cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Petrography and Geochemistry of Floodplain Limestones from the Clarks Fork Basin, Wyoming, U.S.A.: Carbonate Deposition and Fossil Accumulation on a Paleocene-Eocene Floodplain

ABSTRACT Floodplain limestones are increasingly important sources of fossil vertebrates from the Clarks Fork basin, the northern extension of Wyoming's Bighorn basin. Despite their importance for understanding Paleogene floodplain faunas, little work has addressed the depositional history of these carbonates or evaluated potential taphonomic biases affecting the assemblages they produce. Recent studies of Bighorn basin paleosols have increased our understanding of parameters affecting the paleo-floodplain, and large collections of limestones now exist; this has allowed detailed investigation of limestone petrography and geochemistry and the proposal of a new model for their formation. Floodplain limestones record a complex depositional and diagenetic history. Precipitation of micritic low-Mg calcite and accumulation of bone occurred in low-energy ponded water at the earth's surface. Pedogenic overprinting obscured primary textures and produced diagenetic grainstones, packstones, and wackestones. Biological and chemical pedogenic processes formed most carbonate allochems, including micrite grains and calcified plant cells. Microbial fermentation occurred at shallow burial depths, and methane production, migration, and oxidation affected the carbon isotope composition of diagenetic carbonate and primary micrite. Pore space was fully occluded by phreatic calcite cements during late-stage diagenesis. Fossil assemblages contained within the limestones likely represent fauna derived from rarely sampled floodplain microenvironments. Hydraulic transport of bones was minimal. Accumulation of fossil material occurred episodically, and bones were rapidly encased in micrite. The uncommon body size distribution characteristic of limestone faunas is attributed, in part, to buffering of chemical and physical processes normally effecting bone decomposition during surface exposure and pedogenesis.
Gamma-radiation-induced inversion-layer hole mobility degradation in p-channel power MOSFETs at 300 K and 77 K

The effects of radiation-induced interfacial charges on the inversion-layer hole mobility in p-channel power MOSFETs at room temperature and 77 K are investigated. The mobility degradation is more pronounced at 77 K than at room temperature due to an increased importance of Coulomb scattering from interfacial charges when the phonon scattering is reduced. The radiation-induced mobility degradation is primarily due to interface traps. >
Cariprazine: chemistry, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and metabolism, clinical efficacy, safety, and tolerability.

Introduction: Cariprazine is an atypical antipsychotic in clinical development for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar mania/mixed episodes. Areas covered: The purpose of this review is to describe the chemistry, pharmacodynamic profile, pharmacokinetics, and clinical profile of cariprazine. Expert opinion: Cariprazine is a dopamine D3-preferring D3/D2 receptor partial agonist. Doses ≥ 1.5 mg/d yielded 69 – 75% D2/D3 receptor occupancy as measured in positron emission tomography scans. Mean half-life for cariprazine was 2 – 5 d over a dose range of 1.5 – 12.5 mg. Cariprazine produces two clinically relevant metabolites: desmethyl-cariprazine and didesmethyl-cariprazine, the latter having a longer half-life than cariprazine. Exposure to didesmethyl-cariprazine exceeded that of the parent drug. Cariprazine is metabolized by CYP3A4 and to a lesser extent by CYP2D6. The efficacy and safety of cariprazine have been so far investigated only in a few short-term (unpublished) clinical trials; however, thre...
Evidence against low-field impact ionization in GaAs

Abstract A fast-pulse experiment, to detect impact ionization in GaAs in the 4 to 10 kV/cm field range, is described. Within the time resolution limits of the experiment, no ionization was observed large enough to support a suggested explanation of the difference between the theoretical and measured current-vol-tage characteristic of this material.
Leptin Receptor Immunoreactivity is Associated with the Golgi Apparatus of Hypothalamic Neurones and Glial Cells

Leptin has emerged as a major peripheral hormone, controlling central mechanisms of metabolism and related autonomic and endocrine functions. In the regulation of hypothalamic neurones, leptin is suggested to affect different second messenger systems and transcription regulating factors. The present study reports the predominant localization of leptin receptor immunoreactivity in the cis and trans cisternae of the Golgi apparatus in hypothalamic neuronal and glial cells. In these hypothalamic cells, translocation of leptin receptor immunoreactivity from the Golgi apparatus to the perikaryal membrane, nucleus or to the cytoplasm was not apparent after manipulation of the metabolic state either by fasting or suppression of the thyroid axis. On the other hand, leptin receptor immunoreactivity was associated with the perikaryal membrane of neurones in other parts of the central nervous system, including the dentate gyrus and the cingulate cortex. These data indicate an extremely high turnover of leptin receptors in hypothalamic target sites, but also raise the possibility that leptin may interact with the Golgi apparatus-related mechanisms to alter intracellular mechanisms.
The large-display user experience

The PC's increasing graphical-processing power is fueling a demand for larger and more capable display devices. Several operating systems have supported work with multiple displays for some time. This fact, coupled with graphic-card advancements has led to an increase in multiple monitor (multimon) use. Large displays offer users significant benefits and usability challenges. In this article the authors discuss those challenges along with novel techniques to address these issues.
Wake-based unsteady modeling of the aquatic beetle Dytiscus marginalis

Dytiscus marginalis simultaneously uses its hind legs to propel itself through the water. Previous work has suggested that use of synchronized leg motions, such as that used by D. marginalis, allows it to swim with higher hydrodynamic efficiency than similarly sized insects that alternate their legs during swimming. A model is developed based on the generation of vortices in the wake to calculate the relative efficiency of synchronized-leg-swimming kinematics compared to alternating-leg-swimming kinematics. The model agrees well with measured values of swimming speeds during steady state and predicts an overall hydrodynamic swimming efficiency of 18% for synchronized-leg-swimming. Additionally, synchronized-leg swimming is calculated to be 39% more hydrodynamically efficient than alternating-leg-swimming kinematics, thus verifying previous suggestions of greater hydrodynamic efficiency in D. marginalis based on swimming observation.
Results for light pseudoscalar mesons

We present the current status of the MILC collaboration’s calculations of the properties of the light pseudoscalar meson sector. We use asqtad staggered ensembles with 2+1 dynamical flavors down to a≈ 0.045 fm and light quark mass down to 0.05ms. Here we describe fits to the data using chiral forms from SU(3) chiral perturbation theory, including all staggered taste violations at NLO and the continuum NNLO chiral logarithms. We emphasize issues of convergence of the chiral expansion.
Naturally occurring dominant negative variants of Stat5

Stat5 was initially identified as a prolactin-induced member of the signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat) family in sheep. However, Stat5 is also activated in the response to a variety of cytokines. In mice, and possibly in other species, there exist two Stat5 genes (Stat5a and Stat5b) that encode proteins of 92 and 94 kDa that are 95% identical. In the studies described here, we demonstrate that naturally occurring carboxyl-truncated, variant Stat5 proteins of 77 and 80 kDa exist and that these proteins are inducibly tyrosine phosphorylated in the response to several cytokines and form heterodimers with the full-length, wild-type proteins. Using expression constructs encoding truncated forms, we demonstrate that the truncated forms can be tyrosine phosphorylated and bind DNA. Surprisingly, the tyrosine phosphorylation of the carboxyl-truncated forms is considerably more stable than that of the wild-type proteins. Overexpression of a carboxyl-truncated Stat5a in cells resulted in the specific inhibition of the transcriptional activation by interleukin-3 of the genes for oncostatin M (Osm) and the cytokine-inducible, SH2 domain-containing gene (Cis), both of which have been shown to be normally regulated by Stat5. Although Stat5 dominantly suppressed the induction of these genes, no effects on cell proliferation were observed. Together, the results demonstrate the natural existence of potentially dominantly suppressive variants of Stat5 and implicate the carboxyl domain of Stats in transcriptional regulation and functions related to dephosphorylation.
Performance evaluation of a valveless micropump driven by a ring-type piezoelectric actuator

Presented in this paper is the study of the performance evaluation of a valveless micropump driven by a ring-type piezoelectric actuator. The application of this micropump is to circulate fuel inside a miniaturized direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) power system. A theoretical model based on the theory of plates and shells is established to estimate the deflection and the volume change of this micropump without liquid loading. Both finite-element method (FEM) and experimental method are applied to verify this model. Using this model, the optimal design parameters such as the dimensions and the mechanical properties of the micropump can be obtained. Furthermore, various system parameters that will affect the performance of the micropump system with liquid loading are identified and analyzed experimentally. It is expected that this study provides some vital information for many micropump applications such as fuel delivery in fuel cells, ink jet printers, and biofluidics.
Symmetric linearization method for double-gate and surrounding-gate MOSFET models

Symmetric linearization method is developed in a form free of the charge-sheet approximation present in its original formulation for bulk MOSFET. This leads to a core compact model of certain multiple-gate transistors that has the form almost identical to that used in a standard PSP MOSFET model. The accuracy of the proposed technique is verified by comparison with the exact results. The new core is compatible with the previous version of the double gate MOSFET model that has been found in agreement with the experimental data including short-channel effects and frequency response.
Segregations of the two mating type components in colonies of fertile isolates of heterothallic dermatophytes.

Fertile isolates of heterothallic dermatophytes often degenerate to sterile, single mating type strains while being maintained on agar slants. A study was made in an effort to determine the cause for this phenomenon using strains of Nannizzia incurvata and N. cajetani. It was found that segregation of + and - components in fertile isolates occurs during colony development resulting in + and - sectors. Routine transfers made by picking conidia or cutting small agar blocks with mycelium and conidia may result in the selection of one mating type. Hence, it is suggested that fertile isolates of heterothallic dermatophytes should be transferred as masses of spores and mycelia scraped from the whole surface of an agar slant to ensure maintenance of both mating types. Transferring of cultures by means of heavy spore suspensions is also satisfactory. A recommended alternative is to culture fertile isolates of dermatophytes on soil extract-hair agar by picking cleistothecia at each transfer.
Risk factors for exposure of glaucoma drainage devices: a retrospective observational study

Objectives The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for exposure of glaucoma drainage devices (GDD). Setting This retrospective, observational study was conducted in the eye clinic of an academic medical centre. Participants Participants included 1073 consecutive adults who underwent GDD surgery between 1 January 2005 and 1 January 2011. Participants were included if chart review indicated GDD surgery during the study period and excluded if at least 12 months of clinical follow-up was not available in the medical record. Primary outcome measure The primary outcome measure was exposure of the GDD occurring at least 1 month after implant surgery. The characteristics of participants who experienced exposure of the implant were compared to the characteristics of participants who did not experience exposure. Results Of the 1073 participants having undergone GDD surgery, 67 experienced exposure of the device. Neither the type of GDD, type of patch graft (eye bank sclera, Tutoplast sclera and Tutoplast pericardium), surgeon, location of GDD, number of GDD previously implanted into the eye, nor history of diabetes or uveitis were associated with likelihood of exposure. Women were more likely than men to experience exposure of the GDD (OR 2.004 (95% CI1.170 to 3.431)) in both univariable (p=0.011) and multivariable (p=0.013) analyses. In survival analysis, exposure of the GDD occurred earlier for women than for men (58 vs 61 months; p=0.024).White race (vs black) was also associated with increased risk of GDD exposure (OR 1.693 (95% CI 1.011 to 2.833)) in univariable (p=0.044) and multivariable (p=0.046) analyses. Conclusions Women are two times more likely to experience GDD exposure than men, independent of age. White race is also a risk factor for exposure.
The role of secukinumab in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory disorder involving the sacroiliac joint, spine and less frequently the peripheral joints. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and TNF-α inhibitors are utilized to reduce signs and symptoms. Whether these agents slow disease progression, is still debatable. Secukinumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody against IL-17 that has been studied in patients with ankylosing spondylitis with promising results. It has demonstrated improvement in signs, symptoms, patient reported outcomes and functional status and has been well tolerated. The clinical improvement is also mirrored in the improvement in sacroiliac joint magnetic resonance imaging scans.
Constraint Databases: Promising Technology or Just IntellectualExercise?

This paper describes the state of Constraint Databases (CDBs), a young discipline at the intersection of Database Management, Constraint Programming, Computational Geometry and Operations Research. As in Constraint Logic Programming, constraints in CDBs are a first class data type, and can play many modeling roles including spatial and temporal behavior, complex design requirements, and partial and incomplete information, for which existing databases have proven inadequate. We motivate the importance of CDBs, outline the work in the area that has been done, the current trends, and future directions and challenges. We briefly discuss (1) constraint modeling, canonical forms and algebras, (2) data models and query languages, (3) indexing and approximation-based filtering, (4) constraint algebra algorithms and global optimization, and (5) systems and case studies. We argue that CDBs are a promising technology that will impact many important application realms, and furthermore have the potential to be integrated into future database systems, and operations research and constraint programming tools.
Denervation alters myosin heavy chain expression and contractility of developing rat diaphragm muscle

We hypothesized that unilateral denervation (DNV) of the rat diaphragm muscle (Diam) in neonates at postnatal day 7 (D-7) alters normal transitions of myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform expression an...
Dichlorobis(1-ethylimidazole)zinc(II).

The Zn atom in the mol­ecule of the title compound, [ZnCl2(C5H8N2)2], exhibits a distorted tetra­hedral geometry and is coordinated by two Cl and two N atoms, with Zn—Cl distances of 2.2519 (2) and 2.2531 (2) A, and Zn—N distances of 1.9998 (7) and 2.0087 (7) A. The angles Cl—Zn—Cl and N—Zn—N are 114.742 (9) and 108.50 (3)°, respectively.
The influence of wheelchair propulsion hand pattern on upper extremity muscle power and stress

The hand pattern (i.e., full-cycle hand path) used during manual wheelchair propulsion is frequently classified as one of four distinct hand pattern types: arc, single loop, double loop or semicircular. Current clinical guidelines recommend the use of the semicircular pattern, which is based on advantageous levels of broad biomechanical metrics implicitly related to the demand placed on the upper extremity (e.g., lower cadence). However, an understanding of the influence of hand pattern on specific measures of upper extremity muscle demand (e.g., muscle power and stress) is needed to help make such recommendations, but these quantities are difficult and impractical to measure experimentally. The purpose of this study was to use musculoskeletal modeling and forward dynamics simulations to investigate the influence of the hand pattern used on specific measures of upper extremity muscle demand. The simulation results suggest that the double loop and semicircular patterns produce the most favorable levels of overall muscle stress and total muscle power. The double loop pattern had the lowest full-cycle and recovery-phase upper extremity demand but required high levels of muscle power during the relatively short contact phase. The semicircular pattern had the second-lowest full-cycle levels of overall muscle stress and total muscle power, and demand was more evenly distributed between the contact and recovery phases. These results suggest that in order to decrease upper extremity demand, manual wheelchair users should consider using either the double loop or semicircular pattern when propelling their wheelchairs at a self-selected speed on level ground.
If it ain't broke, what are we trying to fix? Reprocessing devices labeled "for single use only".

A new FDA rule will enrich the manufacturers of medical devices and saddle us with another layer of bureaucracy. All to fix a nonexistent problem.
Efficient Synthesis of Benzo[1,2-b:6,5-b′]dithiophene-4,5-dione (BDTD) and Its Chemical Transformations into Precursors for π-Conjugated Materials

A straightforward synthesis of the fused-aromatic dione benzo[1,2-b:6,5-b']dithiophene-4,5-dione (BDTD) has been developed. This fused-aromatic dione was subjected to various chemical transformations to generate diverse molecules with potential use in π-conjugated materials for organic electronics.
Onconephrology abstracts and publication trends: time to collaborate

Onconephrology is an emerging subspecialty of nephrology. The American Society of Nephrology(ASN) created a forum dedicated to the field of onconephrology in 2011 to improve collaborative care for cancer patients with kidney disease. In this article, we review the ASN Kidney Week abstracts that were related to onconephrology. There has been an increase in the number of onconephrology-related abstracts at ASN over last 3 years. But only one-fifth of abstracts that were onconephrology related in ASN were published in peer review journals. Clinical Kidney Journal (CKJ) has seen an increase in onconephrology publications in the last 3 years. Most were case reports or review articles. The more widespread use of the keyword 'onconephrology' in all such manuscripts may facilitate the search for onconephrology research papers. To advance the field, CKJ has now created an onconephrology subheading for manuscript categorization. We also propose that conference organizers of ASN and other kidney-related society meeting such as International Society of Nephrology, National Kidney Foundation and European Dialysis and Transplantation Association have a separate onconephrology abstract category. Randomized controlled trials in a subspecialty like onconephrology can only be possible when there is collaboration amongst nephrologists and cancer physicians from cancer centers around the world that interact and share research ideas at international meetings.
Nutrition and Somatomedin. VIM. The “Somatomedin Inhibitor” in Diabetic Rat Serum is a General Inhibitor of Growing Cartilage

Serum somatomedin activity appears to reflect the presence of both somatomedins and “somatomedin inhibitor,” a factor(s) that blunts cartilage stimulation by somatomedins. Although poor growth in uncontrolled diabetes is associated with an increase in inhibitor, suggesting a possible physiologic role, little is known of the interactions between this factor and somatomedins. We examined such interactions by measuring the effects of serum from normal rats (NRS, enriched in somatomedins) and serum from streptozo-tocin-diabetic rats (DRS, enriched in inhibitor) on costal cartilage from hypophysectomized rats. A 48-h exposure of cartilage to NRS resulted in an uptake of sulfate and uridine 125 ± 36% and 59 ± 14% (m ± SEM) above buffer levels, respectively, but addition of DRS to NRS produced sulfate and uridine uptake of 66 ± 3% and 95 ± 2% below buffer, respectively, indicating that chondroitin sulfate and RNA synthesis were both affected. Significant inhibition of uridine uptake (an early cartilage process) occurred as little as 4 h after exposure to DRS, while inhibition of sulfate uptake (a later process) was not found until 20 h. The decrease in isotope uptake following 24 h of exposure to DRS persisted over the next 24 h despite transfer of cartilage to fresh DRS-free medium and addition of NRS during the second 24-h period. When cartilage was incubated with a fixed concentration of DRS and increasing concentrations of NRS, Lineweaver-Burk analysis of both sulfate and uridine uptake indicated that NRS/DRS interactions were noncompetitive. These results indicate that the inhibitory factor in DRS affects different cartilage processes, produces profound, long-lasting decreases in cartilage activity, and has noncompetitive interactions with somatomedins in NRS. We conclude that somatomedin inhibitor in the serum of diabetic rats is a general inhibitor of growing cartilage that not only blocks stimulation by somatomedins, but also inhibits cartilage metabolism directly.
A Study of Interdiffusion, Crystallinity, Strain and Thermal Stability of Si1−xGex/Si Created Using Pulsed Laser Induced Epitaxy (PLIE)

Heteroepitaxy of Si l−x Ge x alloy layers on Si(100) and Si(111) has been achieved using Pulsed Laser Induced Epitaxy (PLIE). The energy of 1-50 pulses from a spatially homogenized XeCl excimer laser is used to melt a structure of electron beam evaporated Germanium on Silicon substrates. On Si(100) substrates alloys with Germanium fractions between 6 and 22% are investigated and exhibit very good crystallinity, as confirmed by MeV-Ion Channeling along the - direction. Heteroepitaxy on Si(l11) yields similar results. MeV-Ion Channeling is also used to determine the level of strain in the layers. This is done by comparing angular yield curves around the - direction for substrate and alloy layer. The obtained strain values are close to calculations for an ideally strained layer state. The strain is also measured for layers that have been subjected to different thermal cycles. As a result of this, predictions of feasibility for subsequent device fabrication can be made for the layers.
The Super Bowl Theory: Fourth and Long

One of the most curious (and spurious) correlations has been that between stock market performance and the results of the Super Bowl, first played in 1967. The Super Bowl Theory, as some have dubbed it, holds that when a team from the original National Football League (NFL), which presently consists of all teams in the National Football Conference (NFC) plus three teams in the American Football Conference (AFC), wins the Super Bowl, the stock market will rise in the following year. When a team from the original American Football League (AFL), which consists of current American Football Conference (AFC) teams, except Cleveland, Indianapolis (formerly Baltimore), and Pittsburgh, wins, the stock market heads south.1 Yet, even before the AFC champion Denver Broncos won the 1998 Super Bowl in the middle of a strong bull market, the predictive power of the "theory" was already on the wane. Consider the Super Bowl and Dow Jones data from 1967 to 1998 given in Table l.2 To investigate the Super Bowl Theory, first define six binary variables to categorize the conference (NFC or AFC) and division (E?Eastern, C?Central, or W?Western) of each Super Bowl winner. For example, AFCE is defined as follows:
Progression from respiratory dysfunction to failure in late-onset Pompe disease.

To identify determinants of respiratory disease progression in late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD), we studied relationships between pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength, gas exchange, and respiratory control. Longitudinal evaluation of 22 LOPD patients (mean age 38 years) was performed at 6-month intervals for 6-24 months. Measurements included vital capacity (VC), maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), tidal volume (VT), dead space (VD), and ventilatory response to CO2. Although reduction in VC correlated with MIP and MEP (p < 0.0001), some patients had normal VC despite reduced MIP and MEP (5 [23%] and 9 [41%] patients, respectively). Daytime hypercapnia was associated with reduced VC (<60% predicted) and MIP (<40% predicted). Moreover, chronic hypercapnia was associated with elevated VD/VT (≥0.44) due to falling VT (≈300 ml), compatible with reduced efficiency of CO2 clearance. The presence of hypercapnia and/or ventilatory support was associated with reduced ventilatory responsiveness to CO2 (≤0.7 l/min/mmHg). We conclude that daytime hypercapnia, an indicator of chronic respiratory failure, is tightly linked to the degree of respiratory muscle weakness and severity of pulmonary dysfunction in LOPD patients. Reductions in CO2 clearance efficiency and ventilatory responsiveness may contribute to the development of chronic daytime hypercapnia.
Kinds of designing and their functions in analyzing

In this paper, I mine the scholarly work of longtime MIT professor Donald Schon for a set of tactics which, having originated in his studies of the architectural design studio, are shown to be relevant to the architectural analysis of existing buildings. In this way, a specific and hitherto untapped potential of Schon’s work is developed, but more critically, I use the discussion to support a strategy of designerly analysis which suggests an expansion of studio pedagogy as a field for learning.
A zero-crossing detection algorithm for robust simulation of hybrid systems jumping on surfaces

Hybrid systems are inherently fragile with respect to perturbations when their state experiences jumps on surfaces. Zero-crossing detection algorithms are capable of robustly detecting the crossing of such surfaces, but, up to now, the effects of adding such algorithms to the system being simulated are unknown. In this paper, we propose a mathematical model for hybrid systems that incorporates zero-crossing detection as well as a hybrid simulator for it. First, we discuss adverse effects that measurement noise and discretization can have on hybrid systems jumping on surfaces and prove that, under mild regularity conditions, zero-crossing detection algorithms can robustify the original system. Then, we show that integration schemes with zero-crossing detection actually compute a robustified version of the fragile nominal model. In this way, we rigorously characterize their effect on solutions to the simulated system. Finally, we show that both the model and simulator are not only robust, but also that the hybrid simulator preserves asymptotic stability properties, semiglobally and practically (on the step size), of the original system. Several examples throughout the paper illustrate these ideas and results.
Domain-Swapped Dimers of Intracellular Lipid-Binding Proteins: Evidence for Ordered Folding Intermediates.

Human Cellular Retinol Binding Protein II (hCRBPII), a member of the intracellular lipid-binding protein family, is a monomeric protein responsible for the intracellular transport of retinol and retinal. Herein we report that hCRBPII forms an extensive domain-swapped dimer during bacterial expression. The domain-swapped region encompasses almost half of the protein. The dimer represents a novel structural architecture with the mouths of the two binding cavities facing each other, producing a new binding cavity that spans the length of the protein complex. Although wild-type hCRBPII forms the dimer, the propensity for dimerization can be substantially increased via mutation at Tyr60. The monomeric form of the wild-type protein represents the thermodynamically more stable species, making the domain-swapped dimer a kinetically trapped entity. Hypothetically, the wild-type protein has evolved to minimize dimerization of the folding intermediate through a critical hydrogen bond (Tyr60-Glu72) that disfavors the dimeric form.
Mandating Moral Reflection

Chen and Wasserman (2017) propose a strategy to enable informed consent of prospective parents who seek to undergo unrestricted noninvasive prenatal whole genome sequencing (NIPW). Chen and Wasserm...
Dual-Energy CT in Focal and Diffuse Liver Disease

The purpose of this article is to review recent literature evaluating the role of dual-energy CT (DECT) in assessing focal and diffuse liver diseases. Recent generation of DECT scanners and newer DECT technologies are equipped with advanced multi-material decomposition algorithms and have better spectral separation capabilities. These have the potential for improvement in quantitative assessment of deposition disorders. Advancements in image reconstructions have also demonstrated enhanced detection hypovascular and hypervascular liver lesions. This article will provide an updated overview of a wide array of clinical applications of DECT in liver imaging with case illustrations.
Current approaches to retroperitoneal hemorrhage: Too little, too late.

Key Points Retroperitoneal hemorrhage (RPH) arises in < 0.5% of patients undergoing percutaneous intervention, but is associated with high risks of morbidity and mortality. More than 50% of medical malpractice claims against interventional cardiologists are related to death and hemorrhage from vascular injury; delays in diagnosis and treatment are common. The current approach to RPH is characterized by “too little” to diagnose and “too late” to manage patients in extremis. Immediate CTA allows rapid diagnosis and triage to appropriate endovascular therapy, without delay.
Economic Development and the Evolution of Government in Pre-Industrial Europe

In pre-industrial Europe, government and the economy developed together, each influencing the other. The development of each was shaped by competition. Governments competed for territory, principally by means of war. Their success depended primarily on their ability to mobilize resources. So governments that could tap the resources of thriving economies had an advantage over governments that could not. Of course, whether or not an economy thrived depended to no small extent on the nature and conduct of its government. This nexus of government, war, and economy generated a sort of cycle. A period of peace allowed economies to develop and grow. This economic growth increased the resources available to governments, enabling them to embark on military adventures. War and the means used to finance it depressed economic activity and eventually starved governments of resources. This made it impossible for them to continue fighting. Peace then returned and the economy slowly recovered. This set the scene for another cycle. Economic growth and war were both self-limiting. It is this political-economic cycle much more than the demographic-economic cycle of Malthus that has been the main obstacle to sustained economic progress.
Monetizing Leakage Risk with Secondary Trapping in Intervening Stratigraphic Layers

Abstract Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) capture and storage, (CCS) has the potential to substantially mitigate CO 2 emissions, but concerns over the potential for leakage of CO 2 and brine from subsurface formations in which CO 2 has been geologically stored have impeded the deployment of CCS. In three lines of work, we investigated the causes and consequences of the leakage risk of CO 2 storage in deep saline aquifers. Our work developed the Leakage Impact Valuation (LIV) method to estimate the economic costs of leakage, produced an approach to probabilistically estimate the extent and magnitudes of leakage, and established the Leakage Risk Monetization Model (LRiMM) of geologic CO 2 storage to estimate the site-specific monetized leakage risk (MLR) of geologic CO 2 storage. The LRiMM combines the estimates of the economic costs and probabilistic extents and magnitudes of leakage in three dimensions within the geospatial context of leakage pathways and other subsurface activities. Here, we provide brief summaries of these lines of work and the lessons that arise from the results.
Chest Radiology in AIDS

Human immune deficiency virus (HIV) infection is a heterogeneous condition whose most advanced expression, AIDS, is associated with a number of well-characterized opportunistic infections and neoplasms. However, clinically asymptomatic HIV infection accounts for a longer duration of HIV infection than does symptomatic AIDS, except for a minority of patients who progress rapidly to AIDS. Although asymptomatic HIV-infected patients do not have AIDS-related opportunistic infections or CD4 cell counts of less than 200 cells/mm3, they do have demonstrable immunologic abnormalities. Another interesting group of HIV-infected patients have experienced substantial immune reconstitution as a result of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). These patients generally have very low CD4 cell counts, which rise during treatment with HAART (Palella et al. 1998).
Predictive quantitative structure-activity relationship modeling

This chapter focuses on modern and developing trends in quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) modeling. This research methodology is based on two strongly interrelated components, i.e., molecular ‘descriptors’ and statistical ‘data modeling’ techniques that are used to correlate descriptors with the ‘target property’ such as biological activity. The QSAR modeling field has experienced significant changes over its more than 40 years in existence. Its complexity has increased both with respect to molecular descriptors and data modeling techniques with the relatively recent emphasis of the latter methods on machine learning approaches. Some of these novel methods are reviewed in the chapter briefly but the real emphasis is placed on ‘model validation’ that has not been given sufficient attention in the past. We discuss general internal and external validation approaches that can be used by QSAR practitioners irrespective of the specific modeling approach and propose general QSAR modeling workflow. We emphasize that only extensively validated models characterized by their ‘applicability domains’ could be considered reliable and predictive. In the last section of the chapter, we demonstrate that validated, predictive models could be used successfully as a means of virtual screening of chemical libraries for the effective discovery of novel biologically active compounds.
Tree recruitment at the treeline across the Continental Divide in the Northern Rocky Mountains, USA: the role of spring snow and autumn climate

ABSTRACTBackground: Topoclimate can influence tree establishment within treeline ecotones. Yet much less is known about how regional topography, such as the Continental Divide, Rocky Mountains, mediates the role of climate in governing treeline dynamics.Aims: To utilise the Continental Divide to test whether contrasts in growing-season moisture regimes to the west (summer-dry) and east (summer-wet) impact the spatio-temporal patterns of tree establishment and rates of treeline advance in the Northern Rocky Mountains.Methods: We sampled trees at sites on north- and south-facing slopes, west and east of the Continental Divide. We used dendroecological techniques to reconstruct patterns of tree establishment. Age-structure data were quantitatively compared with climate to evaluate possible mechanistic linkages.Results: Across all sites, 96% of trees established after 1950. There was a treeline advance (range = 39–140 m) accompanied by increases in tree density. Significantly more trees established during wet...
Vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides) is capable of removing insensitive high explosives from munition industry wastewater

Synthetic organic explosive compounds in the wastewater stream of industrial munition facilities are subject to regulatory permits and require pretreatment prior to discharge. Munition industries are currently focused on developing insensitive high explosives (IHEs) such as dinitroanisole (DNAN), nitroguanidine (NQ), and 1,2,4-triazol-3-one (NTO), to replace conventional munitions such as trinitrotoluene (TNT) and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX). IHEs are typically more soluble than conventional explosives, and their production generates waste streams with high nitrate (N) concentrations. Several chemical remediation studies have attempted to degrade the explosive compounds within waste streams with limited success. Phytoremediation is a relatively new application for the remediation of munition industry wastewater, which is both environmentally and economically sustainable. Vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides), with its massive and dense root system and ability to grow in harsh environments, has been observed to remove many chemicals from soil and water, including nutrients and TNT. The objective of this study was to evaluate the phytoremediation potential of vetiver in removing explosive compounds and N from wastewater effluents generated in an industrial munition facility. Results show that the removal efficiency of vetiver was a factor of the initial concentration. Successive batches of vetiver removed DNAN, NQ, and RDX by 96, 79 and 100%, respectively. More than 95% of N was removed by four successive batches of vetiver grass. A major portion of NQ and RDX was translocated from root to shoot. LC-MS analysis showed the presence of transformation products of RDX, HMX (1,3,5,7-Tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocane) and DNAN in vetiver root and shoot.
The effect of leaf area and crop level on the concentration of amino acids and total nitrogen in 'Thompson Seedless' grapes

20 to 50% of the leaves and 25 to 75% of the clusters on 'Thompson Seedless' vines were removed 12 to 16 days after anthesis. In addition, 25 and 50% of the leaves on other vines were removed 35 and 58 days after anthesis, with no cluster thinning. Total soluble solids in fruits from vines with less than 5 cm 2 of leaf surface per gram of fruits was markedly reduced, while concentration in fruits from vines with a ratio above 10 was considerably higher, compared to the concentration in fruits from vines with ratios intermediate between these two values. The concentrations of arginine, proline, total free amino acids, and total N in berry juice were greatly increased by reducing the crop load. Also, the concentration of each of these substances increased during fruit ripening. A significant correlation between leaf area per vine and level of arginine in the juice was obtained. The concentration of proline in the juice was highly correlated with fruit maturity (°B) and with leaf area per unit weight of fruits. Total nitrogen was also correlated with leaf area per unit weight of fruits. Between 4 and 12 cm 2 leaf area per gram of fruits there was a linear increase in the concentration of proline and total nitrogen in berry juice, while above 12 cm 2 there was generally little further increase in the level of these substances. The ratio of arginine to proline decreased with fruit maturity and with smaller crop weights per vine. Total free amino acids accounted for 64 to 75% of the total nitrogen in the juice of grapes during the fruit-ripening period. Defoliation within 16 days after anthesis reduced crop yields, while later defoliations did not significantly reduce yields.
Multiphoton Ionization Studies of Van der Waals Molecules and Clusters1

Multiphoton ionization (MPI) following irradiation of atoms in an intense laser field was first observed by Veronov and Delone in 1965. They tightly focused a ruby laser into xenon gas and observed seven-photon, nonresonant ionization. 1 This work paved the way for what is now a major field of atomic and molecular physics. The first MPI studies of molecules appeared in 1972 and 1973.2,3 Spurred on by the development and availability of widely-tunable, high-power lasers, studies of both atoms and molecules increased dramatically. Tunability allows the exploitation of resonances which both enhance the MPI cross section and allow spectroscopic studies
Deconstructing a Double-Barreled Alternative: Evolution and Creationism.

The problem of assessing opinions through surveys with double-barreled items has long been recognized, but nonfield experiments that examine their construction have been limited. Opinions about evo...
National Estimates and Predictors for Pulmonary Hypertension Readmission Categorized by Pulmonary Hypertension Subtype

Purpose While hospital readmissions are currently the focus of much scrutiny across other cardiopulmonary diseases, it is relatively understudied within pulmonary hypertension (PH). We sought to determine national estimate measures and predictors of 30-day readmission after PH-related hospitalization categorized by PH diagnostic category. Methods We utilized the 2014 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Readmission Database (NRD) that accounts for weighted estimates of roughly 35 million discharges in the United States. Adult patients with primary ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes of 416.0 and 416.8 for primary and secondary PH with an index admission and any readmission within 30-days of the index event were identified. Sampling weights were used to obtain national-level estimates. We then sought to assess predictors of 30-day readmission from 29 AHRQ comorbidity measures and categorized them by PH diagnostic category as Primary PH (PPH) and Secondary PH (SPH) using multivariable logistic regression modeling, adjusted for gender, age group, hospital characteristics, and index LOS. Results The national estimate for an overall number of PH related index events with 30-day readmission was 2338 (SE 133) and a national readmission rate estimate 0.20 (SE 0.007). 90% of 30-day readmissions were SPH and 10% were PPH. The presence of fluid and electrolyte disorders (FED) was associated with increased risk of readmission in PPH while predictors of SPH readmissions included anemia, congestive heart failure, lung disease, FED, solid tumor without metastasis and renal failure. The mean charges for PPH admissions and readmissions were $75,980 and $85,842, with SPH totaling $53,084 and $62,585, respectively. Conclusion Roughly, 20% of PH-related hospitalizations result in 30-day readmission with underlying predictors varying by PH type. Furthermore, in adults, mean charges of readmission exceeded that of index hospitalization across both PH diagnostic categories.
Lactoferrin Reverses Methotrexate Driven Epithelial Barrier Defect by Inhibiting TGF-β Mediated Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Methotrexate is an important tool in the arsenal of oncologists, gastroenterologists, and rheumatologists. At low doses it induces intestinal barrier dysfunction that may induce side effects such as gastrointestinal discomfort and liver injury. Previous studies suggest that lactoferrin can improve barrier function in a variety of contexts. This study set out to determine the mechanism of methotrexate induced barrier dysfunction and assess the effect of lactoferrin and other components of human breast milk on this dysfunction. METHODS: Using a murine enteroid model and Caco2 spheroids, we measured flux of basolateral administered fluorescent dextran into the lumen. Barrier dysfunction was induced using methotrexate (220 nM) or lipopolysaccharide (20 nM). Human lactoferrin was added at 0.8 mg/ml (10 μM). RNAseq was performed on exposed samples. RESULTS: Lactoferrin blocks methotrexate-induced barrier dysfunction in murine enteroids. Similar results were observed when barrier dysfunction was induced in Caco2 spheroids with methotrexate and LPS, but not ML7. RNAseq revealed activation of TGF-β response genes and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by methotrexate, which normalized in the presence of lactoferrin. TGF-β receptor inhibition (RepSox) blocked methotrexate induced barrier dysfunction in Caco2 spheroids. 20 nM TGF-β induced barrier dysfunction in Caco2 spheroids which was also inhibited by lactoferrin. CONCLUSIONS: Methotrexate induces barrier dysfunction by activation of an EMT program promoted by TGF-β signaling and inhibited by lactoferrin. Lactoferrin is also protective of barrier function in an LPS-induced model. The likely mechanism of this effect is blockade of EMT programs induced by TGF-β. KEYWORDS: Methotrexate, Lactoferrin, TGF-β, Intestinal Barrier, Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
MANAGEMENT OF GERIATRIC BIPOLAR DISORDER: A CASE SERIES AND REVIEW OF CURRENT EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENT GUIDELINES

Abstract Bipolar disorder is a severe, relapsing mental illness, with recurrent episodes of altered mood that interfere with cognition and functioning. Although prevalence of bipolar disorder decreases with age, the absolute number of older adults with bipolar disorder is expected to increase with the aging population. Bipolar disorder is a frequent reason for psychiatric hospitalization in later-life, with prevalence rates in psychiatric inpatient treatment settings ranging from 4.7%–18.5%. There are several challenges in the management of geriatric bipolar disorder. Due to physiologic changes, comorbid medical conditions, and often polypharmacy, older adults are at higher risk for adverse effects of medications used to treat bipolar disorder. The disorder itself often impairs insight and treatment adherence. Additionally, response to medication is often incomplete, and later-life bipolar disorder is associated with persisting disability, cognitive impairment, increased mortality, and increased risk of suicide. Finally, limited data are available on use of medications and psychotherapies for older patients with bipolar disorder. Many of the current treatment approaches to bipolar disorder in later life are based on results from clinical trials in younger populations, extrapolated to the geriatric population. During this session, presenters will: 1) Describe current pharmacologic practice patterns and real-world challenges in clinical practice for older adults with bipolar disorder, through summary of a clinical case series of 50 older veterans diagnosed with bipolar disorder and engaged in longitudinal outpatient mental health care at the Minneapolis Veterans affairs medical center; 2) Review the most current literature on evidence-based treatment guidelines for geriatric bipolar disorder; 3) Identify limitations in existing guidelines, through comparison of real-world practice with current research evidence; 4) Propose future steps in geriatric bipolar disorder research that will help fill the existing gaps between the current evidence and clinical practice.