cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Application of continuous ventilation in infants of painless fiber optic bronchoscopy

【Objective】To study the value of three-way laryngeal mask airway(TLMA) continuous ventilation in infants of painless fiber optic bronchoscopy.【Methods】From Oct.2010 to Aug.2011 fourty-seven infants with respiratory system disease were applied TLMA after anesthesia induction of propofol and fentanyl and short-acting muscle relaxation,fiber optic bronchoscopys were performed under continuous ventilation by mask ventilation.monitoring changing of children's noninvasive blood pressure,heart rate,pulse oxygen saturation(SPO2) and end-tidal carbon dioxide tension(PETCO2).【Results】①There were no changes in preoperative basis values and perioperative heart rate,systolic blood pressure,percutaneous oxygen saturation by the statistical methods.②There were no statistical significance in the changes of PETCO2 and the SPO2 among the preoperative,intraoperative and postopertive of fiber optic bronchoscopy.【Conclusions】The technology of TLMA continuous ventilation is a safe and reliable method of opening the airway in infants of painless fiber optic bronchoscopy.
A Context-Aware System to Secure Enterprise Content

In this paper, we present an architecture and implementation of a secure, automated, proximity-based access control that we refer to as Context-Aware System to Secure Enterprise Content (CASSEC). Using the pervasive WiFi and Bluetooth wireless devices as components in our underlying positioning infrastructure, CASSEC addresses two proximity-based scenarios often encountered in enterprise environments: Separation of Duty and Absence of Other Users. The first scenario is achieved by using Bluetooth MAC addresses of nearby occupants as authentication tokens. The second scenario exploits the interference of WiFi received signal strength when an occupant crosses the line of sight (LOS). Regardless of the scenario, information about the occupancy of a particular location is periodically extracted to support continuous authentication. To the best of our knowledge, our approach is the first to incorporate WiFi signal interference caused by occupants as part of proximity-based access control system. Our results demonstrate that it is feasible to achieve great accuracy in localization of occupants in a monitored room.
Malaria Diagnosis Using a Mobile Phone Polarized Microscope

Malaria remains a major global health burden, and new methods for low-cost, high-sensitivity, diagnosis are essential, particularly in remote areas with low-resource around the world. In this paper, a cost effective, optical cell-phone based transmission polarized light microscope system is presented for imaging the malaria pigment known as hemozoin. It can be difficult to determine the presence of the pigment from background and other artifacts, even for skilled microscopy technicians. The pigment is much easier to observe using polarized light microscopy. However, implementation of polarized light microscopy lacks widespread adoption because the existing commercial devices have complicated designs, require sophisticated maintenance, tend to be bulky, can be expensive, and would require re-training for existing microscopy technicians. To this end, a high fidelity and high optical resolution cell-phone based polarized light microscopy system is presented which is comparable to larger bench-top polarized microscopy systems but at much lower cost and complexity. The detection of malaria in fixed and stained blood smears is presented using both, a conventional polarized microscope and our cell-phone based system. The cell-phone based polarimetric microscopy design shows the potential to have both the resolution and specificity to detect malaria in a low-cost, easy-to-use, modular platform.
Laser Micromachining of Polyimide Materials

A laser-enhanced chemical process has been developed for the removal of material from polyimide to produce vias, grooves, and cavities on the order of tens of pm in size. The process takes advantage of the highly absorbant nature of polyimide to blue light. The focused light of an argon laser is used to heat the polyimide locally in the presence of a caustic bath such as NaOH. The heating speeds the chemical reaction of the polyimide with the NaOH solution to form soluble compounds which are then dissolved. The effects of varying concentration of etchant have been investigated; removal rates have been measured for NaOH and other solutions; and etching of copper/polyimide laminates has been accomplished.
The patient's view of orthodontic training requirements and the influence of board certification or a Master's degree on their choice for an orthodontist

Competition for orthodontic patients is at an all time high. Ways to differentially market an orthodontic practice are essential in attracting patients. It is hypothesized that the patients don't understand the extra training that an orthodontist must complete and that being board certified by the ABO or completing a Master's degree does not make an orthodontic practice more attractive. A sample of 204 perspective patients was surveyed. 4 participants were resurveyed. Participants were asked to quantify the education of a general dentist and an orthodontist and use a VAS scale to measure their perception of differently qualified orthodontists and a general dentist providing orthodontics. Those surveyed accurately determined the amount of education an orthodontist and general dentist complete and perceived the orthodontist with the most credentials as most favorable. They also favored the general dentist providing orthodontics. A Master's degree was only somewhat favored. Most questions were found valid.
The Expanding Cultural World, Harmony, and Belonging

Given the importance of culture in human life, one of the most important questions about an evolutionary account of human nature is how well it can explain culture. Kappeler, Silk, Burkart, and van Schaik (2010) responded to this challenge by describing culture, with its material elements, social institutions, and linguistic bases, as perhaps humanity’s preeminent adaptation. Tomasello et al. (2005) concurred, seeing humans as “the world’s expert at culture” because we not only interact with conspecifics “but engage them in complex collaborative activities” (p. 675). Evolutionary scientists argue against the longstanding idea that biology and culture are mutually exclusive explanations for behavior because the human capacity for culture is dependent on our evolved cognitive architecture. From this point of view, cultural variation is not a refutation of a universal human nature. Rather, it is an expression of important, species-defining aspects of that nature. Although evolutionary scientists argue for a single human cognitive architecture for culture, this capacity is expressed in an incredible variety of cultural forms because cognitive architecture enables culture but does not dictate its content. I begin by discussing the adaptations that made culture possible to set the stage for an argument about how culture reveals goods that are essential for human flourishing.
Integrating Common Core Content into Physical Education: Creating New Knowledge Connections

Recent trends highlight the connection between engagement in physical activity and cognitive function. This is a key point to consider when designing physical education curricula and the activities that are included. By exposing students to material in a variety of ways students' interest can be sparked, yielding greater learning and understanding of material. Physical education classes are an ideal context for integrating multiple subjects because of the variety of outlets for practice and broad topics that can be covered. With the push for standards-based learning and high-stakes testing, teachers in all subject areas are being urged to find new ways to integrate concepts in their classes. With creativity, flexibility and basic knowledge in a wide variety of content areas, physical education teachers can reinforce concepts through tasks that allow students to truly engage with the content. This article highlights current research and provides examples for the integration of fourth-grade New Jersey Core ...
Conventional and nano-based approaches to prevent bacterial infection

Biomedical device-associated infection is still one of the most serious complications in implant surgeries due to the existence of immune depression in the peri-implant area. Despite considerable research and development efforts, the problem of infections related to biomedical devices and implants persists. Many approaches, which understand the pathogenesis of implant-associated infections, have been applied to prevent infections. Among these approaches, conventional treatment and new nano-based approaches are the skeleton of this chapter. Specifically, current strategies such as systemic and local antibiotic treatment, nonfouling surfaces, utilization of antimicrobial agents and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), and metal (silver) and metal oxide (zinc oxide) nanoparticles have been explained with advantages and disadvantages for treating infection.
Alexander the Great: A Questionable Death

Abstract After his spectacular conquests from Persia to India in 334–24 BC, Alexander the Great died of mysterious causes after a heavy drinking party in Babylon (Iraq) in 323 BC, just before his 33rd birthday. Alexander’s untimely death aroused suspicions of poisoning among his closest companions; conspirators were accused of killing him with a mysterious toxin collected from the River Styx in southern Greece. Ancient historians were divided about the cause of death; some favored a plot, while others believed it was down to natural causes. Modern historians and toxicologists are also divided on whether Alexander died of disease or poison. Modern attempts to retrodiagnose Alexander’s fatal illness, by analyzing the detailed symptoms the king reportedly suffered in the 2 weeks before death, have resulted in many theories. Proposed natural causes include alcohol poisoning, malaria, typhoid fever, septicemia, and accidental physician error; deliberate murder theories focus on aconite, arsenic, fermented hellebore, and strychnine.
Pediatric Medication Safety in Adult Community Hospital Settings: A Glimpse Into Nationwide Practice

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Most children in the United States are treated in adult settings. Studies show that the pediatric population is vulnerable to medication errors. It can be extrapolated that children cared for in adult settings are at equal or higher risk for errors. The goal of this study was to assess the existing pediatric medication safety infrastructure within adult hospitals. METHODS: Questionnaire developed through Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) and distributed to pediatric hospitalist programs listed on the American Academy of Pediatrics, Section on Hospital Medicine web site and members of the American Academy of Pediatrics Quality Improvement Innovation Networks listserv. There were >20 questions regarding the use of various safety measures and characteristics of the hospital. RESULTS: Thirty-eight program staff and 26 Quality Improvement Innovation Networks listserv members completed the survey (total = 64). Of these, 90.6% use order sets or computerized provider order entry with pediatric weight-based dosing, 79.7% review pediatric medication safety events or concerns, 58.7% were aware that their hospital had defined or documented maximum doses on orders, and 50.0% had milligram-per-kilogram dosing required to be in the order. A majority of respondents document weights only in the metric system (kilograms or grams) in both the emergency department and the pediatric unit (84.4% and 92.1%, respectively). A total of 57.8% of hospitals had pharmacists trained in pediatrics, with hospitals with >300 beds more likely to have a pediatric pharmacist than those with P ≤ .05). CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric medication safety infrastructure shows variations within the sites surveyed. Our results indicate that certain deficiencies are more widespread than others, providing opportunities for targeted, but hospital-specific interventions.
Race Differences in ADL Disability Decline 1984-2004: Evidence From the National Long-Term Care Survey.

Objective: Disability declined in lower levels of impairment during the late 20th century. However, it is unclear whether ADL disability also declined, or whether it did so across race. In this study, we examine cohorts entering later life between 1984 and 1999, by race, to understand changing ADL disability. Method: We used latent class methods to model trajectories of ADL disability and subsequent mortality in the National Long-Term Care Survey among cohorts entering older adulthood (ages 65-69) between 1984 and 1999. We examined patterns by race, focusing on chronic condition profiles. Results: White cohorts experienced consistent declines in ADL disability but Blacks saw little improvement with some evidence for increased disability. Stroke, diabetes, and heart attack were predominant in predicting disability among Blacks. Discussion: Declining disability trends were only observed consistently among Whites, suggesting previous and future disability trends and their underlying causes should be examined...
Vulnerability of Agroecosystems to Environmental Factors

Ecosystems provide a multitude of resources and processes called functions or ecosystem services, which are an integral component of the climate system ( NRC 2005 ) and provisions of food, clean water, timber, habitat for wildlife, pollination, etc. Anthropogenic perturbations of climate or extreme climatic events can alter processes, functions and services, and ecosystems, including agroecosystems, which are vulnerable to climate including extreme climatic events. Impacts of climate, both positive and negative, depend on the specific ecosystem and the biophysical, social, economic, political, and cultural parameters. In general, the most vulnerable ecosystems are those that may also create a positive feedback and exacerbate (amplify) changes in local and regional climate statistics. Land use change associated with creation and intensification of food production required to feed the global population in the coming decades can induce both positive and negative feedbacks on climate systems.
Abstract 55: Spatiotemporal Heterogeneity of Platelet Activation and Thrombus Architecture Regulates Plasma Protein Accessibility During Thrombus Formation in Vivo

While often described as a linear process in which platelets react in a uniform manner, recent in vivo studies demonstrate that the platelet response to vascular injury is quite heterogeneous. Here, we utilized confocal fluorescence intravital microscopy to provide a detailed description of the heterogeneous nature of thrombi formed in vivo while asking the following questions: 1) does platelet accumulation and activation during thrombus formation follow specific spatio-temporal patterns that result in subpopulations of platelets with different activation states; 2) does the architecture of the hemostatic mass depend on the mechanism of injury; and 3) does heterogeneity within the platelet mass result in discrete regions of a thrombus that are more or less accessible to plasma and its constituents? We found that regardless of the mode of injury, stable thrombi were composed of two distinct and contiguous populations of platelets defined both by their activation state and their packing density. Closest to the site of injury was a population of fully activated, stably adherent, degranulated platelets, which was covered by multiple layers of loosely adherent platelets that had not undergone granule release. Increased packing density of platelets within the thrombus core was associated with reduced plasma volume in this region as well as limited accessibility of large plasma borne tracer molecules and proteins. Taken together, these findings clearly demonstrate the heterogeneous nature of thrombus formation at the molecular and structural levels. Further, the finding of reduced plasma volume and protein accessibility to the thrombus core has implications for delivery of pro- and anti-thrombotic blood factors and therapeutic agents to this region of a thrombus.
Saevae memorem Iunonis ob iram Juno, Veii, and Augustus

A driving force in Vergil’s Aeneid is the hostility of Juno to the Trojans as they approach, and finally arrive in Italy. The epic in some ways mirrors the opposition encountered by Augustus as the new ruler of Rome. Juno’s opposition to the Trojans has its origin not only in Greek mythology, but in the history of the local peoples of Italy with whom early Romans had to contend. From the outset of the poem she becomes the personification of these opposing forces. Once the Trojans finally reach mainland Italy, she sets in motion a long war, although the one depicted in the Aeneid was not as long as the real wars Romans waged with the Latin League and with the many of the tribes of Italy, including the Veii. The reality of the wars Rome had to contend with are here compared to the relatively brief one depicted in the Aeneid, and the pacification of Juno reflects the merging of the different peoples of Rome with their subjugator.
In vivo pre-clinical PET/CT evaluation of [11C]adenosine 5′-monophosphate as a novel PET radiotracer for imaging tumor nucleoside transporters

1586 Objectives: We previously demonstrated that various tumor cell lines had marked uptake of radiolabeled adenosine 5’-monophosphate by equilibrative and/or concentrative nucleoside transporters, with absolute tumor tracer uptake much greater than that for FDG. Our goal was to determine the potential of [11C]Adenosine 5’-Monophosphate ([11C]AMP) as a PET radiotracer for imaging tumor nucleoside transporters in a rat tumor model. Methods: Rat mammary tumor cells (RMT) were grown subcutaneously (SC) in Lewis Rats and 9L (Rat glioma) tumor was implanted intracranially (IC) in the left hemisphere in Fisher 344 rats. Tumor bearing rats were imaged on a GE Discovery LS PET/CT scanner with anesthesia. On day 1, [11C]AMP was injected IV, and dynamic 60 minute emission and CT scans were obtained. On day 2, [18F]FDG was injected IV, and after a 1 hour uptake period, a 10 minute emission and CT scans were acquired. ROI analysis was used to determine the maximum counts and calculate the (tumor max)/(neck soft tissue max) ratio for RMT tumors and (brain tumor max)/(contralateral normal brain max) ratio for 9L tumors. Results: The tumor/background uptake of [11C]AMP in SC RMT tumors as average (RMT tumor max)/(neck soft tissue max) ratio was 1.20 (+ 0.18) at 5 minutes, 1.34 (+ 0.10) at 30 minutes, and 1.35 (+ 0.15) at 60 minutes. The average [18F]FDG (RMT tumor max)/(neck soft tissue max) ratio was 5.91 (+ 0.47). [11C]AMP uptake in 9L tumors as average (brain tumor max)/(contralateral normal brain max) ratio was 1.63 (+ 0.13) at 5 minutes, 1.58 (+ 0.06) at 30 minutes, and 1.69 (+ 0.11) at 60 minutes. There was no appreciable difference in [18F]FDG uptake to tumor in comparison to normal brain due to the high brain background. Of note, whole body images show intense [11C]AMP distribution and uptake to lungs, myocardium, kidney, and brown adipose tissue in both rat tumor model systems. Conclusions: There was mild but appreciable [11C]AMP tumor uptake in SC RMT and IC 9L rat tumor models. The average tumor/background ratio over 60 minutes was 1.20 to 1.35 for RMT rats, and 1.58 to 1.69 for 9L rats. In the brain tumor model, the agent appeared superior to FDG for tumor detection. While tumor targeting was less than expected from the in vitro studies, there was sufficient tumor uptake in vivo to warrant further evaluation of [11C]AMP as a radiotracer for tumor nucleoside transporter activity and possibly assess for resistance to nucleoside analog chemotherapy agents.
Verrucous lesions of the female genitalia: II. Verrucous carcinoma

Abstract Verrucous carcinoma is a variant of squamous cell carcinoma that often presents as a large cauliflower-like lesion with localy destructive growth. A high index of suspicion on the part of the clinician and pathologist is needed for an accurate diagnosis since the pathologic findings may be benign on an individual cell basis or may even resemble those of a condyhloma. Deep biopsy that includes the base of the lesion is needed for accurate histologic diagnosis, and the pathologist should be aware of the aggressive nature of lesion. The treatment of choice is surgical, with wide local excision being sufficient in most cases. Radiotherapy often fails to eradicate the lesion and may even cause it to become more anaplastic.
Identification of multiple roles for histone acetyltransferase 1 in replication-coupled chromatin assembly

Histone acetyltransferase 1 (Hat1) catalyzes the acetylation of newly synthesized histone H4 at lysines 5 and 12 that accompanies replication-coupled chromatin assembly. The acetylation of newly synthesized H4 occurs in the cytoplasm and the function of this acetylation is typically ascribed to roles in either histone nuclear import or deposition. Using cell lines from Hat1+/+ and Hat1-/- mouse embryos, we demonstrate that Hat1 is not required for either histone nuclear import or deposition. We employed quantitative proteomics to characterize Hat1-dependent changes in the composition of nascent chromatin structure. Among the proteins depleted from nascent chromatin isolated from Hat1-/- cells are several bromodomain-containing proteins, including Brg1, Baz1A and Brd3. Analysis of the binding specificity of their bromodomains suggests that Hat1-dependent acetylation of H4 is directly involved in their recruitment. Hat1-/- nascent chromatin is enriched for topoisomerase 2α and 2β. The enrichment of topoisomerase 2 is functionally relevant as Hat1-/- cells are hyper-sensitive to topoisomerase 2 inhibition suggesting that Hat1 is required for proper chromatin topology. In addition, our results indicate that Hat1 is transiently recruited to sites of chromatin assembly, dissociating prior to the maturation of chromatin structure.
A Brief History of the Photochemistry of Macromolecules

Ninety years ago Downes and Blunt (1) reported that the activity of invertase (zymase) can be destroyed by light and that irradiated solutions can lose residual activity on standing.* The significance of this loss of residual activity was not appreciated until much later (2) (3) (4) when it became clear that some enzyme molecules are unstabilized by ultraviolet radiation, UV; further, some in a population of radiation modified molecules are altered so as to have lost more activity toward one type of substrate than another (5) (6). A differential loss of activity doubtless parallels selective photochemical events in the molecule (7), for example, when one or more tryptophan residues are modified the proteolytic activity of trypsin is annililated, but the esterase activity is almost undiminished (8). To-date it is not clear whether some molecules have lost all activity toward one type or the other or whether molecules can have altered activity toward one type and unaltered activity toward the other. In any case, some molecules are so altered by irradiation as to lose activity almost at once and others to lose activity on standing, or warming, perhaps by rupture of hydrogen bonds or by oxidation and other changes leading simultaneously to absorbance changes (2).
The Spectral Gap of Graphs Arising From Substring Reversals

The substring reversal graph $R_n$ is the graph whose vertices are the permutations $S_n$, and where two permutations are adjacent if one is obtained from a substring reversal of the other. We determine the spectral gap of $R_n$, and show that its spectrum contains many integer values. Further we consider a family of graphs that generalize the prefix reversal (or pancake flipping) graph, and show that every graph in this family has adjacency spectral gap equal to one.
Convergence of an iterative algorithm to the nonparametric MLE of a mixing distribution

Abstract An iterative algorithm has been conjectured to converge to the nonparametric MLE of the mixing distribution. We give a rigorous proof of this conjecture and discuss the use of this algorithm for producing smooth mixing densities as near-MLEs.
Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Treatment of Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy has been rising in prevalence, due to increased awareness and advanced imaging. For the symptomatic patient, pharmacological management...
Talk and Let Talk: The Effects of Language Proficiency on Speaking Up and Competence Perceptions in Multinational Teams:

Collaboration within multinational teams necessitates the adoption of a common language, typically English, which often leads to significant differences in language proficiency across members. We d...
A NOVEL TOOL FOR PRE-PROCEDURAL RISK STRATIFICATION FOR CONTRAST-INDUCED NEPHROPATHY AND ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN HYDRATION VOLUME AND CLINICAL OUTCOMES FOLLOWING CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY AT DIFFERENT RISK LEVELS

To develop and validate prediction tool for contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients undergoing contemporary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary angiogram (CAG). A total of 3,469 patients undergoing PCI/CAG between January 2010 and December 2013 were randomly divided into a
Hierarchically coordinated protection: A key element in improving power system resilience

This paper investigates the challenges of conventional transmission protection system dependability and security when meeting the operating complexities affecting power system resilience. Effective Hierarchically Coordinated Protection (HCP) scheme is proposed to illustrate various approaches to corrective, adaptive and predictive protection actions aimed at improving power system resilience. The results obtained using IEEE test cases are used to illustrate the benefits.
Changes in Macrophage Progenitor Cell Composition in the Bone Marrow of “Early Phase” Endotoxin-Tolerized Mice

For many years, it has been recognized that prior exposure to sublethal doses of LPS can result in decreased toxicity in response to a subsequent LPS challenge. This has been referred to as a state of “endotoxin tolerance” (reviewed in 3). Classically, two phases of endotoxin tolerance have been described. “Early endotoxin tolerance” refers to the transient period of LPS hyporesponsiveness which occurs within the first few days after initial exposure to LPS and wanes in approximately seven to eight days. This appears to be independent of the presence of anti-O-specific antibodies (3), and has been shown to be transferable with spleen cells (11). In contrast, “late phase” tolerance is delayed, persistent, and antibody-mediated (3).
Hidradenitis suppurativa: A practical review of possible medical treatments based on over 350 hidradenitis patients

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a pathological follicular disease, impacts patients' lives profoundly. HS most commonly involves cutaneous intertriginous areas, such as the axilla, inner thighs, groin and buttocks, and pendulous breasts, but can appear on any follicular skin. Protean, HS manifests with variations of abscesses, folliculitis, pyogenic granulomas, scars (oval honeycombed), comedones, tracts, fistulas, and keloids. The pathophysiology might involve both defects of the innate follicular immunity and overreaction to coagulase negative Staphylococcus. Treatment depends on the morphology, extent, severity, and duration. Topical clindamycin and dapsone are often adequate for treating mild HS. For Stage 1 and 2 HS, first line treatment combines rifampin with either oral clindamycin or minocycline. Other HS treatments include: fluoroquinolones with metronidazole and rifampin, oral dapsone, zinc, acitretin, hormone blockers (oral contraceptive pills, spironolactone, finasteride, and dutasteride), and oral prednisone. For severe HS, cyclosporine, adalimumab, or infliximab (used at double psoriatic doses) and intravenous carbapenems or cephalosporins are often required. Isotretinoin, etanercept, isoniazid, lymecycline, sulfasalazine, methotrexate, metformin, colchicine, clarithromycin, IVIG, and thalidomide are less favored treatments. The role of botulinum toxin is uncertain. The most important life style modification is weight loss. De-roofing fluctuant nodules and injection of intralesional corticosteroids ameliorates the disease and perhaps, if done at regular intervals, improves HS more permanently. Surgical excision and CO2 laser ablation are more definitive treatments. The 1064 nm laser for hair removal aids in the treatment of HS. This article centers on medical therapies and will only passingly mention surgical and laser treatments. This article summarizes my treatment experience with over 350 HS patients.
Evaluation of the Yellow IRIS®: An Automated Method for Urinalysis

The authors evaluated the Yellow IRIS automated urinalysis instrument (International Remote Imaging Systems, Chatsworth, CA 91311) in terms of its analytic performance as well as its ease of use. The Yellow IRIS is a system using automated intelligence microscopy (AIM), coupled with a dipstick reader and specific gravity module. The instrument can handle up to 30 specimens per hour in the authors' setting as compared with 10 specimens per hour using a full manual urinalysis coupled with microscopic examination. The authors conclude that the Yellow IRIS performed better than the manual method in terms of precision, linearity, and throughput. In addition, the diagnostic yield using this system in terms of abnormal results was higher than would have been picked up by manual analysis alone.
Size-Related Changes in Tree Proportions and Their Potential Influence on the Course of Height Growth

As trees grow larger and older they show characteristic changes in their proportions and growth rates. This paper explores the hypothesis that mechanical support costs of growing trees contributes to tree height limitation and general growth decline in aging trees. The chapter reviews scaling hypotheses, including geometric similarity, elastic similarity, stress similarity, and the pipe model, as well as the patterns in tree allometry that have been reported. It then uses the remarkable published record of diameter, volume and height growth, deriving from stem analysis, of one 437-year-old, 83-m-tall noble fir (Abies procera) to evaluate the degree to which different scaling models apply at different stages in that tree’s life. The analysis suggests that the overall pattern of height growth could be related to tree allometry and wood production rates, but that the tree showed substantial decadal variation around the general patterns. The chapter suggests that many more studies are needed to characterize individual trees, either with known environments or after manipulations that alter allometry, and in different ecosystems beyond the Pacific Northwest and California. Such data will enable scientists to analyze the degree to which these allometric models pertain in different plant types and at different life stages, and will give insight into the role of mechanical and hydraulic support in the limitation of tree growth and productivity.
Gray codes and their applications

An n-bit Gray code is an ordered set of all 2n binary strings of length n. The special property of this listing is that Hamming distance between consecutive vectors is exactly 1. If the last and first codeword also have a Hamming distance 1 then the code is said to be cyclic. This dissertation addresses problems dealing with the design and applications of new and existing types of both binary and non-binary Gray codes. It is shown how properties of certain Gray codes can be used to solve problems arising in different domains. New types of Gray codes to solve specific types of problems are also designed. We construct Gray codes over higher integral radices and show their applications. Applications of new classes of Gray codes defined over residue classes of Gaussian integers are also shown. We also propose new classes of binary Gray codes and prove some important properties of these codes.
Pelvic Floor Therapy

Pelvic floor therapy plays a major role in the treatment of dysfunctional voiding. It is a noninvasive form of therapy that both resolves urinary symptoms and corrects the underlying disorder, in hopes of achieving long-term cure. Pelvic floor therapy is a teaching tool that helps to correct the “dysfunction” of voiding with a success rate ranging from 80 to 95% in improving incontinence. It also decreases recurrent urinary tract infections and decreases the need for surgical intervention for vesicoureteral reflux. Biofeedback therapy can also be used in conjunction with other types of treatment such as behavior modifications, medication, and/or surgical correction. In pediatric urology, its primary role is in treating and improving the neurologically normal group of children with evidence of dysfunctional voiding.
Abstract 4621: Risk stratification and biomarker discovery in HPV-positive oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma determined by HPV and human gene expression profile associations

Determining which HPV+ oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) patients will respond to therapy is of utmost important for implementation of treatment de-escalation to reduce morbidity or testing of novel therapeutic approaches. Due to the lack of reliable indicators of treatment response, we explored the gene expression profile of OPSCC in order to better understand the biology of these tumors and identify novel biomarkers. In this study, we investigated human genes associated with HPV transcription in 80 OPSCC samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). This exploratory analysis provided a list of 582 human genes associated with HPV biology. Hierarchical clustering analysis using the 582 human genes was used to separate HPV+ OPSCC in two groups with significantly distinct survival (log-rank test p Citation Format: Frederico O. Gleber-Netto, Xiayu Rao, Kelly Erikson, Keiko Akagi, Faye M. Johnson, Jing Wang, Joseph Califano, Maura L. Gillison, Jeffrey N. Myers, Curtis R. Pickering. Risk stratification and biomarker discovery in HPV-positive oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma determined by HPV and human gene expression profile associations [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4621.
Abstract 5164: Signaling crosstalk within prostate tumor microenvironment mediates castrate resistant disease progression

Juxtacrine signaling with the stromal compartment is important to the development of castrate resistance prostate cancer. We found that Notch signaling is upregulated in prostate cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) compared with normal tissue associated fibroblasts (NAFs). Further, inhibition of Notch signaling in CAFs resulted in decreased Wnt signaling and decrease in expression of Notch pathway genes. Interestingly, androgen receptor antagonism resulted in increased Notch signaling and the upregulation of downstream Wnts. Further, generation of chimeric tissue recombinant xenografts with human RV1 prostate cancer epithelia with mouse prostate stromal cells with activated Notch signaling that are derived from NICD transgenic mice resulted in increased tumor size compared with wild type control stromal recombinants. Conversely, recombinants derived from prostatic fibroblasts of RBPJ-knockout mice that have a loss of Notch signaling demonstrated diminished tumorigenesis, compared with xenografts with the wild type fibroblasts. In trying to determine the mediator of Wnt-associated paracrine prostate epithelial expansion, we found downstream YAP activation in the RV1 cells. In a reciprocal epithelial-to-fibroblast communication we found that the RV1 cells treated with conditioned media from NICD fibroblasts showed increased IL-6 expression. Conversely, conditioned media from prostate cancer cells caused increased Notch target gene expression in CAFs, which was blocked upon addition of IL-6 neutralizing antibody. Taken together our results suggest that there is a stromal-derived feed-back - feed-forward signaling loop involving Notch and Wnt ligands that activates YAP in the epithelia for paracrine IL-6-dependent Notch activity back in the stromal fibroblasts. Critically, disruption of this cross-talk in the fibroblasts can potentially limit the gain of stem features and castrate resistance of the adjacent epithelia in halting lethal progression of prostate cancer. Citation Format: Manisha Tripathi, Srinivas Nandana, Jen-Ming Huang, Manabu Kato, Rajeev Mishra, Leland Chung, Li Xin, Neil Bhowmick. Signaling crosstalk within prostate tumor microenvironment mediates castrate resistant disease progression [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5164.
Development of Oral Rotavirus and Norovirus Vaccines

Abstract Rotaviruses (RVs) and noroviruses (NoVs) are two important pathogenic enteric viruses, and are the most common causes of acute viral gastroenteritis. Collectively, they cause hundreds of thousands of deaths each year; the majority of fatalities occur in children under the age of 5 years. The severe clinical and economic burdens attributed to these infections mark RVs and NoVs as attractive targets for vaccines. Indeed, global rotavirus vaccination programs that were put in place approximately a decade ago have significantly reduced rotavirus infections in terms of both disease severity and frequency, although these vaccines have lower efficacy in developing nations than in industrialized countries. Human NoVs have historically proven more difficult to study than RVs, so a licensed norovirus vaccine is not currently available. This text briefly discusses the history of rotavirus vaccine development and its ongoing refinement, along with the significant strides made in regards to norovirus vaccine development.
Primary Placement of a Low-Profile Gastrostomy Button Is Safe and Associated With Improved Outcomes in Children

Abstract Background This study evaluates tube-specific outcomes after primary placement of low-profile buttons (LPBs) compared with long gastrostomy tubes (LGTs). Materials and methods All surgically placed gastrostomy tubes from 2015 to 2017 from a single institution were reviewed. Primary outcomes were tube dislodgement and tube-related readmissions within 30 d. Secondary outcomes were resource utilization and minor complications within 6 mo. Results 53% (n = 253) of patients received an LGT and 47% (n = 228) received an LPB. Groups were similar with regard to operative indication and approach, but LPB patients were slightly older (9 versus 6 mo, P = 0.02). Tube dislodgement occurred overall in 6% of patients, with 23% and 41% experiencing leakage and granulation tissue, respectively. LGT patients experienced higher rates of tube dislodgement (9% versus 3%, P = 0.006), but no difference in tube-related readmissions (P = 0.38). LGT patients were also more likely to visit the ER for a tube-related concern (43.9% versus 31.6%, P = 0.01) and report problems of leakage around the tube (27.7% versus 17.5%, P = 0.01). No difference was found for issues of peristomal granulation tissue or in tube-related readmissions. Conclusions Primary placement of low-profile gastrostomy buttons is safe and demonstrated superior tube-related outcomes compared with LGTs.
Mobile Media and Kirogi Mothers: Place-Making and the Reimagination of Transnational Korean Family Intimacies

This chapter examines the role of mobile media in Korean kirogi (wild goose, 기러기) families, a distinct kind of transnational migrant family that splits their household for a temporary period of 6 months to more than 10 years so that the children can be educated in an English-speaking country. Typically, dual-continent households, they consist of a mother and children living in an English-speaking country while the father lives on his own in Korea, sending money to support and maintain their lifestyle. This chapter looks particularly at mobile media’s role in the place-making of these kirogi families. Through an examination of two distinct Korean communities in Northern Virginia in the USA, I show that these technologies play a key role in enabling the achievement of familial goals regarding children’s education, transforming conceptions of family, and cultivating a sense of belonging and community for kirogi mothers. All in all, I underscore how mobile media play an important role in place-making for transnational families like the kirogi.
Spatial Thinking in Infancy: Origins and Development of Mental Rotation Between 3 and 10 Months of Age.

Mental rotation (MR) is the ability to transform a mental representation of an object so as to accurately predict how the object would look from a different angle (Sci 171:701–703, 1971), and it is involved in a number of important cognitive and behavioral activities. In this review we discuss recent studies that have examined MR in infants and the development of MR across the first year after birth. These studies have produced many conflicting results, yet several tentative conclusions can be reached. First, MR may be operational in infants as young as 3 months of age. Second, there may be sex differences in MR performance in infancy, in general favoring males, as there are in children and in adults. Third, there appear to be multiple influences on infants’ MR performance, including infants’ motor activity, stimulus or task complexity, hormones, and parental attitudes. We conclude by calling for additional research to examine more carefully the causes and consequences of MR abilities early in life.
The (p)ppGpp Synthetase RSH Mediates Stationary-Phase Onset and Antibiotic Stress Survival in Clostridioides difficile.

ABSTRACT The human pathogen Clostridioides difficile is increasingly tolerant of multiple antibiotics and causes infections with a high rate of recurrence, creating an urgent need for new preventative and therapeutic strategies. The stringent response, a universal bacterial response to extracellular stress, governs antibiotic survival and pathogenesis in diverse organisms but has not previously been characterized in C. difficile. Here, we report that the C. difficile (p)ppGpp synthetase RSH is incapable of utilizing GTP or GMP as a substrate but readily synthesizes ppGpp from GDP. The enzyme also utilizes many structurally diverse metal cofactors for reaction catalysis and remains functionally stable at a wide range of environmental pHs. Transcription of rsh is stimulated by stationary-phase onset and by exposure to the antibiotics clindamycin and metronidazole. Chemical inhibition of RSH by the ppGpp analog relacin increases antibiotic susceptibility in epidemic C. difficile R20291, indicating that RSH inhibitors may be a viable strategy for drug development against C. difficile infection. Finally, transcriptional suppression of rsh also increases bacterial antibiotic susceptibility, suggesting that RSH contributes to C. difficile antibiotic tolerance and survival. IMPORTANCEClostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is an urgent public health threat with a high recurrence rate, in part because the causative bacterium has a high rate of antibiotic survival. The (p)ppGpp-mediated bacterial stringent response plays a role in antibiotic tolerance in diverse pathogens and is a potential target for development of new antimicrobials because the enzymes that metabolize (p)ppGpp have no mammalian homologs. We report that stationary-phase onset and antibiotics induce expression of the clostridial ppGpp synthetase RSH and that both chemical inhibition and translational suppression of RSH increase C. difficile antibiotic susceptibility. This demonstrates that development of RSH inhibitors to serve as adjuvants to antibiotic therapy is a potential approach for the development of new strategies to combat CDI.
Identifying organ dysfunction trajectory-based subphenotypes in critically ill patients with COVID-19

Abstract Rationale COVID-19-associated respiratory failure offers the unprecedented opportunity to evaluate the differential host response to a uniform pathogenic insult. Prior studies of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) have identified subphenotypes with differential outcomes. Understanding whether there are distinct subphenotypes of severe COVID-19 may offer insight into its pathophysiology. Objectives To identify and characterize distinct subphenotypes of COVID-19 critical illness defined by the post-intubation trajectory of Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score. Methods Intubated COVID-19 patients at two hospitals in New York city were leveraged as development and validation cohorts. Patients were grouped into mild, intermediate, and severe strata by their baseline post-intubation SOFA. Hierarchical agglomerative clustering was performed within each stratum to detect subphenotypes based on similarities amongst SOFA score trajectories evaluated by Dynamic Time Warping. Statistical tests defined trajectory subphenotype predictive markers. Measurements and Main Results Distinct worsening and recovering subphenotypes were identified within each stratum, which had distinct 7-day post-intubation SOFA progression trends. Patients in the worsening suphenotypes had a higher mortality than those in the recovering subphenotypes within each stratum (mild stratum, 29.7% vs. 10.3%, p=0.033; intermediate stratum, 29.3% vs. 8.0%, p=0.002; severe stratum, 53.7% vs. 22.2%, p Conclusions There are clear worsening and recovering subphenotypes of COVID-19 respiratory failure after intubation, which are more predictive of outcomes than baseline severity of illness. Organ dysfunction trajectory may be well suited as a surrogate for research in COVID-19 respiratory failure. At a Glance Commentary Scientific Knowledge on the Subject COVID-19 associated respiratory failure leads to a significant risk of morbidity and mortality. It is clear that there is heterogeneity in the viral-induced host response leading to differential outcomes, even amongst those treated with mechanical ventilation. There are many studies of COVID-19 disease which use intubation status as an outcome or an inclusion criterion. However, there is less understanding of the post intubation course in COVID-19. What This Study Adds to the Field We have developed and validated a novel subphenotyping model based on post-intubation organ dysfunction trajectory in COVID-19 patients. Specifically, we identified clear worsening and recovering organ dysfunction trajectory subphenotypes, which are more predictive of outcomes than illness severity at baseline. Dynamic inflammatory markers and ventilator variables rather than baseline severity of illness, demographics and comorbidities differentiate the worsening and recovering subphenotypes. Trajectory subphenotypes offer a potential road map for understanding the evolution of critical illness in COVID-19.
The impact of social support and morally injurious events on PTSD symptoms in Veterans

Potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs), including committing transgressions (Transgressions-Self) and perceiving betrayals, have been positively associated with posttraumatic stress disorder ...
“Dad, Wash Your Hands”: Gender, Care Work, and Attitudes toward Risk during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Recent analyses of responses to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have posited that men’s dismissive attitudes toward the risks of the virus reflect their attempts to conform to masculine norms t...