cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phospholipase A2, Oxidative Stress, and Neurodegeneration in Binge Ethanol-Treated Organotypic Slice Cultures of Developing Rat Brain

Background Brain neurodamage from chronic binge ethanol (EtOH) exposure is linked to neuroinflammation and associated oxidative stress. Using rat organotypic hippocampal–entorhinal cortical (HEC) slice cultures of developing brain age, we reported that binge EtOH promotes release of a neuroinflammatory instigator, arachidonic acid (AA), concomitant with neurodegeneration, and that mepacrine, a global inhibitor of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) enzymes mobilizing AA from phospholipids, is neuroprotective. Here, we sought with binge EtOH-treated HEC cultures to establish that PLA2 activity is responsible in part for significant oxidative stress and to ascertain the PLA2 families responsible for AA release and neurodegeneration. Methods HEC slices, prepared from 1-week-old rats and cultured 2 to 2.5 weeks, were exposed to 100 mM EtOH over 6 successive days, with 4 daytime “withdrawals” (no EtOH). Brain 3-nitrotyrosinated (3-NT)- and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE)-adducted proteins, oxidative stress footprints, were immunoassayed on days 3 through 6, and mepacrine's effect was determined on day 6. The effects of specific PLA2 inhibitors on neurodegeneration (propidium iodide staining) and AA release (ELISA levels in media) in the cultures were then determined. Also, the effect of JZL184, an inhibitor of monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) which is reported to mobilize AA from endocannabinoids during neuroinflammatory insults, was examined. Results 3-NT- and 4-HNE-adducted proteins were significantly increased by the binge EtOH exposure, consistent with oxidative stress, and mepacrine prevented the increases. The PLA2 inhibitor results implicated secretory PLA2 (group II sPLA2) and to some extent Ca2+-independent cytosolic PLA2 (group VI iPLA2) in binge EtOH-induced neurotoxicity and in AA release, but surprisingly, Ca2+-dependent cytosolic PLA2 (group IV cPLA2) did not appear important. Furthermore, unlike PLA2 inhibition, MAGL inhibition failed to prevent the neurodegeneration. Conclusions In these developing HEC slice cultures, pro-oxidative signaling via sPLA2 and iPLA2, but not necessarily cPLA2 or MAGL, is involved in EtOH neurotoxicity. This study provides further insights into neuroinflammatory phospholipase signaling and oxidative stress underlying binge EtOH-induced neurodegeneration in developing (adolescent age) brain in vitro.
Acculturation as an Explanatory Concept in Spanish History

This essay can best be considered an anthropological venture in the field of recent and contemporary Spanish historiography. Our aim is twofold: an understanding of the nature of Spanish historical interpretation as it is elaborated by national historians; the examination of certain phases of intercultural contact critical in the formation of a distinct Spanish cultural form.
Anterior insula reactivity during certain decisions is associated with neuroticism

Neuroticism is a core personality trait that profoundly affects how individuals interpret and interact with their environment. Understanding neuroticism at a neurobiological level will be an important step toward identifying novel vulnerability factors for psychiatric illnesses such as depression and anxiety. Along these lines, recent work has identified neural activation patterns within the right anterior insula that correlates with an individual’s degree of neuroticism. The present study aims to further characterize the circumstances under which neuroticism modulates insular activity. Sixteen healthy participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while playing a card game with varying degrees of outcome uncertainty. Activation within the bilateral anterior insula was found during all decisions, irrespective of uncertainty. However, a significant positive correlation between neuroticism and anterior insula activity was found only during ’certain decisions’ (i.e. situations where the most probable outcome was clearly evident). Moreover, an increase in the right anterior insula activity during certain decisions was related to a behavioral mirroring effect such that the response latency for certain decisions approached the response latency for uncertain decisions. These findings suggest that increasing levels of neuroticism modulate neural activation in such a way that the brain interprets certainty as uncertain.
Storm surge and "certain death": Interviews with Texas coastal residents following Hurricane Ike

Hurricane Ike made landfall near Galveston, Texas, on 13 September 2008 as a large category 2 storm that generated significant storm surge and flooding. This article presents findings from an empirical case study of Texas coastal residents’ perceptions of hurricane risk, protective decision making, and opinions of hurricane forecasts related to Hurricane Ike. The results are based on data from interviews with 49 residents affected by Hurricane Ike, conducted approximately five weeks after landfall. While most interviewees were aware that Ike was potentially dangerous, many were surprised by how much coastal flooding the hurricane caused and the resulting damage. For many—even long-time residents—Ike was a learning experience. As the hurricane approached, interviewees and their households made complex, evolving preparation and evacuation decisions. Although evacuation orders were an important consideration for some interviewees, many obtained information about Ike frequently from multiple sources to evaluate their own risk and make protective decisions. Given the storm surge and damage Ike caused, a number of interviewees believed that Ike’s classification on the Saffir‐Simpson scale did not adequately communicate the risk Ike posed. The ‘‘certain death’’ statement issued by the National Weather Service helped convince several interviewees to evacuate. However, others had strong negative opinions of the statement that may negatively influence their interpretation of and response to future warnings. As these findings indicate, empirical studies of how intended audiences obtain, interpret, and use hurricane forecasts and warnings provide valuable knowledge that can help design more effective ways to convey hurricane risk.
Multiple-pass tapered fiber-optic sensor with logarithmic detection

We report doubling of sensitivity for tapered fiber-optic sensors with logarithmic detection when light passes through the tapered region twice. Further sensitivity enhancement is possible with multiple passes through the taper.
Suboptimal approximation/identification of transient waveforms from electromagnetic systems by pencil-of-function method

A noniterative method for approximating signals by a linear combination of exponentials is presented. Although the technique results in a suboptimal approximation, the continuous dependence of the suboptimal exponents \sim{s}_{i} on the integral square error \epsilon is such that lim (\epsilon = 0) \sim{s}_{i} \rightarrow {s}_{i} , the best least squares exponents. The method is also useful for system identification, where the system is modeled by a black box and one has access only to the input and output terminals. A technique is demonstrated for finding the multiple poles of a system along with the residues at the poles when the system output to a known input is given. Advantages of the method are natural insensitivity to noise in the data and a capability for approximately determining signal order. Representative computations are made of the poles from the transient response of a conducting pipe tested at the ATHAMAS-I EMP simulator.
Surgical skills assessment of applicants to general surgery residency.

Background Manual skill proficiency is not currently employed in selecting residents for general surgery training programs. The study objective was to assess whether the technical skill levels of applicants to a general surgery residency program are higher than those of internal medicine residents. Material and Methods Forty-two applicants to a community general surgery program underwent manual skill testing on interview day. Four laparoscopic tasks on a virtual reality (VR) simulator (LapSim, Goteborg, Sweden) were tested. Performance scores were computer-generated. Participants’ previous experience with other manual dexterity activities was assessed via a questionnaire. Applicants’ self-perception of their surgical skills was correlated with their skill dexterity scores on the simulator. Candidates’ simulator scores were also compared with those of a group of internal medicine interns (n = 9) and a group of mid-level surgical residents, PGY 2-3 (n = 7). Results Simulator scores of the applicants were significantly lower than those of mid-level surgical residents in all VR tasks (P Conclusion This study suggests that surgical dexterity levels do not correlate with the self-assessed skill levels or with previous experience with other manual dexterity activities. Moreover, there appears to be no self-selection of applicants for surgery residency based on actual surgical skills. Selection criteria for surgical training, which incorporate technical proficiency skills, may potentially better discriminate those applicants with an aptitude for a surgical specialty.
Robust rejection of sinusoids in stable nonlinearly perturbed unmodelled linear systems: Theory and application to servo

Assuming no knowledge of closed-loop dynamics other than being that of a stable nonlinearly perturbed linear system and the forward path gain at the frequency of interest being known and non-zero, a control approach is proposed that rejects a sinusoidal disturbance of known frequency from the system output. The approach consists in partitioning the feedback path of a stable closed-loop system into two weighted paths and inserting between them a loop containing an internal model based filter. The approach is supported by two theorems ascertaining internal stability, that guarantee the rejection of the unwanted sinusoid under the augmentation proposed, with no closed-loop stability loss. The efficacy of the approach is demonstrated through simulations on a model of a servo system consisting of a beam with an electro-hydraulic actuator attached at one end and a mass at the other, and through experiments on the corresponding physical testbed. Robustness of the approach is briefly discussed. A relative non-intrusiveness of the augmentation procedure, a virtual lack of a modeling necessity, and simplicity of estimating the unaugmented forward path gain via experiment on the stable closed-loop system make the approach proposed well suited for industrial use.
Survival by stroke volume index in patients with low-gradient normal EF severe aortic stenosis

Objective Low-gradient (LG) severe aortic stenosis (AS) and preserved EF with reduced stroke volume are associated with an adverse prognosis, but the relationship of stroke volume index (SVI) with mortality among a range of values is unknown. We investigated the prognostic impact of SVI in this population. Methods We examined 405 consecutive patients with preserved EF (≥50%) and severe AS (valve area 2 ) with LG ( 2 (n=90), group 2: 38–43 mL/m 2 (n=105), group 3: 43–48 mL/m 2 (n=104) and group 4: >48 mL/m 2 (n=106)). Results Groups 1 and 2 had poorer survival with medical management compared with 3 and 4 (3-year estimate 46% and 67% vs. 78% and 73%, respectively, p=0.002) although aortic valve replacement referral rate was similar (53%–62%, p=0.57). An inverse relationship was observed between SVI and mortality (HR 1.28 (1.11 to 1.46) per every 5 mL/m 2 decrease in SVI). After multivariable analysis, SVI was the strongest predictor of mortality (HR 0.92 (0.89 to 0.95), p Conclusions Lower SVI is incrementally associated with mortality in LG severe AS with preserved EF. These findings have implications for classification of AS severity, identification of high-risk groups and subsequent management.
Compact modeling of carbon nanotube transistor for early stage process-design exploration

Carbon nanotube transistor (CNT) is promising to be the technology of choice for nanoscale integration. In this work, we develop the first compact model of CNT, with the objective to explore the optimal process and design space for robust low-power applications. Based on the concept of the surface potential, the new model accurately predicts the characteristics of a CNT device under various process and design conditions, such as diameter, chirality, gate dielectrics, and bias voltages. With the physical modeling of the contact, this model covers both the Schottky-barrier CNT (SB-CNT) and MOS-type CNT. The proposed model does not require any iteration and thus, significantly enhances the simulation efficiency to support large-scale design research. Using this model, we benchmark the performance of a FO4 inverter with CNT and 22nm CMOS technology. The following key insights are extracted: (1) even with the SB-CNT and realistic layout parasitics, the circuit speed can be more than 10X that of 22nm CMOS; (2) The diameter range of 1-1.5nm exhibits the maximum tolerance to contact materials and process variations; (3) a CNT circuit allows better scaling of the supply voltage (Vdd) for power reduction. For a fixed energy consumption and Vdd, the CNT speed is 4X that of 22nm CMOS. Overall, the new model enables efficient design research with CNT, revealing tremendous opportunities for both high-speed and low-power applications.
Cott Versus Coca-Cola: The Private Label Challenge

In the first quarter of 1993, Coca-Cola's share of mass-merchandise soft-drink sales fell 6.6 percent, while private-label soft drinks' shares in the same channel rose 16.8 percent. Much of this increase reflected the success of the Cott Corporation, which had achieved a 10 percent share in the mass-merchandise channel by selling private-label and store-brand soft drinks to Wal-Mart and other U.S. retailers. In a March 1993 interview, Cott CEO Gerald Pencer stated: "We make a product that is at least as good as, if not better than, Coke or Pepsi." He expected Cott's sales to double in the next year. Coca-Cola executives must decide how to respond to Cott's initiatives.
High apolipoprotein M serum levels correlate with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Recently, variations in a component of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), namely apolipoprotein M (apoM), were found to be associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between apoM and COPD severity. Factors associated with apoM, COPD, or coronary artery disease (CAD) were also assessed. A total of 110 COPD patients and 110 age- and sex-matched non-COPD controls were included. Among them, thirty COPD patients and seven non-COPD controls had CAD. ApoM and pentraxin-3 levels were measured by ELISA. Additionally, the levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), cholesterol, and triglyceride were assessed using an automatic biochemical analyzer. Serum apoM levels increased gradually with COPD severity, with the most prominent apoM elevation observed in very severe COPD cases. In addition, ApoM was correlated with percent-predicted forced expiratory volume in one second (% predicted FEV1) (r = −0.38, P < 0.001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (r = 0.23, P < 0.017), and hs-CRP (r = 0.24, P = 0.01) in COPD patients. Furthermore, apoM was shown to be a risk factor for COPD onset (OR = 1.095, 95 % CI = 1.034–1.160, P = 0.002), but not associated with CAD in COPD patients. Serum apoM was elevated in COPD patients and increased gradually with COPD severity. However, there was no association between apoM and CAD development in COPD patients.
EFFECT OF RUNNING ON PERCEPTION OF SELF AND OTHERS

Running or jogging has become increasingly popular. Actention has been given to the positive aspects of running (1, 2, 3, 4) with physiological, mental, and even spiritual benefits claimed by participants. Leonardson and Gargiulo (5) showed that perceived physical fitness and self-concept were significantly correlated. It might be assumed that, if running produces positive benefits for the individual, these benefits would be reflected in the perception of self and others. A structured questionnaire of 55 questions was sent to 984 persons affiliated with three running clubs located in the Southwest. About 50% or 497 were completed and returned. Four hundred and fifty-four of these indicated that they ran regularly (about 22 miles per week) and had on the average three years of regular running. Of the respondents 390 were male and 64 were female, almost 70% were 26 to 50 yr. of age, 60% were college graduates or above, and 67% were engaged in an occupation with relatively high prestige. The questionnaire, developed and pretested by the researchers, contained questions calling for fixed responses and focused on perceptions of change produced by running on a regular basis. For example, when asked if running had affected emotional wellbeing, the respondent was to indicate if running had increased, reduced, or had no effect. Ninety-rwo percent of the respondents perceived increased emotional well-being as a result of running. Ninety-seven percent indicated an increase in their physical wellbeing, while 63% reported a reduction in the number of times they had been ill. An increase in the number of friendships was reported by 73% of the respondents. This increase might result from opportunities to associate with other runners. The runners' perceptions of others also appear to have been influenced. Sixty-eight percent indicated increased criticism of individuals who appear physically out-of-shape, while 34% were more critical of nonrunners. However, 55% indicated that running increased their tolerance of other people in general. Associated with perceptions of others is the interesting result that an overwhelming 74% of all respondents who live in a family environment (344) perceived an increase in their families' appreciation of their physical appearances. When considered separately, there was no significant difterence berween males' and females' perceptions that positive effects accrue personally for individuals who run regularly. Cross-validation is needed.
A syndrome resembling adrenal cortical insufficiency associated with long term busulfan (myleran) therapy.

Four patients who developed a clinical syndrome characterized by hyperpigmentation of the skin, weakness, fatigue, weight loss, anorexia and nausea while on long-term treatment with busulfan were described. The etiology of the disorder, although clearly related to the busulfan therapy, is obscure, but may be related to "dethiolation".
Lasers in aesthetic surgery

The use of lasers in aesthetic surgery is reviewed. An in-depth review of laser physics that will allow the surgeon to make better decisions in the practical use of the laser is provided. Also presented is a comprehensive analysis of the mechanics and applications of currently available medical lasers, as well as a detailed discussion of the use of lasers in tattoo removal, skin resurfacing, and blepharoplasty.
Rotational Bands in Tm 168 from the Tm 169 ( d , t ) Tm 168 Reaction

The $^{169}\mathrm{Tm}(d,t)^{168}\mathrm{Tm}$ reaction has been studied at an incident deuteron energy of 17.0 MeV. The excitation energies of more than 55 states up to 1.5 MeV in the residual nucleus were obtained to an accuracy of \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.15%, and the ground-state $Q$ value for the $^{169}\mathrm{Tm}(d,t)^{168}\mathrm{Tm}$ reaction was measured to be ${Q}_{0}=\ensuremath{-}1775\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}6$ keV. Differential cross sections were measured at 2.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} intervals from $7.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\ensuremath{\le}{\ensuremath{\theta}}_{\mathrm{lab}}\ensuremath{\le}45\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$, and then at 5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} intervals for $45\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\ensuremath{\le}{\ensuremath{\theta}}_{\mathrm{lab}}\ensuremath{\le}90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ for most of these transitions. The resulting angular distributions were found to be well described by distorted-wave calculations for almost all transitions observed. The $l$-transfer values deduced for these transitions allowed the assignment of a narrow range of ${J}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}$ values to the corresponding states in $^{168}\mathrm{Tm}$, independent of arguments based on the Nilsson-model predictions of transition strengths. Several anomalous angular distributions to presumably well-known rotational states which apparently cannot be explained by the distorted-wave calculations are discussed. Spectroscopic factors for all the observed transitions were computed and are compared to the Nilsson-model predictions for low-lying negative-parity bands. Transition-strength anomalies are discussed.
“Ah Ha...” Learning: Using Cases and Case Studies to Teach Sociological Insights and Skills

Grounded in a thorough review of the relevant sociological and cross-disciplinary literature, the author makes a case for the value of using cases (also known as decision cases) and case studies in teaching undergraduate sociology students. Her thesis is that cases and case studies are under utilized teaching-learning tools in sociology courses at all levels. Cases and case studies can be especially relevant in practice and application-oriented courses and classes. The literature indicates that students who use sociological insights and tools to frame and analyze real-life dilemmas and situations develop a clearer grasp of concepts, theories, and practice issues as well as learn/enhance critical thinking, analytical, and evaluation skills. Although this article focuses on students as the targeted audience, practitioners can also use both cases and case studies in training or working with clients.
Pediatricians and Personal Digital Assistants: What type are they using?

Increasing attention is being focused on the potential benefits of personal digital assistants (PDA) in medical practice. Although some work has been done to investigate their use, it is still unclear what types of PDAs are being used by pediatricians, and if they are using different types in different ways. Our goals were to determine: (1) which kinds of PDAs were being used by pediatricians; (2) if the personal or professional characteristics of pediatricians differ by type of PDA they are using; (3) if the types of applications they employ differ by the type of PDAs they are using. We randomly selected 2130 pediatricians from the AMA masterfile of United States licensed physicians and surveyed them. Of those respondents that reported using a PDA, 90.1% use a Palm OS based system, 8.6% use a Pocket PC based system, and 1.3% used neither. Of those respondents who were resident physicians and PDA users, almost all (99%) use Palm OS PDAs. There were significant associations between the PDA platform being used and types of applications being run on them. More than one third of pediatricians are using PDAs in clinical practice. Palm OS based systems are much more prevalent in clinical practice, and the choice of newer pediatricians.
Huntingtin Fibrils Poke Membranes

A hallmark of Huntington's disease is the presence of intracellular aggregates of mutant huntingtin, the pathological significance of which has long been debated. Using cryo-electron tomography, Bauerlein et al. reveal the fibrillary structure of huntingtin aggregates in situ and show that huntingtin fibrils interact with the endoplasmic reticulum, distorting its morphology and dynamics.
On a causal dispersion model for the optical properties of metals.

A causal model that is fully compliant with the Kramers–Kronig relations (KKRs) is used for characterizing the optical response of metals exhibiting sharp, non-Lorentzian regions of interband absorption. This consistent model also recovers the Gaussian character of the broadened peaks observed in the infrared response of amorphous materials. A reductive procedure for optimal fitting of KKR-compliant composite models to the permittivity data of metals over the intraband and interband energetic regimes is introduced and applied to eleven metals: Ag, Au, Cu, Al, Be, Cr, Ni, Pd, Pt, Ti, and W. We show that results obtained using this optimal procedure outperform—both qualitatively and quantitatively—those obtained by previous non-causal (KKR non-compliant) models that are widely used for approximating the permittivity of metals. A comparative analysis reveals a simultaneous increase in performance (as characterized by the error objective) and a reduction in the cardinality of the parameterization, often yielding more physically meaningful interpretations. These results are obtained without compromising model fidelity in regions of sharp Gaussian interband character, indicating that the proposed model provides an excellent alternative to previously proposed models.
The Rise of Global Partnerships

Institutionalized cooperation between public and private actors is not a recent phenomenon in world politics. In the 16th century, the British Empire had its navy largely financed by powerful merchants and aristocratic landowners, a practice known as privateering: when the royal navy defeated the Spanish Armada during the Anglo–Spanish war in 1588, 163 out of 197 vessels involved were privately owned (Andrews, 1964). In the 17th century, the British set up so-called proprietary governments in North America and the Caribbean which only gradually got replaced by public officials. During the following era of colonial expansion, trading entities such as the Dutch and English East Indies Companies operated under the permission of their home governments as near-sovereign powers, commanding large armies and navies, negotiating their own treaties, governing their own territory, and even minting their own money (Keir, 1969; Tracy, 1993; Singer, 2002).
The Use and Care of Self when Engaging in Rights-Based Clinical Practice

The concluding chapter, Chapter 5, examines the social work practitioner’s use and care of self in engaging in rights-based practice. Human rights instruments that support social workers’ right to leisure, health and well-being are identified. The practitioner’s ethical duty to remain deeply self-reflective and aware of the impact of his or her work and approach on self and those they work with is also highlighted. Application of cultural humility and other core principles of a rights-based approach to practice are infused throughout this chapter. The vital need for social workers to deepen their skills of self-awareness and continually reflect on their own values, biases, assumptions and prejudices is promoted in order to safeguard and realize the rights of those they serve. Attention to assessing, preventing and attending to the practitioner’s vicarious or secondary trauma and the impact of countertransference reactions on the therapeutic relationship is included, and readers are introduced to the concept of vicarious resilience. Recommendations are presented to advance self-care and the clinical practitioner’s ability to engage with the pain, distress and trauma of those they serve in a therapeutic fashion in keeping with a rights-based approach to practice. Finally, a call for the importance of creating an organizational culture of self-care is made.
Analyzing retinal axon guidance in zebrafish.

Abstract How neuronal connections are established during development is one of the most fascinating questions in the field of neurobiology. The zebrafish retinotectal system offers distinct advantages for studying axon guidance in an in vivo context. Its accessibility and the larva’s transparency not only allow its direct visualization, but also facilitate experimental manipulations to address the mechanisms of its development. Here we describe methods for labeling and visualizing retinal axons in vivo , including transient expression of DNA constructs, injection of lipophilic dyes, and time-lapse imaging. We describe in detail the available transgenic lines for marking retinal ganglion cells (RGCs); a protocol for very precise lipophilic dye labeling; and a protocol for single cell electroporation of RGCs. We then describe several approaches for perturbing the retinotectal system, including morpholino or DNA injection; localized heat shock to induce misexpression of genes; a comprehensive list of known retinotectal mutants; and a detailed protocol for RGC transplants to test cell autonomy. These methods not only provide new ways for examining how retinal axons are guided by their environment, but also can be used to study other axonal tracts in the living embryo.
The Significance of Common Currency to the Success of Economic Integration

All of the Regional Economic Communities, REC, in Africa, including the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, have been struggling with the creation of a common currency since inception. But common currency is a necessary condition for an economic community to exist. Without economic union, Africans have been in currency unions before. The ascendancy of Africa in the world stage and the main path to avoid a stunted development as revealed in its logistic population growth, are going to depend on the size of its economy and in the use of a common currency.
A numerical modeling study of sediment bypass tunnels at shihmen reservoir, taiwan

Many reservoirs in the world were built years ago and losing their storage capacities At Shihmen reservoir Taiwan topological geological and seismological factors greatly increased sediment delivery to the reservoir A large amount of fine sediments entered the reservoir in the form of turbidity current Due to limited desilting facilities majority of the sediments deposited near the dam leading to a significant loss of the storage capacity Moreover extreme typhoon events produced sufficiently high sediment concentrations that water supply was interrupted causing social and economic problems A number of sediment management projects have been planned for the reservoir in order to extend the reservoir life and maintain water supply but few tools are available to understand the effectiveness of the proposed projects In this study a two dimensional D layer averaged turbidity current numerical model is presented and used as a reservoir evaluation tool The sediment bypass tunnel is the study focus as it has been proposed as an important sediment removal measure The model is presented and then validated using the available physical model data Once validated the model is used to evaluate the effectiveness of two proposed sediment bypass plans Further the physical model scale effect is investigated using the numerical model which is often unknown This study serves as a further verification that the newly developed D turbidity current model is robust and useful for practical project applications
Bibliometric Analysis of Erectile Dysfunction Publications in Urology and Sexual Medicine Journals

Abstract Introduction Scientific literature has experienced a significant growth in the number of authors per publication each year. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the most common urologic conditions, accounting for over 2.9 million outpatient visits per year. Given the prevalence of ED and the large literature base available on this condition, bibliometric analysis of the ED literature could provide urologists and sexual medicine specialists with a better understanding of publication trends in this topic area. Aim The purpose of this study was to investigate trends in authorship, citations, and impact score for ED original and review articles published in urology and sexual medicine journals. Methods We analyzed ED original research and review articles indexed in MEDLINE between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2016. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the mean number of authors for articles by journal type and time period (2006 vs 2016). Linear regression was used to examine the relationship between number of authors, number of citations, and relative citation ratio (RCR). Main Outcome Measure The primary outcomes of interest included mean number of authors, citations, and RCR per manuscript by journal type and time period. Results A total of 3,516 articles were analyzed, 2,938 (83.6%) original and 578 (16.4%) review articles. The mean number of authors among ED publications increased from 4.8 in 2006 to 6.4 in 2016, a 34.4% increase. Original articles had a greater mean number of authors compared to review articles (6.0 vs 4.3, P Clinical Implications Authorship trends should be taken into consideration when urologists and sexual medicine experts review ED articles for the purpose of informing patient care. Strength and Limitations Primary strengths include a large literature base spanning multiple years for analysis and a systematic literature search to identify relevant ED literature. Findings are limited to ED literature published in the urology and sexual medicine journals analyzed. Conclusion The number of authors per ED manuscript has significantly increased over time, most notably among original research articles. Increasing authorship was associated with more citations and higher RCR in the ED literature. Rezaee ME, Johnson HA, Munarriz RM, et al. Bibliometric Analysis of Erectile Dysfunction Publications in Urology and Sexual Medicine Journals. J Sex Med 2018;15:1426–1433.
Politics and Left Unity in India: The United Front in Late Colonial India

The historical assessments of Left unity in 1930s India misrepresent activities designed to achieve unity. The common treatment of the relationship between Indian socialists and communists emphasizes disunity and the inability to find common ground. Scholarly discussions about unity in fact highlight its impracticality and the inevitability of its failure. This book proposes that during this moment, for socialists and communists, unity was not just an ideal, but was in fact considered to be a possible and very realizable goal. Rather than focusing exclusively on ideological fissures as the literature does, the book explores the possibilities for unity. The author investigates the United Front as a conceptual framework for collaboration, as a scheme for assessing the extent to which cooperation between socialists and communists was feasible and practicable during the mid-to-late-1930s in India. He employs the notion of United Front as an instrument for identifying and compensating for the prejudices which permeate sources about the cooperation between the Congress Socialist Party (CSP) and the Communist Party of India (CPI). The author challenges the historicism found in extant scholarly assessments of Left unity by illustrating the ways in which the partners engaged in united front activities and approached the common goal of Left unity despite their fragmented ideological perspectives. The book presents the United Front not as an unsuccessful phase of collaboration, but rather as a concerted attempt to achieve ideological convergence and Left homogeneity which ultimately failed to radicalize Indian nationalism because, in reality, conditions for Left unity did not exist. The book will be of interest to academics studying South Asian history and politics in particular, and socialism, communism, nationalism and imperialism more generally.
Wavelets on ℤN

In this chapter we continue to work with discrete signals z ∈ l 2(ℤ N ). In chapter 2 we noted the two key advantages of the Fourier basis F: (1) translation-invariant linear transformations are diagonalized by F, and (2) the coordinates in the Fourier basis can be computed quickly using the FFT. However, for many purposes in signal analysis and other fields, the Fourier basis has serious limitations. Many of these come from the fact that the Fourier basis elements are not localized in space, in the following sense.
Root development is maintained by specific bacteria-bacteria interactions within a complex microbiome

Abstract Plants grow within a complex web of species interacting with each other and with the plant via a wide repertoire of chemical signals. To model plant-microbe-microbe-environment interactions, we inoculated seedlings with a defined 185-member bacterial synthetic community (SynCom), and manipulated the abiotic environment to enable classification of the SynCom to modules of co-occurring strains. We deconstructed the SynCom based on these modules, identifying a single bacterial genus, Variovorax, which reverts phenotypic effects on root development induced by a wide diversity of bacterial strains and by the entire 185-member community. Variovorax use mechanisms related to auxin and ethylene manipulation to balance this ecologically realistic root community’s effects on root development. We demonstrate metabolic signal interference within a complex model community, defining Variovorax as determinants of bacteria-plant communication networks.
On the Bias of Precision Estimation Under Separate Sampling

Observational case-control studies for biomarker discovery in cancer studies often collect data that are sampled separately from the case and control populations. We present an analysis of the bias...
Symphotic Design of an Edge Detector for Autonomous Navigation

Autonomous navigation systems rely on the collection and processing of large datasets with advanced and memory-intensive algorithms. The requirements in terms of computing power and energy consumption can be significant. In this work, we propose a passive electromagnetic structure that can reduce the computational load by detecting edges (obstacles) in the far field. This is accomplished by probing the scene and processing its scattering on the physical layer, at the speed of light in the medium. By using a recently developed inverse design method, we present an edge detector able to detect obstacles at 15 different locations with an average efficiency of 97% and minimal crosstalk. We call this class of devices that can integrate a vast number of distinct optical functions with high efficiency symphotic.
Multiday maintenance of extracorporeal lungs using cross-circulation with conscious swine.

Abstract Objectives Lung remains the least-utilized solid organ for transplantation. Efforts to recover donor lungs with reversible injuries using ex vivo perfusion systems are limited to Methods A swine behavioral training program and custom enclosure were developed to enable multiday cross-circulation between extracorporeal lungs and recipient swine. Lungs were ventilated and perfused in a normothermic chamber for 4 days. Longitudinal analyses of extracorporeal lungs (ie, functional assessments, multiscale imaging, cytokine quantification, and cellular assays) and recipient swine (eg, vital signs and blood and tissue analyses) were performed. Results Throughout 4 days of normothermic support, extracorporeal lung function was maintained (arterial oxygen tension/inspired oxygen fraction >400 mm Hg; compliance >20 mL/cm H2O), and recipient swine were hemodynamically stable (lactate Conclusions We demonstrate feasibility of normothermic maintenance of extracorporeal lungs for 4 days by cross-circulation with conscious swine. Cross-circulation approaches could support the recovery of damaged lungs and enable organ bioengineering to improve transplant outcomes.
Predicting Impervious Land Expansion Using Deep Deconvolutional Neural Networks

In this research, we propose a method for modeling land change using the idea of pixel-wise semantic segmentation through deep deconvolutional neural networks. This analysis is done on a watershed scale with a focus on where developed lands are predicted to expand. The novelty of our approach is in the application of deep learning in the prediction of land transformation, where we integrate high dimensional feature classes encompassing multiple variables. We introduce a method to construct cubes of land patches which include information related to the characteristics of terrain, proximity to other features, population, geo-political-boundaries, and public policy. After modeling the development expansion in a watershed using an encoder-decoder network, the accuracy of the model is computed through the Area Under the Curve of Receiver Operating Characteristics (AUC-ROC). Model performance indicates an accuracy of 80%. Future modeling should consider the use of this technique to better understand and map the spatially explicit landscape changes and aid in land use decision making.
The landscape of gastrointestinal oncologic phase III clinical trials in the last two decades.

e14087Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are among the most common cancers in adult patients. The prognosis of GI cancers differs widely between specific subsites, with some cancers having e...
Mitochondrial Lactate Dehydrogenase

The classical lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) catalyzes the interconversion of lactate and pyruvate: $$ Pyruvate + NADH + {H^ + } \leftrightarrow L - lactate + NA{D^ + }\quad $$ The enzyme is present in cytosol of animal tissues and it catalyzes the final reaction of glycolysis. Glycolysis may be maintained by the conversion of pyruvate to lactate with the regeneration of the NAD+ required for glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase. In active skeletal museIe the large amounts of lactate formed may be utilized by other tissues for oxidation to pyruvate, a substrate for TCA cycle oxidation and gluconeogenesis.
Copper–Carbon Nanotube Composites Enabled by Electrospinning for Advanced Conductors

The power losses associated with the electrical resistance of copper (Cu) have generated considerable interest in the development of advanced conductors that incorporate carbon nanotubes (CNTs) int...
Analysis of process criticality accident risk using a metamodel-driven Bayesian network

Abstract In recent years, neural network metamodels have become increasingly popular for reducing the computational burden of performing direct, simulation-based analysis of physical systems. This paper proposes a new methodology for training a neural network metamodel and incorporating it into a Bayesian network-based probabilistic risk assessment. This methodology can be applied to a wide variety of industrial accidents, where there is at least one latent variable that is normally calculated using a physics code. The main benefit of this methodology is that it combines the interpretability and sampling algorithm of a Bayesian network with the high-dimensional, latent variable modeling capability of a neural network metamodel. This paper also provides an example of how this methodology is applied to fissionable material operations in a nuclear facility to estimate process criticality accident risk. Although process criticality accidents are specific to the nuclear industry, the methodology described in this paper can be adapted to other types of industrial accidents and rare events.
Disparities Associated with Sepsis Mortality in Critically Ill Children

Disparities in health care related to socioeconomic status and race/ethnicity are well documented in adult and neonatal sepsis, but they are less characterized in the critically ill pediatric population. This study investigated whether socioeconomic status and/or race/ethnicity is associated with mortality among children treated for sepsis in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). A retrospective cohort study was conducted using information from 48 children's hospitals included in the Pediatric Health Information System database. We included visits by children ≤ 21 years with All Patients Refined Diagnosis-Related Groups (APR-DRG) diagnosis codes of septicemia and disseminated infections that resulted in PICU admission from 2010 to 2016. Multivariable logistic regression was used to measure the effect of race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status (insurance status and median household income for zip code) on mortality after adjustment for age, gender, illness severity, and presence of complex chronic condition. Among the 14,276 patients with sepsis, the mortality rate was 6.8%. In multivariable analysis, socioeconomic status, but not race/ethnicity, was associated with mortality. In comparison to privately insured children, nonprivately insured children had increased odds of mortality (public: adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.2 [1.0, 1.5]; uninsured: aOR: 2.1 [1.2, 3.7]). Similarly, children living in zip codes with the lowest quartile of annual household income had higher odds of mortality than those in the highest quartile (aOR: 1.5 [1.0, 2.2]). These data suggest the presence of socioeconomic, but not racial/ethnic, disparities in mortality among children treated for sepsis. Further research is warranted to understand why such differences exist and how they may be addressed.
Pediatric Patients' and Parents' Perspectives of Unsedated Transnasal Endoscopy in Eosinophilic Esophagitis: A Qualitative Descriptive Study.

Background Eosinophilic esophagitis is an increasingly common inflammatory disease of the esophagus. Diagnosis and management are based on the histological presence of eosinophils in the esophageal mucosa, often requiring multiple endoscopies with sedation. Unsedated transnasal endoscopy (TNE), an alternative method of assessing the mucosa without the risks of sedation, is now being performed in the pediatric population. This is the first qualitative study on pediatric patients' and parents' experiences with TNE. Objective The objective of the study was to describe pediatric patients' and parents' experiences of TNE with the goal of refining TNE protocols to improve the clinical experience. Methods We used a qualitative descriptive approach that included in-depth, semistructured interviews with patients and parents following completion of TNE. Interviews continued until we reached thematic saturation. We analyzed data using qualitative content analysis. Results A total of 21 interviews were completed. We identified 4 themes: Appeal of TNE; Expectations and Preparation for TNE; Tolerance of TNE; and Evaluation of TNE. Perceived positive aspects of TNE were no exposure to intravenous anesthesia; helpful and clear preparation for the procedure with a demonstration video and physician phone call; distraction during TNE with virtual reality goggles and a stress ball; parent able to accompany the patient; and TNE requiring less time than an esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Negative aspects included patient stress before TNE, patient dislike of nasal spray taste and sensation, and discomfort during the TNE procedure. Conclusion The overall perception of TNE among our participants was positive. Study data will allow pediatric gastroenterologists the opportunity to improve both preparation for and comfort during TNE.
Complex interplay between greenness and air pollution in respiratory health.

For many, it seems self-evident that a greener city improves the quality of life and health for its citizens. Epidemiological studies are providing increasing evidence that the presence and amount of vegetation around locations where one spends a lot of time (home, work and school) have numerous beneficial effects on physical and mental health, including increased longevity.1 Interestingly, the evidence supporting a positive role of vegetation on allergic and respiratory health is much weaker, possibly because of the complex role played by air pollution. Beneficial effects attributed to vegetation may be due to less air pollution, as levels tend to be lower in vegetated areas. Some vegetation types may also actively reduce air pollution levels, although the scientific consensus is that this occurs only to a limited extent.2 Air pollutants may also interact with vegetation, such as pollen,3 to influence associations with health. These mechanisms are relevant in urban settings where air pollution levels can be high. Various metrics are used to estimate ‘vegetation exposure’ in epidemiological studies. The Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is common and assesses surrounding levels of green vegetation, often termed ‘greenness’. The NDVI is calculated from satellite data giving the ratio of visible and near-infrared light reflection and ranges from −1 (water), 0 (barren rock) to +1 (dense green vegetation). It provides a measure …