cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Computed tomography scan does not correlate with patient experience of nasal obstruction.

Objectives/Hypothesis Third-party payors have begun to demand imaging studies to document septal deviation prior to authorizing septoplasties. This study aims to determine whether septal deviation findings on computed tomography (CT) correlate with symptoms of nasal obstruction as determined by the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale. Study Design Prospective and retrospective chart review. Methods Patients 18 years or older undergoing CT scans, which included the nasal septum, were asked to complete a NOSE scale survey and report the laterality of any possible obstruction. Coronal CT images of subjects were graded by two blinded otolaryngologists and two blinded neuroradiologists using a grading system devised by the authors. Results Seventy-three subjects met inclusion/exclusion criteria. Interobserver reliability about the degree of septal deviation on CT scans was moderately good to substantial (κ values, 0.43 to 0.72). There was poor correlation between NOSE scores and degree of deviation on CT scans (Kendall's τ, 0.031 to 0.045; P values all >.05). There was poor concordance between the side of symptoms that patients reported and the side that observers thought was most deviated on CT. Conclusions There is little correlation between septal deviation findings on CT scans and symptoms of nasal obstruction. The results do not support a role for CT scans as either a clinically meaningful or necessary test to investigate uncomplicated nasal obstruction. Level of Evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 2015
Scattered Wave Calculations for Organic Molecules and Other Open Structures

We will discuss the progress that is currently being made in going beyond the non-overlapping atomic spheres + muffin-tin model, with particular emphasis on open finite structures such as organic molecules. Topics include: replacement of non-overlapping atomic spheres by overlapping spheres, truncated spheres, and other types of atomic cells; introduction of extra spheres; replacement of the bounding sphere by a more snug-fitting surface such as an ellipsoid; scattering by non-spherical potentials and atomic cells; calculation of non-muffin-tin and non-spherical atomic corrections by perturbation theory; redefinition of the uniform intersphere potential as a charge-density- rather than a volume-averaged potential. In the final section we will discuss in a preliminary way a new method that we have developed for dealing with open finite systems. The essential ingredients are a charge-density-averaged muffin-tin potential and simplified perturbation calculations.
Hox Proteins Act as Transcriptional Guarantors to Ensure Terminal Differentiation

Cell differentiation usually occurs with high fidelity, but the expression of many transcription factors is variable. Using the touch receptor neurons (TRNs) in C. elegans, we found that the Hox proteins CEH-13/lab and EGL-5/Abd-B overcome this variability by facilitating the activation of the common TRN fate determinant mec-3 in the anterior and posterior TRNs, respectively. CEH-13 and EGL-5 increase the probability of mec-3 transcriptional activation by the POU-homeodomain transcription factor UNC-86 using the same Hox/Pbx binding site. Mutation of ceh-13 and egl-5 resulted in an incomplete (∼40%) loss of the TRN fate in respective TRNs, which correlates with quantitative mRNA measurements showing two distinct modes (all or none) of mec-3 transcription. Therefore, Hox proteins act as transcriptional "guarantors" in order to ensure reliable and robust gene expression during terminal neuronal differentiation. Guarantors do not activate gene expression by themselves but promote full activation of target genes regulated by other transcription factors.
Prevalence of HTLV-III infection among New Haven, Connecticut, parenteral drug abusers in 1982-1983.

The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is etiologically linked to human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III). Intravenous drug use is the primary known risk factor in 17% of US cases of AIDS. The authors report the presence of HTLV-III antibody confirmed by Western blot assay in at least 10% of a group New Haven Connecticut parenteral drug abusers in 1982-1983. The adequacy of using only enzyme linked immunosorbent assy (ELISA) testing in this risk group is questioned. Serum specimens were collected from 283 persons who were a part of a study of on-A non-B hepatitis from March 1982 until July 1983. All subjects had recently used drugs parenterally most were asymptomatic and many had moderate transaminase elevations and seropositivity for hepatitis B virus. Serum samples were stored under coade at -20 degrees Centigrade and were tested annonymously by ELISA (Abbott Laboratoties) according to the manufacturers specifications. Western blots were done with use of purified HTLV-III virion lysates prepared form infected H9 lymphocytes. 84 of the 283 samples (30%) were reactive on ELISA testing. 28 of the 84 ELISA-positive serum samples (33%) reacted with HTLV-III proteins on Western blots. 4 of these 28 samples were reactive only with p24. The other 24 serum samples were reactive with the full spectrum of HTLV-III related peptides. In all 148 cases of AIDS have been reported to the State of Connecticut Department of Health. 45 patients admitted intravenous drug use and in 31 cases it was the only known risk factor. Previous reports have noted a high prevalence of ELISA seropositivity for HTLV-III to parenteral drug abusers in areas of both high and low apparent AIDS risk in such abusers. Given the relatively high false positive rate of HTLV-III ELISA in low-risk groups and the known factors other than HTLV-III infection that account for some positive ELISAs it seems best for epidemiologic purposes to corroborate the high degree of HTLV-III ELISA seropositivity in parenteral drug abusers with a more specific test. Only 2 earlier studies used Western blots in addition to ELISAs. This study confirms that HTLV-III infection is not unusual in asymptomatic parenteral drug abusers in areas of the urban northeastern US despite the few reported AIDS cases in admitted parenteral drug abusers. The high false-positive ELISA rate (67%) in this study and the high false-negative ELISA rate (57%) observed in another study suggest that ELISA alone is not a useful screening test for HTLV-III infection in parenteral drug abusers.
Basic Issues in Interviewing and the Interview Process

The ability to conduct an efficient and effective clinical and diagnostic interview is arguably one of the most valued skills among mental health professionals. It is during the interview that the clinician learns about the difficulties and challenges experienced by the client and begins to form the foundations of a healing professional relationship. Although the metaphor is not a novel one, the job of the interviewer may be likened to that of a detective trying to collect enough data and organize the clues to “solve the mystery,” in this example, the presenting problem of the client. The most important aspect of this detective metaphor is that effective interviewers (detectives) are served well by their natural curiosity (truly wanting to understand all aspects of the client’s experiences, no mater how painful or uncomfortable) and the thoughtfulness of their approach (being guided by strategies and principles for gathering data while also forming an emotional connection with the client).
Profiting from Public Works: Financial Returns to Infrastructure and Investment Strategies during Britain's Industrial Revolution

The infrastructure sector has the potential to generate wide differences in profits and economic outcomes. This paper examines financial returns and investment strategies for Britain’s turnpike roads in the early nineteenth century. There are three main findings. First, rates of return on capital invested and returns to bondholders were similar to competitive sectors. Second, there was significant variation in returns across trusts. Third, there is evidence that turnpike investors were driven by financial motives, although economic motives appear to be important in some cases. The findings have implications regarding the connection between infrastructure and Britain’s industrialization.
Abstract 16405: Long-Term Biological Pacemaker Activity Created by Percutaneous TBX18 Gene Transfer

Background: Minimally-invasive TBX18 gene transfer creates physiologically-relevant biological pacemaker (BioP) activity for at least 2 weeks in pigs with complete heart block, providing evidence for therapeutic somatic reprogramming in a clinically-relevant disease model (Hu et al, Sci Trans Med 2014). It remains unknown how long biological pacemaker activity is maintained after TBX18 gene transfer. Hypothesis: We tested whether TBX18 gene transfer could create sustained BioP activity beyond two weeks. Methods: Adenoviral vectors expressing either TBX18 (n=3) or GFP (n=2) as a control were delivered into the high right ventricular septum via injection catheters (NOGA™ Myostar). Rate and rhythm were followed continuously for one month by implanted telemetry, and backup device utilization was quantified by serial pacemaker interrogations. Physical activity was measured by a built-in accelerometer. Results: BioP activity was evident in TBX18 -transduced animals and persisted at least for 4 weeks. At week 4, maximal heart rate (HR,101±8 vs. 65±3bpm, p<0.05), daytime HR (79±4 vs. 53±1bpm, p<0.05), and electronic pacemaker utilization (82±3 vs. 6±3%, p<0.05) were higher in TBX18 -transduced animals compared to GFP controls. Mean HR was borderline higher in TBX18 -transduced animals compared to GFP controls (HR=70±7 vs. 51±1bpm, p=0.11) as was night-time HR (70±5 vs. 51±0bpm, p=0.07). Mean daily activity tends to be greater in TBX18- transduced group (394±18 vs. 339±12 A.U, p=0.11). There were no significant differences of ventricular arrhythmia incidence between the two groups during 4 week follow-up. Cardiac enzymes, liver function, renal function, and systemic inflammatory markers remained unchanged in both groups during follow-up. Conclusions: TBX18 gene transfer can create stable BioP activity for at least 4 weeks, suggesting a potential long-term BioP effect after adenoviral gene transfer.
The rigorous study of exercise adaptations: why mRNA might not be enough

the national institutes of health (NIH) and several journals, including those of the American Physiological Society, have taken steps to enhance rigor in scientific studies. To do so investigators are asked to justify their scientific approach and to understand the strengths and limitations of those
REPRODUCTIVE ISOLATION IN SYMPATRIC SPECIES OF DAYFLYING MOTHS (HEMILEUCA: SATURNIIDAE)

Studies of mating barriers among closely related species are often considered profitable methods to investigate the process of speciation (Bush, 1975). For this reason the pheromone mating system in moths is of particular interest to the evolutionary biologist as an example of a mechanism through which reproductive isolation may develop. Species specificity of pheromone systems has been evaluated by observation of behavioral responses to chemically defined pheromone molecules and from electroantennograms of male response to pheromone sources. In general, direct observation of male response to "calling" females under field conditions has lagged behind laboratory work, perhaps because many economically important species are nocturnal (Carde et al., 1977; Bartell, 1977; Grant and Brady, 1977). During 1972 we observed interspecific attraction between two of three sympatric species of Hemileuca moths inhabiting the east slope of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. Since no apparent breakdown of species phenotypes occurs in these populations, we decided to investigate the mechanism of reproductive isolation. The Hemileuca are large, diurnal, nonfeeding moths. Adult behavior is almostentirely reproductive. In this paper we present both qualitative and quantitative data on pheromone response and reproductive isolation in natural populations. The three species investigated were Hemileuca nuttalli (Cockerell), H. eglanterina (Boisduvall), and H. hera (Harris) (Fig.
Schoenberg's angle on fractures and anisotropy: A study in orthotropy

For vertical fracture sets at arbitrary orientation angles to each other – but not perfectly randomly oriented – a detailed model is presented in which the resulting anisotropic fractured medium generally has orthorhombic symmetry overall. Analysis methods of Schoenberg are emphasized, together with their connections to other similarly motivated and conceptually related methods by Sayers and Kachanov, among others. Examples show how parallel vertical fracture sets having HTI symmetry turn into orthotropic fractured media if some subsets of the vertical fractures are misaligned with the others, and then the fractured system can have VTI symmetry if all the fractures are aligned either randomly, or half parallel and half perpendicular to a given vertical plane. Another orthotropic case of vertical fractures in an otherwise VTI earth system treated previously by Schoenberg and Helbig is compared to and contrasted with other examples discussed here.
Obscuring Gender Bias with “Choice”

B. L. Benderly's Science Careers article “What is keeping women out of leadership jobs in academic medicine?”(7 January, ) about a recent report ([ 1 ][1]) misrepresents the study's findings and perpetuates gender biases by framing women's second-place standing in
Determination of microcystin LR and RR in water by HPLC-MS/MS

Objective:A HPLC-MS/MS method was developed for the determination of Microcystin LR and RR in water.Methods: Sample concentration and purification were performed using C18 solid phase extraction cartridges,the analyte was eluted by methanol.The separation was performed on a XTerra MS C18 column(2.1×150 mm,5 μm).Multiple reaction monitoring(MRM) mode was applied in quantification of Microcystin LR and RR.Results: The limit of detection(LOD) was 0.002 μg/L and 0.001 μg/L for Microcystin LR and RR,respectively.The recoveries of microcystin LR and RR were 84.6%～90.6% and 86.6%～91.2%,respectively;with RSD less than 5.0%.Conclusion: This method is accurate and rapid,easy to operate for microcystin analysis in water.
Preembedding Immunoelectron Microscopy: Applications for Studies of the Nervous System

This chapter addresses the basic applications of tract-tracing and preembedding immunoperoxidase and immunogold-silver labeling for transmission electron microscopy, focusing primarily on identifying the cellular and subcellular localization of proteins of relevance to neurotransmission and on defining synaptic connectivity within neuronal circuits. Information is provided regarding the use of preembedding immunoperoxidase and immunogold techniques to identify the cellular and subcellular localization of neuronal receptors and transporters. The chapter also describes in detail a triple-labeling approach designed by our laboratory for identifying synaptic inputs to neuronal cell populations defined both by their projection targets and by their transmitter phenotype. Protocols presented in the Appendix are designed to enable researchers trained in small animal surgery, immunocytochemistry, electron microscopy, and appropriate laboratory safety procedures to perform ultrastructural investigations similar to those described here.
Computer-Aided Detection of Pulmonary Nodules

A computer program that locates possible nodules in chest radiographs has been developed. It has been evaluted on 37 films that contain nodules. At least one nodule in 92% (34/37) of the films was correctly detected. The candidate nodule sites are presented to a radiologist for inspection. Pattern classifier and Rib Expert programs were implemented to reduce the false positive rate. The false positive rate is reduced from 45 to 10 when the Rib Expert and the pattern classifier programs are used to screen the candidate nodules. This decrease in the false positive rate was accompanied by a decrease in the true positive rate to 86% (32/37).
Galileo's Reading

Galileo (1564–1642) incorporated throughout his work the language of battle, the rhetoric of the epic, and the structure of romance as a means to elicit emotional responses from his readers against his opponents. By turning to the literary as a field for creating knowledge, Galileo delineated a textual space for establishing and validating the identity of the new, idealized philosopher. Galileo's Reading places Galileo in the complete intellectual and academic world in which he operated, bringing together, for example, debates over the nature of floating bodies and Ludovico Ariosto's Orlando furioso, disputes on comets and the literary criticism of Don Quixote, mathematical demonstrations of material strength and Dante's voyage through the afterlife, and the parallels of his feisty note-taking practices with popular comedy of the period.
ERASE- entropy-based sanitization of sensitive data for privacy preservation

Effective and efficient sanitization of digital storage media is essential from both an information security as well as a digital forensics standpoint. The method proposed in this paper, ERASE, unlike brute force methods, computes the entropy of each data block in the target area, and if the entropy is within the specified sensitivity range, then that block is wiped with a user specified number of passes and pattern. ERASERS, an enhancement to ERASE that employs random sampling, is also proposed. ERASERS divides the given population into numerous subpopulations and uses random sampling to sample blocks from each subpopulation. Then, it computes the entropy of each sampled block, and if the entropy of any sampled block in the subpopulation is within the sensitive entropy range, which is a tunable parameter, then the entire subpopulation is wiped. The random sampling component of ERASERS gives organizations an alternative for a faster wipe as compared to regular brute force methods of overwriting. Our research resulted in different levels of sanitization for different time windows, a factor most organizations will consider when wiping large disks. According to Seagate, in 2011, the average size of hard drives they shipped that year was 590 GB [1]. Overwriting a 590 GB hard drive with one pass of random data, takes approximately 14.6 hours using dd. However, ERASE optimizes the data overwriting process allowing it to sanitize a 590GB hard drive in 9.5 hours, assuming 50% of the data on the drive is within the sensitive entropy range, thereby achieving a performance improvement of approximately 34.8%. If a wipe pattern of 1 pass using /dev/zero as the source is used, dd takes approximately 1.584 hours and ERASERS takes 0.85 hours in its best case performance and 1.580 hours in its worst case performance, assuming 50% of the data is within the sensitive entropy range. Thus, achieving a performance improvement in the range of 0.2% - 46.6%.
Post-translational regulation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase: implications for sympathoexcitatory states.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Nitric oxide (NO) synthesized via neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) plays a significant role in regulation/modulation of autonomic control of circulation. Various pathological states are associated with diminished nNOS expression and blunted autonomic effects of NO in the central nervous system (CNS) including heart failure, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure etc. Therefore, elucidation of the molecular mechanism/s involved in dysregulation of nNOS is essential to understand the pathogenesis of increased sympathoexcitation in these diseased states.Areas covered: nNOS is a highly regulated enzyme, being regulated at transcriptional and posttranslational levels via protein-protein interactions and modifications viz. phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and sumoylation. The enzyme activity of nNOS also depends on the optimal concentration of substrate, cofactors and association with regulatory proteins. This review focuses on the posttranslational regulation of nNOS ...
MICROBIOLOGICAL MONITORING OF THE FOOD PLANT: METHODS TO ASSESS BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION ON SURFACES

Procedures for microbiological assessment of bacterial contamination on surfaces of equipment and foods are reviewed. The procedures for food-contact surfaces include the following categories: swab contact, surface rinse, direct contact, agar and impression methods, and vacuum probe. Three categories of methods to estimate bacterial numbers on food surfaces are discussed. The importance of knowledge about the various techniques, design of sampling, their limitations and variations are emphasized. Design of sampling and interpretation of results are also considered.
Postoperative Surgical Complications

Results of liver transplantation have dramatically improved since the introduction of cyclosporine. Most deaths occur within the first 3 postoperative months. Morbidity and mortality can be minimized by early diagnosis and aggressive management of postoperative surgical complications.
Survey of Current Practice in the Fitting and Fine-Tuning of Common Signal-Processing Features in Hearing Aids for Adults.

Current guidelines for adult hearing aid fittings recommend the use of a prescriptive fitting rationale with real-ear verification that considers the audiogram for the determination of frequency-specific gain and ratios for wide dynamic range compression. However, the guidelines lack recommendations for how other common signal-processing features (e.g., noise reduction, frequency lowering, directional microphones) should be considered during the provision of hearing aid fittings and fine-tunings for adult patients. The purpose of this survey was to identify how audiologists make clinical decisions regarding common signal-processing features for hearing aid provision in adults. An online survey was sent to audiologists across the United States. The 22 survey questions addressed four primary topics including demographics of the responding audiologists, factors affecting selection of hearing aid devices, the approaches used in the fitting of signal-processing features, and the strategies used in the fine-tuning of these features. A total of 251 audiologists who provide hearing aid fittings to adults completed the electronically distributed survey. The respondents worked in a variety of settings including private practice, physician offices, university clinics, and hospitals/medical centers. Data analysis was based on a qualitative analysis of the question responses. The survey results for each of the four topic areas (demographics, device selection, hearing aid fitting, and hearing aid fine-tuning) are summarized descriptively. Survey responses indicate that audiologists vary in the procedures they use in fitting and fine-tuning based on the specific feature, such that the approaches used for the fitting of frequency-specific gain differ from other types of features (i.e., compression time constants, frequency lowering parameters, noise reduction strength, directional microphones, feedback management). Audiologists commonly rely on prescriptive fitting formulas and probe microphone measures for the fitting of frequency-specific gain and rely on manufacturers’ default settings and recommendations for both the initial fitting and the fine-tuning of signal-processing features other than frequency-specific gain. The survey results are consistent with a lack of published protocols and guidelines for fitting and adjusting signal-processing features beyond frequency-specific gain. To streamline current practice, a transparent evidence-based tool that enables clinicians to prescribe the setting of other features from individual patient characteristics would be desirable.
Real Estate or Corporate Equity? A Reckoning

The opportunity cost for a household to hold cash above its immediate transactions need leads many households to invest the surplus cash. Two obvious classes of assets for investment are residential real estate and corporate equity. In this paper I elaborate upon all the factors that make an investment in residential real estate different from an investment in corporate equity. Anecdotal evidence suggests that households do not necessarily take all these factors into account before making the choice between investing in real estate or corporate equity. In addition to elaborating upon the factors, I also provide numerical evidence where appropriate. The hope is that by sharing this information this paper will serve as a springboard for discussion.
Power Network Equivalents: A Network Science Based K-Means Clustering Method Integrated with Silhouette Analysis

Network equivalencing is useful for electrical market analysis in large interconnected power networks. Generation shift factor (GSF)-based bus clustering methods have been used for network equivalence to analyze the power transactions across the interconnections. However, the GSF-based methods are sensitive to location changes of slack bus since GSFs depend on the location of slack bus, which may increase the complexity of market analysis. In this paper, we present a new bus clustering method based on Average Electrical Distance (AED), which is independent of location changes of slack bus. AED is based on the concept of electrical distance introduced in [11] and pursued later for applications in social and complex networks analysis [12, 20, 22]. AED represents the average electrical distances from a bus to the nodes of tie-line of interest. In the proposed method, AEDs are used to group buses into clusters for network equivalence. To enhance the efficiency of clustering buses, AED-based improved k-means algorithm is incorporated into the proposed method. Also, silhouette analysis technique is combined with the algorithm to assign appropriate number of clusters to efficiently group buses. The efficacy of the proposed AED-based method is demonstrated on the IEEE 39-bus system by comparing it with the existing GSF-based methods.
Factors Predictive of Outcomes in Vertebral Body Stapling for Idiopathic Scoliosis.

Abstract Study Design Retrospective review. Objectives To identify factors associated with successful outcomes in patients treated with vertebral body stapling (VBS) for idiopathic scoliosis. Summary of Background Data The standard of care for moderate scoliosis (20°–45°) consists of observation and bracing with the goal of halting curve progression. Although several recent studies have confirmed the efficacy of bracing in altering the natural history of scoliosis, bracing is not universally effective. Recent studies have demonstrated that VBS is a safe and viable treatment for some young patients with scoliosis at risk for progression. The identification of factors associated with successful outcomes in VBS for idiopathic scoliosis would better define the population likely to benefit from VBS. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all patients from a single institution treated with VBS who met previously defined inclusion criteria. Successful treatment was defined as avoidance of a fusion and a final Cobb angle no more than 10° greater than the pretreatment Cobb angle. Results We identified 63 patients who met inclusion criteria. The patients underwent VBS at a mean age of 10.78 years and had a mean follow-up of 3.62 years (minimum 2 years). The mean pre-op Cobb angle for stapled thoracic curves was 29.5°. Seventy-four percent of the patients who had VBS of the thoracic curve have avoided progression and/or fusion, and the mean Cobb angle at most recent follow-up was 21.8°. The mean preoperative Cobb angle for lumbar curves was 31.1°. Eighty-two percent of the patients who had VBS of the lumbar curve have avoided progression and/or fusion, and their mean Cobb angle at follow-up was 21.6°. Conclusion VBS is effective at preventing progression and fusion for moderate idiopathic scoliosis in immature patients. The complication rates are low.
Resident perspectives on communication training that utilizes immersive virtual reality

Background: Communication skills can be difficult to teach and assess in busy outpatient settings. These skills are important for effective counseling such as in cases of influenza vaccine hesitancy. It is critical to consider novel educational methods to supplement current strategies aimed at teaching relational skills. Methods: An immersive virtual reality (VR) curriculum on addressing influenza vaccine hesitancy was developed using Kern's six-step approach to curriculum design. The curriculum was meant to teach best-practice communication skills in cases of influenza vaccine hesitancy. Eligible participants included postgraduate level (PL) 2 and PL-3 pediatric residents (n = 24). Immediately following the curriculum, a survey was administered to assess residents' attitudes toward the VR curriculum and perceptions regarding the effectiveness of VR in comparison to other educational modalities. A survey was administered 1 month following the VR curriculum to assess trainee-perceived impact of the curriculum on clinical practice. Results: All eligible residents (n = 24) completed the curriculum. Ninety-two percent (n = 22) agreed or strongly agreed that VR simulations were like real-life patient encounters. Seventy-five percent (n = 18) felt that VR was equally effective to standardized patient (SP) encounters and less effective than bedside teaching (P < 0.001). At 1-month follow-up, 67% of residents (n = 16) agreed or strongly agreed that the VR experience improved how they counseled families in cases of influenza vaccine hesitancy. Discussion: An immersive VR curriculum at our institution was well-received by learners, and residents rated VR as equally effective as SP encounters. As such, immersive VR may be a promising modality for communication training.
Three‐dimensional collagenous niche and azacytidine selectively promote time‐dependent cardiomyogenesis from human bone marrow‐derived MSC spheroids

Endogenous adult cardiac regenerative machinery is not capable of replacing the lost cells following myocardial infarction, often leading to permanent alterations in structure-function-mechanical properties. Regenerative therapies based on delivering autologous stem cells within an appropriate 3D milieu could meet such demand, by enabling homing and directed differentiation of the transplanted cells into lost specialized cell populations. Since type I collagen is the predominant cardiac tissue matrix protein, we here optimized the 3D niche which could promote time-dependent evolution of cardiomyogenesis from human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC). 3D collagen gel physical and mechanical characteristics were assessed using SEM and AFM, respectively, while the standalone and combined effects of collagen concentration, culture duration, and 5-azacytidine (aza) dose on the phenotype and genotype of MSC spheroids were quantified using immunofluorescence labeling and RT-PCR analysis. Increasing collagen concentration led to a significant increase in Young's modulus (p < 0.01) but simultaneous decrease in the mean pore size, resulting in stiffer gels. Spheroid formation significantly modulated MSC differentiation and genotype, mostly due to better cell-cell interactions. Among the aza dosages tested, 10 μM appears to be optimal, while 3 mg/ml gels resulted in significantly lower cell viability compared to 1 or 2 mg/ml gels. Stiffer gels (2 and 3 mg/ml) and exposure to 10 μM aza upregulated early and late cardiac marker expressions in a time-dependent fashion. On the other hand, cell-cell signaling within the MSC spheroids seem to have a strong role in influencing mature cardiac markers expression, since neither aza nor gel stiffness seem to significantly improve their expression. Western blot analysis suggested that canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway might be primarily mediating the observed benefits of aza on cardiac differentiation of MSC spheroids. In conclusion, 2 mg/ml collagen and 10 μM aza appears to offer optimal 3D microenvironment in terms of cell viability and time-dependent evolution of cardiomyogenesis from human BM-MSCs, with significant applications in cardiac tissue engineering and stem cell transplantation for regenerating lost cardiac tissue.
Adiabatically cured, alkali-activated cement-based wasteforms containing high levels of fly ash: Formation of zeolites and Al-substituted C-S-H

Abstract Cementitious binder compositions with high fly ash contents proposed for immobilization of highly alkaline low-level radioactive waste solutions have significantly different chemistry and behavior than normal Portland cement pastes. In this paper, we investigate the mineralogy of a simulated wasteform proposed for the immobilization of the tank wastes stored at the Hanford Reservation, Washington State, USA. These solutions have very high (multimolar) concentrations of sodium, aluminate, phosphate, carbonate, nitrate, and nitrite ions. The cementitious blend proposed to solidify this solution contains a high proportion of fly ash to avoid the large heat output that would be associated with the hydration of a neat Portland cement. In addition to calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H), the binding phase normally formed by hydrating cements, zeolites also formed during adiabatic curing up to 90°C. The zeolites, sodalite and Na-P1 (gismondine framework), immobilize part of the sodium in the system. Compared to C-S-H in ordinary Portland cement (OPC), the C-S-H in this system, which had a layer spacing of 1.1 nm, was more crystalline, and had a longer chain length and a higher aluminum content. Changing the curing conditions had a large effect on early age mineralogy, for example, traces of chabazite are formed on isothermal curing at 90°C. The long-term mineralogy depended mainly on the final curing temperature.
Models of disordered media: Some new results, including some new connections between composite-media, fluid-state, and random-flight theories

Some new theoretical results on the microstructure of models of two-phase disordered media are given, as well as the new quantitative bounds on the thermal conductivity that follow for one such model (randomly centered spherical inclusions). A second set of results is then given for random flights, including random flights with hit expectancy prescribed in a unit ball around the flight origin. Finally, some interesting correspondences are demonstrated, via the Ornstein-Zernike equation, between random-flight results, liquid-state results and percolation-theory results.
STUDIES ON PETROLEUM BIODEGRADATION IN THE ARCTIC

Abstract Microorganisms capable of blodegrading petroleum were found to be widely distributed in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, but to constitute only a low percentage of the indigenous heterotrophic microbial populations. Concentrations of hydrocarbon utilizing microorganisms were lower in ice than in water or sediment. Hydrocarbon biodegradation potential was also lower in ice than in water or sediment. Natural rates of degradation were slow; maximal losses from experimental oil spills were less than 50% during the Arctic summer due to combined abiotic and biodegradative losses. Rates of biodegradation were found to be limited by temperature and concentrations of available nitrogen and phosphorus. Residual oil had similar percentages of hydrocarbon classes as fresh oil; biodegradation of all oil component classes, including paraffinie and aromatic fractions, apparently proceeded at similar rates.
Sibling rivalry and the new baby: anticipatory guidance and management strategies

Sibling rivalry can be found in many families and frequently creates a stressful and challenging situation for parents. The arrival of a new baby often causes older siblings to feel displaced, frustrated, angry, and even unloved. Age, gender, personality and temperament, and parental behavior are factors that appear to influence the degree to which sibling rivalry occurs. Common reactions of older siblings to the birth of a new baby include aggression toward the newborn, behavioral regression, and attention seeking behavior, as well as independence and maturity. Anticipatory guidance is recommended to help parents adequately prepare their older child for the arrival of a new sibling. Strategies for managing sibling rivalry include open parent-child communication, equal treatment of siblings, non-intervention in sibling conflicts, distraction, and separation. Parents can minimize feelings of jealousy between siblings by providing a supportive, nurturing environment that allows each child to feel secure and loved.
Phase Transfer Extraction and Adsorption Methods

This chapter covers the principles involved in effecting the separation or preconcentration of metal ions from aqueous solution. For additional reading on the subject the reader should consult previous books and reviews that have been written on the subject.1–9 Although there has been a long term interest in metal separation in the mining industry, the recent greater emphasis on environmental concerns has led to a much broader interest in developing new selective methods for lowering the concentrations of metals that are released, and recovering those that have been discharged. In addition, the change in the political climate has resulted in the need for fewer nuclear weapons, thereby placing a greater emphasis on the removal of nuclear wastes that have been generated over the past fifty years of weapons production.
Pedalcyclist Fatalities and Socioeconomic Status: A Spatial Epidemiological Study of the United States, 2011–2013

Bicycling is a popular recreation activity and mode of transportation among the American workforce. While safety standards are key factors in reducing risk for a cycling fatality, contextual factors also play a role. State-level data for this study were retrieved from the U.S. Census Bureau, the League of American Bicyclists, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Trend analysis was conducted via ANOVA and the trajectory of the pedalcyclist fatality rate (PFR) from 2011 to 2013 was determined. Linear regression was conducted and the influence of socioeconomic variables on PFR between 2011 and 2013 was determined. The average statelevel PFR increased between 2011 and 2013; however, the trend was not statistically significant. Regression analysis showed that socioeconomic variables were significant predictors of PFR, after controlling for relevant covariates. To improve cycling safety, states should not only adopt legislation and infrastructure that support cycling but also consider implementing innovative road-safety educational programs in resource-deprived areas. Subscribe to JOREL
Glucose-Lowering Therapies for Cardiovascular Risk Reduction in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: State-of-the-Art Review

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major cardiovascular (CV) risk factor. Although antihyperglycemic therapies have typically focused on glycemic control, a paradigm shift for the treatment of T2DM has occurred, with an increased focus on CV risk reduction. Clinicians should base their clinical decisions on the beneficial effects of specific glucose-lowering agents on CV outcomes, while avoiding those therapeutic strategies with potential detrimental effects. Importantly, the presence of comorbidities (eg, established cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, obesity) should also guide the clinical decision toward therapies proven to reduce CV outcomes in that specific population. In this state-of-the-art review resulting from a comprehensive literature search (Pubmed, Google Scholar), we summarize the evidence related to the CV outcomes trials reported in the past several decades. Finally, we propose a therapeutic plan for patients with T2DM, suggesting the use of specific glucose-lowering agents based on the characteristics and presence of comorbidities of the individual patient.
Fibrotic Signaling in the Lung

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive scarring of the lung parenchyma, which ultimately leads to impaired gas exchange, respiratory failure, and death. Studies of patients, cells, and laboratory animals over the last 30 years have led to an ever-increasing corpus of knowledge, based on studies of ever-increasing degrees of sophistication and on the signaling events that occur during lung injury and fibrosis. This review summarizes many of the signaling mechanisms that occur in, arguably, the three principal cellular actors in the fibrotic lung: the epithelial cell, the macrophage, and the fibroblast. The growth of lung fibrosis research, coupled with an intense interest on the part of industry to devise therapies, suggests that new therapies are coming that are rationally designed to target these critical signaling events. This chapter will focus on both the cellular players and the signaling events that contribute to pulmonary fibrosis.
Diversity in Visualization

At the 2016 IEEE VIS Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, a panel of experts from the Scientific Visualization (SciVis) community gathered to discuss why the SciVis component of the conference had been shrinking significantly for over a decade. As the panelists concluded and opened the session to questions from the audience, Annie Preston, a Ph.D. student at the University of California, Davis, asked whether the panelists thought diversity or, more specifically, the lack of diversity was a factor. This comment ignited a lively discussion of diversity: not only its impact on Scientific Visualization, but also its role in the visualization community at large. The goal of this book is to expand and organize the conversation. In particular, this book seeks to frame the diversity and inclusion topic within the Visualization community, illuminate the issues, and serve as a starting point to address how to make this community more diverse and inclusive. This book acknowledges that diversity is a broad topic with many possible meanings. Expanded definitions of diversity that are relevant to the Visualization community and to computing at large are considered. The broader conversation of inclusion and diversity is framed within the broader sociological context in which it must be considered. Solutions to recruit and retain a diverse research community and strategies for supporting inclusion efforts are presented. Additionally, community members present short stories detailing their "non-inclusive" experiences in an effort to facilitate a community-wide conversation surrounding very difficult situations.
Political opportunities and the quest for political recognition in Tibet, Taiwan, and Palestine

This paper introduces a political opportunity approach to conceptualizing the political recognition of states in the international system. The usefulness of the approach is demonstrated through a c...
Dark matter heating of gas accreting onto Sgr A

We study effects of heating by dark matter (DM) annihilation on black hole gas accretion. We observe that, for reasonable assumptions about DM densities in spikes around supermassive black holes, as well as DM masses and annihilation cross-sections within the standard WIMP model, heating by DM annihilation may have an appreciable effect on the accretion onto Sgr A$^*$ in the Galactic center. Motivated by this observation we study the effects of such heating on Bondi accretion, i.e. spherically symmetric, steady-state Newtonian accretion onto a black hole. We consider different adiabatic indices for the gas, and different power-law exponents for the DM density profile. We find that typical transonic solutions with heating have a significantly reduced accretion rate. However, for many plausible parameters, transonic solutions do not exist, suggesting a breakdown of the underlying assumptions of steady-state Bondi accretion. Our findings indicate that heating by DM annihilation may play an important role in the accretion onto supermassive black holes at the center of galaxies, and may help explain the low accretion rate observed for Sgr A$^*$.
Inpatient pain management in sickle cell disease.

Purpose A novel strategy for management of acute pain associated with sickle cell disease (SCD), referred to as the oral tier approach, is described. Summary SCD is an inherited blood disorder characterized by episodic acute pain known as vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC), which is the most common reason for emergency department visits and hospital admissions in patients with SCD; these patients are often treated with parenteral opioids on admission and then transitioned to oral opioids prior to discharge. In this report, experience with use of the oral tier approach in 3 patients with SCD hospitalized for management of VOC is reported. As per usual practice, acute pain was initially managed with parenteral opioids via patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). Once pain control was established, an oral tier was added. The oral tier consisted of 3 orders. The first order was for an oral opioid, to be administered every 3 hours on a scheduled basis; however, the patient could refuse 1 or more of these scheduled doses. Two additional orders specified that the patients could receive additional oral opioids in incremental doses for moderate (grade 4-7) or severe (grade 8-10) pain if appropriate. To facilitate transition to an oral regimen with which the patients might be discharged, they were encouraged to use oral opioids in preference to parenteral opioids. Opioid usage and average daily pain scores for the 3 patients are reported. Conclusion Healthcare providers can use the oral tier approach to facilitate rapid inpatient conversion from i.v. PCA to oral opioids while providing adequate pain control in patients with SCD who develop VOC.
Universal Baby Bonds Reduce Black-White Wealth Inequality, Progressively Raise Net Worth of All Young Adults:

The distribution of wealth has grown increasingly unequal, especially along racial lines. Lawmakers and researchers propose to address the issue with universal “baby bonds,” paid to every newborn a...
Chronic Kidney Disease in Liver Transplant Candidates: A Rising Burden Impacting Post-Liver Transplant Outcomes.

The burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is rising among patients with cirrhosis, though it is not known what impact this has had on outcomes after liver transplantation (LT). All patients listed for LT in the United States between 2002 and 2017 were analyzed, excluding those listed with Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) exceptions. The primary outcome was post-LT mortality. We defined pre-LT CKD as an estimated glomerular filtration rate 0.05). Therefore, pre-LT CKD has a deleterious impact on post-LT outcomes, which is an impact that is not mediated through SLKT. These findings highlight the need for the identification of CKD when preventative measures are possible.
Prevalence of occult cochlear basal turn patency.

Perilymph gusher (PLG) is a rare complication of otologic surgery attributed to a communication between the cochlea and the internal auditory canal (IAC). Subtle patency between the cochlear basal ...