cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The TriG digital beam steered sounder

Passive microwave sounding of Global Navigation System Signals (GNSS) aka, GNSS Radio Occultation (GRO) produces measurements in the stratosphere and troposphere that contribute to two major societal benefits: monitoring climate and climate variability; and improving operational weather prediction. The high accuracy, precision and stability of GRO soundings make them ideal climate benchmark observations, suitable for monitoring long-term trends in the atmosphere. For weather applications, RO observations improve the accuracy of weather forecasts by providing temperature and moisture profiles of sub-km vertical resolution, over land and ocean and in the presence of clouds. Here we describe a cost effective approach to produce a flight-capable GRO instrument, the Tri-GNSS (GPS + Galileo+GLONASS) or TriG, receiver. The objective is to join digital beam forming technology from NASA's Instrument Incubator Program (IIP) to the GNSS technology developed over the previous five years for upcoming NOAA and NASA GRO missions. The TriG receiver will employ the latest algorithms for GRO and Precise Orbit Determination (POD) within a space hardened electronics package. This paper will describe testing of the digital beam forming method to be employed by TriG with the on-board processing of GRO limb-sounding profiles.
Sequence stratigraphy of Gulf Coast lignite, Wilcox Group (Paleogene), South Texas

ABSTRACT Initial sequence-stratigraphic analysis indicates that widespread lignite deposits in the Paleogene strata of the Gulf Coast of the United States are found only in highstand systems tracts. However, not all highstand systems tracts contain widespread lignite. Bluffs rising above the Nueces River in Zavala County, Texas, contain parts of two depositional sequences. The lower sequence contains lignite and includes sediment of both the Midway and Wilcox Groups (Paleogene). All of the lignite in the lower sequence is in the highstand systems tract. The upper sequence lacks lignite and consists entirely of sandstone and shale of the Carrizo Formation (Wilcox Group). High rates of siliciclastic sedimentation probably precluded formation of peat during deposition of the highstand systems tra t of the upper sequence. Direction and rate of relative change in sea level and other extrabasinal factors seem to have exerted a more fundamental control on the abundance and distribution of lignite in the Paleogene strata of the Gulf Coast region than did factors related to depositional setting of the peat precursor.
Robust watermarking of polygonal meshes

This paper presents two variations of a robust watermarking method for general polygonal meshes of arbitrary topology which can be used for copyright protection, tamper proofing or content annotation purposes. The proposed watermark is immune to translation, rotation, scaling or affine transformation of the mesh and is hard to detect unless the exact encoding parameters are disclosed. Several examples demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithm.
Immunohistochemical Detection of CD34, E-cadherin, Claudin-1, Glucose Transporter 1, Laminin, and Protein Gene Product 9.5 in 28 Canine and 8 Feline Meningiomas:

The variation in histologic pattern of meningiomas can make their diagnosis challenging. The immunohistochemical profile of 28 canine and 8 feline meningiomas was examined. Tumor types included anaplastic (6 dogs), angiomatoid (1 cat), fibroblastic (3 dogs, 1 cat), meningothelial (1 dog), microcystic (2 dogs), myxoid (3 dogs), psammomatous (4 cats), and transitional (13 dogs, 2 cats). The authors compared the expression of novel markers (CD34, E-cadherin, claudin-1, glucose transporter 1 [GLUT-1], laminin, and protein gene product [PGP] 9.5) with published markers (cytokeratins, glial fibrillary acidic protein [GFAP], progesterone receptor, S100, and vimentin). Neoplastic cells were immunohistochemically positive for vimentin in 100% of the meningiomas; CD34, 94%; GLUT-1, 86%; E-cadherin, 81%; S100, 75%; laminin, 72%; claudin-1, 60%; PGP 9.5, 55%; progesterone receptor, 44%; pancytokeratins, 39%; cytokeratins 8/18, 17%, and GFAP in 9%. Ki67 index did not correlate well with mitotic index. Based on these results and those in the human literature, immunohistochemistry for vimentin, CD34, and E-cadherin is proposed to support a diagnosis of meningioma. Immunohistochemistry for claudin-1, albeit of only moderate to low sensitivity in canine and feline meningiomas, may help to distinguish meningioma from some mesenchymal neoplasms involving the brain and associated structures, such as schwannomas, which in humans express claudin-1 poorly or not at all. Further studies with CD34, E-cadherin, and claudin-1 in canine and feline tumors that may mimic meningiomas are needed to determine the adequacy of this approach.
Limited Model Antigen Expression by Transgenic Fungi Induces Disparate Fates during Differentiation of Adoptively Transferred T Cell Receptor Transgenic CD4+ T Cells: Robust Activation and Proliferation with Weak Effector Function during Recall

CD4+ T cells are the key players of vaccine resistance to fungi. The generation of effective T cell-based vaccines requires an understanding of how to induce and maintain CD4+ T cells and memory. The kinetics of fungal antigen (Ag)-specific CD4+ T cell memory development has not been studied due to the lack of any known protective epitopes and clonally restricted T cell subsets with complementary T cell receptors (TCRs). Here, we investigated the expansion and function of CD4+ T cell memory after vaccination with transgenic (Tg) Blastomyces dermatitidis yeasts that display a model Ag, Eα-mCherry (Eα-mCh). We report that Tg yeast led to Eα display on Ag-presenting cells and induced robust activation, proliferation, and expansion of adoptively transferred TEa cells in an Ag-specific manner. Despite robust priming by Eα-mCh yeast, antifungal TEa cells recruited and produced cytokines weakly during a recall response to the lung. The addition of exogenous Eα-red fluorescent protein (RFP) to the Eα-mCh yeast boosted the number of cytokine-producing TEa cells that migrated to the lung. Thus, model epitope expression on yeast enables the interrogation of Ag presentation to CD4+ T cells and primes Ag-specific T cell activation, proliferation, and expansion. However, the limited availability of model Ag expressed by Tg fungi during T cell priming blunts the downstream generation of effector and memory T cells.
Validity of Self‐reported Alcohol Use: a literature review and assessment*

SummaryRecently, there has been increased attention to the validity of self-reported alcohol use. Yet, much of theliterature appears to be inappropriately seeking the definitive answer to a relative question, e.g. are self-reportsof alcohol use valid.^. The literature on the validity of self-reported alcohol use was reviewed with a primaryfocus on concurrent criterion-oriented validity. Validity studies using collateral reports, diaries, official records,different interviewing methods, laboratory tests and multiple measures were assessed. It is concluded thatresearch on the validity of self-reported alcohol use should emphasize the interactions of the respondent, theinterviewer, the information being obtained and the context of the interview to determine under whichconditions valid responses can be maximized. Further, research on validity should focus on specific processesinvolved in providing accurate responses. Emphasis should be placed on developing a range of strategies anddetermining their appropriateness for obtaining more accurate reports from specific populations.IntroductionControversy surrounding the validity of self-reported alcohol use has heightened in the last fewyears. The fact that such a controversy existsconcerning this complex issue in the field of alcoholstudies is a healthy sign that more rigorous examina-tion of important methodological issues is occurringwithin the clinical and research communities.Recently, two viewpoints have been emergingconcerning the use of self-reports of alcohol use.The first is represented by Watson and his colleag-ues (1984; 1985) who found only a modest corre-spondence between reports of alcohol consumptionby alcoholics and their significant others (collater-als) over time. "The data, then, casts serious doubton the utility of self-report follow-up studies, and
Academic job market.

For the past 10 years, I have conducted an annual job market survey of all members (excluding Canadian members) of the Society of Chairs of Academic Radiology Departments. The survey instrument is a very simple questionnaire sent to the chairs each July, along with a letter soliciting their responses. A self-addressed, stamped return postcard is included. The chairs are asked to provide the number of unfilled positions in their departments as of that July in each of following categories: general radiology, neuroradiology, pediatric radiology, vascular and interventional radiology, chest radiology, musculoskeletal radiology, mammography, abdominal imaging, ultrasonography, nuclear medicine, research, and other openings. In addition, the chairs are asked to identify the specialty for which recruiting is “hardest.” The card includes one more question, which I change each year according to the circumstances in our field at the time. For the past 2 years, the question was whether the job market for the department’s fel-
Development and implementation of the TPX structural and cryogenic design criteria

The Tokamak Physics Experiment (TPX) is a superconducting tokamak utilizing both Nb/sub 3/Sn and NbTi superconducting magnets and will feature a low-activation titanium alloy vacuum vessel and carbon-carbon composite divertors. Due to the unique nature of the component designs, materials, and environment, the TPX project felt it necessary to develop a design criteria (code) which will specifically address the structural and cryogenic design aspects of such a device. The developed code is intended to serve all components of the device; namely, the TF and PF magnets, vacuum vessel, first wall and divertor, cryostat, diagnostics, heating devices, shielding, and all associated structural elements. The structural portion is based largely on that developed for the Burning Plasma Experiment (BPX), which was modeled after the CIT Vacuum Vessel Structural Design Criteria and ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel (B&PV) Code. The cryogenic criteria is largely modeled after that proposed in the ITER CDA. This paper summarizes the TPX Criteria document.
Digital histologic analysis reveals morphometric patterns of age-related involution in breast epithelium and stroma

Complete age-related regression of mammary epithelium, often termed postmenopausal involution, is associated with decreased breast cancer risk. However, most studies have qualitatively assessed involution. We quantitatively analyzed epithelium, stroma, and adipose tissue from histologically normal breast tissue of 454 patients in the Normal Breast Study. High-resolution digital images of normal breast hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides were partitioned into epithelium, adipose tissue, and nonfatty stroma. Percentage area and nuclei per unit area (nuclear density) were calculated for each component. Quantitative data were evaluated in association with age using linear regression and cubic spline models. Stromal area decreased (P = 0.0002), and adipose tissue area increased (P < 0.0001), with an approximate 0.7% change in area for each component, until age 55 years when these area measures reached a steady state. Although epithelial area did not show linear changes with age, epithelial nuclear density decreased linearly beginning in the third decade of life. No significant age-related trends were observed for stromal or adipose nuclear density. Digital image analysis offers a high-throughput method for quantitatively measuring tissue morphometry and for objectively assessing age-related changes in adipose tissue, stroma, and epithelium. Epithelial nuclear density is a quantitative measure of age-related breast involution that begins to decline in the early premenopausal period.
First-principles study of transition-metal nitrides as diffusion barriers against Al

Abstract Using density-functional theory based first-principles calculations we provided a comparative study of the diffusion barrier properties of TiN, ZrN, and HfN against Al for U–Mo dispersion fuel applications. We firstly examined the thermodynamic stability of these transition-metal nitrides with Al. The calculated heats of reaction show that both TiN and ZrN are thermodynamically unstable diffusion barrier materials, which might be decomposed by Al at relatively high temperatures. As a comparison, HfN is a stable diffusion barrier material for Al. To evaluate the kinetic stability of these nitride systems against Al diffusion, we investigated the diffusion mechanisms of Al in TiN, ZrN and HfN using atomic scale simulations. The effect of non-stoichiometry on the defect formation and Al migration was systematically studied.
Neural Networks in Processing and Analysis of Biomedical Signals

This chapter contains sections titled: Overview and History of Artificial Neural Networks Application of ANNs in Processing Information This chapter contains sections titled: Additional Reading and Related Material Appendix: Back-Propagation Optimization Algorithm References
How We Got to Where We Are: the Ribosome in the 21st Century

This article is a short, informal history of the ribosome field that begins with the emergence of the field in the 1930s and ends with a description of its state in 2007, the year this essay was written. The growth in our understanding of both the role of the ribosome in protein synthesis and its structure is emphasized. Starting in 2000, the field experienced a massive upheaval as a result of the publication of the first atomic-resolution crystal structures for ribosomes. However, by 2007, the field had recovered sufficiently so that one could begin to understand how it was likely to evolve in its "poststructural" era. For that reason, this essay is about as useful as a short history of the ribosome field today as it was several years ago, when it was written.
Coordinating Supplies of Southwestern Corn Borers (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and Fall Armyworms (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) by Manipulating Development Time Using Temperature

To better coordinate the supply of larvae with plant growth for resistance studies, laboratory and field studies were conducted to determine if development of southwestern corn borers, Diatraea grandiosella Dyar, and fall armyworms, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), could be better controlled in the laboratory by alternating the numbers of days that the insects were held at either 21.1 or 26.7°C (day–temperature combinations). When reared on artificial diet and held continuously at 26.7 and 21.1°C southwestern corn borers developed from 1-d-old larvae to adults in 31 to 57 d. Fall army worms completed development between 24 and 41 d. No significant differences were detected among day–temperature combinations for overall survival and normality of adults in either species. Days to hatch for southwestern corn borer and fall armyworm ranged from 5 to 9 and 3 to 5 d, respectively, when eggs were held at different combinations of time and temperature. Percent egg hatch and establishment of larvae on an artificial diet did not differ significantly among egg day–temperature treatments for either insect. Larvae from eggs that were held at different day–temperature combinations caused the same amount of leaf-feeding damage when comparisons were made within a resistant or a susceptible corn hybrid.
Abstract LB-161: Metformin increases lipolytic metabolism and PEDF expression in prostate cancer cells

Obesity increases the risk of prostate cancer (PCa) progression; however, the mechanism remains unclear. Obesity results in metabolic dysfunction, including increases in circulating and tissue lipid levels. A common sequela of obesity is Type II diabetes, and some studies suggest that PCa patients on the antidiabetic drug, metformin, have a reduced PCa risk. The antitumor mechanism of metformin is largely unknown. Metformin exerts its antidiabetic function via AMPK activation-dependent inhibition of hepatic gluconeogenesis, with secondary decrease in serum insulin/IGF-1 levels that may represent an indirect mechanism for its proposed antitumor effects. Previous studies have shown that metformin directly inhibits PCa cell proliferation and cyclin D1 expression in vitro. Expression of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), a potent angiogenesis inhibitor, is decreased in PCa tissues, and PEDF inhibits PCa cell proliferation. Interestingly, PEDF knockout mice have defects in lipid metabolism and develop prostate hyperplasia, so we hypothesized that metformin9s antitumor mechanism could be mediated, in part, through regulation of PEDF expression and lipolytic metabolism. To simulate obesity-induced cellular triglyceride (TG) accumulation, we treated cells with oleic acid (OA, 1.0 mM) ± PEDF (10 nM) or metformin (5 mM). Proliferation (cell count or MTT assay) and lipid content (TG isolation) were quantified, and lipid and protein were assessed by lipid staining and immunocytochemistry or Western blot, respectively. In androgen-insensitive PCa cells (PC-3 and DU145), OA treatment promoted TG accumulation, cyclin D1 expression and proliferation, with increased expression of lipid droplet-associated proteins, adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and CGI-58, and conversely suppressed PEDF expression. Furthermore, PEDF treatment decreased basal TG levels (32.89 ± 1.0 control vs. 17.3 ± 0.6 in PEDF; P Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-161. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-LB-161
Trends in Authorship Characteristics in The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 1994 to 2014

Background:Trends in author qualifications, the number of authors per article, and the internationalization of author groups in sports medicine journals have not been widely investigated.Purpose:To examine trends in authorship characteristics in a single prominent sports medicine journal.Study Design:Systematic review.Methods:Articles published in The American Journal of Sports Medicine (AJSM) in 1994, 2004, and 2014 were reviewed. For each article, the academic degree(s) of the first and last author, the total number of authors, the country of the author group, and academic institution status were recorded.Results:A total of 708 articles met the inclusion criteria: 129 in 1994, 244 in 2004, and 335 in 2014. There were significant differences in the proportion of first authors with an MD degree (80% in 1994, 75% in 2004, 67% in 2014; P = .01), a dual MD/PhD degree (4.7% in 1994, 6.2% in 2004, 9.3% in 2014; P < .001), and a bachelor’s degree (0% in 1994, 0% in 2004, 3.9% in 2014; P < .001). The proportion ...
An Online Convex Optimization Approach to Real-Time Energy Pricing for Demand Response

Real-time price setting strategies are investigated for use by demand response programs in future power grids. The major challenge is that consumers have varying degrees of responsiveness to price adjustments at different time instants, which must be learned and accounted for by demand response initiatives. To this end, an online learning approach is developed here offering strong performance guarantees with minimal assumptions on the dynamics of load levels and consumer elasticity, even when consumers are adversarial and take actions strategically. The developed algorithms can determine electricity prices sequentially so as to elicit desirable usage behavior and flatten load curves, while implicitly learning individual consumers’ price elasticity based on available feedback information. Two feedback structures are considered: 1) a full information setup, where aggregate load levels as well as individual price elasticity parameters are directly available, and 2) a partial information (bandit) case, where only the aggregate load levels are revealed. Fairness and sparsity constraints are also incorporated via appropriate regularizers. Numerical tests verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Segmenting Florida residential irrigation users by utility-bill “botheredness” and household budgetary constraints

ABSTRACTHomeowners typically and incorrectly exclude irrigation costs when considering utility bills. This research identified residents who are: responsible for operating irrigation systems, and highly bothered by their utility bill; the rationale is they will be most receptive to behavior change. Decision-Ade™, a segmentation strategy based on two multi-item variables: utility-bill “botheredness” (UBB) and household budgetary constraints (HBCs), was used to explore three UBB Segments. Average monthly water bills were analyzed for each respondent in the highest UBB Segment (the Bothereds), and Decision-Ade™ was used to segment along the HBC dimension, verifying that the Bothereds were not most bothered strictly because they are most financially constrained. HBCs were compared to respondents’ household income to observe how the two variables are related. The Bothereds had members that also happened to be in all ranges of HBCs. Though 60% of the Bothereds also were in the highest HBC Segment, 40% of them w...
A new drug treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis:pirfenidone

Idopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF) is a disease caused by unknown reason.To date,there is no one drug to effectively treat the disease.Pirfenidone is an anti-inflammatory,anti-oxidant,and antifibrotic angent that inhibits transforming growth factor-β in vitro and changes collagen synthesis and accumulation,and inhibits proliferation and extracellular matrix expression.In a series of clinical trials,pirfenidone is a potential for the treatment of IPF.
Management of patients with hereditary defects predisposing to thrombosis including pregnant women.

In general, the current recommendations for treating and prophylaxing thrombotic patients with hereditary defects are similar to those for thrombotic individuals without a defect. Determinations as to the need for long-term anticoagulation require that a clinical assessment be made regarding the relative benefit in preventing thrombotic episodes versus the risk of increased bleeding. With our newly found ability to identify genetic risk factors in a substantial fraction of patients with venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, it will be possible toperform rigorously designed studies to determine whether they should be managed with more prolonged or intense anticoagulation after athrombotic event or more aggressive prophylactic regimens in high risk situations such as total hip replacement.
Identification of methionine and lysine transport systems in cattle small intestine.

Incubations of bovine ileal mucosa were used to identify the amino acid transport systems responsible for methionine and lysine uptake in cattle small intestine. Uptake was expressed as micromole per milliliter of cell water. Lysine uptake was shown to be sodium (Na) independent. Specific transport components of lysine uptake were estimated to be: 63% occurring through the cationic (Y+) system, 17% via the neutral alanine (A) and alanine, serine, cysteine (ASC) amino acid transport systems, and 20% through nonsaturable processes. Physiological concentrations of competitive inhibitors altered (P less than .05) lysine uptake. Methionine uptake was shown to occur by both Na-independent and Na-dependent transport systems. The specific transport components of methionine uptake were estimated as 54% occurring through the neutral branched chain leucine (L) systems, 28% through the ASC system, 15% through the A system and 25% through nonsaturable processes. Physiological concentrations of competitive inhibitors did not inhibit (P greater than .05) methionine uptake.
Human papillomavirus type 6 in grade I transitional cell carcinoma of the urethra.

AbstractOf 4 patients who underwent cystourethroscopy, biopsy and laser excision of suspected urethral condylomata acuminata 3 had coexistent grade I papillary transitional cell carcinoma of the urethra. Human papillomavirus type 6 messenger ribonucleic acid was demonstrated within biopsy specimens using tritium-labeled single-stranded antisense ribonucleic acid probes. Compared to condylomata the papillary transitional epithelium expressed less viral message, which might be expected in an epithelium that does not show full squamous epithelial or koilocytotic differentiation. Among these patients there was 1 papillary transitional lesion in the bladder that, although histologically similar, did not express human papillomavirus message, suggesting differential susceptibility of epithelium between the bladder and urethra. The finding of active human papillomavirus transcription within the urethral papillary transitional lesions raises the possibility of an active role for the virus in the pathogenesis of th...
Maturity, Reversion and a Year of Crises: 1966–1968

By 1966 Edwin Reischauer wanted to return to the United States. The Japan-born son of American missionaries and Harvard professor had been appointed US ambassador to Japan by John F. Kennedy in 1961. He had been sent to smooth relations between the two countries following the severe protests that greeted the passage of the revised Mutual Security Treaty in 1960. Reischauer felt that his task of fixing the ‘broken dialogue’ was complete. This had involved reaching out to a wide spectrum of Japanese political and cultural life and in presenting the United States as Japan’s partner. It also meant downplaying military ties, something that was becoming increasingly harder to do as the United States expanded its intervention in Vietnam.1 Reischauer’s successor, Alex Johnson, was a markedly different character. Born Ural Alexis Johnson in 1908, he was one of the first US career diplomats to master Japanese. He was serving as American consul in Japanese- occupied Manchuria when the Pacific War broke out, and he was interned as an enemy alien. Following the war his experience and expertise in North-East Asia, as well as his ability and competence, led to his assuming greater responsibility during the Korean War in a Washington-based role. A stint as ambassador to Czechoslovakia rounded out his expertise and also confirmed in him a strongly held anti-communism.
General Motors Models

General Motors models are a family of models developed by a team of scientists in the research laboratories of General Motors, from which pioneering work was done that broke the ground for traffic flow theory. General Motors models are well known to the research community for their inspiring and pedagogical values. This chapter introduces the formulation of the family of models, their properties, their connection to early equilibrium models, and their limitations.
Connexins and Heritable Human Diseases

Connexins are tetratransmembrane proteins that assemble into hexameric pore-forming structures known as connexons or hemichannels. Connexons typically dock with their counterparts in adjacent cells to form intercellular gap junction channels, but may remain unpaired as cell surface hemichannels. Gap junction channels and hemichannels allow for the passage of ions, secondary messengers, and other small molecules between cells or between intra- and extracellular compartments, respectively, playing key roles in embryonic development, tissue homeostasis, and response to pathologic stress. The human genome contains 20 genes that encode distinct but structurally related connexin isoforms. Most tissues express multiple connexin types and individual isoforms can assemble into homomeric and heteromeric hemichannels or homotypic and heterotypic gap junction channels. Given the large number of individual connexin genes, the potential combinatorial diversity of encoded channel proteins, and their complex developmental and tissue-restricted patterns of expression, it is not surprising that mutations in connexins are responsible for a significant burden of heritable human diseases. In this chapter we will review the clinical disorders associated with genetic abnormalities of connexins and, where known, the molecular mechanisms responsible for the disease phenotype.
Highly Efficient Photoacoustic Conversion by Facilitated Heat Transfer in Ultrathin Metal Film Sandwiched by Polymer Layers

Photoacoustic (PA) conversion of metal film absorbers is known to be inefficient because of their low thermal expansion and high optical reflection, as compared to polymeric materials containing light absorbing fillers. Here, highly efficient PA conversion is demonstrated in metal films. By using a metal film absorber sandwiched by transparent polymer layers, PA conversion is significantly enhanced, which is even comparable to in the highest reported in the CNT-polymer composites. Such enhancement is accomplished by ultrathin metal film (10 nm) capable of facilitating heat transfer to the adjacent polymers having high thermal expansion coefficient. This thin metal layer also allows integration of a photonic resonance cavity, effectively compensating the potential absorption loss of the thin metal. This strategy allows for easy spatial PA signal patterns and high conversion efficiency, which not only can be implemented for deep tissue PA imaging of implants or tools, but also provides a guideline for designing photoacoustic transmitters and contrast agents.
Cardiovascular Outcomes of New Medications for Type 2 Diabetes.

Abstract Cardiovascular (CV) disease remains the leading cause of death in people with diabetes, highlighting the importance of using treatment options that do not increase CV risk or possibly decrease CV outcomes. Since 2008, the Food and Drug Administration has required demonstration of CV safety for all new medications developed for the glycemic management of diabetes. Seven trials have been published that have established CV safety for three DPP-4 inhibitors (alogliptin, saxagliptin, and sitagliptin), three GLP-1 receptor agonists (liraglutide, lixisenatide, and semaglutide), and one sodium–glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (empagliflozin). Three of those studies also established superiority with liraglutide, empagliflozin, and semaglutide at reducing the composite primary endpoint of major CV events (CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and nonfatal stroke). In addition, one trial found an increase in heart failure hospitalizations with saxagliptin. The findings of these trials must be compared ...
Inclusivity in the latter-days: Gay Mormons

Individuals who identify as Mormon – adherents to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (“Church”), a distinct and peculiar form of Christianity – and also identify as gay or lesbian face...
Electric-Field Control of Magnon Gaps in a Ferromagnet using a Spatially-Periodic Electric Field

The frequencies and linewidths of spin waves in one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) periodic superlattices of magnetic materials are found, using the Landau–Lifshitz–Gilbert equations. The form of the exchange field from a surface-torque-free boundary between magnetic materials is derived, and magnetic-material combinations are identified which produce gaps in the magnonic spectrum across the entire superlattice Brillouin zone for hexagonal and square-symmetry superlattices. The magnon gaps and spin-wave dispersion properties of a uniform magnetic material under the influence of a periodic electric field are presented. Such results suggest the utility of magnetic insulators for electric-field control of spin-wave propagation properties.
Geospatial analysis of near-term potential for carbon-negative bioenergy in the United States

Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) is a negative-emissions technology that may play a crucial role in climate change mitigation. BECCS relies on the capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide (CO2) following bioenergy production to remove and reliably sequester atmospheric CO2. Previous BECCS deployment assessments have largely overlooked the potential lack of spatial colocation of suitable storage basins and biomass availability, in the absence of long-distance biomass and CO2 transport. These conditions could constrain the near-term technical deployment potential of BECCS due to social and economic barriers that exist for biomass and CO2 transport. This study leverages biomass production data and site-specific injection and storage capacity estimates at high spatial resolution to assess the near-term deployment opportunities for BECCS in the United States. If the total biomass resource available in the United States was mobilized for BECCS, an estimated 370 Mt CO2⋅y−1 of negative emissions could be supplied in 2020. However, the absence of long-distance biomass and CO2 transport, as well as limitations imposed by unsuitable regional storage and injection capacities, collectively decrease the technical potential of negative emissions to 100 Mt CO2⋅y−1. Meeting this technical potential may require large-scale deployment of BECCS technology in more than 1,000 counties, as well as widespread deployment of dedicated energy crops. Specifically, the Illinois basin, Gulf region, and western North Dakota have the greatest potential for near-term BECCS deployment. High-resolution spatial assessment as conducted in this study can inform near-term opportunities that minimize social and economic barriers to BECCS deployment.
Atomistic modeling of La3+ doping segregation effect on nanocrystalline yttria-stabilized zirconia

The effect of La3+ doping on the structure and ionic conductivity change in nanocrystalline yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) was studied using a combination of Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulations. The simulation revealed the segregation of La3+ at eight tilt grain boundary (GB) structures and predicted an average grain boundary (GB) energy decrease of 0.25 J m-2, which is close to the experimental values reported in the literature. Cation stabilization was found to be the main reason for the GB energy decrease, and energy fluctuations near the grain boundary are smoothed out with La3+ segregation. Both dynamic and energetic analysis on the Σ13(510)/[001] GB structure revealed La3+ doping hinders O2- diffusion in the GB region, where the diffusion coefficient monotonically decreases with increasing La3+ doping concentration. The effect was attributed to the increase in the site-dependent migration barriers for O2- hopping caused by segregated La3+, which also leads to anisotropic diffusion at the GB.
Can Smartphones Help Deliver Smarter Care for Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The addition of smartphone applications to the armamentarium of tools to help manage patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has the potential to improve care in multiple ways, including enhanced disease understanding, improved adherence to medications, accessible support networks, and earlier interventions by medical professionals when problems arise. However, at present, for patients with IBD, the development of such mobile applications is still in its infancy. We conducted a review of the literature and online resources including phone application stores (Apple and Android app stores) to assess the current availability of mobile health applications for IBD patients and opportunities to increase patient engagement. We also addressed the limitations and challenges of patient and provider adoption of mobile-based technologies for IBD self-management and remote monitoring.
On integer sequences derived from balanced k-ary trees

This article investigates numerous integer sequences derived from two special balanced k-ary trees. Main contributions of this article are two fold. The first one is building a taxonomy of various balanced trees. The other pertains to discovering new integer sequences and generalizing existing integer sequences to balanced k-ary trees. The generalized integer sequence formulae for the sum of heights and depths of all nodes in a complete k-ary tree are given. The explicit integer sequence formula for the sum of heights of all nodes in a size balanced k-ary tree is also given.
Incidence of Residues in Foods of Animal Origin

Antibiotic/Antimicrobial residues occur in foods of animal origin as an unwanted concomitant of drug use in animal agriculture. Residues occur in all types of food of animal origin including milk, muscle tissue and organ tissue, due to the widespread use of antibiotics/antimicrobials for growth stimulation and disease prevention and treatment. Data on the incidence of residues in animals from the statistically-based monitoring programs, surveillance programs and in-plant testing performed by the FSIS/USDA are presented for 1988 and 1989. The results of spot market surveys of residues in milk for 1989 – 1990 are presented. Reasons for the frequency of residues and their potential biological significance are discussed.
Bilateral Forearm Pseudotumors in an Adult with Hemophilia A and Ollier Disease: A Case Report.

CASE A 29-year-old man with mild hemophilia A and Ollier disease presented with bilateral atraumatic forearm pseudotumors. Both forearm pseudotumors were successfully treated surgically with staged radical extirpation and factor VIII replacement therapy. CONCLUSION Pseudotumors typically occur in adolescents with severe, poorly controlled hemophilia A. The development of factor VIII replacement therapy has progressively reduced the incidence of pseudotumors in patients in the developed world. No standardized therapy exists for pseudotumors that continue to bleed into the muscles despite nonoperative measures. Persistent masses require surgical removal with careful preoperative planning and a team approach.
Proppant-packed fractures in shale gas reservoirs: An in-situ investigation of deformation, wettability, and multiphase flow effects

Abstract The results of a systematic, micro-scale experimental investigation on two-phase gas/brine flow through proppant-packed fractured shale samples under increasing effective stresses of up to 5000 psi are presented in this paper. We use a miniature core-flooding apparatus integrated with a high-resolution X-ray micro-CT scanner to perform the flow experiments. Geomechanical deformation and its impact on displacement mechanisms governing fluid transport within the packed fractures are studied at the pore scale under certain flow and stress conditions. These conditions were carefully designed to represent reservoir depletion and transport of water through such media. Since proppant grains are placed to maintain the long-term conductivity of the induced fractures, they significantly influence the geomechanical and multi-phase flow behavior of these conduits during reservoir depletion. We particularly examined the effectiveness of modified resin-coated sand (compared to a basic white sand) in maintaining the hydraulic conductivity of induced fractures. Significant bullet-like embedment and proppant crushing under severe stress conditions were found to be the shortcomings of these proppants, respectively. We then developed a methodical framework to design improved proppants with a similar mechanical strength to the host shale rock to withstand these drawbacks. Sphericity, roundness, and size of the proppant grains also impacted the critical properties of the constructed pore space such as pore size distribution and pore-throat aspect ratio. Such parameters control pore-scale gas-to-brine and brine-to-gas displacements within the hydraulic fractures. We specifically studied the non-wetting phase trapping and its subsequent impact on reduction of available pore space for other fluids to flow. It was found that trapped gas globules are very likely to deform within the medium and redistribute/reconnect under a higher effective stress. For the first time, wettability alteration of the proppant pack from water-wet to oil-wet was observed in a gas/brine fluid system. Wettability alteration occurred non-uniformly and was thought to be due to deposition of the shale organic matter released after significant proppant embedment. Such wetting characteristics aggravate multi-phase trapping within the fractures, which in turn leads to dramatic reductions in effective gas permeability. This study is concluded with a set of recommendations that can be used to effectively maintain the productivity of propped fractures for extended period of time.
Collegial Talk: A Powerful Tool for Change:

Is it possible to promote change in the academy by just talking? The authors say “yes.” They present a deceptively simple approach—one grounded in organizational theory—-for getting colleagues toge...
The Difference between Cartilaginous and Bony Sulcus Angles for Patients with or without Patellofemoral Instability: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The cartilaginous sulcus angle and bony sulcus angle have been widely used to evaluate trochlea dysplasia. The current review aims to evaluate (1) whether there is a difference in measurement for cartilaginous and bony sulcus angles, (2) whether both the cartilaginous and bony sulcus angles could be used to differentiate between patients with or without trochlear dysplasia, and (3) whether the same cut-off of 145 degrees, originally used for radiographs, can be applied for the cartilaginous and bony sulcus angles measured on CT and MRI. The review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRSIMA) guidelines. A total of 11 publications with 1204 patients were included. All publications reported the sulcus angle to be greater in patients with patellofemoral instability. All publications reported the cartilaginous sulcus angle to be greater than the bony sulcus angle (MD 7.27 degrees; 95% CI: 5.67 – 8.87). The mean cartilaginous sulcus angle for the control group was 141.83 degrees (95% CI: 139.90 – 143.76) while the mean cartilaginous sulcus angle for patients with patellofemoral instability was 156.24 degrees (95% CI: 153.71 – 158.77). The mean bony sulcus angle for the control group was noted to be 133.69 degrees (95% CI: 131.23 – 136.15) while the mean bony sulcus angle for patients with patellofemoral instability was 148.42 (95% CI: 144.02 – 152.82). Both the cartilaginous and bony sulcus angles measured on CT and MRI could therefore be used to differentiate between patients with and without trochlear dysplasia. However, the cartilaginous sulcus angles are significantly higher than that of bony sulcus angles. Different cut off values should therefore be used.
Investigating Rater Effects in International Large-Scale Assessments

The present study investigates rater effects in international large-scale assessments to evaluate the construct validity of constructed-response items scored by human raters. Using the Programme for International Student Assessment data collected in 2015, we illustrate the methods and present the findings about rater effects on constructed-response items in the context of the first fully computer-based international student skill survey. By comparing the unidimensional and the two-dimensional multiple-group item response theory model, it was shown that the latent correlations between human- and machine-coded items were almost perfect. Country means of human- and machine-coded items were generally similar and their differences were small. Further investigation into individual rater effects mostly resulted in small random loadings, which implied that rater effects were negligible in most countries.
Creating web services using ASP.NET

Web services have been advertised as the answer to enterprise application integration, reusability, and as a way to prolong the life of legacy applications. By developing applications as Web Services they become available (exposed) to other applications that use (consume) the service following open Web standards. These services can be exposed and consumed over an intranet, extranet, or the internet through standard Web technologies. These technologies include WSDL, an XML-based description format; SOAP, an application messaging protocol; and HTTP, a collection and transport protocol. We introduce our students to Web services with some simple examples developed using ASP.NET technology. The Web Service applications were created using Visual Studio .NET. The services were published to a .NET server. A Web application was developed using Visual Studio .NET to consume the previously created Web Services. The students are then assigned to develop a similar system to create and consume a Web service. A definition of Web Services and descriptions of the technology that is used to create, expose, and consume the Web Services will be provided.
Justice-restoring responses: a theoretical framework for understanding citizen complaints against the police

In an effort to provide a theoretical framework for understanding citizens’ decisions to complain about the police, this paper suggests that citizen complaints can be viewed as a justice-restoring ...
Genes Implicated in Rare Congenital Inner Ear and Cochleovestibular Nerve Malformations.

Objective A small subset of children with congenital hearing loss have abnormal cochleovestibular nerves (i.e., absent, aplastic, or deficient cochlear nerves), with largely unknown etiology. Our objective was to investigate the underlying pathways and identify novel genetic variants responsible for cochleovestibular malformations and nerve abnormalities. It is our hypothesis that several cochleovestibular nerve abnormalities might share common causative pathways. Design We used a family-based exome sequencing approach to study 12 children with known rare inner ear and/or cochleovestibular nerve malformations. Results Our results highlight a diverse molecular etiology and suggest that genes important in the developing otic vesicle and cranial neural crest, e.g., MASP1, GREB1L, SIX1, TAF1, are likely to underlie inner ear and/or cochleovestibular nerve malformations. Conclusions We show that several cochleovestibular nerve malformations are neurocristopathies, which is consistent with the fact that cochleovestibular nerve development is based on otic placode-derived neurons in close association with neural crest-derived glia cells. In addition, we suggest potential genetic markers for more severely affected phenotypes, which may help prognosticate individual cochlear implantation outcomes. Developing better strategies for identifying which children with abnormal nerves will benefit from a cochlear implantation is crucial, as outcomes are usually far less robust and extremely variable in this population, and current neuroimaging and electrophysiologic parameters cannot accurately predict outcomes. Identification of a suitable treatment early will reduce the use of multiple interventions during the time-sensitive period for language development.
Global solution curves for first order periodic problems, with applications

Abstract Using continuation methods and bifurcation theory, we study the exact multiplicity of periodic solutions, and the global solution structure, for periodic problems of first order. The results are applied to a population model with fishing, and to the existence and stability of limit cycles. We also describe in detail our numerical computations of curves of periodic solutions, and of limit cycles.
Left Ventricular Assist Devices and Pacemakers

Mechanical circulatory devices have become common to support a failing heart, often as a temporizing measure prior to cardiac transplantation, and occasionally as destination therapy (Slaughter MS, J Heart Lung Transplant 29:S1–39, 2010). It restores tissue circulation by optimizing blood supply thereby enabling organ function. However, these devices could be associated with several challenges and complications and with increasing number of devices being implanted both as a bridge to transplant and destination therapy, it is necessary for the critical care and emergency physicians unfamiliar with them to understand the physiology, clinical presentations, and management of complications.