cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Habitat segregation and regeneration patterns of red fir and mountain hemlock in ecotonal forests, lassen volcanic national park, California

Ordination (DCA), direct gradient analysis, and stand structural analysis were used to identify compositional and structural patterns in 35 ecotonal red firmountain hemlock stands in Lassen Volcanic National Park, California. Mountain hemlock-dominated sites were high in altitude, mesic, and soils were coarse textured and low in nutrients. Red fir dominated xeric sites at all altitudes but was more abundant on lower sites. Red fir also preferred more nutrient rich soils. Size structures of red fir and mountain hemlock populations were highly variable but stands contained seedlings, saplings, small stems and large stems of both species. Ecotonal red firmountain hemlock forests appear to be compositionally stable. Seedlings and saplings of both species were most abundant on lower altitude mesic sites and in stands with more open canopies. Stumps, snapped trees, logs, standing dead boles, charcoal and fire scars were present in 80% of the stands. Natural disturbances frequently produce canopy openings that m...
What do we perceive by moral sense

THREE RECEIVED VIEWS What exactly do we perceive by moral sense? The question sounds simple, but is most likely the hardest to answer – and the most interesting – when it comes to interpreting Hutcheson's moral sense theory. In one place he calls moral sense “the perception of moral good and evil,” but what exactly does that mean? I have concluded – hesitantly – that scholars of Hutcheson have never successfully answered that question. The purpose of this chapter is to show how and why this is so, and then (and this is all I promise) to try to do better – by building on what is helpful in the literature while criticizing what seems to me unhelpful or mistaken. To begin to see why this is such a difficult problem (saving for a moment the question of its importance), consider again the passage in which Hutcheson says that, “by a superior sense, which I call a moral one, we perceive pleasure in the contemplation of [certain] actions in others.” Or the other in which he states that, “we mean” by “this moral sense” “only a determination of our minds to receive amiable or disagreeable ideas of actions, when they occur to our observation.”
A new structural approach to genomic discovery of disease: example of adult-onset diabetes

This paper reports on an investigation of disease discovery from genomic data, by methods which depart substantially from customary practices found in the investigation of genome-wide association studies. Such data in general are composed of the genomic content from two contrasting phenotypes, e.g., disease versus control populations, and the analysis proceeds under the hypothesis that populational dissimilarities might reveal disease risk alleles. The proposed suite of new methods is in part based on information theory (Shannon in Bell Syst Tech J 27:379---423, 1948a; Bell Syst Tech J 27:623---656, 1948b; Jaynes in Phys Rev 106:620---630, 1957), and strong evidence will be given of the effectiveness of this new approach. The methodology extends naturally and successfully to predicting genomic disposition to disease arising from large collections of weakly contributing genomic loci. Evidence will be advanced that the example of adult-onset diabetes ("type 2 diabetes") is such a candidate disease, and in this case, probably for the first time, it can be demonstrated that disease prediction is possible. Another novel element of this study is the search and identification of potential beneficial genomic loci that may counter a disease. The generality of the methodology suggests that it might extend to other diseases.
Targeted next-generation sequencing of TP53 in oral tongue carcinoma from non-smokers.

Background Little is known regarding the etiology and genomic underpinnings of Oral Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OTSCC) in patients who lack traditional risk factors, yet the incidence is increasing. In particular, the rate, and role, of TP53 mutations in this cohort has been heavily debated in the literature.
Genetics of Benign Rolandic Epilepsy

Twenty-two nuclear families with benign epilepsy of childhood with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS, rolandic epilepsy) were analyzed by DNA linkage studies at the Department of Neuropediatrics, University of Kiel, Germany.
The Plant Circadian Clock: From a Simple Timekeeper to a Complex Developmental Manager

The plant circadian clock allows organisms to anticipate the predictable changes in the environment by adjusting their developmental and physiological traits. In the last few years, it was determined that responses known to be regulated by the oscillator are also able to modulate clock performance. These feedback loops and their multilayer communications create a complex web, and confer on the clock network a role that exceeds the measurement of time. In this article, we discuss the current knowledge of the wiring of the clock, including the interplay with metabolism, hormone, and stress pathways in the model species Arabidopsis thaliana. We outline the importance of this system in crop agricultural traits, highlighting the identification of natural alleles that alter the pace of the timekeeper. We report evidence supporting the understanding of the circadian clock as a master regulator of plant life, and we hypothesize on its relevant role in the adaptability to the environment and the impact on the fitness of most organisms.
Dairy’s Decline and the Politics of “Local” Milk in Hawai‘i

AbstractThis paper uses the case of Hawai‘i’s dairy industry to examine the history of food production in Hawai‘i, contemporary interest in re-localizing Hawai‘i’s food system, and the conflicting agrarian imaginaries that challenge this endeavor. The evolution of the dairy industry in Hawai‘i illustrates how over the past several decades the US dairy industry has become consolidated in the name of economic efficiency, regardless of the potential environmental and human health impacts. As elsewhere in the United States, Hawai‘i consumers are pushing back against this economic transformation, and advocating for greater protection of local dairy farms. Most local food advocates do not value local purely on a geographical basis, but for its potential to capture desirable attributes such as sustainably produced, supportive of local economies and/or freshness. This can make it difficult to establish a local food system when community members hold different visions, or agrarian imaginaries, for how best to prod...
Mismatch filter design via convex optimization

Mismatch filters are generally used to reduce the range sidelobes when phase-coded waveforms are used. It is shown that such mismatch filters can be designed with convex optimization techniques by formulating the problem as a second-order cone programming problem. It is also shown that it is possible to make trade-offs between peak sidelobe levels and losses in the main peak gain.
In Situ Stress and Active Faulting in Oklahoma

Abstract Appreciable injection‐induced seismicity has been occurring in north‐central Oklahoma since 2009. To better understand these earthquakes, we have compiled new information on the state of stress in the state to compare it with both mapped faults and faults inferred from earthquake epicenters and focal plane mechanisms. Seventy‐five new in situ stress orientations are available from wellbores throughout the state. In the north‐central part of the state where the induced seismicity is occurring, stress orientation and relative magnitude from focal mechanism inversions show excellent agreement with the wellbore stress orientations. All of the data show remarkably uniform stress directions. The azimuth of S Hmax , the maximum horizontal stress, is about N85°(±5°)E. Strike‐slip faulting is occurring in central Oklahoma, with strike‐slip/normal and normal faulting observed in northern Oklahoma and southern Kansas. As very few of the thousands of M ≥2.5 earthquakes that have recently occurred are located on, or near, already mapped faults, we utilize the stress information to interpret the likely fault planes associated with over 300 well‐constrained focal plane mechanisms. In the vicinity of the January 2016 sequence of magnitude 4 and 5 earthquakes in the Fairview, Oklahoma, region, we illustrate how knowledge of the stress field can be used to identify the faults responsible for the seismicity and better evaluate the potential hazard associated with possible future earthquakes in the area. The September 2016 M w 5.8 Pawnee event occurred on an unmapped N70°W trending strike‐slip fault expected to be active in the local stress field.
Electrical transport properties of graphene nanowalls grown at low temperature using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition

In this work, we report the electrical transport properties of uniform and vertically oriented graphene (graphene nanowalls) directly synthesized on multiple substrates including glass, Si/SiO2 wafers, and copper foils using radio-frequency plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) with methane (CH4) as the precursor at relatively low temperatures. The temperature for optimum growth was established with the aid of transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. This approach offers means for low-cost graphene nanowalls growth on an arbitrary substrate with the added advantage of transfer-free device fabrication. The temperature dependence of the electrical transport properties (resistivity and thermopower) were studied in the temperature range, 30–300 K and analyzed with a combination of 2D-variable range hopping (VRH) and thermally activated (TA) conduction mechanisms. An anomalous temperature dependence of the thermopower was observed for all the samples and explained with a combination of a diffusion term having a linear temperature dependence plus a term with an inverse temperature dependence.
Intimacy in the confidant role in closest friendships of nonconfined aged males

Studies suggest that the elderly need intimate social contact to enhance their well-being. Closest friendships can provide the closest social contact within the confidant role of the friendship unit. The present study attempted to determine self-perceived intimacy criteria in the confidant role in closest friendships of nonconfined aged males. It examined the most frequently perceived intimacy criteria with reference to the males’ particular structural friendship units. Results suggested the five most frequently self-perceived criteria as communication, personal concern, belongingness, commitment, and self-worth.
An exploratory study of constitutional design in three island states: Seychelles, Comoros, and Mauritius

ABSTRACTThis article explores the effects of constitutional design on conflict management and democratisation outcomes in three African island states: Seychelles, Comoros, and Mauritius. As an exploratory framework, the article reflects upon Arend Lijphart’s theory of accommodative constitutional design in view of political developments in the three cases, beginning around their independence and continuing into recent times. The case studies provide some general support to Lijphart’s accommodative theory, and particularly to the need to facilitate broad representation and an overall sense of political inclusion, but they also raise critical questions regarding the effects of his institutional recommendations. Contrary to Lijphart’s approach, majoritarian legislative elections might under certain conditions facilitate greater inclusion than proportional representation, and direct presidential elections could sometimes be more inclusive than a parliamentary executive. The findings on Lijphart’s recommendati...
Adapting the nitrogen replacement approach to dryland spring wheat in the Pacific Northwest

The objective of this article is to summarize results of a study conducted in eastern Oregon to define the critical protein levels for dark northern spring and soft white spring wheats and their fertilizer nitrogen equivalent values.
Novel Cell-Killing Mechanisms of Hydroxyurea and the Implication toward Combination Therapy for the Treatment of Fungal Infections.

ABSTRACT We have previously reported that an erg11 mutation affecting ergosterol synthesis and a hem13 mutation in the heme synthesis pathway significantly sensitize the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe to hydroxyurea (HU) (1, 2). Here we show that treatment with inhibitors of Erg11 and heme biosynthesis phenocopies the two mutations in sensitizing wild-type cells to HU. Importantly, HU synergistically interacts with the heme biosynthesis inhibitor sampangine and several Erg11 inhibitors, the antifungal azoles, in causing cell lethality. Since the synergistic drug interactions are also observed in the phylogenetically divergent Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans, the synergism is likely conserved in eukaryotes. Interestingly, our genetic data for S. pombe has also led to the discovery of a robust synergism between sampangine and the azoles in C. albicans. Thus, combinations of HU, sampangine, and the azoles can be further studied as a new method for the treatment of fungal infections.
Gödel’s Legacy

In his truly remarkable paper of 1931, Kurt Godel casts grave doubts on the viability of Hilbert’s program for providing a consistent foundation for mathematics. In addition, it compelled logicians to view their subject through entirely new lenses. Two years later, Godel was invited by the Mathematical Association of America to address one of its meetings. In his address, he spoke as follows:
Influence of immunogenetics, sex and body condition on the cutaneous microbial communities of two giant salamanders.

The complex association between hosts and microbial symbionts requires the implementation of multiple approaches to evaluate variation in host physiology. Within amphibians, heterogeneity in immunogenetic traits and cutaneous microbiota is associated with variation in disease resistance. Ozark (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi) and eastern hellbenders (C. a. alleganiensis) provide a model system to assess variation in host traits and microbial communities. Ozark hellbenders have experienced declines throughout their range, are federally endangered and experience wound retardation that is absent in the eastern subspecies. Previous microbial investigations indicate differentiation in the composition of the skin microbiota of both hellbender subspecies, but it is not clear whether these patterns are concurrent with diversity in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes. We characterized the MHC IIB and the skin microbiota of hellbenders in Missouri, where both subspecies co-occur though not sympatric. We compared the microbiota composition and MHC diversity between both subspecies and investigated whether individual-level MHC diversity, sex and body condition were associated with microbiota composition. Overall, MHC IIB diversity was lower in Ozark hellbenders compared to the eastern subspecies. Multivariate statistical comparisons identified microbiota differentiation between Ozark and eastern hellbenders. MHC IIB allele presence/absence, allele divergence, body composition and sex defined grouping of hellbender microbiotas within populations. Differentiation of the cutaneous microbiotas and MHC IIB genes between eastern and Ozark hellbenders suggests that differences exist in immunity between the two subspecies. This study demonstrates how simultaneous assessments of host genetic traits and microbiotas can inform patterns of microbial community structure in natural systems.
Detection of GNSS Jamming Incidence

The paper presents a system for detection and registration of GNSS jamming incidences. The system was developed on the basis of the software receiver (SDR) Ettus B200. The article presents also results of performed tests in real conditions.
Neuroscientific, Neuropsychological, and Psychological Evidence Comparably Impact Legal Decision Making: Implications for Experts and Legal Practitioners

ABSTRACTNeuroscientific evidence is assuming an increasingly prominent role in criminal law, where it has considerable potential for affecting legal decision making. Our understanding of this effect is currently limited. Research initially suggested a significant impact of neuroscience on lay and legal decision making, but subsequent investigations have failed to replicate or extend these findings. The current study investigated the impact of several types of evidence in a novel criminal-sentencing paradigm that surveyed community participants (N = 896) using Amazon Mechanical Turk. No significant differences among neuroscientific, neuropsychological, and psychological evidence conditions—with or without images—were observed on mock jurors’ impressions of the evidence, sentencing decisions, or opinions of violence risk, recidivism, or culpability. These results suggest that our current understanding of the differential impact of neuroscientific and neuroimaging evidence on legal decision making may be ove...
Planning and evaluation for vascular access in the elderly

Vascular access is of vital importance for patients requiring dialysis therapies. AV fistulas have been endorsed by many professional societies as the access of choice, however, subsequent creation does not go without consequences. As the population ages and patients become more medically complex, access failure has become a major cause of treatment complication. For the elderly, this is especially true and there are multiple decision points that require careful reflection before an AVF is placed. This article reviews access considerations for AVF placement in the elderly population and considers the possibility that the fistula first approach to vascular access should not be an absolute.
Low Temperature Dynamic Monte Carlo Simulations with a Phonon Heat Bath for Square-Lattice Ising Ferromagnets

We study the relationship between Monte Carlo time and physical time using a quantum Hamiltonian with a phonon heat bath interacting with a square-lattice Ising ferromagnet. Based on the calculated transition rates, we performed dynamic Monte Carlo simulations using absorbing Markov chains to measure the lifetimes of the metastable state at low temperatures. The phonon dynamic gives field-dependent prefactors in the lifetimes at low temperatures, that are different from piecewise field-independent prefactors obtained from the Glauber dynamic. Our Monte Carlo study illustrates that the temperature below which the prefactors agree with the low-temperature theory depends strongly on the magnetic field |H|.
Mining Script-Like Structures from the Web

This paper presents preliminary work to extract script-like structures, called events and event sets, from collections of web documents. Our approach, contrary to existing methods, is topic-driven in the sense that event sets are extracted for a specified topic. We introduce an iterative system architecture and present methods to reduce noise problems with web corpora. Preliminary results show that LSA-based event relatedness yields better event sets from web corpora than previous methods.
Intent Recognition for Human-Robot Interaction.

Effective human-robot cooperation requires robotic devices that understand human goals and intentions. We frame the problem of intent recognition as one of tracking and predicting human actions within the context of plan task sequences. A hybrid mode estimation approach, which estimates both discrete operating modes and continuous state, is used to accomplish this tracking based on possibly noisy sensor input. The operating modes correspond to plan tasks, hence, the ability to estimate and predict these provides a prediction of human actions and associated needs in the plan context. The discrete and continuous estimates interact in that the discrete mode selects continous dynamic models used in the continuous estimation, and the continuous state is used to evaluate guard conditions for mode transitions. Two applications: active prosthetic devices, and cooperative assembly, are described.
Enlarging the Regulation of Shrinking Cosmetics and Sunscreens

Although one is hard-pressed to name an industry that has not jumped on the nanotechnology bandwagon, the makers of cosmetics and sunscreens have capitalized on nanotechnology more aggressively than any other. Already by 2006, 5% of all cosmetic products contained nanoparticles (NPs), whereas more than 300 sunscreens contained nano-sized zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. The appeal of using NPs in sunscreens and cosmetics rather than their conventional counterparts (called here super-sized particles, or SSPs) comes from their small size. Unlike SSPs, NPs in sunscreens can provide ultraviolet (UV) protection while remaining transparent, avoiding the pasty white appearance of conventional sunscreens. With cosmetics, NPs hold the promise to provide deep, targeted delivery of moisturizers to the living layers of skin. Makers of nano-cosmetics and nano-sunscreens not only acknowledge that NPs will penetrate the skin more deeply, but tout their health effects as well.
Prolonged Intense Spectral Light Effects on Rhesus Retina

To understand the interactions between receptors which result in color and brightness discriminations, it would be valuable to know the spatial distribution of color receptors. It would be useful just to learn the percentage of red-, green-, and blue-sensitive cones as a function of retinal position. It would be much more useful to know the detailed classification within small regions from receptor to receptor, especially if it were true in primates, as it is in fish, that there is a regularly repeated pattern in the cone mosaic.
A Study of Pottery in the Ronald Arney Collection, Jefferson City, Missouri

The paper is mainly a description of the Late Woodland pottery in the Arney Collection. Three problems are considered: the distinction between the ceramics associated with the Boone Focus and the M...
Energetically wasteful wave reflections due to impedance mismatching in hypertension and their reversal with vasodilator: Time and frequency domain evaluations.

Abstract Background Increased pulse wave reflections in hypertension arise due to impedance mismatching and the effective energy transmission to the vasculature is compromised. Their quantification in the time and the frequency domains are compared and the beneficial effect of vasodilator is evaluated in the study. Methods A simple, fast time domain method for the resolution of aortic pressure and flow pulses into their forward and reflected components is presented, together with frequency domain reflection coefficient and impedance calculations. Both steady and pulsatile energy components are quantified during induced hypertension (HBP) and subsequent vasodilator (VSD, nitroprusside) treatment in experimental mongrel dogs. Corresponding power generation and usage are also analyzed. Results Characteristic impedance and peripheral resistance were not statistically different between the methods (p > 0.05). Time domain reflection coefficient identified significant differences among control, HBP and VSD groups (p Conclusion Impedance mismatching in hypertension which leads to increased wave reflections and significantly increased pulsatile work, could be effectively alleviated through vasodilator therapy. This can be quantified through the time-domain method, which is fast and equally accurate as the time-consuming frequency domain approach. The time domain method to quantify crucial parameters such as stroke work cannot be readily determined using the frequency domain methods.
A multilevel generalized ordered probit fractional split model for analyzing vehicle speed

Vehicle operating speed plays a significant role in many fields of transportation engineering including safety, operation, design and management. The current research effort contributes to literature on examining vehicle speed on arterial roads methodologically and empirically. Specifically, we propose and estimate a panel mixed generalized ordered probit fractional split (PMGOPFS) model to examine critical factors contributing to vehicle operating speed on roadways. The proposed modeling framework allows for the exogenous variable impacts to vary across the alternatives. Further, the model is formulated to allow for the impact of common unobserved factors across multiple levels (roadway, segment, direction, day and time period). To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time such an econometric model is proposed and estimated in any literature (not just in transportation). The proposed model is estimated employing a maximum simulated quasi-likelihood based objective function. Vehicular speed data obtained from 8 arterial roads in Orlando for the year 2016 is used for estimating the model. The data is obtained for weekday morning and evening peak and off-peak hours for one randomly chosen week for each roadway throughout the year. The exogenous variables that are considered in the current empirical study include geometry, roadway, traffic, land use and environmental attributes. The model estimation results are further augmented by conducting elasticity analysis to highlight the important factors affecting the vehicular speed profile.
Seasonal and diel variation in greenhouse gas emissions from septic system leach fields

Approximately one-fifth of US households rely on septic systems for wastewater treatment. Despite their prevalence, only a handful of studies quantify greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from residential septic systems. Recent work demonstrated that carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from a soakaway dispersal system vary seasonally and diurnally. Similar work does not exist for other GHGs or for GHG emissions from leach field dispersal systems. This study asks the question: Do nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), and CO2 emissions from septic system leach fields vary seasonally or diurnally, and if so, do these variations impact current flux estimates? N2O emissions from the leach field were significantly greater than from control lawn for most of the summertime (June–August; p 0.05 for all sampling dates). The time of sampling also impacted CH4 and N2O emission levels. CH4 leach field emissions became significantly greater than control lawn emissions at the 22:00 sampling time (p = 0.042). N2O leach field emissions were comparable to control lawn emissions at night (p > 0.05 at all night sampling times). CO2 leach field emissions were never significantly different from control lawn emissions. These results indicate that annual emissions of N2O and CH4 from septic system leach fields cannot be calculated using one constant flux rate, as is current practice.
Building Open Societies: Freedom of the Press in Jordan and Rwanda

Media policy plays a prominent role in nation-building, but context determines whether policymakers view that role as a positive or negative one. In Jordan, the press’s critiques of the government’s diplomatic outreach toward Israel resulted in proscriptions on, and imprisonment for, any reporting that “harmed national unity.” In Rwanda, where decade-old genocidal rants read over the radio airwaves still ring in survivors’ ears, any discussion of ethnic strife or mention of Hutus and Tutsis leads to charges of divisionism. By taking stock of each country’s contemporary history, this article considers the ways in which freedom of expression is contested, shaped, and defined by recent developments. A country’s media can be more or less “free," but without a proper understanding of that country’s history, debate over its media policy is necessarily incomplete. One issue for developing countries and the scholars who study them is the degree to which context and history are being used to justify the suppression of legitimate speech, open debate, and a properly functioning media space. Another is whether a relative conceptualization of freedom of expression can be squared with what U.S. Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas called free speech’s “high purposes”: inviting dispute, creating dissatisfaction with the status quo, and moving its listeners to anger and action.
Effect of the putative novel selective ETA-receptor antagonist HJP272, a 1,3,6-trisubstituted-2-carboxy-quinol-4-one, on infection-mediated premature delivery.

Preterm birth (PTB), defined as any birth occurring before 37 weeks of gestation, occurs in only 12% of all births, yet accounts for nearly half of long-term neurological morbidity, and 60%-80% of perinatal mortality. The single most common cause of PTB is intrauterine infection. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoconstrictor peptide that is both upregulated by inflammatory cytokines and capable of increasing myometrial smooth muscle tone. We hypothesized, therefore, that ET-1 is a critical component of the parturition cascade in the setting of infection-associated PTB. In our previous work, we have shown that blockade of ET-1 synthesis through the use of the metalloproteinase inhibitor phosphoramidon results in control of preterm labor. In the current work, we showed that blockade of ET-1 action with 5-50 mg/kg i.p. 3-(3-carboxybenzyl)-1-((6-ethylbenzo(d)(1,3)dioxol-5-yl)methyl)-6-hydroxy-4-oxo-1,4-dihydroquinoline-2- carboxylic acid (HJP272), a putative novel selective ETA-receptor antagonist (IC50, 70 nmol/L), prevents PTB induced with up to 50 mg/kg of i.p. lipopolysaccharide in a mouse model. This is the first report, to our knowledge, of control of infection-associated PTB with a specific ETA-receptor antagonist. The identification of a novel effective therapy for PTB could have important clinical implications.
Acceptable Noise Level Stability Over a One-Year Period of Time.

Background The acceptable noise level (ANL) is a measure of willingness to listen to speech in the presence of background noise and is thought to be related to success with amplification. To date, ANLs have only been assessed over short periods of time, including within a session and over a 3-week and 3-month time period. ANL stability over longer periods of time has not been assessed. Purpose The purpose was to examine the stability of ANL over a 1-year time period. Research Design A repeated-measures, longitudinal study was completed. Study Sample Thirty young adults with normal hearing served as participants. The participants were tested at two different sites. Data Collection and Analysis Two trials of most comfortable listening levels (MCLs), background noise levels (BNLs), and ANLs were assessed for each participant during three experimental sessions: at 0 months, 6 months, and 1 year. Results Two-way repeated-measures analysis of variances revealed no significant change in MCLs, BNLs, or ANLs within a session or over a 1-year time period. These results indicate that ANLs remain stable for 1 year in listeners with normal hearing. Conclusions The finding that the ANL is stable over a longer period of time supports the theory that the ANL is an inherent trait of the listener and mediated at in the central auditory nervous system.
Long-term Effects of Skin Tearing on Outcomes After Collagenase Treatment of Dupuytren Contractures:

Background: The objective of this study was to compare the rates of recurrence, additional treatment, patient satisfaction, and willingness to undergo Clostridium histolyticum (CCH) treatment again for Dupuytren disease in patients with and without skin tearing at minimum 5-year follow-up. Methods: We identified 199 digits in 142 patients who underwent CCH treatments for Dupuytren disease from April 2010 to December 2013 with minimum 5-year follow-up. Patients were contacted by telephone to collect our response variables: perceived recurrence of contracture, additional treatment, satisfaction, and willingness to undergo CCH treatment again. Medical records were reviewed for skin tearing at manipulation and patient-related and disease-specific variables. Results: At the time of manipulation, 16 out of 142 patients (11%) and 22 out of 199 digits (11%) had skin tearing. Older age was associated with skin tearing. At an average 7.2-year follow-up, the mean satisfaction was 7.1 ± 2.6 on a 1 to 10 Likert scale for patients with skin tearing and 6.5 ± 3.4 for patients without skin tearing. Eighty-one percent of patients with skin tearing expressed willingness to undergo CCH treatment again, compared with 68% of patients without skin tearing. Perceived recurrence of contracture occurred in 82% of digits with skin tearing and 80% of digits without skin tearing. Additional treatment was performed in 45% of digits with skin tearing and 54% of digits without skin tearing. No difference was statistically significant. Conclusions: Although skin tearing at CCH manipulation complicates the short-term course following CCH treatment, it does not affect long-term perceived contracture recurrence or patient satisfaction.
Laparoscopy Compared With Laparotomy for the Management of Pediatric Blunt Abdominal Trauma.

Abstract Background There is minimal evidence evaluating the risks and benefits of laparoscopy use in hemodynamically stable children with suspected abdominal injuries. The objective of this study was to evaluate postoperative outcomes in a large cohort of hemodynamically stable pediatric patients with blunt abdominal injury. Methods Using the 2015-2016 National Trauma Data Bank, all patients aged Results Of 720 patients, 504 underwent laparotomy, 132 underwent laparoscopy, and 84 underwent laparoscopy converted to laparotomy. The median age was 10 (IQR: 7-15) y, and the median ISS was 9 (IQR: 5-14). Mean hospital length of stay was 2.1 d shorter (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.9-3.2 d) and mean intensive care unit length of stay was 1.1 d shorter (95% CI: 0.6-1.5 d) for the laparoscopy group compared with the laparotomy group. The laparoscopy group had a 2.0% lower mean probability of surgical site infection than the laparotomy group (95% CI: 1.0%-3.0%). Conclusions In this cohort of hemodynamically stable pediatric patients with blunt abdominal injury, laparoscopy may have improved outcomes over laparotomy.
A Tuft Act to Follow: Leukotrienes Take the Stage in Anti-worm Immunity

Tuft cells are specialized taste-chemosensory cells that detect the presence of intestinal parasites and orchestrate type 2 immunity. In this issue of Immunity, McGinty et al. discover that parasitic worms, but not commensal protists, stimulate tuft cells to release cysteinyl leukotrienes to amplify anti-helminth immunity in the small intestine.
The Epidemiology of the AIDS Pandemic: Historical, Cultural, Political, Societal Perspectives and Knowledge of HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a bloodborne pathogen that targets the body’s immune system by attacking T cells. Having originated from Simian Immunodeficiency Virus, the first confirmed case was discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In the 1980s, the AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) pandemic began, and by the end of that decade, the World Health Organization reported the presence of HIV in 145 countries and nearly 400,000 cases worldwide. This rapid spread left the scientific community perplexed, and the general population scared. Our literature review explores which factors led to the rapid global spread of HIV. Through historical records and peer-reviewed articles, we sought to uncover and piece together practical applications to enhance understanding of the history and knowledge of potential dangers in the spread of future pandemics.
Association of urinary sodium and potassium excretion with systolic blood pressure in the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Sodium Trial

The 2019 National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) for Sodium (Na+) and Potassium (K+) Report concluded there remains insufficient evidence to establish a K+ DRI. This study tested the hypothesis that reduced Na+ and increased K+ excretion will positively associate with lower blood pressure in salt sensitive (SS) and salt resistant (SR) participants in the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Sodium Trial (DASH–Sodium). Via the NHLBI BioLINCC we accessed the DASH-Sodium dataset for data on systolic blood pressure (SBP), 24-h urinary Na+ and K+ excretion at screening (regular patient diet; N = 186, SS N = 222 SR) and post DASH diet (N = 71 SS, N = 119 SR). The relationships between SBP, urinary Na+ and K+ excretion, and Na+/K+ ratio were assessed via linear regression. At screening elevated urinary Na+ excretion positively associated with SBP in SS (1 g increase in urinary Na+ excretion = +1 0 ± 0.4 mmHg) but not SR participants, and urinary K+ excretion of <1 g K+/day was associated with higher SBP in SS and SR participants. Urinary K+ excretion ≥1 g/day, or a decreases in urinary Na+/K+ ratio, was not associated with lower SBP. Post the DASH–sodium diet intervention, SBP was reduced in SS and SR participants. However, no correlation was observed between reduced SBP and urinary K+ excretion or the urinary Na+/K+ ratio irrespective of the salt sensitivity of blood pressure. Our data support the DRI recommendation not to establish a K+ DRI and suggest further evidence is required to support a reduced Na+/K+ ratio to lower SBP.
Inferring lateral tension distribution in wall structures of single cells

We present an inference scheme that maps relative lateral tensions along the cell wall based on the cell outline coordinates. The full tension-inference approach presented here includes the primary scheme that maps the tension distributions on the discretized cell outlines and their optimizations to smooth polynomials. We have studied the stability of the primary scheme against small noise analytically and have shown that the scheme is more stable to noise when discretization of the cell outline is coarser. We have found agreement quantitatively between the error bounds predicted by the analysis and the error computed from numerical experiments, when the scheme is applied to synthetic cell outlines from a computational model of hyper-elastic thin-shell deformation. Then, we develop an optimization method that effectively restores the spatial resolution of the primary scheme by converting the discrete tension distributions to smooth polynomials. In the end, we apply the full scheme to map tension distributions in moss protonemal cells.
Improving Language Generation with Sentence Coherence Objective

Conditional story generation and contextual text continuation have become increasingly popular topics in NLP community. Existing models are often prone to output paragraphs of texts that gradually diverge from the given prompt. Although the generated text may have a reasonable perplexity and diversity, it could easily be identified by human as gibberish. The goal of our project is to improve the coherence and consistency across sentences in a language-generation model. We aim to solve this issue by first training a sentence pair coherence classifier with GPT-2 pretrained model, and then co-train the GPT-2 language model with this new coherence objective using a method analogous to the REINFORCE algorithm. This fine-tuned language model is able to generate lengthy paragraph conditioned on a given topic without diverging too much. The simplicity of this model allows it to be applicable to a variety of underlying language model architecture since it only modifies the final layer of the pre-trained model.
Increases in Income-Related Disparities in Early Elementary School Obesity, 1998-2014.

Abstract Objective Research shows that population-level rates of obesity, which rose dramatically from the 1970s through the mid-2000s, have since plateaued or even started to decline. However, overall improvements may mask differences in trends for different subgroups. For instance, obesity rates have continued to climb among low-income adolescents, leading to growing income-related gaps in obesity. By comparison, we know little about whether income-related disparities have also changed among elementary school children. To address this gap, we examined two cohorts of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study – Kindergarten cohort, which followed children entering school in 1998 and 2010. We hypothesized that income-related disparities in obesity have also grown larger over time among young children. Methods We used data from nationally representative samples of children who entered kindergarten in 1998 and 2010. We documented rates of overweight and obesity from kindergarten through third grade, examined how rates differed for children from high- and low-income families, and tested whether income-related disparities changed over time. Results Rates of overweight and obesity were 2 to 5 percentage points higher in the later cohort, and overall increases masked substantial variation by income. Specifically, these increases were driven by children in lower-income households, resulting in substantially larger income-related disparities in overweight and obesity in the later cohort. Conclusions As we hypothesized, income-related disparities in young children's obesity grew between 1998 and 2014. This suggests that efforts to curb increasing rates of obesity may have been more successful for higher-income families. We discuss potential mechanisms that may account for increasing disparities.
Cell cycle arrest following pan-RAS inhibition can occur through upregulation of p27 in both KRAS-dependent and KRAS-independent colon cancer cell lines

ABSTRACT RAS is one of the most frequently mutated oncogenes in cancer with ~30% of all human tumors harboring a mutation in either HRAS, NRAS, or KRAS isoforms. Despite countless efforts for development of small molecule inhibitors for RAS, it remains an elusive target in the clinic. Here we demonstrated that the pan-RAS biological inhibitor RAS/RAP1-specific endopeptidase (RRSP) has proteolytic activity in ‘Ras-less’ mouse embryonic fibroblasts expressing human RAS isoforms (H/N/KRAS) or major oncogenic KRAS mutants (G12C, G12V, G12D, G13D, and Q61R). The cleavage of RAS inhibited phosphorylation of ERK and cell proliferation. To investigate how RAS processing affects colon cancer cells, we tested RRSP against KRAS-dependent (SW620 and GP5d) and KRAS-independent (HCT-116, SW1463, and HT-29) cell lines and found that RRSP inhibited growth. The cleavage of RAS was cytotoxic in some cell lines and induced either irreversible cell cycle arrest or uncharacterized growth inhibition in others. The G1 cell cycle arrest in some colon cancer cells was mediated through rescue of p27 (Kip1) protein expression resulting in reduced phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein. Together, this work demonstrated that complete ablation of RAS in cells induces growth inhibition, but the mechanism of inhibition can vary in different tumor cell lines. This ability of RAS processing to halt cell proliferation by multiple strategies highlights RRSP both as a potential anti-tumor therapy and as a tool for studying RAS signaling across tumor types.
AARON: Assistive Augmented Reality Operations and Navigation System for NASA's Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU).

The AARON system is a, reactive, integrated augmented reality (AR) system developed with considerations for collaborative activity. The underlying software architecture and design allows for bi-directional interactions and collaboration between human crewmembers, virtual agents that manage the system and EVA timeline, and robotic systems or smart tools that an astronaut may interact with during an exploration EVA (xEVA). We further present an AR user experience testbed developed to monitor and assess human interactions with the AR system. This testbed is composed of a custom telepresence control suit and a software system that throttles the communication throughput and latency between the AR headset and a control unit, or between simulated crewmembers. This paper outlines the technical design of the system, it’s implementation, the visual design of the AR interface, and the interaction model afforded by the system.
Surfactant-Free Synthesis of Three-Dimensional Perovskite Titania-Based Micron-Scale Motifs Used as Catalytic Supports for the Methanol Oxidation Reaction.

We synthesized and subsequently rationalized the formation of a series of 3D hierarchical metal oxide spherical motifs. Specifically, we varied the chemical composition within a family of ATiO3 (wherein “A” = Ca, Sr, and Ba) perovskites, using a two-step, surfactant-free synthesis procedure to generate structures with average diameters of ~3 microns. In terms of demonstrating the practicality of these perovskite materials, we have explored their use as supports for the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) as a function of their size, morphology, and chemical composition. The MOR activity of our target systems was found to increase with decreasing ionic radius of the “A” site cation, in order of Pt/CaTiO3 (CTO) > Pt/SrTiO3 (STO) > Pt/BaTiO3 (BTO). With respect to morphology, we observed an MOR enhancement of our 3D spherical motifs, as compared with either ultra-small or cubic control samples. Moreover, the Pt/CTO sample yielded not only improved mass and specific activity values but also a greater stability and durability, as compared with both commercial TiO2 nanoparticle standards and precursor TiO2 templates.
The Impact of Expedited Discharge on 30-Day Readmission After Lung Resection: A National Study.

Abstract Background Expedited discharge (within 24 hours) after lung resection has received scrutiny because of concerns for higher readmissions and paradoxically increased costs. The present study examined the impact of expedited discharge on hospitalization costs and unplanned readmissions by using a nationally representative sample. In addition, the study sought to determine interhospital practice variation. Methods Adults undergoing elective lobar or sublobar resection were identified using the 2016 to 2018 Nationwide Readmissions Database, and patients with a postoperative duration of hospitalization longer than 5 days or those who experienced any perioperative complication were excluded. Patients were classified as Expedited if their postoperative hospitalization duration was 0 or 1 day and otherwise were classified as Routine. Inverse probability of treatment weighing was used to adjust for intergroup differences. Hospitals were ranked according to risk-adjusted early discharge rates. Multivariable regression models were developed to assess the association of expedited discharge on nonelective 30-day readmissions, as well as associated mortality and costs. Results Of an estimated 84,152 patients, 13,834 (16.4%) comprised the Expedited group. Compared with the Routine group, the Expedited patients were younger and less likely to have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and to have undergone open procedures. After adjustment, early discharge was associated with lower incremental costs (β coefficient: −$3.6K; 95% confidence interval, −4.4 to −2.8), as well as similar readmissions (odds ratio, 0.89; 95% confidence interval, 0.70 to 1.13) and related-mortality. Nearly one-half (48.1%) of all hospitals performed zero early discharges. Conclusions Expedited discharge after lung resection is a feasible management strategy and is associated with decreased costs and similar readmission risk compared with the norm. Select individuals should be strongly considered for expedited discharge after lung resection.