cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Upper-Ocean Heat Balance in the Kuroshio Extension Region

Abstract A horizontally two-dimensional mixed-layer model is used to study the upper-ocean heat balance in the Kuroshio Extension region (30°–40°N, 141°–175°E). Horizontal dependency is emphasized because, in addition to vertical entrainment and surface thermal forcing, horizontal advection and eddy diffusion make substantial contributions to changes in the upper-ocean thermal structure in this region. By forcing the model using the wind and heat flux data from ECMWF and the absolute sea surface height data deduced from the Geosat ERM, the mixed-layer depth (hm) and temperature (Tm) changes in the Kuroshio Extension are hindcast for a 2.5-year period (November 1986–April 1989). Both phase and amplitude of the modeled Tm and hm variations agreed well with the climatology. The horizontal thermal patterns also agreed favorably with the available in situ SST observations, but this agreement depended crucially on the inclusion of horizontal advections. Although the annually averaged net heat flux from the atmo...
COMPARISON OF BASAL INSULIN REGIMENS ON GLYCEMIC VARIABILITY IN NONCRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES.

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the impact of different subcutaneous basal insulin regimens on glycemic variability (GV) and hospital complications in non-intensive care unit (ICU) patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods: This study is a post hoc analysis of 279 general medicine and surgery patients treated with either a “Basal Bolus” insulin regimen using glargine once daily and glulisine before meals or a “Basal Plus” regimen using glargine once daily plus correction doses of glulisine before meals for glucose >140 mg/dL. GV was calculated as mean delta (Δ) daily glucose, mean SD, and mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE). Results: Treatment with Basal Bolus and Basal Plus regimens resulted in similar mean daily glucose, hypoglycemia, length of stay (LOS), and hospital complications (all P>.05). There were no differences in GV between treatment groups by Δ change (72.5 ± 36 vs. 69.3 ± 34 mg/dL), SD (38.5 ± 18 vs. 37.1 ± 16 mg/dL) and MAGE (67.5 ± 34 vs. 66.1 ± 39 mg/dL) (all P>.05). Surgery ...
Beyond Evolution: Addressing Broad Interactions Between Science and Religion in Science Teacher Education

Science and religion are two indisputably profound and durable cultural forces with a complex history of interaction. As ASTE members are aware, these interactions often manifest themselves in classrooms and in the surrounding communities. In this essay, we encourage science teacher educators to broaden their perspectives of science–religion interactions so that they may better assist pre- and in-service science teachers with addressing topics such as the age and origins of the universe and biological evolution in an appropriate manner. We first introduce some foundational scholarship into the historical interactions between science and religion as well as current efforts to maintain healthy dialogue between perspectives that are frequently characterized as innately in conflict with or mutually exclusive of one another. Given that biological evolution is the dominant science–religion issue of our day, in particular in the USA, we next summarize the origins and strategies of anti-evolution movements via the rise and persistence of Christian Fundamentalism. We then summarize survey and qualitative sociological research indicating disparities between academic scientists and the general public with regard to religious beliefs to help us further understand our students’ worldviews and the challenges they often face in campus-to-classroom transitions. We conclude the essay by providing resources and practical suggestions, including legal considerations, to assist science teacher educators with their curriculum and outreach.
Art at the Crossroads: Lacquer Painting in French Vietnam

Lacquer paintings created by pupils of French teachers at L’Ecole Superieure de Beaux Arts d’Indochine, founded in Hanoi in 1925, invite questions regarding blended foreign and indigenous features in works produced by newly trained artists probing for a unique pictorial language. Initially displaying hallmarks of modernist Western aesthetics, upon closer inspection they challenge a simple indigenous-foreigner dialectic, and invite a more nuanced understanding of responses to ideas introduced from afar. During the brief twenty years of the school’s history under colonial direction, pupils experimented with hybrid subjects, media, and styles evincing an ambivalence toward their own artistic past and the influences of foreign occupiers. After the war for independence and unification, and especially post- Doi Moi , the Vietnamese have come to appreciate these early modern works and training as the launching point of a new autonomous and empowered artistic voice. Three paintings are examined in detail, and contextualized within the political framework and social upheaval of the last phase of the colonial era. They are related to contemporary literary movements, to admiration for Japanese culture as a paragon of “Asian character,” and to largely discredited pre-colonial Vietnamese folk arts and beliefs. A brief look at a few early post-revolutionary works following the outbreak of war in 1945, identifies some persistent Western features combined with radically changing ideological underpinnings shaping painted arts.
The Honeymoon is Over: Evaluating the United States' WTO Intellectual Property Complaint Against China

Over the last two decades, the United States and the People's Republic of China have engaged in extensive negotiations regarding China's protection of intellectual property rights (IPRs). To date, the countries have entered into at least four substantive agreements detailing China's commitments and obligations to enforce IPRs. Unfortunately, these commitments have not led to significant improvement in China's enforcement and rampant piracy continues unabated. When, in 2001, China finally acceded to the World Trade Organization, which included the Agreement on the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), many hoped that China would finally fulfill its international obligations to protect intellectual property rights. Indeed, the United States initially refrained from taking any overt action against China for the next few years. The United States signaled this honeymoon period was over in April 2007 when it filed a controversial WTO complaint against China. The complaint charges China with violating its obligations under TRIPS to provide adequate protection for and deterrence against infringing intellectual property rights. The United States' action is at both understandable and questionable. It is understandable as the United States has arguably exhausted all diplomatic measures to resolve this issue. Every agreement since the late 1970s has been breached, and even though implementation of specific laws has improved, there has been no concomitant enforcement. This is unacceptable. On the other hand, the United States' action is questionable because it is not clear what, if anything, the United States will gain by filing the complaint. If the United States is successful, China will be required to amend its laws to strengthen criminal sanctions against infringers. This, however, does no more than add additional potentially more stringent laws to China's other intellectual property laws. More pointedly, China would not be compelled to actually enforce these new laws. China's ability and will to enforce these laws will remain an issue.The United States' action might be rational if part of a larger strategy to steadily strengthen China's relevant legal protection before moving to the next level of adequate and effective enforcement. Viewed in this light, the United States' efforts here may simply be an intermediary stage of IPR enforcement. The action might also be seen as a last resort, still not furthering dispute settlement, but as a means to force negotiation and diplomacy, including concessions in areas other than IPRs enforcement. Under either scenario, the United States has much to lose if it does not prevail.
Role of PET Imaging in Management of Implantable Electronic Device Infection.

Cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) infections typically manifest in 2 distinct presentations—local generator pocket infection or systemic infection associated with bloodstream infection (BSI) with or without cardiovascular implantable electronic device–related infective
A Universal Feature Schema for Rich Morphological Annotation and Fine-Grained Cross-Lingual Part-of-Speech Tagging

Semantically detailed and typologically-informed morphological analysis that is broadly applicable cross-linguistically has the potential to improve many NLP applications, including machine translation, n-gram language models, information extraction, and co-reference resolution. In this paper, we present a universal morphological feature schema, which is a set of features that represent the finest distinctions in meaning that are expressed by inflectional morphology across languages. We first present the schema’s guiding theoretical principles, construction methodology, and contents. We then present a method of measuring cross-linguistic variability in the semantic distinctions conveyed by inflectional morphology along the multiple dimensions spanned by the schema. This method relies on representing inflected wordforms from many languages in our universal feature space, and then testing for agreement across multiple aligned translations of pivot words in a parallel corpus (the Bible). The results of this method are used to assess the effectiveness of cross-linguistic projection of a multilingual consensus of these fine-grained morphological features, both within and across language families. We find high cross-linguistic agreement for a diverse range of semantic dimensions expressed by inflectional morphology.
Jacaltec Noun Classifiers

Abstract The study of the Jacaltec noun classifier system provides a unique opportunity to observe the gradual evolution of lexical systems into grammatical ones, through a stage of syntacticization. Jacaltec noun classifiers are an uncommon type of classifier system, distinct from more lexical numeral classifier systems and from more grammatical noun class and gender systems. They are a recent innovation with clear nominal origin but they function syntactically as determiners of thematic saliency and anaphoric pronouns tracing coreferentiality.
Frederick the Great on Mathematics and Mathematicians

1. Frederick William I. of Prussia ordered that his son, known later as Frederick the Great, should "learn no Latin"; "let him learn arithmetic, mathematics, artillery,-economy to the very bottom."' The old king allowed the Berlin "Society of Sciences," the favorite child of Leibniz, to languish and almost to pass away. His son, Frederick, on the other hand, secretly acquired some Latin, shunned the study of mathematics beyond its rudiments, and brought the Berlin "Academy" 2 to great splendor. Frederick looked upon mathematical study with disfavor. As crown prince, he wrote, on January 26, 1738, to Voltaire his plan of study,3 "to take up again philosophy, history, poetry, music. As for mathematics, I confess to you that I dislike it; it dries up the mind. We Germans have it only too dry; it is a sterile field which must be cultivated and watered constantly, that it may produce." 2. Bantering the mathematicians. D'Alembert once wrote to Frederick the Great :4 "It is the destiny of your majesty to be always at war; in summer with the Austrians, in winter with mathematics." The king himself put it in these words :"I love to wrangle with mathematicians, that I may know whether, without understanding xx+y, it is not possible to be in the right." The king presents an argument why D'Alembert should not decline his invitation to settle in Berlin, ending with the remark :' "Such is my refutation. I hold myself to be victorious, and erect a trophy to myself, for having vanquished a great mathematician, wholly to his disgrace." Another time, he commentated on some essays of D'Alembert :7 "I read that part of the work in which you condescend to sink the science of the sublime geometry to the level of my ignorance."
Internal antigenic determinants in protein molecules.

Summary1. Positive ring tests and PCA reactions were observed between pepsin-degraded BSA and some of the BSA absorbed anti-BSA rabbit serums, suggesting the presence of the antibody against antigenic determinants which are not on the surface of the native protein molecule. 2. The presence of the antibody to the “hidden sites” did not parallel the concentration of anti-BSA in the serum but rather seemed to be related to the state of the antigen used in the immunization, and to the immunization schedule.
Pseudo-nitzschia Challenged with Co-occurring Viral Communities Display Diverse Infection Phenotypes

Viruses are catalysts of biogeochemical cycling, architects of microbial community structure, and terminators of phytoplankton blooms. Viral lysis of diatoms, a key group of eukaryotic phytoplankton, has the potential to impact carbon export and marine food webs. However, the impact of viruses on diatom abundance and community composition is unknown. Diatom-virus dynamics were explored by sampling every month at 2 coastal and estuarine locations in Washington state, USA resulting in 41 new isolates of the pennate diatom Pseudo-nitzschia and 20 environmental virus samples. We conducted a total of 820 pair-wise crosses of the Pseudo-nitzschia isolates and viral communities. Viral communities infected Pseudo-nitzschia isolates in 8% of the crosses overall and 16% of crosses when the host and viral communities were isolated from the same sample. Isolates ranged in their permissivity to infection with some isolates not infected by any viral samples and others infected by up to 10 viral communities. Isolates that were infected by the most viral communities also had the highest maximum observed viral titers (as high as 16000 infectious units ml-1). Titers of the viral communities were host dependent, as titers for one viral sample on 8 different hosts spanned 4 orders of magnitude. Sequencing of the Pseudo-nitzschia Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 (ITS1) of the revealed multiple subgroups of hosts with 100% ITS1 identity that were infected by different viral communities. Indeed, we repeatedly isolated groups of isolates with identical ITS1 sequences from the same water sample that displayed different viral infection phenotypes. The interactions between Pseudo-nitzschia and the viral communities highlight the diversity of diatoms and emphasize the complexity and variability of diatom-virus dynamics in the ocean.
Perceptions of the Role of West Virginia's Cooperative Extension Service in Tobacco Control Coalitions.

Despite the fact that the consequences of tobacco use are well identified and known, it remains to be the single most preventable cause of disease and death in the United States. In West Virginia the adult prevalence of cigarette smoking is currently at 26.8%. This study researches the perceptions of Cooperative Extension Service’s involvement and role in county level coalitions that address tobacco use in West Virginia. The research finding provide practical areas to increase the role of Extension Service in these vital efforts to save lives, reduce economic hardships on families, and reduce the healthcare burden to state government. Keyword List: Tobacco, Coalitions, West Virginia
Gauging the Operability of International Law

As discussed in Chapter 8, ecological, economic, political and national minority circumstances of CEE states influence the interest in and ability of CEE states, sub-state actors and interested third parties to resolve transboundary environmental disputes. This chapter explores the various circumstances affecting the behavior of states, and in particular draws conclusions relating to whether the changing ecological dynamics and the political and economic transition currently underway in CEE will enhance or detract from the ability of CEE states to use international law to assist in the resolution of their transboundary environmental disputes. The chapter also indicates, in light of these various circumstances, which elements of international law and the legal process might be most productively utilized to assist in the resolution of these disputes.
Why the Watchdog Won't Bite: U.S. Food and Drug Administration Challenges.

For many years before I retired, I gave a talk and wrote an essay about New Drugs and Devices.1 Each year I learned more about interpreting the medical literature and more about the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Duodenoscope hang time does not correlate with risk of bacterial contamination.

Background Current professional guidelines recommend a maximum hang time for reprocessed duodenoscopes of 5-14 days. We sought to study the association between hang time and risk of duodenoscope contamination. Methods We analyzed cultures of the elevator mechanism and working channel collected in a highly standardized fashion just before duodenoscope use. Hang time was calculated as the time from reprocessing to duodenoscope sampling. The relationship between hang time and duodenoscope contamination was estimated using a calculated correlation coefficient between hang time in days and degree of contamination on the elevator mechanism and working channel. Results The 18 study duodenoscopes were cultured 531 times, including 465 (87.6%) in the analysis dataset. Hang time ranged from 0.07-39.93 days, including 34 (7.3%) with hang time ≥7.00 days. Twelve cultures (2.6%) demonstrated elevator mechanism and/or working channel contamination. The correlation coefficients for hang time and degree of duodenoscope contamination were very small and not statistically significant (−0.0090 [ P = .85] for elevator mechanism and −0.0002 [ P = 1.00] for working channel). Odds ratios for hang time (dichotomized at ≥7.00 days) and elevator mechanism and/or working channel contamination were not significant. Conclusions We did not find a significant association between hang time and risk of duodenoscope contamination. Future guidelines should consider a recommendation of no limit for hang time.
Left Atrial Papillary Fibroelastoma

Fibroelastomas are benign tumors which may arise in the cardiac chambers or on the valves. About 14 % develop on nonvalvular surfaces. They may arise on the cardiac valves, in the atria or in the ventricles, the atrial septum, the interventricular septum, and the ventricular outflow tract, or the chordae tendinae. They may be multiple and appear like bacterial vegetation. They may be shaggy and have irregular surface of projecting fimbriated elements, they may be too large to occupy the whole atrium. Emboli usually reach the brain but also the left anterior descending coronary artery causing sudden onsent. Pulmonary or central retinal embolisms can occur.
Bootstrap Interval Estimation of Reliability via Coefficient Omega

Introduction Coefficient omega was proposed in the literature over 40 years ago (McDonald, 1970) as a reliability measure of homogenous items from a measurement instrument. It indexes the consistency with which the items measure the underlying latent variable (or construct). Based on a factor analytic model, coefficient omega uses the item factor loading and uniqueness to estimate reliability. Therefore, coefficient omega can be viewed as a more intuitive measure of reliability compared to coefficient alpha. However, it is rarely used in practice for two reasons: (1) it is largely overshadowed by coefficient alpha (Cronbach, 1951; Guttman, 1945), and (2) its theoretical framework is narrow with a limited body of knowledge about its properties with respect to statistical inference. One issue faced by behavioral/social science researchers is the presence of
Soil Organic Carbon Pools as Early Indicators for Soil Organic Matter Stock Changes under Different Tillage Practices in Inland Pacific Northwest

Soil organic matter (SOM) is essential for sustaining soil health and crop productivity. However, changes in SOM stocks in response to agronomic practices are slow and show years later when it is too late for adjustments in management. Identifying early indicators of SOM dynamics will allow early management decisions and quick remedial action. The objectives of this study were to evaluate long-term effects of tillage intensity and timing on SOM pools and determine the most responsive SOM pools to tillage practice. Soil from a long-term (53 yrs) winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) - spring pea (Pisum sativum L.) rotation and undisturbed grass pasture (GP) in inland Pacific Northwest (iPNW) was sampled to evaluate the effect of four tillage systems [no-till (NT), disk/chisel (DT/CT), spring plow (SP), and fall plow (FP)] on soil organic carbon (SOC, proxy for SOM), total nitrogen (TN), particulate organic matter carbon (POM-C) and nitrogen (POM-N), permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC), water extractable organic carbon (WEOC), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), KCl-extractable nitrogen (KEN), microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN), basal respiration (BR), carbon mineralization (Cmin), and metabolic quotient (qCO2). GP had higher levels of SOC pools than cultivated treatments. On average, tillage significantly decreased SOC and TN by 28% and 26%, respectively, compared to GP. Among the cultivated soils, tillage had no significant effect on SOC and TN, except for DT/CT that had slightly higher SOC than FP (P=0.08). On the contrary, NT and DT/CT significantly (P<0.05) increased levels of POM-C, POM-N, POXC, WEOC, MBC, BR, Cmin, and qCO2 over FP or SP. However, tillage did not affect TDN, MBN, and KEN. The C-pools (POM-C, POXC, MBC, WEOC, BR, and Cmin) were more strongly correlated with SOM than the N-pools (TDN, MBN, and KEN), with an exception to POM-N. Under wheat-pea rotation in the iPNW, reduced tillage systems (NT and DT/CT) have a potential to maintain or increase SOM, which can be assessed early through its physical (POM), chemical (POXC, WEOC), and microbiological (MBC, BR, Cmin) indicators. POXC and WEOC were the most sensitive indicators of tillage-induced changes in SOM dynamics.
Research Update: Programmable tandem repeat proteins inspired by squid ring teeth

Cephalopods have evolved many interesting features that can serve as inspiration. Repetitive squid ring teeth (SRT) proteins from cephalopods exhibit properties such as strength, self-healing, and biocompatibility. These proteins have been engineered to design novel adhesives, self-healing textiles, and the assembly of 2d-layered materials. Compared to conventional polymers, repetitive proteins are easy to modify and can assemble in various morphologies and molecular architectures. This research update discusses the molecular biology and materials science of polypeptides inspired by SRT proteins, their properties, and perspectives for future applications.
Imbalanced nutrient regimes increase Prymnesium parvum resilience to herbicide exposure.

Abstract The toxigenic haptophyte Prymnesium parvum is a mixotrophic phytoplankter with an extensive historic record of forming nearly monospecific, high-biomass, ecosystem-disrupting blooms, and it has been responsible for major fish kills in brackish waters and aquaculture facilities in many regions of the world. Little is known about how this species responds to commonly occurring environmental contaminants, or how nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus) pollution may interact with environmentally relevant pesticide exposures to affect this harmful algal species. Here, standard algal toxicity bioassays from pesticide hazard assessments were used along with modified erythrocyte lysis assays to evaluate how atrazine exposures, imbalanced nutrient supplies, and salinity interact to influence the growth and toxicity in P. parvum isolates from three different regions. In nutrient-replete media, P. parvum 96 h IC50s ranged from 73.0 to 88.3 μg atrazine L−1 at salinity 10 and from 118 to >200 μg atrazine μg L−1 at salinity 20, and the response depended on the strain and the test duration. Relative hemolytic activity, used as an indication of toxicity, was a function of herbicide exposure, nutrient availability, salinity, geographic origin, and interactions among these factors. Highest levels of hemolytic activity were measured from a South Carolina strain in low-nitrogen media with high atrazine concentrations. Herbicide concentration was related to relative hemolytic activity, although a consistent relationship between growth phase and toxicity was not observed. Overall, these findings suggest that increasing chemical contamination is helping to promote ecosystem-disruptive, strongly mixotrophic algal blooms.
Transplantation of CCR5∆32 homozygous umbilical cord blood in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and perinatally acquired HIV infection

Author(s): Rothenberger, Meghan; Wagner, John E; Haase, Ashley; Richman, Douglas; Grzywacz, Bartosz; Strain, Matthew; Lada, Steven; Estes, Jacob; Fletcher, Courtney V; Podany, Anthony T; Anderson, Jodi; Schmidt, Thomas; Wietgrefe, Steve; Schacker, Timothy; Verneris, Michael R | Abstract: BackgroundAllogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) in a CCR5∆32 homozygous donor resulted in HIV cure. Understanding how allo-HCT impacts the HIV reservoir will inform cure strategies.MethodsA 12-year-old with perinatally acquired, CCR5-tropic HIV and acute lymphoblastic leukemia underwent myeloablative conditioning and umbilical cord blood (UCB) transplantation from a CCR5∆32 homozygous donor. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the rectum were sampled pre- and post-transplant. The brain, lung, lymph node (LN), stomach, duodenum, ileum, and colon were sampled 73 days after transplantation (day +73), when the patient died from graft-vs-host disease. Droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) and in situ hybridization (ISH) were used detect the HIV reservoir in tissues. CCR5 and CD3 expression in the LN was assessed using immunohistochemistry (IHC).ResultsHIV DNA (vDNA) was detected in PBMCs by ddPCR pretransplant but not post-transplant. vDNA was detected by ISH in the rectum at days -8 and +22, and in the LN, colon, lung, and brain day +73. vDNA was also detected in the lung by ddPCR. IHC revealed CCR5+CD3+ cells in the LN postmortem.ConclusionsHIV was detected in multiple tissues 73 days after CCR5∆32 homozygous UCB allo-HCT despite myeloablative conditioning and complete donor marrow engraftment. These results highlight the importance of analyzing tissue during HIV cure interventions and inform the choice of assay used to detect HIV in tissue reservoirs.
Laparoscopic marsupialization of a giant posttraumatic splenic cyst.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Nonparasitic cysts are rare clinical lesions of the spleen. Causes include congenital malformations and trauma. Historically, management has entailed partial or total splenectomy using an open approach. Recently, laparoscopic approaches have been developed. In this report, we describe laparoscopic marsupialization of a giant splenic cyst (diameter > 15 cm). METHODS A 25-year-old African-American man presented with a 9-month history of early satiety, constipation, and left upper quadrant pain. Additionally, he reported blunt trauma to the abdomen 2 years earlier. Physical examination revealed a large, fixed, nontender left upper quadrant mass. Computed tomography scan confirmed a simple cyst within the spleen, measuring 20 x 25 cm. Echinococcus and Entamoeba histolytica serologies were negative. Laparoscopic exploration was performed. Four liters of brown fluid were aspirated and intraoperative cytology confirmed a nonparasitic cyst. The cyst wall was excised and the cavity was packed with omentum. RESULTS The patient's recovery was uneventful, and he was discharged to home tolerating a regular diet on postoperative day 3. At 6-month follow-up, the patient was asymptomatic and showed no evidence of recurrence. CONCLUSION Nonparasitic splenic cysts are rare lesions. Laparoscopic marsupialization is safe and effective for giant nonparasitic splenic cysts and should be considered the treatment of choice.
Endovascular Femoropopliteal Interventions: Evolving Devices

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is caused by systemic atherosclerosis and is strongly associated with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. Important risk factors for PAD include age > 70, history of smoking, diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, all known markers for cardiovascular disease [1]. While medical management in conjunction with an exercise regimen is the recommended initial approach, according to the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines for the management of PAD, patients with lifestyle-compromising pain, nonhealing ulcers, or critical limb ischemia require invasive endovascular or surgical intervention [2]. There is some disagreement about the appropriate management of femoral-popliteal lesions among various groups of interventionalists, but the Inter-Society Consensus for the Management of PAD provides a general approach. Because of the rapidly changing technology, for many interventionalists the endovascular option is the first line of therapy, despite very poor evidence for many of the products currently on the market.
High-Throughput, Green, Low-Cost, and Efficient Recovery of Heparin from a Biological Mixture Using Bio-Originated Magnetic Nanofibers

Heparin is an anticoagulant commercially derived from porcine intestinal mucosa that is challenging to selectively isolate for further purification. In this study, we propose the fabrication of amine-functionalized magnetic nanobiofibers (NBF@Fe-NH2), 1–2 μm long and 50–200 nm wide with mostly tube-shaped structures, originating from grape seeds as green and efficient bioadsorbents for the efficient recovery of heparin. To rapidly screen for heparin adsorption, we used a novel high-throughput technique based on UV–vis spectroscopy and 96-well microplates. The heparin uptake performance of the fabricated adsorbents vs Amberlite FPA98 Cl, a conventional absorbent utilized in industry for heparin recovery, was examined in a mixture containing heparin isolated from porcine intestinal mucosa. The NBF@Fe-NH2 showed a higher heparin uptake perf compared to the Amberlite FPA98 Cl. Furthermore, we also performed a sheep plasma clotting assay and found that the heparin sample separated by NBF@Fe-NH2 featured a high...
Longitudinal Impacts of Gastric Bypass Surgery on Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics of Statins

Undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is expected to affect orally administered drug absorption. Statins are commonly prescribed to patients with obesity for the prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases by lowering cholesterol. This is the first longitudinal prospective study on impacts of RYGB on weight loss, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics of atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, and simvastatin, and their active metabolites, up to 1-year post-surgery. Forty-six patients were recruited, five patients on atorvastatin, twelve on rosuvastatin, nine on simvastatin, and twenty on no statin. The concentrations of atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, and simvastatin with their active metabolites were monitored. Mean plasma concentrations of atorvastatin and metabolites and rosuvastatin normalized by the unit dose [(nM)/(mg/kg)] decreased by 3- to 6-month post-surgery. Conversely, simvastatin and its metabolite concentrations increased up to 6-month post-surgery, then declined to preoperative levels by 1-year post-surgery. The metabolisms of atorvastatin to hydroxyl-metabolites and simvastatin to simvastatin acid were decreased after RYGB. The weight loss and PD outcomes were comparable between statin and non-statin groups suggesting the key impacts were from RYGB. The discontinuation or reduction of dose of atorvastatin or rosuvastatin post-RYGB exhibited rebounds of LDL levels in some subjects, but the rebound was not apparent with patients on simvastatin pre-surgery. Discontinuations of statin dosing post-RYGB require LDL monitoring and reducing the dose to half seems to have better results. Patients on statin treatment post-RYGB should be followed-up closely based on our pharmacokinetic findings, to ensure therapeutic effects of the treatment with minimal adverse effects.
Marketing Lessons for the '90s

Marketing for the '90s more than anything will require managers who are innovators and know how to adapt to change. Hospitality firms can anticipate changing customer bases, changing technology, and changing ways of motivating and managing employees.
Oral glutamine supplementation increases seizure severity in a rodent model of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

Background: Glutamine synthetase (GS) is the only enzyme known to synthesize significant amounts of glutamine in mammals, and loss of GS in the hippocampus has been implicated in the pathophysiolog...
Mapping Concepts to Locate Learning Opportunities: Aligning the ACRL Framework to the GIS&T Body of Knowledge

The adoption of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education in 2016 coincided with the launch of the digital edition of the Geog...
Surgical Treatment of Symptomatic Small Medial Petrous Meningiomas Causing Trigeminal Neuralgia

Background Symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia caused by small ( Methods A retrospective review of 5 consecutive patients with meningiomas causing trigeminal neuralgia of the senior author was included. Preoperative parameters (size, proximity to critical neurovascular structures, presence of brainstem compression), intraoperative parameters (Simpson grade of resection, loss of brainstem evoked potentials, surgical approach), and outcomes (symptom resolution, extent of resection, follow-up) were recorded. Results Patient median age was 67 years (range, 60–73 years). All patients had symptoms concerning trigeminal neuralgia with 2 having associated areas of facial numbness. The anterior transpetrosal approach was used to achieve complete resection (Simpson grade I). Postresection, the trigeminal nerve and brainstem were clearly visible to evaluate neurovascular structures and ensure decompression. No postoperative complications were reported, and all patients experienced sustained symptomatic relief 1 month postsurgery. Conclusions With the advent of radiosurgery for skull base meningiomas, surgical resection is not always considered; however, such meningiomas causing trigeminal neuralgia can be resected safely using the anterior transpetrosal approach allowing rapid resolution of symptoms. This review of operative nuances provides a guide for neurosurgeons to provide safe surgical resection.
Rate of convergence of the probability of ruin in the Cramér–Lundberg model to its diffusion approximation

Abstract We analyze the probability of ruin for the scaled classical Cramer–Lundberg (CL) risk process and the corresponding diffusion approximation. The scaling, introduced by Iglehart (1969) to the actuarial literature, amounts to multiplying the Poisson rate λ by n , dividing the claim severity by n , and adjusting the premium rate so that net premium income remains constant. We are the first to use a comparison method to prove convergence of the probability of ruin for the scaled CL process and to derive the rate of convergence. Specifically, we prove a comparison lemma for the corresponding integro-differential equation and use this comparison lemma to prove that the probability of ruin for the scaled CL process converges to the probability of ruin for the limiting diffusion process. Moreover, we show that the rate of convergence for the ruin probability is of order O ( n − 1 ∕ 2 ) , and we show that the convergence is uniform with respect to the surplus. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first rate of convergence achieved for these ruin probabilities, and we show that it is the tightest one in the general case. For the case of exponentially-distributed claims, we are able to improve the approximation arising from the diffusion, attaining a uniform O ( n − k ∕ 2 ) rate of convergence for arbitrary k ∈ N . We also include two examples that illustrate our results.
Performance Assessments of Demand Flexibility from Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings: Issues and Considerations

Author(s): Schiller, Steven R; Schwartz, Lisa C; Murphy, Sean | Abstract: This SEE Action Network report explains basic concepts and fundamental considerations for assessing the actual demand flexibility performance of buildings participating in demand flexibility programs and responding to time-varying retail rates. Demand flexibility is the capability of distributed energy resources (DERs) to adjust a building’s load profile across different timescales. Assessments determine the timing, location, quantity, and quality of grid services provided. The results can be used for financial settlements and to improve performance of demand flexibility, support its consideration in resource potential studies and electricity system planning, and contribute to cost-effectiveness evaluations. While practitioners and regulators regularly find opportunities to improve performance assessments of demand-related services, to a large degree current best practices are sufficient for basic service offerings as demand flexibility is implemented today. However, advances in assessment practices will be required in a future with grid-interactive efficient buildings (GEBs) that provide continuous demand flexibility by integrating multiple DERs and flexibility modes (load shed, load shift, modulate, and generate). Example practices include using new baseline constructs—including whether baselines are even required for certain building flexibility modes or configurations, deploying more advanced metering and analytics, further developing cybersecurity standards, improving communication standards for increased interoperability, and establishing performance metrics and assessment procedures for load modulation as it is more fully defined and implemented. This report provides information on prioritizing and designing performance assessment elements for demand flexibility programs and time-varying retail rates, assessment protocols, and research and development needs. Additional research sponsored by DOE’s Building Technologies Office offers more detailed technical information on assessing performance of demand flexibility, including definition of performance metrics.
Invite Students to Skip the Unemployment Line: How Health Information Management Education Programs Can Increase Employability with Support from HIM Stakeholders

Students graduate from accredited programs every year with skills and competencies required by their profession of choice. However, employability remains an issue after graduation. Industry leaders and educators have a statistically significant difference in graduate preparedness for the workforce. When attempting to find a position in their career, graduates are told that without experience, they cannot secure a job. How does one attain the experience desired by employers? This paper posits that university connections and partnerships will assist graduates in securing positions and other required skills after graduation. The purpose of this paper is to extend the work started by Jackson, Lower, and Rudman, using an evidence-based management approach, to synthesize frameworks that will support allied health education programs with bridging the gap between curriculum, internships, practicums, and graduate employability. Also discussed will be the importance of considering both hard and soft skills in graduate employability.
A long-term study of AAV gene therapy in dogs with hemophilia A identifies clonal expansions of transduced liver cells

Nine dogs with hemophilia A were treated with adeno-associated viral (AAV) gene therapy and followed for up to 10 years. Administration of AAV8 or AAV9 vectors expressing canine factor VIII (AAV-cFVIII) corrected the FVIII deficiency to 1.9-11.3% of normal FVIII levels. In two of nine dogs, levels of FVIII activity increased gradually starting about 4 years after treatment. None of the dogs showed evidence of tumors or altered liver function. Analysis of integration sites in liver samples from six treated dogs identified 1,741 unique AAV integration events in genomic DNA and expanded cell clones in five dogs, with 44% of the integrations near genes involved in cell growth. All recovered integrated vectors were partially deleted and/or rearranged. Our data suggest that the increase in FVIII protein expression in two dogs may have been due to clonal expansion of cells harboring integrated vectors. These results support the clinical development of liver-directed AAV gene therapy for hemophilia A, while emphasizing the importance of long-term monitoring for potential genotoxicity.
A multilayer three-dimensional superconducting nanowire photon detector

Here we propose a new design paradigm for a superconducting nanowire single photon detector that uses a multi-layer architecture that places the electric leads beneath the nanowires. This allows for a very large number of detector elements, which we will call pixels in analogy to a conventional CCD camera, to be placed in close proximity. This leads to signicantly better photon number resolution than current single and multi-nanowire meanders, while maintaining similar detection areas. We discuss the reset time of the pixels and how the design can be modied to avoid the latching failure seen in extremely short superconducting nanowires. These advantages give a multi-layer superconducting number-resolving photon detector signicant advantages over the current design paradigm of long superconducting nanowire meanders. Such advantages are desirable in a wide array of photonics applications.© (2012) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Assessment of Mortality Among Durable Left Ventricular Assist Device Recipients Ineligible for Clinical Trials.

Importance While wide-scale adoption of durable left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) can be attributed to favorable randomized clinical trial outcomes, restrictive selection criteria may be associated with a lack of generalizability to real-world experience. Objective To estimate the proportion of LVAD recipients who are eligible for clinical trials and to assess whether an association exists between trial eligibility and mortality. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study examined 14 679 patients undergoing primary, intracorporeal continuous-flow LVAD implantation (with or without a right ventricular assist device) in 181 North American centers from January 1, 2012, to June 30, 2017, identified in the Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS). To simulate a trial population, trial criteria from the Multicenter Study of MagLev Technology in Patients Undergoing Mechanical Circulatory Therapy With HeartMate 3 (MOMENTUM 3) were mapped to INTERMACS variables. Patients were categorized as eligible for trial inclusion or ineligible for trial inclusion and by number of ineligibility criteria met. Follow-up in INTERMACS was complete for all patients through October 31, 2017. Data were analyzed from July 2019 through November 2020. Exposures Undergoing durable LVAD implantation. Main Outcomes and Measures Trial eligibility and postimplant mortality were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox proportional hazards models. Results Among 14 679 recipients, mean (SD) age was 57 (13) years, 11 503 individuals (78.4%) were men, and 11 406 individuals (77.7%) presented with New York Heart Association class IV heart failure. A total of 6429 recipients (43.8%) were ineligible for trial inclusion, of whom 4226 individuals (65.7%) met 1 ineligibility criterion, 1442 individuals (22.4%) met 2 criteria, and 761 individuals (11.8%) met 3 or more criteria. Estimated mortality for recipients who were trial-ineligible was higher than for recipients who were trial-eligible (1-year mortality: 25.3% [95% CI, 24.2%-26.5%] vs 16.2% [95% CI, 15.4%-17.1%]; 3-year mortality: 42.8% [95% CI, 41.3%-44.4%] vs 36.4% [95% CI, 35.0%-37.8%]; log-rankP Conclusions and Relevance These findings suggest that while treatment for patients who are ineligible for LVAD trial inclusion should be weighed against medical management, more consideration could be given to designing trials with eligibility criteria that reflect real-world experience.
Access to male sexual and reproductive health services in publicly funded California clinics in 2018.

ABSTRACT Objectives To characterize the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services available to men from publicly funded family planning clinics in California. Study Design We conducted a cross-sectional telephone survey in 2018 to compare the accessibility of SRH services for male clients at Planned Parenthood clinics in California to those visiting a random sample of 200 other publicly funded family planning clinics, selected from a California Department of Health Care Services list of 773 that had served at least 15 male clients in the prior year. A representative at each clinic answered questions about provision of 20 clinical services. We examined differences in individual service provision by clinic affiliation using χ2 tests. Results Only one-third (773/2348) of publicly funded clinics in California served more than 15 male clients each year, with rural clinics less likely than urban counties to do so. We were able to contact 62 of 107 Planned parenthood clinics and 81 of the 200 other publicly-funded family planning clinics that we attempted to reach. Most (95%) offered HIV and STI screening; 65% offered vasectomy consultation, but only 5% provided vasectomy services. Planned Parenthood clinics were more likely than other publicly funded clinics to provide condom demonstrations, emergency contraception, STI testing, HPV vaccination, penile/testicular exams, and infertility testing (p Conclusions Male family planning services are less frequently offered by rural clinics and by publicly funded clinics in California that are not affiliated with Planned Parenthood. Implications Men's underutilization of family planning may be partially explained by a lack of access to clinical services.
Making It Personal: Supporting Students Below 2.0 GPA

Location: Dewberry Hall Developed by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Undergraduate Academic Affairs office, the Personal Academic Support and Success (PASS) Program applies an individualized approach and appreciative advising framework to supporting students who have fallen below a 2.0 cumulative GPA. By incorporating responses from a comprehensive pre-assessment that explores various barriers to academic success, program mentors work with students over the course of a semester on a unique plan to improve factors such as mindset, persistence, self-efficacy, effective communication, organizational skills, awareness of campus resources, and more. In addition, PASS emphasizes the importance of the faculty-student and advisor-student relationship and requires students to engage in self-reflection throughout the semester. The overarching goal of the PASS program is to broaden students’ support network and positively impact academic confidence and performance. Participants will be able to learn strategies for working with academically at-risk undergraduate students, to include how an accompanying Blackboard organization was created to support completion of the PASS program either in-person or fully online. Participants will also learn about a collaboration between the program administrators and students within a graduate psychology course, which resulted in a more effective, intentional, and well-designed pre-assessment survey. https://chssundergrad.gmu.edu/pass-program