cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
NEVER TAKING A SHORTCUT: EXAMINATION POETRY OF THE TANG DYNASTY

The jinshi examination in the Tang dynasty required poetry composition from the late seventh century onward. This examination poetry was a distinct genre, and extant poems illuminate what skills were in fact being tested in the civil service examinations. Due to the official context of the examinations, this poetry can also shed light on Tang conceptions of poetic standards. This study analyzes a number of poems from the Tang exams, as well as other Tang poems explicitly written in the examination style. I argue that the primary goal of these poems was a display of competence and familiarity with the literary tradition, rather than a demonstration of poetic brilliance. In addition, the apparent acceptability of prosodic freedom on the exams suggests that regulation in Tang verse was conceived even less strictly than commonly imagined.
5-HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE IN THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT AFTER INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION OR HEPATECTOMY.

SummaryIncreased concentrations of 5-hydroxytryptamine were found in the pyloric mucosa of dogs after hepatectomy, establishment of Eck's fistula, or obstruction of the jejunum. In dogs with intestinal obstruction, no change occurred in the concentration of 5-hydroxytryptamine in blood or in brain or of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in urine.
Hyaluronan: More than just a wrinkle filler

Dermatology is a field that strives not only to alleviate skin disease (therapeutics) but also to improve the perception of wellness (cosmetics). Thus, in this special issue of Glycobiology, it seems appropriate to discuss the biology of a glycosaminoglycan, called hyaluronic acid (hyaluronan, or HA), that has become the most popular agent today for intradermal injections to improve wrinkles and other cosmetic defects. HA is a simple linear polymer in which a simple disaccharide is repeated thousands of time, thereby creating a huge hydrophilic molecule that confers a large volume of hydration and contributes to the turgor and flexibility of healthy skin. Beyond cosmetic considerations, however, HA also has important biological and physiological functions that were largely under-appreciated until recently. New research has confirmed that HA is dynamically produced by most skin cells, not only fibroblasts (the cells that make most of the skin's extracellular matrix) but also by keratinocytes in the outer protective layer (epidermis). For both fibroblasts and keratinocytes, HA plays a regulatory role in controlling cell physiology through interaction of extracellular HA with a major cell-surface receptor, CD44. This interaction mediates intracellular signaling both directly and indirectly, through CD44 interactions with the cytoskeleton and with EGF and TGFβ receptors. Furthermore, degradation of HA by specific hyaluronidase enzymes produces HA fragments that can help to regulate inflammatory processes. In this review, current knowledge about the role of HA in skin inflammation and wound healing are reviewed and possible future applications of such knowledge discussed.
Avian diptych: Richard Wilbur’s flights of imagination

In two relatively neglected poems from the collection Things of This World, “All These Birds” and “An Event,” Richard Wilbur models an epistemologically perceptive and dynamic hermeneutic. “All These Birds” hesitantly acknowledges the legitimate insights of a materialist naturalism but also registers concern about the potential for naturalistic explanation to deny the imagination any role in human understanding of the world. “An Event” balances “All These Birds” by indulging the play of human imagination as an asset to perception of the world while also acknowledging the temptation for imagination to domesticate nature.
Immunotherapeutic strategies for malignant glioma.

BackgroundDespite advances in surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, only modest improvement has been achieved in the survival of patients with malignant gliomas.MethodsThe authors review th...
Clinical Characteristics of Children With Eosinophilic Cardiac Disease

A 13-year-old boy with relapsed eosinophilic leukemia was admitted to the oncology service with acute chest pain. On physical examination, a new gallop was auscultated. The initial troponin was 5.94 ng/mL and peaked at 14.32 ng/mL during the following 24 hours (normal <0.3 ng/mL). The ECG demonstrated inferolateral T-wave inversions with low QRS voltage. An echocardiogram (echo) demonstrated biventricular hypertrophy without outflow tract obstruction, moderate mitral regurgitation (MR), normal systolic shortening, and a thick posterior pericardial effusion (Figure 1A and 1B; Movies I and II in the Data Supplement). Normal findings were seen on an echo performed 2 months before at another institution. Intravenous methylprednisolone and chemotherapy were administered, with marked reduction of the troponin within 48 hours. There was no ventricular hypertrophy on echo 10 days after treatment and no visible MR on echo 2 months later. Figure 1. Still images from echocardiogram for patient A. A , Apical 4-chamber view with color demonstrating moderate mitral regurgitation and complex pericardial effusion. B , Parasternal long-axis view demonstrating hypertrophy of the left ventricular posterior …
MPLNET V3 Cloud and Planetary Boundary Layer Detection

The NASA Micropulse Lidar Network Version 3 algorithms for planetary boundary layer and cloud detection are described and differences relative to the previous Version 2 algorithms are highlighted. A year of data from the Goddard Space Flight Center site in Greenbelt, MD consisting of diurnal and seasonal trends is used to demonstrate the results. Both the planetary boundary layer and cloud algorithms show significant improvement of the previous version.
SU-G-TeP3-14: Three-Dimensional Cluster Model in Inhomogeneous Dose Distribution

Purpose: We aim to investigate 3D cluster formation in inhomogeneous dose distribution to search for new models predicting radiation tissue damage and further leading to new optimization paradigm for radiotherapy planning. Methods: The aggregation of higher dose in the organ at risk (OAR) than a preset threshold was chosen as the cluster whose connectivity dictates the cluster structure. Upon the selection of the dose threshold, the fractional density defined as the fraction of voxels in the organ eligible to be part of the cluster was determined according to the dose volume histogram (DVH). A Monte Carlo method was implemented to establish a case pertinent to the corresponding DVH. Ones and zeros were randomly assigned to each OAR voxel with the sampling probability equal to the fractional density. Ten thousand samples were randomly generated to ensure a sufficient number of cluster sets. A recursive cluster searching algorithm was developed to analyze the cluster with various connectivity choices like 1-, 2-, and 3-connectivity. The mean size of the largest cluster (MSLC) from the Monte Carlo samples was taken to be a function of the fractional density. Various OARs from clinical plans were included in the study. Results: Intensive Monte Carlo study demonstrates the inverse relationship between the MSLC and the cluster connectivity as anticipated and the cluster size does not change with fractional density linearly regardless of the connectivity types. An initially-slow-increase to exponential growth transition of the MSLC from low to high density was observed. The cluster sizes were found to vary within a large range and are relatively independent of the OARs. Conclusion: The Monte Carlo study revealed that the cluster size could serve as a suitable index of the tissue damage (percolation cluster) and the clinical outcome of the same DVH might be potentially different.
Exercise intervention increases spontaneous locomotion but fails to attenuate dopaminergic system loss in a progressive MPTP model in aged mice

While exercise is commonly recommended for PD patients to improve motor function, little is known about the disease-altering potential of exercise. Although others have demonstrated neuroprotective or neurorestorative effects of exercise in animal models of PD, the majority of these studies utilize young animals. In order to assess the effects of exercise intervention in a more clinically relevant model, we have subjected aged mice to progressive 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) lesioning and daily treadmill exercise, initiated early in the course of the disease. The MPTP model elicited a 55% reduction in striatal TH as measured by immunohistochemistry compared to sedentary controls, and exercise did not attenuate this loss in exercised MPTP animals. Furthermore, striatal TH and DAT loss, as assessed by western blotting, were not significantly impacted by treadmill exercise in MPTP-lesioned mice. We did find an increase in spontaneous locomotion in exercised mice that was not decreased by MPTP lesioning. This finding may be due, in part, to an increase in TH expression in the motor cortex in exercised MPTP mice.
Predictors of Outcome in Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Clinical and electrophysiologic predictors of outcome in 27 children with Guillain-Barre syndrome were determined by a retrospective review of records at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA.
The Utility of a Connecting Framework to Facilitate Understanding of and Reduce the Disparities in Hospice Care Experienced by Racial and Ethnic Minorities

Rapidly changing demographics in the United States and diverse cultural beliefs impact hospice utilization and end-of-life care. Healthcare professionals and clinicians need a connecting framework to understand patients' and their family's perspectives regarding utilization of those services. This framework will assist healthcare workers in providing culturally sensitive and appropriate information to patients nearing the end of life, so that they and their loved ones can make informed decisions for optimal care during this passage of life. Considering the variables in this framework may also help facilitate communication between healthcare professionals and patients and reduce misunderstanding among the surviving family members.
‘Working the ruins’ of collaborative feminist research

AbstractIn this paper, I enact an ‘inquiry among the ruins’ of a collaborative feminist duoethnography. Through the process of exploring instances of failure, I aim to (re)think ‘collaborative’ research, feminist goals for collaborative research, and a space for such research in the academy. As I work the ruins of a duoethnography, I read failures as a series of paradoxical ‘betrayals’ in hopes of being ‘accountable to complexity’ so to open up spaces for new ways of theorizing and practicing collaborative feminist research.
Control system design to minimize maximum errors

The standard approach to classical control system design is to shape the loop gain function in order to meet specifications [1]. Generally the idea is to keep errors small and this involves high loop gain in the low frequency ranges where command inputs and plant disturbances are expected to lie and low loop gain where high frequency sensor noise is a problem. It is clear that the intuitive approach described above is motivated by trying to keep integral-square errors small. The H ∞-optimization theory introduced into control system design recently by Zames [2] furnishes a systematic way to minimize the error-signal energy where the system inputs are bounded energy signals. This is very closely related to the techniques used in classical design, but is constrained by the requirement of bounded energy signals.
Focusing Through a Multimode Fiber with Selective Mode Control

We propose a method to focus light through a multimode fiber selectively exciting higher order fiber modes at its distal tip. A mathematical basis transformation enables fiber mode control with potential to reduce intermodal coupling.
Viral Oncolytic Therapy

Viral oncolysis broadly refers to the use of modified viruses to infect and subsequently lyse tumor cells. This concept arises from the observation that viral replication is itself effective in destroying tumor cells. This effect is then amplified by reinfection of adjacent tumor cells by the progeny virion released from lysed tumor cells. Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) has been the primary focus of current efforts in viral oncolysis. It is a double-stranded DNA virus that is a ubiquitous pathogen transmitted by direct mucosal contact. HSV-1 possesses several features well suited to viral oncolytic therapy. It does not integrate into the cellular genome, has a large transgene capacity of up to 50 kb, and is already highly prevalent in the general population. In addition, effective antiherpetic agents are available to stop unwanted viral replication. HSV-1 mutants that preferentially replicate in neoplastic cells rather than normal cells have been characterized, and several variants of replication deficient HSV-1 mutants have been created and studied. They follow a common theme in that their replication is significantly attenuated in normal cells, while activated in cancer cells. Studies have been performed in various strains including those known as G207, NV1020, talimogene laherparepvec, and rRp450, and are reviewed here. Viral oncolysis is an exciting area of research with applications to tumors throughout the body. It holds promise as a new treatment for primary and metastatic liver cancer and may soon become a relevant therapy in interventional oncology.
Visitation Modality Preferences for Adults Visiting Jails

The development of technology has introduced new options for prison and jail visits, including video visits from jail lobbies and remote video from virtually anywhere. Researchers surveyed visitors...
Experimenting with interaction: TV news efforts to invite audiences into the broadcast and their effects on gatekeeping:

This article examines the concept of interactive and participatory journalism in news through the lens of gatekeeping theory. It aims to shine a light on newsrooms that have been early adapters in the trends and technologies of interactive content between journalists and their audiences. It explores what the managers and employees of those newsrooms believe has been successful, what has not been successful, and what other journalists can learn from their experiences. It also examines how these efforts have affected the process of gatekeeping in these newsrooms. The researcher employed in-depth interviews with 12 employees in three newsrooms in the United States. The interviewees included general managers, news directors, anchors, and digital producers. The research identified three major themes that contributed to the success of exploratory interactive efforts: newsroom culture, a focus on the audience, and finding balance between attracting those who want interactivity without alienating those who don’t.
DECODE-ing sparsity patterns in single-cell RNA-seq

An inherent challenge in interpreting single-cell transcriptomic data is the high frequency of zero values. This phenomenon has been attributed to both biological and technical sources, although the extent of the contribution of each remains unclear. Here, we show that the underlying gene presence/absence sparsity patterns are by themselves highly informative. We develop an algorithm, called DECODE, to assess the extent of joint presence/absence of genes across different cells, and to infer a gene dependency network. We show that this network captures biologically-meaningful pathways, cell-type specific modules, and connectivity patterns characteristic of complex networks. We develop a model that uses this network to discriminate biological vs. technical zeros, by exploiting each gene9s local network neighborhood. For inferred non-biological zeros, we build a predictive model that imputes the missing value of each gene based on activity patterns of its most informative neighbors. We show that our framework accurately infers gene-gene functional dependencies, pinpoints technical zeros, and predicts biologically-meaningful missing values in three diverse datasets.
Development of a spaceborne C-band klystron for the MetOp-SG mission

A compact, conduction-cooled 5.355 GHz Klystron, based on EIK technology, has been developed for use in the Scatterometer Instrument segment of the forthcoming MetOp-Second Generation mission. Two engineering model Klystrons have been built since the start of the development effort in 2016 and a full space-qualification model will follow in 2017. The Klystron draws upon space heritage from higher frequency Extended Interaction Klystrons developed for the CloudSat and EarthCARE programs, and utilizes a new RF circuit design, tailored to the MetOp-SG requirements.
Misha or Mihailik: A Sociolinguistic View on the Ukrainization of Russian Proper Names in Modern Ukraine

This article focuses on linguistic identity and ideology through analysis of the attitudes of Russian-speaking Ukrainians toward the Ukrainization of traditionally Russian proper names (personal na...
Brief Counseling for Veterans with Musculoskeletal Disorder, Risky Substance Use, and Service Connection Claims.

OBJECTIVE High proportions of post-9/11 veterans have musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), but engaging them in care early in their course of illness has been challenging. The service connection application is an ideal point of contact for referring veterans to early interventions for their conditions. DESIGN Among MSD claimants who reported risky substance use, we pilot-tested a counseling intervention targeting pain and risky substance use called Screening Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment-Pain Module (SBIRT-PM). Veterans were randomly assigned in a 2:1:1 ratio to SBIRT-PM, Pain Module counseling only, or treatment as usual (TAU). METHODS Participants assigned to either counseling arm were offered a single meeting with a study therapist with two follow-up telephone calls as needed. Participants completed outcome assessments at four and 12 weeks after randomization. RESULTS Of 257 veterans evaluated, 101 reported risky substance use and were randomized. Counseling was attended by 75% of veterans offered it and was well received. VA pain-related services were used by 51% of participants in either of the pain-focused conditions but only by 27% in TAU (P < 0.04). Starting with average pain severity ratings of 5.1/10 at baseline, only minimal changes in mean pain severity were noted regardless of condition. Self-reported risky substance use was significantly lower over time in the SBIRT-PM condition relative to the two other conditions (P < 0.02). At week 12, proportions of veterans reporting risky substance use were 0.39, 0.69, and 0.71 for the SBIRT-PM, Pain Module counseling, and TAU conditions, respectively. CONCLUSIONS SBIRT-PM shows promise as a way to engage veterans in pain treatment and reduce substance use.
Applying interdisciplinary models to design, planning, and policy-making

The difficulty of handling complex problems has spawned challenges to the traditional paradigm of technical rationality in design, planning, and policy making. One of the most frequently proposed solutions is an interdisciplinary approach, though few writers have described the operational dynamics of such an approach. A global model of interdisciplinary problem-solving is presented based on the premise that the unity of the interdisciplinary approach derives from the creation of an intermediary process that relies on common language, shared information, a mutual sense of stakeholding, and the resolution of disciplinary differences. The theoretical underpinning of this approach is the conceptualization of interdisciplinary problem-solving as a communicative process that requires attention to the rhetorical and political dynamics of working with competing interests, practices, and disciplines. The practice portion is a composite picture of effective models, skills, activities, strategies, and techniques employed by actuals interdisciplinary teams. This global model offers a way of both theoretically and practically visualizing Th. K. van Lohuizen's ideal of achieving unity of town planning, an ideal that has profound implications for the organization of both professional practice and training.
Complex Microvascular Effects Involving Plasma and Red Cell Movement in Brain Following Alterations of Viscosity

The term “viscosity,” when applied to blood, always represents an awkward adaptation to physiology of a concept which in its strict sense can only apply to a Newtonian fluid. The adaptation is awkward because blood is a suspension, not a fluid, and its behavior is not Newtonian. This may provide a partial explanation for the tendency of many workers to accept as understandable, data in which alterations in blood viscosity were purported to have little or no effect on the circulation. Generally speaking, the changes in viscosity were measured on a sample of blood, in vitro, and these changes were related to alterations in blood flow. Much of this literature was reviewed by me in an earlier article [3]. In general, when in vitro viscosity levels are changed and it is concluded that there is little or no effect on circulation, what is really meant is that there has been little change in flow. In fact, the circulatory system has been greatly affected. For example, the diameter of the resistance vessels has been altered to compensate for the altered viscosity, thus maintaining a constant or near constant flow [1, 2].
What Is the “Context” for Contextual Vocabulary Acquisition?

“Contextual” vocabulary acquisition is the active, deliberate acquisition of a meaning for a word in a text by reasoning from context, without external sources of help such as dictionaries or people. But what is “context”? Is it just the surrounding text? Does it include the reader’s background knowledge? I argue that the appropriate context for contextual vocabulary acquisition is the reader’s “internalization” of the text “integrated” into the reader’s “prior” knowledge via belief revision.
Imaging colon cancer response to treatment with AZD1152 with [18F] fluoro-2-deoxyglucose and 3'-deoxy-3'-[18F] fluorothymidine

1602 Objectives The objective of the study was to assess effect of an Aurora Kinase B inhibitor, AZD1152, on colon cancer xenografts and to determine whether treatment response could be monitored by non-invasive [18F]FDG and/or [18F]FLT PET imaging. Methods Experimental cell lines SW620 and HCT116 were acquired from ATCC. Xenografts were established by subcutaneous injection of 1 x 106 cells in the right flank of Rnu/rnu mice (NCI, MD). SW620 or HCT116 xenografts were given ip injections (100 mg/kg) of AZD1152 daily on two consecutive days per week over a 3 week interval. Mice were imaged on a R4 MicroPET (Concorde, Knoxville, TN) following iv injections of [18F]FDG or [18F]FLT on consecutive days. Results A treatment response based on tumor volume measurements was clearly obtained in both HCT116 and SW620 xenografts. [18F]FDG PET imaging showed no difference in glucose utilization between AZD1152-treated and non-treated HCT116 or SW620 xenografts. SW620 xenografts showed no accumulation of [18F]FLT and there was no differences in [18F]FLT accumulation between AZD1152-treated and non-treated SW620 xenografts. [18F]FLT uptake in untreated HCT116 xenografts was more than 4–fold greater than that in AZD1152-treated HCT116 xenografts. Conclusions AZD1152 treatment was effective in two different xenograft models based on sequential tumor volume measurements. However, [18F]FDG PET was not a useful imaging paradigm for monitoring of AZD1152 treatment response. [18F]FLT PET was effective in monitoring treatment response in HCT116 xenografts, but not in SW620 xenografts. The latter observation further illustrates that [18F]FLT is not an effective cell proliferation tracer in some tumors.
Aromatase expression in health and disease

Family 19 of the P450 superfamily is responsible for the conversion of C19 androgenic steroids to the corresponding estrogens, a reaction known as aromatization, since it involves conversion of the delta 4-3-one A-ring of the androgens to the corresponding phenolic A-ring characteristic of estrogens. Its members occur throughout the entire vertebrate phylum. The reaction mechanism of aromatase is very interesting from a chemical point of view and has been studied extensively; however, a detailed examination of structure-function relationships has not been possible due to lack of a crystal structure. Recent attempts to model the three-dimensional structure of aromatase have permitted a model that accounts for the reaction mechanism and predicts the location of aromatase inhibitors. The gene encoding human aromatase has been cloned and characterized and shown to be unusual compared to genes encoding other P450 enzymes, since there are a number of untranslated first exons that occur in aromatase transcripts in a tissue-specific fashion, due to differential splicing as a consequence of the use of tissue-specific promoters. Thus, expression in ovary utilizes a proximal promoter that is regulated primarily by cAMP. On the other hand, expression in placenta utilizes a distal promoter that is located at least 40 kb upstream of the start of transcription and that is regulated by retinoids. Other promoters are employed in brain and adipose tissue. In the latter case, class I cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-11 as well as TNF alpha are important regulatory factors. PGE2 is also an important regulator of aromatase expression in adipose mesenchymal cells via cAMP and PGE2 appears to be a major factor produced by breast tumors that stimulates estrogen biosynthesis in local mesenchymal sites. In all of the splicing events involved in the use of these various promoters, a common 3'-splice junction is employed that is located upstream of the start of translation; thus, the coding regions of the transcripts- and hence the protein-are identical regardless of the tissue site of expression; what differ in a tissue-specific fashion are the 5'-ends of the transcripts. This pattern of expression has great significance both from a phylogenetic and ontogenetic standpoint as well as for the physiology and pathophysiology of estrogen formation. Recently, a number of mutations of the aromatase gene have been described, which give rise to complete estrogen deficiency. In females this results in virilization in utero and primary amenorrhea with hypergonadotropic hypogonadism at the time of puberty. In men the most striking feature is continued linear bone growth beyond the time of puberty, delayed bone age, and failure of epiphyseal closure, thus indicating an important role of estrogens in bone metabolism in men. In both sexes the symptoms can be alleviated by estrogen administration.
Immunogenomic Landscape Contributes to Hyperprogressive Disease after Anti-PD-1 Immunotherapy for Cancer

Although PD-1-blocking immunotherapies demonstrate significant therapeutic promise, a subset of the patients could develop hyperprogressive disease (HPD) with accelerated tumor growth after anti-PD1 immunotherapy. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms, we compared the mutational and transcriptional landscapes between the pre- and post-therapy tumors of two patients developing HPD after anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. In post-therapy HPD tumors, somatic mutations were found in known cancer genes, including tumor suppressor genes such as TSC2 and VHL, along with transcriptional upregulation of oncogenic pathways, including IGF-1, ERK/MAPK, PI3K/AKT, and TGF-β. We found that post-therapy HPD tumors were less immunogenic than pre-therapy tumors, concurrent with an increased presence of ILC3 cells, a subset of innate lymphoid cells. We also developed a gene expression signature predictive of HPD. In summary, we identified the genomics and immune features associated with HPD, which may help identify patients at risk of adverse clinical outcome after anti-PD-1 immunotherapy.
Imaging cell morphology and physiology using X-rays

Morphometric measurements, such as quantifying cell shape, characterizing sub-cellular organization, and probing cell–cell interactions, are fundamental in cell biology and clinical medicine. Until quite recently, the main source of morphometric data on cells has been light- and electron-based microscope images. However, many technological advances have propelled X-ray microscopy into becoming another source of high-quality morphometric information. Here, we review the status of X-ray microscopy as a quantitative biological imaging modality. We also describe the combination of X-ray microscopy data with information from other modalities to generate polychromatic views of biological systems. For example, the amalgamation of molecular localization data, from fluorescence microscopy or spectromicroscopy, with structural information from X-ray tomography. This combination of data from the same specimen generates a more complete picture of the system than that can be obtained by a single microscopy method. Such multimodal combinations greatly enhance our understanding of biology by combining physiological and morphological data to create models that more accurately reflect the complexities of life.
Security requirement prototyping with hyperledger composer for drug supply chain: a blockchain application

Blockchain may have a potential to prove its value for the new US FDA regulatory requirements defined in the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) as innovative solutions are needed to support the highly complex pharmaceutical industry supply chain as it seeks to comply. In this paper, we examine how blockchain can be applied to meet with the security compliance requirement for the pharmaceutical supply chain. We explore the online playground of Hyperledger Composer, a set of tools for building blockchain business networks, to model the data and access control rules for the drug supply chain. Our experiment shows that this solution can provide a prototyping opportunity for compliance checking with certain limitations.
Self-Amplified Depolymerization of Oligo(thiourethanes) for the Release of COS/H2S.

Herein we report the self-amplified depolymerization of an aryl oligo(thiourethane) (OTU) for the release of COS/H2S. The OTU was synthesized via polyaddition of 4-isothiocyanatobenzyl alcohol and end-capped with an aryl azide. The aryl azide chain-end was reduced by tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine or H2S to the corresponding aniline, resulting in depolymerization (i.e., self-immolation) and the release of COS/H2S. Depolymerization was monitored by 1H NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopy, and the released COS was converted into H2S by the ubiquitous enzyme carbonic anhydrase in aqueous media, generating an amplified response.
Impact of Video Education on Patient Knowledge, Anxiety, and Satisfaction in Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty: A Pilot Study.

PReCIS:: In patients undergoing selective laser trabeculoplasty, preoperative video education did not improve patient knowledge regarding the procedure, decrease anxiety, or increase satisfaction, as these metrics were already favorable across all patients in this study. Purpose To assess the effect of an educational video on patient knowledge, anxiety, and satisfaction at a selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) procedure visit. Materials and methods This is a prospective, randomized trial. Patients at a single academic medical center completed a survey at their procedure visit for SLT; patients were randomized to view an educational video or no video before survey administration. Knowledge was assessed with a 10-item questionnaire. The 6-item State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scale (STAI-6) assessed anxiety (score >40 defined significant anxiety). Perceptions of visit quality were assessed using a Likert scale. Results Twenty-two patients were randomized into video (n=11) and control (n=11) groups. No difference in knowledge was observed between groups (83.6% control vs. 82.7% video group, P=0.635). No patient had significant anxiety (STAI-6 range, 20 to 40, average 29) and scores were similar between groups (P=0.385). Overall, patients had positive perceptions of visit quality, and there was no significant difference between groups (P=0.999). Conclusion Patients undergoing SLT had high levels of knowledge, low levels of anxiety, and high levels of satisfaction. In this clinical setting, an educational video seemed to have no additional benefit on these metrics and thus, may be omitted. Further research may be directed toward optimizing patient education regarding SLT, particularly in settings with poor health literacy, limited resources, or limited access to glaucoma specialists.
Optic Nerve Head Morphological Changes Over 12 Hours in Seated and Head-Down Tilt Postures.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine changes in optic nerve head (ONH) morphology in seated and 6° head-down tilt (HDT) postures over a 12-hour period. Methods Thirty eyes of 30 healthy human subjects (15 females) were included. Composite radial and circular optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans centered on the ONH, intraocular pressure (IOP), and optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) were acquired every two hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for both seated (n = 30) and HDT (n = 10) sessions. Global minimum rim width (BMO-MRW), total retinal thickness (TRT), retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT), and Bruch's membrane opening (BMO) height were quantified. Results BMO-MRW decreased an average of 9.55 ± 8.03 µm (P 0.1). Conclusions The neuroretinal rim thins throughout the day in healthy individuals, and this change cannot be explained by changes in IOP or ONSD during the same time period. A HDT posture blunts the neuroretinal rim thinning observed in a seated position, suggesting a role of the translaminar pressure difference.
Interhemispheric Parietal-Frontal Connectivity Predicts the Ability to Acquire a Nondominant Hand Skill

Introduction: After chronic impairment of the right dominant hand, some individuals are able to compensate with increased performance with the intact left nondominant hand. This process may depend ...
Center variation in long-term outcomes for socioeconomically deprived children.

Neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation is associated with adverse outcomes after pediatric liver transplant. We sought to determine if this relationship varies by transplant center. Using SRTR, we included patients <18 years transplanted 2008-2013 (N = 2804). We matched patient ZIP codes to a deprivation index (range [0,1]; higher values indicate increased socioeconomic deprivation). A center-level patient-mix deprivation index was defined by the distribution of patient-level deprivation. Centers (n = 66) were classified as high or low deprivation if their patient-mix deprivation index was above or below the median across centers. Center quality was classified as low or high graft failure if graft survival rates were better or worse than the overall 10-year graft survival rate. Primary outcome was patient-level graft survival. We used random-effect Cox models to evaluate center-level covariates on graft failure. We modeled center quality using stratified Cox models. In multivariate analysis, each 0.1 increase in the patient-mix deprivation index was associated with increased hazard of graft failure (HR 1.32; 95%CI: 1.05, 1.66). When stratified by center quality, patient-mix deprivation was no longer significant (HR 1.07, 95%CI: 0.89, 1.28). Some transplant centers care for predominantly high deprivation children and maintain excellent outcomes. Revealing and replicating these centers' practice patterns should enable more equitable outcomes.
Linking demographic rates to local environmental conditions: Empirical data to support climate adaptation strategies for Eleutherodactylus frogs

Abstract Conducting managed species translocations and establishing climate change refugia are adaptation strategies to cope with projected consequences of global warming, but successful implementation requires on-the-ground validation of demographic responses to transient climate conditions. Here we estimated the effect of nine abiotic and biotic factors on local occupancy and an index of abundance (few or chorus) for four amphibian species (Eleutherodactylus wightmanae, E. brittoni, E. antillensis, and E. coqui) in Puerto Rico, USA. We also assessed how the same factors influenced reproductive activity of E. coqui and how species responded to hurricane Maria (20 September 2017). As predicted, occupancy and abundance of E. wightmanae, E. brittoni and E. coqui were positively and strongly influenced by abiotic covariates (e.g., relative humidity) that characterize high elevation, mesic habitats. E. antillensis exhibited the opposite pattern, with highest probabilities (≥0.6) recorded at ≤300 m and with average relative humidity 80% and temperature of ≤26 °C. Moderate to high probabilities of detecting a chorus (0.4–0.7) were recorded at sites with average temperatures>26 °C, but no reproductive activity was detected, implying that monitoring abundance alone could misrepresent the capacity of a local population to sustain itself. The possibility underscores the importance of understanding the interplay between local demographic and environmental parameters in the advent of global warming to help guide monitoring and management decisions, especially for high elevation specialists. Hurricanes can inflict marked reductions in population numbers, but impacts vary by location and species. We found that the abundance (chorus) of E. antillensis and E. brittoni increased after the hurricane, but the abundance of the other two species did not differ between years. Lack of impacts was probably mediated by low structural damage to forest tracts (e.g., 9% canopy loss). Our findings help assess habitat suitability in terms of parameters that foster local population growth, which provides a basis for testing spatio-temporal predictions about demographic rates in potential climate refugia and for designing criteria to help guide managed translocations.
In situ millimeter wave spectroscopy of microplasma within a photonic crystal

Microplasma generated within a millimeter wave (MMW) photonic crystal (PhC) is analyzed by direct measurement of the electron density and the wave transmission spectra (S21) of the crystal. A continuous wave (cw) drive frequency of 43.66 GHz maintains plasma, while a low power frequency sweep (43.5–44.1 GHz) simultaneously probes the wave transmission in the presence of microplasma. Rotational gas temperature and electron density are measured from the CH emission spectrum and the Stark broadening of the Hβ atomic transition. The permittivity of the plasma depends on the electron density. As higher cw power and argon gas pressure increase the electron density in the PhC vacancy, the resonant frequency of the PhC shifts upward in accordance with the measured electron density and plasma permittivity. As the PhC obscures the central core of the microplasma, we present a simple diffusion model that approximates the electron density distribution within the microplasma. The diffuse electron density is then used in a numerical model for S21(ω). The measured and modeled transmission spectra can only be reconciled using the diffusion density gradient of the microplasma, thus resolving previous discrepancies observed when using simplified, abrupt-boundary plasma models.
Financial Toxicity During Breast Cancer Treatment: A Qualitative Analysis to Inform Strategies for Mitigation.

PURPOSE:Financial toxicity from cancer treatment is a growing concern. Its impact on patients requires refining our understanding of this phenomenon. We sought to characterize patients' experiences...
Crude oil effects on microsomal mixed-function oxidase system components in the striped mullet (Mugil cephalus)

Abstract The effects of exposure to two types of crude oil on microsomal mixed-function oxidase system components in livers of juvenile striped mullet ( Mugil cephalus ) were investigated. Mullet were exposed for 4 days to emulsified Empire Mix or Saudi Arabian crude oils at an initial concentration of 75 ppm and an average of 1 ppm in the water column. Liver size was increased by about 50% following exposure to both oils. Since neither total hepatic protein nor microsomal protein increased as rapidly as did liver size, the concentrations of both were reduced following oil exposures. The proportion of microsomal protein to total hepatic protein or wet weight was not altered following crude oil exposure. Both cytochromes P-450 and b 5 were induced following oil treatment. NADPH-dependent enzymes assayed with cytochrome c and dichlorophenolindophenol as substrates showed increases in activity after exposure to Empire Mix crude oil but only the latter enzyme activity was increased on a microsomal protein basis following Saudi Arabian crude oil treatment. Activities of NADH cytochrome c and NADH cytochrome b 5 reductases appeared to vary with the protein level. However, since liver size was increased, oil-treated mullet had more of all parameters measured than did control mullet. Although the acute toxicity of Saudi Arabian crude oil to mullet is greater than that of Empire Mix crude oil, Empire Mix crude oil had greater inductive effects on microsomal oxidase components.
Connectivity between Historical Great Basin Precipitation and Pacific Ocean Variability: A CMIP5 Model Evaluation

AbstractThe eastern Great Basin (GB) in the western United States is strongly affected by droughts that influence water management decisions. Precipitation that falls in the GB, particularly in the Great Salt Lake (GSL) basin encompassed by the GB, provides water for millions of people living along the Wasatch Front Range. Western U.S. precipitation is known to be influenced by El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) as well as the Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO) in the North Pacific. Historical connectivity between GB precipitation and Pacific Ocean sea surface temperatures (SSTs) on interannual to multidecadal time scales is evaluated for 20 models that participated in phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5). While the majority of the models had realistic ENSO and PDO spatial patterns in the SSTs, the simulated influence of these two modes on GB precipitation tended to be too strong for ENSO and too weak for PDO. Few models captured the connectivity at a quasi-decadal period influence...
CO2 and CH4 isotope compositions and production pathways in a tropical peatland

While it is widely recognized that peatlands are important in the global carbon cycle, there is limited information on belowground gas production in tropical peatlands. We measured pore water methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations and δ13C isotopic composition and CH4 and CO2 production rates in peat incubations from the Changuinola wetland in Panama. Our most striking finding was that CH4 was depleted in 13C (−94‰ in pore water and produced at −107‰ in incubated peat) relative to CH4 found in most temperate and northern wetlands, potentially impacting the accuracy of approaches that use carbon isotopes to constrain global mass balance estimates. Fractionation factors between CH4 and CO2 showed that hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis was the dominant CH4 production pathway, with up to 100% of the CH4 produced via this route. Far more CO2 than CH4 (7 to 100X) was measured in pore water, due in part to loss of CH4 through ebullition or oxidation and to the production of CO2 from pathways other than methanogenesis. We analyzed data on 58 wetlands from the literature to determine the dominant factors influencing the relative proportions of CH4 produced by hydrogenotrophic and acetoclastic methanogenesis and found that a combination of environmental parameters including pH, vegetation type, nutrient status, and latitude are correlated to the dominant methanogenic pathway. Methane production pathways in tropical peatlands do not correlate with these variables in the same way as their more northerly counterparts and thus may be differently affected by climate change.
Jurisprudence of Successful Treason: Coup D'Etat & Common Law

The first part of this article is a survey of all known judicial responses to coups d'etat in post colonial common law settings. Although these different coups unfolded in diverse contexts the courts validated all incumbent usurper regimes with one exception. Kelsen's theory of revolutionary legality furnished the primary doctrinal vehicle to reach this result. While some courts adopted Kelsen's proposition that efficacy of a coup bestows validity in an unadulterated form, others modified this with or substituted it by doctrines of state necessity, implied mandate, and public policy. Following Kelsen, they fail to distinguish between legitimacy and validity of a legal order, using the terms interchangeably. The second part of the article evaluates the four possible judicial responses: validation and legitimation of usurpation, strict constitutionalism, resignation of office, and declaration of the issue to be a nonjusticiable political question. It is proposed that declaring the validity and legitimacy of a regime born of a coup d'etat a nonjusticiable political question is the most appropriate judicial response because it is doctrinally consistent and principled, morally sound, politically neutral, and institutionally prudent. The article argues that the legitimacy of a usurper regime is a political and moral issue to be resolved through the political processes of a society, and that the validity of a successful coup d'etat is a meta legal question which belongs to the province of legal theory. As such, both the legitimacy and validity of a regime born of a successful coup d'etat fall outside the jurisdiction and competence of the courts. Designation of these as nonjusticiable political questions will insulate the courts from turbulent politics, deny the usurpers judicially pronounced validity and legitimacy, and facilitate the survival of the courts and the rule of law.
Optimizing cyclic data-flow graphs via associativity

An iterative or recursive algorithm, with interiteration precedence relations is represented by a cyclic data-flow graph (DFG), where nodes represented operations. Such a DFG has a lower bound on the schedule length, which is determined by the loops (cycles) in the cyclic DFG. Associativity of the operations can be applied to restructure a DFC while preserving the behavior of the given recursive algorithm. We propose a measure of criticalness on regions of a DFG in order to guide the application of associativity to effectively reduce the lower bound or schedule length. Experimental results show that the transformed dataflow graph gives the best known schedules even under resource constraints. >
Channelized digital receivers for impulse radio

Critical to the design of a digital impulse radio (IR) receiver is the ability of the analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to efficiently sample and digitize the received signal at the signal Nyquist rate of several gigahertz. Since designing a single ADC to operate at such frequencies is not practical, channelized receivers that efficiently sample at a fraction of the signal Nyquist rate are presented. The performance are compared in the presence of phase noise/sampling jitter and narrowband interference. Our analysis suggests that channelizing the received signal in the frequency domain results in consistently higher performance than channelizing in the time domain. Furthermore, in the presence of moderate sampling jitter/phase noise, high resolution ADC's are not needed.
Enumeration and identification of nitrogen-fixing bacteria from forage grass roots.

Root-soil cores were collected from forage grasses growing in a subtropical region of Texas and tested for acetylene reduction activity. The population density of nitrogen-fixing bacteria was measured, using various media and incubation conditions. Bacteria were confirmed as nitrogen fixing, using the acetylene reduction assay, and were classified according to standard biochemical and cultural methods. The majority of the nitrogen-fixing bacteria isolated from roots were Enterobacter cloacae or Klebsiella pneumoniae. Root-associated, nitrogen-fixing bacteria were isolated from 21 of 24 root-soil cores. The population densities of nitrogen-fixing bacteria ranged from approximately 104 to 3 × 107 per g of root. Population density on roots was significantly correlated with the rate of acetylene reduction but the relationship was not linear.