cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Waterpipe Promotion and Use on Instagram: #Hookah.

Introduction Waterpipe (hookah) use is becoming more prevalent in the United States and abroad with potential implications for public health. As waterpipe use rapidly grows in popularity, novel data streams are needed that can help capture and document the social and environmental context in which individuals use, and are marketed, this emerging tobacco product. This study characterized waterpipe-related posts on Instagram in order to inform regulatory and policy activities in the United States. Methods Data were collected from Instagram, an image-based social media site. Inclusion criteria for this study comprised an Instagram post with the hashtag "#hookah" that was accompanied by geo-location metadata demonstrating that the post was inside the contiguous United States. Rules were established for coding themes of images (n = 1705). Results Seven percent of images depicted a single person using a waterpipe and/or blowing smoke, 25% depicted two or more persons lounging and/or using a waterpipe, 6% depicted waterpipes, coals or flavored tobacco without people, 18% of images were promotional material for hookah lounges and restaurant/bars/nightclubs referencing hookah in the text or depicting a waterpipe, 25% were non-waterpipe-related promotional material, 1% were sexually explicit material, and 18% other. 31% of all images depicted or referenced alcohol. 30% of posts provided geo-location from a hookah lounge, 56% from a restaurant/bar/nightclub, and 14% from other types of locations. Conclusions The cross promotion of waterpipe and alcohol use by hookah lounges, and restaurants/bars/nightclubs suggests that poly-substance use is regularly depicted, and promoted, in nightlife entertainment as well as normalized on Instagram in the United States. Implications In the US Instagram posts with the hashtag #hookah regularly depicted waterpipe use in conjunction with alcohol use. Instagram's focus on images facilitates picture-based advertising where hookah lounges promote drink specials at the same time nightclubs promote waterpipe specials. Instagram users often document the variety of shapes, sizes, and styles, of waterpipes, suggesting users take pride in their purchases and like to show their customized, and often times elaborate, waterpipes to their followers. Instagram has been underutilized in understanding tobacco related-behaviors and identifying tobacco-related promotional material.
People choose to run at their optimal speed.

Objectives The purpose of this article is to test whether people choose to behave in a manner that reduces the amount of energy they use to travel a given distance. While this has been shown consistently for walking, it has never been tested with human running. Materials and Methods We collected energetic data and lower limb anthropometrics on nine men running at six different running speeds. We collected on all six speeds on 3 different days and took the average of the energetic values for each speed. On each day we also asked the participants to choose the speed at which they could comfortably run for an hour, and we took the average of these preferred speeds. We then fit a 2nd order polynomial to the energetic data and compared the speed at which the minimum cost of transport (SpMinCoT) occurred with their preferred running speed. Results All participants showed a curvilinear relationship between speed and their cost of transport (CoT). Additionally, the preferred speed was not significantly different than the speed at the minCoT (p = 0.215), and the best fit line between the minCoT and the CoT at the preferred speed was y = x (R2 = 0.994). Discussion Humans are able to preferentially identify the speed which minimizes energy expenditure during running, as well as in walking. Over long distances, energy conservation during running would be particularly crucial so further investigations should focus on the mechanisms by which people are able to detect their ‘optimal’ running speeds.
Exploring Dialectical Tensions of Leading Volunteers in Two Community Choirs

Leaders of volunteers face different challenges than leaders of paid employees due to different motivations and reward expectations. After synthesizing previous research applying dialectical theory...
Don't walk in her shoes! Different forms of perspective taking affect stress physiology

Abstract Helping behavior predicts both positive and negative outcomes for helpers' health and well-being. One reason for this may be that helpers can engage in different kinds of perspective taking, which in turn have different effects on well-being. Imaging oneself in a suffering other's place, or imagine-self perspective taking (ISPT), has been shown to lead to greater levels of personal distress than merely thinking about the other's feelings, or imagine-other perspective taking (IOPT). However, no research has examined the effects of ISPT and IOPT live as a person is engaged in helping behavior. Since self-report on emotional states is obtrusive during pursuit of a helping goal we examined distress indirectly by exploring whether ISPT and IOPT might differentially affect stress physiology during helping behavior. The present research set out to explore whether different forms of perspective taking may differently affect a helper's stress physiology. We hypothesized that during helping ISPT would induce a pattern of negative arousal, or threat, while IOPT would predict relatively greater invigorating arousal, or challenge. 202 participants (83 women) engaged in ISPT, IOPT, or remaining objective while actively providing help to a suffering person via a speech task. As predicted, ISPT compared to IOPT/remaining objective resulted in relative threat, whereas IOPT resulted in marginally greater relative challenge. This effect was mediated by increased perceived demands of the situation. Moreover, self-reported distress was only associated with threat during ISPT, but not during IOPT. Different forms of perspective taking may have different effects on helpers' health and well-being.
Designing Home-Based Telemedicine Systems for the Geriatric Population: An Empirical Study.

Abstract Background and Introduction: Telemedicine, the process of providing healthcare remotely using communication devices, has the potential to be useful for the geriatric population when specifically designed for this age group. This study explored the design of four video telemedicine systems currently available and outlined issues with these systems that impact usability among the geriatric population. Based on the results, design suggestions were developed to improve telemedicine systems for this population. Materials and Methods: Using a between-subjects experimental design, the study considered four telemedicine systems used in Medical University of South Carolina. The study was conducted at a local retirement home. The participant pool consisted of 40 adults, 60 years or older. The dependent measures used were the mean times for telemedicine session initiation and video session, mean number of errors, post-test satisfaction ratings, the NASA-Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) workload measures, and the ...
Constrained Implant Arthroplasty for Distal Radioulnar Joint Arthrosis: Evaluation and Management of Soft Tissue Complications.

Purpose Distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) prostheses designed as semiconstrained devices aiming to replace the function of the ulnar head, sigmoid notch of the radius, and triangular fibrocartilage complex have demonstrated the capacity to restore the functional status of the DRUJ. However, soft tissue complications including tendons, nerves, and wounds, although documented, have not been the primary focus of prior reports. This study investigated short- to medium-term soft tissue complications after DRUJ semiconstrained implant arthroplasty. Methods We performed a retrospective review of patients undergoing semiconstrained DRUJ implant arthroplasty with clinical and radiological follow-up greater than 1 year. Data were reviewed with a focus on soft tissue complications after arthroplasty. Results Fifty DRUJ implant arthroplasties were performed over 10 years in 49 patients. Patients’ average age was 47.8 years. Average duration of follow-up was 35.8 ± 3.7 months. A total of 46 patients underwent multiple operations before DRUJ arthroplasty. Postoperative pronosupination range of motion, grip strength, and visual analog scale pain scores were significantly improved after DRUJ arthroplasty. Wound-healing problems occurred in 11 arthroplasties; however, all wounds subsequently healed without operative intervention. Wound-related complications were significantly increased in patients with a history of rheumatoid arthritis or immunosuppression. Eighteen operations were required to address complications in 8 patients. Extensor tendinopathy was the most common indication for reoperation; 5 tenosynovectomy procedures were required in 4 wrists. A prominent screw requiring removal was identified in 3 cases of tenosynovitis. Periprosthetic fractures were identified in 3 wrists; 2 of these required reoperation for open treatment. Removal of hardware was required in 2 patients; these patients required 9 subsequent reoperations. Conclusions Distal radioulnar joint arthrosis is a major problem and patients commonly undergo multiple reconstructive surgeries before DRUJ implant arthroplasty. No instances of wound-related complications or tendinopathy occurred in patients without previous surgeries, and wound-related complications occurred at a higher frequency with a history of rheumatoid arthritis or immunosuppression. Type of study/level of evidence Prognostic IV.
Mapping the strategic factor market for sport entrepreneurship

Previous scholarship in entrepreneurship and sport management has highlighted their symbiotic nature. The degree to which sport is embedded in society makes it an ideal platform from which to launch economically-motivated entrepreneurial endeavors that may also be leveraged to generate socially transformative causes. Despite this important realization, efforts to understand sport entrepreneurship have been limited in their ability to describe the broad trends affecting sport entrepreneurs. This study uses a sample of 967 sport-related transactions by private equity and venture capital firms between 1988 and 2016 to chart some of these trends. In doing so, we hope to provide a solid foundation on which future sport entrepreneurship research can build. The results accentuate some interesting paradoxes in how private equity and venture capitalist firms invest in and divest from sport-related entrepreneurial ventures.
Control of unknown linear systems with Thompson sampling

We propose a Thompson sampling based learning algorithm for the Linear Quadratic (LQ) control problem with unknown system parameters. The algorithm is called Thompson sampling with dynamic episodes (TSDE) where two stopping criteria determine the lengths of the dynamic episodes in Thompson sampling. The first stopping criterion controls the growth rate of episode length. The second stopping criterion is triggered when the determinant of the sample covariance matrix is less than half of the previous value. We show under some conditions on the prior distribution that the expected (Bayesian) regret of TSDE accumulated up to time T is bounded by O(√T). Here O (.) hides constants and logarithmic factors. This is the first O (√T) bound on expected regret of learning in LQ control. Numerical simulations are provided to illustrate the performance of TSDE.
Cardiovascular disease incidence in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors: a retrospective cohort study

Few population-based studies have focused on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in adolescent and young adult (AYA; 15–39 years) cancer survivors and none have considered whether CVD risk differs by sociodemographic factors. Analyses focused on 79,176 AYA patients diagnosed with 14 first primary cancers in 1996–2012 and surviving > 2 years after diagnosis with follow-up through 2014. Data were obtained from the California Cancer Registry and State hospital discharge data. CVD included coronary artery disease, heart failure, and stroke. The cumulative incidence of developing CVD accounted for the competing risk of death. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression evaluated factors associated with CVD and the impact of CVD on mortality. Overall, 2249 (2.8%) patients developed CVD. Survivors of central nervous system cancer (7.3%), acute lymphoid leukemia (6.9%), acute myeloid leukemia (6.8%), and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (4.1%) had the highest 10-year CVD incidence. In multivariable models, African-Americans (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.33–1.81; versus non-Hispanic Whites), those with public/no health insurance (HR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.61–1.96; versus private) and those who resided in lower socioeconomic status neighborhoods had a higher CVD risk. These sociodemographic differences in CVD incidence were apparent across most cancer sites. The risk of death was increased by eightfold or higher among AYAs who developed CVD. While cancer therapies are known to increase the risk of CVD, this study additionally shows that CVD risk varies by sociodemographic factors. The identification and mitigation of CVD risk factors in these subgroups may improve long-term patient outcomes.
Variable responses of non-native and native ants to coarse woody debris removal following forest bioenergy harvests

Abstract Timber harvests may facilitate ant invasions of forested landscapes, fostering interactions between non-native and native ants. Harvests that include removal of low-value woody biomass as forest bioenergy feedstock may reduce residual coarse woody debris, thereby altering food and cover resources for ant species. We manipulated: (1) volume and distribution of coarse woody debris in stand-scale treatments ranging from intensive coarse woody debris removal to no coarse woody debris removal; and (2) coarse woody debris availability at microsite locations within stand-scale treatments, including piles of hardwood stems, piles of conifer stems, and no pile locations in North Carolina, USA and windrows (i.e., long, linear piles of harvest residues) and no windrows in Georgia, USA, in recently clearcut pine plantations (n = 4 per state). We captured ants in regenerating stands and tested treatment- and location-level effects on non-native and native ant relative abundances. Invasive ants represented 19% of ant taxa richness, but comprised 94% of total ant captures. Red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren, hereafter “RIFA”) dominated the ant community in young plantations. RIFA avoided windrows, but its relative abundance did not differ among stand-scale treatments. Coarse woody debris retention in stand-scale treatments and at microsite locations favored non-RIFA ants, including Asian needle ant (Brachyponera chinensis Emery) and several native ant species. Dual invasions of RIFA and Asian needle ant in young plantations of the eastern United States may commonly occur because the two species may not compete for resources on the forest floor. Reduction of coarse woody debris via intensified woody biomass harvesting may negatively affect non-RIFA ant species and promote RIFA colonization, thereby indirectly increasing deleterious effects of RIFA on other wildlife.
Fast adaptive edge-aware mask generation

Selective editing, also known as masking, is a common technique to create localized effects, such as color (hue, saturation) and tonal management, on images. Many current techniques require parameter tuning or many strokes to achieve suitable results. We propose a fast novel algorithm that requires minimal strokes and parameter tuning from users, segments the desired selection, and produces an adaptive feathered matte. Our approach consists of two steps: first, the algorithm extracts color similarities using radial basis functions; second, the algorithm segments the region the user selects to respect locality. Because of the linear complexity and simplicity in required user-input, the approach is suitable for multiple applications including mobile devices.
Reproductive endocrinology: concepts and perspectives, an overview.

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of concepts and perspectives of reproductive endocrinology. For the purpose of contraception by the rhythm method, there is urgent need for an accurate, rapid, convenient, and low-cost method of detecting ovulation in women. All present methods are imprecise and have a high failure rate. What causes the human corpus luteum to cease producing progesterone and allow menstruation to ensue has to be determined. There is need also for a new discipline representing an amalgamation of neurophysiology, neuropharmacology, and endocrinology to explore the no-man's-land that exists between purely neural phenomena as modified by drugs and the manifestations of hormonal action. Progress in reproductive endocrinology over the remainder of this century will almost certainly have far greater consequences for humanity than the much talked about genetic engineering. Although different species have adopted a variety of mechanisms for the purpose of reproduction, it is evident that the basic unity of nature prevails as a dominant feature.
Double Behavior of Critical First-Passage Percolation

We consider standard first passage percolation on the Z d lattice. Let {x(e) : e an edge of Z d } be an i.i.d. family of random variables with distribution F. Denote by c 0,n the first passage time from the origin to the boundary of [−n, n] d . For d = 2 we show that there exist two curves F a and G b both with F a (0) = G b (0) = p c such that lim n→∞ E c 0,n exists whenever F(0) = p c and F ≥ F a or blows up whenever F(0) = p c and F ≤ G b , respectively. We also can obtain the corresponding results for the passage times a 0,n and b 0,n . Furthermore, we will investigate the behavior of limn→∞ E(c 0,n ) when F(0) is near p c . For a large d, we show the lower bound for E a 0,n is larger than C log log n for some constant C > 0, and discuss the existence of routes for a 0,n and b 0,n when F(0) = p c .
Liver metastases. A case example.

The development of liver metastases in a patient with cancer is a potentially life-threatening event. Each patient with hepatic metastases presents a unique challenge to the oncology nurse. This article discusses the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of liver metastases with particular emphasis on treatment modalities. A case describing a patient with colon cancer and liver metastases is presented.
Novel partnerships for interprofessional education: A pilot education program in 3D technologies for human centered computing students and physical therapy students

Abstract The role of emerging technologies in the rehabilitative care of patients continues to grow. In order to effectively provide care in a complex medical system, rehabilitative specialists need to be fluent in how technology can enhance the delivery of patient care. In concert, technology experts need to understand how patients are affected by their technological designs. Currently, there is an absence of data to evaluate the impact of combining these two professional groups (physical therapy and human centered computing) to serve the needs of rehabilitative patients. The purpose of this project was to enhance the ability for both rehabilitative professionals and human centered computing specialists to address the healthcare needs of individuals requiring adaptive equipment. An interprofessional educational series was developed to integrate the knowledge and skills of Doctor of Physical Therapy students with students from a human centered computing program to develop adaptive equipment personalized to individual patients using 3D printing. The pilot program was evaluated using survey data and interviews collected from both student and patient perspectives. This paper contributes to the understanding of challenges to unique interprofessional collaborations and provides suggestions to foster more effective educational training for both disciplines. Strategies for improving the development of patient-centered 3D printed adaptive equipment as well as the practical application of using 3D printed assistive technology (AT) in the delivery of client care are discussed.
A Qualitative Examination of Post-Traumatic Growth in Multiply Body Modified Adults

This work is based on data from a qualitative research study of multiply body modified individuals in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Participant narratives produced emergent findings of signif...
Applying Genome-Resolved Metagenomics to Deconvolute the Halophilic Microbiome

In the past decades, the study of microbial life through shotgun metagenomic sequencing has rapidly expanded our understanding of environmental, synthetic, and clinical microbial communities. Here, we review how shotgun metagenomics has affected the field of halophilic microbial ecology, including functional potential reconstruction, virus⁻host interactions, pathway selection, strain dispersal, and novel genome discoveries. However, there still remain pitfalls and limitations from conventional metagenomic analysis being applied to halophilic microbial communities. Deconvolution of halophilic metagenomes has been difficult due to the high G + C content of these microbiomes and their high intraspecific diversity, which has made both metagenomic assembly and binning a challenge. Halophiles are also underrepresented in public genome databases, which in turn slows progress. With this in mind, this review proposes experimental and analytical strategies to overcome the challenges specific to the halophilic microbiome, from experimental designs to data acquisition and the computational analysis of metagenomic sequences. Finally, we speculate about the potential applications of other next-generation sequencing technologies in halophilic communities. RNA sequencing, long-read technologies, and chromosome conformation assays, not initially intended for microbiomes, are becoming available in the study of microbial communities. Together with recent analytical advancements, these new methods and technologies have the potential to rapidly advance the field of halophile research.
The Effect of Workers' Compensation Status on the Patient Experience.

Background Rating the patient experience is an increasingly important component of value-based health care. Generation of lower ratings on validated functional assessments by patients with Workers' Compensation is well known; however, the relationship between Workers' Compensation status and patient satisfaction is poorly described in orthopaedic patient populations. Methods All orthopaedic outpatient patient satisfaction surveys (Press Ganey) generated over an 18-month period at a U.S. academic tertiary care center were included in this study. Data with regard to the primary payer, demographic characteristics, orthopaedic subspecialty, and planned surgical interventions with the provider for whom the survey was completed were analyzed in conjunction with patient satisfaction data. Results During the study period, 3,720 consecutive patient satisfaction surveys were generated, and 244 surveys were generated by 215 patients with Workers' Compensation. Satisfied patients with Workers' Compensation were more likely to be male (p = 0.0007), to have higher mental health self-assessments (p = 0.004), and to be scheduled for surgical intervention (p = 0.03). Scheduling a surgical procedure was independently associated with improved patient satisfaction, whereas Workers' Compensation status was independently associated with dissatisfaction when adjusting for sex, language, race, and marital status. Across all patient satisfaction domains, patients with Workers' Compensation gave significantly lower scores (p < 0.05) compared with all other patients. Patients with Workers' Compensation were more likely to rate their overall health as lower compared with other patients (p < 0.0001). Patients with Workers' Compensation were more likely to give lower ratings to providers on a 1-to-10 scale (p < 0.0001) and were less likely to recommend the practice to others (p < 0.0001). Conclusions Workers' Compensation status is a non-modifiable independent predictor of dissatisfaction with health care compared with other primary payer groups. Further research is warranted to understand the factors influencing patient satisfaction ratings.
Effect of Martian and Titan Atmospheres on Carbon Components in the General Purpose Heat Source

Radioisotope power systems (RPS) that are currently in use today are designed with a closed fuel cavity. Multiple proposed designs for future RPS have included the use of an open fuel cavity, which indicates that the fuel, and its associated hardware, will be exposed to gases that could be found outside the generator. Most missions that would utilize an RPS will take place in the vacuum of space, and for those missions the difference between an open or closed fuel cavity is inconsequential. A few missions, however, could take place at a site that has an atmosphere, such as Mars or Titan. In these cases, it is important to understand how the extraterrestrial atmosphere of these locations could impact the components within the RPS. This knowledge will then help RPS designs make informed decisions regarding the choice of an open or closed fuel cavity. One of the most important components within the fuel cavity in an RPS is the general purpose heat source (GPHS) module. The GPHS plays critical thermal, structural, and safety based roles within the RPS. In this paper, we will examine the potential impact of a Martian or Titan atmosphere on the GPHS in the fuel cavity. First, thermodynamic chemical modeling studies were performed. These studies indicated that nearly all of the Martian atmosphere would be able to react with and erode the GPHS carbon. Considering the very low pressure of the Martian atmosphere, however, it is recommended that reaction rate studies are performed on GPHS carbon to determine if the erosion will be significant over the life of the RPS. Modeling studies of Titan indicated that there are no predicted chemical reactions between the Titan atmosphere and the GPHS. It was noted, however, that components of the Titan atmosphere could decompose to form solid carbon and ammonia. While these products are not expected to be a problem for the GPHS, which is the focus of this study, they could create significant issues for other materials in the RPS. It is therefore recommended that any open fuel cavity designs consider the impact that solid carbon and ammonia could have on the whole RPS. Initial reaction rate studies were performed between a simulated Martian atmosphere and a carbon-carbon composite material that is a surrogate for GPHS carbon. It was interesting to note that there was no measurable erosion in the sample after 72 h at 700 °C. While this preliminary result is encouraging, it is not possible to provide a recommendation at this point regarding the use of an open fuel cavity on Mars. Additional studies will be required to evaluate the degree of erosion over much longer times and much higher temperatures. In addition to studying the erosion of the GPHS carbon, it is recommended that future studies also investigate changes in other GPHS carbon properties, including thermal conductivity and mechanical strength.
Mycoplasma infection suppresses p53 function and cooperates with oncogenic Ras in fibroblast transformation

5012 Prokaryotes of the genus Mycoplasma are the smallest cellular organisms that persist as obligate extracellular parasites. Although mycoplasma infection is known to be associated with chromosomal instability and can promote malignant transformation, the mechanisms underlying these phenomena remain unknown. Since persistence of many cellular parasites requires suppression of the mechanisms of apoptosis in host cells, we tested the effect of mycoplasma infection on the activity of p53 pathway, one of the major mechanisms of programmed cell death involved in control of genomic stability. To monitor the activity of p53 in mycoplasma-infected cells, we used human colon (HCT-116) and breast (MCF-7) carcinoma cell lines bearing beta-galactosidase reporter gene under the control of a p53-responsive promoter. The cells were infected with different species of mycoplasma (M. arginini, M. orale, M. pneumoniae, M. hominis, M. fermentas, U. urealiticum and A. laidlawii) and p53 transactivation ability was compared between infected and non-infected cells. In general, the activity of p53 was reduced in mycoplasma infected cells with M. arginini being the strongest suppressor of p53 among those tested. Consistently, the expression of p21waf1 protein, a p53-responsive gene, was decreased in mycoplasma-infected cells. Importantly, infection with M. arginini made non-transformed rat embryo fibroblasts REF52 susceptible to transformation with oncogenic H-Ras, while non-infected REF52 cells underwent irreversible p53-dependent growth arrest. Mycoplasma-infected cells were as permissive to Ras-induced transformation as REF52 with p53 knockdown by inhibitory shRNA. These observations indicate that Mycoplasma infection plays the role of a p53 suppressing oncogene that cooperates with Ras in cell transformation and suggests the carcinogenic and mutagenic effects of mycoplasma can be mediated by the suppression of p53 tumor suppressor function by the parasite.
What happens when brands tell the truth? Exploring the effects of transparency signaling on corporate reputation for agribusiness

ABSTRACTThis study focused on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) within agribusiness – an industry confronted with particularly high expectations from its societal environment. This study examin...
Growth response of the ichthyotoxic haptophyte, Prymnesium parvum Carter, to changes in sulfate and fluoride concentrations.

Golden alga Prymnesium parvum Carter is a euryhaline, ichthyotoxic haptophyte (Chromista). Because of its presumed coastal/marine origin where SO42- levels are high, the relatively high SO42- concentration of its brackish inland habitats, and the sensitivity of marine chromists to sulfur deficiency, this study examined whether golden alga growth is sensitive to SO42- concentration. Fluoride is a ubiquitous ion that has been reported at higher levels in golden alga habitat; thus, the influence of F- on growth also was examined. In low-salinity (5 psu) artificial seawater medium, overall growth was SO42—dependent up to 1000 mg l-1 using MgSO4 or Na2SO4 as source; the influence on growth rate, however, was more evident with MgSO4. Transfer from 5 to 30 psu inhibited growth when salinity was raised with NaCl but in the presence of seawater levels of SO42-, these effects were fully reversed with MgSO4 as source and only partially reversed with Na2SO4. Growth inhibition was not observed after acute transfer to 30 psu in a commercial sea salt mixture. In 5-psu medium, F- inhibited growth at all concentrations tested. These observations support the hypothesis that spatial differences in SO42- –but not F-–concentration help drive the inland distribution and growth of golden alga and also provide physiological relevance to reports of relatively high Mg2+ concentrations in golden alga habitat. At high salinity, however, the ability of sulfate to maintain growth under osmotic stress was weak and overshadowed by the importance of Mg2+. A mechanistic understanding of growth responses of golden alga to SO42-, Mg2+ and other ions at environmentally relevant levels and under different salinity scenarios will be necessary to clarify their ecophysiological and evolutionary relevance.
Micro-respirometry of whole cells and isolated mitochondria

Oxygen consumption is a key metric of metabolism in aerobic organisms. Current respirometric methods led to seminal discoveries despite limitations such as high sample demand, exchange with atmospheric O2, and cumulative titration protocols leading to limited choice of useable tissue, complex data interpretation, and restricted experimental design. We developed a sensitive and customizable method of measuring O2 consumption rates by a variety of biological samples in microliter volumes without interference from the aerobic environment. We demonstrate that O2 permeability of the photopolymer, VeroClear, is comparable to that of polyetheretherketone (0.125 vs. 0.143 barrer, respectively) providing an efficient barrier to oxygen ingress. Optical transparency of VeroClear, combined with high resolution 3D printing, allows for optode-based oxygen detection in enclosed samples. These properties yield a microrespirometer with over 100× dynamic range for O2 consumption rates. Importantly, the enclosed respirometer configuration and very low oxygen permeability of materials makes it suitable, with resin pre-conditioning, for quantitative assessment of O2 consumption rates at any desired [O2], including hyperbaric, physiological or hypoxic conditions as necessary for each cell type. We characterized two configurations to study soluble enzymes, isolated mitochondria, cells in suspension, and adherent cells cultured on-chip. Improved sensitivity allows for routine quantitative detection of respiration by as few as several hundred cells. Specific activity of cell suspensions in the microrespirometer was in close agreement with that obtained by high-resolution polarographic respirometry. Adherent cell protocols allowed for physiologically relevant assessment of respiration in retinal pigment epithelial cells, ARPE-19, which displayed lower metabolic rates compared with those in suspension. By exchanging medium composition, we demonstrate that cells can be transiently inhibited by cyanide and that 99.6% of basal O2 uptake is recovered upon its removal. This approach is amenable to new experimental designs and precision measurements on limited sample quantities across basic research and applied fields.
The MUC16 Mucin Gene Upregulates Gene Transcripts Associated with Invasion

21057 Background: The MUC16 gene encodes the CA125 ovarian cancer antigen and may play a role in invasion. The aim of this study is to investigate the properties of MUC16 in vitro. Methods: PCR was...
Leaving Against Medical Advice After Emergency General Surgery: Avoiding a Two-Hit Effect.

Abstract Background Emergency general surgery has higher adverse outcomes than elective surgery. Patients leaving the hospital against medical advice (AMA) have a greater risk for readmission and complications. We sought to identify clinical and demographic characteristics along with hospital factors associated with leaving AMA after EGS operations. Methods A retrospective review of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample was performed. All patients who underwent an EGS procedure accounting for >80% of the burden of EGS-related inpatient resources were identified. 4:1 propensity score analysis was conducted. Regression analyses determined predictive factors for leaving AMA. Results 546,856 patients were identified. 1085 (0.2%) patients who underwent EGS left AMA. They were more likely to be men (59% versus 42%), younger (median age 51 y, IQR [37.61] versus 54, IQR [38.69]), qualify for Medicaid (26% versus 13%) or be self-pay (17% versus 9%), and be within the lowest quartile median household income (40% versus 28%) (all P Conclusions Patients undergoing EGS have a high risk of complications, and leaving AMA further increases this risk. Interventions to encourage safe discharge encompassing surgical, psychiatric, and socioeconomic factors are warranted to prevent a two-hit effect and compound postoperative risk.
Endoscopic Evaluation of Radiologic Distal Esophageal Thickening.

Goals We aim to determine the incidence of esophagogastroduodenoscopies (EGDs) primarily performed for imaging findings of distal esophageal thickening (DET). We also aim to determine if patients with imaging findings of DET have a higher incidence of cancer, and to evaluate the risk factors associated with findings of malignancy. Background The growth of diagnostic imaging has led to an increase in incidental findings of DET. This nonspecific finding frequently prompts an EGD for evaluation-many of which demonstrate benign conditions. There may be a misuse of valuable resources. Study We performed a retrospective chart review of 1080 EGDs from January 2016 to July 2018 at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, comparing EGDs for the indication of imaging report of DET with EGDs for other indications. Patient demographics, clinical history, imaging, procedure, and pathology reports were collected. Descriptive analysis and biostatistical analysis with χ, Fisher exact, Wilcoxon rank sum, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were utilized in analyzing the data. Results Of the 1080 total endoscopies, 8.2% (n=88) were done specifically because of the imaging findings of DET. Those who had EGDs performed because of DET had a higher percentage of abnormal esophageal findings and of cancer. A history of Barrett's esophagus, tobacco use, and having gastrointestinal symptoms were not significant predictors of abnormal findings or of cancer for EGDs done for DET. Conclusions There may be a role for EGDs performed for radiologic findings of DET. Even those without risk factors for malignancy should have EGDs performed for DET. Radiologists should consider reporting the DET size in order to determine if significant endoscopic findings correlate with wall thickness.
Design of remote data collection devices for social impact indicators of products in developing countries

Abstract Social impact indicators provide one effective way to measure the social impacts of products in developing countries and ensure that engineering design is producing positive impacts on individuals. Remote data collection devices enable the use of sensors to collect user data required to calculate social impact indicators remotely, continuously, and potentially less expensively than other methods that require direct interaction with users. However, many key decisions and questions must be considered during the development and use of such devices to avoid risk of failure. To provide a systematic way for researchers and engineers to consider critical device development questions, the parts of device development and use can be decomposed into Data Identification, Device Design, and Device Deployment. This paper discusses the key decisions within each part of development along with critical questions, common options, and considerations that should be addressed during each part of device development, thus increasing the likelihood of success. A sensor development canvas outlining the key decisions is also provided as a design tool to easily identify deficiencies in the device during development. Considering these critical questions while developing and deploying data collection devices can help researchers and engineers successfully collect social impact indicator data that may be used to ensure engineered products are producing desired positive impacts on individuals.
Kinome state is predictive of cell viability in pancreatic cancer tumor and stroma cell lines

Numerous aspects of cellular signaling are regulated by the kinome - the network of over 500 protein kinases that guides and modulates information transfer throughout the cell. The key role played by both individual kinases and assemblies of kinases organized into functional subnetworks leads to kinome dysregulation being a key driver of many diseases, particularly cancer. In the case of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a variety of kinases and associated signaling pathways have been identified for their key role in the establishment of disease as well as its progression. However, the identification of additional relevant therapeutic targets has been slow and is further confounded by interactions between the tumor and the surrounding tumor microenvironment. Fundamentally, it is an open question as to the degree to which knowledge of the state of the kinome at the protein level is able to provide insight into the downstream phenotype of the cell. In this work, we attempt to link the state of the kinome, or kinotype, with cell viability in representative PDAC tumor and stroma cell lines. Through the application of both regression and classification models to independent kinome perturbation and kinase inhibitor cell screen data, we find that the inferred kinotype of a cell has a significant and predictive relationship with cell viability. While regression models perform poorly, we find that classification approaches are able to predict drug viability effects. We further find that models are able to identify a set of kinases whose behavior in response to perturbation drive the majority of viability responses in these cell lines. Using the models to predict new compounds with cell viability effects and not in the initial data set, we conducted a validation screen that confirmed the accuracy of the models. These results suggest that characterizing the state of the protein kinome provides significant opportunity for better understanding signaling behavior and downstream cell phenotypes, as well as providing insight into the broader design of potential therapy design for PDAC.
Corporate Blockholders and Financial Leverage

This research investigates the relationship between corporate block ownership and firm financial leverage. Corporate blockholders, which are nonfinancial firms who hold more than five percent equity in a target industrial firm, can affect the target firm’s policies through their business relationships, monitoring, or expropriations. I find that corporate block ownership is negatively related to the target firm’s financial leverage. In addition, corporate blockholders often obtain board seats of the target firm, indicating an active involvement of corporate blockholders in governance activities. Further analysis indicates that the negative relationship between corporate blocks and leverage becomes stronger when corporate blockholders have greater board representation on the target firm, when the firm has higher agency costs, and when there is no product market relationship between corporate blockholders and the target firm. Overall, my findings suggest that corporate blockholders play an important monitoring role and can substitute for other monitoring mechanisms including leverage and institutional investors.
Direct observation of the double-layering quantized growth of mica-confined ionic liquids.

Since the interface between ionic liquids (ILs) and solids always plays a critical role in important applications such as coating, lubrication, energy storage and catalysis, it is essential to unravel the molecular structure and dynamics of ILs confined to solid surfaces. Here we report direct observation of a unique double-layering quantized growth of three IL (i.e. [Emim][FAP], [Bmim][FAP] and [Hmim][FAP]) nanofilms on mica. AFM results show that the IL nanofilms initially grow only by covering more surface areas at the constant film thickness of 2 monolayers (ML) until a quantized increase in the film thickness by another 2 ML occurs. Based on the AFM results, we propose a double-layering model describing the molecular structure of IL cations and anions on the mica surface. The interesting double-layering structure can be explained as the result of several competing interactions at the IL–mica interface. Meanwhile, the time-dependent AFM results indicate that the topography of IL nanofilms could change with time and mobility of the nanofilm is lower for ILs with longer alkyl chains, which can be attributed to the stronger solvophobic interaction. The findings here have important implications on the molecular structure and dynamics of ILs confined to solid surfaces.
Predicting the Risks of Street Violent Crimes using Agent-based Modeling

Criminological research has shown that most violent crimes are committed by a fraction of offenders, and a small number of geographic locations account for the majority of observed crime patterns. In policing, focused deterrence strategies are widely implemented to predict and prevent the crime occurrence. To facilitate these strategies, we develop an agent-based model to predict risky behaviors of police-focused high-risk individuals by capturing the complex dynamics generated by constant interactions within the autonomous agents themselves and between the agents and the environment. We incorporate both the criminological theories and the expert knowledge into the model and make full use of the public data, such as GIS data, census data, and official crime data. We use Hampton, VA, USA as an example to demonstrate that the model is able to predict high-risk individuals’ likelihood of being involved in street violent crimes and their patterns. This study suggests the model has great potentials in improving the effectiveness of focused deterrence strategies.
Tort and Injury Law

Casebook on tort law. TM available from publisher. Front matter available for download on SSRN.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging and the neurobiology of vasopressin and oxytocin

Functional magnetic resonance imaging is used to assess the roles of vasopressin (AVP) in aggressive motivation and oxytocin (OXT) in maternal behaviour. In the case of aggression, male rats are triggered to show the autonomic signs of impending attack behaviour by simulating a resident/intruder conflict in the bore of the magnet during the imaging session. Intraventricular injection of AVP alone causes robust changes in brain activity mirroring many areas selective for AVP receptor binding and overlapped with many of the same areas activated during aggression. Pretreatment with an orally active AVP V1a receptor antagonist blocks aggression in bench-top studies and suppressed the pattern of brain activation caused by the intruder or administration of AVP. These findings using imaging corroborate and extended our understanding of the neural circuitry of aggression and the role of AVP neurotransmission in agonistic motivation. In the case of maternal behaviour, primiparous dams are imaged during nursing with and without OXT receptor blockade. Suckling alone activates many cortical and subcortical areas. Intracerebroventricular injection of OXT stimulates brain activity in areas selective to OXT receptor binding and overlap with many of the same areas activated during pup suckling. Pretreatment with OXT receptor antagonist suppresses the pattern of brain activation caused by suckling or administration of OXT. The data suggest that OXT may strengthen mother-infant bond formation partly by acting through brain areas involved in regulating olfactory discrimination, emotions and reward.
Modification of proteins by O-linked N-acetylglucosamine in activated T cells (IRM10P.756)

The process of T cell activation is mediated by signal transduction cascades involving changes in protein post-translational modifications. While the importance of some modifications, such as phosphorylation, is well appreciated, relatively little is known about the modification of intracellular proteins by O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc). Given that O-GlcNAc appears to regulate signaling pathways akin to phosphorylation, we are investigating how O-GlcNAc may be involved in T cell activation. We have observed that T cell receptor engagement leads to changes in protein O-GlcNAc levels. Furthermore, we have found that the enzyme catalyzing the addition of O-GlcNAc to proteins accumulates at the immunological synapse and differs in the relative expression of its splice isoforms in activated versus resting T cells. To identify proteins that may be regulated by O-GlcNAc, we have employed a chemical labeling strategy on resting and activated human T cells to identify potential O-GlcNAc sites on a number of proteins, such as the transcriptional regulator host cell factor 1. Future experiments will focus on how O-GlcNAc sites responsive to T cell receptor stimulation influence molecular and cellular activity during T cell activation. Beyond its significance to basic cell biology, our work may have clinical implications since abnormal O-GlcNAc levels have been associated with human diseases such as cancer and diabetes.