cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phenylarsine Oxide Blocks Interleukin-1β–Induced Activation of the Nuclear Transcription Factor NF-κB, Inhibits Proliferation, and Induces Apoptosis of Acute Myelogenous Leukemia Cells

Arsenic compounds have recently been shown to induce high rates of complete remission in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). One of these compounds, As2O3, induces apoptosis in APL cells via a mechanism independent of the retinoic acid pathway. To test the hypothesis that arsenic compounds may be effective against other forms of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), we studied the membrane-permeable arsenic compound phenylarsine oxide (PAO). Because interleukin-1β (IL-1β) plays a key role in AML cell proliferation, we first tested the effect of PAO on OCIM2 and OCI/AML3 AML cell lines, both of which produce IL-1β and proliferate in response to it. We found that PAO inhibited the proliferation of both OCIM2 and OCI/AML3 cells in a dose-dependent fashion (0.01 to 0.1 μmol/L) and that IL-1β partially reversed this inhibitory effect. We then measured IL-1β levels in these cells by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western immunoblotting and found that PAO almost completely abolished the production of IL-1β in these AML cells, whereas it did not affect the production of IL-1 receptor antagonist. Because PAO inhibits activation of the transcription factor NF-κB and because NF-κB modulates an array of signals controlling cellular survival, proliferation, and cytokine production, we also studied the effect of PAO on NF-κB activation in AML cells and found that PAO suppressed the IL-1β–induced activation of NF-κB. Because inhibition of NF-κB may result in cellular apoptosis, we also tested whether PAO may induce apoptotic cell death in AML cells. We found that PAO induced apoptosis in OCIM2 cells through activation of the cystein protease caspase 3 and subsequent cleavage of its substrate, the DNA repair enzyme poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. The PAO-induced apoptosis was caspase dependent, because it was completely blocked by the caspase inhibitor Z-DEVD-FMK. Finally, we tested the effect of PAO on fresh AML marrow cells from 7 patients with newly diagnosed AML and found that PAO suppressed AML colony-forming cell proliferation in a dose-dependent fashion. Taken together, our data showing that PAO is an effective in vitro inhibitor of AML cells suggest that this compound may have a role in future therapies for AML.
Invisible Worlds and Criminal Trials The Cases of John Proctor and O.J. Simpson

For the judges, jurors, witnesses, and even the accused in Salem, that terrible summer of 1692, the Devil's handiwork seemed everywhereeven in the courtroom where John Proctor stood accused of bewitching Abigail Williams and her friends. If only a handful of people, most of them servant girls, swore to have seen Proctor consort with Satan or felt Proctor pinch and pummel them, the court and the country believed that the Evil One could give witches the power to leave their bodies behind and afflict the innocent.] For the "invisible world," the world of the Evil One, was a vast conspiracy. The Devil lurked in the darkness, at the edge of the woods or in the marshes, luring the weak and the malicious into his web. Witches gained their powers from him and hid their secret pact with him behind a false face of respectability.2 Juries in early modern England and New England heard tales of the invisible and weighed them carefully, for reports of ghosts and magical potions were circumstantial evidence and had the power to sway triers of fact. They all knew that "Ghosts came to people in the night, and trumpets blared, though no one saw the trumpeters." Phantom ships sailed on the mist and capricious sprites danced just beyond one's reach. "Voices spoke from heaven and children from their cradles."3 It was a world of wonders, and most of them were ominous. The invisible world spoke in the courtroom with the tongues of the possessed, the afflicted, and the bewitched.4
Multiprocessor Cache Analysis

In recent times multiprocessing has become a popular means of achieving performance levels that can far exceed those of single processors. The design of high-performance multiprocessors necessitates a careful analysis of the memory system performance of parallel programs. The common theme of this section is the increased understanding of the dynamics of large writeback caches in multiple processors with shared memory. The multiprocessor extension of ATUM for gathering multiprocessor traces and its implementation on a VAX 8350 multiprocessor is first described. Because the resulting parallel traces are dissimilar to the traces used in our single processor studies, and since we would like isolate the effects of multiprocessing on cache performance from the effects of multiprogramming, we will first repeat some single processor experiments with the new traces, and compare the effect of cache interference between multiple processes in both physical-addressed and virtual-addressed caches. Such a study is possible with the extended ATUM scheme because a complete virtual to physical address map is contained in the traces. The performance degradation due to cache interference between multiple processors is then analyzed. The improvement in cache performance if process migration is disallowed is evaluated. We also study semaphore usage and its effect on cache performance.
Sex-specific control of Drosophila melanogaster yolk protein 1 gene expression is limited to transcription.

Abstract The sex of Drosophila melanogaster is determined by a hierarchy of genes. The ultimate targets of this regulatory hierarchy are the genes encoding terminal differentiation products of one sex. For one of the best-characterized target genes, that encoding female-specific yolk protein 1 (YP1), sex-specific transcriptional controls have been clearly demonstrated. In addition, sex-specific posttranscriptional controls were suggested from experiments in which YP1 RNA was induced in males with hormones. To determine whether males can efficiently process and translate a transcript which is normally found only in females, we used a non-sex-specific promoter, the hsp70 gene promoter, to drive YP1 gene transcription in germ line transformed males. The efficiency of expression of the YP1 gene at levels of RNA splicing, translation, and protein secretion in these males was compared with that in wild-type females. These experiments show that there are no sex-specific posttranscriptional controls operating to limit the production of secreted YP1 in males. Promoters containing different numbers of heat shock elements were tested for their ability to drive YP1 gene transcription in males. These results show that incompatibility between the hsp70 gene heat shock elements and the YP1 gene promoter can be overcome by increasing the amount of hsp70 gene sequence up or downstream of the TATA box. In the course of this study, two vectors useful for placing genes under heat shock regulation were constructed. One of these vectors is designed so that the heat-induced transcript produced is the "authentic" primary transcript; it should be useful for studies of posttranscriptional regulation.
In-situ Studies of a Novel Sodium Flame Process for Synthesis of Fine Particles

This study focuses on the optical characterization of a novel method of forming nanoscale titanium and boron particles, which can be used to form ceramic precursors such as TiB2. TiCl4 or BCl3 reacts with heated Na vapor in a counterflow diffusion flame reactor. After Na strips the Ti or B of its Cl atoms, nanosize Ti or B particles form and become encased in NaCl, which helps to prevent agglomeration and oxidation. The two-dimensional spatial distribution of the Na dimer has been optically interrogated using planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) to clarify the influence of the concentration distributions and transport on particle formation rates.
Laboratory Errors in a Pediatric Emergency Department Network: An Analysis of Incident Reports.

OBJECTIVES To describe the types and severity of reported laboratory errors in pediatric emergency departments. METHODS Retrospective review of incident reports classified as laboratory errors from July 2007 to June 2008 within the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network. Laboratory testing errors recorded included: delayed results or lost specimen, unlabeled specimens, wrong patient, failure to label specimen correctly, and other. The severity of laboratory-related incidents was characterized using the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention severity classification system. Contributing factors were classified as environmental, equipment, human (employee), information technology systems, parent or guardian, or systems-based. RESULTS A total of 335 (42.2%) laboratory reports were related to events in the preanalytic phase. Involved staff personnel were identified in 345 of the reports (43.5%). Nurses were identified in 179 (22.6%) and physicians in 38 (4.8%). The majority of laboratory errors [408 (51.5%)] were not associated with harm; 138 (17.4%) patients were harmed by the error; 136 (98.6%) patients were temporarily harmed and required treatment, and 1 (0.7%) patient was hospitalized or had their hospitalization prolonged with the event. Human factors 657 (82.8%) were the most common contributing factor. CONCLUSIONS Laboratory errors are a common cause of safety events in the pediatric ED. Most events are preanalytic and involve problems with specimens that are improperly collected, mislabeled, or lost. Although most events were not associated with harm, there is potential for significant injury.
On a Collection of Crane-Flies (Tipulidae Diptera) from the Fiji Islands

The following crane-flies were included in material sent to Mr. Harry H. Knight by Dr. James F. Illingworth. The only published reference to the Tipulid fauna of these islands is included in Skuses Diptera of Australia (vol. IV, 2nd series, 1889) and his records are mentioned herewith. I am indebted to Dr. Illingworth and Mr. Knight for this material. The types are in the collection of the author.
Adult Pornography and Violence Against Women in the Heartland: Results From a Rural Southeast Ohio Study

Many rural parts of the United States are now "pornified." There is growing quantitative evidence revealing that rural women are at higher risk of being victimized by intimate violence than their urban and suburban counterparts. In-depth interviews with 55 rural southeast Ohio women who wanted to leave, were trying to leave, or were in the process of leaving, or who have left their male marital/cohabiting partners reveal that pornography is a major component of the problem of rural woman abuse. The main objective of this article is twofold: (a) to present the results of our qualitative study, and (b) to suggest future directions in theoretical and empirical work.
Foreword for the special issue of selected papers from the 7th EDBT/ICDT Workshop on Privacy and Anonymity in Information Society (PAIS 2014)

The seventh Workshop on Privacy and Anonymity in Information Society (PAIS 2014) was held in conjunction with the International Conference on Extending Database Technology (EDBT) and International Conference on Database Theory (ICDT) in Athens, Greece. The PAIS 2014 workshop provided an open yet focused platform for researchers and practitioners from fields such as computer science, statistics, healthcare informatics, and law to discuss and present current research challenges and advances in data privacy and anonymity research. The present special issue contains three extended papers that have been selected as the best three papers presented at PAIS 2014 workshop.
Staged Repair of an Aortic Pseudoaneurysm Secondary to Delayed Methylmethacrylate Plate Migration

Methylmethacrylate is a prosthetic material commonly used for the reconstruction of large chest wall defects. We present the first reported case of delayed methylmethacrylate plate migration, which resulted in an aortic pseudoaneurysm with aortopulmonary fistula. Treatment management, including staged repair combining endovascular and open approaches, is also discussed.
Legitimizing an Authoritarian Regime

History narratives have played an increasing role in political discourse in the Russian Federation over the past two decades (Bialer, 1989; Davies, 1997; Sherlock, 2007; Smith, 2002; Wertsch, 2002). This can be seen in political discourses, mass media, and “approved” course texts for schools. On May 15, 2009, President Dmitry Medvedev established a commission to investigate and analyze attempts to “falsify history against the interests of Russia.”
Handgrip Strength: A Population-Based Study of Norms and Age Trajectories for 3- to 17-Year-Olds.

Purpose:To provide normative values and equations for grip strength obtained from a population-based sample of individuals 3 to 17 years of age.Methods:This cross-sectional study used grip strength data from 2706 participants (49.2% males, 91% right-hand dominant) in the normative phase of the Natio
Soft lithography fabrication of index-matched microfluidic devices for reducing artifacts in fluorescence and quantitative phase imaging

Microfluidic devices are widely used for biomedical applications based on microscopy or other optical detection methods. However, the materials commonly used for microfabrication typically have a high refractive index relative to water, which can create artifacts at device edges and limit applicability to applications requiring high precision imaging or morphological feature detection. Here we present a soft lithography method to fabricate microfluidic devices out of MY133-V2000, a UV-curable, fluorinated polymer with low refractive index that is close to that of water (n = 1.33). The primary challenge in the use of this material (and fluorinated materials in general) is the low adhesion of the fluorinated material; we present several alternative fabrication methods we have tested to improve inter-layer adhesion. The close match between the refractive index of this material and aqueous solutions commonly used in biomedical applications enables fluorescence imaging at microchannel or other microfabricated edges without distortion. The close match in refractive index also enables quantitative phase microscopy (QPM) imaging across the full width of microchannels without error-inducing artifacts for measurement of cell biomass. Overall, our results demonstrate the utility of low-refractive index microfluidics for biological applications requiring high precision optical imaging.
The first postesophagectomy chest X-ray predicts respiratory failure and the need for tracheostomy.

Abstract Background Esophagectomy is a major surgical procedure associated with high rates of morbidity. The purpose of this study was to determine if the immediate first postesophagectomy chest X-ray (pCXR) is associated with morbidity or mortality. Methods This was a single-institution analysis of patients undergoing esophagectomy, 2005-2015. A pCXR was routinely performed. A pCXR score was developed based on the number of objective abnormal findings. A statistical analysis was performed using patient/tumor variables and the pCXR score to derive adjusted odds ratios (ORs) on short-term outcomes. Results One hundred eighty-two patients had pCXRs. Scores ranged from 0 (normal) to 4 depending on the number of abnormalities, with a mean score of 1.6. The mean patient age was 60.7 y. Within the cohort, 92.9% had adenocarcinoma, 39.6% had T3/T4 tumors, and 48.4% were node positive. Open surgeries were performed in 51.6%, and 74.2% had chest anastomoses. The 30- and 90-d mortality rates were 2.2% and 3.9%, respectively. Increasing pCXR scores were associated with increased risk of prolonged intubation (OR: 1.67, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21-2.36, P = 0.002) and tracheostomy (OR: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.08-4.16, P = 0.029). Multivariable analysis adjusting for age, comorbidities and performance status, histology, pathologic stage, surgical approach, and operative time confirmed a statistically significant association with the pCXR score and respiratory failure requiring tracheostomy (OR: 2.13, 95% CI: 1.03-4.39, P = 0.041). Conclusions This is the first study to show an association between the first pCXR and respiratory failure, providing new evidence that the first pCXR has important implications for pulmonary care after esophagectomy.
Development of therapeutics to maintain vaccine immunity following exposure to ionizing radiation.

Exposure to γ radiation from nuclear power plant disasters, terrorist acts, and medical procedures devastate the peripheral immune system, killing both naive and memory T cells. Although, naive T cells recover, memory T cells mediating vaccine immunity are permanently lost rendering a victim highly susceptible to infection. There is no treatment to globally preserve vaccine immunity following ionizing radiation exposure. We have recently published that CD8+ memory T cell responses to Listeria can be preserved in the aftermath of radiation exposure by revaccination within 3–4 days after irradiation. A correlation between survival and T cell activation prior to irradiation has been demonstrated in vitro. Comprehensive revaccination in a radiation mass casualty situation would be problematic from many perspectives. We are working to develop a therapeutic regimen to replicate the pro-survival effects of revaccination. Among the signaling pathways stimulated by T cell activation is the Akt “survival pathway” which inhibits apoptosis, and enhances the rate and fidelity of repair of damaged DNA. Agonists or inhibitors targeting the various receptors and signaling molecules that interact within this pathway may result in survival of memory T cells and are potential therapeutic candidates. In addition, revaccination rescue upregulates p21 mRNA. p21 is strongly anti-apoptotic, and enhances DNA strand break repair. In preliminary studies, a number of candidate therapeutics have been identified including nicotine, which virtually eliminates splenic Listeria in immunized and irradiated mice following challenge with wild-type bacteria. Testing is underway with nicotine patches which would provide an ideal method of administration.
Wireless Video Streaming for Ultra-low-power Cameras

Wireless video streaming has traditionally been considered an extremely power-hungry operation. Existing approaches optimize the camera and communication modules individually to minimize their power consumption. However, designing a video streaming device requires power-consuming hardware components and video CODEC algorithms which makes battery-free video streaming currently infeasible. Existing RF-powered wireless camera prototypes require extensive duty-cycling on the order of tens of minutes, to capture, process and communicate a single frame. Self-powered cameras can capture an image once every few seconds, but do not have the capability to stream video wirelessly. To understand this case, let us look at the different components in a video-streaming device 1(a): optical lens, video compression and communication. Optical lens is an array of photo-diodes connected to amplifiers and an ADC to translate the analog pixels into digital values. A video CODEC then performs frame compression to compress video, which is then transmitted on the wireless medium. Existing approaches optimize the camera and communication modules separately to minimize their power consumption. However, designing a video streaming device requires power consuming hardware components and video CODEC algorithms that interface the camera and the communication modules. We present the design of an ultra-low-power video streaming device 1(b). We create "analog" video backscatter system that does not use amplifiers, ADCs and AGCs. At a high level, we feed analog pixels from the photo-diodes directly to the backscatter hardware. We achieve this by connecting the antenna to an array of photo-diodes whose output voltage/impedance varies as a function of the pixel value; thus, eliminate power-hungry hardware components including amplifiers, AGCs and ADCs. Such an approach would have the added benefit that the video quality scales smoothly with a varying wireless channel, without the need for explicit rate adaptation. We present our video streaming architecture with more details in [1, 2]. We implement a prototype of our backscatter design on an ultra-low power FPGA platform using a 112 × 112 gray-scale random pixel access camera from CentEye, which provides readout access to the individual analog pixels. The prototype of our video streaming device burns as low as 2.36 mW while streaming live video at 13 fps. Our access point (AP) consist of two components. We use RTL2832U SDR to receive backsactter signal from the tag and Semtech SX1232 and SE2435L-EK5 power amplifier to generate helper signal. We demonstrate real-time display of video frames using Python scripts which interfaces with the SDR. We evaluate our prototype under different conditions to study its performance under different room lighting conditions and different distances from the access point. We can stream at 7-13 frames per second at distances of up to 27 feet from the AP. We show a video of our real-time demonstration in following link.
Early Biochemical Steps in Colony Stimulating Factor (CSF) Generation are Induced by Synergy between Phorbol Esters and Calcium Ionophores

In many secretory systems receptor triggering by agonists is followed by inositol phospholipid breakdown to diacylglycerol (DAG) and inositol triphosphate (InsP3). DAG activates protein kinase C (PK-C) and InsP3 mobilizes intracellular calcium. Both tumor promoting phorbol esters (TPA) which activate PK-C directly and calcium ionophores which mobilize intracellular calcium bypass inositol phospholipid breakdown. We recently reported that the interaction of TPA and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with murine bone marrow cells (BM) is followed by generation of CSF. Optimal generation occurs when TPA and LPS are added simultaneously. To determine whether generation of CSF requires activation of PK-C and calcium mobilization we tested the ability of A23187, a calcium ionophore, to replace LPS. BM and spleen cells were stimulated with TPA and A23187 and the supernatants were assayed for CSF by measuring 3H-thymidine incorporation into a CSF dependent basophil/mast cell line, PT-18. TPA and A23187 acted cooperatively to stimulate generation of CSF similar to the action of TPA and LPS. In addition, trimethoxybenzoate (TMB-8), an inhibitor of calcium mobilization, inhibited CSF production either by TPA and LPS or by TPA and A23187. Synthetic DAG was able to replace TPA in stimulating spleen cells together with A23187 to generate CSF. Generation of CSF by spleen cells can be inhibited by TMB-8 only when added to the cells up to 10 min after stimulation with TPA and A23187. Later addition of TMB-8 had no effect. The results reported suggest that calcium mobilization and activation of PK-C are early biochemical events in the sequence leading to the generation of CSF.
Host—Pathogen Interactions in the Immunopathogenesis of Lyme Disease

The immunopathogenesis of Lyme disease is complicated and requires a thorough understanding of the interaction among the causative organism, Borrelia burgdorferi, its tick vector, and its mammalian hosts. In vitro, animal and human studies have shown that the organism is capable of adapting to and utilizing elements from its environment to establish infection and persist despite a inducing a strong immune response. Indeed, the immune response may be responsible for many of the symptoms associated with Lyme disease. It appears that humoral immunity plays the greatest role in clearance of the organism. Cytokines released by Th 1 or Th 2 subsets of CD4+ cells have been shown to play an important role in determining outcome of the disease in animal models possibly through their effects on immuno-globulin class switching. In the small percentage of patients who have treatment resistant chronic Lyme disease, autoimmune mechanisms may play a role in persistant disease.
Fractonic matter in symmetry-enriched U ( 1 ) gauge theory

This study reveals the relation between symmetry restrictions on the mobility of quasiparticles and symmetry-enriched topological order, where the actions of translation and global symmetries on quasiparticle excitations do not commute. The approach is demonstrably fruitful as one can systematically classify $U$(1) gauge theories enriched by translation and certain global symmetry and identify new examples of fractonic matter. It is conjectured that all such theories can be constructed by gauging layered symmetry-protected topological phases.
Standard growth and diarrhea-associated growth faltering in captive infant rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta).

Reference growth studies of captive rhesus macaque infants have not accounted for diarrhea and the potential for growth stunting or growth faltering. Healthy infants without diarrhea could be used to build a standard growth chart and a tool used to detect growth faltering associated with diarrhea. We hypothesized infants who develop diarrhea during the first year of life would experience decreased linear weight gain compared to healthy infants, and we used healthy infants to establish standard growth of male and female infants. We hypothesized the lower 3rd percentile of standard growth would be cut-off criteria used in screening for diarrhea-associated growth faltering. Using a retrospective cohort of 6,510 infant weight records in a multiple linear regression, daily weight gain through the first year of life was determined by sex, housing type, and health status. Male standard growth was 4.1 g/day (95%CI: 4.0-4.2 g/day) in corrals and 4.7 g/day (95%CI: 4.5-4.8 g/day) in shelter housing. Female standard growth was 4.0 g/day (95%CI: 3.8-4.2 g/day) in corrals and 4.4 g/day (95%CI: 4.0-4.7 g/day) in shelter housing. Diarrhea was significantly associated with decreased linear weight gain by up to 34% during the first year of life. Odds of growth faltering of infants, defined as those falling below the 3rd percentile of standard growth, were at least 8.9 higher given a history of diarrhea compared to healthy. The growth faltering cut-off criteria had a sensitivity of at least 53% for males and females to screen for diarrhea in infants between 6 and 12 months in shelters housing. Interinstitutional collaborations of infant rhesus macaque weight records would refine the standard growth charts and cut-off criteria, and additional morphometric data would provide a more nuanced picture of growth stunting.
Improving surgical efficiency of immediate implant-based breast reconstruction following mastectomy

Traditionally, during a mastectomy with implant-based reconstruction, the surgical oncologist completes their operative procedure prior to the reconstructive surgeon entering the room. In this scenario, two separate instruments kits and tables are utilized. In our institution, we created a combined instrument kit for use by both surgical teams. We compared set-up and operative times for each process and the subsequent savings associated with this novel approach. Sixty-eight patients undergoing mastectomy with implant-based reconstruction were divided into two groups—those who underwent the procedure with separate oncology and reconstructive kits and those who underwent the procedure with combined instrumentation. Set-up time, procedure time, and clinical outcome endpoints were compared. Costs associated with each process were estimated. Surgical set-up time was lower using the combined kit versus separate kits [mean for unilateral cases, 25.1 ± 9.6 min vs. 35.7 ± 10.4 min (p < 0.01) and mean for bilateral cases, 33.1 ± 10.3 min vs. 43.5 ± 9.9 min (p = 0.31)]. Procedure time was significantly lower using the combined kit versus separate kits [mean for unilateral cases, 156.2 ± 31.7 min vs. 172.1 ± 33.0 min (p < 0.05) and mean for bilateral cases, 207.3 ± 39.3 min vs. 228. 8 ± 42.7 min (p = 0.03)]. Post-operative outcomes were not significantly different between the two groups at 6 months post-surgery (p = 0.72). Due to a decrease in operating room utilization and costs associated with instrumentation, we estimated $134,396 to $206,621 with unilateral cases and a $289,167 to $465,967 in yearly savings with bilateral cases by using the combined process. Mastectomy with implant-based reconstruction utilizing combined instrumentation, with surgeons working simultaneously, led to decreased operating room utilization and costs without impacting clinical outcomes. Level of evidence II
A proposal for augmenting the measurement of index events in PTSD assessment using event centrality

BACKGROUND: Standard practice in assessing and diagnosing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) entails identifying a single "worst" index event as the basis for symptom inquiry. Determining a single event can be challenging for clinicians and clients when multiple traumas are considered equally distressing. Additionally, it can be difficult to distinguish potential index events based on distress given the cumulative effect of repeated trauma exposure. This calls for the development of approaches that build on existing selection methods (e.g., worst event method). OBJECTIVE/CONCLUSIONS: In this article, we propose an innovative approach for identifying and measuring index events that utilizes the construct of event centrality to expand the parameters by which index events are selected. Event centrality assesses the degree to which traumatic events are perceived as integral to one's personal identity and worldviews. Given its role in the etiology and maintenance of PTSD symptoms, this construct also approximates the emotional impact of trauma. Incorporating validated measures of event centrality into PTSD assessments would provide an objective strategy for identifying index events in a way that may increase the reliability of diagnosis. Our proposed strategy may also have a positive impact on the therapeutic process and treatment outcomes.
Statistics, Probability, and a Failed Conservation Policy

Many sightings of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) have been reported during the past several decades, but nobody has managed to obtain the clear photo that is regarded as the ...
When Bourgeois Utopias Meet Gentrification: Community and Diversity in a New Urbanist Neighborhood*

AbstractScholars have recently begun to explore how social and politically liberal gentrifiers make sense of the classed and racial inequalities linked to gentrification. In this article I ask how ...
AN UNDERGRADUATE PROCESS CONTROL LABORATORY

A laboratory has been developed for use in an undergraduate control course. A single, bench scale apparatus is used which is capable of being configured in many ways to provide an entire quarters worth of laboratory experiments for each student or group of students. The apparatus is portable, self contained, and inexpensive. The software used in the course is a commercial product that uses icon as building blocks. Each icon represents a simple operation such as summing or integrating. From these blocks the students can easily build controllers - and in doing so are required to really understand the concepts being taught. The experiments run every week providing real experience with the concepts taught in the lecture and range from calibration and dynamic behavior into identification, frequency response behavior, SISO control, and finally MIMO control.
Racial Disparity in 30-Day Outcomes of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

There is evidence of racial disparity in the long-term weight loss outcomes of bariatric surgery. However, there has been a more limited evaluation of the impact of race on immediate perioperative outcomes. The aim of this study was to compare 30-day postoperative outcomes among different races. The 2016 Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) database was queried to identify patients aged ≥ 18 and body mass index ≥ 35 who underwent primary laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) with known information on race. We then evaluated the effect of five different races on four different 30-day outcomes. Of the total 106,932 patients (79.5% White, 19.3% African American (AA), 0.5% Asian, 0.4% American Indian or Alaska Native, 0.3% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander), 30-day rates of postoperative complication, readmission, re-intervention, and reoperation were 6, 3.8, 1.3, and 1.2%, respectively. After controlling for other covariates in multivariate logistic regression and selecting White as reference, AA was the only race associated with a higher risk of postoperative complications (odds ratio [OR] 1.13; confidence interval [CI] 1.06–1.2) and readmissions (OR 1.47; CI 1.3–1.6). AA and American Indian or Alaska Native were also associated with higher re-interventions (OR 1.31; CI 1.15–1.51 and OR 2.11; CI 1.03–4.34). Furthermore, AA was associated with lower 30-day reoperations (OR 0.83; CI 0.7–0.9). This study found significant racial differences in short-term outcomes following bariatric surgery. Factors underlying these disparities are unclear and warrant further investigation.
How to Use This Research

General summary discussion describes noticeable differences from Trinity study and conclusions drawn from success rate and scaling factor data for the base model. For the HECM research model, improved results over the base model are discussed by state, age, net worth range, and socioeconomic cohort groups. Then, the success of single and combined strategies involving Social Security delayed claiming and continuing to work after retirement and other strategies are analyzed for their contributions to annual income for the various cohort groups. Finally, five sample case studies are presented to demonstrate how the research can be used in actual retirement planning scenarios. Situations presented include downsizing by migrating to another state, pension payout options, delayed claiming of Social Security retirement benefits plus continuing to work, and using HECM as a backup.
Contemplating African art music: a reflection on the Akin Euba Symposium and Concert

(2019). Contemplating African art music: a reflection on the Akin Euba Symposium and Concert. Journal of the Musical Arts in Africa: Vol. 16, No. 1-2, pp. 163-171.
Prospective prediction of academic performance in college using self- and informant-rated personality traits

Abstract Five-factor personality ratings were provided by undergraduate freshmen, their parents, and their college peers as predictors of cumulative GPA upon graduation. Conscientiousness ratings were significant predictors of GPA by all three raters; peer ratings of Conscientiousness were the only significant predictor of GPA when self-, parent-, and peer-ratings of Conscientiousness were examined simultaneously. College major was a moderator of this relationship, with self- and parent-ratings of Conscientiousness correlating more strongly with GPA among Social Science majors and parent-ratings of Conscientiousness correlating less strongly with GPA among Science majors. These findings replicate existing research regarding the validity of informant ratings as predictors of behavioral outcomes such as academic performance, while emphasizing the importance of including multiple informants from various life contexts.
Food Safety Challenges and Barriers in Southern United States Farmers Markets

Purchasing fresh and local produce at farmers markets has seen an increasing trend over the past decade. However, with this rise in popularity food safety challenges need to be recognized and addressed. Farmers market managers play a significant role in ensuring that vendors implement food safety practices at the market. Thus, this study investigated the food safety perceptions of farmers markets managers and vendors in Texas and Arkansas. A total of 123 participants were surveyed, including 38 managers and 85 vendors. The survey included a series of questions to determine gaps in vendor and manager food safety knowledge as well as the barriers and factors that prevent the implementation of relevant food safety practices. The results indicate that a lack of facilities, equipment, and resources containing food safety guidelines specific to farmers markets were the major barriers to the implementation of food safety practices. In addition, only 36.7% of participants had formal food safety training (e.g., ServSafe) and approximately 50% of the market managers provided food safety materials to their vendors. Overall, these data suggest that the development of farmers market-specific training programs to enhance food safety behaviors and practices in farmers markets would be beneficial to stakeholders.
Using the General Linear Model to Improve Performance in fNIRS Single Trial Analysis and Classification: A Perspective

Within a decade, single trial analysis of functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) signals has gained significant momentum, and fNIRS joined the set of modalities frequently used for active and passive Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI). A great variety of methods for feature extraction and classification have been explored using state-of-the-art Machine Learning methods. In contrast, however, signal preprocessing and cleaning pipelines for fNIRS often follow simple recipes and so far rarely incorporate the available state-of-the-art in adjacent fields. In neuroscience, where fMRI and fNIRS are established neuroimaging tools, evoked hemodynamic brain activity is typically estimated across multiple trials using a General Linear Model (GLM). With the help of the GLM, subject, channel and task specific evoked hemodynamic responses are estimated, and the evoked brain activity is more robustly separated from systemic physiological interference using independent measures of nuisance regressors, such as short-separation fNIRS measurements. When correctly applied in single trial analysis, e.g., in BCI, this approach can significantly enhance contrast to noise ratio of the brain signal, improve feature separability and ultimately lead to better classification accuracy. In this manuscript, we provide a brief introduction into the GLM and show how to incorporate it into a typical BCI preprocessing pipeline and cross-validation. Using a resting state fNIRS data set augmented with synthetic hemodynamic responses that provide ground truth brain activity, we compare the quality of commonly used fNIRS features for BCI that are extracted from 1) conventionally preprocessed signals, and 2) signals preprocessed with the GLM and physiological nuisance regressors. We show that the GLM-based approach can provide better single trial estimates of brain activity as well as a new feature type, i.e., the weight of the individual and channel-specific hemodynamic response function (HRF) regressor. The improved estimates yield features with higher separability, that significantly enhance accuracy in a binary classification task when compared to conventional preprocessing - on average +7.4% across subjects and feature types. We propose to adapt this well-established approach from neuroscience to the domain of single-trial analysis and preprocessing wherever the classification of evoked brain activity is of concern, for instance in BCI.
Accommodation employment growth and volatility: Welcome aboard for a rocky ride:

This applied tourism research note considers employment growth and volatility in the hospitality industry, using hospitality, that is, lodging, as surrogate for the broader tourism economy. The res...
Retrospective Clinical Evaluation of Four Lateral Flow Assays for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a potentially life-threatening respiratory infection caused by severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), for which numerous serologic assays are available. In a CLIA laboratory setting, we used a retrospective sample set (n = 457) to evaluate two lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs; two iterations of Rapid Response™ COVID-19 Test Cassette, BTNX Inc.) and a subset of to evaluate SARS-COV-2 IgG/IgM Rapid Test, ACON Laboratories (n = 200); and Standard Q COVID-19 IgM/IgG Duo, SD BIOSENSOR (n = 155) for their capacity to detect of SARS-CoV-2 IgG. In a cohort of primarily hospitalized patients with RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19, the BTNX assays demonstrated 95% and 92% agreement with the Abbott SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay and sensitivity was highest at ≥ 14 days from symptom onset [BTNX kit 1, 95%; BTNX kit 2, 91%]. ACON and SD assays demonstrated 99% and 100% agreement with the Abbott assay at ≥ 14 days from symptom onset. Specificity was measured using 74 specimens collected prior to SARS-CoV-2 circulation in the United States and 31 cross-reactivity challenge specimens, including those from patients with a history of seasonal coronavirus infection and was 98% for BTNX kit 1 and ACON and 100% for BTNX kit 2 and SD. Taken with data from EUA assays, these results suggest that LFIAs may provide adequate results for rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2. Replicating these results in fingerstick blood in outpatient populations, would further support the possibility that LFIAs may be useful to increase access to serologic testing.
Immunogenicity of a Single Dose of SARS-CoV-2 Messenger RNA Vaccine in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients.

This study quantifies antispike protein antibody responses to first-dose messenger RNA (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccines in solid organ transplant recipients to better understand the immunogenicity of the vaccines in immunocompromised individuals.
Metabolic Disturbances and Endocrinology

Understanding the metabolic disturbances of the human body may seem daunting, but these drawings will make it a breeze! We begin with acid-base and electrolyte abnormalities, followed by diabetes and its complications. Illustrations guide you through thyroid diseases and vitamin deficiencies, concluding with primary adrenal insufficiency and Cushing’s syndrome.
Green Ports and Sustainable Shipping in the European Context

Ship emissions and emissions from the maritime industry, in general, are of great concern to various stakeholders due to their adverse impacts on climate change and the local community. Countries within the Europe (and also around the world) are developing strategies, technologies, and drafting laws and regulations for mitigating environmental impacts of the maritime industry. Air pollution from ship exhausts has a negative impact on the surrounding area of the ports and coastal zones. This chapter provides an overview of the green port and sustainable shipping practices within the European maritime transport network, which can be divided into three maritime regions—the North and Baltic Seas, Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. For these regions, we present the green port and shipping practices and relevant regulations for environmentally sustainable shipping. Furthermore, we propose a high-level conceptual framework for the implementation of the green port and shipping practices. Finally, we discuss some future research directions.
Costs and Constraints of Transporting and Storing Primary Energy for Electricity Generation

This article describes the fuel transportation and storage components of the supply chain for electricity. We focus on dispatchable generation based on transportable fuels. Coal has very flexible transportation and storage requirements. Natural gas requires pressurized pipelines and storage facilities; or it can be liquefied, then stored and transported at very low temperatures, and then revaporized. Biomass presents logistical challenges related to its relatively low energy intensity and seasonality of supply. We review ways to model the physical constraints and cost characteristics that govern the transportation and storage of these fuels and examine their implications for decision models in restructured electricity markets.
Transference of triplet state excitation energy from tyrosine to tryptophan. I. Amino acids in simple and mixed solutions.

Abstract Quantitative measurements have been made of the electron spin resonance energy absorption (signal height) of tyrosine and tryptophan triplet states, in simple and in mixed solutions. Calculations were also made for the relative signal heights of these amino acids in mixed solutions. Results were satisfactorily explained on the basis of a transfer of excitation energy from tyrosine to tryptophan, but only to nearest neighbors. The much larger distances over which this energy is transferred has suggested a different mechanism from the dipole-dipole interaction of Forster's. The dependence of the energy transfer probability on the inverse third power rather than the sixth power led to good agreement with experiment, and suggested a possible exciton mechanism.
Metotrexato y su Uso en el Tratamiento de Enfermedades Reumáticas

The authors review methotrexate use in Rheumatic Diseases, specially in Rheumatoid arthritis. Pharmacokinetics, efficacy, toxicity, and treatment monitoring of methotrexate are presented.
Nursing Home Capabilities and Decisions to Hospitalize: A Survey of Medical Directors and Directors of Nursing

OBJECTIVES: To obtain information from decision makers about attitudes toward hospitalization and the factors that influence their decisions to hospitalize nursing home residents. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Four hundred forty-eight nursing homes, 76% of which were nonprofit, from 25 states. PARTICIPANTS: Medical directors and directors of nursing (DONs). MEASUREMENTS: Participants were surveyed about resource availability, determinants of hospitalization, causes of overhospitalization, and nursing home practice. RESULTS: The survey response rate was 81%, with at least one survey from 93% of the facilities. Medical directors and DONs agreed that resident preference was the most important determinant in the decision to hospitalize, followed by quality of life. Although both groups ranked on-site doctor/nurse practitioner evaluation within 4 hours as the least accessible resource, they did not rank doctors not being quickly available as an important cause of overhospitalization. Rather, medical directors perceived the lack of information and support to residents and families around end-of-life care and the lack of familiarity with residents by covering doctors as the most important causes of overhospitalization. DONs agreed but reversed the order. Medical directors and DONs expressed confidence in provider and staff ability, although DONs were significantly more positive. CONCLUSION: Medical directors and DONs agree about most factors that influence decisions to hospitalize nursing home residents. Patient-centered factors play the largest roles, and the most important causes of overhospitalization are potentially modifiable.
New Awareness, New Populations, New Technologies, and New Ideas

Several articles in this issue of Journal of Dual Diagnosis excite us because they provide new directions in research that correspond to new levels of awareness, new populations, and new technologi...
User interface design in safety parameter display systems: direction for enhancement

The extensive installation of computerized safety parameter display systems (SPDSs) in nuclear power plants since the Three-Mile Island accident has enhanced plant safety. It has also raised issues of how best to ensure an effective interface between human operators and the plant using computer systems. It is suggested that developments in interface technologies since the existing generation of SPDSs was installed can contribute to improving display interfaces. These technologies include novel input devices (including mouse and trackball), three-dimensional displays, delay indicators, and auditory displays. Examples of how they might be applied to improve current SPDSs are given. >