cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Controlling Chaos in Nonlinear Dynamical Systems

Controlling chaos is a new concept. In this article,we survey and comment on the recent rapiddevelopment in control, synchronization and anti-control of chaotic dynamical systems. We believe that thestimulating and promising research direction of chaos control has an attractive future in both theory andapplication. This new scientific challenge calls for further effort and endeavor from communities of mathematics,physics,engineering,and many other interdisciplinary areas.
Surgical closure of left coronary artery-left ventricular fistula: the second case reported in the literature and a review of the five previously reported cases of coronary artery fistula terminating in the left ventricle.

artery fistula terminating in the left ventricle Surgical closure of a left coronary artery-left ventricular fistula in a 44-year-old black man is reported. The fistula was discovered by coronary arteriography after the patient was admitted to the hospital complaining of recurrent chest pain. The fistula was closed with cardiopulmonary bypass, ischemic arrest, and hypothermia, and there was an uneventful postoperative recovery. The previously reported five cases of fistulas terminating in the left ventricle that were closed surgically are reviewed. Four of these cases originated in the right coronary artery and one in the left coronary artery. Three of the six patients were symptomatic at the time of discovery of the lesion. Cardiopulmonary bypass was necessary in five of the six cases. One patient died in the postoperative period from intractable hemorrhage. It is recommended that coronary artery fistulas be closed upon establishment of the diagnosis because of the sequelae if they are allowed to remain open; these include premature atherosclerosis, aneurysmal dilatation of the coronary artery, and congestive heart failure.
The Carbon Cycle 2: Reactions Under Reducing Conditions

This chapter first identifies the processes that lead to low-oxygen conditions in marine environments, then delves into various mechanisms that consume organic matter under hypoxic or anoxic conditions, considers the way these mechanisms result in vertical profiles of reactants and rates, and segues into a discussion of trajectories of extent and environments in which organic matter that survives microbial metabolism is sequestered away from circulation in the biosphere.
10Be and 26Al contents of eucrites: Implications for production rates and exposure ages

This paper presents the Be-10 contents of 20 and the Al-26 contents of nine eucrites. Most have Be-10 production rates between 16 and 26 dpm/kg. The average value of 21.8 dpm/kg agrees to within 10 percent with the value expected and does not support the suggestion that the eucrites received an unusually low flux of cosmic rays during the last few million years. Measured Be-10 and Al-26 contents are consistent with semiempirical calculations of nuclear production rates. The Al-26 contents provide a basis for computing shielding-corrected Ar-38 exposure ages of eucrites which show little evidence for clustering. Relatively more eucrites than diogenites are younger than 20 Ma.
334 Using social media to improve participation in a smoke alarm distribution and installation program

Background In 2014, residential fires caused 2745 civilian deaths in the United States (US) and almost 12,000 injuries. Smoke alarms are an effective intervention for reducing residential fire deaths. Innovative strategies are needed to improve the prevalence of working smoke alarms in homes. We used Facebook advertising to encourage participation in a free smoke alarm installation program in one US city. Methods As part of a larger evaluation of an enhancement to a smoke alarm distribution program, we developed three ads that ran on Facebook throughout October 2014 with a US$100 daily budget. The ads included three different images and a motivational message. The ads appeared on the news feeds and mobile news feeds of adult Baltimore City residents. Results The three ads delivered to desktop and mobile device news feeds resulted in 465,666 impressions and reached 130,264 discrete users (43% of those 300,000 users estimated to be eligible). Most users viewed the ads on a mobile device (99%). Of the Facebook users reached, 4,367 different users (3.4% unique click-through rate) clicked the ad. Some users clicked through more than once, resulting in 6,075 total clicks. Mobile devices yielded higher click-through rates than desktops (1.31% and 0.36% respectively). Of the 4,367 unique clicks, nearly all (4,357) came from mobile devices. The cost per impression was less than one cent. We spent two cents to reach each user, and 70 cents on each unique user who clicked on the ad. For those 25 participants who requested a smoke alarm installation and cited Facebook as their information source about the program, we spent $124 to achieve that target behaviour. Conclusions Facebook advertisements are a novel approach to promoting smoke alarms and appear to be effective in exposing individuals to a service program. However, converting Facebook message recipients into users of a smoke alarm installation program occurred infrequently.
Design of two transparent X band reflectarray antennas integrated on a satellite panel

This paper presents an integrating of highly transparent X band reflectarrays on the cover glass of solar panels. Optimal unit cell element, effect of the solar cell on the antenna, feed consideration, and final design data are presented. The overall transparency and aperture efficiency of the design are more than 90% and 40% respectively, making it a promising solution as a high gain conformal satellite antenna.
Simultaneous Loss of NCKX4 and CNG Channel Desensitization Impairs Olfactory Sensitivity.

In vertebrate olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs), Ca 2+ plays key roles in both mediating and regulating the olfactory response. Ca 2+ enters OSN cilia during the response through the olfactory cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channel and stimulates a depolarizing chloride current by opening the olfactory Ca 2+ -activated chloride channel to amplify the response. Ca 2+ also exerts negative regulation on the olfactory transduction cascade, through mechanisms that include reducing the CNG current by desensitizing the CNG channel via Ca 2+ /calmodulin (CaM), to reduce the response. Ca 2+ is removed from the cilia primarily by the K + -dependent Na + /Ca 2+ exchanger 4 (NCKX4), and the removal of Ca 2+ leads to closure of the chloride channel and response termination. In this study we investigate how two mechanisms conventionally considered negative regulatory mechanisms of olfactory transduction, Ca 2+ removal by NCKX4 and desensitization of the CNG channel by Ca 2+ /CaM, interact to regulate the olfactory response. We performed electroolfactogram (EOG) recordings on the double mutant mice, NCKX4 -/- ;CNGB1 ΔCaM , that are simultaneously lacking NCKX4 (NCKX4 -/- ) and Ca 2+ /CaM-mediated CNG channel desensitization (CNGB1 ΔCaM ). Despite exhibiting alterations in various response attributes including termination kinetics and adaption properties, OSNs in either NCKX4 -/- mice or CNGB1 ΔCaM mice show normal resting sensitivity, as determined by their unchanged EOG response amplitude. We found that OSNs in NCKX4 -/- ;CNGB1 ΔCaM mice displayed markedly reduced EOG amplitude accompanied by alterations in other response attributes. This study suggests that what are conventionally considered negative regulatory mechanisms of olfactory transduction also play a role in setting the resting sensitivity in OSNs. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Sensory receptor cells maintain high sensitivity at rest. Although the mechanisms responsible for setting the resting sensitivity of sensory receptor cells are not well understood, it has generally been assumed that the sensitivity is set primarily by how effectively the components in the activation cascade of sensory transduction can be stimulated. Our findings in mouse olfactory sensory neurons suggest that mechanisms that are primarily responsible for terminating the olfactory response are also critical for proper resting sensitivity.
Primary Hyperparathyroidism in the Pediatric Patient

Primary hyperparathyroidism is caused by a malfunction intrinsic to the parathyroid gland’s ability to respond to serum calcium levels appropriately resulting in over-secretion of PTH and downstream multi-organ responses, which in turn increase serum calcium above the normal level. Children are more likely to present with symptoms of hypercalcemia including bone pain from resorption, urolithiasis/nephrolithiasis, and nonspecific signs such as fatigue and muscle weakness. Neonatal severe hyperparathyroidism is caused by homozygous mutations of the CaSR gene resulting in complete insensitivity of the gland to serum calcium. Early diagnosis has drastically improved survivability of this disease. PHPT in the pediatric population is most commonly caused by a single adenoma. Multi-gland disease is often associated with a genetic syndrome such as MEN1, MEN2A, or FHH. Ultrasonography, thallium-technetium dual-isotope scintigraphy, and Tc99m-sestamibi have allowed for the localization of the majority of these single adenomas and accurate disease localization has allowed for the development of directed minimally invasive parathyroid surgery as a favorable alternative over the traditional bilateral central neck exploration. While the data are sparse regarding MIP in the pediatric population, extrapolating from the risk profile in adults, it offers a less morbid treatment option.
Study Site Characterization

This chapter is an overview of the main site characterization requirements at landscape-scale sampling locations. The overview is organized according to multiple “Site Attribute” headings that require descriptions throughout a given study site area, leading ultimately to a sufficient overall site characterization. Guidance is provided to describe the major site attributes similarly across landscape-scale locations so that inter-site comparisons can be facilitated.
Conventional vs Single Port Approaches to Laparoscopic Colectomy

Multiple multicentered randomized clinical trials confirming the safety, efficacy and benefits of laparoscopy have arguably made minimally invasive surgery the new standard of care for colon resection. Both European and American multicenter randomized clinical trials (RTC) demonstrate improved short-term and comparable long-term outcomes with laparoscopic versus open colon resection [1–7].
Pre-Steady-State Kinetics of Catalytic Intermediates of an [FeFe]-Hydrogenase

[FeFe]-hydrogenases catalyze the reversible production of hydrogen gas from protons and electrons, but the mechanism of catalysis is still the subject of debate. In this report, we describe a pre-steady-state photoreduction methodology for correlating putative intermediates to the reactivity of an [FeFe]-hydrogenase from Thermotoga maritima. In this method, MV+ is rapidly formed photochemically by pulsed laser excitation and the intermolecular ET and active site dynamics are followed by nanosecond time-resolved visible and infrared spectroscopy, respectively. The results kinetically validate the Hox, Hred, and Hsred intermediates, strongly supporting a vast body of literature on their involvement in proton reduction.
Model-driven design & synthesis of the SHA-256 cryptographic hash function in ReWire

There are many algorithms whose implementations can benefit both from hardware acceleration and formal verification and we would like to develop high assurance implementations as rapidly as possible. Critical computing infrastructure like cryptographic algorithms are prime candidates both for such acceleration and for formal verification. We show how to derive a verifiable, hardware-accelerated implementation of the SHA-256 cryptographic hash in the ReWire functional hardware description language in which the hardware-software partitioning of the implementation is reflected in the type system itself.
Value First: Comments on Mohan Matthen's ‘The Pleasure of Art’

ABSTRACTWhile I welcome Mohan Matthen's insistence that art is connected to aesthetic pleasure, I worry about his commitment to viewing pleasure as prior to, and constitutive of, the value of art. I raise my reservations by (i) dispelling his criticism of the reversed explanatory direction, and (ii) showing problems for his commitment. As an alternative, I offer an account of pleasure that explains it in terms of the independent value of art—an account that is free of the problems Matthen raises against this explanatory approach.
Conceptualizing the African child as orphan and vulnerable: A label in need of redefinition?:

Despite the decline in AIDS-related deaths worldwide, the consequence of the disease continues to be felt. This is exemplified in the unprecedented numbers of adult deaths and inability of the exte...
Insulin in the Central Nervous System

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of insulin in the central nervous system (CNS). Immunohistochemical studies have been employed to visualize the localization of peptide hormones in the brain and other tissues. Before hypothesizing synthesis of insulin in nonpancreatic tissues, one must determine with some accuracy the insulin concentrations in tissues such as the brain of various species or in IM-9 lymphocytes, or of non-guinea pig insulin in guinea pig tissues. If the concentrations are no more than a few percentage points of the levels initially reported by the NIH laboratory, then some explanation should be given for the erroneously high concentrations that were earlier reported. The absence of mechanisms in nonendocrine cells for the complex processing of insulin precursors to the 6000-dalton peptide and the absence of proinsulin in the extracts of the variety of tissues reported from the NIH laboratory suggest that the insulin found in these extracts was ultimately derived from pancreatic insulin.
Traces of Intertwiners for Quantum Groups and Difference Equations

In this Letter we study twisted traces of products of intertwining operators for quantum affine algebras. They are interesting special functions, depending on two weights λ,μ, three scalar parameters q,ω,k, and spectral parameters z 1,...,z N , which may be regarded as q-analogs of conformal blocks of the Wess–Zumino–Witten model on an elliptic curve. It is expected that in the rank 1 case they essentially coincide with the elliptic hypergeometric functions defined by Felder and Varchenko. Our main result is that after a suitable renormalization the traces satisfy four systems of difference equations – the Macdonald–Ruijsenaars equation, the q-Knizhnik–Zamolodchikov–Bernard equation, and their dual versions. We also show that in the case when the twisting automorphism is trivial, the trace functions are symmetric under the permutation λ ↔ μ, k ↔ ω. Thus, our results generalize those of Etingof and Schiffmann, dealing with the case q=1, and Etingof, Varchenko, and Schiffmann, dealing with the finite-dimensional case.
Real Effects of Information Frictions: When the States and the Kingdom Became United

Abstract This paper exploits a unique historical experiment to estimate how information frictions distort international trade: the establishment of the transatlantic telegraph in 1866. I use newly collected data on cotton prices, trade, and information flows from historical newspapers and find that the average and volatility of the transatlantic price difference fell after the telegraph, while average trade flows increased and became more volatile. Using a trade model in which exporters use the latest news about a foreign market to forecast expected prices, I estimate the efficiency gains of the telegraph to be equivalent to 8 percent of export value. (JEL D83, F12, F14, L96, N71, N73)
The impact of facility case volume on overall survival in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma in the targeted therapy era.

590Background: Prognosis of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) has significantly improved in the targeted therapy era. We aimed to investigate whether higher facility case volume (FCV) is associated with improved overall survival (OS) for mRCC. Methods: Patients diagnosed with mRCC from 2006-2012 were identified in the National Cancer Database. FCV was determined by the total cases of renal cell carcinoma (metastatic and non-metastatic) at each treating facility. Multivariable Cox regression model was used to investigate the association between FCV and OS. Covariates adjusted for were treatment modalities [targeted therapy, cytoreductive nephrectomy, and metastasectomy], tumor characteristics and patient sociodemographics. Results: There were 18,571 mRCC patients included in this study. The mean follow-up time was 13.2 months (median: 6; interquartile range: 2.3-17.9). After adjusting for baseline characteristics including treatment modalities (table), every increment of 100 FCV of the treating facili...
Hypocupremia induced Encephalomyelopathy with CSF Oligoclonal Bands (P5.412)

Objective: NA Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated central nervous system (CNS) demyelinating disorder, and diagnosis is dependent on dissemination of CNS lesions in time and space. Not uncommonly, a patient only meets partial diagnostic criteria and the clinician may turn to cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) analysis for additional information. In particular, CSF oligoclonal bands (OCBs) are present in the majority of MS patients and can be suggestive of an MS diagnosis. However, OCBs are not specific to MS and may occur in other CNS inflammatory disorders. Design/Methods: We describe an unusual case of a 46-year old Caucasian man with a history of bariatric surgery resulting in chronic hypocupremia, who was given a diagnosis of MS based on multiple neurologic complaints, abnormal T2 signal within the spinal cord and elevated CSF OCBs. After 3 years of refractory symptoms on MS disease modifying therapy, he presented to our institution for a second opinion. Serum copper and ceruloplasmin levels were significantly low and he also had a mild neutropenia. In our opinion, his presentation was not consistent with MS but rather with hypocupremia associated encephalomyelopathy. His neurologic symptoms and neutropenia resolved following intravenous copper administration. Results: NA Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of hypocupremia associated encephalomyelopathy in conjunction with elevated CSF OCBs. In addition, we discuss the relevant literature regarding a possible relationship between copper levels and inflammation. Disclosure: Dr. Dunn-Pirio has nothing to disclose. Dr. Shah has nothing to disclose. Dr. Skeen has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Biogen, Novartis, Celgene, Mallinckrodt, genentech and genzyme. Dr. Skeen has received research support from Novartis and Abbvi.
Neuromodulation for Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Novel Techniques -Vagus Nerve Stimulation, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, and Deep Brain Stimulation

The last two decades have seen the development of several neuromodulation techniques that have been applied to the problem of severe, medication-refractory depression – notably vagus nerve stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, transcranial direct current stimulation, and deep brain stimulation. The four techniques are here reviewed from the standpoint of the hardware involved, the techniques of application, the biological effects of the stimulation on the brain (with an emphasis on neuroprotection), and the results obtained in neuropsychiatric disorders to date. Vagus nerve stimulation involves stimulation of the vagus nerve in the cervical region via an electrode encircling the nerve, with that stimulation resulting in effects on many regions in the brain. Transcranial magnetic stimulation uses a focused magnetic field to induce, through the intact skull, electrical stimulation in a specific region of the brain. Transcranial direct current stimulation induces a small current in a portion of the brain, also through the intact skull, via cathode and anode electrodes placed on the scalp. Deep brain stimulation employs a small number of electrodes (usually two – one for each hemisphere) placed through hole(s) in the skull into a specific brain nucleus; the effect of deep brain stimulation as it is presently performed is to reversibly ablate the function of that nucleus or region. Given the rapid developments in the neural-electrical interface, anticipated future developments in deep brain stimulation are considered as well.
"El cortacaras": presentación y edición crítica de un entremés de Agustín Moreto y Cavana

El objeto de estas paginas es proponer unas pautas para el analisis en textos espanoles de la cohesion y la coherencia, aplicables a la practica docente, y facilitar una informacion convenientemente actualizada y lo mas integradora posible, que ayude a organizar la abundante bibliografia disponible. Como punto de partida, se abordan las consecuencias que tiene concebir el texto como unidad de analisis linguistico. En segundo lugar, se situa del modo mas esquematico posible el lugar que ocupan la cohesion y la coherencia en la organizacion del texto. En ese marco, se repasan los principales mecanismos que se asocian a cada una de estas propiedades, particularmente a la cohesion, al tiempo que se proponen unas pautas de analisis que concreten las distintas observaciones que se iran haciendo.
Cognitive Enhancers in Exposure Therapy for Anxiety and Related Disorders

Although exposure-based therapies have demonstrated effectiveness in the treatment of anxiety and related disorders, there remain a significant number of individuals who do not respond or only show partial response even after an adequate course of the treatment. Recent research suggests that augmentation agents can enhance the core learning processes of exposure-based therapy, thus potentially improving treatment response and maintenance of gains in the long-term. This chapter provides an overview of the current state of cognitive enhancers for the treatment of psychological disorders, particularly in the realm of anxiety.
The Generation of Residual Stresses in Metal-Forming Processes

Metal-forming processes commonly generate non-homogeneous plastic deformation in the workpiece so that the final product is left in a state of residual stress. These stresses may be detrimental or beneficial to the strength and reliability of the product in subsequent service (certain metal-forming processes are designed to produce beneficial residual stresses). In order to be able to evaluate the residual stresses in the product, a complete stress analysis of the workpiece throughout the process is needed and this calls for elastic-plastic analysis, for the more common rigid-plastic theory of forming cannot in principle yield stresses in the rigid regions which include the product. The analysis of stress and deformation distributions on the basis of elastic-plastic theory at finite strain is described and applied to the extrusion process using the finite element method. Examples of residual stresses generated, including the important steady state situation, are presented which illustrate the influence of the configuration of the die and the influence of large and small area reductions.
Influence of Humidity and Actuation time on Electromechanical Characteristics of Ionic Polymer-Metal Composite Actuators

Abstract This paper experimentally investigates the effects of humidity and actuation time on the electromechanical properties of Ionic Polymer-Metal Composites (IPMC) to improve the practical applications of using the IPMCs as soft biomimetic sensors and actuators. The experiments are conducted in both the open atmosphere (uncontrolled environment at room temperature) and inside a controlled environmental chamber under different input voltages (in term of wave shape, value, and frequency). Results show that the IPMC’s electromechanical properties, namely the deformation capacity and electrical resistance, highly depend on the water content (in the IPMC strip and environment) and the duration of actuation. The Deflection and current of the tested IPMC samples can be represented by an exponential time function were an exponent value decreases with increasing the humidity. IPMC deformation capacity decreases while material electrical resistance increases during activation session. Increasing relative humidity to more than 50% reduces the drying effect on the IPMC deformation capacity and resistance. Also, the IPMC material shows a relaxation behavior for a step voltage input, which can be related to the back immigration of the hydrated cations from the anode to the cathode due to higher pressure at the anode side of the IPMC strip.
A Peculiarity in the Parity of Primes

We create a simple test for distinguishing between sets of primes and random numbers using just the sum-of-digits function. We find that the sum-of-the-digits of prime numbers does not have an equal probability of being odd or even. The authors know of no reason why prime numbers should bias themselves towards a particular parity in their sums of digits, but our empirical tests show a very strong bias; strong enough that we are able to devise a test to reliably differentiate between collections of prime numbers versus random numbers by looking only at their sums of digits. We are also able to create similar tests for products of primes. We are even able to test "tainted" sets with mixtures of primes and random numbers: as the percentage of (randomly chosen) prime numbers in a set of random numbers is varied, we get a reliable, linear change in our parity measure. For example, when we add up the digits of prime numbers in base 10, their sum is significantly more likely to be odd than even. This effect persists across base changes, although which parity is more common might change. Note that the last digit being odd in base 10 simply reverses the parity. We have tested this for the first fifty million primes -- not primes up to 50,000,000, but the first 50,000,000 prime numbers -- and have found that this effect persists, and does so in a predictable manner. The effect is quite significant; for 50,000,000 primes in base 10, the number of primes which have an odd sum-of-digits is about an order of magnitude farther away from the mean than expected. We have run multiple tests to try and understand the source of this bias, including investigating primes modulo random numbers and adjusting for Chebyshev's bias. None of these tests yielded any satisfactory explanation for this phenomenon.
Dependency Model for Visible Aquaphotomics

The main idea of this research is the extension of the aquaphotomics method to the visible range of the spectrum. Already known as a fact that each chemical element has a unique pattern in the absorption of electromagnetic radiation. Such a structure is a spectrum bands absorbed by an element and is called its ‘fingerprint’. The fingerprint section is presented in a wide range of spectrum, including the visible part. Absorption in the visible spectrum provides unique information about the elements or compounds present in water. This allows to analyze the concentration of microparticles and chemical elements in water due to changes in the molecular water system, presented in the form of a spectral picture of water. The results presented in this paper prove the existence of a correlation between some parameters of water and its spectral characteristics.
Climate change and abiotic stress mechanisms in plants

Predicted global climatic change will perturb the productivity of our most valuable crops as well as detrimentally impact ecological fitness. The most important aspects of climate change with respect to these effects relate to water availability and heat stress. Over multiple decades, the plant research community has amassed a highly comprehensive understanding of the physiological mechanisms that facilitate the maintenance of productivity in response to drought, flooding, and heat stress. Consequently, the foundations necessary to begin the development of elite crop varieties that are primed for climate change are in place. To meet the food and fuel security concerns of a growing population, it is vital that biotechnological and breeding efforts to harness these mechanisms are accelerated in the coming decade. Despite this, those concerned with crop improvement must approach such efforts with caution and ensure that potentially harnessed mechanisms are viable under the context of a dynamically changing environment.
Prospects for Mycopathogens in Thrips Management

With the need to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides, there is increasing interest in the exploitation of biological control agents for use in integrated pest management strategies. Of the biocontrol options considered for thrips, entomopathogenic fungi are particularly attractive candidates. The incidence of entomogenous fungi in thrips populations, and the efficacy of certain species against thrips in laboratory and greenhouse trials is documented. These data indicate the great potential Hyphomycete fungi have for use as mycoinsecticides in thrips suppression programs but highlight the lack of experimental work specifically directed toward their proper use. Steps necessary to develop fungal agents for thrips management are addressed in light of investigations on thrips and other insect pests, and recent advances in fungal technologies. Future research should aim to develop a better understanding of the complex interrelationships between the pest, pathogen and the environment. The role of molecular biology in the advancement of mycopathogens as practical control agents is briefly discussed.
Powering-Up Primary Care Teams: Advanced Team Care With In-Room Support

Primary care teams are underpowered. Teams do not maximally redistribute team functions when clinicians are diverted from activities where they add the most value. This commentary describes “advanced team care with in-room support” as a way to “power-up” primary care teams. In this core team model, each clinician is paired with 2 or 3 highly trained medical assistants or nurses—care team coordinators (CTCs).Early evidence suggests that this model is more satisfying to clinicians, staff, and patients and is financially sustainable. Yet its spread has been hobbled by several misguided beliefs, such as that the physician can and should do most tasks, that technology replaces people, that health care is a transactional endeavor more than a therapeutic relationship, that regulation is the main lever by which to advance quality, and that the principal way to increase net revenue is to reduce overhead. A shift in mindset is needed to energize primary care.
Challenges and Strategies for Conducting Research With Grandparent-Grandchild Dyads.

Background Given a marked increase in the number of grandparents who play a caregiving role for their grandchildren, there is a parallel urgency for more research involving grandparent-grandchild dyads. Objective The aim of this study was to describe methodological challenges we encountered when conducting grandparent-grandchild dyadic research, some of which were challenges specific to working with dyads where the grandparents were caregivers to the child participants and others, which were challenges of a sort that might be encountered in any research involving data collection with multigenerational family units and, in particular, multigenerational family units including older adults. Methods During and after an observational study conducted by the researchers involving grandparent-grandchild dyads, we explored challenges we encountered and strategies for improving our research outcomes. Results We found several challenges specific to grandparent-grandchild dyads, including complications with reaching legal guardians to obtain permission for child participants; collecting accelerometer data from grandchildren was difficult, particularly if the grandparents did not live with their grandchildren; and participants who had various preferences for data collection methods. We also found challenges that might be found with any family context dyadic research, particularly involving older adults and across multiple generations, including relatively low follow-up response rates from those grandparents who initially expressed interest and a need for an extended data collection period. We employed targeted strategies to overcome those obstacles, and in this article, we describe the outcomes of those strategies. Discussion Recommendations from our results include the following: (a) find a way to involve the parents and/or legal guardian as early as possible, (b) have multiple team members involved in recruitment/data collection, (c) be flexible about data collection methods, (d) use flexible scheduling, and (e) use multiple simultaneous recruitment activities/multiple advertisement channels. Additional strategies include enhancing children's sense of control during the consent process, simplifying study procedures, considering usability when creating online data surveys, and identifying power dynamics within the families. Conclusion The insights we gained will be useful for informing future family context dyadic research, in particular, research involving grandparent-grandchild dyads.
Ultrasonic spot welding of dissimilar Al 6022 and Al 7075 alloys

Abstract Al 6022 and Al 7075 aluminum alloy sheets were joined via ultrasonic spot welding (USW). Due to mechanical and thermal cycles during USW, both diffusion and mechanical mixing facilitated the formation of welded interfaces. Grain refinement occurred in the top sheet due to high temperature severe plastic deformation and resultant dynamic recrystallization, while in the bottom sheet, grain coarsening was observed due to significant heat input. The alloying element, Zn, in Al 7075 diffused into Al 6022 during USW, and diffusion behavior varied with selection of top sheet. The fracture mechanism during lap shear testing, i.e. debonding or pullout fracture, varied based on welding power, time, and selection of top sheet. Stress concentration during lap shear testing of spot welded samples was simulated using finite element analysis.
Comparative Study on Different Techniques for Fencing and Monitoring Moisture Content of Soil

An automated irrigation system is developed to optimize the usage of water for agriculture crops. The automated system saves up to 90% compared to traditional irrigation practices. Because of its autonomous energy and low cost, the system has the potential to use water efficiently. In this paper, we are reviewing different techniques used for fencing and monitoring moisture content of the soil in agriculture fields. This paper stresses on the need for a cloud-based platform to manage database and android application. The data is sent to the microcontroller and is given to the server. The processed data would be stored in a database, further allowing the data to be interpreted simply and flexibly. A small compact autonomous system is developed and makes use of solar power. With the help of a wireless sensor, the data is collected and stored in a database for further consultation and analysis. The proposed system is capable of recognizing any unauthorized entry and provides realtime surveillance. The user will be alerted by sending an SMS to the mobile phone via GSM communication if anything goes wrong.
Stress-Induced Behavioral Quiescence and Abnormal Rest-Activity Rhythms During Critical Illness.

Objectives: To characterize acute alterations of circadian and ultradian rest-activity rhythms in critically ill patients and their association with brain dysfunction, systemic multiple organ dysfunction, and melatonin rhythms. Design: Prospective study observing a cohort for 48 hours beginning within the first day of ICU admission. Setting: ICUs within an academic medical center. Patients: Patients presenting from the community with acute onset of either intracerebral hemorrhage or sepsis as representative neurologic and systemic critical illnesses. Healthy control patients were studied in the community, during hospital bedrest, and during sleep deprivation. Interventions: None. Measurements and main results: Circadian and ultradian characteristics of rest-activity patterns were measured by wrist actigraphy, severity of neurologic and systemic illness by Glasgow Coma Scale and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment, and central circadian rhythm by melatonin profile. We studied 112 critically ill patients, including 53 with sepsis and 59 with intracerebral hemorrhage, along with 53 control participants. Total daily activity was markedly reduced and rest-activity rhythmicity was undetectable, neither of which was replicated by hospital bedrest in healthy controls. Circadian rest-activity rhythm fragmentation and attenuation and ultradian disorganization was associated with Glasgow Coma Scale and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment in adjusted models. Rest-activity rhythms showed no detectable phase coherence with melatonin rhythms. Conclusions: Critically ill patients rapidly enter a state of behavioral quiescence proportionate to their illness severity with concomitant disturbance of circadian and ultradian rest-activity rhythms and loss of phase coherence with the melatonin rhythm. Quiescence characteristics in rest-activity rhythms were not different in patients with and without delirium, suggesting them to be distinct phenomena. Animal models of severe physiologic stress have shown that specific neural pathway separate from the sleep-wake regulatory pathway induce behavioral quiescence and rest-activity arrhythmia, and facilitate recovery of cellular homeostasis. Whether quiescence is a conserved protective response pathway in humans is not yet understood.
Measuring the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Transport Target and Accessibility of Nairobi’s Matatus:

The urban Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) includes the target to provide “access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all” by 2030. However, debate exists around...
Remediation in developing countries: A review of previously implemented projects and analysis of stakeholder participation efforts

In developing countries, remediation projects are predominantly implemented in areas with imminent risks due to human exposure routes. Projects experience challenges due to funding constraints deri...
Effect of casein kinase 2 (CK2) inhibitors on antitumor activity of cisplatin in an isogenic pair of sensitive and resistant ovarian tumor cell lines

3268 Wild-type p53 is found in about 40% of ovarian cancers that are clinically refractory to platinum-based therapy, and this is counter-intuitive based on the central apoptotic role of this tumor suppressor. We have reported that in such cancers, wild-type p53 induced by cisplatin is unable to transactivate p21, which may be the molecular mechanism responsible for the resistance phenotype. Literature reports suggest that expression of the protein kinase CK2 may downregulate p21 expression, and, therefore, the possibility was explored that inhibitors of CK2 may restore cisplatin sensitivity by facilitating p21 induction. In our studies, we used sensitive A2780 ovarian tumor cells and its isogenic cisplatin-resistant 2780CP model that demonstrated an IC50 by MTT for cisplatin of ~0.2 µM and ~10 µM, respectively. In contrast, 2780CP cells demonstrated a reduced level of cross-resistance to the CK2 inhibitors DRB (5,6-dichloro-1-β-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole; IC50: A2780, 3.7 µM vs. 2780CP, 9.6 µM) and emodin (2.2 vs. 3.6 µM). When A2780 cells were pre-treated with DRB at an IC10 level (1 µM), and then exposed to cisplatin 24 h later for MTT analysis following a 5-day continuous exposure, the IC50 of cisplatin surprisingly was increased at least 2-fold. A similar upward shift in IC50 of cisplatin by DRB (5 µM) or emodin (3 µM) was also observed in 2780CP cells, and this demonstrated that the increased resistance was unrelated to initial cisplatin sensitivity or cell context. In studies to examine scheduling effects, simultaneous exposure of 2780CP cells to cisplatin and emodin also increased the IC50 of cisplatin when compared to cisplatin alone (17 vs 10 μM), but if these cells were pre-exposed to an IC10 level of emodin for 24 hr and washed before exposure to cisplatin, or if exposure to emodin was delayed 24 hr after adding cisplatin to cell cultures, then the IC50 of cisplatin remained unchanged (8.7 vs 9.3 μM; 7.8 vs 8.8 μM). Thus, our results demonstrate that, contrary to expectations, CK2 inhibitors DRB and emodin increase resistance to cisplatin, and, therefore, caution needs to be exercised when combining these inhibitors with this platinum drug. The possibility raised from scheduling studies that this increased resistance is due to interference by the inhibitors of cellular cisplatin uptake is being examined. Thus, it is possible that more specific and potent inhibitors of CK2 may be required to examine the concept of a viable combination with cisplatin to overcome resistance.
Trends and outcomes of thoracic endovascular aortic repair with open concomitant cervical debranching.

Abstract Objective Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has become the most common surgical procedure for treatment of descending thoracic aortic pathology. Cervical debranching in the form of carotid–subclavian bypass or transposition (CSBT) and carotid–carotid bypass (CCB) has enabled the use of TEVAR for the treatment of more complex anatomy involving the arch. The present study examined the effects of concomitant cervical bypass on the perioperative outcomes of TEVAR. Methods The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program files (2005-2017) were reviewed. Using the Current Procedural Terminology codes, all patients who had undergone TEVAR were identified and were divided into three groups: TEVAR, TEVAR with one bypass (CSBT or CCB), and TEVAR with two bypasses (CSBT and CCB). The patient characteristics and perioperative outcomes of the three groups were compared. Multivariable analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with mortality. Results A total of 3281 patients had undergone TEVAR and 10% had also undergone one or more debranching procedure (one bypass, 9%; two bypasses, 1%). The frequency of debranching had increased from 3.4% to 10.9% (P = .01) during the study period. Significant differences were found among the three groups in age, sex, smoking history, urgency of surgery, and anesthesia technique. The patients who had undergone TEVAR with cervical debranching had had significantly greater morbidity, longer operating times, and longer hospital stays compared with those who had undergone TEVAR alone. The mortality of TEVAR with two bypasses (22.6%) was significantly greater than that of TEVAR alone (7.5%) and TEVAR with one bypass (6.8%; P Conclusions TEVAR with concomitant cervical debranching has been increasingly used to treat complex aortic pathology but is associated with significantly worse outcomes than TEVAR alone. As advanced endovascular technology to treat the aortic arch emerges, the outcomes of open surgical debranching in the present study constitute an important benchmark for comparison.
CARD8 is an inflammasome sensor for HIV-1 protease activity.

HIV-1 has high mutation rates and exists as mutant swarms within the host. Rapid evolution of HIV-1 allows the virus to outpace the host immune system, leading to viral persistence. Approaches to target immutable components are needed to clear HIV-1 infection. Here, we report that the CARD8 inflammasome senses HIV-1 protease activity. HIV-1 can evade CARD8 sensing because its protease remains inactive in infected cells prior to viral budding. Premature intracellular activation of the viral protease triggered CARD8 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis of HIV-1-infected cells. This strategy led to the clearance of latent HIV-1 in patient CD4+ T cells after viral reactivation. Thus, our study identifies CARD8 as an inflammasome sensor of HIV-1, which holds promise as a strategy for clearance of persistent HIV-1 infection.
How the COVID-19 Pandemic Has Demonstrated a Need for Increased Leadership Education in Medicine

The healthcare system in the United States has been taxed in various ways throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, stressing healthcare facilities to their breaking point. This has forced decision-makers in healthcare to make difficult choices, highlighting the need for effective leadership. However, there are little intentional leadership development curricula in medical education. Leadership skills can be taught and acquired similar to other skills in medical school, and we believe medical education institutions should cultivate these skills in their trainees. We hope that this will help inspire change in medical education curricula to intentionally teach and develop leadership skills in their students.
An Assessment of the Effectiveness of Structural Adjustment Policies in Costa Rica

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of Costa Rica's experiences with the Structural Adjustment Policies (SAPs) demanded by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It critiques the neoclassical economic theory underlying these policies, and gives an evaluation of the efficacy of these policies. The major problems caused by SAPs and export-led growth are increased trade deficits by encouraging imports through their emphasis on free trade and tariff reductions, the latter of which also have reduced government revenues. This chapter outlines the arguments advanced by many prominent thinkers about development who have concluded that the policies of the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) were ill-designed, for they did not solve the problems they were supposed to, while at the same time they generated many new ones. Underlying all of the SAPs has been a naively rigid and highly selective implementation of theoretical neoclassical economics.
The role of MEKK3 in osteosarcoma invasion and metastasis

1819 Osteosarcoma is the most commonly diagnosed bone tumor in adolescents and young adults. Despite effective control of the primary tumor and aggressive adjuvant chemotherapy, death from pulmonary metastasis occurs in approximately 40-50% of patients and has not improved in over 2 decades despite multiple changes in the chemotherapy regimens. Osteosarcoma is an excellent model to study the molecular mechanisms involved in tumor metastasis to the lung. Evidence indicated that the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity is linked to early osteosarcoma metastasis through activation of the membrane-cytoskeleton linker ezrin, but the molecular mechanisms involved in the intracellular signal transduction remain largely unknown. The purpose of this study is to understand the role of MEKK3, a member of the MAPK kinase kinase (MAP3K) family, in metastasis and invasion of osteosarcoma. MEKK3 belongs to the MEKK/TE11 subgroup of the MAP3K family. Upon phosphorylation, MEKK3 is activated and subsequently phosphorylate and activate downstream signaling molecules, including c-Jun N-terminal kinase and p38. This activation not only links diverse extracellular stimuli to subsequent signaling molecules but also amplifies the initiating signals to ultimately activate the effector molecules and induce cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival. We established an MEKK3 down-regulated murine osteosarcoma cell line (Dunn) by lentiviral-mediated delivery of small interfering RNA. This system successfully knocked down the MEKK3 level to only 5% of the normal level, as determined by immunoprecipitation and western blotting analysis. We examined tumor cell migration and invasion and found that the migration rate was dramatically reduced in cells with down regulated MEKK3. This initial study suggested that MEKK3 may play a role in osteosarcoma tumor invasion and metastasis.