cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Imprecision in lower inflection point estimation from static pressure-volume curves in patients at risk for acute respiratory distress syndrome

Background: Static pressure-volume (PV) curves have been promoted as a tool for selecting positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) by identifying a lower inflection point (P flex ) from these curves. Their visual interpretation is subjective and difficult, however, particularly with subtle changes in the slope of the curves. This study was designed to examine the physician-to-physician variability in estimating the lower P flex from these curves. Methods: Static PV curves for eight patients were obtained within 24 hours of admission. Five intensivists and one respiratory therapist independently estimated the lower P flex from these curves. Results: P flex estimates for individual patients were highly variable, ranging from 5 to 9 cm H 2 O. This variability was not attributable to a single discordant estimate, nor was a single physician responsible for consistently high or low estimates. Conclusion: Static PV curve interpretation with current methods imprecisely estimates the lower inflection point and is of limited usefulness in PEEP selection.
Tryptophan, precursor of tropic acid inDatura stramonium

Verfutterung von Tryptophan-3-C14 anDatura Stramonium fuhrt zur Bildung von radioaktiver Tropinsaure, deren gesamte Radioaktivitat auf die Carboxylgruppe beschrankt ist, der zu erwartenden Stelle bei direkter Umwandlung des Tryptophans unter Verlust des Stickstoffes und der zwei endstandigen Kohlenstoffatome.
Design and preliminary structure–activity relationship of redox-silent semisynthetic tocotrienol analogues as inhibitors for breast cancer proliferation and invasion

Vitamin E (VE) is a generic term that represents a family of compounds composed of various tocopherol and tocotrienol isoforms. Tocotrienols display potent anti-angiogenic and antiproliferative activities. Redox-silent tocotrienol analogues also display potent anticancer activity. The ultimate objective of this study was to develop semisynthetically C-6-modified redox-silent tocotrienol analogues with enhanced antiproliferative and anti-invasive activities as compared to their parent compound. Examples of these are carbamate and ether analogues of alpha-, gamma-, and delta-tocotrienols (1-3). Various aliphatic, olefinic, and aromatic substituents were used. Steric limitation, electrostatic, hydrogen bond donor (HBD) and hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) properties were varied at this position and the biological activities of these derivatives were tested. Three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D QSAR) studies were performed using Comparative Molecular Field (CoMFA) and Comparative Molecular Similarity Indices Analyses (CoMSIA) to better understand the structural basis for biological activity and guide the future design of more potent VE analogues.
Exploring the impact of ethnic identity through other-generated cues on perceptions of spokesperson credibility

Although previous studies indicate that perceived similarity can influence perceptions of source credibility, less is known about the impact of ethnic identity on these perceptions in social media environments. A quasi-experiment was designed to manipulate the strength of ethnic identity of an African American spokesperson promoting a health news story. The results indicate a substantive condition by participant ethnicity interaction, in which African Americans assign greater credibility to high ethnic identity spokespeople, while Caucasian respondents found low ethnic identity spokespersons more credible. The results are discussed in terms of the understanding of credibility perceptions across diverse audiences, and the implications for health communication professionals working with historically underrepresented populations.
Growth and characterization of digital alloy quantum wells of CdSe/ZnSe

We report a study of digital alloy quantum wells of CdSe/ZnSe grown by migration enhanced epitaxy. The quantum well regions consist of various numbers of periods of one monolayer of CdSe and three monolayers of ZnSe, and the barriers are ZnSe. It will be shown that the optical properties of such quantum wells are greatly affected by the structural quality of the digital alloy. Both structural and optical properties will be discussed. Such digital alloy quantum wells are shown to have excellent room temperature optical characteristics.
Kappa B-specific DNA binding proteins: role in the regulation of human interleukin-2 gene expression

Transcriptional activation of the human interleukin-2 (IL-2) gene, like induction of the IL-2 receptor alpha (IL-2R alpha) gene and the type 1 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1), is shown to be modulated by a kappa B-like enhancer element. Mutation of a kappa B core sequence identified in the IL-2 promoter (-206 to -195) partially inhibits both mitogen- and HTLV-I Tax-mediated activation of this transcription unit and blocks the specific binding of two inducible cellular factors. These kappa B-specific proteins (80 to 90 and 50 to 55 kilodaltons) similarly interact with the functional kappa B enhancer present in the IL-2R alpha promoter. These data suggest that these kappa B-specific proteins have a role in the coordinate regulation of this growth factor-growth factor receptor gene system that controls T cell proliferation.
Stimulation of ethylene production by catecholamines and phenylethylamine in potato cell suspension cultures

The catecholamines (50 μM dopamine, 50 μM norepinephrine and 100 μM epinephrine) and phenylethylamine (200 μM) were found to stimulate ethylene production in potato suspension cultures. When 100 μM amino-oxyacetic acid was added together with epinephrine, ethylene release returned to control levels. The endogenous 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid levels were increased in parallel with the release of ethylene, suggesting that the observed effect probably occurs via regulation of aCC synthase. Our results suggest that there is a link between these naturally occurring monoamines and ethylene in plants.
Re-educating natural killer cells

The development and function of natural killer (NK) cells is dictated by signals received through activating and inhibitory receptors expressed on the cell surface. During their maturation in the bone marrow, NK cells undergo an education process that ensures they are tolerant to healthy peripheral tissues. Several recent studies advance our understanding of self-tolerance mechanisms at work in NK cells. These studies demonstrate that the developmental programming in NK cells is not fixed, and that perturbations to the peripheral environment (via transplantation or viral infection, for example) greatly influence the ability of mature NK cells to mount an effector response. This newfound ability of mature NK cells to be “re-educated” may be clinically applicable in the immunotherapeutic use of NK cells against infection and cancer.
Nonlinear manifold learning for visual speech recognition

A technique for representing and learning smooth nonlinear manifolds is presented and applied to several lip reading tasks. Given a set of points drawn from a smooth manifold in an abstract feature space, the technique is capable of determining the structure of the surface and of finding the closest manifold point to a given query point. We use this technique to learn the "space of lips" in a visual speech recognition task. The learned manifold is used for tracking and extracting the lips, for interpolating between frames in an image sequence and for providing features for recognition. We describe a system based on hidden Markov models and this learned lip manifold that significantly improves the performance of acoustic speech recognizers in degraded environments. We also present preliminary results on a purely visual lip reader. >
Monomial orthogonal polynomials of several variables

A monomial orthogonal polynomial of several variables is of the form x^@a-Q"@a(x) for a multiindex @a@?N"0^d^+^1 and it has the least L^2 norm among all polynomials of the form x^@a-P(x), where P and Q"@a are polynomials of degree less than the total degree of x^@a. We study monomial orthogonal polynomials with respect to the weight function @?"i"="1^d^+^1|x"i|^2^@k^"^i on the unit sphere S^d as well as for the related weight functions on the unit ball and on the standard simplex. The results include explicit formula, L^2 norm, and explicit expansion in terms of known orthonormal basis. Furthermore, in the case of @k"1=...=@k"d"+"1, an explicit basis for symmetric orthogonal polynomials is also given.
A Methodology for Evaluation of Hurricane Impact on Composite Power System Reliability

Adverse weather such as hurricanes can have significant impact on power system reliability. One of the challenges of incorporating weather effects in power system reliability evaluation is to assess how adverse weather affects the reliability parameters of system components. In this paper, a fuzzy inference system (FIS) built by using fuzzy clustering method is combined with the regional weather model to solve the preceding problem. The composite power system is assumed to be partitioned into different regions and the FIS maps the nonlinear functional relationship between hurricane parameters and the increment multipliers of the failure rates (IMFR) of the transmission lines in different regions. The possible case that transmission lines traverse bordering regions is investigated by using the weighted average method. Since hurricanes last only a limited time period, the short-term reliability indices over the duration of hurricane instead of the steady-state ones are calculated by using the minimal cut-set method (MCSM). The proposed method is applied to the modified IEEE Reliability Test System (RTS). The implementation demonstrates that the proposed method is effective and efficient and is flexible in applications.
Analysis of 4′‐demethylepipodophyllotoxin‐9‐(4,6‐o‐ethylidene‐β‐d‐glucopyranoside) by high‐pressure liquid chromatography

A rapid and specific high-pressure liquid chromatographic assay is described for the quantitative analysis of 4′-demethylepipodophyllotoxin-9-(4,6-O-ethylidene-β-D-glucopyranoside) (I) in plasma. After chloroform extraction, I was analyzed by reversed-phase chromatography and UV detection (252 nm). The maximum sensitivity was 0.1 μg/ml. Quantitation was by relative response factor calibration using an integrating microcomputer. Over the concentration range of 0.5–90 μg/ml, the average recovery of I from plasma was 95.4 ± 3.8% (SD).
Theophylline Pharmacokinetics in Foetal Sheep: Maternal Metabolic Capacity is the Principal Driver.

Understanding theophylline pharmacokinetics (PK) in the foetus is essential to prevent in utero toxicity and optimize prophylactic therapies. Previous studies in pregnancy have been obfuscated by maternal dosing and inadequate sampling in the foetus; both render modelling of foetal PK difficult. Six ewes carrying singleton foetuses received theophylline (60 mg) into the foetal jugular vein. Blood samples were drawn from the foetus and ewe over 36 hr. Serum concentrations were measured. Maternal and foetal pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated. Foetal non-compartmental pharmacokinetic parameters were as follows: half-life 7.37 ± 1.22 hr; volume of distribution 44.62 ± 11.45 L; area under the curve 14.82 ± 2.71 hr/(μg/mL); and clearance 4.15 ± 0.70 L/hr. Rapid theophylline distribution across the placenta was observed. Maternal non-compartmental pharmacokinetic parameters were as follows: half-life 6.54 ± 2.44 hr; volume of distribution 32.48 ± 9.99 L; area under the curve 16.28 ± 4.53 hr/(μg/mL); and clearance 3.69 ± 1.47 L/hr. Foetal and ewe serum concentration-time profiles were fit together into a 3-compartment population pharmacokinetic model, and parameters were as follows: central volume 1.38 ± 0.11 L; 2nd peripheral compartment volume 3.11 ± 0.29 L; 3rd peripheral compartment volume 60.14 ± 6.02 L; elimination clearance 9.89 ± 0.90 L/hr; distribution clearance between central and 2nd compartment 30.87 ± 2.31 L/hr; and distribution clearance between 2nd and 3rd compartments 13.89 ± 1.11 L/hr. Cytochrome P4501A expression was robust in maternal liver; negligible activities were observed in placenta, foetal liver and foetal kidney. In vitro protein binding of theophylline was 30% lower in foetal serum compared to maternal serum (29.7 ± 4.4 versus 42.0 ± 3.6%-bound). Free concentrations were lower in the foetus than in the ewe, suggesting active transport across placenta. In summary, foetal clearance of theophylline is attributable to rapid distribution into the maternal circulation across the placenta followed by greater maternal protein binding and metabolic activity.
The injury-spasm (ischemia-induced hemostatic vasoconstrictive) and vascular autoregulatory hypothesis of ischemic disease. Resistance vessel-spasm hypothesis of ischemic disease.

Abstract The injury-spasm concept assumes that severe myocardial ischemia secondary to stenotic coronary artery disease causes spasm of resistance vessels through ischemic tissue injury. In this communication the concept is developed further and is now extended to include other diseases. It is suggested that relative arterial insufficiency, as traditionally understood, is an invalid concept and that disorders usually attributed to it, including congestive heart failure and peripheral vascular disease, should be attributed to injury-spasm. Because a basic reaction to injury is to prevent bleeding, injury-spasm is identified as an exaggerated form of hemostatic vasoconstriction, and spasm is related to distorted vascular autoregulatory activities of resistance vessels. It is asserted that blood platelets probably are not involved in the initiation of ischemic attacks, and instead of a platelet thromboxane/vessel prostacyclin vasomotor balance of epicardial coronary arteries, the vasoconstrictive/vasodilative balance is centered in resistance vessels and is based on autoregulatory processes such as the hemostatic injury-spasm reaction and reactive hyperemia.
C1q arrests the cell cycle progression of fibroblasts in G1 phase: role of the cAMP/PKA-I pathway

C1q may participate in the loss of connective tissue occurring in chronic inflammatory lesions. The hypothesis of a detrimental role of C1q on cell proliferation was tested on primary cultures of human fibroblasts (HFs). C1q suppressed the DNA synthesis of HF in response to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) with an IC(50) of 20 microg/ml, and blocked 78% of the cycling cells in G(1) phase. The C1q block did not involve production of inhibitory prostaglandin by the cells. Given that C1q elicits signals of the adenylyl cyclase pathway in HF, we examined cAMP-dependent mechanisms to understand how C1q inhibited the PDGF response. Whereas the C1q block was enhanced by agonist dibutyryl-adenosine 3', 5'-cyclic mono-phosphate (db-cAMP), antagonist adenosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphorotioate triethylammonium salt (Rp-cAMP) minimized it. C1q increased the level of cAMP-dependent protein kinase I (PKA-I) 4.5-fold, without altering the activation of the extracellular-regulated protein kinase (ERK) pathway. These results demonstrate that the interactions of C1q with HF cause growth arrest at the G(1) phase through mechanisms associated with a PKA-I dependent pathway.
Selection By Differential Molecular Survival - a Possible Mechanism of Early Chemical Evolution

Abstract A model is proposed to account for selective chemical evolution, progressing from a relatively simple initial set of abiotic synthetic phenomena up to the elaborately sophisticated processes that are almost certainly required to produce the complex molecules, such as replicatable RNA-like oligonucleotides, needed for a Darwinian form of selection to start operating. The model makes the following assumptions: (i) that a small number of micromolecular substances were present at high concentration; (ii) that a random assembly mechanism combined these molecules into a variety of multimeric compounds comprising a wide repertoire of rudimentary catalytic activities; and (iii) that a lytic system capable of breaking down the assembled products existed. The model assumes further that catalysts supplied with substrates were significantly protected against breakdown. It is shown that, by granting these assumptions, an increasingly complex network of metabolic pathways would progressively be established. At the same time, the catalysts concerned would accumulate selectively to become choice substrates for elongation and other modifications that could enhance their efficiency, as well as their survival. Chemical evolution would thus proceed by a dual process of metabolic extension and catalytic innovation. Such a process should be largely deterministic and predictable from initial conditions.
The origins of Schwinger's Euclidean Green's functions

Abstract This paper places Julian Schwinger׳s development of the Euclidean Green׳s function formalism for quantum field theory in historical context. It traces the techniques employed in the formalism back to Schwinger׳s work on waveguides during World War II, and his subsequent formulation of the Minkowski space Green׳s function formalism for quantum field theory in 1951. Particular attention is dedicated to understanding Schwinger׳s physical motivation for pursuing the Euclidean extension of this formalism in 1958.
The rationality of Sol-manifolds

Abstract Let Γ be the fundamental group of a manifold modeled on 3-dimensional Sol geometry. We prove that Γ has a finite index subgroup G which has a rational growth series with respect to a natural generating set. We do this by enumerating G by a regular language. However, in contrast to most earlier proofs of this sort our regular language is not a language of words in the generating set, but rather reflects a different geometric structure in G .
GULP: a unified logging architecture for authentication data

We have implemented the Grand Unified Logging Project, GULP, a flexible aggregation system for authentication log data. The system merges disparate logs stored across various servers into a single format according to an XML schema. This single format is logged to a database and queried via a web interface. The strength of this system lies in the ability to correlate information across multiple logging sources and display relevant information through a simple interface.
Incentive Value: The Overlooked Dimension in Childhood Sharing

Abstract This study was conducted to determine the effect of incentive value on the amount shared by children of two age groups. Differences in sharing behavior between kindergarten (n = 42) and fourth-grade (n = 42) children, when sharing high-preferred, less-preferred, and disliked items, were examined. A 2 × 3 × 2 (Age Level × Incentive Value × Sex) analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated a significant incentive value effect (p < .001). Neither age nor sex was a significant factor. The results suggest that sharing increases significantly as the incentive value of the item decreases and contradict previous findings of age-related increases in sharing. Theoretical implications of the results are discussed with respect to logical learning theory.
Uncertainties and Limitations in Measuring ϵ and χT

Abstract Extending the range of microstructure measurements from the upper thermocline of the open ocean to shallow waters near shore and to the abyss has greatly increased in the range of turbulent intensities being observed. As a result, it is necessary to reexamine the adequacy of microstructure probes to resolve dissipation-scale gradients of velocity and temperature. These variances are needed to estimate directly the viscous dissipation rate, ϵ, with airfoil probes and the diffusive dissipation rate, χT, with thermistors.
Characterization of a LINE-1 cDNA that originated from RNA present in ribonucleoprotein particles: implications for the structure of an active mouse LINE-1

Full-length, sense-strand, long interspersed element-1 (LINE-1 or L1) RNA is found as an RNA-protein complex in mouse embryonal carcinoma cells. Since this complex is a likely intermediate in LINE-1 transposition, its RNA may be enriched for the functional, or active, subset of mouse L1 sequences. For this reason, a cDNA library was constructed from RNA prepared from these ribonucleoprotein particles. The isolation and complete DNA sequence of one clone that is a strong candidate to be a functional version of mouse L1 is reported here. The structure of this element suggests a revision of the predicted sequence of an active mouse L1 and provides a tag that can be used to isolate its locus in the genome.
Foster Children's Expressions of Ambiguous Loss

The theory of ambiguous loss is useful in understanding the experiences and challenges of the foster care system. Its indications are illustrated with foster children's perceptions and stories. These include semi-structured interviews with 23 foster children aged 7 to 12 years, and stories provided by 182 foster children, aged 2 years to 10, to the Blacky Pictures. The pervasive presence of ambiguous loss in the stories of these foster children illustrates that many behavioral indicators of cognitive and emotional discomfort in foster children are normative and that our interventions with them and their institutionalized caretakers could be effectively guided by this knowledge.
Acute compartment syndrome of the triceps: A case report

A case of an acute compartment syndrome of the triceps muscle complicating a surgical neck fracture of the humerus is presented. Diagnosis was suspected because of pain with passive elbow flexion and pain out of proportion to the clinical situation. Diagnosis was confirmed with intracompartmental pressure measurements. An emergency fasciotomy was performed. The patient had an excellent result.
Subjetividade e crítica cultural

In the many works that try to bring back 'the actor' in some sense, there is a tendency to avoid questions of subjectivity, that is, complex 'structures of feeling' (in Raymond Williams's phrase). This article returns to the work of Max Weber and Clifford Geertz to consider various issues of subjectivity, including both fundamental existential anxieties, and specific cultural and historical constructions of 'consciousness'. The article concludes with a rereading of several recent texts on postmodern consciousness as a specific configuration of anxieties, tied in turn to formations of 'late capitalism'.
Degradation of tetraethyllead during the degradation of leaded gasoline hydrocarbons in soil

For over 50 years, leaded gasoline was the only fuel for automobiles, and tetraethyllead (TEL) was the major octane number enhancer used in leaded gasoline. Ample information is available on the fate and remediation of gasoline hydrocarbons in contaminated subsoils and groundwater. However, little is known regarding the fate of TEL in leaded gasoline-contaminated subsoils and groundwater. In soil not contaminated with gasoline, TEL was rapidly degraded and completely disappeared in 14 d. In gasoline-contaminated soil, TEL degradation was slower; after 77 d, 4 to 17% of the applied TEL still remained in the contaminated soil. Disappearance of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) was initially rapid but slowed appreciably after 7 to 14 d. As a result, after 77 d, 33 to 51% of the applied gasoline still remained in soil. The retardation of TEL degradation in leaded gasoline-contaminated soil is due to the presence of gasoline hydrocarbons. As long as gasoline hydrocarbons remain in soil, TEL may also remain in soil, most likely in the gasoline hydrocarbon phase.
Impulse Controls and Double Constraints

In the first section of this chapter we deal with the problem of feedback impulse control in the class of generalized inputs that may involve delta functions and discontinuous trajectories in the state space. Such feedback controls are not physically realizable. The second section thus treats the problem of feedback control under double constraints: both hard bounds and integral bounds. Such solutions are then used for approximating impulse controls by bounded “ordinary” functions.
A Critical Guide to the Second Amendment

This Article surveys case law, history, and scholarship on the Second Amendment. Examining both "individual right" and "collective right" theorists, it synthesizes a so-called "Standard Model" of Second Amendment interpretation, and briefly addresses questions of what weapons might be protected under a more expansive treatment of the Second Amendment than exists today.
The Christian College Advantage? The Impact of Christian Versus Secular Training Among Faculty at Christian Colleges and Universities

Are faculty trained at Christian institutions better equipped to integrate their faith with their professional work? This study uses a mixed methods analysis of Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) faculty survey data to analyze whether and in what ways faculty who graduate from Christian undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs are more apt to identify connections between their faith tradition and their course objectives. Findings show that faculty members prepared at Christian institutions are more likely to see this relationship and may conceive of it in more sophisticated ways. However, the gap is modest.
Investigation on the use of insecticides in Xi'an city

Objective To study the use of insecticides in Xi'an and provide the basis information for using insecticides reasonably.Methods With a questionnaire and interview,choosing the unit which engaged in prevention and control of vectors and analyzing on variety,quantity and the use of insecticides in Xi'an.Results The use of insecticides was for controlling mosquitoes,flies,rats,cockroaches.Main kinds of insecticides were pyrethroids(68.3%),organophosphorus(22.1%) and carbamates(4.7%).Conclusion Pyrethroids is the main kind of insecticides,but some varieties already produce resistance.It's necessary to strengthen the management of using insecticides,and use insecticides have scientifically and effectively in the future.
Bladder Augmentation in the Pediatric Neuropathic Bladder

Augmentation enterocystoplasty was used as an aid to reconstruction of the urinary tract and undiversion in 14 children with neurogenic bladder dysfunction. The long-term results have been excellent in children in whom an effective program of clean intermittent catheterization has been possible. The elements and the importance of the preoperative evaluation are discussed.
Biomedical technology: to use or not to use?

The past 30 years have seen tremendous advances in biomedical technology that have changed dramatically the practice of medicine in general and of neonatology in particular. All changes have not been for the best, however. The price tag has been especially steep, but there have been adverse effects on the quality of medicine as well. The reasons we rely on high technology, its risks and pitfalls, and our future handling of decisions regarding using or not using biotechnology deserve careful consideration, including financial factors that physicians have traditionally been loath to address. If the medical profession is to avoid becoming enslaved to technology, our future decisions must be better informed, more rational, and based on more scientific facts than they have been in the past. Above all, physicians must avoid becoming mere technicians at the expense of the traditional humanistic approach to patient care.
Social Media Use in Journalism Education: Faculty and Student Expectations

Social media use has become essential for journalists. Although previous research has explored how journalists use social media, less is known about how journalism and mass communication programs i...
Resource competition amid overlapping territories: The territorial raider model applied to multi-group interactions

Abstract Many organisms maintain collective territories and compete on behalf of the fitness of the overall group. Inspired by this concept, the territorial raider model is a graph-based resource competition in which populations have fixed home locations and a limited range of sites accessible for raiding. In our present extension of the model, groups control “colonies” or “armies” which can be divided across multiple locations. We present Nash equilibria for games played on both regular graphs and regular bipartite graphs, and we also examine differences that emerge when populations are composed of discrete units (pack scale) or when they are continuously divisible (colony scale). Reliance upon defense over aggressive raiding is greater here than in the original model where populations had to totally commit to a singular action. This defensive posture increases with the advantage of the local population and also varies with the degree of the graph's connectivity. When discrete units are employed, multiple strategies emerge.
Development and validation of the Palliative Care Knowledge Scale (PaCKS)

Objective The purpose of this study was to develop a reliable and valid scale that broadly measures knowledge about palliative care among non-healthcare professionals. Method An initial item pool of 38 true/false questions was developed based on extensive qualitative and quantitative pilot research. The preliminary items were tested with a community sample of 614 adults aged 18-89 years as well as 30 palliative care professionals. The factor structure, reliability, stability, internal consistency, and validity of the 13-item Palliative Care Knowledge Scale (PaCKS) were assessed. Results The results of our study indicate that the PaCKS meets or exceeds the standards for psychometric scale development. Significance of results Prior to this study, there were no psychometrically evaluated scales with which to assess knowledge of palliative care. Our study developed the PaCKS, which is valid for assessing knowledge about palliative services in the general population. With the successful development of this instrument, new research exploring how knowledge about palliative care influences access and utilization of the service is possible. Prior research in palliative care access and utilization has not assessed knowledge of palliative care, though many studies have suggested that knowledge deficits contribute to underutilization of these services. Creating a scale that measures knowledge about palliative care is a critical first step toward understanding and combating potential barriers to access and utilization of this life-improving service.
Rapid and durable response to intravenous immunoglobulin in delayed heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: a case report.

BACKGROUND Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) results in platelet consumption and a virulent thrombotic state, which generally responds to cessation of heparin and initiation of anticoagulation. Rarely, delayed HIT can occur and/or persist after heparin is discontinued. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS A 47-year-old male developed delayed HIT with severe thrombocytopenia and thrombosis after cardiac surgery. Thrombocytopenia developed and persisted after heparin cessation and did not improve despite sequential use of argatroban followed by bivalirudin. Treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) was well tolerated and resulted in rapid resolution of thrombocytopenia. RESULTS There are few case reports on the management of delayed HIT with severe and prolonged thrombocytopenia. The risk for thrombosis and bleeding in the setting of an undefined time course increases uncertainty in management. CONCLUSION This case, along with others accumulating in the literature, suggest that IVIg may be effective in treating delayed HIT with persistent thrombocytopenia.
Water-level fluctuations influence sediment porewater chemistry and methylmercury production in a flood-control reservoir

Reservoirs typically have elevated fish mercury (Hg) levels compared to natural lakes and rivers. A unique feature of reservoirs is water-level management which can result in sediment exposure to the air. The objective of this study is to identify how reservoir water-level fluctuations impact Hg cycling, particularly the formation of the more toxic and bioaccumulative methylmercury (MeHg). Total-Hg (THg), MeHg, stable isotope methylation rates and several ancillary parameters were measured in reservoir sediments (including some in porewater and overlying water) that are seasonally and permanently inundated. The results showed that sediment and porewater MeHg concentrations were over 3-times higher in areas experiencing water-level fluctuations compared to permanently inundated sediments. Analysis of the data suggest that the enhanced breakdown of organic matter in sediments experiencing water-level fluctuations has a two-fold effect on stimulating Hg methylation: 1) it increases the partitioning of inorganic Hg from the solid phase into the porewater phase (lower log Kd values) where it is more bioavailable for methylation; and 2) it increases dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the porewater which can stimulate the microbial community that can methylate Hg. Sulfate concentrations and cycling were enhanced in the seasonally inundated sediments and may have also contributed to increased MeHg production. Overall, our results suggest that reservoir management actions can have an impact on the sediment-porewater characteristics that affect MeHg production. Such findings are also relevant to natural water systems that experience wetting and drying cycles, such as floodplains and ombrotrophic wetlands.
Promoting Self-Determination and Integrated Employment Through the Self-Determined Career Development Model

Self-determination has been identified as a key predictor of employment for people with intellectual disability. The Self-Determined Career Development Model enables support providers to support job seekers with intellectual disability to use a self-regulated problem-solving process to set and attain job and career goals. This single-case design study examined the impact of the Self-Determined Career Development Model on a component element of self-determination (knowledge of strengths, interests, and needs). Employment outcomes of participants were also tracked. Positive changes were demonstrated for two job seekers on knowledge of strengths and interests. Additionally, all three job seekers changed their employment status in line with their goals. The implications of these findings for future research and practice are discussed.
Influence of Carbon Nanotube Dispersion in UO2–Carbon Nanotube Ceramic Matrix Composites Utilizing Spark Plasma Sintering

A novel uranium dioxide (UO2)–carbon nanotube (CNT) ceramic matrix composite fuel concept has been proposed for a nuclear fuel with increased thermal conductivity. Investigations were performed to ...
Morphogenesis, morphology and men: pattern formation from embryo to mind

In 1952, Alan Turing published his last work on the concept of embryonic morphogenesis, propounding a computational framework for pattern formation within the developing embryo. This concept of morphogenesis and the concept of embryo pattern formation based on chemical diffusion patterns were corroborated with the discovery of the Homeobox or Hox genes. In the following decades, Hox gene research has expanded and is now shown to underlie the variety of morphological novelties that we experience in nature, the patterning of structural aspects of different organs including the brain and also mutant animals that may in the future give rise to novel speciation. Turing had the foresight and vision and with his work created the field of computational biology and mathematical modeling in biological systems. In this paper, we will discuss the concept of Hox genes, their role in patterning the embryo, how it relates to Turing’s concept of morphogenesis and what further insights they may provide.
In situ optical studies of metal deposition

The importance of microscopic morphological control to metal electro- and electroless deposition in several emerging technologies is discussed. The use of in situ optical probes of the morphological development of deposits is described. A number of these are reviewed to describe both the potential of each method and the available literature on studies of electro- and electroless deposition. Included are optical probes of the mass transfer boundary layer, X-ray diffractive and spectroscopic methods, ellipsometry, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy, second harmonic generation and electroreflectance.
Leukemic phase of primary cutaneous anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALK-negative), with downregulation of CD30

Leukemic phase of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is extremely rare. We present a case of primary cutaneous-ALCL (C-ALCL), who developed nodal involvement 4 years later. The patient was treated with combination chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation; however, she relapsed 5 months later. At that time, the patient was given brentuximab vedotin (BV) with initial response. One year later, the patient demonstrated progressive adenopathy and leukemic involvement by her ALCL (comparative T cell clonality showed PCR products of the same size in the diagnostic skin and relapsed leukemic blood). Interestingly, the circulating tumor cells showed only subset expression of CD30 by flow cytometry (performed on peripheral blood). This patient demonstrates an unusual manifestation of ALCL (leukemic phase), with the additional confounder of CD30 downregulation, perhaps secondary to the BV therapy, or possible CD30-negative tumor escape.
The origins and evolution of sleep

Sleep is nearly ubiquitous throughout the animal kingdom, yet little is known about how ecological factors or perturbations to the environment shape the duration and timing of sleep. In diverse animal taxa, poor sleep negatively impacts development, cognitive abilities and longevity. In addition to mammals, sleep has been characterized in genetic model organisms, ranging from the nematode worm to zebrafish, and, more recently, in emergent models with simplified nervous systems such as Aplysia and jellyfish. In addition, evolutionary models ranging from fruit flies to cavefish have leveraged natural genetic variation to investigate the relationship between ecology and sleep. Here, we describe the contributions of classical and emergent genetic model systems to investigate mechanisms underlying sleep regulation. These studies highlight fundamental interactions between sleep and sensory processing, as well as a remarkable plasticity of sleep in response to environmental changes. Understanding how sleep varies throughout the animal kingdom will provide critical insight into fundamental functions and conserved genetic mechanisms underlying sleep regulation. Furthermore, identification of naturally occurring genetic variation regulating sleep may provide novel drug targets and approaches to treat sleep-related diseases.
Aspects of Spotlight-Mode Image Formation

We have said that forming an image from the collected SAR data requires nothing more than computing a two-dimensional Fourier transform. While this simple idea is in fact the essence of image formation, its implementation leads to a number of important issues that need to be addressed. In this chapter, we discuss several practical aspects of the process of transforming SAR phase-history data into imagery.
Developing tightly-coupled data mining applications on a relational database system

We present a methodology for tightly coupling data mining applications to database systems to build high-performance applications, without requiring any change to the database software.
Mechanism Displaces the Soul

After Aquinas, the Aristotelian concept of souls, carefully tended for two millennia, started to unravel. William of Ockham introduced nominalism and voluntarism, necessitating observation and leading to empiricism. Luther and Calvin questioned the dual creation and the power of human intellect. In the seventeenth century Gassendi and Descartes introduced the mechanical philosophy, pushing formal and final causes out of the natural world. The mechanical philosophers embraced a machine metaphor, an ontological elimination (materialism), and an etiological reduction. Only the last proved useful for advancing biology. Physiological and psychological accounts of life took on distinct and irreconcilable vocabularies, with the term “soul” frequently reserved for the latter. Biology lacked a unifying principle for the next two centuries.
Improved Cognitive Radio Receivers Using Timing Mismatch of Primary and Secondary Users

We consider an asynchronous cognitive radio framework, where the primary user (spectrum license holder) and the secondary user are, naturally, not aligned in their timing. We show that applying our optimal receiver design results in improving the performance compared to the case of synchronous cognitive radio. We optimize the rates subject to the constraint to keep interference imposed on the primary user below a certain level. We also derive the constraint for the receiver of the secondary user to perform interference cancellation. Simulation results show that our proposed oversampling secondary user receiver boosts the received signal. As a result, the secondary user’s transmission power can be decreased without negatively affecting the quality of the received signal. Not only does our method reduce the interference to the primary user but also it saves power at the secondary user.
Pathology in Ecological Research With Implications for One Health: Session Summary.

This session explored the effects of pollutants on One Health at the ecosystem level that included microbes, insects, fish, and humans. The concept of One Health seeks to synergize medical, veterin...
Influence of timing of Palmer amaranth control in dicamba-resistant cotton on yield and economic return

Glyphosate-resistant (GR) Palmer amaranth continues to be challenging to control across the U.S. cotton belt. Timely application of POST herbicides and herbicides applied at planting or during the season with residual activity are utilized routinely to control this weed. Although glyphosate controls large Palmer amaranth that is not GR, herbicides such as glufosinate used in resistance management programs for GR Palmer amaranth must be applied when weeds are small. Dicamba can complement both glyphosate and glufosinate in controlling GR and glyphosate-susceptible (GS) biotypes in resistant cultivars. Two studies were conducted to determine Palmer amaranth control, weed biomass, and cotton yield, as well as to estimate economic net return when herbicides were applied 2, 3, 4, and 5 wk after planting (WAP). In one experiment POST-only applications were made. In the second experiment PRE herbicides were included. In general, Palmer amaranth was controlled at least 98% by herbicides applied at least three times regardless of timing of application or herbicide sequence. Glyphosate plus dicamba applied at 4 and 5 WAP controlled Palmer amaranth similarly compared to three applications by 8 WAP; however, yield was reduced 23% because of early-season interference. The inclusion of PRE herbicides benefited treatments that did not include herbicides applied 2 or 3 WAP. Glyphosate plus dicamba applied as the only herbicides 5 WAP provided 69% control of Palmer amaranth. PRE herbicides increased control to 96% for this POST treatment. Economic returns were similar when three or more POST applications were applied, with or without PRE herbicides.
News, Nationalism, and Hegemony: The Formation of Consistent Issue Framing Throughout the U.S. Political Right

This case study considers the framing of messages within the conservative media system. The study used a grounded theory approach to consider two mainstream conservative podcasts, the Ben Shapiro S...
Unrecognized Uterine Hyperstimulation Due to Oxytocin and Combined Spinal-Epidural Analgesia

The anesthesia resident was called to evaluate a 32-year-old gravida 1 para 0 in labor at term for epidural placement because of severe labor pain at 6–7 cm of cervical dilation. She performed a combined spinal-epidural anesthetic, and the patient received rapid and complete pain relief, which was rapidly followed by fetal bradycardia. The resident treated mild maternal hypotension with vasopressors, left lateral positioning, fluids, and oxygen, but the fetal bradycardia persisted and preparations were made for emergency cesarean section. Uterine hypertonus (“hyperstimulation”) was diagnosed by the obstetric attending prior to cesarean section, and the administration of terbutaline to relax the hypertonic uterus avoided the need for a cesarean section.
Improving Surface PM2.5 Forecasts in the United States Using an Ensemble of Chemical Transport Model Outputs: 1. Bias Correction With Surface Observations in Nonrural Areas

This work is the first of a two-part study that aims to develop a computationally efficient bias correction framework to improve surface PM2.5 forecasts in the United States. Here, an ensemble-based Kalman filter (KF) technique is developed primarily for nonrural areas with approximately 500 surface observation sites for PM2.5 and applied to three (GEOS-Chem, WRF-Chem, and WRF-CMAQ) chemical transport model (CTM) hindcast outputs for June 2012. While all CTMs underestimate daily surface PM2.5 mass concentration by 20-50%, KF correction is effective for improving each CTM forecast. Subsequently, two ensemble methods are formulated: (1) the arithmetic mean ensemble (AME) that equally weights each model and (2) the optimized ensemble (OPE) that calculates the individual model weights by minimizing the least-square errors. While the OPE shows superior performance than the AME, the combination of either the AME or the OPE with a KF performs better than the OPE alone, indicating the effectiveness of the KF technique. Overall, the combination of a KF with the OPE shows the best results. Lastly, the Successive Correction Method (SCM) was applied to spread the bias correction from model grids with surface PM2.5 observations to the grids lacking ground observations by using a radius of influence of 125 km derived from surface observations, which further improves the forecast of surface PM2.5 at the national scale. Our findings provide the foundation for the second part of this study that uses satellite-based aerosol optical depth (AOD) products to further improve the forecast of surface PM2.5 in rural areas by performing statistical analysis of model output.