cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Performance assessment of dilute-acid leaching to improve corn stover quality for thermochemical conversion

Abstract Lignocellulosic biomass is a sustainable energy source that can help meet the demand for biofuels in the United States. However, the quality and availability of such feedstocks greatly affect their suitability for downstream conversion. This work reports the effects of dilute-acid leaching at various aqueous loadings, temperatures and catalyst loadings (sulfuric acid) on the quality of a traditional biochemical feedstock, corn stover, as a potential feedstock for thermochemical conversions. At 95 wt% aqueous, dilute-acid leaching was observed to effectively remove 97.3% of the alkali metals and alkaline earth metals that can negatively affect degradation pathways during pyrolysis and result in greater yield of non-condensable gases. In addition, up to 98.4% of the chlorine and 88.8% of the phosphorus, which can cause equipment corrosion and foul upgrading catalysts, respectively, were removed. At 25 °C in the absence of the acid catalyst, only 6.8% of the alkali metals and alkaline earth metals were removed; however, 88.0% of chloride was still removed. The ratio of alkaline/acidic ash species has been suggested to proportionately relate to slagging in combustion applications. The initial alkali/acid ratio of the ash species present in the untreated corn stover was 0.38 (significant slagging risk). At 95 wt% aqueous, this ratio was decreased to 0.18 (moderate slagging risk). At 0 wt% catalyst and 90 °C, the ratio was decreased to 0.07, 0.08 and 0.06 at 0.5 wt% catalyst at 25 °C, 50 °C and 90 °C, respectively (low slagging risk). Increasing the catalyst loading to 1.0% slightly decreased the measured alkali/acid ratio of remaining ash. The results presented here show that a water wash or a dilute-acid preprocessing step can improve corn stover quality for pyrolysis, hydrothermal liquefaction and combustion.
Persistence in Food Webs

Of the stability concepts associated with population dynamics models, the notion of persistence has emerged as one of the most important to ecologists. (See, for example, Rolling (1973), Botkin and Sobel (1974), Innis (1974), Maynard Smith (1974).) Persistence, generally, refers to that quality of such models whereby population density levels remain within certain acceptable bounds despite perturbations of model parameters or initial values. Various specific mathematical formulations of persistence have been given by Innis (1974), Botkin and Sobel (1974), Wu (1974), Freedman and Waltman (1977), McGehee and Armstrong (1977), and Harrison (1979a) for models taking the form of systems of ordinary differential equations. All of these definitions of persistence are closely related to the dynamical system concept of flow-invariance. Here this relationship will be discussed, and an extension to food webs of Freedman and Waltman’s definition of food chain persistence will be exhibited for the Lotka-Volterra case. In particular, a sufficient condition for top predator persistence in terms of model parameters will be given. Although the discussion will be restricted to ordinary differential equation models, some brief remarks about persistence in dynamical models of other types are in order first.
Social Factors Linking Stigma-Related Stress with Alcohol Use among Lesbians

A conceptual model linking stigma-related stress and lesbian women's alcohol use and related problems via social factors (i.e., social constraints and social isolation), depressive symptoms, and negative reinforcement drinking motives (i.e., coping and conformity) was tested. Self-identified lesbian women (N = 1048), age 18-35 years in the United States completed an online survey of discrimination, stigma consciousness, social isolation, social constraints, depressive symptoms, drinking motives, alcohol use and related problems. The hypothesized path model showed excellent model fit. The predicted pathway of stigma-related stressors to alcohol outcomes via social factors, depressive symptoms, and coping/conformity motives was largely supported. Results highlight the importance of social factors in linking stigma-related stress to alcohol use and related problems among lesbians. Understanding the underlying social mechanisms connecting stigma to negative health outcomes may help inform intervention efforts to reduce alcohol use and related problems among lesbians and associated health disparities.
Contested Bodies: Pregnancy, Childrearing, and Slavery in Jamaica

In Contested Bodies, Sasha Turner places black women at the center of a history implicitly dominated by men and in so doing, reveals the central role that enslaved women's reproductive bodies playe...
Ganciclovir-Loaded Polymer Microspheres in Rabbit Eyes Inoculated With Human Cytomegalovirus

Purpose. To test the antiviral effect of ganciclovir released from biodegradable polymer microspheres in rabbit eyes inoculated with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Methods. Human cytomegalovirus (5 X 10 3 plaque forming unit in 0.1 ml Hank's balanced salt solution) was inoculated 4 days after gas compression vitrectomy. Injected after 2 days was 10 mg of 300- to 500-/xm ganciclovir-loaded microspheres (89.77 fxg ganciclovir/mg) suspended in 0.1 ml of 2% hydroxypropylmethylcellulose. Blank microspheres were injected as control specimens. Vitritis, retinitis, and optic neuritis were graded from OH— 4+ for 14 days to separate the early HCMV-induced disease events from later nonspecific host inflammatory responses. Ganciclovir-loaded microspheres also were injected and observed for biodegradation and tissue reaction for 8 weeks. Results. In eyes injected with ganciclovir-loaded microspheres, vitritis decreased from days 3 to 14, and retinitis and optic neuritis decreased from days 3 to 9. In eyes injected with blank microspheres, vitritis increased from days 3 to 7, retinitis increased from days 3 to 9, and optic neuritis increased from days 3 to 14. Immunofluorescence of HCMV antigens in retinal tissues was shown only in eyes injected with blank microspheres. Histopathologic analysis showed minimal focal disruption of the retinal architecture in eyes injected with ganciclovirloaded microspheres. Disorganization of the normal retinal architecture was observed in eyes injected with blank microspheres. No adverse tissue reaction was observed clinically and histopathologically in eyes injected with ganciclovir-loaded microspheres after 8 weeks. Conclusions. Ten milligrams of 300 to 500 //m ganciclovir-loaded poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres control the progression of fundus disease in HCMV-inoculated rabbit eyes. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1997; 38:665-675.
Case 5: Prolonged Fever in a 5-year-old Girl of Myanmese Descent

1. Fernando Bula-Rudas, MD* 2. Mobeen Rathore, MD* 1. *University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, FL A 5-year-old previously healthy girl of Myanmese descent who was born in the United States and has never left the country presents with a 12-day history of high fevers and no other associated signs or symptoms. On day 5 of fever she was diagnosed as having “the flu” by her pediatrician and was managed symptomatically. On day 9 of the illness she was again evaluated because of persistence of fever. There were no new physical findings. The complete blood cell count and chest radiograph were reported as normal, and a 5-day course of azithromycin was prescribed. There was no specific diagnosis documented in her records for this antibiotic course. She completed 3 days of therapy before hospital admission, and she had no improvement of her fevers. Because of persistence of fever for 12 days she is hospitalized. Her temperature at the time of admission is 105.8°F (41°C). Physical examination findings are normal except for fussiness. But when observed from outside the room through a window she is calm and comfortable and interacting with her mother. Laboratory evaluation shows a white blood cell (WBC) count of 12,340/μL (12.34×109/L) (75% neutrophils, 18% lymphocytes, and 7% monocytes), a hemoglobin level of 12.4 g/dL (124 g/L), a hematocrit value of 37.4%, and a platelet count of 53×103/μL. Her erythrocyte sedimentation rate is 49 mm/hour and C-reactive protein level is less than 0.5 mg/dL (<4.8 nmol/L). Serum electrolyte levels are essentially normal except for low carbon dioxide levels of 17 mEq/L (17 mmol/L). …
Known void size micro-bump, a novel standard of 3D X-ray computed tomography in-line metrology for accuracy assessment and monitoring

Three dimensional (3D) X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) is used as an in-line metrology for silicon die and substrate packages to detect and quantify voids in micro bumps. Long term health monitoring of the 3D-XCT is important to ensure tool performance. The best means for evaluating tool performance is having a standard unit with a known void size embedded in micro a bump. However, this type of standard is not commercial available. In this study, a novel known void size micro-bump (KVSMB) standard for 3D-XCT in-line metrology is presented. A range of silicon oxide (SiO 2 ) based glass beads with diameter of 42.8–76.2um is used to mimic the void and embedded in a micro bump on a coreless substrate packaging. Using this KVSMB, the accuracy and tool health monitoring through control chart is possible.
Topologies and Density Theorems in Operator Algebras

By nature, our objects in this book are infinite dimensional, which makes topological and approximation arguments indispensable. In Section 1, we first study the Banach spaces of operators on a Hilbert space ℌ. It is proved that the second conjugate space ℒℭ(ℌ)** of the C*-algebra of all compact operators on ℌ as a Banach space is naturally identified with the Banach space ℒ(ℌ) of all bounded operators on ℌ. This result allows us to introduce, in Section 2, various kinds of locally convex topologies in ℒ(ℌ) related to the duality of ℒ(ℌ) and ℒℭ(ℌ)* as well as to the algebra structure of ℒ(ℌ). In Section 3, the fundamental theorem of operator algebras (the double commutation theorem), due to J. von Neumann, is proved and a few of its immediate consequences are drawn. Section 4 is devoted to various approximation theorems. Among them, Theorem 4.8 is most important. It may be called the fundamental approximation theorem. In this section, the strong continuity of functional calculus is also shown. A striking consequence of this section, Theorem 4.18, is the algebraic irreducibility of an irreducible representation of a C*-algebra. The proof presented here is not the most economic, it is drawn as a consequence from a more powerful result, the noncommutative Lusin’s theorem, Theorem 4.15, which is somewhat technical.
Microphysiological models of human organs: A case study on microengineered lung-on-a-chip systems

Abstract The convergence of cell biology with microfabrication technology derived from the microelectronics industry has made it possible to engineer physiologically relevant and organ-specific microenvironments for growth, differentiation, and maintenance of living cells in vitro. Here, we present a concise review of recent advances in the development of microengineered cell culture models termed organs-on-chips designed to mimic structural, environmental, and functional complexity of living human organs and tissues. We introduce fundamental design principles for constructing these microphysiological model systems and discuss their capabilities to emulate functional units of various human organs. We then provide more focused and in-depth discussion on the demonstrated utility and potential of organ-on-a-chip technology using representative examples of lung-on-a-chip models. Finally, we examine future prospects and barriers to progress in biopharmaceutical applications of organs-on-chips.
Spectroscopic Microtomography in the Visible Wavelength Range

Digital holographic tomography (DHT) using refractive index for imaging contrast has been explored as a minimally invasive, label-free tool for microscopic specimens. Extending an interferometry-based DHT, this study demonstrates ``4D'' (three spatial dimensions plus one spectral) absorption and refractive imaging of weakly absorbing specimens in the visible wavelength range (450---700 nm). Its results demonstrate the high sensitivity of the proposed method, as well as the potential of DHT using absorbance for imaging contrast.
The effectiveness of comparative advertising in the US automobile market influenced by consumer ethnocentrism, industry-specific personal characteristics, and foreign versus domestic brand ownership

Comparative advertising is a common promotional tactic used by automobile marketers in the USA for many decades. Comparative advertising either directly mentions a competing brand by name in a comp...
Software Review of IRTEQ, STUIRT, and POLYEQUATE for Item Response Theory Scale Linking and Equating

ABSTRACTThis article reviews several software programs designed to conduct item response theory (IRT) scale linking and equating. The programs reviewed include IRTEQ, STUIRT, and POLYEQUATE. Featur...
Mesh induced fibrosis: The protective role of T regulatory cells

Abstract Polypropylene mesh is widely used in urogynecologic surgery, but complications rates (pain and exposure) approach 10%. Emerging evidence implicates the adaptive immune system in regulating the foreign body response to mesh, particularly regulatory T cells (Tregs), which modify macrophage differentiation and down-regulate CD8+ effector T cells. We hypothesize that Tregs protect against a profibrotic response, a likely mechanism of pain complications. Here, thin sections of mesh-tissue complexes removed for the primary complaint of pain (N = 14) or exposure (N = 15) were labeled for CD8, CD4 (Th), and FoxP3 (Tregs) via immunofluorescence. The same sections were analyzed for localized collagen deposition via a customized semi-quantitative assessment (0.25 mm2 grid) after trichrome staining. TGF-β1 concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Fewer Treg and CD4+ cells were found in fibrotic areas versus non-fibrotic areas (503 and 550/cm2 fewer, respectively, both P Statement of Significance The use of polypropylene mesh has been associated with improved outcomes in urogynecologic surgery, but is associated with significant complications, including pain and exposure through the vaginal epithelium. The host immune response features a prolonged inflammatory reaction containing innate immune cells and T lymphocytes clustered in capsules around the mesh fibers. This study uncovers the inverse relationship between T regulatory cells and the extent of fibrosis around the mesh, suggesting an anti-fibrotic effect. In addition, concentrations of T regulatory and T effector cells and levels of fibrosis connect these two most common complications into one mechanistic pathway. These new insights into the immune response to implanted mesh are an important step in understanding the causes of these surgical complications.
Erythroid Development in the Absence of Hemoglobin.

The mammalian erythrocyte is a highly specialized blood cell that differentiates via an orderly series of committed progenitors in the bone marrow in a process termed erythropoiesis. Homeostasis of the erythron is carefully maintained by balancing the proliferation and destruction of early and late erythroid progenitors. In mature red blood cells over ninety-five percent of the protein is hemoglobin (Hb). What happens to committed erythroid cells in the absence of hemoglobin? To answer this question we have derived a novel line of embryonic stem (ES) cells from mouse embryos that have all eight adult alpha and beta globin genes knocked out. These “Null” Hb ES cells were injected into wild-type blastocysts to examine their in vivo potential to contribute to the tissues of developing chimeric mice. Examination of the peripheral blood and bone marrow of these chimeras by flow cytometry revealed that the “Null” Hb ES cells were able to produce normal levels of each type of white blood cell analyzed. However, “Null” erythrocytes were absent from the circulation and only early committed progenitors were found in the bone marrow. Very few “Null” erythroid cells matured beyond the proerythoblast to the basophilic erythroblast stage (Ter119low, CD71hi). To study this maturational block in more detail, an erythroid culture system was established by in vitro differentiation of the “Null” Hb ES cells. These pure erythroid progenitor (EP) cultures support and amplify the proerythroblast stage of development. Interestingly, EP cells could be derived from “Null” Hb ES cells demonstrating that Hb is not required for the development of proerythroblasts. “Null” derived EP cells express erythroid lineage markers (EKLF, GATA1, GypA, EpoR, Tal1), but express no adult globins or markers of other hematopoietic lineages (Mpl, GATA3, IL7R, PAX5, CEBPα, CD41b). Upon terminal differentiation most “Null” derived EP cells undergo apoptosis by 48 hours (7AAD−, Annexin V+) and are dead (7AAD+) by 72 hours. These “Null” Hb ES cells provide a novel experimental system to elucidate the role of hemoglobin during erythroid differentiation, maturation, and homeostasis.
CYP2C19 Metabolizer Status Does Not Influence the Safety or Efficacy of Pentamidine

Background Pneumocystis jirovecii (PJP) infections are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in recipients of hematopoietic cell transplantations (HCT), and PJP prophylaxis is a standard of care. The gold standard for PJP prophylaxis is sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim (SMX/TMP), however, SMX/TMP is known to cause neutropenia so it is often avoided in the pre- and early post-HCT period. Alternatively, pentamidine can be administered in the early post HCT period without concern of marrow suppression. Pentamidine is a substrate of the CYP2C19, a CYP450 enzyme with known polymorphisms affecting metabolizer activity. A previous adult study demonstrated that patients with at least one ‘no function' allele were at an increased risk of serious adverse effects including death. We sought to determine the influence of CYP2C19 metabolizer status on the safety and efficacy of pentamidine in pediatric HCT population. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted on all patients undergoing HCT at Cincinnati Children's Hospital between June 2013 and September 2018. Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms of CYP2C19 (*2, *3, *4, *5, *6, *7, *8, *17) were performed on a Taqman™ Low Density Array as part of routine clinical care. Incidence of breakthrough PJP infections, pentamidine discontinuation due to adverse effects as well as patient and transplant demographic information were collected. Results A total of 319 patients received pentamidine and had CYP2C19 genotyping perfomed during the study period.There were 8 poor metabolizers (two no function alleles), 101 intermediate metabolizers (one no function allele and one normal or increased function allele), 128 normal metabolizers (two normal function alleles) and 82 ultrarapid metabolizers (two increased function alleles or one normal allele and one increased function allele). There was no difference in the number of patients who discontinued therapy due to adverse events among metabolizer status groups, nor was there a difference in the number of breakthrough PJP infections (Table 1). Conclusions Our study demonstrates that, in contrast to the adult study, it is safe and efficacious to administer pentamidine in pediatric HCT patients regardless of CYP2C19 metabolizer status.
INTERNALIZATION OF A BACILLUS ANTHRACIS PROTECTIVE ANTIGEN-C-MYC FUSION PROTEIN MEDIATED BY CELL SURFACE ANTI-C-MYC ANTIBODIES

Anthrax toxin, secreted by Bacillus anthracis, consists of protective antigen (PA) and either lethal factor (LF) or edema factor (EF). PA, the receptor-binding component of the toxin, translocates LF or EF into the cytosol, where the latter proteins exert their toxic effects. We hypothesized that anthrax toxin fusion proteins could be used to kill virus-infected cells and tumor cells, if PA could be redirected to unique receptors found only on these cells. To test this hypothesis in a model system, amino acids 410–419 of the human p62c-myc epitope were fused to the C-terminus of PA to redirect PA to the c-Myc-specific hybridoma cell line 9E10. The PA-c-Myc fusion protein killed both mouse macrophages and 9E10 hybridoma cells when administered with LF or an LF fusion protein (FP59), respectively. Similar results were obtained with PA, which suggests that PA-c-Myc used the endogenous PA receptor to enter the cells. By blocking the endogenous PA receptors on 9E10 cells with the competitive inhibitor PA SNKEΔFF, the PA-c-Myc was directed to an alternate receptor, i.e., the anti-c-Myc antibodies presented on the cell surface. The c-Myc IgG were proven to act as receptors because the addition of a synthetic peptide containing the c-Myc epitope along with PA SNKEΔFF further reduced the toxicity of PA-c-Myc + FP59. This study shows that PA can be redirected to alternate receptors by adding novel epitopes to the C-terminus of PA, enabling the creation of cell-directed toxins for therapeutic purposes.
The fidelity of a regional coupled model in capturing the relationship between intraseasonal variability and the onset/demise of the Indian summer monsoon

Onset and demise of the Indian summer monsoon (ISM) and intraseasonal variability (ISV) embedded within the ISM are dominant climatological phenomena observed over the Indian region. In this study, a quantitative relationship between these two phenomena is assessed and the performance of a regional coupled model in simulating the relationship in the ISM is examined. An objective definition of the local onset and demise of the ISM is used based on more than a century-long India Meteorological Department rain-gauge observation and 10-year-long model simulated precipitation. Two distinct modes of intraseasonal oscillations (ISOs), northwestward propagating 10–20-day periodic high-frequency ISO and northward moving 20–70-day periodic low-frequency ISOs are extracted using Multichannel Singular Spectrum Analysis (MSSA). It is found that nearly 60% of the local onset of the ISM occurs during the positive developing phases of the ISO; whereas, a similar fraction of local demise occurs during positive decaying phases of the ISO across almost entire India. Essentially, the phase-locking of two ISOs creates the most conducive environment for onset or demise of the ISM to occur. In this study we found that the model not only captures the overall structure of the ISO modes, but also simulates the observed distribution of the onset and demise dates of ISM in different ISO phases. The diagnostics described here, with the ability of the model to produce the observed phenomena, provide an essential tool to improve our understanding of the monsoon system and its predictability.
CPS in Other Industries

Despite differences in applications, the essential functions of CPS among different industries remain the same. Monitoring, data flow platforms, and data-rich environment applications are the most remarkable areas of interest in all implemented industries, both in academia and industry. Besides, CPS is perceived as the vessel for the applications of future technology advancements, particularly automation, visualization, and integration of systems. Among all the industries, the manufacturing industry is perceived to be the most advanced and the one where CPS has been found to have the most applications and relevance. The CPS potential to revolutionize the interactions of complex applications and systems for the benefit of humanity is latent. Spearhead developments and improvements of CPS have been developed in different industries. In this chapter, the applications of CPS in other industry sectors, including manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, aviation, agriculture, energy distribution, etc. are discussed.
Men, Tattoos, and Catholic Devotion in Brooklyn

This article explores the religious lives of Catholic men in Brooklyn, particularly focusing on their tattoos of saints and Catholic objects. It argues that tattoos are much like devotional objects...
Predictors of Transplant-Free Survival After the Norwood Procedure

Background Birth weight, preterm delivery, and size for gestational age are surrogate markers for development that are commonly used in congenital heart surgery. Understanding the associations of these variables with patient outcomes is of great importance. Methods This study included all patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome who underwent a Norwood procedure at a single institution from 1995 to 2018. Low birth weight was defined as weight less than 2.5 kg, and preterm delivery occurred at less than 37 weeks’ gestation. Overall and conditional analyses were performed to evaluate for association with outcomes after the Norwood procedure. Secondary analyses evaluated the association of development measures with postoperative length of stay and ventilator duration. Results In total, 303 neonates (60% male) underwent the Norwood procedure and were followed for a median of 3.9 years (interquartile range, 0.5 to 10.4 years). Median birth weight was 3.1 kg (interquartile range, 2.8 to 3.4 kg). Patients with low birth weight had decreased transplant-free survival compared with patients with a normal birth weight (hazard ratio, 1.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.03 to 2.82; P = .039). When conditioning on survival to second-stage palliation, patients born small for gestational age had decreased transplant-free survival compared with patients born at appropriate size for gestational age (hazard ratio, 2.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.31 to 6.09; P = .008). Patients delivered preterm had a longer hospital length of stay (median, 55 days vs 31 days; P = .02) and more ventilator days compared with patients delivered at term (median, 7 days vs 4 days; P = .004). Conclusions Various developmental markers have differing prognostic importance for patients undergoing the Norwood procedure. Understanding these differences can help guide preoperative decision making and patient selection.
Accuracy of intraoperative frozen section in detection of acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis

Context.— Acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (AIFRS) is an aggressive form of fungal sinusitis, which remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis and intervention are keys to improving patient outcomes. Intraoperative consultation has shown promise in facilitating early surgical intervention, but the accuracy of frozen section has not been clarified in this setting. Objectives.— To assess the accuracy of frozen-section diagnosis in patients with clinically suspected AIFRS. Design.— All cases of clinically suspected AIFRS during a 10-year period (2009-2019) were retrospectively reviewed. The frozen-section results were compared with the final permanent sections as well as the tissue fungal culture results, following which the accuracy of frozen section was determined. Results.— Forty-eight patients with 133 frozen-section evaluations for AIFRS were included in the study. Thirty of 48 patients and 61 of 133 specimens were positive for AIFRS on final pathology. Of 30 positive patients, 27 (90%) had at least 1 specimen diagnosed as positive during intraoperative consultation, among the 61 positive specimens, 54 (88.5%) were diagnosed as positive during intraoperative consultation. Of 72 negative specimens, all were interpreted as negative on frozen section. Thus, frozen sections had a sensitivity of 88.5% (95% CI, 0.78-0.97), specificity of 100% (95% CI, 0.94-1), positive predictive value of 100% (95% CI, 0.92-1), and negative predictive value of 90.6% (95% CI, 0.82-0.97). Conclusions.— This study represents the largest series assessing the diagnostic accuracy of frozen section analysis in AIFRS. These findings are useful in frozen section-informed intraoperative decision making.
Exercise training in COPD: muscle O2 transport plasticity.

Both convective O2 transport to, and diffusive transport within, skeletal muscle are markedly diminished in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, it is unknown how these determinants of peak muscle O2 uptake (VMO2peak) respond to exercise training in patients with COPD. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the plasticity of skeletal muscle O2 transport determinants of VMO2peak in patients with COPD. Adaptations to 8 weeks of single-leg knee-extensor exercise training were measured in 8 patients with severe COPD (forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)±sem=0.9±0.1 l) and 8 healthy, well-matched controls. Femoral arterial and venous blood samples, and thermodilution-assessed leg blood flow were used to determine muscle O2 transport and utilisation at maximal exercise pre- and post-training. Training increased VMO2peak in both COPD (by ∼26% from 271±29 to 342±35 mL·min−1) and controls (by ∼32% from 418±37 to 553±41 mL·min−1), restoring VMO2peak in COPD to only ∼80% of pre-training control VMO2peak. Muscle diffusive O2 transport increased similarly in both COPD (by ∼38% from 6.6±0.9 to 9.1±0.9 mL·min·mmHg−1) and controls (by ∼36% from 10.4±0.7 to 14.1±0.8 mL·min·mmHg−1), with the patients reaching ∼90% of pre-training control values. In contrast, muscle convective O2 transport increased significantly only in controls (by ∼26% from 688±57 to 865±69 mL·min−1), leaving patients with COPD (438±45 versus 491±51 mL·min−1) at ∼70% of pre-training control values. While muscle diffusive O2 transport in COPD was largely restored by exercise training, VMO2peak remained constrained by limited plasticity in muscle convective O2 transport.
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome: A Case of Unknown Causation and Unique Clinical Course.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a rare, potentially lethal syndrome known to be related to the initiation of dopamine antagonist medications or rapid withdrawal of dopaminergic medications. It is a diagnosis of exclusion with a known sequela of symptoms, but not all patients experience these characteristic symptoms making it difficult at times to diagnose and treat. Herein, we present a unique case of NMS with unclear etiology and a unique clinical course. Our case report also raises the question of whether or not adjusting doses of previously prescribed neuroleptic medications can provoke NMS, providing valuable information for providers treating these complex patients.
COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine and Myocarditis

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is believed to have originated in the Hua nan South China Seafood Market in Wuhan and can present with a spectrum of clinical manifestations. We report the case of 24-year-old male patient who developed chest pain after administration of the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA COVID-19 vaccine and who was diagnosed with myocarditis on work-up. LEARNING POINTS Localized injection site reactions and systemic adverse effects can occur after administration of the various COVID-19 vaccines. Healthcare providers should maintain a high index of suspicion regarding myocarditis after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination in the appropriate clinical scenario. Keywords: COVID-19, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, SARS-CoV-2, myocarditis, COVID-19 vaccine, side effects, adverse events, pericarditis, inflammation of the heart INTRODUCTION Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) has resulted in a global health and economic crisis. Initially considered a respiratory tract disease, it is now known that it can cause multiple organ dysfunction and presents with a wide variety of complications (gastrointestinal, neurological, haematological, thromboembolic, immune and cardiovascular). Complications and outcomes may depend on disease severity and the comorbidities of the infected patient. For optimal management of these patients, understanding of the various systemic manifestations and complications of SARS-CoV-2 is essential. Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 infection is considered a valid approach for controlling the pandemic.
Citizens, custodians, and villains: Environmentality and the politics of difference in Senegal’s community forests

Abstract Decentralized natural resource governance in African nations has been accompanied by mounting struggles over resource entitlements framed around social identities. Dominant groups have justified exclusive control of resources by linking ethnic, gender, and generational status with claims about who is a responsible resource-user and who is a despoiler. The literature on environmentality has highlighted the central role that “environmental subjects” play in decentralized resource regimes. Yet too often, critical scholarship on environmental beliefs and practices has framed power in terms of domination and resistance, neglecting the ways that individuals’ embrasures of environmental subject positions entail multivarious power relations. This paper situates environmental subjectivities as a constituent part of the politics of identity, property, and authority, drawing on feminist theories of subjectivity and the framework of articulating identity. Through an ethnographic investigation of community forest management in central Senegal, I examine how villagers constructed subject positions incorporating environmental discourses and their own identity-inflected experiences and interests. Two main subject positions emerged: a group of senior men positioned themselves as community custodians, while autochthonous-identifying villagers asserted their status as environmental citizens. These subject positions had important political effects: by serving as custodians, senior men partially reconstituted their patriarchal authority over kin; meanwhile, environmental citizenship helped autochthonous groups to exclude “second-comers” from village lands. This paper argues that research on environmental subjectivities should look beyond governmental projects and situate subject formation as part of long-term, place-based struggles over identities, rights, and authority.
Adverse childhood experiences and risky behaviors in male college students

Objective: The current study examined associations between ACEs and health-risk behaviors in male college students. Participants: 795 men who attended a large southern public university. Method: On...
Role of estrogen receptor coregulators in endocrine resistant breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is the most ubiquitous cancer in women. Approximately 70-80% of BC diagnoses are positive for estrogen receptor (ER) alpha (ERα). The steroid hormone estrogen [17β-estradiol (E2)] plays a vital role both in the initiation and progression of BC. The E2-ERα mediated actions involve genomic signaling and non-genomic signaling. The specificity and magnitude of ERα signaling are mediated by interactions between ERα and several coregulator proteins called coactivators or corepressors. Alterations in the levels of coregulators are common during BC progression and they enhance ligand-dependent and ligand-independent ERα signaling which drives BC growth, progression, and endocrine therapy resistance. Many ERα coregulator proteins function as scaffolding proteins and some have intrinsic or associated enzymatic activities, thus the targeting of coregulators for blocking BC progression is a challenging task. Emerging data from in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that targeting coregulators to inhibit BC progression to therapy resistance is feasible. This review explores the current state of ERα coregulator signaling and the utility of targeting the ERα coregulator axis in treating advanced BC.
Social Determinants of Health Correlating with Mechanical Ventilation of COVID-19 Patients: A Multi-Center Observational Study.

Importance Several studies have relayed the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on marginalized communities; however, few have specifically examined the association between social determinants of health and mechanical ventilation (MV). Objective To determine which demographics impact MV rates among COVID-19 patients. Design This observational study included COVID-19 patient data from eight hospitals' electronic medical records (EMR) between February 25, 2020, to December 31, 2020. Associations between demographic data and MV rates were evaluated using uni- and multivariate analyses. Setting Multicenter (eight hospitals), largest health system in Southeast Michigan. Participants Inpatients with a positive RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 on nasopharyngeal swab. Exclusion criteria were missing demographic data or non-permanent Michigan residents. Exposure Patients were divided into two groups: MV and non-MV. Main Outcome and Measures The primary outcome was MV rate per demographic. A multivariate model then predicted the odds of MV per demographic descriptor. Hypotheses were formulated prior to data collection. Results Among 11,304 COVID-19 inpatients investigated, 1621 (14.34%) were MV, and 49.96% were male with a mean age of 63.37 years (17.79). Significant social determinants for MV included Black race (40.19% MV vs 31.31% non-MV, p<0.01), poverty (14.60% vs. 13.21%, p<0.01), and disability (12.65% vs 9.14%; p<0.01). Black race (AOR 1.61 (CI 1.41-1.83; p<0.01)), median income (AOR 0.99 (CI 0.99-0.99; p<0.01)), disability (AOR 1.55 (CI 1.26, 1.90; p<0.01)), and non-English-speaking status (AOR 1.26 (CI 1.05, 1.53)) had significantly higher odds of MV. Conclusions and Relevance Black race, low socioeconomic status, disability, and non-English-speaking status were significant risk factors for MV from COVID-19. An urgent need remains for a pandemic response program that strategizes care for marginalized communities.
Oxidative Stress and Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer death in the USA with greater than 33,000 fatal cases annually in the USA alone, and an overall 5-year survival rate of less than 5%. The relationship between reactive oxygen species (ROS), antioxidants, and possible treatments for pancreatic cancer is discussed in this review. ROS are generated during normal aerobic metabolism, and are produced at increased levels during various forms of oxidative stress. Our laboratory studies have demonstrated that in pancreatic cancer, ROS at high concentrations are cytotoxic, and at low concentrations are involved in the regulation of several key physiological processes such as cell proliferation. As seen in other cancers, enforced expression of antioxidant enzymes that scavenge ROS have profound effects in altering the malignant phenotype of pancreatic cancer both in vitro and in vivo. In addition to the major antioxidant enzymes, food-derived polyphenols with antioxidant properties can also inhibit pancreatic cancer growth. The opposite is also true; ROS at high concentrations are cytotoxic to pancreatic cancer cells and this mechanism forms the basis of recent potential treatments.
TH-EF-BRD-08: A Retrospective Statistical Analysis of Consistencies in Treatment Plan Parameters by the Treatment Site and Modality

Purpose: Simple rules and common senses based on prior knowledge could be powerful tools for medical physicists to identify and prevent severe errors in radiation therapy (RT) treatment plans. However, rules, e.g. the acceptable MU/cGy ratio for different treatment sites, are not yet available quantitatively and therefore cannot be utilized effectively. In this study, we have retrospectively analyzed all the EBRT treatment plans of the past 8 years at authors’ institution. The goal is to better understand the most common treatment plan data statistics, involving MU/cGy ratio, numbers of beams and segments, and ranges of gantry angles for lateral targets, in order to quantitatively define the common sense-based rules that could be used to guide manual or automatic physics checks. Methods: 15844 previous treatment plans were obtained from Mosaiq. Plan data were extensively processed including 1) reducing data size, 2) removing empty and unapproved site and fields, 3) deriving common site names from names of prescriptions and beams that were spelled and misspelled extremely diversely, and 4) removing the plans not covered by this study, e.g. HDR plans. Processed data was then statistically analyzed using multivariate regression algorithms to quantitatively investigate the relationships between the input parameters, i.e. treatment site, technique, modality, and laterality, and the output parameters, i.e. MU/cGy radio, the total number of treatment beams and segments, and the beam gantry angles (only for lateral targets). Results: Mean values and standard deviations of the output parameters were calculated and tabulated per treatment site, technique and modality. Beam gantry angle range and mean gantry angle were analyzed per site for plans treating lateral targets. Conclusion: The results of this study, as the statistics of the major treatment plan parameters, could be useful to quantitatively evaluate the consistency of new treatment plans in either manual or automatic plan checking procedures.
Subexponential Parameterized Algorithms Collapse the W-Hierarchy

It is shown that for essentially all MAX SNP-hard optimization problems finding exact solutions in subexponential time is not possible unless W[1] = FPT. In particular, we show that O(2°(k)p(n)) parameterized algorithms do not exist for Vertex Cover, Max Cut, Max c-Sat, and a number of problems on bounded degree graphs such as Dominating Set and Independent Set, unless W[1] = FPT. Our results are derived via an approach that uses an extended parameterization of optimization problems and associated techniques to relate the parameterized complexity of problems in FPT to the parameterized complexity of extended versions that are W[1]-hard.
Pseudogermination in Dipicolinic Acid-Less Spores of a Bacillus cereus T Mutant

Dipicolinic acid-less spores of a Bacillus cereus T mutant in 33 mm sodium bicarbonate (pH 8.5) underwent pseudogermination (germination-like changes) accompanied by ribonucleic acid leakage and loss of viability.
Cytogenetics of methadone-managed and heroin-addicted pregnant women and their newborn infants.

Abstract Chromosomal damage was assessed prenatally and at delivery from 99 addicted pregnant women (80 from a methadone maintenance program and 19 heroin addicts) and their 101 offspring at delivery. About 10 per cent of the 27,907 cells scored showed chromosomal aberrations. Chromosome damage was random, affected all chromosomes, and was mainly of the acentric fragment type. The per cent of hypodiploidy was significantly higher than the per cent of hyperdiploidy. In the mothers, no significant differences were found with respect to dosage and duration of methadone treatment and years of heroin abuse. No significant association was found between maternal variables and infant chromosome damage. Infants with low Apgar scores (1 to 6) had cells with significantly higher levels of chromosome damage than infants with higher scores (7 to 10).
Interleukins 1 and 3 stimulate anion secretion in chicken intestine

Interleukin 1 or 3 added to the serosal side of chicken small intestine transiently increases short-circuit current. Replacement of bathing-medium Cl and HCO3 with gluconate and HEPES abolished the short-circuit current increase, consistent with these cytokines stimulating electrogenic anion secretion. Cytokine-stimulated short-circuit current changes were inhibited by preincubation with piroxicam (10(-5) M), an inhibitor of arachidonic acid cyclooxygenase, suggesting prostaglandin formation as an intermediate step for cytokine stimulation of short-circuit current. In intact mucosal strips, interleukin 1 and 3 stimulated prostaglandin E2 release and elevated tissue 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate concentration. When prostaglandin E2 release from epithelial and subepithelial fractions of the mucosa by interleukin 1 was determined, increases were found only from the subepithelium. The secretory actions of cytokines appear to be mediated by arachidonic acid metabolites most likely produced by cells of the lamina propria and submucosa and may play a role in inflammatory processes in which intestinal secretion is enhanced.
Validity of Data Extraction Techniques on the Kinetic Communicator (KinCom) Isokinetic Device

The purpose of this study was to examine the validity of the average and peak torque values of the knee extensor and flexor musculature obtained through the data extraction technique. Twenty women (age = 20.2 ± 1.01 yr; height = 169.0 ± 6.8 cm; weight = 60.8 ± 5.5 kg) were assessed for isokinetic peak and average torque of the knee musculature at a velocity of 90 deg/sec. Subjects were randomly assessed through a range of motion of 5-90 deg and 25-70 deg. Peak and average torque values within a range of motion of 25-70 deg were extracted from the tested range of motion of 5-90 deg. Correlational analyses between the tested and extracted variables revealed relationships ranging from r = 0.79 to 0.95. Paired t tests found no significant differences (p < 0.006). These findings suggest that the data extraction techniques are valid.
Clues to pathogenesis of fibromyalgia in patients with sickle cell disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between sickle cell disease (SCD) and fibromyalgia (FM). METHODS: Nine patients with SCD for whom a rheumatology consult was requested were assessed for FM by retrospective chart review. Eleven inpatients with other forms of anemia referred for rheumatology consult were also assessed for FM. RESULTS: Eight of 9 patients with SCD fulfilled classification criteria for FM compared to one of 11 patients without SCD (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Awareness of the high frequency of FM in SCD can improve treatment of sickle cell crisis. Some pain that is labeled as sickle cell crisis pain may be due to FM, and may improve with tender point injections.
Frequency estimation by linear prediction

The application of linear prediction to frequency estimation for sinusoidal signals in noise is investigated. It is shown that improved performance is obtained by processing a complex-valued version of the real-valued input signal, with the corresponsing sampling rate reduced by one-half. The case of a single sinusoid in white noise is studied in detail, including the eigenvalues of the covariance matrix, zeros of the inverse filter polynomial, frequency bias, and frequency variance as a function of input SNR and prediction order.
Effects of nitrification inhibitors on transformations of urea nitrogen in soils

Abstract The effects of three patented nitrification inhibitors on transformations of urea N in soils were studied by determining the effects of these compounds (10 μg/g of soil) on urea hydrolysis, ammonia volatilization. and production of ammonium, nitrite, and nitrate in soils incubated under aerobic conditions (30°C, 60% WHC) after treatment with urea (400 μg of urea N/g of soil). The inhibitors used (N-Serve, ATC, and CL-1580) had little, if any, effect on urea hydrolysis, but they retarded nitrification of the ammonium formed by urea hydrolysis and increased gaseous loss of urea N as ammonia. They also decreased the amount of (urea + exchangeable ammonium + nitrite + nitrate) — N found in urea-treated soils after various times. Two of the soils used accumulated substantial amounts of nitrite(> 160 μg of nitrite N/g of soil) when incubated under aerobic conditions after treatment with urea. Addition of nitrification inhibitors to these soils eliminated or substantially reduced nitrite accumulation and greatly retarded nitrate formation, but had little, if any, effect on the recovery of urea N as (urea + exchangeable ammonium + nitrite + nitrate + ammonia) — N after various times. This finding and other observations reported indicate that the “nitrogen deficits” observed in studies of urea N transformations in soils may not largely be due to gaseous loss of urea N through chemodenitrification and are at least partly due to volatilization and fixation of the ammonium formed by urea hydrolysis in soils. The work reported also indicates that N-Serve and other nitrification inhibitors may prove useful for reduction of the nitrite toxicity problems associated with the use of urea as a fertilizer but that application of such inhibitors in conjunction with fertilizer urea, when surface applied, may promote gaseous loss of urea N as ammonia.