cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PERIOPERATIVE ANESTHETIC MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH CARDIAC TRAUMA

Trauma is the leading cause of death in patients less than 40 years of age. 1 Injuries to the chest, great vessels, and heart are responsible for 25% of trauma-related deaths and are a contributing factor to an additional 25% of trauma-related deaths. In this group, immediate deaths are usually caused by a major disruption or laceration of the heart, aorta, or major arteries (Table 1). Early deaths caused by thoracic trauma (occurring up to 3 h after injury) are typically secondary to cardiac tamponade; airway obstruction; or uncontrolled, continuing hemorrhage. The estimated yearly incidence of trauma to the heart in multitrauma victims is 900,000 cases. It may be the most common unsuspected fatal visceral injury in victims of motor vehicle crashes (MVCs). This has particular implications for the anesthetic management of patients with noncardiac injuries that require surgical intervention. Because cardiac trauma is underdiagnosed, all patients with blunt or penetrating injuries to the upper chest or abdomen should be suspected of having cardiac injuries. Many subtle clinical and hemodynamic signs point to cardiac injuries, but all traumatic injuries may lead to cardiac tamponade. This article reviews the pathophysiology, clinical features, and management of selected cardiac injuries resulting from penetrating and blunt trauma.
Model-Based Cluster Analysis of Democracies

We apply model-based cluster analysis to data concerning types of democracies, creating an instrument for typologies. Noting several ad- vantages of model-based clustering over traditional clustering methods, we t a normal mixture model for types of democracy in the context of the majoritarian-consensus contrast using Lijphart's (1999) data on ten vari- ables for 36 democracies. The model for the full period (1945-1996) nds four types of democracies: two types representing a majoritarian-consensus contrast, and two mixed ones lying between the extremes. The four-cluster solution shows that most of the countries have high cluster membership probabilities, and the solution is found to be quite stable with respect to possible measurement error in the variables included in the model. For the recent-period (1971-1996) data, most countries remain in the same clusters as for the full-period data.
Genetic Algorithms in Search of Groundwater Pollution Sources

Genetic algorithms (GAs) are relatively new combinatorial search methods which have been used in the solution optimization problems, machine learning and general search problems in numerous fields [Goldberg, 1989; Holland, 1975, Davis, 1991]. In GAs the problem analyzed is conceptualized as a living environment and the computational process is formulated as an iterative-evolutionary process with similarities to evolution of biological systems. GAs may also be identified as iterative stochastic search processes based on the methods employed in the computational steps. In this algorithm, first a random initial population is generated and coded. Based on certain characteristics of this population, a new population is generated by means of three primary operations identified as “selection,” “crossover (mating)” and “mutation.” These three operations, in essence, simulate the mechanisms of natural selection and evolution. In these computations each member of the population, at every stage of the evolution, is a solution to the problem being analyzed. The goal in this evolutionary process is for the new population to have a higher “quality” than the previous one. In optimization problems the “quality” of a member of a population may be measured in terms of the value of the objective function. That is, every population will have a different objective function value and there are better populations which yield a maximum (minimum) value for the objective function. The iterative process of generation of new populations continues until the population converges on a suitable maximum or minimum value of the objective function evaluated. Once this is achieved the optimal solution of the problem is considered solved. Computational steps of this process will be briefly presented below.
Cyclin-mediated inhibition of muscle gene expression via a mechanism that is independent of pRB hyperphosphorylation

It was recently demonstrated that ectopic expression of cyclin D1 inhibits skeletal muscle differentiation and, conversely, that expression of cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) inhibitors facilitates activation of this differentiation program (S. S. Rao, C. Chu, and D. S. Kohtz, Mol. Cell. Biol. 14:5259-5267, 1994; S. S. Rao and D. S. Kohtz, J. Biol. Chem. 270:4093-4100, 1995; S. X. Skapek, J. Rhee, D. B. Spicer, and A. B. Lassar, Science 267:1022-1024, 1995). Here we demonstrate that cyclin D1 inhibits muscle gene expression without affecting MyoD DNA binding activity. Ectopic expression of cyclin D1 inhibits muscle gene activation by both MyoD and myogenin, including a mutated form of myogenin in which two potential inhibitory cdk phosphorylation sites are absent. Because the retinoblastoma gene product, pRB, is a known target for cyclin D1-cdk phosphorylation, we determined whether cyclin D1-mediated inhibition of myogenesis was due to hyperphosphorylation of pRB. In pRB-deficient fibroblasts, the ability of MyoD to activate the expression of muscle-specific genes requires coexpression of ectopic pRB (B. G. Novitch, G. J. Mulligan, T. Jacks, and A. B. Lassar, J. Cell Biol., 135:441-456, 1996). In these cells, the expression of cyclins A and E can lead to pRB hyperphosphorylation and can inhibit muscle gene expression. The negative effects of cyclins A or E on muscle gene expression are, however, reversed by the presence of a mutated form of pRB which cannot be hyperphosphorylated. In contrast, cyclin D1 can inhibit muscle gene expression in the presence of the nonhyperphosphorylatable form of pRB. On the basis of these results we propose that G1 cyclin-cdk activity blocks the initiation of skeletal muscle differentiation by two distinct mechanisms: one that is dependent on pRB hyperphosphorylation and one that is independent of pRB hyperphosphorylation.
Delusions, substance abuse, and serious violence

The objective of the study was to learn how delusions, substance abuse, and violence are related. The sample was 90 hospitalized patients with adequate descriptions of mental status when violent. Data sources were risk assessment based on record review and patient and staff interviews. The data include history of violence and substance abuse, diagnosis, and demographic and legal status. Delusions were definitely or questionably present in 73.3 percent and absent in 26.7 percent of violent episodes; 83.5 percent of delusionally violent patients had a history of substance abuse. These results support the importance of substance abuse in relation to violence by psychiatric patients. Delusions alone were infrequently related to violence, but when present appeared almost always to drive the violent behavior.
Credit Scores, Race, and Residential Sorting.

Credit scores have a profound impact on home purchasing power and mortgage pricing, yet little is known about how credit scores influence households' residential location decisions. This study estimates the effects of credit scores on residential sorting behavior using a novel mortgage industry data set combining household demographic, credit, and financial data with property location information and detailed community attribute data. I employ the data set to estimate a discrete-choice residential sorting model. I find that credit scores significantly predict residential sorting behavior and models that do not account for credit score provide biased estimates of housing utilities for black households in particular. Simulation results show that increases in credit score are associated with increases in the consumption of higher-priced homes in more expensive school districts, higher-quality public schools, and proximity to urban/metropolitan areas. © 2010 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
A rapid ontogenetic shift in the diet of juvenile yellowfin tuna from Hawaii

Within the tropical and subtropical oceans, tuna forage opportunistically on a wide variety of prey. However, little is known about the trophic ecology of the smallest size classes which play an important role in stock assessments and fisheries management. The foraging behavior of yellowfin tuna, Thunnus albacares (23.5–154.0 cm FL), collected from nearshore Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) around Oahu was studied using stable isotope and stomach contents analyses. Emphasis was placed on small juveniles. Yellowfin tuna changed their diets significantly between 45 and 50 cm forklength (ca. 1.5 kg). Smallest size classes fed on planktonic organisms inhabiting the shallow mixed layer, primarily larval stomatopod and decapod crustaceans, whereas larger tuna fed on teleosts and adult Oplophorus gracilirostris, a vertically migrating mesopelagic species of shrimp. When interpreting the variation in prey δ 15N values, we considered both their relative trophic position and δ 15N values of the nitrogen at the base of the food web. Based on the distinct diet shift of the yellowfin tuna, demonstrated by both isotope and stomach content analyses, we propose a critical mass threshold was reached at about 45 cm FL that enabled sufficient endothermic capability to allow tuna to access prey dwelling in deeper, colder water. These ontogenetic changes in foraging range and commensurate shift in diet of small tunas would affect their vulnerability to fishing pressure.
To layer or not to layer: balancing transport and physical layers in wireless multihop networks

In a wireless ad hoc network with multihop transmissions and interference-limited link rates, can we balance power control in the physical layer and congestion control in the transport layer to enhance the overall network performance, while maintaining the stability, robustness, and architectural modularity of the network? We present a distributive power control algorithm that couples with the original TCP protocols to increase the end-to-end throughput and energy efficiency of the network. Under the rigorous framework of nonlinearly constrained optimization, we prove the convergence of this coupled system to the global optimum of joint power control and congestion control, for both synchronized and asynchronous implementations. The rate of convergence is geometric and a desirable modularity between the transport and physical layers is maintained. In particular, when the congestion control mechanism is TCP Vegas, that a simple utilization in the physical layer of the router buffer occupancy information suffices to achieve the joint optimum of this cross layer design. Both analytic results and simulations illustrate other desirable properties of the proposed algorithm, including robustness to channel outage and to path loss estimation errors, and flexibility in trading-off performance optimality for implementation simplicity.
A Scientist-Practitioner Model of Psychological Assessment Implications for Training, Practice and Research

We propose a prototype for a scientist-practitioner model of psychological assessment that is a reformulation of the Pepinskys's model of the counselor-as-scientist. We integrate with the Pepinskys's model theory and research on human inference, judgment, and decision making, research on threats to accurate clinical prediction (e.g., confirmatory hypothesis testing), and findings about counselor characteristics associated with effective judgment processes (e.g., cognitive complexity). Issues related to counseling psychologists' application of research findings and use of scientific reasoning in counseling practice are explored, including implications for training, research, and practice.
An evaluation of steel scrap as a reducing agent in the galvanic stripping of iron from D2EHPA

A new process to remove iron from metallurgical process streams using solvent extraction techniques has been developed. The unique aspect of the process is the use of solid metal reductants directly in the organic phase, such as D2EHPA, as a means of selectively separating the undesired metal cation impurities. The process, called galvanic stripping, has been demonstrated on both beaker and bench scale continuous levels. Previous research focussed on using zinc or iron powders as the reducing agents. A recent study evaluated the use of steel scrap as a possible alternative that might enhance the process economics and product purity. A TBP modifier to the D2EHPA was also tested to determine the effect on process efficiency. The operating variables chosen for the study included reductant surface area, reaction time, diluents and ferric ion concentration in the organic. Once the pertinent parameters were identified by feasibility tests, an experimental design with statistical analysis was utilized to optimize overall process efficiency and iron removal.
Home monitoring with a modified automatic sphygmomanometer to detect recurrent atrial fibrillation.

Objectives: Detecting asymptomatic atrial fibrillation would help identify patients who would benefit from anticoagulation. This study examined the application of a modified blood pressure monitor to screen for episodes of atrial fibrillation. Methods: A modified sphygmomanometer was designed to detect atrial fibrillation. The device has a sensitivity near 100% and a specificity of up to 91%. Therefore, this device can be expected to detect all episodes of atrial fibrillation. However, the lower specificity may result in false-positive readings that could prompt unnecessary clinic visits for electrocardiogram confirmation of the rhythm. Outpatients in sinus rhythm with a history of atrial fibrillation were given the device to monitor their pulse regularity once daily to detect atrial fibrillation. Patients with irregular readings were evaluated with an electrocardiogram. Results: Nineteen patients were monitored at home for a period ranging from 5 days to 5 months. Seven patients had recurrent atrial fibrillation identified by the monitor. Nine patients had no irregular readings for a mean of 82 ± 40 days. Of 19 patients, 3 had false-positive irregular readings that were a result of sinus arrhythmia or ectopy. Conclusions: The device had an acceptably low false-positive rate allowing 16 of 19 patients to use it at home for long-term atrial fibrillation monitoring. This device may help prevent strokes by identifying patients with prolonged episodes of asymptomatic atrial fibrillation who are candidates for anticoagulation.
Expansion and Validation of a Predictive Model for the Growth of Bacillus Stearothermophilus in Military Rations

: Predictive models for the exponential growth rate (EGR) and germination, outgrowth, and lag times (GOL) of Bacillus stearothermophilus previously developed in our laboratory were expanded to include higher salt (1.5%) formulations. The expanded models were validated in 7 military meals-ready-to-eat incubated at temperatures from 45 °C to 60 °C, and tryptic soy broth incubated from 37.5 °C to 70 °C. The 95% prediction intervals for EGR were fail-safe in all the military rations tested. The 95% prediction intervals for GOL were failsafe in 5 of the 7 rations. The TSB results illustrate the dangers of using empirical models to predict microbial behavior outside the range of conditions under which the models were developed.
Functional Information: Towards Synthesis of Biosemiotics and Cybernetics

Biosemiotics and cybernetics are closely related, yet they are separated by the boundary between life and non-life: biosemiotics is focused on living organisms, whereas cybernetics is applied mostly to non-living artificial devices. However, both classes of systems are agents that perform functions necessary for reaching their goals. I propose to shift the focus of biosemiotics from living organisms to agents in general, which all belong to a pragmasphere or functional universe. Agents should be considered in the context of their hierarchy and origin because their semiosis can be inherited or induced by higher-level agents. To preserve and disseminate their functions, agents use functional information - a set of signs that encode and control their functions. It includes stable memory signs, transient messengers, and natural signs. The origin and evolution of functional information is discussed in terms of transitions between vegetative, animal, and social levels of semiosis, defined by Kull. Vegetative semiosis differs substantially from higher levels of semiosis, because signs are recognized and interpreted via direct code-based matching and are not associated with ideal representations of objects. Thus, I consider a separate classification of signs at the vegetative level that includes proto-icons, proto-indexes, and proto-symbols. Animal and social semiosis are based on classification, and modeling of objects, which represent the knowledge of agents about their body (Innenwelt) and environment (Umwelt).
Measurement, Optimization, and Impact of Health Care Accessibility: A Methodological Review

Despite spending more than any other nation on medical care per person, the United States ranks behind other industrialized nations in key health performance measures. A main cause is the deep disp...
Chronic exposure keratopathy complicating surgical correction of ptosis in patients with chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia

Abstract PURPOSE: To report chronic exposure keratopathy related to surgical ptosis correction in patients with chronic, progressive, external ophthalmoplegia. METHODS: Case reports of three patients with chronic exposure keratopathy following blepharoptosis surgery. RESULTS: We report three patients with chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia with chronic corneal complications after surgical ptosis repair. All three gave a history of blepharoptosis and extraocular muscle dysfunction. Each presented with chronic corneal ulceration. All had histories suggestive of ophthalmoplegia. Treatment of corneal ulceration necessitated hospitalization and surgical intervention. CONCLUSION: Patients with chronic, progressive, external ophthalmoplegia have little ability to properly protect the eye from exposure and are at risk for corneal damage. A thorough ophthalmic history and examination before ptosis surgery may prevent the corneal complications resulting from surgical intervention.
Targeting amino acid metabolism in cancer growth and anti-tumor immune response

Recent advances in amino acid metabolism have revealed that targeting amino acid metabolic enzymes in cancer therapy is a promising strategy for the development of novel therapeutic agents. There are currently several drugs in clinical trials that specifically target amino acid metabolic pathways in tumor cells. In the context of the tumor microenvironment, however, tumor cells form metabolic relationships with immune cells, and they often compete for common nutrients. Many tumors evolved to escape immune surveillance by taking advantage of their metabolic flexibility and redirecting nutrients for their own advantage. This review outlines the most recent advances in targeting amino acid metabolic pathways in cancer therapy while giving consideration to the impact these pathways may have on the anti-tumor immune response.
Discovering Non-compliant Window Co-Occurrence Patterns: A Summary of Results

Given a set of trajectories annotated with measurements of physical variables, the problem of Non-compliant Window Co-occurrence (NWC) pattern discovery aims to determine temporal signatures in the explanatory variables which are highly associated with windows of undesirable behavior in a target variable. NWC discovery is important for societal applications such as eco-friendly transportation (e.g. identifying engine signatures leading to high greenhouse gas emissions). Challenges of designing a scalable algorithm for NWC discovery include the non-monotonicity of popular spatio-temporal statistical interest measures of association such as the cross-K function. This challenge renders the anti-monotone pruning based algorithms (e.g. Apriori) inapplicable. To address this limitation, we propose two novel upper bounds for the cross-K function which help in filtering uninteresting candidate patterns. Using these bounds, we also propose a Multi-Parent Tracking approach (MTNMiner) for mining NWC patterns. A case study with real world engine data demonstrates the ability of the proposed approach to discover patterns which are interesting to engine scientists. Experimental evaluation on real-world data show that MTNMiner results in substantial computational savings over the naive approach.
Impact of electric vehicle charger on electric energy metering

An EV(Electric Vehicle) charger model including line impedance and distribution transformer is built,and its impact on the electric energy metering is simulated and analyzed for both DC large-power charging and pulse charging modes. Results show that,during the constant-current charging,EV charger injects harmonic power into power grid,which increases along with the increase of charging power and line impedance,but causes limited impact on the electric energy metering because the ratio of harmonic power to fundamental power is only 0.012 %;during the varying-power charging,the injected harmonic power is similar to that during the constant-current charging;during the pulse charging,the injected harmonic power is strongly affected by the frequency,when the frequency is high,the injected harmonic power contains more even-order harmonics and inter-harmonics,which causes the error of electric energy measured by the integral algorithm is larger than 0.5%.
Characteristic factor of solid rocket motor cases

The definition of characteristic factor of SRM cases was discussed.The analytical expressions of characteristic factor of the steel case and the filament-wound case were given respectively.The results show that characteristic factor of the case depends on not only specific strength of case material,but also dome structure of the case and length-to-diameter ratio of the cylinder.In addition,characteristic factor of the filament-wound case has also relation with volume fraction of the fiber.Therefore characteristic factor cann't be taken as performance parameter of the case material.Under the same other conditions,characteristic factor can be effectively improved by increasing the length of the cylinder.
Communications strategies for on-ship CDPC systems.

Background: Individual countries and international organisations have worked on standardising methods for on-ship prevention and control of communicable disease (CDPC). A number of voices have called for integrating the various aspects of maritime CDPC. Aim: The purpose of this article is to further conceptualise the totality of on-ship CDPC activity as an integrated system and to suggest a few strategies for communications in such systems. Materials and methods: The methods used to summarise standardisation and integration of ship-board CDPC procedures included a scientific literature review and a web search. The fields of the review were maritime, health, and technology sources. Special attention was paid to material dealing with communications methods and issues related to ship-board systems and methods to manage communicable diseases. Results and conclusions: Effective communications strategies are vital for the success of CDPC systems. I suggest some specific viewpoints and strategies to improve communications: (i) It is sometimes helpful to view the Constituent Relations Management (CRM) team as a system component. This view highlights the fact that an on-ship CDPC system will be well designed and maintained only if constituent relations are well designed and maintained. (ii) For rapid communications with appropriate groups of constituents, it is important to structure groups of constituents, with the ability to rapidly apply set-theoretic operations to those groups. (iii) Optimistic concurrency control is generally the appropriate general strategy for synchronisation of on-ship CDPC data locations and data storage types. This may be modified in special situations, in particular with a latest-update-wins policy for disease contraction data in an epidemic. (iv) To encourage traveller cooperation with CDPC efforts, cultural activities may be helpful.
Characterizing Runoff from Roads: Particle Size Distributions, Nutrients, and Gross Solids

AbstractParticulate matter, nutrients, and gross solids from roads contribute nonpoint-source pollution to waterways. To inform road runoff management, a field monitoring study was undertaken at eight road sites across North Carolina. Particle size distributions (PSD) of edge-of-pavement runoff samples were analyzed to understand the granulometry of the particulate matter. Knowledge of PSDs is critical when attempting to understand sediment fate and transport through stormwater control measures (SCMs), especially when the primary removal mechanism is particle settling. For 43 road runoff events, median particle size varied from 31 to 144 μm. The median PSD from hot mix asphalt (HMA) was 2.6% clay, 44.8% silt, and 52.6% sand. PSD was not correlated to roadway classification or ecoregion; however, PSD was significantly correlated to the presence of a permeable friction course (PFC) overlay, which is a layer of porous asphalt placed over traditional HMA. The median d90 for PFC (131 μm) was significantly smal...
Fear of missing out: Relationships with depression, mindfulness, and physical symptoms.

Concerns have been raised regarding the extensive use of social media sites by young adults and adolescents and the effects this use may have on their mental health and general functioning. However, definitions of health are expansive and diverse. In the present article we assess 3 broad areas of me
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Low-Risk Patients Within the Observational Study of Effectiveness of SAVR-TAVI Procedures for Severe Aortic Stenosis Treatment Study: Observing the Unobserved.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a novel, disruptive technology that is revolutionizing the management of patients with aortic stenosis (AS). The landmark Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valves (PARTNER) trial demonstrated that in patients with symptomatic severe AS who are not suitable for surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), TAVR significantly reduced the rates of death, with a number needed to treat only 5 patients to save 1 life at 5 years. In high-risk patients, the PARTNER trial demonstrated equivalent survival after TAVR using the Edwards Sapien balloon–expandable valve (Edwards Lifesciences, Corp, Irvine, CA) and SAVR although periprocedural risks differed with each procedure.1,2 Using the Medtronic self-expanding transcatheter heart valve (Medtronic, Inc, Minneapolis, MN), the CoreValve US Pivotal trial demonstrated the safety and efficacy of TAVR in extreme risk AS patients and superior survival with TAVR compared to SAVR in high-risk patients.3,4 These historic trials have generated unprecedented excitement and attention within the cardiology community. Cardiologists have eagerly pursued expanding indications, including, in large part, the expansion of this technology to healthier populations. Industry has also invested tremendously to rapidly address device pitfalls with novel transcatheter heart valve design iterations. Several valves are currently in development, and within a decade of the PARTNER trial, we are already commercially implanting third-generation devices. See Article by Rosato et al Soon after the completion of the aforementioned landmark trials, attention shifted to the use of TAVR in intermediate-risk patients. Multiple observational studies—primarily based on European centers—have attempted to elucidate comparative outcomes for TAVR and SAVR in intermediate-risk patients and have shown comparable short and midterm mortality between groups using propensity-score methodology.5–7 Piazza et al7 conducted an observational study derived from a large database (n=3666) of patients undergoing percutaneous and surgical AVR at 3 European …
Gender and Law in the Japanese Imperium. Edited by Susan L. Burns and Barbara J. Brooks. (Honolulu, HI: University of Hawai'i Press, 2014. Pp. vii, 301. $45.00.)

The editors of this thought‐provoking collection note the increased interest among academics in legal history and its implications for understanding the modernizing and colonizing world of the nine...
Rituals in gastrointestinal endoscopy at the crossroads of shaman and science.

Background and aim Over the last decades, the length of time required for endoscopic procedures has greatly expanded. The aim of the present decision analysis is to study the interactions amongst various factors that have caused such delays and to compare the relative magnitude of their influences. Methods Performance of gastrointestinal endoscopy is influenced by the interaction of five domains, that is, (1) patient discomfort and fear; (2) injury, disorder, and disruption; (3) rituals to reduce fear, prevent disruption, and maintain order; (4) administrators or various health providers carrying out a ritual; (5) information, knowledge, and science, which influence fear, prevent disruption, and curtail unnecessary ritualistic behavior. A Markov chain model is used to describe the interaction among the five domains. Results Overall, science exerts the strongest influence, followed by fear and ritual as distant second and third most relevant influences, respectively. Disruption and administrator exert only a minor influence on the system of mutual interactions. Conclusions Studying patterns of ritualistic behavior during endoscopy and subjecting them to means of scientific research could help eliminate redundancy, cutting unnecessary rituals, and thus making gastrointestinal endoscopy overall more efficient.
Using the artificial tracer e90 to examine present and future UTLS tracer transport in WACCM

AbstractLarge-scale tracer transport in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS) is investigated using simulations of the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM) over the period 1955–2099. The analyses are based on e90, an artificial passive tracer with constant emissions and atmospheric loss rates. The separate contributions of advection by the residual circulation, eddy mixing, and subgrid convection to total transport are explicitly evaluated. The results highlight distinct large-scale transport regimes in the tropics, characterized by efficient vertical tracer transport, and the extratropics, dominated by isentropic mixing. One novel result is the important role of vertical eddy mixing in the tropical upper troposphere. It is shown that interannual variability in e90 is largely driven by El Nino–Southern Oscillation and the quasi-biennial oscillation. The long-term trends emphasize a strong impact of a rising tropopause with climate change on UTLS dynamics and tracer transport. The...
An embedded single-cell impedametric positioning tracker in microfluidic deformability assays

The paper reports the integration of bioimpedance sensing and cell deformability assays in a unique microfluidic channel for label-free and image-free analysis of single-cell biophysical (biomechanical) attributes. The all-transparent microfluidic chip consists of a constriction channel and an array of embedded indium-tin-oxide (ITO) electrodes through which cell position can be tracked with high resolution. Therefore, information regarding cell transit times and velocities during cell deformation can be readily assessed without the use of video microscopy. The deformability chip is also unique in that it separates the delivery and sensing channel thereby preventing cell clogging. The performance of the chip has been verified by single-cell analysis of breast cancer cells.
Multicontrol Over Graphene–Molecule Hetereojunctions

The vertical configuration is a powerful tool recently developed experimentally to investigate field effects in quasi two-dimensional systems. Prototype graphene-based vertical tunneling transistors can achieve an extraordinary control over current density utilizing gate voltages. In this work, we study theoretically vertical tunneling junctions that consist of a monolayer of photoswitchable aryl azobenzene molecules sandwiched between two sheets of graphene. Azobenzene molecules transform between trans and cis conformations upon photoexcitation, thus adding a second knob that enhances the control over physical properties of the junction. Using first-principles methods within the density functional framework, we perform simulations with the inclusion of field effects for both trans and cis configurations. We find that the interference of interface states resulting from molecule–graphene interactions at the Fermi energy introduces a dual-peak pattern in the transmission functions and dominates the transpor...
Anandibai Joshi’s Passage to America (and More): The Making of a Hindu Lady Doctor

This chapter focuses on a landmark event: the making of an Indian lady doctor in nineteenth-century America. Many were the local actors and forces in British India and the United States—caste, social reform, anti-colonial nationalism, global evangelical networks, to name a few—whose synergy produced the conditions for the transnational emergence of Dr. Anandibai Joshi as the first Hindu-Brahmin woman to earn an M.D. degree. Joshi’s story dramatizes the complex and equivocal negotiations entailed by a high-caste woman’s aspiration to become a doctor in this era. The experiences she underwent before and after her passage to America illuminate how, against the greatest odds, she navigated gendered, racial, cultural, and geopolitical barriers to emerge as that then unheard of new being: “the high-caste Hindu lady doctor.”
Herpes Simplex Virus

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) are two of the eight known viruses that make up the human herpesvirus family. As with all herpesviruses, they are large, enveloped virions with an icosahedral nucleocapsid consisting of 162 capsomeres arranged around a linear, double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) core. The DNAs of HSV-1 and HSV-2 are largely colinear, and considerable homology exists between the HSV-1 and HSV-2 genomes. These homologous sequences are distributed over the entire genomic map, and most of the polypeptides specified by one viral type are antigenically related to polypeptides of the other viral type. This results in considerable cross-reactivity between the HSV-1 and HSV-2 glycoproteins, although unique antigenic determinants exist for each virus.
The what, when, and why of human prostate cancer xenografts.

Background Presently, ∼85 serially transplantable human prostate cancer xenografts spanning the phenotypic, epigenetic, and genetic heterogeneity seen clinically are available in a variety of laboratories throughout the world. If distributed to the prostate cancer research community, these can provide an experimental platform for resolving the specificity versus generalizability of basic cancer biology principles (eg, credentialing of therapeutic molecular targets) and for validating translational approaches for prevention, diagnosis, and therapy. Thus, there is an urgent need to distribute the already established serially transplantable human prostate cancer xenografts and to develop robust methods for establishing new ones. Methods To accelerate the development of such additional xenografts, particularly from patients treated with the newer standard of care agents (ie, abiraterone, enzalutamide, cabazitaxel, alpharadin, etc), a historic review of the field will be presented. Results Over the last 50 years, multiple groups throughout the world have developed methods for the successful establishment of serially transplantable human prostate cancer xenografts using a variety of immune deficient mice. These are summarized chronologically. Conclusions and future With the ever growing appreciation of the value of personalized medicine (aka precision medicine), methods need to be developed that allow efficient and timely growth of primary patient derived prostate cancer xenografts (PDXs), which can be used as "avatars" for defining optimal therapy for that specific patient. Such development should be based upon the leads obtained from the successful establishment of serially transplantable prostate cancer xenografts described in this review.
An integrated operational definition and conceptual model of asthma self-management in teens

Objectives: A previous definition of adolescent asthma self-management was derived from interviews with clinicians/researchers and published literature; however, it did not incorporate perspectives...
Work-Life Events Theory: Making Sense of Shock Events in Dual-Earner Couples

Dual-earner couples are increasingly prevalent and encounter demands arising from each partner’s commitment to various work and life domains. Unfortunately, there has been little theoretical progre...
Strategic Role of Information in Services

Within the past two decades a number of seminal articles and textbooks have been published that established service operations management as a field of study embracing all service industries. A marketing professor from Harvard (Levitt, 1972) is credited with the observation that service operations could be viewed from a manufacturing perspective. Using McDonald’s as an example of “manufacturing in the field” he proposed that services could adopt manufacturing concepts to insure the delivery of consistent service. The “customer contact model” (Chase, 1978) was the first and still most useful theory of service operations. More than a classification scheme, this theory with its “front and back office dichotomy” unlike manufacturing recognizes the customer as a participant in the delivery system. The implications for marketing and human resource management now became apparent.
Clinical Implications of MicroRNAs in AML

It is now established that deregulated microRNA (miRNA) expression is a prominent feature in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Subsequently, functional studies have shown that miRNAs play an important role in the pathogenesis of AML by acting as tumor suppressors or oncogenes. Recent data indicate that distinctive miRNA expression signatures are associated with chemotherapy response and clinical outcome and that targeting miRNAs in AML is a novel emerging therapeutic strategy. In this chapter, we will discuss the clinical application of miRNAs as biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis in AML and review the current strategies to target miRNAs in this disease.
Abstract 16593: Flecainide and R-Propafenone Annihilate Calcium Waves in Calsequestrin Null Ventricular Myocytes By Decreasing the Number of Subcellular Calcium Wave Initiation Sites

Background- Mutations in the genes that encode either the ryanodine receptors (RyR2) or calsequestrin (casq2) can lead to catecholaminergic-polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT), a Ca 2+ -triggered arrhythmia. We recently reported that the RyR2 open-channel blockers flecainide (FLEC) and R-propafenone (RPROP) reduce spark mass and prevent Ca 2+ waves in intact myocytes and CPVT in mice lacking calsequestrin (casq2-/-). We hypothesized that by decreasing spark mass FLEC and RPROP lead to a sub-threshold Ca 2+ signal that reduces the likelihood of activating neighboring RyR2, thereby reducing the number of initiation sites and, thus, the generation of Ca 2+ waves. Methods and results- To test this hypothesis, we characterized the initiation sites in an experimental model of Ca 2+ waves - permeabilized casq2-/- myocytes, and compared it against wild-type (WT) cells. We also quantified the effects of FLEC and RPROP on Ca 2+ wave initiation sites in casq2-/- cells. Myocytes were imaged in 2D mode using confocal microscopy. Initiation sites were defined as the sites where the initial burst and fusion of sparks originates a propagated Ca 2+ wave. Under control conditions ([EGTA]=0.05 mM, [Ca 2+ ] t =0.06 mM), casq2-/- myocytes exhibit initiation sites ranged between 1 and 4 (2.3±0.1 (n=21)), localized at the ends as well as on the lateral sides of the cell. The simultaneous activation of various initiation sites determines the confluence of robust Ca 2+ waves that enhances the propagation of the wave along the entire myocyte. In contrast, WT cells depict a significantly smaller number of initiation sites (between 1 and 2 (1.3±0.1 (n=15)). In WT the sites are localized predominantly at one end of the myocyte and their frequency of discharge is ~ 40 % lower compared to casq2-/-. When casq2-/- cells are exposed either FLEC (25 µM) or RPROP (25 µM) the number of initiation sites significantly decreased to approximately 60% of control values (FLEC=1.3±0.1 (n=15), RPROP=1.4±0.1 (n=9), p Conclusion- The data presented here suggest that the decrease in the number of initiation sites is an underlying mechanism responsible for the annihilation of Ca 2+ waves by FLEC or RPROP and, thus, for preventing delayed-after-depolarizations and ventricular arrhythmias.
9 Operating Room Positioning, Equipment, and Instrumentation for Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery

Proper use and understanding of a wide array of laparoscopic equipment and instrumentation greatly aid the team’s ability to meet the technical needs of more challenging operative situations. While not all of the technology presented in this chapter is necessary to complete these operations safely, they provide some examples of how to utilize technology and instrumentation to make bariatric cases run smoothly. New technology will undoubtedly emerge, adding enhanced efficiency and safety (see Appendix).
Audiology Telemedicine Evaluations: Potential Expanded Applications

There is underutilization of cochlear implants with delays in implantation linked to distance from implant centers. Telemedicine could connect cochlear implant specialists with patients in rural locations. We piloted telemedicine cochlear implant testing in a small study, largely composed of normal-hearing volunteers to trial this new application of teleaudiology technology. Thirteen subjects (8 with normal hearing and 5 with hearing loss ranging from mild to profound) underwent a traditional cochlear implant evaluation in person and then via telemedicine technology. Routine audiometry, word recognition testing, and Arizona Biological Test (AzBio) and consonant-nucleus-consonant (CNC) testing were performed. Mean (SD) percent difference in AzBio between in-person and remote testing was 1.7% (2.06%). Pure tone average (PTA), speech reception threshold (SRT), and word recognition were similar between methods. CNC testing showed a mean (SD) difference of 6.8% (10.2%) between methods. Testing conditions were acceptable to audiologists and subjects. Further study to validate this method in cochlear implant candidates and a larger population is warranted.
Provider and Recipient Perceptions and Utilization of Email in Healthcare

This study examines patient-provider email communication. Digital communication has changed the way people communicate but there is slow implementation of electronic communication in healthcare. A sample of 110 individuals was surveyed regarding their perceptions and utilization of electronic communication in healthcare. The current study found that 5.6% of healthcare providers contact recipients via email. The results show that 76% recipient participants feel positively toward email communication in healthcare; but only 44% of the healthcare providers feel positively toward provider-patient email communication. Finally the primary concerns surrounding electronic communication in healthcare are legal and privacy issues.
Revisiting the surrealist image

Although much has been written about Andre Breton’s concept of the Surrealist image, the present article examines a number of aspects that have so far escaped notice. In particular, it examines sev...
Programming with Timespans in Interactive Visualizations.

Modern interactive visualizations are akin to distributed systems, where user interactions, background data processing, remote requests, and streaming data read and modify the interface at the same time. This concurrency is crucial to provide an interactive user experience---forbidding it can cripple responsiveness. However, it is notoriously challenging to program distributed systems, and concurrency can easily lead to ambiguous or confusing interface behaviors. In this paper, we present DIEL, a declarative programming model to help developers reason about and reconcile concurrency-related issues. Using DIEL, developers no longer need to procedurally describe how the interface should update based on different input events, but rather declaratively specify what the state of the interface should be as queries over event history. We show that resolving conflicts from concurrent processes in real-world interactive visualizations can be done in a few lines of DIEL code.
CloneRetriever: retrieval of rare clones from heterogeneous cell populations

Background: Many biological processes, such as cancer metastasis, organismal development, and development of resistance to cytotoxic therapy, rely on the emergence of rare sub clones from a larger population. Understanding how the genetic and epigenetic features of diverse clones affect clonal fitness provides insight into molecular mechanisms underlying selective processes. However, identifying causal drivers of clonal fitness remains challenging. Population-level analysis has limited resolution to characterize clones prior to selection, while high-resolution single-cell methods are destructive and challenging to scale across large populations, limiting further functional analysis of relevant clones. Results: Here, we develop CloneRetriever, a methodology for tracking and retrieving rare clones throughout their response to selection. CloneRetriever utilizes a CRISPR sgRNA-barcode library that allows isolation of viable cells from specific clones within the barcoded population using a sequence-specific retrieval reporter. We demonstrated that CloneRetriever can measure clonal fitness of cancer cell models in vitro and retrieve targeted clones at abundance as low as 1 in 1,883 in a heterogeneous cell population. Conclusions: CloneRetriever provides a means to track and access specific and rare clones of interest across dynamic changes in population structure to comprehensively explore the basis of these changes.
Chapter Seven – Nonstructural Adaptation

Besides preparing successive assessment reports on the status of climate change, one of the central goals of the Intergovernment Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is to promote mitigation of climate change and adaptation to its adverse impacts. This chapter focuses exclusively on adaptation, primarily because Bangladesh contributes very little greenhouse gas emissions (less than 0.2% of total global emissions) and, therefore, any mitigation measures by it would not result in a meaningful reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Electron trajectories in the free-electron laser with a uniform magnetic field and a corrugated slow-wave structure

An iterative method is described for evaluating electron trajectories due to forces coming from a corrugated slow-wave structure and a uniform magnetic field. The objective of these evaluations is to characterize the free-electron laser capable of generating radiation in the far-infrared/microwave spectral region.