cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quality of service (QoS): a model for information

A unifying quantitative information model is proposed. This model defines information in terms of the attributes of timeliness, precision, and accuracy. Each attribute can be expressed in terms of measurable quantities (metrics). Information is application dependent and is expressed as benefit (utility or value) an attribute imparts to the application. Thus information is a function of timeliness, precision, and accuracy. Statistical values of these attributes can be used to express dependability (i.e. information availability). The purpose of the model is to give quantitative expression to information and system properties, to provide a basis for characterizing system modules, and to stimulate development of analytical techniques for predicting end-to-end quality of service in complex distributed information systems.
Design methodology for multiple domain power distribution systems

High-speed digital devices require multiple voltage and frequency domains to accommodate the core logic and the input/output (I/O) circuitry for multiple interfaces. In addition, some of these interfaces are programmable to various speeds and signaling modes and they require multiple power supply voltages. These requirements create complex power delivery and signal distribution solutions. This paper proposes a design methodology for fast transient point of load (POL) power distribution architectures for microprocessors and fast switching logic. This paper presents an efficient power distribution system (PDS) design methodology that models the load, its point of load power converter, and the transporting system so that the entire system can be efficiently implemented in circuit simulation as a complete integrated setup for design optimization. Models for the voltage regulator module (VRM) and its transient response and stability, the active load with multiple power supply domains, and the power planes are discussed in detail. System voltage noise margin budgeting is also emphasized.
Focus Issue: Signaling in Neuronal Development, Function, and Disease

Behavior and learning require that neurons coordinate communication between regions within the brain and between the brain and peripheral tissues to respond and adapt to the environment. Abnormalities in neuronal function can lead to cognitive, motor, or behavioral disorders during development or aging. Content published in Science Signaling explores the molecular mechanisms that regulate neuronal development and function and that are altered in neurological dysfunction and neurodegenerative disease.
Role of NADPH oxidase in host defense against aspergillosis

NADPH oxidase plays a critical role in antimicrobial host defense, as evident in chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), an inherited disorder of the NADPH oxidase characterized by severe bacterial and fungal diseases. Invasive aspergillosis and other moulds are the major cause of mortality in CGD. We also learn from CGD patients that NADPH oxidase plays an important role in regulating infl ammation; CGD patients are prone to developing infl ammatory diseases such as infl ammatory bowel disease, obstructive granulomata of the genitourinary tract, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Indeed, the NADPH oxidase plays an essential role in calibrating innate and T-cell responses to control the growth of inhaled fungi while protecting against excessive and injurious infl ammation. Knowledge gained on the mechanisms by which NADPH oxidase kills fungi and regulates infl ammation may lead to new therapeutics for CGD and will have broad relevance to understanding host-pathogen interactions between mammals and ubiquitous moulds to which we are continually exposed.
Inhibition of lung tumor cell growth in vitro and mouse lung tumor formation by lovastatin

Abstract The HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, lovastatin (LOV), has been reported to inhibit Ras farnesylation and the growth of Rastransformed cells. Mouse lung tumors and human lung adenocarcinomas often have activating mutations in K- ras alleles. In the present study, we determined whether LOV inhibited the growth in vitro of mouse (C10, E9, LM1, LM2, and 82–132) and human (NCI-H125, H292, H441, H460, and H661) non-transformed and neoplastically transformed lung epithelial cells and whether growth inhibition was related to cell transformation or K- ras activation. LOV inhibited the growth of mouse and human lung cells, but cell sensitivities were unrelated to neoplastic transformation or K- ras mutation. In addition, we evaluated whether LOV could inhibit the formation of lung adenomas induced by the tobacco-specific nitrosamine, 4-( N -methyl- N -nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) in mice. LOV was administered in the diet at 0, 40, 160, or 400 ppm ad libitum to male strain A/J mice beginning 1 week after lung tumor induction with NNK (10 μmol/mouse). Mice were euthanized 6 months later. Enumeration of lung tumors revealed that LOV did not affect tumor incidence or size, but significantly reduced tumor multiplicity in a dose-related manner. These data suggest that LOV can suppress the formation of NNK-induced lung tumors, possibly at an early promotional stage. This suppression does not appear to be related to either the presence of mutated K- ras or to changes in K- ras expression.
The Price of Apartheid

The author reflects on the practice of apartheid in South Africa, noting its history as well as its legal dissolution in the elections of 1994. Particulars of the events and negotiations between rival political parties leading up to the 1994 elections are also discussed, as well as thoughts on the interim constitution, and the future of South Africa after these momentous events.
Trends in Abundance and the Influence of Bioclimatic Factors on Westslope Cutthroat Trout in Idaho

Abstract Westslope cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi is arguably the most widely distributed subspecies of cutthroat trout in western North America, but there has been a general lack of information on the species’ trends in abundance across the landscape. We estimated westslope cutthroat trout population growth rates using 17 data sets (including data from screw traps, daytime snorkeling, and angler creel) averaging 19 y of record that indexed abundance across Idaho. We also examined several bioclimatic indices to help understand what factors might be influencing trout abundance. Lastly, we evaluated observation error in the data sets, which is important because high observation error leads to spuriously inflated error bounds around estimates of population growth rates, reducing the ability to detect changes in population growth. Trend data showed that abundance for westslope cutthroat trout was increasing for 10 data sets, declining for 2 data sets, and stable for 5 data sets (where the confide...
Gut-Resident Lactobacillus Abundance Associates with IDO1 Inhibition and Th17 Dynamics in SIV-Infected Macaques

Gut microbes can profoundly modulate mucosal barrier-promoting Th17 cells in mammals. A salient feature of HIV/simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) immunopathogenesis is the loss of Th17 cells, which has been linked to increased activity of the immunomodulatory enzyme, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO 1). The role of gut microbes in this system remains unknown, and the SIV-infected rhesus macaque provides a well-described model for HIV-associated Th17 loss and mucosal immune disruption. We observed a specific depletion of gut-resident Lactobacillus during acute and chronic SIV infection of rhesus macaques, which was also seen in early HIV-infected humans. This depletion in rhesus macaques correlated with increased IDO1 activity and Th17 loss. Macaques supplemented with a Lactobacillus-containing probiotic exhibited decreased IDO1 activity during chronic SIV infection. We propose that Lactobacillus species inhibit mammalian IDO1 and thus may help to preserve Th17 cells during pathogenic SIV infection, providing support for Lactobacillus species as modulators of mucosal immune homeostasis.
Energy Levels in F 18 from the N 14 ( α , α ) N 14 and N 14 ( α , p ) O 17 Reactions

Elastically scattered alpha particles from ${\mathrm{N}}^{14}$ and ground-state protons from the ${\mathrm{N}}^{14}(\ensuremath{\alpha}, p){\mathrm{O}}^{17}$ reaction show resonances at 2.88-, 3.09-, 3.60-, 3.67-, 3.72-, 4.00-, 4.05-, 4.11-, 4.28-, 4.50-, and 4.55-Mev bombarding energies, corresponding to excited states of the ${\mathrm{F}}^{18}$ nucleus at 6.65, 6.82, 7.21, 7.27, 7.30, 7.52, 7.56, 7.61, 7.74, 7.91, and 7.95 Mev. Scattering-matrix analysis of the elastically scattered alpha particles, together with angular distributions of the reaction protons, indicate that the 6.65-, 6.82-, 7.21-, 7.27-, 7.30-, 7.52-, 7.91-, and 7.95-Mev states in ${\mathrm{F}}^{18}$ probably have angular momenta and parities of ${1}^{\ensuremath{-}}$, ${2}^{\ensuremath{-}}$, ${4}^{+}$, ${1}^{+}$, ${3}^{\ensuremath{-}}$, ${3}^{\ensuremath{-}}$, ${2}^{\ensuremath{-}}$, and ${1}^{+}$, respectively.
Exome Sequencing Identifies a New Locus for DI-CMT (P05.143)

Objective: To utilize exome sequencing to identify the genetic cause of CMT in a family with no mutation in previously identified CMT genes. Background Family WSU-75549 has nine living family members with an unidentified form of CMT with intermediate nerve conduction velocities (NCV). There are multiple cases of male-to-male transmission. Previous genetic testing for multiple genes including those known to cause Dominant Intermediate CMT (DI-CMT) have been negative as has been chromosome analysis. Whole exome sequencing is capable of re-sequencing the near complete set of coding exons of an individual. Design/Methods: DNA from all nine affected individuals and one unaffected sibling control was collected. Affected members were evaluated clinically and by electrophysiology. Exome sequencing was performed on three samples. Other family members were then tested for identified mutations. Results: The family phenotype was variable with CMTNS ranging from 8 (mild) in one patient aged 28 years to 32 (severe) in a 50 year old. Progression appears to quicken in this family during the fourth and fifth decades. Median NCV in upper extremities ranged between 29.2 m/s and 39.8 m/s. Exome sequencing did not identify mutations for any known CMT gene. However, utilizing rare variants identified by exome sequencing a novel locus was found for the family at 1p12. The two-point LOD score was 3.27 at a SNV marker in the gene WARS2. Genome-wide comparative genomic hybridization analysis did not reveal any copy number variations in the vicinity of 1p12. Further studies are ongoing to determine the nature of the familial CMT mutation. Conclusions: This is a large family with a previously unidentified form of DI-CMT. Data derived from exome sequencing enabled us to identify a novel chromosomal CMT locus at 1p12. A detailed genetic follow-up studies are under way to identify the causative mutation. Supported by: NINDS, ORD, MDA. Disclosure: Dr. Siskind has nothing to disclose. Dr. Speziani has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gonzalez has nothing to disclose. Dr. Blanton has nothing to disclose. Dr. Shy has nothing to disclose. Dr. Zuchner has received license fee payments from Athena Diagnostics.
Silicon nanomembrane based Devices for Optical Sensing and On-chip Interconnects

Silicon nanomembrane based nanophotonic devices are presented. Further applications using defect engineered photonic crystal waveguide (PCW) based slow light devices provide us with an ultra-sensitive biosensing platform.
Abstract 862: Pre-clinical and molecular analysis of Crizotinib in c-Met positive uveal melanoma

Uveal melanoma (UM) is an intraocular neoplasm with an annual incidence of 7 per million. UM originates from melanocytes just like cutaneous melanoma (CM) and similar to CM, the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway is involved in the development of UM. However, not all UM seem to depend on the activation of this pathway. Loss of ERK signalling may be correlated with progression as the ERK negative cells are derived from UM metastasis. In these tumours, cells apparently use a different pathway to proliferate and survive. In order to identify treatment targets for metastasis patients we set out to identify the pathway which stimulates proliferation in the ERK negative UM cells. Growth factor receptor screening revealed that activation of c-Met or HGF receptor, is inversely correlated with ERK activation leaving the metastatic UM, halfway progression to metastasis, with both c-Met and ERK activated. In this study, we tested the efficacy of c-Met inhibitor Crizotinib and investigated primary and downstream targets to delineate the role of c-Met signalling in UM progression. Crizotinib was shown to specifically inhibit c-Met positive UM and this was most clear when cells were grown anchorage independent, in line with a role in dissemination for c-Met. With phospho-proteomics we showed that c-Met is the primary target of Crizotinib in UM while FAK emerges as the prime downstream target. Moreover, Src was shown to be the downstream kinase that transmits the c-Met signal to both FAK and ERK in metastatic UM. In UM metastasis, lacking active ERK, Src is absent and FAK is directly activated by c-Met. Combined, our data support the use of Crizotinib in late stage UM and reveals altered c-Met signalling in uveal melanoma progression. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 862. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-862
Fully differential cross section for O8+-impact ionization of Li

We present various differential cross sections for the single ionization of Li by O${}^{8+}$ ions. We use a time-dependent, close-coupling approach to model the evolution of a one-active-electron wave function in the field of the incoming projectile for a range of impact parameters. In addition, a Fourier transform approach is used to extract differential cross sections for a specific projectile momentum transfer value. This scheme allows us to incorporate information about the interaction of the two heavy nuclei [the so-called nuclear-nuclear (NN) interaction] and to assess its influence in the differential cross sections. We find noticeable differences in the shape of the differential cross sections when we include (neglect) the NN interaction. Our single-differential cross-section calculation shows excellent agreement with experimental data. In addition, recent measured double-differential cross sections as a function of electron energy and transverse momentum transfer are reasonably well reproduced by our theoretical calculations.
ZOTAROLIMUS ELUTING STENT VERSUS EVEROLIMUS ELUTING STENT IN PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION: A META-ANALYSIS OF RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS

Zotarolimus eluting stents (ZES) and Everolimus eluting stents (EES) with durable polymer are the most commonly used second and third generation drug-eluting stents (DES) during percutaneous coronary revascularization (PCI). Previously conducted randomized (RCTs) and observational trials have shown
Illness, Medicine, and Spirituality: Native American Healing Practices among Apache, Sioux, and Navajo:

Traditional Native American health care practices are presented. An examination of why people are ill, healing practices, and the contrast with scientific medicine are discussed. The use of humor, ...
Plasma Induced by Double Laser Pulse in Air

The laser induced non-equilibrium plasma control in gas with pre-ionization and experiments and modeling of air pre-ionization using ultraviolet laser pulses and its effect on avalanche ionization by a subsequent near-infrared laser pulse are presented.
Understanding Diffusion in Hierarchical Zeolites with House-of-Cards Nanosheets.

Introducing mesoporosity to conventional microporous sorbents or catalysts is often proposed as a solution to enhance their mass transport rates. Here, we show that diffusion in these hierarchical materials is more complex and exhibits non-monotonic dependence on sorbate loading. Our atomistic simulations of n-hexane in a model system containing microporous nanosheets and mesopore channels indicate that diffusivity can be smaller than in a conventional zeolite with the same micropore structure, and this observation holds true even if we confine the analysis to molecules completely inside the microporous nanosheets. Only at high sorbate loadings or elevated temperatures, when the mesopores begin to be sufficiently populated, does the overall diffusion in the hierarchical material exceed that in conventional microporous zeolites. Our model system is free of structural defects, such as pore blocking or surface disorder, that are typically invoked to explain slower-than-expected diffusion phenomena in experim...
Tool wear monitoring in ultrasonic welding using high-order decomposition

Ultrasonic welding has been used for joining lithium-ion battery cells in electric vehicle manufacturing. The geometric profile change of tool shape significantly affects the weld quality and should be monitored during production. In this paper, a high-order decomposition method is suggested for tool wear monitoring. In the proposed monitoring scheme, a low dimensional set of monitoring features is extracted from the high dimensional tool profile measurement data for detecting tool wear at an early stage. Furthermore, the proposed method can be effectively used to analyze the data cross-correlation structure in order to help identify the unusual wear pattern and find the associated assignable cause. The effectiveness of the proposed monitoring method was demonstrated using a simulation and a real-world case study.
Predictors of Diagnosis Delay and Complications for Newly-Diagnosed Myeloma Patients.

Abstract Background: The increasing incidence in multiple myeloma (MM), coupled with improved efficacy of therapies, warrant population-based studies of diagnosis delay which could lead to disease-related complications. Methods: We analyzed tumor registry data and provider claims in the SEER-Medicare database, a geographically and racially diverse sample of Medicare enrollees with confirmed MM. Using extant selection criteria to study eligible MM patients, we identified claims with anemia (An) or back pain (BP) codes, conditions related to MM. We estimated the period of time between first claim for An or BP and confirmed MM diagnosis. We defined delay as ≥98 days (the median) between initial An or BP claim and MM diagnosis, and estimated logit models to predict sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with delay. We also estimated logit models to predict the likelihood of renal or skeletal complications following MM diagnosis. The study period was one year before, through six months following, diagnosis. Analyses were adjusted for a known 30-day lag time in MM diagnosis dates in SEER. Results: From the analytic sample of 5,185 patients, 3,600 had a diagnosis for An (2,576) and/or BP (2,012) prior to MM diagnosis. Male gender (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.64–0.84) and northeast region (0.79, 0.65–0.96) decreased the likelihood of delay. Over 60% of patients had ≥ 1 Charlson comorbidity; higher Charlson scores and the presence of both An and BP increased likelihood of delay, but were strongly correlated, and an interaction term with these variables in the model was significant. Of the 5,112 patients with no history of renal or skeletal complications, 1,742 (34%) experienced a complication within six months after MM diagnosis. After adjustment for gender, age, race, and subsequent chemotherapy use, patients with: higher Charlson scores (1.17, 1.03–1.33); initial diagnosis during an inpatient stay (2.40, 1.92–3.00), and; no UPEP, SPEP, or bone marrow biopsy as part of the MM workup (1.68, 1.48–1.92) were more likely to experience a complication (29% of patients had neither PEP nor biopsies recorded). Delay between An or BP diagnosis and MM was not associated with likelihood of complication (0.96, 0.91–1.01). Conclusions: Despite the presence of two classic signs and symptoms of MM, gender and geography significantly influence diagnosis delays. The surprising finding that both anemia and back pain delay diagnosis is partly explained by increased comorbidity in these patients. These findings highlight the importance of considering MM as part of the routine workup for anemia in elderly patients. The existence of comorbidity in these patients may obscure the clinical presentation, resulting in delayed diagnosis. Underuse of common tests to diagnose myeloma may result in poor outcomes, and could be a focus of quality improvement efforts.
The Promise of Pharmacogenomics in Reducing Toxicity During Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Maintenance Treatment

Pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) affects a substantial number of children every year and requires a long and rigorous course of chemotherapy treatments in three stages, with the longest phase, the maintenance phase, lasting 2–3 years. While the primary drugs used in the maintenance phase, 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and methotrexate (MTX), are necessary for decreasing risk of relapse, they also have potentially serious toxicities, including myelosuppression, which may be life-threatening, and gastrointestinal toxicity. For both drugs, pharmacogenomic factors have been identified that could explain a large amount of the variance in toxicity between patients, and may serve as effective predictors of toxicity during the maintenance phase of ALL treatment. 6-MP toxicity is associated with polymorphisms in the genes encoding thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT), nudix hydrolase 15 (NUDT15), and potentially inosine triphosphatase (ITPA), which vary between ethnic groups. Moreover, MTX toxicity is associated with polymorphisms in genes encoding solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 1B1 (SLCO1B1) and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). Additional polymorphisms potentially associated with toxicities for MTX have also been identified, including those in the genes encoding solute carrier family 19 member 1 (SLC19A1) and thymidylate synthetase (TYMS), but their contributions have not yet been well quantified. It is clear that pharmacogenomics should be incorporated as a dosage-calibrating tool in pediatric ALL treatment in order to predict and minimize the occurrence of serious toxicities for these patients.
Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor Declines in Response to an Oral Glucose Load and Is Correlated with Vitamin D and BMI but Not Diabetes Status in Children and Young Adults.

Background: Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is associated with obesity and diabetes complications in adults, yet little is known about PEDF in younger individuals. We investigated the relationship between PEDF and various metabolic biomarkers in young healthy volunteers (HV) and similar-aged patients with diabetes (type 1 and type 2). Methods: A fasting blood sample was collected in 48 HV, 11 patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D), and 11 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) 12–25 years of age. In 9 healthy subjects, PEDF was also serially measured during a frequently sampled oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Results: PEDF was positively correlated with BMI and systolic blood pressure and negatively correlated with vitamin D. Upon multivariable analysis, BMI and vitamin D were independent predictors of PEDF. Prior to adjustment, PEDF was highest in T2D patients (7,168.9 ± 4417.4 ng/mL) and lowest in individuals with T1D (2,967.7 ± 947.1 ng/mL) but did not differ by diagnosis when adjusted for BMI and vitamin D. Among volunteers who underwent an OGTT, PEDF declined by ∼20% in response to an oral glucose load. Conclusion: PEDF was acutely regulated by a glucose load and was correlated with BMI but not with diabetes. The negative correlation with vitamin D, independent of BMI, raises the question whether PEDF plays a compensatory role in bone matrix mineralization.
Improving health maintenance supervision in a paediatric IBD clinic

Background Previsit planning (PVP) has been an integral part of clinical care for paediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center since 2007. Over the past years, we have adopted several programmes to improve health maintenance supervision for our paediatric patients with IBD but did not have a sustainable way to provide health maintenance updates for every patient at every encounter that was concise and complete in the setting of an increasing patient population and fewer support staff to complete the work. Methods Using quality improvement methods, we completed several Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles aimed at improving our centre’s ability to provide complete health maintenance ‘bundle’ recommendations from 0% to 90% of patients over a period of 11 months. Results First steps included consensus gathering and summarising evidence into guidelines suitable for the group. PDSAs centred on consensus building from standardised guidelines, using empty checklists for simulated and real patients, and use of autofilled checklists. After several PDSA cycles, we have improved our ability to provide complete health maintenance PVP from 0% to nearly 100% with very little variation. Conclusion Using the health maintenance PVP process, we can now sustainably provide health maintenance guidance for all outpatient clinic visits. We have begun to scale up this work and anticipate over the coming months that we will be able to expand the health maintenance PVP to provide complete PVP for over 90% of patients for any scheduled encounter including biologic infusion visits. We anticipate that using this reliable process we can improve remission rates and reduce preventable infections for these at-risk patients.
American Political Development in the Era of Black Lives Matter

This Dialogues discussion explores the ways that the historical-institutional approaches of American Political Development can be useful for analyzing the ideological origins and contemporary polit...
The Trouble Ankle: Persistent Pain After Inversion Ankle Injury

Persistent pain after an inversion ankle injury is a relatively common occurrence in a sports medicine clinic and can be challenging for both the patient and team of healthcare providers. Research to date has outlined diagnostic and treatment paradigms for persistent ankle pain after an inversion injury. Surgical techniques and non-surgical approaches are evolving, and balance and proprioceptive training as a part of a functional rehabilitation program is beneficial. Persistent pain after and inversion ankle injury can be difficult; however, careful consideration of anatomy, pathomechanics, and patient function can guide evaluation and management.
The Yemen War Online: Propagation of Censored Content on Twitter

We study the sharing of information on Twitter among different political groups related to the ongoing conflict in Yemen. We find that the networks on Twitter are organized around and segregate along political lines, and cite web content, including censored websites, that reflects and informs their collective framing of the politically sensitive issues. Each of the factions relies almost entirely on their own sources of information. We also test for the availability of this open web content shared on Twitter in the countries most engaged in the public debate over the conflict and find that national filtering policies also seek to shape the narrative by blocking views and perspectives that diverge from government positions on the conflict. While selective exposure to web content is often associated with polarization, we show that social media -- in this case Twitter -- is used to propagate censored content from the open web, making it more visible to users behind open-web filtering regimes. The evidence shows that government attempts to corral social media users into government-friendly media bubbles does not work, although government filters make it more difficult to access some content. Instead, social media users coalesce into self-defined media spheres aligned around social and political affinities.
U.S. Virgin Islands Petroleum Price-Spike Preparation

This NREL technical report details a plan for the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) to minimize the economic damage caused by major petroleum price increases. The assumptions for this plan are that the USVI will have very little time and money to implement it and that the population will be highly motivated to follow it because of high fuel prices. The plan's success, therefore, is highly dependent on behavior change. This plan was derived largely from a review of the actions taken and behavior changes made by companies and commuters throughout the United States in response to the oil price spike of 2008. Many of these solutions were coordinated by or reported through the 88 local representatives of the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Cities program. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory provides technical and communications support for the Clean Cities program and therefore serves as a de facto repository of these solutions. This plan is the first publication that has tapped this repository.
Stakeholders and Business Strategy: A Role-Play Negotiation Themed Exercise

Consideration of the interests of stakeholders as well as the potential impact of stakeholders on company decisions provides critical insight into dimensions of strategic decision making that may b...
Functional brain imaging.

Recent advances in brain imaging have allowed a regional examination of brain function using multiple-probe inert gas studies of cerebral blood flow, positron or single photon tomography. Inert gas blood flow methods using inhalation or injection of 133xenon have been used with multiple-probe systems to measure blood flow in 1 to 2 cm regions of lateral cortex. The sensitivity of these systems to neurophysiological stimuli and neurological diseases have been demonstrated in numerous studies of the normal resting state, memory and learning, motor activity and sensory input, dementia, and aphasia, to name some. Positron tomography utilizes cyclotron-produced, short-lived positron-emitting isotopes to label biologically active radiopharmaceuticals. Using positron tomographs capable of quantitative three-dimensional imaging and appropriate tracer-kinetic models, regional metabolic function, including glucose, oxygen, amino acid metabolism, and receptor-binding can be regionally studied throughout the brain. Clinical studies have been performed in dementia, schizophrenia, affective disorders, resting states, and sensory stimulation. Positron tomography offers potentially the greatest variety of studies and highest temporal and spatial resolution of any of the presently available functional brain-imaging modalities. Its principal drawback is the very high cost. Single photon tomography uses gammaemitting isotopes such as 123iodine and 133xenon to image regional cerebral blood flow and recently receptor function. Although at present it does not have the variety of studies or the technical capabilities of positron tomography, it does provide three-dimensional studies with 1 to 2 cm resolutions throughout the brain at a considerably lower cost than positron tomography. In the future, magnetic resonance studies of blood flow or phosphorus metabolism may add a fourth modality.
Diverse late-stage crystallization and storage conditions in melt domains from the Youngest Toba Tuff revealed by age and compositional heterogeneity in the last increment of accessory phase growth

The chemical record contained within the final increment of growth on crystals is utilized to reveal the dynamics and timescales of magma assembly and storage before eruption of the cataclysmic 2800 km3 Youngest Toba Tuff (YTT), Indonesia. In situ U–Th disequilibrium dates and trace element concentrations were obtained via secondary ionization mass spectrometry (SIMS) on unsectioned and unpolished faces of individual zircon and allanite crystals. The six high-silica (> 73 wt% SiO2) pumices from which crystals were derived are among the more evolved and lower crystallinity (< 25 wt%) pumices from the YTT eruption, and likely represent the melt-dominated portion of the magma system. Discrete SIMS measurement cycles were coupled with statistical treatments to detect zircon and allanite surface zoning domains at the ~ 1 µm scale. Coupled r-MELTS and accessory phase saturation modeling indicates that at the granite ternary minimum or ‘eutectoid’ conditions that define this portion of the YTT, zircon and allanite crystallization is dependent on and proportionate to major phase crystallization, and is more limited than at pre-eutectoid conditions. A lower proportion of near-eruption zircon surface ages in the comparatively cool and wet YTT relative to other hotter and drier voluminous silicic eruptions could reflect the influence of eutectoid storage conditions on magmatic responses to remobilization-related magmatic recharge.
The role of osteoblasts in energy homeostasis

Osteoblasts are specialized mesenchymal cells that synthesize bone matrix and coordinate the mineralization of the skeleton. These cells work in harmony with osteoclasts, which resorb bone, in a continuous cycle that occurs throughout life. The unique function of osteoblasts requires substantial amounts of energy production, particularly during states of new bone formation and remodelling. Over the last 15 years, studies have shown that osteoblasts secrete endocrine factors that integrate the metabolic requirements of bone formation with global energy balance through the regulation of insulin production, feeding behaviour and adipose tissue metabolism. In this article, we summarize the current understanding of three osteoblast-derived metabolic hormones (osteocalcin, lipocalin and sclerostin) and the clinical evidence that suggests the relevance of these pathways in humans, while also discussing the necessity of specific energy substrates (glucose, fatty acids and amino acids) to fuel bone formation and promote osteoblast differentiation. Osteoblasts synthesize bone matrix and work in harmony with bone-resorbing osteoclasts in a continuous bone remodelling cycle. This Review discusses three known osteoblast-secreted endocrine factors (osteocalcin, lipocalin and sclerostin) and highlights how these hormones integrate the metabolic requirements of bone formation with respect to whole-body metabolism.
Integrated displays to improve chronic disease management in ambulatory care: A SMART on FHIR application informed by mixed-methods user testing.

OBJECTIVE The study sought to evaluate a novel electronic health record (EHR) add-on application for chronic disease management that uses an integrated display to decrease user cognitive load, improve efficiency, and support clinical decision making. MATERIALS AND METHODS We designed a chronic disease management application using the technology framework known as SMART on FHIR (Substitutable Medical Applications and Reusable Technologies on Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources). We used mixed methods to obtain user feedback on a prototype to support ambulatory providers managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Each participant managed 2 patient scenarios using the regular EHR with and without access to our prototype in block-randomized order. The primary outcome was the percentage of expert-recommended ideal care tasks completed. Timing, keyboard and mouse use, and participant surveys were also collected. User experiences were captured using a retrospective think-aloud interview analyzed by concept coding. RESULTS With our prototype, the 13 participants completed more recommended care (81% vs 48%; P < .001) and recommended tasks per minute (0.8 vs 0.6; P = .03) over longer sessions (7.0 minutes vs 5.4 minutes; P = .006). Keystrokes per task were lower with the prototype (6 vs 18; P < .001). Qualitative themes elicited included the desire for reliable presentation of information which matches participants' mental models of disease and for intuitive navigation in order to decrease cognitive load. DISCUSSION Participants completed more recommended care by taking more time when using our prototype. Interviews identified a tension between using the inefficient but familiar EHR vs learning to use our novel prototype. Concept coding of user feedback generated actionable insights. CONCLUSIONS Mixed methods can support the design and evaluation of SMART on FHIR EHR add-on applications by enhancing understanding of the user experience.
Respiratory Compromise After Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery: Incidence, Subsequent Complications, and Independent Predictors.

Study design:Retrospective cohort study.Objective:Respiratory compromise (RC) is a rare but catastrophic complication of anterior cervical spine surgery (ACSS) commonly due to compressive fluid col...
Exploitation of Vascular Mechanobiology for Therapy Innovations

This chapter provides an overview of the recent endeavors taken by bioengineers to exploit mechanobiology for the improvement of existing cardiovascular treatments and the development of novel strategies in cardiovascular therapy. It starts with a summary of mechanobiological mechanisms that can be utilized as the foundations for the development of future cardiovascular therapies. This is followed by discussing how mechanobiology has been or will be exploited to change various cardiovascular therapeutic strategies, which include vascular devices such as stent and graft, medication, regenerative medicine, disease management, and preventions for cardiovascular diseases. For each therapeutic strategy, mechanobiological applications in its existing treatment options, emerging approaches, explanation of treatment outcomes, and/or addressing prominent problems or needs are examined.
Drought coincident with aeolian activity in a Great Lakes coastal dune setting during the Algoma Phase (3.1–2.4 ka), southwest Michigan

Abstract Aeolian studies of Lake Michigan’s coastal dunes have yet to elucidate what factors control their episodic activity over the past 5000 years. High lake levels exposing sand along with increased storminess is generally accepted for high perched dunes. This hypothesis, however, remains poorly tested for low perched dunes along the southeast Lake Michigan coastline. Here, small lakes in the lee of dune complexes contain aeolian sand and various biological proxies. Age and sedimentation rate models from Gilligan Lake cores guide analysis of aeolian sand, charcoal, pollen, and diatoms at high resolution (1 cm [10.4 yr/cm]) during the high-water Algoma Phase (3.1–2.4 ka) of the upper Great Lakes. The diatoms record a transition from a deep, more acidic lake to a shallower, more alkaline lake with fewer wetlands. This transition is accompanied by a stepped increase in the amount of aeolian sand. There is a weak correlation (R2 0.5, p
A porous medium model for mud

The extended Biot model for sands and silts is repurposed to include mud, but modifications are needed. The boundary between pore water and skeletal frame needs to be redefined because a significant fraction of the pore fluid is adsorbed onto the solid frame by electrostatic forces, and a proportion of the solid particles may be suspended in the pore fluid. Revil's relationships are used to simplify the input parameters. The frame elasticity equations are corrected to accommodate the sparse skeletal frame, which is supported by electrostatic forces, and behaves differently to a mechanical packing of grains. The corrected, Revil, extended Biot model has just four fitting parameters and is compared with published measurements of wave speeds and attenuations in the literature of clay, silty clay, and clayey silt sediments including recently published measurements from the Seabed Characterization Experiment. The results indicate that the skeletal frame in clay has a high water-content and the pore water contains suspended particles. To fit all the currently available data, it was necessary to modify corrected, Revil, extended Biot by flattening the creep related relaxation loss spectrum. There is a similarity with the Viscous Grain Shearing models in the use of a fractional exponent.
A module-based introduction to heterogeneous computing in core courses

Abstract Heterogeneous architectures have emerged as a dominant platform, not only in high-performance computing but also in mobile processing, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things (IoTs). Because the undergraduate computer science curriculum includes so many topics, adding a new course as a required part of the curriculum without increasing the number of hours to graduation is difficult. Integration of heterogeneous computing requires a module-driven approach in which coverage of the topics is broken down into smaller units and dispersed throughout the curriculum. The module-driven approach has been successfully implemented in introducing parallel and distributed computing concepts. In this paper, we present a set of four teaching modules that introduce fundamental concepts in heterogeneous computing in lower-division computer science courses. The goal of these modules is not to teach students how to program heterogeneous systems but rather to expose them to this emerging trend and prepare them for material in future classes. Although concepts are covered at a high level, the modules emphasize active learning and include lab assignments that provide students with hands-on experience. We also present initial evaluation results for two of these modules based on their use in undergraduate courses at Texas State University. The results are quite encouraging both in terms of learning outcomes and student engagement and interest.
Friendship and Happiness in the Third Age

This chapter examines the research related to only one of the many potential hypotheses derived from Havighurst’s (1961) statement regarding successful aging—i.e., that friendship and happiness are positively related and thus the role of friendship provides a viable alternative to adults who have experiences role losses associated with aging. Twenty-five studies of older adults were identified that included a measure of friendship or a related concept and of happiness or a related concept, all of which reported a positive correlation between the two variables. The work of friendship researchers to support Havighurst’s vision of social policy designed to promote successful aging is not finished, however. To complete their work, these researchers must encourage interventions to support opportunities for older adults to continue or increase their participation in the role of friendship as they age. For this reason, large, national, probability samples need to be studied over a sufficiently long period of time to ensure that we understand the relationships among aging, friendship activity, and happiness, and therefore any advice based on the available evidence is more likely to be good.
Studies on sperm survival and motility in the presence of cytotoxic sperm antibodies.

The effect of cytotoxic sperm antibodies and native complement in the serum and secretions from 40 fertile and 93 infertile couples on in vitro sperm survival and motion characteristics was studied. Sperm survival in vitro was unaffected by sera from fertile and infertile subjects without cytotoxic sperm antibodies and from infertile men with antibodies to control but not to autologous sperm. Sperm survival was reduced (P less than .001) by sera from infertile men with antibodies to autologous sperm or to antologous and control sperm and from women with cytotoxic antibodies to sperm from both. Sera from fertile couples without sperm antibodies enhanced sperm swimming speed and motility index (P less than .0001). Sera from infertile women with or without cytotoxic sperm antibodies did not affect sperm motility. Sperm survival and motility were reduced by seminal plasma from infertile men with cytotoxic antibodies to autologous and/or control sperm. Seminal plasma from fertile men enhanced sperm survival. Cervical mucus from infertile women with antibodies to autoimmune husbands' sperm or to husbands' and control sperm inhibited sperm motion, whereas cervical mucus from infertile women without sperm antibodies and women with antibodies to control sperm failed to have any effect. It is concluded that cytotoxic sperm antibodies developed through exposure to sperm antigens in autoimmune infertile men decrease in vitro sperm survival and/or motility.
100 Questions and Answers: About Depression by Ava T. Albrecht and Charles Herrick

A part of the consumer friendly series 100 Questions and Answers, this newest installment about depression provides in-depth information about the illness from diagnosis to treatment and beyond. Co...
Mycobacterium tuberculosis metabolism and host interaction: mysteries and paradoxes.

Metabolism is a widely recognized facet of all host–pathogen interactions. Knowledge of its roles in pathogenesis, however, remains comparatively incomplete. Existing studies have emphasized metabolism as a cell autonomous property of pathogens used to fuel replication in a quantitative, rather than qualitatively specific, manner. For Mycobacterium tuberculosis, however, matters could not be more different. M. tuberculosis is a chronic facultative intracellular pathogen that resides in humans as its only known host. Within humans, M. tuberculosis resides chiefly within the macrophage phagosome, the cell type, and compartment most committed to its eradication. M. tuberculosis has thus evolved its metabolic network to both maintain and propagate its survival as a species within a single host. The specific ways in which its metabolic network serves these distinct, through interdependent, functions, however, remain incompletely defined. Here, we review existing knowledge of the M. tuberculosis–host interaction, highlighting the distinct phases of its natural life cycle and the diverse microenvironments encountered therein.
Informal Caregivers’ Use of the Internet for Caregiving Information

Using data extracted from the Caregiving in the U.S. 2009 survey, this study describes caregivers' use of the Internet for caregiving information and identifies factors related to their use. This study includes 800 informal caregivers for community-residing older adults age 65 and over. In the study, more than one-half of caregivers searched online caregiving information. The results from an ordered logistic regression analysis showed that caregivers' use of the Internet was significantly related to caregivers' age, education, income, primary caregiver status, caregiving strain, self-reported health, and information/service needs. Implications of these findings are discussed.