitamin A was called the anti-infective vitamin early in the twentieth century when vitamin A deficiency was shown to increase the severity of infections of experimental animals.
Critical Concentrations for the Orientational Ordering of Molecular Hydrogen in 2D

Recent NMR studies of molecular hydrogen physisorbed on hexagonal boron nitride have been used to determine the phase diagram for the different types of orientational ordering in 2D. Long range pinwheel orientational ordering is only observed for ortho concentrations greater than a critical concentration of 69±3% for the commensurate solid $$\sqrt {\text{3}} \times \sqrt {\text{3}}$$ structure. The increase in the critical concentration for long range ordering of quantum quadrupoles from 55% in 3D to 69% in 2D is discussed in terms of theories of the ordering that include treatments of the correlations between the ortho molecules.
New Paradigms for Iron Ore Pelletization

In recent years, there have been several efforts to develop binder mixtures for iron ore pelletization. Some efforts have been fruitful, while others have encountered failure. For example, adding corn starch to bentonite is effective, while adding fly ash to bentonite is not. When binders are made with fly ash, a pozzolanic reaction occurs, but no such reaction occurs when bentonite and corn starch are used together. The authors analyzed which binders can be mixed, and which binders will succeed. The authors confirmed this analysis with several laboratory and plant studies. This paper presents this critical analysis, along with various combinations of binders for making Iron Ore Pellets.
PRESUMED PHOTORECEPTOR DYSPLASIAS IN PEREGRINE FALCONS ( FALCO PEREGRINUS) AND PEREGRINE FALCON HYBRIDS.

ABSTRACT We describe a case series of photoreceptor dysplasia with secondary retinal degeneration in juvenile Peregrine Falcons. Six Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) and three Peregrine Falcon ...
Experimental evaluation of transitional living services for system-involved youth: Implications for policy and practice

Abstract Research conducted over the past two decades has shown that young people transitioning to adulthood from custodial care systems, such as the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, are at particularly high risk of experiencing poor outcomes. Despite considerable government investment in supporting the transition to adulthood for these youth, the evidence base to inform those investments remains limited. The study reported here uses a random-assignment evaluation design to assess the impact of the YVLifeSet program on young adults transitioning to adulthood from the child welfare and juvenile justice systems in the state of Tennessee. The evaluation identified positive impacts of the program on employment and earnings, housing instability, economic hardship, and health and safety. However, the program had no impact on measures of education, social support, criminal behavior and justice system involvement. The study findings provide guidance for future research and program development and raise questions about the appropriateness of traditional models of case management for transition-age youth.
Primary Care Provider Continuity Is Associated With Improved Preventive Service Ordering During Brief Visits for Acute Symptoms.

Background:If a patient presents for an acute care visit and sees their assigned primary care provider (PCP), they may be more likely to receive preventive and other services than a patient not see...
Modeling of multiple planning target volumes for head and neck treatments in knowledge-based treatment planning.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to develop an accurate and reliable dose volume histogram (DVH) prediction method for external beam radiation therapy plans with multiple planning target volumes (PTVs). MATERIALS AND METHODS We present a novel DVH prediction workflow, including new features and a modeling methodology, that makes better use of multiple PTVs: (a) We propose a generalized feature to characterize the geometric relationship of organ-at-risk (OARs) with respect to two or more PTVs with different prescribed dose levels; (b) We incorporate a novel data augmentation method to improve the data distribution in the feature space; (c) A similarity metric that leverages such information is subsequently used to select a subset of similar cases from the training dataset for model building; (d) Finally, a DVH prediction model is trained with these selected cases. To evaluate this new modeling workflow, we used 120 head and neck (HN) cases to tune the model, and used a separate dataset consisting of 148 cases for validation. The proposed model has been compared with the conventional knowledge-based model in terms of model prediction accuracy, which was measured by the root mean squared error (RMSE) between the predicted DVHs and the actual clinical plan DVHs. Furthermore, 25 randomly selected plans were replanned guided by the proposed model and evaluated against clinical plans using clinical evaluation criteria. RESULTS The proposed modeling workflow significantly improved DVH prediction accuracy for brainstem (P < 0.001), cord (P < 0.001), larynx (P = 0.004), mandible (P < 0.001), oral cavity (P = 0.011), parotid (P < 0.001) and pharynx (P = 0.001). Cases replanned with the guidance of the proposed model spared OARs significantly better by clinical evaluation criteria. The replanned cases showed a 15% increase in the number of satisfied criteria, compared with clinical plans. CONCLUSIONS The proposed modeling workflow generates DVH predictions with improved accuracy and robustness when multiple PTVs exist in a plan. It has demonstrated that the improvement in the DVH prediction model translates into better plan quality in knowledge-based planning.
Hospital experience predicts outcomes after high-risk geriatric surgery.

Abstract Background Geriatric patients require specialized perioperative care, yet the impact of geriatric surgery proportion (a measure of experience) and geriatric surgery volume, on clinical outcomes is unknown. This study analyzes the association between proportion and volume and clinical outcomes after high-risk geriatric surgery. Methods Using the 2014 National Inpatient Sample, hospital encounters for older adults (≥65 years) undergoing high-risk geriatric surgery were identified. Geriatric surgery volume was defined as a hospital’s annual volume of geriatric patients undergoing high-risk geriatric surgery. Geriatric surgery proportion was calculated as volume divided by the sum of high-risk surgeries in all ages. Hierarchical multivariable regression models identified predictors of inpatient mortality, postoperative length of stay, and discharge to nursing facility. Results There were an estimated 514,950 hospital encounters for older adults undergoing high-risk geriatric surgery from 3,115 hospitals. Mean proportion was 0.53 ± 0.19; median volume was 60 cases per year, ranging from 5 to 3,235. After adjustment, comparing the 90th to 10th percentiles, higher proportion was associated with decreased mortality (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 0.81 [0.73–0.88]; P Conclusion Treatment of geriatric patients at hospitals with the highest proportion of high-risk geriatric surgery, or the most experience, is associated with improved outcomes. High-proportion hospitals should be examined to understand the mechanisms by which better quality geriatric surgical care is achieved, while lower-proportion hospitals may be targets for quality improvement efforts.
Progression to colectomy in the era of biologics: A single center experience with pediatric ulcerative colitis.

Abstract Background/purpose Clinical outcomes in pediatric ulcerative colitis (UC) in the era of biologic agents are poorly defined. We aimed to describe risk factors for colectomy in pediatric UC in the era of infliximab therapy. Methods We reviewed 217 pediatric patients at Texas Children's Hospital with newly diagnosed UC between 2003 and 2015; 117 had a minimum of 5 years of follow-up. Extent of disease at diagnosis, medication exposure, the presence of extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs), and need for surgery were noted. Results Average length of follow up was 5.02 ± 2.27 years. Forty-two percent presented with pancolitis. Infliximab was used in 39%, immunomodulators in 65%, and steroids in 89% of patients. EIMs occurred in 24.9% of patients. The cumulative rate of colectomy was 12.9% at 5 years. Children presenting as E2 (Paris Classification) and children prescribed oral steroid monotherapy at diagnosis progressed to surgery faster than any other group. Of the children who received infliximab, females and children less than 5 years old were less likely to respond to therapy. Conclusions The natural course of pediatric UC remains aggressive despite the addition of infliximab to the standard of care and suggests a need for early aggressive clinical intervention. Level-of-evidence rating Level IV.
Learning Illumination Patterns for Coded Diffraction Phase Retrieval

Signal recovery from nonlinear measurements involves solving an iterative optimization problem. In this paper, we present a framework to optimize the sensing parameters to improve the quality of the signal recovered by the given iterative method. In particular, we learn illumination patterns to recover signals from coded diffraction patterns using a fixed-cost alternating minimization-based phase retrieval method. Coded diffraction phase retrieval is a physically realistic system in which the signal is first modulated by a sequence of codes before the sensor records its Fourier amplitude. We represent the phase retrieval method as an unrolled network with a fixed number of layers and minimize the recovery error by optimizing over the measurement parameters. Since the number of iterations/layers are fixed, the recovery incurs a fixed cost. We present extensive simulation results on a variety of datasets under different conditions and a comparison with existing methods. Our results demonstrate that the proposed method provides near-perfect reconstruction using patterns learned with a small number of training images. Our proposed method provides significant improvements over existing methods both in terms of accuracy and speed.
Blood-thirsty lamprey transform their gills

![Graphic][1] Sea lampreys are masters of transformation. These ancient fish begin life as tiny worm-like creatures that bury in sandy riverbeds and filter food particles out of the water. However, after years of sedentary existence, lampreys undergo a dramatic metamorphosis; just like
Capitalism and the Environment: A Proposal to Save the Planet

Rising economic inequality has put capitalism on trial globally. At the same time, existential environmental threats worsen while corporations continue to pollute and distort government policy. These twin crises have converged in calls to revamp government and economic systems and to revisit socialism, given up for dead only 30 years ago. In Capitalism and the Environment, Shi-Ling Hsu argues that such an impulse, if enacted, will ultimately harm the environment. Hsu argues that inequality and environmental calamities are political failures – the result of bad decision-making – and not a symptom of capitalism. Like socialism, capitalism is composed of political choices. This book proposes that we make a different set of choices to better harness the transformative power of capitalism, which will allow us to reverse course and save the environment.
Wave Propagation in Vegetation Field Using a Hybrid Method

In this article, we develop a hybrid method for studying wave scatterings and propagation in a vegetation field. The coherent multiple scatterings among the plants and the gaps in the vegetation field are considered through a two-step hybrid method. First, the T-matrix of a single plant is calculated using the Huygens principle and the vector cylindrical wave (VCW) expansion based on the full-wave solutions from the Ansys High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS). Second, the multiple scatterings between different plants are considered through the Foldy–Lax (FL) multiple-scattering equations using the calculated T-matrix and the translational addition theorem. The convergence and the accuracy of the hybrid method are verified with the HFSS by comparing the solutions of scatterings from four wheat plants. The full-wave Monte Carlo simulations of a field with 169 wheat plants at the $L$ -band are subsequently performed using the hybrid method. Numerical results show that the transmission in the gap region is significantly higher than that of the inner region with the difference given quantitatively. The transmissivity of microwave through the wheat field with a large vegetation water content (VWC) can be significantly underestimated by the classical radiative transfer equation (RTE) and distorted Born approximation (DBA) model.
Stem Cell Mobilization in Multiple Myeloma: Comparing Safety and Efficacy of Cyclophosphamide +/- Plerixafor versus Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor +/- Plerixafor in the Lenalidomide Era.

ABSTRACT Growth factor and chemotherapy-based stem cell mobilization strategies are commonly used to treat patients with multiple myeloma. We retrospectively compared 398 patients mobilized between 2017 and 2020 using either cyclophosphamide (4 g/m2) plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) or G-CSF alone, with on demand plerixafor (PXF) in both groups. Although total CD34+ yield was higher after chemomobilization compared with G-CSF +/- PXF (median, 13.6 × 106/kg versus 4.4 × 106/kg; P
Entrainment, Transport, and Fate of Sediments during Storm Events in Urban Canals and Rivers: Case Study on Bubbly Creek, Chicago

AbstractBubbly Creek is the historical name given to the West Fork of the South Branch of the Chicago River (SBCR). Even though its base flow is small, during extreme storm events Bubbly Creek beco...
Against carceral data collection in response to anti-Asian violences

This commentary reflects on recent instances of anti-Asian violence and state responses to redress violence through data-driven strategies. Data collection often presents itself as an appealing str...
Synthesizing Simultaneous Arrival from Single Agent Time Optimal Controllers***This work has been supported in part by AFOSR LRIR No. 21RQCOR084.

In this paper, we introduce a numerical approach to synthesize a controller for the simultaneous arrival problem. We make use of an existing time optimal controller for a vehicle to reach a stationary target and compute the optimal time-to-go (TTG) map. The TTG map is a function of the range and bearing angle to the target and we use standard functional approximation techniques to obtain an analytic TTG expression. By deviating appropriately from the optimal controller, we are able to purposely manipulate the time rate of change of the optimal TTG function along the vehicle's trajectory. Specifically, the control input is designed to maintain a constant TTG, which allows the TTGs of teammates in a multi-agent system to synchronize their TTG. Once the vehicles reach consensus on the TTG, the control input is switched to the readily available optimal control. Discussion on initial conditions and simulation for justification are also provided.
Treatment of Vascular Cognitive Impairment

Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) is an important cause of cognitive dysfunction and dementia. The term vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is used to describe the entire spectrum of cognitive dysfunction—ranging from mild impairment to dementia—attributable to all forms of cerebrovascular disease. Accurate assessment and management of vascular risk factors are a top priority in the treatment of VCI, particularly early in the disease when prevention strategies may prove to be more effective. There are limited treatment options to improve cognition and function in VCI. Several acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and the NMDA receptor antagonist memantine have been studied in large, well-designed trials. These agents are safe and provide modest cognitive benefits in vascular dementia (VaD) but have demonstrated inconsistent efficacy on functional measures. Other therapies, such as aspirin, calcium channel blockers, and vitamin supplementation, have less evidence to support their use in improving cognition in VCI. Although primary prevention trials suggest that treatment of hypertension, adherence to a Mediterranean diet, physical activity, and smoking cessation may reduce the risk of cognitive decline, there is limited evidence regarding these interventions in helping improve cognition in VCI. The pathophysiology and treatment of cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts (CADASIL), cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), and subcortical white matter disease (SWMD) deserves special consideration.
Accurate X-Ray Diffraction and Quantum Chemistry: The Study of Charge Density Distributions

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the theory of X-ray scattering and provides the derivation of electron densities from X-Ray scattering amplitudes. Even though X-ray diffraction is conventionally used for the determination of atomic positions, the X-ray scattering amplitudes depends directly on the electronic wavefunction, from which atomic positions can only be derived under the assumption of coincidence of the nuclear positions and the centroids of electronic charge. The comparison of theoretical and experimental densities is discussed, and the functions based on experimental densities are reviewed. In addition to Fourier methods, least-squares fitting of density functions may be accomplished directly in scattering space analogous to least-squares adjustment of atomic parameters in conventional crystallography. The chapter briefly mentions the valence shell deformation methods. The space-filling properties of formalisms, including atomic dipole, quadrupole, octopole, and hexadecapole terms may be judged from the molecular density maps based on the multipole expansion coefficient.
Treatment of inflammatory nail disorders

This article provides an updated review on diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory nail disorders including psoriasis, lichen planus, trachyonychia, and autoimmune bullous disorders. Despite the significant negative repercussion of the nail psoriasis in the quality of life of patients, treatment is often not sufficiently effective. The efficacy of topical therapies is limited to nail bed psoriasis. Intralesional corticosteroid injections are extensively utilized in nail matrix psoriasis. Systemic immunosuppressant drugs such as methotrexate and cyclosporine have shown efficacy. Biologics, particularly infliximab and etanercept, have also demonstrated high efficacy in the treatment of severe nail disease. Nail matrix lichen planus can cause nail atrophy and irreversible nail scarring and requires prompt treatment with systemic steroids. There is not gold standard therapy for trachyonychia, but in most cases the nail signs improve spontaneously and treatment is not necessary. Nail changes in pemphigus and other autoimmune disorders respond promptly to systemic therapy with steroids and immunosuppressants.
Feeding the Low-Birthweight Infant: Orally or Parenterally?: II. Corrected Bromide Space in Parenterally Supplemented Infants

Previously published data suggested that the faster rate of weight gain observed in parenterally supplemented neonates compared to their orally fed peers might be attributable to water retention rather than to more rapid tissue accretion. The present study was designed to test that hypothesis by observing changes in extracellular water, estimated as corrected bromide space (CBS). Ten neonates with a mean birthweight of 1,250 gm (range, 800 to 1,980 gm) and a mean gestational age of 31 weeks (range, 24 to 38 weeks) were randomly assigned to a 67 cal/dl formula feeding or an oral 100 cal/dl formula feeding supplemented parenterally with dextrose and amino acids. CBS was estimated within 19 hours of birth and between the 7th and 28th postnatal days. Mean total daily water and protein intakes during the intervening period were similar for orally fed and supplemented neonates, but the latter took significantly less orally and received more parenterally. CBS increased in all but one of the supplemented neonates whereas two of four orally fed babies had decreasing values and one had stable values. Shorter times before regaining birthweight, faster rates of weight gain, and lower arterial pH were associated with larger CBS as well as with parenteral supplementation. These data suggest that parenteral supplementation may result in water retention and/or shifts from the intracellular to the extracellular space. Previously reported earlier and greater mean daily weight gains in supplemented babies may be related to water accumulation rather than tissue accretion, but definitive conclusions must await further studies, including concomitant estimates of total and extracellular body water.
THE T CELL ANTIGEN RECEPTOR: BIOCHEMICAL ASPECTS OF SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION

Abstract : As of 1984 there had been many examples of ligand-induced receptor phosphorylation. For example, serine phosphorylation of the beta-adrenergic receptor induced by ligand had been demonstrated and related to receptor desensitization. Tyrosine phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor and insulin receptors had been shown to be correlated with ligand binding and receptor kinase activation. In view of these studies pointing to the central role of protein kinase activation in receptor-induced signal transduction, we asked whether the T cell antigen receptor was phosphorylated upon antireceptor engagement. To summarize several studies we demonstrated that upon the addition of antigen, antireceptor antibody, or stimulatory anti-Thy-l antibody, the antigen receptor is rapidly phosphorylated on two subunits. The CD3 gamma chain is phosphorylated on serine residues. While the T cell receptor zeta chain is phosphorylated on tyrosine residues. The antigen-induced serine phosphorylation can be mimicked by addition of phorbol ester and is dependent on the presence of protein kinase C
Methodology for isolation and phenotypic characterization of feline small intestinal leukocytes

Critical assessment of intestinal immune responses requires the ability to characterize leukocytes from different anatomic locations as leukocytes from inductive sites such as Peyer's patches and lymphoid follicles vary significantly from their effector counterparts, intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) and lamina propria lymphocytes (LPL). This study describes (1) methods developed to isolate specific intestinal leukocyte populations with high yield and purity, (2) difficulties encountered in establishing a panel of monoclonal antibodies to assess phenotype, and (3) the phenotypic characterization of effector and inductive sites in the feline small intestine. We found that the phenotypic distribution of feline intestinal leukocytes was similar to that found in other species such as humans, macaques and mice. The majority of IEL were CD5+ T-cells with less than 7% B-cells. CD8+ T-cells comprised approximately 60% of the IEL with roughly half displaying CD8αα homodimers. Approximately 10% of IEL were CD4+ T-cells. In the LPL, CD4+ T-cells predominated at 42%, with 33% CD8+ T-cells and 10% B-cells. As would be expected, B-cells predominated in Peyer's patches with 40% B-cells, 28% CD4+ T-cells and 20% CD8+ T-cells. Increased MHCII expression was found in the Peyer's patches as compared to the IEL and LPL. B7.1 expression was significantly higher in mucosal leukocyte populations as compared to organized lymphoid tissue in the periphery with expression detected on 65% of IEL and 53% of LPL. Plasma cells were found in all regions of small intestine examined with greater numbers in lamina propria and Peyer's patches. Lymphoblasts were only identified in inductive tissue. In general, no differences were found between the phenotype of mucosal leukocyte populations from specific pathogen free or random source cats. However, the percentage of CD4+ CD25+ T-cells was significantly greater in both IEL and LPL from random source animals. This study provides techniques and a baseline from which future studies of the feline intestinal immune system can be conducted.
Skull base CT: normative values for size and symmetry of the facial nerve canal, foramen ovale, pterygoid canal, and foramen rotundum

Purpose Contrast-enhanced MRI is the mainstay for detecting pathology in the skull base foramina and nerve canals, through demonstration of abnormal enhancement. When MRI is contraindicated, or unable to differentiate tumor from non-neoplastic pathology, high-resolution skull base CT is indicated to assess for nerve canal or foramen widening, which is currently determined subjectively. The purpose of this study is to provide objective CT criteria that may help distinguish between normal asymmetry and pathologic nerve canal or foramen widening.
Systemic hypertension requiring treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Objectives To determine the difference in the risk factors for systemic hypertension in preterm and term infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Study design Data were collected from an existing database of NICU children and confirmed by chart review. Systemic hypertension was defined when 3 separate measurements of systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure were >95th percentile and an antihypertensive medication was administered for >2 weeks in the NICU. Results Of 4203 infants, we identified 53 (1.3%) with treated hypertension, of whom 74% were preterm, 11% required surgical intervention, and 85% required medications on discharge. The presence of a patent ductus arteriosus, umbilical catheterization, left ventricular hypertrophy, hypertensive medication at discharge, and mortality was similar between the term and preterm infants. The major risk factors for preterm infants, especially those 3 medications than preterm infants. Conclusions Perinatal risk factors are significant contributors to infantile hypertension. Term infants were diagnosed with hypertension earlier, had a shorter duration of stay, and had a higher incidence of resistant hypertension than preterm infants.
Distribution type uncertainty due to sparse and imprecise data

Abstract This paper proposes a likelihood-based methodology to quantify the distribution type uncertainty while fitting probability distributions to sparse and imprecise data. In probabilistic representation of uncertainty, it is common to assume a particular type of probability distribution (e.g. normal, lognormal, etc.) while fitting distributions to available data; once this type is chosen, the distribution parameters and the uncertainty in the distribution parameters are estimated. This paper analyzes the effect of the choice of the distribution type and quantifies the resulting uncertainty in the probabilistic characterization. Two approaches – Bayesian model averaging and Bayesian hypothesis testing – are investigated for the quantification of distribution type uncertainty. Two cases – competing distribution types and uncertainty regarding a single distribution type – are considered. Once the distribution type uncertainty in a particular random variable is quantified, the uncertainty in the distribution parameters is also quantified. Further, the three types of uncertainty – variability, distribution type uncertainty, and distribution parameter uncertainty – are propagated through a response function to calculate the effect of overall input distribution uncertainty on the response uncertainty.