cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genetic Counseling and Nondirectiveness

Nondirectiveness has been a core value in genetic counseling models for over 30 years and yet there is little consensus about what it means. Nondirectiveness is a contested set of attitudes about the role a genetic counselor should play in helping a patient understand and make decisions about genetic information. Of its early advocates, Sheldon Reed – coiner of the term ‘genetic counseling’ – is the most influential. Although he never used the term ‘nondirective,’ he advocated the attitudes to which the term refers. Fine cites this passage as an articulation of his early view that comports with nondirectiveness: Reed’s view equates nondirective counseling to withholding advice about decision making. In an ongoing discussion, this articulation represents the dominant camp, one that is compatible with the teaching model of genetic counseling. Motivated by the psychotherapeutic model, Kessler along with others in the field articulate an alternative view of nondirectiveness. Seeking to define it in positive terms of what should be done, he elaborates the approach as a set of counseling skills that seek to promote the autonomy of the client. For example, genetic counselors should evaluate and point out the decision making strengths of clients. As these two understandings compete to articulate this constitutive value of the practice, recent challenges have proposed that nondirectiveness should no longer play such an important role.
Police Legitimacy in the Context of Street Stops: The Effects of Race, Class, and Procedural Justice:

Citizens’ perceptions of the police have been recognized as a long-standing issue of significant importance. Positive perceptions of the police, especially as they relate to legitimacy, are not onl...
Open versus laparoscopic approach to gastric fundoplication in children with cardiac risk factors

Abstract Background Gastric fundoplication is the most common noncardiac operation in children with congenital cardiac disease. While prior studies validated safety of laparoscopy in this population, we hypothesize that children with cardiac risk factors (CRFs) are likelier to undergo open fundoplication (OF) but experience greater morbidity than after laparoscopic fundoplication (LF). Materials and methods Utilizing 2013 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatrics Public-Use-File, pediatric patients undergoing LF and OF were stratified to none, minor, major, or severe CRFs. Multivariate logistic regression determined preoperative variables and postoperative outcomes associated with LF or OF. Results A total of 1501 fundoplication patients were identified with 92% undergoing LF. OF patients were likelier to have minor (odds ratio [OR]: 2.36, P P = 0.003), and severe CRFs (OR: 4.36, P P = 0.048) and those with tracheostomy were likelier to have OF (OR: 2.3, P = 0.006). Overall, the OF group had higher postoperative morbidity (OR: 2.41, P Conclusions OF is more common in patients ≤1 y old; patients with minor, major, or severe CRFs; and those with tracheostomy. LF should be considered in children with minor and major CRFs, as OF in those patients results in greater pulmonary, infectious, and hematological sequelae.
A Survey of Mosquitos in the College Station Area

Mosquitoes pose not only an annoyance and nuisance to humans, but also a danger to health. West Nile Virus, Malaria, and Dengue fever are just a few of the diseases vectored by mosquitoes. Entomologists keep track of species of mosquitoes and their ranges through surveys. A collection survey of the College Station metropolitan area was conducted to assess the species currently present. It was hypothesized that Culex quinquiefasciatus would be the most prevalent species in the area; however, no specimens were collected during this survey. Further surveys are required to determine the most prevalent species of mosquitoes in the College Station area.
Sheared or Break of Caudal Catheters After Epidural Steroid Injection

Chronic back and radicular pain is a common problem in the general population. It is often managed conservatively but at times requires surgical intervention. An epidural steroid injection is one of the most common interventions for treating this condition. The injection is performed either via an interlaminar, transforaminal, or a caudal approach. To improve the spread of the medication injected, a catheter is threaded via the sacral hiatus to target the lower lumbar space. A catheter is often used in patients suffering from failed back syndrome. The use of catheter, usually uneventful, can be complicated by dural puncture, subdural placement, or intravascular injection. The more unusual complications of catheter shearing and breakage have been reported. Knowing the mechanisms of catheter shearing may prevent it or manage it after it happens.
A Long-Term Analysis of Aspiration Pneumonia in Patients with Parkinson's Disease (P04.144)

OBJECTIVE: To study the long-term trends, relative risk and mortality in PD patients with aspiration pneumonia (AsPna). BACKGROUND: PD is a neurodegenerative disease lacking a cure or neuroprotective treatment. As with all chronic diseases, the course of progression in PD is associated with complications. AsPna is amongst the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in PD patients. Understanding the risk and mortality trends overtime may increase awareness of this problem. DESIGN/METHODS: The National Hospital Discharge Survey was used to identify percentage of PD patients with AsPna compared to non-PD patients, and their in-hospital mortality for years 1980-2010. Comparisons were made before and after exclusion of patients with: age ≤50 years, stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimers disease and atypical parkinsonism. Additional comparisons were made after dividing patients into age-quintiles (from age 50-95). RESULTS: AsPna occurred in 245,087 (3.9%) of 6,268,447 PD patients and only 0.69% of 1,087,422,493 non-PD patients (relative risk 3.7). After excluding confounders, 3.77% vs. 1.02% had AsPna, respectively. Average mortality of PD patients was comparably less (17.9% vs. 22.7%). By age-quintiles (from age 50-95), over 31-years the highest percentage of AsPna was among 76-80 years, while over the past 5-years, an additional higher peak occurred at age 86-90 years. Similar comparison showed highest mortality in patients in their early-80s. Trends over 31-years reveal an increase in percentage of patients with AsPna among PD and non-PD groups with an associated decrease in mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Symptomatic treatment and prevention of complications is the mainstay of PD-management. Our analysis of a large-national database shows that PD patients live longer now than in the past and tend to have more AsPna but with lower mortality than non-PD patients. Further research should investigate interventions to curb the increase in AsPna. Disclosure: Dr. Akbar has nothing to disclose. Dr. Dham has nothing to disclose. Dr. Okun has received personal compensation for activities with the National Parkinson Foundation and Ask the Expert. Dr. Okun has received royalty payments from Demos, Humana, and Cambridge. Dr. Okun has received research support from the Michael J. Fox Foundation, the National Parkinson Foundation, the Parkinson Alliance, the Smallwood Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health.
Thinking BIG rheumatology: How to make functional genomics data work for you

High-throughput sequencing assays have become an increasingly common part of biological research across multiple fields. Even as the resulting sequences pile up in public databases, it is not always obvious how to make use of these data sets. Functional genomics offers approaches to integrate these "big" data into our understanding of rheumatic diseases. This review aims to provide a primer on thinking about big data from functional genomics in the context of rheumatology, using examples from the field’s literature as well as the author’s own work to illustrate the execution of functional genomics research. Study design is crucial to ensure the right samples are used to address the question of interest. In addition, sequencing assays produce a variety of data types, from gene expression to 3D chromatin structure and single-cell technologies, that can be integrated into a model of the underlying gene regulatory networks. The best approach for this analysis uses the scientific process: bioinformatic methods should be used in an iterative, hypothesis-driven manner to uncover the disease mechanism. Finally, the future of functional genomics will see big data fully integrated into rheumatology, leading to computationally trained researchers and interactive databases. The goal of this review is not to provide a manual, but to enhance the familiarity of readers with functional genomic approaches and provide a better sense of the challenges and possibilities.
Indic and Dravidian retroflexes: An ultrasound investigation

The languages of South Asia somewhat famously contain what might be deemed canonical retroflexes. These are often described as involving an extreme articulation with sub-apical post-alveolar or palatal contact, and imaging studies of varying types (electropalatography, MRI, ultrasound, etc.) suggest that this is an accurate characterization for Dravidian retroflexes (Kochetov et al. 2014, Krull and Lindblom 1996, Narayanan et al. 1999, Narayanan et al. 2004, Scobbie et al. 2013). Indic retroflexes reportedly involve less extreme articulations (Ladefoged and Bhaskararao 1983), but imaging data for Indic languages remains surprisingly rare. This raises an interesting question: how do Indic and Dravidian retroflexes compare articulatorily? We explore this question by presenting ultrasound imaging of retroflexes in several Indic (Marathi, Hindi) and several Dravidian (Kannada, Telugu) languages. Results indicate that all languages contain at least some of the extreme articulations often associated with South Asian retroflexes, though the within-speaker variability noted in previous work (e.g., Arsenault 2017) is also on display.The languages of South Asia somewhat famously contain what might be deemed canonical retroflexes. These are often described as involving an extreme articulation with sub-apical post-alveolar or palatal contact, and imaging studies of varying types (electropalatography, MRI, ultrasound, etc.) suggest that this is an accurate characterization for Dravidian retroflexes (Kochetov et al. 2014, Krull and Lindblom 1996, Narayanan et al. 1999, Narayanan et al. 2004, Scobbie et al. 2013). Indic retroflexes reportedly involve less extreme articulations (Ladefoged and Bhaskararao 1983), but imaging data for Indic languages remains surprisingly rare. This raises an interesting question: how do Indic and Dravidian retroflexes compare articulatorily? We explore this question by presenting ultrasound imaging of retroflexes in several Indic (Marathi, Hindi) and several Dravidian (Kannada, Telugu) languages. Results indicate that all languages contain at least some of the extreme articulations often associated with South ...
The way things were in multivariate splines: A personal view

A personal account of the author’s encounters with multivariate splines during their early history.
Breed effects on crossbred cow-calf performance

Effects of seven breeds of cow's sire and 12 breeds of cow's maternal grandsire on preweaning performance of crossbred cows and their calves were examined in data from two experiments conducted at the Roman L. Hruska U.S. Mean Animal Research Center. Data included 1,836 records over three to five parities for 516 cows by 143 sires and by 307 maternal grandsires. The statistical model fitted effects of calf sex, parity, cow birth-breeding year or cow-calf birth year, the breed effects and their interactions. Deviations of breed of sire or equivalent grandsire effects on each trait from the mean for Hereford x Angus cows ranged from -1.6 to 5.5 kg (P less than .001) for calf birth weights, -15 to 1% (P less than .001) for calving difficulty, nonsignificant for preweaning calf mortality and -2 to 27 kg (P less than .001) for calf weaning weight. Deviations were nonsignificant for conception rate and calves weaned per cow exposed to breeding, but -2 to 40 kg (P less than .001) for calf weight weaned per cow exposed for breeding, -7 to 78 kg (P less than .001) for cow weight and -20 to 2% (P less than .001) for body condition score. The advantages of Holstein and Brahman cross over Hereford x Angus cows of 23 and 13% in weight of calf weaned/cow-breeding exposure must be compared with the expected greater feed requirements from 7 or 8% heavier cows and at least 50% higher milk production, which emphasizes the need to include input measures and costs in breed evaluation schemes.
Raft-STAT Signaling and Transcytoplasmic Trafficking

In the last few years this and other laboratories have obtained data suggesting that cytokine-STAT signaling in many different cell-types is likely to be a chaperoned pathway initiated at the level of specialized plasma membrane microdomains called “rafts” (the “raft-STAT signaling hypothesis”)(1, 2). These findings are of broad significance in that all cytokines and growth factors initiate signaling in target cells by interacting with respective cell-surface receptors. The new data suggest that raft microdomains represent the units of function at the cell-surface through which ligand-stimulated STAT signaling is initiated. In this review, we shall briefly summarize recent data relevant to an understanding of the subcellular anatomy of cytokine- and growth factor- activated STAT signaling at the level of the plasma membrane and the role of integral raft proteins such as caveolin-1 (cav-1) in modulating this pathway.
On the Modeling of the Mechanical Properties of Composite Materials at High Strain Rates

High strain rate compressive and tensile ultimate strength properties for a wide variety of composite materials as function of strain rate are modeled, using the Weeks — Sun equation. These include unidirectional, quasi-isotropic and woven composites, made of glass, graphite and aramid fibers in various thermoset and thermoplastic polymeric matrices. Through modeling, using the Weeks — Sun equation, dynamic composite material properties can be easily used in the design and analysis of composite material structures rather than static material properties. By doing so, excess weight or unexpected failure may be avoided.
Nonlocal Speckle Denoising Model Based on Non-linear Partial Differential Equations

Image denoising is among the most fundamental problems in image processing. A large range of methods covering various fields of mathematics are available for denoising an image. The initial denoising models are derived from energy minimization using nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs). The filtering based models have also been used for quite a long time where the denoising is done by smoothing operators. The most successful among them was the very recently developed nonlocal means method proposed by Buades, Coll and Morel in 2005. Though the method is very accurate in removing noise, it is very slow and hence quite impractical. In 2008, Gilboa and Osher extended some known PDE and variational techniques in image processing to the nonlocal framework. The motivation behind this was to make any point interact with any other point in the image. Using nonlocal PDE operators, they proposed the nonlocal total variation method for Gaussian noise. In this paper, we develop a nonlinear PDE based accelerated diffusion speckle denoising model. For faster convergence, we use the Split Bregman scheme to find the solution to this new model. The new model shows more accurate results than the existing speckle denoising model. It is also faster than the original nonlocal means method.
Adapting psychotherapy to patient reactance level: A meta‐analytic review

Resistance and its extreme variation, reactance, are uniformly observed across varieties of psychotherapy. Social psychologists note that reactant individuals prove to be less so when offered a receptive and nondirective environment. We provide definitions of reactance, review its frequent measures, and offer a clinical example. A meta-analysis of 13 controlled studies (1,208 patients) examined the degree to which treatment outcomes are enhanced when therapists offer less directive treatments to high-reactance patients. The results revealed a large effect size (d = .79), confirming that highly reactant individuals did better in psychotherapy when the therapist assumed a reflective and nondirective stance than a directive and authoritative one. To a lesser degree, the opposite was also true. Limitations of the research and diversity considerations are noted. Practice recommendations are provided to minimize a patient's reactant behavior.
Nano-tech/Science Education at a Research University

This author summarizes the insights he gained from preparing teaching material for his courses on “nanotechnologies” for over a decade at both the undergraduate and graduate student levels at a research university. A distinction is made between advanced courses that can be classified as some kind of workforce training and 300 level undergraduate courses that are mainly concerned with the development of critical thinking skills as part of inter- and trans-disciplinary science and engineering education. Didactic uses of 3D printed models in introductory nano-tech/science courses are mentioned. Information on how to obtain the print files of such models is included.
Exploring Nutraceuticals to Enhance Scientific Literacy: Aligning with Vision and Change

An introductory cell biology laboratory course was redesigned using two inquiry-based modules to align with the goals of scientific inquiry as described in Vision and Change. To evaluate the lab9s efficacy, we used a broad range of materials, including pretests and posttests, online surveys, focus group interviews, and course evaluations. Although our students produced significant learning gains on technical laboratory skills, methods, and data analyses, during the first two years their affective dispositions toward the experience were more negative. By evaluating our class data in light of insights from the scholarship of teaching and learning, we were able to provide better guidance to students and subsequently to persist past this implementation dip, showing continued positive gains in student learning outcomes, and eliminating the negative impact on student affective outcomes. Our experience underscores the value of scientific teaching, using class data and evidence-based practices to persist beyond the implementation dips that come with adopting new curricula.
Aggression and Mating Behavior in Wild and Captive Populations of the House Cricket, Acheta domesticus

Animals in captivity experience drastically different selective pressures than their wild counterparts. This can cause evolutionary divergence in behavior between captive and wild populations. While most research on evolution under captivity has focused on vertebrates, we expect similar behavioral changes in insects that live and breed in commercial facilities. Using the common house cricket, Acheta domesticus, we tested how crickets reared in captivity for many generations differed from wild-caught counterparts in two aspects of social behavior: male aggression and female responsiveness to male calling song. Acheta domesticus is an important model organism for behavioral research and are often reared in dense, commercial facilities with ad-libitum access to food and no risk of mortality from predators— very different conditions from the wild. We predicted that commercially-derived males would exhibit less intrasexual aggression due to selection from living in dense conditions. We predicted that commercially-derived females would be less responsive to male calling song because they are more likely to encounter many males at random. Instead, we found that commercially-derived males were more aggressive than wild ones, and that commercially-derived and wild females did not differ in responsiveness to calling song. Insects serve as model systems for a great deal of research in evolutionary and behavioral biology. If these animals are evolving in captivity, they may not provide an accurate representation of the natural phenomena we aim to understand.
Model Reduction of Self-Repeating Structures with Applications to Metamaterial Modeling

The dynamic behavior of metamaterials and metastructures is often modeled using finite elements; however, these models can become quite large and therefore computationally expensive to simulate. Traditionally, large models are made smaller using any of the array of model reduction methods, such as Guyan or Craig-Bampton reduction. The regularized nature of metamaterials makes them excellent candidates for reduced-order modeling because the system is essentially comprised of a repeating pattern of unit cell components. These unit cell components can be reduced and then assembled to form a reduced-order system-level model with equivalent dynamics. The process is demonstrated using a finite element model of a 1-D axially vibrating metamaterial bar using Guyan, SEREP, and Craig-Bampton reduction methods. The process is shown to provide substantial reduction in the time needed to simulate the dynamic response of a representative metamaterial while maintaining the dynamics of the system and resonators.
A Piezoelectric Resonant Accelerometer for Above 140db Linear Dynamic Range High-G Applications

This paper reports on the design, fabrication and characterization of ultra-high linear dynamic range frequency-output resonant accelerometer with wide bandwidth utilizing a novel area-changing electrostatic frequency modulation (ACE-FM) mechanism. The accelerometer consists of a piezoelectrically-actuated free-free-beam resonator implemented in the device layer of an SOI wafer, and a high-stiffness proof-mass in the handle layer, separated from the resonator by a uniform sub-micron gap. Fabricated devices measure 850μg/√Hz VRW and 3milli-g BI with projected linear dynamic range greater than 140dB for accelerations up to 50,000g in a single-ended output configuration. Improved frequency stability can be achieved using differential outputs, which provides a path to realizing 180dB linear dynamic range in a microscale accelerometer for demanding applications including seismometers and aerospace.
Exploring factors associated with scholarly writing among US pharmacy practice faculty.

Abstract Objectives This study explored intrinsic facilitators (i.e., grit, self-efficacy, and writing motivation) and barriers associated with scholarly output as measured by self-reported publications among US pharmacy practice faculty. Methods A cross-sectional study design was used to gather information regarding scholarly writing output and intrinsic facilitators and barriers among US pharmacy practice faculty using an online self-reported survey. The survey link was distributed via email between October and November 2017. The Grit-S, New Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (NGSE), and Scholarly Writing Motivation Scale (SWMS) were used to measure grit, self-efficacy, and writing motivation, respectively. Perceived barriers, self-reported quantity of publications, and demographics were also collected. A structural equation modeling (SEM) approach was used to determine effects of perceived barriers and each intrinsic factor on self-reported total publications. Results N = 208 participants were included in the analyses. The average number of self-reported annual publications was 1.88. Participants who reported having higher than average numbers of annual publications (n = 85, 40.9%) more frequently held a PhD degree and were more frequently in the tenure track, compared to those with annual publications less than the average (n = 123, 59.1%). The majority of both groups reported being employed in public institutions. Lack of time for scholarly writing was the highest perceived barrier and lack of knowledge about technical writing/English mastery was the lowest. All three SEM models consistently showed that perceived barriers were negatively associated with numbers of self-reported publications. However, only scholarly writing motivation according to SWMS was positively associated with the numbers of self-reported publications. Conclusions Writing motivation and barriers to scholarly writing are shown to have a significant impact on scholarly output. These factors can be identified and should be appropriately addressed by colleges/schools of pharmacy to enhance scholarly activities among pharmacy practice faculty.
Does academic authorship reflect gender bias in pediatric surgery? An analysis of the Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 2007-2017.

Background Gender representation in academic publications has been considered a surrogate for gender equity in medicine, although this concept has not been evaluated in pediatric surgery. Methods First and last author genders for Journal of Pediatric Surgery articles from United States and/or Canadian institutions (2007, 2012, 2017) were identified. These data were compared to gender proportions for applicants to and matriculants in pediatric surgery fellowships as well as among American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) members. Results Authorship gender was identified for 632/640 primary articles (98.8%). From 2007 to 2017, the proportion of women as first authors increased from 33.0% to 53.9% (p Conclusions Over the past decade, the overall proportion of women authors in a leading academic pediatric surgery journal has increased significantly, although representation among last authors remains disproportionately low. The numbers of women applicants to pediatric surgery fellowship increased but there was not a concordant rise in the number of women accepted into training positions. Type of study Bibliometric analysis. Level of evidence n/a.
Implementation and Assessment of a Pharmacy-Led Inpatient Transitions of Care Program.

Objective To evaluate pharmacist involvement in the inpatient transition of care (TOC) process for patients hospitalized with type 1 diabetes mellitus, type 2 diabetes mellitus, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Methods A pharmacist screened patients admitted with one or more of the qualifying conditions within 48 hours of admission to perform medication reconciliation. During medication reconciliation, the pharmacist removed any duplicate or nonindicated medications and added any omitted medications. The pharmacist also reviewed the discharge summary to ensure medication optimization upon discharge. Results Pharmacist involvement in the admission and discharge reconciliation processes of the 50 identified patients was 100% and 44%, respectively. A medication-related problem was identified in 96% (n = 48) of patients, representing 338 pharmacist-mediated interventions with an average of 6.8 ± 4.0 (range 0-16) interventions per patient. Of those 338 interventions, 298 drug discrepancies were identified and corrected, with an average of 6.0 ± 3.7 (range 0-15) discrepancies per patient. Average time spent was 66 ± 22 (range 30-130) minutes with each patient. Of the 50 patients enrolled, 12 were readmitted within 30 days. Conclusions This pilot study demonstrated an improved medication reconciliation process with pharmacist involvement, expanding the body of evidence that pharmacists can enhance TOC management in an inpatient setting. These results highlight the utility of a pharmacist in the implementation and refinement of TOC services and provides impetus for a team-based approach when patients experience a TOC.
Shape memory Poly(lactic acid) binary blends with unusual fluorescence

Abstract A multifunctional PLA blend with shape memory, fluorescence and improved toughness is prepared via reactive compounding of a multifunctional prepolymer (GSE) with PLA in the absence of an external catalyst. GSE is synthesized by glycerol-mediated bulk polymerization of succinic anhydride and ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether, and its self-crosslinking reaction taking place during compounding introduces an elastomeric polymer dispersed in the PLA matrix. The transesterification at the interface compatibilizes the PLA blend resulting in significantly improved toughness. Moreover, the resulting PLA blend exhibits strong fluorescence, and the fluorescence intensity of the PLA blend with 40% GSE is stronger than that of neat crosslinked GSE. The PLA blend also exhibits an excellent shape memory property, explained by the improved toughness for larger deformation and the crosslinked GSE-rich phase for the storage of internal stress induced by deformation. This work introduces a new preparation method for a smart PLA material with improved toughness, strong fluorescence, and shape memory by simple melt compounding of PLA and a multifunctional modifier (GSE).
Ivermectin: A Closer Look at a Potential Remedy

Amid the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, the search for effective treatment and vaccines has been exponentially on the rise. Finding effective treatment has been the core of attention of many scientific reports and antivirals are in the center of those treatments. Numerous antivirals are being studied for the management of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia caused by the SARS-CoV-2. Remdesivir was the first drug to gain emergency FDA approval to be used in COVID-19. Similarly, favipiravir, an anti-influenza drug, is being studied as a potential agent against COVID-19. Contrastingly, hydroxychloroquine has been a controversial drug in the management of COVID-19. Nevertheless, the National Institute of Health (NIH), along with the World Health Organization (WHO), have discontinued clinical trials for hydroxychloroquine as the drug showed little or no survival benefit. Ivermectin, an antihelminthic drug, has shown antiviral properties previously. Additionally, it was described to be effective in vivo against the SARS-CoV-2. However, its survival benefit in patients with COVID-19 has not been documented. We herein propose the theory of inhaled ivermectin which can attain the desired lung concentration that will render it effective against SARS-CoV-2.
Bifurcating subsystem symmetric entanglement renormalization in two dimensions

We introduce the subsystem symmetry-preserving real-space entanglement renormalization group and apply it to study bifurcating flows generated by linear and fractal subsystem symmetry-protected topological phases in two spatial dimensions. We classify all bifurcating fixed points that are given by subsystem symmetric cluster states with two qubits per unit cell. In particular, we find that the square lattice cluster state is a quotient-bifurcating fixed point, while the cluster states derived from Yoshida's first-order fractal spin liquid models are self-bifurcating fixed points. We discuss the relevance of bifurcating subsystem symmetry-preserving renormalization group fixed points for the classification and equivalence of subsystem symmetry-protected topological phases.
Interplay of phase boundary anisotropy and electro-auto-catalytic surface reactions on the lithium intercalation dynamics in Li X FePO 4 plateletlike nanoparticles

Experiments on single crystal ${\mathrm{Li}}_{X}{\mathrm{FePO}}_{4}$ nanoparticles indicate rich nonequilibrium phase behavior, such as suppression of phase separation at high lithiation rates, striped patterns of coherent phase boundaries, and nucleation by binary-solid surface wetting and intercalation waves. These observations have been successfully predicted (prior to the experiments) by one-dimensional (1D) depth-averaged phase-field models, which neglect any subsurface phase separation. In this paper, using an electro-chemo-mechanical phase-field model, we investigate the coherent nonequilibrium subsurface phase morphologies that develop in the $ab$ plane of plateletlike single-crystal plateletlike ${\mathrm{Li}}_{X}{\mathrm{FePO}}_{4}$ nanoparticles. Finite element 2D plane-stress and plane-strain simulations are performed in the $ab$ plane and validated by 3D simulations, showing similar results. Using a realistic material model from previous work, we show that the anisotropy of the interfacial tension (or gradient penalty) tensor and its relation to electro-auto-catalytic surface intercalation reactions plays a crucial role in determining the subsurface phase morphology. With the standard assumption of an isotropic interfacial tension tensor, subsurface phase separation in the bulk is observed and its morphology is independent of the reaction kinetics at the surface, but for strong anisotropy, phase separation is controlled by surface reactions, as assumed in 1D models. Moreover, the driven intercalation reaction suppresses phase separation during lithiation, while enhancing it during delithiation, by electro-auto-catalysis, in quantitative agreement with in operando imaging experiments in single-crystalline nanoparticles, given measured reaction rate constants.
Platelets Loaded with Recombinant ADAMTS13 Are Efficacious in Inhibiting Arterial Thrombosis Under Flow: A Potential Novel Therapeutic for Acquired TTP

Abstract Background: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), a potentially life-threatening blood clotting disorder, is resulted from severe deficiency of ADAMTS13 activity. Plasma exchange is the only effective initial therapy for acquired TTP, which replenishes ADAMTS13 while removing autoantibodies. However, the in-hospital mortality rate is still high, suggesting that another more effective therapy is urgently needed. Objectives: The present study aims to develop a novel therapy using platelets as carriers to deliver recombinant ADAMTS13 (rADAMTS13) to the sites of vascular injury, where platelets are activated and de-granulated to release rADAMTS13 from the storage granules. Our specific aims are: 1) determine the in vitro uptake of rADAMTS13 by platelets; 2) determine the efficacy of platelet-delivered rADAMTS13 in anti-arterial thrombosis under flow and in vivo. Methods: Freshly isolated human platelets from whole blood were incubated with an increasing concentration of rADAMTS13 (0, 5, 20, 50, and 100 µg/ml) at 25°C and 37°C for hours. Platelets were then washed and lysed with 1% Triton X-100 to assess the rADAMTS13 activity via a FRETS-VWF73 assay. Western blotting and confocal microscopy determined the amounts of rADAMTS13 protein and localization in platelets, respectively. The anti-thrombotic activity of the released rADAMTS13 from activated platelets was determined by a microfluidic system (BioFlux) and by a ferric chloride induced thrombus formation in mesenteric arterioles/venules in Adamts13-/- mice. Results: Human washed platelets were able to uptake rADAMTS13 in a temperature- and concentration-dependent manner. The rADAMTS13 protein packed inside human platelets remained intact and active towards the FRET-VWF73 substrate. Confocal microscopic analysis demonstrated its localization of uptaken rADAMTS13 in the alpha granules, partially overlapped with VWF. The rADAMTS13 released from activated human platelets under shear (100 dyne/cm2) was capable of cleaving VWF and inhibiting platelet agglutination and aggregation on a collagen-coated surface in a concentration-dependent manner. Transfusion of platelets expressing rADAMTS13 into Adamts13-/- mice dramatically reduced the rate of thrombus formation in the mesenteric arterioles/venules after ferric chloride injury. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that human platelets can be reengineered in vitro to contain sufficient amounts of rADAMTS13 in the alpha granules. The rADAMTS13 inside platelets is releasable and proteolytically functional under shear stress or in vivo under flow. Our findings suggest that the transfusion of platelets loaded with rADAMTS13 may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for acquired TTP with inhibitors. Download : Download high-res image (196KB) Download : Download full-size image Disclosures Zheng: Alexion: Speakers Bureau; Ablynx: Consultancy.
Miniscrew-Assisted Maxillary Expansion Techniques for Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Transverse maxillary deficiency is one of several common craniofacial structure characteristics observed in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Conventional maxillary expander treatment has been used in children with OSA to expand constricted maxilla to increase nasal flow and to allow the tongue to protrude forward and upward. With the introduction of temporary skeletal anchorage devices, orthodontists have utilized miniscrews to secure a maxillary expander on the palate directly in order to achieve more efficient skeletal expansion and to decrease undesired dentoalveolar effects in skeletally mature patients. This chapter discusses various miniscrew-anchored RME expansion designs and protocols with or without corticotomy as a pathway to achieving maximum improvement of OSA.
Colonial legacies and peripheral strategies: Social-spatial logic of China’s communications development since 1840:

This article describes and makes sense of why and how China’s communications was undeveloped from the late Qing Dynasty through the Civil War. The purpose is to bring into sharp focus the imprint of global capitalism and imperialism on China’s domestic social-spatial relations as well as the well-entrenched underdevelopment dynamics in communications. It argues that communications, shaped successively by historical configurations of relationships, domesticated spatially China’s peripheral position in the world capitalist system. This spatiality, expressing internal underdevelopment and external subordination, had never been effectively overhauled and even remained true of socialist modernity after the establishment of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), which then has informed and deformed communications development since the country’s market reform.
Psychopharmaceutical Prescription Monitoring for Children in the Child Welfare System.

Objective:Children in the child welfare system are more likely to receive psychotropic medication prescriptions than children in the general population. The authors used prescription- and administr...
Flat Panel Detector c-Arms Are Associated with Dramatically Reduced Radiation Exposure During Ureteroscopy and Produce Superior Images

Background: We wished to determine whether newly available flat panel detector (FPD) c-arms were (1) associated with lower radiation dose during ureteroscopy (URS) than conventional image intensifi...
Case report 68Ga-DOTATATE of optic nerve sheath meningioma.

Abstract We report a patient with an optic nerve sheath meningioma whose diagnosis and management were guided by using Gallium-68 DOTA-Tyr3-octreotatate (68Ga-DOTATATE). Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography (PET-CT).
Artifact-Enhanced Collegial Inquiry: Making Mathematics Teacher Educator Practice Visible

We look at the multiple layers of mathematics teacher educator (MTE) learning generated when a mathematics teacher educator prepared to teach a course on learning to teach mathematics by engaging in Artifact-Enhanced Collegial Inquiry (ACI) with a colleague experienced in teaching the course. We describe ACI and use the contexts of this particular course to illustrate how ACI supported the learning and development of both mathematics teacher educators. We highlight the ways in which mathematics teacher educator practice was made visible and the role that this visibility played in mathematics teacher educator learning. We conclude by discussing the implications of this work and how ACI could be used to support the learning and development of mathematics teacher educators more generally.
Outcomes for Patients with Urinary Tract Infection After an Initial Intravenous Antibiotics Dose Before Emergency Department Discharge.

To investigate the effect of single-dose intravenous antibiotics before emergency department (ED) discharge on the outcomes of patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs). This is a retrospective study conducted at the EDs of three medical centers. Patients aged over 18 years who presented to the ED with UTI and were discharged without admission between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2017 were evaluated. The study group received a single dose of effective intravenous antibiotics on the basis of urine culture during the index ED visit following oral antibiotics, while the comparison group received oral antibiotics only. The primary outcomes were ED revisit within 72 h and admission following the return visit. A total of 8168 patients were included. Of these, 20.9% received intravenous antibiotics before ED discharge. Patients who received effective intravenous antibiotics before ED discharge were associated with less than 72-h ED revisit (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.791, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.640–0.979]), but not decreased admission following the return visit (adjusted OR 0.921, 95% CI [0.731–1.153]). In subgroup analysis, parenteral antibiotic use during the index ED visit was associated with decreased admission following ED revisit in patients who presented with fever (adjusted OR 0.605; 95% CI 0.443–0.932). For patients with UTI and clinically well to be discharged from the ED, a single dose of effective intravenous antibiotics before ED discharge was associated with decreased 72-h ED revisit. In patients with febrile UTI, initial intravenous antibiotics were associated with decreased revisit leading to admissions.
Marx Was a (Philosophical) Liberal and You Should Be Too

How should we understand the relationship between socialism and liberalism? At the risk of sounding like much too much of an analytic philosophy pedant, I don’t think that question can be answered without disambiguating both “socialism” and “liberalism.”
Analytical and Simulated Performance of Diamond Plasmonic Terahertz FETs

Traditional FETs are transit time-limited in maximum frequency. The plasmonic FET concept solves the frequency limitation with behavior governed by oscillations in the surface carrier plasma where break up instability and signal amplification at ultrahigh frequency is controlled in a simple manner by a DC bias at the gate.
28 Outcomes After Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) has been performed for 45 years and as such has a long track record by which to judge its efficacy and safety. This duration of performance of the operation has confirmed its ability to produce durable and long-standing weight loss and improvement of medical problems (NIH conference, Ann Int Med. 115:956–961, 1991). While the operation has evolved to some extent, and there has been and remains some variability as to details of how it is performed, overall it is evident that the operation has produced no adverse long-term effects, has maintained its track record of effectiveness with long-term follow-up, and has in fact yielded improved outcomes with increasing experience in its performance over time. The single largest change in the method of performing the operation, and also the resultant outcomes, has been the use of a laparoscopic approach. The first laparoscopic RYGB (LRYGB) was performed 20 years ago, but the approach did not gain any significant popularity until approximately 15 years ago. For the last 10 years, the use of laparoscopy has been more prevalent than open surgery, to the point where now over 90 % of gastric bypass procedures are performed using a laparoscopic approach. This has been one factor which has contributed to the improvements in outcomes for the procedure (Ecinosa et al. Med Care 47(5):531–535, 2009).
Ecology and morphology of the Caribbean Mlo-Pliocen reef-coral Siderastrea

Small paucispeciflc banks constructed by the massive scleractinian Siderasirea occur along the northern margins of hermatypic coral distribution during the Miocene and Pliocene epochs. Quantitative studies of environmental variation in one bank-builder, S. mendenhaltt, from sandstones north of the Gulf of California show that distinctively thin, closely spaced synapticulae form in turbid, nearshore habitats in the same manner as in modern S. siderea from Jamaica. Analysis of variation between Siderasirea species suggests that, like these nearshore populations, framework-building species have comparatively large corallite diameters; thin septa, columellae, and walls; and numerous synapticular rings. These results imply that skeletal configurations of Tertiary bank-building Siderastrea may have been uniquely adapted for rapid colony growth in turbid, protected environments with abundant suspended organic material.
Neural transcriptome reveals molecular mechanisms for temporal control of vocalization across multiple timescales

Vocalization is a prominent social behavior among vertebrates, including in the midshipman fish, an established model for elucidating the neural basis of acoustic communication. Courtship vocalizations produced by territorial males are essential for reproductive success, vary over daily and seasonal cycles, and last up to hours per call. Vocalizations rely upon extreme synchrony and millisecond precision in the firing of a homogeneous population of motoneurons, the vocal motor nucleus (VMN). Although studies have identified neural mechanisms driving rapid, precise, and stable neuronal firing over long periods of calling, little is known about underlying genetic/molecular mechanisms. We used RNA sequencing-based transcriptome analyses to compare patterns of gene expression in VMN to the surrounding hindbrain across three daily and seasonal time points of high and low sound production to identify candidate genes that underlie VMN’s intrinsic and network neuronal properties. Results from gene ontology enrichment, enzyme pathway mapping, and gene category-wide expression levels highlighted the importance of cellular respiration in VMN function, consistent with the high energetic demands of sustained vocal behavior. Functionally important candidate genes upregulated in the VMN, including at time points corresponding to high natural vocal activity, encode ion channels and neurotransmitter receptors, hormone receptors and biosynthetic enzymes, neuromodulators, aerobic respiration enzymes, and antioxidants. Quantitative PCR and RNA-seq expression levels for 28 genes were significantly correlated. Many candidate gene products regulate mechanisms of neuronal excitability, including those previously identified in VMN motoneurons, as well as novel ones that remain to be investigated. Supporting evidence from previous studies in midshipman strongly validate the value of transcriptomic analyses for linking genes to neural characters that drive behavior. Transcriptome analyses highlighted a suite of molecular mechanisms that regulate vocalization over behaviorally relevant timescales, spanning milliseconds to hours and seasons. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive characterization of gene expression in a dedicated vocal motor nucleus. Candidate genes identified here may belong to a conserved genetic toolkit for vocal motoneurons facing similar energetic and neurophysiological demands.
Logarithmic Sobolev Techniques for Random Walks on Graphs

Recently, Diaconis and Sarloff-Coste used logarithmic Sobolev inequalities to improve convergence bounds for random walks on graphs. We will give a strengthened version by showing that the random walk on a graph G reaches stationarity (under total variation distance) after about \(\frac{1}{{4\alpha }}\) log(|E|/min x d x ) steps, where α denotes the log-Sobolev constant, E is the edge set of G and d x denotes the degree of x. Under the relative pointwise distance (which is a slightly stronger notion), the random walk converges in about \(\frac{1}{{2\alpha }}\) log(|E|/min x d x ) steps.