cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inheritance of elevated palmitate in soybean seed oil.

Elevated palmitate in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seed oil may be useful for some food and industrial products. Four mutant alleles, fap2, fap2-b, fap4, and fap5, each elevate palmitate to 170 g kg -1 compared with 110 g kg -1 for common soybean cultivars. A new mutant line, A25, with a palmitate content of 170 g kg -1 was developed by treatment of seeds of Kenwood' with ethyl methanesulfonate. The objective of our study was to determine the genetic control of elevated palmitate in A25. A25 was crossed reciprocally to lines possessing fap1, fap2, fap2-b, fap3, fap4, or fap5, The analysis of reciprocal F 1 and parent seeds from the crosses indicated no malernal effect or dominance for palmitate content. The phenotypic analysis of F 2 seeds and the genotypic analysis of F 2 plants indicated that elevated palmitate in A25 was controlled by an allele, designated fap6, at a single locus that was independent of fap1, fap2, fap3, fap4, and fap5. The combination of fap2-b, fap4, and fap6 resulted in a genotype with seeds that contained up to 398 g kg -1 palmitate.
Effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on renal function: focus on cyclooxygenase -2–selective inhibition

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can affect renal function in a variety of ways. The most important clinical effects are decreased sodium excretion, decreased potassium excretion, and declines in renal perfusion. Decreased sodium excretion can result in weight gain, peripheral edema, attenuation of the effects of antihypertensive agents, and rarely precipitation of chronic heart failure. Hyperkalemia can occur to a degree sufficient to cause cardiac arrhythmias. Renal function can decline sufficiently enough to cause acute renal failure. Risk factors for all of these effects have been identified, allowing prospective identification of patients at risk with institution of appropriate precautionary measure. All NSAIDs seem to share these adverse effects. Preliminary data from cyclooxygenase-2-selective inhibitors suggest that they also affect renal prostaglandins. Therefore, the same cautions should be exercised with their use as with traditional NSAIDs.
Local area networks for medical and hospital applications

An alternative approach for medical data acquisition, analysis and processing using local area network (LAN) principles is presented and discussed. A typical LAN configuration, phases of network evolution, facilities and routing efficiency, and scope of applications are examined. It is concluded that LAN interconnection and the use of routers greatly enhances the scope of database development, data analysis, and training. In addition, the functions of a mainframe can be developed by the internetworking of several LANs. >
Fungal infections in solid organ transplantation

Renal, liver, heart and lung transplantation are now considered to be the standard therapeutic interventions in patients with end-stage organ failure. Infectious complications following transplantation are relatively common due to the transplant recipients overall immunosuppressed status. The incidence of invasive mycoses following solid organ transplant ranges from 5 to 42% depending on the organ transplanted. These mycoses are associated with high overall mortality rates. Candida and Aspergillus spp. produce most of these infections. This article will review the risk factors, clinical presentation and treatment of invasive fungal infections in solid organ transplant patients, and evaluate the role of prophylactic therapy in this group of patients.
BK virus and JC virus shed during pregnancy have predominantly archetypal regulatory regions.

Abstract Twenty-three BK virus and JC virus DNA samples obtained from urine of pregnant women had almost exclusively archetypal transcriptional control regions. Rearrangements characteristic of laboratory strains are apparently not required for reactivation in humans. Unexpectedly, alignment shows that many elements identified previously in the BK virus enhancer are conserved in the JC virus archetype.
Effects of a perpendicular electric field on a quasi-two-dimensional system: Hydrogenic model

Abstract The properties of a quasi-two-dimensional system are affected by the presence of an electric field applied perpendicular to the surface. These changes are investigated analytically within the “hydrogenic” model and a theory linear in the field. Both the static and dynamic fields are considered and the dynamic case is treated in the dipole approximation by following the approach of Luban and Nudler-Blum.
Effect of Chlorine Treatment on Wheat Flour and Starch: Measurement of Thermal Properties by Differential Scanning Calorimetry

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to study the effect of chlorine treatment of wheat flour on the heat of gelatinization of the wheat flour and starch. The DSC thermograms were corrected for heat capacity changes and thermal lag. An endothermic transition occurred in both flours and starches at a temperature commonly associated with starch gelatinization. The enthalpy (ΔH) for the starches was concentration dependent. The chlorine treatment did not affect significantly the transition temperatures nor enthalpies of either the flour or the starch isolated from it. Addition of sucrose delayed the onset of gelatinization and increased the ΔH for both treated and untreated wheat flours and starches.
Selection of information sources: Accessibility of and familiarity with sources, and types of tasks

While many studies have investigated information source selection in different user groups, few have explored the types of factors and how they influence resource selection. This study examines the types of information sources users select as well as the reasons behind their choices of information sources based on their actual searches. Thirty-one participants representing the general public with different demographic characteristics were recruited for the study. Data collected from diaries and questionnaires were analyzed by applying both qualitative and quantitative methods. The findings of this study show that electronic resources are the dominant information sources selected by participants. Seventeen types of factors including some new factors in relation to dimensions of tasks, characteristics of users, and attributes of sources were derived from the data. The results also indicated that multiple factors co-determined participants' selection of resources. Descriptive and statistical analysis of the data demonstrated that accessibility and familiarity of sources were correlated to information source usages, and the results suggested that participants utilized more print or human resources in accomplishing scholarly tasks while they were more dependent on electronic resources in achieving popular tasks.
A planner and scheduler for semiconductor manufacturing

The Microelectronics Manufacturing Science & Technology ((MMST) project includes two closely related CIM subsystems for planning and scheduling wafer production. The MMST Planner plans all work release into a factory so as to meet stated goals, and predicts work completion dates. The MMST Scheduler operates in real-time to determine the sequence of lot movements and machine loadings that will be performed on the fab floor. Both the Planner and the Scheduler continually maintain plans which are up to date with the factory status by incrementally replanning for unexpected events. The MMST Planner can be used as a decision support tool to rapidly analyze the consequences of various manufacturing decisions. Planning is performed using a modified beam search algorithm, and is based on a time-phased capacity model of the factory. Fuzzy arithmetic is used to model the uncertainty inherent in cycle time data. The MMST Planner is fully distributed, allowing simultaneous users in different parts of the factory. The MMST Scheduler uses a heuristic method called Score Tables to develop schedules of future events. The Scheduler evaluates event prerequisites to determine when to initiate lot transfers and machine loadings, and responds to any failures of execution. >
Climate Change in Arid Environments: Revisiting the Past to Understand the Future

Arid regions are expected to undergo significant changes under a scenario of climate warming, but there is considerable variability and uncertainty in these estimates between different scenarios. The complexities of precipitation changes, vegetation - climate feedbacks and direct physiological effects of CO2 on vegetation present particular challenges for climate change modelling of arid regions. Great uncertainties exist in the prediction of arid ecosystem responses to elevated CO2 and global warming. Palaeodata provide important information about the past frequency, intensity and subregional patterns of change in the world's deserts that cannot always be captured by the climatic models. However, it is important to bear in mind that the global mechanisms of Quaternary climatic variability were different from present-day trends, and any direct analogies between the past and present should be treated with great caution. Although palaeodata provide valuable information about possible past changes in the vegetation - climate system, it is unlikely that the history of the world's deserts is a key for their future.
The Genbank Database and the Flow of Sequence Data for the Human Genome

In the 1960’s and 1970’s DNA and RNA first began to be sequenced and the amount of available data was, for a time, quite small. Within one’s domain of interest--a gene or groups of genes--it was possible to retain the totality of relevant data in one’s head or, if not, to keep track in a single notebook or file folder of the sequences and the patterns within those sequences. Additionally, it took so long to determine the sequence data that the functionality of the sequenced region had been very thoroughly characterized experimentally by the time the actual sequence became available. So the sequence data often was simply a confirmation, or perhaps a stitching together, of a great wealth of information already known about a particular region.
Nonsensitized lymphocytes produce leukocyte interferon when cultured with foreign cells.

Abstract Nonsensitized human lymphocytes produce interferon when cultured with either transformed or normal heterologous cells. De novo RNA and protein synthesis was not required in a foreign cell for it to act as the inducer. The interferon produced has been characterized as being leukocyte type rather than immune or fibroblast type.
Application of multiple modelling to hyperthermia estimation: Reducing the effects of model mismatch

Multiple model estimation is a viable technique for dealing with the spatial perfusion model mismatch associated with hyperthermia dosimetry. Using multiple models, spatial discrimination can be obtained without increasing the number of unknown perfusion zones. Two multiple model estimators based on the extended Kalman filter (EKF) are designed and compared with two EKFs based on single models having greater perfusion zone segmentation. Results given here indicate that multiple modelling is advantageous when the number of thermal sensors is insufficient for convergence of single model estimators having greater perfusion zone segmentation. In situations where sufficient measured outputs exist for greater unknown perfusion parameter estimation, the multiple model estimators and the single model estimators yield equivalent results.
On the Domination Number of a Random Graph

In this paper, we show that the domination number $D$ of a random graph enjoys as sharp a concentration as does its chromatic number $\chi$. We first prove this fact for the sequence of graphs $\{G(n,p_n\},\; n\to\infty$, where a two point concentration is obtained with high probability for $p_n=p$ (fixed) or for a sequence $p_n$ that approaches zero sufficiently slowly. We then consider the infinite graph $G({\bf Z}^+, p)$, where $p$ is fixed, and prove a three point concentration for the domination number with probability one. The main results are proved using the second moment method together with the Borel Cantelli lemma.
Mountains, Monuments, and Other Matter: Environmental Affects at Manzanar

This essay investigates the natural landscapes and built structures at the Manzanar National Historic Site, the first of ten incarceration camps to open in 1941 and a temporary home for over 11,000 Japanese Americans. Using former incarceree Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston's writing as a touchstone, my essay foregrounds the environmental features of the (re)location: the extreme desert weather, the mountain vistas, the incarceree-created rock gardens, the reconstructed barracks, guard tower, and barbed wire fence, and the cemetery/monument. I bring together concepts from ecocriticism and from affect theory—particularly Ben Anderson's "affective atmospheres," Sianne Ngai's "tone," and Sara Ahmed's characterization of affect as "sticky"—and develop the notion of affective agency to describe the impacts generated by environments and objects at this national memory site. I assess how the visual and written rhetoric at the site addresses what I call an implied tourist, and I show how powerful emotions of shame, anger, grief, and compassion— and sometimes, mixed, even contradictory, affects—are not only represented in visual and written rhetoric but are also, in a sense, communicated by the environment itself. More broadly, I suggest that ecocritical theory brings a useful lens to discussions of public memory, and that affect theory helps account for the less tangible, visceral, experiences visitors have at Manzanar and other fraught historical sites, as well as within our everyday environments.
Gender-Related Differences in Functional Bowel Disorders

Abstract Functional bowel disorders (FBDs) are commonly diagnosed by primary care physicians and gastroenterologists. There is increasing evidence to support gender-related differences in the prevalence, clinical symptoms, physiologic responses, health-care seeking and response to treatment in FBDs, particularly irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Several lines of inquiry have focused on explaining this gender-related difference due to the higher prevalence of these disorders in women. There are a number of factors which may contribute to these gender differences, including sex and gender differences in basal and stress-related central and peripheral mechanisms of brain-gut interactions, hormonal influence on gut function, differences in gender role, and psychologic characteristics. Although gender differences in the therapeutic benefit of serotonergic agents have been observed, less is known about potential differences in responsiveness to nondrug therapies for IBS.
Causal Role of Alcohol Consumption in an Improved Lipid Profile: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study.

Introduction Health benefits of low-to-moderate alcohol consumption may operate through an improved lipid profile. A Mendelian randomization (MR) approach was used to examine whether alcohol consumption causally affects lipid levels. Methods This analysis involved 10,893 European Americans (EA) from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. Common and rare variants in alcohol dehydrogenase and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase genes were evaluated for MR assumptions. Five variants, residing in the ADH1B, ADH1C, and ADH4 genes, were selected as genetic instruments and were combined into an unweighted genetic score. Triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) and its subfractions (HDL2-c and HDL3-c), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), small dense LDL-c (sdLDL-c), apolipoprotein B (apoB), and lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) levels were analyzed. Results Alcohol consumption significantly increased HDL2-c and reduced TG, total cholesterol, LDL-c, sdLDL-c, and apoB levels. For each of these lipids a non-linear trend was observed. Compared to the first quartile of alcohol consumption, the third quartile had a 12.3% lower level of TG (p < 0.001), a 7.71 mg/dL lower level of total cholesterol (p = 0.007), a 10.3% higher level of HDL2-c (p = 0.007), a 6.87 mg/dL lower level of LDL-c (p = 0.012), a 7.4% lower level of sdLDL-c (p = 0.037), and a 3.5% lower level of apoB (p = 0.058, poverall = 0.022). Conclusions This study supports the causal role of regular low-to-moderate alcohol consumption in increasing HDL2-c, reducing TG, total cholesterol, and LDL-c, and provides evidence for the novel finding that low-to-moderate consumption of alcohol reduces apoB and sdLDL-c levels among EA. However, given the nonlinearity of the effect of alcohol consumption, even within the range of low-to-moderate drinking, increased consumption does not always result in a larger benefit.
Cloning and identification of a novel variant of human vascular endothelial growth factor.

A novel variant of human vascular endothelial growth factor (h’VEGF165) cDNA was amplified by nested PCR method from the HL601 cells and was cloned into a eukaryotic expressing vector pcDNA3 to construct a recombinant plasmid pCD-h’VEGF165. The amplified h’VEGF165 cDNA fragment was identified by enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing methods. Also, wild-type hVEGF165 cDNA was obtained, identified and cloned into a eukaryotic expressing vector pcDNA3 by using the same methods. The results of DNA sequencing showed that h’VEGF165 cDNA cloned from HL601 was 600 bp in size with 8 % of the base sequence in h’VEGF165 cDNA being changed as compared with the base sequence in the wild-type hVEGF165 cDNA. The results of sequencing of hVEGF165 which was cloned from HL60 by us were consistent with the reports completely.
Reassembling Humpty Dumpty: Putting George Washington’s Cyphering Manuscript Back Together Again

Soon after we began the study of George Washington’s cyphering manuscript we realized that some of the pages were missing. To understand how this happened, we shall first discuss the provenance of the cyphering books. Then we present some “missing” pages that we have located, provide evidence that there are still more missing pages, and describe the detective work involved in situating these pages in the manuscript.
Regulation of transcription factors via natural decoys in genomic DNA

Eukaryotic genomic DNA contains numerous high-affinity sites for transcription factors. Only a small fraction of these sites directly regulates target genes. Other high-affinity sites can serve as naturally present decoys that sequester transcription factors. Such natural decoys in genomic DNA may provide novel regulatory mechanisms for transcription factors.
The Effect of Molting on the Gliding Performance of a Harris' Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus)

-The maximum lift-to-drag ratio of a Harris' Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) gliding in a wind tunnel at 10.5 m/s dropped from 10.5 before the onset of molting to a low of 7.2 when missing primary wing feathers left gaps in the wing tips (36 days after onset). It then rose to 10.5 again when the new feathers were complete (172 days after onset). The decrease in wing span and area due to the missing primaries can theoretically account for only 39% of this drop. The changed shape of the wing-tip slots could account for the remainder by increasing induced drag and profile drag. Loss of feathers other than the primaries did not have a major effect on the hawk's wing and body shape. Received 19 February 1990, accepted
Bacterial corneal ulcer associated with common variable immune deficiency

Common variable immune deficiency (CVID) is one of the most commonly diagnosed primary immunodeficiencies. Generally, patients have a history of recurrent sinopulmonary infections, hypogammaglobulinemia of two or more immunoglobulin isotypes, and impaired functional antibody responses. Reports of corneal involvement associated with CVID are limited. We describe a case of corneal ulceration associated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a patient with CVID that developed while on monthly intravenous immunoglobulin infusions and in which there were no common risk factors for bacterial keratitis, such as prior history of ocular surface disease, trichiasis, trauma, or contact lens wear.
Understanding the Impact of ErbB Activating Events and Signal Transduction on Antigen Processing and Presentation: MHC Expression as a Model.

Advances in molecular pathology have changed the landscape of oncology. The ability to interrogate tissue samples for oncogene amplification, driver mutations, and other molecular alterations provides clinicians with an enormous level of detail about their patient’s cancer. In some cases, this information informs treatment decisions, especially those related to targeted anti-cancer therapies. However, in terms of immune-based therapies, it is less clear how to use such information. Likewise, despite studies demonstrating the pivotal role of neoantigens in predicting responsiveness to immune checkpoint blockade, it is not known if the expression of neoantigens impacts the response to targeted therapies despite a growing recognition of their diverse effects on immunity. To realize the promise of ‘personalized medicine’, it will be important to develop a more integrated understanding of the relationships between oncogenic events and processes governing anti-tumor immunity. One area of investigation to explore such relationships centers on defining how ErbB/HER activation and signal transduction influences antigen processing and presentation.
Women in Clinical Research What We Need for Progress

This Go Red for Women® theme collection of articles in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes presents several interesting studies focused on women’s health.1–10 The publication of this grouping provides an opportunity to reflect on the state of research into women’s heart health, the challenges ahead, and what is needed for progress. Despite the many successful campaigns raising awareness about heart disease in women, the inclusion of women in cardiovascular clinical research is a relatively recent occurrence. Before 1993, many large cardiovascular trials, including the Physicians’ Health Study11,12 and the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial (MRFIT),13,14 studied only men. Concerns in the 1980s about sex equity in research led to 2 federal mandates for the inclusion of women in clinical trials. The National Institutes of Health Revitalization Act of 1993 required that all clinical trials funded by the National Institutes of Health include women as subjects and adequately power their samples to perform sex-specific analyses.15,16 Similarly, the Food and Drug Administration’s Guideline for the Study and Evaluation of Gender Differences in the Clinical Evaluation of Drugs called for the examination of sex differences in pharmaceutical trials.17 These policies marked a seminal advancement in women’s health research and set the precedent for subsequent guidelines and reports. Since the National Institutes of Health Revitalization Act, the absolute number of women in clinical trials has increased.18 However, recent reports show that women remain woefully under-represented in trials of cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment19–22 and that the relative proportion of women …
The Impact of Hospital Teaching Status on Timing of Intervention, Inpatient Morbidity, and Mortality After Surgery for Vertebral Column Fractures with Spinal Cord Injury

Objective To investigate the impact of hospital teaching status on the timing of intervention and inpatient morbidity and mortality after surgery for acute spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods Data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2002–2011) were reviewed. Patients were included if they had a diagnosis of closed vertebral column fracture with SCI, underwent spine surgery, and were admitted urgently or emergently. Early intervention (the day of or the day after admission), inpatient morbidity and mortality rates were compared between patients admitted to teaching versus nonteaching hospitals. Multivariable regression analyses were performed. Results A total of 9236 patients were identified (mean age 43 years, 82.6% male gender), with 78.7% admitted to a teaching hospital (n = 7,272) and 21.3% to a nonteaching hospital (n = 1,964). The most common mechanism of injury was a motor vehicle collision (43.9%), while the most common fracture location was between C5 and C7 (35.3%), and 22% of cases were complete SCIs. Following multivariable analysis, teaching hospital status was significantly associated with early intervention (odds ratio [OR], 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–1.25), but not with complication development (OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.98–1.23) or mortality (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 0.91–1.56). Conclusions In this nationwide study, patients with vertebral column fractures with SCI who were admitted to teaching hospitals were more likely to receive early intervention compared to patients admitted to nonteaching hospitals. Future studies into the long-term implications of admission to teaching hospitals versus nonteaching hospitals for patients with SCI are encouraged.
A comprehensive lipid binding and activity validation of a cancer-specific peptide-peptoid hybrid PPS1

Abstract We recently identified a peptide-peptoid hybrid, PPS1, which recognizes lipids that have an overall negative charge, such as phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidic acid (PA), and phosphatidylinositol (PI), but that does not bind to neutral lipids, such as phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and sphingomyelin (SM). The simple dimeric version of PPS1, PPS1D1, displayed strong cytotoxicity to cancer cells over normal cells in vitro and tumor burden in vivo. In this study, we comprehensively characterized the direct binding and activity of PPS1 on PS, PG, and PA using liposome-based assays and lung cancer cell lines that express these negatively charged lipids. First, the fluorescence polarization (FP) binding studies of fluoresceinated-PPS1 (PPS1-FITC) to PS-, PG-, and PA-containing PC-liposomes showed that the binding of PPS1 to PC-liposomes increased as concentrations of these lipids increased. In terms of activity, PPS1D1 induced the release of calcein from large, unilamellar PC-liposomes containing 15–30% PS, PG, and PA. PPS1D1 had no activity when the liposomes were composed of 100% PC. This effect was higher at 30% lipids than 15%, and the EC50 for PG and PA were higher than that of PS, indicating that PPS1D1 is more specific towards PS. PPS1D1 binds to and induces significant cytotoxicity in lung cancer cell lines H1693, HCC95, and H1395, which express negatively charged lipids, but had no effect on normal HBEC30KT cells, which has mostly PC in the outer layer. In addition, a series of previously developed PPS1D1 derivatives, which retain or lose activity, were tested with these liposome-based assays, and the data were equivalent to previous observations. This study provides comprehensive binding and activity validations of a unique peptide-peptoid hybrid, PPS1, on negatively charged lipids PS, PA, and PG that are elevated on cancer cell surfaces relative to normal human cell surfaces.
Catalytic and Noncatalytic Nucleotide Binding Sites of F1-ATPases: Probes of Location, Structure and Function by Use of 2-N3-ATP

Some pertinent questions about the ATP synthase are: Where are the nucleotide binding sites on the enzyme? How many nucleotide binding sites participate directly in the catalytic reaction? Do catalytic sites change properties in a sequential manner during catalysis? Does occupancy of noncatalytic nucleotide binding sites affect or control catalytic events?
Fluorescent Brighteners Can Enhance or Inhibit the Nucleopolyhedrovirus of the Diamondback Moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

The nucleopolyhedrovirus of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), (PxMNPV) was the most potent of three viruses tested against this insect. The potency of PxMNPV could be increased by the...
Polysaccharide associated protein (PSAP) from the green microalga Botryococcus braunii is a unique extracellular matrix hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein

Abstract The green colonial microalga Botryococcus braunii produces large amounts of liquid hydrocarbons that can be converted into transportation fuels. Colony cells are held together by a complex extracellular matrix (ECM) made up of a cross-linked long-chain hydrocarbon network around which liquid hydrocarbons are stored, a retaining wall for holding hydrocarbons within the cross-linked hydrocarbon network, and a polysaccharide fibrillar sheath radiating from the retaining wall and surrounding the entire colony. Analysis of “shells” shed from cell apical regions during cell division and containing the retaining wall and polysaccharide fibers shows association of a single protein where the fibers meet the retaining wall, suggesting involvement of this protein in polysaccharide fiber formation. Here we use peptide mass fingerprinting and bioinformatics to identify this protein called p oly s accharide a ssociated p rotein (PSAP). PSAP does not show similarity to any protein in databases, but contains several Proline-rich domains. Staining studies confirm PSAP as a glycoprotein, and mass spectrometry analysis identified ten N -linked glycosylation sites comprising seven different glycans containing mainly mannose and N -acetylglucosamine. Three of these glycans also contain fucose, with one of these glycans being unusual since it also contains arabinose. Additionally, four hydroxyproline residues have short O -linked glycans of mainly arabinose and galactose, with one also containing a 6-deoxyhexose. PSAP secretion and localization to shell material is confirmed using western blot analysis and microscopy. These studies indicate PSAP contains unique glycans and suggest its involvement in ECM polysaccharide fiber biosynthesis.
Efficient Approach to System-Level Reliability-Based Design Optimization of Large-Scale Uncertain and Dynamic Wind-Excited Systems

AbstractThis paper is focused on the development of an efficient system-level reliability-based design optimization strategy for uncertain wind-excited building systems characterized by high-dimens...
The Third Millennium BC in Iberia: Chronometric Evidence for Settlement Histories and Socio-cultural Change

The late third millennium BC was a period of increased socio-political flux not only in eastern Mediterranean, but also among the complex societies of the western Mediterranean. Contemporary with the widespread abandonment of settlements and population transfers in the Nile Valley (First Intermediate Period), Mesopotamia (Akkadian-Ur III), and the Aegean (LHIII), the Iberian Peninsula underwent one of its most dynamic cultural phases. Between about 2500 and 1900 BC, during the transition from the Late Copper Age to the Early Bronze Age, many settlements throughout the peninsula were abandoned or newly established. Although most settlements experienced temporary short-term abandonment episodes during their occupation span, the population dislocations at the end of the Copper Age were of a more permanent nature. Sixteen sites richly dated by radiocarbon show that the settlements in eastern Iberia tended to last shorter and get abandoned earlier than in the more humid west. The difference may have to do more with environmental and climatic factors than with cultural diffusion.
Collagenous Colitis, Eosinophilic Colitis, and Neutropenic Colitis

Neutropenic colitis is a complication of the treatment of hematologic malignancies and, less commonly, of other disease entities. The septic, inflammatory process has a predilection for the terminal ileum and right colon. While the pathogenesis is not clear, mucosal injury caused by several different mechanisms and local opportunistic infection play significant roles. An association has been recognized between neutropenic colitis and sepsis caused by C. septicum. Patients present with fever, diarrhea, and acute abdominal pain and tenderness often localized in the right lower quadrant. Sonography and CT are helpful in demonstrating colonic wall thickening and pericolic fluid. Peritoneal lavage has been used to exclude perforation in these critically ill patients. Although there has been debate about whether medical or operative management is best, the optimal initial therapy includes supportive care with gastric decompression, fluid and blood product replacement, and broad-spectrum antibiotics. The indications for surgery include continued intestinal bleeding despite correction of coagulopathy and pancytopenia, free intraperitoneal air, and uncontrolled sepsis. At operation, a right colectomy with ileostomy and mucous fistula or, in selected patients, primary anastomosis is the procedure of choice. Timely return of functioning neutrophils and the eventual prognosis of the primary disease are crucial to the overall success or failure of treatment of neutropenic colitis.
Oxidative Degradation of Aqueous Monoethanolamine in CO2 Capture Systems Under Absorber Conditions

Publisher Summary Alkanolamine systems are the current technology of choice for CO 2 capture from flue gas, with monoethanolamine (MEA) being the most widely used solvent. In this type of process, the flue gas is counter-currently contacted with the aqueous amine solution in an absorber column. The CO 2 reacts reversibly with MEA to form a MEA-carbamate. The rich amine solution, with a loading (α) of around 0.4 moles CO 2 /mole MEA, is then sent through a counter-current heat exchanger, where it is pre-heated by the lean amine solution, before being sent to the stripper column. The oxidative degradation of monoethanolamine (MEA) was quantified at conditions typical of an absorber to capture CO 2 from flue gas. Experiments were conducted in a heated, sparged reactor by bubbling air, containing varying concentrations of CO 2 , through the amine solution. Degradation rates were quantified by measuring the rate of evolution of ammonia from the MEA solution using Fourier–Transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Solutions with lower CO 2 loadings degraded faster than those with high loadings. Additionally, (ethylenedinitrilo)-tetraacetic acid (EDTA) proved to be effective at inhibiting oxidative degradation; EDTA added at a ratio of as low as 1/1 with the dissolved metals resulted in decreasing the degradation rates by half.
When translational neuroscience fails in the clinic: Dexamethasone prior to virtual reality exposure therapy increases drop-out rates.

Abstract Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by exaggerated expression of fear responses to danger and safety cues. Translational research suggests that dexamethasone facilitates fear extinction in animal and human fear conditioning models. For this randomized, placebo-controlled trial (N = 27), we aimed to translate these findings to the clinic by using virtual reality exposure (VRE) therapy for OEF/OIF/OND veterans with PTSD to determine whether dexamethasone will increase the efficacy of exposure therapy for VRE relative to placebo. VRE sessions involved imaginal exposure to the most traumatic war memories while viewing a computer-generated view of virtual Iraq or Afghanistan with multisensory stimulus options used to match patient’s description of the trauma. VRE was effective in reducing PTSD symptoms but there was no interaction with dexamethasone. Drop-out rate was significantly higher in the dexamethasone group, with 10 of 13 (76.9%) participants in this group discontinuing, compared to only 4 of 14 (28.5%) in the placebo group, χ2 = 6.31, p = 0.02. Results indicate that the dexamethasone group may have experienced an increase in PTSD symptoms, particularly re-experiencing, at session 2 following first drug administration. Contrary to study hypotheses, dexamethasone did not enhance exposure therapy outcomes and was associated with increased drop-out. This demonstrates potential pitfalls in translating neuroscience models to the clinic; future research carefully examining glucocorticoid mechanisms involved in therapy augmentation is warranted.
11-Regular partitions and a Hecke eigenform

A partition of a positive integer n is called l-regular if none of its parts is divisible by l. Let b11(n) denote the number of 11-regular partitions of n. In this paper we give a complete descript...
Killing Brain Cells and Skin Cells Simultaneously with Inhalant Abuse: Pearls from the National Burn Repository

Over 20 million Americans have abused inhalants at least once in their lifetime. It is widely known that "huffing" increases risk for liver disease, renal failure, hypoxia, respiratory failure, dysrhythmias, and cardiac arrest. However, it is lesser known that inhalants can also cause thermal or frostbite injury. This study is a review of 2003 to 2012 National Burn Repository (NBR) records with a query for "huff," "inhalant," and corresponding ICD-9 codes. The NBR represents the cumulative data of subjects presenting to regional burn centers throughout the nation. Twenty-eight cases of inhalant injury were found. Approximately one-third were due to frostbite secondary to cold liquids exiting aerosol cans. The remaining two-third were due to thermal injury when the flammable solvent ignited. Median burn size was 3% total BSA (TBSA). Eight patients suffered inhalation injuries and one patient died. Although the median burn size of these patients was relatively small, some had significant injuries requiring long hospital length of stay. Direct costs of healthcare and indirect costs of lost wages make inhalant injury a significant public health problem. Multidisciplinary governmental efforts should be focused on prevention, education, recognition, and early intervention when inhalant abuse is suspected.
Validation of a reflective practice rubric for evaluating the complexity of teacher candidate digital and written reflections

ABSTRACTThis study was conducted to validate the effectiveness of a previously published rubric for evaluating the reflective characteristics contained within reflective artifacts. The goal of the ...
A Rare Case of Complete Uterine Torsion in a Postmenopausal Woman

We present a rare case of uterine torsion caused by an 18-cm subserosal myoma weighing 3.9 kg in a postmenopausal lady in a tertiary center. A 52-year-old postmenopausal lady presented with abdominal pain and no bowel movements of 3 days duration. Multiplanar computed tomography (CT) of abdomen and pelvis showed uterine torsion, while initial pelvis ultrasound was unremarkable. Patient underwent laparotomy and was found to have torsion of the uterus at the level of the isthmus with a large subserosal myoma. She underwent total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Post-operatively, patient recovered well. Subserosal myoma causing uterine torsion is extremely uncommon, but in a known case of large subserosal myoma in a postmenopausal lady, high index of suspicion is needed when they present with acute abdominal pain. However, prompt identification with advanced radiological imaging is important to minimize associated morbidity and mortality. J Med Cases. 2019;10(6):164-167 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc3314
Treatment patterns among cancer patients with anemia who do not respond to erythropoietin-stimulating agents.

e20525 Background: While broadly utilized for treatment of anemia in cancer patients, treatment with Erythropoetin Stimulating Agents (ESAs) is contraindicated in patients who fail to respond withi...
Distributionally Robust Building Load Control to Compensate Fluctuations in Solar Power Generation

This paper investigates the use of a collection of dispatchable heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to absorb low-frequency fluctuations in renewable energy sources, especially in solar photo-voltaic (PV) generation. Given the uncertain and time-varying nature of solar PV generation, its probability distribution is difficult to be estimated perfectly, which poses a challenging problem of how to optimally schedule a fleet of HVAC loads to consume as much as local PV generation. We formulate a distributionally robust chance-constrained (DRCC) model to ensure that PV generation is consumed with a desired probability for a family of probability distributions, termed as an ambiguity set, built upon mean and covariance information. We benchmark the DRCC model with a deterministic optimization model and a stochastic programming model in a one-day simulation. We show that the DRCC model achieves constantly good performance to consume most PV generation even in the case with the presence of probability distribution ambiguity.
Chromosome Evolution of Octoploid Strawberry

The allo-octoploid cultivated strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) originated through a combination of polyploid and homoploid hybridization, domestication of an interspecific hybrid lineage, and continued admixture of wild species over the last 300 years. While genes appear to flow freely between the octoploid progenitors, the genome structures and diversity of the octoploid species remain poorly understood. The complexity and absence of an octoploid genome frustrated early efforts to study chromosome evolution, resolve subgenomic structure, and develop a single coherent linkage group nomenclature. Here, we show that octoploid Fragaria species harbor millions of subgenome-specific DNA variants. Their diversity was sufficient to distinguish duplicated (homoeologous and paralogous) DNA sequences and develop 50K and 850K SNP genotyping arrays populated with co-dominant, disomic SNP markers distributed throughout the octoploid genome. Whole-genome shotgun genotyping of an interspecific segregating population yielded 1.9M genetically mapped subgenome variants in 5,521 haploblocks spanning 3,394 cM in F. chiloensis subsp. lucida, and 1.6M genetically mapped subgenome variants in 3,179 haploblocks spanning 2,017 cM in F. × ananassa. These studies provide a dense genomic framework of subgenome-specific DNA markers for seamlessly cross-referencing genetic and physical mapping information, and unifying existing chromosome nomenclatures. Through comparative genetic mapping, we show that the genomes of geographically diverse wild octoploids are effectively diploidized and completely collinear. The preservation of genome structure among allo-octoploid taxa is a critical factor in the unique history of garden strawberry, where unimpeded gene flow supported both its origin and domestication through repeated cycles of interspecific hybridization.
Recruitment and retention of underrepresented populations in Alzheimer's disease research: A systematic review

Abstract Introduction Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) disproportionately impact racial and ethnic minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged adults. Yet, these populations are significantly underrepresented in research. Methods We systematically reviewed the literature for published reports describing recruitment and retention of individuals from underrepresented backgrounds in ADRD research or underrepresented participants' perspectives regarding ADRD research participation. Relevant evidence was synthesized and evaluated for quality. Results We identified 22 eligible studies. Seven studies focused on recruitment/retention approaches, all of which included multifaceted efforts and at least one community outreach component. There was considerable heterogeneity in approaches used, specific activities and strategies, outcome measurement, and conclusions regarding effectiveness. Despite limited use of prospective evaluation strategies, most authors reported improvements in diverse representation in ADRD cohorts. Studies evaluating participant views focused largely on predetermined explanations of participation including attitudes, barriers/facilitators, education, trust, and religiosity. Across all studies, the strength of evidence was low. Discussion Overall, the quantity and quality of available evidence to inform best practices in recruitment, retention, and inclusion of underrepresented populations in ADRD research are low. Further efforts to systematically evaluate the success of existing and emergent approaches will require improved methodological standards and uniform measures for evaluating recruitment, participation, and inclusivity.
The Four Modes of Sin and the Cleansing of the Waters: The Fourth Grammatical Treatise, Chapter 21, Stanzas 48 and 50

Medieval Icelanders defined their ideas about language, the composition of literature, grammar, and the relationship between Icelandic and Latin in a series of vernacular treatises. One such treatise, the fourteenth-century Fourth Grammatical Treatise, describes the forms and mechanics of writing skaldic poetry. In addition to rhetorical and grammatical information, it provides insight into to the Christian Latin material that was known or available to medieval Icelandic authors. Some of these texts, often neglected by scholars of literature, reflect ideas found in Gregory’s Moralia in Iob, including his explanation of the four stages that sinners pass through as they move from temptation to mortal sin. It also reflects traditional exegesis of the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan, in which Jesus is said to purify the water. These elucidations provide insight into the freedom, or lack thereof, that Icelandic authors had to translate and adapt Christian Latin terminology and concepts into vernacular texts and tightly structured skaldic verse.
Perceptions of Violent Encounters between Police and Young Black Men across Stakeholder Groups

Violence between police and young black men is a longstanding issue that has gained national attention in recent years due to high-profile violent encounters. We conducted 48 semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders from different groups (young black men aged 14–24 years, parents, educators, police officers, and staff in youth serving organizations). Stakeholders were asked to (1) identify causes of violent encounters between police and young black men; (2) describe police officers who serve in their communities; and (3) describe interactions between police and young black men. Data were collected and analyzed using thematic analysis and content analysis methods. All stakeholder groups except police felt that violent encounters between police and young black men were caused by officers lacking a connection with communities. Fear and distrust across stakeholder groups was also seen as a cause of violent encounters; youth feared police after having seen or heard of violent encounters, while officers feared youth due to the availability of firearms and previous assaults on officers. Several stakeholder groups recognized that racism and prejudice among police was another cause of violence between police and young black men. Positive interactions between police and youth were seen as the result of established, trusting relationships developed over time. Future efforts to prevent violent encounters between police and young black men should engage multiple stakeholder groups. One avenue for engagement is through community mobilization efforts that foster collaboration, build community trust, and encourage implementation of policies, programs, and practices that prevent future violent encounters.
Emerging Trends in Pediatric Opioid Prescribing Practices

Management of pain in children is fundamental to our practice. Its myriad benefits include reduced suffering, improved patient satisfaction, more rapid recovery, and a reduced risk of developing postsurgical chronic pain. Although a multimodal analgesic approach is now routinely used, informed and judicious use of opioid receptor agonists remains crucial in this treatment paradigm. This use of opioids must be tempered by balancing their risks and benefits. Further, an ongoing public health response to the current opioid crisis is required to help prevent new cases of opioid addiction, identify opioid-addicted individuals, and ensure access to effective opioid addiction treatment while at the same time continuing to safely meet the needs of patients experiencing pain.