cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evidence of recovery of Juniperus virginiana trees from sulfur pollution after the Clean Air Act

Using dendroisotopic techniques, we show the recovery of Juniperus virginiana L. (eastern red cedar) trees in the Central Appalachian Mountains from decades of acidic pollution. Acid deposition over much of the 20th century reduced stomatal conductance of leaves, thereby increasing intrinsic water-use efficiency of the Juniperus trees. These data indicate that the stomata of Juniperus may be more sensitive to acid deposition than to increasing atmospheric CO2. A breakpoint in the 100-y δ13C tree ring chronology occurred around 1980, as the legacy of sulfur dioxide emissions declined following the enactment of the Clean Air Act in 1970, indicating a gradual increase in stomatal conductance (despite rising levels of atmospheric CO2) and a concurrent increase in photosynthesis related to decreasing acid deposition and increasing atmospheric CO2. Tree ring δ34S shows a synchronous change in the sources of sulfur used at the whole-tree level that indicates a reduced anthropogenic influence. The increase in growth and the δ13C and δ34S trends in the tree ring chronology of these Juniperus trees provide evidence for a distinct physiological response to changes in atmospheric SO2 emissions since ∼1980 and signify the positive impacts of landmark environmental legislation to facilitate recovery of forest ecosystems from acid deposition.
Efficient multiply-with-carry random number generators with maximal period

In this (largely expository) article, we propose a simple modification of the multiply-with-carry random number generators of Marsaglia [1994] and Couture and L'Ecuyer [1997]. The resulting generators are both efficient (since they may be configured with a base b which is a power of 2) and exhibit maximal period. These generators are analyzed using a simple but powerful algebraic technique involving b-adic numbers.
Analysis of Correlated Noise in Airborne Magnetic Gradients for Unexploded Ordnance Detection

In this paper, we examine several field tests of correlated helicopter noise and demonstrate that measured vertical gradients can offer signal-to-noise improvements of 4:1 in rotor noise and 6:1 in maneuver noise over comparable total field measurements for unexploded ordnance (UXO) applications. This translates into an additional 1.5–2.0m in acceptable survey height or ordnance depth. Horizontal gradients, both transverse and longitudinal to the helicopter flight path, are also examined. These offer smaller signal-to-noise improvements over the total field (approximately 1.5:1) and have other disadvantages not found in the vertical gradient.
Progress in Mechanistic Understanding and Characterization Techniques of Li-S Batteries

Rechargeable lithium-sulfur batteries that operate at room temperature have attracted much research interest as next-generation energy storage systems. Although tremendous advances have been made with Li-S batteries, great challenges still exist in achieving high capacity, high loading, high coulombic efficiency, and long cycle life. These challenges arise from the system complexity, lack of mechanistic understanding of the redox reaction, and operational limitations of Li-S cells. The focus here is on the recent gains in fundamental understanding of the Li-S redox reaction mechanism based on the application of advanced characterization techniques. Research results that help with the understanding of the close relationship between cell design (including development of new and advanced electrode materials, electrolytes, separators, binders, and cell configurations), the Li-S reaction mechanism, characterization methods, and Li-S battery performance are discussed.
Thermically induced changes in optical properties of heart

Optical properties of ventricular myocardium (dog) were determined at two helium-neon laser wavelengths, 594 nm and 633 nm. The absorption coefficient and reduced scattering coefficient were deduced from integrating sphere measurements of total transmission and total reflectance. The changes caused by variable time exposure to various temperatures (water bath) were documented. The temperature dependence of the degree of coagulation achieved by heating, scored by the final stable optical properties, suggests that a heterogeneous population distribution of tissue structures is involved in coagulation. >
Topically Active Ocular Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors: Novel Biscarbonylamidothiadiazole Sulfonamides as Ocular Hypotensive Agents

A novel homologous series of bis(carbonyl)amidothiadiazole sulfonamides has been synthesized for structure-activity relationship studies, and initial characterization has been performed. The goal was synthesis of thiadiazole derivatives with appropriate lipid and water solubilities for utility as topically (corneal application) active carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitors. This series has solubility properties and pKa which bracket those of acetazolamide--the prototypical CA inhibitor. All of these compounds are active as in vitro CA inhibitors, and are 10-25% as potent as acetazolamide as in vitro enzyme inhibitors. Two of these compounds act as ocular hypotensive agents after topical application of a single dose to the corneas of normotensive New Zealand albino rabbits. The efficacy of the lead compound of this series (in this one model) is approximately equivalent to that of topical CA inhibitors that are presently in clinical trial. None of these novel compounds reacts to an appreciable extent with free sulfhydryl groups (a predictor of toxicity). This family of compounds will be useful for future studies of ocular pharmacokinetics, as well as ocular and systemic effects of topical administration of CA inhibitors. These and future studies may lead to development of thiadiazole sulfonamides useful in the management of glaucoma.
Mesoporous xEr2O3·CoTiO3 composite oxide catalysts for low temperature dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to styrene using CO2 as a soft oxidant

A series of mesoporous xEr2O3·CoTiO3 composite oxide catalysts have been prepared using a template method and tested as a new type of catalyst for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to styrene by using CO2 as a soft oxidant. Among the catalysts tested, the 0.25Er2O3·CoTiO3 sample with a ratio of 1 : 4 : 4 content and calcined at 600 °C exhibited the highest ethylbenzene conversion (58%) and remarkable styrene selectivity (95%) at low temperature (450 °C).
Mode- and Direction-Dependent Mechanical Energy Dissipation in Single-Crystal Resonators due to Anharmonic Phonon-Phonon Scattering

Despite the increasing prevalence of mechanical resonators as sensors, timing references, and frequency filters, fundamental aspects of energy dissipation in these structures are still not well understood. The authors derive an expression for energy loss that provides a robust upper bound on the quality factor of a dielectric or semiconductor resonator. This analytical result reveals that vibrational mode shape plays a key role in determining the quality-factor limit.
Perspectives on brain resuscitation.

As health care providers, critical care nurses need to understand the issues surrounding the implementation of brain resuscitation techniques and protocols. This significant advance in critical care must be evaluated in terms of epidemiology, candidates for brain resuscitation, and projected outcomes. Additionally, as techniques in brain resuscitation advance, the social, economic, and moral issues surrounding this arena must be consciously and carefully reviewed.
The Physics of Spin-Transfer Torque Switching in Magnetic Tunneling Junctions in Sub-10 nm Size Range

The spin-transfer torque magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) technology may pave a way to a universal memory paradigm. MTJ devices with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy have the potential to have high thermal stability, high tunneling magnetoresistance, and low critical current for energy-efficient current-induced magnetization switching. Using devices fabricated through focused ion beam etching with Ga- and Ne-ion beams, this paper aimed to understand the size dependence of the current/voltage characteristics in the sub-10 nm range. The switching current density drastically dropped around 1 MA/cm $^{\mathrm { {2}}}$ as the device size was reduced below 10 nm. A stability of over 22 kT measured for a 5 nm device indicated a significantly reduced spin relaxation time.
Cyanobacterial chemical production.

Abstract The increase in global temperatures caused by rising CO2 levels necessitates the development of alternative sources of fuel and chemicals. One appealing alternative that has been receiving increased attention in recent years is the photosynthetic conversion of atmospheric CO2 to biofuels and chemical products using genetically engineered cyanobacteria. This can help to not only provide an alternate “greener” source for some of the most popular petroleum based products but it can also help to reduce atmospheric CO2. Utilizing cyanobacteria rather than plants allows for reduced land requirements and reduces competition with food crops. This review discusses advancements in the field since 2012 with a particular emphasis on production of hydrocarbons.
Experiences with Performing MapReduce Analysis of Scientific Data on HPC Platforms

The growing interest in being able to apply Big Data techniques to scientific data generated using HPC simulations led to the question of whether this is achievable on the same HPC platform, and if so, what is the performance that can be obtained on these systems. The motivation behind this approach is twofold: scientific datasets are often very large, and would take a long time to transfer to external Big Data clusters; furthermore, the ability to perform live analysis on the data as it is being generated on the HPC platform can be crucial to many scientific applications. Using as case-study a Hadoop-based application that analyzes Molecular Dynamics simulations data on the same HPC platform on which it was produced, we present our experiences with performing Big Data analysis on an HPC system. This work also describes the challenges that one has to deal with when performing Hadoop-based computations on scientific data on HPC platforms: data storage, data formats, ingesting data in Hadoop, optimizing the deployment to overcome the limitations of the HPC environment. Our work shows in a first phase that such an instantiation of Big Data analysis on an HPC system is both relevant and feasible; in a second phase, we greatly improve the performance by efficient configuration of HPC resources and tuning of the application. Our findings can be shared as best practices and recommendations in the context of the convergence of the HPC and Big Data environments.
Between Two Worlds

The history of early Christianity reminds us that as the church begins to grow so will the problems it encounters. Recent studies suggest that a modern-day parallel to the episode described in Acts 6:1-7 is being played out in historic barrios across the United States.1 With the rapid growth of the Hispanic evangelical church during the past three decades, problems have arisen. One of the most significant is that US-born2 English-do minant Latinas/os3 are unintentionally being overlooked in the distribution of the church’s attention and resources. To take the metaphor from the book of Acts, US-born English-do minant Latinas/os, the modern-day Greek-speaking Jews, are grumbling against foreign-born4 Spanish-dominant Latinas/os, the modern-day Aramaic-speaking Jews. The complaint of the former is that many Spanish-dominant Latinas/os still equate“Hispanic ministry” with ministry conducted almost exclusively in Spanish. Under this perspective and historic paradigm, generations of US-born English-dominant Latinas/os are subsequently“being overlooked in the daily distribution” of spiritual care. This is most apparent when analyzing approaches to youth ministry in predominantly Hispanic evangelical and pentecostal churches.
Differential response of Fanconi anemia hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells to oxidative and oncogenic stresses

Members of the Fanconi anemia (FA) pathway are involved in DNA damage response. By employing an in vivo stress-response model expressing the Gadd45b-luciferase transgenic cassett, we show here that hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) from mice deficient for the FA gene Fanca or Fancc differentially responded to oxidative and oncogenic stresses. Compared to wild-type controls, Fanca-/- or Fancc-/- HSPCs exhibited a persistent response to oxidative stress. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that accumulation of unrepaired DNA damage, particularly in oxidative damage-sensitive genes, was responsible for the long-lasting response in FA HSPCs. In contrast, using two inducible models of oncogenic activation (LSL-K-rasG12D and MycER), we identify a short-lived response of FA HSPCs to oncogenic insults. Loss of Fanca or Fancc impaired oncogenic stress-induced senescence (OIS), and genetic correction of Fanca or Fancc deficiency restored OIS in HSPCs. Furthermore, FA deficiency compromised K-rasG12D-induced arginine methylation of p53 mediated by PRMT5. Finally, forced expression of PRMT5 in HSPCs from Fanca-/-;K-rasG12D mice prolonged oncogenic response and delayed leukemia development in recipient mice. Taken together, our study demonstrates differential responses of HSPCs to oxidative and oncogenic stresses and identifies the FA pathway as an integral part of this versatile cellular mechanism.
Chistov’s Algorithm

Many important computational problems in algebra (such as the solution of polynomial equations) depend strongly on basic algorithms in linear algebra. In turn, many problems in linear algebra reduce to the computation of the rank of a matrix. This problem thus occupies a central position in computational algebra. NC algorithms for matrix rank were given by Ibarra, Moran, and Rosier in 1980 for matrices over the complex numbers [53] and over general fields in 1986 by Mulmuley [82]. We will devote a future lecture to this topic, but for now we lay the groundwork by showing how to calculate the characteristic polynomial of a matrix over an arbitrary field in NC.
Effects of Plasmonic Substrates on the Photo-stability of Organic Polymer

There is a growing demand to improve the operational lifetime of electroluminescent (EL) devices utilizing conjugated polymers which are often deposited over metal electrodes. Photo-degradation of the emissive organic layer is one factor that decreases the overall efficiency and longevity of these devices. Therefore, it is important to investigate the underlying photochemistry at metal-polymer interface. Here, effects of metal films on the emission properties of organic polymers are studied using total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy. It is observed that poly(phenylene vinylene) (MEHPPV) exhibits a remarkable increase in photo-stability when deposited on gold films relative to that on glass even in the presence of molecular oxygen and under continuous laser illumination. It is proposed that this interesting property is due to the surface plasmon of Au films.
Motivations for the ownership of captive lemurs in Madagascar.

ABSTRACTThe live capture of primates is occurring throughout the tropics and can be a threat to their conservation. Primates are owned as pets for a variety of reasons. Studies of the motivations for primate ownership have been conducted in several countries where they are endemic, but no study has examined this issue in Madagascar. Madagascar is home to the highest number of threatened primate taxa in any one country, and an estimated 28,000 lemurs were kept in illegal captivity from 2010 to mid-2013. We aimed to expand knowledge about the motivations of lemur ownership in Madagascar. Data were collected via a web-based survey (n = 229 respondents) and from the websites and social media pages of 25 hotels. We found that many lemurs (45%) were seen on the premises of a business or in a private home (27%). Many lemurs were perceived to be kept as personal pets (37%) or for money-making or tourism purposes (20%). When lemurs were used for money-making, owners could receive indirect (72% of the time) and dir...
A pseudo-quantitative ternary surfactant ion mixing plane phase diagram for a cationic hydroxyethyl cellulose with dodecyl sulfate counterion complex salt

Abstract The surfactant ion mixing plane phase diagram was constructed for cationic hydroxyethyl cellulose dodecyl sulfate (cat-HECDS), sodium dodecyl sulfate (NaDS) and water. The number of phases and structures present in the prepared ternary composition were assessed visually and guided the placement of phase boundaries. Two multi-phase regions surround a large, central one-phase isotropic region. In the dilute portion of the diagram, an isotropic-isotropic two-phase region exists along the water-complex salt axis. A concentrated multi-phase region adjacent to the water-NaDS axis includes a three-phase region defined as isotropic-hexagonal-monoclinic surrounded by three two-phase regions of isotropic-monoclinic, isotropic-hexagonal, and hexagonal-monoclinic. This phase diagram is similar to one previously published in this journal [Svensson et al., Colloids Surf. A, 228 (2003) 91–106]. Here the degree of cationic substitution on the polymer was reduced by half. This resulted in a shift in the locations of the phase boundaries, but not the phases and structures, present in this plane. Evaluating the phase boundaries as a function of anion:cation molar ratio highlighted the impact of the hydrophobic binding of excess surfactant monomers to the polycation-surfactant anion network on the phase transitions in the surfactant ion mixing plane phase diagrams for cat-HECDS.
Globalized random procedural content for dungeon generation

Procedural content generation has been a major part of computer gaming since the early 1980s. Because of the limited memory in early computers and video game consoles, procedural generation was used to provide a player with a wide variety of different levels without each level needing to be pre-built and saved. This study improves and expands upon algorithms created by Mike Anderson and the Future Data Labs. The goal is to devise a general, globalized algorithm that produces a randomly generated multi-dimensional, non-Euclidean map based on user-provided parameters. These maps will then be evaluated by an updated set of Anderson's original acceptance requirements and compared to his original algorithm on the following metrics to determine if it is indeed an improvement. The final results obtained show a considerable decrease in the number of dead ends, a considerable increase in the number of alternative paths to the exit and an increase in the length of the alternative paths to the goal/end. Additionally, these objectives were achieved with a reasonable increase in time cost.
Rigorous Dynamics and Consistent Estimation in Arbitrarily Conditioned Linear Systems

The problem of estimating a random vector x from noisy linear measurements y=Ax+w with unknown parameters on the distributions of x and w, which must also be learned, arises in a wide range of statistical learning and linear inverse problems. We show that a computationally simple iterative message-passing algorithm can provably obtain asymptotically consistent estimates in a certain high-dimensional large-system limit (LSL) under very general parameterizations. Previous message passing techniques have required i.i.d. sub-Gaussian A matrices and often fail when the matrix is ill-conditioned. The proposed algorithm, called adaptive vector approximate message passing (Adaptive VAMP) with auto-tuning, applies to all right-rotationally random A. Importantly, this class includes matrices with arbitrarily bad conditioning. We show that the parameter estimates and mean squared error (MSE) of x in each iteration converge to deterministic limits that can be precisely predicted by a simple set of state evolution (SE) equations. In addition, a simple testable condition is provided in which the MSE matches the Bayes-optimal value predicted by the replica method. The paper thus provides a computationally simple method with provable guarantees of optimality and consistency over a large class of linear inverse problems.
Abstract 4778: Telomere DNA damage promotes mammary gland fibrosis and estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer

Human breast luminal progenitor cells exhibit telomere DNA damage, which is associated with mammographic density and increased cancer risk. Telomeric repeat factor 2 (TRF2) protects telomeres from DNA damage response and its expression is reduced in human ductal carcinoma in situ and breast cancers. To determine the relationships between telomere DNA damage, mammary gland biology, and cancer risk we genetically deleted TRF2 expression in the mouse mammary gland. TRF2 conditional null mutant mice also were bred with tumor prone MMTV-Wnt1 animals. Telomere DNA damage response was determined by localization of 53BP1 at telomeres and activation of ATM/Chk2/p53 signaling by western blot. Mammary gland and tumor histopathology were determined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Cell proliferation and ER+ differentiation was determined by immunohistochemistry. Tumor derived CD24+/CD49f+ mammary stem cells and CD61+ luminal progenitor cells were transplanted to mammary fat pads of immunodeficient mice. Alternative lengthening of telomeres was determined by PML localization at telomeres, chromosome orientation-fluorescence in situ hybridization, and telomere circular DNA amplification. Tumor bearing mice were injected with 15 mg raloxifene to determine mammary tumor anti-estrogen sensitivity. Mammary glands lacking TRF2 expression exhibited increased telomere DNA damage response, histopathological and functional degeneration, and prominent ductal fibrosis. TRF2 deficient mammary tumors exhibited rapid onset and increased proliferation. Tumor derived LP cells failed to form tumors following transplantation. The MSC population was highly tumorigenic and maintained telomeres via the ALT mechanism. Telomere DNA damage response in mammary tumors resulted in p53 dependent ER+ cellular differentiation and sensitivity to anti-estrogen therapy. Telomere DNA damage correlated with estrogen receptor expression in human breast cancer. We concluded that telomere DNA damage resulted in mammary gland fibrosis, reduced tumor latency, ER+ differentiation, and sensitivity to anti-estrogen therapy. Citation Format: Jianchun Wu, David L. Crowe. Telomere DNA damage promotes mammary gland fibrosis and estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4778. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-4778
Tuberculous Spondylolisthesis: A Reappraisal of the Clinicoradiologic Spectrum and Surgical Treatment Paradigm.

Introduction Spinal tuberculosis (TB) is a common infectious disease prevalent in developing countries and an increasing issue in developed countries. The association of tuberculosis with spondylolisthesis is rarely reported in literature. The aim of our review is to analyze the clinical features and radiologic characteristics of TB spondylolisthesis and to provide a concise update on its surgical management, based on the literature. Methods A systematic review was performed after conducting a thorough search of the PubMed database. Articles were selected systematically and reviewed completely and relevant data were summarized and discussed. Results Nineteen articles were selected for the review. The most common clinical manifestation was focal back pain, followed by motor deficit. Most patients had grade 2 listhesis and associated tubercular abscess. The anterior as well as the posterior surgical approach have their own advantages and the choice of approach depends on the location of disease, ease of access, achievement of spinal stability, and avoidance of spread of contiguous infection. Although a posterior approach and fixation using pedicular screws and rods along with debridement of pus or granulation tissue is the favored approach in dorsolumbar TB, an anterior approach, corpectomy, and fusion are preferred in cervical TB. Conclusions Treatment of TB spondylolisthesis encompasses a wide spectrum of surgical options. However, the mainstay of treatment is chemotherapy. The indications for which surgical management may have an upper hand over medical management are spinal cord compression, significant instability, large tubercular abscess, painful vertebral lesions, kyphosis, and infection by multidrug-resistant TB or extreme drug-resistant TB, when medical management alone does not help. Surgery is effective in these situations by achieving radical debridement, permanent stability, prevention of further neurologic deterioration, and early recovery. Even although conservative management may help in certain cases, a posterior approach, decompression, and fusion are preferred for unstable dorsolumbar disease, whereas an anterior approach is preferred for cervical disease. Combined approaches can be considered in pediatric spinal TB for the correction of kyphotic deformity and its consequent maintenance.
Uncovering the importance of soft skills in user interface design-related fields

In this article, the authors interrogate what core competencies are expected of designers as they enter into user interface design-related fields. Using contextual interviews and an online survey o...
A Rare Case of Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome Type 3

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is a multi-system disorder characterized by oculocutaneous albinism and platelet storage deficiency, which can also lead to prolonged bleeding, pulmonary fibrosis, and granulomatous colitis. Lysosome-related organelle dysfunction is responsible for many of the systemic manifestations, including dense body and melanosome deficiency. This report aims to review a case of HPS type 3 in a male Puerto Rican patient who presented to our clinic. J Hematol. 2018;7(2):76-78 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jh387w
Making Decisions About Careers in Science

The process of making decisions about a career in science represents a multifaceted one, beginning with what one actually wants to do as a professional, followed by what educational steps are necessary to “get there” and, of course, very importantly what one has to do to be not only competitive but also ultimately to be successful. None of these “steps” are accomplished easily and, more importantly, without input from others. In general, and specifically in academia, this input is referred to as advising and mentoring, with the latter really being the key component in the decision-making process. This mentoring comes from an assortment of individuals, very often with slightly different perspectives, which very importantly provides the mentee with an array of information pieces. As a result, a decision can be a well-informed one. However, despite this process being one that is commonly practiced, it is an “uneven” process in that some individuals have added advantages in making these decisions due to their exposure to mentors with strong backgrounds, experience, and status in the appropriate areas. Conversely, other individuals do not have some of these advantages and, as such, have been severely “undermentored” and therefore, underrepresented in the sciences. Identifying the reasons for this underrepresentation, and acting upon those reasons, is necessary to address and change these underrepresented numbers.
Organometallic Chemistry of the Lanthanides under Reductive Conditions

Although the lanthanide metals comprise nearly 20% of the stable metallic elements in the periodic system, relatively little use has been made of these elements in catalytic reactions (1). Homogeneous catalyses involving the lanthanide metals are particularly rare (2). This situation does not arise because the lanthanides are rare elements, for lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, and neodymium, are as common as lead, and even the rarest lanthanide, thulium, is more common than mercury (3). It is more likely that the limited use of the lanthanide metals in catalytic sequences is a reflection of the limited chemistry which has been developed for these elements. Indeed, the chemistry of this series of metals is sufficiently narrow that it can be summarized in a single paragraph.
Marriage Tax Relief in the Earned Income Tax Credit: EGTRRA 2001 and Beyond

The author argues in this article that EGTRRA 2001 did relatively little to address the marriage tax problems in the earned income tax credit and proposes an additional reform that would provide both additional marriage tax relief and improved work incentives at the same time. Specifically, he proposes reducing the phaseout rate for married couples with two children from 21.06 percent to 18.52 percent and further reducing it to 15.96 percent for married couples with three or more children.
Correction to: Analysis of glipizide binding to normal and glycated human serum albumin by high-performance affinity chromatography.

The authors would like to call the reader’s attention to the following corrections in this article. In the description given for the process of preparing glycated human serum albumin under “In vitro glycation of HSA”, the concentrations of D-glucose that were employed were 15 mM and 30 mM.
Applications for the MASCC Risk Index for Febrile Neutropenia in Patients with Hematologic Malignancy

Background Neutropenic fever is a common complication in the treatment of malignancy that has historically carried a high rate of mortality. The Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) Risk Index for Febrile Neutropenia has been used to reliably identify patients with chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia who are at low risk of serious medical complications. It is often used in the outpatient or emergency room setting to help determine which patients with solid tumors may be able to avoid hospital admission and be appropriate for outpatient management of febrile neutropenia. The MASCC Risk Index is not recommended for use in hematologic malignancy due to its poor positive predictive value for serious medical complications in this population. This study seeks to use this score to retrospectively risk-stratify hematologic malignancy patients and determine if the MASCC risk index is predictive of length of hospitalization or mortality. Methods This is an IRB approved retrospective review that identified patients with a hematologic malignancy who presented to the outpatient clinic or the emergency department of an academic medical center with neutropenic fever between 1/1/2017 and 12/31/2017. Chart review was performed to determine each patient's MASCC risk index in order to stratify as high risk ( =21). This was then compared to length of stay and mortality data. Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) was used to compare baseline characteristics of the patients. Results 73 patients met the inclusion criteria. 31 (42%) patients were deemed high risk and 42 (58%) were deemed low risk by MASCC stratification. There was no difference in length of stay (LOS) between high risk and low risk groups (mean LOS 8.45 days and 8.12 days, respectively, p=0.894). In the first 30 days from admission, 5 patients (16%) died, all from the high risk group. Overall survival was significantly worse in the high risk group with a hazard ratio 4.48 (95% CI, 1.77 – 11.37), and in patients aged 75-84 with a hazard ratio of 3.622 (95% CI, 1.21 – 10.827). High Charlson Comorbidity index scores (liver disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, renal disease, paralysis, dementia, mild liver disease, congestive heart failure, COPD, diabetes) did not correlate with worsened survival. Conclusion This study shows that even when not being used to prevent hospitalization, the MASCC risk index has utility in predicting which patients have the highest risk of mortality after developing neutropenic fever.
Left cardiac sympathetic denervation for recurrent ventricular tachyarrhythmias in children with congenital heart disease.

The first sympathetic denervation was described in 1961 as a treatment for ventricular tachycardia (VT).1 Following this, left cardiac sympathetic denervation (LCSD) was first applied as a treatment for long QT syndrome (LQTS) in humans in 1971.2 Currently, LCSD is recognized as an effective treatment for LQTS and catecholaminergic polymorphic VT (CPVT).3, 4 However, there are increasing data that bilateral denervation surgery or LCSD may be useful in non-channelopathy-related ventricular arrhythmias.5, 6 Although denervation therapy in adult congenital heart disease (CHD) has been reported previously, there are no reports on utilizing LCSD in pediatric patients with CHD and refractory ventricular tachyarrhythmias after surgical repair.7 We present a series of 2 patients with surgically corrected CHD and refractory arrhythmias who experienced resolution of their arrhythmias following videoscopic LCSD.
Nutritional counseling with or without mobile health technology: a randomized open-label standard-of-care-controlled trial in ALS

Nutritional status is an important prognostic factor in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). We wished to study the safety, tolerability and efficacy of nutritional counseling with or without an mHealth application to maintain or increase body weight in ALS, compared to standard care. In this randomized open-label, standard-of-care-controlled, single-center clinical trial, we randomly assigned adults with ALS to one of three nutritional interventions: counseling by their physician or nurse (“standard care”), counseling by a registered dietitian (RD) (“in-person”), or counseling supported by a mHealth app (“mHealth”). Both intervention arms received tailored nutrition recommendations and recorded dietary intake and weight biweekly (mHealth) or monthly (in-person). The primary outcome of weight and secondary and tertiary outcomes of calorie intake, ALSFRS-R, and quality of life (QOL) were recorded at each clinic visit and analyzed in an ITT mixed model analysis. A total of 88 participants were enrolled of whom 78 were included in this analysis. The three arms were well-balanced except for excess males in the mHealth arm and greater weight lost at baseline in the in-person arm. Participants in the mHealth arm increased their calorie intake at month 3 to an average of 94% (95% CI: 85, 103) of recommended calories, compared to 81% (95% CI: 72, 91, p = 0.06 vs. mHealth) in the standard care arm. After 6 months, calorie intake was not different among the three arms. Overall weight was stable across all three groups. QOL scores in the mHealth arm were stable over 3 months (0.3 points, 95% CI: − 1.7, 2.2) compared to worsening in standard care (− 2.1 points, 95% CI: − 4.0, − 0.2, p = 0.09 vs. mHealth), but all scores declined by 6 months. ALSFRS-R total scores declined by an average of − 2.6 points (95% CI: − 5.1, − 0.1) over 6 months in the mHealth arm (p = 0.13 vs. standard care) compared to − 5.8 points (95% CI: − 8.2, − 3.4, p = 0.74 vs. standard care) in the in-person and − 5.2 points (95% CI: − 7.6, − 2.9) in the standard care arm. Nutritional counseling by a registered dietitian (with or without support by an mHealth app) is safe but did not maintain weight significantly better than standard care in ALS patients. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ identifier NCT02418546. Registered April 16, 2015.
Lipogenic SREBP-1a/c transcription factors activate expression of the iron regulator hepcidin, revealing cross-talk between lipid and iron metabolisms

The sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) are a family of transcription factors best known for stimulating the expression of genes encoding key lipogenic enzymes. However, SREBP functions beyond lipid metabolism are less understood. Here, we show that hepcidin antimicrobial peptide (Hamp), encoding the hormone hepcidin essential for iron homeostasis and regulated by dietary iron and inflammation, is a target gene of the two SREBP isoforms SREBP-1a/c. We found that in tissue culture, mature, active, and nuclear forms of the SREBP-1a/c proteins induce endogenous Hamp gene expression and increase the Hamp promoter activity primarily via three regulatory sequences, including an E-box. Moreover, ChIP experiments revealed that SREBP-1a binds to the Hamp gene promoter. Overexpression of nuclear SREBP-1a under the control of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase-1 (Pck1) promoter in mice increased hepatic Hamp mRNA and blood hepcidin levels, and as expected, caused fatty liver. Consistent with the known effects of Hamp up-regulation, SREBP-1a–overexpressing mice displayed signs of dysregulation in iron metabolism, including reduced serum iron and increased hepatic and splenic iron storage. Conversely, liver-specific depletion of the nuclear forms of SREBPs, as in SREBP cleavage-activating protein knockout mice, impaired lipopolysaccharide-induced up-regulation of hepatic Hamp. Together, these results indicate that the SREBP-1a/c transcription regulators activate hepcidin expression and thereby contribute to the control of mammalian iron metabolism.
Abstract P162: Placental Ischemia During Pregnancy Leads to Impaired Cardiac Function and Global Longitudinal Strain

Preeclampsia (PE) is a disorder prevalent in 3-8% of pregnancies, characterized by maternal hypertension and endothelial dysfunction. More recently, it has been shown that preeclamptic women exhibi...
Differences among participants' response to a wellness intervention for individuals with spinal cord injuries.

Abstract Background Individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI) often struggle with lifestyle adjustment following injury. Effective wellness interventions may aid in improving quality of life; however, treatment response heterogeneity is a concern for behavioral interventions. Objective To identify differences among adults with SCI who were responders and non-responders in a wellness intervention. Methods There were 29 persons with SCI who received a wellness intervention. Participants engaged in six in-person workshops over a 3-month period, led by wellness experts with peer mentors available. Individual intervention participant change was compared to the mean among control group participants target outcomes variables (i.e., satisfaction with life, self-efficacy for health practices, secondary conditions, health promoting behaviors, and perceived stress) to classify responders versus non-responders. Results Of the 29 participants, 18 who completed the intervention were classified as responders and 11 were non-responders. The mean age was 43.2 ± 11.2 years, and years post-injury were 12.0 ± 9.8. Decision tree regression analysis for demographic variables and injury characteristics showed that single/divorced participants were more likely to not respond to the intervention (52%), compared to married participants (17%). Further, participants who were single/divorced and ≤50 years old were more likely to not respond to the intervention (62%) than those who were older (25%). Conclusions Single/divorced individuals with SCI may respond differently to behavioral wellness interventions than married individuals. Additionally, the effects of age on treatment response in behavioral interventions should be further examined. Identifying non-modifiable factors related to response heterogeneity may help guide the creation of tailored interventions specific to patient characteristics.
"Sex" and the Ace Spectrum: Definitions of Sex, Behavioral Histories, and Future Interest for Individuals Who Identify as Asexual, Graysexual, or Demisexual.

This paper explores how people (n = 1,093) who identify as asexual or on the ace spectrum (i.e., graysexual, demisexual) define sex behaviorally using a list of 22 specific behaviors and assesses t...
Using Genome-Wide Association Study to Identify Genes and Pathways associated with Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis

Background Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (HP) is an interstitial lung disease caused by an immune response to the inhalation of antigens. Since only a small proportion of individuals exposed to HP-related antigens develop the disease, a genetic variation may play a role in disease development. Methods In this small-scale study, 24 patients diagnosed with HP were matched with control group who shared the patient’s environment and were exposed to the same HP-associated antigens. Logistic regression was employed to identify Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with HP. Next genes associated with HP were identified using sequence kernel association test (SKAT) analysis. Last, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Oncology (GO) enrichment analysis were employed to find HP signaling pathways using SNPs coded on genes and on non-coding genes, respectively. Results Given the small sample size, no single SNPs or genes were identified to be significantly associated with HP after adjustment for multiple testing. After P-value adjustment, the KEGG and GO pathway enrichment analysis identified 11 and 20 significant pathways respectively using SNPs coded on genes. Among these pathways, Cell cycle, Proteasome and Base excision repair had previously reported to be associated with lung function. Conclusion This is the first GWAS study identifying genetic factors associated with HP. Although no significant associations at SNPs/gene level were identified, there were significant pathways that are identified associated with HP which need further investigation in large cohorts.
Macro Talent Management Theorizing: The Political Economy of Talent Formation in the Middle East

Challenging dominant Global North trajectories, we critically explore the complex terrain of global TM with the aim of expanding the boundaries of the MTM model by examining the complexity of GTM t...
Differences in cytochrome p450 enzyme expression and activity in fetal and adult tissues

Abstract Introduction Human cytochrome p450 (CYP) enzyme expression and activity is lower in the fetus as compared to the adult; however, limited quantitative data exists regarding the specific differences in magnitude or the degree of inducibility due to environmental factors. Methods We utilized a combination of in silico- and molecular-based approaches to profile and compare CYP expression/activity in human adult liver and fetal tissues. Using public datasets, we evaluated human CYP expression between: 1) placenta vs. adult livers; 2) fetal vs. adult livers; or 3) five compartments of the human placenta. We generated new experimental data, characterizing expression levels of nine CYPs in placenta/fetal liver vs. adult liver. In a subset of samples, we evaluated CYP3A4 activity. Finally, we summarized evidence of human fetal CYP expression/activity and environmental exposures during pregnancy. Results In silico, CYPs were predominately expressed at higher levels in the adult liver vs. fetal tissues, with a few noted exceptions. Sixty percent of CYP enzymes were expressed at nominal levels in the placenta. In wet-lab analyses, we observed significant CYP-specific differences in expression/activity between adult and fetal tissues; CYP2E1 and -3A4 were expressed significantly lower in fetal vs. adult livers, while CYP2J2 levels were similar. Discussion We provide a qualitative review of the expression of the CYP enzyme family in critical sites of xenobiotic distribution during human pregnancy and novel quantitative data regarding fetal CYP expression and activity during mid-gestation. Data outputs may be a resource for modeling predictions of chemical distribution and sensitivity.
Participatory Budgeting from the Past to the Present

This chapter reviews the mid-twentieth century developments around participatory democracy as a precursor to participatory budgeting. It then introduces participatory budgeting in New York City and reviews the historical context of citizen budget participation through the community board process, which city agencies have taken over as a place to advocate for agency projects.
First-Principles Investigation of the Anchoring Behavior of Pristine and Defect-Engineered Tungsten Disulfide for Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

We used first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations to investigate the adsorption behavior of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) on pristine, defective, and oxygen-doped tungsten disulf...
Ecogeographical patterns of body size differ among North American paper wasp species

Species with widespread distributions frequently show clines in body size across broad geographic areas. These clines may be the result of “ecogeographical rules” that describe spatial patterns of phenotypic differences driven by environmental variation. Intraspecific variation in body size, and the mechanisms causing this variation, have been poorly described in social wasps. This study examined ecogeographical patterns of body size for 12 native species and one non-native species of North American paper wasps (genus: Polistes) using body size measurements from > 14,000 pinned museum specimens. Intraspecific body size was correlated with latitude, elevation, and broadscale climate variation. However, the direction of this relationship was idiosyncratic across species, with Bergmann’s clines and converse Bergmann’s clines equally represented. There was no evidence of a phylogenetic signal in the direction of the cline between body size and the environment. Within species, the worker caste and the reproductive caste showed the same direction of response between body size and latitude, although for most species the reproductive caste was larger than the worker caste. Intraspecific variation in body size appears to be driven by differences in the response among species to similar environmental variables but the mechanisms causing this variation remain unknown.
Unique Regulation of Intestinal Villus Epithelial Cl-/HCO3- Exchange by Cyclooxygenase Pathway Metabolites of Arachidonic Acid in a Mouse Model of Spontaneous Ileitis.

Electrolytes (NaCl) and fluid malabsorption cause diarrhea in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Coupled NaCl absorption, mediated by Na+/H+ and Cl−/HCO3− exchanges on the intestinal villus cells brush border membrane (BBM), is inhibited in IBD. Arachidonic acid metabolites (AAMs) formed via cyclooxygenase (COX) or lipoxygenase (LOX) pathways are elevated in IBD. However, their effects on NaCl absorption are not known. We treated SAMP1/YitFc (SAMP1) mice, a model of spontaneous ileitis resembling human IBD, with Arachidonyl Trifluoro Methylketone (ATMK, AAM inhibitor), or with piroxicam or MK-886, to inhibit COX or LOX pathways, respectively. Cl−/HCO3− exchange, measured as DIDS-sensitive 36Cl uptake, was significantly inhibited in villus cells and BBM vesicles of SAMP1 mice compared to AKR/J controls, an effect reversed by ATMK. Piroxicam, but not MK-886, also reversed the inhibition. Kinetic studies showed that inhibition was secondary to altered Km with no effects on Vmax. Whole cell or BBM protein levels of Down-Regulated in Adenoma (SLC26A3) and putative anion transporter-1 (SLC26A6), the two key BBM Cl−/HCO3− exchangers, were unaltered. Thus, inhibition of villus cell Cl−/HCO3− exchange by COX pathway AAMs, such as prostaglandins, via reducing the affinity of the exchanger for Cl−, and thereby causing NaCl malabsorption, could significantly contribute to IBD-associated diarrhea.