cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Constraints on superoxide mediated formation of manganese oxides

Manganese (Mn) oxides are among the most reactive sorbents and oxidants within the environment, where they play a central role in the cycling of nutrients, metals, and carbon. Recent discoveries have identified superoxide ([Formula: see text]) both of biogenic and abiogenic origin as an effective oxidant of Mn(II) leading to the formation of Mn oxides. Here we examined the conditions under which abiotically produced superoxide led to oxidative precipitation of Mn and the solid-phases produced. Oxidized Mn, as both aqueous Mn(III) and Mn(III/IV) oxides, was only observed in the presence of active catalase, indicating that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a product of the reaction of [Formula: see text] with Mn(II), inhibits the oxidation process presumably through the reduction of Mn(III). Citrate and pyrophosphate increased the yield of oxidized Mn but decreased the amount of Mn oxide produced via formation of Mn(III)-ligand complexes. While complexing ligands played a role in stabilizing Mn(III), they did not eliminate the inhibition of net Mn(III) formation by H2O2. The Mn oxides precipitated were highly disordered colloidal hexagonal birnessite, similar to those produced by biotically generated superoxide. Yet, in contrast to the large particulate Mn oxides formed by biogenic superoxide, abiotic Mn oxides did not ripen to larger, more crystalline phases. This suggests that the deposition of crystalline Mn oxides within the environment requires a biological, or at least organic, influence. This work provides the first direct evidence that, under conditions relevant to natural waters, oxidation of Mn(II) by superoxide can occur and lead to formation of Mn oxides. For organisms that oxidize Mn(II) by producing superoxide, these findings may also point to other microbially mediated processes, in particular enzymatic hydrogen peroxide degradation and/or production of organic ligand metabolites, that allow for Mn oxide formation.
Analgesia and Sedation

Providing the critically ill patient with sedatives to minimize anxiety and recollection of unpleasant events and providing adequate analgesia is an integral function of the critical care team. However, there is a fine balance between providing comfort and causing over-sedation with the possibility of adverse outcomes in both scenarios. Treating pain, anxiety, and delirium are all priorities of utmost importance.
Cofibrations and Fibrations

The notions of cofibration and fibration are central to homotopy theory. We show that the defining property of a cofiber inclusion map i : A → X is equivalent to the homotopy extension property of the pair (X,A). Thus the inclusion map of a subcomplex into a CW complex is a cofiber map, and so this concept is widespread in topology. We study cofiber maps in Section 3.2 and introduce pushout squares and mapping cones. In Section 3.3 we treat fiber maps as well as pullback squares and homotopy fibers and obtain some of their basic properties. We also consider fiber bundles which are defined by maps p : E → B for which there is a locally trivializing cover of B. We prove that fiber bundles are fibrations and thus obtain examples of fiber maps by exhibiting fiber bundles. In this way we obtain many diverse fibrations in which spheres, topological groups, Stiefel manifolds and Grassmannians appear. This is done in Section 3.4, and these results will be used in Chapter 5 to calculate homotopy groups. In the last section we introduce the mapping cylinder and its dual and use them to show that any map can be factored into the composition of a cofiber map followed by a homotopy equivalence or into the composition of a homotopy equivalence followed by a fiber map. These are important techniques and highlight the major role of cofiber and fiber maps in homotopy theory.
Steric Effect and Evolution of Surface Species in the Hydrodeoxygenation of Bio-Oil Model Compounds over Pt/HBEA

The formation and evolution of surface species during the hydrodeoxygenation of various bio-oil model compounds (anisole, m-cresol, and guaiacol) over Pt/HBEA and HBEA is investigated. Anisole and m-cresol form phenate and cresolate species on Lewis acid sites, while guaiacol can chemisorb more strongly forming bidentate surface species. The position of functional groups within these molecules has a strong influence on the degree of hydrodeoxygenation over Pt/HBEA, due to steric hindrance of the C–O scission step. Consequently, the highest yield of deoxygenated products is formed over anisole, followed by m-cresol and guaiacol. No deoxygenation products are produced from HBEA. On the basis of operando transmission FTIR spectroscopy experiments at 400 °C and 1 atm of hydrogen pressure, a timeline for the formation of polynuclear aromatics and graphitic coke from aromatics with different substituents is established for Pt/HBEA. The early formation of relatively small amounts of graphitic coke and polynuclea...
Exposing Uncertainty in Bid Preparation of Steel Construction Cost Estimating: I. Conceptual Framework and Qualitative C-I-V-I-L Classification

AbstractIn construction cost estimating, bid documents—drawings and specifications—are a primary means to communicate design intent to bidders who then extract cost item quantities. However, uncertainties in conveying information affect the accuracy of quantity takeoffs. Therefore, the goal of this research is to explore types of uncertainties that hamper the quantity takeoff process. This text analyzes bid documents, including architectural, structural, and other plans of real-world school projects with structural steel frames in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Contributions to the body of knowledge are (1) deriving a classification of five major types from 67 minor uncertainties as collected in the Conflicting/Incomplete/Vague/Incorrect/Lack-of-Work-Assignment (C-I-V-I-L) mnemonic; (2) establishing a framework of information flow between bid participants to explain how uncertainties arise; and (3) extracting contradictions between current contract rules to resolve conflicts in bid documents. This ...
Evidence for an Environmental and Inherited Predisposition Contributing to the Risk for Global Tendinopathies or Compression Neuropathies in Patients With Rotator Cuff Tears

Background:Rotator cuff tearing has been found to be clinically associated with other tendinopathies and compression neuropathies; a significant excess of these phenotypes has been seen in patients with rotator cuff tears. It is unclear if the association is secondary to environmental or genetic influences.Purpose:To examine population-based data for comorbid association of rotator cuff tearing and tendinopathies and compression neuropathies and to determine whether the association extends to relatives of patients with rotator cuff tears, which could suggest a genetic contribution.Study Design:Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:The Utah Population Database (UPDB) contains health and genealogical data on over 2 million Utah residents. Current Procedural Terminology, Fourth Revision, codes (CPT 4) and International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, codes (ICD-9) entered in patient records were used to identify patients with rotator cuff tearing and with comorbid tendinopathies and...
Hidden disbond detection in spent nuclear fuel storage systems using air-coupled ultrasonics

This paper studies an air-coupled ultrasonic scanning approach for damage assessment in steel-clad concrete structures. An air-coupled ultrasonic sender generates guided plate waves in the steel cladding and a small contact-type receiver measures the corresponding wave responses. A frequency-wavenumber (f-k) domain signal filtering technique is used to isolate the behavior of the fundamental symmetric (S0) mode of the guided plate waves. The behavior of the S0 mode is sensitive to interface bonding conditions. The proposed inspection approach is verified by a series of experiments performed on laboratory-scale specimens. The experimental results demonstrate that hidden disbond between steel cladding and underlying concrete substrate can be successfully detected with the ultrasonic test setup and the f-k domain signal filtering technique.
Determination of Sodium Cyclamate in Red Wine by GC

[Objective]To establish the analytical method of sodium cyclamate content in red wine by capillary gas chromatography(GC).[Methods]OV-101 capillary column and hydrogenflame ionizationdetector were adopted,and external standard method was used.[Results]The recoveries for samples ranged from 99.6%～101.2%,RSD was 1.6%～4.0%,detection limit was 2 mg/kg.[Conclusion]This method is simple and fast,which is suitable for the determination of sodium cyclamate in red wine.
Towards a Precarity Agenda

It is widely acknowledged that the closing decades of the twentieth century, and the early decades of the twenty-first century, have been marked by growing economic insecurity across the globe. But how we understand this process is highly contested. What are the sources of economic insecurity? To what extent do contemporary forms of economic and political organisation mark a break from the past? What analytical tools do we need to make sense of the current moment? Are new concepts needed, or will well-established concepts suffice? What are the implications of growing economic insecurity for questions of agency, solidarity, class struggle and social change? How does economic insecurity relate to various forms of collective organisation such as trade unions, political parties and community-based organisations? Guy Standing has been one of the most prolific and visible contributors to these debates. Standing was an economist and director of various projects at the International Labour Organisation (ILO) from 1975 to 2006. Since then he has held various academic positions at Monash University (Australia), University of Bath (UK) and University of London. He is perhaps best-known for his analysis of the “precariat”, which he develops over the course of three books: Work After Globalization: Building Occupational Citizenship (2009), The Precariat: The New Dangerous Class (2011), and A Precariat Charter: From Denizens to Citizens (2014). The third instalment is distinct from the previous two in that it develops twenty-nine proposals – a Precariat Charter – for how to improve the conditions of the precariat. The proposals are wide-ranging. They call for:
Molecular biology of human herpesvirus 8: novel functions and virus-host interactions implicated in viral pathogenesis and replication.

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), also known as Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), is the second identified human gammaherpesvirus. Like its relative Epstein-Barr virus, HHV-8 is linked to B-cell tumors, specifically primary effusion lymphoma and multicentric Castleman’s disease, in addition to endothelial-derived KS. HHV-8 is unusual in its possession of a plethora of “accessory” genes and encoded proteins in addition to the core, conserved herpesvirus and gammaherpesvirus genes that are necessary for basic biological functions of these viruses. The HHV-8 accessory proteins specify not only activities deducible from their cellular protein homologies but also novel, unsuspected activities that have revealed new mechanisms of virus–host interaction that serve virus replication or latency and may contribute to the development and progression of virus-associated neoplasia. These proteins include viral interleukin-6 (vIL-6), viral chemokines (vCCLs), viral G protein–coupled receptor (vGPCR), viral interferon regulatory factors (vIRFs), and viral antiapoptotic proteins homologous to FLICE (FADD-like IL-1β converting enzyme)-inhibitory protein (FLIP) and survivin. Other HHV-8 proteins, such as signaling membrane receptors encoded by open reading frames K1 and K15, also interact with host mechanisms in unique ways and have been implicated in viral pathogenesis. Additionally, a set of micro-RNAs encoded by HHV-8 appear to modulate expression of multiple host proteins to provide conditions conducive to virus persistence within the host and could also contribute to HHV-8-induced neoplasia. Here, we review the molecular biology underlying these novel virus–host interactions and their potential roles in both virus biology and virus-associated disease.
A “Hot” Ground State Intermediate in the Photohydration of Pyrimidines

Because the theme of this symposium concerns the excited state molecular species in organic and biochemistry and because you, the participants, are experts from diversified disciplines, this symposium provides an ideal forum for the discussion of a “hot” ground state intermediate in the photohydration of pyrimidines (Pyr). This is an issue which has confronted our laboratory ever since 1956. The general belief has been that the lifetime of a vibrationally excited or “hot” ground state Pyr (VPyro) is too short (~10−12 sec) for a photoreaction to take place. However, favorable evidence accumulated from our laboratory, as well as from others, has been considerable. Recently, this proposition has met with approval in the latest comprehensive review of Pyr photohydrates (Fisher and Johns, 1976). Therefore, first, I would like to discuss the nature of this photoreaction, second, the early background that led to my proposal, and third, the experimental findings which may be interpreted as being in favor of this proposal.
Origin of the multiple configurations that drive the response of δ-plutonium’s elastic moduli to temperature

The electronic and thermodynamic complexity of plutonium has resisted a fundamental understanding for this important elemental metal. A critical test of any theory is the unusual softening of the bulk modulus with increasing temperature, a result that is counterintuitive because no or very little change in the atomic volume is observed upon heating. This unexpected behavior has in the past been attributed to competing but never-observed electronic states with different bonding properties similar to the scenario with magnetic states in Invar alloys. Using the recent observation of plutonium dynamic magnetism, we construct a theory for plutonium that agrees with relevant measurements by using density-functional-theory (DFT) calculations with no free parameters to compute the effect of longitudinal spin fluctuations on the temperature dependence of the bulk moduli in δ-Pu. We show that the softening with temperature can be understood in terms of a continuous distribution of thermally activated spin fluctuations.
Exploring how consumers cope with online behavioral advertising

This study explores how consumers cope with a computer technology-driven persuasion tactic called online behavioral advertising (OBA). By tracking consumers’ online behaviors, OBA delivers highly tailored advertising messages to individual consumers, giving rise to serious privacy concerns due to their covert nature. Integrating the persuasion knowledge model and the protection motivation theory, we employed a survey method (N = 442) to examine how consumers cope with OBA based on their persuasion knowledge, cognitive appraisal, and cognitive processing variables. The results reveal that persuasion knowledge was indirectly associated with coping behavior of ad avoidance throughout cognitive appraisal process (perceived risks; perceived benefits; self-efficacy). Privacy concerns partially mediated such associations with ad avoidance. Interestingly, cognitive processing variables (reactance; perceived personalization) were significantly associated with ad avoidance without being related to persuasion knowle...
Imidacloprid Promotes High Fat Diet-Induced Adiposity and Insulin Resistance in Male C57BL/6J Mice

Imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid insecticide widely used in agriculture worldwide, has been reported to promote adipogenesis and cause insulin resistance in vitro. The purpose of the current study was to determine the effects of imidacloprid and its interaction with dietary fat in the development of adiposity and insulin resistance using male C57BL/6J mice. Imidacloprid (0.06, 0.6, or 6 mg/kg bw/day) was mixed in a low-fat (4% w/w) or high-fat (20% w/w) diet and given to mice ad libitum for 12 weeks. Imidacloprid significantly promoted high fat diet-induced body weight gain and adiposity. In addition, imidacloprid treatment with the high fat diet resulted in impaired glucose metabolism. Consistently, there were significant effects of imidacloprid on genes regulating lipid and glucose metabolisms, including the AMP-activated protein kinase-α (AMPKα) pathway in white adipose tissue and liver. These results suggest that imidacloprid may potentiate high fat diet-induced adiposity and insulin resistance in male C...
Honeycombs from Hermitian Matrix Pairs

Knutson and Tao's work on the Horn conjectures used combinatorial invariants called hives and honeycombs to relate spectra of sums of Hermitian matrices to Littlewood-Richardson coefficients and problems in representation theory, but these relationships remained implicit. Here, let $M$ and $N$ be two $n ×n$ Hermitian matrices. We will show how to determine a hive $\mathcal{H}(M, N)={H_ijk}$ using linear algebra constructions from this matrix pair. With this construction, one may also define an explicit Littlewood-Richardson filling (enumerated by the Littlewood-Richardson coefficient $c_μν ^λ$ associated to the matrix pair). We then relate rotations of orthonormal bases of eigenvectors of $M$ and $N$ to deformations of honeycombs (and hives), which we interpret in terms of the structure of crystal graphs and Littelmann's path operators. We find that the crystal structure is determined \emphmore simply from the perspective of rotations than that of path operators.
Nonlinear Compartmental Models

In this section we look at some nonlinear compartmental models, the first of which is a continuous flow chemical reactor [161], [134]. This reactor is a device used in the chemical industry to allow chemicals to react in a controlled environment. A tank of constant volume, which is the reactor vessel, is kept at a constant temperature. There is continuous flow of reactants into this constantly stirred tank. After certain reactions take place inside the tank, a portion of the uniform mixture is then drained from the tank. This process is illustrated in Figure 5.1, where R denotes the fixed rate constant for flow into and out of the tank.
Dissipative Structures in Quasi-One-Dimensional Superconductors

Consider a superconducting filament of length d » ξ(T), the coherence length, close to its transition temperature Tc , and fed by a dc current source. If the filament is connected to massive superconducting electrodes and if its cross-section is sufficiently small, the current density j is uniformly distributed, while the total phase difference ⌽ and voltage drop V, if any, are effectively localized within the filament. According to the basic JOSEPHSON relation $$\dot \phi = 2{\text{ev}}/h.$$ (1) Such systems can sustain a time average Vdc corresponding to the normal resistance of a segment much shorter than d. This has been attributed [1] to phase-slip centers: the increase in ⌽ is compensated by −2π jumps in the local phase of the complex order parameter ψ = fe1x, as the amplitude f periodically vanishes over a section of the filament.
Rapid Detection of Powassan Virus in a Patient With Encephalitis by Metagenomic Sequencing

We describe a patient with severe and progressive encephalitis of unknown etiology. We performed rapid metagenomic sequencing from cerebrospinal fluid and identified Powassan virus, an emerging tick-borne flavivirus that has been increasingly detected in the United States.
Brentuximab-vedotin maintenance following chemotherapy without irradiation for primary intracranial embryonal carcinoma in down syndrome

Germ cell tumors (GCT) are the most common central nervous system (CNS) tumors in individuals with Down syndrome. Patients with Down syndrome treated with CNS irradiation are at increased risk of developing cerebrovascular complications such as moyamoya disease. Embryonal carcinoma components are recognized to be more resistant to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy and confer a very poor prognosis. CD30 is a member of the tumor necrosis factor-receptor superfamily. CD30+ has a limited expression in normal cells but is the defining marker for embryonal carcinoma. Brentuximab-vedotin is a novel antibody-drug conjugate consisting of the chimeric anti-CD30 antibody conjugated to an anti-tubulin synthetic analog monomethyl auristatin E. A retrospective review of the patient’s records was conducted in September 2017. We report upon our management of a teenage girl with Down syndrome and a suprasellar pure embryonal carcinoma utilizing an intensive chemotherapy regimen followed by brentuximab-vedotin without irradiation. The patient received two cycles of carboplatin and etoposide interspersed with one cycle of cyclophosphamide and etoposide for induction followed by three cycles of marrow-ablative thiotepa and carboplatin rescued by autologous hematopoietic stem cell. Finally, She received six cycles of intravenous brentuximab-vedotin. The patient continues without evidence of recurrent tumor by MRI and tumor marker surveillance 24 months since diagnosis, with no adverse sequelae of her treatment. Brentuximab-vedotin may provide a selective and safe alternative (or adjunct) to radiotherapy in the management of patients with CD30-positive CNS embryonal carcinoma, especially for those patients at high risk of developing irradiation-related complications.
Encounter On The Great Plains: Scandinavian Settlers and the Dispossession of Dakota Indians, 1890–1930, Karen V. Hansen, Oxford University Press, New York, NY (2013), Hardcover, ISBN 9780199746811, 332 pp.

Encounters On The Plains: Scandinavian Settlers and the Dispossession of Dakota Indian, 1890–1930 by Karen V. Hansen (2013) is a historical study of the interaction between Scandinavian settlers wh...
Inveon microCT imaging of the rat spleen

1011 Objectives CT imaging of mice and rats is being used to study bones (Padjet disease), lungs (cancer), obesity and cell transplantation at our center. Here we report data on CT imaging of rat spleen to evaluate contrast reagent eXIA 160-XL in a rat model in order to assist in PET/CT studies of islet cell transplantation into the spleen. Methods Lewis male rats 7-8 weeks old (200-250g ) were used in this study. Contrast reagent eXIA 160-XL (Binitio Biomedical Inc.) was injected in tail vein at dosage 0.2-0.4 ml per rat and time course of CT imaging of abdomen was performed on Inveon CT scanner (Siemens) at low resolution: before injection, 15 min-120 min after injection. All scans were carried out using isoflurane anesthesia. Results Time course after contrast injection showed that accumulation of contrast peaked between 30 and 60 min (Fig.1). Spleen could be detected among other abdomen organs even 2 hours after contrast injection. We established that decreasing the amount of contrast reagent to 2-3 times lower compared to that used in mice (Willekens et al, Mol Imaging Biol, 2009) was sufficient to provide anatomical delineation of the entire spleen (Fig.2) without compromising image quality. Conclusions Our results show that eXIA 160-XL is stable in rats and the kinetics of accumulation eXIA 160-XL in rat spleen is similar to that reported for mice. Our data suggest that using contrast CT scans of rat spleen with transplanted islets will provide accurate information of PET data in rodent models of islet transplantation. Research Support NIH RC1 DK087352 and S10 RR02454
Fundamental Problems in the Theory of Shaped-Charged Jets

Shaped-charge jets were discussed in Chapter 16 of [1] (see also Chapter 16 of [2]). They are used primarily in armor penetration; other uses include welding. On October 27, 1989 Carl A. Nelson from Honeywell has presented the shaped-charge phenomenon. This explosive process can be divided into several sub-processes. He concentrated on the free boundary problem which arises as soon as the jet has formed, and on the free boundary problem which arises as the formed jet begins to penetrate the target. Interestingly enough, these two problems are very similar.
An Interesting Case of Neurobrucellosis Mimicking Neuropsychiatric Lupus.

This case describes a patient presenting with acute onset papilledema, subacute strokes resulting in upper extremity weakness and numbness, arthritis, maculopapular rash, depressed C4 and CH50, and a high titer anti-double-stranded DNA antibody. The patient was given the diagnosis of probable systemic lupus erythematosus, which was supported by the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) criteria. He was aggressively treated for neuropsychiatric lupus (NPSLE) with pulse dose steroids and a dose of intravenous cyclophosphamide. Blood cultures drawn on admission later grew out 2/4 bottles of Gram-variable bacteria, speciated as Brucella melitensis by PCR. Serum Brucella serologies were also positive. On further evaluation, the patient noted a history of eating unpasteurized cheese in Mexico. Given these additional findings, the patient’s presentation was most consistent with a diagnosis of neurobrucellosis. Steroids were tapered off, no further doses of cyclophosphamide were given, and a prolonged course of intravenous and oral antibiotic therapy was administered, resulting in complete resolution of the patient’s presenting symptoms.
Near-Field Scanning Optical Microscopy: A New Tool for Exploring Structure and Function in Biology

Optical microscopy in the biological sciences has proven invaluable for understanding structure and dynamics in these complicated systems. It is a noninvasive tool that is amenable with fragile samples and is easily implemented under physiological conditions. It also benefits from a wide array of contrast mechanisms that can be exploited to gain detailed insight into sample properties. One limitation, however, concerns spatial resolution, which is limited to approximately half the excitation wavelength by the diffraction of light. Overcoming this limitation has motivated the development of near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) or scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM). NSOM uses specially fabricated probes to deliver light down to the nanometric dimension, enabling optical microscopy with a spatial resolution of tens of nanometers. For the biological sciences, NSOM can simultaneously map sample fluorescence and topography with high spatial resolution and single-molecule detection limits. This makes NSOM a powerful new tool for understanding biological structure at the nanometric dimension.
Jumping Tribal Boundaries: Space, Mobility, and Identity in Kenya

Kenya has endured periodic outbreaks of violence over land which arose primarily from new meanings that land and space took on at independence. Kenyans have struggled with the legacy of the colonial regime’s attempt to link collective identity with specific physical spaces. Their choices shaped violent communal conflicts over land since 1963. Some people became targets of violence but others did not. As identity is shaped by a person’s place within broader social systems, there are risks and opportunities in migration and boundary crossing. Media reports depicting Kenyan communal violence as the result of tribal friction miss a key point. Due to the inherent flexibility of identity in East Africa, it was possible for marginalized people to acquire land by blurring, if not changing, their identities. But land is finite. Overly successful landed people, particularly if they have “foreign” origins, in marginal societies are often dangerously exposed.
Ocean-excited plate waves in the Ross and Pine Island Glacier ice shelves

Ice shelves play an important role in buttressing land ice from reaching the sea, thus restraining the rate of grounded ice loss. Long-period gravity-wave impacts excite vibrations in ice shelves that can expand pre-existing fractures and trigger iceberg calving. To investigate the spatial amplitude variability and propagation characteristics of these vibrations, a 34-station broadband seismic array was deployed on the Ross Ice Shelf (RIS) from November 2014 to November 2016. Two types of ice-shelf plate waves were identified with beamforming: flexural-gravity waves and extensional Lamb waves. Below 20 mHz, flexural-gravity waves dominate coherent signals across the array and propagate landward from the ice front at close to shallow-water gravity-wave speeds (~70 m s−1). In the 20–100 mHz band, extensional Lamb waves dominate and propagate at phase speeds ~3 km s−1. Flexural-gravity and extensional Lamb waves were also observed by a 5-station broadband seismic array deployed on the Pine Island Glacier (PIG) ice shelf from January 2012 to December 2013, with flexural wave energy, also detected at the PIG in the 20–100 mHz band. Considering the ubiquitous presence of storm activity in the Southern Ocean and the similar observations at both the RIS and the PIG ice shelves, it is likely that most, if not all, West Antarctic ice shelves are subjected to similar gravity-wave excitation.
Abstract Submission and Acceptance Rates for Men and Women in Academic Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery: An Analysis of POSNA Annual Meeting Abstract Submissions 2012-2015.

BACKGROUND It has recently been demonstrated that women members of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) participate at the Annual Meeting at disproportionately lower rates than men members, as defined by accepted abstract(s). We hypothesize that this discrepancy is associated with lower abstract submission rates by women members. METHODS POSNA membership directories for the years 2012-2015 were used to record the name, sex, membership category, and years of membership for each member. Final programs for Annual Meetings and abstract submission records for the same time period were used to record the number of accepted and rejected abstracts for each member. General estimating equations with a binomial model and logit link were used to compare the proportion of abstract acceptances between sexes across years. RESULTS During the period 2012-2015, active members included 534 men (83.8%) and 103 women (16.2%), whereas candidate members included 207 men (64.7%) and 113 women (35.3%). When active and candidate members were considered collectively, men were significantly more likely to have an accepted abstract (P=0.009) and this significant difference did not change over the 4-year period (P=0.627). However, men submitted significantly more abstracts per member per year than women (means: 1.5 abstracts/man/y; 0.8 abstracts/woman/y; P<0.001). This held true for both candidate members (early career) (P=0.001) as well as active members (mid-career) (P<0.001). When the total number of abstract submissions per year per member was taken into account, the percentage of abstract acceptances was similar for men and women (men=42%, women=40%; P=0.847). CONCLUSIONS Abstract acceptance rates were similar for women and men members of POSNA for the 2012-2015 Annual Meetings. However, men had a significantly greater number of abstract submissions per member than women, and consequently, men presented a higher proportion of abstracts relative to their membership numbers. This supports our hypothesis that the disproportionately lower rate of active participation amongst women members at POSNA Annual Meetings, defined as abstract acceptance, is due to lower rates of abstract submissions, rather than to lower rates of acceptances. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE It is not applicable as it is not a clinical or basic science study.
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy and coronary artery disease: value of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging for diagnostic confirmation: a case report.

Background Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is a reversible acute cardiac disease that mimics acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In patients with a history of an old myocardial infarction who develop TCM, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) is the first-line non-invasive diagnostic tool for clearly discriminating between AMI and TCM. Case summary A 65-year-old woman who suffered a myocardial infarction in 2012, was admitted to undergo sigmoid colon tumour surgery in January 2017. Soon after surgery, she developed angina associated with ST-segment elevation, as shown by electrocardiography and increased cardiac enzyme levels. Acute coronary syndrome was diagnosed. She had a good clinical response to treatment with intravenous nitroglycerine, opioids, clopidogrel, aspirin, bisoprolol, and atorvastatin. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) showed anteroseptal and apical left ventricular akinesia with balloon-like dilatation, akinesia of the inferior wall and inferior interventricular septum, and global systolic dysfunction. Coronary angiography did not identify coronary artery lesions, and a tentative diagnosis of TCM was made. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the segmental contraction abnormalities seen in the TTE and identified myocardial oedema without delayed hyperenhancement after gadolinium administration, which confirmed the diagnosis of TCM and ruled out acute ischaemic damage. She was discharged when asymptomatic. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging at 2 months showed disappearance of the anteroseptal and apical contraction abnormality, regression of myocardial oedema and normalization of global left ventricular systolic function. Discussion This case confirms that CMRI is a non-invasive diagnostic method for accurately differentiating between AMI and TCM in patients with a prior myocardial infarction. cardiac magnetic resonance imaging should be incorporated as a diagnostic criterion for TCM.
Behavioral demand effects when buyers anticipate inventory shortages

Abstract Firms often worry about how buyers will react when there is an inventory shortage, but the anticipation of facing a shortage may also impact buyer behavior. In this paper we use a combination of theoretical modeling, computational methods, and laboratory experiments to understand buyers’ search behavior in markets where there is potential for either a costly or costless inventory shortage. When inventory shortages are costly to buyers we find their equilibrium purchasing strategy generates a newsvendor problem among the firms. In turn, experimental data suggests buyer behavior can be explained by prospect theory better than by standard assumptions of fully rational expected utility maximizing agents, indicating that potential inventory shortages generate loss aversion among buyers, and there is systematic mis-identification of the probability with which they will be able to procure an item. Using computational methods, we find firms are able to extract more surplus from behavioral buyers via higher prices than would be predicted by the standard model. On the other hand, when inventory shortages are not costly to buyers the effect of behavioral biases on the part of buyers is not relevant. But in this case there can be a benefit to reducing inventory via a reduction in price competition.
High quantum efficiency mid-wavelength infrared type-II InAs/InAs 1-x Sb x superlattice photodiodes grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition

We report the growth and characterization of mid-wavelength infrared type-II InAs/InAs1−xSbx superlattice photodiodes on GaSb substrates grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. At 150 K, the 50% cut-off wavelength is 5.0 μm, the dark current density is 3.3 × 10−4 A/cm2 under −20 mV bias, and the peak responsivity is 1.76 A/W corresponding to a quantum efficiency of 55% without anti-reflection coating. A specific detectivity of 1.2 × 1011 cm Hz1/2/W is achieved at 4.0 μm under −20 mV bias at 150 K.
Milk exosomes - Natural nanoparticles for siRNA delivery.

Abstract Gene-silencing with targeted siRNAs has great potential as a therapeutic approach for various diseases including cancer. However, intracellular delivery of siRNA is challenging. We used bovine milk exosomes as a novel system for siRNA delivery. First, we demonstrated that exosomes can deliver endogenous RNA payloads into recipient cells. Next, we loaded siRNA against specific genes including VEGF, EGFR, AKT, MAPK, and KRAS. We utilized 5′−32P-labeled siKRAS as a tracer and found exosome loading with siRNA could be variable. We demonstrated that the siRNA of loaded exosomes is stable and resist degradation. Our results indicated that siRNAs against target genes ranged from 2 to 10-fold knockdown in expression levels in various cancers. Since mutated KRAS has been implicated in the development of various cancers including lung cancer, we tested a mutant-allele specific siRNA against KRASG12S, in A549 cells. We observed a dose-dependent anti-proliferative activity against A549 cells treated with exosomes carrying siKRASG12S. We observed significant inhibition of A549 tumor xenografts in animals treated with folic acid-functionalized exosomes carrying siKRAS. In summary, milk-derived exosomes represent a viable natural nano-carrier for the delivery of siRNA for therapeutic application against cancer.
Attitudes of Liver and Palliative Care Clinicians toward Specialist Palliative Care Consultation for Patients with End-Stage Liver Disease.

Objective: Delays in specialized palliative care (PC) consultation in end-stage liver disease (ESLD) patients may be explained by clinician attitudes toward PC. Our aim is to assess the attitudes of hepatology and liver transplant (HLT) and PC clinicians toward PC consultation and consultant roles in ESLD patient care. Methods: Clinician members of HLT and PC professional societies were surveyed. Using a five-point Likert scale, they rated their comfort level toward various PC consultant roles and their agreement with triggers for and reasons to defer PC consultation. Change in attitudes toward PC consultation resulting from liver transplant (LT) eligibility was evaluated. Results: A total of 311 HLT (6.2%) and 379 PC (8.1%) clinicians completed the survey. The vast majority of HLT clinicians (>80%) were comfortable if PC consultants palliate symptoms, provide support, or facilitate advance care planning in LT-ineligible patients. LT eligibility reduced HLT clinician comfort toward all PC consultant roles, except supportive care. A vast majority of PC clinicians (>90%) were comfortable assuming all PC roles, except pain management without opioids (43-51%). About 80% of HLT clinicians agree with PC consultation in LT-ineligible patients with decompensated cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), compared to 20-30% if LT ineligible. Common justifications for deferring PC consultation included mild disease, LT eligibility, unavailability of PC specialists, and lack of addressable palliative issues. Conclusions: Barriers to specialized PC consultation in ESLD include HLT clinician discomfort with PC consultant roles, patients' LT eligibility, perception that PC is end-of-life care, unclear triggers for PC consultation, and concern about opioid-based pain palliation.
The Use of a Personal Trainer to Enhance Participation of Older Adults with Severe Disabilities in a Community Water Exercise Class

Inclusive instruction was provided for three older adults with profound mental retardation in a water exercise class at a local YMCA. The older adults were taught to exercise through the use of systematic prompting. A multiple baseline design across participants with an embedded reversal was used to evaluate the impact of a personal trainer. The three participants performed the exercise, but regressed without the assistance of the trainer, as demonstrated by the reversal. Data collected during peer prompting and maintenance conditions indicated that the participants continued to exercise at levels higher than baseline but lower than with a personal trainer.
SAGES University MASTERS PROGRAM: Foregut Pathway

The Masters Program organizes educational materials along clinical pathways into discrete blocks of content which could be accessed by a surgeon attending the SAGES annual meeting or by logging into the online SAGES University (Fig. 1.1) [1]. The SAGES Masters Program currently has eight pathways including Acute Care, Biliary, Bariatrics, Colon, Foregut, Hernia, Flex Endoscopy, and Robotic Surgery (Fig. 1.2). Each pathway is divided into three levels of targeted performance: competency, proficiency, and mastery (Fig. 1.3). The levels originate from the Dreyfus model of skill acquisition [2], which has five stages: novice, advanced beginner, competency, proficiency, and expertise. The SAGES MASTERS Program is based on the three more advanced stages of skill acquisition: competency, proficiency, and expertise. Competency is defined as what a graduating general surgery chief resident or MIS fellow should be able to achieve; proficiency is what a surgeon approximately 3 years out from training should be able to accomplish; and mastery is what more experienced surgeons should be able to accomplish after several years in practice. Mastery is applicable to SAGES surgeons seeking in-depth knowledge in a pathway, including the following: areas of controversy, outcomes, best practice, and ability to mentor colleagues. Over time, with the utilization of coaching and participation in SAGES courses, this level should be obtainable by the majority of SAGES members. This edition of the SAGES Manual – Foregut Surgery – aligns with the current version of the new SAGES University MASTERS Program Foregut Surgery Pathway (Table 1.1).
Association of Obesity with Quantitative Chest CT Measured Airway Wall Thickness in WTC Workers with Lower Airway Disease

We previously reported that wall area percent (WAP), a quantitative CT (QCT) indicator of airway wall thickness and, presumably, inflammation, is associated with adverse longitudinal expiratory flow trajectories in WTC workers, but that obesity and weight gain also seemed to be independently predictive of the latter. Previous studies have reported no association between WAP and obesity, so we investigated that association in nonsmoking WTC-exposed individuals and healthy unexposed controls. We assessed WAP using the Chest Imaging Platform QCT system in a segmental bronchus in 118 former WTC workers, and 89 COPDGene® WTC-unexposed and asymptomatic subjects. We used multiple regression to model WAP vs. body mass index (BMI) in the two groups, adjusting for important subject and CT image characteristics. Unadjusted analyses revealed significant differences between the two groups with regards to WAP, age, gender, scan pixel spacing and slice interval, but not BMI or total lung capacity. In adjusted analysis, there was a significant interaction between BMI and WTC exposure on WAP. BMI was significantly and positively associated with WAP in the WTC group, but not in the COPDGene® group, but stratified analyses revealed that the effect was significant in WTC subjects with clinical evidence of lower airway disease (LAD). Unlike non-diseased subjects, BMI was significantly associated with WAP in WTC workers and, in stratified analyses, the association was significant only among those with LAD. Our findings suggest that this adverse effect of obesity on airway structure and inflammation may be confined to already diseased individuals.
The (Un)Sustainability of Manual Sugarcane Harvesting

This chapter concludes the book by considering the implications of the transition to the mechanization of sugarcane harvesting. Although the employment repercussions of the shift toward mechanization are dire, I argue that given the human, social, and environmental challenges, the current model of sugarcane labor is unsustainable. The concluding chapter asserts that as manual harvesting is superseded by mechanized harvesting, the loss of employment may impose pressure on the state and federal governments to create opportunities that will lessen the impetus to work under conditions that result in a higher-than-average mortality rate. The chapter presents an overview of the Bolsa Familia program as an example of the Brazilian government’s demonstrated ability to address social problems. I argue that although the will is currently lacking, the Brazilian government has a responsibility to all its citizens, especially in light of Brazil’s influential position in the global economy.
“Old” and “New” Mass Killing? Genocide and Politicide Occurrence and Severity during and after the Cold War

How did the Cold War impact the occurrence and severity of genocide and politicide? The Cold War is known to have impacted a number of conflict dynamics, yet its influence on genocide and politicid...
Chapter 64 – Peroxisomal Disorders

Peroxisomes are ubiquitous subcellular organelles. Peroxisomal disorders may be divided into disorders of peroxisome biogenesis and single-enzyme disorders. Nearly all of these disorders are expressed in the nervous system. The most common disorder of the group is X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, which may develop in either childhood or adulthood with various neurologic manifestations. In contrast are the severe biogenesis disorders that are multisystem and may affect neuronal migration with resultant developmental abnormalities, seizures, and progressive demyelination. The diagnosis of these disorders results on the understanding of the biochemical abnormalities and they may reliably diagnosed by biochemical measures or DNA analysis.
A Cautionary Analysis of STAPLE Using Direct Inference of Segmentation Truth

In this paper we analyze the properties of the well-known segmentation fusion algorithm STAPLE, using a novel inference technique that analytically marginalizes out all model parameters. We demonstrate both theoretically and empirically that when the number of raters is large, or when consensus regions are included in the model, STAPLE devolves into thresholding the average of the input segmentations. We further show that when the number of raters is small, the STAPLE result may not be the optimal segmentation truth estimate, and its model parameter estimates might not reflect the individual raters’ actual segmentation performance. Our experiments indicate that these intrinsic weaknesses are frequently exacerbated by the presence of undesirable global optima and convergence issues. Together these results cast doubt on the soundness and usefulness of typical STAPLE outcomes.
Effective phononic crystals for non-Cartesian elastic wave propagation

Phononic crystals show novel characteristics when it comes to acoustic and elastic wave propagation control. Nevertheless, most studies on phononic crystals are based on a plane wave assumption because this allows for application of Bloch theorem and analysis of the infinite system based on a single unit cell. However, the plane wave assumption is not valid in the near field of a source, where the wave front takes cylindrical or spherical form. Here, we overcome this limitation by introducing the concept of effective phononic crystals, which combine periodicity with varying isotropic material properties to force periodic coefficients in the elastic equations of motion in a non-Cartesian basis. The periodic coefficients allow for band structure calculation using Bloch theorem. Using the band structure, we demonstrate band gaps and topologically protected interface modes can be obtained for cylindrically propagating waves. Through effective phononic crystals, we show how behaviors of Cartesian phononic crystals can be realized in regions close to sources, where near-field effects are non-negligible.
Small bowel necrosis and perforation due to sodium polystyrene sulfonate in the setting of graft versus host disease and fulminant Clostridium difficile infection

Gastrointestinal injury is a common adverse event associated with use of sodium polystyrene sulfonate (SPS), tradename Kayexalate. Risk factors for SPS-mediated gastrointestinal necrosis include chronic kidney disease, solid organ transplant recipiency and recent surgery. This report presents a patient with past medical history significant for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) complicated by graft versus host disease (GvHD) and Clostridium difficile colitis who initially presented with small bowel obstruction. She was taken to the operating room and her small bowel pathology was significant for transmural necrosis with SPS crystals in the granulation tissue, despite last receiving SPS over a year ago. Previous mucosal damage should be considered as a risk factor for SPS-mediated injury and the effects of this medication may occur longer than previously thought.