cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Meeting Diagnostic Related Group Goals for Elderly Patients

Strong economic incentives for prompt discharge under the diagnostic related group (DRG) system challenge hospital social workers to balance the needs of individual patients and the needs of their employing institution. A sample of 219 elderly patients at a large, urban teaching hospital were assigned to regular or early intervention groups. The relationships among timing, type, and amount of social work intervention; ability of patients to care for themselves; availability of social support; and other variables were examined. Early and adequate social work diagnosis and intervention tended to limit excessive hospital stays and facilitate the institution's ability to adhere to DRG guidelines.
School Violence and the Culture of Honor

We investigated the hypothesis that a sociocultural variable known as the culture of honor would be uniquely predictive of school-violence indicators. Controlling for demographic characteristics associated in previous studies with violent crime among adults, we found that high-school students in culture-of-honor states were significantly more likely than high-school students in non-culture-of-honor states to report having brought a weapon to school in the past month. Using data aggregated over a 20-year period, we also found that culture-of-honor states had more than twice as many school shootings per capita as non-culture-of-honor states. The data revealed important differences between school violence and general patterns of homicide and are consistent with the view that many acts of school violence reflect retaliatory aggression springing from intensely experienced social-identity threats.
An educational perspective to model and controller reduction of dynamical systems

In this paper, and educational framework on model and controller reduction techniques arising in the study of dynamical systems is presented. The model reduction problem is posed in a projection framework, and some techniques are shown, such as balanced truncation, and moment matching by Krylov subspace, to obtain reduced-order models and controllers. The practical application of these reduced-order controllers are shown in a control laboratory setup, developed for teaching undergraduate control systems. The implementations were performed using the torsional disks apparatus controlled by LabVIEW.
On Wanting to Compare Wittgenstein and Zen

In his paper on ‘Wittgenstein and Zen’,1 Professor Canfield argues that ‘For both Wittgenstein and Zen, language and understanding do not require thought. For Wittgenstein, rather, language and understanding are grounded in what he calls “practice”. Wittgenstein’s idea of a practice overlaps with the Zen idea of what shall be called here “just doing” something; that is doing something with a mind free of ideas or concepts’ (p. 383). In discussing the sense in which language does not require thought, Canfield wishes to combat the compelling picture that language conveys thoughts which are logically and temporally prior to it; thoughts without which there could be no such thing as language. In opposition to such a picture Canfield expounds Wittgenstein’s view thus: To understand a concept is to be able to use the corresponding word or words in their language game, or to be able to play the language game (or one of the language games) in which a word expressing the concept has a home. Thus, mastery of a concept consists not in having some idea or other, but in having a certain skill: namely being able to participate, by means of ‘just doing’ in a certain pattern of interaction. This just doing will consist in using the word in the language game to do a certain job, namely that job which it is the word’s role in the language game to do. In this sense of ‘concept’, the word is robbed of any mental attributes; in this sense to have a concept is not to have some particular idea’ (p. 401).
The adaptation of tomato mosaic virus to resistant tomato plants

SUMMARY Tomato mosaic virus derived from susceptible tomato plants (the standard virus) was cultured in resistant plants. Sap from non-inoculated leaves of resistant tomato plants infected with virus from the resistant host was more infective and contained more virus particles than leaf sap of resistant plants infected with the standard virus. Leaves of resistant tomatoes infected with virus from the resistant host also showed more obvious symptoms. Susceptible plants infected with virus from resistant plants not only showed fewer symptoms than when infected with standard virus, but samples were less infective and contained less virus up to 26 weeks, when values for infectivity were similar. This modification in activity was not reversible and was obtained with two lines of tomato having different types of resistance. Passage of virus from resistant plants through susceptible plants did not impair its ability to infect resistant plants.
Prospective assessment of the gastroesophageal microbiome in VLBW neonates

Background: The distal GI microbiota of hospitalized preterm neonates has been established to be unique from that of healthy full-term infants; the proximal GI, more specifically gastroesophageal colonization has not been systematically addressed. We prospectively evaluated early colonization of gastroesophageal portion of the GI tract of VLBW infants. Methods: This study involved 12 infants admitted to a level III NICU with gestational age (GA) 27 +/� 0.5 weeks and birth weight 1105 +/� 77 grams. The gastroesophageal microbial flora was evaluated using 16S rDNA analysis of aspirates collected in a sterile manner during the first 28 days of life. Results: Bacteria were detected in 9 of the 12 neonates. Ureaplasma was the dominant species in the first week of life, however, staphylococci were the predominant bacteria overall. By the fourth week, Gram (�) bacteria increased in abundance to account for 50% of the total organisms. Firmicutes were present in the majority of the neonates and persisted throughout the 4 weeks comprising nearly half of the sequenced clones. Noticeably, only two distinct species of Staphylococcus epidermidis were found, suggesting acquisition from the environment. Conclusions: In our neonates, the esophagus and stomach environment changed from being relatively sterile at birth to becoming colonized by a phylogenetically diverse microbiota of low individual complexity. By the fourth week, we found predominance of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. Bacteria from both phyla (CONS and Gram (�) organisms) are strongly implicated as causes of hospital-acquired infections (HAI). Evaluation of the measures preventing colonization with potentially pathogenic and pathogenic microorganisms from the hospital environment may be warranted and may suggest novel approaches to improving quality in neonatal care.
Comparison of Donor, and Early and Late Recipient Outcomes Following Hand Assisted and Laparoscopic Donor Nephrectomy

Purpose: While laparoscopic donor nephrectomy has encouraged living kidney donation, debate exists about the safest laparoscopic technique. We compared purely laparoscopic and hand assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomies in terms of donor outcome, early graft function and long-term graft outcome.Materials and Methods: We reviewed the records of consecutive laparoscopic and hand assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomies performed by a single surgeon from 2002 to 2011. Donor operative time and perioperative morbidity were compared. Early graft function for kidneys procured by each technique was evaluated by rates of delayed graft function, need for dialysis and recipient discharge creatinine. Long-term outcomes were evaluated by graft function.Results: A total of 152 laparoscopic donor nephrectomies were compared with 116 hand assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomies. Hand assisted procedures were more often done for the right kidney (41.1% vs 17.1%, p <0.001) and in older donors (age 41.4 vs 37.5 years,...
Relative food preference and hedonic judgments in schizophrenia

There is a well-documented disruption of the neural network associated with reward evaluation in schizophrenia. This same system is involved in coding the incentive value of food in healthy individuals, however no study to date has examined anhedonia and its relation to food in schizophrenia. Relative preference and hedonic food ratings were examined in schizophrenia patients and healthy controls. In the relative preference task, subjects viewed photographs of food items and selected the one that they most preferred. Hedonic ratings were obtained by asking subjects how much they liked the food stimulus on a scale of 1–5. There were no overall response time differences between the two groups in the relative preference task but schizophrenic patients showed subtle differences in their hedonic ratings of foods compared with control subjects. Schizophrenic patients gave more positive hedonic ratings for food than controls and the use of fewer positive ratings was associated with increased anhedonia, particularly with loss of sexual interest. These results suggest that while making relative preference judgments may be intact, hedonic values attached to food may be altered in schizophrenia, and they may be related to dysfunction in more basic vegetative systems. These findings may help to elucidate a more general model of food preference and judgment in human subjects based on documenting characteristics associated with a known dysfunctional system in schizophrenia.
Safety Considerations and Safety Protocol for Laser Surgery

The critical importance of laser safety depends on a precise knowledge of the physics of each type of laser and on the tissue effects each type produces in the constantly changing environment during surgery. The considerations involved in using the most common lasers--safety guidelines, general protocol, and specific measures--are outlined.
Segmental orientation studies of block copolymers: 2. Non-hydrogen bonded polyurethanes

Abstract Uniaxial orientation of a series of polyurethane block copolymers of well characterized segmental molecular weight distribution has been studied by differential infra-red dichroism. These materials contain hard blocks incorporating piperazine units which have no possibility for hydrogen bonding. The soft segments orient into the direction of stretch at all strains but relax towards a random configuration when the load is removed. Hard segment orientation is transverse to the stretch direction at low strains, turning into the direction of stretch at higher strains. At the higher strains the hard segment orientation relaxes very little when the load is removed. Compared to hydrogen bonding polyurethanes the polyurethanes of this study showed higher hard segment orientability and strain hysteresis. This may be partly attributed to the reduced strength of the intersegment bonding and more crystalline nature of the hard segment in the piperazine extended polymers. Segment polydispersity appears to have only a secondary influence on the sub-failure properties studied in this investigation.
Design strategies from sexual exploitation and sex work studies among women and girls: methodological considerations in a hidden and vulnerable population

The study of sex trafficking, prostitution, sex work, and sexual exploitation is associated with many methodological issues and challenges. Researchers’ study designs must consider the many safety issues related to this vulnerable and hidden population. Community advisory boards and key stakeholder involvement are essential to study design to increase safety of participants, usefulness of study aims, and meaningfulness of conclusions. Nonrandomized sampling strategies are most often utilized when studying exploited women and girls, which have the capacity to provide rich data and require complex sampling and recruitment methods. This article reviews the current methodological issues when studying this marginalized population as well as strategies to address challenges while working with the community in order to bring about social change. The authors also discuss their own experiences in collaborating with community organizations to conduct research in this field.
Sacred Attributions: Implications for Marketplace Behavior

Prior research in marketing has extensively examined attribution theory and how this influences product evaluations; however, such research has only examined secular attributions to a company, employees, other consumers, or one's self. Thus, through a series of three studies, the research herein examines a new category of attributions—sacred attributions—to determine when consumers make secular versus sacred attributions and how this influences product evaluations. Study 1 shows that religiosity is positively correlated with sacred attributions. Additionally, Study 1 finds that sacred attributions to God are more likely in positive consumption situations, while sacred attributions to Satan are more likely in negative consumption situations. Study 2 finds that God (Satan) attributions lead to positive (negative) product evaluations, and these effects are pervasive, regardless of religious priming. Study 3 increases external validity by using real businesses to show that sacred attributions are greatest for businesses with a sacred value system, although these effects differ based on situational affect. Findings build upon the literature on attribution theory and priming.
Simulation study on effect of subsurface drainage system layout in the Yellow River delta

Agricultural production is threatened by waterlogged and soil salinization due to the flat relief,concentrated rainfall in summer,shallow ground water and high salinity in the Yellow River delta,construction of drainage systems thus becomes a prerequisite for production of food and cotton in this area.As the current standards for subsurface drainage design are developed on the basis of average soil moisture condition,the stochastic nature of the hydrological process and the special feature of the regional hydrological factors are neglected.This paper studied the effects of subsurface drainage systems layout with the field hydrology model-DRAINMOD.The results showed that shallow drainage may better perform on water control of farmland,non-point source reduction and sea water intrusion prevention than the traditional deep drainage ditches in the study area.The simulated total drainage discharge was significantly less with the shallow subsurface drainage layout than with the traditional deep ditch system.The results may provide practical guidance for agricultural production and ecological environment protection in the Yellow River Delta.
Analysis on Death Cause and Life Expectancy of Residents in Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture in 2007

Objective To investigate death cause,diseases distribution,life expectancy,and health status of local residents in Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture in 2007,and to provide epidemiological research reference for diseases prevention.Methods Death causes were classified by approaches of ICD-10,and analyzed by descriptive epidemiology method and software of medical registration system of death cause issued by Ministry of Health.Results The crude death rate was 2.54‰ in Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture in 2007,the first five death-causing diseases were circulatory system diseases,respiratory disease,tumor,trauma,toxication,and digestive disease.Trauma and toxication were both the number one killer among the population of 5～44 years old;but for the population of 45～65 years old or more,the first death-causing disease was circulatory system diseases.The life expectancy of local residents was 73.27 years,and female's life expectancy(75.48 years)was significantly longer than that of males'(69.81 years).Conclusions The chronic non-infective disease is the major cause of death in Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture,trauma and toxication are also the important causes of death.There is a remarkable increase in the life expectancy in Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture,but a distinct-gap remains when compares with the economically advanced regions.To better control these causes of death and improve the state of health of Xiangxi local residents,more work needs to be done.
Brief Note: Marrow Repopulating Ability of Peripheral Blood Cells Compared to Thoracic Duct Cells

Ten dogs were exposed to 1200 r. of whole body irradiation at a dose rate of 9.2 r./min. Five of these dogs were then given infusions of 21 to 74 x 109 autologous peripheral blood cells which had been previously stored at -80 C. 4.0 to 19.4 x 109 of these cells were lymphocytes, 0.4 to 4.9 x 109 were monocytes and 16.4 to 50.3 x 109 were granulocytes. All five dogs showed clinical or histologic evidence of bone marrow repopulation. The remaining 5 dogs were given 7 to 22 x 109 autologous thoracic duct lymphocytes. In none of these dogs was marrow repopulation observed. It was concluded that hemopoietic stem cells are not present in the thoracic duct lymph of the dog in any appreciable number.
Allegorical Journeys Toward the Wholeness and Unity of the Sea: Marguerite Yourcenar

Marguerite Yourcenar’s allegorical journeys deal with myths of creation in both East and West, and suggest three degrees in literary and artistic creative aspirations: the Divine, the human, and the demonic. To them, in the relationship among living beings, correspond the categories of Love, possession, and sadism. Love is seen as compassion, as sympathy, as play that blends love with all the arts, with poetry, painting and calligraphy.
Architectural support for Internet evolution and innovation

The architecture of the modern Internet encompasses a large number of principles, concepts and assumptions, that have evolved over several decades. In this paper, we introduce the SILO architecture, a meta-design framework within which the system design can change and evolve. We describe the actual architecture itself, as well as the “proof-of-concept” software prototype we have built.
Medicaid Expansion and ACA Repeal: Evidence From Ohio

Objectives. To examine the health insurance coverage options for Medicaid expansion enrollees if the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is repealed, using evidence from Ohio, where more than half a million adults have enrolled in the state’s Medicaid program through the ACA expansion.Methods. The Ohio Medicaid Assessment Survey interviewed 42 000 households in 2015. We report data from a unique battery of questions designed to identify insurance coverage immediately prior to Medicaid enrollment.Results. Ninety-five percent of new Medicaid enrollees in Ohio did not have a private health insurance option immediately before enrollment. These new enrollees are predominantly older, low-income Whites with a high school education or less. Only 5% of new Medicaid enrollees were eligible for an employer-sponsored insurance plan to which they could potentially return in the case of repeal of the ACA.Conclusions. The vast majority of Medicaid expansion enrollees would have no plausible pathway to obtaining private-sector ins...
Open economy politics and trade policy

ABSTRACTHas 25 years of accumulated empirical research informed by the open economy politics (OEP) perspective deepened our understanding of how politics influence trade policy? This paper offers an answer to this question based on a survey of empirical research on individual trade policy preferences, the impact of domestic political institutions on trade policy outcomes, and the relationship between international institutions and trade policy outcomes. I reach a rather disappointing conclusion: although every contribution to the OEP research program is rigorous and robust, the individual findings have not produced consensus on any of the major questions at the center of research. Consequently, we know no more about the politics of trade policy today than we knew three decades ago. This lack of progress in OEP's variable-based approach creates opportunities for research that relies on a pattern-based approach informed by the logic of causal complexity.
Lessons from the Zebrafish Lateral Line System

The Posterior Lateral Line system (PLL) in zebrafish is a remarkably effective model system for understanding how interactions between cells and integration of input from multiple signaling systems regulates pattern formation, morphogenesis, growth, and collective migration during the self-organization of tissues during development. The PLL is established by the PLL primordium (PLLp), a collection of about 100 cells, which migrates from the ear to the tip of the tail periodically depositing sensory organs called neuromasts. ligands, expressed in response to Wnt signaling in a leading domain, establish center-biased FGF (Fibroblast Growth Factor) signaling centers in an adjacent trailing domain to coordinate periodic formation of nascent neuromasts or protoneuromasts within the migrating PLLp. FGF signaling initiates center-biased atoh1a expression in protoneuromasts, giving them the potential to become sensory hair cell progenitors. Lateral inhibition mediated by Notch signaling operates in this context to restrict atoh1a expression to the central cell, specifying it as a sensory hair cell progenitor, while neighboring cells, in which atoh1a has been suppressed, become support cells. Polarized expression of chemokine receptors, Cxcr4b and Cxcr7b, in leading and trailing cells, respectively, determines directed migration of the PLLp along a path defined by the relatively uniform expression of the chemokine ligand, Cxcl12a. Cxcl12a ligand binds the Cxcr4b receptor to engage the G protein coupled signaling pathway and determine migratory behavior of leading cells, while Cxcr7b receptors in trailing cells play a key role in reducing availability of the Cxcl12a to Cxcr4b in trailing cells.
The NS1 protein: a multitasking virulence factor

The non-structural protein 1 of influenza virus (NS1) is a relatively small polypeptide with an outstanding number of ascribed functions. NS1 is the main viral antagonist of the innate immune response during influenza virus infection, chiefly by inhibiting the type I interferon system at multiple steps. As such, its role is critical to overcome the first barrier the host presents to halt the viral infection. However, the pro-viral activities of this well-studied protein go far beyond and include regulation of viral RNA and protein synthesis, and disruption of the host cell homeostasis by dramatically affecting general gene expression while tweaking the PI3K signaling network. Because of all of this, NS1 is a key virulence factor that impacts influenza pathogenesis, and adaptation to new hosts, making it an attractive target for control strategies. Here, we will overview the many roles that have been ascribed to the NS1 protein, and give insights into the sequence features and structural properties that make them possible, highlighting the need to understand how NS1 can actually perform all of these functions during viral infection.
Trans-gastric pancreaticogastrostomy reconstruction after pylorus-preserving robotic Whipple: a proposal for a standardized technique

A number of technical improvements regarding the pancreatic anastomosis have decreased the morbidity and mortality after pancreaticoduodenectomy. However, postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) remains is the most feared complication, and the ideal technique for pancreatic reconstruction is undetermined. This study is a retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database. Data were collected from all consecutive robot-assisted pancreaticoduodenectomies (RAPD), performed by a single surgeon, at the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System, between September 2007 and January 2016. A total of 28 consecutive patients (16 male and 12 female) who underwent a RAPD were included in this study. Patients had a mean age and mean BMI of 61.5 years (SD = 12.3) and 27 kg/m2 (SD = 4.9), respectively. The mean operative time was 468.2 min (SD = 73.7) and the average estimated blood loss was 216.1 ml (SD = 113.1). The mean length of hospitalization was 13.1 days (SD = 5.4). There was no clinically significant POPF registered. Trans-gastric pancreaticogastrostomy (TPG) represents a valid and feasible option as a pancreatic digestive reconstruction during RAPD. Initial results showed decreased incidence of POPF with an increased risk of postoperative bleeding. Our experience suggests that TPG might be safer than pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ); further studies are needed in order to confirm.
Testosterone therapy and venous thromboembolism: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract Background Testosterone prescribing for men has dramatically increased, and there have been concerns about inappropriate use and adverse events. While regulatory bodies have warned about increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), published clinical data supporting an increased risk for VTE are limited. Objective To conduct a systematic review of studies examining the association between testosterone therapy in men and VTE. Methods Comprehensive searches of multiple databases were performed from inception through October 3rd, 2018. Randomized control trials (RCTs) and observational studies examining the association between exogenous testosterone (any route) and VTE. Study selection and data extraction were performed by two independent investigators. Random-effect model meta-analyses were used to estimate pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity among studies was evaluated using the I2 statistic. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane and Newcastle-Ottawa tools. Results Six RCTs (n = 2236) and 5 observational studies (n = 1,249,640) were included. Five RCTs were performed in men with documented hypogonadism. The observational studies included: 2 case-control studies, 2 retrospective cohorts, and 1 retrospective cohort with a nested case-control study. There was no evidence of a statistically significant association between VTE and testosterone (OR 1.41, 95%CI 0.96–2.07). Heterogeneity was high (I-squared = 84.4%). The association remained nonsignificant when the analysis was stratified by study design: RCTs (2.05, 95% CI 0.78–5.39); cohort (1.06, 95% CI 0.85–1.33); and case-control (1.34, 95% CI 0.78–2.28). The overall risk of bias was moderate. Conclusions The current evidence is of low certainty but does not support an association between testosterone use and VTE in men.
Effects of post-processing methods on chitosan-genipin hydrogel properties

Abstract Biopolymer based hydrogel materials are attractive options for a variety of medical applications, including drug delivery and tissue regeneration because of their innate biomimetic material properties. While biopolymers are typically selected for a specific application based off of their chemical properties; the overall material structure of the resulting hydrogel ultimately relates to its ability to function for its intended application. In view of this, it is imperative that the impact of commonly used drying procedures on hydrogel physical properties is well understood. Herein, the effects of post-synthesis drying techniques: air-drying and lyophilization, on genipin crosslinked chitosan hydrogel physical structure were studied. Chitosan-genipin hydrogels synthesized out of either 15 kDa MW or 50–190 kDa MW chitosan were either air-dried (AD), flash-frozen (FF) and then lyophilized, or step-down frozen (SD) and then lyophilized. Environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) was employed to evaluate the resulting hydrogels physical structure as a function of chitosan molecular weight and drying condition. ESEM images revealed the presence of larger microscale pores within the SD samples compared to FF samples, but both treatments yielded the induction of micropore with sizes ranging between 9–400 μm in diameter into the hydrogels. Traditional hydrogel swelling studies were performed to assess the resulting hydrogels swelling profile as a function of chitosan molecular weight and drying treatment. Lyophilized hydrogels showed a five-fold increase in swelling ratio compared to AD hydrogels indicating a change in morphology due to the drying process. The results demonstrate that regardless of polymer molecular weight, post-processing technique had a strong correlation with hydrogel porosity.
Chlorates and perchlorates as potential high-energy materials: chlorate- and perchlorate-substituted methanes

Abstract The structures and properties of thirty-three of the thirty-four possible chlorato-Cl-, chlorato-O- and perchlorato-derivatives of methane have been computed using the range-separated hybrid generalized gradient approximation density functional method ωB97X-D with the 6-311+G(2d,p) basis set. These results indicate that the chlorato-O-substituent confers more stability to a molecule than does the chlorato-Cl-substituent; the perchlorato-substituent is approximately intermediate in this regard when decomposition energies are calculated. The C–Cl bond lengths in the chlorato-Cl-substituents generally elongate and the C–O distances in the chlorato-O- and perchlorato-substituents tend to shorten as the number of chlorate/perchlorate substituents increases. In addition, as the C–O bond shortens, the CO–Cl bond lengthens. The calculated Mulliken and Lowdin bond orders for these bonds exhibit the opposite of the trends exhibited by the bond lengths, as expected: As the bond lengthens, the bond order decreases, and vice versa. The single molecule that could not be optimized as a stable methane derivative, (chlorato-Cl-)tris(chlorato-O-)methane, rearranged during all optimization attempts to an isomer of the neutral Cl2O5 molecule and a hitherto unknown molecule, bis(chlorato-O-)carbonyl, (O2ClO)2C=O.
Predictors of Prescription Stimulant Misuse in U.S. College Graduates.

Background: Research has shown that prescription stimulant misuse (PSM) is prevalent among college students and that full-time college attendance is associated with PSM following graduation. Few st...
Research on Laser Cavity Ring-down Spectroscopy and Fiber-Based Measurement for SF6 Decomposed Gases

The four species gases including H2S, CO, HF and SO2 in the decomposition gas of SF6 were monitored online, according to the power industry requirements. The calibration technology and the algorithm, the optical path of cavity and signal to noise ratio of detection circuit are the key steps in the development of decomposed gas monitoring device. This paper first introduces the calibration method and technology of multi-component trace gas analysis instrument based on photo-acoustic spectroscopy. An on-line monitoring device for SF6 decomposition gas based on the laser absorption spectroscopy is developed. The calibration algorithm is proposed and verified by experiment. Within the range of 0~200ppm, the stability is less than 2%. The concentration calibration method proposed in this paper can effectively monitor the concentration of H2S, CO, HF, SO2 typical characteristic gases, and provide theoretical and technical guidance for SF6 gas insulated high-voltage combined electrical apparatus.
Influence of Beef Cattle Stocking Density on Utilization of Vegetative Communities in a Late-Spring, Early-Summer Native Bunchgrass Prairie

This study evaluated the influence of cattle stocking density on the use of botanical communities on a native bunchgrass prairie. In each of two years, 192 cow-calf pairs and 48 yearling heifers were randomly selected for the following grazing treatments: 1) control, no livestock grazing; 2) low stocking, 0.36 animal units (AU) ∙ ha -1 ; 3) moderate stocking, 0.72 AU ∙ ha -1 ; and 4) high stocking, 1.08 AU ∙ ha -1 for a 42-day grazing period. Thirty-six monitoring sites were established uniformly along a grid in each paddock. Standing crop and relative preference data for cattle collected from the treatment area were used to develop the following vegetation community classifications: 1) > 20% introduced; 2) > 40% native bunchgrass with > 50% Idaho fescue ( Festuca idahoensis ); 3) > 40% native bunch grass with 50% Forb; and 5) other. Utilization for each community type was collected at the end of the grazing period. High stocking density paddocks had higher utilization across all vegetation classifications compared to other stocking densities ( P ≤ 0.04). Moderate stocking density paddocks were utilized 11.5% more than low paddocks, however, utilization of introduced vegetative communities, Idaho fescue dominated bunchgrass communities, and forb dominated communities did not differ in use ( P ≥ 0.13). Use of monitoring to actively adjust stocking densities based on differential community utilization may improve the sustainable grazing of sensitive communities because conventional stocking rate calculations based on total productivity do not account for the selective grazing behavior of cattle.
On optical-absorption peaks in a nonhomogeneous thin-film solar cell with a two-dimensional periodically corrugated metallic backreflector

The rigorous coupled-wave approach (RCWA) was implemented to investigate optical absorption in a triple-p-i-n-junction amorphous-silicon solar cell with a two-dimensional (2-D) metallic periodically corrugated backreflector (PCBR). Both total and useful absorptances were computed against the free-space wavelength λ0 for both s- and p-polarized polarization states. The useful absorptance in each of the three p-i-n junctions was also computed for normal as well as oblique incidence. Furthermore, two canonical boundary-value problems were solved for the prediction of guided-wave modes (GWMs): surface-plasmon-polariton waves and waveguide modes. Use of the doubly periodic PCBR enhanced both useful and total absorptances in comparison with a planar backreflector. The predicted GWMs were correlated with the peaks of the total and useful absorptances. The excitation of GWMs was mostly confined to λ0 < 700 nm and enhanced absorption. As excitation of certain GWMs could be correlated with the total absorptance but not with the useful absorptance, the useful absorptance should be studied while devising light-trapping strategies.
What is a Contract

A contract is generally understood to be a legal duty that is deliberately created by the obligor and the obligee. But that description misses many legal relationships that are similarly created and are essential to the institution of private ordering. Hohfeld referred to these non-duty relations as privileges, powers, and immunities. In ruling on their formation and legal effect, courts often mislabel these other relationships as “contracts” in order to apply borrowed contract doctrines, such as consideration. Courts fail, however, to rationalize the application of borrowed rules to such different relationships. This article proposes that the fiction be dropped and that all such privately created relations be recognized as being contracts. Contracts that create privileges, powers, and immunities merit the same judicial and theoretical attention that is given to contracts that create rights concerning their functions, formation, content, and enforcement. Existing contract rules and principles can then be adapted to all of the modes of private ordering by agreement.
MicroRNA-221 and -222 modulate intestinal inflammatory Th17 cell response as negative feedback regulators downstream of interleukin-23

Summary MicroRNAs are important regulators of immune responses. Here, we show miR-221 and miR-222 modulate the intestinal Th17 cell response. Expression of miR-221 and miR-222 was induced by proinflammatory cytokines and repressed by the cytokine TGF-β. Molecular targets of miR-221 and miR-222 included Maf and Il23r, and loss of miR-221 and miR-222 expression shifted the transcriptomic spectrum of intestinal Th17 cells to a proinflammatory signature. Although the loss of miR-221 and miR-222 was tolerated for maintaining intestinal Th17 cell homeostasis in healthy mice, Th17 cells lacking miR-221 and miR-222 expanded more efficiently in response to IL-23. Both global and T cell-specific deletion of miR-221 and miR-222 rendered mice prone to mucosal barrier damage. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that miR-221 and miR-222 are an integral part of intestinal Th17 cell response that are induced after IL-23 stimulation to constrain the magnitude of proinflammatory response.
Ecological momentary assessment for health behaviors and contextual factors in persons with diabetes: A systematic review.

Abstract Aim The objective of this systematic review was to summarize the ecological momentary assessment (EMA) methodology and associations between EMA-measured psychosocial, contextual factors and diabetes self-management. Methods The inclusion criteria were: research of EMA and diabetes self-management behaviors such as glucose checks, administration of insulin and eating-and dietary intake behaviors among persons with diabetes. A comprehensive search of several databases was conducted across all dates until July 2020. Results A modified Checklist for Reporting EMA Studies was used to assess the quality of studies. Among the ten included studies, participants were predominantly White adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes was studied in two studies. Time-varying, psychosocial contexts such as negative affect or negative social interaction were associated with missed insulin injection and poor adherence to glucose check. More preceding psychological stress was associated with more calorie intake from snacks or binge eating behaviors. Mornings were the most challenging time of day for adherence to diabetes self-management among adolescents with T1D. Intentional insulin withholding was more common in the afternoon in adults with T1D. Conclusions EMA has potential clinical utility in the assessment of diabetes self-management and in the development of timely and individualized diabetes interventions.
En-Gendering Creation Anew: Rethinking Ecclesial Statements on Science, Gender, and Sexuality with William R. Stoeger, SJ

Despite Pope John Paul II's call for “intense dialogue” between theology and science that excludes “unreasonable interpretations” of Scripture, ecclesial statements on gender and sexuality—including John Paul II's own works—deploy an interpretation of the literal meaning of Genesis to perpetuate a complementarian anthropology that contradicts scientific insights about the human body. After illustrating the implications of this hermeneutical inconsistency, this article presents Jesuit astronomer William Stoeger's theological method and hermeneutics of the full flourishing of life as an alternative approach, which fulfills John Paul II's vision for dialogue and paves a way toward reimagining church teachings on gender and sexuality.
Novel Targeted Therapies in Clinical Use and on the Horizon for Cholangiocarcinoma

Combination gemcitabine and cisplatin has been the standard of care for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) since 2010, with a median overall survival of 11.7 months. There is a dire need for improved treatment options for patients with CCA in both the first-line and second-line settings, given the 5-year survival for CCA remains 5–10%. Advances in next-generation sequencing have helped elucidate the pathogenesis of CCA and have identified mutations holding considerable promise for the development of targeted therapies. Clinical trials with inhibitors targeting FGFR2 fusion and IDH1 and IDH2 mutations have been encouraging, with expectations that these drugs will enter clinical practice. KRAS and B-raf proto-oncogenes, Her2/neu genes, and BRCA1 and 2 tumor-suppressor genes have also been proposed as potential targets for future therapies. Targeted therapies have generated optimism that new treatments will soon be available for patients with CCA, with the hope of improved outcomes for these patients.
In-Plane Shear Cyclic Performance of Spline Cross-Laminated Timber-Concrete Composite Diaphragms

AbstractOver the past decade, cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels have gained popularity worldwide. To achieve larger spans and to increase the resistance to diaphragm seismic and wind forces to be...
Co-delivery of fibrin-laminin hydrogel with mesenchymal stem cell spheroids supports skeletal muscle regeneration following trauma.

Volumetric muscle loss (VML) is traumatic or surgical loss of skeletal muscle with resultant functional impairment. Skeletal muscle's innate capacity for regeneration is lost with VML due to a critical loss of stem cells, extracellular matrix, and neuromuscular junctions. Consequences of VML include permanent disability or delayed amputations of the affected limb. Currently, a successful clinical therapy has not been identified. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess regenerative and immunomodulatory properties and their three-dimensional aggregation can further enhance therapeutic efficacy. In this study, MSC aggregation into spheroids was optimized in vitro based on cellular viability, spheroid size, and trophic factor secretion. The regenerative potential of the optimized MSC spheroid therapy was then investigated in a murine model of VML injury. Experimental groups included an untreated VML injury control, intramuscular injection of MSC spheroids, and MSC spheroids encapsulated in a fibrin-laminin hydrogel. Compared to the untreated VML group, the spheroid encapsulating hydrogel group enhanced myogenic marker (i.e., MyoD and myogenin) protein expression, improved muscle mass, increased presence of centrally nucleated myofibers as well as small fibers (<500 µm2), modulated pro- and anti-inflammatory macrophage marker expression (i.e., iNOS and Arginase), and increased the presence of CD146+ pericytes and CD31+ endothelial cells in the VML injured muscles. Future studies will evaluate the extent of functional recovery with the spheroid encapsulating hydrogel therapy. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Mobile Genetic Elements and Bacterial Pathogenesis

Horizontally transferred genes were frequently disseminated among bacterial populations as components of mobile genetic elements, such as plasmids, phages, and transposons. This chapter focuses on bacterial pathogens, and in particular, on the role of sequence-specific mechanisms for intercellular gene transfer in the evolution of such organisms. It concentrates on virulence factors encoded by genes on mobilizable or formerly mobilizable genetic elements, especially plasmids, bacteriophages, and pathogenicity islands (PAIs). Finally, analyses based on the different classes of mobile elements can highlight the processes by which virulence genes have been transported and illuminate the evolutionary relationships between types of mobile elements. In the chapter, the last-mentioned approach is used, and bacteriophages, plasmids, and PAIs are sequentially discussed. Finally, some plasmids, such as the large Yersinia virulence plasmid and the enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) virulence plasmid, contain remnants of DNA transfer systems, suggesting that they were previously capable of self-mobilization. Although the virulence genes acquired as components of mobile elements may not have been subject to host regulatory processes immediately after acquisition, they clearly have not remained autonomous agents, independent of host functions. Mobile genetic elements have clearly distributed a diverse collection of virulence genes and thereby played essential roles in the evolution of bacterial pathogens. However, a subset of virulence factors does not seem to confer any advantages on the bacterial hosts, so the forces underlying their continued production are a mystery.
Generation of high confidence HLA genotyping and consensus sequences for class I HLA loci using the NGS-based Omixon Holotype HLA typing system and the Illumina Miseq platform

Aim Generate HLA genotyping and high confidence consensus sequences for 50 samples at HLA-A, B and C loci using the Omixon Holotype HLA typing system. Methods The Omixon Holotype HLA typing kit was used to generate sequencing libraries for 50 samples for HLA-A, B and C loci, and sequenced on an Illumina MiSeq. HLA typing and consensus sequence generation was performed using Omixon Twin, GenDx NGSengine and a custom pipeline, which relies on stringently mapping reads to the genotyped alleles and using SAMtools to generate the consensus. Consensus sequences generated by each method were aligned pairwise to determine concordance using a semi-global Needleman–Wunsch algorithm. When the sequences generated by each method were concordant, sequences were aligned to the IMGT reference sequence of the genotyped allele, to annotate novel alleles and annotate the sequence of incomplete alleles. When sequences generated by each method were discordant, sequences were aligned to the genotyped allele for manual inspection and assessment of algorithm performance. Results HLA genotyping results for all 300 alleles (50 samples at 3 loci) were 100% concordant between NGSengine and Omixon Twin, after manually resolving discrepancies (6/300). Consensus sequences were generated for every allele (300) encompassing 31 unique HLA-A, 52 unique HLA-B and 31 unique HLA-C alleles. Our analysis facilitated the annotation of full gene sequences for 11 HLA alleles for which there is no complete IMGT reference sequence (A∗02:04, B∗14:03, B∗15:08:01, B∗15:30, B∗27:02:01, B∗35:04:01, B∗35:43:01, B∗39:09:01, B∗51:08:01, B∗58:02 and C∗07:18) and facilitated the discovery of two novel HLA-A alleles, with intronic substitutions. For the remaining alleles, consensus sequences were compared against the reference sequences of the genotyped alleles and occasional differences between consensus sequences and reference sequences were manually inspected to evaluate algorithm performance. It has been determined that depth of coverage is critical in phasing and base calling, which is necessary to generate credible consensus sequences. Conclusions Generation of high confidence HLA class I consensus sequences is possible using the Omixon Holotype HLA typing system provided that adequate depth of uniform coverage is obtained from sequencing. D. Monos: Other (Identify); Company/Organization; Omixon Royalties.
Irritable bowel syndrome: new and emerging therapies.

Purpose of reviewIrritable bowel syndrome refers to abdominal discomfort associated with altered bowel habits. Recent evidence suggests that the primary pathophysiologic mechanism is brain–gut dysregulation. Many central and peripheral factors are involved. This article will review important pathoph
Energy-constrained collaborative processing for target detection, tracking, and geolocation

While unattended ground sensors have traditionally relied upon acoustic, seismic, magnetic and non-imaging IR sensing modalities to perform detection, tracking, and recognition, imagery has the potential to greatly improve performance by introducing a rich feature set in the form of length, color, and shape metrics. This paper summarizes recent work in collaborative processing exploiting two extremes of sensor complexity: single-element acoustic sensors and panoramic image sensors. For the case of acoustic sensing, acoustic features from multiple nodes are combined to establish bearing to target bearing via timedifference of arrival algorithms. Multiple bearing estimates from different node clusters are combined to geolocate targets. We also present recent work in multi-node target tracking using panoramic imagers, where bearing estimates are derived by detecting and tracking moving objects within the panoramic image. Performance of both acoustic and image sensing modalities is illustrated using field data. We show that adoption of imagers is feasible in terms of size, weight, energy consumption, and bandwidth usage, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages relative to traditional unattended sensors.