cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Induces a Biphasic Effect on Myocardial Contractility in Conscious Dogs

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) likely plays a role in the pathophysiology of myocardial depression observed in septic shock. To evaluate the hemodynamic effects of TNF-alpha in vivo while eliminating the influence of altered sympathetic tone, eight conscious chronically instrumented dogs were studied after pretreatment with propranolol (2 mg/kg) and atropine (2mg). Using three sets of piezoelectric crystals to measure left ventricular (LV) volume and LV manometers to measure pressure, we determined load-independent parameters of LV systolic performance before, during, and after infusion of recombinant human TNF-alpha (rhTNF-alpha, 40 micrograms/kg for 1 hour). Plasma was analyze for epinephrine and norepinephrine. Between 1 and 7 hours of exposure, rhTNF-alpha induced significant increases in circulating catecholamines. Norepinephrine rose from 268.6 +/- 47.2 to 426.2 +/- 87.0 pg/mL (P < .05) at 1 hour and peaked at 921.2 +/- 156.8 pg/mL (P < .001) at 4 hours after initiating rhTNF-alpha treatment. Similarly, epinephrine increased from 130.2 +/- 30.9 to 884.5 +/- 210.2 pg/mL (P < .05) at 1 hour and peaked at 3195.3 +/- 476 pg/mL (P < .001) at 4 hours. Before the surge of circulating catecholamines and despite complete beta adrenergic blockade, rhTNF-alpha induced a 7% to 40% increase in LV contractile performance during the 60-minute infusion. After this initial positive inotropic effect, rhTNF-alpha treatment led to precipitous systolic dysfunction between 2 and 7 hours of exposure; this myocardial depressant effect persisted at 25 hours. LV systolic performance declined to 19% to 35% of baseline values, depending on the specific contractile parameter evaluated. We conclude that rhTNF-alpha affects LV systolic function in a time-dependent biphasic manner. Increases in circulating catecholamines after rhTNF-alpha infusion cannot account for the early improvement in LV systolic performance.
Functional Analysis of the Accessory Protein TapA in Bacillus subtilis Amyloid Fiber Assembly

Bacillus subtilis biofilm formation relies on the assembly of a fibrous scaffold formed by the protein TasA. TasA polymerizes into highly stable fibers with biochemical and morphological features of functional amyloids. Previously, we showed that assembly of TasA fibers requires the auxiliary protein TapA. In this study, we investigated the roles of TapA sequences from the C-terminal and N-terminal ends and TapA cysteine residues in its ability to promote the assembly of TasA amyloid-like fibers. We found that the cysteine residues are not essential for the formation of TasA fibers, as their replacement by alanine residues resulted in only minor defects in biofilm formation. Mutating sequences in the C-terminal half had no effect on biofilm formation. However, we identified a sequence of 8 amino acids in the N terminus that is key for TasA fiber formation. Strains expressing TapA lacking these 8 residues were completely defective in biofilm formation. In addition, this TapA mutant protein exhibited a dominant negative effect on TasA fiber formation. Even in the presence of wild-type TapA, the mutant protein inhibited fiber assembly in vitro and delayed biofilm formation in vivo. We propose that this 8-residue sequence is crucial for the formation of amyloid-like fibers on the cell surface, perhaps by mediating the interaction between TapA or TapA and TasA molecules.
1-MCP blocks ethylene-induced petal abscission of Pelargonium peltatum but the effect is transient

Continual exposure to 1.5 m ll 1 ethylene caused 100% petal abscission within 2 h from detached flowers of Pelargonium peltatum (L.) ‘Pink Blizzard’ (ivy geranium) harvested just after the stigmatic lobes had separated. When flowering plants were first pretreated for 2 h with 1 m ll 1 1-MCP, ethylene-induced petal abscission was completely inhibited. However, the effect was transient, since percent abscission increased with time after 1-MCP treatment. Based on percent abscission from detached flowers after a 2-h ethylene exposure, the half-life of 1-MCP activity was about 2, 3 and 6 days after 1-MCP treatment at 25, 20.7, and 12°C, respectively, and there was no evidence for a residual effect after 4 or 5 days at 25 and 20.7°C, respectively. A second application of 1-MCP renewed the inhibitory effect. Following 1-MCP treatment, the force required to separate petals from the flower declined linearly with time. The time until complete loss of the inhibitory effect was strongly temperature dependent, e.g. : 1 day at 25°C versus 3‐4 days at 12°C. The usefulness of 1-MCP as a commercial treatment to prevent petal abscission from Pelargoniums will depend on shipping and storage temperature and application frequency. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Multicenter Phase II Trial of Temsirolimus and Bevacizumab in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors

Purpose There are few effective therapies for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs). Recent placebo-controlled phase III trials of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor everolimus and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/platelet-derived growth factor receptor inhibitor sunitinib have noted improved progression-free survival (PFS). Preclinical studies have suggested enhanced antitumor effects with combined mTOR and VEGF pathway–targeted therapy. We conducted a clinical trial to evaluate combination therapy against these targets in PNETs. Patients and Methods We conducted a two-stage single-arm phase II trial of the mTOR inhibitor temsirolimus 25 mg intravenously (IV) once per week and the VEGF-A monoclonal antibody bevacizumab 10 mg/kg IV once every 2 weeks in patients with well or moderately differentiated PNETs and progressive disease by RECIST within 7 months of study entry. Coprimary end points were tumor response rate and 6-month PFS. Results A total of 58 patients were enrol...
Damage Identification in a Composite Plate using Prestack Reverse-time Migration Technique

Migration technique, which is normally used in geophysical prospecting, is proposed to locate and image multiple delamination damages in a laminated composite plate. In this simulation study, an active diagnostic system with a linear array of actuators/sensors is used to excite/receive the lowest mode of flexural waves in the laminate. The wavefield scattered from the damages and sensor array data are synthesized using a two-dimensional explicit finite difference scheme to model wave propagation in the laminate based on the Mindlin plate theory. A prestack reverse-time migration technique is then adopted to interpret the synthetic sensor array data and to visualize the damages. The phase and group velocities of flexural waves in the composite plate are derived from the dispersion relations, and subsequently an excitation-time imaging condition specifically for migration of waves in the plate is introduced based on ray tracing and group velocity. Then the prestack reversetime migration is performed using the same finite difference scheme to back-propagate the scattered energy to the damages. During the migration process, the laminate is imaged in terms of velocity of the transverse deformation. The locations and dimensions of the damages can be visually displayed. Simulated results demonstrate that multiple delamination damages can be successfully identified and the resulting image correlates well with the target damages.
Combined effects of phytohemagglutinin and staphylococcal enterotoxin B on deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis during blast transformation in human lymphocytes.

Three mitogenic agents, phytohemagglutinin (PHA), staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), and concanavalin A (Con A) were tested for their effects on deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis in the normal human lymphocyte. When optimal concentrations of PHA and SEB were combined, tritiated thymidine incorporation in lymphocytes derived from several donors was enhanced significantly. In the presence of graded concentrations of one of these mitogens added to fixed optimal concentrations of the other, this enhancement was shown to be additive. By contrast, when PHA or SEB were combined with Con A, the resulting thymidine incorporation was slightly lower than for either mitogen alone. An inhibition of further thymidine incorporation when puromycin was added to lymphocytes incubated with PHA and SEB suggested that the additive effect of these mitogens was due to increased enzyme synthesis. To define potential differences in mechanisms of action underlying the additive effect of SEB and PHA, the relative contribution of the de novo and salvage pathways for pyrimidine biosynthesis was tested with cytidine, a specific salvage pathway inhibitor. Cytidine (10−3 M) inhibited synthesis through the salvage pathway, but did not significantly alter induction of carbamyl phosphate synthetase II, the rate-limiting enzyme for the de novo pathway. An inhibition of DNA synthesis by millimolar cytidine concentrations in lymphocytes incubated with PHA or SEB, singly or in combination, suggested that pyrimidines for the observed enhancement of DNA synthesis were derived largely via the salvage pathway.
Maternal perceptions of child behavior: handicappec versus nonhandicapped

This study compares the ratings of child behavior in short stories by mothers of children with handicapping conditions versus those whose children had no handicapping conditions. Each of the mothers rated 12 short stories or vignettes and indicated their self-perceived level of stress. The results showed that the mothers of children with handicapping conditions expressed significantly greater stress levels and rated inappropriate child behavior in a more tolerant fashion than the mothers of children without handicapping conditions. This information may be of value to the dentist who treats patients with handicapping conditions, and it provides a greater understanding of the mothers' concerns and daily life stresses.
Circulation and Dynamics of the Western North Atlantic. Part III: Forecasting the Meanders and Rings

Abstract The multiscale feature models (MSFMs) developed for the circulation of the western North Atlantic (Part I) have been used for initialization in this study to forecast the Gulf Stream meanders and rings. The Harvard primitive equation model, which was calibrated and verified for the statistics of the synoptical dynamics in this region (Part II), provides the basis for these simulations. Three 2-week-long synoptical dynamical hindcasts are presented. These hindcasts are carried out in a forecast mode without assimilating any future information. In general, when compared against SST-derived frontal location and ring–stream interactions, 2-week-long forecasts are found to be statistically superior than persistence and dynamically consistent. These forecasts are also compared against similar forecasts based on the U.S. Navy’s Optimum Thermal Interpolation System (OTIS) initializations. It is found that the MSFM-initialized simulations provide a better predictive capability than OTIS-initialized simula...
A FACTORIAL ANALYSIS OF GENDER AND RANK ON BUSINESS SCHOOL FACULTY'S SALARIES AS A GAUGE FOR DISSATISFACTION

Business faculty salaries from 13 institutions of higher learning across 5 states were collected via collegiatetimes.com, a public salary database. Those data included faculty members’ gender, rank, and teaching field. A gender difference (p <.01) was found when four null hypotheses were tested. Chi-square was used to ascertain whether differences existed between relative frequency of occurrence of male and female faculty and ranks. Two-Way Analysis of Variance, with a 2 x 4 factorial design, was used to test for main effects and interaction effects when gender and ranks were the independent variables and salary was the dependent variable. Although women earn less than men across all academic ranks, the magnitudes in salary increases were non-significant with an interaction effect of p = .779. Therefore, female business school faculty might not be subject to more dissatisfaction than men when salary is used as a gauge for female dissatisfaction.
Distribution of CO and Radiochromium in Blood and Tissues of Rabbit and Dog. I. Carbon Monoxide.

Summary1. Carbon monoxide gas and autogenous red cells tagged with Cr51 were administered simultaneously to rabbits and to dogs. Blood and homogenized tissues from various organs were analyzed for radioactivity and for CO content. 2. The volume of distribution of CO was 13% larger than the volume of distribution of Cr51 in the rabbit. The discrepancy is the same as that found in man and the splenectomized dog. 3. CO accumulated in red skeletal muscle and myocardium in amounts sufficient to account for the discrepancy between distribution volumes. 4. Evidence was found pointing to slight accumulation of Cr51 in spleen and lung. Further studies of this phenomenon are described in part II of this report.
Effect of Intravenous Aureomycin on the Intestinal Flora of Dog and Man.

Summary1. Aureomycin administered intravenously results in partial suppression of the intestinal flora in both man and dog. The effect in patients is superior to that in dogs. 2. The drug is presumably excreted into the intestinal tract via the salivary glands and bile.
An Analytic Model for Power System On-line Alarm Processing Based on Temporal Constraint Network

Up to now,temporal information of alarms has not yet been fully utilized in existing alarm processing methods.The temporal constraint network is a kind of directed acyclic graph(DAG),and could well represent temporal logics.Given this background,an analytic model for alarm processing with temporal information taken into account is developed.The model could not only find out the events causing the reported alarms together with the time domain concerned,but also identify abnormal and missing alarms.The concepts of the time-point and time-distance constraints in the temporal constraint network provide a path for describing the uncertainty of the event occurrences,and hence precise timing is no longer required as in the existing alarm processing models accommodating temporal information.Finally,an actual power system is served for demonstrating the feasibility and efficiency of the proposed model and method.
Extreme Values of the Analyzing Power in the 6Li(, α) 4He Reaction

Extreme values of the analyzing power have been identified in -4He and -4He elastic scattering1,2). Recently it has been proposed that similar points exist also in reactions3). A calculation of the cartesian tensor Ayy from the 6Li(, α) 4He data of Gruebler et al.4) shows experimental values with Ayy ≃ 1 at two points (fig.). Although more data are clearly needed, extreme values Ayy = 1 are possible. A definite identification requires the elements of the M-matrix to fulfill certain conditions. For Ayy = 1 the M-matrix5)
Should All Patients Be Started on Antiarrhythmic Drugs After Atrial Fibrillation Ablation

It has been recognized since the early days of catheter ablation to treat atrial fibrillation (AF) that some patients can have early recurrences of AF in the weeks after ablation. This has been attributed to the effects of inflammation and pericarditis after ablation; several studies have shown that
Is Rapid Health Improvement Possible? Lessons From the Million Hearts Initiative.

Five years ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and partners launched a public–private initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2017.1 Although final results will not be known for several years, data suggest that the initiative made substantial progress and will achieve about half of its goal. Policies, partnerships, and programs prevented cardiovascular events and yielded important lessons. This article outlines the actions taken, progress made, and implications for health improvement in the United States. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains our leading cause of death, killing 800 000 Americans and costing $316 billion annually.2 CVD event and mortality rates have declined since the 1960s, but this decline decelerated around 2011.3 The Million Hearts initiative began in 2012 and faced the challenge of overcoming this trend. The purpose of the initiative was to scale effective interventions in order to prevent CVD events to resume and accelerate the decline.1 Communitywide goals were to reduce tobacco use and sodium intake and to eliminate artificial trans fat consumption. Clinical priorities were to improve management of the ABCS: aspirin use, blood pressure control, cholesterol management, and smoking cessation. More than 120 partners, including federal, state, local, and private sector organizations, are working to achieve targets. Through the first 2 years of the initiative, ≈115 000 events …
Detection of clonal mitochondrial DNA mutation in airway mucosa of follow-up lung cancer patients

A5 Mitochondrial DNA mutations were reported in various cancers but very little is known whether these mutations can be used for diagnostic or prognostic purposes. We examined 30 lesions from 5 follow-up lung cancer patients comprised of tumor, matched airway mucosa, metaplasia and tumor adjacent normal epithelium on high throughput Affymetrix Mitochip 2.0 array platform. The airway mucosal lesions were designated abnormal and suspicious for mild-moderate-severe dysplasia or carcinoma in situ based on Auto-Fluorescence-Bronchoscopy (AFB) and HUGO pathological classification. At least one somatic mutation was detected in each lesion analyzed. A total of 64 mutations were detected with 75% (48/64) from the coding regions and 25% (16/64) from the non-coding regions of the mtDNA. The mutational hot spots were at ND1 (14 mutation) and COI (10 mutations) and 2-4 identical mutations were noted among 4 patients. In 3 out of 5 patients, at least one identical mutation was evident in the tumor and one of the corresponding mucosal lesions. A range of 1-15 tumor matched mutations were detectable in mucosal lesions of the 3 patients. One patient was operated twice for tumor in the right and left lobe respectively within a span of two years and we detected multiple identical mtDNA mutations (20/20) in both the tumors from this patient. Fifteen out of twenty mtDNA mutations detected in the tumors of this patient were also detectable among the 5 corresponding mucosal lesions. Moreover, a significant correlation between smoking and number of mtDNA mutation in these patients were observed (P
Multi-octave linear efficient GaN power amplifier

GaN RF technology has continued to demonstrate state-of-the-art power, efficiency, linearity, and low-noise performance in RF and mm-wave band. Here, we report on a multi-octave (100 MHz–8 GHz), linear nonuniform distributed amplifier (NDPA) in a MMIC architecture using scaled 120-nm short-gate-length GaN HEMTs. The linear NDPAs were built with six sections in a nonuniform distributed amplifier approach, where each cell consists of main and g m3 cells. The small signal gain was >10 dB over the band, with saturated CW output power of ∼35 dBm at Vdd = 17 V. The PAE improved by 7%–10% within the band compared to the previous NDPA with 150-nm gate-length GaN FETs. Based on two-tone testing, the linear NDPA showed improved OIP3 of ∼50 dBm, compared to OIP3 of 42 dBm for the NDPA without linearization. Under QPSK LTE waveform, the ACPR was improved by ∼10 dBc at average output power of 23 dBm, without digital pre-distortion.
Controversies in Microvascular Maxillofacial Reconstruction

The effectiveness and reliability of microvascular reconstruction for large defects in the head and neck is no longer disputed. However, many controversies still persist in the ideal perioperative management of patients undergoing free tissue transfer. The optimal method of postoperative monitoring, the use of vasoconstrictors in the perioperative period, and the use of anticoagulants in the postoperative period remain topics of debate. This article offers recommendations on each of these controversies based on a review of the current literature.
Evaluating the Effects of Projected Climate Change on Forest Fuel Moisture Content

Understanding how live and dead forest fuel moisture content (FMC) varies with seasonal weather and stand structure will improve researchersâ and forest managersâ ability to predict the cumulative effects of weather on fuel drying during the fire season and help identify acute conditions that foster wildfire ignition and high rates of fire spread. No studies have investigated the efficacy of predicting FMC using mechanistic water budget models at daily time scales through the fire season nor have they investigated how FMC may vary across space. This study addresses these gaps by (1) validating a novel mechanistic live FMC model and (2) applying this model with an existing dead FMC model at three forest sites using five climate change scenarios to characterize how FMC changes through time and across space. Sites include post-fire 24-year old forest, mature forest with high canopy cover, and mature forest affected by the mountain pine beetle with moderate canopy cover. Climate scenarios include central tendency, warm/dry, warm/wet, hot/dry, and hot/wet.
Supplementation of encapsulated cinnamaldehyde and garlic oil on pre- and postweaning growth performance of beef cattle fed warm-season forages

ABSTRACT Two experiments evaluated the effects of cinnamaldehyde and garlic oil on performance of grazing (Exp. 1) and drylot beef cattle (Exp. 2). Treatments in both experiments consisted of daily supplement fortification with (CNG) or without (CON) cinnamaldehyde and garlic oil (300 mg/d). In Exp. 1, 24 cow-calf pairs were allocated into limpograss (Hemarthria altissima; n = 4) or bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum; n = 4) pastures, which were randomly assigned to treatments (4 pastures per treatment) until weaning. Thereafter, 24 weaned heifers were allocated into bahiagrass pastures (4 pastures per treatment) for 72 d. In Exp. 2, 20 Brangus steers were fed bahiagrass hay ad libitum and concentrate DM supplementation at 1% of BW for 30 d. Effects of forage type, treatment, and interactions were not detected for growth, fecal egg counts, and plasma glucose and urea nitrogen of heifers and cows (P ≥ 0.11). The fly counts of CNG heifers on limpograss was less at weaning than for CON heifers (P = 0.03) but did not differ between CNG and CON heifers grazing bahiagrass (P = 0.66). Effects of treatment and treatment × day were not detected for postweaning growth, fecal egg counts, and plasma haptoglobin (P ≥ 0.43). In Exp. 2, effects of treatment and treatment × day were not detected for growth and total fly counts (P ≥ 0.34). Hence, daily supplementation of cinnamaldehyde and garlic oil did not affect growth and fecal egg counts of grazing or drylot cattle. Cinnamaldehyde and garlic oil reduced fly counts of heifers grazing limpograss but not heifers grazing bahiagrass.
Does Religion Distribution Matter in the Economic Growth of Latin America

This research empirically analyzes the relationship between religion distribution and economic performance for a number of Latin American countries. The econometric results using time-series cross-sectional data yield consistent yet relatively mild estimates. Religion as a conduit for modifying values, behaviors, and outcomes does influence aggregate rates of per-capita economic growth and total factor productivity ratios in the region. However, once broken down by religious beliefs, the Catholic religion plays by far the largest role, rendering other well-known religious affiliations less important.
Time Allocation Behavior of Twentieth-Century American Generations: GI Generation, Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials

In recent years, time engagement behaviors of two generations, namely Baby Boomers and Millennials have sparked much interest because these generations constitute the bulk of the American populatio...
Umbilical Hernia Options

Umbilical hernias are very common primary abdominal wall ventral hernias. More than 350,000 ventral hernias are repaired each year in the United States. Seventy-five percent of those are primary ventral hernias including umbilical and epigastric hernias, but only about 11% of umbilical hernias end up getting repaired. Umbilical hernia repair can be approached with both open and minimally invasive surgery (MIS). The focus of this chapter is on how these hernias can be repaired with minimally invasive approaches rather than with open techniques.
Alveolar macrophage--induced suppression of the immune response.

Active participation of macrophages in almost every phase of the immune response is now well-accepted. There is information from both in vivo and in vitro studies to indicate that macrophages not only serve as effector cells, but also may enhance or suppress the activities of lymphocytes participating in immune responses (35).
Diet as Adjunctive Treatment for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Review and Update of the Latest Literature

Diet plays an integral role in development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and continues to act as a mediator of intestinal inflammation once disease sets in. Most clinicians provide little dietary guidance to IBD patients, in part due to lack of knowledge in nutrition and lack of available nutritional resources. The purpose of this review is to provide clinicians with a brief summary of the latest evidence behind diets popular among IBD patients, to highlight diets with known efficacy, and to provide guidance that may help busy practitioners. The latest studies show that exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) remains the most effective diet for induction of remission in Crohn’s disease (CD), either in the form of elemental, semi-elemental, or polymeric formulas. Recent studies also show that EEN can be useful in complicated CD including in enterocutaneous fistulas closure and to optimize nutrition in the pre-operative setting. Although new studies suggest that partial enteral nutrition supplemented with elimination diets may be beneficial in ulcerative colitis (UC) and CD, larger controlled studies are needed to support their use. The autoimmune diet also shows promise but lacks larger studies. Recent uncontrolled clinical studies evaluating the specific carbohydrate diet (SCD) suggest that this diet may improve biochemical markers of inflammation and induce mucosal healing, although larger studies are needed to support its use, especially because the SCD is very restrictive. Short-term use of the low FODMAP diet is appropriate when in the setting of an acute flare up and/or in stricturing disease, but long-term restriction of FODMAPs is not recommended given long-term changes observed in the microbiome. Recent studies suggest that avoidance of processed foods, packaged with preservatives and emulsifiers, may be important in decreasing intestinal inflammation; many of the recent popular diets share a common concept, avoidance of processed foods. In this review of the latest literature, we highlight that dietary studies are still in a rudimentary stage. Large prospective randomized control studies are underway evaluating head to head comparisons on the efficacy of some of these diets. We offer general guiding principles that may help gastroenterologists in the meantime.
Fables of Response-ability: Feminist Science Studies as Didactic Literature

Recent literature in feminist science studies is rich with stories about how we are constituted by and in relation to (sometimes toxic) chemicals. Scholars such as Natasha Myers, Mel Chen, and Eva Hayward have written vivid accounts of the chemical ecologies of late industrialism, arguing that we cannot think of bodies as separate from environments. In this article, I read feminist scholarship on chemical ecologies as fables of response-ability, stories that teach us to attend and respond within our more-than-human world. Amplifying their didactic registers, I pay attention to moments in the texts that are speculative, poetic, and personal, moments that work on the bodies, imaginations, and sensoria of their readers. By reading these texts together, I hope to both acknowledge the didactic work that feminist science studies scholars are already doing and encourage others to experiment with telling their own fables of response-ability.
The effect of concurrent visual feedback on adult singing accuracy

The purpose of this study was to test the effect of concurrent visual feedback on adult non-musicians’ growth in pitch accuracy over 10 weeks. University students not majoring in music were randoml...
Design of an Experimental Laboratory for Pattern Recognition and Signal Processing

An interactive computer-controlled scanning and display system has been in operation at the IBM T. J. Watson Research Center for two years. The system includes two flying-spot scanners, specially interfaced to a process control digital computer, dot-mode and vector displays, analog input and output facilities, and a variety of other experimental equipment. The system design and programming support are described and typical applications in scanner control, optical character recognition and image processing are presented.
Probing nanopore structure and confined fluid behavior in shale matrix: A review on small-angle neutron scattering studies

Abstract Although continued growth in unconventional oil and gas production is generally projected, its long-term growth potential and sustainability have significant uncertainties. A critical problem is the low hydrocarbon recovery rates from shale and other tight formations using the horizontal well drilling and hydraulic fracturing techniques: Small- and ultra-small-angle neutron scattering (SANS and USANS) have emerged as a powerful method for characterizing shale nanopore structure and confined fluid behavior. Owing to neutrons' high penetrating ability and high sensitivity to hydrogen (and its isotope, deuterium), SANS/USANS can probe inside shale samples to characterize nanopores from 1 nm to 10 μm in size and be readily combined with sample environmental cells to examine the fluid (hydrocarbon and water – frack fluid) behavior at relevant pressure-temperature (P-T) conditions. In this review article, an introduction is first given on the characteristics of shale matrix and the uniqueness of SANS/USANS compared with conventional methods. Then current studies on shale nanopore structure and confined fluid properties using SANS/USANS are summarized. Finally, an outlook and perspective on future research in this emerging area will be offered.
16 – Chi Square

Publisher Summary Chi square is used with frequency data. Expected frequencies are readily determined from the null hypothesis. For example, if H0 specifies that subjects in the population are equally divided among the k categories, fe for each category is equal to N/k. where N = number of subjects in the sample.
Machine learning of biomarkers and clinical observation to predict eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND Subtyping chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) by tissue eosinophilia has prognostic and therapeutic implications, and is difficult to predict using peripheral eosinophil counts or polyp status alone. The objective of this study was to test machine learning for prediction of eosinophilic CRS (eCRS). METHODS Input variables were defined as peripheral eosinophil count, urinary leukotriene E4 (uLTE4) level, and polyp status. The output was diagnosis of eCRS, defined as tissue eosinophil count >10 per high-power field. Patients undergoing surgery for CRS were retrospectively reviewed for complete datasets. Univariate analysis was performed for each input as a predictor of eCRS. Logistic regression and artificial neural network (ANN) machine learning models were developed using random and surgeon-specific training/test datasets. RESULTS A total of 80 patients met inclusion criteria. In univariate analysis, area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) for peripheral eosinophil count and uLTE4 were 0.738 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.616 to 0.840) and 0.728 (95% CI, 0.605 to 0.822), respectively. Presence of polyps was 94.1% sensitive, but 51.7% specific. Logistic regression models using random and surgeon specific datasets resulted in AUC of 0.882 (95% CI, 0.665 to 0.970) and 0.945 (95% CI, 0.755 to 0.995), respectively. ANN models resulted in AUC of 0.918 (95% CI, 0.756 to 0.975) and 0.956 (95% CI, 0.828 to 0.999) using random and surgeon-specific datasets, respectively. Model comparison of logistic regression and ANN was not statistically different. All machine learning models had AUC greater than univariate analyses (all p < 0.003). CONCLUSION Machine learning of 3 clinical inputs has the potential to predict eCRS with high sensitivity and specificity in this patient population. Prospective investigation using larger and more diverse populations is warranted.
Raising Children to Speak Their Heritage Language in the USA: Roles of Korean Parents

Parents play a significant role in fostering Korean-American children’s heritage language learning. This qualitative inquiry investigates Korean immigrant parents’ beliefs and the language practices they engage in to raise their children to speak Korean. Based on questionnaires completed by 40 parents and in-depth, open-ended interviews with 5 parents, this study specifically focuses on Korean parents residing in an area with a low Korean immigrant population and how they perceive, foster, and advocate for their children’s Heritage Language (HL) learning. The findings show that parents play crucial roles as active advocates of their children’s HL learning and positive belief in HL maintenance, making best efforts to help their children see the value of learning. In addition, the findings show that parents serve as HL educators, who create an HL learning environment, instruct HL reading and writing, and incorporate digital tools and popular culture for HL learning.
Return of the left internal mammary artery.

Competitive flow from a non-critical native vessel leading to longitudinal narrowing/atresia of the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) is described as "the string phenomenon." We describe spontaneous recanalization of an atretic LIMA following coronary artery bypass grafting for multivessel coronary artery disease.
AI assisted Malware Analysis: A Course for Next Generation Cybersecurity Workforce.

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to solve cybersecurity problems has been gaining traction within industry and academia, in part as a response to widespread malware attacks on critical systems, such as cloud infrastructures, government offices or hospitals, and the vast amounts of data they generate. AI- and ML-assisted cybersecurity offers data-driven automation that could enable security systems to identify and respond to cyber threats in real time. However, there is currently a shortfall of professionals trained in AI and ML for cybersecurity. Here we address the shortfall by developing lab-intensive modules that enable undergraduate and graduate students to gain fundamental and advanced knowledge in applying AI and ML techniques to real-world datasets to learn about Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI), malware analysis, and classification, among other important topics in cybersecurity. Here we describe six self-contained and adaptive modules in "AI-assisted Malware Analysis." Topics include: (1) CTI and malware attack stages, (2) malware knowledge representation and CTI sharing, (3) malware data collection and feature identification, (4) AI-assisted malware detection, (5) malware classification and attribution, and (6) advanced malware research topics and case studies such as adversarial learning and Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) detection.
Varying Expression of Mu and Kappa Opioid Receptors in Cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) and Domestic Pigeons (Columba livia domestica).

Author(s): Fousse, Samantha L; Golsen, Bryce M; Sanchez-Migallon Guzman, David; Paul-Murphy, Joanne R; Stern, Joshua A | Abstract: Avian species have varying analgesic responses to opioid drugs. Some of this variability could be due to extrinsic factors such as administration route or dose. However, intrinsic factors such as gene expression or polymorphic differences in opioid receptors may be important components.ObjectivesThe objectives of this study were to determine the relative gene expression and polymorphisms present for mu and kappa opioid receptors (OPRM1 and OPRK1) in the cerebrum, brainstem, spinal cord, and footpad of cockatiels and pigeons.MethodsTissue biopsies were obtained from 11 adult cockatiels (6 male and 5 female) and 11 adult pigeons (6 male and 5 female). RNA was extracted and qPCR was performed to determine the level of gene expression for OPRM1 and OPRK1 relative to a reference gene phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1) using the ΔΔCt method. Sanger sequencing was performed to identify polymorphisms, if present.ResultsThere were higher expression levels of OPRM1 compared to OPRK1 in all tissues examined regardless of species (p l 0.001, FDR p l 0.001) Cockatiels had less OPRK1 expression in the cerebrum compared to pigeons (p = 0.005, FDR p = 0.004). Cockatiels had more OPRM1 expression in the brainstem (p = 0.045, FDR p = 0.029), but less OPRM1 expression in the footpad compared to pigeons (p = 0.029, FDR p = 0.021). No other significant differences in OPRM1 or OPRK1 expression were identified across species. Two missense polymorphisms were identified in OPRK1; none were found in OPRM1.ConclusionThe differential expression of opioid receptors between cockatiels and pigeons could have implications for variability in analgesic response between these two species.
Frequency of hypertensive response to dobutamine stress and diminished diagnostic value in patients with end-stage renal disease awaiting renal transplant.

BACKGROUND Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have a cardiovascular mortality about 15-30 times the general population and this is reduced by about 70% with renal transplant. Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) is commonly performed for preoperative cardiac evaluation before renal transplantation. Hypertensive response during DSE occurs in about 1%-5% of DSE studies. However, it seems to be more frequent in patients with ESRD. But its frequency and clinical implications are not known. METHODS AND RESULTS Of the 249-consecutive adult ESRD patients undergoing DSE for pre-kidney transplant cardiac risk assessment at our dedicated clinic, 53 (21%) had a hypertensive response. Half of the patients with a hypertensive response had stress-induced segmental wall motion abnormalities, of whom only half had angiographically significant coronary artery disease by quantitative coronary angiography. The hypertensive response was not a predictor of survival. Stress-induced segmental wall motion abnormalities predicted poor survival in those with a normotensive response, but not in those with a hypertensive response. The main and independent predictor of a hypertensive response was higher baseline systolic blood pressure (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS Hypertensive response to dobutamine stress is common in ESRD patients and is not a predictor of survival. Stress-induced segmental wall motion abnormalities occur nearly thrice as frequently with a hypertensive response, but this is a poor predictor of angiographically significant coronary artery disease and does not predict survival.
The Rebirth of California Fish & Game Code Section 5937: Water for Fish

Provides the definitive legislative history of California Fish & Game Code Section 5937, which protects instream flows on California water ways below dams.
Seeking menstrual products: a qualitative exploration of the unmet menstrual needs of individuals experiencing homelessness in New York City

There has been increasing recognition that certain vulnerable populations in the United States of America struggle to meet their menstruation-related needs, including people experiencing homelessness. Media and policy attention on this subject has focused on the provision of free menstrual products to vulnerable populations, including a New York City legislative bill, which guarantees access to menstrual products for Department of Homeless Services shelter residents (Intros 1123-A). This qualitative study explored the challenges people experiencing homelessness in New York City face in accessing menstrual products. Data collection was conducted from June to August 2019 and included: Semi-structured key informant interviews with staff from relevant government agencies and homeless service providers (n = 15), and semi-structured in-depth interviews with individuals with experience living on the street and in shelters (n = 22). Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Key themes that emerged included: (1) insufficient and inconsistent access to menstrual products; (2) systemic challenges to providing menstrual products; and (3) creative solutions to promote access to menstrual products. Both shelter- and street-living individuals reported significant barriers to accessing menstrual products. While both populations struggle, those in shelters were more likely to be able to purchase menstrual products or access free products at their shelter, while those living on the streets were more likely to have to resort to panhandling, theft, or using makeshift materials in place of menstrual products. Across both populations, individuals described barriers to accessing free products at shelters and service providers, primarily due to distribution systems that rely on gatekeepers to provide a few pads or tampons at a time, sometimes of inadequate quality and only upon request. Shelters and service providers also described challenges providing these products, including inconsistent supply. These findings highlight the critical importance of expanding and improving initiatives seeking to provide access to menstrual products for vulnerable populations. Despite policy level efforts to support menstrual product access, individuals experiencing homelessness in New York City, whether living in shelters or on the street, are often not able to access the menstrual products that they need to manage their monthly menstrual flow.
Congressional Oversight of Modern Warfare: History, Pathologies, and Proposals for Reform

Despite significant developments in the nature of 21st century warfare, Congress continues to employ a 20th century oversight structure. Modern warfare tactics, including cyber operations, drone strikes, and special operations, do not neatly fall into congressional committee jurisdictions. Counterterrorism and cyber operations, which are inherently multi-jurisdictional and highly classified, illustrate the problem. In both contexts, Congress has strengthened its reporting requirements over the past several years, developing relatively robust oversight regimes. But in solving one problem, Congress has created another: deeply entrenched information silos that inhibit the sharing of information about modern warfare across committees. This has real consequences: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee may have to vote on an authorization for the use of force against a country without understanding ongoing intelligence operations against that country that might achieve the same purpose at less risk. The armed services committees may be asked to approve a train and equip program for a partner force in a nation without having an inkling that the CIA is already operating essentially the same program. And the intelligence committees may give the green light to a proposed covert operation without understanding the broader foreign policy context and therefore the reaction that it might provoke if it is discovered. But there is good news with the bad. If Congress is to blame for this information siloing, Congress is also able to fix it. This Article begins with a proposal made by the 9/11 Commission to address information sharing failures—the formation of a super committee to address national security matters. After explaining why this is not the right answer, this Article offers four concrete proposals to remedy the problem: First, Congress should promote inter-committee information sharing through institutional reforms. Second, Congress should require joint briefings to committees when matters cut across jurisdictional boundaries. Third, Congress should permit members to share classified information with other members under limited, clearly defined circumstances. And fourth, Congress should create a Congressional National Security Council to coordinate cross-cutting national security matters and share mutually relevant information.
Improving Longevity of Gelatin Ultrasound Trainers

Medical schools are increasingly integrating ultrasound training into their curricula as ultrasound utility expands in medical practice. Homemade ballistic gelatin ultrasound trainers have been developed as teaching tools that bypass the logistical complications of human test subjects and expense of commercial phantoms. This study explored methods to impede mold growth and extend the longevity of homemade trainers through chemical additives and physical barriers. Thirty-five 500 mL forms with a base formula of gelatin (10% by weight) and Metamucil (2.5% by weight) in water were created in 750 mL Tupperware containers. Five had no additives or surface coverings; 8 contained the preservative Carolina's Perfect Solution; 7 contained the antiseptic surgical scrub Betasept; and 5 each had the exposed surface covered in plastic wrap, Duoderm bandages, or Tegaderm bandages. All containers were lidded, refrigerated at 4⁰ C and checked weekly for number and diameter of growing mold colonies. By week 6, all gelatin...
Caring for Those Who Have Borne the Battle: Exploring the Myths and Realities of Veterans' Benefits Since the Revolution

This lecture discusses the history of veterans benefits in America. It demonstrates that -- contrary to public perception -- veterans of WWII were treated unusually well and that the treatment of Vietnam veterans is much closer to the historical norm.
Comparison of different techniques for nonlinear output feedback adaptive control

A number of techniques have been developed in the past for adaptive control of nonlinear systems using output feedback. These techniques have been compared from a number of viewpoints like the underlying class of nonlinear systems, the nature of the theoretical results (e.g., global versus semiglobal), and the issue of over-parameterization. One issue that has not received enough attention is how these different techniques compare when they can be applied to the same system. For example, the class of nonlinear systems in output feedback form, treated in the books by Krstic et al. (1995) and Marino and Tomei (1995), can also be treated by the high-gain observer method of Khalil (1996, 1997) and the H/sup /spl infin// method of Tezcan and Basar (1999). We use simulation to compare the performance of different output feedback nonlinear adaptive controllers.
Cimetidine: adverse reactions and acute toxicity

Recent reports of cimetidine toxicity are summarized. Summaries of specific cases and categorized according to cardiovascular, central nervous system, dermatologic, endocrine, gastrointestinal, hematologic, or renal toxicity, or overdosage. Adverse reactions reported secondary to cimetidine during its investigational period and shortly after marketing were minimal. In several studies in which over 1200 patients were treated with cimetidine, the incidences of adverse clinical symptoms was no higher than in the nearly 500 placebo-treated patients. However, subsequent reports indicate that elderly patients, patients with impaired renal function, and patients with liver disease appear quite susceptible to mental confusion. Potentially serious hematologic depression, cardiac depression, and hypersensitivity-type hepatitis have also been reported. As a result of the reports of impotence and oligospermia, controlled trials evaluating the effect of cimetidine on fertility in young men are needed.