cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Learning from human teachers with Socially Guided Exploration

We present a learning mechanism, socially guided exploration, in which a robot learns new tasks through a combination of self-exploration and social interaction. The system's motivational drives (novelty, mastery), along with social scaffolding from a human partner, bias behavior to create learning opportunities for a reinforcement learning mechanism. The system is able to learn on its own, but can flexibly use the guidance of a human partner to improve performance. An experiment with non-expert human subjects shows a human is able to shape the learning process through suggesting actions and drawing attention to goal states. Human guidance results in a task set that is significantly more focused and efficient, while self exploration results in a broader set.
Steroid-dependent anosmia.

• In steroid-dependent anosmia (nasal polyps, inhalant allergy, anosmia), high doses of steroids will temporarily restore the sense of smell, a diagnostic test. Appropriate surgery can then be carried out, followed by low-dose, long-term steroid therapy to maintain the sense of smell. Olfactory biopsy specimens taken during the course of evaluation and treatment show electron-optically normal olfactory receptors, meaning that the probable pathogenesis of the sensory deficit is an obstruction, mechanical and possibly biochemical. Two cases of steroid-dependent anosmia are presented to detail a fully reversible anosmia using state-of-the-art techniques. ( Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1987;113:547-549)
Views of knowledge are human views

Different people see knowledge management from different perspectives. Some people emphasize intellectual capital, some people always think about technology, whereas others put community building first. In this essay, I associate the different views of knowledge with personality types. In other words, a person's temperament determines that person's view of knowledge--a remarkable coincidence. Therefore, a person's answer to the question "What is knowledge?" is strongly related to the answer to "Who am I?" Hence, an enterprise should be careful when defining knowledge management for its use, lest its definition imply "who the employee should be".
Lenticulostriate vasculopathy in neonates: Perspective of the radiologist

Lenticulostriate vasculopathy (LSV) is a diagnosis dependent on neonatal cranial ultrasound (US). The diagnosis of LSV requires the presence of linear or branching echogenicities in the area of the basal ganglia and/or thalamus on gray scale cranial US. Although the diagnosis of LSV is dependent on cranial US, there are no convincing correlates observed on either computerized tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Moreover, the radiographic criteria for LSV on cranial US remain vague, and intra-observer correlations are generally reported to be poor. The purpose of this review is to examine the issues associated with the use of cranial US and the diagnosis of LSV, including alternative imaging, clinical abnormalities and the significance of LSV on cranial US.
Pathophysiology of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure

This article provides a comprehensive review of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). It begins with a historical review, defines ADHF, and describes the many factors that may precipitate it.
Continuity and Evolution: The Idea of “Co-creativity” in Chinese Art

This paper seeks to explore an important characteristic of both traditional and contemporary Chinese art, that is, co-creativity. The author believes that co-creativity is a particular Chinese cultural sensibility that establishes the continuity of Chinese art and allows it to endure despite historical, societal and political changes throughout the centuries. This paper starts with an introduction of the idea of co-creativity in Chinese culture. One of its embodiments is the relationship between yin and yang . Yin and yang both engender and fulfill each other, which is a co-relational and co-creative process. It then analyzes how the idea of co-creativity is demonstrated in traditional landscape painting through the expression of the oneness with nature and invitation to join a journey with the artist. Lastly, it demonstrates this continious co-creative cultural sensibility through analyzing two contemporary artists’ works. The author reads the submissive openness and vulnerability in Chinese female artist Chen Lingyang’s works as a continuity of the co-creative spirit of yin and yang , nature and human. Chen’s work, rooted in her cultural sensibility, expresses a totally different statement of women’s desires and conditions than does that of American feminist artists Judy Chicago and Carolee Schneemann. Likewise, performance artist Ma Liuming’s Fen-Ma Liuming in… series seems inspired by nature’s image of co-creating the world. Different as these works may be in their formal aspects—from painting to poetry, from photography to performance— “co-creativity” is at the heart of Chinese cultural expression.
From genes to machines: DNA nanomechanical devices

The structural properties that enable DNA to serve so effectively as genetic material can also be used for other purposes. The complementarity that leads to the pairing of the strands of the DNA double helix can be exploited to assemble more complex motifs, based on branched structures. These structures have been used as the basis of larger 2D and 3D constructions. In addition, they have been used to make nanomechanical devices. These devices range from DNA-based shape-shifting structures to gears and walkers, a DNA-stress gauge and even a translation device. The devices are activated by mechanisms as diverse as small molecules, proteins and, most intriguingly, other molecules of DNA.
Topological mobile robot localization using fast vision techniques

We present a system for topologically localizing a mobile robot using color histogram matching of omnidirectional images. The system is intended for use as a navigational tool for the autonomous vehicle for exploration and navigation of urban environments (AVENUE) mobile robot. Our method makes use of omnidirectional images which are acquired from the robot's on-board camera. The method is fast and rotation invariant. Our tests have indicated that normalized color histograms are best for an outdoor environment while normalization is not required for indoor work. The system quickly narrows down the robot's location to one or two regions within the much larger test environment. Using this regional localization information, other vision systems that we have developed can further localize the robot.
Advances in Antiviral Therapy

Infections with five of the herpesviruses (herpes simplex virus 1 [HSV-1], HSV-2, varicella zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus, and cytomegalovirus) are treated with topical or systemic antiviral therapies. There are more than 100 genotypes of human papillomaviruses (HPVs), which may manifest as warts, skin cancers, cervical cancer, anogenital cancers, and upper digestive tract cancers. Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is a common, benign viral infection of the skin. Immunomodulating agents, such as imiquimod, act on HPV and MC indirectly by inducing host immune responses, such as cytokines and cell-mediated immunity, and thereby reduce recurrences. There are multiple vaccines available for certain viral diseases and others in development for HSV-2 and HPV.
Macroinvertebrate colonization dynamics on artificial substrates along an algal resource gradient

Riparian canopy removal and land use may introduce multiple stressors that can alter food and habitat for stream organisms, but the influence of these alterations on macroinvertebrate colonization dynamics is less well known. A field study involving the simultaneous placement and removal of artificial substrates was performed to examine how macroinvertebrate colonization rates might vary with algal accumulation within a perennial stream segment in eastern Ohio, USA. The study was conducted over a 60-day summer colonization period in three reaches that were selected to represent an algal resource gradient according to canopy cover and agricultural nutrient sources in the riparian corridor. Total nitrogen, water temperatures, and mean algal biomass from substrates increased along the resource gradient represented by the study sites. Total macroinvertebrate biomass and the abundance and biomass of scrapers also increased according to the gradient. Correlation results indicated that chlorophyll a biomass, rather than time or temperature, was better related to the abundance and biomass of most primary consumers on substrates. These results suggest that the combined effects of elevated temperatures and nutrients can result in relatively rapid algal accrual that may alter the colonization and establishment of macroinvertebrate communities in streams subjected to gradients of riparian disturbances.
Variable and potentially fatal amounts of nicotine in e-cigarette nicotine solutions.

Experimental research on electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) is sparse. Regulated as tobacco products by the US Food and Drug Administration, e-cigarette safety has not been determined. This enables the sale of e-cigarettes and tobacco-derived nicotine solution to consumers without rigorous safety regulations that would be required if the products were regulated as drug delivery devices .1 As such, despite the recent popularity of e-cigarettes as an alternative to cigarette smoking, consumers currently do not have industry-regulated information on the concentration of e-cigarette solutions or their safety.1 The present study reports the nicotine concentration of several of these solutions. A convenience sample of seven e-cigarette nicotine solutions was analysed. Samples ranged from prepackaged and sealed with concentration levels printed on the labels to blank bottles with hand-written labels with no concentration level, warning …
Incentivizing Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions in Rice Production: The Case of Arkansas Rice

U.S. rice industry producers face pressure from consumers, suppliers, and the government to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with rice (Oryza sativa L.) production. Arkansas rice cultivar-specific net GHG emissions information allows models of paddy rice emissions. Baseline levels of profit, yield variance, and GHG emissions are established using extension data. Varietal selection is then optimized to maximize profits and minimize GHG emissions, both constrained and unconstrained by baseline yield variance. Carbon abatement functions are estimated to examine the effects of hypothetical carbon prices on varietal selection.
B-type natriuretic peptide in cardiovascular disease

Natriuretic peptide hormones, a family of vasoactive peptides with many favourable physiological properties, have emerged as important candidates for development of diagnostic tools and therapeutic agents in cardiovascular disease. The rapid incorporation into clinical practice of bioassays to measure natriuretic peptide concentrations, and drugs that augment the biological actions of this system, show the potential for translational research to improve patient care. Here, we focus on the physiology of the natriuretic peptide system, measurement of circulating concentrations of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and the N-terminal fragment of its prohormone (N-terminal BNP) to diagnose heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction, measurement of BNP and N-terminal BNP to assess prognosis in patients with cardiac abnormalities, and use of recombinant human BNP (nesiritide) and vasopeptidase inhibitors to treat heart failure.
Joint Codeword and Power Adaptation for CDMA Systems with Multipath and QoS Requirements

In this paper we present an algorithm for joint codeword and power adaptation applicable in the uplink of a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system in which multipath channels between users and the base station receiver are explicitly considered. The proposed algorithm uses incremental updates for codeword and power that allow a smooth transition of the system to a steady state configuration where specified targets for the signal-to-interference+noise-ratio (SINR) are achieved with minimum powers. The algorithm is illustrated with numerical results obtained from simulations.
Observation of increased upstream ionization resulting from spontaneous formation of a double layer in an expanding argon helicon plasma

We report observations that confirm the theoretical prediction1 that formation of a current-free double layer in a plasma expanding into a chamber of larger diameter is accompanied by an increase in ionization upstream of the double layer. The increased ionization is caused by electrons accelerated to the upstream side of the double layer. The theoretical model argues that the increased ionization is needed to balance the difference in diffusive losses upstream and downstream of the expansion region. We use both Laser Induced Fluorescence [LIF] and a Retarded Field Energy Analyzer [RFEA] to measure the ion velocity distribution functions [ivdf] upstream and downstream of the double layer. In our expanding helicon source experiments, measurements of ion-beam energy and density indicate that a stable ion beam appears for rf frequencies above 11.5 MHz. The upstream plasma density increases sharply at the same threshold rf frequency. Below 11.5 MHz, large electrostatic instabilities are observed and appear to suppress formation of the double layer - simultaneously reducing the upstream ionization rate. Further studies of the electrostatic noise suggest a beam driven instability at ∼ 18 kHz.
Experimental Investigations of a Bistable Energy Harvester

This paper investigates the design and analysis of a nonlinear energy harvester that uses magnet interactions to create an inertial generator with a bistable potential well. The motivating hypothesis for this work was that nonlinear behavior could be used to improve the performance of an energy harvester by broadening its frequency response. Both numerical and experimental investigations study the harvester’s response when directly powering an electrical load. Both sets of results show that the potential well escape phenomenon can be used to broaden the frequency response of an energy harvester.
Epithelial-mesenchymal molecular interactions in prostatic tumor cell plasticity

Tumor cell plasticity poses a significant clinical challenge in that the fate and function of tumor cells can be elusive until a tumor mass is evident. An overview of key molecular events in prostate cancer, initiated by an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, highlights the cooperative interactions of diverse prostatic subpopulations within heterogeneous tumors. A remarkable example of plasticity is demonstrated by subpopulations of E-cadherin-positive and E-cadherin-negative tumor cells working in concert to form de novo vasculogenic-like networks while expressing vascular-associated genes, called vasculogenic mimicry, resulting in acquisition of the metastatic phenotype. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying prostate tumor cell plasticity may provide new prognostic markers for clinical diagnosis and novel therapeutic intervention strategies for disease management.
Eikenella corrodens Sepsis with Cerebrospinal Fluid Pleocytosis in a Very Low Birth Weight Neonate

We report a case of Eikenella corrodens sepsis associated with CSF pleocytosis in a very low birth weight neonate. A 1000-gram male neonate was born at 27-week gestation due to preterm labor. The patient presented with signs and symptoms of sepsis and was treated for suspected meningitis with intravenous ampicillin and gentamicin for 7 days, with cefotaxime added for three weeks. He had a normal brain MRI at discharge and normal development at 6 months of life. To our knowledge, this is the first case of E. corrodens sepsis and associated meningitis in a very low birth weight neonate.
Senate Immigration Law Would Disarm Law Enforcement

The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act before the U.S. Senate is described by proponents as a compromise, combining amnesty for current illegal immigrants with stepped-up enforcement provisions. Nothing could be further from the truth. This complicated legislation would, in fact, disarm America's state and local police in the war against terrorism. In the wake of the 9/11 attacks state and local police exercised their inherent authority to arrest any deportable illegal alien. In his testimony to the House Committee on International Relations Professor Kobach describes how the Senate's immigration reform proposal would change all of that. Section 240D would restrict local police to arresting aliens for criminal violations of immigration law only, not civil violations. The results would be disastrous. His testimony further advocates for the importance of physical barriers on the borders in the war on terrorism.
Using Eportfolios to Aid Reflection in Introductory Psychology.

Electronic portfolios (EP) are an academic version of online social media (e.g., Facebook) that archive student work and support integrated learning. Despite limited theory, advocates believe EP enhances the reflective process. Thirty-six students in introductory psychology at Pace University were invited to create EP and complete optional EP assignments: a personality assessment; an appraisal of a group learning project; and a review of a guest lecture on addiction. Reaction to EP was mixed. Twenty-five out of 36 students created an EP and 15 out of 25 earned extra credit. Some higher-level reflection was observed. Results are discussed and a few ideas for future use are suggested.
The Librarian as Observer, Ambassador, and Tourist: Visits by Three Mid-Twentieth-Century British Librarians to the United States

Visits by British librarians to the United States are an overlooked aspect of transatlantic cultural exchange. After an outline of the early history of international conferences at which British an...
Local ovarian effects of an intrauterine device in intact and unilaterally ovariectomized guinea pigs.

SummaryThe effects of an intrauterine device (IUD) on the corpora lutea, estrous cycle length and ovulation rate were studied in guinea pigs. Insertion of an IUD on day 2 of an estrous cycle resulted in smaller corpora lutea in the ovary adjacent to the IUD than in the opposite ovary. The average estrous cycle length was shortened in ovarian-intact guinea pigs with an IUD in each uterine horn and in unilaterally ovariectomized guinea pigs with the IUD adjacent to the retained ovary. Estrous cycles were not shortened in ovarian-intact guinea pigs with an IUD in only one horn or in unilaterally ovariectomized guinea pigs with the IUD opposite to the retained ovary. No evidence was obtained that the IUD influenced the rate of ovulation.
Innovative Approaches and Ethical Considerations of Technical Design——A Review on B.Friedman’s Value Sensitive Design

As an innovative theoretical approach,value sensitive design dialectically views technical design and social context through the interaction between value and technical design.It employs a tripartite methodology, which consists of conceptual,empirical and technical investigations. Throughout the process of technical design,ethical import is emphasized and ethical issues are addressed.Value sensitive design advocates that designers should take full account of the moral feelings and value appeals of technical users and other stakeholders.Despite the obvious practical significance and some advantages,doubts and questions do exist.There is still a long way to go in that its application may be affected by the complex factors of technology.
Regional Specialization for Control of Ocular Movements in the Compound Eyes of a Stomatopod Crustacean

1. Regional specialization within the triple compound eyes of the gonodactyloid stomatopod Gonodactylus oerstedii (Hansen) was studied by examining how ocular tracking of a small target was affected after occluding vision in particular ommatidial regions with black enamel paint. 2. Complete occlusion of one eye did not prevent the other eye from tracking, indicating that the two eyes act somewhat independently. However, following such treatment, the angular extent over which the seeing eye moved while tracking was reduced. 3. An eye was able to continue tracking a moving target even after occlusion of the anterior tip or after painting over all of its posterior surface except the anterior tip (restricting the visual field to a patch about 40° in diameter). Similarly, occlusion of only the midband, the medial half or the lateral half of an eye did not prevent tracking. 4. Tracking was also possible, although with decreased amplitude, when either the dorsal or the ventral hemisphere was occluded. However, when both the dorsal and ventral hemispheres were occluded, leaving only the midband for vision, the ability of an eye to track was abolished. 5. A computer model was used to investigate whether the midband alone had the potential to direct tracking in our experiments. The model9s output predicts that, in spite of its restricted field of view, if the midband is oriented within 20° of the horizontal, an eye could track using the midband alone. Conditions favoring such potential tracking occurred in our experiments, but neither tracking nor targetting movements were observed. 6. We conclude that ommatidia of the dorsal and ventral hemispheres of each compound eye are essential for ocular tracking in G. oerstedii . The midband appears to play no major role in this activity. Note: Present address: Department of Zoology, The University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
Second Order Self-Adjoint Equations with Mixed Derivatives

In this chapter, we are concerned with the second order self-adjoint dynamic equation (p(t)x ∆)∇+q(t)x=0 on a time scale. When \( \mathbb{T} = \mathbb{R} \) , this reduces to the usual self-adjoint differential equation, (p(t)x′)′+q(t)x=0.
Trends in Obesity Prevalence in Adults With a History of Cancer: Results From the US National Health Interview Survey, 1997 to 2014

PurposeObesity after a diagnosis of specific cancers has been associated with worse prognosis. We examined the trend in obesity prevalence among cancer survivors in the United States in the past two decades and compared trends with those of adults without a history of cancer.Patients and MethodsThis was a population-based nationally representative sample of 538,969 noninstitutionalized US adults 18 to 85 years old with and without a history of cancer who participated in annual cross-sectional National Health Interview Surveys from 1997 to 2014. Obesity was defined as body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2 for non-Asians and body mass index ≥ 27.5 kg/m2 for Asians.ResultsAmong 32,447 cancer survivors identified, the most common cancer diagnoses were breast (n = 6,948), prostate (n = 3,984), and colorectal (n = 2,546). From 1997 to 2014, the prevalence of obesity increased from 22.4% to 31.7% in cancer survivors and from 20.9% to 29.5% in adults without a history of cancer (P for trend < .001, both groups). Over this p...
The B6700: Pros and Cons

Systems are often criticized or appraised from three viewpoints: (1) that of the languages available to users and the cost effectiveness of user programs, (2) that of the operating system and what it lets the user do or not do, and (3) that of the hardware. The highly structured B6700 differs from typical machines in both instruction fetch and data accessing costs. On the plus side, fewer memory cycles are typically required for fetching B6700 instructions, and on the minus side, more memory cycles are required for accessing data. Variable-length B6700 instructions frequently do not have any address fields at all as the operand locations are implied to be in some specific spots at or near the top of the stack. This means that B6700 instructions are on the average shorter than their counterparts in von Neumann-type machines. The shorter B6700 instructions, called “syllables,” are packed several per word, hence each memory cycle taken for an instruction fetch usually retrieves more instructions than an instruction fetch on a competitive conventional machine.
Material culture and African-American spirituality at the hermitage

In this article, artifacts excavated from 19th-century African-American contexts at the Hermitage plantation near Nashville, Tennessee, are examined in light of their possible use in religious ritual, traditional healing, and other behaviors related to spirituality. While specific spiritual behaviors cannot be determined from the Hermitage archaeological and documentary record, the presence of a distinct African-American belief system at the Hermitage is suggested through comparison of selected artifacts from the Hermitage assemblage with various historical, folkloric, and archaeological sources. This belief system and its associated behaviors may have aided African Americans in achieving limited social and economic autonomy within the system of plantation slavery.
Plastic Surgery Training in the Era of Integrated Programs

Plastic surgery training has undergone and evolution in the recent past, like several other surgical specialties, and no longer follows the paradigm of surgical residency followed by specialty training. Although those traditional pathways exist, and allow for entry into plastic surgery from several specialties, integrated programs allow students to match into plastic surgery from medical school. This chapter examines both pathways and offers thoughts on how to be successful in pursuing training in plastic surgery.
Aqua-Quad - solar powered, long endurance, hybrid mobile vehicle for persistent surface and underwater reconnaissance, part II - onboard intelligence

The paper describes the control system development of a novel hybrid autonomous vehicle - Aqua-Quad, a Multi-Rotor Vertical Take Off and Landing aircraft with environmentally hardened electronics, exchangeable sensor suite, communication links, and a solar recharge system. The key objective of this multi-modal autonomous system is to enable energy-aware ultra-long endurance autonomy to facilitate near real-time capture and transition of information from the undersea domain to the air and further to the ground. The key benefit of this rapid in-situ data delivery is to enable timely and efficient decision making that, in turn, improves the collective efficiency of the Aqua-Quad as a system. Each individual vehicle is designed to have mission-relevant sensors and sufficient computational power to reduce the false alarm rate, and navigate in open seas in an energy-optimal manner by optimizing its route while either in search of targets or when tracking them. Higher operational efficiency is envisioned when a flock of Aqua-Quads operates cooperatively. The paper focuses on the design of energy-optimal path planning for a single vehicle in the presence of ocean currents. A novel modification of rapidly exploring random tree algorithm is developed to fully utilize the energy savings provided by the transportation mechanism of ocean flows.
Cardiac Imaging from the Esophagus; 2D Anatomy; Use of the Transesophageal Probe

Effective use of transesophageal echocardiography requires some understanding of the transducer and the echograph, in addition to an appreciation of cardiac anatomy, as seen in cross section, from the esophagus. If the anatomy is understood, then the 2D image display can be understood, but the lack of established convention for transesophageal images results in some variation in the presentation and discussion of images in the literature. It becomes all the more important that users of transesophageal echocardiography define cardiac anatomy with standard cross-sectional views at specific levels. The correct identification of standard views, their use, and the essentials for displaying them are covered in this chapter.
Prophylactic Antibiotics for Enucleation and Evisceration: A Retrospective Study and Systematic Literature Review.

Purpose To report surgical site infection (SSI) rates of eviscerations and enucleations with implants performed without perioperative intravenous (IV) antibiotics or postoperative oral antibiotics, and to give SSI prevention recommendations. Methods A single-center retrospective chart review was performed after obtaining institutional review board approval. Charts were found by Current Procedural Terminology codes. Demographics, surgical indication, procedure, implant, antibiotic use, and postoperative course were recorded. SSIs occurring within 30 days after surgery were reviewed and postoperative infection rates were determined. Results Four hundred eighty-one cases from January 1999 to December 2015 were analyzed. There were 102 eviscerations with implants, 314 enucleations with implants, 23 enucleations without implants, 23 implant exchanges, 15 implants placed secondarily after enucleation, and 4 implant removals. Seventy cases (14.6%) were given perioperative IV antibiotics, and in this group one periorbital infection occurred unrelated to orbital surgery (1.4%). Of the 411 cases (85.4%) not given perioperative IV antibiotics, 1 of 87 eviscerations with implants developed an SSI (1.1%), 2 of 273 enucleations with implants developed SSIs (0.7%), and none of the 13 enucleations without implants developed SSIs. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first published case series reporting SSI rates of enucleations and eviscerations with implants performed without perioperative IV antibiotics or postoperative oral antibiotics. With infection rates comparing favorably to other case series where antibiotics were given, the routine use of perioperative IV antibiotics and postoperative oral antibiotics for enucleations and eviscerations may not be indicated.
Utilization and Cost Effectiveness of a Risk Stratified Diagnostic Approach to Patients with Suspected Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Background:Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare but deadly thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) that is caused by an acquired deficiency in the ADAMTS13 enzyme. The PLASMIC clinical scoring system was developed and validated in 2014 by the Harvard TMA Research Collaborative in order to determine the pretest probability of severe ADAMTS13 deficiency in cases of suspected TTP. We studied the role of the PLASMIC score in guiding use of the ADAMTS13 activity assay and assessed the cost effectiveness of a score-based diagnostic approach to patients with TMA compared to two strategies currently in use within our consortium. Methods:We utilized an expanded dataset from the Harvard TMA Research Collaborative consisting of all consecutive cases of TMA at three large academic medical centers for which an ADAMTS13 assay was sent between 2004-2015 (n=647). To investigate trends in ADAMTS13 testing over time, we compared the experience at two centers (A and B) with a liberal ADAMTS13 testing policy against a third center in our consortium (C) that carries a more restrictive policy requiring pre-approval by the blood transfusion service. Cost savings analysis was subsequently performed to assess the potential impact of an algorithm incorporating the PLASMIC score for clinical decision support in the workup of these patients. Results:At Sites A and B, we observed after adjusting for changes in inpatient volume that the quantity of ADAMTS13 tests increased greater than eight-fold during the study period (from 11 per 100,000 admissions in 2004 to 94 per 100,000 admissions in 2015, P Conclusions:Taken together, our results demonstrate that a significant number of patients in our consortium who are at minimal risk for TTP nevertheless undergo ADAMTS13 testing and receive expert consultation and/or TPE. An approach incorporating upfront application of the PLASMIC clinical scoring system to risk stratify patients with suspected TTP may help enhance the cost effectiveness of diagnosing and managing these cases. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Contemporary national trends of prostate cancer screening among privately insured patients in the United States.

5065 Background: Little is known about the degree to which prostate cancer (PC) screening with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing has changed in the face of recent clinical research data and t...
Risk Adjustment, Reinsurance Improved Financial Outcomes For Individual Market Insurers With The Highest Claims

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) reformed the individual health insurance market. Because insurers can no longer vary their offers of coverage based on applicants’ health status, the ACA established a...
SURFACE TENSION OF SERUM : X. ON THE THICKNESS OF THE MONOMOLECULAR LAYER OF SERUM.

An attempt was made to apply the assumption that a monolayer of serum exists at a certain dilution, in order to calculate the thickness of this layer or, that is to say, the mean value of one of the dimensions of the molecules of the serum proteins. The criterion taken for the existence of such a monolayer was the existence at a given concentration (1/11,000 for rabbit serum) of a maximum drop in the surface tension of serum solutions kept in watch-glasses. A series of preliminary experiments showed: 1. That the maximum drop in 2 hours took place, for the material used, at a concentration of 1/11,000, and that it always corresponded to an absolute minimum value of the surface tension of the solution, this minimum being quite sharp and well defined. 2. That adsorption took place on the glass as well as on the free surface of the liquid, and that apparently the same part of the molecule, in both cases, was drawn toward the water. 3. That the specific gravity of the anhydrous proteins of the rabbit serum studied was 1.275, whence it followed, on the basis of 6.51 per cent protein content, that the mean thickness of the protein molecules was 35.4 x 10(-8) cm. The same method applied to crystalline egg albumin, pH 6.8, in water, gave 52.8 x 10(-8) cm. for the probable molecular length.
Phage selection assisted by Sfp phosphopantetheinyl transferase-catalyzed site-specific protein labeling.

Phosphopantetheinyl transferases (PPTase) Sfp and AcpS catalyze a highly efficient reaction that conjugates chemical probes of diverse structures to proteins. PPTases have been widely used for site-specific protein labeling and live cell imaging of the target proteins. Here we describe the use of PPTase catalyzed protein labeling in protein engineering by facilitating high throughput phage selection.
Incidence of immune-related adverse events and its association with treatment outcomes: the MD Anderson Cancer Center experience.

Background Immunotherapy is emerging as the cornerstone for treatment of patients with advanced cancer, but significant toxicity (immune-related adverse events [irAEs]) associated with unbridled T cell activity remains a concern. Patients and methods A retrospective review of the electronic medical records of 290 patients with advanced cancer treated on an immunotherapy-based clinical trial in the Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center between February 2010 and September 2015 was performed. Clinical and laboratory parameters were collected to determine the incidence of irAEs, risk factors, and their association with treatment outcomes. Results Ninety eight of 290 patients (34%) experienced any grade irAEs. Among the 15 (5.2%) patients with grade ≥ 3 irAEs, the most common irAEs were dermatitis and enterocolitis. Although 80% of the patients with grade ≥ 3 irAEs required systemic corticosteroids, all the 15 patients recovered from the irAEs. On re-challenge, 4 of the 5 patients who had received systemic corticosteroids for irAE continued to respond. There were no irAE-related deaths. Importantly, patients with grade ≥ 3 irAEs had improved overall response rate (25 vs. 6%; p = 0.039) and longer median time to progression (30 weeks vs. 10 weeks; p = 0.0040) when compared to those without grade ≥ 3 irAEs. Conclusion Incidence of irAEs with immunotherapeutic agents indicates an active immune status, suggestive of potential clinical benefit to the patient. Further validation of this association in a large prospective study is warranted.
A hardcore model for constraining an exoplanet's core size

The interior structure of an exoplanet is hidden from direct view yet likely plays a crucial role in influencing the habitability of the Earth analogues. Inferences of the interior structure are impeded by a fundamental degeneracy that exists between any model comprising more than two layers and observations constraining just two bulk parameters: mass and radius. In this work, we show that although the inverse problem is indeed degenerate, there exists two boundary conditions that enables one to infer the minimum and maximum core radius fraction, CRFmin and CRFmax. These hold true even for planets with light volatile envelopes, but require the planet to be fully differentiated and that layers denser than iron are forbidden. With both bounds in hand, a marginal CRF can also be inferred by sampling in-between. After validating on the Earth, we apply our method to Kepler-36b and measure CRFmin = (0.50 +/- 0.07), CRFmax = (0.78 +/- 0.02), and CRFmarg = (0.64 +/- 0.11), broadly consistent with the Earth's true CRF value of 0.55. We apply our method to a suite of hypothetical measurements of synthetic planets to serve as a sensitivity analysis. We find that CRFmin and CRFmax have recovered uncertainties proportional to the relative error on the planetary density, but CRFmarg saturates to between 0.03 and 0.16 once delta rho/rho drops below 1-2 per cent. This implies that mass and radius alone cannot provide any better constraints on internal composition once bulk density constraints hit around a per cent, providing a clear target for observers.
YopT domain of the PfhB2 toxin from Pasteurella multocida: protein expression, characterization, crystallization and crystallographic analysis.

Pasteurella multocida causes respiratory-tract infections in a broad range of animals, as well as opportunistic infections in humans. P. multocida secretes a multidomain toxin called PfhB2, which contains a YopT-like cysteine protease domain at its C-terminus. The YopT domain of PfhB2 contains a well conserved Cys–His–Asp catalytic triad that defines YopT family members, and shares high sequence similarity with the prototype YopT from Yersinia sp. To date, only one crystal structure of a YopT family member has been reported; however, additional structural information is needed to help characterize the varied substrate specificity and enzymatic action of this large protease family. Here, a catalytically inactive C3733S mutant of PfhB2 YopT that provides enhanced protein stability was used with the aim of gaining structural insight into the diversity within the YopT protein family. To this end, the C3733S mutant of PfhB2 YopT has been successfully cloned, overexpressed, purified and crystallized. Diffraction data sets were collected from native crystals to 3.5 A resolution and a single-wavelength anomalous data set was collected from an iodide-derivative crystal to 3.2 A resolution. Data pertaining to crystals belonging to space group P31, with unit-cell parameters a = 136.9, b = 136.9, c = 74.7 A for the native crystals and a = 139.2, b = 139.2, c = 74.7 A for the iodide-derivative crystals, are discussed.
TMS evoked N100 reflects local GABA and glutamate balance

Abstract Background Animal studies suggest that synchronized electrical activities in the brain are regulated by the primary inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate, respectively. Identifying direct evidence that this same basic chemical-electrical neuroscience principle operates in the human brains is critical for translation of neuroscience to pathological research. Objective/Hypothesis We hypothesize that the background neurochemical concentrations may affect the cortical excitability probed by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Methods We used TMS with simultaneous evoked potential recording to probe the cortical excitability and determined how background frontal cortical GABA and glutamate levels measured using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) modulate frontal electrical activities. Results We found that TMS-evoked N100 reflects a balance between GABA-inhibitory and glutamate-excitatory levels. About 46% of individual variances in frontal N100 can be explained by their glutamate/GABA ratio (r = −0.68, p = 0.001). Both glutamate (r = −0.51, p = 0.019) and GABA (r = 0.55, p = 0.01) significantly contributed to this relationship but in opposite directions. Conclusion The current finding encourages additional mechanistic studies to develop TMS evoked N100 as a potential electrophysiological biomarker for translating the known inhibitory GABAergic vs. excitatory glutamatergic chemical-electrical principle from animal brain studies to human brain studies.
Growth behavior of spinel in stainless steel slag during cooling process

Spinel is an appropriate phase for sequestrating chromium in stainless steel slag to prevent chromium from polluting, and the crystal size of spinel has a significant effect on the stability of chromium and the extraction efficiency of spinel. The enrichment behavior of chromium in spinel during cooling process was investigated, and the growth process of spinel was studied based on the crystal size distribution theory. The results showed that the enrichment degree of chromium in spinel increased from 88.5% to nearly 100% during the cooling process from 1773 to 1573 K at a rate of 5 K/min. The mean diameter of spinel in stainless steel slag had an obvious growth in the cooling process, and a rapid growth of spinel occurred during the cooling process from 1623 to 1523 K. Leaching results indicated that the leaching amount of chromium could reduce to less than 0.01 mg/L by controlling the cooling condition. The growth mechanism of spinel was investigated and proposed to consist of two stages: in the first stage, the spinel was in the surface-controlled growth with a decaying nucleation rate from 1773 to 1573 K, and in the second stage, the growth mechanism was transformed to supply-controlled Ostwald ripening below 1573 K.
High-Dose Human Milk Feedings Decrease Oxidative Stress in Premature Infant.

This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article: Chen, Y., Fantuzzi, G., Schoeny, M., Meier, P., & Patel, A. L. (2019). High-Dose Human Milk Feedings Decrease Oxidative Stress in Premature Infant. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, 43(1), 126-132, which has been published in final form at 10.1002/jpen.1178.
Susanna Moodie, Colonial Exiles, and the Frontier Canadian Gothic

This chapter offers a discussion of how the Colonial Gothic recurs in Susanna Moodie’s Roughing It in the Bush (1852) and her short story “The Well in the Wilderness” (1847). An unwilling emigre to Canada, Moodie portrays frontier settlements as unsafe spaces, full of danger and disease. Throughout her memoir and short story, families are threatened by wild animals and an unforgiving landscape. The chapter also discusses Moodie’s involvement with the Spiritualist movement, and how the supernatural surfaces in her earlier novels and short fiction set in England. Ultimately, Moodie’s contribution to the Colonial Gothic combines both a European and Canadian Gothic tradition.
An Energy Requirement for Intralysosomal Proteolysis in Phagolysosomes and Tissue Slices

A partial energy requirement has been demonstrated for intralysosomal proteolysis in a cell free system. This requirement is manifested only at alkaline pH. Divalent cations enhance the stimulatory effects of ATP in this system; however, Mg alone stimulates intralysosomal proteolysis in the absence of buffers and it appears to enhance proteolysis at pH 8 by membrane stabilization. The effects of Mg are abolished by high concentrations of monovalent cations. Monovalent cations have no effects on stimulation of intralysosomal proteolysis by ATP—Mg at pH 8. Preincubation of mouse kidney phagolysosomes in a solution of Pronase abolishes the stimulatory effects of ATP-Mg, Mg and pH 5 buffer. These results are consistent with the presence of a proton transport facilitating protein in the phagolysosome membrane which can function to translocate protons by facilitated diffusion in the absence of buffer but which requires ATP to transport protons into the phagolysosome at pH 8. Evidence is presented that a partial energy requirement also exists for intralysosomal proteolysis of intravenously injected protein in mouse liver slices. Results obtained with inhibitors of ATP formation, fluoride and chloroquine are similar to those obtained by Wibo and Poole in studies on intracellular proteolysis of endogenous proteins in rat fibroblasts. The results are also, for the most part, consistent with those obtained in the ceil-free system and they suggest that intralysosomal proteolysis in intact cells is an energy requiring process. This energy requirement may be to maintain intralysosomal acidity.
MUSCULOSKELETAL ULTRASOUND: An Update

The field of musculoskeletal ultrasound is rapidly evolving, improving, and changing, in part because of the introduction of high-resolution linear array probes, tissue harmonic imaging, two-dimensional matrix probe technology, extended field-of-view imaging, and power Doppler sonography. These sophisticated technologic advances are making it easier than ever to detect and characterize a variety of pathologic musculoskeletal conditions. In addition, continuing emphasis on health care cost containment has heightened interest in ultrasound as a less expensive alternative to MR imaging. Shoulder ultrasound continues to gain widespread acceptance among orthopedic surgeons and radiologists. Other joints, however, such as the elbow, wrist and hand, hip, knee, and ankle, and the muscles and fascia, bones, and soft tissues are also easily examined with ultrasound. This article provides an overview and update of musculoskeletal ultrasound with special emphasis on technique and interpretation of shoulder sonography and discusses a variety of other less commonly used but emerging applications.
Formamidinium + cesium lead triiodide perovskites: Discrepancies between thin film optical absorption and solar cell efficiency

Abstract Optical characterization and simulations have been applied to study formamidinium + cesium lead triiodide (FA1-xCsxPbI3) perovskite based thin films and solar cells. Near infrared to ultraviolet complex dielectric function (e = e1 + ie2) spectra of varying cesium-to-formamidinium ratios in solution processed perovskite thin films have been extracted. Analysis of these e spectra track changes in the positions of critical point (CP) energies, including band gaps and above band gap transitions, with increasing cesium contents. Band gap values are identified as the lowest energy CP, with additional sub-gap features attributed to the presence of defects. Absorption onset values, for which absorption coefficient (α) = 4000 cm−1, are extracted, with x = 0.2 showing the sharpest absorption edge and the least contribution to absorption from defects below the band gap. External quantum efficiency (EQE) simulations of solar cells using e spectra as input are compared to experimental results and corroborate that the observed sub-gap absorption is due to defects as it does not contribute to EQE.
Improved scoring system for the electrocardiographic diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy.

Improved scoring system for the electrocardiographic diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy
Accessibility Impacts of Park-and-Ride Systems

This work presents a methodology for calculating park-and-ride (PNR) accessibility and provides case study results for the Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Minnesota (Twin Cities) facility system. PNR is a ...