cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
E-046 complex flow diverter treatment of an atypical large aneurysm at an obscured basilar artery fenestration

Introduction Basilar fenestration aneurysms are rare, challenging intracranial vascular lesions with atypical anatomy. The posterior circulation represents a difficult therapeutic dilemma due to the close proximity of crucial life sustaining brainstem structures. Flow diverter technology became available a few years ago, however, its use has been limited in the posterior circulation. Methods We present the case of a 49-year-old female with a history of smoking, who was diagnosed with a symptomatic, large vertebrobasilar junction (VBJ) aneurysm. Initially thought to be a proximal basilar dilatation, the aneurysm was later found to arise from an obscured and distended basilar fenestration. The small caliber fenestration limbs were the only access to the distal basilar artery, but stretched laterally and concealed by the aneurysm fundus. Results We successfully treated this complex lesion by flow diverter deployment through one of the obscured fenestration limbs, followed by coiling of the aneurysm fundus, and sacrificing the contralateral vertebral artery. A six-month follow-up angiogram showed remodeling of the basilar artery, and complete occlusion of the aneurysm. The patient had an excellent clinical outcome. Conclusion To our knowledge, direct flow diverter deployment in a small fenestration limb for the treatment of a VBJ aneurysm with reconstruction of the basilar artery has not been reported. Careful diagnostic workup, multidisciplinary discussions, and the innovative use of versatile endovascular technology were crucial to achieve an optimal result in our case. Further studies are necessary to establish the safety and long-term efficacy of this treatment method. Disclosures G. Toth: None. M. Bain: None. F. Hui: None.
What is (not) web localization in translation studies: A prototype approach

In the midst of a shift from paper to digital texts, web localization represents one of the fastest growing sectors in the translation industry. In this paper, I will argue that Translation Studies (TS) has not devoted enough attention to this phenomenon, partly due to the lack of definition and delimitation of the object of study, and partly due to the quickly evolving intersection of technology, digital text and novel forms of language and culture mediation. In order to overcome this situation and promote new research in this area, this paper extends the prototype approach advocated by Halverson (1999, 2002) to the definition of web localization. This type of approach can help bridge the gap between industry and TS disciplines, providing a framework to classify exemplars of web-mediated communication more or less at the core of the study of web localization phenomena. The main features that this paper will propose as prototypical features of web localization in relation to other translational phenomena are: (1) that the object of the process is web digital genres (i.e. corporate websites, social networking sites, institutional sites), and that (2) texts are digital and hyperlinked. The proposed web genre classification by Jimenez-Crespo (2013a) will be reviewed as a potential foundation to identify exemplars of the web localization prototype.
Hope (in a Hotter Time) (2007)

W e like optimistic people. They are fun, often funny, and very often capable of doing amazing things otherwise thought to be impossible. Were I stranded on a life raft in the middle of the ocean and had a choice between an optimist and pessimist as a companion, I’d want an optimist, providing he did not have a liking for human flesh. Optimism, however, is often rather like a Yankee fan believing that the team can win the game when it’s the bottom of the ninth, they’re up by a run, with two outs, a two-strike count against a. 200 hitter, and Mariano Rivera in his prime is on the mound. He or she is optimistic for good reason. The Red Sox fans, on the other hand, believe in salvation by small percentages and hope for a hit to get the runner home from second base and tie the game. Optimism is the recognition that the odds are in your favor; hope is the faith that things will work out whatever the odds. Hope is a verb with its sleeves rolled up. Hopeful people are actively engaged in defying the odds or changing the odds. Optimism leans back, puts its feet up, and wears a confident look, knowing that the deck is stacked.
An Objective Revaluation of Photograms by László Moholy-Nagy

ABSTRACT Throughout his career, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy (1895–1946) produced many photograms, a selection of which was examined in European and American collections. Sheet dimensions and thickness, base color, surface gloss and texture were recorded. The analysis of the data and the results of this investigation are presented in this article. The article also explores the effectiveness of paper characterization and how it can contribute to and enhance historical research when applied to a particular body of work by one artist.
US Immigration Policy and the Case for Family Unity

As the Trump administration contemplates immigration reform, it is important to better understand what works and what does not in the current system. This paper reviews and critically evaluates the...
Design of a low parasitic inductance SiC power module with double-sided cooling

In this paper, a low parasitic inductance SiC power module with double-sided cooling is designed and compared with a baseline double-sided cooled module. With the unique 3D layout utilizing vertical interconnection, the power loop inductance is effectively reduced without sacrificing the thermal performance. Both simulations and experiments are carried out to validate the design. Q3D simulation results show a power loop inductance of 1.63 nH, verified by the experiment, indicating more than 60% reduction of power loop inductance compared with the baseline module. With 0Ω external gate resistance turn-off at 600V, the voltage overshoot is less than 9% of the bus voltage at a load of 44.6A.
From Adhesion to Wetting: Contact Mechanics at the Surfaces of Super-Soft Brush-Like Elastomers

Fundamental understanding of rigid particle indentation into soft elastic substrates has been elusive for decades. In conventional heterogeneous and multicomponent systems, the ill-defined interplay between elastic and capillary forces has confounded explanation of the crossover region between the classical wetting and adhesion regimes. Herein, we study the indentation behavior of micrometer-sized silica particles on supersoft, solvent-free PDMS elastomers with brush-like network strands. By varying the side chain grafting density and the cross-linking density of the networks, we control their elastic modulus from ∼1 to 100 kPa without adding solvent. This isostructurally regulated balance between elastic and capillary forces allows for accurate mapping of the entire range of particle–substrate interactions by measuring indentation depth as a function of substrate stiffness and particle radius. A generalized theoretical model, accounting for the collaborative contribution of both forces to the system free...
Reasons Why Children and Adolescents With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Stop and Restart Taking Medicine.

Objective To describe the prevalence of reasons why children and adolescents stop and restart attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medicine and whether functional impairment is present after stopping medicine.
Fibril Structure and Fibrillogenesis

Amyloid fibrils are protein aggregates with a characteristic cross-β structure found in association with many human diseases. This chapter begins with a review of some basics of protein biochemistry and the theory of amyloid formation. The rest of the chapter focuses on the biophysical understanding of amyloid formation, touching on the kinetics and thermodynamics of fibril formation, different tools that can be used to probe fibril formation, and current theories on the mechanism of fibril formation. Finally, we discuss current structural approaches for the study of amyloid fibrils and several structural models that have been proposed as a result of these studies.
Association of Surgical Practice Patterns and Clinical Outcomes With Surgeon Training in University- or Nonuniversity-Based Residency Program.

Importance Important metrics of residency program success include the clinical outcomes achieved by trainees after transitioning to practice. Previous studies have shown significant differences in reported training experiences of general surgery residents at nonuniversity-based residency (NUBR) and university-based residency (UBR) programs. Objective To examine the differences in practice patterns and clinical outcomes between surgeons trained in NUBR and those trained in UBR programs. Design, Setting, and Participants This observational cohort study linked the claims data of patients who underwent general surgery procedures in New York, Florida, and Pennsylvania between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2013, to demographic and training information of surgeons in the American Medical Association Physician Masterfile. Patients who underwent a qualifying procedure were grouped by surgeon. Practice pattern analysis was performed on 3638 surgeons and 1 237 621 patients, representing 214 residency programs. Clinical outcomes analysis was performed on 2301 surgeons and 312 584 patients. Data analysis was conducted from February 1, 2017, to July 31, 2017. Exposures NUBR or UBR training status. Main Outcomes and Measures Inpatient mortality, complications, and prolonged length of stay. Results No significant differences were observed between the NUBR-trained surgeons and UBR-trained surgeons in age (mean, 53.3 years vs 53.7 years), sex (female, 18.2% vs 16.9%), or years of clinical experience (mean, 16.5 years vs 16.5 years). Overall, NUBR-trained surgeons compared with UBR-trained surgeons performed more procedures (median interquartile range [IQR], 328 [93-661] vs 164 [49-444];P Conclusions and Relevance Surgeons trained in NUBR and UBR programs have distinct practice patterns. After controlling for patient, procedure, and hospital factors, no differences were observed in the inpatient outcomes between the 2 groups.
MOLECULAR ENGINEERING: THE DESIGN AND SYNTHESIS OF CATALYSTS FOR THE RAPID 4-ELECTRON REDUCTION OF MOLECULAR OXYGEN TO WATER

“Molecular engineering” has been used to design and synthesize a successful catalyst for the 4-electron reduction of molecular oxygen to water. This catalyst operates at rates near those of the enzyme cytochrome-c oxidase and two orders of magnitude greater than the best catalyst currently available, platinum. Knowledge of biochemical and inorganic reaction mechanisms suggested the catalyst design. This required construction of binary cyclophane porphyrins with a cofacial orientation which would permit the simultaneous interaction of two metal centers with one oxygen molecule. Early cofacial porphyrins were linked by functionalized aryl substituents on the meso position of the porphyrin ring and were ineffective as catalysts. More flexible and sophisticated syntheses led to two series of porphyrins with alkyl bridges attached at the meso and β positions of the porphyrin rings. In this way, the length of the bridges could be varied. The technique of rotating ring-disk voltammetry showed that the dicobalt β-linked dimer with 4-atom bridges, 17b, was an excellent catalyst for the 4-electron reduction, generating <4% hydrogen peroxide. HPLC analysis of the free-base precursor to 17b showed it was a mixture of three components, two of which were shown by mass spectroscopic analysis to bear monochloro substituents on one of the porphyrin rings. The chlorinated dimer was a better catalyst than the unfunctionalized parent, and this observation supports the concept that electronegative substituents may enhance the properties of these electrode catalysts. The heterobimetallic cobalt-aluminum and palladium-cobalt relatives of 17b behave catalytically as monomeric porphyrins. These and other observations have suggested a mechanism for this important multi-electron redox reaction which takes place in aqueous acid at a graphite electrode.
Student Perceptions of Active-Learning Strategies Utilized in a Drugs in Pregnancy Elective Delivered Synchronously Across Multiple Campuses

Active-learning activities can be successfully implemented into a course even when instructors are not in the same physical classroom as students. Technology can assist with synchronous distance education as well as facilitate active learning. This manuscript describes student perceptions of active learning activities in a re-designed drugs in pregnancy course that was delivered synchronously to two student campuses with the instructor at an off-campus site. Small and large group discussions, team-based learning activities, case scenario exercises, and a debate were conducted within the course. Padlet™ was the primary software technology incorporated into learning activities. Students reported positive perceptions of the various active learning activities and the technology used in the course. Students also stated they were beneficial for learning. In the post-course survey, students indicated that the course met their expectations overall. Students’ confidence levels for completing tasks related to the course materials significantly increased after completion of the course.
Somatic mutations in benign breast disease tissue and risk of subsequent invasive breast cancer.

Insights into the molecular pathogenesis of breast cancer might come from molecular analysis of tissue from early stages of the disease. We conducted a case–control study nested in a cohort of women who had biopsy-confirmed benign breast disease (BBD) diagnosed between 1971 and 2006 at Kaiser Permanente Northwest and who were followed to mid-2015 to ascertain subsequent invasive breast cancer (IBC); cases (n = 218) were women with BBD who developed subsequent IBC and controls, individually matched (1:1) to cases, were women with BBD who did not develop IBC in the same follow-up interval as that for the corresponding case. Targeted sequence capture and sequencing were performed for 83 genes of importance in breast cancer. There were no significant case–control differences in mutation burden overall, for non-silent mutations, for individual genes, or with respect either to the nature of the gene mutations or to mutational enrichment at the pathway level. For seven subjects with DNA from the BBD and ipsilateral IBC, virtually no mutations were shared. This study, the first to use a targeted multi-gene sequencing approach on early breast cancer precursor lesions to investigate the genomic basis of the disease, showed that somatic mutations detected in BBD tissue were not associated with breast cancer risk.
The Chemical Senses

The systems that underlie the chemical sensations of taste and smell are present in the most primitive of organisms. Even single-cell organisms possess receptors that allow the organisms to respond to chemical signals. Indeed, in most organisms, the chemical senses play a pivotal role in locating food, discriminating acceptable foods from those that are toxic, motivating food intake (that is, regulating appetite), as well as regulating the aspects of social behavior that are critical for reproduction. Hence, the chemical senses underlie the activities that are most basic to the survival of the organism.
1.20 – Foraging

This chapter considers foraging behavior and its connections with learning and memory. The chapter reviews the basic models of foraging that behavioral ecologists have developed over the last 30 years. These models provide an economic framework for the study of foraging. Animals forage in a changing environment, and they must adjust their foraging to these changes. Learning and memory play a key role in making these adjustments. The chapter discusses learning mechanisms, constrained foraging behavior, and how economic principles affect the fitness value of learning. Finally, the chapter reviews the emerging topics of predator avoidance and social foraging and discusses their connections with learning and memory.
Building and Breaking Bonds via a Compact S-Propargyl-Cysteine to Chemically Control Enzymes and Modify Proteins

Analogous to reversible post-translational protein modifications, the ability to attach and subsequently remove modifications on proteins would be valuable for protein and biological research. Although bioorthogonal functionalities have been developed to conjugate or cleave protein modifications, they are introduced into proteins on separate residues and often with bulky side chains, limiting their use to one type of control and primarily protein surface. Here we achieved dual control on one residue by genetically encoding S-propargyl-cysteine (SprC), which has bioorthogonal alkyne and propargyl groups in a compact structure, permitting usage in protein interior in addition to surface. We demonstrated its incorporation at the dimer interface of glutathione transferase for in vivo crosslinking via thiol-yne click chemistry, and at the active site of human rhinovirus 3C protease for masking and then turning on enzyme activity via Pd-cleavage of SprC into Cys. In addition, we installed biotin onto EGFP via Sonogashira coupling of SprC and then tracelessly removed it via Pd cleavage. SprC is small in size, commercially available, nontoxic, and allows for bond building and breaking on a single residue. Genetically encoded SprC will be valuable for chemically controlling proteins with an essential Cys and for reversible protein modifications.
Experimental test of abiotic and biotic factors driving restoration success of Vallisneria americana in the Lower Bay of Green Bay

Abstract The eutrophication of aquatic habitats is a primary driver of ecosystem degradation, often culminating in a switch from a macrophyte-dominated clear water state to a phytoplankton-dominated turbid water state. While numerous studies have documented the ecological implications of this switch, subsequent reductions in nutrient and sediment loading do not consistently result in predictable reversals to macrophyte dominance. Re-introduction of rooted aquatic macrophytes at appropriate scales and species combinations may disrupt these negative feedbacks, although our current limited understanding of these complex mechanisms hinders the development of effective, targeted restoration strategies. We evaluated the potential for restoration of Vallisneria americana (wild celery) in the Lower Bay of Green Bay by altering restoration size and co-planting with the emergent species Schoenoplectus acutus (hardstem bulrush). Wild celery survival among all sites exceeded 90% in 2015 and 110% in 2016. However, in contrast to our expectations the effect of restoration size and interspecific facilitation on survival was either marginal or non-significant. Instead, various environmental effects focused largely on the interaction of water depth, substrate characteristics, and the abundance of unrestored floating macrophytes (i.e. Lemna, Ceratophyllum, and Utricularia spp.) drove variability in restoration success, suggesting that future work focus on identifying restoration methods that can withstand a highly dynamic environment. Our results provide insight into the factors continuing to limit the re-establishment of aquatic macrophytes in degraded systems, suggesting a more limited role of water quality and greater role of interspecific competition and propagule limitation or seedling establishment than previously recognized.
How often do metastatic brain disease patients prescribed ten fractions of whole brain radiation therapy die without completing treatment

e23146Background: Palliative whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) is an established treatment modality for optimizing intracranial disease control in patients with metastatic brain disease, most co...
Old tastes, old stories: Gourmet magazine’s representations of Southeast Asia after the Vietnam War

AbstractThis article examines how Gourmet, the nation’s most influential food magazine, covered Southeast Asia after the Vietnam War. Between its first article in 1969 and its last issue in 2009, G...
A randomized clinical trial investigating perceived burdensomeness as a mediator of brief intervention effects on posttraumatic stress symptoms

Abstract Objective Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent and impairing condition that often involves difficulties with interpersonal functioning. Targeting interpersonal difficulties may be a promising alternative approach to reducing PTSD symptoms, particularly given the relatively low rates of treatment engagement and efficacy for first-line treatments for PTSD. Recent research has identified perceived burdensomeness (i.e., feelings of being a burden on others) and thwarted belongingness (i.e., feeling isolated and as if one does not belong) as two specific interpersonal factors related to increased PTSD symptoms. Thus, the current study tested whether a brief, computerized intervention would reduce PTSD symptoms via reductions in perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness, vs. a repeated contact control condition. Method Hypotheses were tested among 250 trauma-exposed participants who were randomized to receive one of two active computerized interventions designed to target interpersonal factors (i.e., perceived burdensomeness or thwarted belongingness) or anxiety sensitivity, or participate in a repeated contact control condition, as part of a larger randomized clinical trial. Participants were then followed over six-months. Results Results indicated a direct effect of the active interventions on PTSD symptoms at month-one, that was not detected at months three or six. However, there was a significant indirect effect of condition at all-time points, such that reductions in perceived burdensomeness mediated condition effects on PTSD symptoms. Conclusions Findings identify perceived burdensomeness as a potential etiological factor in the maintenance of PTSD symptoms, and suggest that targeting perceived burdensomeness may be an effective approach to reducing PTSD symptoms.
Clinical significance of 12 lead ECG changes in patients undergoing pericardiocentesis for cardiac tamponade.

Introduction: The electrocardiogram (ECG) is one of the initial tests done in patients suspected of having a cardiac Tamponade. Historically the emphasis has been on low QRS voltage and electrical ...
Elicitation of prior probability distributions for a proposed Bayesian randomized clinical trial of whole blood for trauma resuscitation

Background Whole blood trauma resuscitation is conceptually appealing and increasingly used but lacks evidence. A randomized controlled trial is needed but challenging to design. A Bayesian approach might be more efficient and more interpretable than a conventional frequentist design. We report the results on an elicitation meeting to create prior probability distributions to help develop such a trial. Methods In-person expert elicitation meeting, based on Sheffield Elicitation Framework methodology. We used an interactive graphical tool to elicit the quantities of interest (24-hour mortality and certainty required). Two rounds were conducted, with an intervening discussion of deidentified responses. Individual responses were aggregated into probability distributions. Results Fifteen experts participated. The pooled belief was that the median 24-hour mortality of trauma patients with hemorrhagic shock treated with component therapy (the current standard of care) was 19% (95% credible interval [CrI], 6%-45%), and the median 24-hour mortality of those treated with whole blood, 16% (95% CrI, 5%-39%). The pooled prior distribution for the relative risk had a median of 0.84 (95% CrI, 0.26-3.1), indicating that the expert group had a 64% prior belief that whole blood decreases 24-hour mortality compared to component therapy. Conclusions Experts had moderately strong beliefs that whole blood reduces the 24-hour mortality of trauma patients with hemorrhagic shock. These data will assist with the design and planning of a Bayesian trial of whole blood resuscitation, which will help to answer a key question in contemporary transfusion practice.
Improved antibiotic prescribing using indication-based clinical decision support in the emergency department.

Background Evaluate an indication-based clinical decision support tool to improve antibiotic prescribing in the emergency department. Methods Encounters where an antibiotic was prescribed between January 2015 and October 2017 were analyzed before and after the introduction of a clinical decision support tool to improve clinicians' selection of a guideline-approved antibiotic based on clinical indication. Evaluation was conducted on a pre-defined subset of conditions that included skin and soft tissue infections, respiratory infections, and urinary infections. The primary outcome was ordering of a guideline-approved antibiotic prescription at the drug and duration of therapy level. A mixed model following a binomial distribution with a logit link was used to model the difference in proportions of guideline-approved prescriptions before and after the intervention. Results For conditions evaluated, selection rate of a guideline-approved antibiotic for a given indication improved from 67.1% to 72.2% (P < 0.001). When duration of therapy is included as a criterion, selection of a guideline-approved antibiotic was lower and improved from 24.7% to 31.4% (P < 0.001), highlighting that duration of therapy is often missing at the time of prescribing. The most substantial improvements were seen for pneumonia and pyelonephritis with an increase from 87.9% to 97.5% and 62.8% to 82.6%, respectively. Other significant improvements were seen for abscess, cellulitis, and urinary tract infections. Conclusion Antibiotic prescribing can be improved both at the drug and duration of therapy level using a non-interruptive and indication based-clinical decision support approach. Future research and quality improvement efforts are needed to incorporate duration of therapy guidelines into the antibiotic prescribing process.
Development and Implementation of a Complex Health System Intervention Targeting Transitions of Care from Hospital to Post-acute Care

Failure of effective transitions of care following hospitalization can lead to excess days in the hospital, readmissions, and adverse events. Evidence identifies both patient and system factors that influence poor care transitions, yet health systems struggle to translate evidence into complex interventions that have a meaningful impact on care transitions. We report on our experience developing, pilot testing, and evaluating a complex intervention (Addressing Complex Transitions program, or ACT program) that aims to improve care transitions for complex patients. Following the Medical Research Council (MRC) framework, we engaged in iterative, stakeholder-driven work to develop a complex care intervention, assess feasibility and pilot methods, evaluate the intervention in practice, and facilitate ongoing implementation monitoring and dissemination. Patients receiving care from UW Medicine’s health system including 4 hospitals and 20-site Post-Acute Care network. Literature review and prospective data collection activities informed ACT program design. ACT program components include a tailored risk calculator that provides real-time scoring of transitions of care risk factors, a multidisciplinary team with the capacity to address complex barriers to safe transitions, and enhanced discharge workflows to improve care transitions for complex patients. Program evaluation metrics included estimated hospital days saved and program acceptance by care team members. During the 6-month pilot, 565 patients were screened and 97 enrolled in the ACT program. An estimated 664 hospital days were saved for the index admission of ACT program participants. Analysis of pre/post-hospital utilization for ACT program participants showed an estimated 3227 fewer hospital days after ACT program enrollment. Health systems need to address increasingly difficult challenges in care delivery. The use of evidence-based frameworks, such as the MRC framework, can guide systems to design complex interventions that respond to their local context and stakeholder needs.
Data–driven decision–making for lost circulation treatments: A machine learning approach

Abstract Lost circulation is an expensive and critical problem in the drilling operations. Millions of dollars are spent every year to mitigate or stop this problem. In this work, data from over 3000 wells were collected from multiple sources. The data went through a processing step where all outliers were removed and decision rules were set up. Multiple machine learning methods (support vector machine, decision trees, logistic regression, artificial neural networks, and ensemble trees) were used to create a model that can predict the best lost circulation treatment based on the type of loss and the reason of loss. 5-fold cross-validation was conducted to ensure no overfitting in the created model. After using all the aforementioned machine learning methods to train models to choose the best lost circulation treatment, overall, the results showed that support vector machine had the highest accuracy among the other algorithms. Thus, it was selected to train the model. The created model went through quality control/quality assurance (QC/QA) to limit the results of incorrect classification. Two treatments were suggested to treat partial loss, four to treat severe loss, and seven for complete loss, based on the reason of loss. In addition, a formalized methodology to respond to lost circulation was provided to help the drilling personnel handling lost circulation in the field.
General Operational Characteristics of the Gyromonotron

Extensive research work in recent years has established the gyromonotron as an efficient and reliable source of high power millimeter waves. The gyromonotron has found applications in diverse fields of research, such as plasma heating and metal annealing. Here, we present theoretical studies on the optimal operational characteristics of gyromonotrons as a function of the electron beam energy for both the fundamental and the second cyclotron harmonics. These operational characteristics include interaction efficiency, cavity dimensions, and output power. For both the fundamental and the second cyclotron harmonics, the optimum efficiency remains relatively constant for weakly relativistic electron beams but drops at higher energies. Of particular interest is the fact that second cyclotron harmonic interaction efficiency remains as high as 35% even at a beam energy of only 3 keV. An analytical power scaling relation is presented. Through this relation, the optimal operational characteristics, obtained numerically for a fixed cavity mode, could be generalized to arbitrary cavity modes including, for example, the whispering gallery mode. The generalized operational characteristics cover a wide range of beam energy (3 keV - 1 MeV) and output wave power (a few kW to hundreds of MW). Requirements on the gyromonotron differ greatly from one application to another. Consequently, a general picture of the operational characteristics would facilitate the choice of cavity mode, cyclotron harmonic, beam energy, and cavity dimensions for specialized design analyses.
Clostridioides difficile on dairy farms and potential risk to dairy farm workers.

Abstract Clostridioides difficile causes severe colitis in people and is a significant enteric pathogen in many species of animals, including swine, horses, and potentially cattle. C. difficile is shed in feces, and transmission occurs horizontally via the fecal-oral route. Livestock has been suggested as a potential reservoir for C. difficile, and while studies have shown that swine and farm workers can be colonized with identical clones of C. difficile, the zoonotic transmission of C. difficile from livestock to people has not been definitively demonstrated. The goal of this study was to determine whether dairy calves and dairy farm workers harbored genetically similar isolates of C. difficile. First, we validated a glove juice protocol for detecting C. difficile on farm workers’ hands. We then visited 23 farms and collected 1) fecal samples from 92 dairy calves, 2) hand rinsates from 38 dairy farm workers, and 3) fecal samples from five of the dairy farm workers who were willing to submit them. All samples underwent anaerobic culture and qPCR to detect C. difficile. C. difficile was detected on 15 of the farms (65.2%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 42.7%–83.6%) and in 28 calves (30.4%, 95% CI 21.2–40.9%) but in none of the hand rinsates or human fecal samples. Thus, the zoonotic transmission of C. difficile on dairy farms could not be demonstrated, and dairy farmers did not appear to be at increased risk of acquiring C. difficile via the fecal-oral route.
Theoretical band-gap bounds and coupling sensitivity for a waveguide with periodically attached resonating branches

Abstract Elastic metamaterials may exhibit band gaps at wavelengths far exceeding feature sizes. This is attributed to local resonances of embedded or attached substructures. In configurations with attached substructures, such as a pillared plate, waves propagating in the base medium–e.g., the plate portion–experience attenuation at band-gap frequencies. Considering a simplified lumped-parameter model for a waveguide with attached resonating branches, we present a theoretical treatment for a periodic unit cell comprising a base mass-spring chain with a multi-degree-of-freedom, mono-coupled branch. Bloch’s theorem is applied, combined with a sub-structuring approach where the resonating branch is modeled separately and condensed into its effective dynamic stiffness. Thus, the treatment is generally applicable to an arbitrary branch regardless of its size and properties. We provide an analysis–supported by guiding graphical illustrations–that yields an identification of fundamental bounds for the band-gap edges as dictated by the dynamical characteristics of the resonating branch. Analytical sensitivity functions are also derived for the dependence of these bounds on the degree of coupling between the base and the branch. The sensitivity analysis reveals further novel findings including the role of the frequency derivative of the branch dynamic stiffness in providing a direct relation between the band-gap edge locations and variation in the coupling parameters—the mass and stiffness ratios between the base chain and the branch root. In additional analysis, sub-Bragg bounds of an exact model comprising a one-dimensional continuous base–modeled as a rod–and a discrete resonating branch are derived and shown to be tighter than those of the all-discrete model. Finally, the applicability of the derived bounds and sensitivity functions are shown to be valid for a corresponding full two-dimensional finite-element model of a pillared waveguide admitting out-of-plane shear waves.
Critical Quality Predictive Control of Fed-Batch Mammalian Cell Bioreactors

Abstract A model predictive control (MPC) formulation for a mammalian cell fed-batch bioreactor processes is developed. A nonlinear fundamental model for the bioreactor is used to generate a database of historical runs comprising of the measurement variables and the manipulated input feed flow rate to the bioreactor. The database is used with subspace identification methods to develop a state-space model of the process. The identified model is used to design various MPC formulations with different objective criteria, including the conventional trajectory-tracking objective function and a novel terminal objective for maximizing the product yield at completion of a run. Case studies involving the simulated bioreactor process demonstrate the efficacy of the MPC algorithms subject to unknown disturbances, random variations in the inlet feed glucose and glutamine concentrations, and measurement noise. Compared to the traditional proportional-integral control algorithm, the trajectory-tracking predictive control algorithm is able to better track the reference glucose concentration set-point with an improvement of 5.1% in the tracking error. The critical quality attribute predictive control algorithm designed to maximize the product yield results in a 3.9% increase in the product concentration at the completion of the run.
DAHID: Domain Adaptive Host-based Intrusion Detection

Cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important with the explosion of attack surfaces as more cyber-physical systems are being deployed. It is impractical to create models with acceptable performance for every single computing infrastructure and the various attack scenarios due to the cost of collecting labeled data and training models. Hence it is important to be able to develop models that can take advantage of knowledge available in an attack source domain to improve performance in a target domain with little domain specific data.In this work we proposed Domain Adaptive Host-based Intrusion Detection DAHID; an approach for detecting attacks in multiple domains for cybersecurity. Specifically, we implemented a deep learning model which utilizes a substantially smaller amount of target domain data for host-based intrusion detection.In our experiments, we used two datasets from Australian Defense Force Academy; ADFA-WD as the source domain and ADFA-WD:SAA as the target domain datasets. We recorded a significant improvement in Area Under Curve AUC from 83% to 91%, when we fine-tuned a deep learning model trained on ADFA-WD with as little as 20% of ADFA-WD:SAA. Our result shows transfer learning can help to alleviate the need of huge domain specific dataset in building host-based intrusion detection models.
T Cell Suppression by Red Blood Cells is Dependent on Intact Cells and is a Consequence of Blood Bank Processing

Background Red blood cells (RBCs) suppress T-cell responsiveness through a mechanism requiring cell–cell contact. Questions remain as to whether this effect is an allogeneic response, related to cell death, or dependent on particular components of the RBCs. Study Design and Methods Peripheral T cells were isolated from healthy donors and exposed to stored allogeneic RBCs or autologous RBCs after processing. RBCs were lysed by hypotonic solvent to produce cellular ghosts. Tritiated thymidine proliferation assays were utilized. Cultures were saturated with interleukin (IL)-2 to determine whether impaired IL-2 synthesis played a role. Results T-cell proliferation was suppressed by both autologous and allogeneic RBCs. RBC membrane integrity does enhance T-cell suppression. T-cell death is not responsible for the suppressive changes. IL-2 synthesis is suppressed in RBC-exposed T cells but addition of exogenous IL-2 does not rescue proliferative capabilities. Proliferation of T cells was inhibited with RBC exposure but mitigated with the addition of fresh RBCs. Conclusions T-cell suppression is enhanced by intact RBCs but this effect is unrelated solely to alloantigens. Neither apoptosis nor necrosis of T cells contributes to this phenomenon. IL-2 synthesis is suppressed after RBC exposure as a consequence of T-cell inhibition, but is not the primary cause of suppression. Fresh RBCs do not mediate T-cell suppression, indicating that changes in the RBC and development of the storage lesion may occur during initial blood bank processing.
Temporal variations of geyser water chemistry in the Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, USA

[1] Geysers are rare features that reflect a delicate balance between an abundant supply of water and heat and a unique geometry of fractures and porous rocks. Between April 2007 and September 2008, we sampled Old Faithful, Daisy, Grand, Oblong, and Aurum geysers in Yellowstone National Park's Upper Geyser Basin and characterized temporal variations in major element chemistry and water isotopes (δ18O, δD, 3H). We compare these temporal variations with temporal trends of Geyser Eruption Intervals (GEI). SiO2 concentrations and geothermometry indicate that the geysers are fed by waters ascending from a reservoir with temperatures of ∼190 to 210°C. The studied geysers display small and complex chemical and isotopic seasonal variations, and geysers with smaller volume display larger seasonal variations than geysers with larger volumes. Aurum and Oblong Geysers contain detectable tritium concentrations, suggesting that erupted water contains some modern meteoric water. We propose that seasonal GEI variations result from varying degrees of evaporation, meteoric water recharge, water table fluctuations, and possible hydraulic interaction with the adjacent Firehole River. We demonstrate that the concentrations of major dissolved species in Old Faithful Geyser have remained nearly constant since 1884 despite large changes in Old Faithful's eruption intervals, suggesting that no major changes have occurred in the hydrothermal system of the Upper Geyser Basin for >120 years. Our data set provides a baseline for monitoring future changes in geyser activity that might result from varying climate, earthquakes, and changes in heat flow from the underlying magmatic system.
The Role of Market Forces and Legal Institutions in Bonding Cross-Listed Firms

The bonding hypothesis claims that firms can cross list in countries with strong institutions to assure shareholders that managers will not expropriate resources from the firm. However, current research does not examine whether legal institutions and/or market forces lead to this bonding effect. To shed light on the mechanisms that allow firms to bond, I examine the association between country-level institutions and the change in analyst coverage around cross listings. I document that analyst coverage increases after a cross listing in a variety of different host markets, but the increase is highest for firms that list in host markets with strong market forces or strong legal institutions. This suggests that, in addition to traditional legal institutions, market forces can also play a role in bonding cross listed firms.
Cellular Responses to Hypoxia: Role of Oxidant Signal Transduction

The tissues of the body demonstrate a variety of responses to hypoxia. These responses are evident at different levels of organization, ranging from individual cells to the level of the entire organism. For example, at the organismal level the arterial chemoreceptors in the carotid body and aortic arch are responsive to a decrease in arterial PO2 and respond by increasing their rate of neural discharge, thereby stimulating the medullary respiratory centers to increase alveolar ventilation. In the lung, pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells respond to alveolar hypoxia by constricting. During in utero development this response diverts blood flow away from the lung. The response remains active into adulthood, where it helps to improve the matching of ventilation and blood flow in the lungs by redistributing flow away from relatively hypoxic alveoli. At the cellular level, hypoxia elicits a wide range of adaptive responses. For example, many cells respond to a reduction in PO2 by transcriptionally activating the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), glycolytic enzymes, and membrane glucose transporters [1]. These responses enhance the capacity of the cells to activate glycolytic metabolism, and stimulate the growth of new capillaries into the tissue to relieve the hypoxemia. Both responses are adaptive in the sense that they defend the ability of the cells to survive in the face of limited oxygen supply. At the molecular level, many of the transcriptional responses to hypoxia are mediated by the transcription factor hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), which regulates the increased expression of a number of genes, glycolytic enzymes, membrane glucose transporters, tyrosine hydroxylase, erythropoietin (Epo), vascular growth factors such as VEGF, and other proteins in specific cells.
Genuine Dialogue: Relational Accounts of Moments of Meeting

This study seeks to fill a void in dialogue and interpersonal communication research. Although a vast amount of scholarship on dialogue exists, it seems to be highly philosophical and somewhat lacking in data-based findings of specific interpersonal accounts of dialogue. Favoring the philosophical approach over the empirical hinders teachers' and practitioners' abilities to educate, illustrate, and encourage others to participate in such moments. The dialogic moments analyzed in this study draw from a number of interpersonal relationships among family members, friends, and acquaintances. A hermeneutic phenomenological approach was applied to the analysis of 28 qualitative interviews. The analysis of the dialogic moments was done through the lens of dialogue theory in order to illuminate the communicative patterns and social conditions that enable participants to experience a profound connection with another person. The sequence of exchanges that took place during these moments was conceptualized as the in...
Dōzoku and the Ideology of Descent in Rural Japan1

This paper examines the ideology of descent as it obtains in the membership recruitment of dōzoku groups in one Japanese hamlet. While the genealogies of the dōzoku show a heavy preponderance of agnatic links, the ideology of the people with respect to descent is cognatic. The conclusion is drawn that there can be independent variation between the phenomenal order of a society and the ideational order of its people. With respect to descent in Japan this means that phenomenally the genealogies of dōzoku groups can exhibit a high proportion of either patrilineal or matrilineal links, depending on varying historical and environmental settings, while the ideology for cognatic descent remains constant. This is possible because descent is not the only criterion for dōzoku membership recruitment.
A unique transcription factor for the A alpha fibrinogen gene is related to the mitochondrial single-stranded DNA binding protein P16.

Although stimulation of hepatic cells with interleukin-6 induces the expression of fibrinogen, the molecular basis for this regulation remains largely uncharacterized. A recent examination of the Aα fibrinogen gene promoter identified a protein, termed the Aα-core protein, that bound constitutively to the IL-6 response element [Liu, Z. & Fuller, G. M. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 7580−7586]. This current study provides further characterization of this regulatory protein. The data presented show the following: (i) The Aα-core protein has a similar molecular weight and identical N-terminal sequence to that of the mitochondrial single-stranded DNA binding protein P16. (ii) The Aα-core protein and P16 have similar characteristics in terms of DNA binding preference and antigenic properties. (iii) Overexpression of P16 gene in the hepatoma cell lines Hep G2 and Hep 3B enhances the IL-6-induced expression of Aα fibrinogen. These results demonstrate that the Aα-core protein is closely related to P16 and involved i...
Synthesis, Photophysical Properties, and Photoinduced Luminescence Switching of Trinuclear Diimine Rhenium(I) Tricarbonyl Complexes Linked by an Isomerizable Stilbene-like Ligand

Two series of trinuclear diimine rhenium(I) tricarbonyl complexes bridged by 1,3,5-tris(4-ethenylpyridyl)benzene (L1) or 1,3,5-tris(4-ethynylpyridyl)benzene (L2) have been synthesized and characterized. The L2-bridged complexes (group B) exhibit strong luminescence and long emission lifetimes in room-temperature solution which are typical of decay from 3MLCT excited states, while the L1-bridged complexes (group A) show only very weak luminescence and short lifetimes under the same experimental conditions, although the emission positions and profiles do not vary that much. The low emission quantum yields and short lifetimes in group A complexes are attributed to intramolecular sensitization of the 3ππ* excited state localized on the olefin link of the bridging ligand accompanied by a subsequent trans−cis isomerization process. The effects of different diimine ligand substitutents on the triplet−triplet energy transfer mechanisms are explored. The excited-state decay of group B complexes follows the energy ...