cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Maturation-Dependent Vulnerability of Oligodendrocytes to Oxidative Stress-Induced Death Caused by Glutathione Depletion

Death of oligodendrocyte (OL) precursors can be triggered in vitro by cystine deprivation, a form of oxidative stress that involves depletion of intracellular glutathione. We report here that OLs demonstrate maturation-dependent differences in survival when subjected to free radical-mediated injury induced by glutathione depletion. Using immunopanning to isolate rat preoligodendrocytes (preOLs), we generated highly enriched populations of preOLs and mature OLs under chemically defined conditions. Cystine deprivation caused a similar decrease in glutathione levels in OLs at both stages. However, preOLs were completely killed by cystine deprivation, whereas mature OLs remained viable. Although the glutathione-depleting agents buthionine sulfoximine and diethylmaleate were more potent in depleting glutathione in mature OLs, both agents were significantly more toxic to preOLs. Glutathione depletion markedly increased intracellular free radical generation in preOLs, but not in mature OLs, as indicated by oxidation of the redox-sensitive probe dihydrorhodamine 123. The antioxidants alpha-tocopherol, idebenone, and glutathione monoethylester prevented the oxidation of dihydrorhodamine in cystine-depleted preOLs and markedly protected against cell death. When the intracellular glutathione level was not manipulated, preOLs were also more vulnerable than mature OLs to exogenous free radical toxicity generated by a xanthine-xanthine oxidase system. Ultrastructural features of free radical-mediated injury in glutathione-depleted preOLs included nuclear condensation, margination of chromatin, and mitochondrial swelling. These observations indicate that preOLs are significantly more sensitive to the toxic effects of glutathione depletion and that oligodendroglial maturation is associated with decreased susceptibility to oxidative stress.
Cooperative Crystallization of Heterometallic Indium–Chromium Metal–Organic Polyhedra and Their Fast Proton Conductivity

Metal–organic polyhedra (MOPs) or frameworks (MOFs) based on Cr3+ are notoriously difficult to synthesize, especially as crystals large enough to be suitable for characterization of the structure or properties. It is now shown that the co-existence of In3+ and Cr3+ induces a rapid crystal growth of large single crystals of heterometallic In-Cr-MOPs with the [M8L12] (M=In/Cr, L=dinegative 4,5-imidazole-dicarboxylate) cubane-like structure. With a high concentration of protons from 12 carboxyl groups decorating every edge of the cube and an extensive H-bonded network between cubes and surrounding H2O molecules, the newly synthesized In-Cr-MOPs exhibit an exceptionally high proton conductivity (up to 5.8×10−2 S cm−1 at 22.5 °C and 98 % relative humidity, single crystal).
Development of a 5 year life expectancy index in older adults using predictive mining of electronic health record data

Objective Incorporating accurate life expectancy predictions into clinical decision making could improve quality and decrease costs, but few providers do this. We sought to use predictive data mining and high dimensional analytics of electronic health record (EHR) data to develop a highly accurate and clinically actionable 5 year life expectancy index. Materials and methods We developed the index using EHR data for 7463 patients ≥50 years old with ≥1 visit(s) in 2003 to a large, academic, multispecialty group practice. We extracted 980 attributes from the EHRs of the practices and affiliated hospitals. Correlation feature selection with greedy stepwise search was used to find the attribute subset with best average merit. Rotation forest ensembling with alternating decision tree as underlying classifier was used to predict 5 year mortality. Model performance was compared with the modified Charlson Comorbidity Index and the Walter life expectancy method. Results Within 5 years of the last visit in 2003, 838 (11%) patients had died. The final model included 24 attributes: two demographic (age, sex), 10 comorbidity (eg, cardiovascular disease), one vital sign (mean diastolic blood pressure), two medications (loop diuretic use, digoxin use), six laboratory (eg, mean albumin), and three healthcare utilization (eg, the number of hospitalizations 1 year prior to the last visit in 2003). The index showed very good discrimination (c-statistic 0.86) and outperformed comparators. Conclusions The EHR based index successfully distinguished adults ≥50 years old with life expectancy >5 years from those with life expectancy ≤5 years. This information could be used clinically to optimize preventive service use (eg, cancer screening in the elderly).
Non-malignant Fibrosing Tumors in the Pediatric Hand: A Clinicopathologic Case Review

Non-malignant fibrosing tumors in the pediatric hand or juvenile fibromatoses are clinically challenging because of their relatively infrequent occurrence and because of the variety of names associated with these diseases. We conducted a review of a personal case series of pediatric patients with these tumors and discuss here the more common histologic types and clinical characteristics of the disease spectrum in the context of the available published literature. All histologic samples were reviewed by a single pathologist. Infantile myofibromatosis, fibrous hamartoma of infancy, juvenile aponeurotic fibromatosis, palmar fibromatosis (Dupuytren’s type), infantile digital fibromatosis (Reye’s tumor), fibroma of the tendon sheath, and melorheostosis represent the encountered lesions.
Drag Coefficients with Fetch-Limited Wind Waves*

Air‐sea fluxes of momentum and heat were measured simultaneously with surface wind waves and nearsurface currents in mid Chesapeake Bay during summer 1998 under low wind conditions. The data were collected using a Gill sonic anemometer and a Sontek Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter with a pressure sensor mounted on a temporary fixed tower in 8.8 m of water. The analyzed data show that the neutral drag coefficients depend upon both wind speed and wave age. They are better correlated to wave age than to wind speed. Data scatter is significantly larger in low winds than in high winds. Under light winds, the neutral drag coefficients increase with decreasing wind speed and have values much higher than those for relatively higher wind speeds. At higher wind speeds, neutral drag coefficients increase with increasing wind speed. Regardless of wind speed, neutral drag coefficients always decrease with increasing wave age. Neutral drag coefficients are lower than the results of similar field studies when fit to wind speed alone, but they statistically agree with other studies if they are fit to wave age. The momentum transfer mechanism is investigated using a parametric wave model with a seastate-dependent form drag and a reference system moving with the waves. The relationship between modeled drag coefficient and modeled wave age agrees well with the relationship derived from the data.
Inappropriate Implantable Defibrillator Shocks: An Adverse Outcome That Can Be Prevented∗

It has long been known that implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) shocks, although potentially lifesaving, can produce a wide range of adverse psychological effects including acute pain, anxiety, and depression [(1)][1]. More recently there has been increasing evidence that ICD shocks may
Quantitative Analysis of Busulfan in Boll Weevils by Gas Chromatography

Recovery of busulfan (1,4-butanediol dimethanesulfonate) from Anthonomus grandis Boheman that had been injected or topically treated was determined by liquid scintillation spectrometry and gas chromatography. Average recovery of labeled busulfan was 93% for both the topically treated and injected weevils. Average recovery of unlabeled busulfan was 97 and 96% for topically treated and injected weevils, respectively.
Intracellular Multiplication of Toxoplasma gondii in Adult Mammalian Macrophages Cultivated in vitro

SummaryToxoplasma gondii has been propagated successfully in macrophage cultures of adult laboratory animals. The pattern of the interaction between the macrophages cultured in vitro from different animal species could be correlated with the susceptibility of the species to the infection with Toxoplasma. Macrophages cultured in vitro from animals actively immunized by injection with living Toxoplasma had an inhibitory effect on the intracellular multiplication of these parasites. This effect was increased by the presence of immune serum which had a high titer of cytoplasm-modifying antibodies.
Analysis on All Death Cause of Residents in Zigong City of Sichuan Province from 1985 to 2009

Objective To analyze the death cause of residents in Zigong from 1985 to 2009,so as to provide the government with scientific information of health strategies,and disease prevention and control.Methods The death surveillance data in Zigong residents from 1985 to 2009 were collected,and the indexes such as all death mortality rate,infant mortality rate,maternal mortality rate,disease-specific mortality rate,age-specific mortality rate,and life expectancy were analyzed.Results The all death mortality rate had fluctuation of plus or minus 6‰,and the male mortality rate was higher than the female(χ2=8059.769,P=0.000).The six main influencing factors of the death of Zigong residents were as follows: respiratory system diseases,circulatory system diseases,tumour,injury and poisoning regarded as external cause diseases,digestive system diseases,and infectious diseases and parasitic diseases.The mortality rates of different districts were statistically different(χ2=1643.926,P=0.000),and Fushun County was the highest among them after standardization.The curve of mortality rate in different sex and age groups was changed alike letter "U".The mortality rate was ascending with the age in the group of over 15 years old,the ascending trend was more evident especially after 50 years old.The infant mortality declined steadily and was well controlled.The maternal mortality declined obviously.The average life expectancy for the whole city was 74.72,which showed an ascending trend.Conclusion The chronic diseases are the main death cause of residents in Zigong.The prevention and controlling of acute infectious diseases and parasitic diseases should be persistently performed for declining both incidence rate and mortality rate.The Zigong city is gradually stepping into aging society,which requires the great development of senior work.
Total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation for chronic pancreatitis: do patients with prior pancreatic surgery have different outcomes?

Total pancreatectomy with immediate islet autotransplantation (IAT) can be an effective therapy in patients with chronic pancreatitis. Patient selection criteria for radical resection are not well ...
Managing the virtual boundaries: Online social networks, disclosure, and privacy behaviors

Online social networks are designed to encourage disclosure while also having the ability to disrupt existing privacy boundaries. This study assesses those individuals who are the most active online: “Digital Natives.” The specific focus includes participants’ privacy beliefs; how valuable they believe their personal, private information to be; and what risks they perceive in terms of disclosing this information in a fairly anonymous online setting. A model incorporating these concepts was tested in the context of communication privacy management theory. Study findings suggest that attitudinal measures were stronger predictors of privacy behaviors than were social locators. In particular, support was found for a model positing that if an individual placed a higher premium on their personal, private information, they would then be less inclined to disclose such information while visiting online social networking sites.
The psychodynamics of bullying in libraries

This article discusses the behaviors that create an environment conducive to bullying. The structures and hierarchies of libraries are identified as being susceptible to bullying behaviors. Research about defining and identifying bullying is presented, as well as strategies to help eradicate bullying in libraries.
The Life of the Intellect: Political Economy and Religion

If Shaw had not written his plays, few people — perhaps no one — would be much concerned with his labours as a socialist thinker and propagandist or with his convictions as a religious philosopher, although in both areas his achievements, by ordinary standards, would have constituted an honourable life’s work. But the standards of history are severe: the career of a distinguished Fabian is by now of interest only to specialists in British political or economic history, that of a latter-day Lamarckian to an even more restricted circle. Nevertheless, Shaw’s ideas demand attention from those who would understand his work. Not only do they suggest his relation to the intellectual currents of his age but, in a quite direct way, they appear in his plays. In Mrs Warren’s Profession, for example, Shaw the socialist slips into the mouth of Crofts, the ‘capitalist bully’, an unconscious revelation of what Shaw sees as the pervasive corruption of capitalists society, in which all ‘are pocketing what they can’ and avoiding ‘inconvenient questions.’ in a more profound way, Shaw’s ideas, transformed into dramatic metaphors, permeater all his plays.
Physical Activity, Mind Wandering, Affect, and Sleep: An Ecological Momentary Assessment.

Background: A considerable portion of daily thought is spent in mind wandering. This behavior has been related to positive (eg, future planning, problem solving) and negative (eg, unhappiness, impaired cognitive performance) outcomes. Objective: Based on previous research suggesting future-oriented (ie, prospective) mind wandering may support autobiographical planning and self-regulation, this study examined associations between hourly mind wandering and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and the impact of affect and daily sleep on these relations. Methods: College-aged adults (N=33) participated in a mobile phone-delivered ecological momentary assessment study for 1 week. Sixteen hourly prompts assessing mind wandering and affect were delivered daily via participants’ mobile phones. Perceived sleep quality and duration was assessed during the first prompt each day, and participants wore an ActiGraph accelerometer during waking hours throughout the study week. Results: Study findings suggest present-moment mind wandering was positively associated with future MVPA (P=.03), and this relationship was moderated by affective state (P=.04). Moreover, excessive sleep the previous evening was related to less MVPA across the following day (P=.007). Further, mind wandering was positively related to activity only among those who did not oversleep (P=.007). Conclusions: Together, these results have implications for multiple health behavior interventions targeting physical activity, affect, and sleep. Researchers may also build on this work by studying these relationships in the context of other important behaviors and psychosocial factors (eg, tobacco use, depression, loneliness). [JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2016;4(3):e104]
Abstract 67: Retrospective Validation Of An Algorithm For Field Identification Of ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients By Emergency Medicine Services Using A STEMI Alert Clinical Tool

Objectives: We reviewed data to validate the use of a simplified STEMI Alert Clinical Tool for EMS personnel to use to activate cardiac cath labs for patients presenting with STEMIs. Methods: We re...
CD99 is a therapeutic target on disease stem cells in myeloid malignancies.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and the myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are initiated and sustained by self-renewing malignant stem cells; thus, eradication of AML and MDS stem cells is required for cure. We identified CD99 as a cell surface protein frequently overexpressed on AML and MDS stem cells. Expression of CD99 allows for prospective separation of leukemic stem cells (LSCs) from functionally normal hematopoietic stem cells in AML, and high CD99 expression on AML blasts enriches for functional LSCs as demonstrated by limiting dilution xenotransplant studies. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting CD99 induce the death of AML and MDS cells in a SARC family kinase–dependent manner in the absence of immune effector cells or complement, and anti-CD99 mAbs exhibit antileukemic activity in AML xenografts. These data establish CD99 as a marker of AML and MDS stem cells, as well as a promising therapeutic target in these disorders.
Control modes in care delivery organisations

Three different, overlapping management and control systems co-exist in healthcare delivery organisations: in order of their legibility, they are a Weberian bureaucracy (the formal hospital organization); a feudal system (the medical staff); and an informal, peer-based network of senior nurses roughly analogous to networks of noncommissioned officers in the military. The co-existence of these three modes of control leads to areas of conflict, confusion, and cooperation. The paper discusses the benefits and problems associated with this complexity and draws on insights from the engineering of polycentric control architectures involving heterogeneous agents to suggest ways to beneficially influence such organisations.
Corticostriatal Regulation of Acute Pain.

The mechanisms for acute pain regulation in the brain are not well understood. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) provides top-down control of emotional processes, and it projects to the nucleus accumbens (NAc). This corticostriatal projection forms an important regulatory pathway within the brain’s reward system. Recently, this projection has been suggested to control both sensory and affective phenotypes specifically associated with chronic pain. As this projection is also known to play a role in the transition from acute to chronic pain, we hypothesized that this corticostriatal circuit can also exert a modulatory function in the acute pain state. Here, we used optogenetics to specifically target the projection from the PFC to the NAc, and we tested sensory pain behaviors with Hargreaves’ test and mechanical allodynia, and aversive pain behaviors with conditioned place preference test. We found that the activation of this corticostriatal circuit gave rise to bilateral relief from peripheral nociceptive inputs. Activation of this circuit also provided important control for the aversive response to transient noxious stimulations. Hence, our results support a novel role for corticostriatal circuitry in acute pain regulation.
On location of piezoelectric element in a smart-structure: numerical investigation and experiment

In this paper, based on some example problems it was demonstrated that in examining the possibilities of smart structure applications, the matter of considerable researchers' concern is the problem of location of piezoelectric elements in the structure to allow effective realization of its smart functions in the framework of the specified strategy of structure control and target purposes (vibration damping, defectoscopy, etc.) The numerical and experimental investigations have shown that for structures with the elements made of piezoelectric materials, it is more convenient to use as a parameter, specifying the best location of the piezoelectric element for damping the vibrations at the prescribed frequency, the coefficient of electromechanical coupling, which is evaluated by the values of eigenfrequencies of the structure in the short-circuit and open-circuit regimes. The values of eigenfrequencies of vibrations are evaluated by solving the problem of natural vibrations of electromechanical systems by the finite element method using the applied ANSYS package. The investigation were conducted for a thin-walled aluminum shell in the form of half-cylinder.
Inactivity, Deregulation, and the Commerce Clause: A Thought Experiment

This essay examines an unsuspected parallel between the regulation of inactivity and deregulation of activity under the Commerce Clause. The substantial effects test justifying most federal regulation of interstate commerce does not by its terms authorize either regulation of inactivity or deregulation of activity. For that test only authorizes regulation of activities. The courts, however, have not treated regulation of inactivity and deregulation of activity alike. The Supreme Court has disapproved of regulation of inactivity as incompatible with its articulation of the substantial effects test. The courts, however, have upheld laws deregulating activity without noticing their incompatibility with the Supreme Court’s articulation of the substantial effects test. Juxtaposing these two types of formalist violations of the substantial effects test sets the stage for a more neutral evaluation of the limits of formalism under the Commerce Clause than one can obtain through analysis of regulation of inactivity alone. While deregulation and regulation formally flunk the substantial effects test, both may advance the Commerce Clause’s most fundamental purpose — the promotion of interstate commerce. This essay therefore suggests some less formalist approaches to addressing the potential for inappropriate invasion of states’ rights through deregulation and of individual liberty through regulation of inactivity.
Sequencing of Proteins from the C-Terminus

In 1992 we reported a new method of sequencing proteins from the carboxy-terminus (C-terminus) (Boyd et al., 1992). In the past 2 years, we have continued our investigations, including the mechanism of the initial activation of the C-terminal carboxyl group and the deliberate modifications of the reactive side-chains of the amino acids with the sequencing reagents. Through the selection of the reagents and reaction conditions used for our sequencing protocol, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, serine and threonine are derivatized. The amidation of aspartic and glutamic acid, and the acetylation of serine and threonine, have led to improved yields in sequencing these residues. Aspartic and glutamic acid are now categorized, as seen in Table 1, as amino acid residues that are readily sequenced. Our criteria for determining whether a residue is reliably called is the ability to sequence through and detect that residue when it is present in one nanomole of a protein sample. On average, it is possible to sequence 5 cycles on one nanomole of protein applied to polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane if the amino acid sequence contains those residues listed in the “reliably called” column of Table 1. Our focus for the 1994 MPSA conference is to illustrate the current utility of this C-terminal sequencing method in the sequencing of proteins immobilized onto PVDF.
Interest-Excitement as Fundamental Motivation

Chapter 6 presented the case for the postulate that some affect or combination of affects exist in ordinary states of consciousness at all times and that the most frequently involved affect is interest. Among the theories that support this assumption, G. W. Allport’s (1955, 1961) is particularly relevant here. He maintained that human activities that lead to personal growth and creativity are accompanied by a type of tension or excitement. “It is only through risk taking and variation that growth can occur. But risk taking and variation are fraught with new and often avoidable tensions which, however, we scorn to avoid” (1955, p. 6). Allport was describing human beings’ penchant for investigatory and exploratory activity and his well-chosen illustrative material helped document his point that growth motives are characterized by a tension that sustains behavior directed toward distant and sometimes unattainable goals. His description of the key motivational condition involved in personal growth, exploration, and creative endeavor seems quite similar to the Tomkins-Izard definition of the emotion of interest-excitement.
Sri Lanka's post-tsunami health system recovery: a qualitative analysis of physician perspectives.

Background The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami caused significant damage to the health system in Sri Lanka. Rebuilding infrastructure and improving the mental health system were targets of recovery policies. Retrospective analyses of the post-tsunami health system recovery in Sri Lanka lack the perspectives of local stakeholders, including health care providers. Methods In 2014 we interviewed 23 Sri Lankan physicians from the Eastern and Southern regions. Participants were recruited with snowball sampling. We used a content analysis approach in analysing the transcriptions. Results Sri Lankan physicians critiqued governance, sustainability and equity in the health system recovery. They held leadership roles as facilitators and sustainers of specific projects but were rarely formally consulted in recovery strategic planning. They identified instances of poor coordination among partners, corruption trends, local resource mismatches, regional resource disparities and the influence of the Sri Lankan civil war. Conclusions Post-tsunami health system recovery planning and implementation in Sri Lanka did not involve local physician stakeholders in ways that have been prioritized more recently in other recovery frameworks. Despite limited formal inclusion, local physicians developed significant leadership roles that have informed their critical perspectives on the health system recovery.
The APN-PLACE Telehealth Education Network: Legal and Regulatory Considerations

Telehealth technology can enhance nursing clinical education by allowing for virtual site visits, preceptor support, preceptor education, and student oversight. The Advance Practice Nurse-Preceptor Link and Clinical Education (APN-PLACE) Telehealth Education Network is a new and innovative video communication system that connects schools of nursing to preceptors and clinical practice sites. Specific areas of focus include preceptor education and support, student assessment, and clinical experiences when implementing a telehealth education network. As with in-person, or traditional, clinical education, it is important to consider the legal and regulatory issues related to the use of telehealth programs in clinical education. This article presents a telehealth preceptor support network and provides an overview of the associated legal and regulatory issues surrounding its use in advanced practice registered nurse clinical education.
Estimation of Crop Yields and Insurance Premiums Using a Shrinkage Estimator

We explore the estimation of crop yields and insurance premiums using a hierarchical Bayes small area estimator. The estimator is evaluated for Area Yield Production (AYP) policy using quasi-simula...
Predictors of non-U.S. born mothers' parenting stress across early childhood in fragile families: A longitudinal analysis

Abstract The transition into motherhood is a life stressor, and it can be more stressful for non-U.S. born mothers because of the intersections among migration, limited financial capabilities, and less social and family support to take care of children ( Dreby, 2015 ; Falicov, 2007 ; Paris, 2008 ). This study examined the predictors of non-U.S. born mothers' parenting stress across early childhood using data from the Fragile Families and Child Well-Being Study. Results of the longitudinal multilevel analysis indicated that support from extended family and friends; mothers' involvement, depression, age, and education; children's temperaments; and Asian race were significant predictors of maternal parenting stress over time. However, fathers' involvement did not significantly predict maternal parenting stress. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Fibroblast growth factor 21 and fructose dynamics in humans

Objective Fructose consumption is a risk factor for metabolic disease. We recently demonstrated that fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), a metabolic hormone involved in lipid and glucose metabolism, is acutely stimulated in humans by 75 g oral fructose, with peak levels occurring 2 h after consumption. This study reports on the dose dependency and reproducibility of the FGF21 response to fructose. Methods Lean, healthy adults drank either five different doses of fructose dissolved in water, each separated by 2 weeks, or the same dose on three occasions, each separated by 1 week. Results Fibroblast growth factor 21 levels peaked at 2 h in a dose-dependent manner. No significant increase in FGF21 was seen after consumption of 10 g fructose, while robust increases were seen after drinking solutions containing 30, 50 and 75 g. At 2 h, the minimal fold change of FGF21 was highest following a 75 g fructose drink, and all subjects demonstrated at least a doubling of FGF21 levels following consumption of this dose. Conclusions The increase in FGF21 following an oral fructose challenge is dose dependent, with levels peaking at 2 h independent of dose. The FGF21 response to 75 g fructose is also highly reproducible within individuals. Clinical implications By demonstrating that the FGF21 response to fructose is dose dependent and reproducible, this study deepens current understanding of FGF21 fructose dynamics and physiology in humans. This is an important area of clinical interest given associations between fructose intake and a wide variety of metabolic derangements.
Responses of early-successional songbirds to a two-stage shelterwood harvest for oak forest regeneration

The early stage of forest succession following disturbance is characterized by a shift in songbird composition as well as increased avian richness due to increased herbaceous growth in the forest understory. However, regeneration of woody species eventually outcompetes the herbaceous understory, subsequently shifting vegetation communities and decreasing availability of vital foraging and nesting cover for disturbance-dependent birds, ultimately resulting in their displacement. These early stages following forest disturbance, which are declining throughout the eastern United States, are ephemeral in nature and birds depend on such disturbances for nesting and other purposes throughout their lives. We investigated the use of a two-stage shelterwood method to manage long-term persistence of seven early successional songbirds over a 13-year period in an upland hardwood forest within the southern end of the mid-Cumberland Plateau in the eastern United States. Canopy and midstory gaps created after initial harvest were quickly exploited by tree growth and canopy cover returned to these areas, accelerating the displacement of early-successional species. Woody stem densities increased substantially following stage two harvest as advanced tree regeneration combined with the re-opening of the overstory layer increased resource competition for early-successional plants in the understory. Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus), Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus), Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea), and Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens) were characterized by immediate increases following initial harvest in 2001; while the American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis), Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor), and White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) did not show an immediate response. Stage two harvest in 2011 rejuvenated vegetation which benefitted focal species, with six of seven species showing increases in densities between 2010 and 2012. The two-stage shelterwood method created conditions advantageous to early-successional birds by helping to re-establish understory vegetation through periodic disturbance to the canopy layer. This method provides evidence that early-successional species can be managed long-term (> 15 years) while using relatively small spatial disturbance through the two-stage shelterwood method.
Scaling From Local to Global for Environmental Impacts From Agriculture

Abstract: Agricultural production occupies almost half of Earth's surface, yet we do not have coherent strategies to manage the natural resources upon which agricultural production depends. Impacts occur at scales from local to regional to national. Decisions that directly affect the impacts of agriculture on the environment are made locally, while the processes that influence those decisions are made nationally. The watershed scale is the most appropriate scale for managing impacts from agricultural production, yet very few countries use a watershed approach. Reducing agricultural impacts through improved decision-making requires a more coherent, geospatially resolved process for prioritizing and implementing practices that drive continuous improvement in key sustainability indicators for agriculture.
Small-Signal Stability Analysis of Large-Scale Power Systems in Response to Variability of Offshore Wind Power Plants

This paper presents a methodology for a small-signal stability analysis of large-scale power systems in response to variability of offshore wind power plants. This study considers the variability of wind power as the source of disturbance introduced to the system. To accomplish this goal, a singular value decomposition-total least squares extended Prony analysis is used to assess the small-signal voltage stability. In addition, a swing-based frequency response metric is used to assess the small-signal frequency stability. The case study here considers the integration of a 1000-MW offshore wind power plant, operating in Lake Erie, into the FirstEnergy/PJM service territory. This study uses a realistic model of the 63 000-bus test system that represents the U.S. Eastern Interconnection. The results verify the utility and practicality of this methodology for the integration studies of offshore wind power plants.
The Microbiota and Ovarian Cancer

The cellular components of the immune system and the inflammatory milieu that it can generate is a central theme in many diseases including cancer. Immune cells can be manipulated by tumor cells to favor a pro-tumor microenvironment resulting in tumor progression. Ovarian cancer can alter its microenvironment favoring tumor growth by suppressing effector T cells as well as recruiting myeloid-derived cells, Th17 cells, γδ T cells, as well as non-immune cells such as adipose cells to aid in the generation or the propagation of the pro-inflammatory milieu. The human microbiome maintains a delicate balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, essential for gut homeostasis, and has critical roles in immune system development and metabolism. Alterations in the microbiome results in dysbiosis, quantitative and qualitative shifts in microbial populations, and contributes to chronic inflammation in various diseases including cancer. We highlight the role that the gut microbiota may play in cancer initiation and/or progression as well as its impact on cancer therapy. The association and interactions between the microbiome, both gut microbiota as well as infectious virus, with ovarian cancer, is reviewed here. Understanding the mechanisms by which the microbiome modulates the innate and adaptive immune response and contributes to an inflammatory milieu in cancer may offer insights into novel therapeutic targets.
The role of graduate programs in fostering IDT identities: reflections on an emerging profession

How do people come to think of themselves as instructional designers? This is partly a matter of acquiring expertise, e.g., the knowledge and skill sets found in professional standards, e.g., those of IBSTPI or AECT. But identity also involves adoption of new professional roles and affiliation and active engagement with professional communities. IDT academic programs facilitate and sport student in their induction into the field, but not always in a systematic, intentional way. Indeed in today’s world, IDT professionals may identify with different fields and roles depending on situation and context. This article explores these issues and provides a conceptual framework for understanding how people take on new IDT identities and the role played by academic programs in that process. The framework consists of a set of guiding principles and processes, A set of recommendations is then offered for IDT academic programs to begin seeing professional identity as a learning outcome and supporting students along that important journey.
SIZES, CONCENTRATIONS, AND ELECTROPHORETIC MOBILITIES OF SUB-MICRON PARTICLES BY THE RESISTIVE PULSE TECHNIQUE

Colloidal particles above about 60 nm in diameter in a liquid may be rapidly sized individually to about ± 1 nm, counted over the range from 105 to 1011/ml, and measured for electrophoretic mobilities to about ± 1 × 10−6cm2/V sec with the Nanopar analyzer, based on the resistive pulse technique of the Coulter Counter and the use of submicron diameter pores made by the etched particle track (Nuclepore) process. Latex sphere size distributions and comparisons are presented, as well as sizes of the T2 bacteriophage (5.10 ± 0.15 × 10−16cm3), Rauscher murine leukemia virus (122 ± 2 nm), and insect virus Tippula Iridescens (195 ± 2 nm), relative to standard 109 nm latex spheres. In addition, one may monitor the state of colloidal dispersion, follow aggregation and mobility changes, measure absolute particle sizes, and measure pore dimensions, zeta potentials, and surface resistivities.
A City Besieged and a Love Lamented: Representations of Delhi’s Qila-i Mualla (‘Exalted Fortress’) in the Eighteenth Century

After the devastation of Delhi in the eighteenth century, a new genre of Urdu poetry (shahrashob, ‘the disturbed city’) emerged, lamenting the fallen city and simultaneously marking the displacemen...
Traveling Waves and Capillarity Driven Spreading of Shear-thinning Fluids

We study capillary spreadings of thin films of liquids of power-law rheology. These satisfy ut+(u λ+2|uxxx|λ−1uxxx)x =0, where u(x,t) represents the thickness of the one-dimensional liquid and λ>1. We look for traveling wave solutions so that u(x,t)= g(x+ct) and thus g satisfies g′′′= |g−ǫ| 1 λ g 2 λ sgn(g−ǫ). We show that for each ǫ>0 there is an infinitely oscillating solution, gǫ, such that lim t→∞ gǫ=ǫ and that gǫ→ g0 as ǫ→0, where g0≡0 for t≥0 and g0= cλ|t| 3λ 2λ+1 for t<0 for some constant cλ. AMS Subject Classifications: 35J35 Chinese Library Classifications: O175.25, O175.4, O176
Mathematical Models of Political Districting for More Representative Governments

Abstract Political Districting, the problem of partitioning a geographical region into sub-regions as electoral districts for political seat assignment, has been widely studied by researchers of both social and mathematical sciences. In the US, one Congressional representative is elected for each such district, and the Constitution requires compactness, geographical contiguity, and population balance for any such district. “Gerrymandering,” i.e., misuse of re-districting once every 10 years (after each new census) to benefit a particular political party or current incumbent(s), has been practiced for decades, and political strongholds for individual parties have been formed. The vast majority, if not all, of the current literature and proposed software tools on political districting focus on how to achieve the non-political constitutional requirements. Election and re-districting are political processes; we believe that software tools are needed to achieve political purposes. In this paper, we present two mathematical optimization models to implement two new political criteria: fairness and competitiveness. Fairness aims to ensure fair allocation of seats to political parties considering the distribution of voters. Competitiveness aims to maximize the number of competitive districts to prevent districting solutions that provide clear advantage to one political party. We show that the feasibility problem associated with each of the two optimization models is NP-complete. Both models are implemented with a case study of South Carolina. The numerical results of six scenarios demonstrate their effectiveness and efficiency. A strategy is proposed to deal with the issue of computational complexity associated with a state that is partitioned into a large number of indivisible area/population units, e.g., census tracks, as building blocks of electoral districts. The two models can be extended or modified to address fairness and competitiveness issues in some political systems with three or more political parties.
Tetrahydrobiopterin Restores Microvascular Dysfunction in Young Adult Binge Drinkers

BACKGROUND Repeated binge drinking is associated with reduced microvascular function. However, microvascular responses to pathophysiological stimulus such as high pressure as well as potential mechanisms that underlie binge-induced microvascular dysfunction are unknown. Therefore, using an ex vivo experimental model, we examined microvascular responses following a brief period of high intraluminal pressure in isolated arterioles from young adults who have a history of repeated binge drinking. In addition, we examined whether the application of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase cofactor, tetrahydrobiopterin, would restore microvascular function in response to flow and high intraluminal pressure in young adult binge drinkers. METHODS Isolated subcutaneous adipose arterioles were obtained from young adult binge drinkers (BD; n = 14), moderate drinkers (MODs; n = 10), and alcohol abstainers (ABs; n = 12; mean age: 23.7 ± 0.5 years; and body mass index: 23.4 ± 0.4 kg/m2 ). Arteriolar flow-induced dilation (FID, pressure gradient: ∆10 to 100 cm H2 O) was measured before and after acute high intraluminal pressure with and without tetrahydrobiopterin. RESULTS Before high pressure, FID at Δ60 and Δ100 cm H2 O pressure gradient in BDs was 14% lower and 18% lower, respectively, than ABs (p < 0.05), while MODs and ABs had similar FID across all pressure gradients (p ≥ 0.2). After high pressure, FID in BDs was further reduced by 10% (p < 0.0005) and this impairment was ameliorated by the treatment of tetrahydrobiopterin (4 to 26% higher, p < 0.005). In contrast, FID after high pressure did not change in MODs and ABs (p ≥ 0.5). CONCLUSIONS Microvascular dysfunction in young adult binge drinkers may be exacerbated with acute pathophysiological stimulus. These binge-induced dysfunctions may be reversed by tetrahydrobiopterin, which suggests a role of oxidative stress and/or uncoupled endothelial nitric oxide synthase in binge drinking.
Probing Enhanced Exciton Diffusion in a Triplet-Sensitized Organic Photovoltaic Cell

We examine exciton diffusion in a triplet-sensitized organic photovoltaic cell, where transport occurs via the long-lived triplet state of a fluorescent electron donor. While the triplet state is o...
Gelatin embedding and LED autofluorescence reduction for rodent spinal cord histology.

Abstract We present two innovations in histological technique for rodent spinal cord: gelatin embedding and LED photobleaching. Gelatin embedding uses liquid gelatin solution to permeate delicate biological structures then solidify to provide mechanical support throughout dissection, vibratome sectioning, and staining. LED photobleaching uses high-intensity visible light during blocking and primary incubations to reduce autofluorescence in tissue sections before fluorescent secondaries are added. We found gelatin embedding improved mechanical stability without interfering with immunohistochemical staining. Gelatin embedding also preserved some spinal roots and provided an opportunity for dye-less and cut-less tracking of left/right orientation during free-floating staining, which is valuable for tissue samples that have no spare areas that can be marked. LED photobleaching greatly reduced autofluorescence and added essentially no extra time or labor to the process. Descriptions of the techniques and characterization data are provided.
One Place Doesn't Fit All: Improving the Effectiveness of Sustainability Standards by Accounting for Place

The growing interest in incentivizing sustainable agricultural practices is supported by a large network of voluntary production standards, which aim to offer farmers and ranchers increased value for their product in support of reduced environmental impact. To be effective with producers and consumers alike, these standards must be both credible and broadly recognizable, and thus are typically highly generalizable. However, the environmental impact of agriculture is strongly place-based and varies considerably due to complex biophysical, socio-cultural, and management-based factors, even within a given sector in a particular region. We suggest that this contradiction between the placeless generality of standards and the placed-ness of agriculture renders many sustainability standards ineffective. In this policy and practice review, we examine this contradiction through the lens of beef production, with a focus on an ongoing regional food purchasing effort in Denver, Colorado, USA. We review the idea of place in the context of agricultural sustainability, drawing on life cycle analysis and diverse literature to find that recognition of place-specific circumstances is essential to understanding environmental impact and improving outcomes. We then examine the case of the Good Food Purchasing Program (GFPP), a broad set of food-purchasing standards currently being implemented for institutional purchasing in Denver. The GFPP was created through a lengthy stakeholder-inclusive process for use in Los Angeles, California, USA, and has since been applied to many cities across the country. The difference between Los Angeles’ process and that of applying the result of Los Angeles’ process to Denver is instructive, and emblematic of the flaws of generalizable sustainability standards themselves. We then describe the essential elements of a place-based approach to agricultural sustainability standards, pointing toward a democratic, process-based, and outcome-oriented strategy that results in standards that enable rather than hinder the creativity of both producers and consumers. Though prescription is anathema to our approach, we close by offering a starting point for the development of standards for beef production in Colorado that respect the work of people in place.
Empowering Surgeons, Anesthesiologists, and Obstetricians to Incorporate Environmental Sustainability in the Operating Room.

OBJECTIVE We review the existing research on environmentally sustainable surgical practices to enable SAO to advocate for improved environmental sustainability in operating rooms across the country. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Climate change refers to the impact of greenhouse gases emitted as a byproduct of human activities, trapped within our atmosphere and resulting in hotter and more variable climate patterns.1 As of 2013, the US healthcare industry was responsible for 9.8% of the country's emissions2; if it were itself a nation, US healthcare would rank 13th globally in emissions.3 As one of the most energy-intensive and wasteful areas of the hospital, ORs drive this trend. ORs are 3 to 6 times more energy intensive than clinical wards.4 Further, ORs and labor/delivery suites produce 50%-70% of waste across the hospital.5,6 Due to the adverse health impacts of climate change, the Lancet Climate Change Commission (2009) declared climate change "the biggest global health threat of the 21st century" and predicted it would exacerbate existing health disparities for minority groups, children and low socioeconomic patients.7. METHODS/RESULTS We provide a comprehensive narrative review of published efforts to improve environmental sustainability in the OR while simultaneously achieving cost-savings, and highlight resources for clinicians interested in pursuing this work. CONCLUSION Climate change adversely impacts patient health, and disproportionately impacts the most vulnerable patients. SAO contribute to the problem through their resource-intensive work in the OR and are uniquely positioned to lead efforts to improve the environmental sustainability of the OR.
Towards analog computing devices for matrix algebraic problems

In this communication, some concepts related to matrix numerical computations are reviewed. In particular, the relationship among matrix computing with suitable dynamical systems is reported. It is also presented the possibility of obtaining the open-loop balanced representations of linear time-invariant systems by using an analog computation paradigm. This point of view allows to remark an analog circuit approach towards system theory computation.