cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
BioCentury Research Farm Summary

The BioCentury Research Farm (BCRF) had a diversity of users in 2016. Iowa State University (ISU) faculty and staff from the Departments of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABE); Agronomy; Biochemistry; Chemical and Biological Engineering (CBE); Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering (CCEE); and Food Science and Human Nutrition (FSHN), as well as the Bioeconomy Institute (BEI), Center for Crops Utilization Research (CCUR), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), and Extension and Outreach conducted research, teaching, and/or outreach at the BCRF. Private industry users of the BCRF included ARGO, Deere & Company, DuPont Cellulosic Ethanol, Phillips 66, and many others. By the end of 2016, the BCRF had more than 80 full- and part-time users with projects in all available space.
Landscape of Living Multiorgan Donation in the United States: A Registry-Based Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND The donation of multiple allografts from a single living donor is a rare practice, and the patient characteristics and outcomes associated with these procedures are not well described. METHODS Using the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, we identified 101 living multiorgan donors and their 133 recipients. RESULTS The 49 sequential (donations during separate procedures) multiorgan donors provided grafts to 81 recipients: 21 kidney-then-liver, 15 liver-then-kidney, 5 lung-then-kidney, 3 liver-then-intestine, 3 kidney-then-pancreas, 1 lung-then-liver, and 1 pancreas-then-kidney. Of these donors, 38% donated 2 grafts to the same recipient and 15% donated 2 grafts as non-directed donors. Compared to recipients from first-time, single organ living donors, recipients from second-time living donors had similar graft and patient survival. The 52 simultaneous (multiple donations during one procedure) multiorgan donors provided 2 grafts to 1 recipient each: 48 kidney-pancreas and 4 liver-intestine. Donors had median of 13.4 years (interquartile range, 8.3-18.5 years) of follow-up. There was one reported death of a sequential donor (2.5 years after second donation). Few postdonation complications were reported over a median of 116 days (interquartile range, 0-295 days) of follow-up; however, routine living donor follow-up data were sparse. Recipients of kidneys from second-time living donors had similar graft (P = 0.2) and patient survival (P = 0.4) when compared with recipients from first-time living donors. Similarly, recipients of livers from second-time living donors had similar graft survival (P = 0.9) and patient survival (P = 0.7) when compared with recipients from first-time living donors. CONCLUSIONS Careful documentation of outcomes is needed to ensure ethical practices in selection, informed consent, and postdonation care of this unique donor community.
The Bees Do It, but What About the Birds? Evidence for Sex Ratio Adjustment in Birds

In birds, the female is responsible for determining the sexes of her offspring, and she accomplishes this by donating either a W or a Z chromosome to the egg. There is now a large body of evidence that female birds can adjust which sex chromosome the eggs receive in response to the social and/or environmental conditions surrounding them. In this chapter, I highlight the many factors that have been shown to influence avian sex ratios and highlight the need for a multipronged approach incorporating multiple life history traits when attempting to understand the adaptive significance of sex allocation in birds.
A Robust Optimization Model for Supply Chain in Agile and Flexible Mode Based on Variables of Uncertainty

Uncertainty in the business environment is one of the main challenges for modern organizations. Uniformity and a lack of timely response to changing environmental conditions can create inappropriate and sometimes irreversible consequences. If decision makers can use new approaches and strategies based on a systematic method, they will be able to guide their organization toward improvements. Agile supply chain systems enhance the organization’s ability to survive in an unpredictable business environment. Various methods have been used to design an agile and flexible supply chain. This paper endeavors to obtain a result using the mathematical modeling method to create optimal outcome by introducing new possibilities for an agile and flexible supply chain. This article considers five objective functions as follows: (1) minimizing the production line stoppage because of the performance of suppliers, (2) minimizing the supplier complaints, (3) minimizing suppliers defective parts, (4) maximizing on-time delivery, and (5) the total cost of supplying parts.
Black and Belonging at School: A Case for Interpersonal, Instructional, and Institutional Opportunity Structures.

This article is guided by two goals: (a) to consider how race-based perspectives can serve as theoretical tools for investigating Black adolescents’ opportunities to belong at school, and (b) to de...
Examining the Obesogenic Attributes of the Family Child Care Home Environment: A Literature Review.

Childhood obesity is a major public health concern in the US. More than a third of young children 2–5 years old are placed in nonrelative child care for the majority of the day, making the child care setting an important venue to spearhead obesity prevention. Much of the obesity research in child care has focused on center-based facilities, with emerging research on Family Child Care Homes (FCCHs)—child care operated in a home setting outside the child’s home. The purpose of this review was to assess the obesogenic attributes of the FCCH environment. A search of the PubMed, Embase, CINHAL, and PsycINFO electronic databases identified 3,281 citations; 35 eligible for full-text review, and 18 articles from 17 studies in the analysis. This review found a lack of comprehensive written nutrition and physical activity policies within FCCHs, lack of FCCH providers trained in nutrition and physical activity best practices, lack of adequate equipment and space for indoor and outdoor playtime activities in FCCHs, inaccurate nutrition-related beliefs and perceptions among FCCH providers, poor nutrition-related communication with families, and poor feeding practices. Future research focusing on interventions aimed at addressing these problem areas can contribute to obesity prevention.
Serorrhaphy prevents regeneration of vagus nerve fibers after proximal gastric vagotomy

UNLABELLED Spouting or regeneration of vagus fibers occurs after vagotomy. An axonal tracing method was used to see the long-term effect of serorrhaphy in the prevention of axonal regeneration after proximal gastric vagotomy (PGV) in ferrets. METHODS A neurotracer, wheat-germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase (0.5 mg), was injected subserosally at the corpus of the anterior stomach (1) without PGV (n = 4), (2) immediately after PGV (n = 2), (3) one year after PGV with serorrhaphy (n = 3), and (4) one year after PGV without serorrhaphy (n = 3). The ferrets were killed by perfusion-fixation. The brainstem was processed histochemically. Numbers of labeled cells in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus were statistically analyzed using square-root transformation. RESULTS Numbers of labeled cells were 348 for (1), 13 for (2), 2 for (3), and 43 for (4). Multiple comparisons revealed significant differences in (1) vs. (2), (3), (4) and (3) vs. (4). DISCUSSION The number of preganglionic efferent vagus cells decreased acutely after PGV, which persisted one year. Regenerated vagus axons were less in the chronic group with serorrhaphy than in the group without one. Thus time factor did not influence the regeneration, but serorrhaphy was important in preventing vagal regeneration. CONCLUSION Serorrhaphy during PGV prevents the regeneration of preganglionic efferent vagus fibers.
Raman spectroscopy of octadecylsilane stationary phase conformational order: Effect of solvent

The effect of solvent on the conformation of alkyl chains of two octadecysilane-based stationary phases is probed using Raman spectroscopy. Spectral data indicate that the alkyl chains of commercially available polymeric and monomeric solid-phase extraction stationary phases are disordered to a varying extent by solvents of different polarity. For the polymeric octadecylsilane stationary phase, the polar solvents water, acetonitrile, methanol, acetone and isopropanol have little impact on the conformational order of the octadecylsilane bonded phase relative to air. However, the alkyl portion of this stationary phase is substantially disordered in the low-polarity solvents tetrahydrofuran, chloroform, benzene, toluene and hexane. The monomeric octadecylsilane stationary phase is less susceptible to disordering by solvents, although more disorder in the less polar solvents is also observed for this system. These results are interpreted in terms of the local surface bonding density and interchain spacing of these two stationary phases, and the ability of the solvent to penetrate the chains as a function of polarity. The results clearly demonstrate the ability of Raman spectroscopy to precisely indicate subtle changes in conformational order of alkylsilane stationary phases.
Improving the Human Computer Interface Design for a Physician Order Entry System

The computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system has become a primary focus of time and monetary investment in the healthcare arena. This focus is partly due to the need to reduce medical errors that occur due to illegibility, drug interactions, and misplaced decimals. A CPOE system can potentially prevent many of these errors, resulting in a significantly safer healthcare system. However, only one-third of the hospitals in the United States have installed CPOE systems, and only 1 percent of these require the physicians to use them.1 The success and failure of such a system is dependent on the acceptance by the users, in this case, the physicians. Unfortunately, many of the CPOE systems are not designed to address usability issues. They are hard to use, hard to learn, and they often generate user frustrations and abandonment. In this project, the user interface of one such software program was analyzed. As a result of this analysis, a prototype was developed as a component of the system to offer alternative solutions to the identified usability problems.
Oscillations in the basal ganglia

Neurons within the basal ganglia — a network of brain structures that may influence information processing in the cortex — can fire in oscillatory bursts. A new study sheds light on the origin of these bursts by defining synchronized oscillations in a cell-culture model of the basal ganglia. Interestingly, this 'pacemaker' seems to oscillate at roughly the same frequency as the tremors seen in people with Parkinson's disease.
A parallel page cache: IOPS and caching for multicore systems

We present a set-associative page cache for scalable parallelism of IOPS in multicore systems. The design eliminates lock contention and hardware cache misses by partitioning the global cache into many independent page sets, each requiring a small amount of metadata that fits in few processor cache lines. We extend this design with message passing among processors in a non-uniform memory architecture (NUMA). We evaluate the set-associative cache on 12-core processors and a 48- core NUMA to show that it realizes the scalable IOPS of direct I/O (no caching) and matches the cache hits rates of Linux's page cache. Set-associative caching maintains IOPS at scale in contrast to Linux for which IOPS crash beyond eight parallel threads.
Basic Principles and Methods in the Psychology of Emotions

This chapter is devoted to the description of some basic principles of emotion psychology and the various methods and techniques used in emotion research. These principles and methods will be illustrated with summaries of studies drawn from the growing body of literature in this area. The psychology of emotion and its methods emerged against a background of opposing forces ranging from inertia in psychological theorizing to outright rejection of emotion concepts by some of psychology’s leading theorists and model builders. Perhaps a brief look at these forces may give the student a better appreciation of the status of emotion in contemporary science and of the relationship of emotion theory and research to other theories and other realms of investigation.
The Timing of Tracheostomy and Outcomes After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Nationwide Inpatient Sample Analysis

The goal of this study was to investigate the association of tracheostomy timing with outcomes after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in a national population. Poor-grade aneurysmal SAH patients were extracted from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2002–2011). Multivariable linear regression was used to analyze predictors of tracheostomy timing and multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the association of timing of intervention with mortality, complications, and discharge to institutional care. Covariates included patient demographics, comorbidities, severity of subarachnoid hemorrhage (measured using the NIS-SAH severity scale), hospital characteristics, and other complications and length of stay. The median time to tracheostomy among 1380 poor-grade SAH admissions was 11 (interquartile range: 7–15) days after intubation. The mean number of days from intubation to tracheostomy in SAH patients at the hospital (p 9). In this analysis of a large, national data set, variation in hospital practices was the strongest predictor of tracheostomy timing for an individual. In patients with moderately poor grade, later tracheostomy was independently associated with pulmonary complications, venous thromboembolism, pneumonia, and a longer hospitalization, but not with mortality, neurological complications, or discharge disposition. However, tracheostomy timing was not significantly associated with outcomes in very poor-grade patients.
The inhibitor of glycerol 3-phosphate acyltransferase FSG67 blunts liver regeneration after acetaminophen overdose by altering GSK3β and Wnt/β-catenin signaling.

Abstract Repair mechanisms after acetaminophen (APAP) hepatotoxicity are poorly understood. We recently discovered that phosphatidic acid (PA) increases in mice and humans after APAP overdose, and is critical for liver regeneration. Here, we hypothesized that PA inhibits glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β), a component of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling, after APAP overdose. To test that, we treated mice with 300 mg/kg APAP at 0 h followed by vehicle or 20 mg/kg of the glycerol 3-phosphate acyltransferase inhibitor FSG67 at 3, 24 and 48 h. Some mice also received the GSK3 inhibitor L803-mts. Blood and liver were collected at multiple time points. Consistent with our earlier results, FSG67 did not affect toxicity (ALT, histology), APAP bioactivation (total glutathione), or oxidative stress (oxidized glutathione), but did reduce expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) at 52 h. We then measured GSK3β phosphorylation and found it was dramatically decreased by FSG67 at 24 h, before PCNA dropped. Expression of cyclin D1, downstream of Wnt/β-catenin, was also reduced. To determine if the effect of FSG67 on GSK3β is important, we treated mice with FSG67 and L803-mts after APAP. Importantly, L803-mts rescued hepatocyte proliferation and survival. Our data indicate PA and lysoPA may support recovery after APAP overdose by inhibiting GSK3β.
Evaluating Liquidity Measures

We propose to numerical solve for the equilibrium in a dynamic limit order market with a market maker and a large trader. Using the simulated data, we will evaluate commonly used measures of transaction costs and liquidity, such as the Amihud illiquidity measure, Kyle's, the PIN measure and spread measures. Varying the structural parameters of the model, such as the gains to trade, the degree of asymmetric information, the arrival rate of traders and the volatility of the underlying cash flows we can determine how each of these measures changes with changes in the economic fundamentals. As all these measures have been used to explain asset returns, this exercise will allow us to determine which economic fundamentals are priced. We propose to solve a model with risk-neutral agents who arrive randomly at the market for an asset that has both common and private components to its value. Agents will have different information about the common value, i.e., the present value of the future cash flows on the asset. Thus, there will be adverse selection: prior to his first entry in to the market, each agent chooses whether to buy information about the fundamental value of the asset. An informed agent views the current expected value of the cash flows on each entry, where as an uninformed agent forms an estimate of this value based on market observables. On arrival, each agent chooses either to buy or sell one share. If his order does not execute, here visits the market and can revise his order. Thus, agents face a dynamic problem: the actions they take at any point in time incorporate the possibility of future reentry. We will incorporate a market maker into this framework. Specifically, there will be an uninformed agent who is always in the market who bears a cost of holding inventories. In addition, we will introduce a large trader who submits market orders within a short time period. The out put of the model will be a time series of limit order books, including cancellations and transactions. In addition, we will observe market maker participation rates and inventories, and how the large trader splits his orders. Using this time series, we will construct standard transaction cost proxies. We will then vary the underlying parameters in the model to measure the changes in these proxies.
Who Curates Recent American Wars? Looking in Arlington Cemetery and at The Wall That Heals

War, a central research topic in international relations, has traditionally been studied through the portal of states trying to manage an anarchic environment through war and diplomacy. Certain cat...
Chemical Compositions and Biological Activities of Leaf Essential Oils of Twelve Species of Piper from Monteverde, Costa Rica:

The leaf essential oils of twelve species of Piper (Piperaceae) from Monteverde, Costa Rica (Piper aequale, Piper amalago, Piper biasperatum, Piper bredemeyeri, Piper dotanum, Piper fimbriulatum, P...
Low-Latency Graph Streaming Using Compressed Purely-Functional Trees.

Due to the dynamic nature of real-world graphs, there has been a growing interest in the graph-streaming setting where a continuous stream of graph updates is mixed with arbitrary graph queries. In principle, purely-functional trees are an ideal choice for this setting due as they enable safe parallelism, lightweight snapshots, and strict serializability for queries. However, directly using them for graph processing would lead to significant space overhead and poor cache locality. This paper presents C-trees, a compressed purely-functional search tree data structure that significantly improves on the space usage and locality of purely-functional trees. The key idea is to use a chunking technique over trees in order to store multiple entries per tree-node. We design theoretically-efficient and practical algorithms for performing batch updates to C-trees, and also show that we can store massive dynamic real-world graphs using only a few bytes per edge, thereby achieving space usage close to that of the best static graph processing frameworks. To study the efficiency and applicability of our data structure, we designed Aspen, a graph-streaming framework that extends the interface of Ligra with operations for updating graphs. We show that Aspen is faster than two state-of-the-art graph-streaming systems, Stinger and LLAMA, while requiring less memory, and is competitive in performance with the state-of-the-art static graph frameworks, Galois, GAP, and Ligra+. With Aspen, we are able to efficiently process the largest publicly-available graph with over two hundred billion edges in the graph-streaming setting using a single commodity multicore server with 1TB of memory.
Alertness and cognitive control: Testing the spatial grouping hypothesis

Alertness seems to influence selective attention processes underlying cognitive control in the flanker task, as indicated by previous findings of larger congruency effects on alert trials (in which task stimuli are preceded by alerting cues) than on no-alert trials. One hypothesis for the alerting-congruency interaction is that increased alertness promotes spatial grouping of the target and distractors. In the present study, the author tested the spatial grouping hypothesis in three experiments in which the spatial alignment (collinearity) of the target and distractors was manipulated. Reliable alerting-congruency interactions were obtained, and congruency effects on response times were smaller for misaligned stimuli than for aligned stimuli in all experiments. However, the alerting-congruency interactions were not consistently modulated by alignment, contrary to a prediction derived from the spatial grouping hypothesis. The results suggest that spatial grouping is not a viable mechanism for explaining the alerting-congruency interaction in the flanker task, helping to prune the space of theoretical possibilities for linking alertness to cognitive control.
Analysis of the military-economic potential of some countries of the world

The article is interesting for specialists, both in economic and defense spheres. In the context of increasing tension in relations between the states, of the world there is an increase in their defense budgets and the increase in the number of new weapons and military equipment systems and their evolutionary development. Such a reaction of states is logical, since it is the build-up of military capabilities that will ensure the protection of national interests. At the same time, the basis for the development of military might is the economy, which provides the opportunity to manufacture and procure weapons. It is the degree of economic development of the state that allows it to move scientific and technological progress and realize its results in all spheres of social activity, including the production of high-tech weapons. The article shows the relationship between such concepts as economic potential and military potential of the state, namely the impossibility of developing a military potential without the development of economic potential. Having carried out mathematical calculations on the basis of selected indicators of potentials, the military-economic potentials of some advanced states of the world, as well as some developing countries, were discovered. possibility of development of military potential without development of economic potential are shown. Such a comparative analysis allowed to partly assess the balance of power in the world and draw conclusions about understanding of the processes of interaction between states.
Sexual Violence, Stalking, and Intimate Partner Violence by Sexual Orientation, United States.

Objectives The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence (IPV) across sexual orientation groups among U.S. adults. Method From 2010 to 2012, national probability samples (n = 41,174) of English- or Spanish-speaking noninstitutionalized U.S. adults were interviewed to assess the prevalence of violence and injury as part of the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey. National estimates across sexual orientation groups were compared. Results Compared with heterosexual women, both bisexual women and lesbians experienced more contact sexual violence (CSV) and noncontact unwanted sexual violence by any perpetrator. In addition, bisexual women experienced more stalking by any perpetrator, IPV, and IPV-related impact than did heterosexual women. Compared with lesbians, bisexual women reported more CSV and stalking by any perpetrator, IPV, and IPV-related impact. Compared with heterosexual men, both bisexual and gay men experienced more CSV and noncontact unwanted sexual violence, and gay men experienced more stalking. Although there were no detected statistically significant differences in the prevalence of IPV overall, gay men did report more IPV-related impacts compared with heterosexual men. Conclusion Results reveal a significantly elevated burden of violence experienced by certain sexual minorities.
Surgical Outcomes of Ventricular Assist Device Patients with Pre-Existing Diabetes: A Single Center Study

Introduction Diabetes mellitus (DM) is considered to be a risk factor for adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). There are limited studies regarding DM as a risk factor for long-term surgical outcomes of ventricular assist device (VAD) patients. Hypothesis After reviewing a benchmark article regarding VADs and DM, we hypothesized that a pre-implantation diagnosis of DM in our patients with VADs would result in a higher incidence of adverse surgical events and mortality. Methods In a retrospective medical chart review of VAD patients (n=188) implanted from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2017, we created two patient cohort groups: non-DM group (126) and DM group (62). We analyzed the following at 6, 12, and 24 months post-implant: INTERMACS profile status, hemolysis, sepsis, driveline infections, thrombus, gastrointestinal bleed, stroke, and overall survival. Results The log-rank test was insignificant for all time points, indicating there is no difference in 6, 12, or 24 months survival probabilities or rate of most adverse events post-implantation between the two groups. However, the test did show a statistically significant difference for the time until sepsis occurred (p- = 0.009, z = 6.907) between the two groups, showing a higher probability of sepsis occurring in the DM group. Conclusions Despite DM being a risk factor for adverse outcomes in HF patients, our study is in agreeance with a recent 2017 study showing that DM does not increase the rate of mortality or adverse events in these patients aside from rate of sepsis. Tight glucose control should be ensured following VAD placement as this may be responsible for the lack of increase in adverse events one would expect in these patients following the procedure. Additionally, extra efforts should be made to educate DM patients and emphasize infection prophylaxis by limiting movement of the percutaneous lead exit site.
Risk, Uncertainty in Risk, and the EPA Release Limits for Radioactive Waste Disposal

A conceptual model for the organization and execution of a performance assessment of a radioactive waste disposal site, including uncertainty and sensitivity analysis, is described. This model is based on a formal definition of risk as a collection of ordered triples, where the first element in each triple is a set of similar occurrences, the second element is the probability or frequency of the first element, and the third element is a vector of consequences associated with the first element. This division of risk into its three constituent parts provides a useful model for the structure of a performance assessment for several reasons. First, it provides a clear distinction between the major parts of a performance assessment. Second, it provides a way to distinguish between different types of uncertainty, including completeness, aggregation, model selection, imprecisely known variables, and stochastic variation. Third, it leads naturally to the representation of stochastic variation with a complementary cumulative distribution function (CCDF) and the representation of state of knowledge uncertainty with a family or distribution of CCDFs. Fourth, it provides a context in which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency limits for radioactive releases to the accessible environment can be represented and calculated. The preceding ideasmore » are illustrated with results obtained in a preliminary performance assessment for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in southeastern New Mexico.« less
Clinical Outcomes of Ventricular Assist Device for Failing Bidirectional Glenn Physiology

Purpose The number of patients with failing single ventricle physiology is increasing, and ventricular assist device (VAD) support in this population is challenging. The purpose of this study was to describe our clinical experience with VAD for failing Glenn physiology. Methods A retrospective review of clinical outcomes was conducted in patients that underwent durable VAD placement for failing Glenn circulation between 2010 and 2020 at Texas Children's Hospital. Results Ten patients met inclusion criteria; all had a morphologic right ventricle (RV): 6 hypoplastic left heart syndrome/variant and 4 with isomerism with RV dominant atrioventricular septal defect. INTERMACS profiles were 1 in 3 patients (1 with ECMO) and 2 in 7 patients. Four patients were intubated. Age, weight, and body surface area at VAD implantation were 3.2 (0.9-10.1) years, 13.0 (7.7-22.8) kg, and 0.50 (0.36-0.90) m2, respectively. The device-strategy included HVAD in 6, Jarvik 2015 in 1, and Berlin cannula (with Berlin and/or Rotaflow pumps) in 3. Concomitant Fontan completion was performed in 5 patients (1 with fenestration), while the other 5 remained with Glenn circulation. PaO2/FiO2 ratio (median, range) on postoperative day 1 was significantly higher with Fontan completion [192 (53-336)] than without [76 (59-78), p=0.05] except a patient with Glenn circulation on ECMO. The median duration of mechanical ventilation after VAD was 2 days (range, 1 - 14). There was 1 early mortality 8 days after HVAD placement with Fontan completion due to neurologic insult intraoperatively. The remaining 9 patients (90%) were bridged to transplant at a median support duration of 3.8 (0.1-16.6) months. Five of the 6 HVAD patients were able to be discharged home prior to transplant. One patient encountered a pump thrombus requiring pump exchange and 1 patient suffered a thromboembolic stroke due to a mobile intraventricular thrombus. One patient had a subdural and subarachnoid hemorrhage 27 days after VAD implantation, with complete neurologic recovery without deficits. Conclusion This single-institutional experience suggests long term VAD support is sustainable for failing Glenn physiology with accompanying Fontan completion in selected patients. Further studies are warranted to optimize long term VAD support in this challenging population.
Perioperative blood loss after embolization of hypervascular musculoskeletal tumors outside of the spine: A single-center ten year experience and systematic review of the literature

Abstract Purpose To evaluate outcomes following trans-arterial embolization of hypervascular appendicular bony tumors in patients undergoing orthopedic resection by performing a systematic review including data from the authors' institution. Materials and methods From April 2008 to August 2018, 73 patients (59 males, mean age 58.1 years) with musculoskeletal tumors presented for embolization for preoperative devascularization prior to orthopedic surgery. A retrospective chart review was performed to identify demographic, procedural and surgical data. A systematic review of the Pubmed, Medline, and Web of Science databases was performed to identify studies in which pre-operative embolization was performed of appendicular MSK tumors, and with measurements of estimated blood loss. All the variables listed above were recorded. A patient level analysis was performed to determine average estimated blood loss. Results 58 patients (47 men, 11 women, range 21–84 years) were included in our institutional analysis. The median EBL was 500 mL (range 100–3000). There was no difference in EBL between RCC (719.6 ± 626.1) and non-RCC groups (855.6 ± 657.5); p = 0.44. The median intra-operative transfusion requirement was 1.0 unit (range 0–8 ± 2.06). From 1984 to 2015, 9 studies were identified that provided data for a total of 118 patients (46 males, 42 females, range 10–82 years). The mean and median post-surgical EBL across all patients was 976.9 ± 78.5 (SE) and 725 mL (range 10–7000), respectively. There were no complications related to non-target embolization. Conclusion Preoperative trans-arterial embolization of hypervascular MSK neoplasms appears to be safe and effective in minimizing peri- and post-operative bleeding while keeping transfusion requirements low.
The major life events taxonomy: Social readjustment, social media information sharing, and online network separation during times of life transition

Abstract When people experience major life changes, this often impacts their self‐presentation, networks, and online behavior in substantial ways. To effectively study major life transitions and ev...
Statewide vaping product excise tax policy and use of electronic nicotine delivery systems among US young adults, 2014-2019.

Objectives An increasing number of US states have required a tax on electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) in the past few years. This study evaluated the effect of statewide vaping product excise tax policy on ENDS use among young adults. Methods We used the two recent waves (2014–2019) of the Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey. A total of 17 896 US young adults were analysed. Difference-in-differences approach along with weighted multilevel logistic regressions were used to evaluate the association of vaping product excise tax policy adoption with current ENDS use, accounting for the clustering of respondents within the same states. Results There was an increase in current ENDS use prevalence from 2014–2015 (3.4%) to 2018–2019 (5.4%). The presence of a tax on ENDS products was significantly associated with reduced current ENDS use (adjusted OR (AOR)=0.64, 95% CI=0.43 to 0.95). Importantly, respondents living in states with the policy showed significantly lower increase in ENDS use prevalence during the study period (interaction between within-state changes and between-state differences: AOR=0.57, 95% CI=0.35 to 0.91), controlling for other state-level policies and sociodemographic characteristics. Conclusions Our findings suggest that adopting a vaping product excise tax policy may help reduce ENDS use and suppress the increase of ENDS use prevalence among young adults. Considering that there are still a number of US states that have not implemented vaping product excise tax policy, wider adoption of such policy across the nation would likely help mitigate ENDS use prevalence.
BLUFF EROSION OF A MISSISSIPPI RIVER MEANDER AT PORT HUDSON, LOUISIANA

The rate of bluff erosion has been monitored and related processes examined on a Mississippi River meander bend at Port Hudson, Louisiana, from 1971 to mid-1980. The erosion data were analyzed using a stepwise multiple regression analysis to determine the conditions controlling the amount and distribution of bluff erosion. The results indicate a pattern of decreasing bluff erosion that is attributed to downstream migration of the zone of maximum basal scour. Bluff retreat in the period of active basal undercutting (1971 to mid-1975) was 18.9m/year and in the following period of decreased basal scour activity (mid-1975 to mid-1980) was 6.8m/year. Approximately, 61% of the erosion was associated with rising river levels. The data also indicated that 66% of the erosion occurred at bankfull discharge stage or above. Conditions that produce bluff erosion were found to vary between the two eriosion periods and also as river levels rose or fell in each of the periods. During the actively undercutting period, pre...
Turbulence in the Interstellar Medium

Interstellar turbulence is expected to dissipate quickly in the absence of continuous energy input. I examine the energy available for driving the turbulence from six likely mechanisms: magnetorotational instability, gravitational instability, protostellar outflows, H II region expansion, stellar winds, and supernovae. I conclude that supernovae contribute far more energy than the other mechanisms, and so form the most likely driving mechanism.
Re-Enacting the Enlightenment's Rights: Foucault, UN Peacekeeping, Human Rights and the Unintended Consequences of Reforming Punishment Institutions in Haiti

This paper builds upon a chapter of my recently published book, entitled Governing Disorder, UN Peace Operations, International Security and Democratization in the Post-Cold War era (Penn State University Press, 2011). It adopts Michel Foucault’s theoretical tools to explore the formation, after the end of the Cold War, of a consensus that reframed international intervention in terms of “responsibility to protect” and promotion of human rights, and the effects (partially unintended) of the translation of this consensus into policy in UN peacekeeping operations. Specifically, I trace back the blueprint of the United Nations’ mission in Haiti political rationality to the Enlightenment’s prescriptions for punishment institutions reform. I ascribe the reasons for the failure of the UN project to the unreflective application of an ethnocentric political rationality that is blind to the specific costs and trade offs the implementation of its normative claims demand. I conclude that the debate about rights should expand beyond assessments of normative claims and explore human rights promotion in the context of the material conditions of the societies where they are deployed.
Comparative study of acidic peroxidases associated with induced resistance in cucumber, muskmelon and watermelon

Inoculation of one leaf of cucumber, muskmelon or watermelon with Colletotrichum lagenarium induces a systemic increase in soluble peroxidase activity. Increased total activity is reflected in an increase in activity in intercellular wash fluids of leaf tissue. The specific activity of peroxidase extracted from intercellular wash fluids from systemically induced leaves was at least two-fold higher than specific activity extracted from control leaves. Intercellular peroxidase migrates as a cluster of three bands on high pH native polyacrylamide gels, and the patterns are similar for cucumber, muskmelon and watermelon. The peroxidases are c. 30 kD as determined by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Antibodies raised against cucumber intercellular peroxidase reacted with muskmelon and watermelon peroxidases in patterns of partial identity in the Ouchterloney double diffusion assay.
Triiodothyronine amplifies norepinephrine stimulation of uncoupling protein gene transcription by a mechanism not requiring protein synthesis

Transcription of the uncoupling protein (UCP) gene in rat brown adipose tissue has been evaluated by a nuclear run-on transcription assay. Nuclei from euthyroid rats treated with norepinephrine (NE) exhibited a 3-4-fold increase in transcription 2 h after the injection, whereas the UCP mRNA abundance increased 2-3-fold during the same interval. In contrast, neither UCP mRNA nor the transcription rate increased in response to the same treatment in hypothyroid rats, but the transcriptional response was recovered 2 h after the injection of a receptor saturating dose of 3,5,3'-L-triiodothyronine (T3). When injected to rats given T3 4 h before, NE increased UCP gene transcription and mRNA abundance by 4-5 and 3-4-fold, respectively, by 2 h. Neither cycloheximide nor emetine prevented this effect of T3. In euthyroid rats, the UCP gene transcription rate increased within 15 min of exposure to 4 degrees C. In contrast, in hypothyroid rats exposed to 4 degrees C overnight the transcription rate remained unchanged, but it started to increase steeply 2 h after the intravenous injection of a receptor saturating dose of T3 with UCP mRNA lagging approximately 1 h behind. Unilateral denervation of interscapular brown adipose tissue in hypothyroid rats caused a 60-70% ipsilateral reduction in transcription rate and UCP mRNA. When T3 was given to these rats, it only stimulated UCP gene transcription and UCP mRNA accumulation in the intact side, but there was a symmetrical stimulation when NE was injected following the T3. We conclude that the UCP gene is under dual control by T3 and NE. The primary signal seems to be generated by NE. This signal increases UCP mRNA by stimulating the transcription rate of the UCP gene. From the denervation experiments and the lack of response of UCP to NE in hypothyroid rats, we estimate that T3 amplifies 4-5-fold the transcriptional response to NE. No stabilization of UCP mRNA needs to be invoked to explain the acute effect of T3. The T3-dependent signal amplifying the NE effect is consistent with being the T3-receptor complex or another T3-derived signal that is neither a newly synthesized protein nor a rapidly turned-over pre-existing protein, activated by T3.
Limitations of Randomized Control Designs in Psychotherapy Research

Despite the growing influence of lists of empirically supported therapies (ESTs) there are concerns about the design and conduct of this body of research. These concerns include limitations inherent in the requirements of randomized control trials (RCTs) that favor those psychotherapies that define problems and outcome in terms of uncomplicated symptoms. Additional concerns have to do with criteria for patient selection, lack of integration with research on psychotherapy process and effectiveness studies, limited outcome criteria, and lack of controls for experimenter bias. RCT designs have an important place in outcome research; however it is important to recognize that these designs also place restrictions on what and how psychotherapy can be studied. There is a need for large scale psychotherapy outcome research based on designs that allow for inclusion of process variables and the study of the effects of those idiographic approaches to therapy that do not lend themselves to RCT designs. Interpretative phenomenological analysis may provide a useful method for the evaluation of the effectiveness of idiographic approaches to psychotherapy where outcome is not understood solely in terms of symptom reduction.
Shear sensitive silicon piezoresistive tactile sensor prototype

Shear sensing ability it important in many fields such as robotics, rehabilitation, teleoperation and human computer interfaces. A shear sensitive tactile sensor prototype is developed based on the principles of the piezoresistive effect in silicon, and using microfabrication technology. Analogous to the conventional silicon piezoresistive pressure sensor, piezoresistive resistors embedded in a silicon diaphragm are used to sense stress change. An additional mesa is fabricated on the top of the diaphragm and serves to transform an applied force to a stress. Both the shear and normal components of the force are resolved by measuring the resistance changes of the four resistors placed at the corners of a prism mesa. The prototype is tested both statically and dynamically when a spatial force of 0 - 300 gram is applied. Good linearity (R > 0.98) and high repeatability are observed. In this paper, the force sensing mechanism and force determination approach are described. The fabrication process is presented. The preliminary testing results are presented and discussed.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Browse the power engineering virtual library

While the World Wide Web (WWW, or simply, the Web) has revolutionized the use of the Internet and has ushered in the software end of the National Information Infrastructure (NII), its explosive growth has made it difficult to search for information. One solution to this organizational problem has been the creation of WWW virtual libraries (Vlibs), one per subject area. This article describes the WWW Virtual Library for Power Engineering, which serves as a central repository of links or pointers (home page) for power engineering informational resources on the Internet. >
Left Ventricular Residual Volume in the Intact and Denervated Dog Heart

Left ventricular volumes were measured at rest and during electrically stimulated muscular exercise in 28 anesthetized dogs. Volumes were calculated from images obtained during biplane cineangiofluorography. Under control resting conditions from 30 to 55% of the diastolic volume of the left ventricle remained after ejection. This residual volume of blood became an immediate source of the increased ventricular output during the beginning of exercise. Following vagectomy, sympathectomy, and total cardiac denervation, the ability to increase cardiac output during exercise persisted, but was accomplished by increased ventricular filling rather than by diminution of the residual volume.
Big Marijuana — Lessons from Big Tobacco

The tobacco industry has unfortunately provided a detailed road map for marijuana: deny addiction potential, downplay adverse health effects, create as large a market as possible, and protect it through lobbying, campaign contributions, and other advocacy efforts.
Ruptured aneurysm of the inferior thyroid artery: Repair with coil embolization

Although pseudoaneurysm of the thyrocervical trunk is seen with increasing frequency as a result of trauma or central venous cannulation, true aneurysm of the thyrocervical trunk is exceedingly rare. A 44-year-old woman presented with acute left neck swelling that progressed rapidly to respiratory distress and subsequent hemothorax. Emergency endotracheal intubation was performed for airway control, and tube thoracostomy was placed for drainage of the pleural space. A review of the literature reveals that this is the second patient known to be successfully treated by arterial embolization of a ruptured aneurysm of the inferior thyroid artery and the fifteenth known case of aneurysm of the inferior thyroid artery. Surgical or endovascular intervention has been successful. Observation has been uniformly fatal. Because life-threatening rupture is possible, the presence of this aneurysm mandates intervention. Endovascular coil embolization is a viable option for treatment of this entity.
Roles of intracellular and extracellular calcium in the kinetic profile of adrenocorticotropin secretion by perifused rat anterior pituitary cells. I. Corticotropin-releasing factor stimulation.

We examined the effects of removing extracellular Ca2+ (Ca2+ e), depleting intracellular Ca2+ (Ca2+i), inhibiting Ca2+-dependent calmodulin, blocking voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels, and combining Ca2+i depletion with exposure to glucocorticoid on the secretion of ACTH by perifused dispersed rat anterior pituitary cells stimulated with ovine CRF and 8-bromocAMP (8-Br-cAMP). A time-course analysis of the effect of perifusing the cells for 60 min with Ca2+-free medium on 10 nM CRF-stimulated ACTH release revealed that inhibition required about 3 min to begin and about 40 min to reach maximal effect. Within 2 min of restoring Ca2+ to the medium, ACTH secretion rebounded for about 5 min before falling to the pre-Ca2+e removal rate. A similar pattern and time course were observed when Ca2+e was more completely removed by perifusing the cells with Ca2+-free medium containing 2 mM EGTA, except that greater suppression was observed. Removing Ca2+e reduced CRF- and 5 mM 8-Br-cAMP-induced ACTH release by 54% and 49...