cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Land–Atmosphere Interaction Theory for the Tropical Deforestation Problem

A theoretical framework is developed in understanding the mechanisms and processes determining the response of the land‐atmosphere system to tropical deforestation. The analytical approach is made possible by simplifications in the vertical from the quasi-equilibrium moist convective closure, and in the horizontal from the dynamical temperature homogenization process. The theory emphasizes the energy and water balance. It highlights the interaction among processes of moist convection, cloud, radiation, and surface hydrology while each individual process is simplified. The zero surface energy flux condition, due to the small heat capacity of land, makes land‐atmosphere interaction distinctly different from ocean‐atmosphere interaction. This imposes a constraint on the sensitivity to the details of surface energy partitioning. Consequently, land surface temperature is largely a response to the energy and water balance, rather than a forcing as in the case of sea surface temperature. Results from a wet-season surface albedo change case compare well with a recent RCCM2/BATS simulation, with the theory depicting the mechanisms and the roles of the intertwining processes. The precipitation has a significant decrease, initiated by ground radiative forcing as increased surface albedo reflects more solar radiation into space. A positive feedback by moisture convergence is essential for this tendency, with another positive feedback from reduced evaporation providing further enhancement. These are opposed by a negative feedback due to the reduced magnitude of negative cloud radiative forcing as cloud cover decreases. This sheds light on the higher sensitivity in some GCM studies with prescribed clouds. The cloud radiative forcing also has a negative feedback on the initial cooling tendency in ground temperature. Together with reduced evaporation, this leads to little change in the ground temperature. Sensitivities of precipitation and ground temperature changes to individual processes are found to depend on the reference state parameter values, implying a sensitivity of anomaly response to simulated climatology for GCMs. The analysis here also serves as an example of the tight coupling between convection, large-scale atmospheric dynamics, and land processes in the tropical land‐atmosphere system.
Mechanisms of carrageenan injury of IEC18 small intestinal epithelial cell monolayers.

Hydrolyzed carrageenan is used to induce ileocecal inflammation in laboratory animals. We used ileal epithelial cell monolayer cultures (IEC18) to study the cellular and paracellular injurious effects of hydrolyzed carrageenan via an examination of its effects on deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis, chromium release, and cell morphology. Phase-contrast microscopy showed that carrageenan-treated cells initially contracted and pulled away from neighboring cells. Cell and viability counts illustrated that hydrolyzed carrageenan retarded cell growth and eventually caused cell death. [3H]Thymidine incorporation revealed that hydrolyzed carrageenan at a concentration of 0.25 g/L inhibited deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis by 20% during a 5-h labeling period in 1-wk-old confluent monolayers. Chromium 51 release assay demonstrated that a 22-h exposure to 0.75 g/L of hydrolyzed carrageenan induced the release of 30% of the 51Cr trapped in 1-wk-old confluent monolayers. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the disruption of cellular junctions occurred before cell membrane injury. When we treated the mono layers with drugs commonly used for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, including prednisolone, 5-aminosalicylic acid, metronidazole, and 6-mercaptopurine, we were not able to demonstrate a reduction in carrageenan-induced cell injury; however, catalase at 1 mg/ml decreased carrageenan cytotoxicity. These studies demonstrate that hydrolyzed carrageenan produces intestinal epithelial injury in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. Morphologic injury starts at the site of cell junctions and eventually affects cell membrane integrity. Drugs commonly used to treat inflammatory bowel disease do not inhibit carrageenan injury in this cell model system, although catalase does decrease injury.
Abstract 12627: Myocardial Infarction Alters Neural Processing of Afferent Inputs in the Intrinsic Cardiac Nervous System

Introduction: The intrinsic cardiac nervous system (ICNS) is an important coordinator of cardiac function and its regulatory functions can be impacted by cardiac disease. Our aim was to characterize the neural remodeling that occurs in the ICNS in response to chronic myocardial infarction (MI). Methods: Activity from intrinsic cardiac (IC) neurons in the ventral interventricular ganglionated plexus was recorded using a linear microelectrode array in 5 normal pigs and 6 pigs with chronic MI. Changes in neuron activity were evaluated in response to: (1) focal mechanotransduction (touch); transient occlusion of the (2) inferior vena cava (IVC) and (3) carotid arteries; and electrical stimulation of (4) cervical vagi and (5) stellate ganglia. Results: A total of 72 IC neurons were identified in normal pigs and 63 neurons in MI pigs. The proportion of neurons that responded to epicardial touch at the left ventricular (LV) apex (i.e. infarct zone) was significantly decreased in MI (3.2%) compared to normal (23....
Differential Effects of Roads and Traffic on Space Use and Movements of Native Forest-Dependent and Introduced Edge-Tolerant Species

Anthropogenic infrastructure such as roads and non-native species are major causes of species endangerment. Understanding animal behavioral responses to roads and traffic provides insight into causes and mechanisms of effects of linear development on wildlife and aids effective mitigation and conservation. We investigated effects of roads and traffic on space use and movements of two forest-dwelling species: endemic, forest-dependent Mount Graham red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus grahamensis) and introduced, edge-tolerant Abert’s squirrels (Sciurus aberti). To assess the effects of roads on space use and movement patterns, we compared the probability that a squirrel home range included roads and random lines in forests, and assessed effects of traffic intensity on rate of road crossing and movement patterns. Red squirrels avoided areas adjacent to roads and rarely crossed roads. In contrast, Abert’s squirrels were more likely to include roads in their home ranges compared to random lines in forests. Both red squirrels and Abert’s squirrels increased speed when crossing roads, compared to before and after road crossings. Increased hourly traffic volume reduced the rate of road crossings by both species. Behavioral responses of red squirrels to roads and traffic resemble responses to elevated predation risk, including reduced speed near roads and increased tortuosity of movement paths with increased traffic volume. In contrast, Abert’s squirrels appeared little affected by roads and traffic with tortuosity of movement paths reduced as distance to roads decreased. We found that species with similar body size category (<1 kg) but different habitat preference and foraging strategy responded to roads differently and demonstrated that behavior and ecology are important when considering effects of roads on wildlife. Our results indicate that roads restricted movements and space use of a native forest-dependent species while creating habitat preferred by an introduced, edge-tolerant species.
Molecular biology: Breaks in the brain.

A high-throughput approach has found clusters of DNA double-strand breaks in neural cells. Most of the clusters are in large genes that are associated with neural function, which suggests that the breaks may have tissue-specific roles.
A WEB -BASED MODEL FOR PREDICTING INDOOR TOXIC MATERIAL TRANSPORT

A web -based model has been developed for simulating the transport of toxic materials within rooms and building interiors. The numerical model is based on the boundary element method (BEM) coupled with a Lagrangian Particle Transport technique (LPT) utilizing the JAVA programming language. The JAVA model allows a user to simulate indoor airflow and pollutant dispersion patterns for indoor room configurations created by the user or obtained from CAD drawing s. Graphical results are displayed as velocity vectors and contour plots of concentration.
State-of-the-Art Review of Closed Cycle Gas Turbines Burning Dirty Fuels

The Closed Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) offers potential savings in operating costs due to high system efficiency and the ability to direct fire coal. However, for the full potential of CCGT to be realized, more competitive cost information must be generated, correlated, and compared with conventional steam power systems. Current development programs are intended to resolve many of the remaining uncertainties in design, performance, and cost by detailed examination and testing of critical components of CCGT coal-fired power systems. This paper reviews current technology developments and economic considerations of the closed cycle gas turbine burning dirty fuels versus conventional steam power systems.Copyright © 1983 by ASME
Boll Weevil: Chemosterilization by Fumigation and Dipping

A procedure suitable for sterilizing both sexes of Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman on a large scale was developed. First, the weevils were fumigated with bisazir ( P,P -bis(1-aziridinyl)- N -methylphosphinothioic amide, AI3-61585) at atmospheric pressure for 90 min, and 30 min later, they were dipped for 5 sec into a 1.35% solution of penfluron (2,6-difluoro- N -[[[4-(trifluoromethyl) phenyl]amino]carbonyl]benzamide, AI3-63223) in acetone. In either sex, the sterility exceeded 99%, and 59.3% of the treated males survived 10 days posttreatment. A new laboratory-size fumigation chamber with a rotating bisazir-treated paddle was designed and scaled up to a field-size chamber suitable for treating up to 200,000 weevils at a time. Monitoring of the sterilizing treatment consisted of measuring the concentration of bisazir vapors during the fumigation and analyzing the treated weevils for residues of bisazir and penfluron. One day posttreatment, no residues of bisazir or of its aziridinyl metabolite could be detected in the treated weevils, but penfluron residues decreased only slowly from 39 to 8.8 μg/weevil within 7 days. Oviposition of untreated females mated to treated males was decreased; also, treated males were less effective than untreated ones in transferring sperm. On the other hand, when various ratios of treated and untreated males were combined with untreated females, the treated males appeared more competitive because they suppressed reproduction more effectively than their proportional number would warrant. The development of the new sterilizing procedure now makes it possible to test the performance of chemosterilized weevils in large field tests.
Glycogen formation after various fatty acids.

The transformation of the even-chained fatty acids into the acetone bodies has been demonstrated to be a quantitative one.1 It was shown that such odd-chained fatty acids as propionic, valeric and heptoic did not give rise to appreciable amounts of the acetone bodies. With the exception of the experiments of Ringer2 on phlorhizinized dogs and the negative results of Eckstein3 on glycogen formation in the white rat, no experimental evidence is on record regarding the glycogenic ability of the various fatty acids.In the present tests the sodium salts of propionic, diacetic, butyric, valeric, caproic, heptoic, caprylic and nonylic acids were fed, by stomach tube, to rats previously fasted for 48 hours in doses equivalent to 1 mg. (calculated as acetone) per sq. cm. of body surface. In series 1 the rats were killed 6 hours after the administration of fatty acids: in series 2, seven hours after such administration. The average results on liver glycogen in series 1 are as follows: Control, (10 animals) 0.27% (R...
First-Principles Calculations of Clean, Oxidized, and Reduced β-MnO2 Surfaces

Stoichiometric and defective terminations of the β-MnO2 (110), (100), and (101) surfaces are investigated as a function of oxygen partial pressure and temperature using ab initio thermodynamics. In agreement with studies on other rutile-type minerals, the (110) surface is predicted to be the most stable surface, followed by the (100) surface and then the (101) surface. The (110) and (101) surfaces are found to oxidize by formation of stable manganyl groups (Mn═O) at high oxygen chemical potentials, whereas the (100) surface is not likely to be oxidized under experimentally relevant conditions. All of the β-MnO2 surfaces studied undergo reduction processes in UHV, resulting in many complicated structural changes. A number of the reduced surfaces exhibit new surface reconstructions not yet observed for any rutile-type mineral. Analysis of the dependence of manganese coordination geometry on oxidation state is carried out to facilitate understanding of the surface reconstructions. It is determined that the c...
GPU-accelerated Hungarian algorithms for the Linear Assignment Problem

Linear Assignment is one of the most fundamental problems in operations research.A creative parallelization of a Hungarian-like algorithm on GPU cluster.Efficient parallelization of the augmenting path search step.Large problems with 1.6 billion variables can be solved.It is probably the fastest LAP solver using a GPU. In this paper, we describe parallel versions of two different variants (classical and alternating tree) of the Hungarian algorithm for solving the Linear Assignment Problem (LAP). We have chosen Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA) enabled NVIDIA Graphics Processing Units (GPU) as the parallel programming architecture because of its ability to perform intense computations on arrays and matrices. The main contribution of this paper is an efficient parallelization of the augmenting path search phase of the Hungarian algorithm. Computational experiments on problems with up to 25 million variables reveal that the GPU-accelerated versions are extremely efficient in solving large problems, as compared to their CPU counterparts. Tremendous parallel speedups are achieved for problems with up to 400 million variables, which are solved within 13 seconds on average. We also tested multi-GPU versions of the two variants on up to 16 GPUs, which show decent scaling behavior for problems with up to 1.6 billion variables and dense cost matrix structure.
“Everything of interest in the late Pine Ridge War are held by us for sale”: Popular Culture and Wounded Knee

So BLACK ELK DESCRIBED THE ERUPTION of violence at the Pine Ridge Reservation on the morning of 29 December 1890. Called in to suppress the messianic Ghost Dance religion and prevent an outbreak, U. S. Army troops, after two months of tense inactivity, killed over two hundred Lakotas in a ninety-minute burst of violence. Long a marker of the end of the Indian wars and the close of the frontier era, the massacre at Wounded Knee holds a prominent position within western history and popular consciousness.2 At the same moment that Wounded Knee entered history, it also entered the realm of popular culture. Photographers George Trager, newspaper reporter William Fitch Kelley, and dime novelist Francis Dougherty soon produced images and
THE STRAIGHT LINE

A locus is the totality of points that satisfy a given condition or set of conditions. Thus, a locus consists of some sort of a geometric configuration such as a collection of discrete points, a line, a curve, etc. If a coordinate system is defined, the conditions determining a particular locus may be expressible as an equation or set of equations involving the coordinates x and y of a point. Thus, when this is possible, a relationship is established between loci and equations. This relationship is the basis of two fundamental problems: (1) given a locus, required to find its equation, and (2) given an equation, required to find the corresponding locus. This chapter focuses on determining the line when given its equation and finding an equation for a line when the conditions that define it have been given. It explains the problem of obtaining the equation of a line determined by a given set of conditions. The chapter reviews Slope-Intercept equation, the First-Degree equation, intersection of lines, use of normal equation, and other related topics.
Dopamine-Responsive Dystonia After Spinal Surgery (P1.044)

OBJECTIVE: To describe a group of patients who develop lower extremity dystonia after spinal surgery that is responsive to dopaminergic agonists BACKGROUND: Dystonia is one of the most disabling movement disorders, causing twisting movements and abnormal postures that can severely limit mobility and function. Most patients with dystonia have limited or no improvement with levodopa except for a small subset called the dopa-responsive dystonias who have sustained response to dopaminergic drugs. A new subset of patients with delayed development of dystonia after spinal surgery described here responded positively to dopaminergic drugs, suggesting a novel pathophysiology for this population. CASE SERIES: A group of patients were identified who had extensive spinal surgeries and developing focal dystonias that caused impaired gait and mobility. These patients were initially maximally treated with muscle relaxants, anti-spasmodics and botulinum toxin injections with minimal response. Patients were then trialed on low dose sinemet 25/100 with significant improvement of dystonia. Addition of dopaminergic agonists or monoamine oxidase B inhibitors sometimes further augmented the effect of sinemet. These patients underwent extensive testing to exclude known disorders that would cause secondary dystonias such as Wilson’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, neuromuscular disease, and paraneoplastic syndromes. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of dystonia after spinal surgery with dopaminergic drugs should be considered if patient is not responding well to the typical armamentarium of muscle relaxants, anti-spasmodics and botulinum toxin injections. Disclosure: Dr. Chan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Richardson has nothing to disclose.
TCT-353 Variability in Quantitative Precision of Intravascular Imaging Modalities: Head-to-Head Comparison of Currently Available Coronary Imaging Systems

A recent validation study reported an overestimation in lumen measurements by IVUS compared with optical coherence tomography (OCT). However, there remains a theoretical concern that practical differences in image data processing and system configurations may lead to considerable variability in
A 6 GHz low-noise quadrature Colpitts VCO

A 6 GHz low-noise quadrature Colpitts VCO is presented. Use of the Colpitts configuration together with a series-injection scheme for quadrature signal generation ensures low phase noise operation. The QVCO achieves a simulated average phase noise of -140.5 dBc/Hz at 3 MHz offset across a 500 MHz tuning range while dissipating 20 mW of power. The 500 MHz tuning capability is obtained using switched capacitor arrays and accumulation-mode NMOS varactors. The phase error of the QVCO is 0.55/spl deg/. The figure-of-merit (FOM) and the power-frequency-tuning normalized FOM (PFTN-FOM) are 194 dB and -2 dB, respectively.
Phase stability of the Cu-Sn-S system and optimal growth conditions for earth-abundant Cu2SnS3 solar materials

Abstract Cu 2 SnS 3 is a potential earth-abundant solar material, but its efficiency can differ by orders due to varied growth conditions. A thorough theoretical understanding is necessary. For this purpose, a comprehensive thermodynamic model of the Cu-Sn-S system is constructed under the CALculation of PHAse Diagram (CALPHAD) framework, with the Gibbs energies of solid phases calculated using the first-principles phonon method. Good agreements are achieved with extensive experimental data collected systematically, demonstrating high reliability of the model. Then the optimal growth conditions of Cu 2 SnS 3 are studied. We systematically inspect the impacts of Cu/Sn ratio, sulfur content, pressure and temperature, and give reasonable explanations to several experimental observations which are not fully understood before. We find that sufficient sulfur penetration throughout the precursor before annealing is important to obtain desirable morphology and good performance. Combined with kinetic considerations, a detailed synthesis pathway is proposed, with crucial differences compared to a similar one in the literature. The reaction sequence along the pathway is elucidated. The model can also provide guidance to synthesis of the other materials in the Cu-Sn-S system.
Passivity verification and enforcement—A review paper

Today's advanced high-speed technology requires building behavioral models of systems, from measured/simulated data, with increasingly higher operating frequencies. Different research efforts have come to light in literature for macromodeling, based on such types of data. Ensuring passivity is one of the most fundamental issues affecting system macromodeling, because system-level performance can be unstable if even a single component of the system becomes nonpassive. Thus, from the computer-aided design perspective, generation and provision of macromodels, while preserving passivity, is a significant challenge. In this paper, we carefully review novel techniques of passive macromodeling as well as their passivity verification and enforcement, from the early days to the present. We critically review the prominent methods in literature developed for macromodeling, and for verification and enforcement of passivity, and emphasize on their strengths and shortcomings.
RNA helicase Mov10 is essential for gastrulation and central nervous system development.

BACKGROUND Mov10 is an RNA helicase that modulates access of Argonaute 2 to microRNA recognition elements in mRNAs. We examined the role of Mov10 in Xenopus laevis development and show a critical role for Mov10 in gastrulation and in the development of the central nervous system (CNS). RESULTS Knockdown of maternal Mov10 in Xenopus embryos using a translation blocking morpholino led to defects in gastrulation and the development of notochord and paraxial mesoderm, and a failure to neurulate. RNA sequencing of the Mov10 knockdown embryos showed significant upregulation of many mRNAs when compared with controls at stage 10.5 (including those related to the cytoskeleton, adhesion, and extracellular matrix, which are involved in those morphogenetic processes). Additionally, the degradation of the miR-427 target mRNA, cyclin A1, was delayed in the Mov10 knockdowns. These defects suggest that Mov10's role in miRNA-mediated regulation of the maternal to zygotic transition could lead to pleiotropic effects that cause the gastrulation defects. Additionally, the knockdown of zygotic Mov10 showed that it was necessary for normal head, eye, and brain development in Xenopus consistent with a recent study in the mouse. CONCLUSIONS Mov10 is essential for gastrulation and normal CNS development. Developmental Dynamics 247:660-671, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Pythagorean Triples, Additive Problems, and More

Additive problems, representing an integer number as a sum of other numbers, their squares, or cubes, have interested people for centuries. Ancient Greeks knew that every triangular number can be written by the sum of natural numbers from 1 to n.
Using a Spreadsheet to Develop Population Pyramids

Most planning offices today utilize spreadsheets and also population pyramids. However, few planners know how to create population pyramids using spreadsheets. Even the computer documentation that comes with spreadsheet programs is silent about how to do it... yet it is both possible and easy to accomplish with just a little guidance. This paper informs readers how to do it using a step-by-step procedure. Both educators and practitioners should find this procedure a useful planning tool.
Gangliogliomas and Other Low Grade Neuronal Neoplasms of the Central Nervous System: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prognosis

Glioneuronal tumors of the brain and spinal cord are relatively uncommon but highly interesting neoplasms, whose very existence provides support for current stem cell theories regarding the origins of central nervous system tumors. This chapter describes the clinical presentations, neuroradiological features, and diagnostic pathological characteristics of gangliogliomas, parenchymal neuro­cytic tumors, and other intra-parenchymal (not intraventri­cular) neuronal neoplasms of the CNS, together with summaries of current treatment options. Gangliogliomas are tumors composed of mixtures of glial cells, usually astrocytoma cells, with large neoplastic neurons (ganglion cells); the majority are slow-growing, indolent neoplasms which respond best to neurosurgical extirpation. Pleiomorphic Xantho­as­tro­cytomas, subependymal giant cell tumors, and some anaplastic large cell gliomas all may exhibit co-expression of glial and neuronal antigens in the same cells. Parenchymal neurocytic tumors mostly resemble oligo­dendrogliomas, but like their intraventricular counterparts have immunoreactivity for synaptophysin, neurofilament protein, and other neuronal antigens. These are more controversial entities, with a range of appearances (some have ganglion cells, some lack astrocytic elements whereas in others they are present, and many have anaplastic changes such as vascular hyperplasia, necrosis, and high mitotic rates).
A Sport-Specific Wearable Jump Monitor for Figure Skating

Advancements in wearable technology have facilitated performance monitoring in a number of sports. Figure skating may also benefit from this technology, but the inherent movements present some unique challenges. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using an inertial measurement unit (IMU) to monitor three aspects of figure skating jumping performance: jump count, jump height, and rotation speed. Seven competitive figure skaters, outfitted with a waist-mounted IMU, performed a total of 59 isolated multi-revolution jumps and their competition routines, which consisted of 41 multi-revolution jumps along with spins, footwork, and other skills. The isolated jumps were used to develop a jump identification algorithm, which was tested on the competition routines. Four algorithms to estimate jump height from flight time were then evaluated using calibrated video as a gold standard. The identification algorithm counted 39 of the 41 program jumps correctly, with one false positive. Flight time and jump height errors under 7% and 15% respectively were found using a peak-to-peak scaling algorithm. Rotation speeds up to 1,500°/s were noted, with peak speeds occurring just over halfway between takeoff and landing. Overall, jump monitoring via IMUs may be an efficient aid for figure skaters training multi-revolution jumps.
Promoting Breast Cancer Awareness and Screening Practices for Early Detection in Low-Resource Settings

Objective Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in the Philippines. Philippines has one of the highest breast cancer mortality rate and the lowest mortality-to-incidence ratio in Asia. This study has three objectives: 1) explore Filipino women's knowledge, attitudes toward, and practices of breast cancer and cancer screening, 2) examine if an educational program increases women's intention to seek future breast cancer screening, and 3) examine associations between demographic variables and breast cancer screening practices. Materials and methods A total of 944 women from two urban areas (Calasciao and Tacloban City) and one rural area (Sogood) of the Philippines participated in this cross-sectional study. Study participants attended an educational program and completed study questionnaires regarding demographics, knowledge about, and practices of breast self-exams, clinical breast exams and mammography as well as reported barriers toward future screening. Results The results showed a disparity between knowledge of routine breast cancer screening and actuals screening behaviors. Following breast health education and screening programs, participants reported greater intention to adhere to recommended breast cancer screening guidelines. The multivariate analyses showed that education level is a significant predictor for CBE and mammography uptake in current study. Conclusion This study has implications for breast cancer control among women in low-resources settings. Designing and implementing effective educational programs that increase women's awareness about breast cancer and promote screening uptake are important steps to reduce the burden affected by breast cancer among women in the Philippines and other South Asian low- to middle-income countries.
Adjunct Antihyperglycemic Agents in Overweight and Obese Adults With Type 1 Diabetes.

Objective: People with type 1 diabetes often have suboptimal glycemic control. The gold standard of treatment is basal-bolus insulin or subcutaneous insulin infusion via insulin pump. Although insu...
Condition-based Real-time Production Control for Smart Manufacturing Systems

In this paper, we present condition-based real-time production control for smart manufacturing which is aimed at improving system performance by automatically assessing a production system's condition and dynamically configuring the processing routes for smart products and parts. A ma-chine's degradation condition is defined in discrete states and modeled as a Markov chain. By taking into account machines' degradation and buffers' occupancy, an optimization problem is formulated to maximize the production rate using Markov Decision Processes. The effectiveness of the method has been demonstrated on a three-machine flexible production system. Traditionally, condition monitoring and production control are designed, developed, installed and managed separately by different domain experts. Hence, in this paper, the implementation challenges of condition-based production control are also discussed, with the existing and missing enabling standards identified and analyzed.
The Structural Elements of Faujasite and their Impact on Cracking Selectivity

The location of alumina in the dealuminated faujasite framework is described. The selectivities of dealuminated and rare earth exchanged faujasite, including selectivities for octane, coke, hydrogen transfer, and isomerization, are shown to depend on the relative amounts of paired and isolated sites present. Pentacoordinated and octahedral nonframework alumina do not contribute to selectivities in cracking. Selectivity and activity is controlled by the framework aluminum sites.
Wide-neck aneurysms: systematic review of the neurosurgical literature with a focus on definition and clinical implications.

OBJECTIVE Wide-necked aneurysms (WNAs) are a variably defined subset of cerebral aneurysms that require more advanced endovascular and microsurgical techniques than those required for narrow-necked aneurysms. The neurosurgical literature includes many definitions of WNAs, and a systematic review has not been performed to identify the most commonly used or optimal definition. The purpose of this systematic review was to highlight the most commonly used definition of WNAs. METHODS The authors searched PubMed for the years 1998-2017, using the terms "wide neck aneurysm" and "broad neck aneurysm" to identify relevant articles. All results were screened for having a minimum of 30 patients and for clearly stating a definition of WNA. Reference lists for all articles meeting the inclusion criteria were also screened for eligibility. RESULTS The search of the neurosurgical literature identified 809 records, of which 686 were excluded (626 with < 30 patients; 60 for lack of a WNA definition), leaving 123 articles for analysis. Twenty-seven unique definitions were identified and condensed into 14 definitions. The most common definition was neck size ≥ 4 mm or dome-to-neck ratio < 2, which was used in 49 articles (39.8%). The second most commonly used definition was neck size ≥ 4 mm, which was used in 26 articles (21.1%). The rest of the definitions included similar parameters with variable thresholds. There was inconsistent reporting of the precise dome measurements used to determine the dome-to-neck ratio. Digital subtraction angiography was the only imaging modality used to study the aneurysm morphology in 87 of 122 articles (71.3%). CONCLUSIONS The literature has great variability regarding the definition of a WNA. The most prevalent definition is a neck diameter of ≥ 4 mm or a dome-to-neck ratio of < 2. Whether this is the most appropriate and clinically useful definition is an area for future study.
Use of Povidone-Iodine Irrigation Prior to Wound Closure in Primary Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: An Analysis of 11,738 Cases.

Background:Povidone-iodine (PI) irrigation is often used prior to wound closure in total joint arthroplasty, but there are limited reports evaluating its efficacy in decreasing joint infections. The goal of this study was to compare the rate of any reoperation for infection (both superficial and dee
MetaSanity: An integrated, customizable microbial genome evaluation and annotation pipeline

Summary: As the importance of microbiome research continues to become more prevalent and essential to understanding a wide variety of ecosystems (e.g., marine, built, host-associated, etc.), there is a need for researchers to be able to perform highly reproducible and quality analysis of microbial genomes. MetaSanity incorporates analyses from eleven existing and widely used genome evaluation and annotation suites into a single, distributable workflow, thereby decreasing the workload of microbiologists by allowing for a flexible, expansive data analysis pipeline. MetaSanity has been designed to provide separate, reproducible workflows, that (1) can determine the overall quality of a microbial genome, while providing a putative phylogenetic assignment, and (2) can assign structural and functional gene annotations with varying degrees of specificity to suit the needs of the researcher. The software suite combines the results from several tools to provide broad insights into overall metabolic function and putative extracellular localization of peptidases and carbohydrate-active enzymes. Importantly, this software provides built-in optimization for "big data" analysis by storing all relevant outputs in an SQL database, allowing users to query all the results for the elements that will most impact their research. Availability and implementation: MetaSanity is provided under the GNU General Public License v.3.0 and is available for download at https://github.com/cjneely10/MetaSanity. This application is distributed as a Docker image. MetaSanity is implemented in Python3/Cython and C++.
Rectourethral Fistula—Review of Current Practices, Developments, and Outcomes

Rectourethral fistula (RUF) is an uncommon pathology associated with a significant deterioration in quality of life. It can result from a variety of etiologies and frequently occurs in medically complex patients. Due to the involvement of both the urinary and fecal systems, there are a number of treatment considerations. The literature surrounding management of this condition is quite varied due to these factors. Recent literature on the field consists primarily of single institution case series, though there is a recently published multi-center cohort study with a relatively larger sample size. There is no clear surgical technique that appears to be superior. Transperineal repair is the most commonly described approach. In the properly selected patient, RUF repair results in success rates approaching 85–90%, though the definition of success is not standardized in the literature, and success rates are lower in patients post radiation or ablative therapy. This review highlights contemporary developments in the RUF literature, and provides an overview of important work-up and management considerations. Overall, there is no standardized protocol for management of RUF. Every case presents a unique challenge as a result of the RUF etiology, anatomical considerations, varying degrees of involvement of the genitourinary and gastrointestinal tracts, and patient comorbidities. Urologists must ultimately understand the disease process and utilize techniques that they feel most comfortable with.
Nonlinear population dynamics are ubiquitous in animals.

Nonlinear dynamics, where a change in the input is not proportional to a change in the output, are often found throughout nature, for example in biochemical kinetics. Because of the complex suite of interacting abiotic and biotic variables present in ecosystems, animal population dynamics are often thought to be driven in a nonlinear, state-dependent fashion. However, so far these have only been identified in model organisms and some natural systems. Here we show that nonlinear population dynamics are ubiquitous in nature. We use nonlinear forecasting to analyse 747 datasets of 228 species to find that insect population trends were highly nonlinear (74%), followed by mammals (58%), bony fish (49%) and birds (35%). This indicates that linear, equilibrium-based model assumptions may fail at predicting population dynamics across a wide range of animal taxa. We show that faster-reproducing animals are more likely to have nonlinear and high-dimensional dynamics, supporting past ecological theory. Lastly, only a third of time series were predictable beyond two years; therefore, the ability to predict animal population trends using these methods may be limited. Our results suggest that the complex dynamics necessary to cause regime shifts and other transitions may be inherent in a wide variety of animals. Analysing the population dynamics of 228 terrestrial and aquatic species, the authors show that nonlinearity is a ubiquitous feature of animal populations and is more prevalent among fast-reproducing species.
Beyond reality: augmented, virtual, and mixed reality in the library

Whether your library is considering experimenting with mixed reality in its various forms or has been offering these technologies for years, this book has something to offer everyone. For the novic...
Investigating the Efficacy of Virtual Experiences on Stress Reduction

This paper explores the combination of Attention Restoration Theory and immersive virtual technology as a novel therapy for short-term stress reduction in the workplace. The goal of this work is to understand how various immersive technologies impact the effect of both nature and urban environments on acute stress. In order to assess this, study participants were guided through “micro-vacations,” or a series of virtual nature or urban images, after being induced with stress. The micro-vacations were presented via three different virtual immersive technologies: a virtual reality (VR) experience using a headset in a booth, a GeoDome experience, or a 2D experience which acted as a control. Biometric, subjective mood and comfort data were gathered from the participants throughout the study in order to measure the changes in stress and mood before, during, and after the microvacation experiences. We hypothesize that the nature environments are more relaxing than the urban environments, and that both the VR booth and GeoDome will reduce stress levels in participants to a greater degree than the 2D images.
Toward a Theory of the Point

Points were the tips of prehistoric weapons like darts and arrows. Bifacially chipped stone points all have sharp tips but vary greatly in the size and form of the bases that secured them to the shafts or foreshafts of larger composite tools. Especially in the Americas prehistoric stone points are superabundant, their near-endless forms most beautiful and wonderful. Archaeologists exploit this diversity to order past time, adapting prehistoric tools as chronometric ones. Traditional analysis emphasized type definition among the variation in points, then toolstone acquisition, function and use-wear, distinctions between darts and arrows, and pattern and degree of resharpening. Yet we still treat points and their types as tools that define segments of past time, and merely describe historical changes from one type to another. We also should treat types as subjects of analysis, prompting questions not ordinarily asked. How and where on points do history and timeless function register, and do they compete? How are valid types identified and distinguished? When and why do types originate and end, and how long does either take? What explains the duration and relative popularity of types, and the number present over the duration of a period? How do new types diversify from existing ones? How are historical continuity or discontinuity identified in point sequences? For their prehistoric users points were tools, trivially. For archaeologists point types are tools, trivially. But point types also are subjects, nontrivially, for and about whom we must develop the theory that can explain their origin, development, and ultimate fate.
Deceptive Kernel Function on Observations of Discrete POMDP.

This paper studies the deception applied on agent in a partially observable Markov decision process. We introduce deceptive kernel function (the kernel) applied to agent's observations in a discrete POMDP. Based on value iteration, value function approximation and POMCP three characteristic algorithms used by agent, we analyze its belief being misled by falsified observations as the kernel's outputs and anticipate its probable threat on agent's reward and potentially other performance. We validate our expectation and explore more detrimental effects of the deception by experimenting on two POMDP problems. The result shows that the kernel applied on agent's observation can affect its belief and substantially lower its resulting rewards; meantime certain implementation of the kernel could induce other abnormal behaviors by the agent.
Exhaled carbon monoxide

Abstract Exhaled carbon monoxide (ECO) has been extensively evaluated as an indicator of inflammatory pulmonary diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with potential applications in the monitoring of smoking behavior. Furthermore, ECO has been evaluated as a marker of disease in critical care medicine. Research on ECO detection has been performed hitherto using electrochemical methods with limited sensitivity, but the advent of laser spectroscopic methods and online breath monitoring may bring future progress to this field. This chapter summarizes cumulative progress in the application of ECO as an exhaled biomarker of human disease.
Theorizing socio-environmental reproduction in China’s countryside and beyond:

Over the past four decades, pollution and other forms of environmental degradation have radically transformed China’s landscape. So have the ambitious greening policies implemented to tackle these ...
Metachronous peritoneal metastases following curative resection for colon cancer: Understanding risk factors and patterns of recurrence.

Background A subset of metachronous colon cancer recurrence manifests as peritoneal metastases (PM). Risk factors for metachronous PM recurrence are not well-defined in patients with stage II or III colon cancers after curative resection and standard adjuvant treatments. Methods Population data from the California Cancer Registry for patients with Stage II or III colon cancer were collected between 2004 and 2012. Multivariate analysis was used to identify factors associated with metachronous PM. Results Of the 2077 patients with stage II or III colon cancer, female patients (odds ratio [OR] = 1.84, p = 0.02), T4 primary tumor (OR = 2.36, p = 0.02), mucinous (OR = 3.97, p Conclusion PM recurrence groups have a worse overall survival than patients with recurrent disease in other sites. A better understanding of the tumor biology and molecular characteristics of colon cancers likely to recur as PM is needed to explain behavior and identify potential targeted therapy.
AML-357: Cytokine Crosstalk Within the Bone Marrow Microenvironment as a Novel Resistance Mechanism of Bcl-2/Mcl-1 Inhibitor Resistance in AML

Bcl-2 inhibitor venetoclax (VEN)-based regimen is a promising therapeutic option in AML, especially for older and unfit patients. Although a high CR rate can be achieved rapidly, the duration of response is limited, and most patients relapsed in a few months. Considerable effort has been made to investigate the mechanism of resistance to VEN in AML, but the data generated were mainly based on findings in in vitro cell lines. To investigate the microenvironmental contribution to VEN resistance, we performed experiments in vitro co-culturing primary patient samples with mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and in vivo using patient-derived xenograft models (PDX). We found that, without MSC co-culture, VEN in general, effectively induced apoptosis in both relapsed/refractory and treatment-naive samples. However, such effect was significantly blunted in relapsed/refractory samples when co-cultured with MSCs, suggesting a role of microenvironment in mediating resistance to VEN. We treated a PDX model established from a patient who clinically relapsed after VEN/HMA treatment, with the Mcl-1 inhibitor AZD5991 alone and in combination with VEN. Although the combination significantly prolonged survival (Carter B et al, ASH2018), the mice eventually died of the disease. By combining RNA-sequencing and targeted gene sequencing in samples from moribund PDX mice, we found neither upregulation of reported targets that may mediate resistance in cell line screenings nor mutation of BCL2. Instead, we observed that VEN treatment significantly induced a proinflammatory cytokine profile, which includes colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF1), CSF2, IL1, and IL4. This aberrant expression was even more pronounced in samples from AML that relapsed from the VEN/AZD5991 combination group. Since primary AML cells and macrophages/monocytes in niche possess receptors for these cytokines, our results suggest that AML cells survive apoptogenic stress by a crosstalk involving specific cytokines. In addition, expansion of monocytic subgroups in AML samples was reported to establish VEN resistance. We found that AZD5991 significantly decreased monocytic cell markers, suggesting that Mcl-1 inhibition may effectively eliminate monocytic cells in VEN- resistant/relapsed AML. We, here, identify a novel mechanism underlying VEN/Mcl-1 inhibitor resistance and are investigating whether targeting aberrantly expressed cytokines such as CSF1 may overcome it.
Are all cytokine storms the same

Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) is the result of massive pro-inflammatory cytokine release and imbalance in the absence of adequate immunomodulation from signals such as interleukin (IL)-10, resulting in ongoing inflammation, tissue damage and death if left uncontrolled. Although CRS can result from different pro-inflammatory insults, the treatments proposed are similar, regardless of the phase of response. SARS-CoV-2 causes COVID-19, and CRS has been a defining feature of severe disease. Common approaches to treating CRS in other conditions are now applied to COVID-19 and, although some patients respond, it begs the following questions: (1) are all cytokine storms the same regardless of initiating insult, (2) can treatments be considered equally for all CRS events at any phase of the response, (3) can CRS be predicted based on dynamic acute biomarkers and, (4) should patients with CRS undergo long-term monitoring for secondary effects? The aim of this commentary is not to provide a review of COVID-19 pathophysiology or of cytokine storm, but rather to establish a foundation which could act as a platform to inform treatment approaches to CRS, regardless of cause, and the short- and long-term follow-up which may be necessary for affected patients.