cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Crustal model parameters from P-waves spectra

abstract Crustal transfer-function ratios (0.033 to 3 Hz), using P -waves from earthquake sources in South America, Fiji-Tonga, and Japan recorded at Berkeley, California (BRK) are used to define composite transfer-function ratios representative of the crustal structure near BRK along the azimuth of the source epicenter. Observed ratios for events from the same azimuth are consistent while composite transfer-function ratios for different azimuths are strikingly different. The variation in the observed ratios with azimuth confirms the geological evidence for azimuthal variation in the crustal structure near BRK. A measure of the contamination of the P -wave train indicates minimum SH generation within the crust near BRK for source azimuths (180 to 250°) near normal to the Pacific coast. Since P -waves incident at the base of a dipping structure generate SH motion at all azimuths except for updip or downdip approach, the observed minimum is consistent with downdip approach to crustal structure dipping toward the continent in central California. The observed crustal transfer-function ratios are obtained by applying a “modified Hanning taper” to window the seismograms in the time domain. Contamination in the ratios from secondary arrivals of the pP and PcP phases is shown to be minimal and the ratios are independent of window length for window lengths greater than 20 sec. The vertical P -wave travel times in the total crustal section and in the crustal surface layer can be determined from the crustal transfer-function ratio data with a minimum of computational analysis. The BRK data indicate the following vertical P -wave travel times:
Getting into living rooms: NGO media relations work as strategic practice:

Research on the publicity strategies of non-governmental organizations suggests that they seek out coverage from the news media. In so doing, they typically adopt traditional news values, thus adapting to the institutional demands of journalism in ways potentially harmful to organizational goals. This study suggests that, while employees do court news coverage through events and strategies designed to capture media attention, they do so strategically. The research presented here draws on institutional theories of organizational behavior to understand the strategic behaviors undertaken. Through participant observation and document analysis of the media relations office at World Vision US, a key player among international development non-governmental organizations, I find evidence that media relations employees engage in strategic practices of bargaining and compliance. These behaviors allow them to work within and beyond given institutional parameters to accomplish organizational goals not aligned with tra...
The Role of the Small GTPase Rab27a in the Regulated Secretion of Granulocytes.

Neutrophils kill microorganisms using microbicidal products that they release into the phagosome or the extracellular space. Mature neutrophils contain four types of exocytosable storage organelles: azurophilic granules that contain myeloperoxidase, specific granules, gelatinase granules and secretory vesicles. Since the uncontrolled release of the contents of these organelles is potentially harmful, granule exocytosis must be tightly regulated. However, the secretory machinery utilized by neutrophils is poorly characterized. Here, we evaluate the role of Rab27a and its effector JFC1 in the regulated secretion of granulocytes. First, we show that JFC1 and Rab27a are highly expressed in human neutrophils. Furthermore, in HL-60 promyelocytic cells, the expression of JFC1 and Rab27a dramatically increased when they are differentiated to neutrophil-like granulocytes by DMSO treatment, supporting a role for these proteins in the secretory machinery of granulocytes. We found that while Rab27a distribution is restricted to the membrane fraction after cell fractionation, JFC1 is distributed between the membrane fraction and the cytosol. The localization of Rab27a in neutrophils was confirmed by immuno-electron microscopy. Colocalization of endogenous JFC1 and Rab27a was observed by immunofluorescence analysis. After cell fractionation, JFC1 and Rab27a were mainly associated with the tertiary granules (γ fraction) which are enriched in MMP-9 and cytochrome b558. A small proportion of the myeloperoxidase-positive granules were also detected in this fraction. Both Rab27a and JFC1 colocalized with VAMP2, a marker of secretory vesicles. The introduction of the plasma membrane binding domain (C2A domain) of JFC1 into permeabilized neutrophils significantly decreased exocytosis, however, neither Rab27a nor JFC1 integrated to the phagolysosome when neutrophils were exposed to opsonized particles, suggesting that the granules implicated in cargo release towards the surrounding milieu are molecularly and mechanistically different from those involved in their release towards the phagolysosome.
Unexpected spaces of confinement: Aversive technologies, intellectual disability, and “bare life”:

Giorgio Agamben describes the “camp” as the “zone of indistinction between law and violence” where bodies located in exceptional spaces are stripped of citizenship rights and embody “bare life.” We...
Speaker diarization: A perspective on challenges and opportunities from theory to practice

This paper discusses some challenges and opportunities in developing a speaker diarization system for operation on real world call center telephony data. We contrast some of the differences between a standard data set akin to NIST evaluations and those found in call centers. In exploring these differences we discovered vulnerabilities and proposed changes to address them. In moving from theory into practice we introduce two tasks in which speaker diarization and recognition can be leveraged. First, we show that speaker diarization and recognition systems can be integrated to find the common speaker (the call center agent) across multiple calls and consequently their role. Furthermore, once the role is determined the corresponding speech recognition output can be analyzed to determine the type of support call.
African Documentaries, Critical Interventions: The Non-Fiction Film Production at The Origins Of Francophone West African Cinema

Ousmane Sembene, the indisputable father of African cinema, is known for his numerous full-length feature fiction films. It is interesting now to explore the incubation period of his cinema and, mo...
The Significance of Circulating Triiodothyronine

Publisher Summary This chapter describes method for the measurement of triiodothyronine (T3) in human serum. In a study described in the chapter, the sensitivity was sufficient for the determinations on hypothyroid and normal and thyrotoxic sera. The values obtained were in reasonable agreement with a double isotope derivative assay. The normal T3 concentration in human serum approximates 0.2 μg per 100 ml; the mean ± SD of 31 normal sera was 220 ± 27 nanograms (ng) per 100 ml. Appropriate elevations were observed in sera from 40 patients with thyro toxicosis, and diminutions were found in sera from 10 hypothyroid patients. In rare instances, thyrotoxicosis may be a cause of elevated serum T3 with normal thyroxine (T4) concentration. The incidence of this condition remains to be determined. In about half the cases with low serum T4 after 131I therapy, the eumetabolic state may be maintained by normal or elevated T3 concentration. From these data and kinetic studies indicating a rapid turnover, it may be inferred that T3 rather than T4 is the more important hormone in health and in disease. The normal daily fractional turnover of T3 is approximately half of its extrathyroidal pool, in contrast to the T4 turnover of 10% per day. The apparent volume of T3 distribution (43 liters) is 4–5 times that of T4.
Credentialing of hospitalists in ultrasound-guided bedside procedures: A position statement of the society of hospital medicine

Ultrasound guidance is used increasingly to perform the following 6 bedside procedures that are core competencies of hospitalists: abdominal paracentesis, arterial catheter placement, arthrocentesis, central venous catheter placement, lumbar puncture, and thoracentesis. Yet most hospitalists have not been certified to perform these procedures, whether using ultrasound guidance or not, by specialty boards or other institutions extramural to their own hospitals. Instead, hospital privileging committees often ask hospitalist group leaders to make ad hoc intramural certification assessments as part of credentialing. Given variation in training and experience, such assessments are not straightforward "sign offs." We thus convened a panel of experts to conduct a systematic review to provide recommendations for credentialing hospitalist physicians in ultrasound guidance of these 6 bedside procedures. Pathways for initial and ongoing credentialing are proposed. A guiding principle of both is that certification assessments for basic competence are best made through direct observation of performance on actual patients.
Blood, Sweat, and Tears: Navigating Creepy versus Cool in Wearable Biotech

ABSTRACTThis paper considers how personal data protections figure into the design process of wearable technology. The data question is becoming especially important in the face of recent innovation...
Instructor misbehaviors impede students’ cognitive learning: testing the causal assumption

ABSTRACTGuided by assumptions from the cognitive–affective theory of learning with media, we conducted a teaching experiment to corroborate past correlational research that suggested instructor misbehaviors, in the form of antagonism toward students, impede students’ cognitive learning. Participants were 472 undergraduate students who were randomly assigned to view a recorded teaching condition of a standard lecture on persuasion heuristics (control), or the same lecture content with instructor antagonism manipulated (treatment). Results revealed that students exposed to the treatment lecture with antagonism had lower affect for the course and instructor. Moreover, because they had lower affect for the material, antagonized students scored worse on a test of their learning (mediation) compared with students in the standard lecture. Students who possessed a mastery orientation toward learning, and independently, who were effort-regulated, scored even lower on their tests of learning because antagonistic in...
Tractable ADMM Schemes for Computing KKT Points and Local Minimizers for $\ell_0$-Minimization Problems

We consider an $\ell_0$-minimization problem where $f(x) + \gamma \|x\|_0$ is minimized over a polyhedral set and the $\ell_0$-norm regularizer implicitly emphasizes sparsity of the solution. Such a setting captures a range of problems in image processing and statistical learning. Given the nonconvex and discontinuous nature of this norm, convex regularizers are often employed as substitutes. Therefore, far less is known about directly solving the $\ell_0$-minimization problem. Inspired by [19], we consider resolving an equivalent formulation of the $\ell_0$-minimization problem as a mathematical program with complementarity constraints (MPCC) and make the following contributions towards the characterization and computation of its KKT points: (i) First, we show that feasible points of this formulation satisfy the relatively weak Guignard constraint qualification. Furthermore, under the suitable convexity assumption on $f(x)$, an equivalence is derived between first-order KKT points and local minimizers of the MPCC formulation. (ii) Next, we apply two alternating direction method of multiplier (ADMM) algorithms to exploit special structure of the MPCC formulation: (ADMM$_{\rm cf}^{\mu, \alpha, \rho}$) and (ADMM$_{\rm cf}$). These two ADMM schemes both have tractable subproblems. Specifically, in spite of the overall nonconvexity, we show that the first of the ADMM updates can be effectively reduced to a closed-form expression by recognizing a hidden convexity property while the second necessitates solving a convex program. In (ADMM$_{\rm cf}^{\mu, \alpha, \rho}$), we prove subsequential convergence to a perturbed KKT point under mild assumptions. Our preliminary numerical experiments suggest that the tractable ADMM schemes are more scalable than their standard counterpart and ADMM$_{\rm cf}$ compares well with its competitors to solve the $\ell_0$-minimization problem.
Spinach and heavy metal relations

Spinach fields are intensively widespread in Menemen, Bulgurca and Torbah districts of the city of Izmir-Turkey. Twenty one fields were selected and soil and plant (blade+petiole) samples were taken to study the heavy metal (Pb, Cd, Cr, Co, Ni, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn) concentrations. Generally, Ni contents of soil samples were found high. Pb, Cd, Cr, Co, Ni, and Fe were high in some of the leaf blade samples. But Ni concentrations of the petioles were found higher than leaf blades.
Macromolecular Transport across Nasal and Respiratory Epithelia

The airway and alveolar epithelia in conjunction with the mucociliary escalator act as a barrier to prevent the translocation of inhaled macromolecules, e.g., protein and peptide antigens, across pulmonary surfaces. Nevertheless, some exogenous macromolecules appear to cross the epithelia antigenically intact through either the paracellular or the transcellular route. Endogenous macromolecules including albumin, immunoglobulin, lactoferrin, α2-macroglobin, and α1antitrypsin have been measured in either bronchoalveolar lavage fluid or the liquid that lines airway surfaces, airway surface liquid (Mentz et al., 1984; Bignon et al., 1976). These proteins may have specialized methods for translocation into and out of the airway surface liquid and may also play significant roles in fluid homeostasis, particularly in the alveolar region. Yet the knowledge of the mechanisms responsible for the maintenance of protein gradients across respiratory epithelia is primitive in relation to similar knowledge regarding ion gradients.
Role of Mast Cells in Cardiovascular Disease

Increased numbers of mast cells have been reported in human hearts with end-stage cardiomyopathy and in animal models of myocardial infarction, hypertension, and chronic volume overload secondary to mitral regurgitation and aortocaval fistula. Because of these observations, mast cells have been implicated in the pathophysiology of these cardiovascular disorders. Mast cells are known to store and release a variety of biologically active mediators, including numerous cytokines (e.g.,TNF-α and IL-6) and proteases (e.g., tryptase, chymase, and stromelysin), many of which are potentially involved in activating matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Accordingly, in this review, the potential role of cardiac mast cells in MMP activation, thereby causing fibrillar collagen degradation and adverse cardiac remodeling is considered. In particular, the following topics are contemplated: 1) the origin of increased cardiac mast cell density; 2) the functional consequences of cardiac mast cell degranulation; 3) the relationship between mast cell density and MMP activity; 4) the contribution of mast cell derived TNF-α to myocardial remodeling; 5) the effect of pharmacological prevention of mast cell degranulation on myocardial remodeling; 6) the effect of mast cells on fibroblast function; 7) a possible role of atrial natriuretic peptide in initiating the mast cell-MMP activation cascade; and 8) future research questions.
Pricing in Retail Gasoline Markets

Although fuel costs represent over half of the per mile cost of driving an automobile, vehicle miles traveled are relatively inelastic with respect to changes in gasoline prices. Thus, when there are large increases in gasoline prices as there have been on occasion over the past few years, there have been concerns raised regarding the possibility of anti-competitive behavior on the part of gasoline retailers. The purpose of this paper is to examine price-cost margins for retail gasoline stations in local markets and to determine whether movements in these margins indicate the presence of such behavior. This study uses a unique proprietary data set from an extensive pricing survey that was collected twice weekly for 25 local markets in Oregon. Using a VAR specification, evidence of tacit collusion is tested for and found as indicated by downward price stickiness. Price leadership is observed in several markets, but this behavior is not found to have a significant impact on price-cost margins when compared with markets in which price leadership is not observed. This result supports the hypothesis that price leadership serves to signal price changes in the face of volatile costs in very competitive retail gasoline markets. Other factors, such as whether the firm was a known low-price firm, located in an isolated area, whether the firm was selling unbranded or branded gasoline, and whether the firm was located on an interstate exit, are found to be important and significant determinants of price-cost margins for retail gasoline stations.
Discrimination of Pulmonary Nodule Volume Change for Low- and High-contrast Tasks in a Phantom CT Study with Low-dose Protocols.

Rationale and Objectives The quantitative assessment of volumetric CT for discriminating small changes in nodule size has been under-examined. This phantom study examined the effect of imaging protocol, nodule size, and measurement method on volume-based change discrimination across low and high object to background contrast tasks. Materials and Methods Eight spherical objects ranging in diameter from 5.0 mm to 5.75 mm and 8.0 mm to 8.75 mm with 0.25 mm increments were scanned within an anthropomorphic phantom with either foam-background (high-contrast task, ∼1000 HU object to background difference)) or gelatin-background (low-contrast task, ∼50 to 100 HU difference). Ten repeat acquisitions were collected for each protocol with varying exposures, reconstructed slice thicknesses and reconstruction kernels. Volume measurements were obtained using a matched-filter approach (MF) and a publicly available 3D segmentation-based tool (SB). Discrimination of nodule sizes was assessed using the area under the ROC curve (AUC). Results Using a low-dose (1.3 mGy), thin-slice (≤1.5 mm) protocol, changes of 0.25 mm in diameter were detected with AU = 1.0 for all baseline sizes for the high-contrast task regardless of measurement method. For the more challenging low-contrast task and same protocol, MF detected changes of 0.25 mm from baseline sizes ≥5.25 mm and volume changes ≥9.4% with AUC≥0.81 whereas corresponding results for SB were poor (AUC within 0.49-0.60). Performance for SB was improved, but still inconsistent, when exposure was increased to 4.4 mGy. Conclusion The reliable discrimination of small changes in pulmonary nodule size with low-dose, thin-slice CT protocols suitable for lung cancer screening was dependent on the inter-related effects of nodule to background contrast and measurement method.
Optimal Temporal Partitioning of a Multicore Server Processor for Virtual Machine Allocation

The problem of optimal temporal partitioning of a multicore server processor for virtual machine allocation in cloud computing is addressed as multivariable optimization problems and solved algorithmically and numerically. Analytical models for virtual machines are developed, i.e., partially available multi-server systems. The problem of optimal temporal partitioning of a multicore server processor for virtual machine allocation is formulated, where the overall performance (i.e., the average task response time) of a group of virtual machines is optimized. An algorithm is developed to solve the problem numerically. The problem of optimal temporal partitioning of a multicore server processor with power consumption constraint is also formulated and solved, where the overall performance of a group of virtual machines is optimized and the total power consumption of the virtual machines does not exceed certain available power. A virtual machine is treated as a queuing system with multiple servers, i.e., an M/M/m queuing system. The system performance measures are the average task response time and the average power consumption. Two core speed and power consumption models are considered, namely, the idle-speed model and the constant-speed model. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate our methods.
Stronger together: political ambition and the presentation of women running for office

Does the presence of women candidates encourage other women to run for office? The extant literature is unclear on the question, with some studies pointing to evidence in the affirmative, but other...
Is There a Need for Platelet Transfusion After Traumatic Brain Injury in Patients on P2Y12 Inhibitors

Abstract Background A significant portion of patients sustaining traumatic brain injury (TBI) are on antiplatelet medications. The reversal of P2Y12 agents after intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) remains unclear. The aim of our study is to evaluate outcomes after TBI in patients who are on preinjury P2Y12 inhibitors and received a platelet transfusion. Methods We analyzed our prospectively maintained TBI database from 2013 to 2016 and included all patients with isolated ICH who were on P2Y12 inhibitors (Clopidogrel, Prasugrel, Ticagrelor). Regression analysis was performed adjusting for demographics and injury parameters. Outcome measures included progression of ICH, adverse discharge disposition (skilled nursing facility), and mortality. Results A total 243 patients with ICH on preinjury P2Y12 inhibitor met our inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Mean age was 55 ± 18 y, 58% were males and 60% were white and median injury severity score was 13 [9-18]. 73.6% received platelet transfusion after admission. The median packs of platelet transfusion were 1 [1-2] units. After controlling for confounders, patients who received platelet transfusion had a lower rate of progression (OR: 0.68, P = 0.01) and decreased rate of neurosurgical intervention (OR: 0.80, P = 0.03). Overall mortality was 12.3%. Patients on P2Y12 inhibitors who received platelet transfusion had lower odds of discharge to a skilled nursing facility (OR: 0.75, P = 0.02) and mortality (OR: 0.85, P = 0.04). Conclusions Platelet transfusion after isolated traumatic ICH in patients on P2Y12 inhibitors is associated with improved outcomes. Platelet transfusion was associated with decreased risk of progression of ICH, neurosurgical intervention, and mortality. Further randomized studies to validate the use of platelet transfusion and define the optimal dose in patients on P2Y12 inhibitors are warranted.
Development of a polyclonal antibody for detection and sensitive quantification of immunoglobulin M-like antibody in Pangasius hypophthalmus plasma

Abstract Immunoglobulins (Igs) are an essential defense mechanism in fish, yet it is difficult to reliably quantify these components because a lack of standardization in methodology, and limited commercially available reagents. In this study, a polyclonal antibody was developed for the specific detection and quantification of IgM-like immunoglobulin in the plasma of striped catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus). The detection probe was prepared by initial isolation and characterization of the IgM-like isotype from the fish species. An SDS-PAGE analysis of the purified striped catfish antibody revealed a heavy and a light chain with molecular weights of 70 and 25 kDa, respectively, and thus an estimated size of at least 760 kDa for the tetrameric form of this antibody isotype. This fish antibody was then utilized for immunizing New Zealand white rabbits, followed by affinity chromatography and biotinylation of the rabbit anti-pangasius Ig. The polyclonal rabbit anti-pangasius antibody was strongly reactive towards fish of the genus Pangasius, and had a weaker degree of reactivity towards two members of the genus Ictalurus. The polyclonal antibody was utilized for developing a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for quantification of plasma levels of the IgM-like molecule in striped catfish. The reference interval (RI) for this immune analyte had a range of 1.2–7.6 mg mL−1, and a median value of 3.3 mg mL−1. The ELISA methodology presented here, although not novel, it is new for fish. Implementation of these methods will help in efforts to reliably quantify the levels of total immunoglobulin in other species of fish, without the background measurements often seen with other fish detection antibodies. Knowledge of the immunoglobulin titers is also relevant, as it is the first report of the RI for this immunological analyte in striped catfish cultured in recirculating aquaculture systems. The normal physiology findings of this study will aid in monitoring changes in the health status of striped catfish, when cultured in different systems, and when the animals undergo different types of stress events (e.g. vaccination, biological insult, chemical exposure).
Fighting Gendered Battles: On Being a Woman in a Contemporary Gaming Community:

This scholarly personal narrative (Nash 2004) draws on the author’s experiences as a woman in a male-dominated gaming community. In such a space, being a woman who plays the game problematizes noti...
Effects of the photosensitizer curcumin in inactivating foodborne pathogens on chicken skin

Abstract This study investigated the antimicrobial efficacy of the water-soluble photosensitizer curcumin (PSC) on liquid media and chicken skin. The water-soluble PSC showed strong absorption at 410 nm, and the light-emitting diode (LED) used to activate PSC had strong emission at 430 nm with power density of 107 W/m2. Listeria monocytogenes (3 isolates) and Salmonella (8 isolates) were evaluated in this study. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of PSC for L. monocytogenes were 10 ppm and 20 ppm, respectively. For Salmonella, 200 ppm of PSC led to maximum 3.6 log reduction. No significant differences for antimicrobial activities among different incubation (1, 2.5, and 5 min) or light dose (6.4, 32.1, and 64.2 kJ/m2) were observed. Compared with the water control, no significant color change was observed on chicken skin exposed to illumination equal to or greater than 32.1 kJ/m2. After 5-min incubation followed by 32.1 kJ/m2 of illumination, treatment with 300 ppm of PSC resulted in 2.9 and 1.5 log CFU/cm2 of L. monocytogenes and Salmonella on chicken skin, respectively. PSC showed equivalent or better efficacy in reducing the population of foodborne pathogens on chicken skin, as compared with a commercial antimicrobial containing 300 ppm of peracetic acid. This study suggests that PSC effectively inactivates pathogens on media and chicken skin without causing skin discoloration, indicating a potential application as an antimicrobial intervention in the poultry industry.
Development of dried tube specimens for Xpert MTB/RIF proficiency testing.

Background Proficiency testing (PT) is part of a comprehensive quality assurance programme, which is critical to ensuring patients receive accurate and reliable diagnostic testing. Implementation of the Cepheid Xpert® MTB/RIF assay to aid in the diagnosis of tuberculosis has expanded rapidly in recent years; however, PT material for Xpert MTB/RIF is not readily available in many resource-limited settings. Objective To develop an accurate and precise PT material based on the dried tube specimen (DTS) method, using supplies and reagents available in most tuberculosis culture laboratories. Methods Dried tube specimens were produced at the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2013 to 2015 by inactivating liquid cultures of well-characterised mycobacterial strains. Ten percent of DTS produced were tested with Xpert MTB/RIF and evaluated for accuracy and precision. Results Validation testing across eight rounds of PT demonstrated that DTS are highly accurate, achieving an average of 96.8% concordance with the Xpert MTB/RIF results from the original mycobacterial strains. Dried tube specimen testing was also precise, with cycle threshold standard deviations below two cycles when inherent test cartridge variability was low. Conclusion Dried tube specimens can be produced using equipment already present in tuberculosis culture laboratories, making Xpert MTB/RIF PT scale-up more feasible in resource-limited settings. Use of DTS may fill the gap in tuberculosis laboratory access to external quality assessment, which is an essential component of a comprehensive continuous quality improvement programme.
Postoperative Pain Management in Pediatric Spinal Fusion Surgery for Idiopathic Scoliosis

This article reviews and summarizes current evidence and knowledge gaps regarding postoperative analgesia after pediatric posterior spine fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, a common procedure that results in severe acute postoperative pain. Inadequate analgesia may delay recovery, cause patient dissatisfaction, and increase chronic pain risk. Despite significant adverse effects, opioids are the analgesic mainstay after scoliosis surgery. However, growing emphasis on opioid minimization and enhanced recovery has increased adoption of multimodal analgesia (MMA) regimens. While opioid adverse effects remain a concern, MMA protocols must also consider risks and benefits of adjunct medications. We discuss use of opioids via different administration routes and elaborate on the effect of MMA components on opioid/pain and recovery outcomes including upcoming regional analgesia. We also discuss risk for prolonged opioid use after surgery and chronic post-surgical pain risk in this population. Evidence supports use of neuraxial opioids at safe doses, low-dose ketorolac, and methadone for postoperative analgesia. There may be a role for low-dose ketamine in those who are opioid-tolerant or have chronic pain, but the evidence for preoperative gabapentinoids and intravenous lidocaine is currently insufficient. There is a need for further studies to evaluate pediatric-specific optimal MMA dosing regimens after scoliosis surgery. Questions remain regarding how best to prevent acute opioid tolerance, opioid-induced hyperalgesia, and chronic postsurgical pain. We anticipate that this timely update will enable clinicians to develop efficient pain regimens and provide impetus for future research to optimize recovery outcomes after spine fusion.
Atomic scale understanding of organic anion separations using ion-exchange resins

Abstract A combination of ab initio and classical molecular dynamic simulations was used to explore the adsorption/desorption and diffusion characteristics of ion-exchange resins for extraction of organic anions in electrically-driven separation processes. We considered two classes of carboxylate mixtures that are commonly encountered in bioprocessing separations: a short chain fatty acid mixture (acetate/butyrate) and an aromatic mixture (ferulate/coumarate). The suitability of several resin materials including PFC100E, IRC86, PFA444 and IRA67 was interrogated. The decomposition of the interaction energies by the symmetry-adapted perturbation theory and the classical molecular dynamic simulations of organic diffusion together reveal that the geometries of the organic anions and the functional groups of the resins, as well as their Columbic interactions, are the controlling factors in the diffusion process of the organic compounds in these resins. Classical simulations also show that modifying the functionality of resin beads, the magnitude of electric fields, and the ratio of organic mixtures may provide an effective way to control the diffusion rate and obtain selective separation of these organic mixtures. Finally, a general suggestion for favorable separation conditions is summarized.
New Partitioning Techniques and Faster Algorithms for Approximate Interval Scheduling.

Interval scheduling is a basic problem in the theory of algorithms and a classical task in combinatorial optimization. We develop a set of techniques for partitioning and grouping jobs based on their starting and ending times, that enable us to view an instance of interval scheduling on many jobs as a union of multiple interval scheduling instances, each containing only a few jobs. Instantiating these techniques in dynamic and local settings of computation leads to several new results. For $(1+\varepsilon)$-approximation of job scheduling of $n$ jobs on a single machine, we obtain a fully dynamic algorithm with $O(\frac{\log{n}}{\varepsilon})$ update and $O(\log{n})$ query worst-case time. Further, we design a local computation algorithm that uses only $O(\frac{\log{n}}{\varepsilon})$ queries. Our techniques are also applicable in a setting where jobs have rewards/weights. For this case we obtain a fully dynamic algorithm whose worst-case update and query time has only polynomial dependence on $1/\varepsilon$, which is an exponential improvement over the result of Henzinger et al. [SoCG, 2020]. We extend our approaches for unweighted interval scheduling on a single machine to the setting with $M$ machines, while achieving the same approximation factor and only $M$ times slower update time in the dynamic setting. In addition, we provide a general framework for reducing the task of interval scheduling on $M$ machines to that of interval scheduling on a single machine. In the unweighted case this approach incurs a multiplicative approximation factor $2 - 1/M$.
Calibration of Power and Energy Meters for the Far Infrared/Near-Millimeter Wave Spectral Region

Power and energy measurements in the FIR/near-millimeter-wave region of the spectrum have acquired an increasing importance as growth in technology and experimentation in this area progresses. Relatively inexpensive detectors and power meters exist that are designed for visible and near-infrared wavelengths, but accurate calibration factors in the FIR for such instruments are lacking. While it is not the purpose of this research to establish standards for absolute power and energy measurements, useful information interchange may be accomplished utilizing devices now commonly available in many laboratories, providing that calibration factors for these devices are established.
A clinical primer for the expected and potential post-COVID-19 syndromes

In late 2019, a novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) spread unchecked across the world's population. With tens of millions infected, the long-term consequences of COVID-19 infection will be a major health care focus for years after the contagion subsides. Most complications stem from direct viral invasion provoking an over-exuberant inflammatory response driven by innate immune cells and activation of the clotting cascade causing thrombosis. Injury to individual organs and their protective linings are frequent presentations in respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological systems. Reviewing the historical context of postviral fatiguing symptoms seems relevant to understanding reports of uneven recoveries and persistent symptoms that are emerging as "long-haul COVID-19." The pandemic is also an unprecedented sociocultural event, transforming how people consider their health, gather in groups, and navigate their daily lives. The unprecedented sociocultural stresses of the pandemic will have an invisible, ubiquitous, and predictable impact on neurologic, endocrine, and immune functioning, even in people untouched by the virus. COVID-19 may also have a surprise or two in store, with unique clinical presentations and novel mechanisms of injury which are yet to clearly emerge. Although challenging and unfortunate, these times also represent a unique opportunity to start to unravel the physiology that underlie how viruses may trigger cancers, neurological disease, and postviral fatiguing syndromes.
Pulsatile load and wasted pressure effort are reduced following an acute bout of aerobic exercise.

We demonstrate that pulsatile load on the left ventricle is diminished following 60 min of moderate intensity aerobic exercise. During recovery from exercise, the amplitude of the forward and backw...
Remimazolam: A Novel Option for Procedural Sedation in High Risk Patients.

Purpose:The purpose of this drug review was to explore the safety and efficacy of the newly approved benzodiazepine, remimazolam, in order to evaluate its place in therapy.Summary:Remimazolam has a...
Adaptive Tracking Control

The range of applications of path-tracking control is enormous for any type of machines or, more generally, mechanical structures. It begins from point-mass modelled craft dynamics in space, air, sea and on ground, when controlling travel, pointing, station and formation keeping, or generally traffic, etc., through multibody models of manufacturing machinery, in particular robotic manipulators, to large flexible structures. Consequently, the literature dealing with such applications is too vast to be quoted here. For the same reason there is a large variety of methods attacking the problem of such tracking, also with a broad literature. The interested reader may look for a review in Luh [l],[2], Luh-Lin [l] and Skowronski [38].
Unarticulated forceps in operative obstetrics: The spatulas of Thierry

Abstract 1. 1. The spatulas of Thierry were used in 672 deliveries without trauma or damage to the fetus. 2. 2. The maternal complications of episiotomy extensions and vaginal lacerations were prevented by early episiotomy. 3. 3. The correct use of the spatulas was easily learned by 43 physicians in various stages of training.
Neurobiological Markers of Familial Risk for Depression

Major depression is associated with a wide range of neurobiological disturbances, including anomalies in the structure and function of cortical and subcortical gray matter and dysregulation of the HPA axis. In this chapter, we review research demonstrating that many of these abnormalities are also present in never-depressed offspring of adults with recurrent depression and discuss how such findings might reflect dysfunctional neuroregulatory systems that precede the onset of this disorder. We also briefly discuss candidate genes and environmental factors that have been posited to be directly involved in the transmission of neural and HPA-axis abnormalities from depressed parents to their offspring, and we review how, by obtaining a better understanding of the neurobiological markers of depression risk, we can facilitate the development of targeted strategies for the prevention and treatment of major depression.
Structuralist Economics: Challenge to the Mainstream

In a new textbook, economist Lance Taylor makes his case for what he calls structuralist economics. It directly challenges mainstream economics' reliance on assumptions about how consumers and businesses act, and tries to ground economic theory in everyday reality. We discuss his theories, based on years of work, and how they apply to the real world.
Human Myeloid Leukemic Cell (HL-60) Autostimulator: Relationship to Colony-stimulating Factor

The human promyelocyte leukemic cell line HL-60 secretes a glycoprotein factor which stimulates HL-60 and myeloid cell growth and colony formation in vitro . Functional and biochemical studies indicate this autostimulatory activity (ASA) is distinct from colony-stimulating factor (CSF) activities reported previously. Human CSF I, CSF II, and HL-60 ASA stimulated HL-60 growth and colony formation. The ASA also demonstrated CSF activity for both granulocyte and macrophage colonies when assayed on normal mouse and human bone marrow cells. The ASA glycoprotein was partially purified 1200-fold to an apparent molecular weight of 25,000 on G-75 filtration and a pl of 4.9 after neuraminidase treatment. Serological cross-reactivity between human CSF I and HL-60 ASA was detectable by immune precipitation and neutralization of biological activity with rabbit anti-CSF I antibodies. The cross-reactive anti-CSF I antibodies also inhibited spontaneous HL-60 colony formation in vitro in the absence of exogenous CSF, ASA, or anti-HL-60 antibody activity. These results indicate that HL-60 ASA is an endogenous growth factor similar to CSF that may be required for HL-60 growth in vitro .
Network-attached storage systems

With the dramatic shift towards distributed computing, and its associated client-server model of computation, storage facilities are now found attached to file servers and distributed throughout the network. The paper discusses the underlying technology trends that are leading to high performance network-based storage, namely advances in networks, storage devices, and I/O controller and server architectures. It describes a research prototype, developed at Berkeley, that takes a new approach to high performance computing based on network-attached storage. >
Orienting Stem Cells

Stem cells have the ability to self-renew and to differentiate into a variety of different cell types. However, it is not clear what determines the path taken by any particular stem cell. Discussing recent work with stem cells from the fruit fly testis ( Yamashita et al.), Wallenfang and Matunis explain in their Perspective that, at least in the case of these stem cells, the trick is the asymmetric arrangement of the mitotic spindle during cell division. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that as the stem cell divides, one daughter cell remains in the environmental niche of the testis and continues to self-renew, whereas the other daughter cell is edged out of the niche and begins to differentiate.
Radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate and methyl acrylate in the presence of an oligomer of 2‐methoxy‐4‐vinylphenol

Methyl methacrylate (MMA) and methyl acrylate (MA) were polymerized in the presence of an oligomer of 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol (OMVP) with a double bond at its end. It is shown by means of the UV spectra and the kinetic treatment that the double bond disappears by hydrogen transfer from the growing polymer chain to OMVP and that the OMVP radical formed propagates further. In the polymerization of MMA, the transfer rate is comparable with the termination rate if [OMVP] ≤ 0,52 mol · 1−1. In the polymerization of MA, the transfer rate is very much higher than the termination rate for [OMVP] ≥ 0,016 mol · 1−1. It is suggested that each PMA chain carries one OMVP unit at the end.
A Quantitative Pixel-Wise Measurement of Myocardial Blood Flow by Contrast-Enhanced First-Pass CMR Perfusion Imaging: Microsphere Validation in Dogs and Feasibility Study in Humans

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate fully quantitative myocardial blood flow (MBF) at a pixel level based on contrast-enhanced first-pass cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in dogs and in patients. Background Microspheres can quantify MBF in subgram regions of interest, but CMR perfusion imaging may be able to quantify MBF and differentiate blood flow at a much higher resolution. Methods First-pass CMR perfusion imaging was performed in a dog model with local hyperemia induced by intracoronary adenosine. Fluorescent microspheres were the reference standard for MBF validation. CMR perfusion imaging was also performed on patients with significant coronary artery disease (CAD) by invasive coronary angiography. Myocardial time-signal intensity curves of the images were quantified on a pixel-by-pixel basis using a model-constrained deconvolution analysis. Results Qualitatively, color CMR perfusion pixel maps were comparable to microsphere MBF bull's-eye plots in all animals. Pixel-wise CMR MBF estimates correlated well against subgram (0.49 ± 0.14 g) microsphere measurements (r = 0.87 to 0.90) but showed minor underestimation of MBF. To reduce bias due to misregistration and minimize issues related to repeated measures, 1 hyperemic and 1 remote sector per animal were compared with the microsphere MBF, which improved the correlation (r = 0.97 to 0.98), and the bias was close to zero. Sector-wise and pixel-wise CMR MBF estimates also correlated well (r = 0.97). In patients, color CMR stress perfusion pixel maps showed regional blood flow decreases and transmural perfusion gradients in territories served by stenotic coronary arteries. MBF estimates in endocardial versus epicardial subsectors, and ischemic versus remote sectors, were all significantly different (p Conclusions Myocardial blood flow can be quantified at the pixel level (∼32 μl of myocardium) on CMR perfusion images, and results compared well with microsphere measurements. High-resolution pixel-wise CMR perfusion maps can quantify transmural perfusion gradients in patients with CAD.
Channel dynamics and habitat development in a meandering, gravel bed river

[1] We investigated how channel morphology, flow complexity, and habitat characteristics in a meandering gravel bed river evolved over time from a simple, reconfigured initial condition. Using a time series of topographic data, we measured rates of channel migration and morphologic change, documented patterns of sediment storage, and estimated rates of sediment supply. We constructed, calibrated, and validated hydrodynamic models to quantify how the evolving morphology influenced hydraulic conditions, flow complexity, and habitat suitability for Chinook salmon spawning and rearing. For a series of meander bends with constant curvature, similar bank materials, and an identical flow history, sediment supply and bar storage directly influenced channel migration rates. Habitat modeling indicated that the availability of Chinook salmon spawning habitat increased over time, whereas the majority of the reach continues to provide only low- to medium-quality rearing habitat for juvenile salmonids, primarily because of a lack of low-velocity refuge zones. However, other metrics of flow complexity indicate that areas of favorable flow conditions gradually expanded as point bars developed along the inner bank of each bend. These results indicate that although sediment supply can stimulate channel change and diversify river morphology, which acts to promote flow complexity and provide spawning habitat, these sediment-driven morphological changes might not create bioenergetically favorable habitat for juvenile salmonids.
Convectively injected water vapor in the North American summer lowermost stratosphere

[1] Anderson et al. (2012) (A2012) report in situ observations of convectively injected water vapor (H2O) in the North American (NA) summer lowermost stratosphere (LMS), occasionally exceeding 12ppmv. They contend that, in such cold/wet conditions, heterogeneous chemistry on binary water‒sulfate aerosols can activate chlorine, leading to catalytic ozone destruction. Aura Microwave Limb Sounder 100 hPa and 82.5 hPa H2O measurements show that, indeed, the NA LMS is unusually wet, both in mean values and in outliers reaching 18ppmv. Using A2012's threshold, 4% (0.03%) of 100 hPa (82.5 hPa) NA July–August observations are cold/wet enough for activation. Cold parcels, whether wet or dry, typically have much less HCl to activate and O3to destroy than A2012's initial conditions. Slightly lower concentrations of HCl and O3 in cold/wet parcels are attributable, at least in part, to dilution by tropospheric air. Alarming reductions in NA summer column O3suggested by A2012 are not seen in the current climate.
Asthma medication use among late midlife U.S. Adults.

AbstractObjective: Despite substantial prevalence of asthma, little is known about asthma in late midlife adults (50–64 years). The objective of this study was to examine the factors associated with the use of asthma medications among late midlife adults. Methods: Pooled data were obtained from the 2006 to 2010 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Medication use outcome variables include: (a) daily use of a preventive asthma medication and (b) use of more than three canisters of rescue inhalers in last 3 months. The Andersen Behavioral Model of Health Services Utilization was used to guide the selection of independent variables. Descriptive, unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analyses were performed. Point estimates were weighted to the US civilian population and variance estimates were adjusted to obtain appropriate standard errors. All analyses were conducted using STATA (version 12). Results: A total of 1414 (weighted sample of 15 030 364) self-reported late midlife asthmatics were identified. Ab...