cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phenotypic Characterization of a Novel Virulence-Factor Deletion Strain of Burkholderia mallei That Provides Partial Protection against Inhalational Glanders in Mice

Burkholderia mallei (Bm) is a highly infectious intracellular pathogen classified as a category B biological agent by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. After respiratory exposure, Bm establishes itself within host macrophages before spreading into major organ systems, which can lead to chronic infection, sepsis, and death. Previously, we combined computational prediction of host-pathogen interactions with yeast two-hybrid experiments and identified novel virulence factor genes in Bm, including BMAA0553, BMAA0728 (tssN), and BMAA1865. In the present study, we used recombinant allelic exchange to construct deletion mutants of BMAA0553 and tssN (ΔBMAA0553 and ΔTssN, respectively) and showed that both deletions completely abrogated virulence at doses of >100 times the LD50 of the wild-type Bm strain. Analysis of ΔBMAA0553- and ΔTssN-infected mice showed starkly reduced bacterial dissemination relative to wild-type Bm, and subsequent in vitro experiments characterized pathogenic phenotypes with respect to intracellular growth, macrophage uptake and phagosomal escape, actin-based motility, and multinucleated giant cell formation. Based on observed in vitro and in vivo phenotypes, we explored the use of ΔTssN as a candidate live-attenuated vaccine. Mice immunized with aerosolized ΔTssN showed a 21-day survival rate of 67% after a high-dose aerosol challenge with the wild-type Bm ATCC 23344 strain, compared to a 0% survival rate for unvaccinated mice. However, analysis of histopathology and bacterial burden showed that while the surviving vaccinated mice were protected from acute infection, Bm was still able to establish a chronic infection. Vaccinated mice showed a modest IgG response, suggesting a limited potential of ΔTssN as a vaccine candidate, but also showed prolonged elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, underscoring the role of cellular and innate immunity in mitigating acute infection in inhalational glanders.
New Si CVD precursors: preparation and pre-screening

Silanes and their organo-derivatives are of interest as precursors and dopants in chemical vapor deposition (CVD) to prepare (modified) thin films with unique surface properties. Applications of these films are widespread: transitors, laser diodes, optoelectronic devices, etc. Film growth, however, is capital intensive and mechanistically complex, while film characterization is time-consuming and often requires sophisticated instrumentation. A tool is needed to prescreen precursors' CVD behavior, preferrably a technique requiring a minimum of time and sample to provide information directly related to aspects of the film growth process.
A Parallel Matrix-Free Implicit Finite Volume Method for Chemically Reacting Flows on Hybrid Grids

A parallel implicit finite volume method is presented for computing chemically reacting flows on hybrid grids. The spatial discretization is carried out using a cell-centered finite volume formulation. An inter-cell reconstruction scheme is developed to obtain a continuous polynomial solution on the union of two neighboring, interface-sharing cells, thus providing a simple, accurate, consistent, and robust approximation to the viscous and heat fluxes in the Navier-Stokes equations. The spatially discretized governing equations are integrated in time using a linearized implicit scheme. A fast, matrix-free implicit method, GMRES+LU-SGS, is then applied to solve the resultant system of linear equations. The parallelization is achieved using the domain partitioning and Single Program Multiple Data (SPMD) parallel programming model. The developed parallel implicit method is used to compute a number of chemically reacting flows on hybrid grids to demonstrate its accuracy, efficiency, robustness, and scalability. The numerical results in terms of parallel efficiency indicate that the present implicit method also scales reasonably well and is suitable for computing chemically reacting flows over complex geometries.
Symbiotic Relationships between Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) and Trust

ABSTRACTAs an emerging trend, Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) aims to address the issue of mistrust by using a relational contracting approach. Given that trust demonstrates a perceived reliability of an individual through time, one may question the role that a project delivery or contract could possibly play in building trust. The objective of this research is to analyze the relationship between trust and IPD. The research findings indicate that IPD and trust have a symbiotic relationship. While committing to an IPD arrangement requires an established trust, the IPD arrangement also further promotes trust. Committing to an IPD arrangement requires trust due to the existence of shared risks and rewards model and waivers of liabilities provision. On the other hand, IPD organizational and contractual principles further promote system-based trust, and IPD communication and behavioral principles further promote cognition-based trust. This manuscript contributes to the body of knowledge by providing insights...
Mechanical and electrical characterization of carbon nanofibers produced from water soluble precursors

This study presents the thermo-physical, electrical, and mechanical characterization of fine carbon fibers produced from water-soluble polymer precursors and low temperature processes. These fibers were developed utilizing the Forcespinning® technology which utilizes centrifugal force to spin fibers. Polyvinyl alcohol was used as the precursor material, and fibers were developed and deposited in a non-woven configuration. The resultant non-woven fiber mats were subjected to a dehydration process through exposure to sulfuric acid vapors. The partially carbonized mats were heat treated at 850 °C. The produced porous nonwoven carbon fiber based mats have micro-and mesoporosity with a final fiber average diameter of 191 nm. The electrical volume resistivity of the polymeric nanofibers was 8 × 1014 Ω cm and it dropped to 165 Ω cm for the chemically treated carbon fiber mat and to 0.407 Ω cm for the subsequently heat treated fibers. The electromagnetic (EMI) shielding effectiveness (SE) was observed to be 20 and 40 dB for the chemically treated fibers and heat treated fibers respectively. The tensile stress for the chemically treated fibers was 43 MPa with a strain of 18% while the subsequently heat-treated fibers exhibited a stress of 124 MPa and strain of 21%.
Insights in public health: Is the gap growing? Patterns in poverty-related disparities in nutrition and physical activity in Hawai'i.

A recent Harvard study on national dietary trends found that the gap in healthy dietary behaviors between low-income and middle/upper-income Americans widened between 2000 and 2010. Hawai‘i Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data from 2001–2009 on differences in obesity-related behaviors between moderate-high income, low-income, and poverty-level Hawai‘i residents were examined to explore whether Hawai‘i data on obesity-related behaviors reflected this national trend. While most differences between groups were not statistically significant, a consistent pattern was seen across all measures that suggested a growing gap between low-income and moderate/high income Hawai‘i residents. Data from community studies on pedestrian injury, park use, transportation, and healthy food access were examined. This data suggests that individuals residing in low-income neighborhoods in Hawai‘i experience higher barriers to the adoption of healthier behaviors. Further data is needed to document poverty-related gaps in the adoption of health behaviors among youth and within Hawai‘i's ethnic groups, communities and geographic areas.
The use of chemotherapy in metastatic breast cancer.

This article reviews current issues in chemotherapeutic management of advanced breast cancer. Indications for initiation of therapy, duration of therapy, and expectations of therapy are discussed. Single agent and combination regimens are reviewed, and their potential roles in treatment of new metastases and salvage situations are evaluated. Promising novel treatment strategies are explored. The importance of effective palliation and perceived quality of life are emphasized.
Immediate breast reconstruction.

This article reviews the background and rationale for immediate breast reconstruction, technical options, and specific safety concerns that may be raised by referring colleagues and patients.
Charge-Transfer Dynamics in Blue Copper Proteins: Experiment and Simulation

Pump-probe and classical dynamics simulation results for electron transfer in blue copper proteins are reported.
A flexible metal-organic framework with double interpenetration for highly selective CO 2 capture at room temperature

A flexible metal-organic framework of 1a Cu(FMA)(4,4 -Bpe)0.5 (FMA=fumarate; 4,4 -Bpe= trans -bis-(4-pyridyl)ethylene) that exhibits guest molecule-controlled gate-opening adsorption has been reported, in which the flexible pores can be enlarged by CO2 molecules rather than CH4 and N2 under a certain gate-opening pressure. The CO2 uptake can be sharply improved from 6.85 cm3 g–1 at 0.60 atm to 33.7 cm3 g–1 at 1 atm due to the gate-opening effect, thus resulting in the notably enhanced adsorption selectivities for CO2/CH4 (32:1, v / v ) and CO2/N2 (48:1, v / v ) separations at room temperature.
Human SP-A1 and SP-A2 genes are differentially regulated during development and by cAMP and glucocorticoids

Expression of the surfactant protein A (SP-A) gene is lung specific, developmentally induced, and regulated by adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and glucocorticoids. Humans have two highly similar genes encoding SP-A (SP-A1 and SP-A2). In the companion paper [S.M. McCormick, V. Boggaram, and C.R. Mendelson Am. J. Physiol. 266 (Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol. 10): L354-L366, 1994] we report that SP-A1 and SP-A2 RNA transcripts are alternatively spliced at their 5' ends, resulting in nine different primer-extended transcripts. In the present study, primer extension was used to assess the relative levels of expression of the SP-A1 and SP-A2 genes in human adult lung tissue and in fetal lung tissues maintained in organ culture in the absence or presence of dibutyryl (DB)cAMP (1 mM) and dexamethasone (Dex, 10(-4) M). Primer extension and Northern analysis were used to assess the effects of these agents on the levels of expression of these genes. In human adult lung tissue, 65% of the SP-A mRNA transcripts were derived from the SP-A2 gene, whereas only 35% were from SP-A1. On the other hand, in lung tissue from a 28-wk gestation neonate, only SP-A1 mRNA transcripts were detected, and, in midgestation fetal lung cultured in control medium, 65% of the SP-A mRNA was found to be SP-A1 and 35% was SP-A2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Equity in Assistance? Usability of a U.S. Government Food Assistance Application.

This article focuses on the quantitative phase of a multiphase mixed methods study investigating adults’ and families’ access to government food assistance. The research evaluates participants’ comprehension of, and ability to, adequately complete authentic complex texts—national food assistance application documents. Summative usability testing of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program application was conducted with 12 adult participants in divergent literacy learning subgroups: 6 adults enrolled in adult literacy classes and 6 adults enrolled in a doctoral program in education. Protocol analysis and extended think alouds were used to evaluate the materials. Individual sessions were audio/video recorded and types, kinds, and rates of error metrics were compared by subgroup. The completion rate without critical errors for doctoral and adult literacy students was 66.6% and 0%, respectively. Results indicate significant concerns with the usability and comprehensibility of food assistance applications...
AAO: Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory (Disease) in Otology: What is New in Immune-Mediated Hearing Loss

Objectives Autoinflammatory diseases are a family of immune-mediated, rare diseases, some of which, exhibit sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), suggesting potentially similar mechanisms of molecular pathogenesis between autoinflammatory-mediated hearing loss and autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED) may exist. The purpose of this review is to compare the clinical features of autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases that affect hearing, discuss the limitations of our knowledge, and highlight potential new disease mechanisms and therapeutics. Data sources Pubmed Literature Review; Google Scholar Literature review. Review methods A focused comparison of AIED with a number of autoinflammatory diseases that manifest with sensorineural hearing loss was performed. The pathogenesis of these diseases is reviewed in the context of the innate and adaptive immune system, cytokine expression and genetic polymorphisms. Results AIED, since first described by Cogan and Lehnhardt and first clinically characterized by McCabe, has remained an enigmatic disease, with limited advances in both new diagnostics and new therapeutics. Since the discovery of autoinflammatory diseases, a number of systemic autoimmune diseases have either been re-classed as autoinflammatory diseases or identified to have features of autoinflammatory disease. Conclusion AIED has clinical features of both autoimmune and autoinflammatory disease. It is critical that autoinflammatory diseases be correctly identified, as failure to do so may result in systemic amyloidosis and kidney damage.
The Presence and Absence of Race: Ross v. Creighton University

Law is supposed to be color-blind. Critical race theory (CRT), however, insists race and racism are present in all matters of law and should be overtly expressed in the language of the courts and in the media representations of the lawsuits. This chapter explores the presence and absence of race in Ross v. Creighton, when an African American basketball player sued his predominantly white university for failing to educate him. The courts never acknowledged the role of race in this case. Under a CRT analysis, this is problematic because race was a factor in most of Ross’s experience. The failure of the courts to recognize the role of race in the Ross case was a failure to address the totality of Ross’s experience and complaint.
Recent Developments on the Synthesis and Applications of Betulin and Betulinic Acid Derivatives as Therapeutic Agents

Abstract Triterpenes are widely found amongst various natural sources and are derived from squalene or related 30-carbon acyclic congeners. Medicinal plants are an excellent source of pharmaceutical agents, and the renewability of these resources renders further significance and importance to the discovery and development of drugs from natural products. Betulin, betulinic acid, and other analogous triterpenoids related to the lupane, oleanane, and ursane families are secondary plant metabolites that are most commonly found in fruit peels, leaves, and stem bark. Betulin and betulinic acid are lupane-type natural products isolated from the bark of yellow and white birch trees. Betulin occurs in > 200 types of plant species with the highest percentage of the natural product of up to 10%–25% composing the outer part of certain types of birch bark. These birch trees are native to North America and several parts of Europe. Betulin is remarkably abundant in nature, which makes it an excellent raw material for the synthesis of the biologically active compounds. This review will cover the latest developments in the design, synthesis, characterization, and medicinal applications of betulin and betulinic acid derivatives, specifically in the areas of cancer and aids.
Developing Digital Mappaemundi: An Agile Mode for Annotating Medieval Maps

Digital Mappaemundi (DM) is a resource under development to create open source tools for scholars to edit and annotate image and textual data content as linked data, and for other users to search within this rich content. For the purposes of development, our data have been medieval mappaemundi ("maps of the world") and transcriptions of their geographical source texts. The second phase of DM's alpha development (2009-10) allows users to work with digital images of maps from medieval manuscripts, mark regions-of-interest within images, and associate textual annotations with those regions and then link one or more sets of digital texts to these regions, or target one or more words within these texts as targets to these regions. Scholars may create markers images with individual points, segmented lines, or custom polygonal shapes. Significantly, a scholar may identify any number of markers on any number of images as the targets for textual annotation and link them to any number of digital texts or locations within these texts. Additionally, a given marker may serve as the target for any number of textual annotations. Scholars may organize their annotations into groups called layers so that different research questions involving a single image may be addressed separately through annotation. Scholars may choose to view a single layer of annotation or view multiple layers of annotation overlaid on one another. A robust search function also allows users to organize the annotated content dynamically. At the time of this publication DM has undergone significant evolution in its phase three beta development, with applications for annotation and linked data beyond the original use case of medieval maps. For current functionality and features of the DM environment, as well as a list of medievalist projects using it, see http://ada.drew.edu/dmproject/ .
Dynamic programming based controllers to suppress stick-slip in a drilling system

During drilling operation, a wide range of undesirable vibrations can be induced by the nonlinear bit-rock interaction, which may cause fatigue failure of the drillstring, increase the bit wear rate, and reduce drilling efficiency. Among many undesirable drilling system dynamics, the stickslip vibration of a drillstring is most common and detrimental. In this paper, a two degree-of-freedom lumped model is established to capture the drilling system dynamics. At the bottom hole extremity, a bit-rock interaction model is developed to describe the nonlinear relationship between the bit angular speed and the torque on bit. In order to ease the stick-slip vibration, an optimal control policy is developed using the dynamic programming (DP) approach. Based on the features of the obtained policy, dimension reduction is achieved, which significantly improves the computational efficiency. According to the simulation results, the proposed DP based controller and the reduced-order controller can effectively suppress the stickslip vibration of the drillstring.
Physiology in Perspective: The Value of Integrative Physiology

Almost a year ago, I gained a close and personal appreciation for the value gained from an understanding of integrative physiology. Suddenly one morning, while on vacation, I was struck by a massive pulmonary embolism and experienced first hand the importance of the interaction between the right
Response Analysis of Nonlinear Multi-degree of Freedom Systems to Non-Gaussian Random Excitations

A novel approach for response analysis of multi-degree-of-freedom (mdof) nonlinear systems under non-Gaussian nonstationary random excitations is presented. It makes use of the stochastic central difference (SCD) method, time co-ordinate transformation (TCT), and adaptive time scheme (ATS). For tractability and simplicity of illustration, a two degree-of-freedom (dof) nonlinear asymmetric system under a non-Gaussian nonstationary random excitation is studied in the present investigation. Comparisons between computed results obtained for the system with Gaussian random excitations to those of the same system under non-Gaussian random excitations are made. It is concluded that the proposed approach is relatively very efficient, simple, and accurate for response analysis of mdof highly nonlinear systems under non-Gaussian nonstationary random excitations.
Relationship between amplitude of resting-state fNIRS global signal and EEG vigilance measures

Most of the prior studies of functional connectivity in both healthy and diseased brain utilized resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) as a measure to represent the temporal synchrony in blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signals across brain regions. To eliminate the impact of widely distributed global signal component across the brain, many studies have adopted global signal regression (GSR) as a pre-processing approach to regress the global signal component out of BOLD signals followed by computing hemodynamic connectivity. However, the procedure of global signal regression has been debated as physiologically relevant component may be present in global signal. In this study, we aimed to address the controversy of global signal using functional non-invasive neuroimaging technology, i.e. functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), which measures hemodynamic signals by probing local changes in oxygen consumption, a common imaging contrast measured by BOLD fMRI. In the current study, we acquired simultaneous EEG and fNIRS signals, both in high-density configuration and whole-brain coverage, in healthy individuals at eyes-open and eyes-closed resting state and at three different body positions. We explored the underlying relationship between fNIRS global signal and EEG vigilance, and have identified negative correlation between fNIRS global signal and EEG vigilance across the physiological variations of measurements.
Expression of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and Transforming Growth Factor-β1 in Acute Liver Injury

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) have a number of in vitro functions that could be important in vivo in acute liver injury and repair. Therefore, we investigated these two cytokines in acute liver damage. Northern blots of RNA isolated from rats sacrificed at various time intervals after a single oral dose of CCl4 revealed that TNF-alpha mRNA levels were elevated within 6 hr of CCl4 administration and returned to control values by 24-32 hr. In contrast, TGF-beta 1 mRNA levels started to rise significantly at 24 hr, peaked at 48 hr, and approached baseline levels by 72 hr. Identical changes in TNF-alpha and TGF-beta 1 mRNA levels were also seen with D-galactosamine-induced hepatotoxicity. Immunohistochemical analysis using a TGF-beta 1 antibody demonstrated increased hepatic staining in CCl4-treated rats, at times corresponding to the increases in TGF-beta 1 gene expression. Therefore, there is a differential expression of these cytokines in acute CCl4 and galactosamine hepatotoxicity with an early rise in TNF-alpha, suggesting that this cytokine may affect inflammation and cell toxicity, while TGF-beta 1 peaks later, when it may regulate hepatocyte proliferation and extracellular matrix repair.
Compaction of machining chips: Experiments and modeling

Abstract The process of compaction of machining chips inside a cylindrical process chamber is investigated. The compaction process can be either an independent process or the first step in the Friction Extrusion Process (FEP) in which consolidated chips are softened due to frictional heating and are turned into a wire through an extrusion hole in the die. The current study focuses on gaining an understanding of the compaction process through experimental investigation and numerical modeling. In order to understand the characteristics and material behavior of the chip material during the compaction process, discontinuous machining chips of aluminum alloy 6061 with one of several chip lengths were used in the study. A non-rotating solid die without a central extrusion hole was used to compress the chips to produce a disk. The chips as a whole were considered as a porous continuous material with a certain starting density that will change during compaction. The dependence of elastic and elastic-plastic properties of the porous material on the changing density was investigated and a mathematical model for the elastic-plastic behavior was developed.
Effects of genetic and environmental risk for schizophrenia on hippocampal activity and psychosis-like behavior in mice

Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness most notably characterized by psychotic symptoms. In humans, psychotic disorders are associated with specific hippocampal pathology. However, animal model systems for psychosis often lack this pathology, and have been weak in providing a representation of psychosis. We utilized a double-risk model system combining genetic risk with environmental stress. We hypothesized these factors will induce hippocampal subfield pathology consistent with human findings, as well as behavioral phenotypes relevant to psychosis. To address this, we exposed wild-type and transgenic Disc1 dominant negative (Disc1-deficient) mice to maternal deprivation. In adulthood, hippocampal subfields were examined for signs of cellular and behavioral pathology associated with psychosis. Mice exposed to maternal deprivation showed a decrease in dentate gyrus activity, and an increase in CA3/CA1 activity. Furthermore, results demonstrated a differential behavioral effect between maternal deprivation and Disc1 deficiency, with maternal deprivation associated with a hyperactive phenotype and impaired prepulse inhibition, and Disc1 deficiency causing an impairment in fear conditioning. These results suggest distinct consequences of environmental and genetic risk factors contributing to psychosis, with maternal deprivation inducing a state more wholly consistent with schizophrenia psychosis. Further research is needed to determine if this pathology is causally related to a specific behavioral phenotype. The development of a strong inference animal model system for psychosis would satisfy a high medical need in schizophrenia research.
Characterization of Lignin Streams during Bionic Liquid-Based Pretreatment from Grass, Hardwood, and Softwood

Delignification as a function of ionic liquid (IL) pretreatment has potential in terms of recovering and converting the fractionated lignin streams to renewable products. Renewable biogenic ionic liquids, or bionic liquids (e.g., cholinium lysinate, ([Ch][Lys])), provide opportunities in terms of effective, economic, and sustainable lignocellulosic biomass pretreatment. We have evaluated [Ch][Lys] pretreatment in terms of sugar and lignin yields for three different feedstocks: switchgrass, eucalyptus, and pine. Four lignin streams isolated during [Ch][Lys] pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis were comprehensively analyzed, tracking their changes in physical–chemical structures. We observed changes in major lignin linkages and lignin aromatics units (p-hydroxyphenyl (H), guaiacyl (G), and syringil (S)) that occurred during pretreatment. A compositional analysis of the different process streams and a comprehensive mass balance in conjunction with multiple analytical techniques (nuclear magnetic resonance (...
A Passive Collaboration: Bureaucracy, Legality, and the Jews of Brussels 1940-1944

eading historian Jean-Philippe Schreiber argues that there are still remarkable lacunae in the history of the Holocaust in Belgium. He writes that “[o]ne of the issues still to be thoroughly investigated for Belgium is the relations between Jews and non-Jews under the Occupation.” The role played by local Belgian administrations and elected officials in implementing the initial German measures against the Jews of Belgium is one area in which study has only just begun.
Safety of Tamsulosin: A Systematic Review of Randomized Trials with a Focus on Women and Children.

Although tamsulosin is indicated for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), it has also been assessed in clinical studies for other conditions/symptoms and in other populations such as women and children. In this systematic review of randomized studies, the overall safety of tamsulosin was assessed, focusing on these understudied populations. Literature searches were conducted using Embase, Medline, and PubMed (inception–December 2015). A study was included if patients were randomized to receive treatment with any dose of tamsulosin capsules, tablets, or an oral controlled absorption system and numerical safety results were reported. Overall, 160 articles involving 46,072 participants met the inclusion criteria. Of these, four studies included women only and three included children. The mean [standard deviation (SD)] age ranged from 7.3 (4.2) to 76.8 (7.1) years. The studies (n; %) evaluated healthy subjects (18; 11%) or patients with lower urinary tract symptoms/BPH (90; 56%), ureteral stones/renal colic (42; 26%), prostatitis (4; 3%), or other conditions (6; 4%). Patients discontinued tamsulosin primarily because of adverse events (AEs) or insufficient response. AEs in women and children were abdominal pain, asthenia, constipation, dizziness, dry mouth, drowsiness, dyspepsia, headache, incontinence, nasal congestion, nausea, orthostatic hypotension, and somnolence. Due to heterogeneity across studies, statistical analysis could not be conducted. No unexpected AEs were observed in an all-comers population treated with tamsulosin for various conditions/symptoms. The overall safety profile in women and children seemed to be generally consistent with the profile in men, the indicated population.
Plant Knowledges: Indigenous Approaches and Interspecies Listening Toward Decolonizing Ayahuasca Research

The ayahuasca research community is familiar with the concept of plant intelligences; however, they have yet to be adequately accounted for by commonly used research practices. This chapter is a call to examine the ontological and epistemological assumptions that underlie research practices and how these practices and assumptions may reinforce hierarchies of knowledge and animacy. The first part of this chapter describes some absences created by following a “methods as usual” approach when researching ayahuasca, based on ethnographic fieldwork at the World Ayahuasca Conference in 2016 (AYA2016). This highlights the need for researchers to acknowledge the methodological, disciplinary, and identity-based limitations on our abilities to produce and represent certain knowledges. Secondly, this chapter is a call to seriously and humbly engage with Indigenous sciences and epistemologies. This requires an honest reckoning with how research has contributed to colonial appropriation and marginalization of Indigenous knowledges. Indigenous ways of knowing have precedent for collaborating with teacher plants in producing knowledge and have much to contribute to discourse on multispecies perspectives. Lastly, I discuss possibilities for including multispecies sensibilities and Indigenous standpoints in research practices to create more collaborative and decolonial knowledges.
Basic Concepts and Trends in ab Initio Molecular Dynamics

The field of ab initio molecular dynamics, in which finite temperature molecular dynamics trajectories are generated using forces obtained from electronic structure calculations performed “on the fly”, is a rapidly evolving and growing technology that allows chemical processes in condensed phases to be studied in an accurate and unbiased way. This article is intended to present the basics of the ab initio molecular dynamics method and to highlight some recent trends. Beginning with a derivation of the method from the Born-Oppenheimer approximation, issues including the density functional representation of electronic structure, basis sets, calculation of observables, and the Car-Parrinello extended Lagrangian algorithm and extensions of the latter are discussed.
Hypothalamic Monoamine Levels and Gonadotrophin Secretion Following Deafferentation of the Medial Basal Hypothalamus

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the hypothalamic monoamine levels and gonadotrophin secretion following deafferentation of the medial basal hypothalamus. At the present time a voluminous literature suggests that brain monamines are putative neurotransmitters important in the regulation of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and prolactin. A major impasse to our present understanding is the role these multiple monoaminergic systems play in the physiological regulation of gonadotrophin secretion. For example, there is evidence using various models which suggests that noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (DA and adrenaline can stimulate the release of LH. Serotonin appears to inhibit LH release. However, there is incomplete information as to which monoaminergic system is important in the transfer of neural information resulting in the release of LH during various stages of the estrous cycle. Recent studies which measured changes in the monoamine content of the deafferented medial basal hypothalamus (MBH) suggested that it might be possible to use the deafferented MBH as a model to study regulation of gonadotrophin secretion by dopamine-containing neurons in the absence of noradrenergic or serotoninergic influences.
The Formation of Se2-: A New Resonance Raman Feature in the Photochemistry of Zeolite-Encapsulated Selenium

This Raman spectroscopic study on selenium incorporated in Nd−Y zeolite presents new aspects of the photochemistry of selenium. The formation of the Se2- radical anion has been established from its resonance Raman spectrum, consisting of ten almost equidistant bands between 328 and 3220 cm-1 on the low-energy side of the 476.24-nm laser excitation line. The derived spectroscopic constants of the electronic ground state are ω0 = 328 cm-1 and x0ω0 = 0.71 cm-1. Another broad band at 260 cm-1 resembles features in the Raman spectra of amorphous selenium and selenium chain structures encapsulated in zeolites. Continuous irradiation at sufficiently high laser power levels leads to depletion of the 260 cm-1 band and a simultaneous enhancement of the Se2- bands. These observations are discussed with respect to the defect states conventionally invoked for reversible photoinduced changes in amorphous selenium.
On different mechanisms for membrane potential bursting

A number of mathematical models have been proposed to describe the electrical bursting activity of biological excitable membrane systems. Many of these models have been formulated for specific applications [4,5,14]. One of our goals has been to understand the basic underlying qualitative structure of these models and to distinguish, possibly different, classes of models for bursting. In this paper we contrast two examples which illustrate different mathematical mechanisms.
Multiple-Scale Analysis

Multiple-scale analysis is a very general collection of perturbation techniques that embodies the ideas of both boundary-layer theory and WKB theory. Multiple-scale analysis is particularly useful for constructing uniformly valid approximations to solutions of perturbation problems.
Living in the big city: preference for broad substrates results in niche expansion for urban Anolis lizards

Persistence of animals in urban habitats, a stark environmental contrast to natural habitats, can be explained through evaluating the mechanisms behind organism-habitat interactions. One of the most notable effects of urbanization is the change in structural habitat; vegetation is removed and modified, favoring large trees and adding artificial structures in cities, which may alter how organismal preferences for aspects of the habitat are realized. We evaluated the mechanisms by which structural habitat changes associated with urbanization alter the available vegetation and substrates on which two species of Anolis lizards perch in urban and natural forest sites in Miami, FL. We also experimentally assessed habitat preference in the lab to establish the mechanism behind habitat selection. We found that vegetation was broader in urban areas compared to natural habitats, and artificial structures in urban areas were more than twice the diameter of available natural perches. Lizards expressed their preference for broad perches by selecting broader vegetation and artificial structures compared to their availability in both habitats. With the increased availability of broad substrates in urban areas, perch diameters selected by lizards resulted in an expansion of this aspect of the structural habitat niche for both species. The two species differed, however, in other responses to altered urban habitats. Anolis cristatellus tended to avoid artificial substrates, whereas A. sagrei used both natural and artificial structures in proportion to their availabilities. This study provides a mechanistic explanation for how urbanization alters structural habitats, leading to niche expansion for organisms living in cities.
Optimisation of lipids for prevention of cardiovascular disease in a primary care

The 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines focus on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk reduction, using a Pooled Cohort Equation to calculate a patient’s 10-year risk score, which is used to guide initiation of statin therapy. We identified a gap of evidence-based treatment for hyperlipidaemia in the Internal Medicine Clinic. Therefore, the aim of this study was to increase calculation of ASCVD risk scores in patients between the ages of 40 and 75 years from a baseline rate of less than 1% to 10%, within 12 months, for primary prevention of ASCVD. Root cause analysis was performed to identify materials/methods, provider and patient-related barriers. Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles included: (1) creation of customised workflow in electronic health records for documentation of calculated ASCVD risk score; (2) physician education regarding guidelines and electronic health record workflow; (3) refresher training for residents and a chart alert and (4) patient education and physician reminders. The outcome measures were ASCVD risk score completion rate and percentage of new prescriptions for statin therapy. Process measures included lipid profile order and completion rates. Increase in patient wait time, and blood test and medications costs were the balanced measures. We used weekly statistical process control charts for data analysis. The average ASCVD risk completion rate was 14.2%. The mean ASCVD risk completion rate was 4.0%. In eligible patients, the average lipid profile completion rate was 18%. ASCVD risk score completion rate was 33% 1-year postproject period. A team-based approach led to a sustainable increase in ASCVD risk score completion rate. Lack of automation in ASCVD risk score calculation and physician prompts in electronic health records were identified as major barriers. Furthermore, the team identified multiple barriers to lipid blood tests and treatment of increased ASCVD risk based on ACC/AHA guidelines.
Improving Value of Care for Older Adults With Advanced Medical Illness and Functional Decline: Cost Analyses of a Home-Based Palliative Care Program.

Abstract Context Identifying high-value health care delivery for patients with clinically complex and high-cost conditions is important for future reimbursement models. Objectives The objective of this study was to assess the Medicare reimbursement savings of an established palliative care homebound program. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study involving 50 participants enrolled in a palliative care homebound program and 95 propensity-matched control patients at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, between September 1, 2012, and March 31, 2013. Total Medicare reimbursement was compared in the year before enrollment with the year after enrollment for participants and controls. Results No significant differences were observed in demographic characteristics or prognostic indices between the two groups. Total Medicare reimbursement per program participant the year before program enrollment was $16,429 compared with $14,427 per control patient, resulting in $2004 higher charges per program patient. In 12 months after program enrollment, mean annual payment was $5783 per patient among participants and $22,031 per patient among the matched controls. In the second year, the intervention group had a decrease of $10,646 per patient; the control group had an increase of $7604 per patient. The difference between the participant group and control group was statistically significant (P Conclusion The Mayo Clinic Palliative Care Homebound Program reduced annual Medicare expenditures by $18,251 per program participant compared with matched control patients. This supports the role of home-based palliative medicine in delivering high-value care to high-risk older adults.
Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis in a Patient With Multiple Myeloma

Abstract Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a hyperinflammatory state characterized by phagocytosis of hematopoietic elements. It may be triggered by infection, malignancy, and autoimmune disorders and often progresses to multiorgan failure and even death.A 59-year-old man presented to our hospital for recurrent fevers in the setting of known IgA multiple myeloma complicated by end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis. Infectious workup was negative, and he was diagnosed with HLH. Attempts to treat first with DVR-PACE, then with DVP-PACE resulted in transient improvement, but each time, HLH returned with count recovery. The patient was ultimately treated with pomalidomide and daratumumab, which resulted in HLH resolution without recurrence. Unfortunately, his multiple myeloma continued to progress, and he died several months later.HLH in the setting of multiple myeloma is quite rare; since the establishment of the HLH-2004 diagnostic guidelines, this is only the fourth case published. Furthermore, our patient was treated with the novel therapeutic drug daratumumab, an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody. Through CD38, daratumumab also works to decrease natural killer (NK) cell activity. Thus, we hypothesize that by reducing the NK cell activity, daratumumab resulted in treatment of his HLH independent of the impact on his multiple myeloma.
Brain Structural and Functional Representation Based on the Local Global Graph Methodology

This paper presents a novel graph-based methodology for development of structural and functional brain graphs. Using data from non-invasive neuroimaging modalities, such as MRI, fMRI and EEG, graphs that represent the brain architecture and functionality, are generated. Graph theory-based analysis has been applied with great success for studying the brain's connectivity, organization and dynamics. Towards this direction the presented Local Global (LG) graph methodology combines the local-regional information to compose a global topological representation.
"Myelodysplasia" from copper deficiency.

![Figure][1] A 45-year-old woman presented with pancytopenia (hemoglobin, 4.8 g/dL; mean corpuscular volume, 96; leukocytes, 0.9 × 109/L; platelets, 157 × 109/L; absolute reticulocytes, 34 × 109/L). Staining of the bone marrow aspirate showed rare ringed sideroblasts (panel C, red arrow;
Examining the Relationships Between Gratitude and Spiritual and Religious Identification Among Collegiate Athletes

Salient aspects of an athlete’s identity hold implications for how sport psychology practitioners conceptualize and intervene on both the mental health and performance realms of the athlete person....
Establishing Effectiveness: An Innovation Tale

For years, program developers devised innovative practices in university settings that reliably treated a host of emotional and behavioral health problems only to find that when they disseminated the innovative practice into community settings, its effectiveness diminished, and often quite considerably. This is a substantial concern for treatment developers and communities. This chapter uses an allegorical tale to spotlight pathways that must be traversed to establish and disseminate an evidence-based practice.
Foreword: The Low-Wage Worker: Legal Rights - Legal Realities

This brief foreword introduces the symposium entitled “The Low-Wage Worker: Legal Rights – Legal Realities,” setting forth its focus, purpose, and agenda. This symposium is an effort to turn attention to low-wage work, a topic that is among the most important of work law topics and yet the most neglected. Some articles debate two key assumptions under the Fair Labor standards Act (FLSA): first, whether minimum wage laws improve the economic circumstances of low-wage workers, and second, whether the statute can effectively remedy violations. Other articles offer recent and historical accounts of the effectiveness of organizing as a tool to protect the legal rights of low-wage workers. A third set of articles focus on the unique challenges faced by immigrant workers in seeking enforcement of their labor and employment rights. The final set of articles examine efforts by states and localities to address the employment rights of low-wage workers in the retail industry, directed at Wal-Mart and other “big box” stores. The articles in this symposium address four of the most pressing and significant employment and labor policy issues of the decade: the effect and enforcement of basic legal protections in low-wage workplaces; the prospects of unions and other organizing efforts among the most difficult-to-organize low-wage workers; the difficulty of crafting meaningful legal rights for transnational workers in a globalized labor market; and the respective role that local and national law and activism will play in regulating the low-wage service sector and retail jobs that are increasingly dominated by enormous multinational companies like Wal-Mart.
Persian Poetry, World Poetry, and Translatability

Although Goethe, who first propounded Weltliteratur, was inspired by Persian poetry, recent theorists of world literature have largely ignored it. Persian poetry thrived for hundreds of years acros...