cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Some aspects of stability and numerical dissipation of the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) technique including passive and active lumped elements

This paper presents a stability analysis of the extended finite-difference time-domain method including passive and active devices. An explicit, implicit, and semi-implicit incorporation of lumped elements is investigated and the eigenvalues of the resulting discrete system are discussed. With the underlying assumption that the domain is homogeneously loaded with lumped elements, stability criteria are derived on the basis of a resistance, a conductance, and an inductance. Applying a fully implicit method, a parasitic resistance can be observed when reactive devices are included. For an inductance, this numerical dissipation is characterized in detail and an equivalent circuit is given. As an example, the impact on the quality (Q) factor of a cavity loaded with an inductance is shown and compared to the theoretical derivation.
New surgical options for elderly lung cancer patients.

To understand the size of the aging population in the United States, the imminent need to include the elderly in clinicalstudies on lung cancer, and the safe potential of video-assistedthoracic surgery, and to change awareness of the elderly's need forand ability to undergo treatment for lung cancer, clinical studies ofvideo-assisted thoracic surgery in patients ≥ 70 years of age arepresented. The elderly are a fast-growing part of the Americanpopulation who are at high risk for lung cancer and should be includedin clinical studies. Age alone should not be a contradiction tothoracic surgical interventions when video thoracoscopy is performed astreatment.
Resolution of clinical and pathologic features of C1q nephropathy after rituximab therapy

C1q nephropathy is a rare idiopathic glomerulopathy characterized by mesangial deposition of immunoglobulin and complement with C1q dominance or co-dominance, and the absence of clinical and laboratory evidence of systemic lupus erythematosus. Its clinical course is unpredictable and the response to corticosteroid or cytotoxic treatment is variable. Here, we report two cases of C1q nephropathy, one in a child and one in an adult, both presenting with impaired renal function and massive proteinuria. Both patients failed to respond to immunosuppressive medications; however, rituximab, an anti-CD20 antibody, was effective in preserving renal function in one patient and eliminating the need for hemodialysis in the other. In one patient, histologic regression of abnormalities was documented over 3 years post-treatment. Both patients have remained off other immunosuppressive medication for a prolonged period with stable renal function. These cases are, to our knowledge, the first reported successful treatment of C1q nephropathy with rituximab.
Generalized noise clustering as a robust fuzzy c-M-estimators model

R.N. Dave's (1991) noise clustering (NC) algorithm has been generalized in an earlier work where the noise distance /spl delta/ is allowed to take different values for different feature vectors. Based on that, it was shown that the membership generated by the NC algorithm is a product of two terms, one is the original fuzzy c-means (FCM) membership responsible for data partitioning and the other is a generalized possibilistic membership that achieves a mode seeking effect, and imparts robustness. It is shown that a variety of robust M-estimators can be incorporated into the generalized NC algorithm, for example Huber, Hampel, Cauchy, Tukey biweight, and Andrew's sine. The generalized NC algorithm is also compared with the recently introduced mixed c-means and a noise resistant FCM technique.
Proton pump inhibitor formulary considerations in the acutely ill. Part 1: Pharmacology, pharmacodynamics, and available formulations.

Objective:To review important proton pump inhibitor (PPI) pharmacologic, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic principles in acutely ill patients, compare PPI formulation options for patients unable to swallow a tablet or capsule, and provide clinicians with guidance when making hospital formulary decisions with this class of agents.Data Sources:MEDLINE (1966–May 2005) and the Cochrane Library databases were searched using the key words proton pump inhibitor, acid suppression, peptic ulcer disease, gastrointestinal bleeding, stress ulcer prophylaxis, and critical illness. Bibliographies of cited references were reviewed, and a manual search of abstracts from recent gastroenterology, critical care, and surgery scientific meetings was completed.Study Selection and Data Extraction:All articles identified from the data sources were evaluated, and all information deemed relevant was included for this review.Data Synthesis:PPIs have become a mainstay for acute acid suppression in hospitalized patients over other...
A parallel scheme for the forward/backward substitutions in solving sparse linear equations

A parallel processing scheme for the solution of sparse linear network equations is presented. The scheme assumes an already factorized coefficient matrix and decomposes the forward/backward substitution operation into independent sequences. In doing this, sparse vector methods are used and the full right-hand side vector is considered as a sum of several sparse vectors. The developed scheme is simulated for various test systems, and the calculated gains in computation times are given. The results obtained are pertinent to the analysis of power-system problems. >
Exploration of synchrotron Mössbauer microscopy with micrometer resolution: forward and a new backscattering modality on natural samples

New aspects of synchrotron Mossbauer microscopy are presented. A 5 µm spatial resolution is achieved, and sub-micrometer resolution is envisioned. Two distinct and unique methods, synchrotron Mossbauer imaging and nuclear resonant incoherent X-ray imaging, are used to resolve spatial distribution of species that are chemically and magnetically distinct from one another. Proof-of-principle experiments were performed on enriched 57Fe phantoms, and on samples with natural isotopic abundance, such as meteorites.
Completing a scholarly project during residency training. Perspectives of residents who have been successful.

BACKGROUND: Resident research has potential benefits and scholarly activity is an internal medicine residency training requirement. This study sought to learn about the resources needed and the barriers to performing scholarly work during residency from residents who had been successful.
Acquisition of matrilineal rank in captive spotted hyaenas: emergence of a natural social system in peer-reared animals and their offspring

Spotted hyaenas, Crocuta crocuta, live in clans characterized by a matrilineal social system, with female dominance over males. As part of an ongoing study of the development of hyaena social behaviour, the ‘de novo’ emergence of a natural social system was documented in captive groups of peer-reared hyaenas that had not acquired their mother's rank prior to removal to a captive situation. The acquisition of rank in their descendants was examined. Dominance relationships were studied in six breeding groups using competitive feeding tests administered in different social contexts. Founding members of these groups had been collected in Africa as infants (<2 months of age) and reared in peer groups from the time of collection. Although female dominance was not evident in groups of peer-reared animals prior to sexual maturity, a natural matrilineal social system emerged in groups of peer-reared animals with their offspring. Juvenile hyaenas acquired ranks adjacent to those of their mothers, dominating much larger adults that were lower in rank that the juveniles' mothers, including the adult males. Group dominance relationships persisted during competitive tests with mothers removed, or with all adults removed, and during dyadic tests. Despite differences in group composition and in the social experience of mothers, a matrilineal social organization clealy emerged in the captive breeding groups of spotted hyaenas and their cubs. The acquisition of matrilineal rank among the offspring of peer-reared hyaenas, as well as among the offspring reared with mothers who had themselves acquired matrilineal rank as juveniles, suggests that matrilineal rank acquisition may be an inherent outcome of relationships generated between mother-offspring units and other group members, independent of a mother's degree of experience in a matrilineal social environment.
The VλJλ Repertoire in Human Fetal Spleen: Evidence for Positive Selection and Extensive Receptor Editing

VλJλ rearrangements obtained from genomic DNA of individual IgM + B cells from human fetal spleen were analyzed. A nonrandom pattern of λ gene rearrangements that differed from the adult Vλ repertoire was found. The Vλ distal genes 8A and 4B were absent from the nonproductive fetal repertoire, whereas 2E and 3L were overrepresented and 1B was underrepresented in the productive fetal repertoire. Positive selection of the Vλ gene, 2E, along with Vλ rearrangements employing homologous VλJλ joins were observed in the fetal, but not in the adult Vλ repertoire. Overrepresentation of Jλ distal cluster C genes rearranging to the Vλ distal J segment, Jλ7, in both productive and nonproductive fetal repertoires suggested that receptor editing/replacement was more active in the fetus than in adults. Numerous identical VλJλ junctions were observed in both the productive and nonproductive repertoire of the fetus and adult, but were significantly more frequent in the productive repertoire of the fetus, suggesting expansion of B cells expressing particular λ-light chains in both stages of development, with more profound expansion in the fetal repertoire. Notably, B cells expressing identical λ-light chains expressed diverse heavy chains. These data demonstrate that three mechanisms strongly influence the shaping of the human fetal λ-chain repertoire that are less evident in the adult: positive selection, receptor editing, and expansion of B cells expressing specific λ-light chains. These events imply that the expressed fetal repertoire is shaped by exposure to self Ags.
Social mating system and reproductive success in house wrens

Current models explaining the establishment and maintenance of social monogamy and polygyny within avian populations typically assume that the reproductive success of polygynous males exceeds that of monogamous males. This assumption is almost always supported when the number of fledglings or recruits to future breeding populations is used to measure adult reproductive success. However, recent studies using DNA markers indicate that simple counts of fledglings or recruits may be a poor estimator of the number of nestlings sired by the social father. In this paper, we compare the number of genetic offspring produced by socially monogamous and polygynous house wren (TrogiodyUs atdon) males in nests at which they were the social father. Polygynous males did, in fact, sire more nestlings in their own nests than did monogamous males. Moreover, although we have not identified the sires of extrapair nestlings, we document that even when all extrapair nestlings in this population are hypotheticaOy assigned to monogamous males, die total reproductive success of polygynous males exceeds that of monogamous males. These results and those of several other recent studies are consistent with the assumption that polygynous males produce more offspring than monogamous males.
Psychometric Analysis of the JSPE Nursing Student Version R: Comparison of Senior BSN Students and Medical Students Attitudes toward Empathy in Patient Care.

Background. Empathic communication skills are critical to providing high-quality nursing care to holistically understand the patient's perspective. A survey research design was used to address the research questions discussed in this study. Data consisted of responses from nursing students attending accredited programs in the southeastern United Sates using the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy Nursing Student Version R (JSPE-R). Findings. Comparisons of the total scores from JSPE Versions S and R yielded similar means and standard deviations with 115 and 114.57, respectively, and standard deviations of 10 and 10.94, respectively. The results of a one-sample t-test failed to render statistical significance (t = −1.22, P = .224), indicating that the overall attitudes of nursing students and medical students are similar. The 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles and overall instrument reliability were also comparable. Conclusions. This paper supports the emergence of alternative factor analysis structures as applied to nursing students through statistical progression from exploratory factor analysis to confirmatory structures. Implications for practice explore the utility of empathy instruments in nurse education, such as empathy progression through curriculum. As nursing educators, the utility of development of instruments to measure effectiveness of teaching strategies and pedagogy for empathy enhancement in practice is important.
Information for Estimating the Proportions in Mixtures of Exponential and Normal Distributions

Abstract The Fisher information I(p; f 1, f 2) for estimating the proportion p in a mixture λ(x) = pf 1(x) +(1 − p)f 2(x) of two densities is investigated. A general power series expansion is obtained, which is then explored in detail for the case of two exponential densities, and for the case of two normal densities with equal scale. Simple approximations are obtained, for example when (μ1 − μ2/σ) is near zero in a mixture of two normal distributions with means μ1 and μ2 and common variance σ2, and when α/β is near unity in a mixture of two exponential distributions with mean lives (α)−1 and (β)−1, α < β. Brief tables based on the various approximations are presented, giving an overall picture of the information. The main qualitative conclusion is that extremely large, and often impractical, sample sizes are required to obtain even moderate precision in estimating p unless the mixed distributions are very well separated.
Comparison of the bremsstrahlung absolute probability densities produced by experiment and PENELOPE for low-energy (keV) electrons incident on solid silver

There has been some recent controversy concerning whether or not polarizational bremsstrahlung (sometimes referred to as ‘atomic bremsstrahlung’) contributes to the total bremsstrahlung spectrum in experiments involving electrons incident on solid targets. We have compared the bremsstrahlung absolute probability density predictions of the widely used Monte Carlo code, PENELOPE, to the results of experiments involving 17.5-keV and 20-keV electrons incident on a thick silver target. Comparisons of the results of our experiments to the predictions of the PENELOPE code, which is based on ordinary bremsstrahlung alone, suggest that there were no significant polarizational bremsstrahlung contributions to the total bremsstrahlung spectra in our experiments. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION AND HETEROCHRONY IN TWO SPECIES OF COWRIES (GENUS CYPRAEA).

Geographic variation in the marine, Indo-Pacific cowry, Cypraea caputserpentis, involves clinal variations that parallel the ontogenetic development of adult shell characteristics. Cypraea caputdraconis, a closely related species endemic to Easter Island and Sala y Gomez, is morphologically similar to juvenile C. caputserpentis. Using multivariate measures of size and shape, I examine these patterns as a possible outcome of heterochrony, or changes in the timing of developmental events in ontogeny. Whorl-expansion rates of juvenile shells are significantly higher in C. caputdraconis when compared to C. caputserpentis and are negatively correlated with surface seawater temperatures among populations of C caputserpentis. High expansion rates, often associated with slow growth, result in a delay in the onset of lateral callus development and subsequent paedomorphosis. Ontogenetic trajectories calculated from growth series of adult and preadult shells indicate that paedomorphosis results from the combined effects of neoteny and post-displacement. Paedomorphosis among cowries may result from the advantages of larger body size relative to shell size under reduced predation intensities and associated increases in fecundity.
The environmental impact of steel and aluminum body-in-whites

To demonstrate part of a decision-making methodology, this article evaluates steel and aluminum along traditional monetary and nontraditional environmental/health cost dimensions for the lifetime of a unibody body-in-white (B-I-W). This life is divided into four stages: the mining and refining of the raw material, the manufacture and assembly of the structure, the use of the automobile, and the post-use disposal. In terms of the six airborne pollutants tracked, comparisons between steel and aluminum are easily made because this set of effluents can be traced through all stages of the B-I-W life for both metals. In this direct comparison, assuming reduced emissions translate into an unspecified measure of environmental/health benefits, aluminum generates certain benefits versus steel.
Calculus in the Brewery

(1994). Calculus in the Brewery. The College Mathematics Journal: Vol. 25, No. 3, pp. 226-227.
Ozone dose-response effects of varied equivalent minute ventilation rates.

While it is well known that exercise minute ventilation (V(E)) results in greater pulmonary function and subjective symptoms (SS) responses upon exposure to a given ozone (O3) dose, the magnitude of V(E) increase to produce a significant forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1.0) response compared to that observed at a lower exercise V(E) for the same O3 concentration and exposure time is unclear, especially in prolonged (i.e., >2 h) exposures. Further, in prolonged exposures, the relationship of body size to FEV1.0 response to a given O3 exposure dose has not been systematically examined. In the present study, 30 young adults were exposed on four occasions for 6 h (during a 6.6-h period) to constant 03 levels of zero (filtered air, FA) or 0.12 parts per million (ppm). At the latter concentration, exercise V(E) was varied in exposures to 17, 20, and 23 l min(-1) m(-2) of BSA, respectively, for each individual to achieve an equivalent ventilation rate, EVR). In the FA exposure, EVR was 23 l min(-1) m2. Percent changes in FEV1.0 for the three 0.12 ppm O3 exposures were significantly greater than that for FA, but did not differ significantly from each other. For the 6.6-h exposures, exercise EVR at or in excess of 17 l min(-1) m(-2), SS values were significantly greater than those observed for the FA protocol. Further, SS values at 6.6 h of exposure to 0.12 ppm O3 for the exercise EVR of 23 l min(-1) m(-2) protocol were significantly greater than for the 0.12 ppm O3 exercise EVR of 17 l min(-1) m(-2) protocol. To achieve a widened EVR, two 1-h exposures to 0.30 ppm O3 with continuous exercise (CE) at a level necessitating an EVR of 17 and approximately 34 l min(-1) m(-2), respectively, were completed by each subject. All postexposure pulmonary function and SS responses were significantly greater for the higher 1-h EVR protocol. In all exposures with significant O3-induced changes in FEV1.0 and SS, it was found that the smaller subjects who exercised at the lowest absolute V(E) had significantly smaller responses than did the larger subjects. These results strongly suggest that for the O3 concentrations and exposure durations used in this study, the effect of V(E) on O3-induced FEV1.0 and SS responses is not body-size-dependent.
Polka-dotted vesicles: lipid bilayer dynamics and cross-linking effects.

We have investigated the effects of cross-linking perturbations on lipid phase-domain coalescence. Our model system explores cross-linking in the fluid-disordered phase of two-phase vesicles. Here, we quantify the vesicle population shift from the expected predominance of two-domain, two-phase configuration to a multidomain vesicle majority. We have found that the increase in multidomain vesicles is a distinct outcome from the cross-linking of biotinylated lipids and avidin. Analysis of our cross-linking data suggests that avidin forms clusters on the surface of the fluid-disordered domains, resulting in a large immobile fraction and restricted diffusion. In cellular membranes, receptor concentrations are similar to our experimental model, and we expect similar cluster formations, leading to nonideal mixing and lateral heterogeneity. We have induced and quantified a global response by cross-linking only a small percentage of lipids in our system, similar to receptor–ligand interactions on the cell membran...
Epidemiology: more than etiology.

Olli Miettinen has long been one of the teachers of epidemiologists, and I remember his instructions well from courses at the Harvard School of Public Health during my time there in the 1970s. On reading Epidemiology: Quo vadis? (this issue, pp. 713-718) I was reminded of many of his conversations with the class, nearly 30 years ago: what is the nature of epidemiology science or method? How does it capture the underlying phenomena that cause disease in populations? And where are the bounds between epidemiology and its broader, and perhaps more mundane, applications? On reading this most recent contribution from Miettinen, I found evolution in his thinking on these, and some new issues as well, although the discourse was familiar in some instances. Several themes run through Miettinen's commentary; my summary identified the following:
Separation and quantitation of the enantiomers of methamphetamine and its metabolites in urine by hplc: precolumn derivatization and fluorescence detection

To study the disposition kinetics of methamphetamine (MAP), we have developed a sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay to quantitate the enantiomers of MAP and its major metabolites, amphetamine (AP), p-hydroxymethamphetamine (p-OH-MAP), and p-hydroxyamphetamine (p-OH-AP), the latter two of which are hydroxylated metabolites, in rat urine. To determine conjugated hydroxylated metabolites, urine samples were treated with beta-glucuronidase. Both hydrolyzed and nonhydrolyzed p-OH-MAP and p-OH-AP were extracted into ethyl acetate and back extracted with 0.05M HCl. To determine MAP and AP, urine samples were extracted with benzene, followed by back extraction into 0.05M HCl. The acid layer was collected, and to it was added (-)-1-(9-fluorenyl)ethyl chloroformate (FLEC) for the derivatization of MAP and its metabolites. Derivatization was allowed to proceed for 24 h at room temperature. The derivatized products were separated on a C18 column with a mobile phase consisting of acetate buffer (pH 3.6)-acetonitrile-tetrahydrofuran. Quantitation was achieved using a fluorescence detector at an excitation wavelength of 265 nm and an emission wavelength of 330 nm. Linear standard curves were obtained over the concentration range of 5-100 ng/mL. The interday and intraday coefficients of variation for the assay for all eight enantiomers at 10 and 75 ng/mL were less than 13%. The detection limit was 5 ng/mL or 0.5 ng on-column.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Clinical Pharmacology of Carbenicillin Compared with Other Penicillins

The high blood levels readily attainable with carbenicillin, especially when it is administered intravenously, are one of the main factors responsible for its efficacy in treatment of infections caused by organisms such as Pseudomonas that are relatively resistant in vitro. The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for the high levels of the drug in the blood, to make comparisons with other penicillins, and to consider dosage regimens that are appropriate for various therapeutic purposes.
Temporal Averaging in Response to Change

We have previously found that when rats are simultaneously presented with two different cues that signify possible reinforcement availability at two different times, they will respond as though they are timing an intermediate duration. We have interpreted this result as indicating that rats deal with conflicting temporal information by averaging these temporal expectations. In the present work, we show that rats update their temporal expectations when temporal cues change during a trial, producing a normally shaped, unimodal peak in responding at a time in between the reinforced times. These peaks are approximately scalar, suggesting that the rats are timing a single expectation. These data are consistent with a timing system that generates a weighted average of conflicting temporal expectancies, with greater weight given to more recent information sources.
Early Subsidence Is Minimised in a Modern, Shorter Taper-Wedge Femoral Component Compared with a Traditional Fit-and-Fill Design

Introduction: Although cementless total hip arthroplasty (THA) is well accepted, the optimal femoral component design remains unknown. Among early complications, loosening and periprosthetic fracture persist and are related to implant design. The purpose of this study is to compare the anatomic fit and early subsidence of two different stem designs: a modern, short taper-wedge design and a traditional fit-and-fill design. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 129 consecutive cementless THAs using two different femoral stems was performed. A modern taper-wedge stem was used in 65 hips and a traditional proximal fit-and-fill stem was used in 64 hips. Radiographic analysis was performed at preoperative, immediate postoperative and 1-month postoperative intervals. The radiographic parameters of bone morphology via the canal-flare index, implant subsidence at 1 month, sagittal alignment, and the “anatomic fit” metrics of canal fill and associated gaps were measured and recorded. Results: There were no differences between groups in patient demographics (p > 0.4), and in bone morphology via the canal-flare index (p = 0.6) with numbers available. The mean subsidence was less in the taper-wedge design at 0.27 mm compared to 1.1 mm in the fit-and-fill stem (p Conclusion: Despite being shorter in length, the taper-wedge design demonstrates greater axial stability and less subsidence compared to a traditional fit-and-fill stem. The optimized proximal femoral fit inherent in this anatomic-based taper-wedge design is likely responsible for the minimal subsidence. The clinical implication of greater extension in the sagittal plane is unknown and longer-term clinical follow up is warranted.
Does certified organic farming reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural production? Reply to Muller et al

In this comment I respond to the criticisms put forth by Muller et al. It is my assessment that the authors’ make useful suggestions for future analyses. However, their conclusion regarding the invalidity of my results are based on a misconception of the goals and data used in my article.
Physical origin of the enhanced photoconductivity in Mg-doped lithium niobate

Mg-doped lithium niobate (LiNbO3) has found uses in SHG and optical parametric oscillator applications based on its ability to handle high optical power densities without exhibiting the photorefractive damage found in the undoped material.1 Although it is known that the photoconductivity of this material is greatly enhanced by the doping process,2 the physical origin of this effect is not well understood. In applications where tuning of the indices via the electrooptic effect is required, this can lead to space- charge fields which counteract the applied electrical field. Prior measurements of the dark conductivity were made at temperatures well above those used in actual use, and the role of the Mg ion in the photoionization process was not explored.3 In this paper, we discuss the physical origin of this effect based on new measurements of the conductivity in Mg-doped LiNbO3 and a 1-D model of the charge transport process.
Race and Ethnicity

Race and ethnicity are historically determined systems of human classification that originated in the premodern era to distinguish natives from foreigners. For centuries, scientists characterized race and ethnicity in ways that supported systems of hierarchy and discrimination such as slavery. After eugenic Nazism was exposed in the twentieth century, scientists attempted to replace “race” with “population,” and to introduce the notion of clinal variation. Though experts now agree that race and ethnicity are social constructs, a genetic debate over their innate dimensions has emerged. Some offer race-based medicine and commercial products as a solution to the persisting problem of racial health disparities.
Short-term pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate administration attenuates cachexia-induced alterations to muscle and liver in ApcMin/+ mice.

// Aditi A. Narsale 1, * , Melissa J. Puppa 1, * , Justin P. Hardee 1, * , Brandon N. VanderVeen 1 , Reilly T. Enos 2 , E. Angela Murphy 2 , James A. Carson 1, 3 1 Department of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA 2 Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology, School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA 3 Center for Colon Cancer Research, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA * These authors have contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: James A. Carson, email: carsonj@mailbox.sc.edu Keywords: hepatomegaly, muscle atrophy, protein turnover, inflammation, metabolism Received: March 04, 2016 Accepted: July 09, 2016 Published: July 19, 2016 ABSTRACT Cancer cachexia is a complex wasting condition characterized by chronic inflammation, disrupted energy metabolism, and severe muscle wasting. While evidence in pre-clinical cancer cachexia models have determined that different systemic inflammatory inhibitors can attenuate several characteristics of cachexia, there is a limited understanding of their effects after cachexia has developed, and whether short-term administration is sufficient to reverse cachexia-induced signaling in distinctive target tissues. Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) is a thiol compound having anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties which can inhibit STAT3 and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling in mice. This study examined the effect of short-term PDTC administration to Apc Min/+ mice on cachexia-induced disruption of skeletal muscle protein turnover and liver metabolic function. At 16 weeks of age Apc Min/+ mice initiating cachexia (7% BW loss) were administered PDTC (10mg/kg bw/d) for 2 weeks. Control Apc Min/+ mice continued to lose body weight during the treatment period, while mice receiving PDTC had no further body weight decrease. PDTC had no effect on either intestinal tumor burden or circulating IL-6. In muscle, PDTC rescued signaling disrupting protein turnover regulation. PDTC suppressed the cachexia induction of STAT3, increased mTORC1 signaling and protein synthesis, and suppressed the induction of Atrogin-1 protein expression. Related to cachectic liver metabolic function, PDTC treatment attenuated glycogen and lipid content depletion independent to the activation of STAT3 and mTORC1 signaling. Overall, these results demonstrate short-term PDTC treatment to cachectic mice attenuated cancer-induced disruptions to muscle and liver signaling, and these changes were independent to altered tumor burden and circulating IL-6.
Conducting Accessible Research: Including People With Disabilities in Public Health, Epidemiological, and Outcomes Studies

People with disabilities are largely absent from mainstream health research. Exclusion of people with disabilities may be explicit, attributable to poorly justified exclusion criteria, or implicit, attributable to inaccessible study documents, interventions, or research measures. Meanwhile, people with disabilities experience poorer health, greater incidence of chronic conditions, and higher health care expenditure than people without disabilities. We outline our approach to "accessible research design"-research accessible to and inclusive of people with disabilities. We describe a model that includes 3 tiers: universal design, accommodations, and modifications. Through our work on several large-scale research studies, we provide pragmatic examples of accessible research design. Making efforts to include people with disabilities in public health, epidemiological, and outcomes studies will enhance the interpretability of findings for a significant patient population.
Validation of droplet digital PCR for the detection and absolute quantification of Borrelia DNA in Ixodes scapularis ticks.

We evaluated the QX200 Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR™, Bio-Rad) system and protocols for the detection of the tick-borne pathogens Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia miyamotoi in Ixodes scapularis nymphs and adults collected from North Truro, Massachusetts. Preliminary screening by nested PCR determined positive infection levels of 60% for B. burgdorferi in these ticks. To investigate the utility of ddPCR as a screening tool and to calculate the absolute number of bacterial genome copies in an infected tick, we adapted previously reported TaqMan®-based qPCR assays for ddPCR. ddPCR proved to be a reliable means for detection and absolute quantification of control bacterial DNA with precision as low as ten spirochetes in an individual sample. Application of this method revealed the average carriage level of B. burgdorferi in infected I. scapularis nymphs to be 2291 spirochetes per nymph (range: 230–5268 spirochetes) and 51 179 spirochetes on average in infected adults (range: 5647–115 797). No ticks naturally infected with B. miyamotoi were detected. The ddPCR protocols were at least as sensitive to conventional qPCR assays but required fewer overall reactions and are potentially less subject to inhibition. Moreover, the approach can provide insight on carriage levels of parasites within vectors.
Learning objects recommendation platform based on learning styles for programming fundamentals

Currently there is a large amount of material for support educational processes in different areas, specifically in the area of programming fundamentals, it is useful to give the students tutorials, videos, solved exercises and source code as support for their learning process. The problem associated with this is that often the given objects don't match with the student's learning style. In this article is presented the development of a platform for learning objects recommendation based on learning styles. The platform was developed specifically for programming fundamentals. The main result is the development of a platform that allows assesst student's learning style, recommend learning objects according to their preferred style and gives the teacher the options to manage resources and view the behavior of their course (distribution of learning styles and progress in the subject content).
Promoting Retention: African American Older Adults in a Research Volunteer Registry

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the capability of a research volunteer registry to retain community-dwelling African American older adults, and to explore demographic and health factors associated with retention. Method: A logistic regression model was used to determine the influence of demographics, health factors, and registry logic model activities on retention in a sample of 1,730 older African American adults. Results: Almost 80% of participants active in the volunteer research registry between January 2012 and June 2015 were retained. Employment, being referred to research studies, a higher number of medical conditions, and more follow-up contacts were associated with an increased likelihood of retention. Older age, more months in the registry, and more mobility problems decreased the likelihood of retention. Discussion: These results suggest the Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research logic model promotes retention through involving older African American adults in research through study referrals and intensive follow-up. The loss of participants due to age- and mobility-related issues indicate the registry may be losing its most vulnerable participants.
Polarization-induced electrical conductivity in ultra-wide band gap AlGaN alloys

Unintentionally doped (UID) AlGaN epilayers graded over Al compositions of 80%–90% and 80%–100% were grown by metal organic vapor phase epitaxy and were electrically characterized using contactless sheet resistance (Rsh) and capacitance-voltage (C–V) measurements. Strong electrical conductivity in the UID graded AlGaN epilayers resulted from polarization-induced doping and was verified by the low resistivity of 0.04 Ω cm for the AlGaN epilayer graded over 80%–100% Al mole fraction. A free electron concentration (n) of 4.8 × 1017 cm−3 was measured by C–V for Al compositions of 80%–100%. Average electron mobility ( μ¯) was calculated from Rsh and n data for three ranges of Al composition grading, and it was found that UID AlGaN graded from 88%–96% had μ¯ = 509 cm2/V s. The combination of very large band gap energy, high μ¯, and high n for UID graded AlGaN epilayers make them attractive as a building block for high voltage power electronic devices such as Schottky diodes and field effect transistors.
Small Things Considered

The magnetotactic bacteria—organisms that can sense the Earth's magnetic field to orient themselves—vary greatly in morphology, metabolism, and phylogeny, but they all share a little tool called the magnetosome that permits the sensing underlying their movement. The magnetosome consists of magnetic mineral inclusions bounded by a lipid bilayer. The merit in having this prokaryotic organ-elle hasn't been definitively clear.
Validation of a Preclinical Drug Screening Platform for Pharmacoresistant Epilepsy

The successful identification of promising investigational therapies for the treatment of epilepsy can be credited to the use of numerous animal models of seizure and epilepsy for over 80 years. In this time, the maximal electroshock test in mice and rats, the subcutaneous pentylenetetrazol test in mice and rats, and more recently the 6 Hz assay in mice, have been utilized as primary models of electrically or chemically-evoked seizures in neurologically intact rodents. In addition, rodent kindling models, in which chronic network hyperexcitability has developed, have been used to identify new agents. It is clear that this traditional screening approach has greatly expanded the number of marketed drugs available to manage the symptomatic seizures associated with epilepsy. In spite of the numerous antiseizure drugs (ASDs) on the market today, the fact remains that nearly 30% of patients are resistant to these currently available medications. To address this unmet medical need, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Epilepsy Therapy Screening Program (ETSP) revised its approach to the early evaluation of investigational agents for the treatment of epilepsy in 2015 to include a focus on preclinical approaches to model pharmacoresistant seizures. This present report highlights the in vivo and in vitro findings associated with the initial pharmacological validation of this testing approach using a number of mechanistically diverse, commercially available antiseizure drugs, as well as several probe compounds that are of potential mechanistic interest to the clinical management of epilepsy.
Association between hepatitis C virus and chronic kidney disease: heterogeneity begets heterogeneity.

Epidemiologic studies examining the association between hepatitis C virus and chronic kidney disease have yielded conflicting findings. Analyzing data from a Taiwanese cohort, Lai and colleagues report a novel finding that the odds of chronic kidney disease were nearly 3-fold higher in hepatitis C virus–infected persons with genotype 2 compared with genotype 1. Hepatitis C virus genotype distributions differ in regions around the world. Can genotypic differences in chronic kidney disease risk explain some of the heterogeneity in prior studies?
Regional Versus General Anesthesia in the Elderly: New Insights

The comparison between regional anesthesia and general anesthesia is a continually evolving debate. Each technique has pros and cons, and the selection of anesthetic approach is highly dependent on specific indications, patient comorbidities, and type of surgery. Elderly patients, who are more likely to have multiple comorbidities and overall frailty, require a more nuanced approach. In this article, we review the literature for differences in various outcomes between regional anesthesia and general anesthesia. We summarize systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and literature reviews, focusing on results in the past decade. Notable differences in outcomes are discussed, especially those pertinent to the geriatric population. Regional anesthesia may be associated with multiple benefits despite differences in clinical practice over the years. Further research is needed to elucidate these benefits.
Some continuous index theorems

In this paper we give criteria of Fredholmness and index theorems for Toeplitz operators whose symbols take values in a W*-algebra factor of type II1.
The Involvement of Sphingolipids in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) includes a spectrum of conditions that have in common varying degrees of airflow obstruction, such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema. There is an increasing evidence of involvement of sphingolipids as key molecular mediators or biomarkers of disease in emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and more recently in asthma, another disease characterized by (reversible) airflow obstruction. Given the recognized central role of oxidative stress and inflammatory stimuli along with involvement of immune responses, apoptosis, and tissue remodeling in the development of chronic obstructive lung diseases, it is not surprising that sphingolipids have been shown to play important role in their pathobiology. In particular the pro-apoptotic effects of ceramide were suspected as events in the lung destruction that occurs as a result of apoptotic loss of structural cells comprising the alveolar walls, such as microvascular endothelial cells and alveolar epithelial cells. In addition, the role of ceramide was investigated in models of larger airway epithelial cell stress responses to cigarette smoke, in the context of ensuing airway remodeling and inflammation. This chapter discusses current evidence of sphingolipid perturbations in experimental models of COPD and relevant links to human disease based on translational and epidemiological data.
Correcting distortions in the infrared array camera during the cryogenic mission of the Spitzer Space Telescope

We describe our ongoing efforts to model the field distortions of the Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) during the cryogenic portion of the Spitzer Space Telescope’s operations. We have compared over two million measured source positions in ~35,000 IRAC images with their positions in Gaia Data Release 1. Fitting 3 rd and 5 th order polynomials to the measured offsets, we find systematic uncertainties in IRAC-measured positions that are in the 50-60 milliarcsecond range for the 3.6 micron array, and 120-150 milliarcsecond range for the 4.5 micron array. A 5th-order fit does not appear to significantly improve the results over a 3rd order fit. However, this may be due at least partly to the failure of our current centroiding technique to account for variations in the Point Response Functions across each detector. We anticipate making several improvements in our continuing analysis, including (i) the refitting of the positions and position angles of each IRAC image using the Gaia catalog, (ii) making use of a less position-sensitive centroiding algorithm, (iii) correcting where possible for the proper motions of detected sources, and (iv) significantly increasing the number of source position measurements. Once finalized, the resulting distortion corrections will be incorporated into the headers of the archived images.
Dewey’s Aesthetics of Body-Mind Functioning

My chapter provides a genetic trace of the embodied actions (the “deeds” or pragma) of the live creatures we call Homo sapiens from the primacy of the aesthetic encounter with the precognitive qualitative situation that initiates inquiry, to the role of embodied feelings involved in selective attention that determine data for inference, to the cognitive role of embodied habits in establishing logical universals and carrying out thoughtful deliberation in artistically creating the consummatory aesthetic forms of techno-scientific inquiry. The results will be an illustration of the embodied unity of thought, feeling, and action in Dewey’s aesthetics of the embodied mind.
Aquatic Plants and Attached Algae

Both aquatic plants (macrophytes) and attached algae (periphyton) function as primary producers in lakes, but their roles in littoral zone dynamics are distinct. Although periphyton grows on all surfaces with sufficient light, macrophytes are usually restricted to low energy, depositional environments. Macrophytes form a complex 3-dimensional structure that can fill the water column, and are critical habitat for macroinvertebrates and fish. However, macrophytes appear to enter the food web primarily after decomposition. Periphyton is more cryptic, rarely extending more than a few centimeters into the water column. However attached algae are both highly productive and heavily grazed, contributing substantially to secondary production. The role of littoral primary producers in organic carbon and nutrient cycling is understudied relative to phytoplankton, but they can dominate primary production in small and oligotrophic lakes. Limited data suggest a high potential for macrophytes and periphyton to regulate nutrient flux into and out of the littoral sediments, and indicate that littoral primary producers compete with phytoplankton for inorganic nutrients under oligotrophic conditions. Spatial and seasonal variation in biomass, productivity, and taxonomic composition are poorly described for periphyton. The perception of intractable spatial heterogeneity has hampered the integration of littoral primary producers into models of lake ecosystem function.
Strategic Partner and Model of Governance: EU Perceptions in Mexico

This chapter argues that the dominant perception of the EU in Mexico tends to be positive except at times of particular junctures or chronic crises. The evaluation of the EU in Mexican press coverage reflects the intensity of EU internal crises, with the outlets being highly critical of the EU and its actions (especially over the sovereign debt crisis and migration). In contrast to the Mexican press, elites and public opinion convey more long-term perceptions of the EU beyond the immediate crises. In spite of recurrent recessions, institutional tensions, emerging euro-populism and the problematic accommodation of new migrants, Mexican society still associates Europe/the EU with inclusiveness, high living standards and a model of development more human-oriented than market-oriented. A modern and more effective EU–Mexico Global Agreement, under a process of modernization in 2018, will renew the credibility of the EU as a reliable partner for Mexico.