cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantitative Evaluation of the Most Indicative Biomarker of Oxidative Stress in Human Disease and Environmental Exposure

The notion that oxidative stress is a part of virtually every disease and environmental exposure has now become ingrained in everyday knowledge. However, the magnitude of this pathway’s importance to the initiation, progression and even the ability to cure pathologies and toxicities is critically debated and largely unknown. Due to a methodological focus on detecting statistically significant changes with little regard to the actual change in biomarker concentration, quantitative comparison between pathologies has never been available. The goal of this study is to evaluate the increases of oxidative stress due to pathologies and exposures on a quantitative level using published studies with F2-isoprostanes as the oxidative stress biomarker. Cohen’s d value was determined to quantify the magnitude of change between control and affected populations. In total, 378 different study populations from 168 distinct publications totaling 24,045 individuals were included in this analysis. Of this total population, a little over half (13,473) of the analyzed individuals where considered control. Numerous pathologies report a statistically significant difference in F2-isoprostane concentrations between their measured affected and control populations. But after further calculation, the size of the observed effect was small (d = In conclusion, after evaluating published studies, we have determined the quantitative difference in the magnitude of oxidative stress in different human pathologies. The calculated effect sizes should convey the true involvement of oxidative stress in the toxicity of environmental exposure and disease.
Environmental heterogeneity as a bridge between ecosystem service and visual quality objectives in management, planning and design

Abstract Environmental heterogeneity has recently received increased attention due to its effect on biological diversity, ecosystem services and ecological resilience to disturbance and hazards. However, its relationships with landscape complexity as an indicator of visual aesthetic quality have not been yet extensively discussed. The purpose of this paper is to review different dimensions of environmental heterogeneity and to explore their potential for bridging visual quality with provision of other ecosystem services and resilience in landscape design, management and planning. This synthesis reveals the substantial overlap between spatial and temporal indicators of heterogeneity from ecological literature and the indicators of visual complexity, diversity and variety from the studies of subjective preferences and objective scenic beauty criteria. The potential of heterogeneity is also reviewed in the context of the relationship between visual quality and ecological resilience to perturbations, an increasingly important objective in the face of the global environmental change. The limitations of heterogeneity as a design and management goal are also discussed, including links between heterogeneity and disturbance, undesirable outcomes of excessive landscape complexity and present lack of criteria for its optimal levels. The synthesis concludes by identifying the key strategies and research needs to facilitate the application of this concept towards multi-functional landscapes supporting versatile ecosystem services together with scenic priorities.
A Spatial Analysis of Physician Assistant Programs.

PURPOSE The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant projects a total of 273 accredited programs by the summer of 2020. Over the past 10 years, the number of Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) applicants per seat has increased by 53%. However, no studies have addressed the current geographic relationship of applicants to programs and program growth. The purpose of this study was to describe the geospatial patterns and relationships of physician assistant (PA) programs and CASPA applicants. METHODS Program directory information for established (n = 159), satellite (n = 18), and new PA programs (n = 95) was mapped using ArcGIS software. Permanent US ZIP codes for PA applicants (n = 22,603) from the 2014 to 2015 CASPA admissions cycle were also mapped. Point data were used to calculate the nearest neighbor by program type. Correlation was used to measure the association between PA applicants, program class size, and state population metrics. RESULTS Most of the 95 new PA programs were geographically close to established programs. The median distance of new programs to the nearest neighboring established program was 25.6 miles (mean 39, standard deviation 38). Both established and new PA programs were found to be highly clustered (Moran's I z score < 2.58, p = .01). The geographic distribution of the CASPA applicant pool was related to distribution of the US population, certified PAs, and practicing physicians. CONCLUSIONS PA program growth has exceeded projections. The close proximity of new programs to established programs will likely result in continued competition for quality applicants, PA faculty members, and clinical training sites.
Harnessing Molecular Photon Upconversion in a Solar Cell at Sub-solar Irradiance: Role of the Redox Mediator.

Self-assembled bilayers offer a promising strategy to directly harness photon upconversion via triplet–triplet annihilation (TTA-UC) and increase maximum theoretical solar cell efficiencies from 33% to >43%. Here we demonstrate that the choice of redox mediator in these solar cells has a profound influence on both the light harvesting and TTA-UC efficiency. Devices with CoII/III(phen)3 as the redox mediator produced the highest photocurrent yet generated from TTA-UC (0.158 mA cm–2) under 1 sun. Despite generating less photocurrent, CoII/III(pz-py-pz)2 devices achieved maximum TTA-UC efficiency at excitation intensities well below solar irradiance (0.8 mW cm–2), which is on par with the lowest value yet reported for any TTA-UC system. The large variation in performance with respect to mediator is attributed to triplet excited-state quenching via (1) energy transfer or paramagnetic quenching by the CoII species and (2) excited-state electron transfer to CoIII species.
Becoming ethical: Mediated pedagogies of global consumer-citizenship:

This essay examines the BBC docu-reality series Blood, Sweat & T-shirts (BS&T) as a case study for understanding the early 21st-century’s proliferation of ethical consumer media – media which circu...
Nonlinear terahertz metamaterials with active electrical control

We present a study of an electrically modulated nonlinear metamaterial consisting of an array of split-ring resonators fabricated on n-type gallium arsenide. The resonant metamaterial nonlinearity appears as an intensity-dependent transmission minimum at terahertz frequencies and arises from the interaction between local electric fields in the split-ring resonator (SRR) capacitive gaps and charge carriers in the n-type substrate. We investigate the active tuning range of the metamaterial device as the incident terahertz field intensity is increased and conversely the effect of an applied DC bias on the terahertz field-induced nonlinear modulation of the metamaterial response. Applying a DC bias to the metamaterial sample alters the nonlinear response and reduces the net nonlinear modulation. Similarly, increasing the incident terahertz field intensity decreases the net modulation induced by an applied DC bias. We interpret these results in terms of DC and terahertz-field-assisted carrier acceleration, scattering, and multiplication processes, highlighting the unique nature of this DC-field modulated terahertz nonlinearity.
Torque enhancement and re-rating of medium-voltage induction machines using nano-structured stator winding insulation

This paper presents a multi-physics finite-element-analysis (FEA) model that is used to study the impacts of a new nano-structured stator winding insulation material in large propulsion electric machines. Electromagnetic and thermal simulations are performed in ANSYS Maxwell and Steady-state Thermal respectively, and then linked in ANSYS Workbench interface. Detailed construction of the multi-physics FEA model is provided. Moreover, comparison of the proposed insulation material and the conventional micaceous insulation on machine's electrical, magnetic, mechanical and thermal performances is given, which indicates the superiority of the proposed insulation material as well as the possibility of re-rating the machine to higher current, torque and power ratings.
Projected avifaunal responses to climate change across the U.S. National Park System.

Birds in U.S. national parks find strong protection from many longstanding and pervasive threats, but remain highly exposed to effects of ongoing climate change. To understand how climate change is likely to alter bird communities in parks, we used species distribution models relating North American Breeding Bird Survey (summer) and Audubon Christmas Bird Count (winter) observations to climate data from the early 2000s and projected to 2041–2070 (hereafter, mid-century) under high and low greenhouse gas concentration trajectories, RCP8.5 and RCP2.6. We analyzed climate suitability projections over time for 513 species across 274 national parks, classifying them as improving, worsening, stable, potential colonization, and potential extirpation. U.S. national parks are projected to become increasingly important for birds in the coming decades as potential colonizations exceed extirpations in 62–100% of parks, with an average ratio of potential colonizations to extirpations of 4.1 in winter and 1.4 in summer under RCP8.5. Average species turnover is 23% in both summer and winter under RCP8.5. Species turnover (Bray-Curtis) and potential colonization and extirpation rates are positively correlated with latitude in the contiguous 48 states. Parks in the Midwest and Northeast are expected to see particularly high rates of change. All patterns are more extreme under RCP8.5 than under RCP2.6. Based on the ratio of potential colonization and extirpation, parks were classified into overall trend groups associated with specific climate-informed conservation strategies. Substantial change to bird and ecological communities is anticipated in coming decades, and current thinking suggests managing towards a forward-looking concept of ecological integrity that accepts change and novel ecological conditions, rather than focusing management goals exclusively on maintaining or restoring a static set of historical conditions.
Companion animals as sentinels for community exposure to industrial chemicals: The Fairburn, GA, propyl mercaptan case study

Objectives. This study utilized the electronic medical records of six veterinary hospitals (operated by Banfield, The Pet HospitalReg.) in the vicinity of Fairburn, Georgia, to assess the health of dogs and cats following the unintentional release of propyl mercaptan from a waste-processing facility. Methods. Standardized electronic medical records were used to define clinical syndromes (eye inflammation, gastrointestinal, respiratory, fever, general weakness/change in mental state) in dogs and cats. The frequency and geographic distribution of each syndrome was evaluated before, during, and after the chemical release, using control charts, density maps, change in average mean distance from a suspected point source of chemical release, space-time statistics, and autoregressive integrated moving averages. Results. No consistent pattern of change in syndromic events was observed following the suspected release of propyl mercaptan. Some syndromes, including respiratory syndrome in cats, gastrointestinal syndrome in dogs, and eye inflammation syndrome in both cats and dogs, showed a change in time and spatial patterns following the release of propyl mercaptan into the community. These changes were consistent with clinical signs observed in people during a previous propyl mercaptan release in California as well as the release in Fairburn. Conclusions. A systematic review of electronic medical records of dogs and cats exposed to release of propyl mercaptan showed no conclusive and consistent evidence of adverse health effects. Methods for the use of medical records of pets for detecting environmental hazards require further development and evaluation.
Racial Exclusion in the Mirror of New Deal Responses to the Great Crash

The economic and financial collapse of 2008 is one of the most alarming events since the Great Depression. Although President Obama is working overtime to save American capitalism, evidence mounts that his 'recovery plans and proposed new programs would leave government permanently bigger, more costly, and more intrusive.' President Obama’s approach to the current crisis recalls his predecessor and model, Franklin D. Roosevelt. FDR also worked to save capitalism, and many observers believe that FDR succeeded. But this largely unreflective view ignores the past and current consequences, which the New Deal imposed on African Americans and others. Jonah Goldberg’s book explains how the Great Crash of 1929 provoked a progressive response by the federal government including a number of initiatives by President Hoover that culminated in FDR’s New Deal. Many of these initiatives such as the Davis-Bacon Act and the National Labor Relations Act created labor market cartels that widened the unemployment gap between blacks and whites and expanded economic inequality.Drawing parallels from the French Revolution as well as the experimentation of Mussolini, Lenin and Hitler, Jonah Goldberg's book, Liberal Fascism shows how American Progressivism represented the flowering of a romantic movement tied to nationalism, pseudo-scientism and eugenics that was transmuted into social Darwinism. These developments, taken together, gave rise to collectivism led by autocratic elites. Representing a transparent effort to centralize government power in the hands of hierarchs, the New Deal advanced arbitrary regulation and disadvantaged members of racially and politically marginalized groups. By contrast, too often trapped by the halo-glow of FDR’s hagiography, many of today’s progressives take shelter in the unpersuasive contention that the New Deal successfully reduced inequality and created the conditions necessary for social justice. To the extent that such arguments are accepted today, the probability surfaces suggesting that the contemporary policies mimicking the New Deal will expose Americans to authoritarianism and inflict adversity on African Americans and members of other politically marginalized groups. Today amidst new calls to expand the role of the federal government, Americans would do well to heed the implicit and explicit warnings that Jonah Goldberg provides in his multifaceted book.
Ligand-functionalized Biomaterial Surfaces: Controlled Regulation of Signaling Pathways to Direct Cell Differentiation

Appropriate ligand–receptor interactions are critical in triggering signal transduction pathways in cells. This, among other functions, can direct stem cell differentiation into specific lineages. Although many of these ligands act as soluble agents, a significant number are present on surfaces of neighboring cells or as bound components on the extracellular matrix. Recent research has focused on identifying such interactions, quantitatively characterizing them, and incorporating them in synthetic engineered systems to efficiently and intentionally direct differentiation of cells to certain pathways. This chapter presents current research that focuses on directing stem cell differentiation by presenting cell-signaling ligands on biomaterial surfaces. Ligand-directed activation of the Notch signaling pathway is discussed in detail. Additional work in activating the Sonic hedgehog pathway and RhoA signaling are also discussed.
Immune Function in Chronic Kidney Disease

CKD is simultaneously associated with immune activation, marked by systemic inflammation, and immune deficiency. Systemic inflammation contributes to atherosclerosis, CVD, cachexia and anemia, while immune deficiency leads to impaired response to vaccination, and increased incidence and severity of microbial infections. CKD-associated inflammation and immune deficiency are associated with several kinds of abnormalities. These include general expansion of monocytes and elevations of their basal integrin, Toll-like receptor expression, cytokine production, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and reduced phagocytic capacity. Depletion and impaired inhibitory activity of regulatory T cells is present in CKD. CKD is characterized by spontaneous activation, degranulation, increased basal ROS production, decreased phagocytic capacity, and increased apoptosis of circulating polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Upregulation of production of ROS and chemokine expression occurs in the cellular constituents of various tissues, highlighting the participation of non-immune cells in the prevailing inflammatory state in CKD. CKD is also associated with depletion of the antigen-presenting dendritic cells. Reduction in the CD4/CD8 T cell ratio and depletion of naive and central memory T cells occurs in CKD patients. Finally, diffuse B cell lymphopenia leading to impaired humoral immunity is seen in patients with CKD. Thus, CKD-associated inflammation is due to activation of innate immune system, orchestrated by monocytes, macrophages, granulocytes, and cellular constituents of other organs and tissues. This is coupled with immune deficiency that is caused by depletion of dendritic cells, naive and central memory T cells and B cells, and impaired phagocytic function of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes.
My Music Mosaic

All Greater Good Foundation, in conjunction with students and faculty at the University of Advancing Technology, are using music as a tool to help children and teenagers in difficult circumstances communicate and express themselves visually. The program called, My Music Mosaic, will connect to a musical keyboard which will allow for real time visual/emotional input. My Music Mosaic gets children who have experienced trauma in their lives to share their feelings in a more innovative manner. The team will be making connections to abstract emotions with input like time, sound, and force. Input is then transferred into shapes, transparency, line, three dimensions, size, color and movement on the computer.
Myocardial hypothermia induced after reperfusion does not prevent adverse left ventricular remodeling nor improve cardiac function.

Abstract Aims The purpose of the study was to determine whether late therapeutic hypothermia (LTH), administered after reperfusion, could prevent adverse left ventricular (LV) remodeling and improve cardiac function in the rat myocardial ischemia/reperfusion model. Main methods Rats were randomized to normothermia (n = 10) or LTH (initiated at 1 min after coronary artery reperfusion, n = 10) and subjected to 30 min of coronary occlusion followed by 6 weeks of reperfusion. Hypothermia was induced by pumping cold saline over the anterior surface of the LV until the temperature cooled to Key findings After 6 weeks of recovery, fractional shortening of the LV was comparable in the LTH (20.2 ± 0.6%) and normothermic group (20.0 ± 2.1%; p = 0.918). Postmortem LV volume (0.47 ± 0.04 ml in LTH and 0.44 ± 0.05 ml in normothermic group) and lung wet/dry weight ratio were similar in both groups. There were no significant differences in scar size, scar thickness, infarct expansion index, LV cavity or transmurality (%) between groups. This data contrasts with our previous study showing that hypothermia administered during the ischemic phase significantly reduced the scar size; decreased LV cavity, infarct expansion index and transmurality (%), and improved the scar thickness. Significance LTH did not prevent adverse LV remodeling nor improve cardiac function in the rat myocardial ischemia/reperfusion model. To have a long term benefit on remodeling, hypothermia must be administered during the ischemic phase and not just the reperfusion phase.
Heat-Treatable Cladding for New Aluminum Alloy 7050-T76 Sheet

Four alloys were evaluated as candidates for a cladding on aluminum alloy 7050-T76 sheet. An alloy containing nominally 5 percent zinc, 1.2 percent magnesium, 0.1 percent zirconium, 0.1 percent maximum silicon, and 0.1 percent maximum iron, balance aluminum, provided good electrochemical protection to alloy 7050, and the composite of 7050-T76 clad with this alloy developed a useful combination of static and cyclic mechanical properties. Composites of 7050-T76 sheet clad with alloys containing higher amounts of zinc and magnesium developed comparable static mechanical properties and greater fatigue strengths, but were susceptible to stress-corrosion cracking of the cladding, and, consequently, are unacceptable.
IoT Based Smart Attendance System (SAS) Using RFID

This work introduces a new paradigm of monitoring student attendance using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) based on the Internet of Thing (IoT). Educational institutes are concerned about student irregular attendance. Truancy can affect a student’s overall academic performance. The traditional method of taking attendance by calling names or signing on paper is very time consuming and inefficient. RFID based attendance system using IoT system is one of the solutions to handle the problem. The proposed work comprises of two most popular trend in technology research; IoT and RFID.
Comprehensive water footprint assessment of conventional and four alternative resource recovery based wastewater service options

Abstract Resource recovery based wastewater services, capable of converting wastewater into clean water, energy, and fertilizer, begun to gain global attention. However, Water Footprints (WFs) of resource recovery based wastewater systems remain unknown. This study provided the first assessment on WFs of resource recovery based wastewater systems. A process-based approach was used to estimate WFs of five representative wastewater systems were including a conventional once-through system (BAU) and four resource recovery based systems. The analyses found that BAU presented the highest total WF, with a median value of 15.9 m3/household/day. In contrast, composting toilet and septic system (CT-SS) showed the lowest total WF, with a median value of 3.4 m3/household/day. The indirect WF and direct grey WFs each contributed to approximately half of total WF for BAU. For four resource recovery based systems, indirect WFs ranked as a dominating contributor, resulting in more than 75% of their total WFs. The WFs of all five systems presented significant variability, mainly because of the embedded variations in electricity’s water intensities, electricity consumption during various treatment stages, and effluent quality. The sensitivity analyses indicated that water intensity of electricity was the most influential parameter for total WFs for all five systems. In addition, the comparison across life cycle energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, eutrophication and WF indicators suggested environmental tradeoffs existed among resource recovery based systems.
A review of general surgery resident experience in common bile duct exploration in the ERCP era.

Abstract Background Use of minimally invasive techniques for management of common bile duct (CBD) stones has led to declining number of CBD explorations (CBDE) performed at teaching and non-teaching institutions. We evaluate the impact of this decline on surgery training in bile duct procedures. Study design National operative data for general surgery residents (GSR) were examined from 2000 to 2018. Biliary operations including, cholecystectomy open and laparoscopic, and CBDE open and laparoscopic were evaluated for mean number of cases per graduating GSR. Results Despite increases in number of GSR, case numbers for laparoscopic cholecystectomy increased 39% from 84 to 117, p Conclusion GSR operative case volume in CBDE has declined significantly creating a training deficiency for this complex skill. Novel simulation, including fresh cadavers, may offer the best option with high-fidelity, dynamic training to mitigate the loss of low volume, high acuity procedures.
DSM-5 PTSD symptom clusters and suicidal ideation in veterans.

Abstract Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with significantly greater risk for suicidal ideation (SI). In civilians, the negative alterations in cognitions and mood (NACM) and alterations in arousal and reactivity (AAR) clusters are most strongly associated with SI. This study sought to examine the association between PTSD symptom clusters and SI in a large sample of veterans. Veterans (n = 1,789) completed the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) during primary care visits. Wald chi-square tests of parameter constraints were computed to test hypothesized relations between PTSD factors and the PHQ-9 suicidal ideation item. Each of the PTSD symptom clusters were significantly associated with SI. The NACM cluster was more strongly associated with SI than AAR and marginally more strongly associated with SI than the avoidance symptom clusters. In a restricted sample of only veterans with PTSD, NACM remained more strongly associated with SI than avoidance. Each of the NACM symptoms were significantly associated with SI. Changes in cognitions and mood were most strongly associated with SI in this large sample of veterans. These findings suggest that directly targeting the NACM symptom cluster may be an important goal for suicide prevention efforts among veterans with PTSD.
Physician Practice Variability in the Use of Extended-Fraction Radiation Therapy for Bone Metastases: Are We Choosing Wisely?

PURPOSE:Routine use of extended-fraction (> 10 fractions) radiation therapy (RT) for palliation of bone metastases is recognized as a low-value intervention by the American Society for Radiation On...
Do Research Methods Matter in Enterprise Zone Outcome Evaluations?: A Response to Thomas Lambert

Zhang (2015) and Lambert and Coomes (2001) have studied the Louisville Enterprise Zone (EZ) program and drawn different conclusions. This Forum/Letter to the Editor unpacks the differences in both ...
Two-Stage Maximum Score Estimator

This paper considers the asymptotic theory of a semiparametric M-estimator that is generally applicable to models that satisfy a monotonicity condition in one or several parametric indexes. We call the estimator two-stage maximum score (TSMS) estimator since our estimator involves a first-stage nonparametric regression when applied to the binary choice model of Manski (1975, 1985). We characterize the asymptotic distribution of the TSMS estimator, which features phase transitions depending on the dimension and thus the convergence rate of the first-stage estimation. We show that the TSMS estimator is asymptotically equivalent to the smoothed maximum-score estimator (Horowitz, 1992) when the dimension of the first-step estimation is relatively low, while still achieving partial rate acceleration relative to the cubic-root rate when the dimension is not too high. Effectively, the first-stage nonparametric estimator serves as an imperfect smoothing function on a non-smooth criterion function, leading to the pivotality of the first-stage estimation error with respect to the second-stage convergence rate and asymptotic distribution
Formal Validation of Emergent Behavior in a Machine Learning Based Collision Avoidance System

Collision Avoidance Systems play a major role in the development and integration of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles into the airspace. There has been extensive research on various collision avoidance algorithms and techniques. Typically, these algorithms and techniques involve sensing and detection, and approaches to avoidance in 2D or 3D scenarios. Recently, there has been an exponential increase on the adoption of various neural network based machine learning models for Collision Avoidance Systems. With this trend, the systems are becoming increasingly complex, and achieving confidence in these systems has become increasingly difficult. There is a need to ensure that emergent behavior associated with such complex systems are well analyzed and understood. A complex system is characterized by emergence of global properties which are very difficult, if not impossible, to anticipate just from complete knowledge of component behaviors. Emergence, hierarchical organization and numerosity are some of the characteristics of complex systems. Traditional verification and validation approaches are often inadequate to bring in the nuances of potential emergent behavior, which may be positive or negative. This paper describes a novel approach towards application of formal methods for analyzing and evaluating emergent behavior of Collision Avoidance Systems that are governed by machine learning models. The proposed approach involves developing a machine learning classifier model that learns on potential negative and positive emergent behaviors, and leveraging the classifier in a formal verification model checking environment to assert negative emergent behavior.
Bariatric surgery outcomes in Medicare beneficiaries.

Background The Medicare population is increasing while the prevalence of obesity remains high. Bariatric surgery is the most efficacious treatment of obesity and its comorbidities. The objective of this investigation was to assess trends in utilization, readmission, mortality, and cost of bariatric surgery in the Medicare population. Methods Utilizing the Medicare Provider Analysis and Review database, patients with clinically severe obesity undergoing laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG), and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) from 2011-2015 were identified. Trends in procedure selection, readmissions, mortality, and cost were examined. A multivariable logistic regression analysis to evaluate factors associated with readmission and mortality was performed. Results Of the 73,718 patients identified, 53,949 (73%) of patients were enrolled in Medicare due to disability, 19,191 (26%) due to age, and 578 (<1%) due to end stage renal disease (ESRD). Utilization of SG increased (1% in 2011 to 61% in 2015), while utilization of RYGB (68% to 32%) and LAGB (31% to 1%) decreased. Length of stay (LOS) was highest after RYGB (2.54 days), and lowest after LAGB (1.32 days). LOS decreased from 2.23 days in 2011 to 2.12 days in 2015. Thirty-day readmissions were 8.24% for the disabled, 5.5% for the elderly, 12.8% with ESRD. Odds of readmission increased with black race, higher body mass index (BMI), and RYGB. Readmission decreased from 8% in 2011 to 7% in 2015. Thirty-day mortality was 0.22% in the disabled, and 0.28% in the elderly. Odds of 30-day mortality increased among men, those with higher BMI, some comorbidities, and those who underwent RYGB. Cost of SG decreased while cost of RYGB increased. Conclusions Among the Medicare population, an increase in SG while a decrease in RYGB and LAGB utilization was noted from 2011-2015. Readmissions and cost have decreased, while mortality has remained low.
Characterization of Poldip2 knockout mice: avoiding incorrect gene targeting

Abstract POLDIP2 is a multifunctional protein whose roles are only partially understood. Our laboratory previously reported physiological studies performed using a mouse gene trap model, which suffered from two limitations: perinatal lethality in homozygotes and constitutive Poldip2 inactivation. To overcome these limitations, we developed a new conditional floxed Poldip2 model. The first part of the present study shows that our initial floxed mice were affected by an unexpected mutation, which was not readily detected by Southern blotting and traditional PCR. It consisted of a 305 kb duplication around Poldip2 with retention of the wild type allele and could be traced back to the original targeted ES cell clone. We offer simple suggestions to rapidly detect similar accidents, which may affect genome editing using both traditional and CRISPR-based methods. In the second part of the present study, correctly targeted floxed Poldip2 mice were generated and used to produce a new constitutive knockout line by crossing with a Cre deleter. In contrast to the gene trap model, many homozygous knockout mice were viable, in spite of having no POLDIP2 expression. To further characterize the effects of Poldip2 ablation in the vasculature, an RNA-seq experiment was performed in constitutive knockout carotid arteries. Results support the involvement of POLDIP2 in multiple cellular processes and provide new opportunities for future in-depth study of its functions.
Cancer survivorship and quality of life outcomes of adolescents and young adults with lymphoma: An integrative review.

Abstract Purpose Lymphoma is a common hematologic malignancy of adolescents and young adults. Cancer survivorship and quality of life are two outcomes studied to measure the types and scope of problems cancer patients experience leading to diagnosis, treatment, and long-term survivorship. This integrative literature review aims to review published literature in the adolescent and young adult lymphoma population, emphasizing cancer survivorship and quality of life outcomes. Methods The integrative review framework by Whittemore and Knafl was used as the guideline for this study. A literature search of three relevant health science databases, including PubMed, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature , and Ovid Emcare, was completed. Results Twelve publications were included in the review, including ten quantitative and two qualitative studies. The studies consisted of sample populations from the United States, England, Germany, and the Netherlands; one study was an international, Children's Oncology Group study. The included studies detailed the cancer survivorship and quality of life outcomes of young adults with lymphoma by quantitative retrospective and longitudinal analysis; two studies used descriptive qualitative and grounded theory methods. The limited qualitative and longitudinal research in adolescents and young adults with lymphoma demonstrates a gap in the lived experience of this cancer population and the adherence to long-term survivorship recommendations. Conclusion Future research in adolescents and young adults with lymphoma should employ longitudinal and qualitative designs to examine the quality of life from diagnosis through extended survivorship, and the experiences at diagnosis, treatment, post-treatment, and long-term follow up.
Corynexochine trilobites of the Harkless Formation and Mule Spring Limestone (Cambrian Series 2, Stage 4), Clayton Ridge, Nevada

Most Cambrian Series 2 faunas of Laurentia are dominated by olenelline trilobites; however, non-olenelline trilobites occur with the olenellines and sometimes dominate the assemblages. Reported here are such non-olenelline trilobites from the Harkless Formation and Mule Spring Limestone at Clayton Ridge, Nevada. At the bottom of the Saline Valley Tongue, Harkless Formation, are two assemblages that are characterized by corynexochines and/or ptychoparioids, with olenellines occurring as only rare components. The corynexochines present in these assemblages include Bonnia cf. B. brennus (Walcott, 1916), Ovatoryctocara cf. O. yaxiensis Yuan et al., 2009, Protoryctocephalus? aff. P.? arcticus Geyer and Peel, 2011, Ogygopsis sp. indet., and Oryctocephalops frischenfeldi Lermontova, 1940. These assemblages are from the mid-Dyeran Stage, below the lowermost zone in the upper Dyeran (Arcuolenellus arcuatus Biozone), and can be correlated to Series 2 Stage 4 (Cambrian) assemblages in Greenland, Siberia, and South China based on the corynexochines. Also in the Saline Valley Tongue and the overlying Mule Spring Limestone and lowermost Emigrant Formation are olenelloid-dominated assemblages that contain the corynexochines Bonnia columbensis Resser, 1936, Zacanthopsis aff. Z. levis (Walcott, 1886), and Z. sp. indet.
Seed Spots Analysis to Characterize Linear Energy Transfer (LET) Effect in the Adverse Event Regions of Head and Neck Cancer Patients Treated by Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy (IMPT).

Purpose/Objective(s) High linear energy transfer (LET) radiotherapy may cause unexpected adverse events (AEs) in head and neck (H&N) cancer patients treated by intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT). In this exploratory study, we propose to investigate the effects of LET upon AEs in IMPT using dose-linear-energy-transfer volume histograms (DLVHs) and seed spots analysis. Materials/Methods We included 14 H&N patients with unanticipated CTCAEv4.0 grade≥3 AEs for analysis. The AE regions were contoured and the corresponding DLVHs of the AE regions were generated. DLVH was constructed with physical dose (Gy) and LET (keV/µm) as independent variables. The normalized volume of the structure was contoured as iso-volume lines in the dose-LET plane. All voxels in the structure were mapped into the dose-LET plane as dots to see how the dots with similar dose and LET were clustered. For seed spot analysis, we selected voxels at the top edge of the DLVH plots as critical voxels. Individually clustered critical voxels that are geometrically apart were considered as independent seed spots. Median dose/LET from seed spots were extracted. Bivariate-linear-regression models were established for all AEs. The dose and LET product (xBD) volume constraint of osteoradionecrosis was obtained using the receiver operating characteristic curve of 4 osteoradionecrosis patients and 15 additional independent control patients. Results Dose played a dominant role for in-field AEs such as hemorrhage and ulceration, while LET played an important role in out-of-field AEs such as osteoradionecrosis and mucositis. Intercept-free linear models between the reciprocal of dose and LET were found for different AEs. The corresponding xBD threshold values were included in Table 1. The xBD volume constraint of osteoradionecrosis was derived V (xBD≥275.18 Gy•keV/μm) Conclusion Our observations suggested that dose and LET can contribute to AEs in a complicated fashion. Using the intercept-free bivariate linear regression model, we found a LET-enhancing effect for all 6 AEs included in the study, substantiated by the positive slopes of the empirical dose-LET models. The xBD volume constraint of osteoradionecrosis was derived and showed good performance. We believe that both DLVH and seed spot analysis could be powerful tools for patient outcome studies in IMPT.
Energy behaviour of the X wave for transverse propagation

As described in Sections 10.1 and 10.2, propagation of the X wave transverse to the imposed magnetic field involves linear polarization of the magnetic field of the wave back and forth along the imposed magnetic field, together with elliptic polarization of the electric field in a plane perpendicular to the imposed magnetic field. Using the axes indicated in Figure 10.1, the wave is propagating in the y direction and the electric field is E = (E x , E y , 0)
Handbook of Medical Device Design

Standards and regulations: FDA regulations preparing an FDA submission European standards and regulations the medical device directives the basics of ISO 9001 design of medical devices for the Canadian market Pacific Rim standards and regulations overview of software standards. Determining and documenting requirements: defining the device documenting the product requirements medical device records. The design phase: hazard and risk analysis hardware design software design human factors engineering biocompatibility reliability assurance product user guides translation - it's a small world after all liability intellectual property. Verification and validation: testing overview of verification and validation for embedded software in medical devices software verification and validation reliability evaluation analysis of test results. The manufacturing/field phase: quality system regulations and manufacturing configuration management the quality system audit analysis of field data. Appendices: Chi Square table percent rank tables.
A Bayesian extension of the hypergeometric test for functional enrichment analysis.

Summary Functional enrichment analysis is conducted on high-throughput data to provide functional interpretation for a list of genes or proteins that share a common property, such as being differentially expressed (DE). The hypergeometric P-value has been widely used to investigate whether genes from pre-defined functional terms, for example, Gene Ontology (GO), are enriched in the DE genes. The hypergeometric P-value has three limitations: (1) computed independently for each term, thus neglecting biological dependence; (2) subject to a size constraint that leads to the tendency of selecting less-specific terms; (3) repeated use of information due to overlapping annotations by the true-path rule. We propose a Bayesian approach based on the non-central hypergeometric model. The GO dependence structure is incorporated through a prior on non-centrality parameters. The likelihood function does not include overlapping information. The inference about enrichment is based on posterior probabilities that do not have a size constraint. This method can detect moderate but consistent enrichment signals and identify sets of closely related and biologically meaningful functional terms rather than isolated terms. We also describe the basic ideas of assumption and implementation of different methods to provide some theoretical insights, which are demonstrated via a simulation study. A real application is presented.
A Review of: “Lewicki, Roy J., Barbara Gray, and Michael Elliott. Making Sense of Intractable Environmental Conflicts: Concepts and Cases.”

Lewicki, Gray, and Elliott aim to “make sense” of seemingly insoluble environmental conflicts. To achieve this, their team of scholars (from a diverse range of disciplines, including natural resour...
A revised dynamic otolith model

Dynamic otolith model based on input-output experiments, including static component to permit steady output to acceleration or sustained tilt
SEASAT-A synthetic aperture radar performance

The SEASAT-A satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is presented, and its performance since it began operation in July 1978, is examined. The imaging radar system, the first to be designed as an orbital scientific instrument, was intended to generate continuous imagery over a 100-km swath at 25-m resolution from an altitude of 800 km. SAR image quality is measured in terms of resolution, the range of detectable radar backscatter, and the contrast ratio, each of which is affected by antenna, sensor, data link, and recording/processor subsystem parameters. Microdensitometer scans of output image film of actual SEASAT-A SAR data reveal a range resolution of less than 25 m, an azimuth resolution of approximately 40 m, a noise equivalent dynamic range of from 9.6 to -21 + or - 5 dB, and an image contrast ratio of 7.5 dB. SEASAT-A SAR performance is concluded to have confirmed the utility of spaceborne radar sensing.
Chronic portomesenteic venous thrombosis complicated by a high flow arteriovenous malformation presenting with gastrointestinal bleeding

Summary Portomesenteric venous thrombosis is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition. The presenting symptoms of chronic portomesenteric venous thrombosis are often non-specific but may present with variceal bleeding. We present the first reported case of chronic portomesenteric venous thrombosis causing a high flow arteriovenous malformation that resulted in extensive gastrointestinal bleeding.
Evolution of the lizard family Phrynosomatidae as inferred from diverse types of data

The phylogenetic relationships within the iguanian lizard family Phrynosomatidae are inferred from diverse types of data (i.e., mitochondrial rDNA, osteology, coloration, scalation, karyology, and behavior). All 10 currently recognized genera (Callisaurus, Cophosaurus, Holbrookia, Petrosaurus, Phrynosoma, Sator, Sceloporus, Uma, Urosaurus, and Uta) are included in the phylogenetic analyses. The phylogenies inferred from the separate analyses of the DNA sequence data (779 bp; 162 informative characters; 40 species) and non-DNA data (155 informative characters; 59 species) share 26% (10) of their respective clades. Four of the congruent clades (i.e., sand lizards + Phrynosoma, Petrosaurus, Urosaurus, Uta) are strongly supported (-70% bootstrap) in both of the separate analyses while five others are strongly supported in only one, but not both, of the separate analyses. All conflicting hypotheses leading to the taxonomic incongruence (e.g., Sceloporus group interrelationships) are weakly supported (<70% bootstrap) in one or both of the separate analyses. Combining the DNA and non-DNA data for phylogenetic analysis results in a single shortest tree. Overall, the phylogeny from the combined analysis shares more clades in common with the hypotheses inferred from the separate DNA analysis (74%) than with the separate analysis of the non-DNA data (53%). The intergeneric relationships inferred from the combined analysis are more similar to recently published hypotheses based on morphological data, except the Sceloporus group is paraphyletic. Although phrynosomatid intergeneric relationships are well resolved by the combined analysis of the DNA and non-DNA data, the relationships among most genera are nevertheless weakly supported by the separate and combined analyses. This weak support is most likely the result of rapid speciation. The monophyly of the speciose genus Sceloporus (exclusive of Sator) is supported by the separate non-DNA and combined analyses. The inclusion of numerous incomplete taxa (19 species lacking DNA data) in the combined analysis did not decrease resolution among the complete taxa (40 species with DNA and non-DNA data), but the addition of the incomplete taxa did affect the relationships among the complete taxa. Overall, the DNA data are more homoplastic than the non-DNA data, but the degree of character incongruence exhibited within the different partitions and/or sources of the DNA and non-DNA data sets varies greatly.
Total cross-section for real and virtual photons

Abstract Results are presented for measurements of the total cross section γγ → hadrons process by the L3 and the OPAL collaborations at LEP. The QCD predictions are tested with the L3 measurement of total hadronic cross section for virtual γ ∗ γ ∗ collisions and of total cross section for c c and b b production by quasi-real photons.
Real-Time detection and mixing state of methanesulfonate in single particles at an inland urban location during a phytoplankton bloom.

Dimethyl sulfide (DMS), produced by oceanic phytoplankton, is oxidized to form methanesulfonic acid (MSA) and sulfate, which influence particle chemistry and hygroscopicity. Unlike sulfate, MSA has no known anthropogenic source making it a useful tracer for ocean-derived biogenic sulfur. Despite numerous observations of MSA, predominately in marine environments, the production pathways of MSA have remained elusive highlighting the need for additional measurements, particularly at inland locations. During the Study of Organic Aerosols in Riverside, CA from July-August 2005, MSA was detected in submicrometer and supermicrometer particles using real-time, single-particle mass spectrometry. MSA was detected due to blooms of DMS-producing organisms along the California coast. The detection of MSA depended on both the origin of the sampled air mass as well as the concentration of oceanic chlorophyll present. MSA was mainly mixed with coastally emitted particle types implying that partitioning of MSA occurred be...