cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular Approaches To Maturation-Caused Decline In Adventitious Rooting Ability in Loblolly Pine (Pinus Taeda L.)

New approaches towards understanding the control of adventitious root formation include studies at the level of gene expression. We discuss attempts to determine the identity of as yet unknown genes which are specific to formation of roots, as well as studies on the expression of genes known to be involved in the wound response. A number of genes appear to be specific to adventitious root formation in several species including loblolly pine, and the expression of these genes changes with maturation. Keywords: adventitious rooting, gene expression, loblolly pine
Analysis of small-amplitude low gravity sloshing in axisymmetric tanks

The theory of linearized, low-gravity sloshing in axisymmetric tanks is developed in an integral minimization form that permits numerical solutions to be computed easily and that can be modified readily when better knowledge about the important surface physics phenomena becomes available from space experimentation. The slosh force and equivalent mechanical model are also derived, including the correction of errors in previous analyses. Several numerical examples are presented for spherical and cylindrical tanks. The contact angle used in the examples is 5 deg and a 'free' contact line is assumed. The results show that the nondimensional slosh frequency and slosh mass for a spherical tank are smaller for low gravity conditions than for normal gravity conditions, whereas they are larger for cylindrical tank.
Preventive Self-Help and the Six Nonnaturals: Remedies from Burton’s Anatomy of Melancholy

Among the ideas and themes in Burton’s Anatomy of Melancholy (1621) with apparent bearing on the treatment of depression in our own times, four are the subject of the present chapter. First, these herbal and other remedies were to be taken as part of a broader regimen of which no single part could be omitted. The regulation of exercise, fresh air, sleep, diet, evacuation, and feelings, believed to together keep the bodily humors in healthy balance, demanded habits and practices that were essential accompaniments to one another and to other measures. This was eclectic and holistic healing, only effective when combined. Second, adhering to this regimen was, for the most part, the individual’s own responsibility: it was an extensive self-help program. Third, it was preventive medicine, thought to ward off the symptoms of melancholy before they became entrenched and difficult to treat. And, finally, underlying and reinforcing these practical recommendations were ideas about the causes of, and remedies for, melancholy that are consonant with some recent challenges to the application of mainstream conceptions of disease in today’s medicine when it comes to the treatment of depression. Inasmuch as he seems to eschew “common cause” etiological models (as he does “magic bullet” or single-remedy assumptions), Burton’s account corresponds more closely to the network-based models beginning to be proposed for disorders of mood or affect.
Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Older Patients: Prognosis Determined by Disease Risk Index.

Abstract The treatment of elderly patients with advanced hematological malignancies has expanded to include reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) as a potentially curative option. We studied the association between Disease Risk Index (DRI) and clinical outcomes of 196 elderly patients (median age, 64.8; range, 60 to 75 years) with hematological malignancies receiving RIC alloHCT (2000 to 2014). Donors were related and unrelated adults (n = 100, 51.1%) or umbilical cord blood (n = 96, 48.9%). DRI classified 12 patients (6.1%) as low risk (LR), 146 patients (74.5%) as intermediate risk (IR), and 38 patients (19.4%) as high risk (HR). Two-year overall survival (OS) was 47% (52% for LR/IR versus 29% for HR, P
The Impact of Whole-Genome Sequencing on the Primary Care and Outcomes of Healthy Adult Patients: A Pilot Randomized Trial

The clinical value of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) in asymptomatic adults is uncertain. This pilot trial describes the effects on care of adding WGS to standardized family history assessment in pr...
2D dielectrophoretic signature of Coscinodiscus wailesii algae in non-uniform electric fields

Abstract This paper investigates the 2D dielectrophoretic signature of a unicellular centric green alga, Coscinodiscus wailesii , in non-uniform electric fields. The electrokinetic response was studied as a function of applied signal frequency and voltage. The effective permittivity of the diatoms was studied through mathematical simulation resulting in analyzing the diatoms' frequency response. Three different types of dielectrophoretic responses were measured and analyzed (i) lateral displacement of cells, movement of diatoms in a particular direction based on their dielectric polarizability, (ii) dielectrophoretic force, the translational force experienced by the diatoms as a result of applied non-uniform electric fields and (iii) translational dielectrophoretic velocity, the speed at which the diatoms move either towards or away from strong electric fields. The approaches discussed in this paper will improve the predictability of the dielectric properties of the diatoms using a combination of these parameters. The calibration of the physical diatom model to the experimental data results in the estimation of their dielectrophoretic behavior depending on the geometric structure of the diatom model. This method offers a practical means of label-free manipulation of diatoms and for rapid screening for environmental effects on the dielectric properties of algal cells.
Wireless Infrastructure M2M Network For Distributed Power Grid Monitoring

With the massive integration of distributed RESs into the power system, the demand for timely and reliable network quality monitoring, control, and fault analysis is rapidly growing. Following the successful deployment of PMUs in transmission systems for power monitoring, a new opportunity to utilize PMU measurement data for power quality assessment in distribution grid systems is emerging. The main problem, however, is that a distribution grid system does not normally have the support of an infrastructure network. Therefore, the main objective in this article is to develop an M2M communication network that can support wide ranging sensory data, including high rate synchrophasor data for real-time communication. In particular, we evaluate the suitability of the emerging IEEE 802.11ah standard by exploiting its important features, such as classifying the power grid sensory data into different categories according to their traffic characteristics. For performance evaluation we use our hardware in the loop grid communication network t
Baptisms by blood, fire, and water a typological rereading of the Passio S. Margaretae

A typological reading allows us to see that Margaret's early-medieval Latin passio, the Mombritius version upon which most later vernacular versions of her popular legend ultimately drew, is a tightly structured figural meditation on the theme of baptism and the sacraments of initiation. Examination of the prayers, the liturgically allusive gestures, and the symbolic elements of the whole narrative reveals a powerful female figure who “presides” over her own ordeal and with her prayers transforms the instruments of torture into baptisms by blood, fire, and water. This narrative's deep structure may offer further insight into Margaret's appeal as a patroness of childbirth
Controlling sensation intensity for electrotactile stimulation in human-machine interfaces

A barrier to practical use of electrotactile stimulation for haptic feedback has been large variability in perceived sensation intensity due to changes in the impedance of the electrode-skin interface, such as when electrodes peel or users sweat. Here, we show how to significantly reduce this variability by modulating stimulation parameters in response to measurements of impedance. Our method derives from three contributions. First, we created a model between stimulation parameters and impedance at constant perceived sensation intensity by looking at the peak pulse energy and phase charge. Our model fits experimental data better than previous models (mean R2 > 0.9) and holds over a larger set of conditions (subjects, sessions, magnitudes of sensation, stimulation locations, electrode sizes). Second, we implemented a controller that regulates perceived sensation intensity by using our model to derive a new current amplitude and pulse duration in response to changes in impedance. Our controller accurately predicts subject-chosen stimulation parameters at constant sensation intensity (mean R2 > 0.9). Third, we demonstrated as a proof-of-concept on two subjects with below-elbow amputations-using a prosthesis with electrotactile touch feedback-that our controller can regulate sensation intensity in response to large impedance changes that occur in activities of daily living. These results make electrotactile stimulation for human-machine interfaces more reliable during activities of daily living.
Normal Forms for Control Systems at Singular Points

A normal form for open loop control systems is provided, based on their interpretation as skew product flows and on normal forms for nonautonomous differential equations.
The Kinetics and Product Characteristics of Oxygen Reduction and Evolution in LiO2 Batteries

Understanding the origin of substantial performance challenges limiting the practical development of Li–O2 batteries, such as low rate capability, limited cycle life (<100 cycles), and the large voltage polarization (0.6–1 V) on charge, requires improved understanding of chemical, electrochemical, morphological, and electronic processes occurring in the electrode. This chapter highlights current understanding of how the kinetics and reaction product characteristics in Li–O2 batteries during discharge and charge influence performance characteristics at the cell level. First, a brief overview of energy and power of various Li–O2 electrodes reported in the literature to date is presented for a range of O2 electrode materials and designs as a benchmark for what has been achieved at the laboratory scale. Next, we review chemical and morphological understanding of the oxygen reduction (discharge) process, with a particular focus on nanostructured carbon electrodes in 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) electrolyte. The kinetics of oxygen reduction and the influence of kinetics on the morphology and shape evolution of Li2O2 are discussed, including recent insights into the microscale structure and proposed growth mechanisms of “toroidal” crystalline Li2O2 at low currents or overpotentials. We next discuss the surface chemistry of discharged oxygen electrodes, including the morphology-dependent surface chemistry of Li2O2, reactivity between Li2O2 and the carbon electrode, reactivity between Li2O2 and ether-based electrolytes, and resulting parasitic products that form upon discharge and during subsequent cycling. In light of chemical instabilities present nearly universally in liquid cells, we highlight recent work utilizing in situ ambient pressure XPS (APXPS) to examine Li–O2 electrochemistry during battery operation in an all-solid-state cell. Finally, we discuss the influence of morphology and surface chemistry of the discharge product on the charging kinetics in carbon-nanostructured electrodes, where morphology-dependent Li2O2 surface chemistry and structure are found to significantly influence the overpotential required during oxidation. Combined chemical, electrochemical, morphological, and electronic understanding is increasingly important as researchers seek to develop improved O2 electrodes with increased round-trip efficiency and improved chemical/electrochemical reversibility approaching what is needed for practical devices.
Measurements and Simulations of the Acidity Dependence of the Kinetics of the Iron-Catalyzed Belousov-Zhabotinsky Reaction: Proton-Catalysis in the Electron Transfer Reaction Involving the [Fe(phen)3]3+ Species.

The acidity dependence of the iron-catalyzed bromate-malonic acid Belousov–Zhabotinsky reaction was studied in the range 0.36 M < [H2SO4]0 < 1.20 M, and the temporal evolutions of the oscillation p...
Neuropathology of REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

The neuropathology of RBD demonstrates the very strong association of alpha-synucleinopathy neurodegeneration with RBD, with complexities involving clinical synucleinopathy subtypes; prodromal stages; heterogeneous phenoconversion timelines from idiopathic RBD (iRBD) to overt neurodegeneration; distribution of synuclein pathology in the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems; clinical comorbidities; antidepressant medication use; and other clinical factors. This chapter covers (1) a clinical-neuropathological study of 172 RBD cases, (2) neuropathology of iRBD cases, (3) a clinical-neuropathological study of PD and probable RBD, (4) a case report of RBD and the neuropathology of prodromal Lewy body disease, (5) two studies on how RBD is closely related to enteric neuropathology in iRBD and RBD-PD, (6) two studies on skin nerve phosphorylated α-synuclein deposits in iRBD, (7) a study on reduced intraepidermal nerve fiber density in patients with iRBD, (8) a study on α-synuclein deposition in autonomic nerve fibers in the submandibular glands in patients with iRBD, (9) a study on α-synuclein aggregates in labial glands of patients with iRBD, and (10) a study comparing the predictive value of probable RBD vs. absence of probable RBD in post-mortem histopathology-confirmed α-synucleinopathy in patients participating in a longitudinal aging and neurodegenerative disorders study.
Whiteness at the Crossroad: Reflections on Race During Difficult Times

For roughly 25 years, my research and teaching have revolved around race in general, often Whiteness in particular. In the best of times, these are difficult topics to research and challenging conv...
Effect of Long-Term Mesalamine Therapy on Cancer-Associated Gene Expression in Colonic Mucosa of Patients with Ulcerative Colitis

The role of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA or mesalamine) in the prevention of colorectal cancer in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients was reported, but the effect on molecular targets in UC colon mucosa is unknown. This observational study evaluates gene expression levels of 5-ASA targets using serial colon biopsy specimens from UC patients undergoing long-term 5-ASA therapy. Transcript levels were compared between colonoscopic biopsy specimens collected from 62 patients at initial and final follow-up colonoscopy at 2–6 years. All patients had mild-to-moderate UC and were undergoing long-term 5-ASA maintenance. Stepwise multiple linear regression analyses were performed to correlate changes in transcript levels with therapeutic response (Mayo clinical score endoscopy and DAI and/or Nancy histopathology score) and nonclinical variables. The transcript levels of colorectal carcinogenesis-associated known 5-ASA target genes were significantly reduced after prolonged 5-ASA therapy (P < 0.005–0.03). Multiple linear regression models predicted significant association between transcript levels of Ki-67, NF-kB (p65), PPARγ, COX-2 and IL-8, CDC25A, and CXCL10 with duration of drug (5-ASA) exposure (P ≤ 0.05). Ki-67, NF-kB (p65), and CXCL10 transcripts were also correlated with reduced endoscopy sub-score (P ≤ 0.05). COX-2, IL-8, CDC25A, and TNF transcripts strongly correlated with DAI sub-scores (P ≤ 0.05). Only COX-2 and IL-8 transcript levels correlated (P ≤ 0.05) with Nancy histological score. This study provides molecular evidence of changes in carcinogenesis-related targets/pathways in colon tissue during long-term 5-ASA maintenance therapy that may contribute to the observed chemopreventive effects of 5-ASA in UC patients.
Vestibular Schwannoma growth during pregnancy: case report of neurofibromatosis type 2 in pregnancy

Background: Acoustic neuromas are a common sequela of neurofibromatosis type 2 and have been shown to grow at an increased rate during pregnancy. Case: 21-year-old female, gravida 1 para 0, with history of neurofibromatosis type 2 presented for prenatal care following new onset seizures and progressive deafness. She was found to have bilateral slow-growing acoustic neuromas. Over the course of her pregnancy, her acoustic neuroma began growing and she became completely deaf. She underwent surgical decompression during her pregnancy and had a late preterm vaginal delivery due to preeclampsia with severe features. She subsequently had further operative and medical treatment of her neuromas. Conclusion: Acoustic neuromas during pregnancy are exceedingly rare, but can be managed successfully with an interdisciplinary team approach tailored to the patients’ specific clinical presentation.
Herbicide Use In Propagation: Effects on Rooting and Root Growth of Stem Cuttings

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of several preemergence applied herbicides on rooting, root quality and subsequent root growth of selected woody cuttings. In the fi...
Medical education reforms and the origins of the rural physician shortage

In the first two decades of the twentieth century, medical schools increased standards for admission and added basic science to their curricula. During this time period, the probability a new medical school graduate located in a rural area declined by 40%. Using novel data from the American Medical Directories, we find that physicians trained in more rigorous programs with higher admission standards were less likely to set up practice in rural areas. While all physicians were being drawn to metropolitan areas during this period, the pull was stronger for graduates of the higher quality schools. We also find some evidence that physicians trained in the more scientifically and clinically based programs were more strongly attracted to places with more hospitals. These findings suggest that the medical education reforms of the early twentieth century contributed to the urban–rural disparity in access to physician care.
Chukotko-Kamchatkan Languages

Chukotko-Kamchatkan is a small group of languages spoken in extreme northeastern Siberia on the Chukotka Peninsula, opposite Alaska and the large Kamchatka Peninsula in far Eastern Siberia. The family consists of Chukchi, Koryak, Itelmen, Kerek, and Alutor. Velar nasals are common word-initially. The languages make extensive use of circumfixes to mark various verbal and nominal categories. Chukchi is famous for its former differentiation of women's and men's speech. All of the languages in the group, excluding Chukchi, are endangered; Kerek became extinct in the 1990s.
Effect of mixed hydrophilic and hydrophobic surface coatings on droplets freezing and subsequent frost growth during air forced convection channel flows

The formation of frost and ice decreases the energy efficiency of refrigeration systems and of air-source heat pump systems. This paper presents new experimental data of frost nucleation and frost ...
Agrarian (In) Equality (and Dependency) vs Commerce and Liberty: Reconsidering the Relation between Constitutional Government and Economic Inequality in the American Republic

This essay provides a critique of two recent books, by professors of law and political science, respectively, which argue that the economic inequality now found in the United States threatens the s...
\({\mathcal M}_{n+1} \ne {\mathcal M}_n\)

In this chapter, we’ll present explicit examples that show that \({\mathcal M}_{n+1}(a,b)\) is strictly smaller than \({\mathcal M}_{n}(a,b)\) and that show that 2n − 3 in Theorem 5.2 is optimal.
The Evolution of Modern Zombie Comedies

Zombie comedies are a subgenre of a subgenre in the horror film industry, and their prevalence in recent film and television history is unprecedented. This essay explores the beginnings of zombie comedy movies, their evolution throughout the past decade, and the implications of this genre’s new relevance and its politics. Included is an examination of a more recent Netflix Original television show, Santa Clarita Diet.
Early Feasibility Studies of Augmented Reality Navigation for Lateral Skull Base Surgery

Hypothesis An augmented reality (AR) platform using a head mounted display (HMD) can successfully display and register virtual computerized tomography (CT) data to corresponding real world anatomy using fiducial markers. Background AR is a growing field in surgical planning, and has been used by this group to aide in orthopedic surgery applications. Intraoperative AR registration of preoperative CT images could improve identification of critical anatomical structures during lateral skull base surgery. Methods An AR based HMD platform was created to allow for virtual display and real time manipulation of a temporal bone phantom model. Four fiducial markers were incorporated into this model and used to allow manual alignment of surface markers in real-time. To test the accuracy of this platform virtual lines were created in the AR environment running through the visualized real-world fiducial marker points. Target registration error (TRE) was calculated by measuring the orthogonal distance between these virtual lines and the corresponding virtual fiducial marker for each of the four markers from varying angles. Ten consecutive experiments were performed. Results The AR based platform successfully displayed CT renderings in the AR environment and allowed real time translation and rotation for manual alignment. A TRE of 10.62 ± 5.90 mm was found. Conclusions Our results suggest that AR visualization of CT imaging can be registered to patient surface landmarks, but current limitations of AR hardware resulted in TREs too large to be used in the lateral skull base. Future advancements in AR technology will hopefully allow for reduction of registration error.
Measurement of Internal Self-Interference of USRP family of devices in Full-Duplex Operations

It is always been desirable to operate radios in full-duplex (FDX) mode to harness the maximum spectral efficiency despite the challenges it puts forth. Before validating any FDX schemes using a radio, we should know the characteristics of the radio in FDX operation. In this paper, the results from the measurement are presented for a set of widely used software-defined radio (SDR) platform, universal serial radio peripheral (USRP) such as N210, B210, and E310. The measurements includes the measurement of internal leakage suffered by these radios, operational range of transmitter gain to operate in FDX mode and their limitations. The internal leakage suffered by the USRPs is not uniform and varies across the family of devices.
A Residency Interview Training Program to Improve Medical Student Confidence in the Residency Interview.

Introduction The Residency Match is becoming more competitive each year, and more than ever, medical students must prove themselves in the residency interview. Data from the 2018 National Residency...
Library strategic planning after COVID-19: Don’t fight the last war

The big guns thumped out their deadly cargo all through the night. The artillery barrage was so relentless that the German offensive, such as it was, halted almost before it even began. All the planning, all the labor, and all the money spent allowed the French troops to remain nestled in the safety of their giant concrete fortresses, which were dug deeply into the security of the earth itself. The Maginot Line was a success. The long and bloody Great War would not be repeated.
Buddhist Teachers’ Responses to Sexual Violence: Epistemological Violence in American Buddhism

In 2018, popular North American Buddhist teacher, Noah Levine, was accused of sexual assault and misconduct. Several Buddhist teachers responded in Levine’s defense through a seemingly neutral posture of “waiting to find out” the truth. This paper examines these teachers’ responses, asking the question: “Which Buddhist concepts are mobilized in responding to alleged sexual violence?” I find that these teachers respond to allegations with the language of not-knowing, equanimity, and right speech. They ask their communities to “wait and see” whether these allegations are true, with the unspoken assumption that they are not. I assert these responses use Buddhist teachings to uphold cis-masculine innocence by using hegemonic logics and commitments to downplay and delegitimize the phenomenon of sexual violence. I argue that these responses uphold hegemonic control within Buddhist communities, and conclude that a feminist response to allegations of misconduct requires centering survivors of sexual assault.
Predictors of refraction prediction error after cataract surgery: a shared parameter model to account for missing post-operative measurements

Cataract surgery is a common procedure that involves removing the cataractous lens of the eye and implanting a new clear plastic lens, with a goal of improving vision and often changing the refraction of the eye. Unexpected refractive outcomes, or refraction prediction error (PE), may be more likely to occur among patients with certain preexisting ocular conditions. However, longitudinal refractive measurements are often missing after surgery, making it difficult to accurately assess which ocular comorbidities lead to increased PE. Moreover, patients with ideal refractive outcomes in one or both eyes may be less likely to return to the clinic, thus more likely to have missing measurements that are missing not at random (MNAR). Despite this potential complication to data analysis, very few studies evaluating PE address the missing data mechanism and the effect it may have on the results. We propose the application of a shared parameter model to reduce bias in situations of MNAR data and compare this to a linear mixed model that is not able to account for this mechanism. We also conduct a simulation study to better understand the most plausible missing mechanism in our study and to characterize situations in which the shared parameter model may be necessary. Applied to the cataract surgery data, the shared parameter model gives similar results as the linear mixed model, finding that a history of LASIK, PRK, RK, high myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, or combined surgery lead to increased PE. In addition, the simulations confirm that under certain scenarios, a shared parameter model will greatly reduce bias in situations of MNAR.
Performance of triple-modality CADx on breast cancer diagnostic classification

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential of computer-aided diagnosis (CADx) methods utilizing three breast imaging modalities: full-field digital mammography (FFDM), sonography, and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) for breast lesion classification Three separate databases for each modality were retrospectively organized: FFDM (255 malignant lesions, 177 benign lesions), ultrasound (968 malignant lesions, 158 benign lesions), and DCE-MRI (347 malignant lesions, 129 benign lesions) From these single-modality databases, three dual-modality databases were constructed as well as a triple-modality database (31 malignant lesions, 17 benign lesions) Our computerized analysis methods consisted of several steps: (1) automatic lesion segmentation; (2) automatic feature extraction; (3) automatic feature selection; (4) merging of selected features into a probability of malignancy Stepwise linear discriminant analysis using a Wilks lambda cost function in a leave-one-lesion-out method was used for feature selection The selected features were merged using a Bayesian artificial neural network (BANN) with a leave-one-lesion-out method The classification performance was assessed using receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) analysis Results showed that the computerized analysis of breast lesions using image information from all three modalities yielded an AUC of 0.95±0.03 The observed trend of increasing performance as information from more modalities is included in the classifier indicates that the use of all three modalities can potentially improve the diagnostic classification of CADx.
N-α-Benzoyl-N5-(2-Chloro-1-Iminoethyl)-l-Ornithine Amide, a Protein Arginine Deiminase Inhibitor, Reduces the Severity of Murine Collagen-Induced Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is associated with the development of autoantibodies to citrullinated self-proteins. Citrullinated synovial proteins, which are generated via the actions of the protein arginine deiminases (PADs), are known to develop in the murine collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model of inflammatory arthritis. Given these findings, we evaluated whether N-α-benzoyl-N5-(2-chloro-1-iminoethyl)-L-ornithine amide (Cl-amidine), a recently described pan-PAD inhibitor, could affect the development of arthritis and autoimmunity by treating mice in the CIA model with Cl-amidine on days 0-35. Cl-amidine treatment reduced total synovial and serum citrullination, decreased clinical disease activity by ∼50%, and significantly decreased IgG2a anti-mouse type II collagen Abs. Additionally, histopathology scores and total complement C3 deposition were significantly lower in Cl-amidine-treated mice compared with vehicle controls. Synovial microarray analyses demonstrated decreased IgG reactivity to several native and citrullinated epitopes compared with vehicle controls. Cl-amidine treatment had no ameliorative effect on collagen Ab-induced arthritis, suggesting its primary protective mechanism was not mediated through effector pathways. Reduced levels of citrullinated synovial proteins observed in mice treated with Cl-amidine are consistent with the notion that Cl-amidine derives its efficacy from its ability to inhibit the deiminating activity of PADs. In total, these results suggested that PADs are necessary participants in the autoimmune and subsequent inflammatory processes in CIA. Cl-amidine may represent a novel class of disease-modifying agents that modulate aberrant citrullination, and perhaps other immune processes, necessary for the development of inflammatory arthritis.
Benefit of Cone‐Beam CT Angiography in Visualizing Aneurysm Shape and Identification of Exact Rupture Site

While high-resolution cone-beam computational tomographic (CBCT) angiography has gained use in intracranial vascular imaging, digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and 3-dimensional-rotational angiography (3D-RA) remain the preferred acquisition modalities for intracranial aneurysm imaging. This case report highlights the utility of the greater spatial resolution afforded by CBCT for cerebral aneurysm imaging. A 54-year-old man presenting with subarachnoid hemorrhage was confirmed to harbor a ruptured anterior communicating artery aneurysm by conventional angiography. Due to varying contrast opacification captured by different acquisition methods, dramatic aneurysm shape difference was observed between 2- and 3-dimensional-angiographic and CBCT models. The greater resolution of CBCT revealed in an unequivocal fashion the exact site of rupture on the aneurysm dome, visualized as a discrete irregular and elongated bleb that was not seen on either 3D-RA or DSA. High-resolution CBCT visualized the shape of the target aneurysm in greater detail than the more conventional 2D-DSA and 3D-RA, enabling more precise computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. Given that aneurysms most likely change shape either prior to rupture or upon rupture, future studies evaluating fluid dynamics using computer reconstructions should be cognizant of the differences in resolution provided by various imaging modalities.
Hospital-associated infections.

The immunocompromised host is at increased risk of acquiring hospital-associated infections (HAIs), resulting in excessive morbidity and mortality, prolonged length of stay (LOS), and considerable cost to medical facilities. Traditionally, infections are classified as either hospital acquired (nosocomial), when symptoms manifest after 72 hours of hospital admission, or community acquired, when infections occur before this time frame. The chapter presents an overview of the prominent emerging pathogens that cause sepsis and respiratory disease-related HAIs in immunocompromised patients. The clinical impact of evolving antimicrobialresistant strains and their financial burden are discussed, along with the critical role of the diagnostic microbiology laboratory in providing tests that detect and identify these pathogens in a clinically relevant time frame. One report that examined early transplant-related mortality after cord blood transplantation from unrelated donors cited a rate close to 50%, mainly due to infectious complications. In this study, infections due to multidrug resistance (MDR) Acinetobacter spp. demonstrated a higher mortality rate than those due to cytomegalovirus disease. The majority of patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) can be divided into two subgroups according to the time of onset of the disease. Targeted strategies that have been employed with the aim of reduction of selection of MDR gram-negative pathogens include intense monitoring of trends in high-risk units, modifications of formularies, massive education of prescribers, and strict enforcement of infection control practices. The majority of clinical microbiology laboratories still rely on culture-dependent methodologies for the isolation, identification, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of respiratory tract pathogens.
The effect of a side chain-backbone swap on protein stability

To assess the relative importance of backbone hydrogen bonding (H-bonding) vs. side chain hydrophobicity in protein structural formation, a method called side chain-backbone swap is proposed. Such a method swaps the side chain and backbone portions of certain amino acid residues, such as Asp, Glu, Asn, Gln, Lys, and Arg. Such a swap retains the sequence of a polypeptide and preserves the identity of the backbone linkage. On the other hand, the swap disrupts backbone H-bonding geometry because of the introduction of extra methylene groups into the peptide backbone. In this project, we chose the two-stranded alpha-helical coiled-coil to implement side chain-backbone swap. A pair of 36-residue peptides was designed. The two peptides have identical sequence with four residues in each heptad repeat occupied by glutamyl residues. Each glutamic acid was incorporated either as alpha-glutamyl residue (the peptide is denoted as alpha-Glu-36) or as gamma-glutamyl residue (the peptide is denoted as gamma-Glu-36). The inter-conversion between the two peptides constitutes a side chain-backbone swap. Residues constituting the hydrophobic core of the coiled-coil, however, are left unchanged. The peptide pair was characterized by circular dichroism spectroscopy, reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC), and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The results indicate that alpha-Glu-36 is a two-stranded alpha-helical coiled-coil while gamma-Glu-36 lacks stable structural elements. It is concluded that, at least for coiled-coils where hydrophobic interactions are predominantly long-range, local backbone H-bonding is a required for structural formation, consistent with a hierarchic folding mechanism. The methodological implication of side chain-backbone swap is also discussed.
A spatially distributed model for the dynamic prediction of sediment erosion and transport in mountainous forested watersheds

[1] Erosion and sediment transport in a temperate forested watershed are predicted with a new sediment model that represents the main sources of sediment generation in forested environments (mass wasting, hillslope erosion, and road surface erosion) within the distributed hydrology-soil-vegetation model (DHSVM) environment. The model produces slope failures on the basis of a factor-of-safety analysis with the infinite slope model through use of stochastically generated soil and vegetation parameters. Failed material is routed downslope with a rule-based scheme that determines sediment delivery to streams. Sediment from hillslopes and road surfaces is also transported to the channel network. A simple channel routing scheme is implemented to predict basin sediment yield. We demonstrate through an initial application of this model to the Rainy Creek catchment, a tributary of the Wenatchee River, which drains the east slopes of the Cascade Mountains, that the model produces plausible sediment yield and ratios of landsliding and surface erosion when compared to published rates for similar catchments in the Pacific Northwest. A road removal scenario and a basin-wide fire scenario are both evaluated with the model.
Making a Case to Reduce Legal Impediments to Midwifery Practice in the United States.

In December 2014, the British National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published updated guidelines for intrapartum care. The guidelines present evidence affirming that low-risk childbirths conducted by midwives yield similarly beneficial clinical results to births delivered by obstetricians (NICE, 2014). This included statistical information about outcomes of midwife-led prenatal and childbirth care, and the increased likelihood of receiving continuous one-to-one care during labor for women cared for by midwives. The recommendations also called for increased access to information about choosing an appropriate birth setting (home, birth center, or hospital), weighing risks and benefits, and making a safe decision consistent with their preferences (NICE, 2014). Those working to update the guidelines stressed the need for autonomy in choices about maternity care providers and birth settings, and ensuring safety for all women and infants during childbirth (Prime, 2014). Despite the NICE report’s focus on autonomy, information, and choice, the report was characterized widely by news media outlets as heralding midwifery as the safest method of childbirth for low-risk pregnancies (Prime, 2014). In short, the report was seen as a national endorsement for the merits of midwifery. Under a nationally uniform system of health care, this single step of publishing guidelines recommending safe practices for low-risk births has the potential for sweeping impact on the practice of midwifery, potentially conferring both health and economic benefits. Here in the United States, however, no such unified path to sweeping change in childbirth care exists; rather, the regulatory, legal, and logistical opportunities and constraints around midwifery practice are many and varied owing to unique governance (state vs. federal jurisdiction) and health care (delivery systems, health insurers, practice models, professional
Consultant Use of Questions and Its Relationship to Consultee Evaluation of Effectiveness.

Abstract Initial problem identification interviews of 41 consultant-consultee dyads were audiotaped, transcribed, and coded with respect to three dimensions of consultant questions: format, process, and response. The occurrence of three question categories (open-ended questions, inference questions, and accepted questions) were expected to be positively related to consultees' evaluation of consultant effectiveness. Whereas correlations based on frequency data supported the latter two hypotheses, correlations using percentage data were nonsupportive. These results contribute to a body of literature that reports small and inconsistent relationships between verbal process categories and outcomes. Correlational approaches do not take into account the fact that skillful use of such verbal procedures requires that they be used in a responsive versus prescriptive fashion. Alternatives to correlational approaches to process-outcome research are discussed.
Discrete element simulations of bed force anomalies due to force chains in dense granular flows

Abstract Surficial flows on volcanic edifices are often comprised of high concentrations of granular materials either derived from juvenile eruptive material or material sourced from an unstable edifice. Although much attention has been given to granular flow mobility, the physics that govern flow internal behavior and substrate interaction are still poorly understood. Recent laboratory experiments have shown that force chains transmit extreme localized forces to the substrates of free surface granular flows. In this work we combine computational and experimental approaches to investigate the forces at the bed of a simplified granular flow. A photoelastic experimental approach is used to resolve discrete forces in the granular flows. We also conduct discrete element model (DEM) simulations, using input parameters derived from measureable physical material properties of experimental and natural materials, that successfully reproduce the experimental bed forces generated by filamentary force chain structures observed in free surface granular flows. The DEM results show particular sensitivity to values prescribed for contact stiffness, which is in contrast with previous reports indicating that stiffness values have insignificant influence on flow behavior. The transient forces at the bed generated by force chain structures can greatly exceed (by several 100%) the bed forces predicted from continuum approaches, and our simulation results imply that natural materials are more prone to excessive bed forces than photoelastic materials due to their larger contact stiffnesses. This work suggests that force chain activity may play an important role in the bed physics of dense volcanic flows by influencing substrate entrainment.
Acute renal failure in the cardiac care unit: etiologies, outcomes, and prognostic factors.

Acute renal failure in the cardiac care unit: Etiologies, outcomes, and prognostic factors Background Heart disease is a leading cause of hospitalizations, and its prevalence is expected to grow rapidly over the next few decades. The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence, etiologies, outcomes, and risk factors for mortality of acute renal failure (ARF) in cardiac care unit (CCU) patients. Methods A retrospective, cohort study examining all patients who developed ARF while in the CCU at Barnes-Jewish Hospital over a 17-month time period was performed. Charts were reviewed to determine etiologies, hospital mortality rates, and risk factors for mortality. Results Four percent of admissions to the CCU met criteria for ARF while in the unit. The etiologies of ARF were congestive heart failure (CHF; 35%), multifactorial (usually involving CHF; 26%), arrest/arrhythmia (13%), contrast (11%), volume depletion (6%), sepsis (6%) and obstruction (3%). The mortality rate was 50%. Oliguria, mechanical ventilation, and decreased cardiac function were statistically significant risk factors for mortality by univariate but not multivariate analysis. Thirty percent of patients with a cardiac index of less than 2.0 liter/min/m 2 survived to discharge. Conclusions ARF occurs commonly in CCU patients and is associated with a high mortality rate. However, there are a significant number of survivors even among patients with severely depressed cardiac function.
TESTING SIZE‐DENSITY RELATIONSHIPS WITHOUT RATIO‐VARIABLES, MULTICOLLINEARITY, LOGARITHMIC TRANSFORMATIONS, OR REGRESSION ANALYSIS*

Using data describing the historical distribution of county seats in the United States, we (1) replicate the traditional ratio-variable test of the size-density law, (2) test a new multivariate, nonratio form of the law, and (3) introduce an alternative method of testing, one which avoids three possible problems in traditional analyses: ratio-variables, multicollinearity, and logarithmic transformation.
Limonene released by the Scolytid beetle Dendroctonus pseudotsugae

The monoterpene limonene was released with known pheromones of both sexes of the Douglas-fir beetle when stimulated by stridulation of the opposite sex. This compound was previously known as a host tree attractant and a synergist of the aggregative pheromone, but not as a substance either received from the host or biosynthesized by the beetle and then released. Zusammenfassung Die Freigabe des Monoterpen Limonin durch den Douglasien-Borkenkafer Das Monoterpen Limonin wurde zusammen mit den bekannten Pheromonen von beiden Geschlechtern des Douglasien-Borkenkafers abgegeben, nachdem die Kafer durch die Stridulation des gegenteiligen Geschlechts stimuliert wurden. Dieses Monoterpen ist bisher nur als primarer Anlockungsstoff des Wirtes und auch als Synergist des attraktiven Pheromones bekannt, jedoch nicht als eine Substanz, die von dem Wirt erhalten oder durch die Kafer selbst synthetisiert und spater freigegeben wird. Es ist interessant, das das Weibchen dieses Monoterpen - zusammen mit den Insektenpheromonen - freigeben kann und nicht von Terpenen der Umgebung abhangig ist, um die Massenanlockung der Kafer zu veranlassen.
Experimental Fluvial Geomorphology

This book brings together in one volume the results of experimental studies, begun in 1969, of drainage basin evolution and hydrology, river channel and valley morphology and behavior, and alluvial fan morphology and sedimentology. These studies were conducted at the Engineering Research Center of Colorado State University, Fort Collins, by the authors and their colleagues. Some of the results have been published previously in the scientific literature, but much of the work remained unpublished prior to the preparation of this book. The contents are organized in three parts: drainage basins, rivers and valleys, and alluvial fans and sedimentary deposits, each of which deals with morphology and dynamics as observed in experimental studies with applications to analogous prototypes in natural systems.
Optical Beam Propagation Method For Birefringent Phase Grating Diffraction

The analysis of volume diffraction gratings is important to the optimization of broad classes of devices, including acoustooptic Bragg cells, volume holograms, and spatial light modulators. A number of these devices involve gratings that exhibit striking polarization properties, which if used advantageously can offer significant opportunities for ex­ tended performance. Although the standard formalism for analyzing volume grating diffraction is the coupled wave approach, the optical beam propagation method has proven to be a powerful alternative formulation. For example, Thylen and Yevick recently utilized this method to study the coupling of polarized waveguide modes. In this paper, the optical beam propagation formalism of Thylen and Yevick for anisotropic media is further extended to the analysis of polarization effects in volume phase gratings. This method is both extremely intuitive (all intermediate mathe­ matical steps have immediate physical significance) and also superior in cost of computation measures (execution time, computer memory re­ quired) for intricate modulation structures. Several broad classes of bire­ fringent phase grating diffraction problems are identified, and sample solutions using the optical beam propagation method are exhibited. The cost of computation of the optical beam propagation method is shown to scale gracefully with increasing modulation complexity. Subject terms: optical information processing; gratings; birefringent phase grat­ ings; polarization effects; spatial light modulators; optical activity; optical beam propagation method; coupled wave method; diffraction; anisotropic diffraction.