cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Substrate Mediation in Vapor Deposition Growth of Layered Chalcogenide Nanoplates: A Case Study of SnSe2

The two-dimensional (2D) nanostructure of layered chalcogenide materials (LCMs) is very interesting, but to make it a useful material platform necessiates the development of sophisticated synthetic control. We present the synthesis of single-crystalline SnSe2 nanoplates by a noncatalytic vapor deposition process and demonstrate that the growth is subject to strong influences from substrates. The effect of substrates is evidenced by a temperature-dependent morphological difference in the nanoplates grown on mica and silicon substrates. At a growth temperature of 280 °C, the diameter of the nanoplates grown on mica is larger than those grown on silicon by a ratio of 6.2. This ratio substantially decreases to be unity (1.04) at a higher temperature of 420 °C. Additionally, different from the nanoplates grown on silicon, which always show a well-defined hexagonal shape, the nanoplates grown on mica exhibit an irregular shape at low temperature and can gradually evolve into the hexagonal shape with increasing ...
Foot–Ankle Fractures and Injury Probability Curves from Post-mortem Human Surrogate Tests

This purpose of this study was to replicate foot–ankle injuries seen in the military and derive human injury probability curves using the human cadaver model. Lower legs were isolated below knee from seventeen unembalmed human cadavers and they were aligned in a 90–90 posture (plantar surface orthogonal to leg). The specimens were loaded along the tibia axis by applying short-time duration pulses, using a repeated testing protocol. Injuries were documented using pre- and post-test X-rays, computed tomography scans, and dissection. Peak force-based risk curves were derived using survival analysis and accounted for data censoring. Fractures were grouped into all foot–ankle (A), any calcaneus (B), and any tibia injuries (C), respectively. Calcaneus and/or distal tibia/pilon fractures occurred in fourteen tests. Axial forces were the greatest and least for groups C and B, respectively. Times attainments of forces for all groups were within ten milliseconds. The Weibull function was the optimal probability distribution for all groups. Age was significant (p < 0.05) for groups A and C. Survival analysis-based probability curves were derived for all groups. Data are given in the body of paper. Age-based, risk-specific, and continuous distribution probability curves/responses guide in the creation of an injury assessment capability for military blast environments.
Discussion of Operation Method for Supercritical Boiler Step-down Blowpipe

In boiler of supercritical non-stop off the pump and blowpipe step-down unit is currently widely used method,and because of the circulating pump with the complexity of the starting system to make blowpipe relatively cumbersome operate.At present,there is a context of the non-standard method in blowpipe,leading a serious influence on security of the circulating pump,in accordance with this article relying on a supercritical boiler of the blowpipe practice,it is about the circulating pump with the start of the supercritical boiler system blowpipe to explore methods of operation,focusing on the blowpipe of starting the process of system operation and controlling methods to give a specific operational means.
45 ACTIVATED PROTEIN C ATTENUATES THROMBIN-INDUCED BARRIER DYSFUNCTION IN HUMAN PULMONARY ARTERY ENDOTHELIAL CELLS VIA AN ENDOTHELIAL PROTEIN C RECEPTOR-DEPENDENT MECHANISM

Rationale Acute lung injury (ALI) is a frequent complication of sepsis in which disruption of the pulmonary endothelial cell (EC) monolayer leads to increased vascular permeability and life-threatening pulmonary edema. Activated protein C (APC) reduces mortality in sepsis; however, the mechanism through which it exerts its protective effect remains undefined. We hypothesized that APC, via interaction with the endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR), and the EC cytoskeletal protein phosphorylated myosin light chain (phosphoMLC), enhances EC barrier function. Methods Transendothelial electrical resistance (TER) was measured in confluent human pulmonary artery EC monolayers cells treated with APC alone and with the addition of thrombin(0.2 U/mL). Activation of MLC via phosphorylation was assessed using Western blot analysis. Results APC dose-dependently attenuated the thrombin-induced reductions in TER at 1 hr and Western blot analysis of APC (1 μg/mL)-challenged EC demonstrated a 3 fold increase in phosphoMLC (5 min) compared to control. Addition of an EPCR blocking antibody abolished APC-induced barrier-protection and increases in phosphoMLC, while incubation with a control antibody did not alter APC-mediated changes in TER or phosphoMLC levels. Incubation with an antibody against the thrombin receptor, PAR1, had no effect on APC-mediated increases in phosphoMLC. Conclusion APC significantly reduces thrombin-induced barrier dysfunction in ECs via an EPCR-dependent mechanism. APC-mediated alterations in the cytoskeletal protein phosphoMLC was EPCR-dependent but independent of an interaction of APC with PAR1. Modulation of EC barrier function may play a crucial role in the improved survival in patients with sepsis and ALI treated with APC.
Leucine-enriched essential amino acids attenuate inflammation in rat muscle and enhance muscle repair after eccentric contraction.

Eccentric exercise results in prolonged muscle damage that may lead to muscle dysfunction. Although inflammation is essential to recover from muscle damage, excessive inflammation may also induce secondary damage, and should thus be suppressed. In this study, we investigated the effect of leucine-enriched essential amino acids on muscle inflammation and recovery after eccentric contraction. These amino acids are known to stimulate muscle protein synthesis via mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), which, is also considered to alleviate inflammation. Five sets of 10 eccentric contractions were induced by electrical stimulation in the tibialis anterior muscle of male SpragueDawley rats (8–9 weeks old) under anesthesia. Animals received a 1 g/kg dose of a mixture containing 40 % leucine and 60 % other essential amino acids or distilled water once a day throughout the experiment. Muscle dysfunction was assessed based on isometric dorsiflexion torque, while inflammation was evaluated by histochemistry. Gene expression of inflammatory cytokines and myogenic regulatory factors was also measured. We found that leucine-enriched essential amino acids restored full muscle function within 14 days, at which point rats treated with distilled water had not fully recovered. Indeed, muscle function was stronger 3 days after eccentric contraction in rats treated with amino acids than in those treated with distilled water. The amino acid mix also alleviated expression of interleukin-6 and impeded infiltration of inflammatory cells into muscle, but did not suppress expression of myogenic regulatory factors. These results suggest that leucine-enriched amino acids accelerate recovery from muscle damage by preventing excessive inflammation.
Iliac Vein Interrogation Augments Venous Ulcer Healing in Patients Who Have Failed Standard Compression Therapy along with Pathological Venous Closure.

Background Treatment of venous ulcers is demanding for patients, as well as clinicians, and the investigation of underlying venous hypertension is the cornerstone of therapy. We propose that occult iliac vein stenosis should be ruled out by iliac vein interrogation (IVI) in patients with advanced venous stasis. Methods We conducted a systematic retrospective analysis of a consecutive series of patients who presented with CEAP (clinical, etiological, anatomical, and pathophysiological) 6 venous disease. All patients had great saphenous vein ablation, compressive treatment, wound care (including Unna boot compression), and perforator closure using ablation therapy. Iliac vein stenosis was defined as ≥50% stenosis in cross-sectional surface area on intravascular ultrasound. Primary outcomes include time of venous ulcer healing and/or measurable change in the Venous Clinical Severity Score. Results Twenty-two patients with CEAP 6 venous disease met the inclusion criteria (active ulcers >1.5 cm in diameter). The average age and body mass index were 62.2 ± 9.2 years and 41.7 ± 16.7, respectively. The majority were female (72.7%) with common comorbidities, such as hyperlipidemia (54.5%), hypertension (36.4%), and diabetes mellitus (27.3%). Twenty-nine ulcers with an average diameter of 3.4 ± 1.9 cm and a depth of 2.2 ± 0.5 mm were treated. The majority of the ulcers occurred on the left limb (n = 17, 58.6%). Average perforator venous reflux was 3.6 ± 0.8 sec, while common femoral reflux was 1.8 ± 1.6. The majority (n = 19, 64.5%) of the perforator veins were located at the base of the ulcer, while the remainder (n = 10, 34.5%) were within 2 cm from the base. Of the 13 patients who underwent IVI, 8 patients (61.5%) had stenosis >50% that was corrected with iliac vein angioplasty and stenting (IVAS). There was a strong trend toward shorter healing time in the IVI group (7.9 ± 9.5 weeks) than for patients in the no iliac vein interrogation (NIVI) group (20.2 ± 15.3 weeks, P = 0.055). The final VCCS score was not significantly different (IVI = 7.9 ± 9.5 vs. NIVI = 10.0 ± 6.5, P = 0.578). However, compared with the NIVI group, the healing time for patients who actually received IVAS was marginally lower (5.8 ± 3.6 weeks, P = 0.075) and final VCCS was significantly lower (2.4 ± 2.9, P = 0.031). Veins that received IVI and IVAS remained patent and the associated ulcers were healed (100%). Conclusion The small sample size and retrospective design limit the strength of the conclusions but the findings suggest that further studies are needed to define the exact role of IVI including angioplasty/stenting for patients with chronic venous ulcers.
Expression of Brain-Specific Proteins

The brain of an adult rat expresses approximately 30,000 different mRNAs. To determine the structure, location and possible functions of their encoded proteins, we have selected cDNAs corresponding to mRNAs expressed only in brain. One of these mRNAs encodes a protein that defines a widely distributed neuronal system and may be the precursor for a family of novel neuropeptides. A second clone encodes rat brain myelin proteo-lipid protein. Both of these genes are expressed only during postnatal development.
Opening views against the closure of the world

The book in review is a brilliant critique. A touching dedication in memoriam to Charlie Hebdo (p.ix) reminds me of the infamous 9/11 when I was conducting a doctoral seminar in 326, HPL building. An ominous feeling overwhelmed my consciousness and I told the kids, “It’s the end of free society”. Professor Hermann has delivered a penetrating critique of modernity and the mainstream theories and facts of life that perpetuate euphemisms of progress.
Microelectrophoretic studies on neurones in the Clarke’s column

The response of mammalian central neurones to various drugs applied into their environment by microelectrophoresis has been widely studied (Curtis and Johnston, 1974; Krnjevic, 1974). We have studied the chemical sensitivity of individual Clarke’s column neurones to putative acidic amino acid neuro­transmitters (l-glutamic and l-aspartic acids) and acetylcholine (ACh). This work was supplemented by pharmacological studies using L-glutamic acid diethylester and l-methionine-dl-sulphoximine as possible excitatory amino acid antagonists.
Challenges in Medical Student Education: An Examination of Team-Based Learning for Pathology Education

The current integrated model of medical student education has the potential to de-emphasize pathology as a crucial discipline. With a move away from traditional lecture-based courses in pathology, an investigation of novel teaching methodologies for pathology education is necessary. To this point we developed a pathology-focused team-based learning (TBL) exercise to supplement clinically based lectures provided by clinicians in the …
Economic Barriers to Entering Media Industries in the United States

(1986). Economic Barriers to Entering Media Industries in the United States. Annals of the International Communication Association: Vol. 9, Communication Yearbook 9, pp. 423-442.
The Apollo Structured Vocabulary: an OWL2 ontology of phenomena in infectious disease epidemiology and population biology for use in epidemic simulation

We developed the Apollo Structured Vocabulary (Apollo-SV)—an OWL2 ontology of phenomena in infectious disease epidemiology and population biology—as part of a project whose goal is to increase the use of epidemic simulators in public health practice. Apollo-SV defines a terminology for use in simulator configuration. Apollo-SV is the product of an ontological analysis of the domain of infectious disease epidemiology, with particular attention to the inputs and outputs of nine simulators. Apollo-SV contains 802 classes for representing the inputs and outputs of simulators, of which approximately half are new and half are imported from existing ontologies. The most important Apollo-SV class for users of simulators is infectious disease scenario, which is a representation of an ecosystem at simulator time zero that has at least one infection process (a class) affecting at least one population (also a class). Other important classes represent ecosystem elements (e.g., households), ecosystem processes (e.g., infection acquisition and infectious disease), censuses of ecosystem elements (e.g., censuses of populations), and infectious disease control measures. In the larger project, which created an end-user application that can send the same infectious disease scenario to multiple simulators, Apollo-SV serves as the controlled terminology and strongly influences the design of the message syntax used to represent an infectious disease scenario. As we added simulators for different pathogens (e.g., malaria and dengue), the core classes of Apollo-SV have remained stable, suggesting that our conceptualization of the information required by simulators is sound. Despite adhering to the OBO Foundry principle of orthogonality, we could not reuse Infectious Disease Ontology classes as the basis for infectious disease scenarios. We thus defined new classes in Apollo-SV for host, pathogen, infection, infectious disease, colonization, and infection acquisition. Unlike IDO, our ontological analysis extended to existing mathematical models of key biological phenomena studied by infectious disease epidemiology and population biology. Our ontological analysis as expressed in Apollo-SV was instrumental in developing a simulator-independent representation of infectious disease scenarios that can be run on multiple epidemic simulators. Our experience suggests the importance of extending ontological analysis of a domain to include existing mathematical models of the phenomena studied by the domain. Apollo-SV is freely available at: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/apollo_sv.owl .
Direct identification of base-paired RNA nucleotides by correlated chemical probing

Many RNA molecules fold into complex secondary and tertiary structures that play critical roles in biological function. Among the best-established methods for examining RNA structure are chemical probing experiments, which can report on local nucleotide structure in a concise and extensible manner. While probing data are highly useful for inferring overall RNA secondary structure, these data do not directly measure through-space base-pairing interactions. We recently introduced an approach for single-molecule correlated chemical probing with dimethyl sulfate (DMS) that measures RNA interaction groups by mutational profiling (RING-MaP). RING-MaP experiments reveal diverse through-space interactions corresponding to both secondary and tertiary structure. Here we develop a framework for using RING-MaP data to directly and robustly identify canonical base pairs in RNA. When applied to three representative RNAs, this framework identified 20%-50% of accepted base pairs with a <10% false discovery rate, allowing detection of 88% of duplexes containing four or more base pairs, including pseudoknotted pairs. We further show that base pairs determined from RING-MaP analysis significantly improve secondary structure modeling. RING-MaP-based correlated chemical probing represents a direct, experimentally concise, and accurate approach for detection of individual base pairs and helices and should greatly facilitate structure modeling for complex RNAs.
Implementing a Coordination Algorithm for Parallelism on Heterogeneous Computers

Writing parallel programs is not a simple task. Especially, writing parallel programs for a heterogeneous computing environment is even more difficult. In this paper, a coordination algorithm is implemented to support programmers to write implicitly parallel programs in a heterogeneous computing environment. The programs can be written in a sequential programming language that the programmers are familiar with and feel comfortable to write. In addition, the implicit parallelism allows programmers not to worry about how the tasks are to be performed in parallel. The programmers only focus on what the tasks are supposed to do.
Gossip’s Bad Reputation

This chapter surveys the history of gossip from its origins in intimacy to its current degraded status as trivial, false, or malicious.
Overview of Urban Stormwater Impacts on Receiving Waters

Frequently reported degradation of urban waters indicates that discharges of urban stormwater may cause a variety of impacts in receiving waters [1]. Such impacts can be characterised with respect to their nature, time scales, spatial scales, and the types of receiving waters. The nature of the impact is usually classified as physical, chemical, microbiological or combined. Examples of physical impacts include increased flows (and reduced recharge of groundwater aquifers), erosion and sediment transport/deposition, temperature rise, and densimetric stratification. Chemical impacts contribute to changes in water quality through dissolved oxygen depletion, nutrient enrichment and eutrophication, and toxicity (both acute and chronic). Microbiological impacts may affect both recreational waters and shellfish harvesting areas. Finally, it should be recognised that these types of impacts usually occur in various combinations, which may be referred to as combined impacts and further described by ecological impacts and impairments of beneficial water uses.
Bioreactors for Regenerative Medicine in Urology

The urogenital system is generally composed of the urinary and reproductive tissues and organs. The primary function of the urinary system, which includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra, is to produce and excrete urine. The male reproductive system consists of the penis and testes, while the female reproductive organs include the vagina and uterus. Congenital disorders, infections, tumors, and defects in the urogenital system may result in tissue and organ damage or the complete loss of function [1]. Currently, these conditions may be treated using autografts of non-urological tissue, such as the skin and mucosa. However, this method is limited by donor site morbidity and poor survival of the grafted tissue [2]. Complicated injuries require extensive reconstructive surgery, which often incorporates biomaterial-derived products [3–6]. For instance, disorders in the pelvic muscles have been clinically treated with natural and synthetic material-based slings and meshes; however, this treatment is limited by several issues, including (1) a tendency to perforate the other urogenital organs, (2) retraction of the graft due to shrinkage in vivo, and (3) severe fibrosis resulting from foreign body reactions and other immune responses that inhibit tissue function. Therefore, an alternative treatment is needed to address these limitations.
Earth models consistent with geophysical data

Abstract A suite of the most recently available geophysical data are inverted by an improved Monte Carlo procedure. The data are derived from surface waves for oceanic paths, eigenvibrations of the earth, elastic wave travel time and d t /d Δ data, mass and moment of inertia of the earth. A low velocity zone is required for the suboceanic mantle as is a high density lithosphere. The high density is related to eclogite fractionation from the underlying, partially molten asthenosphere in a process involving the creation and spreading of the lithosphere. If the asthenosphere is pyrolite or peridotite then an increase of mean atomic weigh across the transition zone seems required. Fairborn's new d t /d Δ data for the lower mantle seem to show a higher shear velocity gradient than previously supposed. If correct, a compensatory lower density gradient is required. This may indicate a depletion of iron with depth in the lower mantle. The density at the top of the core is surprisingly well constrained to the range 9.9–10.2 g/cm 3 a value appropriate for a mixture of iron and about 15 wt% silicon.
Solving Satisfiability Problem on Quantum Annealer: A Lesson from FPGA CAD Tools: (Abstract Only)

Recently, a practical quantum annealing device has been commercialized by D-Wave Systems, sparking research interest in developing applications to solve problems that are intractable for classical computer. This paper provides a tutorial for using quantum annealer to solve Boolean satisfiability problem. We explain the computational model of quantum annealer and discuss the detailed mapping technique inspired by FPGA CAD flow, including stages such as logic optimization, placement and routing.
Detection and Verification of the Viable but Nonculturable (VBNC) State of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes Using Flow Cytometry and Standard Plating.

The use of electrolyzed oxidizing (EO) water to inactivate microorganisms on foods has been extensively studied and shown to be effective. However, the prospect of the formation of “viable but nonculturable” (VBNC) cells in pathogens after low free chlorine concentration (FCC) treatments under high organic loads presents safety concerns. This study investigated the effect of EO water FCC on inducing Escherichia coliO157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenesinto the VBNC state and studied possible resuscitation triggering procedures of the VBNC cells. A 5‐strain cocktail of each pathogen (106colony forming units [CFU]/mL) was exposed to EO water (FCC of 20, 10, 5, 2.5, 1.25, 0.625 mg/L) and allowed to stand for 1 and 5 min, followed by the addition of neutralizing broth. Treated samples were plated on nonselective agar and analyzed using flow cytometry. For resuscitation, samples treated with identified VBNC induction conditions were exposed to elevated temperatures (37 °C) as well as addition of sodium pyruvate (SP) and Tween® 20 (T20) solutions. The initial culturing procedures suggested complete inactivation of both pathogens at 2.5 and 1.25 mg/L FCC in the growth medium. However, flow cytometry profiles showed VBNC cells were present. Subjecting samples to the recovery procedures further proved that VBNC E. coliO157:H7 can be resuscitated after exposure to SP and T20 at 37 °C, while L. monocytogenesdid not resuscitate. These findings show that treating pathogens at low FCC can induce the VBNC state, and culturability of E. coliO157:H7 can be restored under appropriate conditions. VBNC induction conditions for foodborne pathogens during chlorine washing treatment were determined in a broth system and the information can serve as a basis for future studies that address the prevention of VBNC formation during produce wash treatments.
Characterization of the Surface of Platinum Metals and Platinum Metal Alloys by Hydrogen Adsorption and Comparison of the Results with other Techniques

The properties of the surfaces of platinum metals can be studied by the cathodic deposition or the anodic removal of the adsorbed layer of H atoms in a simple way. Since the platinum metals and their alloys play an important role in electrocatalysis, the essential aspects of hydrogen adsorption under different experimental conditions are discussed subsequently.
Effects of twinning on postpartum reproductive performance in cattle selected for twin births.

The effects of twinning, dystocia, retained placenta, and body weight on postpartum reproduction were evaluated for 3,370 single and 1,014 twin births. Females were bred by AI for 40 d followed by 20 or 30 d of natural service with equal numbers bred and calved in spring and fall. Percentage of dams cyclic by the end of the AI period was lower (P <.05) for dams birthing and nursing a single calf (92.4%) than for dams birthing twins and nursing zero (98.7%) or two (94.7%) calves. Whereas the interval from parturition to first estrus was shorter (P <.01) for dams birthing and nursing a single (56.9 d) than for dams birthing twins and nursing one (68.5 d) or two (69.6 d) calves, length of the interval was further reduced by dystocia in nonlactating dams of either twins or singles (type of birth x dystocia, P <.05). Ensuing pregnancy rates were also affected by type of birth and dystocia. Without dystocia, dams birthing and nursing a single calf had a higher pregnancy rate (79.2%) than dams birthing twins and nursing one (61.7%) or two (66.3%) calves, whereas the lower ensuing pregnancy rates associated with dystocia in dams of singles (71.9%) resulted in similar rates among dams of singles and twins with dystocia (type of birth x dystocia; P <.01). Having a retained placenta resulted in a lower incidence of (93.5 vs 96.4%, with vs without; P <.05) and a longer interval to (64.7 vs 59.2 d; P <.01) estrus while reducing subsequent pregnancy rates ( X = 9.6%) in 3 of the 7 yr evaluated (retained placenta x year, P <.01). Because all parous females were bred during the same calendrical period, the shorter gestation length for twin calves (275.6 vs 281.3 d) resulted in a longer interval from parturition to conception for twin births, whereas means for conception date differed by only 2 d between dams of twins and singles. Furthermore, a reduction ( P <.01) in the interval to conception occurred with dystocia in dams of singles (89.3 vs 85.0 d, without vs with dystocia) and of twins nursed by zero (116.9 vs 83.5 d), one (100.2 vs 92.8 d), or two (96.1 vs 97.2 d) calves. Another detriment to fertility was the higher incidence of fetal mortality or abortions associated with twin vs single pregnancies (12.4 vs 3.5%; P < .01). However, despite the lower conception rates for dams of twins, the increased prolificacy provides an opportunity to increase total beef production with a twinning technology.
Collective Learning: An Integrated Use of Social Media in Learning Environment

Recent years have seen a much greater emphasis on learning to learn, be it in a classroom environment or an organization. This focus imparts lifelong learning capabilities inducing a formative learning experience. Several studies have reflected that individual learning, which has been a core component around which the education system has been institutionalized, does not fully enable learners to learn the process of learning. It has been observed that people learn faster and in much greater depth in groups, making them familiar with the process of learning. Collective learning is a term that is often used to refer to this concept of learning in groups (dyads, teams, organizations, communities, and societies). However, collective learning encounters several challenges in terms of planning, structuring, managing, and evaluating. With the advent of social media technologies including: blogs, wikis, twitter, social networking sites, social news, social bookmarking, media sharing, virtual worlds, and more, encouraging distributed, collaborative, dynamic, ubiquitous, and personalized experience; new paradigms for communication, learning, and education have emerged. In this chapter, the focus is on social media technology as an enabler for collective learning in a teaching/learning environment. It illustrates a model that leverages the integrated use of social media technologies to support collective learning in a university teaching/learning environment. Moreover, the model is generalizable to other environments. The model demonstrates how various challenges encountered in collective learning (planning, structuring, managing, and evaluating) can be addressed with the help of social media technologies. A case study is presented to showcase the model’s applicability, feasibility, utility, and success.
Differential and interacting effects of age and sleep restriction on daytime sleepiness and vigilance in adolescence: a longitudinal study.

Author(s): Campbell, Ian G; Van Dongen, Hans PA; Gainer, Marcus; Karmouta, Emmad; Feinberg, Irwin | Abstract: Study objectivesThere is contradictory evidence on whether sleep need decreases across adolescence. We investigated this question longitudinally with a dose-response design to test the effects of varied sleep durations on daytime sleepiness and on vigilance and to test whether these relations change with age across early and mid-adolescence.MethodsData from 76 participants who completed at least 2 years of the 3-year study are included in this report. Annually, participants ranging in age from 9.8 to 16.2 years completed three different time in bed (TIB) schedules each consisting of four consecutive nights of 7, 8.5, or 10 hours. Daytime sleepiness (multiple sleep latency test [MSLT]) and vigilance (psychomotor vigilance test [PVT]) were measured on the day following the fourth night of each TIB schedule.ResultsElectroencephalogram (EEG)-measured sleep durations changed linearly with TIB. MSLT-measured daytime sleepiness decreased with longer TIB and increased with age. The TIB and age effects interacted such that the TIB effect decreased with age. PVT performance improved with longer TIB and improved with age, but the benefit that increased TIB conferred on PVT performance did not change with age.ConclusionsThese results seem paradoxical because daytime sleepiness increased but vigilance improved with age. The significant age effect on the relation between TIB and sleepiness compared to the lack of an age effect on the relation between TIB and vigilance performance suggests different rates of maturation in underlying brain systems. We interpret these findings in relation to our model of adolescent brain development driven by synaptic elimination.
Pediatric Rehabilitation and Critical Care: a Therapeutic Partnership

The number of children in intensive care units (ICU) who survive critical illness or injury is increasing. Reduction of complications and improvement in outcome may be facilitated by early rehabilitation-oriented interventions and transition to an intensive pediatric rehabilitation unit when medically appropriate. Early mobilization in the adult ICU has been identified as a contributing factor to improving outcomes. This intervention is being introduced in pediatric ICUs and practice guidelines for implementation are being developed. Timely and coordinated transfers to a pediatric intensive rehabilitation unit to continue functional recovery and to prepare for community reintegration are also important to providing optimal care. Introducing rehabilitation input and practices into the pediatric ICU environment is feasible and safe. A coordinated process for moving patients from the pediatric ICU to an intensive rehabilitation unit requires clear communication with families about expected goals and expectations.
Cancer fatalism and adherence to national cancer screening guidelines: Results from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL)

Abstract Background Sociocultural factors, such as health insurance status, income, education, and acculturation, predict cancer screening among U.S. Hispanics/Latinos. However, these factors can be difficult to modify. More research is needed to identify individual-level modifiable factors that may improve screening and subsequent cancer outcomes in this population. The aim of this study was to examine cancer fatalism (i.e., the belief that there is little or nothing one can do to lower his/her risk of developing cancer) as a determinant of adherence to national screening guidelines for colorectal, breast, prostate, and cervical cancer among Hispanics/Latinos. Methods Participants were from the multi-site Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) Sociocultural Ancillary Study (N = 5313). The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Health Interview National Trends Survey was used to assess cancer fatalism and receipt of cancer screening. Adherence was defined as following screening guidelines from United States Preventive Services Task Force and the American Cancer Society during the study period. Results Adjusting for well-established determinants of cancer screening and covariates (health insurance status, income, education, acculturation, age, Hispanic/Latino background), lower cancer fatalism was marginally associated with greater adherence to screening for colorectal (OR 1.13, 95% CI [.99–1.30], p = .07), breast (OR 1.16, 95% CI [.99–1.36], p = .08) and prostate cancer (OR 1.18, 95% CI [.97–1.43], p = .10), but not cervical cancer. Conclusions The associations of cancer fatalism were small and marginal, underlining that sociocultural factors are more robust determinants of cancer screening adherence among Hispanics/Latinos.
Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Migration is a pervasive feature of our globalized world. It is inextricably linked with issues of human rights and trauma and frequently occurs in such contexts as war, family abuse or state-sponsored persecution, and/or situations that deprive the migrant of their economic, civil, or political rights. Certain subgroups of migrants are especially vulnerable. In this chapter, an integrated trauma-informed human rights-based (TI-HR) approach to working with refugees and asylum seekers is presented through the lens of a specific case of an asylum-seeking family. Establishing therapeutic environments that do not retraumatize forced migrants and avoid pathologizing survivors or “medicalizing” political trauma and that also engage and support the existing strengths and capabilities of migrants are emphasized in this chapter.
Analysis of multi-step control strategies for dynamic insulation systems

Abstract Dynamic Insulation Materials (DIMs) present an opportunity to reduce the energy consumption of buildings by allowing heat transfer through the envelope at times when it is beneficial. Studies in the past have investigated a binary R-value control in which the thermal resistance of the wall is either “on” or “off. This study attempts to improve on this control strategy by maximizing the amount of beneficial heat transfer through the envelope using wall surface temperatures, the heating/cooling set-point temperature, and the temperature in the middle of the wall as parameters. It is found that adding a period during which the R-value of the wall can vary continuously within a defined range has the potential to modestly decrease the heating and cooling energy consumption. However, it is found that the most energy savings can be achieved by using a 2-step operation with settings slightly modified from previous studies. For a parametric analysis specific to a residential building in Golden, Colorado, the optimized operation mode produced heating energy savings of 9.3% and cooling energy savings of 21.0% relative to static RSI-3.8 insulation. Moreover, a parametric analysis was conducted to extrapolate the findings to multiple US cities with different climate zones. It is found that the optimized operation mode offers some energy savings for residential buildings in all US climates, though the extent of the savings and the optimized parameters are dependent on climate. Specifically, climates with low cooling degree-days have the potential for a higher reduction of cooling energy up to 35%, while climates with low heating degree-days are found to have the potential for a significant decrease in heating energy of over 80% relative to static insulation.
Infection Remediation in Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty

Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) has increased in popularity, yet utilization by surgeons varies based on training, experience, or comfort level with the procedure. The operation is growing in popularity, and many institutions are publishing 10-year survival rates above 90%; however, joint replacement registries are still showing relatively high rates of revision and failure compared to total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Among the modes of failure, the frequency of periprosthetic infection following UKA is relatively low and estimated to be between 0.1% and 1.0%. Patients typically present in a similar manner to TKA infections, and surgeons should follow a similar algorithm for appropriate workup and confirmation for infection. Once the diagnosis of UKA infection is confirmed, the best method of management remains unclear, given the limited data available. Options for management include debridement and implant retention (DAIR), one-stage exchange of UKA to TKA and two-stage exchange involving antibiotic spacer placement. The management of UKA PJI involves surgical intervention and involves collaboration with medical and infectious disease services.
Redefining the Trauma Triage Matrix: The Role of Emergent Interventions

Abstract Background A tiered trauma team activation (TTA) system aims to allocate resources proportional to the patient's need based upon injury burden. The current metrics used to evaluate appropriateness of TTA are the trauma triage matrix (TTM), need for trauma intervention (NFTI), and secondary triage assessment tool (STAT). Materials and methods In this retrospective study, we compared the effectiveness of the need for an emergent intervention within 6 h (NEI-6) with existing definitions. Data from the Michigan Trauma Quality Improvement Program was utilized. The dataset contains information from 31 level 1 and 2 trauma centers from 2011 to 2017. Inclusion criteria were: adult patients (≥16 y) and ISS ≥5. Results 73,818 patients were included in the study. Thirty percentage of trauma patients met criteria for STAT, 21% for NFTI, 20% for TTM, and 13% for NEI-6. NEI-6 was associated with the lowest rate of undertriage at 6.5% (STAT 22.3%, NFTI 14.0%, TTM 14.3%). NEI-6 best predicted undertriage mortality, early mortality, in-hospital mortality, and late (>60 h) mortality. Most patients who met criteria for TTM (58%), NFTI (51%), and STAT (62%) did not require emergent intervention. All four methods had similar rates of early mortality for patients who did not meet criteria (0.3%-0.5%). Conclusions NEI-6 performs better than TTM, NFTI, and STAT in terms of undertriage, mortality and need for resource utilization. Other methods resulted in significantly more full TTAs than NEI-6 without identifying patients at risk for early mortality. NEI-6 represents a novel tool to determine trauma activation appropriateness.
Influence of hair treatments on detection of antiretrovirals by mass spectrometry imaging

Analysis of drugs in hair by mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) has great potential as an objective, long-term measure of medication adherence. However, the fidelity of the chemical record in hair may be compromised by any cosmetic hair treatments. Here, we investigate infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization (IR-MALDESI) MSI response to multiple antiretrovirals (ARVs) in cosmetically treated hair. Hair strands from patients on different ARV regimens were mechanically treated with dye, bleach, and relaxer. The treatments had little or no effect relative to untreated controls for cobicistat, abacavir, dolutegravir, maraviroc, efavirenz, and darunavir, but all three treatments removed emtricitabine (FTC) to undetectable levels from patient hair strands. We also evaluated hair strands by IR-MALDESI MSI from 8 patients on FTC-based regimens who reported a range of hair treatments at varying recency prior to hair collection. While FTC was undetectable in the treated portion of these hair strands, ARVs coadministered with FTC remained detectable in hair strands after treatment. We conclude that IR-MALDESI MSI can be used when measuring adherence to ARV therapy, provided that ARVs other than FTC are targeted in people using hair treatments.
The future of Internet of Things in agriculture: Plant high-throughput phenotypic platform

Abstract With continuous collaborative research in sensor technology, communication technology, plant science, computer science and engineering science, Internet of Things (IoT) in agriculture has made a qualitative leap through environmental sensor networks, non-destructive imaging, spectral analysis, robotics, machine vision and laser radar technology. Physical and chemical analysis can continuously obtain environmental data, experimental metadata (including text, image and spectral, 3D point cloud and real-time growth data) through integrated automation platform equipment and technical means. Based on data on multi-scale, multi-environmental and multi-mode plant traits that constitute big data on plant phenotypes, genotype–phenotype–envirotype relationship in the omics system can be explored deeply. Detailed information on the formation mechanism of specific biological traits can promote the process of functional genomics, plant molecular breeding and efficient cultivation. This study summarises the development background, research process and characteristics of high-throughput plant phenotypes. A systematic review of the research progress of IoT in agriculture and plant high-throughput phenotypes is conducted, including the acquisition and analysis of plant phenotype big data, phenotypic trait prediction and multi-recombination analysis based on plant phenomics. This study proposes key techniques for current plant phenotypes, and looks forward to the research on plant phenotype detection technology in the field environment, fusion and data mining of plant phenotype multivariate data, simultaneous observation of multi-scale phenotype platform and promotion of a comprehensive high-throughput phenotype technology.
Bridge Type Classification: Supervised Learning on a Modified NBI Data Set

AbstractA key phase in the bridge design process is the selection of the structural system. Due to budget and time constraints, engineers typically rely on engineering judgment and prior experience...
Can It Be Irrational to Knowingly Choose the Best

Seeking a decision theory that can handle both the Newcomb problems that challenge evidential decision theory and the unstable problems that challenge causal decision theory, some philosophers rece...
Natural history of children and adults with phenylketonuria in the NBS-PKU Connect registry

Abstract Purpose Phenylalanine hydroxylase deficiency, or phenylketonuria (PKU), is a rare autosomal recessive metabolic disorder. Early diagnosis via newborn screening (NBS) and initiation of treatment prevent the development of cognitive impairment and other co-morbidities. The purpose of this study is to describe the natural history of PKU in the United States, including prevalence of co-morbidities and predictors of outcomes. Methods We analyzed data from a self-report survey in the NBS-PKU Connect online registry. We describe the participants' nutrition management strategies, barriers to management, outcomes of bone disorders, skin, and psychological co-morbidities, and the use of special education or other special services. Predictors of outcomes were identified and assessed, including the impact of sex, age, age at diagnosis, blood phenylalanine concentration, use of sapropterin, use of medical food, adherence to prescribed diet, use of low protein modified foods, whether they had ever been off-diet, and use of tyrosine supplementation. Results The 219 respondents included individuals with PKU or hyperphenylalanemia (n = 78), or their caregivers (n = 141). Most (84.3%) started treatment before the age of two weeks. About one-third indicated that they had been off-diet at some point in their lives, and 81.4% reported that they currently adhered to their prescribed diet, with adherence to prescribed diet decreasing with age. Blood phenylalanine concentration was under the recommended threshold of 360 μmol/L for 68.5% of participants. One-quarter of respondents reported psychological co-morbidities, with anxiety and ADD/ADHD being the most common. The incidence of psychological co-morbidities increased with age and with ever having been off diet. Special education or other special services were more likely to be reported by individuals who were diagnosed after one week of age. Skin disorders such as acne and eczema were more common in females than males, and a minority of participants reported bone disorders. Conclusions Despite recommendations to maintain blood phenylalanine concentrations in the therapeutic range throughout life, it is not uncommon for adults with PKU to discontinue dietary management of their disorder. Early diagnosis was associated with reduced need for special education or other special services, and continuous treatment was associated with decreased psychological co-morbidities.
Chapter 14. Determinants of Microbial Resistance to Beta-lactam Antibiotics

Publisher Summary This chapter describes a unified picture of how the outer membrane (OM), betalactaniase, and penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) interact to influence the effectiveness of broad spectrum beta-lactams. The OM is an asymmetric membrane characteristic of gram-negative organisms only and is composed of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), phospholipids, lipoproteins, and proteins. Two general mechanisms have been described to explain the diffusion of antibiotics and other molecules across the OM. The first applies to hydrophobic antibiotics that must first pass the hydrophilic LPS side chains, then partition into the hydrophobic interior of the OM, reaching the aqueous phase on the other side. The second mechanism of diffusion is employed by most beta-lactams and involves water-filled porin channels that traverse the OM. The second barrier to free diffusion of beta-lactams to the periplasmic beta-lactamases (PBPs) lies with beta-lactamases that in gram-negative organisms are strategically located in the periplasmic space. The most predictable outcome of beta-lactamase expression has been seen for the plasmid encoded enzymes. Sensitive isoelectric focusing methods have shown that practically all gram-negative bacilli contain some type of chromosomally-mediated beta-lactamase, although the level of expression of the enzymes varies greatly among individual isolates. The lethal targets in the bacterial cell for beta-lactams are the penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) or penicillin-sensitive enzymes (PSEs) that can be identified in membrane preparations, using radiolaheled penicillin G. As most beta-lactams bind to multiple PBPs, it has been hypothesized that high level resistance through mutation at these targets would be extremely rare. The activity of earlier beta-lactams that were susceptible to beta-lactamase was highly influenced by their rate of penetration through the OM. Compounds like cephaloridine are effective only if they penetrate rapidly across the OM, allowing sufficient numbers of molecules to escape degradation by beta-lactamase.