cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regional versus total body bone mass and body composition during infancy

Summary Background & aims Total body dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is a useful non-invasive technique in the assessment for bone and soft tissue growth and development in infants although the role of regional DXA measurements is not well defined. Methods Regional measurements including extremities, trunk and head were obtained by software delineation from a database of infant whole body DXA scans based on pencil beam (PB) and fan beam (FB) DXA techniques. Results Data from fan beam or pencil beam were similar. All regional DXA measurements were correlated and predictive of total body measurements. The relationship to total body measurements was better for larger regions such as the trunk and lower extremities, and for lean, fat, bone mineral content, fat and fat percent (adjusted r 2 0.78 to 0.98 for FB and 0.82 to 1.00 for PB). At the head region, bone mineral density was best related to total body measurements with adjusted r 2 > 0.92 for both DXA techniques. DXA measurements from left and right extremities were correlated but the agreement varied among different DXA parameters. Weight was the best predictor for regional as well as total body bone and soft tissue measurements although other physiologic predictors including length, age, gender and race could be forced into prediction equation. Conclusions Regional DXA measurements may be considered as a screening tool to monitor changes in bone and soft tissue composition during infancy but they should not be used as a surrogate replacing total body measurements.
Daclizumab: novel biologic immunoprophylaxis for prevention of acute rejection in renal transplantation.

THE 1990s have witnessed the introduction of several exciting new small molecules used for maintenance immunosuppression such as mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), tacrolimus, and sirolimus. However, as we approach the millennium, new humanized biologic agents are being introduced or are in clinical development. They promise to optimize immunosuppression by providing selectivity, excellent tolerability, and the potential for inducing tolerance. In the past year, two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), a chimeric and a humanized targeting the anti– interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R), have been shown to be effective in reducing acute rejection in renal transplant recipients without producing overimmunosuppression and additional side effects. The major advantage of targeting the a chain of the IL-2R is that it is expressed predominantly on activated T cells and its expression is essential for the formation of the high-affinity IL-2R. Interaction of IL-2 with the high-affinity IL-2R is required for clonal expansion and continued viability of activated T cells. Blockade of this pathway can result in effective and selective immunosuppression. Daclizumab is a humanized MAb with an IgG1 backbone that retains almost exclusively the complementary determining regions from its murine antiTac parent antibody, binds with high affinity to the a chain of the IL-2R, and blocks IL-2R–mediated biologic responses. The half-life of daclizumab is 20 days, which is comparable to human IgG.
The Resurgent American Voter, 1988-2008

Sparked both by normative concerns and a classic empirical puzzle (Brody 1978), scholars developed and tested a variety of explanations for the turnout decline in the US between 1960 and 1988. Since turnout in presidential elections bottomed out at 51.7% in 1996, it has increased in three consecutive presidential elections, reaching an estimated 61.4% in 2008. In this paper, I use logit analysis of pooled cross-sectional data from the American National Election Studies to explore various explanations for the increase in turnout in the US from 1988 to 2008. Changes in basic demographics (most notably the increase in the population with at least some university education) and the increase in contacting over this period account for much of increase in turnout. Increased perceptions of partisan differences have also had a positive effect on turnout, but changes in electoral laws have not had a significant effect. These findings suggest that mobilization patterns best account for both the earlier decline and the more recent rise in turnout.
Active Noise Control of an Unducted Model Propeller

A technique of Active Noise Control of farfield propeller noise is presented which utilizes the classic decomposition of propeller noise into basic monopole and dipole sources. Anti-noise is generated from these classic components and is used to achieve nearly global reduction of the BPF tone generated from a simple two bladed model propeller. In addition, a MATLAB simulation is presented which demonstrates how the spacing and location of the anti-noise units effect the efficiency of the ANC system.
Large inverted repeats within Xp11.2 are present at the breakpoints of isodicentric X chromosomes in Turner syndrome

Turner syndrome (TS) results from whole or partial monosomy X and is mediated by haploinsufficiency of genes that normally escape X-inactivation. Although a 45,X karyotype is observed in half of all TS cases, the most frequent variant TS karyotype includes the isodicentric X chromosome alone [46,X,idic(X)(p11)] or as a mosaic [46,X,idic(X)(p11)/45,X]. Given the mechanism of idic(X)(p11) rearrangement is poorly understood and breakpoint sequence information is unknown, this study sought to investigate the molecular mechanism of idic(X)(p11) formation by determining their precise breakpoint intervals. Karyotype analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization mapping of eight idic(X)(p11) cell lines and three unbalanced Xp11.2 translocation lines identified the majority of breakpoints within a 5 Mb region, from approximately 53 to 58 Mb, in Xp11.1-p11.22, clustering into four regions. To further refine the breakpoints, a high-resolution oligonucleotide microarray (average of approximately 350 bp) was designed and array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) was performed on all 11 idic(X)(p11) and Xp11.2 translocation lines. aCGH analyses identified all breakpoint regions, including an idic(X)(p11) line with two potential breakpoints, one breakpoint shared between two idic(X)(p11) lines and two Xp translocations that shared breakpoints with idic(X)(p11) lines. Four of the breakpoint regions included large inverted repeats composed of repetitive gene clusters and segmental duplications, which corresponded to regions of copy-number variation. These data indicate that the rearrangement sites on Xp11.2 that lead to isodicentric chromosome formation and translocations are probably not random and suggest that the complex repetitive architecture of this region predisposes it to rearrangements, some of which are recurrent.
The Pancreatic Islets of Bony Fishes

The biology of the fish endocrine pancreas is discussed from viewpoints of cytology, peripheral physiology, and control of islet secretion. The clear cell often described in Brockmann bodies is probably not a real entity, but the islets of many fish species probably contain a fourth granular cell type in addition to the usual population of A-, B-, and D-cells. Numerous studies employing islet cytotoxins and exogenous hormone treatments have been reported, but a unified concept of islet function in any fish species still does not exist. Recent data indicate that metabolic parameters other than blood sugar must be measured in order to obtain a more accurate assessment of islet function. The direct relationship of the nervous system to islet endocrine cells also raises questions regarding the control of islet secretion and necessitates consideration of laboratory conditions and seasonal or diurnal variation as probable influencing factors of islet activity.
Color Doppler sonography in evaluation of spermatoceles: the "falling snow" sign.

Objective Doppler sonography is not commonly used in evaluation of cystic lesions with internal echoes. Here we report the use of the mechanical properties of color Doppler sonography to further characterize 3 spermatoceles. Methods Three patients who came to University of California San Francisco Imaging Center with painless unilateral scrotal enlargement were evaluated with sonography and were found to have large spermatoceles. Color Doppler sonography was applied to these spermatoceles, and digital video clips were obtained as the color beam was instituted. Results When color Doppler sonography was applied to each spermatocele, the internal echoes moved away from the transducer, resulting in an appearance similar to falling snow. Conclusions The "falling snow" sign can be used to enhance the diagnosis of a spermatocele as well as to evaluate a superficial cystic lesion with echogenic fluid and internal microdebris that is difficult to distinguish from a solid mass.
Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence XXXII . ECL from Energy‐Deficient Aromatic Hydrocarbon Acceptor and Tetrathiafulvalene Donor Systems

The ECL emission from energy‐deficient mixed aromatic hydrocarbon (AHC) acceptor and tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) donor systems has been investigated in acetonitrile. Radical ion annihilation involving TTF radical cations and AHC radical anions was found to result entirely in acceptor fluorescence emission. Energy considerations show that AHC triplet formation followed by triplet‐triplet annihilation to produce the AHC first excited singlet state is the most probable mechanism for the observed ECL. The intermediacy of exciplexes in the ECL process was not observed experimentally.
T Cell Fate in the Tumor Microenvironment

Immune infiltration of tumors is a well-known phenomenon in cancer patients. Nevertheless, the tumor and immune cell coexisting scenario is often accompanied by efficient cancer progression indicating a compromised immune phenotype. As a matter of fact, it is well documented that a wealthy source of immune-suppressive molecular and cellular networks at the tumor site foster faulty T cell responses and ultimately redirect T cell fate and patient outcome. In this chapter, we summarize recent discoveries of the acquired dysfunctions of effector T cells in the tumor microenvironment due to the lack of proper activation networks and underlying enforcers regulating T cell unresponsiveness and their impact in new therapeutic development. Specifically, the advance in the Th17 balance, T cell stemness, and polyfunctionality of T cells which may improve clinic outcome.
Homotransplantation of the Human Fallopian Tube: Report of a Successful Case and Description of a Technique

The rising emphasis on conservative surgical treatment of the fallopian tube has generated a greater demand for methods of reparative surgery. Thus far, the use of surrogate tubes and allotransplantation of the fallopian tube hae not fulfilled the requirements for success. A case of homotransplantation of the human fallopian tube is presented. At surgery, a midsegment anastomosis was performed by grafting the good portion of the left tube to a viable segment of the right tube. The arteries and veins were then anastomosed with 9-0 silk and a single-layer closure; an operating microscope was used. Patency was documented with chromotubation, and bleeding was controlled with microcautery. Decadron and Phenergan were placed in the patient's abdomen along with 150 ml of saline. She was given systemic Decadron, Phenergan, and antibiotics pre- and postoperatively. Three months after surgery hysterography revealed a viable-appearing fallopian tube. The patient subsequently aborted an 8-week intrauterine gestation. Fallopian tube homotransplantation has a role in the treatment of infertility, but the patient population for which this procedure is applicable is limited.
High Fidelity CFD Modeling of Natural Ventilation in a Solar House

Natural ventilation is an important factor in the design of sustainable buildings; it has the potential to improve air quality, while providing thermal comfort at reduced energy costs. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations provide comprehensive information on the internal flow pattern and can be used as a design tool. The present work offers insight of natural ventilation in a fully functional building, namely, the solar facility Interlock House in Iowa. Ventilation in the house is studied during summer months with some of its furniture included. The results show quantitative agreement between numerical simulations and experiments of vertical temperature profiles for each room. The temperature profile of the room with the inlet opening shows a more pronounced temperature variation. Flow patterns show higher velocities near the walls and marked flow circulation towards the opposite side of the building. The purpose of this work is to validate the numerical model that predicts airflow distribution for different configurations.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Prehospital Providers’ Perceptions of Emergency Calls Near Life’s End

The nature of emergency end-of-life calls is changing as people live longer and die from chronic illnesses. This study explored prehospital providers' perceptions of (1) end-of-life 911 calls, (2) the signs and symptoms of dying, and (3) medical orders for life sustaining treatment (MOLST). The exploratory-descriptive pilot study was survey based and cross-sectional. Calls to nursing homes occur most often, (47.8% every shift). The MOLST was seen infrequently (57.9% rarely never). The most frequent signs and symptoms of dying were diagnosis (76%), hospice involvement (82%), apnea (75%), mottling (55%), and shortness of breath (48%). The MOLST identifies wishes about intubation (74%), resuscitation (74%), life-sustaining treatment (72%), and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (70%). Synergy exists between the fields of prehospital, hospice, and palliative medicine which offers potential for improved education and care.
Acute urinary retention after cesarean delivery: a case-control study.

INTRODUCTION This study aimed to identify risk factors for postpartum urinary retention (PPUR) after cesarean delivery (CD). METHODS A case-control study design was used. Cases of PPUR after CD were identified using billing codes for CD and "urinary retention" and confirmed by chart review. Matched controls were identified in a 2:1 ratio using an obstetrics database and billing data. Patient demographics, operative, and anesthetic data were collected. Fisher exact tests and Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to determine differences in medical risk factors, postoperative analgesic use, and catheter management between cases and controls. A modified Poisson conditional multivariate regression with robust error variances was used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) for significant predictors. RESULTS Thirty-four confirmed cases of PPUR were matched with 68 controls. The mean ages of cases and controls were 31 and 32 years, respectively. Cases and controls differed in gestational age (P = 0.01), diagnosis of diabetes (P = 0.05), and use of postoperative intravenous and oral narcotics (P < 0.01 and P = 0.03, respectively). In a multivariate model including these factors, increasing gestational age was associated with decreased risk of PPUR [OR, 0.07; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.01-0.48; P < 0.01], whereas use of postoperative intravenous narcotics (OR, 4.51; 95% CI, 1.09-18.67; P = 0.038) and oral narcotics (OR, 4.99; 95% CI, 1.10-22.65; P = 0.037) were associated with increased risk. CONCLUSIONS After matching for obstetric factors, use of postoperative narcotic analgesia was associated with increased risk of PPUR. Other operative and anesthetic factors had no association. Multicenter prospective studies are needed to investigate this association.
Isolation of the novel dirhodium(II/II) thiolate compound Rh(2)(eta(1)-C(6)H(5)S)(2)(mu-C(6)H(5)S)(2)(bpy)(2).

The reaction of the anticancer active compound [Rh(2)(mu-O(2)CCH(3))(2)(bpy)(2)(CH(3)CN)(2)][BF(4)](2) (1) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) with NaC(6)H(5)S under anaerobic conditions yields Rh(2)(eta(1)-C(6)H(5)S)(2)(mu-C(6)H(5)S)(2)(bpy)(2).CH(3)OH (2), which was characterized by UV-visible, IR, and (1)H NMR spectroscopies as well as single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Compound 2 crystallizes as dark red platelets in the monoclinic space group C2/c with cell parameters a = 20.398(4) A, b = 11.861(2) A, c = 17.417(4) A, beta = 108.98 degrees, V = 3984.9(14) A(3), Z = 4. The main structural features are the presence of a [Rh(2)](4+) core with a Rh-Rh distance of 2.549(2) A bridged by two benzene thiolate ligands in a butterfly-type arrangement. The axial positions of the [Rh(2)](4+) core are occupied by two terminal benzene thiolates. Cyclic voltammetric studies of 2 reveal that the compound exhibits an irreversible oxidation at +0.046 V in CH(3)CN, which is in accord with the fact that the compound readily oxidizes in the presence of O(2). The fact that this unusual dirhodium(II/II) thiolate compound is formed under these conditions is an important first step in understanding the metabolism of dirhodium anticancer active compounds with thiol-containing peptides and proteins.
Multi-Agent Plan Recognition as Planning (MAPRAP)

A key challenge in Multi-agent Plan Recognition (MPAR) is effectively pruning the large search space of potential goal / team compositions because multi-agent scenarios distribute actions/observables across agents. This additional dimension also makes creating a priori plan libraries difficult. In this paper, we describe our strategy for discrete Multi-agent Plan Recognition as Planning (MAPRAP), which extends Ramirez and Geffnerâs Plan Recognition as Planning (PRAP) approach into multi-agent domains. MAPRAP (like PRAP) uses a planning domain (not a library) to synthesize and compare utility costs of plan instances that incorporate potential goals and previous observables to identify the plan being carried out by teams of agents. This initial discrete implementation of MAPRAP includes two pruning strategies to address the explosion of hypotheses. We establish a performance profile for discrete MAPRAP using the well-known multi-agent blocks-world benchmark domain. We varied the number of teams, agent count, and goal sizes. We measured accuracy, precision, and recall at each time step. For pruning efficiency, we compare two strategies. In the more aggressive case our multi-agent team blocks scenarios averaged 1.05 plans synthesized per goal per time step (compared to 0.56 for single agent scenarios) demonstrating feasibility of MAPRAP and benchmarking for future improvements.
Electrical Obsolescence Management: How to Spend US$1 Billion Efficiently

An engineering team at a large oil and gas company was tasked to address the alarming trend of increasing capital expenditures required to manage its two main challenges: the obsolescence and aging of electrical equipment in over 1,000 electrical substations. It was forecasted that nearly US$1 billion will be required over the next ten years to replace the obsolete electrical equipment.
Discussing Advance Care Planning With Elderly Patients

Advance care planning maximizes the patient's chances of receiving the care he or she wants and minimizes confusion. Frank discussion, time, and persistence are needed to optimize this shared decision-making process. This article discusses the important components of advance care planning and the recommended documentation.
The genesis and development of model checking: fact vs. fiction

Clarke and Emerson are noted for the invention and development of model checking [1]. In this presentation, I will recall the roles of the principals. I was responsible for the initial conception of model checking, as a spinoff of my work on program synthesis. This entailed the checking of candidate models of a temporal specification algorithmically, and explains the coining of the term model checking. Model checking plainly was a form of verification circumventing proofs. As a part of some consulting work, Ed Clarke had been consulting on verification of protocols using temporal specifications and deductive proofs. As I discussed model checking with Ed, he envisioned that it could be a really practical verification method, applicable to protocols and more. Later, Ed commented that neither one of us could have achieved model checking without the other. There are alternative perspectives on this history. In broad brush, these agree, but they vary in detail. I will elaborate with additional crucial facts, and examine their impact on various apparent discrepancies. I would like to suggest the relevance of Pnueli's Principle here: The junior researcher lives in the problem, while the senior researcher lives in a constant stream of interrupts. A Corollary is: The junior researcher will singlemindedly acquire a detailed memory concerning the problem and its solution; The overburdened, timesharing senior researcher will lack sufficient focused attention, blocks of time, and depth of understanding to have good recall.
Food supplement usage by the elderly

A variety of food supplements were taken by 66 percent of the elderly persons in this study. Ascorbic acid and vitamin E were the most popular choices. Some supplements may have improved nutritional status, while others were probably inappropriate or unnecessary. The findings indicate that the elderly have a number of erroneous beliefs about the efficacy of food supplements. Reasons for supplementation were often inappropriate, and unreliable sources of information were used. In addition, substantial amounts of money were spent on food supplements by those already existing on a limited budget. Nutrition education is needed to demonstrate the relationship between adequate diet, good health, and appropriate versus inappropriate food supplement consumption.
Day of Surgery and Surgical Start Time Affect Hospital Length of Stay After Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background The United States spends $12 billion each year on ∼332,000 total hip arthroplasty (THA) procedures with the postoperative period accounting for ∼40% of costs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of surgical scheduling (day of week and start time) on clinical outcomes, hospital length of stay (LOS), and rate of nonhome discharge in THA patients. Methods Analysis of perioperative variables was performed for patients who underwent THA at an urban tertiary care teaching hospital from 2009 to 2014. Results A total of 580 THA patients were included for analysis. LOS was higher for the Thursday/Friday cohort compared to Monday/Tuesday (3.7 vs 3.4 days; P = .03). Patients who had a surgical start time after 2 PM had longer LOS compared to patients operated on before 2 PM (3.9 vs 3.5 days; P = .03). After controlling for patient comorbidities and THA surgical approach (direct anterior vs posterior), Thursday/Friday THAs were associated with a 3.27 times risk of extended LOS (>75th percentile LOS) compared to Monday/Tuesday THAs ( P P = .01). LOS reduction opportunity for changing surgical start time to before 2 PM was 0.9 days for high-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiology class 3/4 and/or liver disease) and 0.2 days for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiology class 1/2). Conclusion Patients who underwent THA Thursday/Friday or had start times after 2 PM had significantly extended hospital LOS. Preoperative risk modification along with adjustments to surgical scheduling and/or perioperative staffing may reduce LOS and thus hospital expenditures for THA procedures.
Hume on sympathy and agreeable qualities

ABSTRACTHume says that sympathy is the source of our moral feeling of approval for useful qualities. But does Hume give the same psychological explanation of our approval of immediately agreeable qualities as he does to our approval of useful qualities? Does he trace our moral approbation of immediately agreeable qualities to sympathy? Some commentators, including Rachel Cohon and Don Garrett, argue that he does not. Let us call this view the ‘narrow view’ of sympathy in contrast to the ‘wide view’ of sympathy, which holds that sympathy is required for every moral sentiment. There is indeed some apparent textual evidence in Hume’s work that seems to support the narrow view. My aim in this paper is to examine that evidence and show how it is merely apparent, in particular by showing how a number of passages can be and are misread. I thus want to argue indirectly for the wide view.
Setting a trap for respiratory viruses.

Seasonal respiratory virus infections represent a significant burden on global public health, especially in high-risk groups such as children and immunocompromised populations. In any given year, i...
Single Work Function Silicon Nanowire MOS Transistors

In the past, there were several attempts to develop alternative technologies, including molecular technologies that were aimed to replace the current VLSI technology. However, conventional silicon-based technologies prevailed as solid choices over the newcomers for fabricating low power nano devices and circuits without sacrificing high performance. As today’s chips require larger die areas to accommodate complex System-On-Chip (SOC) designs, reducing overall power dissipation has been accepted as the major design objective, replacing the need for faster circuit performance. Recent modeling studies in undoped, double-gated SOI MOS transistors revealed that these transistors could produce an order of magnitude less leakage current compared to conventional bulk silicon MOS transistors for achieving ultra-low power consumption. However, fabricating ultra-thin transistors sandwiched between two gates with adjustable work function is highly questionable in a production environment since both gates have to be made out of metal in order to produce proper threshold voltage and therefore to maintain a healthy circuit operation. Another good candidate is a nano-scale, triple-gated SOI transistors or FINFETs. Recent studies on these devices showed close-to-ideal subthreshold slope and Drain-Induced-Barrier-Lowering (DIBL), both of which are important factors to reduce OFF current and power consumption. Besides these promising technologies, Silicon Nanowire MOS Transistors (SNT) also offer significant reduction in static and dynamic power consumption and compact layout area without sacrificing circuit performance.
DC and RF characterizations of AlGaN/GaN MOSHEMTs with deep sub-micron T-gates and atomic layer epitaxy MgCaO as gate dielectric

In the past two decades, the GaN-based high-electron-mobility-transistor (HEMT) has attracted tremendous attentions due to its wide bandgap, high electron mobility and high electron saturation velocity, which makes it a good candidate in the area of high frequency and high power applications [1]-[5]. However, there are still some issues such as high density of surface states and high gate leakage current, which hinder the final performance and reliability of the devices. Although GaN metal-oxide-semiconductor HEMT (MOSHEMT) with a thin amorphous gate dielectric is studied as an effective way to suppress gate leakage current and passivate the surface[6], high-quality gate dielectric on GaN and deep understanding of GaN MOS structures are still lacking and need to be developed. In this work, we have successfully integrated an atomic layer epitaxy (ALE) single crystalline MgCaO [7] as gate dielectric with unprecedented high-quality interface in AlGaN/GaN MOSHEMT on SiC substrate and demonstrated low gate leakage current (I g ), high drain current (I D ), high on/off ratio, small current collapse, and good RF performances with a deep sub-micron T-gate beyond the previous work on AlInN/GaN structure [8].
“They’re on the Fast Track”: Older Blacks Describe Experiences of Nursing Care Quality During Hospitalization

Older Black patients are at increased risk for experiencing a hospital readmission. This disparity may be related to a variety of factors, including care received during hospitalization. The purpose of this study was to elicit the perceptions of older Black patients at high risk for readmission, and explore their nursing care needs and preferences during and following hospitalization. A qualitative descriptive design was used, including individual interviews with 19 Black members of a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly facility located in a northeastern urban setting. Four themes were captured encompassing characteristics of nursing care quality, unmet care needs, nurse–patient communication, and observations of competing nursing demands. Efforts to improve care transitions and prevent readmissions must address the needs and preferences of high-risk older Black patients while also attending to system-level inefficiencies that decrease the ability for nurses to complete all aspects of care.
Design optioneering: multi-disciplinary design optimization through parameterization, domain integration and automation of a genetic algorithm

The overall performance of buildings is heavily impacted by design decisions made during the early stages of the design process. Design professionals are most often unable to explore design alternatives and their impact on energy profiles adequately during this phase. Combining parametric modeling with multi-disciplinary design optimization has been previously identified as a potential solution. By utilizing parametric design and multi-disciplinary design optimization to influence design at the schematic level in the interest of exploring more energy efficient design configurations, the H. D. S. Beagle 1.0 tool was developed. The tool enables the generation of design alternatives according to user defined parameter ranges; automatically gathers the energy analysis result of each design alternative; automatically calculates three objective functions; and uses Genetic Algorithm to intelligently search, rank, select, and breed the solution space for decision making. Current case studies demonstrate our tool's ability to reduce design cycle latency and improve quality. However, the future work is needed to further investigate how to acclimate this process to accommodate early design stages and processes.
A low-cost PM 2.5 monitor for wildland fire smoke

Wildfires and prescribed fires produce emissions that degrade visibility and are harmful to human health. Smoke emissions and exposure monitoring is critical for public and environmental health protection; however, ground-level measurements of smoke from wildfires and prescribed fires has proven difficult, as existing (validated) monitoring technologies are expensive, cumbersome, and generally require line power. Few ground-based measurements are made during fire events, which limits our ability to assess the environmental and human health impacts of wildland fire smoke. The objective of this work was to develop and validate an Outdoor Aerosol Sampler (OAS) – a filter-based air sampler that has been miniaturized and weatherproofed. This sampler was designed to overcome several of the technical challenges of wildland fire monitoring by being relatively inexpensive and solar powered. The sampler design objectives were achieved by leveraging low-cost electronic components, open-source programming platforms, and in-house fabrication methods. A direct-reading PM 2.5 sensor was selected and integrated with the OAS to provide time-resolved concentration data. Cellular communications established via Short Message Service (SMS) technology were utilized in transmitting online sensor readings and controlling the sampling device remotely. A Monte Carlo simulation aided in the selection of battery and solar power necessary to independently power the OAS, while keeping cost and size to a minimum. Thirteen OAS were deployed to monitor smoke concentrations downwind from a large prescribed fire. Aerosol mass concentrations were interpolated across the monitoring network to depict smoke concentration gradients in the vicinity of the fire. Strong concentration gradients were observed (spatially and temporally) and likely present due to a combination of changing fire location and intensity, topographical features (e.g. mountain ridges), and diurnal weather patterns. Gravimetric filter measurements made by the OAS (when corrected for filter collection efficiency) showed relatively good agreement with measurements from an EPA federal equivalent monitor. However, the real-time optical sensor (Sharp GP2Y1023AU0F) within the OAS suffered from temperature dependence, drift, and imprecision.
MAIT cells: a novel therapeutic target for alcoholic liver disease?

Bacterial infection is one of the most frequent and severe complications of advanced alcoholic liver disease (ALD), including alcoholic cirrhosis and severe alcoholic hepatitis (SAH). Patients who suffered from SAH are susceptible to bacterial infection with one study reporting 50% of them developed bacterial infection.1 Additionally, standard corticosteroid treatment further increased the risk of bacterial infection in patients with SAH.1 Thus, infection is highly relevant for the outcome of SAH and represents an important therapeutic target. However, except antibiotic treatment, there are currently no other specific therapies that effectively control bacterial infection in SAH due to incomplete understanding of the pathogenesis of bacterial infection in these patients. The mechanisms underlying the increased risk of bacterial infection in ALD are complex and multifactorial. The high incidence of bacterial infection may be partly explained by gut bacterial overgrowth, dysbiosis and translocation of gut bacteria and their products in patients with ALD.2 3 Impaired host defence against bacterial infection is probably another important mechanism contributing to the increased risk of bacterial infection in patients with ALD. It has been well documented that excessive alcohol consumption has broad and significant inhibitory effects on many key components of the immune system. For example, neutrophils, the first cellular line of defence against microorganisms, have impaired functions in patients with SAH, such as weakened reactive oxygen species production, reduced exocytosis/phagocytosis, declined chemotaxis and severe bactericidal defect.4 T cells from patients with SAH, but not alcoholic cirrhosis, expressed elevated levels of inhibitory mediators (eg, programmed cell death 1, PD ligand 1) that markedly inhibited T cell functions against bacterial infection.4 Although many types …
Concurrent pulmonary artery aneurysms and intracardiac thrombus in a Caucasian man with Behçet’s disease: case report and literature review

Behcet’s disease (BD) is a systemic inflammatory disease marked by oral and genital ulcers. While pulmonary arterial aneurysms (PAAs) are not a common clinical manifestation of BD, they are...
Direct Design of Optimum Indeterminate Trusses

Method concentrates on design, not on mathematical analysis of trial structure; principle of potential work is introduced to obtain maximum compatible stresses for bars; redundants are selected to yield minimum weight of truss; final bar areas follow directly by dividing forces in static equilibrium by stresses satisfying continuity; relative weights of alternative structures and optimum structure are revealed by direct design method.
CHRONIC INOTROPIC THERAPY IN END-STAGE HEART FAILURE IN THE CURRENT ERA

Patients with end-stage heart failure may be treated with home inotropes, “palliatively” or as bridge to left ventricular assist device (LVAD) or transplant (“bridge”). Prior studies showed that home inotropes increased mortality, but were done prior to current medical or device therapy. We
Single Planting Creates Expanding Naturalized Population of Quercus palustris Far From Its Native Range Limit

abstract Ornamental plant species are frequently planted well outside of their native ranges and, in some cases, escape from cultivation to develop naturalized populations. Understanding the causes and consequences of naturalization resulting from intra-continental introductions will shed light both on mechanisms of invasion and on the potential for facilitated migration as a response to global climate change. In this study, we characterized a naturalized population of pin oak (Quercus palustris) that has recently arisen in the woodlands of Colby College in central Maine, 275 km from its native range limit. The population stemmed from trees in two small horticultural plantings, one from 1950 and one from the mid-1980′s. As an initial indication of potential invasiveness, we compared growth rates of individual pin oak trees to those of red oak (Quercus rubra), the most closely related native species and likely competitor. We also carried out genetic testing to determine how many parents gave rise to the na...
Genetic Approaches for Studying Protein Localization

The process of protein compartmentalization is common to both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. In eukaryotic cells, proteins are apportioned specifically to the cytoplasm, to any of a variety of organelles, or to the surrounding medium. While less complex, gram-negative bacteria also specifically localize proteins to subcellular compartments: cytoplasm, inner membrane, outer membrane, or periplasm (the space between the inner and the outer membrane).
The General Case

My object in this section is to present Blackwell’s (1958) example of a standard stochastic semigroup, all of whose states are instantaneous. For other examples of this phenomenon, see Sections 3.3 of ACM and Section 2.12 of B & D. To begin with, consider the matrix $$ Q = \left( {\begin{array}{*{20}{c}} { - \lambda } & \lambda \\ \mu & { - \mu } \\ \end{array} } \right) $$ on {0, 1}, with λ and μ nonnegative, λ + μ positive. There is exactly one standard stochastic semigroup P on {0, 1} with P′(0) = Q, namely: $$ P\left( {t,0,0} \right) = \frac{\mu }{{\mu + \lambda }} + \frac{\lambda }{{\mu + \lambda }}{e^{{ - \left( {\mu + \lambda } \right)t}}}P\left( {t,0,1} \right) = 1 - P\left( {t,0,0} \right)P\left( {t,1,1} \right) = \frac{\lambda }{{\mu + \lambda }} + \frac{\mu }{{\mu + \lambda }}{e^{{ - 1\left( {\mu + \lambda } \right)t}}}P\left( {t,1,0} \right) = 1 - P\left( {t,1,1} \right) $$ (1) One way to see this is to use (5.29): define P by (1); check P is continuous, P(0) is the identity, P′(0) = Q, and P(t + s) = P(t) · P(s). Dull computations in the last step can be avoided by thinking: it is enough to do μ + λ = 1 by rescaling time; since P(u) is 2 × 2 and stochastic when u is t or s or t + s, it is enough to check that P(t + s) = P(t) · P(s) on the diagonal; by interchanging μ and λ, so 0 and 1, it is enough to check the (0, 0) position. This is easy.
Ambition and Humility in Contract Law

What are the aims of contract law? How can it achieve those aims? How well does it achieve them? In a series of articles in the 1960s, Stewart Macaulay addressed these questions in a systematic way. The articles developed an organization of the fundamental policies underlying contract law, the structures through which contract law acts, and some policies of the legal system that influence the fundamental and structural policies. In its most developed form, the organization separates the substantive policies that contract law serves from the goals related to the proper or efficient operation of the legal system. The substantive policies are primary; the legal system policies operate mostly as limitations on the application of the substantive policies. The substantive contract policies are of two kinds. The first kind concerns the objectives to be served — whether the law aims to support the private market or to correct market imperfections and serve non-market goals. The second kind of policy is not actually substantive in the same way as the first; it concerns the type of strategy or structure used by the legal system to serve those objectives — whether the courts apply general rules or use a case-by-case approach. The realization of the substantive policies is affected by a set of legal system policies. Most important among the legal system policies, “efficiency and efficacy” raise the question that has permeated much of Macaulay’s career: What can be done by the law and at what cost? Macaulay’s organization is important because it occupies a central place in the construction and critique of the mainstream approach to contract law, central in the sense that the analysis is situated intellectually, and to an extent chronologically, in the middle of that construction and critique. Its origins lie in the social theory of Max Weber and the later Realist jurisprudence of Friedrich Kessler and Malcolm Sharp. The organization’s themes reflect the work of other of Macaulay’s colleagues, including notably J. Willard Hurst, Lawrence Friedman, Marc Galanter and William Whitford, and those themes resonate through what I have suggested elsewhere might be the Interstate 90 school of contracts scholarship, linking Macaulay at Wisconsin with Ian Macneil and Richard Speidel at Northwestern. It also contributed to critical legal studies’ account of private law through its influence on Duncan Kennedy’s Form and Substance in Private Law Adjudication and other works. This chapter restates Macaulay’s organization, at points expands it, and considers its implications for our understanding of contract law. From a mainstream perspective, the organization reaffirms that contract law has grand ambitions but must operate with a dash of humility. From perspectives outside the mainstream, it presents a view of contract law that is deeply problematic.
Screening Method for Identifying Toxicants Capable of Inducing Astrocyte Senescence

Cellular senescence is a tumor-suppressive mechanism which leads to near irreversible proliferative arrest. However, senescent cells can cause tissue dysfunction, in large part because they express a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) involving secretion of, amongst other factors, proinflammatory cytokines known to compromise neuronal health. Therefore, established neurotoxicants may cause neurotoxicity in vivo, in part by triggering mitotic cells in the brain to undergo senescence and adopt an inflammatory SASP which in turn could cause deleterious effects to surrounding neurons. To begin to address this hypothesis, we examined whether we could screen known neurotoxicants for their ability to cause astrocytes (a mitotic cell type especially important for maintaining neuronal health) to undergo senescence. For this purpose, we utilized inducible pluripotent stem cell-derived human astrocytes and screened an 80 compound neurotoxicant library provided by the Biomolecular Screening Branch of the NIEHS National Toxicology Program. Here we present a screening method based on induction of the senescent marker, senescent-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-β-gal). We describe in detail an automated method for the unbiased quantitation of percentage of SA-β-gal + astrocytes. Although our results suggest that conducting an SA-β-gal senescence screen using human inducible pluripotent stem cell-derived astrocytes may be feasible, they also highlight challenges that likely preclude its adaptation to high-throughput. We also explore the possibility of using primary mouse astrocytes for this purpose and explain why this platform is problematic and very unlikely to yield meaningful results, even in small screens with compound replicates.
Oral Care Program for Successful Long-Term Full Mouth Habilitation of Patients with Hypohidrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia

Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED) is a rare congenital disorder that associates with dental manifestations of anodontia, hypodontia, and atrophic alveolar ridges. Although the disorder does not affect the life expectancy of the patient, it poses tremendous challenges on the patient's physical and psychosocial development. Early and multidisciplinary dental care can benefit HED children's development and improve their quality of life. This study presents two cases addressing the dental management continuously for 10 to 13 years in the dental school clinics. The keys to long-term success of the oral care program for HED patients at different age phases are reviewed and discussed, which can be summarized as early intervention, multidisciplinary collaborative care, and continuous recall.
Unternehmenskommunikation im Transformationsprozess – durch Talk-the-Walk erfolgreich Change-Projekte managen

Dass Kommunikation im Transformationsprozess eine entscheidende Rolle spielt, ist unbestritten – man muss nur in den Beitragen dieses Bands blattern. Doch wie genau lasst sich eine strategische Kommunikation im Transformationsprozess planen? Welche Kommunikationsinstrumente eignen sich fur welche Zielsetzungen? Und ist Kommunikation in allen Phasen des Transformationsprozesses formal, inhaltlich und in seiner Zielsetzung gleich? Diese und andere Fragen beantwortet der vorliegende Beitrag, indem er zunachst einen systematischen Uberblick uber Unternehmenskommunikation gibt und diesen dann in Beziehung setzt zu den Phasen einer Unternehmenstransformation, wie sie der Enterprise Transformation Cycle definiert.
Predictors of ccf-mtDNA reactivity to acute psychological stress identified using machine learning classifiers: A proof-of-concept.

Abstract Objective We have previously found that acute psychological stress may affect mitochondria and trigger an increase in serum mitochondrial DNA, known as circulating cell-free mtDNA (ccf-mtDNA). Similar to other stress reactivity measures, there are substantial unexplained inter-individual differences in the magnitude of ccf-mtDNA reactivity, as well as within-person differences across different occasions of testing. Here, we sought to identify psychological and physiological predictors of ccf-mtDNA reactivity using machine learning-based multivariate classifiers. Method We used data from serum ccf-mtDNA concentration measured pre- and post-stress in 46 healthy midlife adults tested on two separate occasions. To identify variables predicting the magnitude of ccf-mtDNA reactivity, two multivariate classification models, partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and random forest (RF), were trained to discriminate between high and low ccf-mtDNA responders. Potential predictors used in the models included state variables such as physiological measures and affective states, and trait variables such as sex and personality measures. Variables identified across both models were considered to be predictors of ccf-mtDNA reactivity and selected for downstream analyses. Results Identified predictors were significantly enriched for state over trait measures (X2 = 7.03; p = 0.008) and for physiological over psychological measures (X2 = 4.36; p = 0.04). High responders were more likely to be male (X2 = 26.95; p Conclusion These results suggest that acute cardiovascular and psychological indices, rather than stable individual traits, predict stress-induced ccf-mtDNA reactivity. This work provides a proof-of-concept that machine learning approaches can be used to explore determinants of inter-individual and within-person differences in stress psychophysiology.
FEAR and DREAD: starting distance, escape decisions and time hiding in refuge

Flight initiation distance (FID = predator–prey distance when escape begins) increases as starting distance (predator–prey distance when approach begins) increases. The flush early and avoid the rush (FEAR) hypothesis proposes that this relationship exists because monitoring an approach is costly. Hypothesized causes are increase in assessed risk and decrease in obtainable benefits while monitoring as starting distance increases. We propose the delay risking emergence and avoid dying (DREAD) hypothesis: hiding time in refuge increases as starting distance increases because prey use risk assessed during approach to estimate risk upon emerging. In the lizard Callisaurus draconoides, FID increased as standardized starting distance increased at faster approach speeds, supporting the FEAR hypothesis. In its first test, the DREAD hypothesis was supported: hiding time in the lizard Sceloporus virgatusincreased as standardized starting distance increased. No large benefits were attainable, suggesting that dynamic increase in assessed risk accounts for these findings.
Dancing ambiguities in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Dance in Kinshasa, DRC has historically been a moral terrain on which different actors – from missionaries to postcolonial political leaders – have sought to control and showcase dancers. Women’s d...