cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Global epidemiology of Trichomonas vaginalis

Despite having the highest prevalence of any sexually transmitted infection (STI) globally, there is a dearth of data describing Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) incidence and prevalence in the general population. The lack of basic epidemiological data is an obstacle to addressing the epidemic. Once considered a nuisance infection, the morbidities associated with TV have been increasingly recognised over the past decade, highlighting the importance of this pathogen as a public health problem. Recent developments in TV diagnostics and molecular biology have improved our understanding of TV epidemiology. Improved characterisation of the natural history of TV infection has allowed us to hypothesise possible explanations for observed variations in TV prevalence with age. Direct and indirect hormonal effects on the female genital tract provide a likely explanation for the greater burden of persistent TV infection among women compared with men. Further characterisation of the global epidemiology of TV could enhance our ability to respond to the TV epidemic.
Trade, Progress, and Patriotism: Defining Valparaíso, Chile, 1818-1875

Valparaiso, Chile, defined itself as a relatively autonomous, cosmopolitan port city during the nineteenth century. As the leading Pacific port in South America, it played a key role in the Chilean economy. A strong foreign presence, rapid growth, and omnipresent commerce accompanied local prosperity. Local leaders sought the latest urban technologies to bring “progress”—essentially, to mitigate problems created by rapid growth. Although Valparaiso's mercantile elite favored practical solutions rather than the Haussmann-esque urban renewal seen in Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, and Santiago de Chile, the city tackled planning challenges aggressively and succeeded notably in some areas. It successfully negotiated tensions over its residents' dual allegiances to the Chilean state and to international trading communities until the early twentieth century. At that point, political centralization in Chile subordinated Valparaiso to Santiago's power while economic and transportation changes diminished its import...
Development of an Irradiated Rodent Model to Study Flap Revascularization

Objective To develop a reproducible free-flap animal model to study the effects of irradiation on flap revascularization. Design After institutional animal care and use committee review and approval, 16 Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to either 23- or 40-Gy electron beam irradiation to their ventral abdominal wall. After a recovery period, the animals then underwent a ventral fasciocutaneous flap pedicled on the inferior epigastric vessels with subsequent pedicle ligation at 10 days. An additional 16 rats were subjected to 40 Gy of irradiation and underwent pedicle ligation at 8 or 14 days postoperatively to determine if time to pedicle ligation affected percentage of flap viability. Results Rats receiving 23 Gy of irradiation had the same viability as rats undergoing no radiation. Rats receiving 40 Gy of irradiation had a significantly lower average percentage of flap viability (56.9%) than animals receiving 23 Gy (90.9%) ( P P Conclusions This animal model establishes that external beam irradiation at a total dose of 40 Gy leads to significantly delayed flap revascularization over time compared with 23-Gy irradiation. This model will allow future investigators to study novel therapies to improve healing and flap revascularization.
Understanding thermal performance of DC/DC power modules

This paper explores the significance of thermal deratings and explains how the industry has no standard thermal derating characterization process for isolated and non-isolated DC/DC power modules. The reasons why manufacturers measure thermal deratings and two commonly used measurement methods are presented. Moreover, the paper supports the assertion that the in-system performance of many DC/DC power modules falls far short of the output current rating on the front of the data sheet.
Indirect Transport Layer Protocols for Mobile Wireless Environment

Internetworking protocols for mobile hosts have hitherto treated host mobility as a routing problem to be handled entirely within the network (IP) layer. Such an approach however, ignores the distinctive features of wireless mobile computing. IP-based transport protocols thus suffer from poor performance when used for communication between a mobile host and hosts on the wired network. This is caused by frequent disruptions in network layer connectivity due to mobility and wireless losses. We describe indirect transport layer protocols for mobile hosts which can tackle mobility and wireless related performance problems without compromising backward compatibility with the transport protocols used over the wired network. Indirect protocols utilize the resources of Mobility Support Routers (MSRs) to provide transport layer communication between mobile hosts and those on the fixed network. We also present performance figures for I-TCP, an indirect transport protocol for mobile computers that is compatible with TCP, showing substantial improvement in throughput over regular TCP.
Numerical Solution of an Ill-Posed Coefficient Identification Problem

Ill-posed problems arise in a variety of important practical applications ranging from medical imaging to seismology [2,3]. In the next section, we discuss an ill-posed problem which arises in the estimation of a coefficient function in a boundary value problem (BVP) from incomplete information about the solution to the BVP. In section 3 we present a numerical algorithm for solving this coefficient identification problem. Finally, in section 4 some numerical results are given. We first present an abstract definition of ill-posedness.
Some Stochastic Variational Problems

Stochastic variational problems appear in many branches of physics and mechanics. This chapter gives a brief overview of the features caused by the variational nature of the problems.
Metabolic control of brain cancer: role of glucose and ketone bodies

1147 Metabolic control theory applies principles of bioenergetics for the control or management of complex diseases. Since metabolism is a universal process underlying all phenotypes, modification of metabolism can modify phenotype. The theory is based on findings that compensatory genetic and biochemical pathways regulate the bioenergetic potential of cells. Glucose is the primary fuel for brain cells under normal physiological conditions, but both neurons and glia can transition to ketone bodies for energy when glucose levels become limiting. This is a conserved physiological adaptation that evolved to enhance survival during periods of prolonged food restriction. The transition from glucose to ketone bodies (β-hydroxybutyrate, β-OHB) as a major fuel source involves an increase in TCA cycle activity, a down regulation of glycolytic flux, and a general increase in the delta G’ of ATP hydrolysis. Ketone body metabolism can also reduce tissue inflammation that contributes to brain tumor angiogenesis. While normal brain cells possess metabolic flexibility in their use of energy metabolites, gliomas lack flexibility and are largely dependent on glycolytic energy. Nuclear mutations and mitochondrial defects are thought to underlie the metabolic inflexibility of glioma cells. Therapies that exploit the genetic and metabolic weaknesses of brain tumor cells should therefore be effective in controlling brain cancer. Our recent in vivo studies show that reduced caloric intake, which reduces glucose and elevates ketones, has powerful proapoptotic and antiangiogenic effects in experimental brain cancer. An in vitro system is presented to evaluate the role of glucose and β-OHB in brain tumor control using malignant mouse astrocytoma (CT-2A) cells and normal syngeneic mouse astrocytes grown in the presence or absence of glucose, glutamine, and β-OHB. The results show that caspase 3-mediated apoptosis is greater in the CT-2A astrocytoma cells than in the normal astrocytes under reduced glucose/glutamine conditions and that β-OHB can rescue normal astrocytes, but not the CT-2A astrocytoma cells. These findings support the hypothesis that brain tumors are potentially manageable through metabolic intervention. Supported by NCI grant (CA102135).
Changes in resting state functional connectivity after repetitive transcranial direct current stimulation applied to motor cortex in fibromyalgia patients

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic, centralized pain condition characterized by alterations in the functional, chemical, and structural brain networks responsible for sensory and mood processing. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has emerged as a potential treatment for FM. tDCS can alter functional connectivity (FC) in brain regions underneath and distant to the stimulating electrode, although the analgesic mechanisms of repetitive tDCS remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate how a clinically relevant schedule of tDCS sessions alters resting state FC and how these changes might relate to clinical pain. Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were collected from 12 patients with FM at baseline, after 5 days of sham treatment, and after 5 days of real tDCS with the anode over the left primary motor cortex (M1) and the cathode over the right supraorbital cortex. Seed to whole-brain FC analyses were performed with seed regions placed in bilateral M1, primary somatosensory cortices (S1), ventral lateral (VL) and ventral posterolateral (VPL) thalami, and periaqueductal gray (PAG). Stronger baseline FC between M1–VL thalamus, S1–anterior insula, and VL thalamus–PAG predicted greater analgesia after sham and real tDCS. Sham treatment (compared with baseline) reduced FC between the VPL thalamus, S1, and the amygdala. Real tDCS (compared with sham treatment) reduced FC between the VL thalamus, medial prefrontal, and supplementary motor cortices. Interestingly, decreased FC between the VL/VPL thalamus and posterior insula, M1, and S1 correlated with reductions in clinical pain after both sham and active treatments. These results suggest that while there may be a placebo response common to both sham and real tDCS, repetitive M1 tDCS causes distinct changes in FC that last beyond the stimulation period and may produce analgesia by altering thalamic connectivity.
Methodology of a Novel Virtual Phenomenology Interview Technique

Normal 0 The use of virtual world technology as a social and communications medium is increasing dramatically. Virtual world-based interview environments are emerging as a tool that qualitative researchers may consider either to supplement or to replace traditional face-to-face interview settings. Guided by previous studies comparing computer-mediated communications to face-to-face interviews, this study explores the character and degree of interviewer influence on participants’ responses in virtual world versus traditional face-to-face environments. No significant difference in meaning units was found in the coded transcripts of virtual world environment interviews and face-to-face interviews. Results suggest virtual worlds may offer advantages over face-to-face interviewing in terms of efficiency, without sacrificing reliability, validity, or complexity. Study limitations and additional research topics are discussed.
Gastric ulceration in differentially housed mice.

Mice were housed either 1, 5, of 10 per cage prior to 24 hr. of food deprivation. The incidence and severity of starvation-induced gastric ulceration were an inverse function of group size; the ret...
A possibilistic approach for general design optimization problems

The optimization problem of structural systems with imprecise properties on the basis of a nondeterministic possibilistic approach is considered. System imprecisions are defined by fuzzy numbers and characterized by membership functions. A methodology for the efficient solution of the optimization process is presented. A two-step method is used to include the imprecision within the optimization, where high quality approximations are used for the evaluation of structural responses. The approximations are constructed using concepts of intermediate response quantities and intermediate variables. These approximations are used to replace the original optimization problem by a sequence of explicit approximate problems. The possibilistic approach is basically an algebraic process which can be implemented very efficiently for the optimal design of general structural systems with imprecise parameters. The effectiveness of the methodology is illustrated by the solution of one example problem.
Section 9. Coastal Ocean in the Anthropocene

Since preindustrial time until present, the influence of external inputs and the forcings (an environmental influence that causes change in a system) on the global coastal ocean has increased enormously, and consequently, the role of the coastal ocean in the cycling of carbon and other elements has
Elements of Informed Consent for Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis

Informed consent for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is especially complex because it includes several procedures, all of which have risks that must be discussed: PGD involves the creation of embryos by in vitro fertilization (IVF), the biopsy of one or more cells from the early embryo, and the genetic testing of the biopsied cell(s) to determine which embryo(s) to implant into the uterus. This review focuses on the elements of informed consent for the embryo biopsy and genetic testing components of PGD, assuming that informed consent for IVF itself is better understood due to its longer history. To be fully informed about the risks associated with the embryo biopsy, prospective parents should be made aware of the results from mouse and human safety studies. While some of these studies have found the procedure to be safe based on specific outcomes at certain time points, different studies have detected neurological and other abnormalities in embryo-biopsied offspring compared to controls. No long-term studies assessing the safety of the embryo biopsy procedure in humans past the age of 4 have been published. For the genetic testing component of PGD, prospective parents should be aware of the chance of misdiagnosis and the need for additional prenatal testing if they wish to confirm the results of the embryo testing prior to birth. In addition, results of comprehensive genetic testing may reveal unanticipated information about long-term health risks of implanted embryos, potentially compromising the resulting child’s right to an open future. Furthermore, in selecting for a particular trait, prospective parents may inadvertently also be selecting for embryos with an increased risk of an unanticipated disease as a result of linked genes or heterozygote advantage. Finally, prospective parents should be aware of the social implications associated with selecting the characteristics of their offspring.
Living and Dying in Different Worlds: Gender Differences in Violent Death and Grief:

This article examines gender differences in violent death rates by age and ethnicity. Data of U.S. accident, homicide, and suicide death rates show that males die from violent deaths more often tha...
Characterization of Standard Embeddings between Rational Homogeneous Manifolds of Picard Number 1

Let X be a rational homogeneous manifold of Picard number 1. A subdiagram of the marked Dynkin diagram of X induces naturally an embedding of a rational homogeneous manifold Z into X. By a standard embedding of Z into X we will mean the composite of it with the action of an element of Aut 0 (X). In this paper, we prove a characterization of standard embeddings of Z into X by means of varieties of minimal rational tangents in the case where Z is nonlinear. We also provide a characterization of maximal linear spaces in X.
TU-AB-202-12: A Novel Method to Map Endoscopic Video to CT for Treatment Planning and Toxicity Analysis in Radiation Therapy.

Purpose: Endoscopic examinations are routine procedures for head-and-neck cancer patients. Our goal is to develop a method to map the recorded video to CT, providing valuable information for radiotherapy treatment planning and toxicity analysis. Methods: We map video frames to CT via virtual endoscopic images rendered at the real endoscope's CT-space coordinates. We developed two complementary methods to find these coordinates by maximizing real-to-virtual image similarity:(1)Endoscope Tracking: moves the virtual endoscope frame-by-frame until the desired frame is reached. Utilizes prior knowledge of endoscope coordinates, but sensitive to local optima. (2)Location Search: moves the virtual endoscope along possible paths through the volume to find the desired frame. More robust, but more computationally expensive. We tested these methods on clay phantoms with embedded markers for point mapping and protruding bolus material for contour mapping, and we assessed them qualitatively on three patient exams. For mapped points we calculated 3D-distance errors, and for mapped contours we calculated mean absolute distances (MAD) from CT contours. Results: In phantoms, Endoscope Tracking had average point error=0.66±0.50cm and average bolus MAD=0.74±0.37cm for the first 80% of each video. After that the virtual endoscope got lost, increasing these values to 4.73±1.69cm and 4.06±0.30cm. Location Search had point error=0.49±0.44cm and MAD=0.53±0.28cm. Point errors were larger where the endoscope viewed the surface at shallow angles<10 degrees (1.38±0.62cm and 1.22±0.69cm for Endoscope Tracking and Location Search, respectively). In patients, Endoscope Tracking did not make it past the nasal cavity. However, Location Search found coordinates near the correct location for 70% of test frames. Its performance was best near the epiglottis and in the nasal cavity. Conclusion: Location Search is a robust and accurate technique to map endoscopic video to CT. Endoscope Tracking is sensitive to erratic camera motion and local optima, but could be used in conjunction with anchor points found using Location Search.
A comprehensive reputation-based trust model for distributed systems

In this paper, we present a general and comprehensive reputation-based trust model for distributed computing. The proposed model is an enhancement over our previous model, TRUMMAR, and aims at achieving a truly unique model that incorporates most concepts that are essential to determining trust-based decisions. Among the concepts upon which the trust model is based are reputation values, direct experiences, trust in the credibility of a host to give recommendations, decay of information with time based on a dynamic decay factor, first impressions, similarity, popularity, activity, cooperation between hosts, in addition to a hierarchy of host systems. The simulations performed on this model confirm its correctness and its adaptability to different environments and situations.
Model Medical Examiner Legislation

Medicolegal death investigation laws throughout the United States are a hodgepodge. They reflect different systems and different evolutions and are generally incoherent and not up to date. A though...
The impact of lipomatous tumors on type 2 diabetes: are adipose-derived tumors metabolically active?

Abstract Background The metabolic and immunologic properties of adipose tissue are linked to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Lipomatous tumors, such as liposarcomas, are rare but can reach significant size. We hypothesized that some lipomatous tumors are metabolically active and can alter systemic glucose homeostasis. Methods We performed a retrospective study of patients who underwent resection of a lipomatous tumor at a tertiary cancer referral center (2004-2015). We divided patients into nondiabetics, well-controlled diabetics (hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c] Results We reviewed 217 operations for lipomatous tumors. No differences were observed in tumor characteristics in patients with and without diabetes. However, tumor characteristics differed significantly between the well-controlled and poorly controlled diabetics groups. Patients with poorly controlled diabetes had larger tumors that were more likely to be malignant, retroperitoneal, and well-differentiated. Tumor resection had no detectable impact on diabetes, as assessed by HbA1c, and requirement for diabetic medications. Conclusions Poorly controlled diabetes was linked to the presence of large, malignant, and retroperitoneal lipomatous tumors. However, in limited follow-up, no detectable impact of tumor resection was apparent on glycemic control. These data suggest that most lipomatous tumors do not exert a clinically relevant impact on glucose homeostasis.
Moderators of response to sertraline versus placebo among recently abstinent, cocaine dependent patients: A retrospective analysis of two clinical trials.

Background and Objectives Moderators of treatment response to serotonin reuptake inhibitor sertraline (SRT) for cocaine dependence were assessed in two randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials. Methods Generalized estimating equation modeling was performed on data from cocaine-dependent volunteers randomized to receive SRT or placebo (N = 126) who completed >2-week drug-free residential portions of the 12-week trials, in which subsequent outpatient treatment (weeks 3–12) included weekly cognitive behavioral therapy and thrice-weekly supervised urine toxicology. Primary Outcome Measure: Relapse (2 consecutive cocaine-positive or missing urines) following residential stay. Potential moderators included treatment, sex, age, race, depression measures, baseline cocaine urine result, and alcohol dependence diagnosis (ADDx). Results Odds ratios (OR) for relapse showed placebo-treated participants were significantly more likely to relapse than SRT participants. Regardless of treatment condition, participants more likely to relapse were male, and those with lower Hamilton depression ratings, or baseline cocaine-negative urines. Older subjects or those with current ADDx had higher relapse risk than those without ADDx; however, treating older or ADDx participants with SRT reduced cocaine relapse more than placebo. Discussion and Conclusions Women or those with more severe cocaine use or depressive symptoms may have fewer cocaine relapses regardless of medication treatment. SRT at 200 mg reduced cocaine relapse more than placebo, especially in older participants or in those with comorbid ADDx. Scientific Significance SRT may be efficacious to support relapse prevention among cocaine-dependent patients in the context of brief residential followed by outpatient treatment, especially in older participants or those with comorbid alcohol/cocaine dependence. (Am J Addict 2017;XX:1–8)
COMPOSITIONAL GRADIENTS IN MESOPHYTIC FORESTS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA

Numerical classification and ordination techniques are used to examine compositional variability in 112 stands of mesophytic upland forest in the eastern United States from data published by Braun (1950). Five forest types are identified and used to interpret ordination results. Two prominent environmental gradients account for much of the compositional variability in the data set: along the first ordination axis a microclimate gradient reflects increasing soil moisture availability and cold stress from dry uplands to northern hardwood sites; along the second ordination axis, a soil fertility gradient segregates hemlock coves and dry uplands, both of which are characteristically found on shallow, nutrient-poor soils, from the other forest types. The efficacy of combining numerical classification and ordination techniques for analyzing and interpreting patterns in ecological data is underscored by these results.
Cellulose nanocrystals with different morphologies and chiral properties

Abstract The study reports the morphology and optical properties of a variety of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) obtained from different natural sources with different dimensions and composition. A library of CNCs components with different dimensions, sulfate contents, and crystallite sizes was prepared under identical hydrolysis conditions from five distinct sources representing traditional choices ranging from soft and hard wood pulps to microcrystalline cellulose. High-resolution atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction confirmed that all CNCs have a well-defined needle-like morphology with different aspect ratios and axi-asymmetric cross-sections. Varying the cellulose sources resulted in wide variability of the CNC dimensions, including length (120–210 nm), aspect ratio (30–70), height (2.9–3.6 nm), and width (6–11 nm). Specifically, the CNCs from microcrystalline sources have large cross-sectional dimensions and produce straight CNC bundles, but CNCs from wood pulps have small cross-sections and form twisted bundles of a few individual nanocrystals. Chemical composition and surface potentials were found to be less critical to the resulting chiral characteristics and structural colors while the CNCs with high aspect ratios form chiral films with large pitch values and thus longer wavelengths of selective reflection. Such flexible chiral CNC materials with controlled optical signature can be further considered for development of advanced materials for colorimetric sensors, tunable and active photonic materials, optical coatings, chiral inks and 3D printed photonic structures.
A proof of Pelczyński’s conjecture for the Haar system

Let H be a real or complex Hilbert space with norm ǀ ∙ ǀ. Let 1 < p< ∞ and p* = max {p, p/(p− 1)J. Suppose that f and g belong to the Lebesgue-Bochner space \(L_H^p[0,\,1)\) and (h n ) n is the sequence of Haar functions on [0, 1). Let $$\begin{array}{*{20}{c}} {f = \sum\limits_{k = 0}^\infty {{a_k}\,{h_k},} } & {g = \sum\limits_{k = 0}^\infty {{b_k}\,{h_k}} } \\ \end{array} $$ where a k , b k ∈ H and the two series converge in \(L_H^p[0,\,1)\). The main result of the paper is: If ǀb k ǀ ≤ ǀa k ǀ for all k≥ 0, then $${\left\| g \right\|_p}\, \leqslant \left( {p* - 1} \right){\left\| f \right\|_p}$$ and the constant p* − 1 is best possible. Strict inequality holds if p≠ 2 and ǁfǁ p > 0.
Laparoscopy--a diagnostic aid in cases of suspected appendicitis. Its use in women of reproductive age.

Abstract In women of reproductive age the usefulness of laparoscopy in diagnosing acute appendicitis was evaluated. Eighty-six women underwent diagnostic laparoscopy. There was complete visualization of the appendix in 93% of the patients. Twenty-two patients were spared laparotomy. In the nonpregnant patients, salpingitis was the disease most often confused with appendicitis. Eighty-five percent of the patients with salpingitis had the onset of symptoms within 14 days of the last menstrual period, whereas acute appendicitis was found in 86% of the patients with the onset of symptoms >14 days after the last menstrual period. The onset of symptoms relative to the first day of the last menstrual period differed in these two groups of patients (p
Mechanism of Action of Atrial Natriuretic Factor in the Adrenal Gland

Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) inhibits aldosterone release from adrenal zona glomerulosa cells. The inhibition is not elicited by sodium nitroprusside which increases cGMP (cyclic 3′, 5′-guanine-monophosphate) in these cells. Permeable cGMP analogs increased aldosterone release rather than inhibiting it. These results suggested that cGMP may not mediate the action of atrial natriuretic factor. Indeed a dephosphorylation of a 240 kDa protein in plasma membrane mediated by the atrial peptide is not dependent on cGMP. In order to clarify cGMP-dependent and -independent mechanisms, two different types of receptors were separated and purified by a series of affinity chromatography. The guanylate cyclase-containing receptor was shown to have a single polypeptide chain structure of 135 kDa and highly specific for full length (greater than 24 amino acid residue) atrial peptides whereas the guanylate cyclase-free receptor was shown to be a disulfide-linked dimer of 65 kDa subunit with a lesser specificity for the structure of the effector protein.
Robust Digital Filter Structures: A Direct Approach

One of the many contributions of Prof. Fettweis was the invention of wave digital filters. These filters are obtained from classical RLC filters, in particular doubly terminated lossless two-ports, by using some transformations. Namely, the voltages and currents in the circuit elements are transformed into wave-variables and then a bilinear transformation is performed. If the wave transformation is performed appropriately it results in a realizable digital filter structure which furthermore enjoys a number of robustness properties such as low passband sensitivity, low roundoff noise, and freedom from limit cycle oscillations. Prof. Fettweis and his colleagues also showed that these properties are due to the inheritence of passivity properties from the continuous-time domain into the digital filter domain. Subsequent to this landmark work, a number of researchers worked on the problem of obtaining robust digital filter structures without starting from continuoustime circuits. One of these is the structurally bounded or structurally passive class of digital filters. These structures are based on inducing structural passivity directly into the implementation and are therefore simpler, both conceptually and from a practical viewpoint. They are also more general and lead to new structures which have no natural connection to electrical circuits. This paper gives an overview of some of these developments.
Sex-based differences in transfusion need after severe injury: Findings of the PROPPR study

Abstract Background Women are underrepresented in trauma research, and aggregated results of clinical trials may mask effects that differ by sex. It is unclear whether women respond differently to severe hemorrhage compared with men. We sought to evaluate sex-based differences in outcomes after severe trauma with hemorrhage. Methods We performed a secondary analysis of the Pragmatic Randomized Optimal Platelet and Plasma Ratios trial. Trauma patients predicted to require massive transfusion were randomized to a 1:1:1 vs 1:1:2 plasma to platelet to red blood cell transfusion ratio. Analysis was performed according to sex, controlling for clinical characteristics and transfusion arm. Results A total of 134 women and 546 men were analyzed. In multivariable analysis, there was no difference in mortality at 24 hours (hazard ratio for women 0.64, 95% confidence interval 0.34–1.23, P = .18) or in time to hemostasis (hazard ratio 1.10, 95% confidence interval 0.84–1.42, P = .49) by sex. We observed no difference between sexes in volume of blood products transfused during active hemorrhage. However, after anatomic hemostasis, women received lower volumes of all products, with a 38% reduction in fresh frozen plasma (mean ratio 0.62 (95% confidence interval 0.43–0.89, P = .01), 49% reduction in platelets (mean ratio 0.51, 95% confidence interval 0.33–0.79, P Conclusion Mortality and time to hemostasis of trauma patients with hemorrhage did not differ by sex. Although there was no difference in transfusion requirement during active hemorrhage, once hemostasis was achieved, women received fewer units of all blood products than men. Further research is required to determine whether women exhibit differences in coagulation during and after severe traumatic hemorrhage.
Assessment of developmental risk information on medicines for inclusion on the WHO's Essential Medicines List.

Background The WHO develops biannually an Essential Medicines List (EML) of medications proposed for national formularies to be safe, effective and cost-effective. This satisfies the priority healthcare needs of most adult populations, but it does not consider the unique toxicological risks that occur from exposures during pregnancy. Methods Developmental toxicity risk information for the 451 specific agents on the 2017 EML were identified from four well-recognized compendia of teratological assessments. On this basis, each agent was classified as having known, suggested, or little to no developmental risk, or as having insufficient information. Results Thirteen (3%) EML agents posed known developmental risks, and 115 (25%) had evidence suggesting risk. For 170 (38%) agents, there was little or no evidence of such risk. Thus, risk classification could be determined for 66% of the agents. For an additional 153 (34%) agents, the information was insufficient for classification. Conclusion It is feasible to expand the classification of most of the EML agents to include the risks from exposure during pregnancy.
Social Indicators for Assessing the Impact of the Independent, Not-for-Profit Sector of Society

In discussing how to measure the impact of the independent, not-for-profit sector on society, researchers invoke notions of data systems and “social indicators” for impact measurement. Such discussions are also often couched in terms of the impacts of the independent sector on “quality of life.” My objective in this chapter is to give specific meanings to these terms. I will review results of research that clarify the behavior of social indicators and cite some commonly used indicators and their limitations and potential as adequate measures. Finally, I will describe the data systems necessary to develop social indicators for measuring nonprofit sector performance.
Maternal age influences offspring behaviour and growth efficiency during provisioning in northern elephant seals

Offspring growth rates impact fitness and can be influenced by maternal effects. Despite efforts to understand the influence of maternal traits (e.g. age, size, body condition) on reproductive effort, much less is known about how maternal traits and environment influence the behaviour of offspring and ultimately, how offspring behaviour may influence the efficiency of the translation of maternal investment into offspring growth. Offspring of capital breeders, such as the northern elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris, are nursed exclusively from maternal body reserves and investment is limited by the resources acquired prior to parturition. Combined new and previously published milk energy intake and offspring storage data (N = 38) suggest impacts of maternal age on growth efficiency that are independent of rates of energy delivery. To determine the mechanisms underlying this effect of maternal age, behavioural data were collected from pups of 46 known-age females, from parturition to weaning, across 6 years and three different sites along the central California coast, representing 3954 seal-hours of observation. Pup behaviours were divided into five mutually exclusive categories that potentially impacted pup energetics. The offspring of older females spent more time resting, while offspring of younger females spent more time locomoting and distant from their mother. As pups developed, they spent more time suckling and locomoting and less time resting. Pup behaviour showed strong diel patterns, with activity decreasing over the day. The magnitude of these relationships varied between rookeries, suggesting influences of harem size, topography or environmental features on pup behaviour. Together these findings suggest direct impacts of maternal age and breeding experience on pup behaviour and growth efficiency.
Synthesis and Characterization of a New Compound with Alternating MnO22- and Zn2As22- Layers: Ba2MnZn2As2O2

A new mixed transition metal pnictide oxide, Ba2MnZn2As2O2, is reported. Ba2MnZn2As2O2 has been prepared in quantitative yield from heating stoichiometric amounts of BaO with the elements, which ar...
Efficacy of a brief mindfulness intervention upon anxiety in early psychosis patients.

Aim To examine the efficacy of a brief mindfulness intervention in reducing anxiety in early psychosis patients, and to determine whether symptom burden mitigates therapeutic response. Methods Our study included patients who had experienced an initial episode of psychosis, with less than 30 months of antipsychotic exposure. First, the prescriber completed the COMPASS Clinician Rating Form (measuring symptom burden), and patients completed the POMS questionnaire (measuring anxiety). A 3-minute mindfulness exercise was administered, and patients again completed the POMS scale. The differences between the pre- and postintervention anxiety scores were analysed using a paired t test. Results A total of 20 subjects participated. The mean Anxiety Subscale of the POMS scores decreased from 4.6 to 1.7. The change was statistically significant, and not influenced by symptom burden. Conclusions A brief mindfulness exercise, conducted in a routine office visit, produced a significant reduction in state anxiety for early psychosis patients, regardless of symptom burden.
Multimodal travel behaviour, walkability indices, and social mobility: how neighbourhood walkability, income and household characteristics guide walking, biking & transit decisions

Recent research in city planning has measured “walkability” and multi-modalism through quantification of the built environment. Results have shown correlations with increased property values and ne...
NEO-SINUS FLOW STASIS CORRELATES WITH LEAFLET THROMBOSIS ACROSS MULTIPLE TRANSCATHETER AORTIC VALVES

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) leaflet thrombosis is a prevalent concern and may be caused by neo-sinus flow stasis. In this study, we evaluated the relation between flow stasis and thrombus severity across multiple valve types and sizes. Patients (n=23) from RESOLVE registry were
Effect of time until sample analysis on lactate in dogs with shock.

Introduction Lactate concentrations can increase with hypoperfusion in dogs and could be used as a prognostic indicator in sick dogs. In a busy emergency service, sample evaluation could be delayed. However, sample evaluation delays have been shown to cause lactate concentration increases in healthy dogs. In sick dogs, the magnitude of increased lactate is unknown. The goal of this study was to prospectively evaluate the effect of room temperature storage times on lactate measurements in dogs presenting to an emergency service. Methods We evaluated the precision and accuracy of the NOVA Lactate Plus, using standard procedures. To assess the impact of time on lactate concentrations in sick dogs, we prospectively enrolled dogs presenting to an emergency service. Lactate concentrations were measured at six time points using samples stored at room temperature. A Friedman test, followed by a Wilcoxon rank test with a Bonferroni correction was used to evaluate time points. Results Forty-five dogs were enrolled in this prospective observational study. The Lactate Plus and table-top analyzer compared favorably, with an R2 of .98, and a mean bias of 0.26 in 50 canine samples. Precision was acceptable, with a percent coefficient of variation of 5.39. Statistically significant increases in lactate concentrations were found at all time points over baseline (P = .008). Conclusions In as little as 7.5 minutes, lactate concentrations increased significantly in samples stored at room temperature. Dogs with lower initial lactate concentrations had had higher increases in lactate concentration percentages over 90 minutes.
Small Claims President's Message

This column address how a Small Claims arbitrator can apply due process and render equal under the law in the New York City Small Claims Court.
Museum Authorship and the Conservation of Media Installations: Two Case Studies from the Smithsonian American Art Museum

In 2017 and 2018 the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) engaged in long-term conservation projects for two of its most iconic artworks, For SAAM (2007) by Jenny Holzer (b. 1950) and Megatron/Ma...
Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis

Key Clinical Points Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis Risk factors for glucocorticoid-induced fractures include age (>55 years), female sex, white race, and long-term use of prednisone at a dose ...
Catching My Anger: How Political Elites Create Angrier Citizens:

Anger is a common feature in contemporary American politics. Through the process of affect linkage, we argue that one way the electorate becomes angrier about politics is by observing angry display...
Embrittlement: A Crack Tip View

Normally tough structural materials may fail catastrophically when contaminated with even minuscule quantities of ubiquitous elements such as sulfur, phosphorus or hydrogen. These so called embrittling elements exert their influence at the tip of atomically sharp cracks where applied stress is concentrated to a degree given by the stress concentration factor. When the concentrated stress exceeds the strength of the bonds across the crack tip, the crack will run. Hence, an element may embrittle a host either by decreasing bond strength and/or increasing the stress concentration. While the effects of embrittling elements on the earlier have been extensively studied, less attention has been directed to their effects on the latter. Here we exploit the nearsightedness of electronic matter principle to provide a measure of the stress concentration factor and study its changes in the presence of a known embrittling element. We find that for the well studied system of copper embrittled by dilute quantities of bismuth, bismuth atoms increase the crack tip stress concentration by more than 60%
AEPAT: Software for Assessing Agronomic and Environmental Performance of Management Practices in Long-Term Agroecosystem Experiments

Approaches to assess the effects of management practices on agroecosystem functions are needed. This paper describes a computer program designed to assess the relative sustainability of management practices using agronomic and environmental data. The program, entitled AgroEcosystem Performance Assessment Tool (AEPAT), utilizes performance-based index methodology to derive a relative ranking of agroecosystem performance among management practices for functions and indicators included in the procedure. The program is organized into eight major steps: Introduction, Input Files, Assign Indicators to Functions, Describe Indicators, Assign Weights, Select Output File, Calculate Agroecosystem Performance Scores, and Save Agroecosystem Project. Help windows as well as a tutorial are provided within the program to assist users through each step. Users must keep in mind the assumptions and drawbacks inherent to performance-based indices while using AEPAT. Additionally, the program requires data on many indicators to provide useful information on agroecosystem performance. Therefore, its use is intended primarily for clientele conducting long-term agroecosystem experiments.
Assessment of Risks from Acute Hazards at Monsanto

Handling acutely hazardous materials safely is a skill that the modern chemical industry developed as it grew. The low rate of injury from exposure to reactive and dangerous substances such as chlorine, phosphorus, sulfuric acid, hydrogen cyanide, and ammonia testifies to that skill. Recently the changing structure of the industry, and especially the Bhopal disaster, have caused us to focus anew on risks from such materials. This paper describes Monsanto’s approach.
Joint Tenancies: Landlords and Medical Marijuana Businesses (Book Excerpt)

Joint Tenancies is a book about leasing and property law in what, for today, is a budding commercial rental market – the operation of medical marijuana businesses. The landscape of leasing opportunities in 2012 is muddied by a disconnect between states that continue to debate, legislate and implement laws and regulations and federal prosecutors and law enforcement officials who prosecute, and threaten more prosecutions of, commercial landlords under forfeiture laws. Other real property dimensions of medical marijuana tenancies are treated in a manner that should interest all those engaged in leasing of commercial improvements – owners, brokers/agents, accountants, attorneys and property managers among them. Among the topics of discussion in the book are maintaining the natural and social environments in accomodating these uses and the myriad economic risks to landlords, lenders, and neighboring property owners arising from such tenancies. Substantial attention is paid in the text to federal forfeiture law, both in terms of the very real threat this process poses to landlords (and their lenders) and the process that will occur should federal enforcement determine to proceed against the medical marijuana business' landlord. This process can move forward, the author notes, even if the landlord is not a participant in the management or the ownership of the tenant's business. The attached excerpt contains the cataloging in publication data (of interest to librarians), the Table of Contents and author's Preface along with a portion of the text and endnotes. The book is published by Yeoman Timber, LLC and is for sale via the Internet as a PDF (terraincogito.com) or from the publisher POD,
Reproductive delays in mammals: an unexplored avenue for post‐copulatory sexual selection

Numerous mammalian taxa exhibit reproductive delays, pauses in reproduction that occur between mating and fertilization, between fertilization and implantation of the embryo, or after an embryo has implanted. Of the 27 mammalian orders, 9 are known to exhibit reproductive delays, including Diptrotodontia, Dasyuromorphia, Eulipotyphyta, Cingulata, Carnivora, Rodentia, Chiroptera, Lagomorpha and Cetartiodactyla. Most researchers interested in delays have focused on their evolutionary origins. However, the consequences of these delays have not been considered fully. Given the lengthening of the period over which reproduction occurs, it is possible that this unique aspect of reproduction facilitates post-copulatory sexual selection. When considered in the context of sexual selection, delays may allow sperm competition and female manipulation of fertilization (cryptic female choice) as well as other post-copulatory processes. We investigate the potential for reproductive delays to facilitate post-copulatory sexual selection and suggest avenues for research that may further our knowledge of sexual selection. We also provide a general review of reproductive delays in mammals.
Molecular analyses of mtDNA deletion mutations in microdissected skeletal muscle fibers from aged rhesus monkeys.

Summary Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletion mutations co-localize with electron transport system (ETS) abnormalities in rhesus monkey skeletal muscle fibers. Using laser capture microdissection in conjunction with PCR and DNA sequence analysis, mitochondrial genomes from single sections of ETS abnormal fibers were characterized. All ETS abnormal fibers contained mtDNA deletion mutations. Deletions were large, removing 20–78% of the genome, with some to nearly all of the functional genes lost. In one-third of the deleted genomes, the light strand origin was deleted, whereas the heavy strand origin of replication was conserved in all fibers. A majority (27/39) of the deletion mutations had direct repeat sequences at their breakpoints and most (36/39) had one breakpoint within or in close proximity to the cytochrome b gene. Several pieces of evidence support the clonality of the mtDNA deletion mutation within an ETS abnormal region of a fiber: (a) only single, smaller than wild-type, PCR products were obtained from each ETS abnormal region; (b) the amplification of mtDNA from two regions of the same ETS abnormal fiber identified identical deletion mutations, and (c) a polymorphism was observed at nucleotide position 16103 (A and G) in the wild-type mtDNA of one animal (sequence analysis of an ETS abnormal region revealed that mtDNA deletion mutations contained only A or G at this position). Species-specific differences in the regions of the genomes lost as well as the presence of direct repeat sequences at the breakpoints suggest mechanistic differences in deletion mutation formation between rodents and primates.