cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
COVID-19 in rheumatic disease patients on immunosuppressive agents.

Abstract Objective To analyze clinical characteristics and outcome of COVID-19 patients with underlying rheumatic diseases (RD) on immunosuppressive agents. Method A case series of COVID-19 patients with RD on disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) were studied by a retrospective chart review. A literature search identified 9 similar studies of single cases and case series, which were also included. Results There were 4 COVID-19 inpatients with RD from our hospital, and the mean age was 57 ± 21 years. Two patients had a mild infection, and 2 developed severe COVID-19 related respiratory complications, including 1 patient on secukinumab requiring mechanical ventilation and 1 patient on rituximab developing viral pneumonia requiring supplemental oxygenation. All 4 patients had elevated acute phase reactants, 2 patients had mild COVID-19 with lymphopenia, and 2 patients had severe COVID-19 with normal lymphocyte counts, and high levels of IL-6. None of the patients exhibited an exacerbation of their underlying RD. In the literature, there were 9 studies of COVID-19 involving 197 cases of various inflammatory RD. Most patients were on DMARDs or biologics, of which TNFα inhibitors were most frequently used. Two tocilizumab users had a mild infection. Two patients were on rituximab with 1 severe COVID-19 requiring mechanical ventilation. Six patients were on secukinumab with 1 hospitalization. Of the total 201 cases, 12 died, with an estimated mortality of 5.9% Conclusion Patients with RD are susceptible to COVID-19. Various DMARDs or biologics may affect the viral disease course differently. Patients on hydroxychloroquine, TNFα antagonists or tocilizumab may have a mild viral illness. Rituximab or secukinumab could worsen the viral disease. Further study is warranted.
Kyphosis Correction in Patients Undergoing a Four-Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

Introduction Cervical kyphotic deformity can be quite debilitating. Most patients present with neck pain, but they can also present with radiculopathy, myelopathy, altered vertical gaze, swallowing problems, and even cosmetic issues from the severe kyphotic deformity. After failing conservative management, surgery remains the only option for halting symptom progression. Surgical options for cervical kyphosis have included anterior-only approaches, posterior-only approaches, or 360- and 540-degree reconstructions. This paper addresses the correction of cervical kyphotic deformity via an anterior-only approach consisting of a four-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Methods We interrogated our procedure log system and the keyword "anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF)" was typed into the search bar. All patients with an ACDF for the past five years were reviewed and patients with a four-level ACDF were selected. Chart review was performed and patients presenting with multi-level cervical stenosis with kyphosis were included in the study. Pre- and post-surgery images were reviewed, and the degrees of pre-operative kyphosis and post-operative lordosis were measured. Results Our search produced 20 patients. All the patients had a diagnosis of multi-level cervical stenosis with or without myelopathy and were all symptomatic. Pre-operative kyphosis ranged from 2.3 to 35 (mean 11.5) degrees, and post-operative lordosis ranged from 2 to 38 (mean 16) degrees. All the patients had varying degrees of kyphosis correction post-surgery which ranged from 6 to 44 (mean 27) degrees. Significant improvement or complete resolution of symptoms post-operatively occurred in all patients. Conclusion Four-level ACDF in carefully selected patients can be used to correct cervical alignment in patients presenting with symptomatic multi-level cervical stenosis with kyphosis.
High Performance is All about Minimizing Data Movement

High-performance applications running on current and future architectures are mostly performance-limited by the cost of data movement, vertically through the memory hierarchy of a node or between CPU host and accelerator, and horizontally across nodes. In this talk, we discuss the role of packed data layout in optimizing data movement across a variety of different architectures (CPU and GPU) and memory systems. Conceptually, a high performance application is defined as operations on a unit of data and parallelism that is designed for efficient vertical and horizontal data movement, and can be tailored to match the requirements of an application and target architecture. Integrating data layout abstractions and optimizations into programming systems provides critical technology for achieving performance portability across the diversity of high-performance architectures arising in the exascale era.
Barriers impacting an individuals decision to undergo bariatric surgery: A systematic review.

Abstract Objective Bariatric surgery is a procedure intended to control morbid obesity but it is minimally utilized in the United States. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to identify common barriers to proceeding and completing bariatric surgery. Methods Pubmed, Medline, CINAHL, and Google Scholar were used to identify articles published between the years 2010–2020, written in English, and included adults with a BMI ≥ 35 with a desire to undergo bariatric surgery. Results From the 10 included studies, 7 of which were conducted in the United States, the following were the most cited barriers to undergoing surgery: insurance, socioeconomic status, language spoken and ethnicity, sex, and risk of surgery. Three of the studies also noted that the reason specific ethnic groups were less likely to undergo surgery was secondary to their economic status or insurance type. Conclusions Undergoing bariatric surgery is highly dependent on an individual’s demographics. Future research on this topic may help medical practitioners learn how to minimize or remove these barriers to make bariatric surgery more feasible for all populations.
Energy of a pointlike neutron in an external electromagnetic field

A pointlike neutron in an external electromagnetic field experiences a shift in energy that mimicks the effect of an actual structural deformation of an extended neutron, i.e., a proper polarizability. In order to be able to differentiate between the former and the latter, a Foldy-Wouthuysen transformation is constructed which yields the energy shift of a pointlike neutron quadratic in the external field in a derivative expansion, generalizing a long-known result for the dipole electric polarizability due to Foldy. The ten leading Foldy contributions to the energy are determined for a zero-momentum neutron. In addition, eliminating the momentum operator in favor of the velocity operator, analogous results are derived for a zero-velocity neutron. In this case, operator ordering ambiguities are encountered that permit only a determination of eight of the ten Foldy terms.
How Oyster Health Indices Vary between Mass Mortality Events

Two mass mortality events in 2016 and 2019 affecting the eastern oyster in the Mississippi Sound permitted an investigation of population dynamics during the collapse and recovery from systemic stressors capable of producing local extinction. In this study, metrics were reported as true population metrics with values included in proportion to the size class representation in the population. The approach was critical as trends in Dermo prevalence and weighted prevalence varied substantially between size classes, and this permitted elucidation of recovery trajectories not obvious from the population as a whole. The division of the population into larger and smaller size classes revealed a consistent differential in the time series for Dermo prevalence and weighted prevalence; these metrics did not return to levels observed before the 2016 mortality event in the 2-y interim between the 2016 and 2019 mortality events, and prevalence, in particular, remained low in the smaller size class. The time delay in the return of Dermo infection due to a substantial change in the size frequency of the population toward smaller initially uninfected animals is consistent with the differential in Dermo and young oyster cell doubling times and the required time delay, albeit relatively short, for transmission to occur. Gonadal thickness generally tracked with condition index and followed the expected seasonal cycle; any impact resulting from the 2016 mortality event on these metrics appeared to be inconsequential. The relationship between the adductor muscle diameter and shell height varied little over the time series and was much more stable than between the adductor muscle diameter and shell weight, suggesting a change in the oyster shell shape post-2016. By inference, shell weight is more variable among the three metrics in estimation of the condition index and standardization of other health indices. The ability to establish health metrics for both specific size classes and the population as a whole is essential to understanding the temporal impacts of a severe stressor or mortality event on oyster populations.
Examination of factors associated with lymph node metastases in lung carcinoids: Results from a single institution retrospective cohort study.

Abstract Background Well-differentiated lung neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), also known as typical and atypical carcinoids, have a decreased incidence of lymph node (LN) and distant metastases compared to poorly differentiated lung NETs. We aimed to (i) examine the clinicopathologic features associated with LN involvement in lung carcinoids and (ii) describe the postoperative management of patients with LN metastases. Methods We identified 98 patients who underwent surgical resection and lymph node sampling at Stanford University. We assessed the following and used AJCC staging version 7: clinical features (age, sex, race, prior malignancy, smoking history), tumor features (functional syndrome, histology, size, location, laterality), pre-operative workup performed (imaging and suspicion of LN metastases), surgery (nodes and stations sampled, margin status, surgical approach, and type of surgery), and recurrence outcome. These features were examined between patients with and without LN metastases using the Wilcoxon test (continuous variables) and Fisher’s exact test (categorical variables). Results 87 patients (89%) had typical carcinoid and 11 patients (11%) had atypical carcinoid. 17 patients were found to have at least one positive lymph node, with 11 having N1 disease and 6 having N2 disease. In the univariable analysis, patients with lymph node disease were more likely to have recurrence of lung carcinoid (29% vs. 6%, p=0.01). In the multivariable logistic regression, there was a trend towards performance of preoperative SSTR imaging and lymph node involvement (OR = 3.06, p=0.07). No patients received adjuvant therapy. Conclusion We found a trend for the performance of SSTR imaging and association of lymph node metastases in both univariable and multivariable analysis. A large proportion (41%) of patients with lymph node positive disease had
Local nonlinear stores induce global modal interactions in the steady-state dynamics of a model airplane

Abstract Local nonlinear attachments can affect the global dynamics of their linear host structures through modal interactions. This was shown previously in experimental and computational studies of a model airplane with local nonlinear attachments at its wings, under impulsive forcing. Here we study nonlinear modal interactions in the model airplane subject to harmonic excitation. We consider the case of both attachments locked (L-L – baseline linear system), and compare it to two nonlinear cases, i.e., left-wing attachment unlocked (U-L), and both attachments unlocked (U-U). Nonlinear output response functions are used to study the nonlinear modal interactions due to the local attachments in the frequency domain; these are detected only in a certain frequency band. Proper orthogonal decomposition, in conjunction with a weighted modal assurance criterion, are used to quantify these modal interactions. At some frequency bands the nonlinearities facilitate energy transfer to non-resonant airplane modes, despite being widely separated in frequency from resonant modes. Our findings apply to general linear systems with local nonlinear attachments.
FLOps: On Learning Important Time Series Features for Real-Valued Prediction

Time series value forecasting using machine learning models utilizing time series features has recently got good attention of Time series analytics community. This paper proposes an automated feature learning mechanisms to filter out most useful features from hundreds of available features for time series prediction problems. The paper further proposes a novel mechanism to dynamically filter features that are most suitable for the given input time series data. With such mechanisms we create pipeline consisting of most useful features for given input data and increases the performance of the prediction model. Our proposed mechanism first, groups well known features for time series analysis, generates and assigns the features importance score using multiple scoring configurations. Once scores are assigned, features are filtered using a threshold that is derived using reference feature score and Critical Difference diagram. The filtered features are subsequently analyzed based on the characteristics of the input dataset. We show using experimental results that our approach of input data based dynamic feature selection improves the overall performance of machine learning models compared to the case where dynamic feature extraction is not applied prior to modeling.
What is the traditional method of resistance training: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND Many resistance studies state that they used the traditional method of resistance training in the intervention. However, there is a wide difference on the characteristics of the training protocols used even though they are labeled as "the traditional method". There is no clear definition and characteristics for the traditional method of resistance training. OBJECTIVE To describe the most common definitions and references, and also the main characteristics of the training variables of the studies using the traditional training method for strengthening. DATABASE Searches were carried out in Pubmed, Embase, SPORTDiscus and Web of Science. STUDY SELECTION We included randomized controlled trials that included a strengthening program using the "traditional method" and that evaluated hypertrophy and/or maximum strength in healthy individuals. RESULT The initial search resulted in 26,057 studies, but only 39 studies were eligible and included in this review. The common characteristics of the traditional training protocol were frequency of 3 sessions/week, 3 sets of 9 repetitions, with weight = 75% 1RM. The movement time was 2±1 seconds for the concentric and for the eccentric phases. Resting time between sets was 2±1 minutes. The concepts used to define the method as traditional and the characteristics of the intervention protocols were different. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) was the most cited reference. CONCLUSIONS The "traditional method of resistance training" can be defined as: "Three (±1) sets of 9±6 repetitions of concentric and eccentric exercises using an external load of 75±20% of one maximum repetition, completed 3±1 times/week.
Norm enforcement with incomplete information

Abstract We study the emergence of norms and their enforcement in a public goods game with private information about endowments. Subjects were randomly assigned a Low or High endowment and, across treatments, endowments were either Observed or Unobserved. In both treatments subjects could enforce contributions with peer punishment. We use punishment decisions to estimate contribution norms and then estimate the expected costs of noncompliance. In Observed, both Low and High types enforce a “contribute-your-endowment” norm, adjusting the costs of noncompliance to account for each type’s endowment. In Unobserved we find that groups adapt to incomplete information by adopting a “contribute-the-Low-endowment” norm, and our expected cost calculations suggest that the enforcement of this norm balances the benefits of cooperation with the risk of misguided punishment. When at least one High type pools with Low types (by contributing less than or equal to the Low endowment), contributions of zero are punished as if they come from a High type, while contributions equal to the Low endowment are not punished in expectation (in case they come from a cooperative Low type). This enforcement strategy prevents cooperation from unraveling, but it also enables High types to hide behind the Low endowment. Our results dovetail with results from bargaining games and suggest that in settings with incomplete information, norms can attenuate but not eliminate non-cooperative behavior.
Skyway: A Seamless Solution for Bursting Workloads from On-Premises HPC Clusters to Commercial Clouds

Interest in cloud computing within the High Performance Computing (HPC) community continues to grow, but barriers to wide-spread adoption remain over concerns of cost, support of low-latency network applications, and data management. Despite these barriers, tremendous potential still exists for cloud computing to enhance HPC through the high scalability and elasticity it provides. HPC workloads and hardware technologies continue to rapidly evolve and become increasingly diversified, which poses a challenge for on-premises resources in production since they are not easily adaptable or immediately expandable. A hybrid infrastructure, with the ability of “burst-to-cloud”, can combine advantages from the on-premises and cloud resource spaces to overcome the challenges and barriers present with each. The Research Computing Center (RCC) at The University of Chicago has developed such a solution, named Skyway, that incorporates multi-cloud computing resources as elastic extensions of its on-premises HPC infrastructure. A system-level software package is also developed to interface with the Simple Linux Utility for Resource Management (SLURM) scheduler and cloud SDKs, that can burst HPC workloads to the cloud, providing users a seamless experience when interacting with both on-premises and cloud systems. Skyway offers the flexibility in interfacing with one or more cloud providers, with current use cases utilizing both Amazon AWS and Google GCP via Skyway. Other cloud providers, such as Microsoft Azure and Oracle, can also be utilized through Skyway, which we plan to explore further in the near future.
Using CRISPR Interference as a Therapeutic Approach to Treat TGFβ2-Induced Ocular Hypertension and Glaucoma.

Purpose Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is a leading cause of blindness worldwide with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) as the most important risk factor. POAG IOP elevation is due to pathological changes in the trabecular meshwork (TM). Elevated TGFβ2 contributes to these changes and increases IOP. We have shown that histone hyperacetylation is associated with TGFβ2 elevation in the TM. In this study, we determined if clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) interference could specifically deacetylate histones and decrease TGFβ2 in the TM. Methods We tested the efficiency of different promoters in driving KRAB-dCAS9 expression in human TM cells. We also screened and determined the optimal sgRNA sequence in the inhibition of TGFβ2. Chromatin immunoprecipitation-qPCR was used to determine the binding of KRAB-dCAS9. An adenovirus-mediated TGFβ2-induced ocular hypertension (OHT) mouse model was used to determine the effect of the CRISPR interference system in vivo. Results We found that the CRISPR interference system inhibited TGFβ2 expression in human TM cells, and properly designed sgRNA targeted the promoter of the TGFβ2 gene. Using sgRNA targeting the CMV promoter of the Ad5-CMV-TGFβ2 viral vector, we found that lentivirus-mediated KRAB-dCAS9 and sgRNA expression was able to inhibit Ad5-CMV-TGFβ2-induced OHT in C57BL/6J female and male mice eyes. This inhibition of OHT was associated with decreased levels of TGFβ2 and extracellular matrix proteins in the mouse eye. Conclusions Our results indicate that CRISPR interference is a useful tool for gene inhibition and may be a therapeutic approach to treat TGFβ2-induced OHT.
Surgical outcomes of medically failed prolactinomas: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE In Prolactinomas, surgery or radiation are reserved for DA failure due to tumor resistance, intolerance to medication-induced side-effects, or patient preference. This systematic review and meta-analysis summarizes the currently available literature regarding the effectiveness of surgery to treat prolactinomas in patients who have failed DA therapy. METHOD A literature search was conducted according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines for studies that reported outcomes of medically resistant and intolerant prolactinoma treated surgically. RESULTS 10 articles (Total N = 816, Surgery N = 657) met the inclusion criteria. 38% of patients who underwent surgery following DA failure achieved remission without need for further treatment (p < 0.001, I2 = 67.09%) with a median follow-up of 49.2 +/- 40 months. 62% achieved remission with multimodal treatment (p < 0.001, I2 = 93.28%) with a median follow-up of 53 +/- 39.8 months. 16% of cases demonstrated recurrence after early remission (p = 0.02, I2 = 62.91%) with recurrence occurring on average at 27 +/- 9 months. Overall, 46% of patients required reinstitution of postoperative DA therapy at last follow up (p < 0.001, I2 = 82.57%). Subgroup analysis of macroprolactinoma and microprolactinoma has demonstrated that there is no statistical significance in achieving long-term remission with surgery stand-alone in macroprolactinoma group (p = 0.49) although 43% of patients were able to achieve remission with multimodal therapy at last follow-up in the same group (p < 0.001, I2 = 86.34%). CONCLUSIONS This systematic review and meta-analysis revealed 38% of operated patients achieved remission, while 62% achieved remission when additional modes of therapy were implemented. Therefore, although surgery has not been initial therapeutic choice for prolactinoma, it plays a significant role in medically failed prolactinoma care.
Suicidology Meets “Big Data”

Suicide is the worst acute outcome in psychiatry, in part because it is preventable. Globally, nearly a million people die yearly by suicide, yet despite research and prevention efforts, global suicide rates have increased in the past half century, and the World Health Organization projects they will rise more in the years ahead. Suicide is overwhelmingly associated with mental illness, mostly depressive disorders, though substance use and psychotic disorders are also significant risks. Language: en
Chemistry and physiology of the thyroid-stimulating hormone.

Publisher Summary The thyroid-stimulating hormone (also called TSH, thyrotropin, thyrotrophin, thyrotropic hormone, or thyrotrophic hormone) is a substance of anterior pituitary origin whose existence as an entity has been inferred mainly from its in vivo effects. There is generally a direct correlation between the concentration of thyrotropin and the histological state of the thyroid, that is, animals having the greater concentrations of thyrotropin show more active thyroid glands histologically. It is doubtful whether this material has ever been obtained in sufficiently pure form to characterize it adequately from a chemical point of view. The possibility that there may be more than one chemical entity which has TSH properties and the fact that other pituitary factors alter thyroidal and extrathyroidal responses make it difficult to define TSH even from a biological point of view. This chapter presents the current status and emphasizes special problems associated with the chemistry and physiology of TSH.
Introduction to the packaging, transport and storage of radioactive materials

Packaging, transport, and storage of radioactive materials must be done in a safe and secure manner. The varied physical characteristics of radioactive materials, coupled with unique chemical attributes, require isolation and specific protection schemes to ensure safe operations as well as protection of human health and the environment. Because these are hazardous materials, there is a strong regulatory structure in place that ensures consistent and compliant operations. The technologies applied are multidisciplined and have been demonstrated to be effective, and the experience base always looks for improvements. This book focuses on the packaging, transport, and storage of radioactive materials and addresses the regulatory framework, the technologies, and the operational history and experience therein.
Tissue Glutathione as a Cyst(e)ine Reservoir during Cystine Depletion in Growing Rats

Previous data suggest that liver glutathione (GSH) serves as a cyst(e)ine reservoir in rats starved or fed cyst(e)ine-deficient diets. In the present study we investigated whether extrahepatic tissue GSH concentrations also decreased during cystine (Cys-Cys) depletion and whether excess dietary cystine increased tissue GSH and cysteine (Cys) concentrations. Five groups of growing rats (80-100 g) were fed diets containing crystalline L-amino acids differing in methionine (Met) and cystine (Cys-Cys) content for 15 days. All diets were isonitrogenous (1.3 g/100 g diet) and provided the minimum Met (0.17%) required by growing rats. Diet 1 provided 0.17% Met and 0% Cys-Cys, diet 2 (the recommended diet) provided 0.17% Met and 0.26% Cys-Cys, diet 3 provided 0.50% Met and 0% Cys-Cys, diet 4 provided 0.17% Met and 0.39% Cys-Cys and diet 5 provided 0.17% Met and 0.52% Cys-Cys. Diets 2 and 3 were isosulfurous at 3.3 mmol/100 g diet. Diets 4 and 5 provided 50 and 100%, respectively, more Cys-Cys than required when 0.17% Met was present. Animals fed diet 1 (Cys-Cys depletion) had significantly decreased (P less than 0.05) liver, muscle, spleen, heart and thymus GSH concentrations, whereas brain, small intestine and erythrocyte GSH concentrations remained unchanged. Although brain and small intestine Cys concentrations were not affected by Cys-Cys depletion, spleen, heart and liver Cys concentrations decreased significantly (P less than 0.05). Feeding Cys-Cys above the requirement level did not increase GSH and Cys concentrations of any tissue except liver where Cys levels were elevated. The data indicate that liver, muscle, spleen, heart and thymus GSH serve as Cys reservoirs during Cys-Cys depletion.
Effect of Host Cell on Distribution of a Lysosomal Enzyme During Virus Infection

The time of appearance of a lysosomal enzyme, β-glucuronidase, in the medium of cells infected with either measles virus or echovirus 6 varied with the host cell system. Replication and release of virus preceded leakage of β-glucuronidase from green monkey kidney cells. In contrast, extracellular enzyme appeared before replication and release of virus in human amnion cells. Hydrocortisone depressed enzyme leakage but did not retard replication of measles virus or viral-induced cytopathology. The intracellular distribution of β-glucuronidase in uninfected and measles virus-infected cells was also studied. Measles virus infection altered the position of particulate-bound β-glucuronidase in linear sucrose gradients prior to substantial release of this enzyme intra- and extracellularly. At early stages in infection, most of the cell-associated virus banded with particulate-bound enzyme in the middle of the gradient. As infection progressed, separation of measles virus infectivity from enzyme activity occurred, and intracellular virus was recovered near the meniscus of sucrose gradients.
Effects of Saturating Nonlinearities on the Stability of Reduced order Adaptive Systems in the Presence of Parasitics: Regulation and Tracking

The problem of robust stability of adaptive systems is considered. The introduction of saturating nonlinearities in the adaptation law improves the stability of the adaptive system significantly in the presence of parasitics. Improved stability is achieved in both regulation and tracking. The proposed adaptation laws lead to analytical and quantitative conditions for robust stability which can be tested a priori and can be used as design criteria. Furthermore, the analysis provides us with a more precise characterization of the behavior of the adaptive system and a systematic approach for robust adaptive control design. In the tracking case, the only requirement on the system inputs is boundedness, with the common requirement of sufficiently exciting inputs, necessary for other adaptation schemes being eliminated. Stability is achieved even in the presence of fast parasitics or high frequency inputs. Systems that in the literature are considered highly unstable without the use of saturating nonlinearities, are easily stabilized with adaptation laws incorporating saturating nonlinearities as shown by numerical simulation of several characteristic cases.
Problem of {alpha}{sub s} in supersymmetric unified theories

It is shown that in SO(10) there is a general connection between the suppression of Higgsino mediated proton decay and the value of {alpha}{sub s}. However, agreement with the experimental value of {alpha}{sub s} can be obtained if there are relatively large negative threshold corrections to {alpha}{sub s} coming from superheavy split multiplets. It is shown that such split multiplets can arise in SO(10) without fine-tuning of parameters. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}
The Role of Embedded Clusters in Star Formation

During the past century, astronomers have discovered that star formation is a continuous, ongoing process, occurring over the lifetime of our Galaxy and the universe. However, how stars form, still remains a mystery. Unraveling the process of stellar birth is of fundamental importance for understanding not only the origin of stars but also the origin and evolution of planets, life and even galaxies. For example, since stars are the basic constituents of galaxies, stellar formation and evolution are the engines that drive galaxy evolution. Once stars form, astronomers can use the elegant theory of stellar structure and evolution to predict the life histories of galaxies. However a comparable theory of star formation does not currently exist and therefore limits any future progress toward understanding galaxy evolution.
The suitability of disaster loss databases to measure loss and damage from climate change

This paper explores the suitability of disaster loss databases for documenting impacts of climate change particularly those related to extreme weather and slow onset events. The goal is to clarify the utility, quality, and relevance of disaster loss metrics in the context of climate-sensitive hazards such as floods, tropical cyclones, droughts, and so forth. Although, disaster loss databases hold great potential for assessing some of the impacts from climate change, several modifications are required to enhance the utility of existing disaster loss databases, primarily in regard to data availability and quality. In order to effectively utilise disaster loss databases, loss metrics and hazard classifications should be broadened, time horizons for loss estimation expanded as well as loss estimation techniques improved along with a coordinated development and implementation of data and database standards.
Odd‐even variations in the melting points of some ethylene polyesters

Molecular mechanics calculations on poly(ethylene adipate), poly(ethylene pimelate), and poly(ethylene suberate) indicate that the odd-even variation in the melting points of the polyesters n with the number y of methylene groups is due to differences in packing of the chains in the crystalline state.
Lesions in the mRNA cap-binding gene ABA HYPERSENSITIVE 1 suppress FRIGIDA-mediated delayed flowering in Arabidopsis.

Summary Recessive mutations that suppress the late-flowering phenotype conferred by FRIGIDA (FRI) and FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) and which also result in serrated leaf morphology were identified in T-DNA and fast-neutron mutant populations. Molecular analysis showed that the mutations are caused by lesions in the gene encoding the large subunit of the nuclear mRNA cap-binding protein, ABH1 (ABA hypersensitive1). The suppression of late flowering is caused by the inability of FRI to increase FLC mRNA levels in the abh1 mutant background. The serrated leaf morphology of abh1 is similar to the serrate (se) mutant and, like abh1, se is also a suppressor of FRI-mediated late flowering although it is a weaker suppressor than abh1. Unlike se, in abh1 the rate of leaf production and the number of juvenile leaves are not altered. The abh1 lesion affects several developmental processes, perhaps because the processing of certain mRNAs in these pathways is more sensitive to loss of cap-binding activity than the majority of cellular mRNAs.
Effects of Prostaglandin Modifiers and Zinc Deficiency on Possibly Related Functions in Rats

Experiments were conducted to investigate the role of prostaglandins (PG) in zinc absorption and biological functions (food intake and weight gain, alkaline phosphatase activity, T-cell-mediated immune response). PG levels were modified by administering an inhibitor of their synthesis, aspirin or indomethacin in the diet. Zinc level was modified by controlling the dietary concentration. Weanling rats were fed the assigned diets for 1 month after which they were anesthetized with ether. Samples of blood, gut contents and mucosa, liver, lung and tibia were collected for zinc, PG, lymphocyte stimulation with T-cell mitogen, and alkaline phosphatase assays. There was more than 50% inhibition of PG synthesis by indomethacin and aspirin. This inhibition of PG synthesis, however, did not affect the zinc status of the rats as measured by general appearance, food intake, weight gain, organ weight, zinc concentration in different organs, serum alkaline phosphatase activity, and cell-mediated immune response to T-cell mitogens. It is concluded that under physiological conditions inhibitors of PG synthesis do not alter these zinc metabolic functions.
Development of the Sense of Balance in School Children

(1957). Development of the Sense of Balance in School Children. The Journal of Educational Research: Vol. 51, No. 1, pp. 33-37.
The moderators of patient satisfaction.

The purpose of this study was to determine which Department of Defense (DOD) active duty patient sociodemogpraphic, health status, geographic location, and utilization factors, predict overall patient satisfaction with health care in military facilities. A theoretical framework developed from patient satisfaction and social identity theories and from previous empirical findings was used to develop a model to predict patient satisfaction and delineate moderating variables. The major finding indicated in this study was the significance of patients’ characteristics in moderating their satisfaction. Principal components factor analysis and hierarchical linear regression revealed that patient specific factors predicted patients’ satisfaction after controlling for factors depicting patients’ evaluations of health system characteristics. Patient specific factors provided added, although very minimal, explanatory value to the determination of patients’ satisfaction. The study findings can aid in the development of targeted, objectively prioritized programs of improvement and marketing by ranking variables using patients’ passively derived importance schema.
547. Magnetically Driven Non-Viral Gene Delivery Efficiently Transfects Cultured Smooth Muscle Cells and Inhibits Their Growth Via Adiponectin Transgene Expression

Non-viral gene delivery systems present an attractive alternative to viruses due to a reduced immune response compared to viral vectors and ease of manufacture. However their clinical use is limited by their relatively low efficiency and toxic effects in non-target tissues. These limitations can be addressed by using carriers possessing targeting properties. Targeting achievable via magnetic force may provide a clinically viable solution for effective and non-toxic non-viral gene delivery. The present studies investigated the hypothesis that non-viral transfection can be achieved via magnetically driven delivery of iron oxide containing nanoparticle-pDNA complexes. Iron oxide laden polylactide (PLA)-based biodegradable nanoparticles (NP) were surface modified with polyethyleneimine. NP containing 10% and 35% iron oxide by weight had an average size of 370|[plusmn]|20 nm and both exhibited superparamagnetic properties (magnetic remnance less than 0.5% of their magnetic saturation values), while the latter showed higher magnetization (0.64 vs. 0.21 memu at 500 Oe, respectively). The capacity of the latter NP formulation to deliver plasmid DNA was examined in cultured A10, rat aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC), using GFP as a reporter gene. NP complexed with DNA were applied to cells for 15 min under magnetic field, and their cellular uptake and gene expression were measured fluorimetrically 2 days post treatment. Intracellular NP levels were directly dose dependent in the examined NP dose range. NP application in either low or high serum conditions (10% and 50%, respectively) resulted in significant levels of transgene expression. While similar rates of NP cellular uptake were observed in low and high serum conditions, GFP expression was 1.5-2 times higher in 10% serum-containing medium. Free DNA as well as NP-DNA complexes applied in the absence of a magnetic field did not produce detectable transgene levels under these experimental conditions. Plasmid DNA encoding adiponectin, a protein strongly suppressing PDGF-BB-induced proliferation and migration of SMC, was chosen as a gene potentially therapeutically relevant for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. The effect of magnetically mediated gene transfer on cell growth was examined in subconfluent culture of A10 incubated for 15 min in DMEM supplemented with 2% FBS and 10 ng/ml of PDGF-BB with magnetic NP complexed with adiponectin plasmid. The levels of adiponectin in the medium were found to be 3.7-4.3 ng/ml two days post treatment per ELISA. A complex of magnetic NP and DNA (2.5-3.2 |[mu]|g and 0.25 |[mu]|g per well, respectively) significantly inhibited the growth of SMC compared to NP complexed with GFP plasmid or GFP plasmid without a promoter (60-70% vs. 10-20%) as determined by an Alamar Blue assay. It is concluded that magnetically responsive pDNA-NP complexes demonstrate increased transgene expression versus controls.
A device to hold and identify rock‐filled baskets for benthic sampling in large rivers1

A holder with rock-filled baskets attached at intervals in specific, easily identifiable locations provides a means of benthic sampling under adverse conditions of current and visibility. Two methods of bagging the rock-filled baskets are described.
Structure of the acid state of Escherichia coli ribonuclease HI

Under acidic conditions Escherichia coli ribonuclease HI* (RNase H*) adopts a partially folded state with all of the properties of a molten globule. Using amide hydrogen exchange carried out under acid state conditions, followed by quenching and NMR detection on the native state, we have determined the residues that are responsible for the observed structure of the acid state. Although RNase H* is a mixed alpha + beta protein, a helical subdomain (helices A, D, and B) defines the structure of the acid state. This structure correlates with the rare higher energy conformations detected under native conditions and with data for the earliest intermediates populated in the kinetic folding pathway of the protein.
Strontium-Doped Lanthanum Manganate Cathode Degradation Due to a Decomposed Hydrogen Peroxide Oxidant Feed Stream

Decomposed hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) contains excess moisture and stabilizers that can deteriorate SOFC performance and durability markedly in the cathode. A numerical study is performed for a strontium-doped lanthanum manganate and yttria stabilized zirconia (LSM-YSZ) composite cathode using an oxidant stream consisting of a 20% O2 and 80% H2 O mixture to study the detailed reaction mechanism and local transport and polarization phenomena. Specifically the 1-D cathode model couples multi-component gas and charge transport with an oxygen reduction mechanism. The model is validated with data from the literature and used to study the transport effect only of H2 O in the cathode. Future work will consider the effect of H2 O on the electrochemical reaction mechanism.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
The Boston Marathon Bombings: Who's to Blame and Why It Matters for Public Administration

This article examines how elite attributions of blame—statements from politicians and high-level public administrators assigning responsibility for failure to prevent the Boston Marathon bombings—affect citizens’ beliefs regarding which government organizations, if any, are culpable for failing to prevent the bombings. The primary hypothesis is that public administrators, owing to their greater credibility relative to politicians, will more strongly influence citizens’ notions of who is to blame. Findings show that public administrators are viewed as significantly more credible among Democrats, and this credibility advantage translates into influence. Additionally, blame statements implicating the Federal Bureau of Investigation for failing to prevent the Boston Marathon bombings are particularly influential among Republicans, and exculpatory statements are particularly influential among Democrats. As discussed in the context of the Boston Marathon bombings, the public process of attributing blame for a perceived governmental failure has important implications for public administration.
The composition of the lower mantle

The equation of state of the lower mantle is found by requiring that both the density and the seismic parameter ∅ = (∂P / ∂P_s = V ^2-(4/3)V^2_s be satisfied. The zer the lower mantle can then be found and the mean atomic weight can be inferred. For most published density models for the Earth the FeO content of the lower mantle is greater than the upper mantle. This indicates that the mantle is not homogeneous in composition as is usually assumed.
The relationship of increased left atrial volume and pressure to abnormal P waves on the electrocardiogram.

Left atrial volume and pressure measurements in 23 normal subjects and 117 cardiac patients were compared with several electrocardiographic criteria for left atrial disease. Both P duration in lead II and V1 terminal force (the area inscribed by the terminal portion of the P in lead V1) showed a highly significant correlation with changes in left atrial volume but related less well to increases in left atrial pressure. Diagnostically, both criteria accurately predicted normal or increased left atrial size in two thirds of all patients. The V1 terminal force was more accurate in predicting left atrial pressure abnormalities in all subjects and particularly reliable in detecting increased pressure and volume in mitral stenosis. The P/PR segment ratio was less helpful in the detection of left atrial disease.
Switched photonic delay line for phased-array antenna control using externally modulated microwave fiber optic link

The first demonstration of a 4-bit binary photonic delay line using ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) devices and externally modulated S/C band fiber-optic link is presented. A Mach-Zehnder integrated-optic modulator is used to modulate the light. This photonic delay line uses FLC optical on/off devices for optical path switching and active polarization noise filtering. Three dimensional imaging optics and antireflection coated optics are used to minimize photonic delay line insertion losses and interchannel crosstalk. Signal-to-noise ratio measurements as well as interchannel isolation crosstalk analysis is performed.
Laminar conjugated forced convection heat transfer in curved rectangular channels

Abstract This paper examines fully developed laminar flow and conjugated forced convection heat transfer in curved rectangular channels. The wall average Nusselt number, Nu , is presented as a function of the wall conduction parameter, φ, the Dean number, De, and the channel aspect ratio, λ. Secondary flow streamlines for the case of λ=1/2 are presented to illustrate the enhanced stability in curved rectangular channels in comparison with curved square channels. A curve illustrating the relationship between φeff, defined as the value of φ at which a constant wall temperature boundary condition can be assumed, and De is presented for several values of λ. The solution for straight channels is also included, and it is found that φeff is independent of λ for λ≤1/4.
Characterizing characters: How children make sense of realistic acting

Abstract Children and adults are presented with a special case of the unreal on a daily basis: realistic acting. Although the realistic portrayal of characters is a widespread activity, psychologists know little about how children understand acting, especially the differences between actors and the characters they play. In two studies we tested whether children believe that actors actually possess the physical and emotional states they enact. We found that 3- and 4-year-old children (but not 5-year-old children) fail to appreciate that what happens to a character on screen does not also happen to the actor in real life. We also found that, unlike adults, children tend to favor a nonrealistic portrayal over a realistic one when asked which better depicts a characteristic. These studies can provide a new lens on children's knowledge about portrayals of mental and emotional states in pretend worlds, as well as on their ability to quarantine the world of the unreal.
Ginseng Protects Against Respiratory Syncytial Virus by Modulating Multiple Immune Cells and Inhibiting Viral Replication

Ginseng has been used in humans for thousands of years but its effects on viral infection have not been well understood. We investigated the effects of red ginseng extract (RGE) on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection using in vitro cell culture and in vivo mouse models. RGE partially protected human epithelial (HEp2) cells from RSV-induced cell death and viral replication. In addition, RGE significantly inhibited the production of RSV-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α) in murine dendritic and macrophage-like cells. More importantly, RGE intranasal pre-treatment prevented loss of mouse body weight after RSV infection. RGE treatment improved lung viral clearance and enhanced the production of interferon (IFN-γ) in bronchoalveolar lavage cells upon RSV infection of mice. Analysis of cellular phenotypes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids showed that RGE treatment increased the populations of CD8+ T cells and CD11c+ dendritic cells upon RSV infection of mice. Taken together, these results provide evidence that ginseng has protective effects against RSV infection through multiple mechanisms, which include improving cell survival, partial inhibition of viral replication and modulation of cytokine production and types of immune cells migrating into the lung.