cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Maternal health considerations during disaster relief.

When disasters strike resource-poor nations, women are often the most affected. They represent the majority of the poor, the most malnourished, and the least educated, and they account for more than 75% of displaced persons. The predisaster familial duties of women are magnified and expanded, and they have significantly less support and fewer resources than they had before the incident. Moreover, after the disaster, they bear the responsibility of caring for their children, the elderly, the injured, and the sick. Besides the effects of the disaster, women become more vulnerable to reproductive and sexual health problems and are at increased risk for physical and sexual violence. Women become both victims and the primary caretakers. Health practitioners are often not aware of these issues when providing emergency care. Developing a disaster relief team with experts in maternal health is necessary to improve women’s health outcome.
Energy Levels in Be 9

Magnetic analysis of the reaction ${\mathrm{B}}^{11}(p, \ensuremath{\alpha}){\mathrm{Be}}^{9}$ at three angles verifies the existence of rather broad excited states of ${\mathrm{Be}}^{9}$ at 1.75 and 3.02 Mev, the peaks of which almost vanish at 90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} where the original investigation showed only the well-known 2.43-Mev state.
Brief Report: Assessment of Intervention Effects on in Vivo Peer Interactions in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a randomized controlled trial of a social skills intervention, the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS: Laugeson et al. in J Autism Dev Disord 39(4): 596-606, 2009), by coding digitally recorded social interactions between adolescent participants with ASD and a typically developing adolescent confederate. Adolescent participants engaged in a 10-min peer interaction at pre- and post-treatment. Interactions were coded using the Contextual Assessment of Social Skills (Ratto et al. in J Autism Dev Disord 41(9): 1277-1286, 2010). Participants who completed PEERS demonstrated significantly improved vocal expressiveness, as well as a trend toward improved overall quality of rapport, whereas participants in the waitlist group exhibited worse performance on these domains. The degree of this change was related to knowledge gained in PEERS.
Effects of chironomid density and dissolved oxygen on mercury efflux from profundal lake sediment

ABSTRACTBeutel MW, Cox SE, Gebremariam S. 2016. Effects of chironomid density and dissolved oxygen on mercury efflux from profundal lake sediment. Lake Reserv Manage. 32:158–167.Benthic macrofauna can dramatically affect the flux of dissolved compounds into and out of lake sediment. In this study, replicate experimental chambers containing profundal sediment from a relatively pristine lake were incubated under low (∼1000/m2) and high (∼3800/m2) chironomid densities and low (∼2.5 mg/L) and medium (∼5.0 mg/L) dissolved oxygen in chamber water. Dissolved methylmercury efflux rates were highest in high chironomid density/low oxygen chambers (0.35 ± 0.06 ng/m2/d, mean ± standard error, n = 4) and lowest in low density/medium oxygen chambers (0.06 ± 0.14 ng/m2/d). In contrast, dissolved total mercury efflux assessed at low dissolved oxygen (∼2.5 mg/L) was higher at low chironomid density (4.6 ± 0.7 ng/m2/d) relative to high chironomid density (2.5 ± 0.8 ng/m2/d, n = 4). Results indicate that oxygen addition, a ...
Schwinger pair production at nonzero temperatures or in compact directions

Electric fields may decay by quantum tunneling: as calculated by Schwinger, an electron-positron pair may be summoned from the vacuum. In this paper, I calculate the pair-production rate at nonzero temperatures. I find that, at high temperatures, the decay rate is dominated by a new instanton that involves both thermal fluctuation and quantum tunneling; this decay is exponentially faster than the rate in the literature. I also calculate the decay rate when the electric field wraps a compact circle (at zero temperature). The same new instanton also governs this rate: I find that, for small circles, decay is dominated by a process that drops the electric field by one unit, but does not produce charged particles.
DENTAL DEVELOPMENT AS A MEASURE OF LIFE HISTORY IN PRIMATES.

Age de l'apparition de la dentition en fonction de differentes donnees morphologiques et du cycle de developpement etudie chez differentes especes de primates
Design and discovery of a selective small molecule κ opioid antagonist (2-methyl-N-((2'-(pyrrolidin-1-ylsulfonyl)biphenyl-4-yl)methyl)propan-1-amine, PF-4455242).

By use of parallel chemistry coupled with physicochemical property design, a series of selective κ opioid antagonists have been discovered. The parallel chemistry strategy utilized key monomer building blocks to rapidly expand the desired SAR space. The potency and selectivity of the in vitro κ antagonism were confirmed in the tail-flick analgesia model. This model was used to build an exposure–response relationship between the κ Ki and the free brain drug levels. This strategy identified 2-methyl-N-((2′-(pyrrolidin-1-ylsulfonyl)biphenyl-4-yl)methyl)propan-1-amine, PF-4455242, which entered phase 1 clinical testing and has demonstrated target engagement in healthy volunteers.
Adherence Issues for Oral Antineoplastics: A Focus on Prevention and Management of Side Effects Related to Targeted Therapies

Nonadherence to antineoplastics is a growing concern because of the increasing number of novel oral targeted anticancer therapies. Many of these agents are administered on a chronic continuous sche...
Protective effects of Qishenghuoxue Granule in sepsis rats

Objective To observe the changes of heart function, myocardial mechanics in sepsis rat model and to investigate mechanism of the protective effect of Qishenghuoxue Granule on heart. Methods Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group, LPS group (4 mg/kg LPS i.v.), LPS+Qishenghuoxue Granule group (4mg/kg LPS+8.4 g/kg Qishenghuoxue Granule po), thirty-two rats for each group. Rats were intubated through right common carotid artery to left cardiac ventricle. Function of the left ventricle was monitored and blood was drawn at the 0, 2nd, 4th, 6th hour to detect concentrations of TNF-α, Ang-Ⅱand TNT, eight rats for each time point. Results In sepsis rats, TNT increased significantly and could be relieved by Qishenghuoxue Granule[(1.30±0.53)μg/L vs (0.68±0.82) μg/L, P 0.05]. LVPP and ±dp/dt changed in different degree, LVEDP increased, but these changes could be compromised when using Qishenghuoxue Granule. TNF-α and Ang-Ⅱ increased significantly in sepsis rats, but Qishenghuoxue Granule could decrease its concentration, [(10.16±1.74)pmol/L vs (7.60±1.79) pmol/L P 0.05] and [(1089.96±365.4) ng/L vs (625.30±224.71) ng/L P 0.01]. Conclusions Myocardium was obviously damaged in rats with sepsis. Qishenghuoxue Granule could relieve cardiac damage caused by endotoxin in sepsis model.
Analysis of tunnel structural deformation under effect of environmental temperature

To discuss the problem of the tunnel deformation joint setting,the tunnel super-length reinforced concrete structure was measured at on the spot under the effect of environmental temperature,and one dimension unsteady heat exchange theory and temperature stress theory to calculate the tunnel structure temperature and deformation under the effect of environmental temperature.The analysis indicates that for the tunnel super-length structure,the effect of environmental temperature on the structural temperature deformation can not be ignored,and that the setting of deformation joint should talce into account the admitted deformation of the eternal deformation joint and effect of the date of reinforced concrete completion.
Cuphea nivea (Lythraceae), a New Species from Bolivia

Cuphea nivea from northwestern Bo- livia is described and illustrated. Seed and pollen characters relate it most closely to C. ciliata, a spe- cies occurring from southern Venezuela to southern Peru. The small xylopodium and heath-like leaves of the species suggest it is adapted to grassland habitats that experience seasonal fires. RESUMEN. En el presente trabajo se describe e ilustra Cuphea nivea de la region noroccidental de Bolivia. Los caracteres de las semillas y de los gra- nos de polen la relacionan muy estrechamente con C. ciliata, una especie que se distribuye desde el sur de Venezuela hasta el sur de Peru. E1 xilopodio pequeno y las hojas ericoides de la especie sugi- eren su adaptacion a habitats dominados por pastos que sufren impactos de quemas estacionales.
Alienation and the Soviet Economy, toward a General Theory of Marxian Alienation, Organizational Principles, and the Soviet Economy

(1973). Alienation and the Soviet Economy, toward a General Theory of Marxian Alienation, Organizational Principles, and the Soviet Economy. Journal of Economic Issues: Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 157-162.
μ-Acetato-aqua-μ-(5-bromo-2-{1,3-bis-[2-(5-bromo-2-oxidobenzyl-idene-amino)-eth-yl]imidazolidin-2-yl}phenolato)methano-ldinickel(II) methanol disolvate monohydrate.

The crystal structure of the title compound, [Ni2(C27H24Br3N4O3)(CH3CO2)(CH3OH)(H2O)]·2CH3OH·H2O contains [L(OAc){(CH3OH)Ni}{(H2O)Ni}] mol­ecules {H3 L = 2-(5-bromo-2-hy­droxy­phen­yl)-1,3-bis­[4-(5-bromo-2-hy­droxy­phen­yl)-3-aza­but-3-en­yl]-1,3-imidazolidine} with additional water and two methanol solvent mol­ecules. In this instance, one of the two Ni atoms is coordinated to a water and the other to a methanol mol­ecule. The Ni—O and Ni—N distances, as well as the angles about the metal atoms, show quite regular octa­hedra around the central ions. The Ni—Ophenol—Ni and Ni—Oacetate—Ni angles are not similar [95.26 (13) and 97.34 (13)°, respectively], indicating that this subtle solvate exchange induces significant differences in the conformation adopted. The coordinated methanol ligand is involved in an intra­molecular hydrogen bond to the uncoordinated O atom of the bridging acetate ligand, while the coordinated water mol­ecule forms a hydrogen bond with the one of the methanol solvent mol­ecules. The water solvent mol­ecule forms strong hydrogen bonds to both phenolate O atoms. The remaining methanol solvent mol­ecule also forms a hydrogen bond with this solvent water mol­ecule.
Models for the Spread of Universally Fatal Diseases II

We consider a simple model for a universally fatal disease with an infective period long enough to allow natural deaths during the infective period. The analysis of this model is considerably more complicated than the analysis of a model with an infective period short enough that the population dynamics are confined to the susceptible class. However, the basic result that in some circumstances the stability of an endemic equilibrium may depend on the distribution of infective periods is shared by both models.
Effects of diet on the lipid composition of Echinostoma caproni (Trematoda) in ICR mice.

High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) was used to determine neutral lipids and phospholipids in the intestinal trematode Echinostoma caproni from experimentally infected ICR mice fed a high-fat diet (hen's egg yolk) as compared with worms from mice fed a standard laboratory diet. Worms were removed from the hosts at 2, 3, and 4 weeks postinfection (p.i.). Analysis by TLC-densitometry showed significantly greater amounts of triacylglycerols and free sterols at 2, 3, and 4 weeks p.i. in worms from mice on the high-fat diet as compared with worms from mice on the standard laboratory diet. Significantly greater amounts of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine were found in worms from mice on the high-fat diet as compared with worms from those on the standard diet at 2 weeks p.i. but not at 3 and 4 weeks p.i. The results of this study suggest that the host diet influences the lipid content of E. caproni adults.
Measuring Adolescent Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Coverage: A Match of Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic and Immunization Registry Data

Abstract Purpose Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is recommended for adolescents. By the end of 2013, 64% of female and 40% of male New York City residents aged 13–18 years had received ≥1 HPV vaccine dose. Adolescents attending sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics are at high risk for HPV exposure and could benefit from vaccination. Our objective was to estimate HPV vaccination coverage for this population. Methods We matched records of New York City's STD clinic patients aged 13–18 years during 2010–2013 with the Citywide Immunization Registry. We assessed HPV vaccine initiation (≥1 dose) and series completion (≥3 doses among those who initiated) as of clinic visit date and by patient demographics. We compared receipt of ≥1 dose for HPV, tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis, and meningococcal conjugate vaccine. Results Eighty-two percent of clinic attendees (13,505/16,364) had records in the Citywide Immunization Registry. Receipt of ≥1 HPV dose increased during 2010–2013 (females: 57.6%–69.7%; males: 1.5%–36.3%). Among females, ≥1-dose coverage was lowest among whites (53.4%) and highest among Hispanics (73.3%); among males, ≥1-dose coverage was lowest among whites (6.9%) and highest among Asians (20.9%). Series completion averaged 57.7% (females) and 28.0% (males), with little variation by race/ethnicity or poverty level. Receipt of ≥1 dose was 59.7% for HPV, 82% for tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis, and 76% for meningococcal conjugate vaccines. Conclusions HPV vaccine initiation and completion were low among adolescent STD clinic patients; coverage was lower compared with other recommended vaccines. STD clinics may be good venues for delivering HPV vaccine, thereby enhancing efforts to improve HPV vaccination.
The Influences of Boundary Layer Mixing and Cloud-Radiative Forcing on Tropical Cyclone Size

AbstractTropical cyclone (TC) size is an important factor directly and indirectly influencing track, intensity, and related hazards, such as storm surge. Using a semi-idealized version of the operational Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting Model (HWRF), the authors show that both enabling cloud-radiative forcing (CRF) and enhancing planetary boundary layer (PBL) vertical mixing can encourage wider storms by enhancing TC outer-core convective activity. While CRF acts primarily above the PBL, eddy mixing moistens the boundary layer from below, both making peripheral convection more likely. Thus, these two processes can cooperate and compete, making their influences difficult to deconvolve and complicating the evaluation of model physics improvements, especially since the sensitivity to both decreases as the environment becomes less favorable. Further study shows not only the magnitude of the eddy mixing coefficient but also the shape of it can determine the TC size and structure.
Neuronal Correlates of Functional Coupling between Reach- and Grasp-Related Components of Muscle Activity.

Coordinated reach-to-grasp movements require precise spatiotemporal synchrony between proximal forelimb muscles (shoulder, elbow) that transport the hand towards a target during reach, and distal muscles (wrist, digit) that simultaneously preshape and orient the hand for grasp. The precise mechanisms through which the redundant neuromuscular circuitry coordinates reach with grasp, however, remain unclear. Recently, we demonstrated, using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), that limited numbers of global, template-like transport/preshape- and grasp-related muscle components underlie the complexity and variability of intramuscular electromyograms (EMGs) of up to 21 distal and proximal muscles recorded while monkeys performed reach-to-grasp tasks. Importantly, transport/preshape- and grasp-related muscle components showed invariant spatiotemporal coupling, which provides a potential mechanism for coordinating forelimb muscles during reach-to-grasp movements. In the present study, we tested whether ensemble discharges of forelimb neurons in the cerebellar nucleus interpositus (NI) and its target, the magnocellular red nucleus (RNm), a source of rubrospinal fibers, function as neuronal correlates of the transport/preshape- and grasp-related muscle components we identified. EFA applied to single-unit discharges of populations of NI and RNm neurons recorded while the same monkeys that were used previously performed the same reach-to-grasp tasks, revealed neuronal components in the ensemble discharges of both NI and RNm neuronal populations with characteristics broadly similar to muscle components. Subsets of NI and RNm neuronal components were strongly and significantly cross-correlated with subsets of muscle components, suggesting that similar functional units of reach-to-grasp behavior are expressed by NI and RNm neuronal populations and forelimb muscles. Importantly, like transport/preshape- and grasp-related muscle components, their NI and RNm neuronal correlates showed invariant spatiotemporal coupling. Clinical and lesion studies have reported disruption of coupling between reach and grasp following cerebellar damage; the present results expand on those studies by identifying a neuronal mechanism that may underlie cerebellar contributions to spatiotemporal coordination of distal and proximal limb muscles during reaching to grasp. We conclude that finding similar functional units of behavior expressed at multiple levels of information processing along interposito-rubrospinal pathways and forelimb muscles supports the hypothesis that functionally related populations of NI and RNm neurons act synergistically in the control of complex coordinated motor behaviors.
Modeling the Impact of Protraction on Refugee Identity

This study presents an agent-based model of identity shift based on refugees in protracted situations. The model is based on interactions between refugees, local citizens, and nongovernmental workers. Through repeated interactions at the individual level, we see the emergence of groups of identities that are generally neutral—not nationalistic nor specifically locally or globally focused. The model provides a starting point for understanding the processes of long-term protracted states of displacement on the general shift in identity among refugee populations in both camp and non-camp based settings.
Increasing low-energy-dense foods and decreasing high-energy-dense foods differently influence weight loss trial outcomes

Although reducing energy density (ED) enhances weight loss, it is unclear whether all dietary strategies that reduce ED are comparable, hindering effective ED guidelines for obesity treatment. This study examined how changes in number of low-energy-dense (LED) ( 12.56 kJ/3.0 kcal g–1) foods consumed affected dietary ED and weight loss within an 18-month weight loss trial. This secondary analysis examined data from participants randomized to an energy-restricted lifestyle intervention or lifestyle intervention plus limited non-nutrient dense, energy-dense food variety (n=183). Number of daily LED and HED foods consumed was calculated from three, 24-h dietary recalls and anthropometrics were measured at 0, 6 and 18 months. Multivariable-adjusted generalized linear models and repeated-measures mixed linear models examined associations between 6-month changes in number of LED and HED foods and changes in ED, body mass index (BMI), and percent weight loss at 6 and 18 months. Among mostly female (58%), White (92%) participants aged 51.9 years following an energy-restricted diet, increasing number of LED foods or decreasing number of HED foods consumed was associated with 6- and 18-month reductions in ED (β=−0.25 to −0.38 kJ g–1 (−0.06 to −0.09 kcal g–1), P<0.001). Only increasing number of LED foods consumed was associated with 6- and 18-month reductions in BMI (β=−0.16 to −0.2 kg m–2, P<0.05) and 6-month reductions in percent weight loss (β=−0.5%, P<0.05). Participants consuming ⩽2 HED foods per day and ⩾6.6 LED foods per day experienced better weight loss outcomes at 6- and 18-month than participants only consuming ⩽2 HED foods per day. Despite similar reductions in ED from reducing number of HED foods or increasing number of LED foods consumed, only increasing number of LED foods related to weight loss. This provides preliminary evidence that methods used to reduce dietary ED may differentially influence weight loss trajectories. Randomized controlled trials are needed to inform ED recommendations for weight loss.
Application of Probability and Entropy Concepts in Hydraulics

This paper describes the present status of efforts to develop an alternative approach to hydraulics, in which probability and entropy concepts are combined with deterministic, fluid-mechanics principles. Some results of applying the approach in analysis and modeling of flows in pipes and open channels are also presented.
Atmospheric 14C Variations: A Bayesian Prospect

The time spectrum of variations in the atmospheric radiocarbon inventory is reviewed. According to conventional analysis (discrete Fourier transform, periodogram, and maximum entropy or MEM), the spectrum is characterized by features at ~ 2200, 900, 700, 207, 149, and 88 years as well possibly at other frequencies. Model fitting of sinusoids using the Bretthorst algorithm confirms most of these and places their periods on a more secure basis. The forcings of the spectral features are known to be seated in some combination of ocean-atmosphere interaction, the Sun, and the terrestrial magnetic field, but some specific line assignments are still regarded as tentative.
Biological Significance of Food Aversion Learning

An appropriate subtitle for this chapter might be “De gustibus (sometimes) est disputandum.” Several years ago, Rozin and Kalat (1971) and Shettleworth (1972) used food aversion learning as the primary example to support the contention that learning is a diverse category including several specialized machanisms, each adapted to particular ecological situations and evolutionary pressures. This position has been somewhat controversial; Revusky, for instance (see Chapter 1), has championed the contrary position, that learning is a single, general process which, like gravity, is more or less the same wherever it occurs, except for parametric perturbations. It is now time to re-examine the issue of whether and to what extent learning involves situation-specific evolutionary adaptations. Even if we cannot yet reach full agreement on an answer, we should be able at least to make a little more sense of the question.
Astroglia and Severe Mental Illness: A Role for Glutamate Microdomains

Postmortem studies of schizophrenia have historically been focused on abnormalities of neurons, with only a small but growing body of work focused on astroglia. The limitations of this approach are reflected by the recent failed efficacy of several neuron-centric pharmacological treatments. In this chapter, we will review glutamate neurochemistry and present a novel hypothesis related to astrocyte dysfunction in schizophrenia. We posit that plasma membrane glutamate transporters expressed on astrocytes help partition extrasynaptic regions, where pools of extracellular glutamate may be tightly regulated. These so-called “glutamate microdomains” may impact excitatory neurotransmission via modulation of extrasynaptic glutamate receptors. This hypothesis is supported by structural, biochemical and electrophysiological evidence, which suggests that the fidelity of these domains could be altered in severe mental illness.
DECLINE OF MURINE NATURAL KILLER ACTIVITY IN RESPONSE TO STARVATION, HYPOPHYSECTOMY, TUMOR GROWTH, AND BEIGE MUTATION: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the decline of murine natural killer activity in response to starvation, hypophysectomy, tumor growth, and beige mutation. The effect of starvation was examined on the spleen natural killer (NK) activity in female CBA mice. Mice were deprived of food for up to six days but water was given ad libitum. Significant decline of anti-YAC NK activity was observed 3 days after food deprivation and after six days of starvation the NK activity was almost totally absent. Addition of spleen cells from starved mice did not inhibit the NK activity of control spleen. Low spleen NK activity in hypophysectomized mice was not caused by the generation of NK suppressor cells, because the addition of hypophysectomized mouse spleen cells did not suppress the NK activity of normal control mouse spleen cells. Even though hypophysectomy resulted in a marked loss of spleen NK activity, the proportion of T, B, and null cells and the YAC target-binding capacity of spleen cells from hypophysectomized mice were comparable to normal levels. A normal target-binding capacity along with a lack of cytotoxic activity might suggest that the pre-NK cells may be present in hypophysectomized mice.
Namibië drie jaar later: politiek ontvoogd maar economisch wankel

Namibia became independent on the 21st of March 1990, after seventy-five years of South African colonial and racial rule. SWAPO fought a long war for liberation, but the independence was also gained thanks to the diplomatic pressure from the United Nations. The United Nations were actively involved in the organisation of the first free elections which were held on the 7th of November 1989. The SWAPO liberation movement became by far the most important political party in the Namibian Parliament. But from the beginning the SWAPO-leaders explained that the past should be forgotten. They promoted a constructive political and economic collaboration with all Namibians, African and European. Due to this atmosphere of reconciliation Namibia had a successful political independence. One of the world's most progressive constitutions was written. It ends all racial discrimination and guarantees an extensive review of the human rights. The rules for the organisation of the legislative, executive and judiciary power are respected by all political parties. Namibia is without any doubt an example for a lot of African countries, which are now making steps towards democracy and multi-partyism. The Namibian government has still a lot of problems to deal with. The major ones are the social and economic inequalities that still exist between African and European Namibians. The conditions of life of the European Namibians are comparable to these in modern western societies, while African Namibians are living in poverty. The government will have to change this, because in the long term one cannot expect to build democracy on empty stomachs. But in order to realize the necessary economic growth, Namibians are also counting on the support and the investments from abroad. A member of government recently said: "Now we've installed democracy and the human rights are respected, where are the foreign in- vestments and the international aid?"
Characterization of Primo Nodes and Vessels by High Resolution Light Microscopy

Morphological properties of primo vascular system were characterized by a high resolution light microscopy that makes structural features with size of ∼100 nm clearly visible. High visibility and advanced contrast of the smallest features in the image are due to enhancement of high spatial frequencies in the optical transfer function. We have isolated primo nodes (PN), vessels (PV), and capillaries from the surface of organs in the peritoneal cavity of rats. These structures correspond to Bonghan corpuscle, ducts, and ductules, discovered by B.H. Kim in the early 1960s. The non-fixed samples stained with acridine orange and Bouin fixed and H&E stained slides were observed, photographed, and analyzed. The primo vessel is composed of 1–20 primo-capillaries of 3–25 μm in diameter. A thin external envelope of primo-capillary is composed of muscle-like endothelial cells with rod-shape 15–20 μm nuclei directed along the capillary axis. The primo-capillaries carry a liquid that contains granules and cell-like structures rich in nucleic acids. The bundle of primo-capillaries of the primo vessel is laid into an external jacket composed of endothelial cells with 6–12 μm spindle-like or oval nuclei. The primo nodes are oval-shape of 0.1–0.5 mm along the short and 0.5–1 mm along the long axis, on both ends connected to primo vessels of 3–6 cm in length and 40–100 μm in diameter. The primo node is essentially the interlacement of broadened and branched primo-capillaries covered with a 5–40 μm thick capsule. A single capillary bundle (B) of the incoming (afferent) vessel enters the node, branches into additional bundles, and fills the node interior by tightly spun and folded bundles. Capillaries converge, narrow, and come out from the node as a single bundle of the efferent primo vessel. The structural features of primo nodes, vessels, and capillaries observed with a high resolution light microscope are very different from those observed in blood and lymphatic vascular samples. Specifically, the jacketed architecture of primo vessels has no known parallel in other vascular systems.
Eulerian Dispersion Models

Air pollution diffusion can be numerically simulated by several techniques, which are mainly divided into two categories: 1. Eulerian models 2. Lagrangian models
Wavelet-based segmentation and feature extraction of heart sounds for intelligent PDA-based phonocardiography.

Objectives: Many pathological conditions of the cardiovascular system cause murmurs and aberrations in heart sounds. Phonocardiography provides the clinician with a complementary tool to record the heart sounds heard during auscultation. The advancement of intracardiac phonocardiography combined with modern digital signal processing techniques has strongly renewed researchers’ interest in studying heart sounds and murmurs. The aim of this work is to investigate the applicability of different spectral analysis methods to heart sound signals and explore their suitability for PDA-based implementation. Methods: Fourier transform (FT), short-time Fourier transform (STFT) and wavelet transform (WT) are used to perform spectral analysis on heart sounds. A segmentation algorithm based on Shannon energy is used to differentiate between first and second heart sounds. Then wavelet transform is deployed again to extract 64 features of heart sounds. Results: The FT provides valuable frequency information but the timing information is lost during the transformation process. The STFT or spectrogram provides valuable time-frequency information but there is a trade-off between time and frequency resolution. Wavelet analysis, however, does not suffer from limitations of the STFT and provides adequate time and frequency resolution to accurately characterize the normal and pathological heart sounds. Conclusions: The results show that the wavelet-based segmentation algorithm is quite effective in localizing the important components of both normal and abnormal heart sounds. They also demonstrate that wavelet-based feature extraction provides suitable feature vectors which are clearly differentiable and useful for automatic classification of heart sounds.
Sostituzione protesica totale del ginocchio mediante tecnica mini-invasiva “mini-midvastus”. L’esperienza americana

In tutta la lunga storia della chirurgia ortopedica, la sostituzione protesica completa del ginocchio e una delle procedure chirurgiche di maggior successo mai ideate e realizzate, in cui regressione della sintomatologia dolorosa, correzione della deformita e incremento della mobilita articolare costituiscono la norma, e un tasso di successo a lungo termine superiore al 95% e di routine. Per il paziente, tuttavia, la strada per raggiungere questi eccellenti risultati e spesso lunga, difficile e dolorosa. La mobilita, infatti, viene riacquistata soltanto lentamente e il ritorno alla funzionalita spesso richiede piu di 6 mesi, con debolezza del muscolo quadricipite rilevabile anche piu di 1 anno dopo l’intervento.
THE EFFECT OF CERULOPLASMIN AND IRON ON THE L-ASCORBIC ACID INDUCED DEPOLYMERIZATION OF HYALURONIC ACID

The L-ascorbic acid induced depolymerization of hyaluronic acid was shown to be the result of a metal catalyzed reaction involving cuprous (Cu I) or ferrous (Fe II) ions. Ceruloplasmin, a serum ferroxidase, inhibited the metal catalyzed depolymerization, presumably by maintaining the iron in the ferric state.
Somatic embryogenesis in perennial statice Limonium bellidifolium, Plumbaginaceae

Cotyledon explants from perennial statice Limonium bellidifolium (Statice caspia Willd.) were cultured on Murashige and Skoog's basal medium (MS) supplemented with various levels of 2,4-D, kinetin and sucrose. Embryogenic calluses developed over a period of 10 days with the highest response at 4.5 μM (1 mg l−1) 2,4-D, 0.5 μM (0.1 mg l−1) kinetin and 117 mM sucrose. Following induction, the calluses were transferred to MS media supplemented with 88 or 117 mM sucrose and 0 or 0.5 μM kinetin. Somatic embryos at the globular, heart-shaped, torpedo, and cotyledonary stages developed. Fully germinated plantlets developed with the best response in medium supplemented with 117 mM sucrose and 0.5 μM kinetin. Direct somatic embryogenesis without a callus phase was observed with some of the cotyledon explants. Induction, maturation and germination of somatic embryos on the optimized media were equally effective using cotyledon, hypocotyl and root explants. Serial sections of L. bellidifolium cotyledon explants cultured for two weeks indicated that pro-embryogenic masses originated from parenchyma cells below the epidermis. Further histological observations of embryogenic calluses confirmed the initiation and development of globular and heart-shaped embryos and repetitive somatic embryogenesis. Ultrastructural observations indicated that the embryogenic cells were less vacuolate with abundant organelles compared to the cells of the explant. This is the first report of somatic embryogenesis in the Plumbaginaceae.
Whole-brain atrophy assessed by proportional- versus registration-based pipelines from 3T MRI in multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Whole-brain atrophy is a standard outcome measure in multiple sclerosis (MS) clinical trials as assessed by various software tools. The effect of processing method on the validity of such data obtained from high-resolution 3T MRI is not known. We compared two commonly used methods of quantifying whole-brain atrophy. METHODS Three-dimensional T1-weighted and FLAIR images were obtained at 3T in MS (n = 61) and normal control (NC, n = 30) groups. Whole-brain atrophy was assessed by two automated pipelines: (a) SPM8 to derive brain parenchymal fraction (BPF, proportional-based method); (b) SIENAX to derive normalized brain parenchymal volume (BPV, registration method). We assessed agreement between BPF and BPV, as well their relationship to Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score, timed 25-foot walk (T25FW), cognition, and cerebral T2 (FLAIR) lesion volume (T2LV). RESULTS Brain parenchymal fraction and BPV showed only partial agreement (r = 0.73) in the MS group, and r = 0.28 in NC. Both methods showed atrophy in MS versus NC (BPF p 0.05) correlated with EDSS score. BPV (p = 0.03) but not BPF (p = 0.08) correlated with T25FW. Both metrics correlated with T2LV (p 0.05) showed lower brain volume in cognitively impaired (n = 23) versus cognitively preserved (n = 38) patients. However, direct comparisons of BPF and BPV sensitivities to atrophy and clinical correlations were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION Whole-brain atrophy metrics may not be interchangeable between proportional- and registration-based automated pipelines from 3T MRI in patients with MS.
The benefits of youth sports participation should outweigh the risks.

Sports participation has never been more popular. The number of kids participating in organized athletics continues to increase each and every year.
Mining CTFM Echo Signal Data for Navigation

The use of a fixed Continuous Transmitted Frequency Modulate (CTFM) Ultrasonic sensor for robot navigation has advantages and presents many challenges, least of which is real-time environment perception and environment feature tracking. This requires timely and robust signal data classification algorithms. The work described here explores the adaptation and use of a simple classification separate and conquer decision list algorithm. The algorithm is able to deal with preceptor signal data sequentially and can provide real-time feature classification. The classification algorithm success rate of 82% in this experiment is adequate for feature tracking by an autonomous navigator translating at low speed. This work demonstrates the viability of simple classification techniques for environment feature tracking based on few geometric attributes perceived with a CTFM sensor.
Thought Leader Perspectives on Participant Protections in Precision Medicine Research.

Precision medicine research is rapidly taking a lead role in the pursuit of new ways to improve health and prevent disease, but also presents new challenges for protecting human subjects. The extent to which the current “web” of legal protections, including technical data security measures, as well as measures to restrict access or prevent misuse of research data, will protect participants in this context remains largely unknown. Understanding the strength, usefulness, and limitations of this constellation of laws, regulations, and procedures is critical to ensuring not only that participants are protected, but also that their participation decisions are accurately informed. To address these gaps, we conducted in-depth interviews with a diverse group of 60 thought-leaders to explore their perspectives on the protections associated with precision medicine research.
It Doesn’t Hurt to Ask: Employees Overestimate the Interpersonal Costs of Extension Requests

ABSTRACT Employees today experience high levels of time stress at work, undermining their health, happiness, and productivity. In this project, we propose a novel cause and possible solution to the...
The lymph node at a glance - how spatial organization optimizes the immune response.

ABSTRACT A hallmark of the mammalian immune system is its ability to respond efficiently to foreign antigens without eliciting an inappropriate response to self-antigens. Furthermore, a robust immune response requires the coordination of a diverse range of cells present at low frequencies within the host. This problem is solved, in part, by concentrating antigens, antigen-presenting cells and antigen-responsive cells in lymph nodes (LNs). Beyond housing these cell types in one location, LNs are highly organized structures consisting of pre-positioned cells within well-defined microanatomical niches. In this Cell Science at a Glance article and accompanying poster, we outline the key cellular populations and components of the LN microenvironment that are present at steady state and chronicle the dynamic changes in these elements following an immune response. This review highlights the LN as a staging ground for both innate and adaptive immune responses, while providing an elegant example of how structure informs function.
Status and Role, Social Psychology of

This article is a revision of the previous edition article by G.M. Platt, volume 22, pp. 15090–15095, © 2001, Elsevier Ltd.
Utility of routine evaluations for rejection in patients greater than 2 years after heart transplantation

Aims Guidelines support routine surveillance testing for rejection for at least 5 years after heart transplant (HT). In patients greater than 2 years post-HT, we examined which clinical characteristics predict continuation of routine surveillance studies, outcomes following discontinuation of routine surveillance, and the cost-effectiveness of different surveillance strategies. Methods and results We retrospectively identified subjects older than 18 who underwent a first HT at our centre from 2007 to 2016 and who survived ≥760 days (n = 217) post-HT. The clinical context surrounding all endomyocardial biopsies (EMBs) and gene expression profiles (GEPs) was reviewed to determine if studies were performed routinely or were triggered by a change in clinical status. Subjects were categorized as following a test-based surveillance (n = 159) or a signs/symptoms surveillance (n = 53) strategy based on treating cardiologist intent to continue routine studies after the second post-transplant year. A Markov model was constructed to compare two test-based surveillance strategies to a baseline strategy of discontinuing routine studies. One thousand twenty studies were performed; 835 were routine. Significant rejection was absent in 99.0% of routine EMBs and 99.8% of routine GEPs. The treating cardiologist's practice duration, patient age, and immunosuppressive regimen predicted surveillance strategy. There were no differences in outcomes between groups. Routine surveillance EMBs cost more and were marginally less effective than a strategy of discontinuing routine studies after 2 years; surveillance GEPs had an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $1.67 million/quality-adjusted life-year. Conclusions Acute asymptomatic rejection is rare after the second post-transplant year. Obtaining surveillance studies beyond the second post-transplant year is not cost-effective.
Overview of compact and field-portable system for resolution enhanced digital holographic microscopy by structured illumination

We overview a previously reported compact and field-portable system combining shearing-based digital holography with structured illumination for resolution enhancement. The system is capable of resolution enhancement in both phase and amplitude objects.
Chief Executive Officer Dismissal: A Multidisciplinary Integration and Critical Analysis:

Dismissal (or involuntary exit) of the chief executive officer (CEO) is a significant milestone with substantial implications for organizations and their members. The growing occurrence of CEO dism...
Prevalence of Immunosuppressive Drug Use Among Commercially Insured US Adults, 2018-2019.

This cross-sectional study uses direct pharmaceutical claims data from a commercial claims database to assess the use of 6 types of immunosuppressive drugs among commercially insured US adults in 2018 and 2019.
Diagnosis of Biceps Incarceration: Observations on the Biceps Incarceration Maneuver.

Abstract Instability of the long head of the biceps brachii tendon is a recognized source of shoulder pain. However, this diagnosis is usually associated with concomitant pathology including subscapularis tendon tears. The appropriate diagnosis of biceps incarceration or instability remains challenging, with failure to address instability being likely to result in persistent pain and disability despite arthroscopic management of concomitant shoulder pathology. The objective of this article is to (1) describe a dynamic test performed both preoperatively and intraoperatively, termed the “biceps incarceration maneuver,” to help identify biceps instability; (2) reinforce the concept that biceps instability must be ruled out in young patients presenting with anterior shoulder pain; and (3) report that with proper diagnosis and treatment, patients with biceps instability will experience rapid symptomatic resolution after management.
Exploration of Diet Quality by Obesity Severity in Association with Gestational Weight Gain and Distal Gut Microbiota in Pregnant African American Women: Opportunities for Intervention

To conduct an exploratory examination of dietary patterns and quality during pregnancy in African-American women who were class I, II, or III obese, and those women with normal pre-pregnancy body mass index (pBMI), as well to identify dietary factors associated with GWG, and changes in the distal gut microbiome. African American women represent the largest group affected by pre-pregnancy obesity, a risk factor for several adverse birth outcomes. This prospective study investigated the association between diet, distal gut microbiome, and GWG among African-American women (n = 21) with obesity (n = 15) compared to women with a normal pre-pregnancy body mass index (pBMI) (n = 6) at two time points, 27–29 and 37–39 weeks gestation. Dietary patterns associated with obesity severity and GWG gain were assessed using Welch’s T-test and Mann–Whitney U. The association between the gut microbiome and dietary patterns was assessed using a regression-based kernel association test and the adaptive microbiome-based sum of powered score test. In early pregnancy, dietary intake of Total Fruits and Greens and Beans was significantly different between pBMI and GWG groups; significance was 0.022 and 0.028 respectively. Women with Class II/III obesity and those with GWG above guidelines had Healthy Eating Index (HEI) scores below 50, meeting less than 75% of dietary guidelines, and did not meet recommendations for fruit and vegetable or fiber intake. We found no significant associations between the microbiome composition and diet (HEI Scores). Overall, the results indicate that women with pBMI obesity are not meeting minimum dietary guidelines for nutrient intakes during pregnancy, specifically fruits, vegetables, and fiber, regardless of GWG. Interventions for African-American women with pre-pregnancy obesity, with a focus on increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables, would be beneficial to control GWG and improve birth outcomes.
2 – RECOMBINANT DNA CLONING

This chapter presents the background of recombinant DNA cloning and the procedures for cloning.The general steps of recombinant DNA cloning are the isolation of the DNA to be cloned, the isolation of the DNA to be used as a cloning vector, and the cutting of the two DNAs with a restriction endonuclease that makes sequence-specific cuts in the DNAs. The restriction endonucleases to be used in this cloning experiment generate a four-base-long single stranded region known as a “sticky end” or a “cohesive end.” Any fragment generated with this enzyme can base pair with any other fragment generated by the same enzyme. The restriction endonuclease subsequently is inactivated. Then the vector DNA and DNA to be cloned are mixed so that the complementary ends of the restriction endonuclease sites can base pair. That is, reannealing of the sticky ends is allowed to occur. These fragments are sealed together using T4 DNA ligase, and the DNA is introduced into a host cell where the cloning vector can replicate. This chapter describes an experiment in which the recombinant DNA is introduced into E. coli cells by transformation. The E. coli are subjected to a process that will select for the presence of
Predictors of mortality following treatment of intracranial hemangiopericytoma

Object Intracranial hemangiopericytoma (HPC) is a rare and malignant extraaxial tumor with a high proclivity toward recurrence and metastasis. Given this lesion's rarity, little information exists on prognostic factors influencing mortality rates following treatment with surgery or radiation or both. A systematic review of the published literature was performed to ascertain predictors of death following treatment for intracranial HPC. Methods The authors identified 563 patients with intracranial HPC in the published literature, 277 of whom had information on the duration of follow-up. Statistical analysis of survival was performed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis. Results Hemangiopericytoma was diagnosed in 246 males and 204 females, ranging in age from 1 month to 80 years. Among patients treated for HPC, overall median survival was 13 years, with 1-, 5-, 10-, and 20-year survival rates of 95%, 82%, 60%, and 23%, respectively. Gross-total resection alone (105 patients) was associated with su...
Evolutionary Techniques in Physical Robotics

Evolutionary and coevolutionary techniques have become a popular area of research for those interested in automated design. One of the cutting edge issues in this field is the ability to apply these techniques to real physical systems with all the complexities and affordances that such systems present. Here we present a selection of our work each of which advances the richness of the evolutionary substrate in one or more dimensions. We overview research in four areas: a) High part-count static structures that are buildable, b) The use of commercial CAD/CAM systems as a simulated substrate, c) Dynamic electromechanical systems with complex morphology that can be built automatically, and d) Evolutionary techniques distributed in a physical population of robots.