cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intelligent Adaptive Cyber-Physical Ecosystem for Aerospace Engineering Education, Training, and Accelerated Workforce Development

Transformative changes are on the horizon in aerospace engineering education and learning in general. These changes are attributable, in part, to the developments of a number of aerospace, learning and other leading-edge technologies and their synergistic combinations and convergence. The related technologies include ubiquitous, cloud, and petascale/exascale computing; ultrahigh-bandwidth networks; pervasive wireless communication; intelligent autonomous robotics; artificial general intelligence; powerful game engines and facilities; networked immersive virtual environments and virtual worlds; augmented and enhanced reality; and novel human-technology interfaces. This paper describes some of the frontiers of, and challenges in, future aerospace systems and the drivers for transformative changes in aerospace engineering education. The need to have a holistic perspective and a comprehensive approach for aerospace education, research, training, and accelerated workforce development is outlined. A starting point to accomplish this task is the development of an intelligent adaptive cyber-physical ecosystem for the aerospace workforce. The continuously expanding major components of the ecosystem include integrated knowledge discovery and exploitation facilities; novel agent-supported visual simulations (with cognitive learning and understanding abilities); immersive three-dimensional (3D) virtual world facilities; intelligent, multimodal and humanlike interfaces; and smart mobile wireless devices. The ecosystem will provide timely, engaging, personalized/collaborative, and tailored visual learning. It will stimulate creativity and innovation and prepare the learners to work in future global virtual collaborative enterprises and become leaders in a world of growing complexity.
A simple method of using a shadow gonadal shield with closed incubators

A small disc of lead placed on top of a closed incubator serves as a simple gonadal shield in the neonate, It is easily positioned by use of the collimator light.
The Economics of Kidney Transplantation versus Hemodialysis

Using 1998 data for 8 transplantation centers located in New York City, this study found that kidney transplantation was a more cost-effective treatment than hemodialysis for the Medicare program. The initially higher costs of transplantation were fully recouped by Medicare 2 years and 10 months after surgery. For persons who are eligible for Medicare solely due to their end-stage renal disease status, transplantation would generate average monthly savings of $3800 over dialysis for the 2 years following the break-even point. For those eligible for reasons other than end-stage renal disease, for example, the aged, the average savings would be $2400. The savings difference arises because Medicare coverage for immunosuppressants for the former group ends 36 months after transplantation.
Cleavage of the Human Immunoglobulin A1 (IgA1) Hinge Region by IgA1 Proteases Requires Structures in the Fc region of IgA

Secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA) protects the mucosal surfaces against inhaled and ingested pathogens. Many pathogenic bacteria produce IgA1 proteases that cleave in the hinge of IgA1, thus separating the Fab region from the Fc region and making IgA ineffective. Here, we show that Haemophilus influenzae type 1 and Neisseria gonorrhoeae type 2 IgA1 proteases cleave the IgA1 hinge in the context of the constant region of IgA1 or IgA2m(1) but not in the context of IgG2. Both Cα2 and Cα3 but not Cα1 are required for the cleavage of the IgA1 hinge by H. influenzae and N. gonorrhoeae proteases. While there was no difference in the cleavage kinetics between wild-type IgA1 and IgA1 containing only the first GalNAc residue of the O-linked glycans, the absence of N-linked glycans in the Fc increased the ability of the N. gonorrhoeae protease to cleave the IgA1 hinge. Taken together, these results suggest that, in addition to the IgA1 hinge, structures in the Fc region of IgA are required for the recognition and cleavage of IgA1 by the H. influenzae and N. gonorrhoeae proteases.
AN EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF 3D TERRAIN MAPPING WITH AN AUTONOMOUS HELICOPTER

We demonstrate a method for unmanned aerial vehicle based structure from motion mapping and show it to be a viable option for large scale, high resolution terrain modeling. Current methods of large scale terrain modeling can be cost and time prohibitive. We present a method for integrating low cost cameras and unmanned aerial vehicles for the purpose of 3D terrain mapping. Using structure from motion, aerial images taken of the landscape can be reconstructed into 3D models of the terrain. This process is well suited for use on unmanned aerial vehicles due to the light weight and low cost of equipment. We discuss issues of flight path planning and propose an algorithm to assist in the generation of these paths. The structure from motion mapping process is experimentally evaluated in three distinct environments: ground based testing on man-made environments, ground based testing on natural environments, and airborne testing on natural environments. Ground based testing on natural environments was shown to be extremely useful for camera calibration, and the resulting models were found to have a maximum error of 4.26 cm and standard deviation of 1.50 cm. During airborne testing, several areas of approximately 30,000 m 2 were mapped. These areas were mapped with acceptable accuracy and a resolution of 1.24 cm.
A new off-state drain-bias TDDB lifetime model for DENMOS device

For the first time, a new off-state drain-bias TDDB lifetime model is proposed for DENMOS devices. With the new model, the off-state drain-bias TDDB lifetime can be well predicted from the conventional gate-bias stress without extra long term drain-bias stress. The TDDB lifetime can be decoupled to three components; the small effective stress area and large voltage drop shared by the drain-extension region increase the lifetime, and the band-to-band tunneling current degrades it. The mechanism of oxide breakdown with the off-state drain-bias is also well understood as the oxide traps distributed from the center of channel to the drain side.
The Use of an Advance Directive in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry: A Case Report

Objective The following case report illustrates the use of a psychiatric advance directive in a surgical setting. Method The case of a woman with breast cancer and debilitating pre-operative anxiety is presented. Her anxiety was so severe that it resulted in repeated refusal to have necessary surgery. An advance directive facilitated proceeding with surgery despite her objections in the immediate pre-operative period. Conclusion Consultation-Liaison psychiatrists should consider the use of an advance directive when preoperative anxiety interferes with decision-making capacity.
Comparing Conversations about Sexual Harassment in the United States and Sweden: Print Media Coverage of the Case against Astra USA

This article links two important topics: sexual harassment and the power of the media as a cultural influence. It considers how the media contributes both to the condemnation and prevention of sexual harassment and to its persistence. It is an attempt to further our understanding of the underlying problem of sexual harassment, the cultural descriptions and manifestations of sexual harassment and the particular design of evolving solutions. The project evolved from the May 13, 1996 cover story of Business Week. That periodical ran a story about Astra USA (a subsidiary of the Swedish pharmaceutical, Astra AB) which alleged widespread sexual harassment. My research is based on a comparison of certain U.S. and Swedish print media coverage of a sexual harassment case. The study relies primarily on The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Dagens Nyheter, Dagens Industri, and The Financial Times. In addition, I spent part of the fall 1997 semester in Stockholm meeting with dozens of people from the academic, government and business sectors talking about sexual harassment generally and my research project specifically. In this project, I have been most interested in how the media talk about the cases, i.e., how do they tell the story or report the case. Within this framework, I consider a number of issues including the presentation of the case as an individual or a workplace problem, the various privacy concerns which are evidenced, and the degree to which economic issues are prioritized. Together with the text of the articles, these queries provide keys to the ways the press in different countries and their readers think about sexual harassment. To a large extent the press coverage reflects the different cultural values of the United States and Sweden, including "...the contrary value choices about confrontation, power, the merits of informal or extralegal dispute resolution, and the roles of men and women." (Bernstein, Anita, "Law, Culture, and Harassment," University of Pennsylvania Law Review, April 1994, pp. 1227-1311.) This analysis sheds light on when gender becomes news and, in that context, what we can and cannot talk about. Analysis of the coverage suggests a disparity in the approach which the two countries have taken (and continue to take) towards the stated goal of gender equality. Recognizing and articulating such differences allows us to more fully consider the effects of such processes.
Incidence of delayed angiographic femoral artery complications using the EXOSEAL vascular closure device.

Background and purposeFemoral artery injuries are known complications of percutaneous vascular closure devices (VCDs). We studied the incidence of delayed femoral artery angiographic irregularities after neurointerventional procedures in which the EXOSEAL extravascular closure device was used for femoral arterial puncture closure.MethodsAdult patients who underwent femoral arterial puncture closures with an EXOSEAL VCD and had a follow-up femoral artery angiogram from June 2012 through August 2013 were reviewed. A blinded radiologist compared pre-deployment and follow-up femoral arteriograms for the presence of femoral artery stenosis, dissection, pseudoaneurysm, or development of an arteriovenous fistula. Hospital records were reviewed for major or minor complications of the groin site or femoral artery.ResultsThe EXOSEAL VCD achieved hemostasis, without evidence of a groin hematoma or requiring subsequent prolonged manual compression, in 400 of 441 closures following transfemoral arterial access, repres...
Ultrafiltration of Protein Solutions: A Laboratory Experiment

Biology is playing an increasingly important role in the chemical engineering curriculum. We describe a set of experiments we have implemented in our Undergraduate Laboratory course giving students practical insights into membrane separation processes for protein processing. The goal of the lab is to optimize the purification and concentration of a protein by hollow-fiber, tangential-flow ultrafiltration. Experiments guide the students to an appreciation for concentration polarization, i.e. the buildup of a concentrated layer of solute on the membrane surface resulting from opposing processes of convection to the membrane surface and removal from the surface by diffusion and tangential flow. The experiment draws upon concepts the students will have seen in fluid mechanics, mass transfer, and separations courses. Optimization, the process of compromising between opposing phenomena, is demonstrated by having the students design a purification and concentration process that minimizes processing time.
Changes in the Phospholipid Composition of Microsomal Membranes of Dystrophic Hamsters

SummaryAnalysis of liver microsomal phospholipids of dystrophic and normal hamsters showed changes in the content and fatty acid composition of these compounds in the diseased animals. The total phospholipid, phosphatidylcholine, and phosphatidylethanolamine concentrations were elevated. Determination of the fatty acid composition revealed a decrease in the concentration of monounsaturated fatty acids with a concomitant increase in the concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids. It is concluded that these changes may affect the physical nature of membranes. Such a change in the physical state of the membrane may affect the orientation of membrane proteins, which in turn may cause alterations in enzymatic activity.
The Effect of Sputtering Conditions on Submicron Contact Filling Using Laser Planarization

The effect of sputtering conditions of A1 alloy films on the ability to fill submicron contact/vias by laser planarization has been investigated. A significant improvement in the process window (complete contact filling to optical ablation) has been observed by using high temperature and/or bias sputtering. In general, the process window increased with the increasing deposition temperature and substrate bias voltage. For 0.9 μm diameter contacts of aspect ratio ~1, the process window for contact filling by A1Si(1%)Cu(0.5s%) increased from 5% for standard deposition parameters to a record high 30% by using the optimized sputtering conditions.
Psychosis, Trauma, and Ordinary Mental Life

Psychotherapy has gained wide acceptance as a primary treatment for nonpsychotic psychological disorders but has yet to find the same acceptance in the treatment of psychosis. One reason for this is the idea that schizophrenia is a genetically determined brain disease unlikely to respond to psychological treatments. A second reason is the difficulty most people have in relating the symptoms of psychosis such as hallucinations and delusions to their own mental processes. This paper relates the manifestations of psychosis to ordinary mental life, and describes how psychotic symptoms arise as meaningful expressions of unbearable psychological pain in the aftermath of adverse life events.
PRESERVATION OF FOSSIL MICROBES AND BIOFILM IN CAVE POOL CARBONATES AND COMPARISON TO OTHER MICROBIAL CARBONATE ENVIRONMENTS

Fossil microbes are generally preserved by authigenic minerals, including silica, apatite, iron minerals, clays, and carbonates. An alternative mode of preservation by entombment in calcite, without replacement, has been identified in carbonate cave pool microbialites that were etched and examined in the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Features identified include filaments, threads, and films that show excess carbon in energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses, suggesting preservation of organic matter. Filaments are single smooth or reticulated strands with curving string-like morphology, often hollow, and with a uniform diameter of 0.5 to 1.0 μm. Threads, in contrast, are variable thickness, from several microns down to 0.1 μm, always solid, and commonly branch. Films are thin (< 1 μm) drapes associated with threads. Filaments are interpreted as microbial filaments, while threads and films are interpreted as preserved extracellular polymeric substance (EPS). In addition, microbial filaments and EPS are only revealed via acid etching, suggesting preservation of organic material by entombment, not by replacement with calcite. To determine whether entombed microbes are a common feature of carbonate microbialites that form in different environmental settings, samples of hot spring travertine, caliche soil, and reef microbialite were examined. Whereas the travertine samples were barren, entombed EPS was found in the caliche soil and the reef microbialite; the latter also contained a few entombed filaments. In addition, entombed microbial material has been reported from carbonate cold seep deposits. Such findings indicate that entombment of microbes and EPS in carbonates is not restricted to cave settings, but is more widespread than previously reported. Possible causes for the lack of preservation in travertines include rapid degradation of microbial material either by sunlight due to photolytic degradation, aerobic microbial degradation, detritivore consumption, or elevated temperatures. Rapid carbonate precipitation is ruled out as, somewhat surprisingly, preservation is better in slower growing cave carbonates than in rapidly growing travertines. Potential long-term preservation of organic material entombed in carbonate has implications for the characterization of fossil microbial communities using molecular biomarkers and the search for life on other planets.
Esophageal aperistalsis and gastroesophageal reflux disorder: return of peristalsis after H2-blocker therapy.

Objectives : Distal esophageal aperistalsis has rarely been reported among patients with gastroesophageal reflux disorder. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to address the frequency with which disorders of peristalsis in general-and distal esophageal aperistalsis in particular-occur in adults with gastroesophageal reflux disorder. Patients and Methods : We studied 314 patients who were referred to our gastrointestinal motility laboratory. On the basis of the endoscopic data, they were divided into three groups : group I, symptomatic patients without endoscopic esophagitis ; group II, patients with mild endoscopic esophagitis ; and group III, patients with erosive esophagitis. An age-matched group of patients with chest pain unrelated to reflux served as the control. Results : Some form of peristaltic dysfunction was recorded in 56% of the patients with gastroesophageal reflux disorder, significantly more than in the control group (p < 0.01). A significant correlation existed between the esophageal motor dysfunction scores and the severity of reflux disease. Distal esophageal aperistalsis was present in 3.1% of the reflux groups. There was a correlation between severity of reflux disease and the prevalence of aperistalsis. Aperistalsis occurred in none of the patients in group I, in 3.6% of group II, and in 12.5% of group III (p < 0.0001). Seven of the patients with aperistalsis who has been treated with H2-blockers were reexamined 4 months later. Return of peristalsis was seen in three of them. Conclusion : Esophageal aperistalsis can be seen in a minority of patients with severe gastroesophageal reflux disorder and is probably a reversible condition.
Effect of water stress on the growth of Stylosanthes hamata (L.) Taub. cv Verano and Stylosanthes guianensis (Aubl.) Sw. cv Schofield.

Plants of Stylosanthes hamata (L.) Taub. cv Verano and Stylosanthes guianensis (Aubl.) Sw. cv Schofield, grown separately in pots under glasshouse conditions, were subjected to recurring cycles of soil drying/wetting, and the effect on plant growth was assessed. Six harvests at 10-day intervals were taken. Starting 45 days after planting, standard growth analysis techniques were used for comparison. The water stress treatment reduced the dry matter yield of both species, influenced dry matter distribution in the plants and reduced various growth parameters. S. guianensis yielded significantly (P<0.05) more dry matter pot-1 than S. hamata under both conditions. There was delayed flowering of about eight days in the water-stressed S. hamata plants when compared with the non-stressed treatment; S. guianensis did not flower at all under any condition.
The Supreme Court’s Application of 'Ordinary Contract Principles' to the Issue of the Duration of Retiree Healthcare Benefits: Perpetuating the Interpretation/Gap-Filling Quagmire

The United States Supreme Court purported to apply "ordinary contract principles" in its decision reversing the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in M&G Polymers USA v. Tackett . The Sixth Circuit had held that plaintiffs, retired employees of M&G, were entitled to lifetime healthcare benefits under their union's agreement with M&G. According to the Supreme Court, the Sixth Circuit wrongly relied on a false set of "inferences" established in International Union v. Yard-Man, Inc. to find that "in the absence of extrinsic evidence to the contrary, the provisions of [the collective bargaining agreement] indicated an intent to vest retirees with lifetime benefits." The Supreme Court therefore remanded the case for a determination under "ordinary contract principles," and without the benefit of the inferences, what the parties’ intentions were with respect to the duration of retiree healthcare benefits.This Article documents the various errors of the Supreme Court in applying "ordinary contract principles." In doing so, the Article suggests how courts should proceed in contract cases like M&G. I will argue that "ordinary contract principles" should have led the Court, not to abandon what the Supreme Court called the "Yard-Man inferences," but to treat them as probative, along with all other evidence concerning the duration of healthcare benefits. Because of the Supreme Court's mistakes, its attempt to clear up the Sixth Circuit's treatment of the duration of retiree healthcare benefits undoubtedly failed. More litigation is likely inevitable.
Identified Light and Strange Hadron Spectra at sNN=14.5 GeV and Systematic Study of Baryon/Meson Effect at Intermediate Transverse Momentum with STAR at RHIC BES I

Abstract With the recently measured Au+Au collisions at s N N = 14.5 GeV , STAR completed its first phase of the Beam Energy Scan (BES) program at RHIC. The main motivation of the BES program is the study of the QCD phase diagram and the search for a conjectured critical point. Amongst the various collision energies of 7.7, 11.5, 19.6, 27, and 39 GeV, that have been previously presented by STAR, collisions at 14.5 GeV will provide data set in the relatively large chemical potential gap between the 11.5 and 19.6 GeV center-of-mass energies. In this contribution, we report new STAR measurements of Au+Au at s N N = 14.5 GeV that include identified light particle R CP and spectra, as well as measurements of the strange hadrons ( K s 0 , Λ , Ξ , Ω , and ϕ ). The spectra from both light and strange particles cover a significant range of the intermediate transverse momentum ( 2 p T 5 GeV / c ) in all beam energies. This provides a unique set of data for a systematic study of the baryon-to-meson ratio at intermediate p T from BES Phase I. We will discuss its physics implications and whether hadronic interactions at late stage dominate the collision dynamics.
Gene Therapy for Metabolic Diseases

Gene therapy has recently shown great promise as an effective treatment for a number of metabolic diseases caused by genetic defects in both animal models and human clinical trials. Most of the current success has been achieved using a viral mediated gene addition approach, but gene-editing technology has progressed rapidly and gene modification is being actively pursued in clinical trials. This review focuses on viral mediated gene addition approaches, because most of the current clinical trials utilize this approach to treat metabolic diseases.
PET imaging reveals sex differences in kappa opioid receptor availability in humans, in vivo

Opioid receptors may play critical roles in alcoholism and other addictions, addiction withdrawal, and depression and are considered pharmacological targets for treatment of these conditions. Sex differences have been demonstrated in mu (MOR) and delta (DOR) opioid receptors in humans, in vivo. In addition, sex differences have been observed in efficacy of treatment targeting kappa opioid receptors (KOR). Our goal in the present study was to compare the availability of KOR (1) between healthy control (HC) men and women. Twenty-seven subjects-18 males (M) and 9 females (F)-underwent PET scans with [(11)C] LY2795050, a selective kappa antagonist tracer. Partial volume correction was applied to all PET data. Volume of distribution (V T) of the tracer was estimated regionally as well as at the voxel level. V T values of males versus females were compared for 19 defined ROIs. Results at the regional and voxel levels were consistent. Males had significantly higher V T and thus a higher KOR availability than women in multiple brain regions. To our knowledge, this is the first report of sex differences in the KOR system in humans, in vivo. These findings could have implications for the treatment of pain with kappa opioid analgesics. The results may also have an impact on the diagnosis and treatment of addictive and other disorders.
Controlled sensing for classification using image-based sensor networks

Consider the problem of controlling a network of surveillance sensors that are capable of selecting which areas to observe and which modes to observe these areas. We study the problem of controlling the observations of these sensors adaptively in order to classify accurately a collection of objects using information on their observed features. Our proposed approach is modeling objects as templates of 3-D features, and modeling sensors as observing features of individual objects, subject to degradation by noise, obscuration, missed detections and background clutter. We formulate the classification problem using a statistical framework based on random feature sets, and present sequential inferencing algorithms for fusion of information from multiple sensor measurements. Using this framework, we focus on developing controlled sensing approaches that lead to efficient real-time algorithms for problems involving multiple sensors and objects. We develop approaches based on the use of information theoretic bounds that can be computed off-line for computing surrogate performance objectives, as well as finite parameterizations of collected information that are amenable to fast real-time computation. The latter approaches are also suitable for dynamic control strategy design using Partially Observed Markov Decision Process models. We compare the performance of the different approaches on a complex simulated scenario. Our results indicate that discrete measurement approximations have improved performance over the use of information theoretic bounds, and have performance that is statistically equivalent to more complex on-line optimization approaches, while reducing on-line computation requirements by over 5 orders of magnitude.
Closing the Excellence Gap: Investigation of an Expanded Talent Search Model for Student Selection Into an Extracurricular STEM Program in Rural Middle Schools:

High-potential students from underresourced rural schools face barriers that reduce options for academic advancement, which widens the excellence gap between them and their more affluent, but similar ability peers. The goal of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of an expanded above-level testing model to identify high-potential rural students for an extracurricular math and science enrichment program. Results from our analyses indicated that a more inclusive talent pool differentiated among high achievers to find greater percentages (13%) of talented students compared with most gifted programs (3% to 5%) or Talent Search programs (5%). Overall, students’ math and science scores were related to a 75% and 50%, respectively, greater odds in being identified for the extracurricular program. Regardless of program participation, all talent pool students increased their math and science achievement; however, there were some significant gender differences.
Program Structure and Compilation Issues

The overall structure of programs and the facilities for separate compilation are described in this chapter. A program is a collection of one or more compilation units submitted to a compiler in one or more compilations. A compilation unit can be a subprogram declaration or body, a package declaration or body, a generic declaration, or a subunit, that is, the body of a subprogram, package, or task declared within another compilation unit.
Can asexuality confer a short-term advantage? Investigating apparent biogeographic success in the apomictic triploid fern Myriopteris gracilis.

Premise of the study Although asexual taxa are generally seen as evolutionary dead ends, asexuality appears to provide a short-term benefit in some taxa, including a wider geographic distribution compared to sexual relatives. However, this may be an illusion created by multiple, morphologically cryptic, asexual lineages, each occupying a relatively small area. In this study we investigate the role of multiple lineages in the biogeography of Myriopteris gracilis Fee (Pteridaceae), a North American apomictic triploid fern species with a particularly large range. Methods Range-wide asexuality was assessed by counting spores/sporangium in 606 Myriopteris gracilis specimens from across the species range, and lineage structure was assessed with both plastid DNA sequence and Genotyping By Sequencing (GBS) SNP datasets. Key results Spore counting of >600 specimens identified no sexual populations, establishing that Myriopteris gracilis is exclusively asexual. The plastid data estimated the crown age of M. gracilis at ca. 2.5 mya and identified two lineages, each largely confined to the eastern or western portions of the range. These groups were further subdivided by the GBS data, revealing at least seven asexual lineages of varying geographic distributions, each occupying a relatively small portion of the total range of M. gracilis. Conclusions Although maintained exclusively through asexual reproduction, the broad distribution of Myriopteris gracilis is a compilation of numerous, independently formed asexual lineages. Since no single asexual lineage occupies the full extent of the species distribution, recurrent lineage formation should be considered when evaluating the short-term benefit of asexuality in this taxon and others.
Pharmacokinetic assessment of the effect of age on the disposition and pharmacologic activity of drugs.

Aging is associated with a number of physiologic changes. These include decreases in plasma albumin concentration, lean body mass and total body water, cardiac output, renal function (glomerular filtration and renal tubular secretion), and activity of drug metabolizing enzyme systems (reviewed in refs. 1–3). Superimposed upon these age-related changes, and difficult if not impossible to distinguish from these in a clinical setting, are the cumulative effects of environment (including smoking, medications, and diet) and disease. It is not surprising, therefore, that there is evidence suggesting age-dependent changes in the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs. Such changes may be expected to result in corresponding modifications in the intensity and duration of pharmacologic effects but age may also affect the intrinsic response of receptor sites to drugs. Since the pertinent literature on pharmacokinetics related to advanced age has been reviewed thoroughly in several recent publications (1–3), the purpose of this presentation will be to focus on the pharmacokinetic principles that must be considered in the design, analysis, and interpretation of studies of the effect of age on the disposition and pharmacologic activity of drugs.
ENDOCRINE MANIFESTATIONS OF PRIMARY HYPEROXALURIA.

ABSTRACT Objective: Primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) is a rare metabolic disorder of oxalate overproduction. It is associated with urolithiasis and nephrocalcinosis, which progress to end-stage renal disease and systemic oxalosis. As oxalate deposits in tissues, non–parathyroid hormone (nonPTH)-mediated hypercalcemia, oxalate osteopathy, primary hypothyroidism, and primary hypogonadism develop. In this review, we will present a case of PH1 and provide an overview of this clinical entity and its endocrine manifestations. Methods: We conducted a PubMed search for articles related to PH1. The terms “primary hyperoxaluria,” “nonPTH mediated hypercalcemia,” “hypothyroidism,” and “hypogonadism” were used to identify pertinent literature. Results: Given the rarity of PH1, there is scant literature regarding the incidence and clinical significance of endocrine manifestations of this disorder. There are rare reports of hypercalcemia secondary to osteoclast-stimulating activity of macrophages in bone granulomas, ...
Multi-GPU configuration of 4D intensity modulated radiation therapy inverse planning using global optimization.

We report on the design, implementation and characterization of a multi-graphic processing unit (GPU) computational platform for higher-order optimization in radiotherapy treatment planning. In collaboration with a commercial vendor (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA), a research prototype GPU-enabled Eclipse (V13.6) workstation was configured. The hardware consisted of dual 8-core Xeon processors, 256 GB RAM and four NVIDIA Tesla K80 general purpose GPUs. We demonstrate the utility of this platform for large radiotherapy optimization problems through the development and characterization of a parallelized particle swarm optimization (PSO) four dimensional (4D) intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) technique. The PSO engine was coupled to the Eclipse treatment planning system via a vendor-provided scripting interface. Specific challenges addressed in this implementation were (i) data management and (ii) non-uniform memory access (NUMA). For the former, we alternated between parameters over which the computation process was parallelized. For the latter, we reduced the amount of data required to be transferred over the NUMA bridge. The datasets examined in this study were approximately 300 GB in size, including 4D computed tomography images, anatomical structure contours and dose deposition matrices. For evaluation, we created a 4D-IMRT treatment plan for one lung cancer patient and analyzed computation speed while varying several parameters (number of respiratory phases, GPUs, PSO particles, and data matrix sizes). The optimized 4D-IMRT plan enhanced sparing of organs at risk by an average reduction of in maximum dose, compared to the clinical optimized IMRT plan, where the internal target volume was used. We validated our computation time analyses in two additional cases. The computation speed in our implementation did not monotonically increase with the number of GPUs. The optimal number of GPUs (five, in our study) is directly related to the hardware specifications. The optimization process took 35 min using 50 PSO particles, 25 iterations and 5 GPUs.
Metabolomics Approach in the Study of the Well-Defined Polyherbal Preparation Zyflamend

Zyflamend is a highly controlled blend of 10 herbal extracts that synergistically impact multiple cell signaling pathways with anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties. More recently, its effects were shown to also modify cellular energetics, for example, activation of fatty acid oxidation and inhibition of lipogenesis. However, its general metabolic effects in vivo have yet to be explored. The objective of this study was to characterize the tissue specific metabolomes in response to supplementation of Zyflamend in mice, with a comparison of equivalent metabolomics data generated in plasma from humans supplemented with Zyflamend. Because Zyflamend has been shown to activate AMPK, the "energy sensor" of the cell, in vitro, the effects of Zyflamend on adiposity were also tested in the murine model. C57BL/6 mice were fed diets that mimicked the macro- and micronutrient composition of the U.S. diet with and without Zyflamend supplementation at human equivalent doses. Untargeted metabolomics was performed in liver, skeletal muscle, adipose, and plasma from mice consuming Zyflamend and in plasma from humans supplemented with Zyflamend at an equivalent dose. Adiposity in mice was significantly reduced in the Zyflamend-treated animals (compared with controls) without affecting body weight or weight gain. Based on KEGG pathway enrichment, purine and pyrimidine metabolism (potential regulators of AMPK) were particularly responsive to Zyflamend across all tissues, but only in mice. Consistent with the metabolomics data, Zyflamend activated AMPK and inhibited acetyl CoA-carboxylase in adipose tissue, key regulators of lipogenesis. Zyflamend reduces adipose tissue in mice through a mechanism that likely involves the activation of AMPK.
Constraining fossil fuel CO 2 emissions from urban area using OCO-2 observations of total column CO 2

Abstract. Expanding urban populations and the significant contribution of cities to global fossil-fuel CO2 (CO2ff) emissions emphasize the necessity of achieving independent and accurate quantifications of the emissions from urban area. In this paper, we assess the utility of total column dry air CO2 mole fraction (XCO2) data retrieved from NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2 (OCO-2) observations to quantify CO2ff emissions from cities. Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs) are implemented by forward modeling of meteorological fields and column XCO2. The impact of transport model errors on the inverse emissions estimates is examined for two “plume cities” (Riyadh, Cairo) and a “basin city” (Los Angeles metropolitan region, LA). The pseudo data experiments indicate convergence of emission uncertainties related to transport model errors with increasing amount of observations. The 1-σ uncertainty of emission estimates is constrained to approximately 15 %/5 % with about 10 pseudo tracks for plume city/basin city. The systematic wind speed biases in simulated wind fields for LA lead to overestimations in total CO2ff emission, which require data assimilation to improve high-resolution atmospheric transport. The contribution of biogenic fluxes gradients in urban and rural area of Pearl River Delta metropolitan region in China are examined by simulations with biospheric fluxes imposed by the Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE) from multiple terrestrial biosphere models, which show about 24 ± 21 % (1σ) and 19 ± 15 % (1σ) contributions to the total XCO2 enhancements for the two cases examined. The representations of transport model errors for the emission optimization are examined for Riyadh, Cairo and LA ¬in real cases. The determination of background XCO2 is discussed for LA by using constant and simulated background with biospheric fluxes included, demonstrating the need of careful consideration of the variations in background XCO2 for identifying concentration enhancements due to fossil fuel emissions.
Mechanisms of the Mind: From Instincts to Beauty

Fundamental mechanisms of the mind are discussed as steps to understanding music: concepts, instincts, and emotions. Aesthetic emotions are related to the knowledge instinct. The top of the mind hierarchy is analyzed: emotions of the beautiful are related to the understanding of the highest meaning and purpose.
Heroes and Sultans

Aristotle asserted that “the tyrant is a warmonger.” According to Max Weber, tyranny has taken two forms in modern times: “Sultanism,” which is corrupt, brutal, personal dictatorship unconstrained or supported by institutions or ideology; and “Charismatic Dictatorship,” in which charisma provides the leader with a powerful but unstable claim to legitimacy. Wars initiated by four dictators are investigated: two by “Heroes” (Napoleon Bonaparte and his nephew Louis Napoleon); and two by “Sultans” (Francisco Solano Lopez of Paraguay and Idi Amin of Uganda). Aristotle’s assertion is corroborated; all four embarked on futile wars. Although these situations differ in many respects, common factors are the dysfunctionality of the advising process and the concentration of power in the hands of men of deeply flawed judgment and character.
Increasing Chance-Based Uncertainty Reduces Heavy Drinkers' Cognitive Reactance to Web-Based Personalized Normative Feedback.

Objective:Despite its prominence in the health communication literature, psychological reactance has rarely been considered as a factor that may undermine web-based Personalized Normative Feedback ...
Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Responses in Intratumoral Immune Cells: Implications for Cancer Immunotherapy

Protective anti-tumor immune responses are mediated by effector molecules that enable successful elimination of malignant cells. As the site where transmembrane and secreted proteins are generated, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of immune cells plays a key role in this process. Recent studies have indicated that adverse conditions within tumors perturb ER homeostasis in infiltrating immune cells, which can impede the development of effective anti-cancer immunity. Here, we describe how the tumor microenvironment induces ER stress in immune cells, and discuss the detrimental consequences of persistent ER stress responses in intratumoral immune populations. We also explore the concept of targeting ER stress responses to reinvigorate endogenous anti-tumor immunity and enhance the efficacy of various forms of cancer immunotherapy.
Trends in Proportion of Women as Authors of Medical Journal Articles, 2008-2018

This study reviews all articles from 9 specialty and 4 cross-specialty medical journals across a 10-year period to assess trends in authorship, first authorship, and last authorship among women.
An Introduction to the Nasa East Pacific Origins and Characteristics of Hurricanes (Epoch) Field Campaign

ABSTRACT Over the past five years, tropical activity in the East Pacific has increased, while declining in the Atlantic Basin. In addition, during El Nino years, warmer than average sea surface temperatures further increase the likelihood of tropical cyclone formation in the East Pacific. Hurricane field campaigns used the Ku-/Ka-band High-Altitude Wind and Rain Airborne Profiler (HIWRAP) radar on the Global Hawk (GH) unmanned aircraft, in GRIP (Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes 2010), HS3 (Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel 2012-14), and the NOAA Sensing Hazards with Operational Unmanned Technology (SHOUT 2015-16) field campaigns. Although originally designed for the GH, the X-band high-altitude RADar (EXRAD) has yet to be integrated and flown on an unmanned aerial vehicle. EXRAD will provide data with less attenuation of signal over deep convection as well as better estimates of three-dimensional winds with its nadir-pointing beam. As part of the NASA Hand On Project Experience (HOPE) Training Opportunity, our team proposed to fly the AV-6 GH aircraft with the EXRAD radar, the High Altitude MMIC Sounding Radiometer (HAMSR), and NOAA Advanced Vertical Atmospheric Profiling System (AVAPS) dropsondes to investigate genesis and/or rapid intensification (RI) of an East Pacific hurricane by measuring both the environment and interior structures. Information on planned activities primarily focused on the EXRAD high-altitude radar integration for the July-August 2017 science flight will be presented.
The CpG molecular structure controls the mineralization of calcium phosphate nanoparticles and their immunostimulation efficacy as vaccine adjuvants

The co-precipitation of calcium phosphate nanoparticles (CaPs) in the presence of nucleotide chains such as polynucleotides (i.e., plasmid DNA and siRNA) and oligonucleotides has been extensively used for pre-clinical gene or drug delivery and immunotherapy studies. However, the exact role of these molecules in mineralization and tuning the physicochemical characteristics of the synthesized CaPs is still not entirely clear. In this study, we evaluated the effects of three different CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) and two representative nucleic acids (siRNA and DNA), when used as templates for the formation of CaPs. We examined the influence of CpGs with naturally-occurring phosphodiester or modified phosphorothioate backbones on the homogeneous formation of CaPs from a modified simulated body fluid solution. The hydrodynamic size, size polydispersity, morphology and surface charge of the CaPs were used as the most critical checkpoints to unravel the involved mechanisms. Our results show that the characteristics of CaPs are highly dependent on the composition, backbone, sequence and concentrations of the CpGs. The CpG type and concentration control the size distribution of the mineralized CaPs and their immunostimulation performance as verified by the activation of dendritic cells and secretion of the pro-inflammatory interleukin-6 (IL-6) cytokine, type I interferon-α (IFN-α) and co-stimulatory CD80, CD86 and CD40 markers. This study paves the way for better design of more efficient CaPs loaded with different types of CpGs for immunostimulation applications as vaccine adjuvants.
Parathyroid Hormone Actions on Bone and Kidney

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) acts on the kidney and bone through one common receptor in each organ. These actions, separately and together, serve to raise the blood calcium concentration. In the kidney, actions on the proximal tubule serve to decrease reabsorption of phosphorus and to activate the 1α-hydroxylase that leads to formation of active vitamin D. In the distal tubule, PTH serves to increase the reabsorption of calcium. In addition, actions of PTH on multiple cell types in bone also serve to regulate the proliferation and differentiation of these cell types. Here we consider the actions of PTH on its multiple target cells in the kidney and bone.
Asian American cultural socialization and ethnic identity: interdependent self-construal as a mediator

This study advances the understanding of cultural socialization processes for Asian American emerging adults. We examined whether interdependent self-construal mediated the relation between cultura...
Reflective Beam Steering of Metasurface Using Circular Inter-Digitated Self-Phased Pixels/Cells

Metasurfaces (MTSs) are well-known for manipulating electromagnetic (EM) waves by controlling the local phase of subwavelength elements. In this work, we present a reconfigurable MTS (R-MTS) design for reflective beam steering. By introducing the circular inter-digitated selfphased structure as the controlled tunable element in the array, the proposed MTS can dynamically change individual phases of its elements to generate beam steering. Rather than using active circuit components in the design, we use constituent material in the dielectric layer supporting the MTSs’ unit elements to achieve tunable phase shifting in an extremely electrically thin $(\lambda_{0}/23.4)$ profile. As the constituent material permittivity changes, the resonance frequency of the element also changes, which results in a 10-cal phase change. The circular inter-digitated self-phased (CID-SP) structure consists of dual-circular-ring, incorporating a meandered slot or interdigitated lines in between, all are integrated over a dielectric layer (used as a constituent material) with metal backing. Key features of our R-MTS design are polarization independence, a miniaturized meta-atom footprint, and an electrically controllable phase response using a tunable material, rather than embedded circuit elements, such as diode. The simulated scattering pattern is shown to able to deflect the beam ± 26 degrees with respect to $\hat{z}$-axis for any arbitrary polarization. This work paves the way towards the realization of adaptable MTS, which can be digitally reprogrammed to fit different radar and or communication applications.
An Imprisoned Goodbye.

Two years ago after recently beginning my role as a licensed clinical social worker in Palliative Care, I found myself calling a maximum security prison. Hospice and Palliative Care is my true pass...