cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanisms and mediators of the adult respiratory distress syndrome.

SUMMARY In 1990, we are much less certain that we understand ARDS than we were in 1982, and we have yet to identify specific therapy. It is tempting to conclude that we have made no progress, but this conclusion would be unwarranted. In those 8 years, important advances have been made. The complement hypothesis has survived, with significant modifications. Recognition of the importance of infection in clinical outcome and of endotoxin in augmentation of neutrophil-mediated injury has evolved in concert and meshes well. A new class of peptide mediators, cytokines, has assumed a central role. Lipid mediators now appear as modulators of cytokine-induced effects by priming, amplification, and regulation of gene expression rather than as unifactorial “causes” of the physiologic manifestations of ARDS. These interdigitating mechanisms have been recognized as pansystemic, resulting in overt multiple organ dysfunction and ultimately in death if amplification mechanisms go unchecked. Technologies in molecular genetics, generally unknown to the pulmonary community in 1982, have had a significant impact. Recombinant cDNA technology has permitted identification of the existence, structure, and functions of novel cytokines; made them available in sufficient quantity for detailed study; and prompted interest in the regulation of gene expression in the evolution and resolution of inflammation. Proteins modified by genetic engineering, as well as monoclonal antibodies and receptor antagonists for specific cytokines, are promising future approaches to therapy. At present, the complexity of the redundant networks by which inflammation is regulated seems bewildering in relation to ARDS. Bewildering or not, the age of the “mediator” of ARDS, and of the corresponding therapeutic “magic bullet,” is over. The complexity of the system of regulatory checks and balances must be addressed at the molecular level.
A Proposed Agenda for Redesign

This chapter offers a broad-brush proposal for the development of an architecture for the international financial system in the post-transition period. The approach broadens the range of the concerns of the system to include all of the different components of the international flows of funds and, therefore, of international economic involvement.1 Independently of the reliance on managed global macrofinancial policies in the transitional system, the proposal given here rejects a purely laissez-faire structure and it also rejects a world-wide monolithic system. Ultimately, the design of such a large and complex undertaking must involve not only political feasibility or acceptance but it will also require a wide range of specialist expertise.
Abstract 3278: Dopamine inhibits growth of multiple myeloma

Introduction: Multiple myeloma (MM), progressive plasma cell tumor leading to overproduction of monoclonal immunoglobulins, osteolytic bone lesions, renal disease and immunodeficiency, is the second most prevalent hematologic malignancy in the United States. Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) is a critical cytokine responsible for the induction of angiogenesis in several solid and hematological malignancies like MM. It is likely that VEGF-A induced bone marrow (BM) angiogenesis promotes the survival, growth and proliferation of MM .Therefore targeting BM angiogenesis in MM may be effective for the treatment of MM patients Objective/Hypothesis: Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) are believed to play a central role in progression of MM pathogenesis. Along with other factors, these cells overproduce IL-6 that in turn stimulates growth, survival and progression of MM cells. Since it has been shown that VEGF-A can stimulate IL-6 secretion by these cells and because we have demonstrated that neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) can inhibit VEGF-A functions by acting through its D2 receptors (D2R) and BMSC express DAD2R, we therefore hypothesize that DA or D2R agonists have a role in inhibiting VEGF-A mediated IL-6 secretion by BMSC and thereby, MM progression. Results: Our results indicate that VEGF-A can significantly increase the secretion of IL6 by isolated BMSC cells in vitro. Addition of DA or D2R agonist, quinpirole, to VEGF-A treated BM cells results in suppression of IL-6 production. However treatment with D2R antagonist, eticlopride, prior to treatment with DA results in abrogation of the effect of DA. Similar effects of DA on VEGF-A induced IL-6 secretion was also observed in HS-5 human BM stromal cells. Our results further indicate that VEGF-A induced VEGFR1 phosphorylation is suppressed in HS-5 cells on treatment with D2R agonist. Furthermore, DA also inhibits the proliferation of MM1.S human MM cells in vitro. Conclusion: DA may be a new and an effective approach to retard the progression of MM. Since anti-angiogenic monotherapy cannot eradicate the disease completely, strategies using DA with more traditional modalities to eradicate the disease at the time of initial treatment might be beneficial. Finally, DA or its D2R agonists are being used in the clinics for several years for the treatment of other disorders, therefore these inexpensive drugs (in comparison to presently available drugs for the treatment of MM) with known and manageable side effects can be used in the clinics in near future for the treatment of both early and late stage MM. Citation Format: Chandrani Sarkar, Debanjan Chakroborty, Sujit Basu. Dopamine inhibits growth of multiple myeloma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3278.
Robust layered sensing: From sparse signals to sparse residuals

One of the key challenges in sensing networks is the extraction of information by fusing data from a multitude of possibly unreliable sensors. Robust sensing, viewed here as the simultaneous recovery of the wanted information-bearing signal vector together with the subset of (un)reliable sensors, is a problem whose optimum solution incurs combinatorial complexity. The present paper relaxes this problem to its closest convex approximation that turns out to yield a vector-generalization of Huber's scalar criterion for robust linear regression. The novel generalization is shown equivalent to a second-order cone program (SOCP), and exploits the block-sparsity inherent to a suitable model of the residuals. A computationally efficient solver is developed using a block-coordinate descent algorithm, and is tested with simulations.
MAITs Onstage in Mice and Men With Three Acts for Development

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are a conserved T-cell subset found in humans, mice and cattle. Although putative ligands and functions of those cells have become the focus of recent studies, their development was still poorly understood. In a recent issue of Nature Immunology, Koay et al. have shed light on the MAIT cell developmental process in mice and men.1
Apparent permeability of flow through periodic arrays of spheres with first-order slip

Abstract A lattice Boltzmann bounce-back scheme that can simulate the first-order slip boundary condition at a fluid-solid interface is derived and verified with analytical and asymptotic solutions for shear and pressure driven flows in channels, through square arrays of cylinders, and in a Couette cell. We then simulated Stokes flows with surface slip through simple cubic (SC), body-centered cubic (BCC), and face-centered cubic (FCC) arrays of spheres and established the slip (apparent) permeability of these arrays as a function of the no-slip (absolute) permeability, the slip length and the porosity. It is found that k s / k ns , the ratio between the slip permeability and the no-slip permeability, increases with increasing slip length and increases with decreasing porosity owning to enhancement of flow through the gaps between particles. Interestingly, k s / k ns is nearly independent of sphere configuration when the dimensionless slip length is small; with increasing dimensionless slip length, however, different sphere configurations start to have different k s / k ns . The dependence of k s / k ns on the slip length is slightly nonlinear owning to the curvature of the surface and this dependence can be correlated by quadratic equations.
Head and neck desmoplastic melanoma: Utility of sentinel node biopsy

Abstract Purpose The utility of sentinel lymph node biopsy in desmoplastic melanoma has been questioned due to multiple reports of a low rate of occult nodal metastasis in this variant of melanoma. We describe a single institution experience with management of desmoplastic melanoma of the head and neck and discuss the utility of sentinel lymph node biopsy. Materials and methods A retrospective review was performed of 49 patients with desmoplastic melanoma of the head and neck at a tertiary care center from 1994 to 2014. Results Sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed in 15 patients. Only 1 (6.7%) of these patients was found to have a positive sentinel node. Of the 46 patients without evidence of neck disease at presentation, 3 (6.5%) were found to have occult nodal disease or developed neck recurrences. When looking at the entire cohort, there were a total of 16 recurrences in 14 patients (28.6%). The majority (85.7%) of recurrences were either local or distant metastasis with only 2 (14.3%) recurrences being in regional lymph node basins. The overall rates of local, regional, and distant recurrences were 14.2%, 4.1%, and 10.2% respectively. The mixed pathologic subtype was not associated with a higher rate of nodal metastasis. Conclusions Desmoplastic melanoma has a low rate of occult nodal metastasis and a high propensity to recur locally or as a distant metastasis, regardless of regional node status. Our experience combined with the uncertain impact that sentinel node status has on survival raises the question of the utility of routine sentinel node biopsy in this specific variant of melanoma.
Southern Bancorp, Inc.: Reviving the Rural Economy Through Financial Products and Community Involvement

The case features Southern Bancorp, Inc. ("Southern"), a family of community development financial institutions (CDFIs) consisting of Southern Bancorp Bank, one of the largest and most profitable community development banks in the United States, and Southern Bancorp Community Partners, a nonprofit affiliate. Although the bank was expected to be profitable, the entire organization put community, not the financial interests of its shareholders, first; therefore, it was driven by mission rather than profit. Based in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, Southern served low-income populations in disadvantaged markets in the rural South and worked on a difficult task of revitalizing high-poverty communities. Even though Southern had implemented profitable operations, at one point the organization suffered substantial loan losses that threatened its existence. The case focuses on the CEO's decision regarding two loan portfolios: that of residential mortgages and small teacher-certification loans. The CEO must decide whether his organization can afford to continue offering those loans. Excerpt UVA-ENT-0203 Jun. 18, 2014 SOUTHERN BANCORP, INC.: REVIVING THE RURAL ECONOMY THROUGH FINANCIAL PRODUCTS AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT In 2014, Darrin L. Williams, the newly appointed CEO of Southern Bancorp, Inc., (Southern) was reviewing two loan portfolios: one of homeowner mortgages Southern offered in rural Arkansas and Mississippi, and one of small teacher-certification loans offered in the Clarksdale Municipal School District in Mississippi. Southern operated in distressed rural markets that were underserved by traditional financial institutions such as banks and credit unions. As a result of a lack of access to mainstream financial services, low-income consumers in those markets were vulnerable to the exploitative lending practices of the minimally regulated alternative financial sector. In 30% of its markets, Southern was the only bank offering affordable financial services, including transactional accounts, microloans, small-business loans, consumer credit, and residential mortgages. As a community development financial institution (CDFI) consisting of a for-profit bank and a nonprofit affiliate, Southern had a double bottom line because it cultivated both financial and community investments. Although the bank was expected to be profitable, the entire organization put the community interest rather than the financial interest of its shareholders first; therefore, it was not profit but mission driven. During its nearly 30-year existence, Southern had implemented profitable operations while serving low-income populations in disadvantaged markets in the rural South and working on the difficult task of revitalizing high-poverty communities. In the beginning, Southern had not always displayed its current disciplined focus on its core value of “no margin, no mission” and suffered substantial loan losses that threatened its existence. . . .
Targeting Heat Shock Proteins in Cancer: A Promising Therapeutic Approach

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are a large family of chaperones that are involved in protein folding and maturation of a variety of “client” proteins protecting them from degradation, oxidative stress, hypoxia, and thermal stress. Hence, they are significant regulators of cellular proliferation, differentiation and strongly implicated in the molecular orchestration of cancer development and progression as many of their clients are well established oncoproteins in multiple tumor types. Interestingly, tumor cells are more HSP chaperonage-dependent than normal cells for proliferation and survival because the oncoproteins in cancer cells are often misfolded and require augmented chaperonage activity for correction. This led to the development of several inhibitors of HSP90 and other HSPs that have shown promise both preclinically and clinically in the treatment of cancer. In this article, we comprehensively review the roles of some of the important HSPs in cancer, and how targeting them could be efficacious, especially when traditional cancer therapies fail.
Spin-Hall effect and emergent antiferromagnetic phase transition in n-Si

Abstract Spin current experiences minimal dephasing and scattering in Si due to small spin-orbit coupling and spin-lattice interactions is the primary source of spin relaxation. We hypothesize that if the specimen dimension is of the same order as the spin diffusion length then spin polarization will lead to non-equilibrium spin accumulation and emergent phase transition. In n-Si, spin diffusion length has been reported up to 6 μm. The spin accumulation in Si will modify the thermal transport behavior of Si, which can be detected with thermal characterization. In this study, we report observation of spin-Hall effect and emergent antiferromagnetic phase transition behavior using magneto-electro-thermal transport characterization. The freestanding Pd (1 nm)/Ni80Fe20 (75 nm)/MgO (1 nm)/n-Si (2 µm) thin film specimen exhibits a magnetic field dependent thermal transport and spin-Hall magnetoresistance behavior attributed to Rashba effect. An emergent phase transition is discovered using self-heating 3ω method, which shows a diverging behavior at 270 K as a function of temperature similar to a second order phase transition. We propose that spin-Hall effect leads to the spin accumulation and resulting emergent antiferromagnetic phase transition. We propose that the length scale for Rashba effect can be equal to the spin diffusion length and two-dimensional electron gas is not essential for it. The emergent antiferromagnetic phase transition is attributed to the site inversion asymmetry in diamond cubic Si lattice.
Interferon-α Subtypes As an Adjunct Therapeutic Approach for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Functional Cure.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) establishes life-long latency in infected individual. Though highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) has had a significant impact on the course of HIV infection leading to a better long-term outcome, the pool of latent reservoir remains substantial even under HAART. Numerous approaches have been under development with the goal of eradicating the latent HIV reservoir though with limited success. Approaches that combine immune mediated control of HIV to activate both the innate and adaptive immune system under suppressive therapy along with “shock and kill’ drugs may lead to a better control of the reactivated virus. Interferon alpha (IFN-α) is an innate cytokine that has been shown to activate intracellular defenses capable of restricting and controlling HIV. IFN-α, however, harbors numerous functional subtypes that have been reported to display different binding affinities and potency. Recent studies have suggested that certain subtypes such as, IFN-α8 and IFN-α14 have potent anti-HIV activity with little or no immune activation whereas other subtypes such as IFN-α4, IFN-α5 and IFN-α14 activate NK cells. Could these subtypes be used in combination with other strategies to reduce the latent viral reservoir? Here we review the role of IFN-α subtypes in HIV infection and discuss the possibility that certain subtypes could be potential adjuncts to a “shock and kill” or therapeutic vaccination strategy leading to better control of the latent reservoir and subsequent functional cure.
Coordinate Representations Underlying Arm Movements in Three-Dimensional Space

Traditionally, researchers interested in the neural control of movement have focused their attention to the very simple movements restricted to motion at one joint and to the principal muscles, agonists and antagonists, acting about that joint. Given the technical and conceptual complexities which would need to be faced if one were to attempt to study whole-body motion, this is obviously an appropriate beginning. Furthermore, it had been tacitly assumed that one could extrapolate in a relatively straightforward manner the insights gained by studying one degree of freedom movements to understand more complicated multi-degree of freedom motions. Reduced to the extreme, such an assumption would imply that the coordination of whole-body motion is no more than the simultaneous execution of a number of simple movements; no new problems, other than perhaps the need for synchronization, would arise if that hypothesis were valid.
Algebraic Riccati Equations Arising in Game Theory and in H∞-Control Problems for a Class of Abstract Systems

Abstract We consider the abstract framewoin of [4, class (H. 2)] whicI models a variety of mixed partial differential equation problems in a smooth bounded domain Ω ⊂ ℝ n , arbitrary n , with boundary L 2 (0, T ;δΩ)-control. These include second-order hyperbolic equations, first-order hyperbolic systems, Euler-Bernoulli, Kirchhoff, Schroedinger equations, etc. For these dynamics we set and solve a min-max game theory problem – a fortiori the H ∞ -robust stabilization problem – in terms of an algebraic Riccati equation to express the optimal quantities in pointwise feedback form.
Animal-Assisted Therapy in Specialized Settings

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses various animal-assisted therapy (AAT) programs and approaches that are being used in a number of settings with different client populations. Illustrations include schools, nursing homes, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and prisons. Reasons for the variation of AAT are also presented. There are numerous reasons for the variation in AAT, including the species, breed, and training level of the animals involved in AAT programs; the level of training, and characteristics of the human partner and professional; the nature and purpose of the setting and client population; and knowledge level of AAT by individual programs or facilities. There are numerous specialized settings with a variety of populations that can benefit from AAT. These include the elderly in long-term care facilities, homebound elderly, patients with terminal illnesses, patients in hospitals, children in various settings, and inmates in prisons and correctional facilities. The interdisciplinary nature of AAT in many respects enriches its content, but also contributes to different ways of conducting or implementing this therapeutic intervention. Professionals, trained staff, and volunteers all engage in various levels of AAT based primarily on their understanding of and personal commitment to the human-animal bond. Some efforts have been made to establish guidelines for AAT; however, this falls short of addressing the wide variation that exists at present.
Alterations in Gastrointestinal Functioning During Sleep: Clinical Applications

The relationship between several gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and sleep can be described as a two-way interaction. That is, the occurrence of a particular disorder during sleep, such as gastroesophageal reflux (GER), can produce sleep disruption resulting in sleep complaints, and conversely, the occurrence of GER during sleep can be exacerbated by the physiologic consequences of sleep. Similarly, patients with functional dyspepsia often have sleep complaints, and alterations in sleep patterns such as disturbed sleep or restricted sleep can alter visceral perception resulting in an exacerbation of pain responses. Alterations in autonomic functioning in patients with functional bowel disorders may offer an additional explanation regarding the pathogenesis of the pain associated with these disorders. Alterations in physiologic responses during sleep contribute substantially to the clinical picture associated with these disorders. The marked decrease in swallowing and salivation associated with sleep results in a marked prolongation of acid clearance associated with sleep-related GER. This can contribute directly to the mucosal abnormalities associated with esophagitis. Further investigation into the relationship between sleep and GI functioning will further the understanding of the pathogenesis of a variety of GI disorders.
Residents' Views on Research and Quality Improvement Training Can Guide Practice-Based Research Network Collaboration.

Background and objectives This study was conducted by the West Virginia Practice-Based Research Network Learning Collaborative to assess research activity, confidence, and attitudes toward residency programs' research and quality improvement requirements and inform the integration of the state-wide practice-based research network (PBRN) as mentors to support practice transformation implementation initiatives across various resident training sites in West Virginia. Methods This pilot study assessed residents' attitudes regarding (1) research activity, (2) confidence and (3) requirements of their program in research and quality improvement training by using an anonymous survey, administered during regular residency meetings. Results Of the 68 residents,representing four DO and MD Family Medicine residency programs in West Virginia, 40 (58.8%) responded to the survey. About 64 percent of residents had worked on a quality improvement project, and more than half of residents (52.5%) submitted a research project for a competitive presentation within the most recent year. Sixty-five percent felt satisfied with the residency program's research and quality improvement curriculum. However, only 55 percent felt confident to perform a project and 52 percent submitted a project to a competitive forum. Conclusion Only half of the residents demonstrate activity and confidence in research and quality improvement. This shows an opportunity to assess current curriculums and provide new strategies to enhance their ability to conduct practice transformation initiatives.
Optical determination of absolute membrane potential

All cells maintain ionic gradients across their plasma membranes, producing transmembrane potentials (Vmem). Mounting evidence suggests a relationship between resting Vmem and the physiology of non-excitable cells with implications in diverse areas, including cancer, cellular differentiation, and body patterning. A lack of non-invasive methods to record absolute Vmem limits our understanding of this fundamental signal. To address this need, we developed a fluorescence lifetime-based approach (VF-FLIM) to visualize and optically quantify Vmem with single-cell resolution. Using VF-FLIM, we report Vmem distributions over thousands of cells, a 100-fold improvement relative to electrophysiological approaches. In human carcinoma cells, we visualize the voltage response to epidermal growth factor stimulation, stably recording a 10-15 mV hyperpolarization over minutes. Using pharmacological inhibitors, we identify the source of the hyperpolarization as the Ca2+-activated K+ channel KCa3.1. The ability to optically quantify absolute Vmem with cellular resolution will allow a re-examination of its roles as a cellular signal.
Heterogeneity in the Co-occurrence of Substance Use and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Latent Class Analysis Approach

Objective: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often co-occurs with substance use (SU). Although there has been independent research on subgroups of participants based on their PTSD or SU response...
Isolating phyllotactic patterns embedded in the secondary growth of sweet cherry ( Prunus avium L.) using magnetic resonance imaging

Epicormic branches arise from dormant buds patterned during the growth of previous years. Dormant epicormic buds remain just below the surface of trees, pushed outward from the pith during secondary growth, but maintain vascular connections. Epicormic buds can be activated to elongate into a new shoot, either through natural processes or horticultural intervention, to potentially rejuvenate orchards and restructure tree architecture. Because epicormic structures are embedded within secondary growth, tomographic approaches are a useful method to study them and understand their development. We apply techniques from image processing to determine the locations of epicormic vascular traces embedded within secondary growth of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.), revealing the juvenile phyllotactic pattern in the trunk of an adult tree. Techniques include the flood fill algorithm to find the pith of the tree, edge detection to approximate the radius, and a conversion to polar coordinates to threshold and segment phyllotactic features. Intensity values from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the trunk are projected onto the surface of a perfect cylinder to find the locations of traces in the “boundary image”. Mathematical phyllotaxy provides a means to capture the patterns in the boundary image by modeling phyllotactic parameters. Our cherry tree specimen has the conspicuous parastichy pair (2,3), phyllotactic fraction 2/5, and divergence angle of approximately 143°. The methods described provide a framework not only for studying phyllotaxy, but also for processing of volumetric image data in plants. Our results have practical implications for orchard rejuvenation and directed approaches to influence tree architecture. The study of epicormic structures, which are hidden within secondary growth, using tomographic methods also opens the possibility of studying genetic and environmental influences such structures.
Hormone Replacement Therapy Prescription after Premature Surgical Menopause.

STUDY OBJECTIVE To assess hormone replacement therapy (HRT) prescription pattern in patients undergoing premature surgical menopause on the basis of surgical indication. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING Academic tertiary care center. PATIENTS Surgically menopausal patients aged ≤45 years who underwent a minimally invasive hysterectomy with salpingo-oophorectomy. INTERVENTIONS HRT prescription in the 6-week postoperative period. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS A total of 63 patients met inclusion criteria. Of these, 52% (n = 33) were prescribed HRT in the 6-week postoperative period. Indications for surgical menopause included pelvic pain or endometriosis (31.7%), gynecologic malignancy (20.6%), BRCA gene mutation (17.4%), breast cancer (9.5%), Lynch syndrome (4.8%), and other (15.8%). In total, 80% of patients with pelvic pain, 25% with gynecologic malignancies, 45% with BRCA gene mutations, 33.3% with breast cancer, and 66.6% with Lynch syndrome used HRT postoperatively. In patients who used HRT postoperatively, 76% were offered preoperative HRT counseling. This is in contrast with those patients who did not use HRT postoperatively, of whom only 33% were offered HRT counseling (p <.001). Perioperative complications were not predictive of HRT use postoperatively. In patients who did not use HRT postoperatively, 13.3% used alternative nonhormonal therapy. CONCLUSION In patients who underwent premature surgical menopause, 52% used HRT postoperatively. Patients with pelvic pain and Lynch syndrome were more likely to use HRT, whereas those with gynecologic or breast malignancies and BRCA gene mutations were less likely to use HRT. Preoperative HRT counseling was associated with postoperative HRT use.
Principles, drivers, and policy tools for just climate change adaptation in legacy cities

Abstract Climate change adaptation presents an opportunity for legacy cities to address growing social, racial, and economic inequality, or engage in just climate change adaptation. While the importance of just and equitable climate change adaptation is well understood, the policy and politics that underlie such efforts are less well understood. This paper focuses on the development of just climate change adaptation strategies in legacy cities, particularly those in the Great Lakes region of the U.S., where the challenges and opportunities for climate change adaptation are particularly high. Detroit, Michigan and Cleveland, Ohio are used as illustrative case studies. These cities are two of the only two legacy cities of the Great Lakes region to have developed formal and explicit adaptation plans, and foregrounded justice and equity early in the process. A review of planning documents, and interviews with key stakeholders, in the two cities are used to identify the components of justice being included in climate change adaptation planning, the drivers or motivations for foregrounding justice in their adaptation planning, and the policy tools being used or developed to reach these goals. The findings reveal an awareness among stakeholders and decision makers in both cities of the importance of addressing inequality in climate change adaptation, some attention to justice principles in the adaptation plans themselves, and a diverse set of policy tools emerging to support this work. Importantly, despite relatively modest ambitions for climate change adaptation, both cities face implementation challenges that are likely to be common among legacy cities of the region.
Patient Factors Lead to Extensive Variation in Outcomes and Cost From Cholecystectomy.

BackgroundCholecystectomy is a common procedure with significantly varied outcomes. We analyzed differences in comorbidities, outcomes, and cost of cholecystectomy by acute care surgery (ACS) versu...
Multidecadal directional shift in shortgrass stocking rates

Abstract Bement (1969) developed a stocking rate (SR) guide for yearling cattle grazing shortgrass steppe based on relationships among average daily weight gain (ADG, kg · d−1), beef production per hectare (BP, kg · ha−1), and stocking rate (animal unit days, AUD · ha−1) measured in long-term grazing experiments conducted from 1940 to 1963. These analyses identified an optimal biophysical SR of 13.5 AUD · ha−1. Here, we 1) examine modern era (2000−2018) SR results from these same long-term grazing experiments to determine if there has been a shift in the optimal biophysical SR and 2) assess the influence of drought (
FiberNeat: unsupervised streamline clustering and white matter tract filtering in latent space

Whole-brain tractograms generated from diffusion MRI digitally represent the white matter structure of the brain and are composed of millions of streamlines. Such tractograms can have false positive and anatomically implausible streamlines. To obtain anatomically relevant streamlines and tracts, supervised and unsupervised methods can be used for tractogram clustering and tract extraction. Here we propose FiberNeat, an unsupervised streamline clustering and tract filtering method. FiberNeat takes an input set of streamlines that could either be unlabeled clusters or labeled tracts. Individual clusters/tracts are projected into a latent space using nonlinear dimensionality reduction techniques, such as t-SNE and UMAP, to find spurious and outlier streamlines. In addition, outlier streamline clusters are detected using DBSCAN and then removed from the data in streamline space. Quantitative comparisons with expertly delineated tracts show the promise of the approach. This approach can be deployed as a filtering step after tracts are extracted.
Compact Gain-Saturated Plasma-Based X-Ray Lasers Down to 6.85 Nm and Amplification Down to 5.85 NM

Plasma-based x-ray lasers allow single-shot nano-scale imaging and other experiments requiring a large number of photons per pulse to be conducted in compact facilities. However, compact repetitively fired gain-saturated x-ray lasers have been limited to wavelengths above $\lambda=8.85$ nm 1. Here we extend their range to $\lambda=6.85$ nm by transient traveling wave excitation of Ni-like Gd ions in a plasma created with an optimized pre-pulse followed by rapid heating with an intense sub-ps pump pulse, both pulses from a $\lambda=800$ nm Ti: Sa laser2. Model simulations show that refraction shifts the maximum gain to the lower electron density region of $\mathrm{n}_{\mathrm{e}}=4-5\times 10^{20}$ cm-3, Isoelectronic scaling also produced strong lasing at 6.67 nm and 6.11 nm in Ni-like Tb, and amplification at 6.41 nm and 5.85 nm in Ni-like Dy. This scaling to shorter wavelengths was obtained progressively increasing the plasma density by increasing the grazing incidence angle at which the sub-ps pulse impinges onto the target. We experimentally demonstrate that the optimum grazing incidence angle increases linearly with atomic number from 17 degrees for Z=42 (Mo) to 43 degrees for Z=66 (Dy), corresponding to densities of 1.5 to 8 x 1020 cm-3, but as mentioned above for the high Z elements refraction shifts the maxim gain region to lower values.
Monte Carlo Simulations of Frustrated Classical Spin Systems

We present preliminary results of Monte Carlo simulations of classical bilayer Heisenberg models with frustrating interlayer couplings. We studied the low temperature magnetic structure of three geometrically different systems. In systems with identical square lattices in the two layers, we can reproduce the basic features of the ground state phase diagram of the classical J 1 — J 2 model if the relative displacement of two layers is along a diagonal; when the two layers are off-set by half a lattice constant in only one direction, we find that a twisted spin phase can be set up in the direction of frustration. We also studied a system with two different square lattices arranged to resemble the geometry found in the mixed layer pnictide oxides (Sr 2 Mn 3 Pn 2 O 2, Pn = As, Sb) of Brock et al. Within a restricted region of phase space, this model does exhibit the orthogonal order observed in experiments.
Remote Sensing Theory and Time-Sensitive Information

The role of time in remote sensing is complex and, particularly in the case of time-sensitive remote sensing, can impose substantial control on the utility of information derived using remote sensing techniques. A common vernacular is used to define the role of time in remote sensing as it is currently understood. The various manifestations of time in the remote sensing process are then evaluated in terms of their potential effect on the utility of information produced. The concept of information utility, which necessitates acknowledgment of remote sensing’s role as a information production system, provides an orienting construct for evaluating the affect of time on the remote sensing process.
Decision support for patient preference-based care planning: effects on nursing care and patient outcomes.

Objective: While preference elicitation techniques have been effective in helping patients make decisions consistent with their preferences, little is known about whether information about patient preferences affects clinicians in clinical decision making and improves patient outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a decision support system for eliciting elderly patients' preferences for self-care capability and providing this information to nurses in clinical practice—specifically, its effect on nurses' care priorities and the patient outcomes of preference achievement and patient satisfaction. Design: Three-group quasi-experimental design with one experimental and two control groups ( N = 151). In the experimental group computer-processed information about individual patient's preferences was placed in patients' charts to be used for care planning. Results: Information about patient preferences changed nurses' care priorities to be more consistent with patient preferences and improved patients' preference achievement and physical functioning. Further, higher consistency between patient preferences and nurses' care priorities was associated with higher preference achievement, and higher preference achievement with greater patient satisfaction. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that decision support for eliciting patient preferences and including them in nursing care planning is an effective and feasible strategy for improving nursing care and patient outcomes.
Isotope effects: determination of enzyme transition state structure.

Publisher Summary Enzymologists wish to determine the transition state structures for enzymatic reactions for several reasons: (1) to compare the mechanisms of enzymatic and nonenzymatic reactions in order to understand better the factors involved in enzymatic catalysis and (2) “transition state analogs” being used for drugs, to know what structure should be mimicked. Isotope effects have been used for many years to study the nonenzymatic reactions. For many enzymatic reactions, the observed isotope effects can be reasonably interpreted once the intrinsic values are known on the chemical steps. The problem is that the chemical step (or steps) of an enzymatic reaction is often not totally rate limiting, so that one has to either find a way to make this step rate limiting (by changing substrate, changing pH, or mutating the enzyme) or find a way to calculate the intrinsic isotope effect. This chapter discusses some basic definitions, and then describes the more modern methods of measuring isotope effects and determining intrinsic isotope effects. After that, it gives examples of the determination of transition state structure and what these studies tell about enzymatic mechanisms.
A Novel Homozygous Mutation Of SLC52A3 Gene Associated With Brown-Vialetto-Van Laere Syndrome (BVVL) (S42.001)

Objective: To describe a case of a child with typical clinical features and molecular confirmation of BVVL with impressive clinical response to enteral riboflavin. Background: BVVL is a rare neurological disorder described by Brown, Vialetto, and Van Laere as progressive pontobulbar palsy and sensorineural deafness with rapid deterioration and death secondary to respiratory failure. Age at presentation varies from infancy to the 5th decade, affecting females more than males (3:1). BVVL is caused by mutations in the SLC52A3, SLC52A2 and SLC52A1 genes (riboflavin transporter genes) with symptomatic improvement reported with administration of riboflavin. Design/Methods: A 32-month-old Hispanic female presented with sensorineural hearing loss and speech regression that began six months prior to admission, with two months of ptosis and wide-based gait and one week of choking when eating and sleeping. Family history was significant for a brother who died at 4 ½ years of age with similar presentation excluding hearing loss. Exam showed a non-verbal girl with bilateral ptosis, facial diplegia, weak gag reflex, and ataxia. She was diagnosed clinically with probable BVVL. Metabolic testing including CSF and brain MRI were normal. Laryngoscopy revealed bilateral vocal cord paralysis and ultrasonography revealed unilateral diaphragm weakness. Results: Molecular testing demonstrated a novel homozygous missense mutation in exon 4 of the SLC52A3 gene (p.Cys386Arg), one of three genes known to cause BVVL. The patient was started on high dose riboflavin, initially orally and later through gastrostomy tube (secondary to dysphagia). Gait, facial diplegia, and ptosis improved significantly over four months, with gradual recovery of hearing detected by audiogram. Conclusions: We report a girl with progressive pontobulbar palsy and sensorineural hearing loss with a confirmed novel homozygous SLC52A3 mutation who experienced dramatic improvement with high dose riboflavin as per the protocol pioneered by Bosch et al. Because of this condition’s potentially rapid progression and poor prognosis, prompt clinical recognition of BVVL and institution of high dose riboflavin could be life saving. Disclosure: Dr. Naik has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chopra has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pletcher has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gordhan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ming has nothing to disclose.
Rgs16 is an early marker of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (842.7)

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is the fourth leading cause of cancer related deaths. Limited progress has been made in developing effective therapy for PDA. Compounding this challenge has b...
SiC Fiber-Reinforced Celsian Composites

Celsian is a promising matrix material for fiber-reinforced composites for high temperature structural applications. Processing and fabrication of small diameter multifilament silicon carbide tow reinforced celsian matrix composites are described. Mechanical and microstructural properties of these composites at ambient and elevated temperatures are presented. Effects of high-temperature exposures in air on the mechanical behavior of these composites are also given. The composites show mechanical integrity up to ∼ 1100°C but degrade at higher temperatures in oxidizing atmospheres. A model has been proposed for the degradation of these composites in oxidizing atmospheres at high temperatures.
ASSESSMENT AND REHABILITATION OF THE ATHLETE WITH A “STINGER”: A Model for the Management of Noncatastrophic Athletic Cervical Spine Injury

Stingers are the most common athletically induced nerve injury of the cervical spine, but often underdiagnosed or inadequately assessed. In addition to neurologic dysfunction, biomechanical and postural faults are frequently associated with stingers. This article addresses the pathomechanics of the stinger, comprehensive clinical assessment, appropriate diagnostic testing, and a thorough review of rehabilitation techniques to allow return to competition. The principles and practical suggestions can be applied to most cervical spine injuries.
GRAY WOLF POPULATION PROJECTION WITH INTRASPECIFIC COMPETITION

Competition effects are incorporated into a model of wolf-population dynamics. A classic single-state model is augmented into a dual-state mapping of the evolution of the size of wolf packs and the number of wolf packs. This dual-state model, unlike the single-state density dependent model, is amenable to analyzing intraspecific competition. The single-state, dual-state and dual-state with competition models are estimated using Yellowstone National Park (YNP) data on wolf populations and pack structures from 1996 to 2011. The dynamic properties of each model are examined under an array of harvesting policies. Results suggest that intraspecific competition matters when projecting wolf populations. Wolf pack removal has competition-reducing effects from added territory availability, making populations more sensitive to pack size reduction than reduction in the number of packs. This research suggests that wildlife managers may consider monitoring the composition of wolf kills throughout a harvesting season, adaptively adjusting harvesting quotas and delineating harvesting zones over a few pack territories rather than spreading these effects evenly across all packs.
Experimental and simulation studies of hard contact in force reflecting teleoperation

Experiments and simulations of a single-axis force-reflecting teleoperation system have been conducted to investigate the problem of contacting a hard environment and maintaining a controlled force in teleoperation in which position is fed forward from the hand controller (master) to the manipulator (slave), and force is fed back to the human operator through motors in the master. The simulations, using an electrical circuit model, reproduce the behavior of the real system, including effects of human operator biomechanics. It is shown that human operator properties, which vary as a result of different types of grasp of the handle, affect the stability of the system in the hard-contact task. The effect of a heavier grasp on the handle is equivalent to increased hand-controlled velocity damping in terms of the systems stability in the contact task, but control system damping sufficient to guarantee stable contact results in perceptible sluggishness of the control handle's response in free motion. These results suggest that human operator biomechanics must be taken into account to guarantee stable and ergonomic performance of advanced teleoperators. >
Twice-born, once conceived: Meaning construction and cultural cognition.

Cultural cognition is the product of two different sorts of meaning: (a) the (objective) semiotic organization of cultural texts or models, and (b) the (subjective) processes of meaning construction through which cultural symbols become available to consciousness as “experience.” This article proposes a way to bridge these two kinds of meaning by considering how cultural knowledge is grounded in sensory experience. Several cognitive processes (schematization, synesthesia, secondary intersubjectivity) are proposed for linking the objectively available schemata found in cultural practices and the processes of meaning construction by which individuals appropriate symbols to consciousness. The nature of the relation between public symbols and individual experience is discussed in relation to a number of current issues in post-structuralist culture theory.
Copla y supervivencia: Conchita Piquer, “Tatuaje”, y el duelo de los vencidos

The present study is a reading of “Tatuaje” (1941), the most famous copla of Conchita Piquer, in the context of Franco’s mass graves. Several intellectuals who grew up during the postwar period in Spain have attested to the passion with which the defeated sang this song. The testimony of survivors of Franco’s terror, presented in recent documentaries, describes the psychological suffering that resulted from the prohibition on burying their dead or carrying out rituals of mourning for them. I use this testimony to argue that “Tatuaje” had such a huge impact because it functioned during the entire postwar period as a clandestine ritual of mourning, a mourning done in code under cover of the story of the woman at the port and her sailor. I interpret the song as a representation of, and as a therapy for, the condition called “complicated grief”. And I argue that “Tatuaje” also helped the defeated to solve an existential problem: that of being ghostly carryovers from a previous era, without a role in Franco’s “New Spain”.