cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Personal Blogging; Individual Differences and Motivations

The present chapter examines current research of blogging practices; it focuses on the personal blog, a blog created and maintained by an individual and not used for financial or occupational gain. The authors maintain that individual difference factors, such as personality and gender, may contribute to differences in likelihood to blog, motivation to blog, and blog content. The authors argue that the same factors that allow for differentiation of individuals in more classic self-expressive communication modalities (e.g., journaling) may also delineate individuals in new modes of online communication and self-expression. However, these factors may manifest themselves differently over more contemporary methods of self-expression and communication. The authors conclude that bloggers and blog readership appear to be steadily growing, making this area of online self-expression increasingly deserving of scientific inquiry.
Autogenous bone ridge augmentation using the mandibular symphysis as a donor.

Abstract Potential host sites often present less than optimal dimensions or quality than are required for implant placement. This paper emphasizes a variety of surgical technique designed to optimize these areas. There are a number of anatomic sites available to serve as donors for autogenous bone grafting. They include the tibial plateau, the calvarium, the mandibular rami, the iliac crests and the symphysis of the mandible. Although each has the potential of presenting risks, the symphysis serves a singularly beneficial source. The techniques of harvesting bone, and utilizing it for a variety of grafting procedures is described, the benefits of such utilization are emphasized and the risks of such operations are reviewed.
Male chronic pelvic pain: An update.

Introduction: Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) and interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome collectively referred to as urologic CPPS (UCPPS) is defined by the absence of identifiable bacterial infection as a cause for the chronic pain and urinary symptoms. Methods: A PubMed search of all recent relevant articles using the keywords/phrases: CPPS, CPPS, and male pelvic pain, was conducted. Results: CPPS has a high worldwide prevalence and its negative impact on quality of life compares with or exceeds common chronic morbidities. Triggers include certain comestibles as well as psychosocial factors that promote catastrophizing and illness focused behavior. Several validated tools are currently available to help diagnose and direct targeted therapy. Treatment should begin with the most simple and least invasive based on the presenting clinical phenotype. Conclusions: Although no gold-standard treatment exists, a multidisciplinary approach with multimodal therapy gives the UCPPS patient the best chance of symptom relief.
Dose-ranging study of the combination of paclitaxel poliglumex and pemetrexed in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

e19090 Background: Taxanes continue to play an important role in the treatment of advanced NSCLC. Paclitaxel poliglumex (XyotaxTM) is an ester α-poly-L-glutamic acid conjugate of paclitaxel allowin...
A Small Molecule That Switches a Ubiquitin Ligase From a Processive to a Distributive Enzymatic Mechanism.

E3 ligases are genetically implicated in many human diseases, yet E3 enzyme mechanisms are not fully understood, and there is a strong need for pharmacological probes of E3s. We report the discovery that the HECT E3 Nedd4-1 is a processive enzyme and that disruption of its processivity by biochemical mutations or small molecules switches Nedd4-1 from a processive to a distributive mechanism of polyubiquitin chain synthesis. Furthermore, we discovered and structurally characterized the first covalent inhibitor of Nedd4-1, which switches Nedd4-1 from a processive to a distributive mechanism. To visualize the binding mode of the Nedd4-1 inhibitor, we used X-ray crystallography and solved the first structure of a Nedd4-1 family ligase bound to an inhibitor. Importantly, our study shows that processive Nedd4-1, but not the distributive Nedd4-1:inhibitor complex, is able to synthesize polyubiquitin chains on the substrate in the presence of the deubiquitinating enzyme USP8. Therefore, inhibition of E3 ligase pr...
Inhibition of receptor binding and neutralization of bioactivity by anti-erythropoietin monoclonal antibodies.

We have generated four high affinity monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) to recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO). All four MoAbs immunoprecipitate radioiodinated native EPO, and the concentrations of MoAbs required for maximum binding range from 10 nmol/L to 100 nmol/L. Two MoAbs, designated Group I MoAbs, bind to an epitope within the N- terminal 20 amino acids of EPO and also immunoprecipitate sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-denatured EPO. Two other MoAbs (Group II MoAbs) do not immunoprecipitate SDS-denatured EPO and do not bind to any of the eight endo C fragments of EPO. We first used murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells to test the MoAbs for inhibition of EPO-receptor binding. MEL cells, although unresponsive to EPO, express 760 high affinity receptors for EPO per cell (Kd = 0.24 nmol/L). To assay our MoAbs, MEL cells were grown as monolayers on fibronectin-coated Petri dishes and incubated at 4 degrees C with radioiodinated EPO. Group I MoAbs do not inhibit binding of radioiodinated EPO to the MEL EPO-receptor, but Group II MoAbs do inhibit binding in a dose-dependent manner. We next examined the neutralization of EPO bioactivity by our MoAbs, using EPO- dependent cell line. Only Group II MoAbs inhibit a newly developed EPO- dependent cell growth, demonstrating that inhibition of EPO-receptor binding correlates with neutralization of EPO bioactivity.
Early Adopters of the Internet and Social Media in Cuba

Although the Cuban government has tightly controlled information access for more than half a century, a small number of Cubans have access at work. In this paper, we examine Internet and social media use by early adopters in Cuba in early 2015, as we enter a time of potential change. Specifically, we explore Cubans' access limitations and the activities they do online, as well as what Internet access means to them. We conducted interviews with 12 Cuban Internet users and observed their social media use. Our findings suggest that access limitations and slow network speeds greatly restrict Cubans' Internet use. To counter these limitations, Cubans are collaborative, often conducting online research and posting photos for friends with less access. Based on these findings, we propose future work to help meet Cuban citizens' information needs.
The Future of Private Retirement Plans

This article presents highlights of the December 1, 1999, policy forum on "The Future of Private Retirement Plans," sponsored by the Employee Benefit Research Institute Education and Research Fund (EBRI-ERF). Attended by more than 100 invited experts, the policy forum examined the history and objectives of retirement plans, current trends in both defined benefit and defined contribution plans, how technology is affecting retirement plans, and how the politics of change are likely to affect the future of retirement plans in the United States. The PDF for the above title, published in the April 2000 issue of EBRI Notes, also contains the fulltext of another April 2000 EBRI Notes article abstracted on SSRN: "Understanding the Income of the Older Population."
Habitat Selection by Neonatal Black-Tailed Deer: Climate, Forage, or Risk of Predation?

We studied habitat selection by neonatal (2–10 days old) black-tailed deer ( Odocoileus hemionus columbianus ) on Big Flat, Trinity Co., California, during June–August, 1992–1994. Even deer 2–3 days old frequently followed their mothers and occurred in social groups with other adult deer. Neonates used south-facing slopes with gentle terrain and high variability in overstory and concealment cover more often than expected from availability of those habitat variables. Young deer also selected sites with more herbaceous vegetation but avoided areas with more browse. Forage was more digestible at sites with neonates than at random sites, but no difference occurred in nitrogen content of forage between those sites. Variables identified as important components of habitat for young deer more likely were related to the thermal environment of the neonate and nutritional demands of lactating females than to risk of predation. Alternatively, variation in concealment cover may have been related to predation risk, resulting in a positive relationship between forage availability and risk predation. Minimizing the predation: forage ratio was not a viable model for explaining habitat selection in neonates.
Collisional Excitation of N+ at 50 keV

The excitation spectrum of ${\mathrm{N}}^{+}$ has been observed by examining the energy lost by a 50- keV ${\mathrm{N}}^{+}$ beam passing through a He target. The spectrum exhibits dramatic features with large cross sections. Determination of the approximate ratio of metastable to ground-state ions in the primary ion beam has permitted measurement of excitation cross sections from both ground-state and metastable ${\mathrm{N}}^{+}$ ions colliding with He target atoms.
Psychophysical discrimination with more than two stimuli

A generalization is suggested of H. D. Landahl's theory of psychophysical discrimination by considering instead of two cross-inhibiting parallel chains of neural pathways,n such chains. The probabilities of then possible different reactions are in such a case expressed by (n−1) ple integrals. Forn=3 the method is illustrated by evaluating the probability of a reaction to the weakest of the three stimuli.
Differential Effectiveness of Standard and Long Sherman Livetraps in Capturing Small Mammals

Most studies of small-mammal populations rely on livetrapping, yet relatively few studies compare different types of traps. We placed one standard-length (22.9 cm) and one long (30.5 cm) Sherman livetrap at each station of a trapping grid in oldfield habitat in eastern Kansas and compared rates of capture of small mammals over a 5-year period (1985–1990). Nine of 10 species were captured more often in long traps. Of the five most commonly trapped species, only Sigmodon hispidus and Microtus ochrogaster varied seasonally in proportion of captures in long traps. Species having lower adult body mass were captured proportionately more often in long traps, suggesting that long traps might have more sensitive trigger mechanisms. However, long traps closed without capturing an animal significantly less often; furthermore, proportions of captures in the two types of trap did not differ among mass classes of S. hispidus or M. ochrogaster , so size differences alone cannot account for differential capture success. Not only were capture rates higher in long traps, but also mortality due to predators and winter exposure was lower.
Numerical Correlation and Evaluation in the Comparison of Evidentiary Materials

One of the neglected areas in criminalistic laboratory techniques is the ability of the criminalist to compare and evaluate, quantitatively, sets of numerical data. At the present time, there does not exist in practice any uniformly accepted approach to determining a “figure-of-merit” (or rather a quantitative, reliable expression of the degree of match) for sets of data. The need for such a technique arose in a task designed to apply the phenomena of thermoluminescence to criminalistics [1]. This task, funded and supported by NASA, was conducted through the Civil Systems Program Office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. In this specific application, each piece of physical evidence provided, after processing, a continuous curve. In comparing the curve of an unknown with that of an exemplar, a need was established for a quantitative expression of the extent to which the two curves matched. A well established statistical procedure was applied and was found to be fully satisfactory in resolving the problem. The same technique, without modifications was also found to be applicable to the analysis of emission spectrography data, neutron activation analysis (NAA), gradient density measurements, and any other criminalistic technique where sets of numerical data are determined. The main attribute of this developed technique is that it allows the criminalist to make judgements on the quality of the evidentiary determinations.
Effect of layer thickness on device response of silicon heavily supersaturated with sulfur

We report on a simple experiment in which the thickness of a hyperdoped silicon layer, supersaturated with sulfur by ion implantation followed by pulsed laser melting and rapid solidification, is systematically varied at constant average sulfur concentration, by varying the implantation energy, dose, and laser fluence. Contacts are deposited and the external quantum efficiency (EQE) is measured for visible wavelengths. We posit that the sulfur layer primarily absorbs light but contributes negligible photocurrent, and we seek to support this by analyzing the EQE data for the different layer thicknesses in two interlocking ways. In the first, we use the measured concentration depth profiles to obtain the approximate layer thicknesses, and, for each wavelength, fit the EQE vs. layer thickness curve to obtain the absorption coefficient of hyperdoped silicon for that wavelength. Comparison to literature values for the hyperdoped silicon absorption coefficients [S.H. Pan et al. Applied Physics Letters 98, 12191...
Feed Intake and Digestion by Beef Cows Fed Prairie Hay with Different Levels of Soybean Meal and Receiving Postruminal Administration of Antibiotics

Six cannulated beef cows (one Angus, two Hereford and three Angus x Hereford; 405 kg) were used in a 6 x 6 latin square experiment with a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments. Prairie hay (.77% N, 73% neutral detergent fiber [NDF] and 7% acid detergent lignin) was fed ad libitum from d 1 through 14 and at 90% of ad libitum intake from d 15 through 21 during digesta collection. Periods lasted 21 d. Soybean meal (SBM) was offered at 0 (control, C), .12 (low, L) or .24% of body weight (high, H; dry matter basis). Cows received daily doses of an antibiotic mixture (1 g neomycin and .125 g bacitracin) or saline in the duodenum. Prairie hay dry matter (DM) intake increased (P less than .05) linearly with SBM supplementation, being 25 and 40% greater for L and H than for C, respectively. Ruminal fluid concentrations of NH3-N and total volatile fatty acids increased (P less than .05) linearly as SBM was added to the diet. Ruminal fluid dilution rate increased linearly and particulate passage rate increased (P less than .05) quadratically with increasing SBM. True ruminal digestibilities of organic matter, NDF and N increased (P less than .10) quadratically with increasing SBM (organic matter; 50.3, 57.9 and 58.3%; NDF: 54.7, 60.4 and 59.8%; N: 17.5, 45.1 and 51.4% for C, L and H, respectively). Main effects of antibiotic administration were not significant. Increases in DM intake when SBM was given were large compared with the small elevations in ruminal digestion, implying that metabolic regulation was modifying intake of low-quality forage.
WITHDRAWN: A Review of Scanning Electron Microscopy in Near Field Emission Mode

An important feature of the surveys that are published in these Advances is that the source of all data and figures is clearly stated. The appropriate details are not given in the captions of several figures in this article and it has therefore been necessary to withdraw it in its present form. We regret that the absence of this information was not detected before publication. Please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal ( http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy ). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor.
Evaluating ANSI Z535-Formatted Warning Labels as an Integrative System

Debate continues regarding the relative effectiveness of the ANSI Z535 guidelines for the design and placement of warnings. Research shows consistent positive effects of these guidelines on precurs...
Enumeration of Viable Listeria Species and Listeria monocytogenes in Foods.

A direct plating procedure was developed for the enumeration of Listeria spp. and Listeria monocytogenes in foods. Both naturally contaminated foods and foods spiked with L. innocua , L. seeligeri , and L monocytogenes were studied. The enhanced hemolysis agar (EHA) developed by Cox and modified in our study resulted in two types of agar, referred to as listeria enumeration agar (LEA) no. 1 and 2, used for products of lighter and heavier background microbial populations, respectively. On LEA plates, total Listeria spp. counts were determined by fluorescence caused by the breakdown of 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-d-glucoside contained in EHA. L. monocytogenes counts were determined by picking a representative number of hemolytic colonies and stabbing them into a xylose agar plate to distinguish L. monocytogenes from L seeligeri . Contamination levels of >200 Listeria cells per g of food can be accurately quantified by this procedure with >80% recovery. Counts of <200 Listeria cells per g of food were considered estimates. When the level of contamination was < 100 Listeria cells per g of food, the recovery was <58%. Occasionally, with low-level inocula, Listeria was not detected. Nevertheless, when the procedure was combined with incubation of the enrichment mixture (used for the 1:10 direct plating dilution) and subsequent streaking, Listeria contamination could still be detected and the level, therefore, was determined to be between 1 and 150/g.
24-hour care: Work and sleep conditions of migrant Filipino live-in caregivers in Los Angeles.

Introduction Live-in formal caregivers spend consecutive days in patients’ homes, raising questions about their ability to secure adequate sleep while on duty. Few studies have examined sleeping conditions and outcomes for this growing workforce. Methods We collected weeklong sleep logs and interview data from 32 Filipino caregivers in Los Angeles who provide live-in services at least 3 consecutive days per week. Results Respondents recorded a total average of 6.4 sleep hours during workdays divided over 2.4 sleep periods. Caregivers rated sleep quality as lower while at work; over 40% indicated excessive daytime sleepiness. Female caregivers reported worse sleep outcomes than their male counterparts. Some variations in sleep outcomes were found by employment arrangements. Conclusion Live-in caregivers experience frequent sleep interruptions at all hours of the day and night to attend to patients’ needs. The resulting impacts on sleep quality pose risks for both work-related injury and errors in patient care. Am. J. Ind. Med. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Developing Fluorescent Nanodiamonds for In Vitro and In Vivo Biological Imaging

Fluorescent nanodiamonds are biocompatible fluorescent particles with indefinite photo-stability that make them superior in vitro and in vivo imaging probes for a wide range of applications. Fluorescence arises from specific defect centers within the nanodiamond lattice, which permits the generation of fluorescent nanodiamonds with different emission wavelengths, or combinations of emission wavelengths. The negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy (NV−) center is a defect in the diamond lattice consisting of a substitutional nitrogen and a lattice vacancy that form a nearest-neighbor pair. NV− centers are fluorescent sources with remarkable optical properties including quantum efficiency near unity, indefinite photo-stability, i.e., no photo-bleaching or blinking, broad excitation spectra, and exquisitely sensitive magnetic field-dependent fluorescence emission. In particular, their near infrared fluorescence makes them ideally suited for in vivo imaging. However, producing, functionalizing, and characterizing small bright FNDs for biomedical applications remains challenging. We have developed multiple biocompatible functionalization schemes that permit the stabilization and specific labeling of fluorescent nanodiamonds. I will illustrate the unique features and potential uses of FNDs including high resolution three dimensional single-molecule imaging, in vivo background-free imaging through magnetic modulation of FND emission, and as superior fiducial markers for super-resolution microscopies.
Stable Distributions: Probability, Inference, and Applications in Finance—A Survey, and a Review of Recent Results

This paper provides an overview of the stable probability laws. The probability theory underlying this class is reviewed from both a univariate and multivariate standpoint. Known results on estimating parameters of the laws are summarized and some new Monte Carlo results involving estimation by using sample characteristic functions is reported. The growing controversy regarding the application of these laws in the field of Finance is examined in terms of the most recent evidence.
Enhanced terahertz emission from quantum dot by graphene-coated nanoparticle

The terahertz (THz) emission from quantum dots in close proximity to graphene-coated nanoparticles is studied via phenomenological modeling with particular interest in the possibility of enhancement for such emission via the excitation of the graphene plasmons. It is shown that depending on various factors such as the damping factor and the Fermi level of the graphene, as well as the size and core material of the coated particle, such plasmonic-enhanced THz emission is indeed possible. This thus opens up a new pathway to provide intense THz sources for future applications.
Product Design Analytics

This chapter examines how managers can quantitatively assess product design outputs. Specifically, the chapter will demonstrate how to implement an award-winning product design scale published in the Journal of Marketing. Following that, the chapter will instruct readers how to segment results from the first survey, using another scale published in the Journal of Consumer Research.
Systems of Finite Difference Equations, Numerical Solutions

In this chapter we adapt the monotone schemes method to find approximate solutions for semilinear elliptic systems. We combine finite difference method with the monotone procedures developed in the last chapter. Accelerated version of the schemes is also considered in Section 6.3. We will consider up to two dimensional domain in Section 6.4, the method can naturally extend to higher dimensions. We will be only concerned with positive solutions to systems with Volterra-Lotka type ecological interactions. The method can however carry over to other interactions with similar monotone properties (c.f. Section 5.3). Further, the acceleration method can be applied to nonlinear interactions, with the appropriate convexity property (c.f. Equation (6.3-4)).
Which TQM Practices Really Matter: An Empirical Investigation

Research leading toward a standard definition of TQM is reviewed here, making the case that a clearer definition of TQM is emerging from the literature. This definition is necessary prior to further research in the area, especially in light of the many ..
Education and Incarceration in the Jim Crow South: Evidence from Rosenwald Schools

This paper examines the effect of childhood access to primary schooling on adult black incarceration in the early 20th century. I construct a linked census data set of incarcerated and nonincarcerated men to observe access to schooling in childhood. I find that full exposure to one of the new primary schools built as part of the Rosenwald program reduces the probability of incarceration by 1.9 percentage points. I argue that the reduction in incarceration comes from increased opportunity costs of crime through higher educational attainment. These results contribute to a broader literature on racial gaps in social outcomes in the United States.
Mixed-chemical exposure and predicted effects potential in wadeable southeastern USA streams

Complex chemical mixtures have been widely reported in larger streams but relatively little work has been done to characterize them and assess their potential effects in headwater streams. In 2014, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) sampled 54 Piedmont streams over ten weeks and measured 475 unique organic compounds using five analytical methods. Maximum and median exposure conditions were evaluated in relation to watershed characteristics and for potential biological effects using multiple lines of evidence. Results demonstrate that mixed-contaminant exposures are ubiquitous and varied in sampled headwater streams. Approximately 56% (264) of the 475 compounds were detected at least once across all sites. Cumulative maximum concentrations ranged 1,922-162,346ngL-1 per site. Chemical occurrence significantly correlated to urban land use but was not related to presence/absence of wastewater treatment facility discharges. Designed bioactive chemicals represent about 2/3rd of chemicals detected, notably pharmaceuticals and pesticides, qualitative evidence for possible adverse biological effects. Comparative Toxicogenomics Database chemical-gene associations applied to maximum exposure conditions indicate >12,000 and 2,900 potential gene targets were predicted at least once across all sites for fish and invertebrates, respectively. Analysis of cumulative exposure-activity ratios provided additional evidence that, at a minimum, transient exposures with high probability of molecular effects to vertebrates were common. Finally, cumulative detections and concentrations correlated inversely with invertebrate metrics from in-stream surveys. The results demonstrate widespread instream exposure to extensive contaminant mixtures and compelling multiple lines of evidence for adverse effects on aquatic communities.
Information-Processing Support Index: A New Perspective on IT Usage

Because they are so important, the factors that drive information technology (IT) usage decisions in organizations have been a topic of perennial investigation in IS research. This article develops...
Drug Courts and Net-Widening in U.S. Cities: A Reanalysis Using Propensity Score Matching:

Although drug courts were intended to reduce the justice system involvement of drug offenders, a recent study found evidence that drug courts were associated with increased (rather than decreased) ...
DNA methylation changes associated with Parkinson's disease progression: outcomes from the first longitudinal genome-wide methylation analysis in blood.

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder currently diagnosed based on the presentation of characteristic movement symptoms. Unfortunately, patients exhibiting these symptoms ...
Coda: “Songs from the Wood”

The Coda, “Songs from the Wood,” reads the lute as an instrumental actor in global and temporal networks. Probably most familiar as the instrument par excellence of Renaissance English music, the lute had many associations during the early modern period: it was played by women and men alike, and featured in a wide range of music, including consort pieces and ballads sung on stage. While sounding Renaissance England to modern ears, the lute was actually an import from the East; its English name bears the echo of its Arabic name, al ud (meaning “the wood”), sonically approximated in English as “lute.” Though conceived as a familiar instrument of the English Renaissance, the lute exemplifies the sonic uncanny through its foreign provenance.
Affordable Microfluidic Bead-Sorting Platform for Automated Selection of Porous Particles Functionalized with Bioactive Compounds.

The ability to rapidly and accurately evaluate bioactive compounds immobilized on porous particles is crucial in the discovery of drugs, diagnostic reagents, ligands, and catalysts. Existing options for solid phase screening of bioactive compounds, while highly effective and well established, can be cost-prohibitive for proof-of-concept and early stage work, limiting its applicability and flexibility in new research areas. Here, we present a low-cost microfluidics-based platform enabling automated screening of small porous beads from solid-phase peptide libraries with high sensitivity and specificity, to identify leads with high binding affinity for a biological target. The integration of unbiased computer assisted image processing and analysis tools, provided the platform with the flexibility of sorting through beads with distinct fluorescence patterns. The customized design of the microfluidic device helped with handling beads with different diameters (~100–300 µm). As a microfluidic device, this portable novel platform can be integrated with a variety of analytical instruments to perform screening. In this study, the system utilizes fluorescence microscopy and unsupervised image analysis, and can operate at a sorting speed of up to 125 beads/hr (~3.5 times faster than a trained operator) providing >90% yield and >90% bead sorting accuracy. Notably, the device has proven successful in screening a model solid-phase peptide library by showing the ability to select beads carrying peptides binding a target protein (human IgG).
SPICE-Only Model for Spin-Transfer Torque Domain Wall MTJ Logic

The spin-transfer torque domain wall (DW) magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) enables spintronic logic circuits that can be directly cascaded without deleterious signal conversion circuitry and is one of the only spintronic devices for which cascading has been demonstrated experimentally. However, experimental progress has been impeded by a cumbersome modeling technique that requires a combination of micromagnetic and SPICE simulations. This paper, therefore, presents a SPICE-only device model that efficiently determines the DW motion resulting from spin accumulation and calculates the corresponding MTJ resistance. This model has been validated through comparison to the authoritative micromagnetic-based model, enabling reliable prediction of circuit behavior as a function of device parameters with a 10 000 $\times $ reduction in the simulation time. This model thus enables deeper device and circuit investigation, advancing the prospects for nonvolatile spintronic computing systems that overcome the von Neumann bottleneck.
Natural history of systemic sclerosis–related interstitial lung disease: How to identify a progressive fibrosing phenotype:

The natural history of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) is highly variable. Historical observational studies have demonstrated that the greatest decline in lung function in SSc occurs early in the course of the disease; however, not all patients experience a decline in lung function even in the absence of treatment. Furthermore, among patients who do experience a decline in lung function, the rate of decline can be either rapid or slow. The most common clinical phenotypes of SSc-ILD therefore: (i) Rapid Progressors, (ii) Gradual Progressors, (iii) Stabilizers and (iv) Improvers. This review summarizes the features of SSc-ILD patients who are more likely to experience rapid progression of ILD, as well as those who are more likely not to experience ILD progression. Understanding the clinical, biological and radiographic factors that consistently predict ILD-related outcomes in SSc is central to our ability to recognize those patients who are at heightened risk for ILD progression. With new options available for treating patients with SSc-ILD, it is more important than ever to accurately identify patients who may derive the most benefit from aggressive SSc-ILD therapy. Early therapeutic intervention in patients with this progressive fibrosing phenotype may ultimately improve morbidity and mortality outcomes in patients with SSc-ILD.
Tax Treatment of Legal Fees Under 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

This article describes the deductibility of legal fees for federal income tax purposes after the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and provides a recommendation for reforming the current rules.
Numerical simulation of reconnection in an emerging magnetic flux region

The resistive MHD equations are numerically solved in two dimensions for an initial-boundary-value problem which simulates reconnection between an emerging magnetic flux region and an overlying coronal magnetic field. The solution involves both ideal-MHD and resistive-MHD processes, and the solution shows an evolution which is remarkably suggestive of the preflare, impulsive, and main phases of the flare-cycle.
Inorganic dissolvable bioelectronics

Although physically invariant performance remains as a hallmark of the modern silicon electronics, certain opportunities emerge when part or entire device system can dissolve in biologically relevant fluids or water. This class of transient electronic devices allows them to function for a programmable timeframe and then to harmlessly dissolve in the environment or human body. The former minimizes or eliminates the waste stream from consumer gadgets, whereas the latter enables the biomedical implant as a diagnostic and/or therapeutic tool that obviates the need for removal after the function. Constructing high-performance dissolvable devices hinges on a realistic set of functional biodegradable materials for substrates, encapsulation layers, dielectrics, electrical connections, and electronic devices especially those involve the use of semiconductors. In this book chapter, we will first review the complete set of functional materials commonly used in high-performance inorganic dissolvable bioelectronics. Next, we will discuss various processing and manufacturing approaches for fabricating the dissolvable bioelectronics. After introducing several strategies to the power supply as a key component for the device system, we will then provide application opportunities from functional transformation and biomedical implants to green electronics and physically destructive devices for data security.
Abstract WP426: Implementation of a Stroke Nurse Navigator in Addition to Stroke Care Path Improves Readmission Rates

Background and Purpose: Inpatient care during the acute and post-acute phases is complex and requires an interdisciplinary approach. High quality metrics have become an integral part of achieving v...
Chapter 9 – The Regulation of Drugs and Biological Products by the Food and Drug Administration

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of the FDA, and the regulation of human drug and biological products. The mission of the FDA is to protect and enhance the public health through the regulation of medical products and food. The FDA regulates medical products throughout their life cycle to help ensure the quality of the product, the protection of human subjects in clinical trials, and the safety and effectiveness of marketed medical products. The FDA is responsible for the review of regulatory submissions, the development and implementation of regulatory policy, research and scientific exchange, product surveillance, and compliance. FDA strives to facilitate the development of new safe and effective medical products while ensuring the safety of the products and its uses. The FDA regulates these products based on sound science, law, and public health.
Normative database of spatiotemporal gait parameters using inertial sensors in typically developing children and young adults.

Abstract Background Inertial sensors are increasingly useful to clinicians and researchers to detect gait deficits. Reference values are necessary for comparison to children with gait abnormalities. Objective To present a normative database of spatiotemporal gait and turning parameters in 164 typically developing children and young adults ages 5−30 utilizing the APDM Mobility Lab® system. Methods Participants completed the i-WALK test at both self-selected (SS) and fast as possible (FAP) walking speeds. Spatiotemporal gait and turning parameters included stride length, stride length variability, gait speed, cadence, stance, swing, and double support times, and foot strike, toe-off, and toe-out angles, turn duration, peak turn velocity and number of steps to turn. Results Absolute stride length and gait speed increased with age. Normalized gait speed, absolute and normalized cadence, and stride length variability decreased with age. Normalized stride length and all parameters of gait cycle phase and foot position remained unaffected by age except for greater FSA in children 7−8. Foot position parameters in children 5−6 were excluded due to aberrant values and high standard deviations. Turns were faster in children ages 5–13 and 7–13 in the SS and FAP conditions, respectively. There were no differences in number of steps to turn. Similar trends were observed in the FAP condition except: normalized gait speed did not demonstrate a relationship with age and children ages 5–8 demonstrated increased stance and double support times and decreased swing time compared to children 11−13 and young adults (ages 5−6 only). Females ages 5−6 demonstrated increased stride length variability in the SS condition; males ages 7−8 and 14–30 ha d increased absolute stride length in the FAP condition. Similarities and differences were found between our values and previous literature. Significance This normative database can be used by clinicians and researchers to compare abnormal gait patterns and responses to interventions.
Food colloids binary and ternary nanocomplexes: Innovations and discoveries

Designing nanoparticles that are suitable for fortification of bioactive compounds in foods has always been a challenging task among colloidal scientists and nanotechnologists. To achieve this goal, there are several research objectives in general, including but not limited to: (1) preparation of nanoparticles from edible biomaterials without using organic solvents and toxic chemicals to ensure food-grade status; (2) improving colloidal stability of these nanoparticles under various harsh conditions including food processing (heating, high pressure, drying, etc.) and gastrointestinal environment (low pH, bile salt and digestive enzymes); (3) studying interactions between bioactive compounds and nanoparticles for optimal encapsulation; (4) understanding biological fate of these nanoparticles upon oral administration. Although a variety of nanoparticles may be fabricated from individual biomaterial, such as protein, polysaccharide and lipid, complex or hybrid nanoparticles made with two or more biomaterials have received increasing attention in recent 5-10 years due to many advantageous structural features and physicochemical properties. The major focus of my research group, i.e., the Nanotechnology and Biodelivery Laboratory at the University of Connecticut (CT, USA), is to apply materials science and engineering principles to understand physical and chemical interactions among various natural biomaterials at the nanoscale and design novel nanocarriers for delivery of various bioactive compounds in functional foods. In this Biointerface Perspective, I will first introduce the fundamental principles on the preparation of nanoparticles made from food colloids, and then I will share in detail the critical reflection on my research journey into the development of innovative colloidal binary and ternary nanocomplexes.
A Lower Limb Prosthetic Augment for Optimal Energy Recycling, Biomimetic to Gastrocnemius and Achilles Tendon Function

Passive ankle prostheses are the most common prosthetic device used by people with lower limb amputation. They use an energy recycling mechanism that mimics the behavior of the Achilles tendon and gastrocnemius muscle. The passive ankle prosthetic foot, which is usually made of carbon fiber, similarly stores energy during early to mid-stance by bending under the body’s weight. This energy is returned to the gait as the weight of the body is shifted off the device during terminal stance. However, most current standard of care passive ankle prostheses return the stored energy too early, dissipating most of the energy pushing the limb upward rather than propelling the body forward due to the absence of any muscle control.In this study, we developed an ankle prosthetic timing module that can control the energy return timing of an ankle prostheses, replicating the function of the gastrocnemius muscle. Our ankle prosthetic timing module is designed to be installed onto most current standard of care ankle prostheses without major modifications. The timing module controls the energy release timing of the carbon fiber foot by holding it in deformation until later in the gait cycle, increasing the propulsion generated by the passive prosthetic device. This mechanism can potentially reduce the effort in and increase the function of walking for people with lower limb amputation.
Extending the binary collision algorithm to non-Spitzer systems and application to laser heating and damage

We have generalized the binary collision algorithm to accommodate arbitrary collision rates, enabling the accurate kinetic modeling of short range particle interactions in non-Spitzer systems. With this extension, we explore the effect of different collision models on simulating how ultra-intense lasers first begin to heat a target. The effect of collisions on plasma evolution is crucial for treating particle slowing, energy transport, and thermalization. The widely used binary collision algorithm provides a fast and computationally efficient method to include the effects of collisions between charged particles in kinetic simulations without requiring the particles to be in local thermal equilibrium already. However, it is “hardwired” to use Spitzer collision rates that are appropriate for hot, relatively dilute plasmas. This restriction prevents the Nanbu collision algorithm from accurately describing the initial heating of a cold target, a key problem for the study of laser damage or the generation of t...
Quantitative description of the pastoral economy of western Tuvan nomads

Nomadic pastoralism persists at a substantial scale in Tuva and neighboring regions of Inner Asia. Tuvan pastoral lifeways reflect adaptations to both local environments and current economic realities. Much of our quantitative understanding of the economics of Tuvan nomads is derived from data collected in the first half of the 20th century. Accordingly, this paper provides an updated picture of the inner workings of nomadic households using data collected in Barun-Khemchik and Bai-Taiga provinces in 2013–2015. It analyzes herd composition and size, and compares the frequency of different animals kept today with values recorded in Tuva in 1916 and 1931. It then quantifies rates of provisioning hay and grain, and the production of meat and dairy products for consumption and sale. Finally, it characterizes typical costs of food, petrol, medicine, clothing, and school supplies faced by present-day herders. We advocate the collection of quantitative ethnographic data that can shed further light on the future of the Tuvan pastoralist niche.
Simultaneous Multi-Vascular Bed Imaging in a Patient Supported by a Continuous-Flow LVAD

Introduction Patients supported with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are burdened by frequent hemocompatibility-related adverse events related to patient-pump interactions. These predominantly vascular events include stroke, gastrointestinal bleeding, and pump thrombosis. Our center performs routine, invasive hemodynamic ramp speed titrations in LVAD patients to determine the optimal rotational speed after implantation. We sought to interrogate changes in vascular hemodynamics during an exercise ramp study to understand the influence of pump speed and exercise on outflow graft and cerebrovascular flow. Case Report A 71-year-old male patient supported by Heartware HVAD operating at a baseline speed of 2700 RPM presented for LVAD ramp and exercise study with vascular imaging. A right heart catheterization, echocardiography with Doppler imaging of the patient's LVAD outflow graft, and vascular Doppler of the left common carotid artery and middle cerebral artery were performed. The patient's LVAD operating speed was reduced to 2400 RPM and then increased stepwise to a maximum speed of 3000 RPM. At each increment of operating speed, Doppler imaging was attempted and right heart catheterization was repeated. After reviewing data from the ramp study, the patient's operating speed was set to 2900 RPM and then a staged exercise protocol with bicycle ergometer was performed. Pertinent findings of vascular imaging include a blunting of peak systolic to end-diastolic velocity ratio in vascular beds with incremental speed increase and partial recovery of pulsatility with exercise (Figure). Summary This case demonstrates the influence LVAD speed adjustment and exercise have on carotid artery and outflow graft pulsatility. With exercise the outflow graft and carotid artery peak systolic and end-diastolic velocities were similar to those at the lowest LVAD pump speed, suggesting that intrinsic contractility and native LV unloading was restored with exercise despite a higher pump speed.
How the Protein Data Bank changed biology: An introduction to the JBC Reviews thematic series, part 1.

This collection of articles celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Protein Data Bank (PDB), the single global digital archive of biological macromolecular structures. The impact of the PDB is immense; we have invited a number of top researchers in structural biology to illustrate its influence on an array of scientific fields. What emerges is a compelling picture of the synergism between the PDB and the explosive progress witnessed in many scientific areas. Availability of reliable, openly accessible, well-archived structural information has arguably had more impact on cell and molecular biology than even some of the enabling technologies such as PCR. We have seen the science move from a time when structural biologists contributed the lion’s share of the structures to the PDB and for discussion within their community to a time when any effort to achieve in-depth understanding of a biochemical or cell biological question demands an interdisciplinary approach built atop structural underpinnings.
Assessing predicted heart mass size matching in obese heart transplant recipients

BACKGROUND Predicted heart mass (PHM) is currently the most reliable metric for donor-recipient size matching in heart transplantation. Undersizing PHM donor-recipient match more than 20% independently predicts reduced survival. However, it is unclear if this is the case in obese recipients, in whom size matching can be challenging. We examined the use of PHM undersized hearts in obese recipients and assessed its impact on survival. METHODS The United Network for Organ Sharing database was queried for adult patients undergoing heart transplantation from 1995 to 2020. Obese recipients (BMI ≥ 30) were categorized based on donor-recipient PHM match ≤-20% (undersized) or >-20% (size-matched). Nearest-neighbor propensity score matching was performed to adjust for baseline differences between cohorts. Temporal outcomes were compared by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. RESULTS A total of 13,668 obese recipients met inclusion criteria, with 9.6% receiving undersized and 90.4% receiving size-matched hearts. The proportion of undersized donor hearts in obese recipients significantly decreased over the study period (16.2% [1995] to 7.4% [2019], NP-trend < 0.001). Propensity-score matching resulted in 984 well-matched pairs of undersized and size-matched obese recipients. Recipients of undersized hearts saw similar 30-day mortality (5.5% vs 6.0%, p= 0.11) and re-transplantation rates (1.2% vs 1.2%, p = 1.00) as size-matched recipients. Survival at 1 year (88.4% vs 87.9%, p = 0.14), and 15 years (35.1% vs 31.0%, p = 0.12) was similar across cohorts. CONCLUSIONS A decreasing proportion of PHM undersized hearts are being utilized in obese recipients. However, utilizing PHM undersized hearts in obese recipients was not associated with a detriment in survival.