cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Outcome of children with hereditary tyrosinaemia following newborn screening

Background Nitisinone has transformed the management of hereditary tyrosinaemia type 1 (HT1). However, the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma is related to the age at which treatment is commenced. Little data on the outcome of children treated pre-emptively exist. Aim To describe the outcome of children with HT1 treated with nitisinone following selective newborn screening (NBS) and to compare their outcome with index siblings who had presented clinically. Subjects 12 children with HT1 were detected by NBS. Seven children were screened for HT1 because of an affected sibling (n=5). Four children were detected due to raised tyrosine concentrations on routine NBS and one child was born in a country with universal NBS for HT1. Outcome Nitisinone was commenced at 4 (1–52) days old. 6 children had an initial coagulopathy which resolved after 4 (1–7) days treatment. Currently at median age 8.5 (3–12.5) years all are clinically normal, with normal liver function tests and imaging. Those of school age are in normal classes but four have reported learning difficulties. Five index siblings presented clinically with acute liver failure (four) and chronic liver disease (one) at median 4 (1.5–17) months. One died of liver failure prior to nitisinone9s availability. Four were treated with nitisinone; one failed to respond and underwent liver transplantation and three responded. One responder died from complications of prematurity and the remaining two have compensated liver disease. Summary Children with HT1 treated with nitisinone following NBS have an excellent outcome. Conclusions Universal NBS for HT1 should be introduced in the UK.
Microstrain fields for cortical bone in uniaxial tension: optical analysis method.

AbstractThis study employed an optical strain measurement method, called microdisplacements by machine vision photogrammetry (DISMAP), to measure both the global and local strain fields in microtensile specimens of cortical bone subjected to controlled uniaxial tension. The variation of local maximum principal strains was measured within the gauge region of samples as a function of applied tensile stress during testing. High gradients of local strain appeared around microstructural features in stressed bone even while the global strain for the entire gauge region showed a strong linear correlation with increasing tensile stress (r2 = 0.98, p < 0.0001). The highest local strain around micro-structural features in bone was 11.5-79.5 times higher than the global strain.
Modal Substructuring of Geometrically Nonlinear Finite-Element Models

The efficiency of a modal substructuring method depends on the component modes used to reduce each subcomponent model. Methods such as Craig–Bampton have been used extensively to reduce linear finite-element models with thousands or even millions of degrees of freedom down orders of magnitude while maintaining acceptable accuracy. A novel reduction method is proposed here for geometrically nonlinear finite-element models using the fixed-interface and constraint modes of the linearized system to reduce each subcomponent model. The geometric nonlinearity requires an additional cubic and quadratic polynomial function in the modal equations, and the nonlinear stiffness coefficients are determined by applying a series of static loads and using the finite-element code to compute the response. The geometrically nonlinear, reduced modal equations for each subcomponent are then coupled by satisfying compatibility and force equilibrium. This modal substructuring approach is an extension of the Craig–Bampton method ...
Transmit energy-efficiency for long-range wireless communications from battery-powered unmanned systems

The transmit energy efficiency of long-range wireless communications from battery-powered unmanned systems over packet erasure channels is analyzed for space- and polarization-based multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) architectures with and without linear precoding. Theoretical and emulation results generated from a hybrid hardware/software test bed indicate that when packet erasures are considered, 4 × 4 MIMO architectures with precoding can offer significant energy efficiency gains relative to nonprecoded MIMO systems. In the lower signal-to-noise ratio regime, we find that operating points exist for the different MIMO architectures that provide near maximum spectral efficiency while operating at a local minimum in energy consumption. At these operating points, transceiver operating times are determined for a range of battery capacities.
Fusion cross section behavior for C 12 + Mg 24 and C 12 + Mg 26

Total fusion cross section excitation functions for the $^{12}\mathrm{C}$ + $^{24}\mathrm{Mg}$ and $^{12}\mathrm{C}$ + $^{26}\mathrm{Mg}$ systems have been measured in the energy range $20\ensuremath{\le}{E}_{\mathrm{lab}}l60$ MeV by detection of the evaporation residues. The excitation function for $^{12}\mathrm{C}$ + $^{24}\mathrm{Mg}$ is found to show evidence of oscillatory structures with peak to valley difference of \ensuremath{\sim}5-10% while that for $^{12}\mathrm{C}$ + $^{26}\mathrm{Mg}$ is relatively smooth. The maximum fusion cross sectin for $^{12}\mathrm{C}$ + $^{24}\mathrm{Mg}$ is observed to be \ensuremath{\sim}1180 mb compared to \ensuremath{\sim}1280 mb for $^{12}\mathrm{C}$ + $^{26}\mathrm{Mg}$. The cross sections for $^{12}\mathrm{C}$ + $^{26}\mathrm{Mg}$ show evidence of a change in behavior at a bombarding energy significantly below the energy at which the cross section saturates. The results are discussed in the context of previous measurements and predictions of macroscopic and microscopic fusion models.NUCLEAR REACTIONS Fusion measurement, ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{fus}}(E)$: $^{12}\mathrm{C}$ + $^{24}\mathrm{Mg}$, $20\ensuremath{\le}{E}_{\mathrm{lab}}\ensuremath{\le}63$ MeV; $^{12}\mathrm{C}$ + $^{26}\mathrm{Mg}$, $20\ensuremath{\le}{E}_{\mathrm{lab}}\ensuremath{\le}56$ MeV; measured ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{elastic}}(\ensuremath{\theta})$, ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{fusion}}(\ensuremath{\theta})$ at ${E}_{\mathrm{lab}}=20, 24, 30, 41, 48, 56, \mathrm{and} 60$ MeV for $^{12}\mathrm{C}$ + $^{24}\mathrm{Mg}$, and at 20, 30, 42, and 56 MeV for $^{12}\mathrm{C}$ + $^{26}\mathrm{Mg}$.
Deciphering the Vibrational Spectrum of Interstitial H2 in Si

H 2 is a fascinating molecule whose properties revealed the influence of nuclear spin on the molecular wave function in the 1920s. As an interstitial defect in Si, the H 2 molecule has given rise to a number of perplexing puzzles since the discovery of its vibrational spectrum. The absence of an ortho-para splitting for the H 2 vibrational line and an apparent low symmetry found in stress experiments misled several researchers into thinking that interstitial H 2 in Si must have a barrier to rotation. Our discovery of a new vibrational line for HD in Si and its interpretation, along with the recognition that certain transitions are possible for HD, but not for H 2 or D 2 , establish that H 2 in Si is a nearly free rotator after all. Additional puzzles such as the anomalous intensity of the HD line, the absence of an isotope dependence for the uniaxial stress splitting of the H 2 and D 2 vibrational lines, and the properties of an O-H 2 complex are also explained naturally. Recent Raman studies confirm that interstitial H 2 in Si is a free rotator but raise interesting new questions about the diffusivities of the ortho and para species.
Anchored pseudo-de novo assembly of human genomes identifies extensive sequence variation from unmapped sequence reads

The human genome reference (HGR) completion marked the genomics era beginning, yet despite its utility universal application is limited by the small number of individuals used in its development. This is highlighted by the presence of high-quality sequence reads failing to map within the HGR. Sequences failing to map generally represent 2-5 % of total reads, which may harbor regions that would enhance our understanding of population variation, evolution, and disease. Alternatively, complete de novo assemblies can be created, but these effectively ignore the groundwork of the HGR. In an effort to find a middle ground, we developed a bioinformatic pipeline that maps paired-end reads to the HGR as separate single reads, exports unmappable reads, de novo assembles these reads per individual and then combines assemblies into a secondary reference assembly used for comparative analysis. Using 45 diverse 1000 Genomes Project individuals, we identified 351,361 contigs covering 195.5 Mb of sequence unincorporated in GRCh38. 30,879 contigs are represented in multiple individuals with ~40 % showing high sequence complexity. Genomic coordinates were generated for 99.9 %, with 52.5 % exhibiting high-quality mapping scores. Comparative genomic analyses with archaic humans and primates revealed significant sequence alignments and comparisons with model organism RefSeq gene datasets identified novel human genes. If incorporated, these sequences will expand the HGR, but more importantly our data highlight that with this method low coverage (~10-20×) next-generation sequencing can still be used to identify novel unmapped sequences to explore biological functions contributing to human phenotypic variation, disease and functionality for personal genomic medicine.
A cross-sectional investigation on occupational emotion among employees in centers for disease control and prevention in Xiamen City

[Objective]To evaluate the occupational emotion among employees in city-level and district-level centers for disease control and prevention( CDCs) in Xiamen City. [Methods]The general information and emotion experiences were randomly collected from 137 employees in city-level and district-level CDCs by a semi-open and self-administered questionnaire,and the data were analyzed statistically.[Results]The occupational emotion among employees in city-level and district-level CDCs in Xiamen City was dominated by the positive emotion,and the top five emotion experiences in distribution frequency were calmness,satisfaction,fullness,pleasure and interest. The main negative emotion experiences included confusion,anxiety,disappointment,tension and dullsville. There was difference in emotion experiences among different objects. [Conclusion]The CDC departments should perform a dynamic monitoring on occupational emotion and carry out the intervention measures,to improve the work efficiency of employees.
The Appropriate Response? Components of Constituent Evaluations

The growth in relevance of national factors may not be at the expense of candidate-centered factors. Assessment of constituent evaluations reveal that both member factors—policy, service, allocative and symbolic—as well as attitudes toward Congress and the national government play a role in their formation. Moreover, these factors experience a dynamic relationship, shaped by the context of each election. Ultimately, symbolic responsiveness provides a significant influence which outpaces the other factors. This outcome evidences not only the role/value of diffuse support but also the weaker capacity of citizens to make specific evaluation of member and the larger government.
Playing Miami : Afrocuban performance artists negotiating cubanidad

OF THE THESIS PLAYING MIAMI: AFROCUBAN PERFORMANCE ARTISTS NEGOTIATING CUBANIDAD by Kameelah Nicole Benjamin-Fuller Florida International University, 2003 Miami, Florida Professor Carole Boyce Davies, Major Professor The social scripts that are deeply involved in cultural production by AfroCuban identified artists in Miami, during the late nineties to the present, participate in a climate that is informed by and feeds from the so-called Latin Explosion of this time period. More specifically, varying historical, socioeconomic, and geopolitical trajectories have placed Africa and African-based religion and cultural production (via music and theatre) at the center of Cuban national identity. The purpose of this study is to facilitate a discussion of the experiences of AfroCuban performance artists and the climate for production, given the aforementioned dynamics, in mass media. These experiences are directed by a study of transnational structures for cultural production (including the more recent memory-shadow of hip-hop culture in Cuba) and discourse that engages theories of modernity, authenticity, and resistance. Through the interventions of artists, producers, and distributors via their art and business, the text identifies and resists the pervasive oppression of stereotype, dehumanization (Othering), and essentialism.
LIT 333 . . . NOT REL 333: Jesus as a Literary Event?

The ‘literary Jesus’ is a fluid figure, which means that he is a literary creation not solidified by tradition, orthodoxy, or dogma. Authors from D.H. Lawrence to Jose Saramago have reshaped, re-contoured, and transformed Jesus into an array of subject positions, with each literary articulation relating to mythology, philosophy, and politics. Teaching Jesus as a literary event allows students to take overly familiar religious discourses and traditional understandings of Jesus and rethink them in terms of other conceptual possibilities, possibilities that open up conversations about the creative literary imagination.
Intramuscular Route of Administration Increases Potency in Eliciting Cocaine-Induced Behavioral Sensitization

Background Cocaine is the number one abused psychostimulant drug that reaches addiction criterion in the US. In animals, repeated administration of cocaine results in behavioral sensitization which is thought to represent adaptations in the mesolimbic dopamine neural circuitry, the reward pathway. Cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization is evident in rodents and quail when cocaine is administered intraperitoneally (IP). Objectives The purpose of the current study was to investigate dose-dependent and temporal effects of acute and chronic intramuscular (IM) administration of cocaine in male quail. Methods After habituation to the test chambers, male quail received an IM injection of saline, 3 or 10 mg/kg cocaine and were immediately placed in the chambers. Distance traveled (in meters) was recorded in 5 min time bins for 30 min. Testing was conducted once per day for ten days with each subject receiving the same treatment throughout the experiment. Other behaviors including pecking, preening, and feather fluffing were measured. Results Cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization and tolerance were evident at relatively low doses of IM cocaine. Dose-dependent effects were evident. IM cocaine also reduced feather fluffing, a behavior that typically occurs during hypothermia. Conclusions The findings replicated and extended previous research with pigeons and suggested that IM administration of cocaine may be a relatively potent route of administration. Potency of drugs of abuse may be related to the bioavailability of a drug and its addictive properties. Thus, studying drugs of abuse using an IM route of administration may be useful in drug addiction research.
Use of specialists on audit engagements: A research synthesis and directions for future research

Abstract This synthesis covers academic research on the use of valuation, tax, information technology (IT), and forensic specialists on audit engagements. The importance and role of specialists on audit engagements have recently increased, and specialist use has garnered significant attention from regulators and academics. Given the PCAOB’s (2017b) recent proposal to revise auditing standards regarding specialists’ involvement, it is important to review the specialist literature as a whole. By integrating research across these four domains, I identify commonalities and differences related to: (1) factors associated with the use of specialists on audit engagements (including the nature, timing, and extent of use); (2) factors impacting auditors’ interactions with specialists (including specialists contracted by the auditor or management); and (3) outcomes associated with the use of specialists. This integrated analysis of the specialist literatures shows variation in the use of specialists, and various factors affecting both if and how they are involved and whether auditors use specialists internal or external to the audit firm. Additionally, research has sometimes (but not always) linked specialist involvement to higher audit quality. The commonalities and areas of variation identified are informative to audit research and practice, particularly as regulators and audit firms look to improve the quality of audits using specialists. Throughout the synthesis, I also provide a number of directions for future research.
A Simple, Real-Time Text-Messaging Intervention Is Associated with Improvements Door-to-Needle Times for Acute Ischemic Stroke (S02.007)

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a simple, real-time text-messaging intervention designed to improve door-to-needle (DTN) times for acute ischemic stroke patients. BACKGROUND: Although earlier administration of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV tPA) is associated with increased efficacy, developing robust hospital processes to ensure prompt treatment remains a challenge. DESIGN/METHODS: We reviewed DTN times for consecutive adults with acute ischemic stroke treated with IV tPA at a tertiary academic center ED in the 40 months before and 15 months after a quality improvement intervention was rolled out (April 2011). Code Stroke teams are led by on-call neurology residents. By protocol, a multimodal CT/CTA/CTP is completed before IV tPA. The intervention consisted of 1) a requirement for the on-call neurology resident to report the DTN time for each Code Stroke activation to the entire multidisciplinary team by text page in real-time; 2) a review of DTN performance by the Stroke Center Director the next day; and 3) a biweekly dashboard of DTN performance. DTN times were abstracted from comprehensive medical records. Time series data were first evaluated for secular trends by visual inspection and linear regression. The rank sum test was used to compare median DTN time. Fisher9s exact test was used for univariate associations. RESULTS: A total of 141 patients (mean age 73 y, 54% women, median NIHSS 10 [IQR 4-17]) received IV tPA (95 pre- and 46 post-intervention). Age and NIHSS were comparable in the two groups and there was no significant secular trend (slope = -0.2 min/month, p=0.48). Median DTN time was significantly lower with the intervention (65 min [IQR 52-71] vs. 86 min [IQR 68-103], rank sum p CONCLUSIONS: A simple real-time text-messaging intervention was associated with significant improvement in DTN times. Disclosure: Dr. Burnett has nothing to disclose. Dr. Zimmermann has nothing to disclose. Dr. Coralic has nothing to disclose. Dr. Quon has nothing to disclose. Dr. Whetstone has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kim has received research support from SanBio, Inc.
Building Political Participation: The Role of Family Policy and Political Science Courses

This mixed-methods study examined the long-term associations between two kinds of politics courses—required political science courses and required family policy courses—and the political participat...
Theory of Emotions

This chapter explains the theoretical foundations underlying the emotion research reported in this book. It discusses general approaches to studying emotions across the disciplines and examines the growing research in political science. Erisen pays particular attention to conceptualizations of emotions and introduces the three specific emotions studied throughout the book. The chapter examines in detail debates concerning the theoretical foundations of anger, fear (or anxiety), and enthusiasm, and discusses attitudinal and behavioral findings from previous emotions research. Finally, the chapter reviews the foundations of emotion induction methods and measurement tools employed in contemporary experimental studies and survey research.
Pointwise Behavior of Sobolev Functions

In this chapter the pointwise behavior of Sobolev functions is investigated. Since the definition of a function u ∈ W k,p (Ω) requires that the kth-order distributional derivatives of u belong to L p (Ω), it is therefore natural to inquire whether the function u possesses some type of regularity (smoothness) in the classical sense. The main purpose of this chapter is to show that this question can be answered in the affirmative if interpreted appropriately. Although it is evident that Sobolev functions do not possess smoothness properties in the usual classical sense, it will be shown that if u ∈ W k,p (R n when u has derivatives of order k computed in the metric induced by the L p -norm. That is, it will be shown for all points x in the complement of some exceptional set, there is a polynomial P x of degree k such that the L p -norm of the integral average of the remainder |u - p x | over a ball B(x,r) is o(r k ). Of course, if u were of class C k then the L p -norm could be replaced by the sup norm.
Risking forgiveness after Charleston

Confronted by the White supremacists who had murdered their loved ones in June 2015, many of the family members of those killed at Mother Immanuel AME Church spoke words of forgiveness. The familie...
Diffraction studies of plastically deformed polyethylene IV. Branched polyethylene

Branched polyethylenes (Lupolen) with 0.5, 7, 16 and 34 nonterminal CH3 groups per 103 CH2 were drawn between 0° and 100°C and the transformation in the neck investigated by small-angle and wide-angle X-ray scattering. The maximum draw ratio obtainable decreases and the long period of the new fiber structure appears at lower draw ratio with increasing degree of branching. Moreover, no necking is observed at higher temperature with the last two samples. These effects are partly caused by branching but may be also the consequence of the rather high molecular weight of the highly branched samples. The long periodL T of the new fiber structure as function of temperature of drawing(T d ) and branching ratio can be well represented byL T =L T =0°C [0.85+15/(T m −T d )] up to a supercoolingT m −T d =100°C. At higher supercooling the long period is identical with that at 100°C supercooling. The constantL T =0°C is the long period obtained with drawing at 0°C, i. e., at a supercooling of 100°C or more andT m is the melting point of the sample drawn atT d =20°C to a draw ratio ratio 6. The branching influencesL T =0°C andT m but not the coefficients 0.85 and 15.
Integrating Obesity Treatment Into Routine Primary Care.

The editorialist discusses Conroy and colleagues' findings and how they may facilitate the incorporation of obesity treatment into routine primary care.
Leveraging spatial dimensions of news media content analysis to explore place-based differences in natural resource issues

News media serve as a repository of location data, whether embedded in datelines or news feature content. This study explores how to leverage these data to visualize the regional distribution of risk and benefit news themes associated with reporting on marine aquaculture, a growing domestic industry with complex social and ecological impacts. We extracted geographic content (place names) from news articles about aquaculture risk and/or benefit using natural language processing, geocoded articles by their focal location, and qualitatively validated theme-location associations for geospatial analysis. We present emergent results from this analysis and provide recommendations for applying or integrating this methodology in interdisciplinary team science.
Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome in a Border Collie

A 10 wk old female border collie was presented for hemorrhagic diarrhea and pelvic limb lameness. Examination revealed pain and effusion in multiple appendicular joints and pyrexia. Clinicopathologic testing revealed moderate neutropenia as well as nondegenerate neutrophilic inflammation in multiple joints. Radiographs showed capsular joint swelling and heterogeneous metaphyseal lucencies in the distal radius, ulna, femur, and tibia. Genetic testing confirmed a mutation in the vacuolar protein sorting-associated protein 13B gene and a diagnosis of trapped neutrophil syndrome (TNS). Within 24 hr of initiating prednisone therapy (1 mg/kg, per os, q 12 hr), the dog was afebrile and nonpainful with normal ambulation. Lameness recurred twice over the next 5 mo. At 9 mo of age, diagnostics showed severe erosive polyarthritis of both stifles with an inflammatory leukogram and arthrocentesis findings consistent with septic arthritis, and the dog died despite antibiotic therapy. This is the first case of TNS described in the North American literature, and it is unique in that we had the opportunity to document progression of radiographic abnormalities over more than 6 mo. TNS should be considered in young border collies with signs suggestive of immune-mediated polyarthritis, septic arthritis, or hypertrophic osteodystrophy, combined with neutropenia or gastrointestinal signs.
A Quantile-Based Approach for Transmission Expansion Planning

Transmission expansion planning is an integral part of power system planning and consists of generating and selecting transmission proposals for maintaining sufficient transmission capacity to satisfy the electric load. Specifically, the desire to increase the use of renewable energy has exposed the limitations of transmission networks and has elevated the importance of transmission expansion planning. However, considering the random nature of renewable sources in conjunction with the power outages makes the planning process very challenging. We present a new procedure for selecting the best transmission enhancement proposal from a set of finite proposals under uncertainty. The selection is based on the quantile value of the cost of each proposal. The procedure uses a combination of simulation and optimization and considers randomness of uncertain parameters of the network. Wind energy and network contingencies are among the considered random parameters. The procedure is suitable for evaluating investor-initiated enhancement proposals by the planner and statistically guarantees satisfaction of the planner's prespecified probability of correct selection since simulation is involved. Two IEEE test networks are used for demonstrating the implementation of the new procedure. For these two test networks, solutions obtained using quantiles are compared with those when the expected value or a weighted combination of the expected value and the conditional-value-at-risk are used as selection criteria. The comparison shows that similar to the use of conditional-value-at-risk, the selection is sensitive to the choice of the quantile.
Extracellular Vesicle Proteins and MicroRNAs as Biomarkers for Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a heterogeneous condition, associated with diverse etiologies, clinical presentations and degrees of severity, and may result in chronic neurobehavioral sequelae. The field of TBI biomarkers is rapidly evolving to address the many facets of TBI pathology and improve its clinical management. Recent years have witnessed a marked increase in the number of publications and interest in the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs), which include exosomes, cell signaling, immune responses, and as biomarkers in a number of pathologies. Exosomes have a well-defined lipid bilayer with surface markers that reflect the cell of origin and an aqueous core that contains a variety of biological material including proteins (e.g., cytokines and growth factors) and nucleic acids (e.g., microRNAs). The presence of proteins associated with neurodegenerative changes such as amyloid-β, α-synuclein and phosphorylated tau in exosomes suggests a role in the initiation and propagation of neurological diseases. However, mechanisms of cell communication involving exosomes in the brain and their role in TBI pathology are poorly understood. Exosomes are promising TBI biomarkers as they can cross the blood-brain barrier and can be isolated from peripheral fluids, including serum, saliva, sweat, and urine. Exosomal content is protected from enzymatic degradation by exosome membranes and reflects the internal environment of their cell of origin, offering insights into tissue-specific pathological processes. Challenges in the clinical use of exosomal cargo as biomarkers include difficulty in isolating pure exosomes, variable yields of the isolation processes, quantification of vesicles, and lack of specificity of exosomal markers. Moreover, there is no consensus regarding nomenclature and characteristics of EV subtypes. In this review, we discuss current technical limitations and challenges of using exosomes and other EVs as blood-based biomarkers, highlighting their potential as diagnostic and prognostic tools in TBI.
An Update on Hepatobiliary Ultrasound

Right upper quadrant ultrasound is often the first step in the evaluation of hepatobiliary disease. An in-depth knowledge of the ultrasound findings of common and important diseases, as well as the limitations of and new advances in ultrasound technology, is key to helping patients and referring providers reach diagnostic and management decisions. The utility of contrast-enhanced ultrasound is expanding, shear wave elastography is emerging as a sophisticated quantitative measure of fibrosis, and the new US LI-RADS reporting standard is changing surveillance practices for patients with cirrhosis. This article will provide a review of hepatobiliary ultrasound interpretation with an emphasis on diagnostic accuracy and new techniques.
Assessment of Factors Impacting Long-Term Utilization of Tracheoesophageal Speech Among Laryngectomees:

Objective(s):To evaluate complication rate and abandonment rate after tracheoesophageal puncture and to assess factors associated with these outcome measures.Methods:Retrospective review of larynge...
Modeling nutrient release with compiled data in a typical Midwest watershed

Abstract There is a critical need for an easy-to-adopt approach to estimate how different land use and management practices affect regional nutrient release into water bodies. As a typical agriculture dominated watershed in the Midwest, Indiana’s White River Watershed has observed large amounts of nutrient release from diffusive sources. This situation will likely worsen with population growth, climate change, and land use change. In this study, we integrated land use change scenarios, experimental data compiled from literature, and an easy-to-adopt nutrient simulation model to examine the effects of land use on nutrient load and delivery, and identify the sensitive areas of nutrient release in the White River Watershed. Nutrient Delivery Ratio (NDR) model and the Scenario Generator tool within the InVEST (Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs) ecosystem modeling framework, were adopted in this study, due to its capacity for scenario-based assessments and the simplified nutrient load and delivery functionality. Region-specific nutrient export coefficient values were compiled from literature and applied to model nutrient load and delivery in the White River Watershed, and the model was loosely calibrated with existing water quality monitoring databases. Results showed that the agricultural area releases more nutrients per unit area, while the forest area releases much less nutrients per unit area. Urban area is more sensitive to nitrogen release than phosphorus. Under the AgExpansion scenario, total nitrogen and phosphorus release would be 2.1% and 2.6% higher than the current situation, while under the Pre-settlement scenario, total nitrogen and total phosphorus release would decrease by 73.7% and 88.0%. The approach developed is helpful for watershed protection that avoids computation of complex social and biophysical processes, to inform and guide conservation practices by revealing areas with the greatest effects on nutrients in streams under different land use scenarios. The experiment database that was compiled could serve as the basis of similar studies in the future. The approach will be beneficial to local community and may easily be applied to other agriculture dominate Midwest regions.
Antisense Oligonucleotide Therapeutics for Neurodegenerative Disorders

Expanding therapeutic targets from proteins to RNAs opens up new possibilities for neurodegenerative disorders therapeutics development. Recently, a disease-modifying antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) agent was approved for spinal muscular atrophy, suggesting ASOs will fulfill their early promise and become a significant new therapeutic category for neurodegenerative disorders. ASOs are in human subjects testing for Huntington disease, monogenic forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer disease, myotonic dystrophy, Leber congenital amaurosis, Usher syndrome, and retinitis pigmentosum, with many more in preclinical development. Current ASO strategies encompass RNA processing modulation, and RNA target breakdown. Broad ASO mechanism categories are protein restoring versus protein lowering. Individual ASO mechanisms of action range from mutation-specific to impacting many proteins. Current ASOs show great promise in neurodegenerative disorders. Specific ASO designs and mechanisms may be more tenable in this disease area. Preclinical development is already leveraging early knowledge from these initial clinical trials to develop novel ASO cocktails, new ASO chemical modifications, and new ASO RNA and protein targets.
Prostatic Urethral Lift in Patients With Obstructive Median Lobes: A Single Surgeon Experience at an Academic Center.

Abstract Objective To examine the long-term efficacy of prostatic urethral lift (PUL) for treating men, with or without an obstructive median lobe (OML), who suffer from lower urinary tract symptoms attributed to benign prostatic hyperplasia. Materials and Methods A retrospective review was performed on all consecutive PUL cases with or without OML from October 2017 to November 2019 by a single academic surgeon. Outcomes were measured using the International Prostate Symptoms Survey (IPSS) with quality of life (QoL) scores. Comparative testing and mixed-effects linear regression analysis were utilized with significance set at α = 0.05 and performed with Stata (College Station, TX). Results A total of 110 PUL procedures were performed on 106 patients (4 repeat surgeries) with a median age of 66.5 (interquartile range: 60.4-73.7). Twenty-three patients (21.7%) had an OML. Following PUL, patients in both groups showed significant improvements in IPSS (P Conclusion PUL is a minimally invasive procedure effective at reducing lower urinary tract symptoms and improving the lives of men with benign prostatic hyperplasia without incurring risks of serious complications. These improvements were equivalent and upheld in patients who presented with OML.
Continuous random network avoidance and microscopic relaxation time in As2Se3 glass

Abstract Recent nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies on SiO2 structural glass has shown a positive correlation exists between Si-O bond lengths and Si-O-Si bond angles. This indicates that when the glass solidified it avoided forming as a continuous random network (CRN). A microscopic tight binding (TB) model was used some years ago to predict the nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) distribution of powdered As2Se3 glass. Similar bond length- bond angle correlations were found. Here we extend this model and show that these correlations are directly attributable to a competition between valence electronic energy and emergent frustration forces as the glass solidifies into a locally preferred structure (LPS). Recent studies have shown that fast atomic motion occurs in metallic glasses at temperatures far below the glass temperature. Using this model we calculate a microscopic relaxation time and show it is a product of CRN avoidance.
Teachers’ conceptual understanding of fraction operations: results from a national sample of elementary school teachers

Teachers’ understanding of the concepts they teach affects the quality of instruction and students’ learning. This study used a sample of 303 teachers from across the USA to examine elementary school mathematics teachers’ knowledge of key concepts underlying fraction arithmetic. Teachers’ explanations were coded based on the accuracy of their explanations and the kinds of concepts and representations they used in their responses. The results showed that teachers’ understanding of fraction arithmetic was limited, especially for fraction division, yet a moderate relationship was found between teachers’ understanding of fraction addition and division. Furthermore, more experienced teachers seemed to have a deeper understanding of fraction arithmetic, whereas special education teachers had a substantially limited understanding.
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Programming and Troubleshooting

The number of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) is rapidly increasing due to large trials supporting its role in preventing sudden cardiac death. As with any technology, there are potential ways that ICDs may malfunction or not function optimally. The goal of this chapter is to discuss how to recognize and troubleshoot common problems, such as lead malfunction and inappropriate shocks.
A Phase II study of nab-Paclitaxel (nab-P) in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR mutations after frontline tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy.

Abstract Background Patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring a sensitizing EGFR mutation have effective targeted therapy options initially but most patients eventually progress and receive cytotoxic chemotherapy. In this single-institution phase II study, we evaluated the role of nab-paclitaxel monotherapy in this patient population. Patients and Methods Patients with metastatic NSCLC with an activating EGFR mutation whose disease progressed after frontline tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy and who were chemotherapy naive received nab-paclitaxel 125 mg/m2 on days 1, 8 and 15 in a 28-day cycle. The primary endpoint was response rate per RECIST 1.1 and secondary endpoints were duration of response, progression free survival, toxicity and overall survival. Results A total of 27 patients were enrolled and 21 patients were evaluable for response. Median age was 65 (range 52–81), 69% of patients were women, 42% of patients did not having a smoking history. 31% of patients had central nervous system (CNS) metastatic disease at baseline. Confirmed partial response was documented in 9 of 26 patients (35%, 95% CI 17–56) and disease control rate was 58% (95% CI 35–73). CNS was a common first site of progression. Median progression free survival was 4.0 months (95% CI 1.8–5.2). No new safety signals were observed. Conclusion Single agent nab-paclitaxel showed modest antitumor activity in patients with EGFR mutation positive NSCLC and may be an option in patients who are platinum ineligible. Patients often progressed in the CNS and the results underscores the importance of CNS activity of systemic therapies in this patient population.
Impact of trimethylaluminum exposure time on the mechanical properties of single-cycle atomic layer deposition modified cellulosic nanopaper

Cellulosic nanomaterials can improve the performance of various products and can be renewably sourced. In this study, nanocellulosic paper (nanopapers) is chemically and physically altered with simple gas-phase processing to achieve enhanced mechanical performance. Cellulosic nanofibril paper is exposed to single cycles of trimethylaluminum (TMA) and water to modify the surface and subsurface chemistry with small quantities of aluminum oxide. Precursor exposure times are found to significantly influence the amount of inorganic deposited within the cellulosic structure and its crystallinity. This result differs from the common assumption that exposing cellulose to TMA will lead to an “atomic layer deposition (ALD)” type of process in which self-limited surface saturation is quickly achieved. These results suggest that with extended exposure times, the TMA precursor finds new pathways to chemically or physically alter the cellulosic material. Through the x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis, we find that cellulose undergoes a decomposition process during the TMA exposure and/or subsequent reaction with H2O, creating at least one additional pathway to inorganic uptake. Interestingly, uniaxial tensile strength measurements reveal that longer TMA exposure times significantly increase the nanopaper's elongation at break and ultimate tensile strength, with only a modest loss in Young's modulus. While similar inorganic loading can be achieved with multiple ALD cycles, mechanical toughness exhibits significantly less change than for the increased TMA exposure times. X-ray diffraction suggests that the TMA exposures are transforming crystalline portions of the nanocellulose into amorphous structures. These amorphous regions lead to crazing, which increases the strain to break and toughness of the nanopaper.
Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension: the Bedside.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), included in group 4 PH, is an uncommon complication of acute pulmonary embolism (PE), in which emboli in the pulmonary vasculature do not resolve but rather form into an organized scar-like obstruction which can result in right ventricular (RV) failure. Here we provide an overview of current diagnosis and management of CTEPH. CTEPH management is complex with treatments that range from surgery, percutaneous interventions, to medical therapies. Current CTEPH medical therapies have largely been repurposed from pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The diagnosis of CTEPH can be challenging, requiring a multimodality approach to differentiate from disease mimics. While these treatments improve symptoms, they may not reverse the underlying pathology of CTEPH.
Economic Contributions from Conserved Forests: Four Case Studies of the USDA Forest Service Forest Legacy Program

Privately-owned forests provide important environmental, economic, and cultural benefits to the general public. Resulting impacts from landownership changes and conversion of working forests to other land uses threaten these benefits. The USDA Forest Service Forest Legacy Program (FLP) permanently protects threatened private forests that are of environmental, cultural, and economic importance to the greater public while keeping land ownership and forest management at the private or local level. FLP provides grants to state agencies to purchase conservation easements on private forestlands or, less frequently, acquisition by public agencies. We employed IMPLAN’s input-output model of the 2016 economy to estimate how land protected by FLP in four regions of the United States contributes to the economy. FLP land adds tens of millions of dollars of value annually and supports thousands of jobs in the four study areas and, due to the permanent protection of these lands, they will continue to do so in perpetuity. Nonfederal partners contributed 34%–60% of total project costs, highlighting the importance of land conservation to multiple stakeholders and the ability to leverage federal resources. The permanent nature of FLP protection provides long-term security for the economic and cultural benefits these lands provide.
Three Unjustified Instances of Imagined Causes: Substances, Primary Qualities and the Soul as an Immaterial Object

In Part III of this book, we saw Hume claim that we may only imagine causes when we are in a “philosophical” state of mind. Yet in Part II, we saw that we must always imagine causes. Which will it be? In the Appendix to 1.4.6, we saw what looks to be a response to this question, where Hume seems to gesture towards the necessity of transcendentally conceived of objects, particularly in regard to the object, the “self.” But in the three sections leading up to 1.4.6, Hume focuses on those imagined causes that come about as a result of an inevitable “philosophical” approach to the world. By taking a careful look as these sections, while bringing Hume’s thoughts on abstract ideas to bear, we may examine Hume’s thoughts on justified v. unjustified belief in objects in much more detail than we did in Chap. 3.
Internet Archives as a Tool for Research: Decay in Large Scale Archival Records

Web archiving provides social scientists and digital humanities researchers with a data source that enables the study of a wealth of historical phenomena. One of the most notable efforts to record the history of the World Wide Web is the Internet Archive (IA) project, which maintains the largest repository of archived data in the world. Understanding the quality of archived data and the completeness of each record of a single website is a central issue for scholarly research, and yet there is no standard record of the provenance of digital archives. Indeed, although present day records tend to be quite accurate, archived Web content deteriorates as one moves back in time. This paper analyzes a subset or archived Web data, measures the degree of degradation in a subset of data, and proposes statistical inference to such overcome limitations.
Feedback inhibition of polyisoprenyl pyrophosphate synthesis from mevalonate in vitro. Implications for protein prenylation.

The prenylation of proteins utilizes the polyisoprenyl pyrophosphates (FPP) and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) as prenyl donors. These polyisoprenoids are also precursors to ubiquinone and dolichol synthesis. We have previously described the geranylgeranylation of rab 1b from labeled mevalonate in rabbit reticulocyte lysates (Khosravi-Far, R., Lutz, R. J., Cox, A. D., Conroy, L., Bourne, J. R., Sinensky, M., Balch, W. E., Buss, J. C., and Der, C. J. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88, 6264-6268). We now directly demonstrate the incorporation of mevalonate into FPP and GGPP in rabbit reticulocyte cytosol. High pressure liquid chromatography analysis reveals that only all-trans-E,E,E-GGPP, the prenyl donor for in vivo protein geranylgeranylation, is synthesized. Incubations with recombinant H-ras and rab1b result in an increased synthesis of farnesyl and geranylgeranyl derivatives, respectively. The increase is wholly accounted for by protein-incorporated polyisoprenoids with no change in the polyisoprenyl pyrophosphate pools. Further, GGPP inhibits its own synthesis, without affecting FPP synthesis, with half-maximal inhibition at approximately 3 microM GGPP. Inhibition of FPP synthesis by the inhibition of isopentenyl isomerase causes a dramatic increase in isopentenyl pyrophosphate synthesis. FPP also inhibits conversion of mevalonate into FPP. These findings indicate that these polyisoprenyl pyrophosphates can down-regulate their own synthesis in vitro, and this regulation may control the levels of these polyisoprenoids in vivo.
Autonomous microneedle system for biochemical analysis

Autonomous microneedle system with bioluminescent-based sensing capabilities are presented. The analysis systems consists of a microneedle for sample introduction, a stereolithography defined fluid interface containing the analysis reservoir, and a detector. Enzyme catalyzed luciferin-luciferase biochemical reactions driven by adenosine triphosphate were used as the basic transduction mechanism. The reaction chemistry can be biochemically coupled to metabolic reactions for sensing of a variety of metabolites. Two detection mechanisms were studied as methods for quantification of the luminescent output generated from the reaction, the first based on lossy, planar polycarbonate waveguides and the second based on semiconductor photodetectors. The total analysis systems was fabricated and characterized for an ATP concentration range from 2.0 mM to 7.0 mM.