cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Poly(lactic acid) blends in biomedical applications

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) has become a "material of choice" in biomedical applications for its ability to fulfill complex needs that typically include properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, mechanical strength, and processability. Despite the advantages of pure PLA in a wider spectrum of applications, it is limited by its hydrophobicity, low impact toughness, and slow degradation rate. Blending PLA with other polymers offers a convenient option to enhance its properties or generate novel properties for target applications without the need to develop new materials. PLA blends with different natural and synthetic polymers have been developed by solvent and melt blending techniques and further processed based on end-use applications. A variety of PLA blends has been explored for biomedical applications such as drug delivery, implants, sutures, and tissue engineering. This review discusses the opportunities for PLA blends in the biomedical arena, including the overview of blending and postblend processing techniques and the applications of PLA blends currently in use and under development.
Asking for Help with the Right Question by Predicting Human Visual Performance

In this paper, we consider robotic surveillance tasks that involve visual perception. The robot has a limited access to a remote operator to ask for help. However, humans may not be able to accomplish the visual task in many scenarios, depending on the sensory input. In this paper, we propose a machine learning-based approach that allows the robot to probabilistically predict human visual performance for any visual input. Based on this prediction, we then present a methodology that allows the robot to properly optimize its field decisions in terms of when to ask for help, when to sense more, and when to rely on itself. The proposed approach enables the robot to ask the right questions, only querying the operator with the sensory inputs for which humans have a high chance of success. Furthermore, it allows it to autonomously locate the areas that need more sensing. We test the proposed predictor on a large validation set and show Normalized Mean Square Error of 0.0199, as well as a reduction of about an order of magnitude in error as compared to the state-of-the-art. We then run a number of robotic surveillance experiments on our campus as well as a larger-scale evaluation with real data/human feedback in a simulation environment. The results showcase the efficacy of our approach, indicating a considerable increase in the success rate of human queries (a few folds in several cases) and the overall performance (30%-41% increase in success rate).
Application of Nuttli's method to estimate yield of Nevada Test Site explosions recorded on Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's Digital Seismic System

Methods utilizing Lg waves for estimating yields of underground nuclear explosions have attracted considerable attention for their accuracy, claims of portability, and suitability for low yield test ban verification. In this study, the method developed by Nuttli is applied to a large dataset of Nevada Test Site explosions recorded on Livermore's Digital Seismic System. The purpose was to check the reproducibility of Nuttli's results and to verify the accuracy of mb ( Lg ) to estimate yield at high and low yield levels. Portability of the method is examined from the perspective of variability of the magnitude-yield relations as a function of station site and source geology. The results of this study show accuracies of about a factor of 1.6 in yield at the two sigma level for shots below the water table in source regions exhibiting more or less uniform coupling. At Nevada Test Site, there are three such source regions: Pahute Mesa (areas 19 and 20), northern Yucca including areas 2 and 9, and southern Yucca including areas 3, 4, and 7. There is no apparent degradation in accuracies at low yields (1 to 10 kt). Variations in source coupling were observed as a function of shot location and as a function of the medium's gas porosity for shots in tuff. The effect of gas porosity was not observed for shots in alluvium, which have uniformly low coupling compared to shots in tuff. Variations in magnitude-yield relations were observed from station to station, while the four-station network-average magnitudes are more robust and agreed well with Nuttli's magnitude-yield relations. Thus, portability to other test sites should be considered guardedly optimistic, requiring geologic and seismic data related to coupling in each source region and sufficient numbers of stations (four or five) to estimate a robust network magnitude. Taken all together, the findings of this study lend support to this method as a viable means of monitoring a threshold test ban or low yield threshold test ban.
A wirelessly tunable low drop-out regulator for subcutaneous muscle prosthesis

This paper presents a design technique to implement wirelessly tunable low-dropout regulators (LDOs) with application in electrical stimulation of ionic electroactive polymers (iEAPs) used in subcutaneous muscle prosthesis. The proposed technique, built upon the concept of frequency-based telemetry, converts the frequency of the sinusoidal signal at the primary side into an electrical current at the secondary side that will be proportional to the input frequency. This current is then used to change the reference level of the LDO and therefore, its output voltage, thereby, providing the capability to tune the output of LDO remotely. The proposed technique is designed using IBM 0.13 μm BiCMOS technology. Simulation results suggest that the proposed wirelessly tunable LDO can be used as a reliable stimulator for iEAPs to allow different degrees of movement for the subcutaneous muscle prosthesis, enabling immediate movement restoration, upon implantation.
Case 49: A Leaking Anesthesia Machine

You are scheduled to anesthetize a 45-year-old male (150 kg, 5 ft 10 in.) for cervical laminectomy. His medical history is significant for hypertension and noninsulin-dependent diabetes. On examination he complains about a stiff and painful neck when he moves it. You place an IV and sedate him with midazolam and take him to the operating room. In the operating room you place routine monitors and induce anesthesia. He is an easy mask and because of his neck problem you use a trachlight (Laerdal Medical, Stavanger, Norway) with an endotracheal tube (ETT) attached. The ETT is placed in the trachea without any problems. End-tidal CO2 is seen and bilateral air entry is heard. An esophageal stethoscope is placed and the patient is turned prone. After he is positioned prone, you notice that the end-tidal CO2 is decreased from 38 to 30 mmHg. The Apollo machine (Drager Medical, 233542 Lubeck, Germany) is now indicating that you have a leak in the machine and/or the breathing system. You confirm bilateral air entry and normal breath sounds. You commence manual ventilation but the leak is still there.
Intelligent Agent Transparency The Design and Evaluation of an Interface to Facilitate Human and Intelligent Agent Collaboration

We evaluated the usability and utility of an unmanned vehicle management interface that was developed based on the Situation awareness–based Agent Transparency model. We sought to examine the effec...
Response of Liquid Lithium Layers to Neutron and X-Ray Pulses

Many inertial confinement fusion reactors will employ liquid lithium to breed tritium, to remove heat from reactor vessels, and to protect the interior walls of the vessel. Heat loads on the liquid lithium will consist of intense pulses that are short in comparison to hydrodynamic and thermal relaxation times and therefore will generate pressure pulses and/or pressure waves. The generation process is investigated analytically and numerically. Analytic solutions are derived for liquid blankets with thicknesses comparable to the neutron energy deposition depth contained between two structural shells and for free surface layers with thicknesses much smaller than the depth of neutron energy deposition. Results indicate that the amplitudes of the neutron-generated pressure waves are comparable to the mean pressure rise that would be obtained if the energy were deposited so slowly and uniformly that the waves did not develop. Pulses in lithium layers, which are initially at the vapor pressure. Results indicate that rapid heating occurs at constant specific volume (isochorically) and therefore results in a sharp and intense pressure rise. However, the resulting pressure wave dissipates after propagating only a few millimetres through the layer if the lithium contains any fraction of the vapor phase.
Development of a Meso-Scale SMA-Based Torsion Actuator for Image-Guided Procedures

This paper presents the design, modeling, and control of a meso-scale torsion actuator based on shape memory alloy (SMA) for image-guided surgical procedures. Developing a miniature torsion actuator is challenging, but it opens the possibility of significantly enhancing the robot agility and maneuverability. The proposed torsion actuator is bidirectionally actuated by a pair of antagonistic SMA torsion springs through alternate Joule heating and natural cooling. The torsion actuator is integrated into a surgical robot prototype to demonstrate its working performance in the humid environment under C-Arm CT image guidance.
Quality of life in adults with facial port-wine stains

Background Facial port-wine stains (PWS) are considered by some an aesthetic skin problem, yet impact on quality of life (QoL) has not been objectively documented. Objective We sought to (1) characterize the effect of PWS on QoL in adults, (2) to identify the clinical and demographic factors that affect QoL, and (3) to compare our results with QoL studies in other skin conditions. Methods In total, 244 adults with facial PWS completed an online QoL survey, which included the Skindex-29 instrument. Results QoL in adults with facial PWS was diminished, especially from an emotional perspective. Variables associated with reduced QoL in all Skindex-29 subdomains included comorbid depression, limited facial mobility, and presence of other skin conditions. Persons with hypertrophy had more emotional and symptomatic impairment. The composite dermatologic-specific QoL scores were similar to those of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, rosacea, alopecia, and vitiligo. Limitations Selection bias was a potential limitation, as participants were primarily recruited from patient support groups. Conclusion Our analysis demonstrates that the presence of a facial PWS has a significant negative impact on QoL. Dermatologists caring for patients with PWS should inquire about QoL, provide appropriate support and resources, and consider QoL when discussing treatment options and obtaining authorization for these procedures.
Forodesine in the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is characterized by the accumulation of neoplastic CD4+ T lymphocytes in the skin. Given the lack of curative treatments for CTCL, there is a significant need for new, superior therapies. Forodesine is a transition-state analogue that inhibits purine nucleoside phosphorylase. Because it selectively targets T lymphocytes, it represents a drug of interest for the treatment of CTCL.Areas covered: Phase I/II dose-ranging studies of intravenous (IV) and oral forodesine demonstrated its activity, safety, and tolerability for refractory CTCL. Response rates were 31% and 27%, respectively. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed. These studies were followed by a phase II trial of oral forodesine 200 mg daily. This oral formulation showed only partial activity, with a response rate of 11%, likely attributable to underdosing. Common adverse events in these trials included infection, fatigue, peripheral edema, nausea, pruritus, headache, and insomnia.Expert op...
Crystallographic texture of straight‐rolled α‐uranium foils via neutron and X‐ray diffraction

The texture of recrystallized straight-rolled α-uranium foils, a component in prospective irradiation target designs for medical isotope production, has been measured by neutron diffraction, as well as X-ray diffraction using both Cu and Mo sources. Variations in the penetration depth of neutron and X-ray radiation allow for determination of both the bulk and surface textures. The bulk α-uranium foil texture is similar to the warm straight-rolled plate texture, with the addition of a notable splitting of the (001) poles along the transverse direction. The surface texture of the foils is similar to the bulk, with an additional (001) texture component that is oriented between the rolling and normal directions. Differences between the surface and bulk textures are expected to arise from shear forces during the rolling process and the influence that distinct strain histories have on subsequent texture evolution during recrystallization.
Contemporary management of men with high-risk localized prostate cancer in the United States.

Contemporary management of men with high-risk localized prostate cancer in the United States
Undefining Small-Scale Fisheries in India: Challenging Simplifications and Highlighting Diversity and Value

Indian marine fishers and fishing practices vary considerably, from semi-industrial boats crewed by two-dozen to the lone fisher paddling a tiny canoe. It is difficult to capture this in simple statistical measurements, leaving much of the small-scale sector as less-than-legible. Policymakers often default to defining fishers – and particularly the small-scale – in the aggregate as locked in poverty and part of the underdeveloped “backward classes.” This view results in development focused on capitalizing and “modernizing.” This paper seeks to challenge this reductionist perspective. Following a discussion of the difficulty in defining small-scale fisheries (SSF), the paper reviews of the Indian fisheries development context. Analysis of census data from India’s Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute examines the questionable but widespread generalization that Indian SSF are synonymous with poverty. The analysis finds considerable variability in the characteristics of fishing communities and the predictors of poverty within and across geographies. Inspired by the social wellbeing framework, the paper finally attempts to describe India’s small-scale fisheries in terms beyond simplistic techno-economic measures. This more nuanced statistical picture of India’s fisheries questions the narrative that SSF are inherently destitute and leads to an argument that politics, policy and scholarship should shun overly simplified economic abstractions and reconsider the diversity and values of SSF.
Connections Between Graduation and Forecasting

The motivation for the development of graduation methods is usually based on one of two foundations: 1. Mathematical programming. An objective function is specified and the set of graduated values is found so that an optimal value of the objective function is attained. 2. Statistical analysis. A statistical model is specified and the set of graduated values that attain a goal stated in statistical terms such as minimum variance or a posterior mean is found.
Optimal facility layout design11This study was supported in part by an Auburn College of Engineering infrastructure award made to Drs. Meller and Vance, and NSF CAREER Grants DMII 9623605 and DMII 9502502.

The facility layout problem (FLP) is a fundamental optimization problem encountered in many manufacturing and service organizations. Montreuil introduced a mixed integer programming (MIP) model for FLP that has been used as the basis for several rounding heuristics. However, no further attempt has been made to solve this MIP optimally. In fact, though this MIP only has 2n(n-1) 0-1 variables, it is very difficult to solve even for instances with n~5 departments. In this paper we reformulate Montreuil's model by redefining his binary variables and tightening the department area constraints. Based on the acyclic subgraph structure underlying our model, we propose some general classes of valid inequalities. Using these inequalities in a branch-and-bound algorithm, we have been able to moderately increase the range of solvable problems. We are, however, still unable to solve problems large enough to be of practical interest. The disjunctive constraint structure underlying our FLP model is common to several other ordering/arrangement problems; e.g., circuit layout design, multi-dimensional orthogonal packing and multiple resource constrained scheduling problems. Thus, a better understanding of the polyhedral structure of this difficult class of MIPs would be valuable for a number of applications.
Tracking e-Journal Perpetual Rights: A Library Case Study

ABSTRACTIn recent years, librarians have been cancelling print journal subscriptions in favor of e-journals that often have perpetual access rights. Managing e-journals has become more complex due to the need to track those perpetual rights, ensuring that perpetual access is activated and remains available, especially as titles move among various publishers and platforms, and as current subscriptions are cancelled; and due to the need to preserve documentation verifying e-journal entitlement. This article shares how a librarian at Sam Houston State University is addressing these challenges using a shared drive, notes in a journal A-Z link resolver system, the CORAL electronic resources management system, and a local field in the bibliographic record.
MAGNAMWAR: an R package for genome-wide association studies of bacterial orthologs.

Summary Here we report on an R package for genome-wide association studies of orthologous genes in bacteria. Before using the software, orthologs from bacterial genomes or metagenomes are defined using local or online implementations of OrthoMCL. These presence-absence patterns are statistically associated with variation in user-collected phenotypes using the Mono-Associated GNotobiotic Animals Metagenome-Wide Association R package (MAGNAMWAR). Genotype-phenotype associations can be performed with several different statistical tests based on the type and distribution of the data. Availability and implementation MAGNAMWAR is available on CRAN. Contact john_chaston@byu.edu.
The impact of dual inhibition on the androgen receptor and mTOR pathway cross talk in vitro and in vivo in prostate cancer models

1212 Androgen ablation is the standard treatment for advanced disease. Despite initial success, approximately 70% of patients eventually progress to hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). To investigate the mechanisms of this resistance we utilized human prostate cancer cells (LNCaP). Our studies suggest a compensatory signaling mechanism and cross-talk pathway between AR and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway occurs with androgen ablation treatment in-vitro. We also demonstrated that dual inhibition of AR and mTOR synergistically inhibited cell proliferation. The current investigation analyzed the interaction of the AR and mTOR pathways in-vitro and in-vivo. Using co-immunoprecipitation of Akt and AR, it was found that the interaction between the pathways increases 7-fold as cells progressed from a hormone sensitive to hormone resistant model. The interaction was reduced 36% with bicalutamide and 54% with our novel anti-androgen/androgen synthesis inhibitor, VN/124-1. Everolimus, an mTOR inhibitor, also reduced the interaction modestly (37%). However, bicalutamide plus everolimus reduced the interaction by 71% while VN/124-1 plus verolimus reduced the interaction by nearly 100%. An in vivo hormone dependent LNCaP xenograft investigation demonstrated that the addition of everolimus to bicalutamide resistant tumors significantly decreased growth rate and tumor volume compared to single agent bicalutamide (p=0.0001) or everolimus (p=0.04). Additional in vivo experiments investigated tumors progression following anti-androgen therapy. PSA increased in control mice from 2.9±0.2ng/nl at week 2 to 4.3±0.568ng/ml at week 3 and to 7.4±0.783ng/ml at week 4 confirming disease progression. Both bicalutamide and VN/124-1 increased IGFR, p-Akt, p-70S6K and p-P6S6 protein expression compared to control xenografts. A third xenograft investigation with hormone resistant prostate cancer cells (HP-LNCaP) demonstrated that dual inhibition with everolimus (5mg/kg/QW-PO) and VN/124-1 (100mg/kg/QD-SC) significantly (p=0.03) reduced tumor volume and growth rate compared to single agent everolimus. Furthermore, growth trends indicate that VN/124-1 plus everolimus was more effective than bicalutamide plus everolimus. In summary, the interaction between the AR and Akt pathways is decreased by dual inhibition of AR and mTOR. As tumors progress on anti-androgen therapy, there is a more rapid increase in signal transduction pathway activation compared to controls. As such, the combination of anti-androgen, such as VN/124-1, and mTOR inhibitors from the beginning significantly reduced tumor volume compared to everolimus or bicalutamide alone in HRPC xenografts. Improved understanding of the interaction between the AR and mTOR pathways reveals a better strategy for treating disease progression that may delay, re-sensitize or prevent HRPC.
Organ and Species Specificity in Nickel Subsulfide Carcinogenesis

The carcinogenic effects of metal compounds in man and experimental animals have been comprehensively reviewed in several recent articles and monographs (1-7). Four metals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and nickel) have been established as human carcinogens on the basis of epidemiological investigations, and compounds of 13 metals (aluminum, beryllium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, lead, platinum, titanium, and zinc) have been shown to induce cancers in experimental animals (5-7). Nickel subsulfide (Ni3S2) is the most potent metallic carcinogen that has been identified to date;Ni3S2 has been evaluated for carcinogenicity much more thoroughly and extensively than any other metal compound (3,8-10). Consequently, Ni3S2 has been selected as the focal point for this exposition of organ and species specificity in metal carcinogenesis.
Scales and Uniformization

We will study in this section the problem of uniformization for co-analytic sets. We want to find a canonical procedure to select a point from a given nonempty co-analytic set. (To uniformize a co-analytic set A ⊆ X × Y, we will then apply this procedure to each nonempty section A x .) It is clear that, without loss of generality, we can work in the Baire space N.
Perception of Pulmonary Function in Children with Asthma and Cystic Fibrosis.

Background: Under-perception of pulmonary dysfunction may delay appropriate treatment, while over-perception may result in unnecessary treatments. Objectives: To evaluate the ability of patients wi...
Low- and High-Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Effects on Resting-State Functional Connectivity Between the Postcentral Gyrus and the Insula.

Abstract The insular cortex supports the conscious awareness of physical and emotional sensations, and the ability to modulate the insula could have important clinical applications in psychiatry. R...
Capnography Detection Using Nasal Cannula Is Superior to Modified Nasal Hood in an Open Airway System: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose The nasal cannula and modified nasal hood are methods used by oral and maxillofacial surgeons to detect expired carbon dioxide during procedural sedation in an open airway system. The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of the detection of expired carbon dioxide between the nasal cannula and modified nasal hood. Materials and Methods The authors designed a parallel-group randomized controlled trial to compare the nasal cannula and modified nasal hood. Patients presenting to the authors' institution for outpatient oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) using intravenous deep sedation or general anesthesia were randomized to have capnography detection by the modified nasal hood or the nasal cannula. The primary outcome variable was the percentage of accurately captured breaths, as determined by the average number of capnography waveforms per auscultated breath using a precordial stethoscope. The 2 groups were compared using t test. Results Fifty patients were screened for enrollment in the study. Twenty-five patients were randomized to the nasal cannula group and 25 patients were randomized to the modified nasal hood group. The proportion of accurate waveforms, recorded as a percentage of total breaths, was 95.7 ± 4.7% for the nasal cannula and 75.8 ± 14.1% for the modified nasal hood (P Conclusions When used for capnography for procedural sedation in an open airway system for routine OMS, the nasal cannula accurately recorded more breaths than the modified nasal hood.
Barriers to Use of Palliative Care and Advance Care Planning Discussions for Patients With End-Stage Liver Disease.

Background & Aims Despite evidence for the benefits of palliative care (PC) referrals and early advance care planning (ACP) discussions for patients with chronic diseases, patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) often do not receive such care. We sought to examine physicians’ perceptions of the barriers to PC and timely ACP discussions for patients with ESLD. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey of hepatologists and gastroenterologists who provide care to adult patients with ESLD, recruited from the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases 2018 membership registry. Using a questionnaire adapted from prior studies, we assessed physicians’ perceptions of barriers to PC use and timely ACP discussions; 396 of 1236 eligible physicians (32%) completed the questionnaire. Results The most commonly cited barriers to PC use were cultural factors that affect perception of PC (by 95% of respondents), unrealistic expectations from patients about their prognosis (by 93% of respondents), and competing demands for clinicians’ time (by 91% of respondents). Most respondents (81%) thought that ACP discussions with patients who have ESLD typically occur too late in the course of illness. The most commonly cited barriers to timely ACP discussions were insufficient communication between clinicians and families about goals of care (by 84% of respondents) and insufficient cultural competency training about end-of-life care (81%). Conclusion There are substantial barriers to use of PC and timely discussions about ACP—most hepatologists and gastroenterologists believe that ACP occurs too late for patients with ESLD. Strategies are needed to overcome barriers and increase delivery of high-quality palliative and end-of-life care to patients with ESLD.
Persistent C-peptide levels and microvascular complications in childhood onset type 1 diabetes of long duration

Abstract Aims The aim was to determine if persistent c-peptide in long duration childhood onset ( Methods Pittsburgh Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications (EDC) participants (n = 185) had serum c-peptide levels measured by Mercodia ultra-sensitive ELISA at the 25-year follow-up exam. Microvascular complications between those with and without detectable c-peptide were compared. Results Eighteen (9.7%) participants had detectable median c-peptide levels of 3.8 (2.6, 12.2) pmol/L and did not differ from those without detectable levels. No differences in microalbuminuria, confirmed distal symmetric polyneuropathy, renal failure, or between those with one or more complications were found between the two groups. Proliferative retinopathy (PR) was marginally lower in those with detectable c-peptide (33.3% vs 55.1%, p = 0.08). However, those with c-peptide were somewhat less likely to have fasted for a full 8-h (66.7% vs. 84.9%, p = 0.09). Excluding those not fully fasted, PR no longer approached significance but macroalbuminuria became marginally lower in those with detectable levels (23.4% vs 0%, p = 0.07). Conclusions Low levels of c-peptide in T1D patients of long duration were detected but were not strongly related to microvascular complications.
Impact of lumbar arthrodesis on outcomes after elective total hip arthroplasty

Abstract Background Acetabular component malpositioning has been associated with major complications including dislocation, edge-loading, stripe wear and squeaking. Anteversion is determined by pelvic orientation; flexion of the pelvis increases and extension decreases acetabular anteversion. The degree of pelvic movement is determined by lumbar spine sagittal balance and it is well established that lumbar arthrodesis procedures influence spinal and pelvic parameters including sagittal balance. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of prior lumbar arthrodesis and revision lumbar arthrodesis on complications after primary elective THA. Methods A database review using the entire Medicare sample within the PearlDiver database was performed using International Classification of Diseases, 9th Edition codes. The search identified 14,439 patients who underwent primary THA after prior lumbar arthrodesis and 1,157 patients who underwent primary THA after prior revision lumbar arthrodesis. A search for patients who underwent primary THA without prior history of lumbar or revision lumbar fusion yielded 749,403 patients who served as a control. Incidence (IN), odds ratios (ORs) and their respective 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for 30-day, 90-day and overall complications were calculated. Results The following complications reached statistical significance (p Conclusions Lumbar arthrodesis and revision lumbar arthrodesis significantly negatively impact postoperative complication rates after THA. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III
Cold Case Experiment Demonstrates the Potential Utility of Aquatic Microbial Community Assembly in Estimating a Postmortem Submersion Interval

Microbial community assembly (MCA) of both human and nonhuman animal carcasses provides indicators useful for estimating the postmortem interval (PMI) in terrestrial settings. However, there are fewer studies estimating postmortem submersion intervals (PMSIs) in aquatic habitats. No aquatic studies to date assessed MCA in the context of a death investigation, with all previous studies focusing on important basic ecological questions. Within the context of a cold case investigation, we performed an experiment using replicate adult swine carcasses to describe postmortem MCA variability within a nonflowing aquatic habitat. Using high-throughput sequencing of carcass postmortem microbiomes, we described MCA variability and identified key taxa associated with decomposition in an aquatic habitat similar to the cold case body recovery site. We also modeled key taxa for estimating PMSIs, modeling within ±3 days (mean square error) postmortem using random forest regression. Our findings show significant changes in microbial communities as decomposition progressed, and several taxa were identified as important indicator taxa which may be useful for future estimates of PMSI. While descriptive, this study provides initial findings quantifying MCA variability within a nonflowing aquatic habitat. Within the context of the cold case investigation, we discuss how postmortem microbial samples collected at the time of body recovery could have been an important piece of evidence for understanding the PMSI of recovered remains. Additional experimental studies are needed to explicitly test and identify mechanisms associated with postmortem MCA variability in other habitats and under different temperature (e.g., seasons) conditions.
Profibrotic Activation of Human Macrophages in Systemic Sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE Genome-wide gene expression studies implicate macrophages as mediators of fibrosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc), but little is known about how these cells contribute to fibrotic activation in SSc. We undertook this study to characterize the activation profile of SSc monocyte-derived macrophages and assessed their interaction with SSc fibroblasts. METHODS Plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from whole blood from SSc patients (n = 24) and age- and sex-matched healthy controls (n = 12). Monocytes were cultured with autologous or allogeneic plasma to differentiate cells into macrophages. For reciprocal activation studies, macrophages were cocultured with fibroblasts using Transwell plates. RESULTS The gene expression signature associated with blood-derived human SSc macrophages was enriched in SSc skin in an independent cohort and correlated with skin fibrosis. SSc macrophages expressed surface markers associated with activation and released CCL2, interleukin-6, and transforming growth factor β under basal conditions (n = 8) (P < 0.05). Differentiation of healthy donor monocytes in plasma from SSc patients conferred the immunophenotype of SSc macrophages (n = 13) (P < 0.05). Transwell experiments demonstrated that coculture of SSc macrophages with SSc fibroblasts induced fibroblast activation (n = 3) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION These data demonstrate that the activation profile of SSc macrophages is profibrotic. SSc macrophages are activated under basal conditions and release mediators and express surface markers associated with both alternative and inflammatory macrophage activation. These findings also suggest that activation of SSc macrophages arises from soluble factors in local microenvironments. These studies implicate macrophages as likely drivers of fibrosis in SSc and suggest that therapeutic targeting of these cells may be beneficial in ameliorating disease in SSc patients.
WOMEN’S CRAFT. CRAFTSWOMEN IN ALBANIA IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

The history and development of crafts in Albania and the many values inherited from the past speaks of high craftsmanship, their "individuality", their talent and their creative imagination. Natural heritage is completely inseparable from cultural heritage. This feature is also evident in the handicrafts made by women and girls whose creativity has been done at home. Making costumes for herself, clothing for husband, kids, home furnishings, etc. From the impressive wealth of today's handicraft products, it is not easy to choose. However, from this take, we will highlight the most prominent ones, which are often exhibited in museums. Is female crafts part of this sphere of work where women are forgotten? The statement that women entered the labor force from the war of 1914-18 is one of the rarely-dying myths. It is still regularly used in television documentaries. However, recent historiography has shown the whole void of this bias. It affirms the claim that women have always worked (Schweitzer, 2002). The question is not to show that women work, and it has been a long time they do so, but to clarify a well-meaning activity. This finding sometimes extends to all small independent businesses, including handicrafts. Closely related to these issues is cultural identity, which also by definition assumes different connotations, usually accompanied by other geographical, spatial and mental notions, such as region, locality, or ethnicity. Keywords: socio-cultural and historical factors, female handicrafts, artistry and female artwork.
The situation and consideration about pre-hospital emergency transfer of children

It is a brief introduction of different transfer modes with focus on ranges,measures,quality control,systems,training and process of transfer system of children according to the situation in China even abroad.With analysis of main problems and causes of children' transfer system,the discussion contained management of pre-hospital transfer system,risk assessment of critical patients,establishment of transfer network of critically ill children,the relationship of first aid and pre-hospital transfer,an effective response to public health emergencies of children as well as developmental mode for emergency transfer of children. Key words: Pre-hospital emergency transfer; Children
Effects of personal dementia exposure on subjective memory concerns and dementia worry

Psychosocial factors associated with dementia, such as dementia worry and personal exposure to the illness, may influence the subjective perception of cognitive abilities. The present study examined the relationship of subjective memory concerns with dementia worry, as well as the moderating effects of dementia exposure. Community-dwelling adults aged 50 and above without diagnostic history of dementia or evidence of objective memory impairment completed self-report measures assessing subjective memory concerns, subjective memory decline, dementia worry, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and dementia exposure. Results revealed that higher subjective memory concerns were associated with greater dementia worry and depressive symptoms. Those with genetic dementia exposure reported higher dementia worry than those with nongenetic or no dementia exposure. Dementia exposure moderated the relationship of subjective memory concerns with dementia worry. These findings suggest that assessments of dementia worry and dementia exposure may be valuable in clinical evaluations of older adults presenting with memory concerns.
Comparing outcomes of Dexamethasone versus Prednisone in children hospitalized with acute asthma exacerbations

Introduction: Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood and the second most common cause for pediatric hospitalizations. Corticosteroids are used in conjunction with beta2-agonists to manage asthma exacerbations. While a 5 day prednisone/prednisolone course has traditionally been used, multiple studies have found similar outcomes with a 1 to 2 day course of dexamethasone in emergency department (ED) settings. To our knowledge, …
Associations Between Serum Lycopene and Cancer-Related Fatigue: Findings From the US 2005–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)

Objectives Cancer-related fatigue is characterized by an overwhelming sense of tiredness that cannot be relieved by sleep or rest; it often persists for years into survivorship. Maintaining appropriate nutritional status is critical during cancer treatment, though few studies have assessed relationships between diet quality and cancer-related fatigue. Herein, we aimed to investigate the association between serum lycopene, a proxy for diet quality, and fatigue in a large representative sample of the US population.
Topological Data Analysis with Applications

The continued and dramatic rise in the size of data sets has meant that new methods are required to model and analyze them. This timely account introduces topological data analysis (TDA), a method for modeling data by geometric objects, namely graphs and their higher-dimensional versions: simplicial complexes. The authors outline the necessary background material on topology and data philosophy for newcomers, while more complex concepts are highlighted for advanced learners. The book covers all the main TDA techniques, including persistent homology, cohomology, and Mapper. The final section focuses on the diverse applications of TDA, examining a number of case studies drawn from monitoring the progression of infectious diseases to the study of motion capture data. Mathematicians moving into data science, as well as data scientists or computer scientists seeking to understand this new area, will appreciate this self-contained resource which explains the underlying technology and how it can be used.
Chemokine-guided cell positioning in the lymph node orchestrates the generation of adaptive immune responses

The generation of adaptive immune responses occurs in the lymph node (LN) and requires that lymphocytes locate and interact with cognate antigen-bearing dendritic cells. This process requires the coordinated movement of both innate and adaptive immune cells, and is orchestrated by the chemokine family of chemotactic cytokines. Upon initiation of inflammation, the LN undergoes dramatic changes that include the marked induction of specific chemokines in distinct regions of the reactive LN. These chemokine rich domains establish LN niches that facilitate the differentiation of CD4+ T cells into effector cell subsets and the rapid activation of memory CD8+ T cells. This review will focus on recent advances highlighting the importance of LN chemokines for shaping adaptive immune responses by controlling immune cell migration, positioning, and interactions in the reactive LN.
Self-Made Men: Identity and Embodiment among Transsexual Men

Rubin has written a fascinating book based on life interviews with 22 urban Anglo American female-to-male transsexuals (FTMs) that builds on previous work in this area, and yet takes it further by including archival research and by being more theory-driven. Rubin begins with Western philosophy and the centrality of Taylor’s “authenticity” and “recognition” as “leading principles” (p. 15) in the lives of FTMs, threads he follows throughout the book. In the first half of the book, Rubin uses discursive genealogy to detail key ideas and events in endocrinology and advances in medical technology and their relationship to gender and sexuality, providing readers with an exceptional and compelling history of the emergence of “FTM” as a cultural category. In so doing, Rubin develops the “logic of treatment” on which FTMs drew in order to gain access to medical interventions. This logic included FTMs focusing on possible “hidden pathology” (p. 51) and later, likening themselves to intersexed individuals, to have their bodies seen as in need of reconstruction and, therefore, treatable–a logic that sheds a great deal of light on current debates about insured health coverage for transsexuals. Furthermore, Rubin argues convincingly that the increase in FTM numbers beginning in the 1970s was largely due to the growing lesbianfeminist movement and the intensified policing of political identity “borders,” particularly that of the “woman-identified woman” (p. 64). As it became increasingly untenable for male-identified female-bodied individuals to situate themselves as lesbians given the newly drawn boundaries, these individuals were forced to consolidate their own identity as distinct. Readers
Screening of Onion Seedlings for Resistance Against New Mexico Isolates OF FUSARIUM OXYSPORUM f. sp CEPAE

New Mexico onion fields face reduced plant stand due to killing of seedlings for autumn-sown crop due to Fusarium basal rot (FBR). The goal of this study was to screen FBR-resistant and FBR-susceptible seedlings of onion entries using multiple Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae (FOC) isolates collected from onion production fields in New Mexico. Twenty seeds from eight onion entries each were placed on a moist paper towel inside a Petri plate with a 1 cm2 piece of mycelial plug from one FOC isolate. A total of 136 combinations of FOC isolates and onion entries were evaluated at 25°C for 20 days for two years and disease incidence was calculated. An analysis of variation demonstrated a significant interaction between FOC isolate and onion entry for FBR incidence. Onion entries ‘NuMex Chaco’ and ‘NuMex Crispy’ produced the greatest spread in FBR incidence values for the FOC isolates tested. FOC isolate ‘CSC 515’ was the best FOC isolate for future screenings based upon its high mean and variation of FBR incidence.
Raf exists in a native heterocomplex with hsp90 and p50 that can be reconstituted in a cell-free system

Recently, we have demonstrated that the tyrosine kinase pp60v-src can undergo cell-free assembly into a heterocomplex with rabbit hsp90 and p50 when the immunoadsorbed protein is incubated with rabbit reticulocyte lysate (Hutchison, K. A., Brott, B. K., De Leon, J. H., Perdew, G. H., Jove, R., and Pratt, W. B. (1992) J. Biol. Chem 267, 2902-2908). Using a baculovirus system to express a high level of human c-Raf serine/threonine kinase in Sf9 insect cells, we show here that immunoadsorbed c-Raf undergoes similar lysate-mediated assembly into a heterocomplex with hsp90 and p50. As with pp60v-src and steroid receptors, binding of c-Raf to hsp90 occurs in an ATP-dependent and K(+)-dependent manner and the resulting heterocomplex is stabilized by molybdate. With a very rapid and gentle procedure of Sf9 cell cytosol preparation and c-Raf immunoadsorption, we show coimmunoadsorption of the insect homologue of hsp90. The same procedures permit detection of a native complex of v-Raf with rat hsp90 and p50 in stably transfected rat 3Y1 fibroblasts, and v-Raf is also assembled into a heterocomplex with rabbit hsp90 and p50 by reticulocyte lysate. Using the 22W mutant of c-Raf in which the NH2-terminal half has been deleted, we show that the catalytic domain of the kinase is sufficient for both formation of the native heterocomplex in mouse NIH 3T3 cells and cell-free reconstitution of the heterocomplex by rabbit reticulocyte lysate. Although the native Raf-heat shock protein heterocomplex is less stable than native pp60v-src and glucocorticoid receptor heterocomplexes, by analogy with these proteins its detection may have important implications regarding the mechanism of Raf trafficking through the cytoplasm.
System scaling and collaborative open innovation

Giga trends in mobile computing, converged devices, cloud, and many other emerging applications continue to drive the growth of Si-based nano-electronics industry. A holistic approach must be taken to meet the demanding system requirements such as energy efficiency, integration density, information throughput, specialty features, and form factor. A new scaling paradigm is proposed, i.e., system scaling, by combining silicon wafer-based chip scaling and copper Through-Si-Via (TSV) 3D chip stacking to provide the ultimate energy-efficient scaling for system integration. Technically, chip scaling (Moore's Law) can be extended to provide high-density and energy-efficient transistors and Cu/low-k on-chip interconnect operated at low supply voltages for the increasing use of multiple processor cores and parallelism. In addition, Cu-TSV 3D chip stacking provides a new system integration platform to heterogeneously integrate CMOS processors, memories, and specialty functions such as sensors, actuators, and other user interfaces. It enables better system partitioning for each system component to be optimized and integrated closely together for additional power saving, higher performance, equivalent density scaling, and form factor reduction. Many challenges are ahead and there are tremendous opportunities for industry-wide collaborative open innovation in this new era of system scaling to enable the continued growth of Si-based nano-electronic industry.
Embracing Risk: Hedging Policy for Firms with Real Options

We analyze the dynamic risk management strategy of fi rms that face a tradeo ff between minimizing the costs of fi nancial distress and maximizing financing for future investment. Costly external financing of lumpy investment discourages full hedging because hedging can increase the financing costs and decrease the probability of investment. First, we find that firms with safe assets can choose to hedge more aggressively than firms with risky assets. Second, fi rms prefer to hedge systematic rather than firm-speci c risk, even when hedging technologies for both types of risk are available and equally costly. Third, it is optimal to increase the volatility of cash flows when cash savings are low and do not cover investment needs. Therefore, more constrained firms may appear to hedge less aggressively. Our theory generates comprehensive results consistent with actual hedging policies, and without relying on the costs of risk management.