cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determination of the lower threshold of apolipoprotein E resulting in remnant lipoprotein clearance.

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) is the ligand for recep- tor-mediated clearance of remnant lipoproteins. ApoE at concentrations only 10% of normal, achieved through trans- plantation of wild-type marrow into apoE( 2 / 2 ) mice, is sufficient for the maintenance of normal serum lipid and lipoprotein levels. The goal of the present study was to identify the minimal concentration of serum apoE still af- fecting cholesterol levels, and to determine whether any ef- fects on remnant clearance below this level of apoE were de- tectable. ApoE( 1 / 1 ) marrow was mixed with apoE( 2 / 2 ) marrow in proportions of 1, 5, 10, and 25% to make chi- meric mice with serum levels of apoE ranging from 0.005 to 0.46 mg/dl. Analysis of serum cholesterol and apoE levels demonstrated a positive correlation between apoE levels and cholesterol reduction ( r 5 0.83), with levels of 0.04 mg/dl representing the functional threshold level. There were no differences in lipoprotein profiles and clearance between apoE( 2 / 2 ) mice and mice with serum apoE of less than 0.04 mg/dl, as assessed by FPLC, non-denaturing gel elec- trophoresis, and turnover studies. However, electron mi- croscopy of negative stains showed fewer lipoprotein parti- cles with a diameter of , 30 nm in the serum of these mice compared to apoE( 2 / 2 ) mice. These data demonstrate that the threshold of serum apoE resulting in cholesterol re- duction is 0.04 mg/dl, and indicate that apoE below this level affects lipoprotein size distribution possibly by accel- erating the clearance of smaller remnants. —Hasty, A. H., M. F. Linton, L. L. Swift, and S. Fazio. Determination of the lower threshold of apolipoprotein E resulting in remnant lipoprotein clearance. J. Lipid Res. 1999. 40: 1529-1538.
Photonic Integrated Circuits with Wavelength Tunable Lasers

Efforts to develop monolithic tunable lasers required the integration of several different waveguide elements, such as gain, phase modulator, and grating mirror sections. With this suite of components, more complex photonic ICs became possible.
Effect of a Chromatin Derivative on the Healing of Skin Wounds

SummaryFollowing the application of a chromatin fraction to skin wounds of the rat, granulation tissue appeared one to three days earlier than in the controls. On the fifth postoperative day, several times as much of the surface of treated wounds was covered with granulation tissue as in the controls. There was no evidence of inflammation or irritation, and an excess of granulation tissue was not found.
Atomic Interactions and the Stability of Surface Clusters

Interactions dictating the shape and stability of surface islands have been examined for a simple model system, palladium clusters on the W(110) plane. Observations in a field ion microscope of the distribution of two Pd adatoms over the surface yield quantitative values for pair interactions. These are found to be complex, extending over distances longer than 10 A and to vary strongly with the orientation of the pair axis on the (110) surface. Using the measured pair energies it has been possible to infer the magnitude of many-atom effects necessary to account for the equilibrium shape of the clusters. Many-atom interactions turn out to make by far the largest contribution to cluster cohesion; modeling of growth phenomena in terms of nearest-neighbor bonds only is clearly problematic.
North Dakota hospital dramatically reduces security-related injuries.

The author discusses how his hospital was able to dramatically reduce its security-related injuries and why a Corrective Action Team is so important. Once an effective security program has been established, he says, review it periodically to maintain its effectiveness. Language: en
Effects of removing cows from chronic oxytocin use during lactation.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of discontinuation of chronic oxytocin supplementation on lactating dairy cows and to determine if there was a difference between methods of discontinuation. The study was conducted on a commercial dairy in central New York milking over 1,200 cows, with more than 80 cows being supplemented with oxytocin prior to the start of the study. Seventy-seven cows receiving supplemental oxytocin were enrolled in the study and randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: 1) abrupt discontinuation; 2) abrupt discontinuation with a needle stick at the normal time of oxytocin injection; 3) graduated decrease in oxytocin dose; and 4) a control group that was only monitored. Total milk weight, milk in the first two minutes, total milking time, and bimodality of milk flow were measured at every milking for 12 milkings before and after the initiation of the treatment protocol. Non-parametric paired analysis was used within treatment group before and after initiation of treatment, and non-paired analysis was used to analyze differences between treatment groups. Other than the control group, all experimental groups showed a significant decrease in milk production per milking (P 0.09). No significant differences (P>0.11) in the change in milk production per milking or milk produced in the first two minutes were found between the group that underwent graduated discontinuation of oxytocin and the group abruptly removed from oxytocin supplementation without sham injection. These results show that dairy producers can stop supplementing cows with exogenous oxytocin in the parlor by either abrupt discontinuation or a weaning protocol with a loss of milk similar to that gained from oxytocin supplementation, and cows will not cease to lactate.
FDA-Recommended Strategies for Sponsors and Investigators to Build Quality into Clinical Research

A mid increasing concerns regarding the safety of medical products, and reports that the general public is losing confidence in clinical trials, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is promoting ways to build quality into clinical research from the start. To FDA, quality is characterized by
Relationship between the Molecular Mechanisms of Fei Lao-kang on Isoniazid-resistant TB and inh A Mutations

Objective: Using the method of the whole genome sequencing to research inh A genetic changes after drug intervention, to explore relationship between the molecular mechanisms of Fei Lao-kang on isoniazid-resistant TB and inh A mutations. Methods: Using the whole genome sequencing after treatment of mice with lung tuberculosis DNA analysis, a standard strain(H37RV) as a reference sequence, to position inh A gene mutation, screen and compare. Results: There were 3 base site change related to inh A gene mutation, namely C, C, A mutated to T, A, C. The location of the base standard strains no mutation, the other experimental groups were tuberculosis base mutation that location, and the location of the mutation, genomic coding sequence of the gene were consistent with the model group. What is more, the author found more single nucleotide polymorphisms in the experiment(SNPs). Conclusion: The relationship between the molecular mechanisms of Fei Lao-kang on isoniazid-resistant TB and inh A mutations is small, and the SNPs need further screening.
The Impact of a Higher Intent Standard on Auditors' Legal Exposure and the Moderating Role of Jurors' Legal Knowledge

We conduct an experiment to examine the joint effect of two potential reforms to auditor litigation: a higher intent standard and changes to case evaluators. Examining a higher intent standard (i.e., a standard explicitly incorporating good versus bad faith) is important as it has been proposed as a way to attenuate jurors’ second-guessing of difficult professional judgments made by auditors. While a variety of changes to case evaluators have been proposed, we examine the impact of an incremental change that would potentially be more palatable to regulators: increasing evaluators’ legal knowledge. Capturing task-relevant knowledge differences is a key principle from the expertise paradigm (Libby and Luft 1993), and we predict differences in evaluators’ legal knowledge to moderate the degree to which changing from an ordinary negligence standard to a higher intent standard alters evaluators’ assessments of auditor culpability. Consistent with predictions, a higher intent standard more substantially reduces negligent verdicts for evaluators with less legal knowledge (lay jurors), relative to evaluators with more legal knowledge (law students). However, also consistent with predictions, a higher intent standard comes with the cost of greater damages assigned by the subset of lay jurors who, despite a higher intent standard, still find the auditor negligent. Our findings highlight that the effects of implementing a higher intent standard are a complex tradeoff.
Haavelmo’s Great Idea

Frisch had described implications of the statistical problems unique to econometrics and finance in his paper published in the Nordic Statistical Journal in his 1929 “Correlation and Scatter in Statistical Variables” and also in his 1934 book Statistical Confluence Analysis by Means of Complete Regression Systems.1 This work was influential on Haavelmo , who followed up Frisch’ work with his Econometrica paper “The Statistical Implications of a System of Simultaneous Equations.”2 The Haavelmo paper, at only a dozen pages long, set the agenda for the Cowles Commission over the next decade and econometrics ever since.
Intensivtherapie nach aneurysmatischer Subarachnoidalblutung

Die aneurysmatische Subarachnoidalblutung (SAB) ist ein schweres Krankheitsbild; ein Drittel der Betroffenen verstirbt in der Akutphase. Das infolge der SAB hyperaktivierte sympathische Nervensystem und eine Inflammation schadigen den Organismus lokal und systemisch. Neuroendokrinologische Storungen und kardiopulmonale Morbiditat dominieren. Trotz gesunkener Krankenhaussterblichkeit in Behandlungszentren ist der Anteil der mit neurologischem Defizit uberlebenden Patienten hoch. Die Kenntnisse uber die Pathophysiologie des Vasospasmus in der Spatphase der Erkrankung haben zugenommen. Antiinflammatorische Therapien verbessern das Behandlungsergebnis nicht. Die Nimodipinprophylaxe innerhalb der ersten 96 h nach SAB ist die einzige Intervention, die sich in Studien als vorteilhaft erwiesen hat. Allerdings behalt fast jeder 2. Uberlebende ein neurologisches Handicap, und mehr als ein Drittel der Uberlebenden zeigen depressive Episoden oder Symptome der posttraumatischen Belastungsstorung.
The Virginia Abstinence Education Initiative Evaluation Structure: A Lesson in How to Successfully Overcome the Challenges of Multi-Site Program Evaluation

This discussion provides an overview of the evaluation process of the Virginia Abstinence Education Initiative (VAEI). It details the basic principles that premise the evaluation structure. The evaluation structure utilized by the VAEI is an intentional one, designed to provide the most rigorous approach possible in order to have maximum confidence in the quality of the data produced by this statewide, multi-year effort. The authors argue that this type of informed approach grounded in a high degree of evaluation rigor can help to overcome the challenges typically associated with multi-site program evaluation.
Increased cell-free mitochondrial DNA is a marker of ongoing inflammation and better neurocognitive function in virologically suppressed HIV-infected individuals.

Cell-free mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a highly immunogenic molecule that is associated with several inflammatory conditions and with neurocognitive impairment during untreated HIV infection. Here, we investigate how cell-free mtDNA in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is associated with inflammation, neuronal damage, and neurocognitive functioning in the context of long-term suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART). We quantified the levels of cell-free mtDNA in the CSF from 41 HIV-infected individuals with completely suppressed HIV RNA levels in blood plasma (<50 copies/mL) by droplet digital PCR. We measured soluble CD14, soluble CD163, interferon γ-induced protein 10 (IP-10), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), neopterin, and neurofilament light chain (NFL) by immunoassays in CSF supernatant or blood plasma. Higher levels of mtDNA in CSF were associated with higher levels of MCP-1 (r = 0.56, p < 0.01) in CSF and TNF-α (r = 0.43, p < 0.01) and IL-8 (r = 0.44, p < 0.01) in blood plasma. Subjects with a previous diagnosis of AIDS showed significantly higher levels of mtDNA (p < 0.01) than subjects without AIDS. The associations between mtDNA and MCP-1 in CSF and TNF-α in blood remained significant after adjusting for previous diagnosis of AIDS (p < 0.01). Additionally, higher levels of mtDNA were associated with a lower CD4 nadir (r = -0.41, p < 0.01) and lower current CD4% (r = -0.34, p = 0.03). Paradoxically, higher levels of mtDNA in CSF were significantly associated with better neurocognitive performance (r = 0.43, p = 0.02) and with less neuronal damage (i.e. lower NFL). Higher cell-free mtDNA is associated with inflammation during treated HIV infection, but the impact on neurocognitive functioning and neuronal damage remains unclear and may differ in the setting of suppressive ART.
Do the Fish Return? A Qualitative Assessment of Anadromous Pacific Salmonids' Upstream Movement After Dam Removal

Abstract Basic assumptions about the ecological effects of dam removal remain untested hypotheses. In this work, I move to address this by assessing the effectiveness of dam removal as a tool to restore anadromous Pacific salmonids' (Oncorhynchus spp.) access to upstream habitat. I compiled all available post-removal data from all cases (N = 40) where anadromous salmonid restoration was a project goal in California, Oregon, and Washington from 1999 to 2011. In cases without empirical data, I contacted biologists and river managers and collected anecdotal information. I analyzed full barriers (N = 16), where upstream passage was not possible for fish, separately from partial barriers (N = 27), where fish were able to pass upstream of the dam. In three cases, dams were passable to some species but not others. In cases of full barrier removal, formerly excluded anadromous salmonids were observed to have recolonized upstream reaches in 9 of 16 cases. In cases of partial barrier removal, results were uneven; t...
Enhancing Undergraduate Success in Biology through the Biomentors Program

Abstract Many undergraduates who wish to pursue degrees in science, particularly students from underrepresented groups, drop out of science majors before realizing their goal. This study examines the effectiveness of a mentoring program — called Biomentors — aimed at promoting success in biology courses for undergraduates beginning their coursework toward a bachelor's degree in the biological sciences. Students enrolled in the Biomentors program met twice a week in a small group with an advanced biology major under the supervision of a faculty member to explore effective learning strategies for success in an introductory-level biology course they were taking. Students who participated in the Biomentors program scored significantly higher (based on total points earned) than other students enrolled in the course across two cohorts (d = 0.36 in the fall quarter of 2014; d = 0.34 in the winter quarter of 2015). The biomentors group significantly outscored the control group even when the effects of gender, par...
Some ‘Moments’ of Hegel’s Relation to the Sciences

Hegel’s dialectic seems to possess the property of provoking again and again either adherence or vehement rejection. In this the question whether the philosopher had a troubled relation to the exact sciences, or, on the contrary, exercised a stimulating influence, remains just as much at issue as the possibility of reaching an adequate understanding of his intentions. At the 15th World Congress of Philosophy in 1973 at Varna, at least four positions emerged in the sessions of the Institut Internationale de Philosophie alone. Mario Bunge assured the meeting, in essence, that science was present only where the last vestige of dialectics had been eradicated in order that the principles of exact philosophy might be complied with. Paul Ricoeur related dialectics solely to human practice, differing in this evaluation from Mihailo Markovic. In an interpretation drawn from Marx and Engels, I. S. Narski accepted the validity of objective and subjective dialectics, to be interpreted materialistically. Under these circumstances, it seems advisable to consult Hegel’s texts on the various points in order to recall to memory how his ideas, which refer mainly polemically to Kant, are to be understood. That it is worthwhile to seek to complete Hegel’s methodological and epistemological structure at this late date results from a fact that simply cannot be neglected: in recent times a turning back to Hegel’s ideas has begun within predominantly empirical disciplines, which has confirmed an unmistakable relationship to the most modern problems.
Oxygen solubility and transport in Li–air battery electrolytes: establishing criteria and strategies for electrolyte design

Li–air or Li–oxygen batteries promise significantly higher energies than existing commercial battery technologies, yet their development has been hindered by a lack of suitable electrolytes. In this article, we evaluate the physical properties of varied electrolyte compositions to form generalized criteria for electrolyte design. We show that oxygen transport through non-aqueous electrolytes has a critical impact on the discharge rate and capacity of Li–air batteries. Through experiments and molecular dynamics simulations, we highlight that the choice of salt species and concentration have an outsized influence on oxygen solubility, while solvent choice is the major influence on oxygen diffusivity. The stability of superoxide reaction intermediates, key to the oxygen reduction mechanism, is also affected by variations in salt concentration and the choice of solvent. The importance of reactant transport is confirmed through Li–air cell discharge, which demonstrates good agreement between the observed and calculated mass transport-limited currents. These results showcase the impact of electrolyte composition on transport in metal–air batteries and provide guiding principles and simulation-based tools for future electrolyte design.
Integrating visual learning within a model-based ATR system

Automatic target recognition (ATR) systems, like human photo-interpreters, rely on a variety of visual information for detecting, classifying, and identifying manmade objects in aerial imagery. We describe the integration of a visual learning component into the Image Data Conditioner (IDC) for target/clutter and other visual classification tasks. The component is based on an implementation of a model of the visual cortex developed by Serre, Wolf, and Poggio. Visual learning in an ATR context requires the ability to recognize objects independent of location, scale, and rotation. Our method uses IDC to extract, rotate, and scale image chips at candidate target locations. A bootstrap learning method effectively extends the operation of the classifier beyond the training set and provides a measure of confidence. We show how the classifier can be used to learn other features that are difficult to compute from imagery such as target direction, and to assess the performance of the visual learning process itself.
Two Physical Activity Measures: Paffenbarger Physical Activity Questionnaire Versus Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study as Predictors of Adult-Onset Type 2 Diabetes in a Follow-Up Study.

Purpose:To compare 2 self-report methods of measuring weekly minutes of physical activity based on the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study (ACLS) questionnaire and question 6 of the Paffenbarger Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ) to determine the better predictor of adult-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Design:An observational, prospective study.Setting:Survey data from the Adventist Health Study-2 (AHS-2) collected between 2002 and 2006 (baseline) and the Psychosocial Manifestations of Religion Sub-Study (PsyMRS), an AHS-2 subset collected 1 to 4 years later.Patients:Nine thousand eight hundred seventy-three male and female participants aged 23 to 106 years (mean, 63 years). Three hundred eighty participants reported adult-onset T2DM at follow-up.Measures:Question 6 from the PPAQ and a question adopted from the ACLS were assessed at baseline. Incident diabetes was defined as participants who reported receiving treatment for adult-onset T2DM in the last 12 months in the PsyMRS and not at baseline...
Multimodal Heads Up Displays to Augment Autonomous Vehicle Supervision

Drivers using SAE level 2-4 systems are required to supervise the vehicle, and may need to take control when certain conditions arise. While awareness of general automation certainty is crucial, the attention of the supervisory driver could also be directed toward specific areas or objects that the automated system is uncertain about. This video is a mockup of a system that uses a combination of audio and heads-up-display elements to inform the driver of specific areas of uncertainty and allow them to decide whether to take control. This project will continue via participatory design activities followed by simulator research.
Carbon Sequestration in Wetland Soils

Crops adapted to wetland conditions such as rice (Oryza sativa L.) have been cultivated on waterlogged anoxic soils for millennia. Grazing of livestock is another important agricultural activity in wetlands. Wetlands including peatlands may cover up to 26.9 million km2 globally, and wetlands may contain up to 158 Pg soil organic carbon (SOC) to 1 m depth, but knowledge on wetland distribution, extent, and volume needs to be strengthened. Peatlands are organic-rich wetlands and cover ~4 million km2 with large areas in the Northern Hemisphere. Over centuries to millennia, organic soils of peatlands have accumulated globally >750 Pg of carbon (C) as peat, sometimes to several meters depth as decomposition rates are greatly reduced under wet and acidic soil conditions. Thus, peatlands while covering only 3% of the global ice-free land area store more than one-fourth of the global SOC stock. Stocks in northern peatlands alone may store >600 Pg C, and their utilization for agriculture may release large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) by peat oxidation. For example, ~1 Pg CO2 is emitted annually from drained peatlands (including emissions from fire), with high emissions especially from drained organic soils in tropical regions often for cultivation of oil palms (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.). Further, cumulative net emissions from global peatland use have been estimated at 6 Pg C for the period 1850–2015. Wetlands are also among the major biogenic methane (CH4) sources contributing to about 30% of the total CH4 emissions and will increasingly contribute to the projected climate change. Further, C losses from wetlands may also increase in the future because of the projected climate change. Thus, sustainable intensification (SI) should be applied to reduce CH4 and C losses from wetlands. Options include, for example, restoring drained agricultural land-use types to flooded conditions, improved fertilizer and water management of paddy fields, and breeding of new crop cultivars better adapted to anoxic wetland soil conditions. In this respect, paludiculture of wetlands is promising as a suitable agricultural practice with the cobenefit of C sequestration. This chapter begins with a general overview on wetlands and peatlands. Then, the peatland C balance is discussed in more detail. Agricultural use and management of wetland soils are presented in the following section. The final section discusses options for more ‘climate-friendly’ agriculture in wetlands.
EXPERIMENTAL DETERMINATION OF HEPATIC BLOOD FLOW USING AN IMPROVED MATHEMATICAL MODEL

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the development of a mathematical model of indocyanine green (ICG) clearance and excretion and the data handling system designed to control the animal experiments. The predicted blood and bile concentrations of indocyanine green determined by the mathematical model are within limits. Although detailed analysis of the in vivo data is incomplete, there is close agreement to the mathematical model. This suggests the mathematical model is giving a close approximation to the living system. There is close agreement between the model and the in vivo dye concentration curve for blood and bile, suggesting a close approximation of the living system. As the product of the bile concentration curve and the bile flow curve is equal to the dose of dye injected, a comparison will be made to the injected dose to ensure all the dye is being transported into the bile.
Spread of murine cytomegalovirus to inner ocular structures following disruption of the blood-retina barrier in immunosuppressed BALB/c mice.

Purpose. The aims of this study were to determine whether disruption of the blood-retina barrier (BRB) increases spread of murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) to the eye after intraperitoneal inoculation and whether systemic immunosuppression influences the location of MCMV in the ocular compartment. Methods. The BRB of the left eye of normal and immunosuppressed mice was disrupted by supraciliary inoculation of tissue culture medium followed 2 hours later by intraperitoneal injection of MCMV. Plaque assay of homogenized ocular tissue was used to determine the frequency of virus-positive eyes and the titer of virus in the eyes. β-galactosidase staining of frozen sections was used to locate virus in the eyes. Results. In nonimmunosuppressed mice, the frequency of virus isolation, as well as the titer of virus, were significantly higher in eyes in which the BRB had been disrupted. Although the frequency of virus isolation was the same in both eyes of immunosuppressed mice, the titer of virus was significantly higher in the eye in which the BRB had been disrupted. The most striking result was that the location of virus was different in the nondisrupted eyes of immunosuppressed mice than it was in the disrupted eyes of immunosuppressed mice. In the former, virus was seen only in the outer ocular structures (conjunctiva, sclera, lacrimal gland), whereas in the latter, virus was observed in the retina and anterior segment (iris, ciliary body) as well as the outer ocular structures. Conclusions. The results of these studies suggest that ocular damage followed by increased spread of virus to and within the eye during systemic infection with CMV may be one mechanism by which development of CMV retinitis is facilitated in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome..
Approximate Measures of Social Welfare and the Size of Tax Reform

This paper deals with second order approximations to changes of welfare measured by social welfare functions. In the frame-work of piecemeal policy the impacts of tax reforms to social welfare are considered. Three different kinds of social welfare functions are employed: an arbitrary Bergsonian, a social welfare function based on money metric utility for individuals, and a money metric of social welfare. Furthermore Pareto improving reforms are discussed. If possible, the optimal direction and the optimal size of a tax reform are determined.
Oracle Media - Enabling the Information Age

There will be major changes in the way businesses operate. Telephone, cable, hardware, and software companies are revamping the computing and communications infrastructure to create an Information Highway — a new popular network that will link the providers and consumers of information, entertainment, goods, and services.
Writing and Conceptual Learning in Science: An Analysis of Assignments:

This systematic review of 46 published articles investigates the constructs employed and the meanings assigned to writing in writing-to-learn assignments given to students in science courses. Using...
Selective infarct zone imaging with intravenous acoustically activated droplets

Background Microbubbles (MB) can be compressed to nanometer-sized droplets and reactivated with diagnostic ultrasound; these reactivated MB possess unique imaging characteristics. Objective We hypothesized that droplets formed from compressing Definity MB may be used for infarct-enhancement imaging. Methods Fourteen rats underwent ligation of their left anterior descending (LAD) artery, and five pigs underwent 90 minute balloon occlusions of their mid LAD. At 48 hours in rats, transthoracic ultrasound was performed at two and four minutes following 200 μL intravenous injections (IVI) of Definity droplets (DD), at which point the MI was increased from 0.5 to 1.5 to assess for a transient contrast enhancement zone (TEZ) within akinetic segments. In pigs, 1.0 mL injections of DD were administered and low frame rate (triggered end systolic or 10 Hz) imaging 2–4 minutes post iVI to selectively activate and image the infarct zone (IZ). Infarct size was defined by delayed enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (DE-MRI) and post-mortem staining (TTC). Results Increasing MI to 1.5 (at two or four minutes after IVI) resulted in a TEZ in rats, which correlated with infarct size (r = 0.94, p<0.001). A TEZ was not seen at 2–4 minutes in any rat (n = 8) following Definity MB injections. Fluorescent staining confirmed DD presence within the infarct zone 10 minutes after intravenous injection. In pigs, selective enhancement within the IZ was achieved by using a low frame rate single pulse harmonic mode; IZ size matched the location seen with DE-MRI and correlated with TTC defect size (r = 0.90, p<0.05). Conclusion DD formulated from commercially available MB can be acoustically activated for selective infarct enhancement imaging.
BIOMARKER CHANGES IN OBESE PATIENTS WITH ACUTE HEART FAILURE

Obesity is paradoxically associated with better prognosis in patients with chronic heart failure (HF). This finding has not been fully elucidated in patients with acute heart failure (AHF), especially in relation to changes in biomarkers. The Acute Kidney Injury Neutrophil gelatinase-associated
Exploring Nonbinary Gender Identities: A Qualitative Content Analysis

This study presents a qualitative exploration of nonbinary gender identities from a counseling framework. We studied 14 participants in an open-ended, online format, all of whom self-identified wit...
Models for Type Ia Supernovae and Cosmology

From the spectra and light curves it is clear that SNIa events are thermonuclear explosions of white dwarfs. However, details of the explosion are highly under debate. Here, we present detailed models which are consistent with respect to the explosion mechanism, the optical and infrared light curves, and the spectral evolution. This leaves the description of the burning front and the structure of the white dwarf as the only free parameters. The explosions are calculated using one-dimensional Lagrangian codes including nuclear networks. Subsequently, optical and IR-LCs are constructed. Detailed NLTE-spectra are computed for several instants of time using the density, chemical and luminosity structure resulting from the LCs. Different models for the thermonuclear explosion are discussed including detonations, deflagrations, delayed detonations, pulsating delayed detonations (PDD) and helium detonations. Comparisons between theoretical and observed LCs and spectra provide an insight into details of the explosion and nature of the progenitor stars. We try to answer several related questions. Are subluminous SNe Ia a group different from `normal' SN Ia? Can we understand observed properties of the LCs and spectra?What can we learn from infrared spectra? Can we determine $H_o$ independently from primary distance indicators, and how do the results compare with empirical methods? What do we learn about the progenitor evolution and its metallicity? What are the systematic effects for the determination of the cosmological parameters $\Omega_M$ and $\Lambda$ and how can we recognize this potential 'pitfalls' and correct for evolutionary effects?
What Is the Treatment “Algorithm” for an Infected Total Ankle Arthroplasty (TAA)?:

Recommendation:The treatment of an infected total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) is largely dictated by the acuity of the infection. The following treatment algorithm modified for TAA is recommended.19Le...
Reducing Racial and Gender Gaps in Mathematics Attitudes: Investigating the Use of Instructional Strategies in Inclusive STEM High Schools

Inclusive STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) schools operate with a mission to increase and broaden participation in STEM among all students, particularly girls and students from under-represented ethnic groups (e.g., ethnic/racial minorities). As such, inclusive STEM schools promote various instructional strategies, such as risk-taking, autonomy, and technology use, to help peak diverse students’ interests and achievement in STEM subjects. However, little research has investigated how these instructional strategies are implemented in inclusive STEM school settings, and whether these strategies reduce racial and gender gaps in students’ mathematics attitudes. The current study uses hierarchical linear regression analyses to investigate associations between such strategies (i.e., student autonomy, cooperation and teamwork, technology use, risk taking, and cognitively-demanding work) and students’ attitudes toward mathematics. Results indicate that higher levels of risk-taking in mathematics classes were associated with more positive mathematics attitudes for all students. Girls and African American students reported more positive mathematics attitudes compared to boys and White students when they experienced higher levels of autonomy in their mathematics classes. These findings suggest that some instructional strategies should be examined further for their potential to reduce persistent gaps seen in mathematics attitudes.
Towards Feature Space Adversarial Attack

We propose a new type of adversarial attack to Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) for image classification. Different from most existing attacks that directly perturb input pixels. Our attack focuses on perturbing abstract features, more specifically, features that denote styles, including interpretable styles such as vivid colors and sharp outlines, and uninterpretable ones. It induces model misclassfication by injecting style changes insensitive for humans, through an optimization procedure. We show that state-of-the-art adversarial attack detection and defense techniques are ineffective in guarding against feature space attacks.
Latinx Students and Postsecondary Preparation: Putting the ASCA Model into Practice

To address educational disparities experienced by some Latinx youth and help close the achievement and opportunity gaps in one small school, the first author taught a year-long course on college an...
Influence of interprofessional communication on discharge decisions in prelicensure healthcare learners

Abstract Introduction Readiness in interprofessional practice is expected of graduating health professionals. This study examined the effectiveness of education on interprofessional communication around discharge destination decisions of healthcare learners utilizing standardized patients in an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). Methods Occupational therapy (OT, n = 26), physical therapy (PT, n = 27), and physician assistant (PA, n = 35) learners individually assessed a standardized patient (SP) in a simulated acute care setting and chose a discharge destination from a list of options. Next, learners considered other team member perspectives, either in an interprofessional team huddle or through review of written documentation, before meeting with the SP as a team and finalizing discharge destination decisions. Learner decisions were compared to expert opinion using cross tabulation. Results Overall, learners in both intervention groups significantly improved their discharge decisions matched with expert opinion (Team Huddle, p = 0.001; Written Communication, p = 0.006) without a significant difference between the Team Huddle and Written Communication groups (p = .774). Variance was noted among disciplines with statistical significance only noted between OT learners and learners from the other professions (Team Huddle, p = 0.004; Written Communication, p = 0.016). Conclusion Interprofessional collaboration through either team huddle or written communication improves discharge decision-making with compatible effectiveness between them.
How Applicants to General Surgery Residency Define Resilience.

Objective Resilience is a vital quality for the successful completion of any residency training program. Resilience is a commonly used but poorly understood term and is defined in multiple ways by people during different times of their lives. The transition from medical student to general surgical resident (GSR) is one of the most formative times in a young surgeon's professional career. The purpose of this study is to determine how a cohort of aspiring surgical residents define resilience. Design This is a qualitative study where interviews were conducted prospective GSRs over 2 application seasons. During the institution's standard interview process, applicants were asked to provide a definition of resilience. Responses were documented. Qualitative content analysis was conducted by the research team. Initial codes were developed and defined. Research team members independently coded the responses, and then an iterative group consensus process was used to develop the final themes. Setting This study was conducted at Geisinger Medical Center, an academic tertiary care hospital in Danville, PA with 5 categorical GSR positions per year. Participants All applicants who underwent an in-person interview were included in this study. Results A total of 261 comments about resilience were available from 117 interviews. These responses were categorized into 5 themes: support, learning from failure, adaptability, self-reflection, and perseverance. Conclusion Resilience as defined by applicants to a general surgery residency program is a multifaceted term. The thematic categories suggest that resilience can be viewed through the framework of the 5 components of emotional intelligence: self-aware, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills.
Creep behavior of copper at intermediate temperatures. II - Surface microstructural observations. III - A comparison with theory

Three different types of microstructural slip features are noted to occur during the creep of Cu at 0.46-0.72 of absolute melting point. While single slip is associated with higher temperatures and lower stresses, complex wavy slip features are observed at higher temperatures and higher stresses as well as with increasing strains: suggesting the importance of cross-slip mechanisms. At lower temperatures and higher stresses the multiple-slip morphologies observed indicate that cross-slip mechanisms may control the creep of polycrystalline Cu only over a limited stress and temperature range. A phenomenological model is proposed which assumes that (1) cell boundaries within subgrains act as both sources of, and obstacles to, gliding dislocations, and (2) dislocation annihilation occurs at the cell boundaries by climb and cross-slip.
Physical Examination of the Spine Using Telemedicine: A Systematic Review.

Study Design:This is a systematic review.Objective:To systematically review (1) the reliability of the physical examination of the spine using telehealth as it pertains to spinal pathology and (2) ...
Association of Discharge to Home vs Institutional Postacute Care With Outcomes After Lower Extremity Joint Replacement.

Importance Changes in financial incentives have led to more patients being discharged home than to institutional forms of postacute care, such as skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), after elective lower extremity total joint replacement (LEJR). Objective To evaluate the association of this change with hospital readmissions, surgical complications, and mortality. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study used cross-temporal propensity-matching to identify 104 828 adult patients who were discharged home following LEJR between 2016 and 2018 (after changes in financial incentives) and 84 121 adult patients discharged to institutional forms of postacute care (eg, SNFs) between 2011 and 2013 (before changes in financial incentives). A difference-in-differences design was used to compare differences in outcomes between these groups to a propensity-matched group of patients discharged to institutional postacute care in both periods. Data were collected from Pennsylvania all-payer claims database, which includes all surgical procedures and hospitalizations across payers and hospitals in Pennsylvania. Data were analyzed between August 2019 and February 2020. Exposures Type of postacute care (home, including home with home health vs institutional postacute care, including SNF, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and long-term acute care hospitals). Main Outcomes and Measures Main outcomes were 30- and 90-day hospital readmissions, LEJR complication rates, and mortality rates. Results Of 189 949 patients, 113 981 (60.0%) were women, and 83 444 (43.9%) were aged 40 to 64 years. The rate of discharge home increased from 63.6% (54 097 of 85 121) in 2011 to 2013 to 78.4% (82 199 of 104 828) in 2016 to 2018. In the adjusted difference-in-differences comparison, matched patients discharged home in 2016 to 2018 had significantly lower 30-day (difference, −2.9%; 95% CI, −4.2% to −1.6%) and 90-day (difference, −3.9%; 95% CI, −5.8% to −2.0%) readmission rates compared with similar patients sent to institutional postacute care in 2011 to 2013. Surgical complication and mortality rates were unchanged. Results were similar across payers and across hospital bundled payment participation status. Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study, increases in discharges home following LEJR surgery did not seem to be associated with increased harm during a period in which changes in financial incentives likely spurred observed changes in postacute care.
Transcriptome-based design of antisense inhibitors potentiates carbapenem efficacy in CRE Escherichia coli

In recent years, the prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) has risen substantially, and the study of CRE resistance mechanisms has become increasingly important for antibiotic development. Although much research has focused on genomic resistance factors, relatively few studies have examined CRE pathogens through changes in gene expression. In this study, we examined the gene expression profile of a CRE Escherichia coli clinical isolate that is sensitive to meropenem but resistant to ertapenem to explore transcriptomic contributions to resistance and to identify gene knockdown targets for carbapenem potentiation. We sequenced total and short RNA to analyze the gene expression response to ertapenem or meropenem treatment and found significant expression changes in genes related to motility, maltodextrin metabolism, the formate hydrogenlyase complex, and the general stress response. To validate these findings, we used our laboratory's Facile Accelerated Specific Therapeutic (FAST) platform to create antisense peptide nucleic acids (PNAs), gene-specific molecules designed to inhibit protein translation. PNAs were designed to inhibit the pathways identified in our transcriptomic analysis, and each PNA was then tested in combination with each carbapenem to assess its effect on the antibiotics' minimum inhibitory concentrations. We observed significant PNA-antibiotic interaction with five different PNAs across six combinations. Inhibition of the genes hycA, dsrB, and bolA potentiated carbapenem efficacy in CRE E. coli, whereas inhibition of the genes flhC and ygaC conferred added resistance. Our results identify resistance factors and demonstrate that transcriptomic analysis is a potent tool for designing antibiotic PNA.
Ergonomics Checkpoints for Educational Environments

The IEA’s Committee on Ergonomics for Children in Educational Environments originally focused on ergonomic initiatives in educational environments and studies that have used children as the participants in their research effort(s). However, as the committee has grown in size and diversity of its membership, it was soon realized that there are a number of aspects of children and ergonomics that are inseparable. As technology has been integrated into nearly every student’s life from Pre-K though college the effort has been expanded to include all educational environments. Due to the emergence of SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19), additional emphasis is now being focused on the learning from home environment. The approach taken here is to provide examples, not an exhaustive nor complete summary of the efforts that are either on-going or should be started that are focused on ergonomics in educational environments. Ergonomics Checkpoints have been developed to date, provide guidelines for educational environments that teach a generation or generations of young people who will bridge the gap between children to whom no ergonomic thought has been given regarding their exposures to adult-like conditions and a generation or generations who will have everything ergonomic. More research will need to be conducted, better definitions and guidelines will need to be developed, and education and training of all people involved with children, from students, parents, and teachers to furniture manufacturers and school purchasing agents will have to be provided. Specific examples of Ergonomic Checkpoints, from furniture through functional environment are be presented.