cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Calcium-dependent chloride channels in endosomes from rabbit kidney cortex

Ion channels in endosomal membranes from rabbit kidney cortex were studied after reconstitution into planar lipid bilayers. The most frequently observed ion channel was anion selective (PCl/PK = 13) and had a single-channel conductance of 116 pS when the cis and trans solutions contained 410 and 150 mM KCl, respectively, and a conductance of 90 pS in symmetrical 150 mM KCl solutions. The anion selectivity sequence of the channel was NO3- > F- > Br- > Cl- >> I-. The activity of the channel was voltage dependent such that hyperpolarization of the cis, or cytoplasmic, surface of the channel increased the open probability (Po). The activity of the channel was also highly dependent on the calcium activity of the cis but not the trans solution. Channels were fully active (Po > 0.7) at Ca2+ concentration > 1 microM, but channel activity was completely absent (Po < 0.001) at Ca2+ concentration < 250 nM. The effects of calcium on Po were not voltage dependent. The Cl(-)-channel blocker 2-[(2-cyclopentyl-6,7-dichloro-2,3-dihydro-2-methyl-1-oxo-1H-inden -5- yl)oxy]-acetic acid (IAA-94/95) produced a concentration-dependent reversible flickering block of the endosomal channel with a Ki of 15 microM. 4,4'-Dinitrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid, a disulfonic stilbene, also produced a flickering block of the channel with a Ki of approximately 5 microM. Because endosomal Cl- channels are believed to facilitate endosomal acidification, we tested the effects of IAA-94/95 and deletion of Ca2+ on the rate of acidification of intact endosomes. Because neither maneuver affected acidification, we conclude that the 116-pS channel does not participate in endosomal acidification. This channel may be involved in other endosomal processes, e.g., cell volume regulation and control of membrane trafficking.
Stock Market Returns and Annuitization: A Case of Myopic Extrapolation

Managing retirement wealth is one of the major financial decisions that individuals face. In this setting, I document a strong negative relationship between stock market returns and annuitization. Using a novel dataset with more than 103,000 actual payout decisions, I find that positive stock market returns decrease the likelihood of employees choosing an annuity over a lump sum, and vice versa. More precisely, only recent market performance drives annuitization with almost no weight assigned to returns two years before the decision date. Several explanations can account for these findings: wealth effects generated by movements of the stock market; endogenous timing of retirement; volatility of stock market returns and time varying risk aversion; and expectations about labor income or inflationary periods. After addressing these explanations, I present evidence consistent with employees extrapolating from recent stock market returns. I conclude showing that this myopic extrapolation - based on very recent stock market performance - can bear serious welfare consequence and significantly reduce retirement wealth if, for example, individuals annuitize too early because of a market drop.
New Aspects of Antihistamines in the Treatment of Asthma

Publisher Summary Allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma are common human diseases. These conditions often co-exist, and it has been speculated that rhinitis is a risk factor for bronchial asthma. The allergic response in the nose resembles quite closely that seen in the lower airways of patients with asthma. Experimental allergen challenge models for both rhinitis and asthma have permitted investigation of the cellular and molecular events taking place in both illnesses. Both have an early and late phase response following allergen challenge. Allergic responses in the upper and lower airways often occur together and have many similarities in terms of pathophysiology. H1 antihistamines are effective in managing upper airway allergic reactions. The second-generation drugs are clearly safe for administration to patients with concomitant asthma. Furthermore, cetirizine and perhaps combined loratadine-pseudoephedrine therapy are also effective in reducing asthma symptoms. The mechanism of action for these treatments is unclear. Determining the role of antihistamines in the management of asthma will require additional wellcontrolled clinical trials. Clearly, treatment of asthma alone, without attention to concomitant nasal symptoms, may reduce the overall response in the lung.
Performance analysis of Wald-statistic based network detection methods for radiation sources

There have been increasingly large deployments of radiation detection networks that require computationally fast algorithms to produce prompt results over ad-hoc sub-networks of mobile devices, such as smart-phones. These algorithms are in sharp contrast to complex network algorithms that necessitate all measurements to be sent to powerful central servers. In this work, at individual sensors, we employ Wald-statistic based detection algorithms which are computationally very fast, and are implemented as one of three Z-tests and four chi-square tests. At fusion center, we apply the K-out-of-N fusion to combine the sensors' hard decisions. We characterize the performance of detection methods by deriving analytical expressions for the distributions of underlying test statistics, and by analyzing the fusion performances in terms of K, N, and the false-alarm rates of individual detectors. We experimentally validate our methods using measurements from indoor and outdoor characterization tests of the Intelligence Radiation Sensors Systems (IRSS) program. In particular, utilizing the outdoor measurements, we construct two important real-life scenarios, boundary surveillance and portal monitoring, and present the results of our algorithms.
Alternative device structures for CIGS-based solar cells with semi-transparent absorbers

Abstract In this work, we discuss two alternative structures of CIGS-based solar cells, a bi-facial configuration and a back-wall configuration. One of the critical issues in these structures is fabrication of a transparent back contact which facilitates not only ohmic contact for holes in the valance but also an effective reflector for electrons in the conduction band. In order to meet these requirements of the transparent back contact, a p-type amorphous Si (p-a-Si)/intrinsic amorphous Si (i-a-Si) bi-layer was deposited onto the ITO back contact. Absorber films were formed by a metal precursor reaction in H2Se and H2S, and their thicknesses were adjusted to about 0.25 µm to enhance current collection from back-side illumination. The resulting devices with a bi-facial structure of SLG/ITO/p-Si/i-Si/Cu(In, Ga)(Se,S)2/CdS/i-ZnO/ITO/Ni-Al exhibited a comparable open-circuit voltage to a Cu(In, Ga)(Se,S)2 cell on a Mo substrate in tests with illumination of both sides. Back-wall cells with a structure of SLG/ITO/p-Si/i-Si/Cu(In, Ga)(Se,S)2/CdS/i-ZnO/Ag-reflector were also fabricated and improved current collection by greater light trapping was achieved compared to the bi-facial cell with back-side illumination.
Schooling diabetes: Use of continuous glucose monitoring and remote monitors in the home and school settings.

Background Despite significant advances in type 1 diabetes (T1D) management, achieving targeted glycemic control in pediatric patients remains a struggle. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) with remote access holds the promise to address this challenge by allowing caregivers to monitor glucose, even when the child is not directly under their supervision. Objective To explore real-time and remote CGM practices in homes and schools, including caregiver expectations regarding this technology. Subjects Parents and daytime caregivers. Methods Respondents answered an anonymous survey assessing characteristics of CGM use. Cross-sectional data were collected and analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methods. Results Thirty-three parents and 17 daytime caregivers responded. Threshold alerts (alerts when patients reached certain pre-set high or low limits) were used most frequently, followed by rate of change alerts. Most parents and daytime caregivers responded to low- and high-threshold CGM alerts by confirming with a glucose meter prior to treatment; while about one-third endorsed treating lows without a confirmatory test. Most parents expected their child's daytime caregiver to respond to CGM alerts and daytime caregivers felt the parent's expectations of them were reasonable. All parents and most caregivers reported decreased overall worry/stress. Parents felt positive about CGM use and daytime caregivers felt comfortable with CGM. Conclusion The positive and collaborative management reported by parents and daytime caregivers sets the stage for CGM to play an important role in the management of children with T1D both in the home and in the school settings.
High-efficiency high-power-density 48/1V sigma converter voltage regulator module

A high efficiency and high power density sigma converter for 48/1V voltage regulator module (VRM) is proposed in this paper. The Sigma converter is a quasi-parallel converter that uses a high efficiency unregulated converter to deliver most power to the load with small power flowing through buck converter responsible for regulating the output voltage. The unregulated isolated converter is LLC converter designed with matrix transformer structure integrating 4 transformers in one core structure with integrating the Synchronous Rectifiers (SRs) with the winding to minimize the termination losses of the transformer so a high efficiency can be achieved. The buck converter is designed with discrete GaN devices and PCB winding inductor to regulate the output voltage. The designed Sigma converter is 48/1V-80A achieving a power density of 420W/in3 and maximum efficiency of 93.4%.
South American Mammal Molecular Systematics, Evolutionary Clocks, and Continental Drift

South America has been an island continent through much of the Tertiary, and the fossil record of many of its surviving mammalian lineages is poor. This state of affairs has made it difficult to develop a coherent picture of the origin, evolution, and systematics of the South American mammalian fauna. In such situations, comparative protein and nucleic studies are of particular utility. The available macromolecular data, though still rather meager, can tell us a great deal about the evolutionary origin and relationships of much of that fauna, and thus yield valuable insights into paleobiogeographical problems, along with testing existing hypotheses derived from paleontological and neontological studies.
Trainees' knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards caring for the substance-exposed mother-infant dyad

Background: As rates of substance use disorder during pregnancy rise, pediatric trainees are increasingly caring for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). This study evaluated the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of trainees caring for substance-exposed newborns and their families, comparing differences by level and type of training, and personal experience with addiction or trauma. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of medical students and pediatric, medicine/pediatric, and family medicine residents in 2015–2106. Measures included knowledge about NAS, attitudes towards mothers who use drugs, and practices around discussing addiction and trauma with families. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were conducted. Results: The overall response rate was 70%, with 229 trainees included in the final sample (99 students, 130 residents). Fifty percent of trainees endorsed personal experience with addiction, 50% with trauma, and 35% with both addiction and trauma. Increasing years of pediatric t...
Modified Lipid Extraction Methods for Deep Subsurface Shale.

Growing interest in the utilization of black shales for hydrocarbon development and environmental applications has spurred investigations of microbial functional diversity in the deep subsurface shale ecosystem. Lipid biomarker analyses including phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) and diglyceride fatty acids (DGFAs) represent sensitive tools for estimating biomass and characterizing the diversity of microbial communities. However, complex shale matrix properties create immense challenges for microbial lipid extraction procedures. Here, we test three different lipid extraction methods: modified Bligh and Dyer (mBD), Folch (FOL), and microwave assisted extraction (MAE), to examine their ability in the recovery and reproducibility of lipid biomarkers in deeply buried shales. The lipid biomarkers were analyzed as fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) with the GC-MS, and the average PL-FAME yield ranged from 67 to 400 pmol/g, while the average DG-FAME yield ranged from 600 to 3000 pmol/g. The biomarker yields in the intact phospholipid Bligh and Dyer treatment (mBD+Phos+POPC), the Folch, the Bligh and Dyer citrate buffer (mBD-Cit), and the MAE treatments were all relatively higher and statistically similar compared to the other extraction treatments for both PLFAs and DGFAs. The biomarker yields were however highly variable within replicates for most extraction treatments, although the mBD+Phos+POPC treatment had relatively better reproducibility in the consistent fatty acid profiles. This variability across treatments which is associated with the highly complex nature of deeply buried shale matrix, further necessitates customized methodological developments for the improvement of lipid biomarker recovery.
Synthesis and computational analysis of conformationally restricted [3.2.2]- and [3.2.1]-3-azabicyclic diamines

Abstract Conformational restriction is a useful approach for ligand design in organic and medicinal chemistry. This manuscript reports the facile synthesis and in silico conformational analysis of two new diastereomeric [3.2.2]-3-azabicyclic, two new [3.2.1]-3-aza-8-oxy-bicyclic and one new [3.2.1]-3-azabicyclic diamine scaffolds. A conformational analysis of these structures along with calculation of carbon–carbon/carbon–nitrogen bond angles was carried out and compared to those in the flexible 1,3-diaminopropane template upon which they were based. It is of particular importance that these scaffolds have bond lengths and angles that can overlap with low energy conformers of the flexible diamine. Such information is useful for ligand design in organic chemistry and for development of structure activity relationships and in silico screening in medicinal chemistry.
Isokinetic Strength Deficit 6 Months After Adductor Canal Blockade for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Background:Recent evidence shows a delayed return to sport in children and delayed quadriceps recovery in both adults and children who have undergone anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction...
Educational Reform as the Organization of Ritual: Stability as Change*:

The question of the social function of educational reform is addressed. While educational reform seems to imply change, in fact it serves as a kind of ritual, providing the outward appearance of sc...
Effect of silicon and oxygen dopants on the stability of hydrogenated amorphous carbon under harsh environmental conditions

Abstract Harsh environments pose materials durability challenges across the automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing sectors, and beyond. While amorphous carbon materials have been used as coatings in many environmentally-demanding applications owing to their unique mechanical, electrical, and optical properties, their limited thermal stability and high reactivity in oxidizing environments have impeded their use in many technologies. Silicon- and oxygen-containing hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H:Si:O) films are promising for several applications because of their higher thermal stability and lower residual stress compared to hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H). However, an understanding of their superior thermo-oxidative stability compared to a-C:H is lacking, as it has been inhibited by the intrinsic challenge of characterizing an amorphous, multi-component material. Here, we show that introducing silicon and oxygen in a-C:H slightly enhances the thermal stability in vacuum, but tremendously increases the thermo-oxidative stability and the resistance to degradation upon exposure to the harsh conditions of low Earth orbit (LEO). The latter is demonstrated by having mounted samples of a-C:H:Si:O on the exterior of the International Space Station via the Materials International Space Station (MISSE) mission 7b. Exposing lightly-doped a-C:H:Si:O to elevated temperatures under aerobic conditions or to LEO causes carbon volatilization in the near-surface region, producing a silica surface layer that protects the underlying carbon from further removal. These findings provide a novel physically-based understanding of the superior stability of a-C:H:Si:O in harsh environments compared to a-C:H.
Emily Davison: Dying for the Vote

Although Emily Davison has become famous for dying after she was struck by the king’s horse at the 1913 Derby, this essay argues that her true martyrdom was not so much her death, as her life of steadfast, intentional devotion to the cause of woman suffrage for which she endured prison and forcible feeding, as well as a willing, if painful, sacrifice of reputation, love and family life. Her writing shows that she offered up her suffering for a noble cause she believed to be divinely sanctioned. In this belief she was supported by the sacral, mystical dimension of militant thinking articulated in the pages of Votes for Women and its attention to medieval heroines, both secular and religious.
The “Inside-Outside Problem” and Wolfgang Köhler

Abstract Kohler's formulation and resolution of the “inside-outside problem” is described. This problem concerns the attempts of theorists such as Helmholtz and Schopenhauer to explain the appearance of objects outside our bodies. They supposed a hypothetical entity, sensation, which, being a presumed attribute of neural processes, was localized in the head. Kohler resolves the “inside-outside problem,” which he regards as a pseudoproblem, by distinguishing between “organism” and “body.” A paradox in Helmholtz's and Schopenhauer's treatment of the problem is elucidated.
The Richmond Bread Riot of 1863: Class, Race, and Gender in the Urban Confederacy

Confederate war clerk, J.B. Jones's description of the Richmond Bread Riot of 1863, clearly highlights the suffering which permeated the urban centers of the Confederacy by the midpoint of the Civil War. The production and transportation of goods became increasingly difficult in the war torn nation. Inflation undermined the value of Confederate currency and made it difficult for those on fixed wages to provide for themselves and their families. The influx of thousands of refugees into Richmond created a deficit of housing in the city and raised the already inflated prices of goods. By 1863, most citizens remarked that they found it almost impossible to feed themselves. As Emory M. Thomas has observed, “a nation of farmers could indeed go hungry.” Although the Confederates ended 1862 militarily on a high note with the victory at Fredericksburg in December, the staggering casualties at Antietam and the ensuing Emancipation Proclamation combined to create undercurrents of doubt in the fledgling nation. The military's performance, however vital to the Confederacy's hope for survival, did not affect the lives of the citizens on the home front to the extent that the government's domestic policies did. In fact, much of the Confederacy's legislation, passed in the opening months of 1863, only accentuated whatever feelings of resentment existed at the end of the previous year. In pursuit of success on the battlefield, the Confederacy abandoned many of the principles on which the nation had been founded. The Richmond Bread Riot demonstrated that Confederate domestic legislation and treasury policies combined to create a level of discontent on the home front which spurred people to step outside traditional notions regarding gender roles and social norms.
Current Immunotherapeutic Efforts and Future Prospects in Human HIV Disease

ABSTRACT Therapy trials have demonstrated efficacy of α interferon in AIDS with Kaposi Sarcoma; have strongly suggested efficacy of DTC and isoprinosine in ARC; and are suggestive for efficacy of imreg, ampligen, thymopentin, and thymostimulin in ARC. Many other substances are under evaluation. No immunotherapeutic agent has been useful in AIDS with opportunistic infections, although many combined trials with AZT are beginning. The preclinical and clinical data indicate that without the presence of a functioning thymus, new T cells cannot be produced thus immunorestorative treatments with thymomimetic biologicals (thymic hormones and IL2) or drugs (DTC and isoprinosine) in HIV disease should be administered prior to the thymic destruction characteristic of AIDS. Combinations of agents may be useful. New agents and strategies may derive from recent data indicating that interleukins and pituitary-derived hormones and factors play a critical role in T cell and thymus development.
Integrated techno economic and life cycle assessment of the conversion of high productivity, low lipid algae to renewable fuels

Abstract As microalgae becomes a feedstock of interest for biofuels production, technologies have advanced to provide a variety of methods for cultivation and processing. This study explores the economic viability and environmental impact of processing high productivity, low lipid, high ash content algae into biofuels using two different production pathways. The two processing pathways explored are, 1) Biochemical processing via protein and carbohydrate fermentation to produce fusel alcohol products, followed by hydrothermal liquefaction to produce a biocrude, and 2) Thermal-chemical processing via whole algal hydrothermal liquefaction and used as a baseline for the biochemical process. For a feedstock, this study considered algae harvested from an algal turf scrubber, which represents a robust high productivity system, at the expense of a producing a biomass with lower lipid content and higher ash compared to conventional algae production systems. Techno-economic results show the minimum fuel selling price of $12.85 and $10.41 GGE−1 for the biochemical and thermal-chemical pathways, respectively. Life cycle assessments shows a global warming potential of 111.2 g and − 2 g CO2eq MJ fuel−1 for the biochemical and thermal-chemical pathways, respectively. Sensitivity analysis on techno-economic model inputs identifies strategic areas for further research in an effort to move towards an economically viable process. Improvements in the system based on sensitivity and techno-economic analysis results show a pathway to $3.85 GGE−1. Discussion focuses on potentials for ash removal, decrease of biomass cost and potential for higher value products.
Diminished cardiovascular stress reactivity is associated with lower levels of social participation

Abstract Diminished cardiac reactions to acute psychological stress are associated with adverse behavioral and health-relevant outcomes. It has been proposed that diminished cardiac reactivity may be a marker for deficits in motivational functioning both at the biological and behavioral levels. Social participation reflects the frequency with which individuals participate in social events and has motivational components. As such, it is a distinct construct from other constructs such as social integration, which measures the number of social roles an individual has. Additionally, lower levels of social participation and diminished reactivity have been associated with similar adverse health outcomes. Therefore, it is possible that diminished cardiac reactivity is associated with lower levels of social participation. We aimed to examine whether diminished cardiovascular reactivity in response to an acute lab stressor was associated with reported social participation. The analyses were conducted using publicly available data from the Pittsburgh Cold Study 3 (PCS3). The PCS3 was a prospective viral-challenge study, which included participants completing an in-lab social evaluative stressor (N = 202, Age = M = 29.71, SD = 10.66) and measuring cardiovascular responses at baseline and in response to the stressor. Separate regression analyses for each cardiovascular variable (SBP, DBP, MAP, and HR) demonstrated that lower cardiovascular reactivity was associated with less social participation. These associations were still evident following adjustment for respective baseline cardiovascular levels, age, sex, race, depressive symptomology, body mass index, socioeconomic status, smoking status, and levels of social integration (R2 changes: ≥ 0.017; ps ≤ 0.02) The findings provide initial evidence that blunted cardiac reactivity may be a precursor to low levels of social participation.
Stock Spam and the Market Reaction to Target Prices and Recycled News

We investigate the association between the market reaction to stock spam and the information content of spam messages. We document a significant increase in volume and mean prices surrounding the spam date, consistent with other concurrent studies. The increase in volume is pervasive. However, the median price reaction is zero and is generally not pervasive. We find that the inclusion of target prices and prior press releases in spam is associated with an incremental increase in volume and returns on the spam date. We also find that the pattern of returns and volume surrounding press releases is similar to the pattern surrounding spam. Overall, the results are consistent with spammed stocks experiencing increased liquidity, similar to the increase in liquidity surrounding press releases.
Physically Unclonable Function based on Voltage Divider Arrays in Subthreshold Region

This paper proposes a novel architecture of a simple, low energy silicon physically unclonable function arrays depending on the large random variation of threshold voltage of MOSFETs operating in subthreshold region. The proposed structure is a strong silicon PUF with 260 challenge response pairs and consumes an energy of 0.48pJ/bit. The PUF is simulated in 65nm CMOS technology and has a normalized inter-HD of 0.4982 and intra-HD of 0.0225.
Giant Thoracic Calcified Disk: Conservative Management with 3-Year Follow-Up

Calcified disk herniation of the thoracic spine is by no means a rare clinical entity in neurosurgery. We present a 63-year-old woman with a long-standing giant calcified disk in the thoracic spine. Initial imaging studies indicated a differential diagnosis of calcified disk versus meningioma. Given her benign neurologic examination and the presumed morbidity of attempting to resect the lesion, we elected to follow her closely with serial imaging. Over 3 years of consistent follow-up, the lesion has not grown and she has remained free of neurologic changes.
A Klebsiella pneumoniae Regulatory Mutant Has Reduced Capsule Expression but Retains Hypermucoviscosity.

ABSTRACT The polysaccharide capsule is an essential virulence factor for Klebsiella pneumoniae in both community-acquired hypervirulent strains as well as health care-associated classical strains that are posing significant challenges due to multidrug resistance. Capsule production is known to be transcriptionally regulated by a number of proteins, but very little is known about how these proteins collectively control capsule production. RmpA and RcsB are two known regulators of capsule gene expression, and RmpA is required for the hypermucoviscous (HMV) phenotype in hypervirulent K. pneumoniae strains. In this report, we confirmed that these regulators performed their anticipated functions in the ATCC 43816 derivative, KPPR1S: rcsB and rmpA mutants are HMV negative and have reduced capsule gene expression. We also identified a novel transcriptional regulator, RmpC, encoded by a gene near rmpA. The ΔrmpC strain has reduced capsule gene expression but retains the HMV phenotype. We further showed that a regulatory cascade exists in which KvrA and KvrB, the recently characterized MarR-like regulators, and RcsB contribute to capsule regulation through regulation of the rmpA promoter and through additional mechanisms. In a murine pneumonia model, the regulator mutants have a range of colonization defects, suggesting that they regulate virulence factors in addition to capsule. Further testing of the rmpC and rmpA mutants revealed that they have distinct and overlapping functions and provide evidence that HMV is not dependent on overproduction of capsule. This distinction will facilitate a better understanding of HMV and how it contributes to enhanced virulence of hypervirulent strains. IMPORTANCEKlebsiella pneumoniae continues to be a substantial public health threat due to its ability to cause health care-associated and community-acquired infections combined with its ability to acquire antibiotic resistance. Novel therapeutics are needed to combat this pathogen, and a greater understanding of its virulence factors is required for the development of new drugs. A key virulence factor for K. pneumoniae is the capsule, and community-acquired hypervirulent strains produce a capsule that causes hypermucoidy. We report here a novel capsule regulator, RmpC, and provide evidence that capsule production and the hypermucoviscosity phenotype are distinct processes. Infection studies showing that this and other capsule regulator mutants have a range of phenotypes indicate that additional virulence factors are in their regulons. These results shed new light on the mechanisms controlling capsule production and introduce targets that may prove useful for the development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of this increasingly problematic pathogen.
Application of Long-Range Synthon Aufbau Modules Based on Trihalophenols To Direct Reactivity in Binary Cocrystals: Orthogonal Hydrogen Bonding and π–π Contact Driven Self-Assembly with Single-Crystal Reactivity

The ability of 2,4,6-trihalophenols (3X-phOH) (where X = F, Cl, or Br) to enable reactivity of 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene (bpe) in the solid state via cocrystallization is reported. The trihalophen...
Pediatric Blood Management Protocol in Cranial Vault Surgery.

Background Cranial vault surgeries are invasive, extensive procedures with blood transfusions being frequently required. Previous interventions have been described to attempt to decrease the transfusion burden. The objective of this study is to determine if a Pediatric Blood Management (PBM) team can reduce transfusion requirements in children undergoing cranial vault surgery. Methods A protocol was developed which involved preoperative optimization of hemoglobin (Hb), intraoperative use of tranexamic acid, cell saver technology, and blood sparing operative techniques. Patients were preoperatively screened with basic laboratory testing. Retrospective data on 20 consecutive patients who underwent craniofacial surgery prior were used as controls. Prospective data on patients was collected. Results Groups were similar in age and weight. Postoperative Hb measurements were similar, with the control group 10.9 ± 2.2 g/dL and the intervention arm 9.6 + 2.7 g/dL. Discharge Hb concentrations also were similar with 9.6 ± 1.6 g/dL and 9.7 ± 2.5 g/dL in the control and PBM group, respectively. The rate of transfusion decreased from 80% to 42% after protocol implementation (P = 0.007). During the last 6 months of data collection, the transfusion rate decreased further to 17%. Furthermore, 4 patients were found to have von Willebrand disease preoperatively with only 1 requiring a transfusion. Conclusions The authors found that the institution of a PBM team reduced the transfusion burden of patients, including complex patients with von Willebrand disease. The use of a multimodal approach to hematologic management optimized patients for their procedures and helped minimize exposure to transfusion associated complications.
Hiemenz stagnation-point flow impinging on a uniformly rotating plate

Abstract Planar stagnation-point flow normally impinging a rotating plate is studied. Symmetries show that along a circle of radius r , the radial velocity u r can be computed from results in one quadrant and the angular velocity u θ can be computed from results in two quadrants. The results of this study for various values of the dimensionless angular velocity σ are compared with axisymmetric Homann stagnation-point flow on a rotating plate first studied by Hannah.
Precarious Work Schedules as a Source of Economic Insecurity and Institutional Distrust

Work schedules may fuel precariousness among U.S. workers by undermining perceptions of security, both economic and societal. Volatile hours, limited schedule input, and short advance notice are all dimensions of precarious work schedules. Our analyses suggest that scheduling practices that introduce instability and unpredictability into workers’ lives undermine perceptions of security in unique ways for hourly and salaried workers. Although the data suggest that precarious scheduling practices are widespread in the labor market, workers who are black, young, and without a college degree appear to be at highest risk. The findings highlight the importance of examining constellations of scheduling practices and considering the direction of work-hour fluctuations when investigating the ramifications of today’s scheduling practices for quality of employment and quality of life.
Farming system effects on biologically mediated plant–soil feedbacks

Cropping system characteristics such as tillage intensity, crop identity, crop-livestock integration and the application of off-farm synthetic inputs influence weed abundance, plant community composition and crop-weed competition. The resulting plant community, in turn, has species-specific effects on soil microbial communities which can impact the growth and competitive ability of subsequent plants, completing a plant–soil feedback (PSF) loop. Farming systems that minimize the negative impacts of PSFs on subsequent crop growth can increase the sustainability of the farming enterprise. This study sought to assess the individual and combined impact of the cropping system (certified organic-grazed, certified organic till and conventional no-till) and crop sequence [pairwise rotations with safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis) and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum)] on the PSF magnitude and direction. All cropping systems followed the same 5-year rotation and had completed one full rotation before soil was sampled. In a greenhouse setting, a sterile soil mix was inoculated with field soil collected from all systems and three crops. The PSF study consisted of two stages (conditioning and response phases) that mimicked the rotation stages occurring in the field. PSFs were calculated by comparing the biomass of the response phase plants grown in inoculated and uninoculated soils. The farm management system affected PSFs, inferring that tillage reduction can encourage more positive PSFs. Crop sequence did not affect PSF but interacted strongly with the farm system. As such, the effects of the farming system on PSFs are best illustrated when taken into account with the identity of the previous and current crops of a cropping sequence.
Sub-megabase resolution array CGH profiling of small cell lung cancer cell lines.

3430 Background: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for 20% of the yearly cases of lung cancer in the United States. Survival rates for this disease have improved little over the last 20 years with median survival times of only 7-13 months. This may in part be due to the high frequency of relapse with resistant micrometastatic disease after initial chemotherapy. The identification of molecular targets for prognosis and therapy of the disease may be crucial in improving survival rates of SCLC. Array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) is a new method for detecting genomic alterations in human cancers, which may allow the rapid discovery of novel genes involved in tumorigenesis. We have designed a CGH array which represents a >100-fold increase in resolution over conventional metaphase CGH allowing for genome-wide identification of genetic alterations at a resolution of 100kbp. Objectives: To identify novel genetic alterations in SCLC cell lines by high resolution copy number profiling of the entire human genome. Design: Utilizing a human whole-genome 32,433 overlapping BAC clone set we have created a CGH array spanning the entire genome at an average density of 10 clones per megabase. This array was then used to profile 15 SCLC cell lines for copy number changes. Sample DNA was labeled with cyanine 5 through a random priming reaction and co-hybridized with a cyanine 3 labeled reference DNA to the arrays. Post-hybridization the arrays were scanned using a CCD based imaging system from Applied Precision. Signal ratios were then determined using the Softworx array analysis program. Results: We have delineated breakpoints in SCLC lines to within one BAC clone in single experiments. This high resolution profiling has allowed us to identify both the expected alterations at loci such as hTERT, ATM and MYC as well as novel micro-amplifications and deletions as small as 200kb that have not been detected by conventional methodologies. This has allowed us to rapidly identify novel candidate genes associated with SCLC tumorigenesis. Conclusions High resolution genome wide array CGH has allowed the rapid identification of novel candidate genes associated with lung cancer tumorigenesis. This work was supported by grants from Genome Canada/B.C., NCIC Terry Fox New Frontiers, and Lung SPORE P50 CA70907.
Executive control under stress: Relation to reappraisal ability and depressive symptoms

Depression is characterized by difficulties regulating emotions, which may result from executive control impairment. For some individuals, stress exposure leads to executive control impairment. The current study examined whether executive control measured under conditions of acute stress is associated with reappraisal ability and prospectively predicts symptoms of depression during a stressful time of life. Sixty-six participants completed either a laboratory stress induction or a control task. Executive control was measured before and after the stress induction or control task. Reappraisal ability was measured by self-reported negative emotion while viewing aversive images. Participants reported depressive symptoms at baseline and during a period of life stress. Lower levels of executive control under stress were associated with reduced reappraisal ability. Lower levels of executive control under stress also prospectively predicted higher depressive symptoms. Finally, reduced reappraisal ability prospectively predicted higher depressive symptoms. Findings suggest that level of executive control when under stress may contribute to reappraisal ability and symptoms of depression during a time of life stress.
State Voting Patterns in the 2016 Presidential Election and Uninsured Rates in Non-elderly Adults.

Medicaid expansion and the health insurance “Marketplaces” of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) reduced the number of uninsured individuals to record lows in 2016.1 Uninsured rates may have since increased because of recent federal policies, including nullifying the individual mandate and reducing federal funding for Marketplace advertising and navigator programs.2 Even the expressed desires of congress and the President to repeal the ACA may have increased uninsured rates through a phenomenon known as “presidential cueing”3 by decreasing public support for the ACA, particularly in states with a plurality of Republican voters. State-level policies may have enhanced or attenuated the impact of these federal actions on uninsured rates, with specific policies generally varying based on whether states have a plurality of Republican or Democratic voters.2, 4 For example, some states have chosen to not expand Medicaid,2 and some states that initially expanded Medicaid have since applied for “Section 1115” waivers, which would allow for modifications to the Medicaid program such as the implementation of work requirements, that would effectively reduce enrollment.5 The degree to which states have devoted resources to Marketplace outreach and advertisement strategies to compensate for reduced federal funding also varies substantially along party lines.2, 4 Given the varying state responses to federal actions weakening the ACA, we conducted a descriptive study examining recent uninsured rates among adults aged 18–64, stratified by their states’ voting patterns in the 2016 presidential election.
Small Bowel Conditions: Small Bowel Obstruction

Small bowel obstruction is a commonly seen pathology in the realm of general surgery, with more than 300,000 patients being hospitalized each year in the United States for operations exclusively to relieve obstructing adhesions. Approximately 20% of surgical admissions for an “acute abdomen” are due to a small bowel obstruction, and as such it is important to appropriately diagnose and efficiently manage patients who present with this condition. There exists a wide range of causative etiology and both non-operative and operative strategies exist depending upon the patient’s presenting symptoms, signs and overall condition.
Patella Alta in Ambulatory Children with Cerebral Palsy: Prevalence and Functional Significance

BACKGROUND Gait dysfunction associated with patella alta (PA) in subjects with cerebral palsy (CP) has been presumed but not objectively established clinically or through biomechanical modeling. It is hypothesized that PA is associated with increasing level of motor impairment, increasing age, obesity, and worse stance phase knee kinematics and kinetics in children with CP. METHODS Retrospective case series of 297 subjects with CP studied in our Motion Analysis Center. Data analyzed included patient demographics (age, body mass index, CP classification), patella height (Koshino-Sugimoto Index), and knee kinematics and kinetics. RESULTS PA was present in 180 of 297 subjects (61%), in 68 of the 146 (47%) with unilateral CP, and 112 of 151 subjects (74%) with bilateral CP. For unilateral CP, the prevalence of PA was not significantly different between Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) I and II (P=0.357). For bilateral CP, the prevalence of PA in GMFCS III was significantly greater than in GMFCS I and II (P=0.02). Regression analysis showed a significant trend between increasing age and PA in unilateral and bilateral groups (P<0.001 and 0.001, respectively). The prevalence of PA was not significantly different across body mass index categories for either unilateral or bilateral groups. There were only 2 of 10 significant correlations between PA and gait parameters for subjects with unilateral CP functioning at the GMFCS I and II levels. There were 8 of 12 significant correlations between PA and gait parameters for subjects with bilateral CP functioning at the GMFCS I, II, and III levels. CONCLUSIONS PA is common in ambulatory children with CP across topographic types and motor functional levels. PA is well tolerated with respect to gait dysfunction in unilateral CP, but may contribute to crouch gait in bilateral CP. Gait dysfunction cannot be inferred from the radiographic assessment of patellar height, and radiographic evidence of PA by itself does not justify surgical correction with patellar tendon advancement or shortening. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level III-prognostic, retrospective series.
Comparative investigations of multi-fidelity modeling on performance of electrostatically-actuated cracked micro-beams

Abstract Silicon is a commonly used material for the fabrication of beams for use in micro-electrical-mechanical systems (MEMS). Although silicon is a brittle material, it has been shown to accumulate fatigue damage at the micro-scale. Understanding the effect this has on the overall device performance is critical to the design of reliable devices. Analytical methods for modeling damage provide expedient results but are limited by broad modeling assumptions. Numerical models account for more detailed physical phenomena but can be computationally intensive. In this work, two different crack scenarios are modeled using both analytical techniques and 3D computational simulations. First, the effects of a single surface crack on the static deflection and natural frequency of an electrostatically actuated micro-beam are formulated and compared. Then, a new method for approximating damage associated with realistic distributed crack networks is formulated for use in an analytical model and numerical simulations. A method for utilizing experimentally derived crack statistics to inform the analytical and numerical distributed crack models is developed. Good agreement between the analytical and numerical models is obtained for both crack scenarios. Together, these models can be used to effectively simulate a variety of damage and fatigue behaviors in silicon-based MEMS devices.
Robotic Sugarbaker parastomal hernia repair: technique and outcomes

To present a novel technique for the repair of parastomal hernias. A total of 15 patients underwent parastomal hernia repair. A robotic Sugarbaker technique was utilized for repair. The fascial defect was closed prior to robotic intraperitoneal placement of the mesh. Baseline demographics of the patients were obtained, and intra-operative and post-operative outcomes were tracked. The etiology of the ostomies was oncologic in all but three patients. Five of the stomas were urostomies (33.3%). Patient characteristics were as follows: age 64.9.1 ± 9.3 years, BMI 30.1 ± 4.7 kg/m2, smoking history 60.0%, and diabetes 6.7%. The mean size of the hernia defect was 46.0 ± 40.1 cm2 with a mesh size of 372.0 ± 101.2 cm2. The mean operative time was 182.0 ± 51.9 min. In seven patients, an inferolateral preperitoneal flap was created for mesh placement. Intraoperatively, only one enterotomy was made during dissection, which was repaired without complication. The mean length of stay was 4.2 ± 1.9 days. There was only one hernia recurrence (6.7%). There were no wound complications, surgical site infections, or mesh infections. A mean follow-up time of 14.2 ± 9.4 months was achieved. Robotic Sugarbaker parastomal hernia repair is a safe and effective technique. The results demonstrate the feasibility of fascial closure with this technique and a low recurrence rate. The authors propose this technique should be widely considered for parastomal hernia repair.
Noninvasive scores for the prediction of esophageal varices and risk stratification in patients with cirrhosis.

The primary purpose of variceal screening in patients with cirrhosis is to detect gastroesophageal varices at high risk of hemorrhage and implement preventative intervention(s). It was previously recommended that all patients with cirrhosis undergo initial and periodic longitudinal variceal screening via upper endoscopy. However, there has been growing interest and methods to identify patients with cirrhosis who may not have clinically significant portal hypertension and therefore be unlikely to have varices requiring intervention or benefit from upper endoscopy. Because the population of patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease continues to grow, it is neither beneficial nor cost-effective to perform endoscopic variceal screening in all patients. Therefore, there is ongoing research into the development of methods to non-invasively risk stratify patients with cirrhosis for the presence of high-risk esophageal varices and effectively limit the population that undergoes endoscopic variceal screening. This is particularly important and timely in light of increasing healthcare reform and barriers to healthcare. In this review, we discuss and compare, with respect to test characteristics and clinical applicability, the available methods used to non-invasively predict the presence of esophageal varices.