cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Perspectives of Micro and Nanofabrication of Carbon for Electrochemical and Microfluidic Applications

This chapter focuses on glass-like carbons, their method of micro and nanofabrication and their electrochemical and microfluidic applications. At first, the general properties of this material are exposed, followed by its advantages over other forms of carbon and over other materials. After an overview of the carbonization process of organic polymers we delve into the history of glass-like carbon. The bulk of the chapter deals with different fabrication tools and techniques to pattern polymers. It is shown that when it comes to carbon patterning, it is significantly easier and more convenient to shape an organic polymer and carbonize it than to machine carbon directly. Therefore the quality, dimensions and complexity of the final carbon part greatly depend on the polymer structure acting as a precursor. Current fabrication technologies allow for the patterning of polymers in a wide range of dimensions and with a great variety of tools. Even though several fabrication techniques could be employed such as casting, stamping or even Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) machining, the focus of this chapter is on photolithography, given its precise control over the fabrication process and its reproducibility. Next Generation Lithography (NGL) tools are also covered as a viable way to achieve nanometer-sized carbon features. These tools include electron beam (e-beam), Focused-ion beam (FIB), Nano Imprint Lithography (NIL) and Step-and-Flash Imprint Lithography (SFIL). At last, the use of glass-like carbon in three applications, related to microfluidics and electrochemistry, is discussed: Dielectrophoresis, Electrochemical sensors, and Fuel Cells. It is exposed how in these applications glass-like carbon offers an advantage over other materials.
Safety Factors for Probabilistic Slope Design

Inconsistencies in present solution methods for slope stability problems under undrained conditions are noted and a first-order, second-moment, solution technique with a probabilistic base is suggested. The proposed procedure examines these problems with regard to the separate variables involved and utilizes partial safety factors which are proportional to the coefficient of variation of the pertinent parameters. For simplicity, a circular arc failure mechanism is assumed, and design acceptability is based on the derived value of a reliability measure, the safety index, which reflects the probability of occurrence of the assumed failure mechanism. Statistical data for the required load, resistance, and bias variables are presented. Using these, the safety index associated with current design techniques is determined, and the implications of its magnitude are examined. Sensitivity studies, performed to determine which variables have the greatest effect on design results are also described. Finally, partial safety factors are proposed for design corresponding to a desired failure probability.
Activity of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in multiple myeloma

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been successfully introduced for the treatment of cancer. Imatinib, dasatinib and nilotinib target bcr/abl and were found to induce molecular remissions in chronic myeloid leukemia. Imatinib has also been found to be active in other malignancies like gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Sunitinib and sorafenib are multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors and so far, have shown activity against renal cell carcinoma and other cancers. Gefitinib targets the tyrosine kinase of epidermal growth factor receptor and has been found to be active against some cases of non-small cell lung cancer. There is circumstantial evidence that tyrosine kinases and their receptors (e.g. VEGF, IGF-1 and FGFR3) are active in multiple myeloma. In order to develop new treatments for multiple myeloma (MM), we tested several currently available TKIs for their activity against MM cell lines. Materials and methods: The a cell lines MC/CAR, ARH77, RPMI 8226, ARP1, JJN3, MM1S, and INA-6 were treated with various concentrations of TKIs and analyzed for cell growth in liquid culture, proliferation, apoptosis, and gene expression pattern screening 14,500 genes using U133A_2 arrays. Results: Imatinib, nilotinib, dasatinib, gefitinib induced cytotoxicity in most cases at high concentrations (50% inhibitory concentration ≥ 100 μMol), whereas sunitinib and sorafenib were active at lower concentrations (50% IC 1– 5 μMol). The cytoxicity was observed early (within 4 to 24 hours of exposure) and involves apoptosis. Interleukin-6 did not offer protection against the cytotoxicity of sorafenib or sunitinib, however the inhibition of proliferation was more pronounced in low fetal calf serum (2.5 versus 10%). A short-term exposure of the myeloma cell line MM1S to 10 μMol sorafenib resulted in more than 2 fold changes in 283 genes or sequences (175 up, 108 down). If only 10 fold changes are considered, 21 genes or sequences were upregulated (mainly enzymes, regulators and ligands) and 11 downregulated (mainly regulatory proteins, among them IL6 signal transducer). Conclusion: We found that the multitargeted TKIs sorafenib and sunitinib are active in vitro against multiple myeloma. We plan to investigate patient samples, and to elucidate the targets and the mechanisms of action. Our data will support clinical trials both as single agent and in combination with other drugs like bortezomib, thalidomide, alkylators and ionizing radiation.
Vitamin A Contents of Rat Intestinal Epithelium and Jejunal Mucinous Adenocarcinoma

Concentrations of retinol and tetinyl esters were assayed in rat intestinal mucosa and in chemically induced transplanted mucinous adenocarcinoma of the jejunum. Lipid extract from the tissues was chromatographed on deactivated alumina to isolate retinol and retinyl esters, which were determined by specific spectrofluorometry. Normal intestinal mucosa tissue contains 556 ng of retinol equivalents as retinyl esters and 303 ng of free retinol/g of wet tissue. The concentration of retinyl esters in the intestinal mucosa from rats carrying the transplanted tumor was 341 ng/g wet tissue; no free retinol was detected in the small intestinal epithelium of these rats. Liver tissue from the tumor-bearing rats contained 157 microng of retinol equivalents as retinyl esters and 136 microng of free retinol/g of wet tissue. The concentration of vitamin A per cell in the adenocarcinoma tissue was about 20 times less than that in intestinal epithelium.
Spectral shifts of mammalian ultraviolet-sensitive pigments (short wavelength-sensitive opsin 1) are associated with eye length and photic niche evolution.

Retinal opsin photopigments initiate mammalian vision when stimulated by light. Most mammals possess a short wavelength-sensitive opsin 1 (SWS1) pigment that is primarily sensitive to either ultrav...
New advances in the statistical parton distributions approach

The quantum statistical parton distributions approach proposed more than one decade ago is revisited by considering a larger set of recent and accurate Deep Inelastic Scattering experimental results. It enables us to improve the description of the data by means of a new determination of the parton distributions. This global next-to-leading order QCD analysis leads to a good description of several structure functions, involving unpolarized parton distributions and helicity distributions, in terms of a rather small number of free parameters. There are many serious challenging issues. The predictions of this theoretical approach will be tested for single-jet production and charge asymmetry in W ± production in p p and pp collisions up to LHC energies, using recent data and also for forthcoming experimental results.
Pediatric sedation: can it be safely performed by non-anesthesiologists?

Purpose of review The purpose of the present review is to provide the reader with a synopsis of the recent literature on sedation of children by non-anesthesiologists. Recent findings Health care centers are experiencing an increasing demand for sedation of pediatric patients. Whether provided by physician anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists, or appropriately credentialed non-anesthesia clinicians, this increase is a reflection of new advances in the area of diagnostic imaging, better pharmacologic agents, and a heightened awareness of the psychologic needs of children. By definition anesthesiologists are the experts when it comes to providing sedation to patients. For pediatric patients, pediatric anesthesiologists provide the most appropriate specialization. However, because of insufficient manpower, anesthesiologists cannot adequately meet the increasing workload of providing sedation for each child in need. Summary In some circumstances the incidence of adverse events when sedation is provided by non-anesthesiologist can be high. Predicators of adverse outcome have been identified. Given strict adherence to sedation guidelines and appropriate credentialing of the sedation provider, non-anesthesiologists can safely provide sedation for children.
Research on Employment Competency of College Students from Poor Families

With the increasing competition in the talent market,the employment of college students from poor families has become more serious. Using scale development technology,this study attempts to explore the structure and content of these needy students' employment competence and identify their differences in terms of gender and major. A specific scale is developed by combining college students' employment competence scale and interviews. Adopting such software as SPSS 21. 0 and AMOS 21. 0,this study uses factor analysis to explore and examine the structure and content of employment competence of college students from poor families. The results show that employment competence of college students from poor families consists of five dimensions—personality, professional ability, occupational adjustment, general skill and self-control.Furthermore,there exist significant differences in the understanding of personality among students of different genders and in the understanding of general skill among students from varied majors.
Research on configuration of protective relay for pumped storage power plant

This paper specifies the requirements for protective relays applied to a pumped storage power unit .Typical protection configuration schemes are introduced and their advantages and disadvantages are discussed as well. Furthermore. the techniques used by protection system to cope with phase reverse phenomenon in pumping operation are summarized. In addition. the reliability, protection scope cooperation and block logic of differential protection for generator and main transformer of a pumped storage unit are analyzed. Based on field commissioning experience .several design issues affecting protective relays are emphasized and analyzed.
Where do we stand on vascular calcification

Vascular disease, such as atherosclerosis and diabetic vasculopathy, is frequently complicated by vascular calcification. Previously believed to be an end-stage process of unregulated mineral precipitation, it is now well established to be a multi-faceted disease influenced by the characteristics of its vascular location, the origins of calcifying cells and numerous regulatory pathways. It reflects the fundamental plasticity of the vasculature that is gradually being revealed by progress in vascular and stem cell biology. This review provides a brief overview of where we stand in our understanding of vascular calcification, facing the challenge of translating this knowledge into viable preventive and therapeutic strategies.
Acquired tracheal stenosis in infants and children.

Acquired tracheal stenosis in childhood is frequently difficult to manage because of poor healing, infection, and scarring. In a 10-year period, 62 patients (4 weeks to 14 years of age) were treated for acquired tracheal stenosis. The causes of stenosis were endotracheal intubation (44 patients), caustic aspiration (6 patients), recurrent infection (5 patients), bronchoscope perforation (4 patients), and gastric aspiration (3 patients). The subglottic or upper trachea was involved in 47 patients, mid portion in 8, and distal or carinal area in 7. Fifty children underwent tracheostomy as part of the therapy, and 12 were managed without tracheostomy. Therapy was individualized, frequently sequentially, utilizing rigid or balloon dilatation (20 patients), bronchoscopc electrocoagulation resection (44 patients), steroid injection (48 patients), T tube stent (8 patients), resection with anastomosis (12 patients), cricoid split (3 patients), and rib cartilage graft (12 patients). Most patients required several techniques and repeated procedures to eventually achieve decannulation. Seven patients (11%) died of unrelated causes. Forty-four of 55 surviving patients (80%) are without tracheostomy, although 14 have required continued endotracheal treatment after tracheostomy removal (dilatation, endotracheal resection). This series demonstrates that acquired tracheal stenosis in childhood is a common, difficult problem, but manageable with the use of a variety of techniques. Resection and grafting procedures should be reserved for cases in which less complex modalities fail.
Odd Ghrist Templates are Universal

In a pair of papers, Robert Ghrist constructed two families of branched two-manifolds, or knot templates, that are universal. That is, each template contains an isotopic copy of every knot (and link) type as a periodic orbit of the corresponding semiflow. A common feature of these families is an even number of half-twists in one of the strips. We eliminate the requirement that the number of half-twists be even and call the enlarged family of templates Ghrist templates. We demonstrate that all Ghrist templates are universal, specifically those containing an odd number of half-twists. We then use this result to briefly examine the knot structure of a geometric model of a system of differential equations on ℝ3 known as the Newton–Leipnik equations.
Bushmeat Consumption in the Tarangire-Manyara Ecosystem, Tanzania

Illegal hunting, driven by demand for bushmeat, threatens animal populations throughout Africa. While bushmeat consumption is thought to be common in the Tarangire-Manyara ecosystem (TME) of Northern Tanzania, its magnitude and drivers are not well understood. This lack of knowledge may inhibit effective mitigation policies. We conducted 394 household interviews in the TME in 2013 and 2014 to assess both the scale and the possible drivers of bushmeat availability and consumption in the ecosystem. Using generalized linear mixed models, information theoretic model selection, and accounting for spatial clustering of the interviews, we tested multiple hypotheses that underlie bushmeat consumption. Bushmeat consumption in the TME was found to be widespread among the local population. Surprisingly, we found little differences in reported bushmeat consumption between survey years (2013: 38%; 2014: 33% of interviewees). Pastoral Maasai admitted to consuming bushmeat significantly less often (2013: 29%; 2014: 26%) than non-Maasai (2013: 38%; 2014: 34%). Interestingly, none of the hypothesized spatial- or household-level factors consistently correlated with reported bushmeat consumption. Neither alternative sources of available animal protein, nor relative wealth affected bushmeat consumption. In conjunction with the relatively low price of bushmeat (half the price of domestic meat), these results suggest that bushmeat consumption is largely driven by its availability and low cost, and only to a small degree by cultural differences. Thus, conservation interventions will likely be most successful if they holistically manage to increase the cost of bushmeat relative to alternative protein sources.
A Systematic Design Method and Verification of a Zero Current Ripple Interface for PV-to-Battery Applications

A systematic method of designing a zero terminal current ripple integrated magnetic Cuk converter for photovoltaic (PV)-to-battery applications is presented in this paper. The four-winding-coupled inductor design consists of two inductors and a two-winding transformer coupled on a common EE-core. The core design uses a simplified flux-reluctance model to arrive at the area product formulation for this kind of a four-winding structure. The zero-ripple condition in the terminal currents is achieved by controlling the coupling coefficients by means of air-gap reluctances in the core. Unlike the earlier designs for this converter, it provides a completely analytical approach to design this converter for a range of duty ratio. The validity of the proposed method is confirmed using finite element analyses (both two dimensional and three dimensional), thermal validation, and circuit simulations in PSpice. The zero-ripple condition is verified experimentally.
Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty Provides Higher Activity and Durability Than Valgus-producing Proximal Tibial Osteotomy at 5 to 7 Years

Background: The cases of patients with medial compartment osteoarthritis who were ≤55 years old and had a proximal tibial osteotomy (PTO) or medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) were compared. Outcomes included postoperative activity level, function, and survivorship free of revision to total knee arthroplasty. Methods: Between 1998 and 2013, data were available for 240 patients between 18 and 55 years old with medial compartment arthritis and varus malalignment who were treated either with PTO (57 patients) or with UKA (183 patients). The mean age was 42.7 years for the 57 patients (41 men and 16 women) in the PTO group versus 49.2 years for the 183 patients (82 men and 101 women) in the UKA group. The Tegner activity level and Lysholm knee scores were evaluated at 3 months and at 1, 2, and 5 years postoperatively as well as at the time of the final follow-up. The end point for survival was defined as revision to total knee arthroplasty. A Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to evaluate the difference between the groups with respect to the Tegner and Lysholm scores at the respective follow-up intervals. Multivariate regression was used to assess potential confounders. Results: Preoperatively, the PTO and UKA groups had similar Tegner (3.0 ± 1.3 and 2.6 ± 0.09, respectively) and Lysholm scores (69.5 ± 7.3 and 71.6 ± 5.4). Postoperatively, the UKA group had significantly superior mean Tegner scores compared with the PTO group at 3 months (3.82 and 2.02, respectively), at 2 years (4.33 and 3.75), and at the time of the final follow-up (4.48 and 3.08), while the Lysholm scores were higher at 3 months (88.0 and 76.3) and at the final follow-up (90.0 and 80.2) (p < 0.01 for all). Multivariate analysis showed UKA to be an independent predictor of activity level at 3 months, 1 year, and 2 years, as well as at the final follow-up. The survivorship was 77% in the PTO group at an average of 7.2 years and 94% in the UKA group at an average of 5.8 years (p < 0.01). The average time to failure was 98 months (range, 38 to 169 months) in the PTO group and 42 months (range, 2 to 123 months) in the UKA group (p < 0.01). Conclusions: In this comparative cohort study of young patients with isolated unicompartmental arthritis, those treated with UKA reached a higher level of activity early after surgery and it persisted at mid-term follow-up. The UKA group had earlier, but less frequent, revision to total knee arthroplasty. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Women’s Voices, Women’s Transitions

This chapter addresses some of the particular concerns within the community, such as rituals, home-work balance, life-cycle transitions and fragmented support networks, showing how some members of this community have found resolutions through the auspices of the mandram. As women’s ritual lives and interpretations of the divine feminine converge with seva in this context, their leadership and engagement has emerged as a current of support in the mandram community.
Taming the Two 800 Pound Gorillas in the Room

The protection of bank debt and the targeting of risk-promoting mortgage subsidies are the primary sources of systemic risk in banking systems around the world. These two threats are related. Deposit insurance and other bank protection creates rents outside the normal budgetary process that funds and encourages risk taking. Governments create these rents not just to reward bankers, but also to target credit subsidies to preferred groups of borrowers. In recent decades worldwide real estate lending has been increasingly favored. Tackling the twin problems of excessive protection of banks and subsidization of housing finance risk with macro-prudential regulation is difficult because the agencies charged with regulatory oversight are subject to the political influences that give rise to these two "gorillas" in the first place. Furthermore, the incentives of economists tend to make them accomplices in the drama that underestimates the importance of these primary threats to systemic stability.
Ultrasound-guided trigeminal nerve block via the pterygopalatine fossa: an effective treatment for trigeminal neuralgia and atypical facial pain.

Background Patients presenting with facial pain often have ineffective pain relief with medical therapy. Cases refractory to medical management are frequently treated with surgical or minimally invasive procedures with variable success rates. We report on the use of ultrasound-guided trigeminal nerve block via the pterygopalatine fossa in patients following refractory medical and surgical treatment. Objective To present the immediate and long-term efficacy of ultrasound-guided injections of local anesthetic and steroids in the pterygopalatine fossa in patients with unilateral facial pain that failed pharmacological and surgical interventions. Setting Academic pain management center. Study design Prospective case series. Methods Fifteen patients were treated with ultrasound-guided trigeminal nerve block with local anesthetic and steroids placed into the pterygopalatine fossa. Results All patients achieved complete sensory analgesia to pin prick in the distribution of the V2 branch of the trigeminal nerve and 80% (12 out of 15) achieved complete sensory analgesia in V1, V2, V3 distribution within 15 minutes of the injection. All patients reported pain relief within 5 minutes of the injection. The majority of patients maintained pain relief throughout the 15 month study period. No patients experienced symptoms of local anesthetic toxicity or onset of new neurological sequelae. Limitations Prospective case series. Conclusion We conclude that the use of ultrasound guidance for injectate delivery in the pterygopalatine fossa is a simple, free of radiation or magnetization, safe, and effective percutaneous procedure that provides sustained pain relief in trigeminal neuralgia or atypical facial pain patients who have failed previous medical interventions.
Chronicle of a Neuronal Death Foretold: Preventing Aging by Keeping MGRN1 at the Nucleus

In this issue of Molecular Cell, Benvegnu et al. (2017) report an unexpected phenomenon by which the E3 ligase mahogunin ring finger-1 (MGRN1) translocates to the nucleus in an age-dependent manner, revealing an intriguing mechanism that allows for an adaptive neuronal response to proteotoxic stress, often seen with aging.
Recent advances in understanding and treating chronic granulomatous disease.

A number of recent advances have been made in the epidemiology and treatment of chronic granulomatous disease. Several reports from developing regions describe the presentations and progress of local populations, highlighting complications due to Bacillus Calmette–Guerin vaccination. A number of new reports describe complications of chronic granulomatous disease in adult patients, as more survivors reach adulthood. The complications experienced by X-linked carriers are particularly highlighted in three new reports, confirming that infection and inflammatory or autoimmune conditions are more common and severe than previously recognised. Finally, definitive treatment with haematopoietic stem cell transplantation and gene therapy is reviewed.
Chemical Control of Feeding in Herbivorous and Carnivorous Fish

It is now generally recognized that chemical control of feeding is an important modulator of physiological well-being in most animal species (Lindstedt, 1971; Harborne, 1977; Kare and Maller, 1977; Croll, 1983; Simpson and Bernays, 1983). Feeding is an elective process with the animal selecting specific food items from a variety of nutrient sources within the environment. This selection is mediated by two separate factors: chemical constituents of the food item and the animal’s own chemosensitivity to those constituents. Fish may detect food by a variety of sensory mechanisms, in particular vision and olfaction, but taste generally plays the key role in determining whether a potential food item is swallowed or rejected (Adron and Mackie, 1978). The taste systems of carnivorous fish appear to be well-tuned for the detection and ingestion of edible animal tissue (e.g., amino acids; Mackie, 1982) and there is evidence that the receptor response spectrum is highly species-specific (Goh and Tamura, 1980). This “sensory tuning” or possession of chemoreceptors which have particular sensitivities may form the basis of feeding regulation and feeding niche separation in fishes. Due to the chemical similarity of all prey items in the carnivore diet, the gustatory system need not have the ability to respond to a variety of chemicals differing widely in structure; most of the information concerning the suitability of a food item can be conveyed by a few amino acids. Thus, an experimental examination of sensory regulation in diet selection is difficult when studying carnivorous fish alone.
Introduction: Informal Politics and the Gender Equality Paradox

Johnson synthesizes the current state of feminist political science as pointing to a worldwide gender equality paradox, a bait and switch in which gender equality is promised but not realized. Drawing together feminist institutionalism and the study of post-Soviet regime dynamics, the chapter argues that, just as women have broken into formal politics, power has been informalized. In other words, power has shifted to informal institutions, enforced through unwritten rules by male-dominated informal elite networks. This chapter lays out a blueprint for collecting data on and analyzing such gendered informal politics and then applies it to a most different systems comparison of Russia and Iceland from the 1990s through 2016.
Omental anisakiasis: a rare mimic of acute appendicitis.

The authors recently encountered a patient with omental anisakiasis who presented with features of acute appendicitis and who made an uneventful recovery following resection of an inflammatory omental mass containing the larva(e). Anisakiasis refers to infestation of humans by species of marine nematode larvae belonging to the subfamily Anisakinae. Although this condition is rarely reported in the United States, it has been well described both in Holland and in the Orient. Several publications in the Japanese literature have detailed the morphology of the parasite and the clinical symptoms of infestation. The source of infestation is most often raw or uncooked fish, the latter widely enjoyed as a foodstuff in the Orient, but less popular in the United States. With the growing popularity of “sushi” bars and the increasing numbers of Americans developing a taste for raw fish, this condition may become more prevalent in the future.
Collaborative manipulation with multiple dual-arm robots under human guidance

This paper presents the control strategy and experimental results of multiple dual-arm robots cooperatively manipulating an object whose load and size is beyond the capability of a single robot. The multi-robot system is required to stably grasp and transport the load through frictional contacts. The human operator provides motion guidance by directly manipulating the load. Through contact force sensing, the multi-arm/multi-robot system infers the human intent for motion while maintaining the contact force closure condition. The contact forces at the end effectors need to be carefully managed to avoid possible loss of contact. This is particularly challenging during motion, where the motion-induced inertial force adds a disturbance to the static stable grasp condition. We propose a feedforward force compensation scheme using support vector regression to estimate the inertial force. This enables the robots to coordinate their motion to maintain contacts, avoid slippage, and follow human hand-guided motion. Experimental results with three Baxter robots are included to show the efficacy and limitation of the proposed method.
Choosing the Probability Distribution from Data

Computer simulation models often include one or more variables that play important roles in the model. Some of the random variables are of the continuous type and others are discrete. The analyst is confronted with choosing the proper probability distribution for each variable, and also with estimating the associated parameter(s) value. The chapter describes some of the common ways to select the distribution and to estimate the associated parameter values when some empirical or sample data is available from the real system.
Effects of an HIV risk reduction project on sexual risk behavior of low-income STD patients

A 10-hour small-group informational and skill-building intervention was tested among patients (N = 472) attending publicly funded sexually transmitted disease clinics in Maryland, Georgia, and New Jersey. After completing a 90-minute interview concerning HIV risk behaviors, condom use self-efficacy and condom outcome expectancies, participants were randomized to either an intervention or a control condition. Participants in both conditions displayed significant reductions in unprotected encounters and number of partners and increases in condom use. No differences between treatment conditions were observed, indicating that the motivational effects of the interview may have been stronger than the effects of the intervention in this population.
Natural fiber textile reinforced bio-based composites: Mechanical properties, creep, and environmental impacts

Abstract With rising demand for construction materials, so too grow the environmental impacts associated with their production. This trend has raised interest in the development of bio-based composites as environmentally favorable alternatives to conventional materials. Yet, a greater understanding is needed of both the mechanical properties of bio-based composites and their long-term properties, particularly their creep deformation. This work examines the use of a bio-derived polymer matrix reinforced with three types of natural fiber textiles. The mechanical properties and the creep deformation of these composites are characterized showing a dependence on textile type and orientation. Application of time-stress superposition to capture creep behavior through accelerated testing is examined and is shown to be a promising means of capturing long-term creep deformation. The results of this work show that the textile reinforced bio-based composites studied have similar mechanical properties to several conventional construction materials. Further, because time-stress superposition is shown to capture creep behavior of most of the composites studied, this method might prove to be a means for expediting the collection and analysis of creep data for bio-based composites. Finally, combined comparisons of mechanical properties and environmental impacts of these bio-based composites suggest these materials could offer environmentally favorable alternatives to conventional materials.
Transient Thermal Analysis of the Weld-Pak Package

This paper presents a transient thermal analysis of a weld-pak package. Included in the presentation is introductory matter concerning the weld-pak technique, designed to produce densely packed modules, a discussion of the thermal circuit and associated equations, and a sample problem in which thermal transients for complex assemblies are evaluated using the shorthand of an analog thermal circuit.
Abstract 4500: BET proteins regulate hyaluronan synthases in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is associated with an extensive desmoplasia which is composed of multiple extracellular matrix components, including collagen, fibronectin, laminin, and hyaluronan (HA). Inhibitors targeting bromodomain and extra-terminal (BETi) proteins have emerged as potential therapeutic agents and are in clinical trials for a range of malignancies. We have previously shown that BETi attenuate fibrosis in vivo by decreasing collagen expression; however, the effect of BETi on HA has not been previously evaluated. Increased HA, which is synthesized by HA synthases (HAS), is associated with poor outcome in PDAC. Targeting HA has been postulated to provide a potential therapeutic opportunity to overcome PDAC chemo-resistance. Preclinical data have demonstrated that enzymatic degradation of HA with PEGPH20 remodels the tumor microenvironment, decreases the interstitial pressure and enhance the drug entry in tumors. Several ongoing clinical trials are evaluating PEGPH20 in combination with chemotherapies. We now report that BET inhibitors markedly decrease expression of HAS2 and HAS3, which are overexpressed in PDAC. Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the role of BET proteins in HA synthesis. Methods: mRNA expression levels HAS2 and HAS3 were determined in a panel of 7 PDAC cell lines by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Protein expression was determined by western blotting. Results: We found that treatment with BET inhibitors decrease the expression of HAS2 and HAS3 in all cell lines. Furthermore, siRNA mediated knockdown of individual BET proteins demonstrated that HAS2 is primarily regulated by BRD2, while HAS3 is primarily regulated by BRD4. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that BET proteins play a role in HA synthesis by regulating expression of HAS2 and HAS3 enzymes. Citation Format: Krishan Kumar, Kazumi Ebine, Thao Pham, Meng Shang, Hidayatullah G. Munshi. BET proteins regulate hyaluronan synthases in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma [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 4500.
miR-210 controls the evening phase of circadian locomotor rhythms through repression of Fasciclin 2

Abstract Circadian clocks control the timing of animal behavior rhythms to anticipate daily environmental changes. Fruit flies gradually increase their activity and reach a peak of activity around dawn and dusk. microRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that play important roles in post-transcriptional regulation. Here we identify Drosophila miR-210 as a critical regulator of circadian rhythms. Under light-dark conditions, flies lacking miR-210 (miR-210KO) exhibit a dramatic phase advance of evening anticipatory behavior about 2 hours. However, circadian rhythms and molecular pacemaker function are intact in miR-210KO flies under constant darkness. Furthermore, we identify that miR-210 determines the evening phase of activity through repression of the cell adhesion molecule Fasciclin 2 (Fas2). Ablation of the miR-210 binding site within the 3’ UTR of Fas2 (Fas2ΔmiR-210) by CRISPR-Cas9 advances the evening phase as in miR-210KO. Indeed, miR-210 genetically interacts with Fas2. Moreover, Fas2 abundance is significantly increased in the optic lobe of miR-210KO and Fas2ΔmiR-210. In addition, overexpression of Fas2 in the miR-210 expressing cells recapitulates the phase advance behavior phenotype of miR-210KO. Together, these results reveal a novel mechanism by which miR-210 regulates circadian locomotor behavior. Author summary Circadian clocks control the timing of animal physiology. Drosophila has been a powerful model in understanding the mechanisms of circadian regulation. Fruit flies anticipate daily environmental changes and exhibit two peaks of locomotor activity around dawn and dusk. Here we identify miR-210 as a critical regulator of evening anticipatory behavior. Depletion of miR-210 in flies advances evening anticipation. Futhermore, we identify the cell adhesion molecular Fas2 as miR-210’s target in circadian regulation. Fas2 abundance is increased in fly brain lacking of miR-210. Using CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing method, we deleted the miR-210 binding site on 3’ untranslated region of Fas2 and observed similar phenotype as miR-210 mutants. Altogether, our results indicate a novel mechanism of miR-210 in regulation of circadian anticipatory behavior through inhibition of Fas2.
The Carolingians, the Church, and the medieval constitution

Abstract In the eighth century, Charles Martel confiscated Church property to make distributions of benefices and precaria to his vassals. This project was an investment in state capacity and secularizations of Church property were continued under Charles’ son Pippin III. Many scholars have characterized this development as the expansion of Carolingian (monarchical) authority at the expense of the Church and to the benefit of the lay nobility. I argue that a better characterization is one of constitutional bargains that, taken together, benefited the Church as well as the Carolingians and their noble vassals. This opportunity for mutually beneficial constitutional exchange arose because of a decrease in the importance of trade relative to landed wealth and the increased papal insecurity resulting from Muslim and Lombard threats.
High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity Suppresses Adaptive Thermogenesis via Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) 4-Mediated Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

Adaptive thermogenesis is a cellular process that dissipates energy as heat, thus defending against obesity, in response to various activators such as cold. Obese subjects are less responsive to th...
An Evaluation of Publication Bias in High-Impact Orthopaedic Literature.

Background Statistical analysis of systematic reviews allows the results of previous studies to be combined and synthesized to assess the overall health effect of the intervention in question. Systematic reviews can also be used to guide the creation of clinical practice guidelines and are considered to have a high level of evidence. Thus, it is important that their methodological quality is of the highest standard. Publication bias presents 2 problems: (1) studies with significant results may be overrepresented in systematic reviews and meta-analyses ("false positives") and (2) studies without significant results may not be included in systematic reviews and meta-analyses ("false negatives") because each study, on its own, was underpowered, meaning that some treatment options that may have clinical benefit will not be adopted. Methods We performed a study to evaluate the techniques used by authors to report and evaluate publication bias in the top 10 orthopaedic journals as well as 3 orthopaedic-related Cochrane groups. Two authors independently screened the titles and abstracts to identify systematic reviews and meta-analyses. We assessed publication bias in the systematic reviews that did not assess publication bias themselves. Results Our final sample included 694 systematic reviews or meta-analyses that met our inclusion criteria. Our review included 502 studies (72%) that focused on clinical outcomes, with the majority of the remaining studies focused on predictive and prognostic accuracy (20%) or diagnostic accuracy (5%). Publication bias was discussed in 295 (42.5%) of the included studies and was assessed in 135 (19.5%). Of the studies that assessed publication bias, 31.9% demonstrated evidence of publication bias. Only 43% and 22% of studies that involved use of the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines discussed and assessed publication bias, respectively. Conclusions Publication bias is infrequently discussed and assessed in the high-impact orthopaedic literature. Furthermore, nearly one-third of the studies that assessed for publication bias demonstrated evidence of publication bias. In addition to these shortcomings, fewer than half of these studies involved use of the PRISMA guidelines and yet only one-fourth of the studies assessed for publication bias. Clinical Relevance By understanding the degree to which publication bias is discussed and presented in high-impact orthopaedic literature, changes can be made by journals and researchers alike to improve the overall quality of research produced and reported.
Identifying Non-Traditional Epidemic Disease Risk Factors Associated to Major Health Events from WHO and World Bank Open Data

Abstract Objectives Health events emerge from a multifactorial milieu involving host, community, environment, and pathogen factors. Therefore, developing accurate forecasting models to improve epidemic prediction towards better prevention and capabilities management is a complex task. Here, we describe an exploratory analysis to identify non-health risk factors that could improve the forecast and events risk signals using a feasible and practical approach by combining surveillance report data with non-health data from open data sources. Methods A line listing was developed using information from the World Health Organization Disease Outbreaks News from 2016-2018. A database was created merging the line listing data with non-health indicators from the World Bank. Poisson regression models employing forward imputations were used to establish relationships and predict values over the dependent variable (health event frequency); which are the health events reported by each country to WHO during 2016-2018. Findings The resulting regression model provided evidence that changes in non-health factors important to community experiences impact the risk of the number of major health events that a country could experience. Three non-health indicators (extrinsic factors) were associated significantly to event frequency (population urban change, gross domestic product change per capita—a novel factor, and average forest area). An exploratory analysis of the current COVID-19 pandemic suggested similar associations, but confounding by global disease burden is likely. Conclusion Continued development of forecasting approaches capturing available whole-of-society extrinsic factors (non-health factors); could improve the risk management process through earlier hazard identification, and as importantly inform strategic decision processes in multisectoral strategies to preventing, detecting, and responding to pandemic-threat events.
E-089 Outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy in patients with neurological disorders

Introduction As the number of patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy (MT) increases in the United States, operators may be confronted with patients harboring preexistent debilitating neurological disorders. Still, the epidemiology and reperfusion strategies of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and neurological disorders has not been established. Methods The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) Database was queried for the most recent 5-year period available (2012–2016). We identified patients with a diagnosis of ischemic stroke and the following neurological disorders: Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Parkinson Disease (PD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and Myasthenia Gravis (MG). Variables analyzed included mechanical thrombectomy, discharge home, length of hospital stay (LOS), and inpatient mortality. Results A total of 460,070 patients with ischemic stroke were identified. The prevalence of AD in this population was 2.3% (10,775/460,070), PD was 1.2% (5,630/460,070), MS was 0.31% (1,430/460,070), ALS was 0.012% (56/460,070), and MG was 0.001% (9/460,070). Mechanical thrombectomy was performed in 1.63% of the patients (7,529/460,070). Patients with co-existing neurological disorders underwent MT less often (0.65%; 118/17,900) compared to other patients (1.67%; 7,411/442,170). Patients with AD were significantly less likely to be discharged home after MT compared to patients without co-existing neurological disorders (9% vs. 26%; p=0.0034), while patients with PD were less likely to be discharged home in the group without thrombectomy (32% vs. 51%; p Conclusions Patients with co-existing neurological disorders underwent mechanical thrombectomy at a lower rate compared to other patients. Further studies should elucidate factors affecting the rate MT in the United States. Disclosures L. Brasiliense: None. H. Abdulrazek: None. P. Aguilar-Salinas: None. H. Abbad: None. T. Dumont: None. M. El-Ghanem: None.
Preoperative Tamsulosin to Prevent Postoperative Urinary Retention: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of tamsulosin, administered preoperatively, for the prevention of postoperative urinary retention (POUR). POUR is a common complication of abdominal surgery, leading to the use of urinary catheters, which are a risk factor for urinary tract infection. Tamsulosin is a uroselective alpha-1a blocker used for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms. Materials and methods A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was undertaken from August 2015 to May 2018. Adults undergoing elective inpatient abdominal surgery were randomized to receive either tamsulosin 0.4 mg or placebo daily for 7 d before surgery and continuing for up to 7 d postoperatively. The primary outcome was need for at least a single intermittent catheterization postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included first postvoid residual volume, number of catheterizations, need for replacement of an indwelling catheter, hospital length of stay, and urinary tract infection within 30 d of surgery. Results A total of 158 participants were enrolled, with a final analytic cohort of 141 participants. The two groups had similar baseline characteristics, operative characteristics, and timing of catheter removal. There was no difference in the incidence of POUR between the two groups (26% in tamsulosin versus 31% in placebo, P = 0.49). There was also no difference in any of the secondary outcomes between the two groups. Epidural usage, open surgery, and age Conclusions Perioperative prophylaxis with tamsulosin is not effective in reducing the incidence of POUR in patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery.
Solid organ transplantation during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 and the clinical syndrome of COVID-19 have significantly disrupted routine health care and life-saving procedures, including solid organ transplantation. The initial lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), the high infectivity, and rapid spread resulted in a change of practice in many transplant centers, including pausing living donor transplantation and limiting solid organ transplant to those waitlist candidates in urgent need of transplant.
Immunomodulators Used in Cattle

There are numerous substances that cause the suppression and/or the enhancement of non-specific and/or specific immunity. These substances are collectively referred to as immunomodulators. Substances that can enhance immunity in cattle will be the subject of this presentation. Although not often considered in this context numerous natural factors can enhance immunity. The most important among these natural substances are; colostrum, nutrients, cytokines, and microbial and plant factors.