cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Salt Intake and Angiotensin II on Vascular Reactivity to Endothelin-1

Hypertension produced by chronic infusion of angiotensin II (Ang II) is significantly blunted by blockade of endothelin-1 (ET-1) ET(A) subtype receptors. Furthermore, this model is salt-sensitive, and the antihypertensive response to ET(A) receptor blockade is more pronounced in animals on high salt intake. The goal of these experiments was to evaluate the effect of salt intake and Ang II on vascular reactivity to ET-1. In superior mesenteric arteries from normal male rats, studied in a standard muscle bath, incubation for 1 h with a subcontractile concentration of Ang II (10(-10) M) did not affect concentration-response curves to ET-1. Pressor responses in vivo to 2-h infusions of Ang II (5 ng/min) in rats maintained on normal or high salt intake were abolished by pretreatment with the ET(A) receptor antagonist ABT-627. The antagonist had no effect on pressor responses to phenylephrine (PE). In other experiments, rats maintained on either high or normal salt intake received continuous infusion of Ang II (5 ng/min i.v.) for 7 days, and then their superior mesenteric arteries were tested in the muscle bath. The maximum contractile response to ET-1 in arteries from Ang II-infused rats on normal salt intake was larger than in arteries from rats not receiving Ang II. Conversely, maximum responses to ET-1 in arteries from Ang II-infused rats on high salt intake were depressed compared with controls. No differences in vascular reactivity to PE were found. Thus, chronic in vivo exposure to Ang II results in specific salt-dependent changes in vascular reactivity to ET-1.
Metabolism of murine TH17 cells: impact on cell fate and function

An effective adaptive immune response relies on the ability of lymphocytes to rapidly act upon a variety of insults. In T lymphocytes, this response includes cell growth, clonal expansion, differentiation, and cytokine production, all of which place a significant energy burden on the cell. Recent evidence shows that T-cell metabolic reprogramming is an essential component of the adaptive immune response and specific metabolic pathways dictate T-cell fate decisions, including the development of TH 17 versus T regulatory (Treg) cells. TH 17 cells have garnered significant attention due to their roles in the pathology of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Attempts to characterize TH 17 cells have demonstrated that they are highly dynamic, adjusting their function to environmental cues, which dictate their metabolic program. In this review, we highlight recent data demonstrating the impact of cellular metabolism on the TH 17/Treg balance and present factors that mediate TH 17-cell metabolism. Some examples of these include the differential impact of the mTOR signaling complexes on T-helper-cell differentiation, hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF1α) promotion of glycolysis to favor TH 17-cell development, and ACC1-dependent de novo fatty acid synthesis favoring TH 17-cell development over Treg cells. Finally, we discuss the potential therapeutic options and the implications of modulating TH 17-cell metabolism for the treatment of TH 17-mediated diseases.
ASCI applications

In discussions of ASCI, the high-profile procurements of large computers frequently figure prominently. However, from the outset of the ASCI program, applications have been recognized as the driver. These applications feature complex, multi-physics simulations of natural phenomena that generate massive data sets as output. As we have moved from computing systems dominated by parallel vector processing to massively parallel processing we have designed new applications from the ground up to take advantage of the new capabilities. Early payoffs from this effort include running problems that are one to two orders of magnitude larger than any we have been able to run in the past. With these larger problems, we are begining the computational exploration of domains in physics, chemistry and engineering that were previously closed. As we write these codes, issues associated with languages, debuggers and visualization tools have quickly risen to the surface. The process of running large problems has strained the computational infrastructure almost to the breaking point but indicates the direction for future work.
Defining an Overdue Requiem for Palliative Cardiovascular Medicine

During the past 40 years, we have witnessed significant advances in the pharmaceutical and interventional treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD), which have helped achieve a decrease in morbidity and mortality for this illness. Nevertheless, CVD remains the number 1 killer of women and men in Western civilizations. This fact is in stark contrast to the scenario in multiple whole food, plant-based nutrition (WFPBN) cultures, where CVD is virtually nonexistent. The utility of plant-based nutrition to halt and prevent CVD has been demonstrated epidemiologically, during wartime deprivation, in large cohort and population transitioning studies, and through prospective randomized and nonrandomized investigations. A basic scientific study confirms that omnivores have intestinal bacteria capable of converting animal food to trimethylamine oxide (TMAO), which injures blood vessels, whereas those eating plants only do not have intestinal bacteria capable of producing TMAO. Despite this overwhelming evidence for the safety, simplicity, and efficacy of plant nutrition to halt and prevent coronary artery disease, the cardiovascular medicine community has failed to embrace this option of therapy and persists in palliative treatments associated with high morbidity, mortality, and expense. It is long overdue to question why.
Survey of knowledge about AIDS in Guangzhou community residents

Objective To explore HIV/AIDS related knowledge and attitudes among community residents in Guangzhou and to provide evidence for planning preventive measures against HIV/AIDS.Methods A total of 3156 community residents over the age of 16 participated in the study.A questionnaire was used to determine their knowledge about HIV/AIDS and related attitude items.Results 83.14% of community residents had correct knowledge about the risk of sharing drug injection needles.79.15%,82.16%and 72.53%of community residents understood that sexual intercourse,blood transfusion,mother to child(vertical) transmission were modes of transmission of HIV infection.Misconceptions about disease transmission were seen among participants,such as believes of HIV/AIDS could be obtained from mosquito bites 27.88% or from sharing pedestal toilet 52.41%.Nearly half of residents thought that they lacked knowledge of AIDS.78.83% of residents got knowledge of AIDS from television.Poster had the most common use in the community for AIDS awareness for 31.75% of residents.Voluntary testing awareness and detection rate of AIDS was 26.65% and 3.99% respectively.Fear of AIDS was still the most important matter of attitude.Conclusions There is need to intensify HIV/AIDS education programmers and the awareness of HIV/AIDS with the full use of the combination of mass media and community missions for the proper attitude toward HIV/AIDS and the reduction of social panic and discrimination.
Maximizing Web Accessibility Through User-Centered Interface Design

A highly developed digital society needs to be integrated in order to function to meet each individual’s differentiated needs. Inclusion is reflected in the modern special education classroom. This practice of teaching and learning mirrors the changes in society because the classroom is the place where a collaborative, collective and realtime community is built consisting of teachers, educational executives, administrators, researchers, and parents. The terms inclusion, zero reject, and universal design, characterize a fully inclusive classroom. Zero reject means “students cannot be excluded from educational services based on their disability, severity of disability, contagious conditions, or costs of services” (Wood, 2006, p.9). The term inclusion is used to designate educational services and placement of students with disabilities in the general education classroom, facilitated by classroom-provided supports, AbstrAct
Modifications of the Coagulation System Alter Inflammation in Murine Sickle Cell Disease.

Abstract There is evidence for increased activity of both the coagulation and inflammatory pathways in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). The interrelationships between inflammation and coagulation likely set up a vicious cycle that further propagates the end organ pathology observed in SCD. The aim of this study was to determine whether alterations of the coagulation system change the inflammatory system in mice with SCD. For this study, we generated SCD mice that were deficient in either tissue factor (SCD-TFLow mice) or fibrinogen (SCD-Fib−/− mice) by transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells from Berkeley SCD fetal livers into tissue factor-deficient (TFLow) mice or fibrinogen-deficient (Fib−/−) mice. Because tissue factor and thrombin have potent pro-inflammatory effects, we hypothesized that SCD-TFLow mice (low in both tissue factor and subsequent thrombin generation) have decreased inflammation while SCD-Fib−/− mice (with increased thrombin levels due to afibrinogenemia) have increased inflammation. We measured levels of the following markers of vascular and systemic inflammation: (1) pro-inflammatory or Th1 cytokines (IL-17, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-2); (2) a Th2 cytokine that may limit inflammation (IL-4); and (3) soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM), a measure of endothelial injury. Plasma levels of these markers were measured with commercially available ELISA kits (RD afibrinogenemia has the potential to worsen inflammation in SCD, likely through increased thrombin generation previously described in human and murine afibrinogenemia; and tissue factor deficiency decreases systemic and vascular inflammation in SCD. These data indicate that modifications of the coagulation system may affect the inflammatory state in SCD, and suggest the potential for therapeutic manipulation of coagulation in order to reduce inflammation in SCD.
Large CO2 and CH4 emissions from polygonal tundra during spring thaw in northern Alaska

Author(s): Raz-Yaseef, N; Torn, MS; Wu, Y; Billesbach, DP; Liljedahl, AK; Kneafsey, TJ; Romanovsky, VE; Cook, DR; Wullschleger, SD | Abstract: The few prethaw observations of tundra carbon fluxes suggest that there may be large spring releases, but little is known about the scale and underlying mechanisms of this phenomenon. To address these questions, we combined ecosystem eddy flux measurements from two towers near Barrow, Alaska, with mechanistic soil-core thawing experiment. During a 2 week period prior to snowmelt in 2014, large fluxes were measured, reducing net summer uptake of CO2 by 46% and adding 6% to cumulative CH4 emissions. Emission pulses were linked to unique rain-on-snow events enhancing soil cracking. Controlled laboratory experiment revealed that as surface ice thaws, an immediate, large pulse of trapped gases is emitted. These results suggest that the Arctic CO2 and CH4 spring pulse is a delayed release of biogenic gas production from the previous fall and that the pulse can be large enough to offset a significant fraction of the moderate Arctic tundra carbon sink.
Aiming to Reduce Admissions and Also Re-Admissions in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease: A Single Institutional Experience with Six Interventions

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Sickle Cell disease is an inherited blood disorder of the hemoglobin beta-globin protein in the red blood cells which results in significant risk for hospitalization. Since over 100,000 people in the USA have Sickle Cell Disease and recurrent hospitalizations occur; this constitutes a significant disease burden that are not only costly, but also contribute to loss of income, learned helplessness, additional immense morbidities and psychosocial stressors. Readmission within 30 days after hospitalization for sickle cell crises was developed at the National Association of Children9s Hospitals (NACHRI) as a measurable benchmark to improve hospital quality. The NACHRI, multi state study of sickle cell disease care utilization found an overall readmission rate of 33.4% with lower rates in children (12.8% in children age1-9 and 23.4% for patients ages 10-17). At our institution, we implemented several interventions to reduce the readmission rate for sickle cell pain crises and will share results and insights. INTERVENTIONS The following interventions were employed: a) services of a sickle cell coordinator to co-ordinate clinic visits and patient care b) provide additional standardized teaching on sickle cell care via direct interactions with caregivers, provision of educational materials and organization of a sickle cell awareness conference c) verbal discussions to improve understanding and compliance with a written sickle cell action plan, d) obtaining more frequent parental approval for hydroxyurea therapy, e) increasing tracking immunization rates (influenza), and f) 24hr/72hr discharge telephone call. The sickle cell team comprising of physicians, nurse practitioners, care coordinator, nurses and social worker actively participated in implementing these steps, and majority of the interventions took place in the outpatient setting. RESULTS We reviewed sickle cell admissions and readmissions in 2014 and 2015 in patient9s age 0-26 years. Mean age of patients was16.8year (N= 14 Standard deviation = 8.04). Pre-intervention in 2014 there were 91 admissions with 14/91 re-admissions (15.4%). After beginning implementation of interventions in 2015 there were not only 59% fewer admissions (63), but also 58% fewer readmissions (6 re admit/63 discharges = 9.5%). Thus our interventions affected both admission rate and readmission rates. CONCLUSION Sickle cell admissions and subsequent readmissions continue to be a major challenge in successful management of young people with sickle cell disease. Our interventions may help abate some of the hospitalizations and re-admissions as shown by an approximately 40% reduction rate. Although there is undoubtedly much room for additional progress in this area, we have made a good start towards improving our sickle cell population9s health. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
A Game Theoretic Filter for Fault Detection and Isolation

Abstract The fault detection process is modelled as a disturbance attenuation problem. The solution to this problem leads to an H∞ filter which bounds the transmission of all exogenous signals save the fault to be detected. It is shown that this tranmission bound can be taken to zero, making the game filter into a fault detection filter. When specialized to time-invariant systems, the limiting filter is equivalent the well-known Beard-Jones Fault Detection Filter.
Anomalous Reviews Owing to Referral Incentive

In an online review system, a user writes a review with the intention of helping fellow consumers (i.e. the readers) to make informed decisions. However, product owners often provide incentives (e.g. coupons, bonus points, referral rewards) to the writers, motivating the writing of biased reviews. These biased reviews, while beneficial for both writers and product owners, pollute the review space and destroy readers' trust significantly. In this paper, we analyze incentivized reviews in the Google Play store and identify a wide range of anomalous review types such as copying, spamming, advertising, and hidden-beneficiary reviews. We also find an increasing trend in the number of apps being targeted by abusers, which, if continued, will render review systems as crowd advertising platforms rather than an unbiased source of helpful information.
Active cooling for on-machine device

In permanent magnet servo motors, each component has a certain temperature limit. For on-machine device with electronic components, like the high resolution optical encoder, the temperature limit is commonly less than 125°C. While for the motor body, the winding and the magnets usually have higher temperature limit. During continuous operation, the encoder temperature, rather than the winding or magnet temperature can limit the output torque density particularly for non-ventilated / IC410 configurations. The encoder temperature limitation results in a de-rating of the motor continuous output torque. This paper investigates the torque de-rating problem caused by the optical encoder temperature limit. Three dimensional (3D) finite element analysis (FEA) simulations with different cooling approaches are made and an active cooling solution using a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) is proposed to reduce the encoder temperature and improve the torque output. Several prototypes with different cooling strategies are tested and compared to verify the analysis. Both computer simulation and experimental results validate the working principle and the effectiveness of the proposed active cooling system.
Continuous Fluorescence Depletion Anisotropy Measurement of Protein Rotation

Protein rotation in viscous environments can be measured by fluorescence depletion anisotropy (FDA) which combines long lifetimes of chromophore triplet states with the sensitivity of fluorescence excitation and detection. FDA achieves sensitivity well beyond that attainable by the more common technique of time-resolved phosphorescence anisotropy (TPA). We have now combined benefits of both time-domain and frequency-domain FDA into a single continuous technique (CFDA). Intensity and polarization of a single laser beam are modulated continuously according to a complex, repeating waveform. Fluorescence signals excited from triplet-forming fluorescent probes are digitized over recurring waveform periods by a high-speed signal averager. CFDA experiments typically involve substantial ground state depletion. Thus signals, unlike those of TPA, are not linear in the exciting light intensity and simple data analysis based on such linearity is not appropriate. An exact solution of the coupled diffusion and triplet production/decay equation describing CFDA within individual data points has been combined with simulated annealing optimization to extract triplet and anisotropy decay kinetics from experimental data. Related calculations compare possible excitation waveforms with respect to rotational information provided per fluorescence photon. We present CFDA results for the model system of eosin conjugates of carbonic anhydrase, BSA and immunoglobulin G in 90% glycerol at various temperatures and initial cellular results on eosin-IgE bound to 2H3 cell Type I Fce receptors. We explore how CFDA reflects rotational parameters of heterogeneous systems and discuss challenges of extending this method to single cell microscopic measurements.
Regulation of tear secretion.

The tear film, which is the interface between the external environment and the ocular surface has several differing functions.1 It forms a smooth refracting surface over the otherwise irregular corneal surface and lubricates the eyelids. Moreover, it maintains an optimal extracellular environment for the epithelial cells of the cornea and conjunctiva because the electrolyte composition, osmolarity, pH, O2 and CO2 levels, nutrient levels, and concentration of growth factors in the tears is regulated within narrow limits. Tears dilute and wash away noxious stimuli.1,2 They also provide an antibacterial system for the ocular surface and serve as an entry pathway for polymorphonuclear leukocytes, in the case of injury to the ocular surface. As tears have many and varied functions, it is not surprising that they have a complex structure and are produced by several different sources.
Coil embolization of intralobar pulmonary sequestration - an alternative to surgery: a case report

Pulmonary sequestration is a congenital lung disease characterized by nonfunctioning pulmonary tissue that lacks normal communication with the bronchial tree and is supplied by a nonpulmonary systemic artery. Symptomatic bronchopulmonary sequestration is uncommon, seen more frequently in the pediatric population than in adults. It has traditionally been treated with surgical resection; however, a limited but growing number of cases have been treated with angiographic embolization. Given the inherent risks of cardiothoracic surgery, embolization of the anomalous vessel is an enticing alternative treatment. We present a case of a 56-year-old woman with known, symptomatic, intralobar pulmonary sequestration that was successfully treated with coil embolization. A 56-year-old Pacific Islander woman with a history of chronic myeloid leukemia was admitted to the hospital with an episode of hemoptysis. Computed tomography of the chest demonstrated left lower lobe intralobar pulmonary sequestration fed by a large tortuous vessel branching off of the descending thoracic aorta. Surgical resection of the sequestration is the current standard treatment strategy of symptomatic intralobar pulmonary sequestration. The cardiothoracic surgeon noted that given the size and location of arterial blood supply, intervention would involve thoracotomy and lobectomy. The interventional radiologist offered embolization of the lesion as an alternative to surgery. Multiple coils, 6–13 mm in size, were used to embolize the sequestration. No considerable flow distal to the coils was noted postembolization. Intralobar pulmonary sequestration is a rare condition that typically requires surgical management. This case demonstrates the efficacy of coil embolization as an alternative management strategy. To date, limited case reports of adults treated with endovascular embolization exist. Treatment of symptomatic pulmonary sequestration with embolization can be considered as an alternative to surgical resection.
Construction and Evaluation of a Robust Trophic Network Model for the Northern Gulf of Mexico Ecosystem

Abstract A critical issue in understanding trophic connectivity in ecological systems is the lack in quality and quantity of information about feeding habits. In this work, we present a method for integrating a diversity of feeding habits data from published studies to evaluate the impact on indices that describe characteristics of individual taxa and their connectivity. We focus our study on feeding habits of the fishes of the northern Gulf of Mexico and seek to understand the importance of the forage fish Gulf Menhaden (Brevoortia patronus) in predator diets. We created a database of diet studies from the northern Gulf of Mexico that included six diet metrics: frequency of occurrence, wet weight, dry weight, number, volume, index of relative importance, and index of caloric importance. We then used this information to construct a set of traditional networks (all prey and predators were from a single taxonomic level and trophic connections were parameterized with a single diet metric). We also constructed a “robust” network where all taxa were identified to the lowest taxonomic level and trophic connections were parameterized using a resampling approach that included all available information. Linear regression and resampling methods were used to convert data reported in other diet metrics into the frequency of occurrence diet metric. For both traditional and robust networks, we used network indices to describe topological properties. With the robust network, we conducted removal simulations where the forage fish species Gulf Menhaden, and associated Clupeidae representatives, were removed from the network and the feeding effort of the predators was reallocated among their other prey items. We found that network and node-specific indices were sensitive to the choice of taxonomy and diet metric level. In the robust network, predator species with the greatest number of identified prey had the lowest precision in their connections and prey from the Arthropoda phyla had the lowest precision for connections. From the removal and reallocation simulations, we found that Actinopterygii and Arthropoda were the most impacted prey taxa with 1.2% to 4.3% increase in predation and approximately 23 taxa would receive 50% of the reallocated predation. Overall, the resampling methods we present provide a potential means for combining disparate diet data and enables a comprehensive understanding of trophic interactions within an ecosystem.
Increasing Gasoline Octane Levels to Reduce Vehicle Emissions: A Review of Federal and State Authority

This paper explores the potential for federal and/or state regulation of gasoline octane levels. At the federal level EPA is authorized to regulate the components and/or characteristics of gasoline under section 211 of the Clean Air Act. Pursuant to that section, EPA may regulate octane if evidence before it demonstrates that switching to high octane gasoline is necessary to achieve vehicle carbon dioxide emissions standards (i.e., adopted under section 202 of the Clean Air Act) or would significantly reduce the costs of achieving those standards. If EPA promulgates regulations, or publishes a finding that regulation is unnecessary, state regulatory action will be pre-empted. There is, however, an exception for California which may adopt its own regulations regardless of any action by EPA. Regulations adopted by California are not subject to review and/or approval by EPA. The regulations only apply in California and cannot be adopted by other states, in preference to federal regulations, as is permitted with respect to vehicle emission standards.
Oxcarbazepine-Induced Cutaneous Reaction in a Female of Mexican Ancestry.

Objectives: To report an oxcarbazepine (OXC)-induced cutaneous reaction in a female of Mexican ancestry. Case Summary: A 60-year-old female of Mexican ancestry presented to clinic with a diffuse mo...
File systems as processes

We introduce file systems as processes (FSP), a storage architecture designed for modern ultra-fast storage devices. By building a direct-access file system as a standalone user-level process, FSP accelerates file system development velocity without compromising essential file system properties. FSP promises to deliver raw device-level performance via highly tuned inter-process communication mechanisms; FSP also ensures protection and metadata integrity by design. To study the potential advantages and disadvantages of the FSP approach, we develop DashFS, a prototype user-level file system.We discuss its architecture and show preliminary performance benefits.
Abstract PO-094: Mass spectrometry imaging of N-glycans identifies racial discrepancies in human prostate tumors

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men worldwide. A critical knowledge gap in prostate cancer biology is the molecular events underlining higher incidence and mortality rate in Black men. Identifying molecular features that separate racial disparities is a critical step in prostate cancer research that could lead to predictive biomarkers and personalized therapy. N-linked glycosylation is a required co-translational event during protein folding that modulates many biological processes, such as cell adhesion, immune modulation, cell-matrix interactions, and cell proliferation. Recently, aberrant N-linked glycosylation has been reported in prostate cancers. However, the full clinical implications of dysregulated glycosylation in prostate cancer has yet to be explored. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) is a new and innovative technique that combines mass spectrometry with imaging, enabling the detection of glycans with spatial distribution. Herein, we performed MALDI-MSI analysis to characterize the N-glycan profile from tissue microarrays of over 100 patient tumors banked at the University of Kentucky with over 10 years of follow-up data. Additionally, we performed MALDI-MSI analysis on large sections of prostate cancer to define the regional distribution of N-glycans within the tumor microenvironment. We successfully identified 46 unique glycans from readily available formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded prostate tissue, and found significant N- glycan dysregulation between benign and prostate tumor tissue across all patient groups. High mannose as well as tri- and tetra-antennary N-glycans were predominantly found in tumor tissue and correlate with increased tumor grade. Surprisingly, several species of N-glycans were profoundly different between early grade prostate tumors resected from White and Black patients. Further, these glycans predict opposing overall survival between White and Black patients with prostate cancer. These data suggest differential N-linked glycosylation underline the racial disparity of prostate cancer prognosis. Our study highlights the potential clinical applications of MALDI-MSI for digital pathology and biomarker applications, and reveals molecular features that contribute to the racial disparity in diagnosis and survival of prostate cancer patients. Citation Format: Lindsey R. Conroy, Lyndsay E.A. Young, Grant L. Austin, Alexanda E. Stanback, Derek B Allison, Matthew S. Gentry, Richard R. Drake, Ramon C. Sun. Mass spectrometry imaging of N-glycans identifies racial discrepancies in human prostate tumors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: Thirteenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2020 Oct 2-4. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(12 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-094.
Toxicity and verbal aggression on social media: Polarized discourse on wearing face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic

Medical and public health professionals recommend wearing face masks to combat the spread of the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19). While the majority of people in the United States support we...
Femtosecond Slicing for the MHz Repetition Rate LCLS-II X-ray Free Electron Laser

We present a method to control the temporal profile of the LCLS-II X-ray freeelectron laser by selectively heating parts of the electron beam with a spectrally shaped laser for fast pulse shaping.
Myoblast transfer improves muscle genetics/structure/function and normalizes the behavior and life-span of dystrophic mice.

Dystrophic cells degenerate because they lack the normal genome. In our laboratory, transplant techniques have been developed to facilitate cell survival and cell fusion, such that the normal genome can be incorporated back into the dystrophic muscle1–6.
A Model for the Bulk Mechanical Response of Porous Ceramics Exhibiting a Ferroelectric‐to‐Antiferroelectric Phase Transition During Hydrostatic Compression

At ambient conditions a niobium-doped lead zirconate-titanate composition (PZT 95/5-2Nb) is ferroelectric with a rhombohedral structure, but near the boundary for an antiferroelectric phase having an orthorhombic structure. Applying a hydrostatic pressure of about 0.25 GPa causes the unpoled ceramic to undergo a ferroelectric-to-antiferroelectric polymorphic phase transition with a ∼ 0.9% reduction of volume. Voids present in the ceramic produce localized inhomogeneity in the stress field resulting in both a spread of the transformation over a range of pressure and a reduction in the applied pressure at the onset of the transformation with increasing material porosity. A model for a porous ceramic exhibiting a ferroelectric-to-antiferroelectric phase transition that explicitly accounts for the influence of porosity on the bulk mechanical response will be described and compared to measurements of pressure versus volume strain for two ceramics with different porosity.
Clinical Presentation, Etiology, and Diagnostic Considerations

Chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI) is a rare disease that affects about 1 in 100,000 individuals. It is usually the result of atherosclerotic changes of the aorta at the ostia of the mesenteric vessels. This leads to stenosis and eventually occlusion of celiac artery as well as superior and inferior mesenteric artery. It is classically characterized by abdominal pain, weight loss, and food fear. The abdominal pain is caused by a mismatch of splanchnic blood flow and intestinal metabolic demand, which leads to the onset of symptoms within 15–45 min after food intake and lasts about 3–4 h. The diagnosis of CMI is very challenging due to its low prevalence and the lack of a definitive test. Conventional angiography was the gold standard but has been largely replaced as a diagnostic tool by duplex ultrasonography (DUS) and computed tomographic angiography (CTA).
Contextual models of politics

Abstract While all of us exist within social networks of friends and neighbours which shapes our views of the political world, empirical substantiation of this process has been hard to find. In this introduction we discuss objections to the contextual approach and the way in which the papers in this volume address those criticisms.
The Riccati PDE's Associated with Invariant Distributions and Minimal Factorization of Systems

The paper does three things. First invariant distributions play an important role in a variety of problems in systems theory (cf. [I]). We show that such invariant distributions correspond to a Riccati type partial differential equations. These concrete PDE's appear to be a useful way for analysis and computation in specific problems. Secondly, we use this to prove that invariant distributions are rare and to classify them in some cases. Thirdly we study "minimal" factorizations of systems. We show that minimal factorizations are nongeneric, indicate a consequence for control, and compute them explicitly for a class of special problems, thereby obtaining a generalization and strengthening of a theorem of Boyd and Chua.
Discovery, Development, and Commercialization of Roundup Ready® Crops

The herbicide Roundup® whose active ingredient is glyphosate (N-[phosphonomethy1]-glycine) was introduced as a broad spectrum, post emergent herbicide in 1974. Extensive research by a number of groups showed that glyphosate’s herbicidal activity resulted from inhibition of the enzyme 5-enolpyruvyl-shikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) a key enzyme in the shikimate pathway that is responsible for the biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids in plants and microbes (reviewed, Franz et al., 1997).
Insulin Dosing in Pediatric Diabetic Ketoacidosis: Where to Start?

The incidenceof type 1diabetesmellitus is increasing inpediatric populations.1 Although the degree of hyperglycemia and frequencyofketoacidosisat initialpresentationof thosewith type1diabetes have steadily declined,2 diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) remains the leading cause of death in children and young people (aged <24 years) with type 1 diabetes mellitus.3,4 Cerebral edema can be difficult to recognize and manage in children and represents the major cause of the continuedmortality andmorbidity associatedwith DKA in this population.4 In a report in theNovember2014 issueof JAMAPediatrics, Nallasamy et al5 studied 50 children presenting with DKA after randomizing themto receive standard-dose insulin (0.1U/kg/h)or lowdose insulin (0.05 U/kg/h). The study was powered to detect noninferiority using the rate of decline in blood glucose, until a glucose level of 250 mg/dL or less was reached, as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included time to resolution of acidosis, episodesof treatment failure, and incidencesofhypokalemiaand hypoglycemia. The low-dose insulin strategy was found to be noninferior across all outcomemeasures in this open-label clinical trial. The authors used a straightforward study design and had a high recruitment rate, despite the inherent difficulties in performing a study of this nature, particularly in a pediatric population. The results are encouraging, suggesting that a low-dose insulin strategy is a viable treatment option in the treatment of pediatric DKA. Although this study excluded some of the sickest children (symptomatic cerebral edema, septic shock at presentation), JAMAPEDIATRICS
Gender and the Public Sphere in Habermas and Milton: New Critical Directions

This essay assesses the evolving field of feminist scholarship on Jurgen Habermas's public sphere theory, especially the move from critique to dialogue and recognition of the uses of the public sphere in opening up democratic debate and in interrogating the relations between public and private. While Habermas has proven equally useful and productive for formulations of the public sphere in John Milton's prose and poetry, Milton scholarship has largely separated out the analysis of a political public sphere of implicitly masculine readers from discussions of gender, the private sphere, and Eve in Paradise Lost. Examples of more recent criticism, however, indicate how bridging gender and the public sphere and breaking down binaries between public and private can open new conversations about women and gender in Milton's political prose and about the political resonances of Eve and Eden in Paradise Lost.
Fast Mapping and Exclusion (Emergent Matching) in Developmental Language, Behavior Analysis, and Animal Cognition Research

Researchers from behavior analytic, developmental, and comparative perspectives have all investigated the conditions under which new arbitrary (symbolic) stimulus-stimulus relations are acquired. For example, young children, people with severe mental retardation, and several species of nonhuman mammals all exhibit emergent matching (EM) in the context of a wellestablished matching-to-sample baseline: When presented with an undefined sample stimulus and a comparison array that includes one undefined comparison and one or more baseline comparisons, participants select the undefined comparison. Further, subsequent testing may show a learning outcome: Exposure to EM trials may result in a new defined relation involving the formerly undefined stimuli. Between 1974 and the late 1980s, emergent matching and learning outcomes were described independently by behavior analytic, child language, and animal cognition researchers. Cross-literature citations were virtually absent, however. More recently, crossdisciplinary citations have begun to appear. This article briefly reviews the history of EM research, emphasizing the independent development of research programs, methods, and terminology in the three disciplines. We then identify several research areas where a multidisciplinary approach may benefit all concerned.
What good are experiments

ABSTRACT One way to study an unknown system is to perform experiments on it. How does the ability to control the inputs to a system affect the number of experiments (input/output pairs) needed to determine that system's function? How can a clever experiment selection strategy affect this number? An empirical study was performed using Boolean truth tables as hypotheses. Computer programs were constructed to model several different experimentation strategies. The average number of experiments needed to determine a target theory from a set of hypotheses was measured. Results demonstrated that control of the system inputs gave the most dramatic increase in performance. The most effective experimental strategy tried was a (very expensive) greedy algorithm that attempts to find an experiment that “splits the hypothesis space in half.”However, a much cheaper strategy–that selects any experiment guaranteeing the elimination of at least one hypothesis from the set being considered–was found to be almost as effective.
Condorcet's jury theorem in light of de Finetti's theorem

This paper generalizes Condorcet's jury theorem to the case of symmetrically dependent votes with the help of de Finetti's theorem. Thus, the paper relaxes Condorcet's assumption of independent voting while preserving his main result: In jury-type situations a majority of voters is more likely than any single voter to choose the better of two alternatives.
Workplace Stress and Ethical Challenges Experienced by Nursing Staff in a Nursing Home

This research explores the workplace stress and ethical challenges reported by healthcare staff in a nursing home. A brief self-report survey was administered to 44 members of the nursing staff in a not-for-profit nursing home. The survey included items that elicited identification of specific workplace stressors and ethical challenges and global assessments of job-satisfaction, psychological stress, and perceived pressures that may affect provision of care. There were also items dealing with the perceived benefit of prospective in-service training programs. Content analyses indicated interactions with residents as the most frequent source of stress and ethical challenges encountered by nursing staff. Further, results of correlational analyses suggested psychological stress to be associated with job satisfaction and pressure to take shortcuts in the provision of care. Continuing education via in-service training that addresses workplace stress and ethical challenges in nursing care is discussed.
Galactosidase Action on Human Blood Group B Active Escherichia coli and Ox Red Cell Substances

The blood group B specificity of Escherichia coli O(86) antigen, a B specific oligosaccharide fraction from it, and the B activity of a preparation of an "infectious mononucleosis receptor" from cattle erythrocytes are destroyed by alpha-galactosidase from the coffee bean, as demonstrated for the E. coli antigen by three methods. Blood group H(O) activity appears simultaneously. Galactose is the only hexose released from all three substances.
Global Phage Diversity

Ten new mycobacteriophage genomes presented by Pedulla et al. (2003) show that most phage diversity remains uncharacterized. Extrapolation suggests that less than 0.0002% of the global phage metagenome has been sampled. The new genomes also contain a number of potential virulence factors that may be important in pathogenesis.
Extending the Pallister‐Hall syndrome to include other central nervous system malformations

Hall-Pallister syndrome is defined by specific facial anomalies, post axial polydactyly, imperforate anus, and brain anomalies including a rare diencephalic mass, hypothalamic hamartoblastoma. In this article, two patients are described with the usual features of Hall-Pallister syndrome, including diencephalic anomalies, but without hamartoblastomas. These patients may suggest an appropriate extension of the definition of the Hall-Pallister syndrome.
Study of stress concentration in the walls of the bovine coronary arterial branch

Abstract The intramural stress concentration in the arterial wall is studied at the bovine circumflex coronary arterial branch. The material properties, geometry, and strains in the arterial branch are determined from experiments. The stresses are determined using a finite element analysis. The arterial branch is modeled as two intersecting thin cylindrical shells incorporating local variations in the branch geometry, thickness, and material properties. The artery is considered orthotropic and loaded with an incremental pressure of 40 mmHg. The highest intramural stresses are found to be localized at the proximal and distal regions of the ostium and are not significantly affected by the elastic properties. The stresses are 3 to 4 times greater in the branch at the inner surface than in the straight segment. The strains are twice as large at the branch than in the straight segment. We speculate that this stress concentration could injure the artery and make the branch region susceptible to atherosclerosis.
Factors associated with PISQ-12 completion in an academic urogynecology population.

Introduction and hypothesis Some new urogynecology patients who are given the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Function Questionnaire (PISQ-12) complete it despite stating that they are not sexually active. This study compared sexually active (SA) and non-sexually active (NSA) women who complete the PISQ-12, hypothesizing that these groups differ substantially.
Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis risk and liver disease.

Objective. Evaluate the incidence of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) in patients with liver disease in the peritransplant period. Materials and Methods. This IRB approved study retrospectively reviewed patients requiring transplantation for cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), or both from 2003 to 2013. Records were reviewed identifying those having gadolinium enhanced MRI within 1 year of posttransplantation to document degree of liver disease, renal disease, and evidence for NSF. Results. Gadolinium-enhanced MRI was performed on 312 of 837 patients, including 23 with severe renal failure (GFR 30. Two of 23 patients with renal failure developed NSF compared to zero NSF cases in 289 patients with GFR > 30 (0/289; P < 0.003). High dose gadodiamide was used in the two NSF cases. There was no increased incidence of NSF with severe liver disease (1/71) compared to nonsevere liver disease (1/241; P = 0.412). Conclusion. Renal disease is a risk factor for NSF, but in our small sample our evidence suggests liver disease is not an additional risk factor, especially if a low-risk gadolinium agent is used. Noting that not all patients received high-risk gadolinium, a larger study focusing on patients receiving high-risk gadolinium is needed to further evaluate NSF risk in liver disease in the peritransplant period.
Channel and woody debris characteristics in adjacent burned and unburned watersheds a decade after wildfire, Park County, Wyoming

Abstract Large variability in responses of stream sediment and large woody debris (LWD) to severe fire has limited the accurate prediction of the magnitude and duration of fire effects on streams. Conditions in one Absaroka Range stream that was severely burned in 1988 were compared to those in an adjacent, undisturbed stream to improve understanding of fire effects on channel and LWD characteristics beyond the first few years. Ten reaches of each stream were sampled during summer 1999. Average bankfull channel width was greater in burned Jones Creek than in unburned Crow Creek. LWD frequency and overall frequency of LWD accumulations were greater in Crow Creek than Jones Creek. Debris-jam frequency was greater in Jones Creek after accounting for differences in the frequency of pieces with length greater than channel width. Larger piece size and better anchoring contributed to more frequent, small accumulations of LWD in Crow Creek. Differences between streams in LWD frequency are consistent with greater mobility of debris in burned Jones Creek. LWD-associated fine-sediment deposits were thicker but less frequent along Jones Creek than Crow Creek.
Lazy debugging of lazy functional programs

The debugging of fully lazy functional programs can require searching a very large reduction-history space containing many delayed computations. A debugger should provide a means to obtain a source level representation of the computation, which can be large, and a means to select the appropriate part of the computation to investigate, which can be difficult. A method is presented to compile functional programs to combinator code such that a source-like representation of any part of a computation graph can be efficiently reconstructed at run-time. Other less efficient methods require excessive compile-time guidance as to the specific part of the computation to be investigated. Reconstruction, forward reduction, and a history-rollback mechanism combine to make the entire source-like reduction-history space dynamically available at run-time. The deferring of debugging decisions until run-time is called lazy dubugging. Once the computation-sequence is meaningfully and efficiently available, the problem of debugging becomes that of localizing the search for the error. Some searching issues are discussed with respect to graph browsing and user-interface design. The method shows promise as a programmer tool to debug programs and to informally reason about the time and space behavior of fully lazy functional programs, a nonintuitive process due to the subtleness of sharing and delayed computations.