cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Petitioning Beijing: sub-national variation

ABSTRACTScholars associate high tides of petitioning Beijing with changes in the central leadership and decreases of petitioning Beijing with the coercion and bribery tactics used by local officials. Yet it remains a mystery why some regions have a larger amount of petitions to Beijing than others. This article analyzes a unique dataset on petitioning Beijing in one province in 2004 and finds that the level of development is a significant factor in predicting the frequency of petitioning Beijing at the county level. Another unique analysis of petitions filed to the Ministry of Civil Affairs Xitong across 31 provincial regions supports the above finding, which may be generalized to petitioning at all levels of government.
Variable Working Condition Calculation and Energy Loss Analysis of Duplex Pressure Condenser

The duplex pressure condenser is characterized by two separated condensers.Variable working condition calculation and energy loss analysis method of the sided condenser can not accurately reflect characteristics of variable working conditon and energy loss.For this reason,formulas for variable working condition calculation of condenser are improved and calculation model for variable working conditon at high-pressure side of duplex pressure condenser is proposed.In accordance with characteristic that vacuum at high pressure side is different with that at low pressure side,the paper analyzes affect from vacuum change of duplex pressure condensor on heat economy and verifies application of the method in energy loss analysis of the condenser.
Basic Techniques to Study FcεRI Signaling in Mast Cells

Mast cells are the crucial effector cells for allergic reactions. They are activated through the aggregation of the high-affinity IgE receptor (FceRI) with allergen and allergen-specific IgE. Tyrosine phosphorylation of FceRI subunits and various signaling proteins is an initial triggering event, leading to the activation of several signaling pathways in mast cells. Much has been learned from analysis of mast cells derived from gene-targeted mice. Therefore, in this chapter we will first describe how to generate mast cells from mouse bone marrow cells and how to correct the genetic defect by retroviral transduction. Then we will describe how to assess early activation events by measuring several protein-tyrosine kinases (PTKs) and serine/threonine kinases (PS/TKs) such as Akt (protein kinase B), protein kinase C (PKC), and JNK. As signal transduction is highly dependent on protein-protein interactions, we will describe experimental details of co-immunoprecipitation methods that are used to confirm such interactions.
An ecology of resistance

This paper begins an inquiry into the subject of resistance. In diffusion theory and in the related field of organizational development, resistance is overdetermined. In other words, the topic is typically glossed and is too easily identified as an automatic, and by nature negative, response to change: a change that is to be managed. Resistance might be better viewed in terms of the potential elements that comprise it, including: individuals’ internal and external responses to change, degrees of choice or fear, and/or levels of engagement and participation. In order to more fully conceptualize the theme, this research proposes studying how resistance is understood in a subset of disciplines and arenas where the construct is meaningful. The goal is to investigate the phenomenon--and to begin to build an exploratory model and language that more fully accounts for the complexity of resistance, as it is interpreted and experienced. Several paths are suggested, each of which, respectively, contributes to building a systemic interpretation, grammar, and reception theory for resistance.
Topology of the Real Line

In the field of Analysis the concepts of the limit and the continuity of a function f at a point x = a are defined in terms of open intervals. For example, the condition | f(x) − L | < e says that f(x) is in an open interval centered at L, and the condition | x − a | < δ says that x is in an open interval centered at a. These intervals are specified in terms of the distance between x and y given by | x − y | . Topology is a branch of Mathematics where these concepts are extended to spaces where one can discuss intervals without having to rely on a distance formula. As a result the concepts of limit and continuity can be extended to such spaces, and it can be shown that many of the properties associated with continuous functions defined on the real line are shared by continuous functions defined on these more general spaces. Although the theorems discussed in this chapter are presented in the context of sets on the real line, virtually all of the theorems are true in the more general context of any topological space. Many of the techniques used to prove these theorems are the same techniques one would use for a general topological space, and, therefore, this chapter can be thought of as an introduction to the field of Topology even though general topological spaces are not discussed here.
Abstract 352: MicroRNAs Play A Crucial Role In The Induction Of Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition-Mediated Cardiac Fibrosis.

Introduction: Fibroblast-like cells derived from aberrant activation of endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) are an important contributor to cardiac fibrosis. TGF-beta signaling plays a pivotal role in the induction of EndMT and cardiac fibrosis. Our recent studies have shown that specific miRNAs are differentially regulated during TGF-beta-induced EndMT and blocking TGF-beta-receptor I (TbetaR1) kinase inhibits TGF-beta-induced EndMT. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that miRNAs that promote EndMT will potentially exacerbate cardiac fibrosis, and knockdown of these miRNAs will attenuate EndMT-mediated cardiac fibrosis. Results and Methods: We investigated the levels of miRNAs and profibrotic markers in the failing human myocardium compared to healthy human heart tissue. Our results indicate that miRNAs upregulated during EndMT were significantly elevated in the failing human myocardium. In addition, failing human myocardium exhibited significant upregulation of profibrotic markers including alpha-SMA, Col1 and PAI-1. Next, primary cultures of mouse cardiac endothelial cells treated with TGF-beta or SB431542 (TbetaR1 kinase inhibitor) were evaluated for EndMT markers using bright field microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, western blot analysis and qRT PCR. We observed that blocking TbetaR1 kinase by SB431542 inhibits specific miRNAs which were upregulated during TGF-beta-induced EndMT. In addition, in silico analysis revealed that these miRNAs target key TGF-beta effectors, which was further confirmed by western blot analysis. Furthermore, overexpression of specific miRNAs using mimics resulted in the induction of EndMT. Next, miRNA mimics in combination with TGF-beta substantially potentiated TGF-beta-induced EndMT. Finally, knockdown of these miRNAs using inhibitors or Cy3-tagged antagomiRs significantly attenuated TGF-beta-induced cardiac EndMT. Conclusions: Our results indicate that TbetaR1 kinase-induced expression of miRNAs is involved in cardiac EndMT. Thus, miRNAs may promote profibrotic signaling in EndMT-derived fibroblast-like cells, which may contribute to fibrogenesis in the human heart.
Will Obama's My Brother's Keeper and Similar Initiatives Have a Positive Impact on Low-Income Students?

ABSTRACTBarack Obama's My Brother's Keeper is designed to narrow persistent gaps that boys and young men of color confront often and to help all young people achieve their potential in college and career. An important part of this initiative is comprehensive mentoring that supports students in schools and in communities. Because ethnic-minority students have extremely low graduation rates in high school and college, an essential question is addressed: Can My Brother's Keeper and similar initiatives with a mentoring component be effective in helping minority students to achieve success in elementary and secondary schools and in college?
Sodium Iodate Produces a Strain-Dependent Retinal Oxidative Stress Response Measured In Vivo Using QUEST MRI.

Purpose We identify noninvasive biomarkers that measure the severity of oxidative stress within retina layers in sodium iodate (SI)-atrophy vulnerable (C57BL/6 [B6]) and SI-atrophy resistant (129S6/SvEvTac [S6]) mice. Methods At 24 hours after administering systemic SI to B6 and S6 mice we measured: (1) superoxide production in whole retina ex vivo, (2) excessive free radical production in vivo based on layer-specific 1/T1 values before and after α-lipoic acid (ALA) administration while the animal was inside the magnet (QUEnch-assiSTed MRI [QUEST MRI]), and (3) visual performance (optokinetic tracking) ± antioxidants; control mice were similarly assessed. Retinal layer spacing and thickness in vivo also were evaluated (optical coherence tomography, MRI). Results SI-treated B6 mice retina had a significantly higher superoxide production than SI-treated S6 mice. ALA-injected SI-treated B6 mice had reduced 1/T1 in more retinal layers in vivo than in SI-treated S6 mice. Uninjected and saline-injected SI-treated B6 mice had similar transretinal 1/T1 profiles. Notably, the inner segment layer 1/T1 of SI-treated B6 mice was responsive to ALA but was unresponsive in SI-treated S6 mice. In both SI-treated strains, antioxidants improved contrast sensitivity to similar extents; antioxidants did not change acuity in either group. Retinal thicknesses were normal in both SI-treated strains at 24 hours after treatment. Conclusions QUEST MRI uniquely measured severity of excessive free radical production within retinal layers of the same subject. Identifying the mechanisms underlying genetic vulnerabilities to oxidative stress is expected to help in understanding the pathogenesis of retinal degeneration.
From the Sacred to the Divine

Phenomenological investigation consists of analyses, and in the detailed analyses that characterize it, we find outlines which offer a basis for ideas, recognitions and concepts, and ultimately we are able to provide answers to philosophical questions. It is a matter of adequately recognizing and appreciating them.
Crystal structures of the methyltransferase and helicase from the ZIKA 1947 MR766 Uganda strain.

Two nonstructural proteins encoded by Zika virus strain MR766 RNA, a methyltransferase and a helicase, were crystallized and their structures were solved and refined at 2.10 and 2.01 A resolution, respectively. The NS5 methyltransferase contains a bound S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) co-substrate. The NS3 helicase is in the apo form. Comparison with published crystal structures of the helicase in the apo, nucleotide-bound and single-stranded RNA (ssRNA)-bound states suggests that binding of ssRNA to the helicase may occur through conformational selection rather than induced fit.
Rural-urban differences in surgical treatment, regional lymph node examination, and survival in endometrial cancer patients.

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecological malignancy and one of few cancers with an increasing US mortality rate. Rural patients may have less access to specialty care affecting their receipt of surgery and adequate lymphadenectomy (AL). We sought to assess rural–urban differences in EC surgery, lymphadenectomy, and survival. We analyzed data from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database on EC patients (2004–2013). We performed univariate analyses to compare rural and urban patients on demographic and clinical characteristics and receipt of nodal examination and AL. We assessed rural–urban differences in trends of receipt of AL, performed logistic regression to evaluate differences in receipt of surgery, nodal examination, and AL, and performed survival analysis. Rural patients were less likely to have any lymph nodes removed, had a smaller median number removed, and a smaller proportion had AL. Even after controlling for established risk factors, rural patients had lower odds of lymph node examination and adequate AL than urban patients and also had poorer survival. Future research should continue to assess the association between access to care and disparities in surgical care and the effect of these disparities on survival.
Normal Bone Physiology 101

Adolescence is a critical time for bone growth and development, when a significant amount of bone is deposited, contributing to peak bone mass in adulthood. There is a dynamic interplay between sex steroids, growth hormone, and mechanical loading during adolescence. At the cellular level, this involves the coordination of growth, modeling and remodeling processes by osteoblasts and osteoclasts, mechanosensing by osteocytes, and the seamless synchronization of multiple hormones such as parathyroid hormone (PTH), vitamin D, and fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-23 and cell signaling pathways such as canonical Wnt, Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMPs), and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B (RANK)/RANK ligand (RANKL).
Osteogenic sarcoma: a 15-year experience in treating 287 patients with preoperative chemotherapy

With the introduction of the T-7 chemotherapy regimen in 1976, all patients with primary osteogenic sarcoma were treated with preoperative chemotherapy [1]. The T-7 regimen also marked the commencement of the use of high-dose Methotrexate (HDMTX) at the doses of 12 gm/m2 for young children and 8 gm/m2 for adults. The T-7 regimen used HDMTX with Leucovorin rescue, the combination of Bleomycin, Cyclophosphamide, and Dactinomycin (BCD), and Adriamycin as a single agent, given at the dose of 90 mg/m2 over two days.
Reference Weights and Heights

Depending on origin and country, parents tend to talk in traditional units when discussing their offspring’s measurements. Some conversion factors may be appropriate (Tables 10.1.1 and 10.1.2).
High-energy pi pi collisions

We have examined the final states ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}+n$, ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}+{\ensuremath{\Delta}}^{++}$, and ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}+p$ resulting from the interactions of 25-GeV/c ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ mesons incident on the BNL 80-in. Hydrogen Bubble Chamber to study elastic and inelastic $\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\pi}$ scattering processes. Using the D\"urr-Pilkuhn parametrization for off-mass-shell corrections we determine the ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$ and ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ cross sections. The elastic cross sections decrease with increasing dipion energy to a value of 1.5-2.0 mb. From the optical theorem it is found that the total cross sections become about 15 mb in the 2-4-GeV/${\mathit{c}}^{2}$ region. We have also looked at the properties of the reaction ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$. The $g$ meson seems to be prominently produced in this reaction.
Engaging Mothers With Depressive Symptoms in Care: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial in Head Start.

Objective:The authors sought to determine whether a multicomponent, community-based program for preventing maternal depression also promotes engagement with mental health services for individuals w...
Pulling it all together: ACME trailers, a costing case

Abstract Intermediate or advanced managerial accounting courses often include application of costing systems in greater detail than presented in an introductory course. While managerial accounting textbooks provide exercises and problems covering process and job-order costing systems, this teaching case provides an opportunity for you to work with both systems in an integrated, multi-department manufacturing setting where a thorough understanding of the production process must be obtained from transaction information. Further, some inputs produce multiple outputs, necessitating the use of joint cost allocation. In this case you are tasked with calculating costs for the outputs of multiple departments, posting journal entries related to production and other period transactions, and recording the transfer of costs of products from department to department in the manufacturing process, all while thinking critically to locate and calculate the appropriate inputs to the costing and accounting system. In doing so, you will also gain valuable experience in Microsoft Excel and the use of formulas, cell references, and multiple worksheets. You will also gain an enhanced perspective on the role and interaction of various costing systems in sophisticated production environments.
Across Borders: Local Governance and Regional Implications

Darfurians have a lot in common. They speak Arabic, and they are all Muslims. Both the Orma and Somali are mostly Muslims, too. The Gumuz and Oromo also have long friendships. But permanent migrations across borders and the absence of effective government authority put pressure on the locals, fueling armed violence. The chapter states that border issues and arms smuggling, combined with weak government administration massively affected community relations in Darfur, Oromia, and the Tana Delta. The collapse of law and order in Darfur in the 1980s, as a result of inept administration and the influx of arms from Chad and Libya, brought about unprecedented armed violence. In Oromia and the Tana Delta, inadequate governance and arms smuggling across the borders contributed to ethnic tensions. Both the Oromia and Benishangul-Gumuz states failed to adequately address causes of the conflict and to apply the widely respected local conflict resolution mechanisms in their border areas. They failed to arrest ringleaders and to intervene in time to halt the violence that led to another devastating crisis. Similarly, in the Tana Delta, failure to implement previous reports on clashes contributed to the perpetuation of conflict.
APPLICATION OF BRACHYSTEGIA EURYCOMA GUM-EGG ALBUMEN MIXTURE IN THE FORMULATION OF MODIFIED RELEASE METRONIDAZOLE TABLETS

The study was aimed at investigating the effects of Brachystegia gum (BG)-egg albumin (EA) mixture as binding agent on the qualities of metronidazole tablets. BG and EA were mixed at different ratios to generate fifteen binder mixtures (F1-F15), from which F1-F5, F6-F10 and F11-F15 were used at 2%, 4% and 6% w/w respectively to formulate metronidazole granules by wet granulation. The granules after micromeritic characterization were subsequently compressed into tablets. Quality control tests conducted on the tablets include: hardness, friability, weight uniformity and dissolution studies. Results reveal that granules flow rates ranged from 3.02 g/s (F4) to 4.73 g/s (F1); angle of repose ranged from 29.06° (F12) to 35.93° (F3); Carr’s index values were between 7.49% (F9) and 25.43% (F12), while Hausner’s ratio ranged from 1.08 (F9) to 1.34 (F12). Tablet hardness values were between 3.65±0.47 (F2) and 5.95±0.60 (F11). Tablets friability values were of magnitude ranging from 0.84 (F11) t0 21.73 (F1). The result of weight variation test revealed that only four batches (F4, F6, F9 and F15) met compendia specifications. Among the metronidazole tablet formulations, those containing binder at 2% w/w released the highest amount of drug, giving up to 90% drug release in 6 h. The least amount of metronidazole was released by tablets formulated with binders at 6% w/w from which only about 30% of drug was released in 6 h. The BG-EA mixture was found useful in imparting slow release profile on metronidazole tablets, which is desirable for some tablet formulations.
A Vector Representation of DNA Sequences Using Locality Sensitive Hashing

Drawing from the analogy between natural language and "genomic sequence language", we explored the applicability of word embeddings in natural language processing (NLP) to represent DNA reads in Metagenomics studies. Here, k-mer is the equivalent concept of word in NLP and it has been widely used in analyzing sequence data. However, directly replacing word embedding with k-mer embedding is problematic due to two reasons: First, the number of k-mers is many times of the number of words in NLP, making the model too big to be useful. Second, sequencing errors create lots of rare k-mers (noise), making the model hard to be trained. In this work, we leverage Locality Sensitive Hashing (LSH) to overcoming these challenges. We then adopted the skip-gram with negative sampling model to learn k-mer embeddings. Experiments on metagenomic datasets with labels demonstrated that LSH can not only accelerate training time and reduce the memory requirements to store the model, but also achieve higher accuracy than alternative methods. Finally, we demonstrate the trained low-dimensional k-mer embeddings can be potentially used for accurate metagenomic read clustering and predict their taxonomy, and this method is robust on reads with high sequencing error rates (12-22%).
Genetic models in brain and behavior research, part IV

Four reviews on the the role of developmental factors in hypertension are introduced and set in historical context. Recent research in the laboratory rat has shown that the preweaning environment makes an important contribution to the level of blod-pressure reached in adult life in genetic models of hypertension. Both of the most commonly used models of hypertension, the SHR and SS/Jr rat strains, exhibit lower BP in adult life, if they are fostered shortly after birth to mothers from their normotensive control strains. It has been suggested that it is the idiosyncratic maternal behavior of the hypertensive mothers which contributes to the elevated BP of their offspring, and it has been amply demonstrated that there is an association between a constellation of behaviors emitted by rat mothers and the adult BP of their offspring in a wide variety of genetic groups (inbred hypertensive animals, F1's and F2's). In addition to the above, maternal environment has been demonstrated to have a significant impact on the pathophysiological response of hypertensive animals to a high salt diet. Being raised by an SHR mother, versus an SS/Jr mother, increases the magnitude of BP increases to a high salt diet, susceptibility to hemorrhagic stroke, body weight loss and the risk of mortality. A variety of physiological systems are undergoing rapid change during the preweaning period and may mediate the effects of differences in the maternal environment. These include the renin-angiotensin system and the peripheral sympathetic nervous system. Nutritional factors may be involved in all of the phenomena referred to above. Thus, any physiological mechanisms that are proposed to link maternal behavior to its effects on the physiology of adult animals should recognize the involvement of nutritional factors. Research on the role of developmental factors such as maternal behavior in genetic models of hypertension is at the interface of two growing disciplines: behavior genetics and developmental psychobiology. The methodological and conceptual contributions of these fields to advancing our understanding of these phenomena is emphasized.
Buckling and collapse of pseudoelastic NiTi tubes under bending

Abstract Pseudoelastic NiTi structural components have been shown to exhibit tension/compression asymmetry. Under tension, phase transformation induces localized strains of nearly 7% that spread under nearly constant stress, while under compression the transformation leads to hardening at significantly higher stress, the strain is smaller and grows homogeneously. Bending of tubes ovalizes their cross-section, a nonlinearity that reduces the bending rigidity and precipitates instabilities that can lead to collapse. This paper uses experiment and analysis to examine the interaction of these geometric nonlinearities with the complex material behavior of pseudoelastic NiTi tubes of moderate diameter-to-thickness ratios under bending. An experiment on a tube with a diameter-to-thickness ratio of 18.7 shows that transformation causes the nucleation of several dispersed high strain banded patterns of martensite on the tensioned side. The zone where the bands coalesce into intersecting diamonds undergoes excessive local ovalization causing buckling and collapse at a relatively low overall tube curvature. The bending experiment is simulated with a finite element model coupled with a custom constitutive model of pseudoelastic NiTi that allows for plastic deformation of the martensitic phase. The analysis reproduces the moment-end rotation response, and the nucleation and evolution of the high strain diamond shaped patterns. Zones that develop such patterns exhibit accelerated growth of ovalization that degrades the local bending rigidity. In the presence of small geometric imperfections this degradation evolves into a buckle in the form of diffuse local ovalization that precipitates collapse that can negate the recoverable property of NiTi. Parametric studies show that as the tube D/t increases, the interaction between the material and geometric nonlinearities becomes stronger making buckling more imperfection sensitive.
Proteobiotics as a new antimicrobial therapy

Antibiotic resistance is a major concern for healthcare. The emergence of resistant bacteria has contributed to an increase in cost, morbidity, and mortality rates of patients. There is evidence to suggest that the inhibition of bacteria's virulence strategies would downregulate their pathogenesis and stop infections while also preventing more resistance. This concept became the backbone of many studies in the arena of human microbiome. Through probiotic studies, novel compounds were discovered that possessed antimicrobial activity. These have become labeled as proteobiotics, i.e. metabolites from probiotics. Proteobiotics have demonstrated the ability to interrupt bacteria cell-to-cell communication. Currently, there is one approved product containing proteobiotic technologies for swine showing positive outcomes.
Computational Methods for Single-Particle Cryo-EM

Single-particle electron cryomicroscopy (cryo-EM) is an increasingly popular technique for elucidating the three-dimensional structure of proteins and other biologically significant complexes at near-atomic resolution. It is an imaging method that does not require crystallization and can capture molecules in their native states. In single-particle cryo-EM, the three-dimensional molecular structure needs to be determined from many noisy two-dimensional tomographic projections of individual molecules, whose orientations and positions are unknown. The high level of noise and the unknown pose parameters are two key elements that make reconstruction a challenging computational problem. Even more challenging is the inference of structural variability and flexible motions when the individual molecules being imaged are in different conformational states. This review discusses computational methods for structure determination by single-particle cryo-EM and their guiding principles from statistical inference, machine learning, and signal processing that also play a significant role in many other data science applications.
Identifying Profiles of Patients With Bipolar I Disorder Who Would Benefit From Maintenance Therapy With a Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotic

People with bipolar I disorder experience an illness course marked by potentially disastrous manic episodes, disabling depressive episodes, and functional impairment. A frequent obstacle to wellness in these individuals is nonadherence to treatment. Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics have the potential to address nonadherence and thereby increase patients' chances at sustained recovery and normal psychosocial functioning. LAI formulations of 2 second-generation antipsychotics-aripiprazole monohydrate and risperidone-have received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration as monotherapy or adjunctive therapy to lithium or valproate for the maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder in adult patients. In a recent roundtable meeting, a panel of 4 experts discussed the use of these medications in bipolar I disorder. This Academic Highlights summarizes their discussion, which included the impact of functional impairment, the potential benefits of employing an LAI antipsychotic at earlier stages of bipolar illness, and the characteristics of patients who may be good candidates for treatment with an LAI antipsychotic.
Spliceosomal factor mutations and mis-splicing in MDS

Somatic, heterozygous missense and nonsense mutations in at least seven proteins that function in the spliceosome are found at high frequency in MDS patients. These proteins act at various steps in the process of splicing by the spliceosome and lead to characteristic alterations in the alternative splicing of a subset of genes. Several studies have investigated the effects of these mutations and have attempted to identify a commonly affected gene or pathway. Here, we summarize what is known about the normal function of these proteins and how the mutations alter the splicing landscape of the genome. We also summarize the commonly mis-spliced gene targets and discuss the state of mechanistic unification that has been achieved. Finally, we discuss alternative mechanisms by which these mutations may lead to disease.
Six-Sigma Quality Management of Additive Manufacturing

Quality is a key determinant in deploying new processes, products, or services and influences the adoption of emerging manufacturing technologies. The advent of additive manufacturing (AM) as a manufacturing process has the potential to revolutionize a host of enterprise-related functions from production to the supply chain. The unprecedented level of design flexibility and expanded functionality offered by AM, coupled with greatly reduced lead times, can potentially pave the way for mass customization. However, widespread application of AM is currently hampered by technical challenges in process repeatability and quality management. The breakthrough effect of six sigma (6S) has been demonstrated in traditional manufacturing industries (e.g., semiconductor and automotive industries) in the context of quality planning, control, and improvement through the intensive use of data, statistics, and optimization. 6S entails a data-driven DMAIC methodology of five steps—define, measure, analyze, improve, and control. Notwithstanding the sustained successes of the 6S knowledge body in a variety of established industries ranging from manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, and beyond, there is a dearth of concentrated application of 6S quality management approaches in the context of AM. In this article, we propose to design, develop, and implement the new DMAIC methodology for the 6S quality management of AM. First, we define the specific quality challenges arising from AM layerwise fabrication and mass customization (even one-of-a-kind production). Second, we present a review of AM metrology and sensing techniques, from materials through design, process, and environment, to postbuild inspection. Third, we contextualize a framework for realizing the full potential of data from AM systems and emphasize the need for analytical methods and tools. We propose and delineate the utility of new data-driven analytical methods, including deep learning, machine learning, and network science, to characterize and model the interrelationships between engineering design, machine setting, process variability, and final build quality. Fourth, we present the methodologies of ontology analytics, design of experiments (DOE), and simulation analysis for AM system improvements. In closing, new process control approaches are discussed to optimize the action plans, once an anomaly is detected, with specific consideration of lead time and energy consumption. We posit that this work will catalyze more in-depth investigations and multidisciplinary research efforts to accelerate the application of 6S quality management in AM.
Like Fetching Water with a Bucket Full of Holes": High-Profile Cases and Perceptions of System Failure."

High-profile trials are often held up as emblematic of social justice causes, but this often obscures rather than clarifies justice issues for the public. Trial outcomes may be seen as proxies of much deeper, structural problems, though media coverage routinely focuses on singular, criminal justice outcomes. This study uses a press analysis of two high-profile cases to investigate how these dynamics restrict our cultural understandings of justice outside the context of formal criminal justice responses. Specifically, we use three forms of media discourse to examine public discussion following the verdicts in the Stanford rape case in 2015 and the killing of Philando Castile by Officer Jeronimo Yanez in Minnesota in 2016. We find that both cases elicited diverse narratives, including those calling for alternative justice processes and penal populist ones. We explore these narratives under the framing of system failure, examining three different articulations. We conclude by theorizing the implications each case raises for how media negotiate ideas about what constitutes justice.
Siting Surface Infiltration-Based Stormwater Control Measures Using a Geographic Information Systems Approach

AbstractInfiltration-based stormwater control measures (SCMs) are commonly the preferred practice implemented to mitigate the hydrologic impacts of urbanization, such as increased surface runoff vo...
Use of Pre-operative Pharmacologic Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis for Robotic Partial Nephrectomy.

Objective To determine whether a single dose of preoperative enoxaparin for venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis impacts rates of thrombotic and bleeding events after robotic partial nephrectomy (RPNx). Methods A retrospective cohort study of RPNx patients from 2009 to 2020 was performed. Clinical characteristics and perioperative outcomes were compared between patients receiving a single dose of preoperative enoxaparin and those who did not. The primary outcome was 30-day hemorrhagic complications (transfusion ≥2 units, embolization, or reoperation for bleeding). Secondary outcomes were 30-day VTE events. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to control for significant differences between groups and to identify predictors of hemorrhagic complications among patients. Results Among 945 RPNx procedures, 794 (84%) received preoperative enoxaparin (PPx) and 151 (16%) did not (NPPx). The PPx cohort was older (P = .004), had lower BMI (P = .03), lower ASA class (P = .049), and fewer smokers (P = .03). Warm ischemia time was longer for PPx patients (P 0.05). Conclusion Similar rates of thrombotic and bleeding events occurred between patients receiving pharmacologic prophylaxis and those who did not. Single dose of preoperative enoxaparin did not significantly alter perioperative outcomes after RPNx.
Why BIPOC Fails

This Essay initiates a discussion about how we should critically examine which issues and data are most relevant to our arguments and advocacy efforts and how we should match language to the particular groups at the center of those priorities. This will mean aggregating groups at times, and naming them separately at others. This Essay argues that whether finding community through unity or standing separately to highlight distinctions, either of these options is better than utilizing the term BIPOC. Particular examples showcase the failures of the term BIPOC, both in theory and in practice, including ways in which it can be misleading, confusing, and contribute to the invisibility of the very groups that should be centered in particular contexts. Instead, allies, advocates, and academics should not simply use whatever term is currently in vogue but instead critically examine the language we use and carefully match it to our data, priorities, and conclusions.
An Introduction to Advanced Lung Disease

Chronic lung diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer, are common worldwide and among the leading causes of mortality. Other conditions such as interstitial lung disease (ILD), pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and chronic neuromuscular disease are less common but devastating in the impact they have on the patient’s quality of life and life expectancy. Regardless of the underlying disease, patients with pulmonary disease must manage symptoms including breathlessness, cough, weight loss, and emotional distress. Non-pulmonary comorbidities including sleep-disordered breathing, anxiety, and depression are common and often contribute to reduced quality of life in patients with chronic lung disease. This chapter will introduce common forms of chronic pulmonary disease and describe predictive models used to determine prognosis in each. We will highlight the unique set of symptoms present across these disease processes to highlight the importance of longitudinal palliative care in patients who suffer from chronic lung disease.
Pilot randomized active-placebo controlled double-blind trial of low dose ketamine for the treatment of multiple sclerosis-related fatigue (1642)

Objective: To determine the tolerability, safety, and efficacy of low-dose ketamine infusion for MS-related fatigue. Background: Fatigue is a common and disabling symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS). Intravenous administration of low-dose ketamine, a modulator of glutamatergic transmission might improve fatigue in patients with mood disorders. Design/Methods: In this double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, active placebo-controlled trial, 18 subjects with MS and reported fatigue received a single intravenous infusion of ketamine (0.5 mg/kg) over 40 min or midazolam (0.05 mg/kg). The primary outcome measure was change in Daily Fatigue Severity (DFS), a single question asking the participants to rate fatigue severity from zero (no fatigue) to 10 (the most severe fatigue) for seven days post-infusion. Secondary outcomes included fatigue severity scale (FSS), NeuroQoL-Fatigue, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), measured on days 7 and 14 and modified fatigue impact scale (MFIS) measured on day 28 post-infusion. We analyzed changes in all outcomes using generalized estimating equations. Results: 18 participants (aged: 45.7±11.3y; 61% male) were enrolled; 12 participants received ketamine, and 6 participants received midazolam. Side effects of ketamine were largely transient and included dizziness, numbness, euphoria, impaired concentration, and elevated blood pressure. There was no significant change in the DFS after seven days (difference in the rate of change in DFS score per day between ketamine vs. midazolam: −0.10 point; 95% CI: −0.32, 0.12; p=0.40). We observed a trend in improved FSS scores at 1-week (−6.5 points; 95% CI: −13.4, 0.41; p=0.07) and a significant improvement in MFIS score on day 28 post-infusion (−13.5 point; 95% CI: −23.5, −3.5; p=0.0008). ESS scores improved significantly (−2.2 point; 95% CI: −4.2, −0.2; p=0.04). No changes in Neuro-QoL fatigue or BDI-II were observed (both p>0.05). Conclusions: Ketamine infusions were safe and well-tolerated. Results suggest a potential role for modulators of glutamatergic pathways in the treatment of MS-related fatigue. Disclosure: Dr. Fitzgerald has nothing to disclose. Dr. Morris has nothing to disclose. Dr. Soroosh has nothing to disclose. Dr. Balshi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kaplin has nothing to disclose. Dr. Nourbakhsh has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Jazz Pharmaceutical.
Proton pump inhibitor-responsive oesophageal eosinophilia and eosinophilic oesophagitis: more similarities than differences.

Purpose of reviewThe purpose of this study is to discuss the clinical, endoscopic and histologic features, pathogenesis and disease mechanisms of proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-responsive oesophageal eosinophilia (PPI-REE), and to highlight similarities and differences with eosinophilic oesophagitis (E
Promoting Health in Early Childhood

Summary Children who are healthy early in life—from conception to age five—not only grow up to be healthier adults, they are also better educated, earn more, and contribute more to the economy. The United States lags behind other advanced countries in early childhood health, threatening both the health of future generations and the nation’s long-term economic viability. Moreover, unhealthy childhoods are not evenly distributed. An accounting of early childhood health in the United States reveals stark inequalities along racial/ethnic and socioeconomic lines. Because of the strong connection between early health and adult outcomes, early childhood offers a critical window to improve disadvantaged children’s life chances through evidence-based interventions and thereby to reduce inequality. Restricting her review to studies that can plausibly show causation, Maya Rossin-Slater examines the evidence behind a variety of programs and policies that target any of three groups: women at risk of getting pregnant, pregnant women, or children through age five. She finds that some programs and policies have failed to show consistent results. But the good news is that others are quite effective at improving early childhood health. The most successful include the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), universal immunization, and high-quality, center-based early childhood care and education. Economic analyses reveal that these programs’ benefits outweigh their costs, suggesting that public spending to support them is more than justified.
Studies in vitro on amino acid incorporation into purified components of rat liver mitochondria.

Abstract Several major protein components of the inner membrane were isolated from rat liver mitochondria after an incubation with (14C)leucine. No significant radioactivity was present in either the fraction containing the oligomycin-sensitive ATPase or that containing cytochromes b and c1. A variable amount of radioactive label was associated with a membranous preparation of cytochrome oxidase. After purification of this preparation to yield a highly purified and soluble cytochrome oxidase, however, a loss of radioactivity was observed. No counts were present in the two major bands observed after disc electrophoresis of the purified cytochrome oxidase. Three different methods were used to prepare a "structural" protein fraction which, in all three cases, appeared identical on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The two structural protein fractions prepared with the use of dilute acid were not labeled, while the structural protein fraction prepared with bile salts and ammonium sulfate fractionation contained 40% of the total counts of the intact mitochondria. The radioactivity present in the latter structural protein fraction was not, however, present in any of the major bands visualized after disc electrophoresis but was retained with the small amount of material at the origin of the gel. It would thus appear that rat liver mitochondria in vitro do not incorporate amino acids into the major proteins of the structural protein fraction, cytochromes b and c1, cytochrome oxidase, or oligomycin-sensitive ATPase. Radioactive amino acids are incorporated in vitro into a heterogeneous insoluble membranous fraction which contains less than 10% of the total mitochondrial protein. The radioactivity in this fraction is associated to a significant degree only with the two slowest moving bands observed on disc electrophoresis plus the material retained at the origin of the gel. These results suggest that the proteins labeled by rat liver mitochondria in vitro are among the largest and least soluble of those in the mitochondrion.
Error Propagation with Geographic Specificity for Very High Degree Geopotential Models

Users of high-resolution global gravitational models require geographically specific estimates of the error associated with various gravitational functionals (e.g., Δg N, ξ, η) computed from the model parameters. These estimates are composed of the commission and the omission error implied by the specific model. Rigorous computation of the commission error implied by any model requires the complete error covariance matrix of its estimated parameters. Given this matrix, one can compute the commission error of various model-derived functionals, using covariance propagation. The error covariance matrix of a spherical harmonic model complete to degree and order 2160 has dimension ∼4.7 million. Because the computation of such a matrix is beyond the existing computing technology, an alternative method is presented here which is capable of producing geographically specific estimates of a model’s commission error, without the need to form, invert, and propagate such large matrices. The method presented here uses integral formulas and requires as input the error variances of the gravity anomaly data that are used in the development of the gravitational model.
Preventive antibiotics in pediatric patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Background Treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) comes with a significant risk of life-threatening infection during periods of prolonged severe neutropenia. We studied the impact of preventive intravenous (IV) antibiotic administration at onset of absolute neutropenia on the incidence and outcome of life-threatening infections during treatment of childhood AML. Procedures This is a retrospective study on pediatric patients (aged 0–18 years) consecutively diagnosed with de novo AML and treated at a single institution from April 2005 through February 2013. Patients were treated on the Children's Oncology Group (COG) AAML0531 protocol or with a modified United Kingdom Medical Research Council (UK MRC) AML 10 regimen. Pertinent data were extracted from hard copy or electronic chart review. Results A total of 76 chemotherapy phases were analyzed from 29 patients. In each phase reported, preventive antibiotics were initiated when the daily absolute neutrophil count was <500 cells/mcl, before onset of fever. Seven episodes of bacteremia were documented with predominantly coagulase-negative staphylococci and viridans group streptococci. One infection-related death occurred, attributed to progressive respiratory failure occurring months after documented candidal pneumonia. Conclusions Initiation of preventive antibiotics at the onset of absolute neutropenia was associated with no mortality from bacteremia. This preventive approach appears feasible and safe. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:1149–1154. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.