cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Atmospheric-pressure ionization: New approaches and applications for plasmas in contact with liquids

Historically, gas discharges have been difficult to stabilize at atmospheric pressure, and this has confined them to operation at low pressure under vacuum conditions. However, recent advances in plasma technology have enabled stable high pressure gas discharges up to and even exceeding atmospheric pressure. One significant advantage of operating at atmospheric pressure is that the plasma can be brought into contact with non-conventional substrates, especially soft materials such as plastics, biological tissue, and aqueous solutions. This last example is of prime interest as plasma/liquid interactions have a number of important implications in applications ranging from water purification to plasma medicine. In this paper, recent work studying the impact of electrons in the plasma inducing reactions in aqueous solutions is discussed. These studies include measurements of the bulk solution as the electrons induce long-lived species as well as interfacial measurements directly at the plasma/liquid interface to probe the behaviour of electrons traversing from the plasma into the liquid.
Determinants of the Diastolic Calcium-Voltage Coupling Gain for Delayed Afterdepolarization Mediated Triggered Activity

Spontaneous calcium (Ca) release causes delayed afterdepolarizations (DADs) which can result in triggered activity (TA) if the DAD amplitude reaches a critical threshold. It is known that increasing Na-Ca exchange (NCX) or deceasing IK1, which both occur in heart failure remodeling, increases the diastolic Ca-voltage coupling gain potentiating TA. However, the relative influence of NCX, IK1, and the Ca release amplitude on the Ca-voltage coupling gain and threshold for TA are not well understood. Using computer simulation and stability analysis, we show that elevation of the membrane voltage to the TA threshold is governed by non-linear dynamics, consistent with experiments in rabbit ventricular myocytes. This results in the Ca-voltage coupling gain being a nonlinear function of NCX, IK1, and peak Ca. For example, in the UCLA rabbit action potential model, a clamped submembrane Ca peak of 0.4 μM corresponds to a 3.5 mV subthreshold DAD (below the threshold for TA). For this DAD, the NCX conductance had to be increased by a factor of 4 to elicit TA, but decreasing IK1 conductance even to zero failed to elicit TA. For a clamped Ca peak of 0.6 μM corresponding to a 7.5 mV subthreshold DAD, NCX conductance had to be increased by a factor of 2 to elicit TA, and now reducing IK1 by a factor of 4 was able to cause TA. When the peak Ca was increased to 1.1 μM, TA occurred with the unchanged control conductance values of NCX and IK1. Analysis of the underlying nonlinear dynamics provides the theoretical basis for the differential and nonlinear dependence of TA threshold and Ca-voltage coupling gain on peak Ca, NCX, and IK1.
Parsing reward from aversion

Starting from the moment we hear our alarms in the morning, our emotions guide the thousands of decisions we make every day. More specifically, it is the valence of our emotions that determines our subsequent behavior. Valence is a concept that was originally defined in psychology and corresponds to the value we assign to the perceptions of our external and internal environments ( 1 ). Valence varies from negative, when we are afraid or anxious, to positive, when we are happy or peaceful. In the case of the morning alarm, if your emotional state has a positive valence you might jump out of bed, eager to engage with whatever is motivating you. Conversely, if your emotional state has a negative valence, you might choose to stay in bed to Avoid the causes of your negative emotions.
Optical Microresonators for Sensing and Transduction: A Materials Perspective

Optical microresonators confine light to a particular microscale trajectory, are exquisitely sensitive to their microenvironment, and offer convenient readout of their optical properties. Taken together, this is an immensely attractive combination that makes optical microresonators highly effective as sensors and transducers. Meanwhile, advances in material science, fabrication techniques, and photonic sensing strategies endow optical microresonators with new functionalities, unique transduction mechanisms, and in some cases, unparalleled sensitivities. In this progress report, the operating principles of these sensors are reviewed, and different methods of signal transduction are evaluated. Examples are shown of how choice of materials must be suited to the analyte, and how innovations in fabrication and sensing are coupled together in a mutually reinforcing cycle. A tremendously broad range of capabilities of microresonator sensors is described, from electric and magnetic field sensing to mechanical sensing, from single-molecule detection to imaging and spectroscopy, from operation at high vacuum to in live cells. Emerging sensing capabilities are highlighted and put into context in the field. Future directions are imagined, where the diverse capabilities laid out are combined and advances in scalability and integration are implemented, leading to the creation of a sensor unparalleled in sensitivity and information content.
Hepatic progenitor cell activation in liver repair

The liver possesses an extraordinary ability to regenerate after injury. Hepatocyte-driven liver regeneration is the default pathway in response to mild-to-moderate acute liver damage. When replication of mature hepatocytes is blocked, facultative hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs), also referred to as oval cells (OCs) in rodents, are activated. HPC/OCs have the ability to proliferate clonogenically and differentiate into several lineages including hepatocytes and bile ductal epithelia. This is a conserved liver injury response that has been studied in many species ranging from mammals (rat, mouse, and human) to fish. In addition, improper HPC/OC activation is closely associated with fibrotic responses, characterized by myofibroblast activation and extracellular matrix production, in many chronic liver diseases. Matrix remodeling and metalloprotease activities play an important role in the regulation of HPC/OC proliferation and fibrosis progression. Thus, understanding molecular mechanisms underlying HPC/OC activation has therapeutic implications for rational design of anti-fibrotic therapies.
Data Integration: Principles and Practice

Data integration is the process of combining (also called “merging” or “joining”) data together to create a single unified data object from what were multiple, distinct data objects. The motivation for integrating data is usually to bring together the information needed to jointly analyze or model some phenomena. By producing a single, consistently structured object through data integration, the process of further manipulating those data is vastly simplified, while presumed relationships among the data are clarified.
A genomic evaluation of taxonomic trends through time in coast horned lizards (genus Phrynosoma).

Determining the boundaries between species and deciding when to describe new species are challenging practices that are particularly difficult in groups with high levels of geographic variation. The coast horned lizards (Phrynosoma blainvillii, Phrynosoma cerroense and P. coronatum) have an extensive geographic distribution spanning many distinctive ecological regions ranging from northern California to the Cape Region of Baja California, Mexico, and populations differ substantially with respect to external morphology across much of this range. The number of taxa recognized in the group has been reevaluated by herpetologists over 20 times during the last 180 years, and typically without the aid of explicit species delimitation methods, resulting in a turbulent taxonomy containing anywhere from one to seven taxa. In this study, we evaluate taxonomic trends through time by ranking 15 of these species delimitation models (SDMs) using coalescent analyses of nuclear loci and SNPs in a Bayesian model comparison framework. Species delimitation models containing more species were generally favoured by Bayesian model selection; however, several three-species models outperformed some four- and five-species SDMs, and the top-ranked model, which contained five species, outperformed all SDMs containing six species. Model performance peaked in the 1950s based on marginal likelihoods estimated from nuclear loci and SNPs. Not surprisingly, SDMs based on genetic data outperformed morphological taxonomies when using genetic data alone to evaluate models. The de novo estimation of population structure favours a three-population model that matches the currently recognized integrative taxonomy containing three species. We discuss why Bayesian model selection might favour models containing more species, and why recognizing more than three species might be warranted.
Observations of Electromagnetic Fluctuations at Ion Kinetic Scales in the Solar Wind

Wavelet techniques enable reduced power spectra and cross-spectra to be analyzed as a function of the angle θ BV formed by the scale dependent local mean magnetic field B 0 and the flow direction of the solar wind. These techniques allow the data along a line oriented at any angle θ BV to B 0 to be isolated and studied independently thus providing new information about the properties of the fluctuations along directions parallel, perpendicular, and at arbitrary angles to the local mean magnetic field. Recent investigations of the normalized magnetic helicity spectrum σ m using this technique have revealed the existence of two distinct populations of fluctuations near the proton inertial length scale, that is, at wavenumbers near \(kc/{\omega }_{pp} = 1\). These observations and their physical interpretation are briefly reviewed.
Electron-transferring Flavoprotein Deficiency in the Multiple Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenation Disorders, Glutaric Aciduria Type II and Ethylmalonic—adipic Aciduria

The multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenation disorders (MADD), which include a severe variant, glutaric aciduria type II (MADD/S; GA-II; McKusick 30595; Przyrembel et al., 1976) and a mild variant, ethyl-malonic—adipic aciduria (MADD/M; EMA; McKusick 23168; Mantagos et al., 1979) are clinically and biochemically related inborn errors of organic acid metabolism. We and others have suggested that they are caused by deficient electron transfer from the acyl-CoA dehydrogenases (ADH; EC 1.3.99) to the electrontransport chain (Goodman et al., 1982; Rhead et al., 1980). Our preliminary data now demonstrate electron-transferring flavoprotein (ETF) deficiency in several cases of GA-II and EMA.
Usefulness of Peripheral Testing in Automated Screening Perimetry

Peripheral field exploration consumed 40% of testing time during a study involving the Fieldmaster 200 and Dicon AP2000 perimeters used in a screening mode. In 3% of eyes found abnormal by reference quantitative Goldmann perimetry, the peripheral field detected an abnormality which the central field had missed. In 10% of cases, a diagnostic characterization was made possible or improved in quality by the peripheral visual field. In an additional 52% of cases, the peripheral field confirmed an abnormality detected on central field testing, and enhanced confidence of the validity of the central field data. Strategies for screening fields should thus de-emphasize, but not ignore, the peripheral visual field.
Biomarkers for prognostication after acute coronary syndromes: new times and statistics.

Six years ago, Morrow and Braunwald ([1][1]) recognized the importance of a multimarker strategy including assessment of myocyte necrosis by cardiac troponins, hemodynamic stress by B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) or amino terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), inflammation by high-
Chapter 12 Systems Contributing to The Emergence and Maturation of Stability in Postnatal Development

Abstract The theory of perception-action proposed by Gibson (1977), and further expanded upon in the area of development by von Hofsten (1983) among others, is based on the perspective that the human is a perceiving and active participant in movement. There are multiple sensory systems that contribute to our perceptions of our movements, postures and interactions with the environment including the visual, vestibular and somatosensory systems. Over time, these perceptions have been hypothesized to create an internal representation or schema of our body and its relationship to the environment (Gurfinkel & Levik, 1979). This internal representation is not necessarily an anatomical mapping of body parts but may consist of a set of functional input-output relationships or internal reference conditions. Other neural subsystems that cannot be classified as perceptual systems but that also contribute to our ability to regulate and control posture and movement and influence the development of independent postural control and the development of the internal representation include the motor system, higher level integrative systems and attentional systems. Postural control and movement are also constrained by the physical structure of our body and non-neural systems such as the muscular and skeletal systems as well as by the physical environment within which we live and move (i.e., gravity). The environment within which we live (i.e., gravity or the external conditions we encounter) and the physical structure of our body (i.e., number of segments, type ofjoints between segments, etc.) influence our immediate perceptions and, over time, these perceptions result in modifications to the internal representations or schema of our body and its relationship with the environment. Interest in the development of each of these individual neural and musculoskeletal subsystems as well as their changing contributions to the control and regulation of posture and movement is driving much of the present research in motor control. The focus of this chapter is to investigate the varying contributions of the individual subsystems to the development of independent posture control. We will also suggest that the study of developing systems wiU allow us to ldentify the form of the internal representation as well as its developmental sequence.
Use of rheumatology-specific patient navigators to understand and reduce barriers to medication adherence: Analysis of qualitative findings

Objective Adherence to medications among patients with rheumatic diseases is often suboptimal. Patient navigators, individuals trained in care coordination, motivational interviewing and basic rheumatology and pharmacology, have not been employed to explore and address this issue. We piloted a single-site, single arm intervention to determine the feasibility and acceptability of using rheumatology-specific navigators to understand and reduce barriers to adherence to oral disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). We analyzed our qualitative findings from navigator-patient interactions as well as patient satisfaction with the intervention. Methods We recruited patients ≥18 years with a systemic rheumatic disease who initiated an oral DMARD within the prior 6 months. Navigators conducted baseline needs assessments and 2-4 week follow-up calls to understand and address issues related to medication adherence. We analyzed patient-navigator encounters qualitatively using content analysis to identify key themes related to barriers to adherence and navigator actions performed in response to the barriers described. We also categorized intentional and unintentional nonadherent behavior and assessed satisfaction with the navigator experience (range 0-5, 5 = most satisfied). Results 107 rheumatology patients were followed for up to 6 months. Mean patient age was 55 years (+17) and 93% were female; 36% described one or more episode of intentional or unintentional nonadherence. The three most common themes identified as barriers to adherence were fear of adverse events (raised by 54%), concerns about medication effectiveness (43%), and challenges with medication acquisition (32%). 86% of participants described at least one adherence-related barrier. Frequent navigator actions included facilitation of patient-doctor communication (38%), medication and diagnosis education (27%), and development of individualized strategies to improve adherence (16%). Patients were satisfied with the navigator experience (mean 4.4 + 0.9). Conclusion Navigators uncovered and addressed a number of medication adherence-related concerns and patients were satisfied with the services provided.
Economic Decision Making and Risk Management: How They Can Relate

The definition of long-term objectives in corporate management as well as means of achieving them is often associated with uncertainty. The reason for this is apparent: managers in corporate entities cannot predict all circumstances, whether positive or negative, that is likely to occur in the future. Management during the decision-making process must be able to make informed decisions given the existence of insecurities and uncertainties in the course of business operations. Management must, therefore, take into account the risks that might occur in the future. As a result, this article aims at discussing the risks affecting corporate entities. The paper also defines and analyzes the risks, thus explaining how business entities can tackle them through making informed business decisions.
Topographic Matching of Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation Using Lateral Femoral Condyle for the Treatment of Medial Femoral Condyle Lesions: A Computer-Simulated Model Study.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine whether lateral femoral condyle (LFC) osteochondral allografts (OCAs) would have a similar articular cartilage contour and resulting subchondral bone contour when compared with medial femoral condyle (MFC) allografts for the treatment of MFC chondral defects. Methods In this controlled laboratory study, human femoral hemi-condyles (10 MFCs and 8 LFCs) were divided into 4 groups: MFC recipient, MFC donor, ipsilateral LFC donor, and contralateral LFC donor. Computed tomography (CT) images were obtained for each, and 3D CT models were created and exported into point-cloud models. Three circular defect and graft models were created on each condyle at 3 locations (0°, 45° posterior, and 90° posterior regions). The graft model in each donor group was virtually placed on the MFC recipient defect model. The least distances of the articular cartilage surface between the graft and the defect models and the resulting mean least distance of the subchondral bone surface were calculated. Results The mean least distance of the articular cartilage surface was less than 0.5 mm in all donor–recipients, and there was no significant difference among donor groups. Although the mean least distance of the subchondral bone surface was significantly greater than the articular cartilage surface in all donor groups (P Conclusion Ipsilateral and contralateral LFC grafts provided similar articular cartilage surface and resulting subchondral bone surface matching with that of MFC grafts, suggesting that LFCs could be a potential source of OCA for the treatment of MFC lesions. Clinical Relevance Ipsilateral and contralateral LFCs can be suitable donor sites for the treatment of MFC lesions with OCAs.
The relationship between a cirrhosis-specific comorbidity scoring system and healthcare utilization patterns.

Background and aim Patients with liver cirrhosis are impacted by comorbidities that affect healthcare utilization and survival. The study objective was to assess the relationship between a cirrhosis-specific comorbidity scoring system (CirCom) and healthcare utilization among patients with cirrhosis. Methods A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted using electronic medical records from a large academic-based healthcare network. Patients aged 18-90 years with at least one International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis code for cirrhosis (571.2/571.5) between 2009 and 2014, and at least 180 pre-index and 365 days of post-index electronic medical record data were included. Patients were assigned CirCom scores based on comorbidities observed at/before index cirrhosis diagnosis. All-cause/cirrhosis-specific outpatient/hospital utilization was assessed post-index diagnosis across 1 year. Predictors of utilization (age, sex, race, body mass index, etiology, Model for End-stage Liver Disease, and CirCom) were assessed using negative binomial and Poisson regression with robust standard errors. Results A total of 957 patients were included. Healthcare utilization according to CirCom demonstrated a positive linear relationship for both all-cause outpatient/hospital utilization, but no relationship was evident for cirrhosis-specific utilization. Increased CirCom was associated with an increased risk of all-cause utilization for both outpatient (relative risk [RR]: 1.75; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.47-2.07) and hospital (RR: 1.71; 95% CI: 1.38-2.12) utilization. However, CirCom showed a statistically non-significant association for cirrhosis-specific outpatient (RR: 1.08; 95% CI: 0.91-1.29) and cirrhosis-specific hospital (RR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.67-1.13) utilization. Conclusions CirCom failed to predict cirrhosis-specific healthcare utilization but did positively predict all-cause utilization for both outpatient and hospital services and therefore may be useful in risk assessment and management of cirrhosis.
Answering Questions About Race: How Racial and Ethnic Identities Influence Survey Response

Given the fundamental role that race and ethnicity play in U.S. society, sensitive survey items on this subject can often lead individuals to underreport their true attitudes. Previous studies have...
Electron Transport Properties of Al x Ga 1 − x N / Ga N Transistors Based on First-Principles Calculations and Boltzmann-Equation Monte Carlo Simulations

High-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) made of wide-band-gap semiconductors have great potential for power electronics and radio-frequency applications. Coupling first-principles calculations with device simulations enables cost-effective semiconductor research and development, including materials exploration and device design. The authors report innovative, comprehensive calculations of electronic transport in wurtzite GaN and AlN and in an (Al,Ga)N/GaN HEMT. The hot-electron energy distributions in the simulated HEMTs can be used to determine the related device degradation, and suggest opportunities for improved designs.
Craving and opioid use disorder: A scoping review.

Abstract Introduction The subjective experience of drug craving is a prominent and common clinical phenomenon for many individuals diagnosed with opioid use disorder (OUD), and could be a valuable clinical endpoint in medication development studies. The purpose of this scoping review is to provide an overview and critical analysis of opioid craving assessments located in the published literature examining OUD. Method Studies were identified through a search of PubMed, Embase, and PsychInfo databases and included for review if opioid craving was the focus and participants were diagnosed with or in treatment for OUD. Results Fifteen opioid craving assessment instruments were identified across the 87 studies included for review. The most common were the Visual Analog Scale (VAS, 41 studies), Desires for Drug Questionnaire (DDQ, 12 studies), Heroin Craving Questionnaire (HCQ, 10 studies), and Obsessive-Compulsive Drug Use Scale (OCDUS, 10 studies). Craving assessments varied considerably in their format, content, time frame, and underlying subscales, and only 6 of 15 had been psychometrically evaluated. Discussion This review identified a variety of opioid craving assessments, but few had been evaluated for their psychometric properties making it difficult to ascertain whether craving is being assessed optimally in studies of OUD. Thus, the development of a reliable and valid opioid craving assessment would be worthwhile and could be guided by recently published Food and Drug Administration Clinical Outcome Assessment (COA) guidelines. Importantly, a COA focused on opioid craving could be a valuable addition to research studies designed to evaluate novel treatments for OUD.
Thermal-Inertial Odometry for Autonomous Flight Throughout the Night

Thermal cameras can enable autonomous flight at night without GPS. However, image-based navigation in the thermal infrared spectrum has been researched significantly less than in the visible spectrum. In this paper, we demonstrate closed-loop controlled outdoor flights at night on a quadrotor. Our state estimator can tightly couple inertial data with either thermal images at nighttime, or visual images at daytime. It is integrated in an autonomy framework for motion planning and control, which runs in real time on a standard embedded computer. We analyze thermal-inertial odometry performance extensively from sunset to sunrise, for various thermal non-uniformity levels, and compare it to visual-inertial odometry at daytime.
The Reflux Symptom Index and Symptom Overlap in Dysphonic Patients.

Objectives/hypothesis The Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) is a validated quality-of-life instrument that quantifies symptoms associated with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). Many dysphonic patients are managed empirically for reflux. In this study, we examine responses to the RSI in patients with dysphonia attributable to a variety of pathologies. Study design Retrospective cohort study. Methods This is an institutional review board-approved study. All patients presented to a tertiary care voice center January 2011 to June 2016 with the chief complaint of dysphonia. Patients were analyzed by 1) diagnosis and 2) treatment modality: surgery, medicine, or voice therapy (VT). Data collected included pre- and postintervention RSI and Voice Handicap Index, demographic, and clinical information. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS. Results Five hundred forty-six dysphonic patients were included. One hundred forty required surgery, 155 were treated with VT alone, and 251 were medically managed (MM). Prior to therapy, 63.4% of surgery patients, 62.5% of VT patients, and 74.6% of MM patients had an abnormal RSI with a score greater than 13. The most common diagnosis for each group was vocal cord paresis/paralysis (surgery), vocal fold atrophy (VT), and LPR (MM). There was a statistically significant improvement in RSI after treatment for each group. Conclusions In patients with dysphonia, pretreatment RSI scores were elevated for a variety of laryngeal pathologies. Scores often improved with directed treatment, regardless of etiology. This highlights the symptom overlap between reflux and nonreflux causes of dysphonia, and the importance of a comprehensive workup for patients with voice complaints. Level of evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 130:2631-2636, 2020.
Endovascular Treatment of Traumatic Transection of the Vertebral Artery Caused by Penetrating Injury to the Oropharynx in a Pediatric Patient

Background Pediatric isolated penetrating traumatic vertebral artery injuries require urgent multidisciplinary management as they may lead to potentially fatal posterior circulation ischemia. Case Description We present a 19-month-old patient with an isolated penetrating vertebral artery injuries at the V2 segment of the right vertebral artery and report our strategy for her endovascular treatment which involved simultaneous coil embolization and foreign body removal. Conclusion Endovascular treatment can be considered first line treatment of oral penetrating injuries to the vertebral artery, where the penetrating object has an anterior to posterior trajectory.
Larger increase in trait negative affect is associated with greater future cognitive decline and vice versa across 23 years.

BACKGROUND Trait negative affect (NA) is a central feature of anxiety and depression disorders. Neurocognitive and scar models propose that within-person increase in NA across one period of time relates to a decline in cognitive functioning at a future period of time and vice versa. Yet, there has been little research on whether a within-person change in trait NA across one time-lag precedes and is associated with a change in cognition across a future time lag and vice versa. Due to a growing aging population, such knowledge can inform evidence-based prevention. METHODS Participants were 520 dementia-free community-dwelling adults (mean age = 59.76 years [standard deviation = 8.96], 58.08% females). Trait-level NA (negative emotionality scale), spatial cognition (block design and card rotations), verbal working memory (WM; digit span backward), and processing speed (symbol digit modalities) were assessed at five time points (waves) across 23 years. Bivariate dual latent change score (LCS) approaches were used to adjust for regression to the mean, lagged outcomes, and between-person variability. RESULTS Unique bivariate LCS models showed that within-person increase in trait NA across two sequential waves was related to declines in spatial cognition, verbal WM, and processing speed across the subsequent two waves. Moreover, within-person reductions in spatial cognition, verbal WM, and processing speed across two sequential waves were associated with future increases in trait NA across the subsequent two waves. CONCLUSIONS Findings concur with neurobiological and scar theories of psychopathology. Furthermore, results support process-based emotion regulation models that highlight the importance of verbal WM, spatial cognition, and processing speed capacities for downregulating NA.
The psychometric properties of the Self-Evaluation of Negative Symptoms Scale (SNS) in treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS).

Abstract Background Clinician-administered measures of negative symptoms may not capture patients' subjective experiences. The Self-Evaluation of Negative Symptoms (SNS) has shown good psychometric properties when used in outpatients with higher-level functioning schizophrenia. We aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the SNS in low functioning participants with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS). Methods Participants were assessed using the following measures at two time-points; time-point 1: SNS, Wide Range Achievement Test, 4th Edition Reading Subtest (WRAT-4), and Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS). Time-point 2 (within a week of time-point 1): SNS, Negative Symptom Assessment 16 items (NSA-16), Scale to Assess Unawareness in Mental Disorder-Abbreviated (SUMD-A), Clinical Global Impression Severity Scale (CGI-S), Simpson Angus Scale (SAS), Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS), and the Patient Feasibility Questionnaire. Results Fifty participants with TRS were enrolled, a mean age of 43.8 years (SD = 11.19, min = 25, max = 64), a mean IQ of 80.62 (SD = 17.12, min = 65, max = 110), and a mean BACS Composite T-Score of 14.08 (SD = 17.16, min = −27, max = 49). Participants responded to SNS prompts with moderate consistency across two time-points. There were no significant correlations between the SNS and the NSA-16 Global Symptom score (Pearson r = 0.207, p = .150, Spearman r = 0.101, p = .483), NSA-16 Global Functioning score (Pearson r = 0.209, p = .145, Spearman r = 0.126, p = .384), nor the NSA-16 total score (Pearson r = 0.149, p = .302, Spearman r = 0.116, p = .421). However, when participants were stratified by BACS Composite T-score, there was a significant positive correlation between the SNS total and the NSA-16 Global Functioning score (Pearson r = 0.500, p = .048, Spearman r = 0.546, p = .029) among participants who demonstrated higher cognitive functioning. Conclusion Participants with TRS and low functioning were able to respond to questions on the SNS regarding their subjective assessment of negative symptoms. However, self-reported and clinician-rated negative symptoms were not equivalent, except in a subgroup with higher cognitive functioning. This discrepant self-reporting appeared to relate to their low levels of insight and cognitive impairments.
Biomimetic Gut Model Systems for Development of Targeted Microbial Solutions for Enhancing Warfighter Health and Performance.

ABSTRACT The human gut microbiome plays a vital role in both health and disease states and as a mediator of cognitive and physical performance. Despite major advances in our understanding of the role of gut microbes in host physiology, mechanisms underlying human-microbiome dynamics have yet to be fully elucidated. This knowledge gap represents a major hurdle to the development of targeted gut microbiome solutions influencing human health and performance outcomes. The microbiome as it relates to warfighter health and performance is of interest to the Department of Defense (DoD) with the development of interventions impacting gut microbiome resiliency among its top research priorities. While technological advancements are enabling the development of experimental model systems that facilitate mechanistic insights underpinning human health, disease, and performance, translatability to human outcomes is still questionable. This review discusses some of the drivers influencing the DoD’s interest in the warfighter gut microbiome and describes current in vitro gut model systems supporting direct microbial-host interactions.
INVARIANT MANIFOLDS FOR COMPETITIVE DISCRETE SYSTEMS IN THE PLANE

Let T be a competitive map on a rectangular region , and assume T is C1 in a neighborhood of a fixed point . The main results of this paper give conditions on T that guarantee the existence of an invariant curve emanating from when both eigenvalues of the Jacobian of T at are nonzero and at least one of them has absolute value less than one, and establish that is an increasing curve that separates into invariant regions. The results apply to many hyperbolic and nonhyperbolic cases, and can be effectively used to determine basins of attraction of fixed points of competitive maps, or equivalently, of equilibria of competitive systems of difference equations. These results, known in hyperbolic case, have been used to determine the basins of attraction of hyperbolic equilibrium points and to establish certain global bifurcation results when switching from competitive coexistence to competitive exclusion. The emphasis in applications in this paper is on planar systems of difference equations with nonhyperbolic equilibria, where we establish a precise description of the basins of attraction of finite or infinite number of equilibrium points.
Large-scale Genetic Characterization of a Model Sulfate-Reducing Bacterium

Author(s): Trotter, Valentine V; Shatsky, Maxim; Price, Morgan N; Juba, Thomas R; Zane, Grant M; De Leon, Kara B; Majumder, Erica L; Gui, Qin; Ali, Rida; Wetmore, Kelly M; Kuehl, Jennifer V; Arkin, Adam P; Wall, Judy D; Deutschbauer, Adam M; Chandonia, John-Marc; Butland, Gareth P | Abstract: ABSTRACTSulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) are obligate anaerobes that can couple their growth to the reduction of sulfate. Despite the importance of SRB to global nutrient cycles and their damage to the petroleum industry, our molecular understanding of their physiology remains limited. To systematically provide new insights into SRB biology, we generated a randomly barcoded transposon mutant library in the model SRB Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough (DvH) and used this genome-wide resource to assay the importance of its genes under a range of metabolic and stress conditions. In addition to defining the essential gene set of DvH, we identified a conditional phenotype for 1,137 non-essential genes. Through examination of these conditional phenotypes, we were able to make a number of novel insights into our molecular understanding of DvH, including how this bacterium synthesizes vitamins. For example, we identified DVU0867 as an atypical L-aspartate decarboxylase required for the synthesis of pantothenic acid, provided the first experimental evidence that biotin synthesis in DvH occurs via a specialized acyl carrier protein and without methyl esters, and demonstrated that the uncharacterized dehydrogenase DVU0826:DVU0827 is necessary for the synthesis of pyridoxal phosphate. In addition, we used the mutant fitness data to identify genes involved in the assimilation of diverse nitrogen sources, and gained insights into the mechanism of inhibition of chlorate and molybdate. Our large-scale fitness dataset and RB-TnSeq mutant library are community-wide resources that can be used to generate further testable hypotheses into the gene functions of this environmentally and industrially important group of bacteria.
Personal Finance and Work–Life Balance

We receive extensive training in the building blocks of clinical medicine, such as pathology and physiology, but basic instruction on many important topics that keep us functioning well in other spheres of our lives is often sorely lacking. Two of these topics are personal finance and maintaining a work–life balance. Both topics are intricate and deserve a chapter (or perhaps a textbook!) on their own, but here we will provide an overview of these topics and point you toward additional resources.
Globalization of capital, erosion of economic policy sovereignty, and the lessons from John Maynard Keynes

This article observes that current macroeconomic policy modeling, centered on domestic agents or agencies, fails to recognize the role that global investors play in determining the space for effective domestic macroeconomic policies, and argues that these actors must be brought to the center of macro analysis if one wants to understand how policies work in the global financial context. The article describes the key features of global investors, discusses their power to determine the prices at which public-sector liabilities (money and debt) trade in the international markets, and considers how this power affects the effectiveness of macroeconomic policies by national governments. As a result, no government is truly sovereign in a globalized world, and every government is subject to an intertemporal budget constraint (IBC), although, of course, not all governments are born equal and not all IBCs are equally binding: government IBCs are elastic, endogenous to global investor decisions, and yet ineluctable. The article concludes that choosing the correct country policy stance in today's financial global context would benefit from revisiting some of the key policy lessons that John Maynard Keynes left with us, considering his deep knowledge of global financial markets and how they affect country economies.
Tissue Engineering In Vivo with Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology has become an important part of the field of tissue engineering. Nanomaterials have several advantages over materials which only have features on the macro scale. Nanomaterials open up the possibility for more surface area for cell-surface interactions, the possibility of making stronger scaffolds for tissue re-growth, and the prospect to self-assemble nanostructures which will resemble cellular structures already found in the body. By leveraging the advantageous properties of nanomaterials, it is possible create more biocompatible implants, accelerate wound healing, facilitate tissue repair, guide nerve re-growth, eradicate infections, and reduce post injury inflammation. The following chapter will discuss several important aspects of the impact of nanotechnology on various tissue engineering applications by focusing on in vivo animal studies, a necessary step forward towards the next generation of nanomedicine.
Semantics and Ontology

In 1941, Quine was invited by the Office of the Coordinator for Inter-American Affairs to go to Brazil as a visiting lecturer. Quine accepted, and in May of 1942 he flew south – his first experience of air travel. With his extraordinary gift for languages, and his knowledge of Portuguese, Quine was able to lecture in the local language, and the lectures became a book, O Sentido da Nova Logica, that was published in 1944.
BRAIN SWELLING WITH ACUTE PURULENT MENINGITIS. REPORT OF TREATMENT WITH HYPERTONIC INTRAVENOUS UREA.

A fetal case of acute meningitis in a child is reported to illustrate the orderly sequence of neurological signs indicating progressive brainstem compression, leading to death. The similarity of this neurological pattern to that seen in patients with supratentorial mass lesions is emphasized. Six cases of acute meningitis in infants and children are then reported who similarly showed signs of progressive brain swelling and herniation, in whom intravenous urea was used in treatment. In two children who were felt to be moribund with bulging anterior fontanel, coma, poorly reactive pupils, deteriorating respirations, and convulsions, the response to the infusion of urea was dramatic, with improvement in consciousness, respirations, and pupillary signs, and cessation of convulsions. Two other children had a less dramatic response to urea, but were definitely improved. Two were thought to have had possible benefit. No child showed deleterious effects from treatment with urea. The mechanism of action of osmotic agents in the treatment of brain swelling is discussed. Hypertonic intravenous urea was felt to have been a safe and possibly valuable adjunct to the therapy of the patients of this study.
The outcome of diabetic pregnancies: a prospective study.

The perinatal mortality rate was 71/1000 for diabetic and 34/1000 for the nondiabetic in a prospective study of 53,518 pregnancies. Placentas from the diabetics had twice the frequency of atheromata, fibrinoid change and thrombi in decidual arteries as the nondiabetics. 40% of the excess perinatal deaths in offspring of diabetics were due to the consequences of these lesions, i.e. large infarcts and marked growth retardation of placentas. The diabetic placentas showed an excess of lesions characteristic of underperfusion, excessive syncytial knots and retained cytotrophoblast. 17% of the excess perinatal deaths in offspring of diabetics were related to maternal acidosis or insulin shock, 4% to hydramnios, 12% to severe congenital anomalies, 12% to the complications of Caesarean section and 5% to amniotic fluid bacterial infections. These latter infections were only half as frequent but their mortality was 2.6 times greater in offspring of diabetics than of nondiabetics. Histologic grading demonstrated normal lung maturation for neonates of diabetic mothers when they were compared with offspring of nondiabetics in the same fetal growth percentile. Low IQ values and excessive neurologic abnormalities in 4 year old offspring of ketotic diabetic gravida were related to amniotic fluid bacterial infections and their complications rather than to the ketoacidosis.
Tightened Transitive Closure of Integer Addition Constraints

We present algorithms for testing the satisfiability and finding the tightened transitive closure of conjunctions of addition constraints of the form ± x ± y ≤ d and bound constraints of the form ± x ≤ d where x and y are integer variables and d is an integer constrant. The running time of these algorithms is a cubic polynomial in the number of input constraints. We also describe an efficient matrix representation of addition and bound constraints. The matrix representation provides a easy, algebraic implementation of the satisfiability and tightened transitive closure algorithms. We also outline the use of these algorithms for the improved implementation of abstract interpretation methods based on the octagonal abstract domain.
Nature in the Bible

The devotion of Alex Kiss to the environment and its legal protection must be understood as inextricably intertwined with his Christian faith. Taught and inspired by his father's work for the Protestant Church in Hungary, he developed a love of creation and sense of responsibility towards it. Not long ago, he made a presentation on environmental protection and the Book of Revelation, for an anniversary celebration of St. John's apocalyptic vision. It is with this background in mind that the following essay was written (in 1998) in honor of and as a gift to Alex. It attempts to bring together for study the many Biblical references to nature and human relations to it. Therein is the basis for many years of future discussions.
Development of a Graphical User Interface in GIS Raster Format for the Finite Difference Ground-Water Model Code, Modflow

A geographic information system (GIS) was used in developing a graphical user interface (GUI) for use with the US Geological Survey`s finite difference ground-water flow model, MODFLOW. The GUI permits the construction of a MODFLOW based ground-water flow model from scratch in a GIS environment. The model grid, input data and output are stored as separate raster data sets which may be viewed, edited, and manipulated in a graphic environment. Other GIS data sets can be displayed with the model data sets for reference and evaluation. The GUI sets up a directory structure for storage of the files associated with the ground-water model and the raster data sets created by the interface. The GUI stores model coefficients and model output as raster values. Values stored by these raster data sets are formatted for use with the ground-water flow model code.
Isolation and Propagation of Circulating Tumor Cells from a Mouse Cancer Model

Cancer metastasis is the foremost cause of cancer-associated deaths. Recent studies have shown that circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are important in cancer metastasis. Indeed, the number of CTCs correlates with tumor size. Here, a detailed description is provided of a methodology for isolation and propagation of CTCs from a syngeneic mouse model of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) which allows for downstream analysis of potentially important molecular mechanisms of solid organ tumor metastasis. This method is efficient and reproducible. It is a non-invasive technique and, therefore, has potential to replace the invasive biopsy of tissues from humans which may be associated with complications. Therefore, the method discussed here allows for the isolation and propagation of CTCs from whole blood samples such that they can be examined and characterized. This has potential for future adaptation for clinical applications such as diagnosis, and personalized targeted therapy.