cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Association of Cigarette Use and Complication Rates and Outcomes Following Total Ankle Arthroplasty.

Background:Tobacco use is a known risk factor for increased perioperative complications and having worse functional outcomes in many orthopedic procedures. To date, no study has elucidated the effect of cigarette smoking on complications or functional outcome scores after total ankle replacement (TAR).Methods:We retrospectively reviewed the records of 642 patients who had TAR between June 2007 and February 2014 with a known smoking status. These patients were separated into 3 groups based on their smoking status: 34 current smokers, 249 former smokers, and 359 nonsmokers. Outcome scores and perioperative complications, which included infection, wound complications, revision surgeries, and nonrevision surgeries were compared between the groups.Results:When comparing perioperative complications in the active smokers to the nonsmokers, we found a statistically significant increased risk of wound breakdown (hazard ratio [HR] 3.08, P = .047). Although the active smokers had an increased rate of infection (HR 2...
Sugar transport by the bacterial phosphotransferase system. In vivo regulation of lactose transport in Escherichia coli by IIIGlc, a protein of the phosphoenolpyruvate:glycose phosphotransferase system.

Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium preferentially utilize sugar substrates of the phosphoenol-pyruvate:glycose phosphotransferase system (PTS) when the growth medium also contains other sugars. This phenomenon, diauxic growth, is regulated by the crr gene, which encodes the PTS protein IIIGlc (Saffen, D.W., Presper, K.A., Doering, T.L., and Roseman, S. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 16241-16253). We have proposed that non-PTS permeases are regulated by their interaction with IIIGlc, and in vitro studies from other laboratories have provided support for this model, but the in vivo effects of excess IIIGlc are not known. In the present studies, transformed cells that overproduced IIIGlc 2- and 10-fold, respectively, were constructed from a pts+ strain of E. coli and plasmids containing the crr gene. In the 2-fold overproducer, fermentation of, and growth on the non-PTS carbohydrates glycerol, lactose, maltose, and melibiose was generally more sensitive to the glucose analogue methyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside than in a control strain containing normal levels of IIIGlc. In addition, inhibition of lactose permease activity by methyl-alpha-glucoside (inducer exclusion) was more effective in the 2-fold overproducer than in the control strain, particularly when the permease activity was high. The 10-fold IIIGlc overproducing strain had a requirement for the amino acids methionine, isoleucine, leucine, and valine that may or may not be related to the increased concentration of IIIGlc. Fermentation of non-PTS carbohydrates was also poor in the latter strain. Finally, lactose permease activity was 50% of that in control cells containing the same levels of beta-galactosidase, and the lactose permease activity in the IIIGlc overproducer was reduced to an extremely low level in the presence of methyl alpha-glucoside. Thus there is an inverse relationship between the cellular concentration of IIIGlc and the ability to metabolize non-PTS substrates. The results are consistent with the model where inducer exclusion is affected by a direct interaction between IIIGlc and a non-PTS transport system.
Resilience Evaluation of Water Supply Networks against Seismic Hazards

AbstractIt is imperative that water supply networks (WSNs) continue to perform even after subjected to natural and anthropogenic hazards, and it is even more important in the case of earthquakes for fighting fires that usually follow. Past earthquakes have caused significant damage to WSNs rendering them dysfunctional and potentially threatening human survival. Although there has been a lot of research conducted in the past on the behavior of buried pipelines, there are few metrics and models that are readily usable for improving the performance of large WSNs prone to seismic hazards. This paper proposes an easy-to-use metric for quantifying resilience and an optimization framework for improving WSN resilience subjected to budgetary constraints. The proposed resilience metric is dependent on hazard intensity, estimated pipeline response, and network topology. The use of the proposed metric and the optimization framework are demonstrated on a large (1,874 pipelines and 1,474 demand nodes), real-world WSN i...
Biopsychosocial and Retirement Factors Influencing Satisfaction With Life: New Perspectives.

Founded on expectation confirmation theory and a resource perspective, this research examines the impact of retiree resources, retirement planning, conditions of work exit, and confirmation of reti...
REVISITING DESTRUCTION IN “THE USE OF AN OBJECT”

"The Use of an Object" (1969a) has been widely recognized as among Winnicott's great papers and has deservedly received a good deal of attention. Much of that attention has focused on the importance that the paper gives to the role of destruction in bringing about the experience of externality. Yet the nature of that destruction has too often been assumed based on Winnicott's earlier writings. In the view that follows from that, destruction is equated with the aggression that fails to destroy the object, and the experience of externality is regarded just as the result of that failure. In offering a rereading of "The Use of an Object," the author suggests that, while this aspect of aggression/destruction indeed plays an important role in the establishment of externality, it is only part of the story, and that the central contribution of "The Use of an Object" is Winnicott's attempt to offer a new theory of primitive destruction, one that provides an impulsive basis for separation/externality itself. This theory and Winnicott's ongoing attempts to develop it after "The Use of an Object" led him to rethink the very nature of the drives.
Sasaki’s Pathway to Deterministic Data Assimilation

Yoshikazu Sasaki developed the variational method of data assimilation, a cornerstone of modern-day analysis and prediction in meteorology. The generation of this idea is tracked by analyzing his education at the University of Tokyo in the immediate post-WWII period. Despite austere circumstances—including limited financial support for education, poor living conditions, and a lack of educational resources—Sasaki was highly motivated and overcame these obstacles on his path to developing this innovative method of weather map analysis. We follow the stages of his intellectual development where information comes from access to his early publications, oral histories, letters of reminiscence, and biographical data from the University of Tokyo and the University of Oklahoma. Based on this information, key steps in the development of his idea were: (1) a passion for science in his youth, (2) an intellectually stimulating undergraduate education in physics, mathematics, and geophysics, (3) a fascination with the theory of variational mechanics, and (4) a “bridge to America” and the exciting new developments in numerical weather prediction (NWP).
Method for Understanding Complex Human Routine Behaviors from Large Behavior Logs

The increasing ability to collect large amounts of human behavior data can inform technology that has the potential to help people improve their behaviors and thus improve the quality of their lives. To design and implement such technology requires understanding of those very behaviors that the technology is trying to diagnose and improve. However, existing methods to explore and make sense of human behaviors are not well suited to address the increasingly large amount of data collected in behavior logs. My research focuses on the domain of human routines where I model behaviors as sequences of actions people perform in specific situations. I leverage those computational models of routines together with different visualization tools to aid researchers and domain experts in exploring, making sense of, and generating new insights about human behavior in a principled way. My research informs the design of technology that helps people be productive, healthy, and safe.
Conspeakuous: contextualising conversational systems

There has been a tremendous increase in the amount and type of information that is available through the Internet and through various sensors that now pervade our daily lives. Consequentially, the field of context aware computing has also contributed significantly in providing new technologies to mine and use the available context data. We present Conspeakuous - an architecture for modeling, aggregating and using the context in spoken language conversational systems. Since Conspeakuous is aware of the environment through different sources of context, it helps in making the conversation more relevant to the user, and thus reducing the cognitive load on the user. Additionally, the architecture allows for representing learning of various user/environment parameters as a source of context. We built a sample tourist information portal application based on the Conspeakuous architecture and conducted user studies to evaluate the usefulness of the system.
Interaction polymer chromatography

Abstract A comprehensive review of interaction polymer chromatography techniques is presented. A classification of the techniques is introduced based on the retention mechanism of polymeric analytes. The individual techniques include liquid adsorption chromatography, liquid chromatography at critical conditions, “barrier” methods, gradient elution at critical point of adsorption, liquid precipitation chromatography, and temperature gradient interactive chromatography. A universal thermodynamic approach to quantitative description of these techniques is described using a framework of the molecular statistical model of polymer chains confined in chromatographic porous media. Practical implementation of the theoretical results for various techniques, including the selection of the proper separation method and chromatographic conditions, is described in detail with emphasis on specific polymer characterization problems.
A method to increase reproducibility in adult ventricular myocyte sizing and flow cytometry: Avoiding cell size bias in single cell preparations.

Author(s): Lopez, Javier E; Jaradeh, Katrin; Silva, Emmanuel; Aminololama-Shakeri, Shadi; Simpson, Paul C | Abstract: RATIONALE:Flow cytometry (FCM) of ventricular myocytes (VMs) is an emerging technology in adult cardiac research that is challenged by the wide variety of VM shapes and sizes. Cellular variability and cytometer flow cell size can affect cytometer performance. These two factors of variance limit assay validity and reproducibility across laboratories. Washing and filtering of ventricular cells in suspension are routinely done to prevent cell clumping and minimize data variability without the appropriate standardization. We hypothesize that washing and filtering arbitrarily biases towards sampling smaller VMs than what actually exist in the adult heart. OBJECTIVE:To determine the impact of washing and filtering on adult ventricular cells for cell sizing and FCM. METHODS AND RESULTS:Left ventricular cardiac cells in single-cell suspension were harvested from New Zealand White rabbits and fixed prior to analysis. Each ventricular sample was aliquoted before washing or filtering through a 40, 70, 100 or 200μm mesh. The outcomes of the study are VM volume by Coulter Multisizer and light-scatter signatures by FCM. Data are presented as mean±SD. Myocyte volumes without washing or filtering (NF) served as the "gold standard" within the sample and ranged from 11,017 to 46,926μm3. Filtering each animal sample through a 200μm mesh caused no variation in the post-filtration volume (1.01+0.01 fold vs. NF, n = 4 rabbits, p = 0.999) with an intra-assay coefficient of variation (%CV) of l5% for all 4 samples. Filtering each sample through a 40, 70 or 100μm mesh invariably reduced the post-filtration volume by 41±10%, 9.0±0.8% and 8.8±0.8% respectively (n = 4 rabbits, pl0.0001), and increased the %CV (18% to 1.3%). The high light-scatter signature by FCM, a simple parameter for the identification of ventricular myocytes, was measured after washing and filtering. Washing discarded VMs and filtering cells through a 40 or 100μm mesh reduced larger VM by 46% or 11% respectively (n = 6 from 2 rabbits, pl0.001). CONCLUSION:Washing and filtering VM suspensions through meshes 100μm or less biases myocyte volumes to smaller sizes, excludes larger cells, and increases VM variability. These findings indicate that validity and reproducibility across laboratories can be compromised unless cell preparation is standardized. We propose no wash prior to fixation and a 200μm mesh for filtrations to provide a reproducible standard for VM studies using FCM.
Causation and Prediction: Axioms and Explications

Views about the nature of causation divide very roughly into those that analyze causal influence as some sort of probabilistic relation, those that analyze causal influence as some sort of counterfactual relation (sometimes a counterfactual relation having to do with manipulations or interventions), and those that prefer not to talk of causation at all. We advocate no definition of causation, but in this chapter we try to make our usage systematic, and to make explicit our assumptions connecting causal structure with probability, counterfactuals and manipulations. With suitable metaphysical gyrations the assumptions could be endorsed from any of these points of view, perhaps including even the last.
Percutaneous Transesophageal Gastric Tubes: Indications, Technique, Safety, Efficacy, and Management

Percutaneous transesophageal gastric (PTEG) tube placement is an alternative method of gastric access for feeding or decompression in patients with contraindications to conventional gastrostomy tube placement such as peritoneal carcinomatosis, gastric wall tumors, ascites, or intervening organs. PTEG tube placement is safe with a high technical success rate and it can be placed with supplies available in most interventional radiology departments using ultrasound and fluoroscopic guidance. PTEG tubes are highly efficacious at reducing symptoms in patients with malignant bowel obstruction as an alternative to long-term nasogastric decompression.
Assessment of Group Dynamics During Cyber Crime Through Temporal Network Topology

Understanding group dynamics can provide valuable insight into how the adversaries progress through cyberattacks and adapt to any disruptions they encounter. However, capturing the characteristics of such dynamics is a difficult task due to complexities in the formation and focus of the adversarial team throughout the attack. In this study, we propose an approach based on concepts and measures of social network theory. The results of experiments performed on observations at the US Industrial Control Systems Computer Emergency Response Team’s (ICS-CERT) Red Team-Blue Team cybersecurity training exercise held at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) show that the team dynamics can be captured and characterized using the proposed approach. Moreover, we provide an analysis of the shifts in such dynamics due to the adversarial team’s adaptation to disruptions caused by the defenders.
Mass spectrometric detection of the Gibbs reaction for phenol analysis.

This paper describes a new method for detecting phenols, by reaction with Gibbs reagent to form indophenols, followed by mass spectrometric detection. Unlike the standard Gibbs reaction, which uses a colorometric approach, the use of mass spectrometry allows for simultaneous detection of differently substituted phenols. The procedure is demonstrated to work for a large variety of phenols without para-substitution. With para-substituted phenols, Gibbs products are still often observed, but the specific product depends on the substituent. For para groups with high electronegativity, such as methoxy or halogens, the reaction proceeds by displacement of the substituent. For groups with lower electronegativity, such as amino or alkyl groups, Gibbs products are observed that retain the substituent, indicating that the reaction occurs at the ortho or meta position. In mixtures of phenols, the relative intensities of the Gibbs products are proportional to the relative concentrations, and concentrations as low as 1 μmol/L can be detected. The method is applied to the qualitative analysis of commercial liquid smoke, and it is found that hickory and mesquite flavors have significantly different phenolic composition.
Genetic susceptibility to environmental and occupational cancers.

Epidemiologic evidence on the relation between genetic susceptibility and cancer is reviewed. Traditional epidemiologic studies have identified various exposure-related associations with cancer. Most conventional approaches to environmental and occupational cancer have not been able to address specifically the issue of individual susceptibility to the action of carcinogens. However, with the recent rapid advances in molecular biology, novel approaches to define the role of genetic susceptibility in epidemiologic studies of cancer etiology have emerged. Molecular epidemiology has begun to develop within the broad field of cancer research. Here, we provide a description of the current framework of this research. Ongoing studies of the associations of inheritable polymorphisms in metabolic genes with specific carcinogen exposures reflect the most active area of research. Future efforts will include the examination of inherited variation in DNA repair. Methods are being developed n ow that will allow for the application of linkage analysis to the problem of gene-environment interaction in cancer. These approaches hold considerable promise for defining the nature of genetic susceptibility to exposure-related cancers.
Black-box and gray-box strategies for virtual machine migration

Virtualization can provide significant benefits in data centers by enabling virtual machine migration to eliminate hotspots. We present Sandpiper, a system that automates the task of monitoring and detecting hotspots, determining a new mapping of physical to virtual resources and initiating the necessary migrations. Sandpiper implements a black-box approach that is fully OS- and application-agnostic and a gray-box approach that exploits OS- and application-level statistics. We implement our techniques in Xen and conduct a detailed evaluation using a mix of CPU, network and memory-intensive applications. Our results show that Sandpiper is able to resolve single server hotspots within 20 seconds and scales well to larger, data center environments. We also show that the gray-box approach can help Sandpiper make more informed decisions, particularly in response to memory pressure.
Evaluating dimensional models of psychopathology in outpatients diagnosed with emotional disorders: A cautionary tale.

Background Mental disorders cluster together systematically. Through factor analysis of disorder comorbidity, investigators are establishing the latent dimensions that underlie the development of related syndromes. However, these dimensions have not been validated across diverse patient samples, in which comorbidity patterns vary widely. Method We assessed 4,928 outpatients seeking treatment for emotional disorders with a semistructured diagnostic interview. This was the largest patient sample as yet for an evaluation of the latent structure of mental disorders. We compared several competing dimensional models of common mental disorders via confirmatory factor analysis. Results The hypothesized confirmatory factor model-anchored by internalizing and externalizing spectra-fit the diagnostic data poorly. Neither a one-factor model, reflecting a unitary liability to all mental disorders, nor a three-factor model, wherein the internalizing dimension bifurcated into distress and fear subfactors, fit appreciably better. Conclusions These data provide novel evidence that the internalizing and externalizing spectra are not structurally sound in all clinical contexts. We speculate about the causes of model misfit and advise additional research into the generalizability-with respect to sample, input data, developmental stage, and more-of dimensional models of mental disorder.
Optimized Transmission for Consensus in Wireless Sensor Networks

In this paper, we present a consensus-based framework for decentralized estimation of deterministic parameters in wireless sensor networks (WSNs). In particular, we propose an optimization algorithm to design (possibly complex) sensor gains in order to achieve an estimate of the parameter of interest that is as accurate as possible. The proposed design algorithm employs a cyclic approach capable of handling various sensor gain constraints. In addition, each iteration of the proposed design framework is comprised of the Gram-Schmidt process and power-method like iterations, and as a result, enjoys a low-computational cost.
Simulation of uranium plasma plume dynamics in atmospheric oxygen produced via femtosecond laser ablation

Laser ablation is an easily accessible method of producing metallic plasmas in reactive, atmospheric environments. The use of laser ablation for the study of uranium plasma chemistry in atmospheric ablation plumes is highly relevant for nuclear forensics and standoff detection, but the behavior of such systems is currently not well understood. One of the main difficulties in studying these systems is that the already considerable complexity of plume dynamics in vacuum conditions is further enhanced by shockwave formation and plasma-chemical behavior in reactive, atmospheric environments. Therefore, in order to understand the ablation dynamics of an atmospheric uranium ablation system, both the transport and kinetics of the reactive uranium plasma plume have to be accounted for. In this work, we present a two-dimensional compressible, reactive, multi-species fluid model of the early stages of femtosecond uranium plume expansion in atmospheric oxygen. This model utilizes a previously constructed uranium-oxygen plasma chemistry reaction mechanism consisting of 172 reaction channels and 30 species in order to treat the reaction kinetics of a uranium ablation plume. The model captures both the complex compressible dynamics of the ablation shockwave and the stratification of the ablation plume into regions of varying reactivities and molecular compositions due to the plasma-chemical interactions between the plume and the reactive atmosphere. The result is a detailed picture of the spatial and temporal evolution of both the fluid moments and the major plasma-chemical species concentrations of the ablation plume.
Factors Associated with Well-Being in a Sample of Deaf Adults

Happiness is a life state to which many Americans aspire. Studies of happiness in the general population abound. However, studies that investigate individuals with disabilities are lacking, especially among people with disabilities. This study examines the correlates of happiness among 377 deaf adults using an anonymous online questionnaire. Results indicate that there are several correlates of happiness, including satisfaction with family and friends’ relationships and communication, membership in the deaf and hearing communities, education, income, body image, education, and resilience. All except education were predictors of happiness scores. These findings are supported by other studies of the general population. They support the idea that deaf individuals are happy when they have satisfying employment, living conditions, family and friends, community membership, income, body image, education, and resilience.
Thermodynamic Cost and Benefit of Memory

This Letter exposes a tight connection between the thermodynamic efficiency of information processing and predictive inference. A generalized lower bound on dissipation is derived for partially observable information engines which are allowed to use temperature differences. It is shown that the retention of irrelevant information limits efficiency. A data representation method is derived from optimizing a fundamental physical limit to information processing: minimizing the lower bound on dissipation leads to a compression method that maximally retains relevant, predictive, information. In that sense, predictive inference emerges as the strategy that least precludes energy efficiency.
Important prognostic factors in leiomyosarcoma survival: a National Cancer Database (NCDB) analysis

Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is an aggressive, malignant mesenchymal tumor with characteristic smooth muscle lineage accounting for 10–20% of all soft tissue tumors. The goal of this study is to determine the impact of prognostic factors on leiomyosarcoma survival irrespective of primary anatomical site. There were a total of 7154 patients with primary leiomyosarcoma identified and analyzed from the National Cancer Database. Descriptive statistics, median survival, and 5- and 10-year survival probabilities were calculated along with a Cox proportional hazard model to determine independent prognostic factors. In this study, females comprised 68.3% of the cohort with a median age of 58 years. The most common primary anatomical sites were the extremities followed by female reproductive organs, abdomen, pelvis, thorax or lung, and head or neck. Tumors localized in the female reproductive organs had the worst survival (5-year survival probability: 45.3%), while tumors localized in the extremities had the best survival outcomes (5-year survival probability: 73.4%). Surgery with adjuvant radiation yielded better outcomes compared to surgery alone (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.74–0.91). Microscopic and macroscopic margins resulted in a 32% and a 134% increased risk in mortality, respectively, when compared to negative surgical margins (p < 0.0001). This study showed a significantly higher risk of mortality associated with older patients, tumors localized to the female reproductive organs, African American patients, higher tumor stage, increased Charlson/Deyo scores, tumors treated with surgery alone without adjuvant radiation, and tumors with positive microscopic, macroscopic, or indeterminate surgical margins.
Chapter 4 – Information Design

Publisher Summary This chapter has discussed many of the issues that must be considered while designing the representation and organization of the information a system will use. Information design includes the design of application screens, World Wide Web pages, menus, dialog boxes, and icons. The content of information design may also include spoken language and other sensory information, such as three dimensional displays or pressure. There are many standard pitfalls in information design. Consider the millions of Java applets producing small animations in Web pages throughout the world. Possibly, one in a hundred of these is truly useful. Consider command buttons that appear with brushed-aluminum finish, or spectral reflections. They do not contribute to communication; worse, they can undermine it - many of these special effects reduce the legibility of button labels. Graphical decoration that does not serve a communicative purpose is a hallmark of poor information design. Making images and words familiar and realistic can aid interpretation, but too much familiarity can dilute important distinctions, and too much realism can lead to interpretations that are too tied to concrete instances. Norman's analysis of stages of action in HCI is a useful framework for issues related to user interface design. The Gulf of Evaluation emphasizes the perceptual and cognitive issues associated with information design. Gestalt principles of perceptual organization offer useful guidance in thinking about how to select and arrange the elements of a visual display. The design of affordances—what an interface element suggests about its use and manipulation—is a key technique for supporting information interpretation. Rough sketches of screen layout or of individual screen elements can be very useful in making information scenarios more concrete, especially if the team decides to share these with user representatives.
SIF determination in finite double-edge cracked orthotropic composite using J-integral and digital image correlation

Abstract This paper demonstrates ability to evaluate the stress intensity factor in a double-edge cracked finite [013/905/013] graphite-epoxy orthotropic tensile composite from J-integral and a single digital image correlation recorded displacement field. Relevant stress/strain/displacement information is obtained by processing the measured displacement data with stress functions, conformal mapping and analytical continuation method. A normalized stress intensity factor of 2.05 is determined experimentally for the present geometry, loading and material. Plane-stress is assumed. The technique is not restricted to a laboratory environment and concepts are applicable to other structural shapes, loads and crack configurations. Unlike purely numerical or theoretical approaches, the present method does not require knowing the external loading. This is significant as loads are often unknown in practice. Results are verified independently.
Vgamma4 gamma-delta T cells are essential for gamma-delta T cell-mediated tumor immune surveillance

4777 Vg1 and Vg4 are the two dominant subsets of peripheral gd T cells. It has been demonstrated that these two subsets have different roles in regulating CD4+ T cell Th1/Th2 responses, which in turns regulates airway inflammation and cardiac inflammation. However, the role of Vg1 versus Vg4 gd T cells in tumor immune surveillance is unclear. Based upon our early studies that gd T cells play a critical role in tumor immune surveillance through providing the early source of IFN-g, we hypothesize that Vg1 and Vg4 gd T cells may play a different role in anti-tumor immune responses. C57BL/6 (B6) mice were injected intravenously with anti-Vg1 antibody (clone 2.11) or anti-Vg4 antibody (UC3) (200 mg/mouse) for 2 times, with 5 days intervals. Our preliminary studies show complete depletion of Vg1 or Vg4 gd T cells and the depletion lasted for at least 2 weeks. Depletion of Vg4, but not Vg1, gd T cells rendered mice highly susceptible to B16 tumor cell growth. Notably, depletion of Vg4 gd T cells significantly reduced the tumor infiltration of ab T cells, and the reduced infiltration of ab T cells could be recovered by local administration of IFN-g-inducible protein 10 (IP-10). Furthermore, locally administration of IP-10 also reduced tumor incidence and tumor growth rate. Consistently, Vg4 gd T cells produced more IFN-g and less IL-4, which is in sharp contrast to Vg1 gd T cells, which produced less IFN-g and more IL-4. Therefore, our work demonstrate for the first time that Vg4 gd T cells play a critical role in tumor immune surveillance through regulating ab T cell infiltration, which is IP-10 mediated.
Visualization of aggregate perioperative data improves anesthesia case planning: A randomized, cross-over trial

Abstract Study objective A challenge in reducing unwanted care variation is effectively managing the wide variety of performed surgical procedures. While an organization may perform thousands of types of cases, privacy and logistical constraints prevent review of previous cases to learn about prior practices. To bridge this gap, we developed a system for extracting key data from anesthesia records. Our objective was to determine whether usage of the system would improve case planning performance for anesthesia residents. Design Randomized, cross-over trial. Setting Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Measurements We developed a web-based, data visualization tool for reviewing de-identified anesthesia records. First year anesthesia residents were recruited and performed simulated case planning tasks (e.g., selecting an anesthetic type) across six case scenarios using a randomized, cross-over design after a baseline assessment. An algorithm scored case planning performance based on care components selected by residents occurring frequently among prior anesthetics, which was scored on a 0–4 point scale. Linear mixed effects regression quantified the tool effect on the average performance score, adjusting for potential confounders. Main results We analyzed 516 survey questionnaires from 19 residents. The mean performance score was 2.55 ± SD 0.32. Utilization of the tool was associated with an average score improvement of 0.120 points (95% CI 0.060 to 0.179; p Conclusions This study demonstrated the feasibility of developing of a clinical data visualization system that aggregated key anesthetic information and found that the usage of tools modestly improved residents' performance in simulated case planning.
Spatially Resolved Tagging of Proteolytic Neo-N termini with Subtiligase-TM

Mass spectrometry-based proteomics has been used successfully to identify substrates for proteases. Identification of protease substrates at the cell surface, however, can be challenging since cleavages are less abundant compared to other cellular events. Precise methods are required to delineate cleavage events that take place in these compartmentalized areas. This article by up-and-coming scientist Dr. Amy Weeks, an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, provides an overview of methods developed to identify protease substrates and their cleavage sites at the membrane. An overview is presented with the pros and cons for each method and in particular the N-terminomics subtiligase-TM method, developed by Dr. Weeks as a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Dr. Jim Wells at University of California, San Francisco, is described in detail. Subtiligase-TM is a genetically engineered subtilisin protease variant that acts to biotinylate newly generated N termini, hence revealing new cleavage events in the presence of a specific enzyme, and furthermore can precisely identify the cleavage P1 site. Importantly, this proteomics method is compatible with living cells. This method will open the door to understanding protein shedding events at the biological membrane controlled by proteases to regulate biological processes.
Poor match rates of osteopathic applicants into ACGME dermatology and other competitive specialties.

Context There has been a steady increase in the number of osteopathic (DO) medical students in the United States without a corresponding increase in DO representation in competitive specialties. Objectives To investigate the trends and impact of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) single accreditation system on DO match rates into dermatology and other competitive specialty programs. Methods Information was collected through public databases (Electronic Residency Application Service [ERAS]; National Resident Matching Program [NRMP]; Association of American Medical Colleges [AAMC]; National Match Service, Inc. [NMS]; and the ACGME) to evaluate the match statistics of competitive specialties, including dermatology, otolaryngology, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, and plastic surgery. Residency program and medical school websites and residency communications were used to confirm whether the match placements were to programs that had traditionally been ACGME-accredited or former American Osteopathic Association (AOA) programs. Results From 2012 to 2016 (pre-unification), osteopathic graduates comprised only 0.5% of the matches the specific specialties studied here and only 0.9% of ACGME dermatology positions. Post-unification (2017-2019), DOs comprised 2.0% of the matches into these specialties and 4.4% of the total ACGME dermatology positions. This apparent increase is misleading, as it is solely due to the transition of formerly AOA programs to ACGME status. The true post-unification DO match rate to traditionally ACGME programs is actually 0.6% for all competitive specialties and 0.4% for dermatology. Post-unification, 27.6% of formerly AOA positions in these competitive specialties were filled by allopathic (MD) applicants. Conclusions DO match rates into dermatology and other competitive specialties were poor prior to GME unification and continue to remain low. This situation, when coupled with the closing of many AOA programs and MDs matching into former AOA positions, threatens the future of osteopathic physicians in competitive specialties. Osteopathic recognition is one way to potentially help preserve osteopathic representation and philosophy in the single accreditation system era. Programs should not be hesitant to consider osteopathic applicants for competitive specialties.
Allele-specific knockdown of mutant HTT protein via editing at coding region SNP heterozygosities.

Huntington's disease (HD) is a devasting, autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease caused by a trinucleotide repeat expansion in the HTT gene. Inactivation of the mutant allele by CRISPR-Cas9 based gene editing offers a possible therapeutic approach for this disease, but permanent disruption of normal HTT function might compromise adult neuronal function. Here, we use a novel HD mouse model to examine allele-specific editing of mutant HTT (mHTT), with a BAC97 transgene expressing mHTT and a YAC18 transgene expressing normal HTT. We achieve allele-specific inactivation of HTT by targeting a protein coding sequence containing a common, heterozygous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). The outcome is a marked and allele-selective reduction of mutant HTT (mHTT) protein in a mouse model of HD. Expression of a single CRISPR-Cas9 nuclease in neurons generated a high frequency of mutations in the targeted HD allele that included both small insertion/deletion (InDel) mutations and viral vector insertions. Thus, allele-specific targeting of InDel and insertion mutations to heterozygous coding region SNPs provides a feasible approach to inactivate autosomal dominant mutations that cause genetic disease.
Interactions of iron deficiency and exercise training in male Sprague-Dawley rats: ferrokinetics and hematology.

Ferrokinetic and hematologic studies were performed using adult male Sprague-Dawley rats to determine if 12 wk of exercise training alters the delivery of iron to the red blood cell (RBC) mass, the severity of the anemia or the maximal exercise performance of moderately iron-deficient animals. Forty rats were assigned to either iron-deficient (ID) or control (CN) diets, and further subdivided into sedentary (SD) and exercised (EX) groups. Exercised groups were trained on a treadmill, at a 15% grade, 65% VO2max, for 90 min/d, 4 d/wk. After 12 wk of exercise training and dietary iron deficiency, the final body weight of IDEX rats was 90.5% that of IDSD rats. Fractional plasma iron clearance in IDEX rats was 86% of that in IDSD rats (3.32 vs. 2.85%/min). Exercise training failed to increase absolute VO2max (ml/min) or change hemoglobin concentration in iron-deficient rats. Resting oxygen consumption in IDEX rats was 116% that in IDSD rats (42.8 vs. 32.5 ml.kg-1.min-1, P less than 0.05). We conclude that exercise training and iron deficiency interact to alter iron physiology in exercised, iron-deficient animals. This interaction affects the kinetic behavior of plasma iron, growth and basal oxygen consumption.
Dual Foucault Pendulum gyroscope

We report a new type of MEMS degenerate mode lumped mass gyroscope architecture. The Dual Foucault Pendulum (DFP) gyroscope consists of two dynamically equivalent, mechanically coupled proof masses, oscillating in anti-phase motion. This dual axis tuning fork behavior creates a dynamically balanced resonator with x-y symmetry in frequency and damping. Phase synchronization is established by mechanical coupling of the two proof masses, whereas quadrature suppression is achieved by four differential shuttle pairs placed in-between. Dual axis tuning fork behavior provides vibration immunity and anchor loss mitigation, resulting in a Q-factor over 300,000 on both modes at a center frequency of 3.2 kHz. Due to high-Q degenerate mode operation, open-loop performance of 0.003 °/√h ARW and 0.27 °/h in-run bias stability were experimentally demonstrated. We believe Dual Foucault Pendulum is the minimal realization of a dynamically balanced lumped mass degenerate mode gyroscope.
The outcome of diabetic pregnancies in relation to the mother's blood sugar level.

Abstract A ten-year patient material of diabetic pregnancies was analyzed. The mean blood sugar level during the last weeks of pregnancy was calculated for each woman and used as an index of the control of the mother's disease. The perinatal mortality rate sank from 23.6 per cent in the group with a mean blood sugar level above 150 mg. per 100 ml. to 15.3 per cent in the intermediate group down to 3.8 per cent in the group with mean blood sugar levels below 100 mg. per 100 ml. The increased survival rate was parallelled by a decreased morbidity in the infants. The incidence of severe malformations in the total series is 11 per cent. Long-standing diabetes and diabetes with angiopathy carries a great increased risk of malformations, 20 to 25 per cent. Two circumstances are stressed: the active management of the pregnant diabetic subject with the goal to reduce the mean blood sugar value below 100 mg. per 100 ml., and the active management of the newborn infant with the early supply of fluid and calories.
Liver-specific expression of the agouti gene in transgenic mice promotes liver carcinogenesis in the absence of obesity and diabetes

The agouti protein is a paracrine factor that is normally present in the skin of many species of mammals. Agouti regulates the switch between black and yellow hair pigmentation by signalling through the melanocortin 1 receptor (Mc1r) on melanocytes. Lethal yellow (A y ) and viable yellow (A vy ) are dominant regulatory mutations in the mouse agouti gene that cause the wild-type protein to be produced at abnormally high levels throughout the body. Mice harboring these mutations exhibit a pleiotropic syndrome characterized by yellow coat color, obesity, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and increased susceptibility to hyperplasia and carcinogenesis in numerous tissues, including the liver. The goal of this research was to determine if ectopic expression of the agouti gene in the liver alone is sufficient to recapitulate any aspect of this syndrome. For this purpose, we generated lines of transgenic mice expressing high levels of agouti in the liver under the regulatory control of the albumin promoter. Expression levels of the agouti transgene in the liver were quantified by Northern blot analysis. Functional agouti protein in the liver of transgenic mice was assayed by its ability to inhibit binding of the α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (αMSH) to the Mc1r. Body weight, plasma insulin and blood glucose levels were analyzed in control and transgenic mice. Control and transgenic male mice were given a single intraperitoneal injection (10 mg/kg) of the hepatocellular carcinogen, diethylnitrosamine (DEN), at 15 days of age. Mice were euthanized at 36 or 40 weeks after DEN injection and the number of tumors per liver and total liver weights were recorded. The albumin-agouti transgene was expressed at high levels in the livers of mice and produced a functional agouti protein. Albumin-agouti transgenic mice had normal body weights and normal levels of blood glucose and plasma insulin, but responded to chemical initiation of the liver with an increased number of liver tumors compared to non-transgenic control mice. The data demonstrate that liver-specific expression of the agouti gene is not sufficient to induce obesity or diabetes, but, in the absence of these factors, agouti continues to promote hepatocellular carcinogenesis.
Shear wave anisotropy from cross‐correlation of seismic noise in the Parkfield pilot hole

SUMMARY We use cross-correlation of seismic noise recorded at stations in the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth (SAFOD) pilot hole to extract P and S waves and measure S-wave anisotropy on the horizontal components. The data are recorded at seven three-component stations at depths from 1857 to 2097 m in the pilot hole. In late September and early 2004 October drilling noise underneath the stations generated propagating waves, which were absent in the rest of October. Estimates of the P- and S-wave velocities from the cross-correlations, on the vertical and horizontal components, respectively, are consistent with velocity measurements taken directly in the borehole. We observe polarization of the S wave, with a fast polarization direction of 120°–130° that is 4 per cent faster than the slow direction. Cross-correlation of the seismic noise can accurately determine S-wave anisotropy.
Democracy and Nationalism in Armenia

(1994). Democracy and nationalism in Armenia. Europe-Asia Studies: Vol. 46, No. 5, pp. 839-861.
Analysis of Telomerase Processivity: Mechanistic Similarity to HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase and Role in Telomere Maintenance

The key protein subunit of the telomerase complex, known as TERT, possesses a reverse transcriptase (RT)-like domain that is conserved in enzymes encoded by retroviruses and retroelements. Structural and functional analysis of HIV-1 RT suggests that RT processivity is governed, in part, by the conserved motif C, motif E, and a C-terminal domain. Mutations in analogous regions of the yeast TERT were found to have anticipated effects on telomerase processivity in vitro, suggesting a great deal of mechanistic and structural similarity between TERT and retroviral RTs, and a similarity that goes beyond the homologous domain. A close correlation was uncovered between telomerase processivity and telomere length in vivo, suggesting that enzyme processivity is a limiting factor for telomere maintenance.
TRUE DIAPHRAGMATIC HERNIA IN A CAT

A report of a cat with a true diaphragmatic hernia in which only falciform fat had herniated is presented. The lesion was misinterpreted as a pulmonary mass. Additional radiographic studies which may have been of diagnostic benefit are briefly discussed.
Hardy’s Wessex, Heritage Culture, and the Archaeology of Rural England

When he created Wessex, Hardy became the author of English heritage culture. 1 Not only does his fictionalized landscape reground English identity by giving it a new space to inhabit, but that loca...
Assessment of the fate of sulfur dioxide from a point source

Abstract A simplified plume transport model is adopted to assess reaction and scavenging processes. Experimental data on the conversion rate of SO 2 to SO 4 2− and the uptake rates by vegetation and soil are used to calculate the relative importance of the various fates of sulfur dioxide. Meteorological parameters include wind speed, day and night mixing heights, night diffusion above the mixing height and plume dispersion angle. Other parameters considered are length of day and night, region, season, type of canopy, and emission rate of SO 2 from a point source.
Sensory, perceptual, motor and cognitive functioning and subjective reports following oral administration ofΔ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol

Three dose levels, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 mg/kg, ofΔ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and a placebo were orally administered to 10 frequent and 10 occasional marijuana users. Following ingestion of each dose and the placebo, objective tests selected from a battery of sensory and perceptual motor tests routinely used to evaluate cerebral dysfunction in hospitalized patients were administered. The influence ofΔ9-THC on proficiency and variability of performance was minimal. However, when individual test scores and variabilities were combined and converted to standard scores, allowing for analysis of overall performance, THC had a small but consistent detrimental effect on both proficiency and variability of performance. In contrast, THC exerted profound effects on the subjective experiences of the volunteers as assessed by the Subjective Drug Effects Questionnaire. Subjective changes in mood, feeling, perception and somatic sensations were reported by all subjects but were more pronounced in the occasional user group. It was proposed that the small impairment noted in objective test performance after ingestion ofΔ9-THC as contrasted to the large effects on subjective responses suggests that the principal effects of marijuana are on the autonomic nervous system rather than on higher cortical functions.