cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effects of prolonged oral arsenate exposure on liver mitochondria of mice: Morphometric and biochemical studies☆

Exposure of mice to arsenic in drinking water at concentrations of 0, 20, 40, or 85 ppm for 6 weeks resulted in mild swelling of hepatocyte mitochondria, binucleate cells, and a slight but not statistically significant increase in the overall relative volume-density of the nuclear compartment, as determined by ultrastructural morphometry. Despite only slight changes in morphometric parameters, hepatocyte mitochondria in arsenate-treated mice showed a significant decrease in pyruvate/malate, but not succinate-mediated state 3 respiration and respiratory control ratios, and decreases in PO ratios with both substrate types. Mitochondria from arsenate treated mice also showed a significant dose-related increase of up to 175% of control in the specific activity of monoamine oxidase, which was used as an outer membranal marker enzyme. Cytochrome oxidase and Mg2+-ATPase, which are localized on the inner mitochondrial membrane showed statistically nonsignificant increases in specific activity of up to 150 and 120% of control, respectively. In contrast, malate dehydrogenase, which was used as a marker for enzymatic activity in the mitochondrial matrix, showed no significant alteration in activity. Ultrastructural and biochemical data were related to liver concentrations of total arsenic. The above studies demonstrate that, despite little quantitative physical alteration of the mitochondrial compartment, significant changes in various membrane-associated biochemical functions may occur in mouse liver mitochondria during prolonged arsenate exposure.
Reducing Tuberculosis Detection Costs

Use of sputum culture for diagnosis of tuberculosis is an inefficient detection technique in a disease of declining prevalence. We found such testing at our 400 bed acute care hospital resulted in less than 2 percent positive when done with prior patient screening. In an effort to minimize detection costs, restrictions requiring that a tuberculin skin test and chest roentgenogram be performed prior to processing the MTB culture were instituted. This resulted in 672 fewer cultures being processed in the trial year, a significant (44 percent) reduction compared to the prior year. At $50.00 per culture, this represents an annual savings of more than $30,000.
Faculty Prayer in Catholic Schools: A Survey of Practices and Meaning

This article presents a research study that utilized a web-based survey to gather data about the communal prayer experiences of faculty members in Catholic elementary and secondary schools in the United States and the meaning that such prayer holds to its participants. Key fi ndings show that faculty prayer experiences take place readily, though frequency and form vary greatly. Faculty prayer is valued and desired by the overwhelming majority of its participants. Challenges are also acknowledged with the most prevalent relating to time and/or scheduling issues. Suggestions for addressing needs and challenges are provided.
On rotational invariants of vectors and second-order tensors

Abstract It may be shown that an arbitrary function ƒ(v i , a j ) of the vectors v 1 /3 . v n and the second-order tensors a 1 /3 ., a M which is invariant under the three-dimensional proper orthogonal group is not expressible as a single-valued function of the invariants I k (v i , a j ). Given by Chakrabarti and Wainwright[1] for most of the cases considered in [1]. Examples are given.
Comparative effects of music and recalled life-events on emotional state

Several classical issues in the area of music and emotion were investigated in a 3 × 3 × 2 × 2 × 4 experiment (N =144). Participants recalled happy, neutral, or sad life-events, and they listened t...
Success, failure and ambiguity of the dilution effect among competitors

It remains challenging to predict variation in the magnitude of disease outbreaks. The dilution effect seeks to explain this variation by linking multiple host species to disease transmission. It predicts that disease risk increases for a focal host when host species diversity declines. However, when an increase in species diversity does not reduce disease, we are often unable to diagnose why. Here, we increase mechanistic and predictive clarity of the dilution effect with a general trait-based model of disease transmission in multi-host communities. Then, we parameterise and empirically test our model with a multi-generational case study of planktonic disease. The model-experiment combination shows that hosts that vary in competitive ability (R*) and potential to spread disease (R0 ) can produce three qualitatively disparate outcomes of dilution on disease: the dilution effect can succeed, fail, or be ambiguous/irrelevant.
The two-configuration approximation for four-electron ions

Abstract One-electron orbitals have been obtained by applying the variation principle to the two-configuration 1 s 2 2 s 2 −1 s 2 2 p 2 approximation to 1 S ground state of four-electron ions (Be through Ne +6 ). These orbitals and the total ion energies and charge densities, obtained with them, are compared with similar results for conventional Hartree-Fock (one-configuration) orbitals. The differences are appreciable. In addition, estimates of the four-electron correlation energies are presented. The current calculations are used in an effort to catalogue the relative importance of the various terms contributing to the correlation energies. A large contribution due to 1 s 2 2 s 2 −1 s 2 2 p 2 mixing is observed. Its magnitude suggests a type of correlation correction unlike that found in the treatment of two-electron ions.
Issues in the synthesis of voltage-, current-, and voltage-current-mode circuits

The focus of this paper is on the synthesis of current- and voltage-current-mode circuits based on the synthesis of voltage-mode circuits. It is well-known that linear voltage-mode signal processing circuits can be synthesized by the application of dependent sources to a suitable, parent network. The positions of the poles and zeros can be independently controlled if the dependent sources introduced are dependent only on the output voltage or only on the input voltage, respectively. An exhaustive search has been performed on all configurations of current-mode and voltage-current-mode circuits that include all four types of dependent sources in order to discover corresponding techniques for the synthesis of these circuits. Several configurations have been found which lend themselves to the synthesis of signal processing circuits. An example of the application of these techniques is provided.
Neural mechanisms of speed-accuracy tradeoff.

Intelligent agents balance speed of responding with accuracy of deciding. Stochastic accumulator models commonly explain this speed-accuracy tradeoff by strategic adjustment of response threshold. Several laboratories identify specific neurons in prefrontal and parietal cortex with this accumulation process, yet no neurophysiological correlates of speed-accuracy tradeoff have been described. We trained macaque monkeys to trade speed for accuracy on cue during visual search and recorded the activity of neurons in the frontal eye field. Unpredicted by any model, we discovered that speed-accuracy tradeoff is accomplished through several distinct adjustments. Visually responsive neurons modulated baseline firing rate, sensory gain, and the duration of perceptual processing. Movement neurons triggered responses with activity modulated in a direction opposite of model predictions. Thus, current stochastic accumulator models provide an incomplete description of the neural processes accomplishing speed-accuracy tradeoffs. The diversity of neural mechanisms was reconciled with the accumulator framework through an integrated accumulator model constrained by requirements of the motor system.
Serum and pituitary concentrations of growth hormone and prolactin in pygmy mice.

SummaryBasal levels of GH and PRL in the serum and pituitary gland of normal (Pg/ Pg) and pygmy (pg/pg) (VY X C3H) F-l hybrid mice were measured by homologous radioimmunoassays. The serum concentrations of GH and PRL in pygmy mice at approximately 90 days of age were found to be no different from those in corresponding normal controls. The pituitary concentrations of the two hormones, however, were substantially subnormal in pygmy mice. Perphena-zine injection failed to stimulate PRL release by pygmy (pg/pg) pituitaries, in contrast to the marked increase in serum PRL levels of the normal Pg/Pg mice. Daily administration of 100 μg of ovine PRL for 8 weeks produced none or very little increase in the body weight of pygmy mice. These results suggest that the pg mutation induces a multifaceted change affecting the synthesis, release, and function of growth hormone and prolactin.The ovine PRL used in these studies was supplied by the Pituitary Hormone Distribution Program of the National Institute of Arthriti...
Phospholipid Encapsulation and Surface Functionalization of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Molecular Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Effects on Spin-Spin Proton Relaxation

Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles are prevalent as nanoprobes for molecular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), providing negative contrast by locally affecting the spin-spin (T2) proton relaxation of water. SPIO nanoparticles are typically Fe3O4 nanocrystals and are commonly used as a negative MRI contrast agent, implementing various surface functionalization techniques to provide molecular targeting to biological macromolecules. The authors recently demonstrated molecular MRI (Figure 1) of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), an extensively studied oncoprotein, in human prostate and head-and-neck cancer cell lines using monoclonal antibodies covalently conjugated to phospholipid micelle encapsulated 12 nm single crystalline SPIO nanoparticles, demonstrating molecular targeting capabilities via surface functionalization [1].© 2007 ASME
Distribution and Abundance of Lions in Northwest Tete Province, Mozambique:

The continued existence of large carnivores such as the lion (Panthera leo Linnaeus, 1758) outside of protected areas is uncertain. Such populations are the least studied and the most rapidly declining. Mozambique contains roughly 8% of Africa's lions, nearly half of which persist outside of protected areas. We estimated the distribution and abundance of lions in an unprotected section of northwest Tete Province and identified potential threats to the local persistence of lion populations. Structured interviews of local people indicated lion presence and human-lion conflict. We used interview results and anthropogenic land uses defined via Google Earth to delineate lion range digitally. We estimated population size using two methods of density estimation. We estimate that 185 lions inhabit roughly two thirds of the study area, including a likely transfrontier population with Zambia. Lion populations are resident and possibly recovering. Proper management of limiting factors, such as human-wildlife conflic...
Optimization of Iron Removal Process for Calcine of Fly Ash and Ammonium Sulfate via Response Surface Methodology

The optimization of process parameters of iron removal for leachable liquid which is from calcined production of the fly ash and ammonia sulfate was described.The corresponding mathematical model on iron removal by ammonium jarosite method and goethite method were established,respectively.In the above process,the reaction temperature,pH value and adding amount of seed precipitation were variable,and the concentration of aluminum ions and iron ions were corresponding variables.The affecting factors were analyzed at the same time.The models are checked by experiment,and the error is less than 5%,which indicates the models are reliable.After the solution of the models,the best process condition of iron removal is given via ammonium jarosite method and goethite method respectively.
Laser applications in clinical medicine

Laser energy sources have been used in a wide range of clinical applications over the last decade to obtain cutting, coagulation, and denaturization of tissue. The therapeutic effect depends on complex interaction among the optical and thermal properties of tissue and damage accumulation. In applications where localized white coagulum is required, there are trade-offs between continuous activation using a large spot size and repetitive pulses with a small spot size as well as between a highly scattered, deep penetration source and a highly absorbed, shallow penetration laser source. For applications involving ablation of tissue, high intensity, pulsed, shallow penetration sources have many advantages over continuously activated penetrating sources. In this article, the range of applications is reviewed with particular attention to the underlying physical phenomena that influence the choice of treatment parameters.
Sub-10-pW/Hz 0.5 Uncooled Micro-Bolometer With a Vacuum Micro-Package

This paper presents a very low noise suspended micro-bolometer with an in-situ vacuum micro-package so as to prevent thermal loss to the surrounding area and minimize the thermal conductivity of the ambient. Bolometer thermal models with respect to vacuum pressure are developed and verified by finite-element method (FEM) simulations. It is found that with the vacuum micro-package, a micro-scale (and not a nano-scale) size bolometer can achieve a noise equivalent power (NEP) close to the theoretical limit. Vacuum packaged Ni micro-bolometers with a sheet resistance of 6.2– $6.5~\Omega /{\text {sq}}$ , widths of 1.3 and $2.3~ \mu {\text {m}}$ , and a micro-vacuum ambient of 1 torr are fabricated using advanced micro-machining techniques. The measured responsivity (RESP) of a room-temperature micro-bolometer with $w _{b} =1.3~ \mu {\text {m}}$ is 922 V/W ( $\beta =1.54~{ \text {M}}\Omega /{\text {W}}$ ) for $R _{b} =275 ~\Omega $ and $I _{b} =0.6 ~{\text {mA}}$ . The measured best NEP is 7.2 pW/Hz0.5 at 3-kHz modulation frequency for $w _{b} =1.3~ \mu {\text {m}}$ , $l _{b} =40 ~\mu {\text {m}}$ , and $R _{b} =230~ \Omega $ , and is the first demonstration resulting in <10 pW/Hz0.5 performance among uncooled micro-bolometers without any nano-patterning methods. The application areas are in low-cost THz imaging systems and wideband THz detectors.
Minimal prophylactic concentration of dietary zinc compounds in a mouse model of swine dysentery.

Dietary supplementation with 6000 mg of Zn 2+ /kg of feed has been shown to modify the clinicopathologic expression of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae infection in a laboratory mouse model of swine dysentery. However, this concentration impaired the body weight gain of the mice. The purpose of the present study was to determine a minimal prophylactic concentration of feed-grade zinc compounds that would not affect the growth of mice challenge-exposed with B. hyodysenteriae . A total of 440, 6- to 8-week-old, C3H/HeN mice were allocated randomly to groups and fed either a defined diet or a defined diet containing either 1000, 2000 or 4000 mg/kg ZnO, ZnSO 4 or zinc-methionine for 7 days before intra- gastric inoculation with B. hyodysenteriae . From days 7 to 35 after inoculation, mice in each group were necropsied at weekly intervals for determination of body weight, presence of B. hyodysenteriae in the cecum, and histological assessment of cecal lesions. Only ZnO fed at 2000 mg/kg had a prophylactic effect against B. hyodysenteriae infection without affecting the body weight gain of the mice. The prophylactic effect of Zn 2+ against infection with B. hyodysenteriae was also affected by the relative concentration of Fe 2+ and Zn 2+ /Fe 2+ ratio of the diet.
Efficient Batch Parallel Online Sequential Extreme Learning Machine Algorithm Based on MapReduce

With the development of technology and the widespread use of machine learning, more and more models need to be trained to mine useful knowledge from large scale data. It has become a challenging problem to train multiple models accurately and efficiently so as to make full use of limited computing resources. As one of ELM variants, online sequential extreme learning machine (OS-ELM) provides a method to learn from incremental data. MapReduce, which provides a simple, scalable and fault-tolerant framework, can be utilized for large scale learning. In this paper, we propose an efficient batch parallel online sequential extreme learning machine (BPOS-ELM) algorithm for the training of multiple models. BPOS-ELM estimates the Map execution time and Reduce execution time with historical statistics and generates execution plan. BPOS-ELM launches one MapReduce job to train multiple OS-ELM models according to the generated execution plan. BPOS-ELM is evaluated with real and synthetic data. The accuracy of BPOS-ELM is at the same level as those of OS-ELM and POS-ELM. The speedup of BPOS-ELM reaches 10 on a cluster with maximum 32 cores.
E-100 Use of the 0.027 VIA Microcatheter for Pipeline Embolization of Cerebral Aneurysms: A Technical Note

Introduction Pipeline embolization devices (PEDs) are designed for delivery through a 0.027” microcatheter such as the Marksman (Medtronic). Challenges with second generation FlexPEDs include limited support from the Marksman for consistent resheathing and providing enough push for delivery. The VIA27 (Sequential) is an alternative 0.027” microcatheter originally designed for intrasaccular flow diverter delivery. Here we describe our experience with the VIA27 in the delivery of PEDs. Methods We retrospectively identified patients who underwent PED treatment with the VIA27 microcatheter at our institution. Patient demographics, equipment utilized, intraprocedural catheter positions and periprocedural complications were documented. Results 36 patients underwent 40 embolizations of 44 aneurysms with 48 PEDs (Table 1) using the VIA27. The average age was 59.9 ± 11.0 years; 7 (17.5%) were male. Most aneurysms 41 (93.2%) were located anteriorly. The average aneurysm size was 7.2 mm with 38 (86.4%) small, 3 (6.82%) large, and 3 (6.82%) giant. The VIA27 was successfully used to deploy all 48 PEDs (Figure 1). 6 attempts were made to resheath the PED during placement; all were successful. The distal tip of the catheter was located in the ACA 4 (10%), MCA 32 (80%), supraclinoidal ICA 1 (2.5%), basilar 2 (5%), and distal vertebral 1 (2.5). In 3 (7.5%) cases where the VIA27 catheter was unable to track, alternate catheters were used to advance and then exchanged back to the VIA27. In 3 (7.5%) instances, the Marksman was unable to provide adequate push for PED deployment; the VIA27 was exchanged for placement of the PED. No patients experienced iatrogenic vessel injury or other microcatheter associated complications. Conclusions The VIA27 is capable of safe FlexPED delivery in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. We have shown its utility in enhancing both resheathing and push for optimal FlexPED placement. The 0.027” VIA may be a useful and safe adjunct to the more traditional Marksman in FlexPED treatments of cerebral aneurysms. Disclosures L. Lin: None. G. Colby: None. R. Xu: None. M. Bender: None. B. Jiang: None. D. Lubelski: None. A. Coon: None.
The Subterranean Aquatic Fauna of the Greenbrier Karst

The Greenbrier Karst harbors 16 species of stygobionts known from 92 caves, and six of these caves are type localities of ten of the species. The fauna is dominated by crustaceans and especially amphipods of the genus Stygobromus, and they primarily occupy vadose streams and the epikarst, but are notably absent from phreatic waters. Stygobromus spinaus is the most widely distributed, found in 59 caves. The segmented worm Trichodrilus culeri and the salamander Gyrinophilus subterraneus are both endemic to single site. The amphipod Gammarus minus is the most intensely studied species, but the basic biology of the other species is little known. The Organ Cave system holds the record in species richness (8) and in terms of type locality (3 species) and deserves a coordinated effort for protection.
An unusual foreign body aspiration requiring an unusual retrieval technique

Foreign body aspiration during medical procedures has been reported in the literature. These iatrogenic incidents could be related to instruments malfunction or to accidental occurrences during medical treatment. In this paper, we present a report of a woman coming for a laparoscopic abdominal hysterectomy who developed intraoperative bronchospasm. In an attempt to administer aerosolized albuterol, the resident anesthesia provider fractured the Luer-lock tip of the 60-cc syringe, which he was using to hold the albuterol nebulizer. The plastic tip was dislodged into the endotracheal tube (ETT). On further inspection with a fiberoptic instrument the plastic tip was located loosely adherent to the distal part of the ETT and was held in place by the moisture, which had precipitated in the distal tube. An intraoperative consult with interventional pulmonary medicine was obtained after unsuccessfully attempting to retrieve the foreign body with a grasper. The syringe tip was then removed using a Fogarty balloon catheter that was threaded through the hole of the plastic tip.
Hypothesis on the Determination of a Rule for the Cross Words Puzzles

The problems of cross words are composed, as we know, of grids and definitions. In the Romanian language one imposes the condition that the percentage of black boxes compared to the total number of boxes of the grid not to go over 15%.
Grain Growth in Polycrystalline Thin Films of Semiconductors

Grain growth in thin films is usually abnormal, leading not only to an increase in the average grain size, but also to an evolution in the shape of the grain size distribution and to an evolution in the distribution of grain orientations. The latter can be driven by surface, interface or strain energy minimization, depending on film and substrate properties and on deposition conditions, and can lead to different final textures depending on which energy dominates.
A Meta-Analysis of Clinical Outcomes of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease

ABSTRACTBackground: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is associated with an increased incidence of severe aortic stenosis (AS). For these patients the usual care has been surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). ESRD patients are at increased surgical risk. Trans-aortic valve replacement (TAVR) may be an alternative to SAVR for these patients. However, TAVR trials have excluded patients with ESRD.Methods: MEDLINE, OMBASE and Cochrane databases were queried for relevant studies. A meta-analysis was performed on the selected studies. Primary outcome was early all-cause mortality; secondary outcomes included 1-year mortality, bleeding, neurological deficits, vascular complications, pacemaker requirement, and myocardial infarction.Results: A total of 16 studies included 3,499 patients. Most patients were high risk as demonstrated by Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) scores > 10 in most studies. Post-TAVR early and 1-year mortality were 10% (95%CI: 7.8–10.5%) and 33% (95%CI: 24.1–36.8%) respectively. Most commo...
What Factors Drive Municipal Fiscal Policy Adoption?: An Empirical Investigation of Major Cities in the United States:

Local policy makers operate within a confined decision-making environment and their policy-making capacities are limited by intergovernmental constraints, political culture, service demand, and eco...
Signpost: Enabling City-Scale Sensing for Citizens and Scientists

The world's population is flocking to city centers at an increasing rate, testing the ability of urban planners and local governments to address new problems in transportation, waste disposal, urban health, and public safety. While one could imagine solutions enabled by an emerging class of smart sensors, current attempts at such systems are difficult to deploy and single purpose in their design. If we expect researchers and citizen-scientists to participate in the data-driven rejuvenation of our urban spaces (and we should, since they are the ones experiencing the day-to-day problems), we must lower the bar to deploying sensors and accessing smart-city data. Towards this goal, we present Signpost, an infrastructurefree sensing platform that aims to enable easy, multi-use sensor deployments for citizens, and researchers who have little expertise in building smart and connected sensors.[1]
A Primal-Dual Architecture for Embedded Implementation of Linear Model Predictive Control

In this paper, we develop an architecture for accelerating a primal-dual quadratic program solver associated with linear model predictive control on a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). The architecture exploits the saddlepoint structure of the quadratic program and allows for transparent introduction of pre-conditioning and relaxation to improve solution robustness and convergence. We demonstrate the efficiency of the architecture using fixed-point arithmetic implementation and taking advantage of the sparsity of the problem data to increase scalability and solution speed.
Near-infrared Spectroscopy in Transport With a Patient in Multi-factorial Shock.

Abstract A 14-year-old male with a history of repaired truncus arteriosus presented to an outside hospital emergency room in respiratory distress. The triage report to the transport referral center included the following vital signs: temperature of 36.6°C, respiratory rate (RR) of 26 breaths/min, heart rate (HR) of 144 beats/min, and blood pressure (BP) of 113/52 mm Hg with peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2) of 95% on 4 L via an OxyMask (SouthMedic, Barrie, Ontario, Canada). Additional information indicated severe right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit stenosis; anuria for 2 days; and cool, mottled extremities. The transport team was dispatched via helicopter. The vital signs upon arrival were as follows: temperature of 36.5°C, HR of 153 beats/min, RR of 48 breaths/min, BP of 81/52, mean arterial pressure of 62, and SpO2 of 96% on 8 L via an OxyMask. Physical assessment revealed the patient was alert and oriented, tachypneic, tachycardic, and displaying poor perfusion. An epinephrine drip was initiated while the patient was being prepared for transport. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was initiated with cerebral NIRS of 71% and renal NIRS of 39%. The epinephrine drip was escalated, and norepinephrine was initiated and titrated up for continued poor perfusion and low renal NIRS. Vitals at the transfer of care at the receiving facility were HR of 142 beats/min, BP of 91/51 mm Hg, RR of 56 breaths/min, SpO2 of 99%, and cerebral NIRS of 75% and renal NIRS of 53%. The patient required mechanical circulatory support shortly after admission. NIRS monitoring was used to help measure perfusion and reassess interventions made during transport.
A Rare Case of Jejunal Pseudoaneurysm Presenting as Acute Small Bowel Obstruction After Blunt Trauma: Discussion, Management Dilemmas, and a Review of Relevant Literature.

Visceral artery aneurysms (VAAs) and visceral artery pseudoaneurysms (VAPAs) are often found incidentally through imaging of a patient presenting with vague symptoms of abdominal pain, hematochezia, hematemesis, and melena. Due to the asymptomatic nature, the etiology is often unknown. However, suspicion for VAA and VAPA should remain high for those presenting with symptoms listed above after trauma or pancreatitis. Here we discuss a case of traumatic ileocolic pseudoaneurysm that has only been discussed a handful of times in the literature.
Importance of wind and meltwater for observed chemical and physical changes in the Southern Ocean

The Southern Ocean south of 30° S represents only one-third of the total ocean area, yet absorbs half of the total ocean anthropogenic carbon and over two-thirds of ocean anthropogenic heat. In the past, the Southern Ocean has also been one of the most sparsely measured regions of the global ocean. Here we use pre-2005 ocean shipboard measurements alongside novel observations from autonomous floats with biogeochemical sensors to calculate changes in Southern Ocean temperature, salinity, pH and concentrations of nitrate, dissolved inorganic carbon and oxygen over two decades. We find local warming of over 3 °C, salinification of over 0.2 psu near the Antarctic coast, and isopycnals are found to deepen between 65° and 40° S. We find deoxygenation along the Antarctic coast, but reduced deoxygenation and nitrate concentrations where isopycnals deepen farther north. The forced response of the Earth system model ESM2M does not reproduce the observed patterns. Accounting for meltwater and poleward-intensifying winds in ESM2M improves reproduction of the observed large-scale changes, demonstrating the importance of recent changes in wind and meltwater. Future Southern Ocean biogeochemical changes are likely to be influenced by the relative strength of meltwater input and poleward-intensifying winds. The combined effect could lead to increased Southern Ocean deoxygenation and nutrient accumulation, starving the global ocean of nutrients sooner than otherwise expected. Physical and biogeochemical changes in the Southern Ocean over the past decade are largely due to growing meltwater input and intensifying poleward winds, according to observations from ships and floats and model simulations.
Symptom Severity, Mood, and Healthcare Use Are Associated With Satisfaction in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Background & Aims Patient satisfaction is an important, but largely overlooked, component of management of functional gastrointestinal disorders. We aimed to identify demographic, clinical, psychosocial, and health-care use factors associated with satisfaction of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Methods We collected data from consecutive patients at an outpatient gastroenterology clinic of a tertiary care center from 2017 through 2019; the patients completed an electronic symptom survey at their initial visit and 3–6 months later. Patients were included in the study if they met Rome IV criteria for IBS with no organic cause for their symptoms. Patient satisfaction was measured using the irritable bowel syndrome satisfaction with care scale. We collected demographic, clinical, psychosocial, and healthcare use information from survey responses and review of medical records. Results Of the 137 patients who completed the study, most were satisfied a great deal (34.9%) or completely (18.6%), whereas 6.2% were not satisfied at all and 14.7% were a little satisfied. Among the 5 satisfaction subscales, the highest proportion of patients were satisfied with connection with their provider (93.4%). The subscale benefits of the visit had the lowest satisfaction rate (70.8%). Factors associated with overall satisfaction scores in the 3–6 months after initial consultation included decreased severity of IBS, higher number of follow-up gastroenterology visits, higher number of diagnostic tests during the follow-up period, and higher number of recommendations made at initial visit. Additionally, lower depression score at initial visit associated with higher satisfaction after 3–6 months. Conclusions Based on a survey of 137 patients with IBS, factors associated with satisfaction 3–6 months after establishing care with a gastroenterologist include reduced IBS severity, lower depression score at initial visit, higher number of recommendations, and higher number of follow-up gastroenterology visits.
Micromechanical Switch-Based Zero-Power Chemical Detectors for Plant Health Monitoring

In this paper, for the first time we demonstrate zero-power volatile-organic-chemical (VOC) detectors based on micromechanical switches suitable for plant health monitoring. Differently from state-of-the-art active chemical sensors, the device presented here exploits a completely passive, chemically-sensitive switch based on a bimaterial micro-cantilever and a passive switch-based readout mechanism to detect VOCs exceeding a pre-determined concentration released by unhealthy plants. When exposed to target VOCs, the polymer/metal bimaterial beam bends downward and trigger the switch due to the stress induced from the absorption of chemicals in the polymer layer. Here we show experimental demonstrations of detecting toluene, hexenol (cis-3-Hexen-1-ol, a chemical released from plants under attack by pests) and ethanol, respectively, with our fabricated prototypes. The demonstrated high sensitivity to ethanol (~8 nm/ppm ) and hexenol (~3.3 nm/ppm ) was achieved by the optimization of device geometries showing a great promise of the proposed technology to ultimately achieve 10s ppm detection limit (with a sub-micron contact gap and voltage bias) which is required for the device operation in close proximity to a plant in an open environment. [2020-0190]
Saudades de ser nihonjin: Japanese-Brazilian identity and mental health in literature and media

Brazil is currently home to the largest Japanese population outside of Japan. In Brazil today, Japanese-Brazilians are considered to be successful members of Brazilian society. This was not always the case, however, and Japanese immigrants to Brazil endured much hardship to attain their current level of prestige. This essay explores this community’s trajectory towards the formation of the Japanese-Brazilian identity and the issues of mental health that arise in this immigrant community. Through the analysis of Japanese-Brazilian novels, TV shows, film and public health studies, I seek to disentangle the themes of gender and modernisation, and how these themes concurrently grapple with Japanese-Brazilian mental health issues. These fictional narratives provide a lens into the experience of the Japanese-Brazilian community that is unavailable in traditional medical studies about their mental health.
Inhibiting Protein Kinase D Promotes Airway Epithelial Barrier Integrity in Mouse Models of Influenza A Virus Infection

Rationale Protein kinase D (PKD) is a serine/threonine kinase family that is involved in a wide array of signaling pathways. Although PKD has been implicated in immune responses, relatively little is known about the function of PKD in the lung or during viral infections. Objectives We investigated the hypothesis that PKD is involved in multiple aspects of host response to viral infection. Methods The selective PKD inhibitor CRT0010166 was administered to C57BL/6 mice prior to and during challenge with either inhaled double-stranded RNA or Influenza A Virus. PKD signaling pathways were investigated in human bronchial epithelial cells treated with CRT0010166, double-stranded RNA, and/or infected with Influenza A Virus. Measurements Total protein and albumin accumulation in the bronchoalveolar fluid was used to asses inside/out leak. Clearance of inhaled FITC-dextran out of the airspace was used to assess outside/in leak. Cytokines and neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage were assayed with ELISAs and cytospins respectively. Viral RNA level was assessed with RT-PCR and protein level assessed by ELISA. Main results PKD inhibition prevented airway barrier dysfunction and pro-inflammatory cytokine release. Epithelial cells express PKD3, and PKD3 siRNA knock-down inhibited polyI:C induced cytokine production. Lung epithelial-specific deletion of PKD3 (CC10-Cre x PKD3-floxed mice) partially attenuated polyI:C-induced barrier disruption in vivo. Mechanistically, we found that PKD promoted cytokine mRNA transcription, not secretion, likely through activating the transcription factor Sp1. Finally, prophylactic CRT treatment of mice promoted barrier integrity during influenza virus infection and reduced viral burden. Conclusions Inhibiting PKD promotes barrier integrity, limit pathogenic cytokine levels, and restrict Influenza A Virus infection. Therefore, PKD is an attractive target for novel antiviral therapeutics.
Liability for embryo mix-ups in fertility practices in the USA.

To study recent legal cases involving the transfer of the incorrect embryo into patients and learn how fertility clinics can better serve clients, protect themselves financially, and safeguard their physicians’ personal assets. The Nexis Uni database was used to review legal cases, news, and business publications of previous cases of embryo mix-ups. County and district courthouse dockets were also queried for filings and court documents related to lawsuits involving embryo mix-ups using Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER). Emphasis was placed on court decisions, awarded damages, and legal and media coverage related to embryo mix-up events. A case law review of US legal databases and courthouse dockets was conducted for cases between 2000 and 2020, focusing on lawsuits against reproductive endocrinologists and in vitro fertilization (IVF) facilities offering embryo transfer (ET). Improper labeling and ineffective communication led to errors in the cases reviewed. It is prudent for clinics to protect themselves from embryo mix-ups, which can subsequently lead to undesirable clinical outcomes, as well as lawsuits stemming from these errors. This article emphasizes following labeling guidelines when storing embryos, employing a two-step read back method prior to ET, and offering genetic testing when a discrepancy is found in the record. In the case an embryo mix-up does occur, it is recommended to protect personal assets through business organizing procedures and consider settlement offers for policy limits.
Simulation environment for development of quad-copter controls incorporating physical environment in urban setting

The intersection between control algorithms and the environment pose multiple issues regarding safe and reliable operations of remote-controlled and autonomous quadcopters for commercial and defense applications. This is particularly true in urban environments, which can pose significant problems to navigation and safety. We are developing a new platform for the development and testing of control schemes for quad-copters in urban environments, with emphasis on the intersection of drone and environmental physics, the uncertainty inherent in each, and control algorithms employed. As our basis, we are using Unreal Engine, which provides exibility for physics and controls used, in addition to state-of-the-art visualization, environmental interactions (e.g. collision simulation) and user interface tools. We incorporate the open-source, open-architecture PixHawk PX4 software platform, with the object of transitioning control algorithms to hardware in the future. Finally, we convert models of actual cities from MapBox and OpenStreetMap for use in Unreal Engine. We conclude with a demonstration of human-controlled drone ight in a section of Chicago, IL with light, uni-directional winds.
Efficacy of Pecan Husk and Shell Phenolic Extracts Against Phytophthora Blight in Chile Pepper

Phytophthora blight, caused by Phytophthora capsici, is detrimental to chile peppers (Capsicum sp.). In this study, phenolics extracted from pecan (Carya illinoinensis) husk and shell were foliarly...
Teaching Research Design: The Gender and Politics Lab and Reflections on the Lab Model for the Social Sciences

In 2017 I founded the Gender and Politics Lab, nine years after I graduated with a PhD and began teaching on the tenure track. This short autobiographical essay will describe my teaching philosophy, how my teaching practice has evolved over time, how I moved to a lab model of student supervision, and the activities of the Gender and Politics Lab in relation to the teaching and training of research design in political science. Readers will leave the essay with an understanding of the benefits of collaboration and peer-mentorship and training: it boosts confidence, a sense of belonging, and it strengthens the knowledge that students have, as they learn by teaching each other.
The Minicolumnopathy of Autism

The organization of the cerebral cortex is centered around a modular construct. The smallest module capable of information processing is the minicolumn. Recent studies on minicolumnar morphometry using either pyramidal cell arrays or the gray level index (GLI) suggest distinct abnormalities of this structure in several psychiatric conditions including schizophrenia, dyslexia, and autism. More specifically, minicolumns in autism as compared to controls seem thinner and more numerous. An increased number of minicolumns indicates the supernumerary division of periventricular germinal cells. A reduction in size of pyramidal cell somas within affected minicolumns suggests a bias towards shorter corticocortical connectivity. Compartmentalization of the minicolumn indicates that the majority of the deficit is found within the peripheral neuropil space. This compartment includes, among other things, many of the inhibitory elements of the cerebral cortex and provides the so-called “shower curtain of inhibition” to the minicolumn. Laminae studies indicate that in autism the peripheral neuropil defect extends the width of the cerebral cortex. A possible explanation to the above described minicolumnar abnormalities is the heterochronic division of germinal cells. Neuroblasts generated from heterochronic divisions of germinal cells can give rise to heterotopias and dysplastic cortical lesions. Once the radially migrating neuroblasts (future pyramidal cells) reach the cortex they develop asynchronously from tangentially dividing neuronal elements (interneurons). The resultant excitatory/inhibitory imbalance may provide for seizures and sensorimotor abnormalities
Microlocalization of CR structures

Let M be a compact C∞ manifold of dimension 2n+1. A CR structure on M is given by a subbundle, denoted by \( {\text T}\begin{array}{*{20}c} {1, 0} \\ {\text b} \\ \end{array} ({\text M}) \), of the complexified tangent bundle ℂT(M), which satisfies the following properties: (a) The dimension of the fibers of \( {\text T}\begin{array}{*{20}c} {1, 0} \\ {\text b} \\ \end{array} ({\text M}) \) is n. (b) \( {\text T}\begin{array}{*{20}c} {1, 0} \\ {\text b} \\ \end{array} ({\text M})\, \cap \,\overline {{\text T}\begin{array}{*{20}c} {1, 0} \\ {\text b} \end{array} ({\text M})} \, = \,\{ 0\} . \) (c) If L and L′ are vector fields defined on an open set UCM with values in \( {\text T}\begin{array}{*{20}c} {1, 0} \\ {\text b} \\ \end{array} ({\text M}) \) then [L, L′] also has values in \( {\text T}\begin{array}{*{20}c} {1, 0} \\ {\text b} \\ \end{array} ({\text M}) \).
Objects for multisensory perception

Object perception deploys a suite of perceptual capacities that constrains attention, guides reidentification, subserves recognition, and anchors demonstrative thought. Objects for perception—perceptual objects—are the targets of such capacities. Characterizing perceptual objects for multisensory perception faces two puzzles. First is the diversity of objects across sensory modalities. Second is the unity of multisensory perceptual objects. This paper resolves the puzzles. Objects for perception are structured mereologically complex individuals. Perceptual objects are items that bear perceptible features and have perceptible parts arranged to form a unified whole. This circumscribes the targets of object perception where neutral talk concerning intentional objects and objects of perception cannot. Nonetheless, it is more permissive than identifying perceptual objects with material bodies, which excludes too much and leans too heavily on vision. The account thus is tailored to capture the role of objects in perception beyond vision: tactual, auditory, and olfactory objects are individuals with differing structures. Its flexibility also enables the account to accommodate shared objects for multisensory perception: multisensory perceptual objects are mereologically complex individuals with hybrid structure. For instance, one can bimodally perceive a common whole with parts accessible to one but not both modalities. Each sense provides a partial perspective on a complex whole that is perceptible through the coordinated use of multiple senses. Understanding perceptual objects as structured mereologically complex individuals thus provides a theoretically useful notion of an object for multisensory perception that resolves the puzzles of diversity and of unity.
The Effects of Relaxed and Reversed Selection by Predators on the Antipredator Behavior of the Threespine Stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus

Isolation from predators can lead to the reduction or loss of ancestral behavioral defenses in prey, but does not always do so. Predators introduced to populations that have experienced relaxed selection from some ancestral predators can favor the evolution of antipredator behavior that has been lost. We examined these possibilities by eliciting antipredator behavior in three populations of threespine stickleback fish, Gasterosteus aculeatus: an oceanic population thought to resemble the ancestral form, and two populations historically (up to 20 000 yr) devoid of piscine predators (relaxed selection), one of which has been stocked with salmonids for nearly 25 yr (reversed selection). We used three kinds of predator models: a sculpin (ambush predator), a rainbow trout (chasing predator), and an overhead silhouette of an arctic tern. Stickleback reacted differently to the three models, indicating that they distinguished among them. Individuals from all populations responded similarly to the tern model. The ancestral population showed the weakest response to the sculpin model despite being the only population that encounters these predators naturally. Stickleback from the trout-free population displayed slightly reduced responses to the trout model, and recovery times like those in the ancestral population providing only weak evidence for loss of the ancestral antipredator repertoire. Fish from the reverse-selected population exhibited fascinating, elevated responses to both the trout and sculpin models relative to the other two populations. These findings offer initial evidence of (1) a partial alteration of the ancestral behavioral repertoire during a long period of relaxed selection from piscine predators, and (2) rapid acquisition of extreme responses to piscine predators under reverse selection.
Harnessing Attachment in Addiction Treatment: Regulation Theory and the Self-Medication Hypothesis

Addiction is a multifaceted problem with complex etiology, calling for a multidimensional treatment approach. This article explores the interface of regulation theory and the self-medication hypothesis (SMH) and applies clinical strategies based on regulation theory to the treatment of substance addiction. Specifically, this article argues that treatment informed by regulation theory supports the development of an individual’s capacity for self-regulation, thereby targeting the dysregulation identified by the SMH as an underlying cause of addictive behaviors. This approach offers a viable framework for addiction treatment. Implications for clinical practice and further research are also explored.
An Integrated Approach for the Rational Design of Nanovectors for Biomedical Imaging and Therapy

The use of nanoparticles for the early detection, cure, and imaging of diseases has been proved already to have a colossal potential in different biomedical fields, such as oncology and cardiology. A broad spectrum of nanoparticles are currently under development, exhibiting differences in (i) size, ranging from few tens of nanometers to few microns; (ii) shape, from the classical spherical beads to discoidal, hemispherical, cylindrical, and conical; (iii) surface functionalization, with a wide range of electrostatic charges and biomolecule conjugations. Clearly, the library of nanoparticles generated by combining all possible sizes, shapes, and surface physicochemical properties is enormous. With such a complex scenario, an integrated approach is here proposed and described for the rational design of nanoparticle systems (nanovectors) for the intravascular delivery of therapeutic and imaging contrast agents. The proposed integrated approach combines multiscale/multiphysics mathematical models with in vitro assays and in vivo intravital microscopy (IVM) experiments and aims at identifying the optimal combination of size, shape, and surface properties that maximize the nanovectors localization within the diseased microvasculature.