cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intestinal obstruction secondary to left paraduodenal hernia

An internal hernia—congenital or acquired—is a protrusion of bowel through an opening in the peritoneum or mesentery. Internal hernias are the etiology of <2% of intestinal obstructions, with paraduodenal hernias being the most common type of congenital internal hernia. We report a case of a left paraduodenal hernia (LPDH) combined with partial small bowel obstruction in a 69-year-old male with recurrent abdominal pain of 2 years duration and no previous abdominal surgeries. An abdominal computed tomography scan showed an agglomeration of small bowel loops in the left upper quadrant but failed to yield a clear diagnosis. Surgical intervention provided definitive diagnosis and treatment of the LPDH. We additionally review the literature regarding anatomy, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of this uncommon hernia. Intestinal obstruction secondary to an internal hernia is a rare entity; however, delayed diagnosis and surgical intervention may result in significant morbidity and mortality.
Evaluation of detector-efficiency and source-worth corrections for subcritical reactivity measurements in a fast critical assembly

Analytical corrections for the effect of subcritical reactivity on /βeff, detector efficiency, and 240Pu source worth in control-rod-group worth measurements in zero-power plutonium reactor Assembl...
High thrust-to-power ratio micro-cathode arc thruster

The Micro-Cathode Arc Thruster (μCAT) is an electric propulsion device that ablates solid cathode material, through an electrical vacuum arc discharge, to create plasma and ultimately produce thrust in the μN to mN range. About 90% of the arc discharge current is conducted by electrons, which go toward heating the anode and contribute very little to thrust, with only the remaining 10% going toward thrust in the form of ion current. A preliminary set of experiments were conducted to show that, at the same power level, thrust may increase by utilizing an ablative anode. It was shown that ablative anode particles were found on a collection plate, compared to no particles from a non-ablative anode, while another experiment showed an increase in ion-to-arc current by approximately 40% at low frequencies compared to the non-ablative anode. Utilizing anode ablation leads to an increase in thrust-to-power ratio in the case of the μCAT.
Photoemission and Cathodoluminescence of Doped Lithium Tetraborate Crystals Being Developed for Neutron Detection

Photoemission spectroscopy using synchrotron radiation was used to determine the energy level structure of Mn doped Li 2 B 4 O 7crystals. Photoemission studies provided evidence of Mn in the bulk crystal at 47.2 eV. Valence band analysis provided the presence of surface states but no acceptor sites. Cathodoluminescence studies were also made on undoped and Mn doped Li 2 B 4 O 7using various beam energies from 5 to 10 KeV at room temperature. Self trapped exciton emission states are evident in the undoped and Mn doped Li2B4O7 sample ranging in energies from 3.1 to 4.1 eV.
When should asymptomatic bacteriuria in the elderly be treated

It is common, it is not proved to be harmful, and treatment is not proved to be beneficial.
Pharmacovigilance Discussion Forum –The European Generic Medicines Association's 8th Annual Meeting (January 21, 2015 – London, UK).

The practice and science of pharmacovigilance first emerged following the disaster caused by thalidomide in 1961, which led to the initiation of systemic international efforts to address drug safety issues spearheaded by the WHO. Systems were developed in member states of the WHO to analyze cases of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and collate these data into a central database to aid national drug regulatory authorities in improving safety profiles of medicines. Pharmacovigilance is a key public health function for monitoring all medicinal products to assess their quality, efficacy and safety before and following authorization. These medicines are continually assessed to detect any aspect that could compromise their safety, and ensure that the necessary measures are taken. In July 2012, new legislation for pharmacovigilance in the E.U. came into effect as a result of the changes set out in the Directive 2010/84/EU and the European Commission (EC) implementing Regulation (EU) No 520/2012 to reduce the increasing number of ADRs. The latest developments in pharmacovigilance in Europe, including news on E.U. pharmacovigilance legislation, were discussed at the 8th European Generic Medicines Association (EGA) Pharmacovigilance Discussion Forum. The meeting facilitated constructive dialogue between regulators and industry on a range of topics including how to simplify pharmacovigilance activities and improve the processes of risk management plans, periodic safety update reports, signal detection, joint studies and inspections.
The Protein-Crystalloid Complex as an Antigenic Unit.

It was implied in all classical theories of specific immunity that the alien protein molecule functions as a single antigenic unit, stimulating the production of a single antiprotein substance or function. Within the last decade, however, this early theory has been challenged, several European theorists denying the assumed antigenic unity and postulating that the protein molecule is little more than an immunologically inert mechanical “carrier” of potentially antigenic superficial crystalloids. Each of these superficial “determinants,” “coefficients,” or “unit characteristics,” is pictured as functioning as a practically independent antigenic unit. There are numerous variants of this theory, differing mainly in the postulated degree of independence or interdependence of the sub-colloidal specificity determinants.This concept is an apparently logical deduction from the “Land-steiner phenomenon,” the well-confirmed fact that immunochemically non-related proteins are more or less homologized if conjugated wi...
Fresh Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation for Treatment of Chondroblastoma of the Femoral Head: A Case Report

In 1908, Erich Lexer reported the use of donor tissue from freshly amputated limbs for use in joint replacement1. Fresh allograft utilization increased in the 1970s, and fresh allografts have been successfully used in treating articular cartilage defects in the knee, ankle, hip, and shoulder2-9. Although frozen osteoarticular allografts are commonly used in limb salvage surgical procedures in musculoskeletal oncology, fresh allografts are rarely used. Chondroblastoma is a rare tumor that accounts for approximately 1% to 2% of all benign bone tumors10-14. Patients with chondroblastoma have pain and limitation of joint movement11-14. Imaging studies show lytic epiphyseal lesions with a sclerotic margin11,15. Treatment usually involves curettage and packing of the defect with bone graft11,12,14. We present a thirty-four-year-old man who underwent fresh osteochondral allografting after removal of a chondroblastoma that had caused articular cartilage and subchondral bone collapse in the weight-bearing portion of the femoral head. The patient was informed that data concerning the case would be presented for publication, and he provided consent. A thirty-four-year-old man presented with a two-year history of pain in the left side of the groin with walking, which was exacerbated with abduction and external rotation of the hip. Physical examination demonstrated full passive hip motion equivalent to the contralateral hip, with pain at the extremes of abduction and external rotation. The preoperative Harris hip score was 86. Radiographs showed a lytic epiphyseal lesion in the femoral head (Fig. 1). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated edema surrounding the lesion, with irregularity of the overlying articular cartilage in the weight-bearing portion of the femoral head (Fig. 2). Fig. 1 Preoperative anteroposterior radiograph with a well-defined epiphyseal lesion with sclerotic margins, which are findings …
Finasteride: a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor

The pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of finasteride are reviewed, and finasteride's clinical efficacy, adverse effects, and dosage in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are described. Finasteride is a member of a new class of medications, the azasteroids, that have antiandrogenic activity limited to certain tissues, including the prostate gland. Finasteride inhibits the activity of 5 alpha-reductase, the enzyme necessary for converting testosterone to dihydrotestosterone in the prostate and other tissues. BPH is androgen dependent, and dihydrotestosterone is necessary for the hyperplasia to occur. Finasteride is well absorbed after oral administration; peak plasma concentration is reached in as little as one hour. Finasteride is approximately 90% bound to plasma proteins, is widely distributed, and is extensively metabolized by the liver. In clinical studies, finasteride has been effective in decreasing prostatic volume, increasing urinary flow rate, and decreasing the obstructive and irritative symptoms of BPH. Because of the heterogeneity of BPH, however, treatment is successful in only one third to one half of patients. Finasteride's adverse effects include decreased libido, ejaculatory disorders, and effects on prostate-specific antigen. The recommended dosage of finasteride is 5 mg/day orally. Therapy should be continued for at least six months before the clinical response is evaluated. Finasteride provides a pharmacologic alternative to surgery in patients with BPH.
Staging of ureteral transitional cellcarcinoma by CT and MRI

Intravenous urography and retrograde pyelography are the primary radiologic studies for detecting ureteral carcinoma but give limited information regarding stage of disease. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) delineate the extent of ureteral carcinomas with a high degree of accuracy by depicting the periureteral fat and presence or absence of lymphadenopathy. In selected cases, CT and MRI are valuable for assessing the presence or absence of tumor in a ureteral stump and for the differential diagnosis of ureteral obstruction. Five cases of ureteral carcinoma and 2 cases of stump carcinoma are presented with preoperative CT and/or MRI evaluation and staging.
Sex and Gender Differences in Pulmonary Manifestations of Autoimmune Disease

Publisher Summary Although only 8% of the population develop autoimmune diseases (AD), 78% are women. The pulmonary manifestations range from mild to life-threatening and the severity depends on the AD. In some AD, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), gender differences are well recognized. More men develop pulmonary disease in RA, which includes interstitial lung disease, rheumatoid nodules, and pleural effusions. In scleroderma, 40–80% of patients develop pulmonary complications that contribute to the high mortality rate. Sjogren's syndrome has a low mortality rate and rarely involves the lungs. This chapter focuses on the literature available on sex hormone differences in the pulmonary manifestations of RA, scleroderma, and the association of Raynaud's phenomenon. Women appear to have increased susceptibility to most AD, excluding RA. The available clinical data are minimal and support further research and clinical studies to define the role of hormones in the lung and their role in AD.
A Note Regarding the Mathematical Treatment of a Class of Steady-State Compartmental Models of the Circulation

A class of steady‐state compartmental models of the circulation is examined and it is shown that the mathematical problem for this model class involves a single nonlinear equation. In an important subclass and with certain assumptions regarding the form of the Starling‐type cardiac function curves, the single equation is of the form Z = μ + λ log[(1 − Z )/ Z ] where μ and λ are mathematical parameters related to the physiological parameters of the system and Z is proportional to the cardiac output. This result holds regardless of the number and arrangement of compartments within the model itself or of the number of physiological parameters the model contains. An example of this class with 25 physiological parameters is presented to illustrate this approach.
Impact of sustained viral response postcurative therapy of hepatitis C-related hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Antiviral therapy with interferon based therapies (IBT) has shown potential in improving survival in patients who have undergone resection or locoregional therapy for hepatitis C-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCV-HCC). However, this benefit has not been definitively ascribed to sustained viral response (SVR). Since IBT has been replaced with new directly acting agents (DAA), which are more efficacious in the treatment of HCV, we sought to better determine the prognostic impact of SVR in HCV-HCC. A systematic search of MEDLINE and EMBASE from inception through October 2015 was performed to identify studies that described the impact of presence of SVR in patients who underwent curative treatment of HCV-HCC. Summary hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was estimated for recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) utilizing a random-effects model. After reviewing 858 abstracts, ten studies which included a total of 1,794 patients were selected and data was extracted. Of these ten studies, the impact of SVR on RFS and OS was reported in eight and seven studies respectively. In a meta-analysis which included 1,519 patients, SVR was associated with improved OS (HR 0.18; 95% CI 0.11–0.29, I2 = 2%). We also found that SVR was associated with better RFS in a meta-analysis (1,241 patients; HR 0.50; 95% CI 0.40–0.63, I2 = 0). In conclusion, SVR is associated with improved OS and RFS in patients with HCV who have undergone resection or locoregional therapy for HCC. Newer DAA therapies which offer increased tolerability and viral eradication should be considered as adjunctive therapy.
Optical radiocarbon detection (14C) using a quantum cascade laser

We describe a cavity ring-down spectrometer which uses a quantum cascade laser for optical detection of radiocarbon in the mid-infrared spectral region. A description of the instrument, key components, and future improvements will be discussed.
69: Prognostic Significance of Near Tri-Tetraploidy Chromosomal Abnormality In Patients With Plasma Cell Myeloma

Background and Aim: Clinical outcomes of patients with plasma cell myeloma (PCM) are highly variable with an overall survival (OS) ranging from a few months to more than a decade. Prognosis is closely related to underlying chromosomal abnormalities. Hyperdiploidy is known to be associated with better survival, whereas hypodiploidy is associated with poor survival. A subset of patients carries near-triploidy or near-tetraploidy …
Tortuous Cervical and Intracranial Arteries and Basilar-Carotid Dolichoectasia

Tortuosity most often occurs in the elderly or in the setting of atherosclerosis, but it also occurs in the uncommon patient with a collagen vascular disorder. The vertebral arteries can be tortuous at their origins or throughout the remainder of their course in the cervical and intracranial portions, and they can be particularly troublesome for interpretation or procedures in several scenarios.
Sustainability Index of Community Energy Systems for Benchmarking and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis

Sustainable development of energy infrastructure systems is critical for a sustainable future. Planners are adopting a variety of tools from diverse domains to design, assess, operate and plan for sustainable energy systems. The purpose of this study is to propose a quantitative sustainability assessment framework, adopting a bottom-up approach suitable to energy infrastructure systems. We have extended many of the well-accepted processes and analysis methods applicable to individual buildings to a community involving numerous buildings and centralized energy systems. We propose a simple framework which allows determining a measure called SICES, Sustainability Index of Community Energy Systems, that recognizes the three important pillars of sustainability. Willingness to pay, captured by environmental externalities, is considered to be the social value which enables quantifying the impacts of energy systems on the environment, economy, and society. Well-developed tools and methods, such as building stock modeling, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and Life Cycle Costing (LCC), are used in conjunction with additional indices, i.e. Reliability, Robustness, and Resilience (RRR) to evaluate the sustainable performance of community energy systems. SICES explicitly considers environmental, health, and energy cost impacts of on-site energy systems (solar photovoltaics, combined heat and power systems, boilers, chillers, etc.) as well as those of the upstream systems, i.e. natural gas production and utility power generation facilities, accounting for location-specific and temporal variation in fuel mix. We present the results of a case study analysis of applying this framework to an actual campus with more than 280 buildings and numerous solar PV systems using year-long monitored data of hourly cooling, heating and electricity demands to compute the SICES index. How different energy mixes and application of energy conservation measures would alter the current SICES index of the campus is also illustrated and discussed. A new type of diagram called the “Sustainability Compass” is proposed which allows one to track the directional change and magnitude in SICES of different energy scenarios compared to a baseline scenario.Copyright © 2016 by ASME
Emergent Strategies for the Nascent Sustainable Product Market: Lessons from Walmart’s Experience

In this paper, we present the findings of a multi-year project to trace the strategic processes that Walmart undertook over the course of the last decade to implement its ambitious vision of sellin...
USRP N210 demonstration of wideband sensing and blind hierarchical modulation classification

Blind modulation classification problem is particularly difficult when the exact frequency band of the signal is unknown since the modulation classifiers require accurate estimates of the signal parameters such as center frequency, bandwidth, and SNR. In this work, we demonstrate a hierarchical classification tree that filters and classifies a received signal as AM, FM, 4/16/64-QAM, 2/4/8-PAM, 4/8/16-PSK, DSSS, and FSK. Coarse estimates of signal parameters are obtained from energy detection and are refined using cyclostationary estimators. Cumulants and cyclostationarity are used to classify AM and FM while a reduced complexity Kuiper test is used for differentiating modulation level for QAM, PAM, and PSK. The effects of multipath are countered using a blind equalizer. The classifier is implemented in C++ using GNURadio libraries and is demonstrated using a USRP N210.
Examining the Organization of a Second Grade Classroom: An Action Research Analysis Using Human Resource and Structural Frames

This paper presents an examination and analysis of the restructuring of the organization of a second grade classroom housed in a laboratory school setting. During the 2014-2015 academic year, the traditional power structure of teacher as ultimate authority with students positioned as subordinates was explored. Using action research and the application of frame theory the organizational structure of the second grade classroom is considered using human resource and structural frames. Keywords: organization; power, elementary; structure; human resource
Genetic accommodation in the wild: evolution of gene expression plasticity during character displacement

Ecological character displacement is considered crucial in promoting diversification, yet relatively little is known of its underlying mechanisms. We examined whether evolutionary shifts in gene expression plasticity ('genetic accommodation') mediate character displacement in spadefoot toads. Where Spea bombifrons and S. multiplicata occur separately in allopatry (the ancestral condition), each produces alternative, diet-induced, larval ecomorphs: omnivores, which eat detritus, and carnivores, which specialize on shrimp. By contrast, where these two species occur together in sympatry (the derived condition), selection to minimize competition for detritus has caused S. bombifrons to become nearly fixed for producing only carnivores, suggesting that character displacement might have arisen through an extreme form of genetic accommodation ('genetic assimilation') in which plasticity is lost. Here, we asked whether we could infer a signature of this process in regulatory changes of specific genes. In particular, we investigated whether genes that are normally expressed more highly in one morph ('biased' genes) have evolved reduced plasticity in expression levels among S. bombifrons from sympatry compared to S. bombifrons from allopatry. We reared individuals from sympatry vs. allopatry on detritus or shrimp and measured the reaction norms of nine biased genes. Although different genes displayed different patterns of gene regulatory evolution, the combined gene expression profiles revealed that sympatric individuals had indeed lost the diet-induced gene expression plasticity present in allopatric individuals. Our data therefore provide one of the few examples from natural populations in which genetic accommodation/assimilation can be traced to regulatory changes of specific genes. Such genetic accommodation might mediate character displacement in many systems.
Hepatitis C in pregnancy: screening, treatment, and management.

In the United States, 1-2.5% of pregnant women are infected with hepatitis C virus, which carries an approximately 5% risk of transmission from mother to infant. Hepatitis C virus can be transmitted to the infant in utero or during the peripartum period, and infection during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of adverse fetal outcomes, including fetal growth restriction and low birthweight. The purpose of this document is to discuss the current evidence regarding hepatitis C virus in pregnancy and to provide recommendations on screening, treatment, and management of this disease during pregnancy. The following are Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine recommendations: (1) We recommend that obstetric care providers screen women who are at increased risk for hepatitis C infection by testing for anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies at their first prenatal visit. If initial results are negative, hepatitis C screening should be repeated later in pregnancy in women with persistent or new risk factors for hepatitis C infection (eg, new or ongoing use of injected or intranasal illicit drugs) (GRADE 1B). (2) We recommend that obstetric care providers screen hepatitis C virus–positive pregnant women for other sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and hepatitis B virus (GRADE 1B). (3) We suggest that patients with hepatitis C virus, including pregnant women, be counseled to abstain from alcohol (Best Practice). (4) We recommend that direct-acting antiviral regimens only be used in the setting of a clinical trial or that antiviral treatment be deferred to the postpartum period as direct-acting antiviral regimens are not currently approved for use in pregnancy (GRADE 1C). (5) We suggest that if invasive prenatal diagnostic testing is requested, women be counseled that data on the risk of vertical transmission are reassuring but limited; amniocentesis is recommended over chorionic villus sampling given the lack of data on the latter (GRADE 2C). (6) We recommend against cesarean delivery solely for the indication of hepatitis C virus (GRADE 1B). (7) We recommend that obstetric care providers avoid internal fetal monitoring, prolonged rupture of membranes, and episiotomy in managing labor in hepatitis C virus–positive women (GRADE 1B). (8) We recommend that providers not discourage breast-feeding based on a positive hepatitis C virus infection status (GRADE 1A).
How Ought One Parameterize the Milky Way

In a well known paper written a quarter century ago, cosmology was described as a search for two numbers (Sandage 1970). As those of you who have attended any of the parallel sessions of Symposium 167 surely appreciate, today’s cosmologists find more than just two numbers interesting. It is likewise clear from the present symposium that the number of interesting parameters associated with the Milky Way is very much greater than two.
Assessing the Benefits of Content Notes Enhancements for Digital Audio Resources

Our library has previously investigated the potential impact the addition of contents notes on circulation. In a subsequent study, we found contents notes were the second metadata element most heav...
The Family and Medical Illness

Society’s current interest in the family stems from a variety of forces including political, economic, and social. No doubt, the rise of many alternative family styles and the decline of the traditional family structure of father as breadwinner, mother as full-time homemaker, and two-plus children generates this interest. The traditional family, even the entire concept of the family, has been assaulted and battered, and its extinction, altogether, has been predicted (Cooper, 1971). Nevertheless, there appears to be more and more concern to assist and support the family, whatever the structure, to meet the increasing challenges and responsibilities being placed on it.
Classic autoimmune type 1 diabetes mellitus after a case of drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS).

Author(s): Chiang, Audris; Shiu, Jessica; Elsensohn, Ashley N; Chapman, Lance W; de Feraudy, Sebastien; Smith, Janellen
Race policy and multiracial Americans

The discussion of multiracial issues within the United States (US) has been fragmented in academic circles, partly due to how the presence and recognition of multiracial individuals and their ident...
The emission spectrum of berkelium

Abstract The berkelium emission spectrum was observed from 2540 to 9800 A with an electrodeless lamp as a source. The wavenumber, wavelength, and relative intensities of the 1930 strongest 249Bk lines are reported. In addition, information on hyperfine structure, Zeeman effect, spectrum assignment as neutral or singly-ionized lines, and energy level classification is presented for many of the lines. Tables of the known energy levels of the neutral and singly-ionized atoms are given.
The Role of the Special Education Teacher-Counselor in Meeting Students' Self-Esteem Needs.

Teachers of the visually impaired play a critical role in the development of affective growth within the children and youth they serve. The impact of a visual impairment on the emergence of the sel...
Using a Student Portfolio to Personalize a Course in Academic Reading

(1978). Using a Student Portfolio to Personalize a Course in Academic Reading. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Western College Reading Association: Vol. 11, Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual Conference of the WCRA. Learning Assistance: Charting Our Course, pp. 90-95.
13C NMR Studies of Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride) Blends

C-13 NMR was used to investigate the compatibility and subsequent separation of solution casted blends of poly(vinylidene fluoride)/poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(vinylidene fluoride)/poly(vinyl acetate) with aging for a range of compositions. It was found that one phase existed for all compositions of the blends even after two months of aging at room temperature. There was an increase in the T1ρH and TCH values with aging indicating that a subtle separation between unlike chains in the blend was occuring though phase separation was not present.
Attending to the Details

Details. We must now pay closer attention to the details. This is the underlying message behind each of the initial five chapters contained in this volume. Most of the theoretical traditions outlined in these pages have been around for quite some time. As Tubbs explains, there is voluminous empirical research to support the traditional goal setting paradigm, and the same could be said for social loafing, social facilitation, cognitive evaluation theory, or the social psychology of creativity. Years ago, when these models were just being developed, it made sense to make sweeping generalizations about the effect of evaluation on motivation and performance. Out of necessity, researchers and theorists exploring these relatively uncharted waters began at the macro level and sought to develop general “laws” of behavior that would apply to the majority of persons the majority of the time. But now our level of understanding is much more sophisticated, much more in depth. We have advanced to the point where we must refine our models and look at the subtleties behind the impact of evaluation.
Issues and Challenges for Clinical Research in International Settings

Globalization, ease of travel, potential for spread of epidemics as well as widening health disparities between developed and resource-limited countries have made the need to conduct clinical research internationally a necessity. This reality calls for understanding the challenges and obstacles that can impact project outcome that must be overcome, to acquire new knowledge and disseminate evidence-based interventions to reduce global health disparities and inequities. These challenges include lack of an in-country skilled workforce, deficient infrastructure for research, inefficient health care system to support clinical research, poor data management, as well as inadequately structured institutional ethics boards and poor regulatory oversight. Investment in human capital development through training of research personnel, mentoring, increased support for research administration, engaging leaders in a community-engaged research partnership model prior to project initiation and wise use of technology for effective communication will promote robust clinical research in regions of the world where clinical research productivity historically has been exceedingly low.
APOGEE: the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment. Insights into the Galactic Disk: A Review

The SDSS Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) has collected high resolution near-IR spectra for several hundred thousand stars throughout the Milky Way. We review some of the results related to chemistry of stars in the disk, where APOGEE has a particular advantage by virtue of being able to work in more obscured areas. The ability to measure carbon and nitrogen abundances in giants in the near-IR provides insight into stellar ages. We summarize results on the variation of mean metallicity, metallicity distribution functions, and the [α/Fe]–[Fe/H] relation across the Galactic disk, as well as results on the structural parameters in mono-abundance populations. Many of these results suggest that radial migration has played a significant role in the Galactic disk. It may be possible to disentangle radial mixing using multi-element abundance patterns.
Early chronic exposure to low-level lead alters total hippocampal microglia in pre-adolescent mice

Abstract Developmental lead (Pb) exposure alters brain function through mechanisms that are not yet understood. A previous study showed that early lead exposure reduced microglia number in the dentate gyrus region of the hippocampus. Given the critical role of microglia in brain development, it is important to determine whether these differences are unique to the dentate gyrus, or occur throughout the hippocampus. Unbiased stereology was used to quantify microglia mean cell body number in total hippocampus, and compare the proportion of microglia in the ventral vs. dorsal regions. Total hippocampal volume was also measured and compared. The study included brain tissue from 30 pre-adolescent C57BL/6 J mice, exposed to 30 ppm Pb acetate (n = 10, mean BLL 3.4 μg/dL at sacrifice), 330 ppm Pb acetate (n = 10, mean BLL 14.1 μg/dL at sacrifice), or 0 ppm Pb acetate (n = 10, negative controls). In lead exposed animals, microglia mean cell body number was reduced in total hippocampus; total hippocampal volume was reduced. Importantly, effects in low- and high-dose exposure groups did not differ. Contrary to study hypotheses, the distribution of hippocampal microglia in the ventral vs. dorsal hippocampal regions did not differ. Overall, lowest and higher levels of lead exposure during development had strikingly similar disruptive effects in the neuroimmune system. Studies are needed to determine the immune and other mechanisms responsible for these effects. Future studies would benefit from larger samples to determine whether in fact there is a group by sex interaction driving the effects of early lead exposure on microglia.
Use of Ozone in the Differential Flotation of Bulk Copper-Nickel Sulfide Concentrates

Differential flotation of bulk sulfide concentrates from Duluth gabbro into copper and nickel concentrates could be implemented by first destroying the hydrophobic coating with ozone and then by recovering the copper concentrate with a copper-selective collector. A number of parameters involved in the use of ozone, such as the sequence and the conditioning time of ozone treatment, the pulp pH, and the level of xanthate addition, were investigated.
Functional Water Soluble Polymers

Functional polymers are macromolecules containing functional groups (e.g. -OH, -COOH, hydrophobes) which have polarity/reactivity differences from backbone chains. Alternatively, functional polymers may be viewed as materials that have a function or a use. Functional polymers often show unusual or improved properties by virtue of enhancements in phase separation, reactivity or associations.
Model Calibration of InGaAs/InP p-I-n Test Structures

Numerical device model calibration of InGaAs/InP double-heterostructure p-I-n junctions is performed at room temperature using guarded test structures of various areas and investigating the contributions from minority carrier diffusion, depletion region generation and finally perimeter (shunt) leakage. The perimeter leakage is determined to be 0.5 pA/cm, whereas the depletion region contributes 2.2 nA/cm2; the bulk diffusion contribution is excluded via the guard ring but can be computed analytically to be 2.0 nA/cm2. Reproducing the experimental test structures within the numerical modeling environment accurately reproduces the data based on calibrating the diffusion length and SRH lifetime.
The link between reading ability and visual spatial attention across development.

Abstract Interacting with a cluttered and dynamic environment requires making decisions about visual information at relevant locations while ignoring irrelevant locations. Typical adults can do this with covert spatial attention: prioritizing particular visual field locations even without moving the eyes. Deficits of covert spatial attention have been implicated in developmental dyslexia, a specific reading disability. Previous studies of children with dyslexia, however, have been complicated by group differences in overall task ability that are difficult to distinguish from selective spatial attention. Here, we used a single-fixation visual search task to estimate orientation discrimination thresholds with and without an informative spatial cue in a large sample (N = 123) of people ranging in age from 5 to 70 years and with a wide range of reading abilities. We assessed the efficiency of attentional selection via the cueing effect: the difference in log thresholds with and without the spatial cue. Across our whole sample, both absolute thresholds and the cueing effect gradually improved throughout childhood and adolescence. Compared to typical readers, individuals with dyslexia had higher thresholds (worse orientation discrimination) as well as smaller cueing effects (weaker attentional selection). Those differences in dyslexia were especially pronounced prior to age 20, when basic visual function is still maturing. Thus, in line with previous theories, literacy skills are associated with the development of selective spatial attention.
Alkene Synthesis by Photocatalytic Chemoenzymatically Compatible Dehydrodecarboxylation of Carboxylic Acids and Biomass

Direct conversion of renewable biomass and bioderived chemicals to valuable synthetic intermediates for organic synthesis and materials science applications by means of mild and chemoselective cata...
Thanks for Twenty-Four

The number 24 belongs to a variety of integer sequences: 24 is the factorial of 4; the sum of its proper divisors, 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 6 + 8 + 12 = 36, exceeds 24 making it abundant; the sum of digits ...
The Relationships Between Self-Efficacy, Task Value, and Self-Regulated Learning Strategies in Massive Open Online Courses

This study examines the relationships between self-efficacy, task value, and the use of self-regulated learning strategies by massive open online course (MOOC) learners from a social cognitive perspective. A total of 184 participants who enrolled in two MOOCs completed surveys. The results of Pearson’s correlation analysis show a positive correlation between self-efficacy and the use of self-regulated learning strategies, as well as a positive correlation between task value and the use of self-regulated learning strategies. The results of hierarchical multiple regression analysis show that self-efficacy and task value are significant predictors of the use of self-regulated learning strategies. There was a statistically significant difference in the use of self-regulated learning strategies between learners who possessed high self-efficacy and those who possessed low self-efficacy. In addition, learners who had high task value showed statistically significant higher average self-regulated learning scores than those who had low task value. Implications and future research directions are discussed based on the findings.
The role of ethics consultation in decision making for bariatric surgery in pediatrics

The decision to pursue metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) for pediatric patients has become increasingly accepted by patients and their families and by health care professionals. The advancement of pre- and post-operative MBS guidelines, based on accumulating evidence for safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness help to map the clinical pathway for MBS consideration. Ethical issues remain possible for each case, however, and consultation with ethical experts can provide clarity in the consideration of MBS. Specifically, ethical issues related to principles of autonomy, justice, beneficence, and non-maleficence may need to be resolved based on patient characteristics, including preadolescent patients and those who present with intellectual disabilities. Institutions that offer MBS for pediatric patients will benefit from collaborating with ethics consultants to develop a structured approach that helps ensure that ethical principles have been adequately addressed for patients presenting for MBS.
Competition for delivery of profilin–actin to barbed ends limits the rate of formin-mediated actin filament elongation

Formins direct the elongation of unbranched actin filaments by binding their barbed ends and processively stepping onto incoming actin monomers to incorporate them into the filament. Binding of profilin to actin monomers creates profilin–actin complexes, which then bind polyproline tracts located in formin homology 1 (FH1) domains. Diffusion of these natively disordered domains enables direct delivery of profilin–actin to the barbed end, speeding the rate of filament elongation. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of coordinated actin delivery from the multiple polyproline tracts in formin FH1 domains. We found that each polyproline tract can efficiently mediate polymerization, but that all tracts do not generate the same rate of elongation. In WT FH1 domains, the multiple polyproline tracts compete to deliver profilin–actin to the barbed end. This competition ultimately limits the rate of formin-mediated elongation. We propose that intrinsic properties of the filament-binding FH2 domain tune the efficiency of FH1-mediated elongation by directly regulating the rate of monomer incorporation at the barbed end. A strong correlation between competitive FH1-mediated profilin–actin delivery and FH2-regulated gating of the barbed end effectively limits the elongation rate, thereby obviating the need for evolutionary optimization of FH1 domain sequences.
Co-opting the nation brand: The politics of cross-cultural co-production:

This paper analyzes the political implications of aesthetic mimicry in the popular mobile game, Onmyoji. Created by the Chinese company, NetEase, Onmyoji takes advantage of the expansive network of...
Option Value of Contingent Finance Support in Transportation Public–Private Partnership Projects:

Uncertainties about construction cost and operational revenues are two major risks in transportation public–private partnership (P3) projects. These uncertainties put projects at risk of being unab...
Morphology of tumor and nontumor tissue in liver resection specimens for hepatocellular carcinoma following nivolumab therapy

Nivolumab is an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) approved for treatment of many cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Liver injury is a known complication in patients treated with nivolumab for nonliver tumors. To date, the morphologic changes to tumor and nontumor liver have not been well-characterized in HCC patients. We identified 20 patients who underwent partial hepatectomy or liver transplantation after receiving nivolumab for HCC. Demographics, laboratory values, and imaging results were obtained from medical records. All available slides from resection specimens were evaluated for tumor necrosis, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and features of liver injury. Patients in the study included 16 males and 4 females with median age of 56 years. The underlying liver disease was HBV in 10, HCV in 6, and unknown/other in 4. Twelve patients were treated with nivolumab in the neoadjuvant setting, whereas eight were treated with nivolumab, usually along with other therapies, before undergoing liver transplantation. On review of resection specimens, three patients (all from the neoadjuvant group) demonstrated marked treatment response attributable to nivolumab. TILs were present in 17/20 cases. One case that showed treatment response in the neoadjuvant group demonstrated non-necrotizing granulomas and prominent bile duct intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) in the nontumor liver. One case from the transplant group showed bile duct damage and prominent ductular reaction after long-term nivolumab therapy (32 doses). Our findings indicate that nivolumab is effective in a subset of patients, including in the neoadjuvant setting. Granulomas and bile duct IELs are rare findings in cases treated with nivolumab but, when seen, may indicate potential response to therapy. Bile duct damage and ductular reaction may be manifestations of long-term nivolumab therapy. Future prospective and longitudinal studies with pretreatment tumor biopsies may help identify patients apt to respond to ICI therapy and further characterize patterns of ICI-related liver injury.
Approach to Fatigue: Best Practice

Owing to the broad differential diagnoses that can present as fatigue, a rational approach to diagnosis is paramount. Performance of a battery of diagnostic tests is unlikely to assist with diagnosis, highlighting the importance of a thorough history and physical examination. Fatigue can be a sequela of an underlying medical disease or exists as a primary condition. Management of secondary fatigue largely depends on treatment of the underlying condition. There are no FDA-approved medications for primary fatigue, now known as system exertion intolerance disease. Treatment is focused on individualized exercise therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.
Expanding Benevolent Ageism: Replicating Attitudes of Overaccommodation to Older Men

Background: Older adults are stereotyped in a paternalistic manner (warm, but incompetent), deserving of assistance regardless of their need; however, little is known about how gender contextualize...
Evolution of diapause in the African turquoise killifish by remodeling ancient gene regulatory landscape

Suspended animation states such as hibernation or diapause allow organisms to survive extreme environments. But the mechanisms underlying the evolution of these extreme survival states are unknown. The African turquoise killifish has evolved diapause as a form of suspended development to survive the complete drought that occurs every year in its habitat. Here we show that many gene duplicates - paralogs - exhibit specialized expression in diapause versus normal development in the African turquoise killifish. Surprisingly, paralogs with specialized expression in diapause are evolutionarily very ancient, and they are also present even in vertebrates that do not exhibit diapause. Profiling the chromatin accessibility landscape among different fish species reveals an evolutionarily recent increase in chromatin accessibility at these very ancient paralogs, suggesting rewiring of their regulatory landscape. The increase in chromatin accessibility in the African turquoise killifish is linked to the presence of new binding sites for transcription factors (e.g., FOXO, REST, and PPAR), due to both de novo mutations and transposable element insertion. Interestingly, accessible chromatin regions in diapause are enriched for lipid metabolism genes. By performing lipidomics in different fish species, we uncover a specific lipid profile in African turquoise killifish embryos in diapause. Notably, select very long-chain fatty acids are high in diapause, suggesting they may be used for long-term survival in this state. Together, our multi-omic analysis indicates that diapause is driven by regulatory innovation of very ancient gene programs that are critical for survival. Our work also suggests a mechanism for how complex adaptations evolve in nature and offers strategies by which a suspended animation program could be reactivated in other species for long-term preservation.
Annihilating dark matter or noise?: A statistical examination of the Fermi GeV excess around the Galactic Centre

I acknowledge support from the Spanish taxpayers through a Ram´on y Cajal fellowship during the early stages of this work. I thank Jos´e Luis Contreras for helpful comments. I would like to acknowledge all the cooks at the ramen shop inside the Kanayama Station in Nagoya, where the bulk of the calculations were completed during the Fifth International Fermi Symposium. This research was supported by a senior appointment to the NASA Postdoctoral Program at the Goddard Space Flight Center, administered by Oak Ridge Associated Universities through a contract with NASA.