cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adrenomedullin and Adrenomedullin Binding Protein-1 Prevent Acute Lung Injury after Gut Ischemia-Reperfusion

Background Ischemic bowel remains a critical problem, resulting in up to 80% mortality. Acute lung injury, a common complication after intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), might be responsible for such a high mortality rate. Our previous studies have shown that administration of a novel vasoactive peptide adrenomedullin (AM) and its binding protein (AMBP-1) reduces the systemic inflammatory response in rat models of both hemorrhage and sepsis. It remains unknown whether administration of AM/AMBP-1 has any protective effects on intestinal I/R−induced acute lung injury. We hypothesized that administration of AM/AMBP-1 after intestinal I/R prevents acute lung injury through downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines. Study Design Intestinal I/R was induced by placing a microvascular clip across superior mesenteric artery (SMA) for 90 minutes in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (275 to 325 g). On release of the SMA clamp, the animals were treated with either AM (12 μg/kg body weight) in combination with AMBP-1 (40 μg/kg body weight) or vehicle (1 mL normal saline) during a period of 30 minutes through a femoral vein catheter. Lung samples were collected at 4 hours after treatment or sham operation. Lung injury was assessed by examining lung water content, morphologic changes, and granulocyte myeloperoxidase activity. Tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 gene expression and their protein levels in the lungs were measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. In additional groups of animals, AM/AMBP-1 or vehicle was administered at 1 hour after onset of reperfusion. Lung histology was examined at 3 hours after treatment. Results Intestinal I/R induced considerable lung injury, as characterized by lung edema, histopathologic changes, increased myeloperoxidase activity, and proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6) levels in the lungs. Administration of AM/AMBP-1 after ischemia mitigated lung injury and dramatically downregulated proinflammatory cytokines. Lung injury was also ameliorated by delayed AM/AMBP-1 treatment as evidenced by improvement in lung histology. Conclusions AM/AMBP-1 can be developed as a novel treatment to attenuate acute lung injury after an episode of gut ischemia. The protective effect of AM/AMBP-1 appears to be mediated through downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines.
Constitutive Relation for 6061T6 Aluminum under Shock Loading Conditions

We publish for the first time a constitutive relation of Wallace and Straub based on plastic flow data extracted from 6061T6 Al shocks by Wallace. The data involves strain rates up to 107 and shear stresses up to 5kbar. We interpret the relation in terms of a dislocation-kinetics model.
Regional Trade and "the Medicine Line": The National Border Effect in U.S. Commodity Flow Data

Abstract The role of national borders in the international economy has been a topic of widespread public discussion in recent years. The conventional wisdom on the topic is that in an increasingly integrated global economy with relatively low formal trade barriers, national borders are no longer important inhibitors of trade. McCallum (1995) cast some doubt on this belief when he found that, after adjusting for economic size and geographic distance, trade among Canadian provinces was more than twenty times greater than trade between those same provinces and U.S. states. The 1993 Commodity Flow Survey (CFS) provides an unprecedented opportunity to verify these surprising results, as well as to investigate subsequent questions, such as why the border matters, and how it affects economic welfare. This paper reviews the existing literature on the geography of trade flows, describes the CFS, and attempts to verify the McCallum result at the aggregate level. Despite a number of a priori reasons to believe other...
Effects of acute or chronic polychlorinated biphenyl ingestion on maternal metabolic homeostasis and on the manifestations of embryotoxicity caused by cyclophosphamide in mice.

Diets of mice contained Aroclor 1254 (PCBs; 0, 1, 10 or 100 ppm). Some groups ingested PCBs beginning on gestation day (gd) 6 (vaginal plug positive day = gd 0) and continuing throughout pregnancy (acute exposure). Others were put on PCBs 90 days before mating and continued (chronic exposure) until all animals were sacrificed on gd 18. None of the PCBs diets had adverse effects on offspring. Chronic ingestion of 100 ppm reduced the conception rate. All chronic and acute 100 ppm pregnant mice had significantly altered ratios of liver to body weight. The aim of the different pretreatment regimens was to affect to variable degrees metabolism of cyclophosphamide (CPA). Bioactivation in the dam's liver is a prerequisite for embryotoxic effects in mice. Two doses of CPA were selected that caused malformations in 21.6% (10mg/kg) or 93.4% (16 mg/kg) of the fetuses when injected on gd 11. The interaction (enhancement, no effect, attenuation) between acute or chronic PCBs and CPA could thus be examined. Double stained fetal limbs and their bone lengths were evaluated. The observations were correlated with cytochrome P-450, the levels of which were elevated in all 100 ppm groups. The activities of enzymes coupled to this hemoprotein family were induced in maternal liver in an exposure mode and PCBs concentration-dependent manner. Body burdens of PCBs in dams and fetuses were related to diet levels in acutely, but not in chronically treated animals. Placental transfer of radioactivity from ring-labelled 14C-CPA, measured in control and 100 ppm chronic mice, was not significantly affected by PCBs. Contrary to what one would expect from the P-450 levels and presumably induced monooxygenase catalyzed CPA metabolism, the effects on limb development were attenuated. The amelioration observed in mice differs markedly from the effects recently reported in rats, where induction of CPA metabolism enhanced its teratogenicity.
A fast neutron deletion mutagenesis‐based reverse genetics system for plants

A new reverse genetics method has been developed to identify and isolate deletion mutants for targeted plant genes. Deletion mutant libraries are generated using fast neutron bombardment. DNA samples extracted from the deletion libraries are used to screen for deletion mutants by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specific primers flanking the targeted genes. By adjusting PCR conditions to preferentially amplify the deletion alleles, deletion mutants were identified in pools of DNA samples, each pool containing DNA from 2592 mutant lines. Deletion mutants were obtained for 84% of targeted loci from an Arabidopsis population of 51 840 lines. Using a similar approach, a deletion mutant for a rice gene was identified. Thus we demonstrate that it is possible to apply this method to plant species other than Arabidopsis. As fast neutron mutagenesis is highly efficient, it is practical to develop deletion mutant populations with more complete coverage of the genome than obtained with methods based on insertional mutagenesis. Because fast neutron mutagenesis is applicable to all plant genetic systems, this method has the potential to enable reverse genetics for a wide range of plant species.
Relations among the kernels and images of Steenrod squares acting on right A-modules

Abstract In this note, we examine the right action of the Steenrod algebra A on the homology groups H ∗ ( B V s , F 2 ) , where V s = F 2 s . We find a relationship between the intersection of kernels of S q 2 i and the intersection of images of S q 2 i + 1 − 1 , which can be generalized to arbitrary right A -modules. While it is easy to show that ⋂ i = 0 k im S q 2 i + 1 − 1 ⊆ ⋂ i = 0 k ker S q 2 i for any given k ≥ 0 , the reverse inclusion need not be true. We develop the machinery of homotopy systems and null subspaces in order to address the natural question of when the reverse inclusion can be expected. In the second half of the paper, we discuss some counter-examples to the reverse inclusion, for small values of k , that exist in H ∗ ( B V s , F 2 ) .
Temporal Trends in Presentation and Survival for HIV-Associated Lymphoma in the Antiretroviral Therapy Era

HIV infection increases risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) (1–3). In the antiretroviral therapy (ART) era, NHL incidence initially declined but has since stabilized, whereas HL incidence has remained stable and even increased in some cohorts (1,2,4). Additionally, cancer has increased as a proportional cause of mortality among HIV-infected persons, now accounting for 25% to 35% of HIV-associated deaths, with lymphoma being the most frequent cancer-related cause (5–8). Risk factors for NHL include lower CD4 count and greater HIV viremia (9–13). However, risk is heterogeneous across NHL categories, with risk for Burkitt lymphoma (BL) being highest with modest rather than severe immunosuppression (14). Risk for HL may also be highest with modest immunosuppression and soon after ART initiation (15,16). Variable risk by CD4 count across lymphoma subtypes may lead to histologic shifts over time with earlier use of ART (17). In the ART era, chemotherapy clinical trials have demonstrated comparable outcomes for patients with HIV-associated NHL and HL as for patients without HIV (18–22). European observational studies have also reported survival after NHL and HL for HIV-infected individuals similar to that for HIV-uninfected individuals (23–26). However, observational studies in the United States have found HIV to be independently associated with mortality after NHL (27). Existing studies have examined NHL and HL separately and have not studied trends since the modern ART era began. We therefore studied a large HIV-infected cohort in the United States to define temporal trends in the current ART era.
Building thick photoresist structures from the bottom up

Micromachining has pushed the limits of photolithography in the vertical direction. We demonstrate a new technique for producing structures in thick photoresists, with excellent contact alignment and high aspect ratios using a standard UV source. In this technique, we exposed the resist from the bottom by defining the mask as part of the substrate. By doing so, we successfully created high aspect ratio and multiple-layer structures. Additionally, the structures have a slight inward taper, a very useful feature for molding. This technique is a new way of thinking about photolithography, allowing novel structures and simplified processing.
Multishell Carrier Transport in Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

Understanding carrier transport in carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and their networks is important for harnessing CNTs for device applications. Here, we report multishell carrier transport in individual multiwalled CNTs, and films of randomly dispersed multiwalled CNTs, as a function of electric field and temperature. Electrical measurements and first-principles density functional theory calculations indicate transport across CNT shells. Intershell conduction occurs across an energy barrier range of 60-250 meV in individual CNTs, and ~ 60 meV in CNT networks. In both cases, the conductance behavior can be explained based upon field-enhanced carrier injection and defect-enhanced transport, as described by the Poole-Frenkel model.
Daisy Chaining Based Visual Servo Control Part I: Adaptive Quaternion-Based Tracking Control

A quaternion-based visual servo tracking controller for a moving six degrees of freedom object is developed based on image feedback from a moving camera. The control objective is for the object to track a desired trajectory determined by a sequence of prerecorded images from a stationary camera. To achieve this result, several technical issues were resolved including: discriminating the relative velocity between the moving camera and the moving object, compensating for the unknown time-varying distance measurement from the camera to the object, relating the unknown attitude of the control object to some measurable signals, and using unit quaternion to formulate the rotation motion and rotation error system. By utilizing multi-view image geometry to develop homography relationships between the moving camera frame and the moving planar patch coordinate systems, the relative velocity issue is resolved. By using the depth ratios obtained from the homography decomposition, the unknown depth information is related to an unknown constant that can be compensated for by a Lyapunov-based adaptive update law. Lyapunov-based methods are provided to prove the adaptive asymptotic tracking result.
Corticosterone Mediates Reciprocal Changes in CB 1 and TRPV1 Receptors in Primary Sensory Neurons in the Chronically Stressed Rat

Background & Aims Chronic stress is associated with visceral hyperalgesia in functional gastrointestinal disorders. We investigated whether corticosterone plays a role in chronic psychological stress-induced visceral hyperalgesia. Methods Male rats were subjected to 1-hour water avoidance (WA) stress or subcutaneous corticosterone injection daily for 10 consecutive days in the presence or absence of corticoid-receptor antagonist RU-486 and cannabinoid-receptor agonist WIN55,212-2. The visceromotor response to colorectal distension was measured. Receptor protein levels were measured and whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were used to assess transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) currents in L6–S2 dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Mass spectrometry was used to measure endocannabinoid anandamide content. Results Chronic WA stress was associated with visceral hyperalgesia in response to colorectal distension, increased stool output and reciprocal changes in cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) (decreased) and TRPV1 (increased) receptor expression and function. Treatment of WA stressed rats with RU-486 prevented these changes. Control rats treated with serial injections of corticosterone in situ showed a significant increase in serum corticosterone associated with visceral hyperalgesia, enhanced anandamide content, increased TRPV1, and decreased CB1 receptor protein levels, which were prevented by co-treatment with RU-486. Exposure of isolated control L6-S2 DRGs in vitro to corticosterone reproduced the changes in CB1 and TRPV1 receptors observed in situ, which was prevented by co-treatment with RU-486 or WIN55,212-2. Conclusions These results support a novel role for corticosterone to modulate CB1 and TRPV1-receptor pathways in L6-S2 DRGs in the chronic WA stressed rat, which contributes to visceral hyperalgesia observed in this model.
Redox behavior of Dicerium trioxide and the Possible Formation of Sesquioxide- C for Fuel cells

Cerium oxide is an important electrode material in fuel cells. It has been interconverted in the gaseous phase at high temperatures or in the presence of oxygen and more recently in the solid state by applying an electric field. In the dynamic change that occurs, the migration of oxygen vacancies have been initiated at a critical potential of 2.8 V. We wish to report here an electrochemical method where the conversion of cerium oxides is brought out in aqueous medium where hydrogen ion is assisting the process of conversion. Keeping dissolved oxygen level negligible, the conversion of Ce2O3 to CeO2 occurs at 0.72 V vs saturated calomel electrode (SCE) with hydrogen ion assisting the process and the reversible conversion at 0.15 V (SCE). The hydrogen ion assisted conversion is compared with the solid state conversion that operates on oxygen vacancy creation.
Minimization of sub-oxide transition regions at SiSiO2 interfaces by 900°C rapid thermal annealing

Abstract Combining previously reported optical second harmonic generation (SHG) data with i) newly-reported X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) data and ii) the Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) results presented in this paper demonstrates that interfacial sub-oxide bonding (SiOx, x
Empirical Relationships Between Optical Properties and Equivalent Diameters of Fractal Soot Aggregates at 550 Nm Wavelength.

Soot aggregates (SAs)-fractal clusters of small, spherical carbonaceous monomers-modulate the incoming visible solar radiation and contribute significantly to climate forcing. Experimentalists and climate modelers typically assume a spherical morphology for SAs when computing their optical properties, causing significant errors. Here, we calculate the optical properties of freshly-generated (fractal dimension Df = 1.8) and aged (Df = 2.6) SAs at 550 nm wavelength using the numerically-exact superposition T-Matrix method. These properties were expressed as functions of equivalent aerosol diameters as measured by contemporary aerosol instruments. This work improves upon previous efforts wherein SA optical properties were computed as a function of monomer number, rendering them unusable in practical applications. Future research will address the sensitivity of variation in refractive index, fractal prefactor, and monomer overlap of SAs on the reported empirical relationships.
Spontaneous thrombosis of a vein of Galen aneurysm.

2A case of spontaneous thrombosis of a vein of Galen aneurysm is presented. This is a rare event, with only six cases previously presented in the literature [1-5]. Our case is unique in that it represents the first in which serial docu­ mentation is provided by multiple imaging techniques. Evalu­ ation of this patient included CT, cerebral angiography, and MR imaging. Case Report A 6-month-old girl , while being evaluated by her family physician for otitis media, was found to have a head circumference of 47 cm (99th percentile), with a tense and full anterior fontanelle . Past medical history was unremarkable, with normal developmental milestones. A noncontrast CT scan showed enlarged lateral and third ventricles and a homogeneous, high-attenuation mass in the region of the posterior portion of the third ventricle (Fig . 1A). No definite enhancement was seen after the infusion of IV contrast material. Bilateral carotid and vertebral angiography revealed enlarged venous structures compati­ ble with a vein of Galen aneurysm fed solely by the left posterior cerebral artery (Fig . 1 B). These abnormal venous structures were smaller than the high-attenuation abnormality on CT, which led us to conclude that the lesion was partially thrombosed and readily ame­ nable to surgical correction. The patient had a ventriculoperitoneal shunt, and 2 months later was admitted for craniotomy and clipping of the posterior cerebral artery. A preoperative scan done with and without IV contrast, however, demonstrated shunt malfunction with significant ventriculomegaly, necessitating shunt revision . The pos­ terior third ventricular mass at this time was again identical on the noncontrast and contrast scans. It was now mi xed in attenuation but unchanged in size from the earlier scan . The center of the malfor­ mation had areas that were hypodense, isodense, and hyperdense relative to brain . Peripherally, there was an area of calcification (Fig . 2A). Repeat cerebral ang iography demonstrated slight mass effect in the posterior third ventricular region but no evidence of flow to the vascular malformation (Fig . 2B). Since further documentation of thrombosis of the aneurysm was demonstrated, the craniotomy was canceled . The patient has done well since that time. A follow-up CT 6 weeks after shunt revision , without IV contrast administration, showed mild persistent ventriculomegaly. The mass had decreased in size slightly and was somewhat irregular in outline. The walls of the mass were more densely calcified than on the previous examination and the
The evaluation of the Willett clamp scalp traction by means of the tokodynamometer and comments on the use of the clamp.

I'l' HAS been our clinical impression that scalp-clamp traction speeds labor in uterine inertia and is an efficient method of inducing labor. After Reynolds ' experiments with the tokodynamometer a method of recording uterine contractions was provided and it seemed logical to determine the effects of scalp-clamp traction on the frequency, amplitude, duration, and pattern of uterine contractions in normal labor, induction of labor, and uterine inertia. Method and Results
The response of light, water, and nutrient availability to pre-commercial thinning in dry inland Douglas-fir forests

Abstract Fire suppression and limited forest management have caused overstocking in many forests across the western United States. Overstocked stands have higher competition for limiting resources and causes tree stress. The amount of stress a tree experiences is related to the current availability of resources (site productivity), and the competition for those resources (stand density). Stressed trees are more susceptible to insects, disease, and mortality, which cause fuel buildup and increase wildfire risk. Pre-commercial thinning (PCT) can alleviate stress by decreasing the amount of competition in younger stands. The objective of this study was to determine how reducing competition through PCT might improve resource availability to trees at a range of initial stand conditions. We used a triplet-plot approach including 4.3 m and 5.5 m spacing and compared those to unthinned controls in stands varying in site productivity (height growth) and density (initial stand basal area) throughout northern Idaho and northeastern Washington. Stands were dominated by Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco), grand fir ( Abies grandis (Douglas ex D. Don) Lindley), and western red cedar ( Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don). As expected, higher density stands intercepted greater amounts of light. Thinned stands intercepted 33–58% less light than controls, depending on tree spacing. Site productivity was positively correlated with soil moisture in the spring and soil temperature in both the spring and summer. Pre-commercial thinning increased soil moisture by 6% in the spring and 10% in the summer, and soil temperature increased by 0.5 °C in spring and 1 °C in summer. Douglas-fir foliar N, Ca, Zn concentration decreased after thinning, while P and B increased and S, K, and Cu were unchanged. Thinning had the greatest relative impact on summer soil moisture, followed by soil N availability, and light interception. Thinning response studies frequently focus on light availability; our results demonstrate that the response of soil moisture and nutrient availability exceeded that of light availability for the studied forest types.
Mass media exposure and attitude towards spousal violence in India

This study analyzes the correlates of attitude towards spousal violence using nationally representative data from India's National Family Health Survey of 2005–2006. Amongst the socio-economic corr...
A Note on Demar's “a Simple Approach to Isoperimetric Problems in the Plane” and an Epilogue

(1975). A Note on Demar's “a Simple Approach to Isoperimetric Problems in the Plane” and an Epilogue. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 48, No. 4, pp. 219-221.
Lactoferrin ameliorates prostaglandin E2-mediated inhibition of Na+-glucose cotransport in enterocytes

Various immunoinflammatory cytokines are produced during chronic intestinal inflammation, which inhibits Na(+)-glucose cotransport (SGLT1) in villus cells. Lactoferrin (Lf), abundantly present in colostrum, is a multifunctional glycoprotein that is absorbed by receptor-mediated transcytosis in humans and animals and has been shown to exert anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, this study aimed to examine whether Lf would prevent PGE2 effect on SGLT1 for glucose absorption in enterocytes. Intestinal epithelial cells (IEC-6) were grown on transwell plates, treated with phlorizin, PGE2, AH6809, and Lf, and 3-O-methyl d-glucopyranose (OMG) uptake was measured in 10 days postconfluent. Na(+)-dependent OMG uptake, phlorizin, and immunoblotting studies established the activity and apical membrane localization of SGLT1 in IEC-6 cells. PGE2 inhibited SGLT1 in a concentration- and time-dependent manner with an inhibitory constant (Ki) of 50.0 nmol/L and that was antagonized by prostanoid receptor inhibitor, AH6809. PGE2 did not alter Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase activity. In contrast, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses revealed that SGLT1-specific transcripts and protein expression level were decreased 3-fold by PGE2. Furthermore, PGE2 treatment increased intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and Ca(2+) concentrations and decreased SGLT1 expression on the apical membrane, and these effects were ameliorated by Lf. Therefore, we conclude that Lf ameliorates the PGE2 inhibition of SGLT1 most likely via the Ca(2+)- and cAMP-signaling pathways.
Boundary spanner role conflict in public urban universities

It is common for universities that seek community partnerships to employ full-time staff, formally sanctioned as boundary spanners, to develop and manage such partnerships. These staff are frequently administrative or allied staff rather than tenure-track faculty or academic unit administrators. Given the multiple interests of universities and their community partners, it seems likely that boundary spanners attempting to design mutually beneficial relationships will experience role conflict as they seek to align diverse community and institutional agendas. This qualitative study explored the experience of role conflict as reported by university staff boundary spanners. This study found that role conflict was an integral part of the boundary spanner role and that boundary spanners exhibited two responses to role conflict: formative responses, directed toward continuing to seek mutual benefit, and adaptive responses, wherein mutual benefit was not pursued. External factors impacting role conflict were also identified.
One case of HIV infection through blood transfusion

Objective To investigate one case of blood transfusion suspect HIV-1 infected patient.Methods We reviewed the history of the patient including blood transfusion,and found the left blood samples that the patient received.The blood of the left samples and the patient were collected for PCR testing,gene sequencing and viral load determination.MEGA4.1 software was applied for the analysis of pol genotype and sequences.Results One of two left blood samples was confirmed to be positive for HIV-1 CRF07_BC and had a viral load of 37 000 IU/ml.The viral subtype and sequencing results were completely matched between the blood donor and the infected patient.Conclusions The patient was infected with HIV-1 due to the HIV window period between HIV infection and detection.More sensitive testing method should be promoted for the blood screening to cut the crucial window period and to improve the safety of clinical blood transfusion.
Asbestos content of lung tissue in patients with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma: A study of 42 cases

Lung tissue from 42 peritoneal mesothelioma cases was analyzed by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectrometry. There were 34 men and 8 women with a mean age of 61 ± 10 years. Also, 17% of cases had histologically confirmed asbestosis, and 26% had only parietal pleural plaques. The asbestos body count exceeded our normal range in 22 of 42 cases (52%). Cases with asbestos-related pulmonary disease had higher fiber burdens than those without. The vast majority of fibers were commercial amphiboles (amosite with lesser amounts of crocidolite). These findings concur with previously published epidemiological observations.
Complication Rates After Bilateral versus Unilateral Total Ear Canal Ablation with Lateral Bulla Osteotomy for End‐Stage Inflammatory Ear Disease in Dogs: 79 Ears

Objective To determine whether perioperative complication rates are different between unilateral (ULS) versus single-stage bilateral (BLSS) total ear canal ablation-lateral bulla osteotomy (TECA-LBO) surgeries. Study Design Retrospective case series. Animals Fifity-seven dogs (79 ears) undergoing TECA-LBO at a single institution over 14 years. Methods Medical records of dogs undergoing TECA-LBO for end-stage inflammatory non-neoplastic ear disease from March 1999 to September 2013 at the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital were evaluated for intraoperative and early postoperative complications associated with the procedure. Inclusion criteria were clinical and/or histopathologic diagnosis of chronic otitis externa, surgical treatment by TECA-LBO, and a minimum of 2 week follow-up data. Results Twenty dogs (40 ears) underwent BLSS and 37 dogs (39 ears) had ULS. Complications were recorded for 29 of 40 ears (72.5%) in the BLSS group (40.0% facial nerve, 15.0% ocular, and 32.5% minor incisional complications) and 25 of 39 ears (64.1%) in the ULS group (33.3% facial nerve, 12.8% ocular, and 23.1% minor incisional complications). Dogs undergoing BLSS did not have a significantly higher total complication rate, or higher neurologic, ocular, or incisional complication rates, than the ULS procedure. No major anesthetic complications affecting outcome were recorded for either group. Conclusion Anesthetic and early surgical complication rates after ULS and BLSS were not significantly different in our study. Offering single-stage bilateral TECA-LBO procedures for otherwise healthy dogs with end-stage inflammatory otitis externa is a viable treatment option without additional risk for complication.
Using Motivational Interviewing to Facilitate Healthier Sleep-Related Behaviors in Adolescents

Publisher Summary Motivation is a crucial component to many types of behavior change in adolescents. However, to date there is no empirical evidence to indicate that motivational interviewing (MI) is effective for specific sleep disorders. In general, MI does not focus on directing the adolescent behavior toward goals established by the clinician, parent, or teacher. The approach begins by focusing on the adolescent's current interests and concerns, and aims to develop discrepancies between present behavior and important personal goals, values, and beliefs. MI focuses on responding to adolescents in ways that help resolve their own sources of ambivalence to behavior change, reduce resistance, and help move the adolescent to self-motivated positive changes in sleep-related behaviors. Clinicians who care for adolescents with sleep disorders are constantly addressing behavioral issues. Whether trying to motivate changes in sleep habits and schedules, modifying late-night social activities, avoiding caffeine, tobacco, drug or alcohol intake, altering behaviors that negatively affect sleep, or trying to improve treatment adherence in patients with narcolepsy or sleep apnea, clinicians often struggle with how best to help adolescents make positive changes in their sleep-related behaviors. Simply giving advice or education alone is rarely an effective method for facilitating behavior change, particularly when there may be ambivalence or resistance to change. Adolescents often perceive advice as akin to being lectured, and may quickly “tune out” the clinician. In some cases, hearing an adult authority figure advocating what an adolescent “should” do can simply activate unspoken counterarguments in the adolescent, or stir up feelings of doubt as to whether the clinician's perspective or advice has any relevance.
Placental pathology, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), and fetal growth in the Pregnancy Outcomes and Community Health (POUCH) cohort

ObjectiveTo examine the associations of five histopathology-based placental pathology constructs (maternal vascular – obstructive [MVO]; fetal vascular – obstructive [FVO]; maternal vascular – dist...
SimTracker tool and code template to design, manage and analyze neural network model simulations in parallel NEURON

Advances in technical computing enable larger and more detailed neural models that can incorporate ever more of the rapidly expanding body of quantitative neuroscience data. In principle, such complex network models that are strongly constrained by experimental data could direct experimental research and provide novel insights into experimental observations. However, as network models grow in complexity and scale, the necessary tasks of development and organization become unwieldy. Further, the models risk becoming inaccessible to experimentalists and other modelers, and their results may then be seen as less relevant to experimental work. To address these obstacles, we developed a tool for managing simulations called SimTracker. It supports users at each step of the modeling process, including execution of large scale parallel models on supercomputers. SimTracker is suitable for users with a range of modeling experience. SimTracker can be a valuable modeling resource that promotes iterative progress between experiment and model.
“Still in the Difficulty”: The Afterlives of Archives

This chapter examines how Black American experimental art forms deploy non-sovereign histories in tracing the relationships between possible pasts, inhabited presents, and imagined futures. The story of the eighteenth-century slave ship Zong is linked to the events of Hurricane Katrina, via the work of poet Claudia Rankine and filmmaker Cauleen Smith. These artists engage a poetics of the archive through multiple timescapes, rejecting the limits of dominant temporalities and bounded nation-state geographies. Their work posits modes of resistance to everyday and institutionalized racism, speculating about other ways of being, and insisting on radical imagination as a political project of aspiration towards social justice.
Immunosurveillance of cancer and the heat shock protein-CD91 pathway

The intracellular functions of heat shock proteins (HSPs) as chaperones of macromolecules are well known. Current observations point to a role of these chaperones in initiating and modulating immune responses to tumors via receptor(s) on dendritic cells. In this article we provide an insight into, and a basis for, the importance of these HSP-mediated immune responses in rejecting nascent and emerging tumors.
Vehicle Automation and Its Potential Impacts on Energy and Emissions

Interest in vehicle automation is at an all-time high, with many recent real-world demonstrations from a variety of companies and research groups. The key fundamental building blocks for automating vehicles have been in development for many years, making vehicle automation a near-term reality. Also in recent years, there have been significant efforts to make vehicles more energy efficient and less polluting, through the development of advanced powertrains and the development and promotion of alternative lower-carbon fuels, as well as traffic system operational improvements. With these two developing areas, one of the key questions is how will vehicle automation affect overall traffic energy efficiency and emissions. In this chapter, we briefly outline some of these potential impacts, examining issues such as vehicle design, vehicle and traffic operations, and even potential changes in activity patterns.
Quantitative modeling of complex computational task environments

Formal approaches to specifying how the mental state of an agent entails that it perform particular actions put the agent at the center of analysis. For some questions and purposes, it is more realistic and convenient for the center of analysis to be the task environment, domain, or society of which agents will be a part. This paper presents such a task environment-oriented modeling framework that can work hand-in-hand with more agent-centered approaches. Our approach features careful attention to the quantitative computational interrelationships between tasks, to what information is available (and when) to update an agent's mental state, and to the general structure of the task environment rather than single-instance examples. A task environment model can be used for both analysis and simulation; it avoids the methodological problems of relying solely on single-instance examples, and provides concrete, meaningful characterizations with which to state general theories. This paper will give an example of a model in the context of cooperative distributed problem solving, but our framework is used for analyzing centralized and parallel control as well.
Governing Boards and Faculty in California

The University of California has also had problems with the regents overstepping their appropriate authority, but these actions have no connection with the national network behind the attacks in Texas and Wisconsin. This independence indicates the full depth of the problem. In California, the university is constitutionally protected from legislative interference, board authority is more fully specified in law, and faculty authority is more clearly specified in the regents’ Standing Orders. Board overreaching did not encroach on faculty authority but rather on that of the system administration, and the remedy was also entirely different than in Texas. Yet it still involved affirming the definition of the university as a community of scholars and students.
Manipulation of Electrosprayed Dielectric Fluids in a High-Pressure Environment Using External Electric Fields

Electrospraying has found multiple applications in various fields of engineering, science, and everyday life. This paper presents the study of behavior of electrosprayed dielectric liquids, such as gasoline or diesel fuels, in high-pressure environments. Computer models were created and utilized to evaluate the use of electric fields in spatial and temporal manipulation of sprayed electrostatically charged droplets. The focus of the study was to investigate the feasibility of such concept in cylindrical geometries, where the target application of this technique is to improve fuel economy and reduce harmful exhaust emissions of internal combustion engines.
The Banality of the Commons: Efficiency Arguments Against Common Ownership Before Hardin

The Tragedy of the Commons tends to be remembered today as the canonical statement of the idea that commonly-owned resources will be overused. But this idea was well known for centuries before Hardin wrote. Hardin acknowledged that he got the example of cattle in a common field from the early nineteenth century economist William Forster Lloyd, and by Lloyd’s time the idea was already familiar and was already being applied to the analysis of overpopulation, Hardin’s primary concern. This paper will trace the history of the idea that common ownership is inefficient, and will suggest why The Tragedy of the Commons nevertheless quickly attained its canonical status.
Chemically-biased diffusion and segregation impede void growth in irradiated Ni-Fe alloys

Abstract Recent irradiations of Ni-Fe concentrated solid solution alloys have demonstrated significant improvement of radiation performance. This improvement is attributed to redistribution of the alloying elements near sinks of point defects (voids, dislocations) due to chemically-biased atomic diffusion, where vacancies have preference to migrate via Fe atoms and interstitials via Ni atoms. In Ni-Fe, all sinks are enriched by Ni atoms, which strongly affects further interactions of radiation-produced mobile defects with voids and dislocations, hence void growth and dislocation climb. Ni-decorated sinks interact stronger with interstitial atoms than vacancies, which enhances dislocation loops growth. At the same time, Ni segregation creates Fe-enriched “channels” for vacancy migration out of the damage region to agglomerate in the outer regions, inaccessible to interstitial atoms. Strong effect of chemically-biased diffusion is supported by transmission electron microscope characterization and calls for special attention in designing alloys with desired properties through tuning defect mobilities.
Clinical Decision Making in Speech-Language Intervention for Toddlers With Autism and Other Social Communication Delays

Purpose This study investigated current speech-language intervention practices with young children with social communication delays including autism and the educational experiences that shape these...
Histopathologic upgrading of nonmelanoma skin cancer at the time of Mohs micrographic surgery: A prospective review.

Background Anecdotal experience and data from multiple retrospective studies have suggested that a significant percentage of nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) display an aggressive histologic subtype that is not diagnosed on initial biopsy. Objective To prospectively determine the proportion of NMSCs upgraded at the time of Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) and examine the surgical parameters of upgraded lesions. Methods In this prospective, cross-sectional study, all patients undergoing MMS for NMSC at our institution over the course of 1 year were screened for inclusion. Frozen sections were reviewed independently by 2 fellowship-trained Mohs surgeons. Results In total, 265 of 2578 (10.3%) tumors displayed a more aggressive skin cancer histologic subtype on frozen-section analysis at the time of surgery than at the initial biopsy. Upgraded tumors required significantly more stages to reach tumor clearance, had a larger postoperative defect size, and more often required complicated repairs than nonupgraded tumors. Limitations Single center study, limited time period, and cross-sectional design. Conclusion A significant portion of MMS cases were upgraded at the time of surgery to a more aggressive subtype than that seen at the initial biopsy. Upgraded cases were larger and more surgically challenging than nonupgraded ones. This finding has important implications for primary dermatologists' referral practices and Mohs appropriate use criteria guidelines.
Treatment for Central-Peripheral Rivalry-Type Diplopia ("Dragged-Fovea Diplopia Syndrome").

Purpose To report the effectiveness of treatments for central-peripheral rivalry (CPR)-type diplopia due to retinal misregistration. Design Retrospective, interventional case series. Methods Fifty adults with retinal misregistration and CPR-type diplopia (minimum frequency of “sometimes” at distance and/or for reading) caused by epiretinal membrane (n = 44) or other retinal disorders (n = 6) were enrolled in this study, conducted at adult strabismus clinics, Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, a tertiary medical center. Treatments included Bangerter filter, adhesive tape, Fresnel prism, clear prism (incorporated into glasses or loose prism in the office), iseikonic manipulation (using iseikonic lenses or contact lenses), a MIN lens, or epiretinal membrane (ERM) peeling (alone or in any combination). Not all patients underwent all of these treatments. Results Main outcome measurements were diplopia frequency, evaluated using the Diplopia Questionnaire. Success was defined as “never” or “rarely” diplopic for distance and reading, using the Diplopia Questionnaire, at an outcome examination as close as possible to 6 months. Overall, 17 of 50 patients (34%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 21%-49%) were classified as successful. Fresnel prism was successful in 4 of 7 patients (57%; 95% CI, 18%-90%); Bangerter filter in 4 of 28 patients (14%; 95% CI, 4%-33%); ERM peeling in 8 of 18 patients (44%; 95% CI, 22%-69%); and iseikonic manipulation in 1 of 23 patients (using a contact lens; 4%; 95% CI, 0%-22%). Conclusions CPR-type diplopia may be relieved in some patients using nonsurgical treatment options consisting of Fresnel prism or Bangerter filter. ERM peeling was surprisingly successful and should be considered.
No evidence of attenuation of placental insulin-stimulated Akt phosphorylation and amino acid transport in maternal obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus

Pregnancies complicated by obesity and/or gestational diabetes (GDM) are associated with peripheral insulin resistance; however, the insulin responsiveness of the placenta in these pregnancy compli...
Bayesian mechanistic modeling characterizes Gulf of Mexico hypoxia: 1968-2016 and future scenarios.

The hypoxic zone in the northern Gulf of Mexico is among the most dramatic examples of impairments to aquatic ecosystems. Despite having attracted substantial attention, management of this environmental crisis remains challenging, partially due to limited monitoring to support model development and long-term assessments. Here, we leverage new geostatistical estimates of hypoxia derived from nearly 150 monitoring cruises and a process-based model to improve characterization of controlling mechanisms, historic trends, and future responses of hypoxia while rigorously quantifying uncertainty in a Bayesian framework. We find that November-March nitrogen loads are important controls of sediment oxygen demand, which appears to be the major oxygen sink. In comparison, only ~23% of oxygen in the near-bottom region appears to be consumed by net water column respiration, which is driven by spring and summer loads. Hypoxia typically exceeds 15,600 km2 in June, peaks in July, and declines below 10,000 km2 in September. In contrast to some previous Gulf hindcasting studies, our simulations demonstrate that hypoxia was both severe and worsening prior to 1985, and has remained relatively stable since that time. Scenario analysis shows that halving nutrient loadings will reduce hypoxia by 37% with respect to 13,900 km2 (1985-2016 median), while a +2°C change in water temperature will cause a 26% hypoxic area increase due to enhanced sediment respiration and reduced oxygen solubility. These new results highlight the challenges of achieving hypoxia reduction targets, particularly under warming conditions, and should be considered in ecosystem management.
Why Do Representative Bureaucracies Perform Better

This study is concerned as much with determining if representative bureaucracies perform better as with understanding why they do so. After describing the methodology, the chapter reports on the findings from in-depth interviews with nearly three dozen senior officials in South African national departments to identify the causal mechanisms, or underlying pathways, connecting bureaucratic representation to organizational performance. Evidence indicates representative bureaucracies perform better because they empathize with and advocate for historically disadvantaged communities, are equipped with linguistic and cultural competencies to serve a diverse citizenry, and can induce compliance, cooperation, and coproduction.
Neuronal Response Properties and Voltage-Gated Ion Channels in the Auditory System

One of the central challenges to auditory neuroscience is to understand how sound information is processed and transformed as it ascends to different levels in the brain. One way that the central auditory system is distinct from other sensory areas of the brain is the extent to which sound information is segregated at the earliest subcortical areas into different ascending pathways encoding different aspects of sound. For example, in the visual system, the first stage of information processing in the brain takes place in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus before proceeding directly to the primary visual cortex, where many of the major transformations in visual receptive fields occur. In olfaction, although extensive processing occurs in the olfactory bulb prior to the cortex, it is not apparent that there are topographic differences in how olfactory information is processed.