cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Cause Analysis and Improvement of a Valve Oil Seal Fall off

The assembly line of engine SOP stage of new project installation of valve,valve oil seal off phenomenon occurred failure rate is high,the human material ring analysis showed that the main reason of the valve stem seal off,and according to the results of the analysis on the seal structure is optimized and improved,finally the correctness of engine production practice results show improved.
Preparation of a neural electrode implantation device for in-vivo surgical use

An instrument designed for the implantation of neural electrode array devices has been refined in preparation for use in cortical implantation procedures in non-human primates. This instrument has undergone extensive testing to ensure its successful first use in a live surgical setting. This work describes the modifications made to the instrument and the testing performed on it during that preparatory period as well as planned future modifications and augmentations.
COX-2 driven inflammation establishes a protumorigenic state in pancreas: the BK5.COX-2 mouse model of pancreatic cancer

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 12-16, 2008; San Diego, CA 5866 Chronically inflamed tissues are fertile environments for tumorigenesis. A major metabolite of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is associated with changes in proliferation, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and immune function in inflammation-driven cancers. The BK5.COX-2 mouse is a model in which PGE2 overexpression leads to chronic pancreatitis and ultimately, pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Mice show signs of pancreatitis as early as 6 weeks of age, often becoming moribund by 6 months. We determined by Q-RT-PCR that COX-2 transgene-driven PGE2 production stimulates paracrine expression of endogenous COX-2, establishing a strongly inflammatory environment. Sequelae include acinar-ductal transdifferentiation, proliferation of ductal complexes, expansion of fibroinflammatory stroma, and influx of inflammatory cells. Levels of PGE2 as measured by ELISA are 15 fold higher in pretumor transgenic (TG) mice vs. wild-type (WT) mice (mean = 3623.25 (TG) vs 229 (WT) pg/mg protein); tumors in older transgenics show even greater increases (~120 fold vs. WT; mean = 27,466.2 pg/mg protein). Feeding BK5.COX-2 mice a diet containing the COX-2 selective inhibitor celecoxib lead to complete prevention of pancreatic disease, and verified that pathogenesis is prostaglandin driven. Other inflammatory mediators upregulated by PGE2 overexpression were identified using a TaqMan®Mouse Immune Panel. In young transgenics, elevated mRNAs were observed for IL-1β (TG 7X > WT), TNFα (TG 5X > WT), Csf-1 (TG 2.5X > WT) and a number of other markers, demonstrating early onset of immune dysregulation. These alterations persist, increasing with age and lesion progression. Inflammatory cells identified through histological and immunohistochemical means include granulocytes, macrophages, and mast cells, which appear early and persist as lesions progress; infiltration of B and T cells occurs in more advanced lesions/tumors. We explored the contribution of lymphoid cells to BK5.COX-2 tumor development by crossing transgenics with Rag1 null (KO) mice, lacking mature B and T cells. BK5.COX-2/Rag1KO mice develop more rapidly progressing pancreatic lesions, living an average of 13.9 weeks vs. 28.6 weeks for BK5.COX-2/Rag1WT. Although BK5.COX-2/Rag1KO tumors are not infiltrated by B and T lymphocytes, they have persistently high levels of myeloid lineage cells. These data show that the presence of lymphoid cells in BK5.COX-2/Rag1WT lesions is not required for progression, and suggests that these cells are perhaps limiting the inflammatory response established and promoted by myeloid cells. Future experiments will continue to explore interactions between immunocytes and chronically inflamed pancreatic epithelium, with the goal of assessing the impact on tumor development. Supported by T32 ES07247 from NIEHS, R25CA57730 from NCI, and CA100140 from NIH.
Interventions for Healthy Aging among Mature Black Lesbians: Recommendations Gathered through Community-Based Research

Black lesbians have unique needs for gerontological services that reflect their experiences of intersectional oppression and resilience. Yet there is a major knowledge gap about interventions that promote healthy aging in this population, as voiced by Black lesbians themselves. To address this need, 100 Black lesbians, ranging in age from 41 to 91, participated in focus groups in Atlanta, Georgia, to discuss their experiences of aging, health needs, and recommendations for interventions. Through thematic analysis, we identified six themes related to suggested approaches for healthy aging interventions. We discuss implications of these findings for aging practice and future research.
Simultaneous assay of multiple antibiotics in human plasma by LC-MS/MS: importance of optimizing formic acid concentration.

Aim: Optimal dosing of antibiotics in critically ill patients is complicated by the development of resistant organisms requiring treatment with multiple antibiotics and alterations in systemic exposure due to diseases and extracorporeal drug removal. Developing guidelines for optimal antibiotic dosing is an important therapeutic goal requiring robust analytical methods to simultaneously measure multiple antibiotics. Methods: An LC–MS/MS assay using protein precipitation for cleanup followed by a 6-min gradient separation was developed to simultaneously determine five antibiotics in human plasma. Results: The precision and accuracy were within the 15% acceptance range. The formic acid concentration was an important determinant of signal intensity, peak shape and matrix effects. Conclusion: The method was designed to be simple and successfully applied to a clinical pharmacokinetic study.
3D Printed Microfluidics

Traditional microfabrication techniques suffer from several disadvantages, including the inability to create truly three-dimensional (3D) architectures, expensive and time-consuming processes when changing device designs, and difficulty in transitioning from prototyping fabrication to bulk manufacturing. 3D printing is an emerging technique that could overcome these disadvantages. While most 3D printed fluidic devices and features to date have been on the millifluidic size scale, some truly microfluidic devices have been shown. Currently, stereolithography is the most promising approach for routine creation of microfluidic structures, but several approaches under development also have potential. Microfluidic 3D printing is still in an early stage, similar to where polydimethylsiloxane was two decades ago. With additional work to advance printer hardware and software control, expand and improve resin and printing material selections, and realize additional applications for 3D printed devices, we foresee 3D printing becoming the dominant microfluidic fabrication method.
Management of sepsis and septic shock

Despite advances in modern medicine, sepsis and septic shock continue to be a leading cause of death worldwide. The United States alone has over 750,000 reported cases per year. It is estimated that severe sepsis is diagnosed in 2 % of all hospital admissions resulting in 10 % of all ICU admissions. The diagnosis and management of sepsis have greatly evolved with the creation of care “bundles” such as Early Goal Directed Therapy incorporated into the Surviving Sepsis Campaign. Research results continue to refine the proposed guidelines in the treatment of this disease.
A note on the compression of cubic ZnS

Abstract Using X-ray diffraction the compression of cubic ZnS (sphalerite) has been measured to 9.4 GPa under hydrostatic pressure conditions. The results analysed using a two parameter Birch-Murnaghan equation may be presented by K0 = 74.8 ± 3.2 GPa and K′0 = 4.91 ± 1.2. These compare well with 3.76 ± 0.96 for K0 = 76.5 GPa, the value calculated by Chang and Barsch from their wurzite data. Δa a o , the change in lattice parameter at 15 GPa in ZnS is 0.255 A ± 0.012 corresponding to a change of 0.110 A ± 0.005 in Zn-S distances at this transition to the metallic state.
Predicting Nodal Positivity in Women 70 Years of Age and Older with Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer to Aid Incorporation of a Society of Surgical Oncology Choosing Wisely Guideline into Clinical Practice.

One of the Society of Surgical Oncology Choosing Wisely guidelines recommends avoiding routine sentinel lymph node (SLN) surgery in clinically node-negative women ≥70 years of age with hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer. We sought to assess the impact of tumor stage and grade on nodal positivity, and to develop a model to identify patients at low-risk of nodal positivity to aid adoption of the guideline. We identified women ≥70 years of age with HR+ cN0 invasive breast cancer in the National Cancer Database (NCDB; 2010–2013) and examined the impact of tumor stage and grade on nodal positivity to identify low-risk combinations. A multivariable logistic regression model was developed to incorporate additional factors. The area under the curve (AUC) and relative risks (RR) were used to assess performance. Among 71,834 cases, the pathologic nodal positivity (pN+) rate was 15.3%. We identified low-risk criteria as grade 1, cT1mi-T1c (≤2.0 cm), or grade 2, cT1mi-T1b (≤1.0 cm), with pN+ rates of 7.8% compared with 22.3% in patients not meeting these criteria (RR 2.86, p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, factors associated with pN+ status included clinical T stage, grade, and histology (each p < 0.001). The resulting model had AUC 0.70 and identified women with low predicted probability (<10%) of positive nodes, of whom 6.3% were pN+, versus 21.2% in those with predicted probability ≥10% (RR 3.34, p < 0.001). The simple clinical rule (grade 1, cT1mi-T1c, or grade 2, cT1mi-T1b), as well as the predictive model, both identify women at low risk of nodal positivity where SLN surgery can be omitted.
CETP inhibition improves the lipid profile but has no effect on clinical cardiovascular outcomes in high-risk patients.

Commentary on: Lincoff AM, Nicholls SJ, Riesmeyer JS, et al . Evacetrapib and cardiovascular outcomes in high-risk vascular disease. N Engl J Med 2017;376:1933–42. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (HDL-C) is a robust predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events; however, research into both rare monogenic HDL disorders and Mendelian randomisation studies of dysfunctional traits associated with HDL-C demonstrate that this biomarker is not involved in the causal pathway for atherosclerosis.1 Small-effect variants in the gene encoding cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) associate with higher HDL-C and lower myocardial infarction rates, whereas large-effect variants associate with reduced survival. CETP loss-of-function variants also associate with low levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (LDL-C), which confounds the attribution of the atheroprotective effect of CETP-mediated HDL changes. Small molecules that inhibit CETP activity have been previously investigated in two randomised clinical trials of CVD outcomes.2 3 Treatment with torcetrapib, in combination with atorvastatin increased HDL-C …
Low-temperature crystallization of granites and the implications for crustal magmatism

The structure and composition of granites provide clues to the nature of silicic volcanism, the formation of continents, and the rheological and thermal properties of the Earth's upper crust as far back as the Hadean eon during the nascent stages of the planet’s formation1–4. The temperature of granite crystallization underpins our thinking about many of these phenomena, but evidence is emerging that this temperature may not be well constrained. The prevailing paradigm holds that granitic mineral assemblages crystallize entirely at or above about 650–700 degrees Celsius5–7. The granitoids of the Tuolumne Intrusive Suite in California tell a different story. Here we show that quartz crystals in Tuolumne samples record crystallization temperatures of 474–561 degrees Celsius. Titanium-in-quartz thermobarometry and diffusion modelling of titanium concentrations in quartz indicate that a sizeable proportion of the mineral assemblage of granitic rocks (for example, more than 80 per cent of the quartz) crystallizes about 100–200 degrees Celsius below the accepted solidus. This has widespread implications. Traditional models of magma formation require high-temperature magma bodies, but new data8,9 suggest that volcanic rocks spend most of their existence at low temperatures; because granites are the intrusive complements of volcanic rocks, our downward revision of granite crystallization temperatures supports the observations of cold magma storage. It also affects the link between volcanoes, ore deposits and granites: ore bodies are fed by the release of fluids from granites below them in the crustal column; thus, if granitic fluids are hundreds of degrees cooler than previously thought, this has implications for research on porphyry ore deposits. Geophysical interpretations of the thermal structure of the crust and the temperature of active magmatic systems will also be affected.
A Partial Inventory of Statistical Literature on Quality and Productivity through 1985

In 1984 the American Statistical Association established a Committee on Quality and Productivity. The Publications Subcommittee of this group adopted as one of its tasks the inventory of existing statistical literature on quality and productivity. This ..
The Equal Weight Argument Against Religious Exclusivism

In the last decade, analytic epistemologists have engaged in a lively debate about Equal Weight, the claim that you should give the credences of epistemic peers the same consideration as your own credences. In this paper, I explore the implications of the debate about Equal Weight for how we should respond to religious disagreement found in the diversity of models of God. I first claim that one common argument against religious exclusivism and for religious pluralism can be articulated as an Equal Weight argument. I then argue that to avoid this argument, religious exclusivists must reject Equal Weight. Next, I maintain that, while the exclusivist complaint that pluralism is self-undermining is incorrect, exclusivists can rightly object that the pluralist’s Equal Weight argument is self-undermining. Thus both exclusivists and pluralists have an interest in rejecting Equal Weight. My final discussion is speculative: I suggest that the goals of those of pluralist persuasion might be better met by religious permissivism, the view that some forms of both exclusivism and pluralism are rational responses to religious disagreement.
Gastrointestinal pythiosis with concurrent presumptive gastrointestinal basidiobolomycosis in a Boxer dog.

A 2-year-old female spayed Boxer dog was presented for a 1-month history of progressive hemorrhagic diarrhea with tenesmus and weight loss despite trial courses of antibiotics and diet change. Abdominal ultrasound revealed severe, focal thickening, and loss of normal architecture of the colonic wall with abdominal lymphadenomegaly. Dry-mount fecal cytology, performed on several consecutive days, consistently revealed numerous, round, 16-20 μm structures with basophilic, granular content, and a thin cell wall. Transmission electron microscopy identified these structures as fungi. Culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer, D1/D2 regions, and DNA-directed RNA polymerase II core subunit (RPB2) confirmed the presence of Basidiobolus microsporus in the feces. Biopsies collected via ileocolonoscopy revealed marked, multifocal, chronic, neutrophilic, and eosinophilic ileitis and colitis with ulceration, granulation tissue, and intralesional hyphae (identified with Gomori methenamine silver stain). A Pythium enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Pythium-specific PCR performed on the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded biopsy specimens were positive while Basidiobolus-specific PCR was negative, thus confirming a diagnosis of pythiosis. This report describes a fatal case of colonic and intestinal pythiosis with the presence of fecal Basidiobolus sp. spores, suggestive of concurrent gastrointestinal basidiobolomycosis.
Corynebacterium equi Infection Complicating Neoplastic Disease

Corynebacterium equi , a soil-residing diphtheroid pathogenic in horses, swine and cows, caused pulmonary infection with bacteremia in two patients with lymphomas. Both patients were being treated with immunosuppressive therapy, as were the patients in three previously reported human cases. Unless certain characteristics of these organisms are recognized, they may be regarded as normal flora or contaminating diphtheroids. They could also be mistaken for other grampositive rods, such as Bacillus species, Listeria monocytogenes , or Erysipelothrix insidiosa . C. equi isolates have usually been sensitive to erythromycin, tetracycline, gentamicin, and carbenicillin. One of the patients reported here was successfully treated with erythromycin, tetracycline, and surgery.
Positive-energy theorem for R + R 2 gravity

We prove that asymptotically flat extrema of the action $S=\ensuremath{\int}[R+(\frac{1}{2{\ensuremath{\beta}}^{2}}){R}^{2}]$ have non-negative energy, provided there exists a spacelike hypersurface on which $Rg\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\beta}}^{2}$. Flat space is shown to be the unique topologically Minkowskian stationary point of the energy. This result leads to a heuristic functional variational argument for positivity that does not involve restrictions on $R$. We also prove that flat space is semiclassically stable. Possible extensions of the theorems and relevance to quantum gravity are briefly discussed.
WCDMA Mean User Throughput Prediction Using Linear Regression Algorithm

The services that can be offered by a telecommunication operator can be evaluated based on many Key Performance indicators (KPIs). The mean throughput perceived by the user is one of the most important KPIs an operator has to monitor and this KPI depends on the total traffic carried by the network. So the operators should have a clear idea about the current mean user throughput that it can provide and the estimation of the mean user throughput in the coming months to plan the services and the offers that can be suggested to the clients. In this paper, we use a training data set that contains the daily evolution of the two KPIs (mean user throughput and total traffic carried over the network) for a mobile operator during one year and we implement the machine learning linear regression technique to prove that the mean user throughput can be estimated by a linear function of the total traffic carried over the network using gradient descent algorithm. Finally, we discuss several case studies to illustrate the potential of the optimum linear function in enabling the adjustment of network services, from the dimensioning perspective.
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Functional Approach to Assessment and Treatment:

Although numerous terms have been used to describe Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) during the past several decades, it has continued to be conceptualized from a biological or neurol...
The False Promise of Portman-Cardin Pension Reform

This article analyzes the pension-reform bill introduced in 2019 by Senator Portman and Senator Cardin. Earlier Portman-Cardin bills, enacted in 1996, 2001, and 2006, substantially increased the amounts that higher-income families can save in tax-qualified retirement plans and IRAs, but they included only modest and mostly ineffective measures to encourage retirement savings by lower- and middle-income families. Despite the tens of billions of dollars in tax subsidies spent under the earlier Portman-Cardin legislation, retirement-account values today are too small to provide retirement-income security for most families. Like its predecessors, the new Portman-Cardin bill would increase contribution limits and extend the period of permissible tax deferral. The primary beneficiaries of the new bill will be the most affluent families and the financial-services industry.
Orbital dynamics of 2020 AV2: the first Vatira asteroid

Vatira-class near-Earth objects (NEOs) have orbits entirely interior to the orbit of Venus with aphelia $0.307<Q<0.718$ AU. Recently discovered asteroid 2020 AV$_2$ by the Zwicky Transient Facility on 4 January 2020 is the first known object on a Vatira orbit. Numerical integrations of 2020 AV$_2$'s nominal orbit show it remaining in the Vatira region for the next few hundred kyr before coupling to Venus and evolving onto an Atira orbit (NEOs entirely interior to Earth's orbit with $0.718<Q<0.983$ AU) and eventually scattering out to Earth-crossing. The numerical integrations of 9900 clones within 2020 AV$_2$'s orbital uncertainty region show examples of Vatira orbits trapped in the 3:2 mean-motion resonance with Venus at semimajor axis $a\approx0.552$ AU that can survive on the order of a few Myr. Possible 2020 AV$_2$ orbits also include those on Vatira orbits between Mercury and Venus that only rarely cross that of a planet. Together the 3:2 resonance and these rarely-planet-crossing orbits provide a meta-stable region of phase space that are stable on timescales of several Myr. If 2020 AV$_2$ is currently in this meta-stable region (or was in the past), that may explain its discovery as the first Vatira and may be where more are discovered.
The Twelve Steps and Adolescent Recovery: A Concise Review

Recovery and long-term remission are the goals of treatment for substance use disorders, yet the majority of treated adolescents never stop using or resume using substances quickly after treatment....
Influenza-Associated Aspergillosis: Nationwide Trends, Predictors and Outcomes From 2005 to 2014.

Background Influenza-associated aspergillosis (IAA) has been increasingly reported in the literature in recent years, but contemporary large-scale data on the morbidity and mortality burden of IAA are lacking. Research Question The goal of this study was to estimate the predictors, associations, and outcomes of IAA in the United States. Study Design and Methods This retrospective cohort study was performed by using the National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample database from 2005 to 2014 to identify influenza and IAA hospitalizations. Baseline variables and outcomes were compared between influenza hospitalizations without IAA and those with IAA. These variables were then used to perform an adjusted analysis for obtaining predictors and associations of the diagnosis and in-hospital mortality of IAA. Results Of the 477,556 hospitalizations identified with the principal diagnosis of influenza, IAA was identified in 823 (0.17%) hospitalizations. The IAA cohort consisted more commonly of 45- to 65-year-olds in urban teaching hospitals with substance abuse. Yearly trends revealed that both influenza and IAA hospitalizations have increased over time, with a peak observed in 2009, the year of the influenza A(H1N1) pandemic. Mortality was higher (20.58% vs 1.36%), average length of stay was longer (17.94 vs 4.05 days), and mean cost per hospitalization was higher ($194,932 vs $24,286) in the IAA cohort compared with the influenza cohort without IAA (P Interpretation Although IAA is a rare complication of influenza hospitalizations, it is associated with increased all-cause mortality, more extended hospital stays, and higher hospital charges compared with influenza without IAA.
eNVM RRAM reliability performance and modeling in 22FFL FinFET technology

For the first time, a comprehensive study of embedded nonvolatile memory (eNVM) resistive random access memory (RRAM) reliability performance and modeling in 22FFL FinFET technology is presented. RRAM retention relaxation is characterized and modeled, and product-level reliability performance is assessed for 105°C-10yrs-1k life time capability within error-correcting code (ECC) budget. Endurance with automotive grade II (-40°C-105°C) and 5x JEDEC reflow is demonstrated for potential automotive SoC applications. The resistance-based retention follows oxygen vacancy diffusion relaxation (time) and Arrhenius procedure (temperature), providing insight into empirical models and improving long-term reliability prediction accuracy.
Quantifying patterns in optical micrographs of one- and two-dimensional ellipsoidal particle assemblies

Current developments in colloidal science include the assembly of anisotropic colloids with broad geometric diversity. As the complexity of particle assemblies increases, the need for ubiquitous algorithms that quantitatively analyze images of the assemblies to deliver key information such as quantification of crystal structures becomes more urgent. This contribution describes algorithms capable of image analysis for classifying colloidal structures based on abstracted interparticle relationship information and quantitatively analyzing the abundance of each structure in mixed pattern assemblies. The algorithm parameters can be adjusted, allowing for the algorithms to be adapted for different image analyses. Three different ellipsoidal particle assembly images are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithms: a one-dimensional (1D) particle chain assembly and two two-dimensional (2D) polymorphic crystals each consisting of assemblies of two distinct plane symmetry groups. Angle relationships between neighbouring particles are calculated and neighbour counts of each particle are determined. Combining these two parameters as rules for classification criteria allows for the labeling and quantification of each particle into a defined symmetry class within an assembly. The algorithms provide a labelled image comprising classification results and particle counts of each defined class. For multiple images or individual frames from a video, the script can be looped to achieve automatic processing. The yielded classification data allow for more in-depth image analysis of mixed pattern particle assemblies. We envision that these algorithms will have utility in quantitative analysis of images comprising ellipsoidal colloidal materials, nanoparticles, or biological matter.
Establishing a Clinical Role for Bone Scans (perspective on “Early Diagnosis of Metastatic Bone Cancer by Photoscanning with Strontium-85” J Nucl Med. 1964;5:168–179)

> We are not going to be the first to this party, but we are going to be the best. > > —Steve Jobs The initial tracer used to study bone metabolism ([1][1],[2][2]) was the artificially produced radionuclide 32P. The tracer, made as described in the note below, was fed orally to rats. The tracer
Training in the Close Combat Tactical Trainer

The ability of the U.S. Army to maintain combat readiness is dependent on continuous collective training of its units on their wartime missions and tasks. Collective training has traditionally been accomplished primarily through field exercises. Within the last decade escalating costs combined with reduced budgets, environmental, and political factors have severely limited the Army’s ability to conduct field training. At the same time, simulation technology has advanced to the point where networked simulators can begin to assume a significant part of the collective training burden. SIMNET, developed by the Defense Advanced Projects Agency (DARPA) was the first network of simulators to use Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) technology (Thorpe, 1987). It demonstrated the capability of man-in-the-loop simulators to create a virtual battlefield on which meaningful collective training could be accomplished (Alluisi, 1991). In 1991 the Army assumed responsibility for the SIMNET program. SIMNET is currently being used for training at 10 sites in the United States and Europe.
Graph Signal Processing Techniques for Analyzing Aviation Disruptions

Understanding the characteristics of air-traffic delays and disruptions is critical for developing ways to mitigate their significant economic and environmental impacts. Conventional delay-performa...
BK Virus Associated Nephropathy (BKVAN) in a Lung Transplant Recipient in the Setting of Augmented Immunosuppression

Introduction Acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are common amongst lung transplant recipients due to calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) use. We describe a case of acute BK virus associated nephropathy (BKVAN) in a lung transplant recipient with baseline CKD stage 4. Case Report A 73-year-old male status post right single lung transplant eight years prior for tobacco-induced emphysema presented for admission for acute cellular rejection (ACR). He was treated with methylprednisolone 10 mg/kg x three days per protocol. His renal function was within normal range pre-transplant, but had gradually progressed to CKD 4 with a new baseline creatinine of 2.4 at time of admission. Progressive CKD was attributed to CNIs. He had been placed on a CNI sparing regimen with everolimus more than one year prior to index admission with continued progression of renal dysfunction. Upon initiation of methylprednisolone, creatinine began to rise and eventually peaked to 4.3. UA showed trace protein but was otherwise bland, urine microscopy with muddy brown granular casts and renal tubular epithelial (RTE) cells. Renal ultrasound was poor quality showing possible small right kidney, left kidney not imaged. As part of his work-up, a BK virus PCR from his urine was sent and positive, with greater than 162 million IU/mL: serum BK PCR returned at 146,000 IU/mL. Microscopic urine analysis demonstrated RTE cells consistent with decoy cells, supportive of viral injury. A kidney biopsy was considered, however not performed because of chronic anticoagulation for a recent history of venous thromboembolism. Over the next several days, creatinine decreased minimally to 3.76. Patient was discharged home with outpatient nephrology follow up and had serial serum BK PCR tests for disease monitoring.In the setting of declining pulmonary function testing and ACR, we were unable to decrease immunosuppression without risking further deterioration of the lung allograft. Summary To our knowledge, this is the ninth reported case of BKVAN after lung transplant. BK viremia and BKVAN are likely an under-diagnosed etiology of CKD and AKI in the lung transplant population. We speculate that our patient had undiagnosed low level BK viremia that was affecting his renal function chronically, but when treated with high dose steroids, led to an acute BK nephropathy.
Mixed Stakes Conflicts in International and Constitutional Law

In international and constitutional law, high stakes conflicts over sacred values and social identity tend to be viewed as the most difficult and intractable, while conflicts over material resources are usually considered more manageable. This Article suggests a contrary view: it is often those legal and political conflicts that implicate an even mix of both social identity and more mundane material stakes that are likely going to be the most destabilizing. First, in such mixed stakes conflicts, the protagonists are more likely to have inconsistent beliefs about what it is stake, and thus are less likely to agree about how to resolve them. By contrast, in particularly high stakes and polarizing conflicts over only social identity, moral values, or status, the protagonists will tend to be mutually aware of the dangers of a breakdown of the system, and are more likely to search for coping solutions. Second, political actors in mixed stakes conflicts have more leeway to manipulate the legal boundaries between the sacred and the mundane for political and economic gain. Finally, this Article suggests that mixed stakes conflicts may present significant barriers to efforts to compensate groups who have been harmed by economic globalization. When groups are divided sharply along social identity as well as economic lines, they are likely to be less willing to demonstrate solidarity towards each other. These general theoretical points are illustrated by reference to legal disputes over international trade, federalism, and civil rights in the United States.
Inner scale of turbulence as derived from NAVSLaM and applied to measurements of scintillation

Atmospheric turbulence parameters are measured routinely across the Chesapeake Bay. The 16.2km propagation path is slightly sloped, with the laser transmitter at a height of 30m while the receivers are at 5m above sea level. We measure angle-of-arrival variance to give Cn2 and irradiance variance over various apertured receivers to give σI2.The Navy Atmospheric Vertical Surface Layer Model (NAVSLaM) is used to predict Cn2 that is based upon prevailing meteorological parameters. Comparison with measured Cn2 over extended time periods shows reasonable correlation. A value of the inner scale of turbulence l0 is also predicted from NAVSLaM. This paper looks at the significance of using Cn2 and l0 from NAVSLaM in standard analytical models of scintillation.
Stress prediction using micro-EMA and machine learning during COVID-19 social isolation

Abstract Accurately predicting users’ perceived stress is beneficial to aid early intervention and prevent both mental illness and physical disease during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the existing perceived stress predicting system needs to collect a large amount of previous data for training but has a limited prediction range (i.e., next 1-2 days). Therefore, we propose a perceived stress prediction system based on the history data of micro-EMA for identifying risks 7 days earlier. Specifically, we first select and deliver an optimal set of micro-EMA questions to users every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for reducing the burden. Then, we extract time-series features from the past micro-EMA responses and apply an Elastic net regularization model to discard redundant features. After that, selected features are fed to an ensemble prediction model for forecasting fine-grained perceived stress in the next 7 days. Experiment results show that our proposed prediction system can achieve around 4.26 (10.65% of the scale) mean absolute error for predicting the next 7 day’s PSS scores, and higher than 81% accuracy for predicting the next 7 day’s stress labels.
Larval salt gland of Artemia salina nauplii

Naupliar brine shrimp (Artemia salina) have been used to study the salt-dependent regulation of protein synthesis. Measurement of thein vivo rates of protein synthesis was found to be very complex and dependent upon the leucine concentration of the external medium, rate of leucine entry and time of equilibration between various internal pools of leucine. Techniques were developed which permitted the measurement of rates of incorporation ofl4C-L-leucine into naupliar protein at various salinities under conditions that provided the organisms with a constant internal specific activity. It was found that salinities over 0.25 M NaC1 caused decreased rates of protein biosynthesis. A comparison of the rate of protein synthesis in the presence of chloramphenicol, cycloheximide and puromycin indicated that qualitative as well as quantitative changes in synthesis of proteins was directed by the external salinity. A feed-back mechanism based on the partitioning of available energy (ATP) between ion transport and protein synthesis is hypothesized.
A New Approach to the Duo-factor-model of Return and Volume

This paper introduces a recently developed consistent statistic by Bai and Ng (2002) to determine the number of factors in an approximate multifactor model. We use this new approach to study a recent work by Lo and Wang (2000), which shows that a multifactor asset-pricing model not only imposes factor restrictions on stock returns but on trading volume as well. We explicitly test their theoretical model restriction using individual stock and turnover data from NYSE and AMEX from 1962 to 1996. While we find that the duo-factor model captures a great deal of common variation of return and trading volume, the data rejects a model restriction that excess return and turnover have the same number of systematic factors. We decompose excess return and turnover into systematic and idiosyncratic components. We discover a significant increase in the variation of idiosyncratic turnover through time, analogous to the finding of a notable increase in firm-specific volatility by Campbell, Lettau, Malkiel and Xu (2001). We also find significant co-movements between volatility and turnover at the systematic levels. Our findings support the view that trading volume is not purely random but driven by trading activities associated with macroeconomic and firm news.
Are there ways to attenuate arterial calcification and improve cardiovascular outcomes in chronic kidney disease

The risk of cardiovascular mortality among patients with end-stage renal disease is several times higher than general population. Arterial calcification, a marker of atherosclerosis and a predictor of cardiovascular mortality, is common in chronic kidney disease (CKD). The presence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and advanced age cannot fully explain the high prevalence of atherosclerosis and arterial calcification. Other factors specific to CKD such as hyperphosphatemia, excess of calcium, high dose active vitamin D and prolonged dialysis vintage play important roles in the development of arterial calcification. Due to the significant health risk, it is prudent to attempt to lower arterial calcification burden in CKD. Treatment of hyperlipidemia with statin has failed to lower atherosclerotic and arterial calcification burden. Data on diabetes and blood pressure controls as well as smoking cessation on cardiovascular outcomes in CKD population are limited. Currently available treatment options include non-calcium containing phosphate binders, low dose active vitamin D, calcimimetic agent and perhaps bisphosphonates, vitamin K and sodium thiosulfate. Preliminary data on bisphosphonates, vitamin K and sodium thiosulfate are encouraging but larger studies on efficacy and outcomes are needed.
Energy and habitat: Designing a sustainable urban ecosystem

Abstract As the world's cities grow so new ways of satisfying their demands for food and fuel resources will have to be found, especially in the third world where total fuel demands are expected to expand several fold in one generation. An ecological model for a future complex urban community is presented to illustrate the place of energy in a growing system and how habitat—the physical component—possesses life cycles interdependent with living species. Recycling, biomass fuels, telecommunications, marine living and the propagation of viable organizations are all elements that will enable the globe to sustain future expanding metropolises.
Escherichia coli TonB protein is exported from the cytoplasm without proteolytic cleavage of its amino terminus.

The requirement for TonB protein in a variety of membrane-related processes suggests that TonB is an envelope protein. Consistent with this suggestion, the deduced TonB amino acid sequence (Postle, K., and Good, R. F., (1983) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80, 5235-5239) contains an amino-terminal region similar to leader (signal) sequences of exported proteins, although its charged region falls outside the rules which characterize these sequences (von Heijne, G. (1985) J. Mol. Biol. 184, 99-105). The deduced TonB amino acid sequence contains three potential methionine start codons in the first six codons of the open reading frame. In this report, we show, by Edman degradation of [35S]methionine-labeled protein, that TonB protein synthesized in vitro initiates at the third of these methionine codons. A method for detecting TonB synthesized in vivo has been developed that involves expression of TonB from the lambda PL promoter and pulse labeling with [35S]methionine. TonB synthesized in vivo has a chemical half-life of 10 min at 42 degrees C. It is exported from the cytoplasm, as determined by proteinase K accessibility experiments. It fractionates with spheroplasts under conditions where maltose-binding protein fractionates with the periplasm. It has the same mobility in three different polyacrylamide gel systems as TonB synthesized in vitro. We concluded that the amino terminus of TonB is uncleaved following its export from the cytoplasm and that TonB is a membrane-associated protein. Characterization of a tonB-phoA gene fusion suggests that the amino-terminal 41 amino acids of TonB are sufficient to promote export of the fusion protein and presumably TonB as well. Models for TonB orientation within the cell envelope are presented.
The MTOR LM-MHD Flow Facility, and Preliminary Experimental Investigation of Thin Layer, Liquid Metal Flow in a 1/R Toroidal Magnetic Field

Fairly recently, a new experimental free surface liquid metal MHD facility, the so-called MTOR facility, has come on-line, and new data has been taken concerning flows of gallium alloy across a moderately strong toroidal field with characteristic 1/R field gradient. The purpose of these experiments has been two-fold: to gather data for benchmarking currently existing one and two dimensional free surface computational flow models (as well as 3D models currently under development), and to investigate phenomena not predicted by models, especially effects of nozzles, drains, waves and turbulence. Data is presented concerning MHD effects on the mean flow height and wave structure, both with and without the so-called Zakharov magnetic propulsion current added to help control and stabilize the flow. The test section is wide enough so that the characteristic factor (Hartmann Number * Aspect Ratio) is less than unity. In this case the Hartmann layer drag effects are small, allowing comparison of experimental data to two-dimensional axisymmetric models. Preliminary conclusions suggest that the field gradient in these experiments does not adversely affect the stability of the surface, and that magnetic propulsion current is effective in flattening and accelerating the liquid metal flow.
Putting the User First: 30 Strategies for Transforming Library Services

A review of Courtney Greene McDonald's Putting the User First: 30 Strategies for Transforming Library Services.
Response-guided therapy in patients with genotype 1 hepatitis C virus: current status and future prospects.

On-treatment responses to antiviral therapy are used to determine duration of therapy in patients being treated for genotype 1 hepatitis C virus infection. Such use of response-guided therapy has successfully reduced exposure of patients to the side-effects of pegylated interferon and ribavirin without jeopardizing overall treatment success. Response-guided therapy is an integral part of treatment using the current standard treatments involving the direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents—boceprevir or telaprevir—combined with pegylated interferon/ribavirin. Improvements in our understanding of the kinetics of viral load during antiviral therapy have shown us that more potent suppression of viral replication increases the rate of viral eradication, providing impetus for the development of more potent DAAs. Emerging results from clinical trials of these agents—including trials of interferon-free DAA combinations—suggest that very high rates of viral eradication are achievable, even in patients who failed to respond to previous courses of interferon-based therapy. Furthermore, because of these high rates of treatment success, on-treatment assessment of viral response may become unnecessary. The field of hepatitis C virus therapy is evolving rapidly and current trends indicate that the era of simple treatment regimens with high rates of success and good tolerability are near.
Theoretical methods for the study of transition metals in crystals

The characterization of the electronic structure of impurities in solids impacts a large class of phenomena and devices. It is particularly important for the systematic development of new solid state laser media. The large number of ion-host combinations that must be studied in order to optimize the linear and non-linear optical properties and the thermal and mechanical properties of the laser preclude a case-by-case experimental investigation. This suggests that an aggressive theoretical effort to determine the optical properties of these materials will be useful in the search for new tunable solid state lasers.
Clinicopathological features and prognosis of gastric cardia adenocarcinoma: a multi-institutional US study.

Background and Objectives Potential differences in presentation and outcome of patients with gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA) and non-cardia adenocarcinoma may exist. The aim of the present study was to compare the clinicopathological characteristics and the prognosis of GCA versus non-cardia adenocarcinoma. Method Patients with gastric adenocarcinoma who underwent gastric resection between 2000–2012 were identified. Clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes were analyzed based on tumor site using a 1:2 matched-control, as well as a multivariable Cox model. Results Among 743 patients, 80 (10.7%) patients were diagnosed with GCA. Patients with GCA were more likely to have intestinal tumor type (GCA: 80.4% versus non-cardia: 64.2%, P = 0.04) or advanced AJCC T stage tumors (GCA 71.8% versus non-cardia 59.2%, P = 0.03). GCA patients more likely underwent a total gastrectomy (GCA: 85.7% vs. non-cardia: 39.8%) and had a longer length-of-stay (GCA: 10 days vs. non-cardia: 8 days) (both P < 0.05). Outcomes in early stage I patients were worse among GCA (disease-free survival, 44.2%; overall survival, 42.3%) versus non-GCA (disease-free survival, 60.8%; overall survival, 63.0%) patients(both P < 0.05). Conclusion In general, disease-free survival and overall survival were similar between patients with GCA versus non-cardia adenocarcinoma. However, long-term outcome was worse among patients with GCA and early stage disease. J. Surg. Oncol. 2015 111:285–292. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Priority inversions in real-time communication

The priority-inversion problems in real-time communication are addressed, and solutions developed for the ARTS distributed real-time operating system are presented. The performance results of the multi-thread-based protocol implementation are compared with those of other implementation schemes, and the schedulability is analyzed. Experimental results indicate that the multi-thread-based protocol implementation could eliminate potential priority-inversion problems and also demonstrate the same schedulability as the softint implementation scheme in spite of about 10% additional implementation overhead. >