cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A longitudinal analysis of the epidemiology and economic impact of inpatient admissions for chronic pancreatitis in the United States.

Background Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a chronic, debilitating disorder associated with multiple complications, frequently necessitating hospitalization. The aim of this study was to investigate the longitudinal trends for hospitalization, mean length of stay (LOS), and cost associated with inpatient admissions for CP across the United States. Methods Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, all hospitalizations between 1997 and 2014 were analyzed. We examined annual data for rate of hospitalization, average LOS and cost for CP inpatient admissions. Trends were described over the surveillance period. Results Between 1997 and 2014, the number of hospitalizations for patients with a primary discharge diagnosis of CP decreased by 41.5% (P<0.001). While the average LOS decreased by 21.2% from 6.2 days in 1997 to 4.9 days in 2014 (P<0.001), the mean charges for CP-related hospital admissions increased by 308.5% from $12,725 in 1997 to $39,260 (adjusted for inflation) in 2014 (P<0.001). The risk of a discharge for CP significantly increased from 1997-2014 for the 1-17 year age group (relative risk 1.518, 95% confidence interval 1.516-1.520; P<0.0001), while it significantly decreased over time for all the other age groups. Conclusions Although it is reassuring that the average LOS has reduced, the cost associated with these hospitalizations has almost tripled. We postulate that the increase in cost is likely attributable to a greater number of studies and/or interventions. In order to deliver more cost-conscious care, further investigation is required into the effect that these additional investigations and interventions have on specific endpoints, including disease-specific and all-cause morbidity and mortality.
964 Passive monitoring of chemical exposures in south florida firefighters using silicone wristbands

Introduction Firefighters are likely to be exposed to many toxic chemicals in the performance of their work duties such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Chemical exposures may occur through dermal, oral, or inhalation pathways. Passive sampling devices are used to sequester organic molecules through passive diffusion and provide time-weighted averages of chemical concentrations. This pilot study uses silicone-based wristbands as a personal passive sampler to detect known carcinogens during a 24 hour work shift. Methods Twenty-four wristbands were deployed across various fire services throughout South Florida. Prior to deployment, bands were cleaned using a standardised cleaning protocol to remove contamination and optimise the surface for absorption. Wristbands were then packaged in air-tight bags to prevent contamination. Wristbands were worn on fire service personnel and collected at the end of a 24 hour work shift. Chemical contaminants were then extracted from the wristband and analysed for PAHs—identified using the EPA IRIS, California Proposition 65, and IRAC datasets—using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results The average number of chemicals found across all wristbands (n=24) was 23 with 4 categorised as carcinogenic to humans (i.e., Benzo[b]fluoranthene, Benzo[j]fluoranthene, Chrysene, and Naphthalene). All bands had at least one PAH present, specifically, 87.5% contained Benzo[b]fluoranthene (mean=5.23 ng/band), 50% contained Benzo[j]fluoranthene (mean=2.05 ng/band), 79.2% contained Chrysene (mean=9.55 ng/band), and 100% contained Napthalene (mean=176.53 ng/band). Actual types of exposure compounds is likely to be larger than the observed data as the group of PAHs detected was limited to three existing datasets. Discussion Silicone-based wristbands are feasible to use within the fire service to detect and characterise ambient hazardous chemical compounds. These personal self-samplers used during a 24 hour collection period identified various PAHs in the firefighter work environment. Objective measures of harmful chemical exposures in the fire service should be monitored with a comprehensive surveillance system that includes personal sampler devices.
Visual load and variability of muscle activation: Effects on reactive driving of older adults

Abstract Background The functional significance of the increase in motor output variability with increased visual information processing in older adults remains unclear. Here, we test the hypothesis that increased visual information processing increases muscle activation variability in older adults and impairs their ability to react as fast and as precisely as young adults during a simulated reactive driving task. Methods Fourteen young and sixteen older adults performed a reactive driving simulation task that required responding to unexpected brake lights of the car ahead during a simple reaction time task (low visual information processing condition) and a choice reaction time task with “no go” trials condition (high visual information processing condition). We quantified the following: 1) reactive driving performance – combination of premotor response time, motor response time, and brake force error; 2) motor output variability – brake impulse variability; 3) muscle activation variability – variability in the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle activity. Results The increase in information processing exacerbated the impaired reactive driving performance in older adults. The best predictor of this impairment was the increase in brake force error. The impaired reactive driving performance was related to brake impulse variability and variability in the TA activity. Conclusions This study provides novel evidence that increased information processing increases muscle activation variability in older adults with detrimental consequences to their ability to perform a simulated reactive driving task.
Functional analysis of three rice chloroplast transit peptides.

Abstract Chloroplast transit peptides (CTPs) can be used to transport non-chloroplastic proteins into the chloroplasts. Here, we studied the CTPs of three rice (Oryza sativa L.) chloroplast-localized proteins and found that their CTPs could be used to transport non-chloroplast-localized proteins into the chloroplasts. Fusion proteins lacking the CTP remained located in the cytoplasm. Furthermore, we constructed green fluorescent protein fusion vectors with the three CTPs and three non-chloroplast-localized proteins, Ghd10, MULTI-FLORET SPIKELET1 (MFS1), and SHORTENED UPPERMOST INTERNODE 1 (SUI1). After transforming these constructs into rice protoplasts, the fusion proteins all localized in the chloroplasts. Collectively, our results showed that these CTPs can transport non-chloroplast-localized proteins into the chloroplasts, and more importantly, these CTPs can be applied to engineer chloroplast metabolism.
Emerging investigator series: oxidative potential of diesel exhaust particles: role of fuel, engine load, and emissions control

Exposure to diesel exhaust particles (DEP) has been linked to adverse human health outcomes. DEPs are reactive and can directly or indirectly lead to oxidative stress, which promotes inflammation in the body. The oxidative potential (OP) of DEPs is not well understood, particularly for combustion with alternative fuels, under different engine loads, and in combination with modern emissions control devices. In this study, we measured the OP of DEPs using a dithiothreitol assay (OP-DTT) from a modern-day non-road diesel engine for two different fuels (conventional diesel and soy-based biodiesel), two different engine loads (idle and 50% load), and with and without an emissions control system. The OP-DTT of DEPs was sensitive to the fuel used and the presence of an emissions control system but not to the engine load. On average, the use of biodiesel resulted in factor of ∼6 reduction in OP-DTT normalized to the DEP mass and a factor of ∼12 reduction in OP-DTT normalized to the fuel consumed. The use of the emissions control, on average, resulted in a factor of ∼6 reduction in OP-DTT normalized to the DEP mass and a three order of magnitude decrease in OP-DTT normalized to the fuel consumed. When studied in conjunction with the DEP composition, the OP-DTT seemed to correlate most strongly with elemental carbon (EC), followed by semi-volatile organic vapors. Assays performed on DEPs where EC was deliberately filtered out suggested that the species responsible for the OP-DTT might be correlated with EC but would need to be water soluble (e.g., quinones). The semi-volatile organic vapors accounted for more than a quarter of the OP-DTT of DEPs collected on the quartz filters. Finally, sensitivity studies performed with a different filter membrane (i.e., Teflon®) and solvent (i.e., dichloromethane) tended to increase the OP-DTT value. OP-DTT is emerging as an important metric for studying the adverse effects of DEPs and PM2.5 on human health; results of this work help define the sources and components of diesel PM2.5 that contribute to OP-DTT.
The Relationship Between Spiritual Well-Being and Burnout in Collegiate Athletic Trainers.

Context Spiritual well-being is the expression of one's spirituality as measured in the dimensions of existential and religious well-being. The Smith Cognitive Affective Model of Athletic Burnout suggests that personality factors such as spiritual well-being and the use of religious coping methods may affect burnout as well as its causes and outcomes. This has not been examined in collegiate athletic trainers (ATs). Objective To investigate the relationship between spiritual well-being and burnout in collegiate ATs. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Web-based survey. Patients or other participants A total of 783 certified ATs employed full time in the collegiate setting participated. Part-time employees (eg, graduate assistants, interns) were excluded. Main outcome measure(s) A 100-item online questionnaire was created for this study. It used items from previously developed scales, including the Spiritual Well-Being Scale, the Brief RCOPE, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and substance-use questions from the Monitoring the Future study. Participants were able to complete the survey in approximately 10-15 minutes. Multiple regression analyses were used to analyze survey data. We mapped all independent (existential well-being, religious well-being, positive and negative religious coping) and dependent variables (situational variables, Maslach Burnout Inventory burnout subscales, substance use, and intention to leave) onto the Smith Cognitive-Affective Model of Athletic Burnout to determine which variables altered burnout levels, substance use, and intention to leave. Tests of mediation or moderation were conducted when appropriate. Results Existential well-being was a significant positive predictor of social support and a significant negative predictor of work-family conflict, decreased sense of personal accomplishment, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, intention to leave the profession, and binge drinking. Existential well-being also served as a mediator or moderator in several components of the model. Conclusions Existential well-being was a protective factor against burnout as well as some of the causes and effects of burnout in collegiate ATs.
Ultrasound- and microbubble-mediated targeted delivery of therapeutic microRNA-loaded nanocarriers to deep liver and kidney tissues in pigs

Abstract In this study, we designed and validated a platform for ultrasound (US) and microbubble (MB)-mediated delivery of FDA-approved pegylated poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with anticancer microRNAs (miRNAs) to deep tissues in a pig model. Small RNAs have the ability to reprogram tumor cells and sensitize them to clinically used chemotherapy. However, to overcome their short intravascular circulation half-life and achieve controlled and sustained release into tumor cells, anticancer miRNAs need to be encapsulated into NPs. Moreover, focused US combined with gas-filled MBs provides a safe and noninvasive way to improve the permeability of tumor vasculature and increase the delivery efficiency of drug-loaded nanocarriers. A single handheld, curvilinear US array was used in this study for image-guidance and therapy with clinical-grade SonoVue MBs. First, we validated the platform on phantoms to optimize the MB cavitation dose based on acoustic parameters, including peak negative pressure, pulse length, and pulse repetition frequency. We then tested the system in vivo by delivering PLGA-NPs co-loaded with antisense-miRNA-21 and antisense-miRNA-10b in pig liver and kidney. Enhanced miRNA delivery was observed (1.9- to 3.7-fold increase) as a result of the US-MB treatment compared to untreated control regions. Additionally, we used highly fluorescent semiconducting polymer nanoparticles (SPNs) co-delivered with miRNA-loaded PLGA-NPs to visually assess NP delivery. Fluorescent microscopy of SPNs confirmed NP extravasation and showed the presence of particles in the extravascular compartment. Hematoxylin and eosin staining of treated tissues did not reveal tissue damage. The results presented in this manuscript suggest that enhanced delivery of miRNA-loaded NPs to target regions in deep organs is feasible in large animal models using the proposed platform.
Generator Back-Electromotive-Force Shaping for DC Output with Low Ripple Voltage

An integrated generator-rectifier system has been shown to be beneficial in reducing ac-to-dc conversion loss at megawatt power level. The architecture incorporates passive and active rectifiers into a multi-port permanent magnet synchronous generator. With a conventional sinusoidal back emf, filter capacitors are required on passive rectifiers to create a low-ripple-voltage dc bus. These capacitors are bulky, unreliable, and reduce the power factor on the ac ports. Consequently, the generator must be over designed to accommodate high peak ac current. This paper proposes an alternative back emf shape, relying on the trapezoidal waveform. The proposed back emf accomplishes debus ripple voltage of less than 5% at a high power factor using a capacitor-less passive rectifier. In addition, the generator torque ripple is reduced compared to a sinusoidal-back-emf machine. This opens an opportunity for compact generator design while further reducing the power electronics size, weight, and cost. The relationship between the dc-bus ripple voltage and the trapezoidal back emf is developed analytically. The findings are used to shape the generator back emf and select the range of the synchronous inductance. Simulation and experimental results corroborate the proposed approach.
Social Class, Ingroup–Outgroup Comparison, and Citizen Evaluations: Is User Satisfaction Linked to Outcome Disparities?:

Research on citizen satisfaction has emphasized the role of service quality (including expectations for quality) in shaping citizens’ evaluations of public services. This article considers an under...
Fixational Eye Movements in Visual, Cognitive, and Movement Disorders

The eyes never remain completely still. Even when attempting to maintain our gaze stable looking at a small target, fixational eye movements keep the eyes in constant motion. Given the simplicity of the task and the rich dataset that can be obtained, the interest in fixational eye movements has grown in multiple research and clinical fields. First, this chapter reviews the general classes of eye movements and how they may contribute to the main two components of fixational eye movements: drifts and microsaccades. While microsaccades are considered to be part of a continuum with saccades, drift results from a combination of all other smooth eye movements, such as vestibular ocular reflex, smooth pursuit, and vergence. Then, it discusses the methods used to analyze fixational eye movements and what are the typical parameters of interest and some considerations on how they should be measured. Finally, it describes how fixational eye movements are altered in patients affected by different degrees of vision loss, by movement disorders, or by cognitive disorders.
Accurate determination of transport block size for 5G new radio

The data payload from the medium access control layer to the physical layer is referred to as the transport block (TB). In fifth-generation new radio, the TB size is determined by using a formula due to large variations of available resource elements (REs) per resource block (RB). To ensure that a matching TB size can easily be scheduled in the retransmission instance, the reference number of REs is used to determine the TB size. As a result, the actual code rate may be much higher than the target code rate. This degrades the performance of the channel coding and increases the likelihood of the decoding failure. To solve these problems, the authors quantise the number of REs within the scheduled duration that are not available for the data transmission and the demodulation reference signal transmission. The difference between the reference number of REs of the traditional scheme and the quantised number is used to determine the TB size in the proposed scheme. Compared to the traditional scheme, the proposed scheme reduces the difference between the actual code rate and the target code rate.
Organizational Support and the Electoral Prospects of Progressive Congressional Candidates: An Inside View from 2018

An autoethnographic analysis of political campaigns can illuminate the behavior and influence of party organizations, interest groups, and the news media. L. Sandy Maisel’s classic book, From Obscu...
A Phenomenological Analysis of Long-Term Recollections of an Interpretive Program:

This study used a phenomenological approach to investigate the recollections of participants of an interpretive experience. Four individuals who participated in an interpretive program during July ...
Long-term mental health services use in children referred to a clinical intervention.

Abstract Background Recent advancements in pediatric mental health (MH) increased accessibility of evidence-based interventions. Yet, accessibility alone does not explain the rise in MH services use (MHSU). Maltreatment-related adversity, symptom severity, and access to early interventions have been linked to ongoing need for services, yet their joint contributions to continuities in MHSU remain unclear. Objective The study examines the role of maltreatment, externalizing symptom severity, and referral for early intervention in pediatric MHSU across five years. To evaluate engagement in treatment, we accounted for treatment progress and referral type, comparing MHSU in court-mandated and voluntary participants. Participants and setting Participants were 321 children (M = 4.3 years; 58.9 % boys) referred to parent–child interaction therapy (PCIT), an evidence-based intervention for families struggling with child disruptive behaviors and maltreating families involved with child welfare. Services were provided at a university-affiliated clinic in a metropolitan county. Method Symptom severity was assessed with standardized questionnaires; maltreatment history and referral type were obtained from casefile reviews. MHSU was tracked through county behavioral health diagnostic reports. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results Results indicated that for the 44.9 % of children with onward referrals, the frequency of service use, but not progress in treatment, predicted ongoing services. Maltreatment emerged as a universal predictor, while externalizing predicted MHSU only in court-mandated participants, suggesting referral type contributes to quantifiable differences in MH needs. Conclusions Findings emphasize importance of ongoing funding for pediatric MH services, and the need to explore mechanisms underlying continuous MHSU in vulnerable children.
Life History and Population Dynamics

Lake charr Salvelinus namaycush life history and population dynamics metrics were reviewed to evaluate populations inside (n = 462) and outside (n = 24) the native range. Our goals were to create a database of metrics useful for evaluating population status and to test for large-scale patterns between metrics and latitude and lake size. An average lake charr grew from a 69-mm length at age-0 (L0) at 89 mm/year early growth rate (ω) to 50% maturity at 420 mm (L50) at age 8 (t50), and then continued to grow toward a 717-mm asymptotic length (L∞). L50 was positively correlated to ω, whereas t50 was inversely correlated to ω. Lake charr grew slower toward larger size and older age in northern latitudes and larger lakes than in southern latitudes and smaller lakes. Population density (number/ha) and yield density (kg/ha) decreased with lake size, and yield and total annual mortality (A) decreased with latitude. Native populations grew slower (ω), were heavier at 500 mm (W500), matured at shorter L50, grew to a shorter L∞, and suffered lower annual mortality A than non-native populations. Our review and database should be useful to managers and researchers for quantifying lake charr population status across the species range.
Longitudinal Bidirectional Relations among Parenting Quality, Parenting Stress, and Child Functioning in HIV-affected Families

Mothers living with HIV (MLH) face unique stressors impacting parenting, parenting stress, and child psychosocial functioning, but longitudinal, bidirectional relations among family processes have not been examined in this population. This study examined relations among parenting quality, parenting stress, and child functioning in 174 MLH-child dyads (aged 6–14, Mage = 9.65, SD = 2.49; 51% female; 57% Black/African American; 35% Latinx). Families completed self-report questionnaires over four waves spanning 15 months. Cross-lagged panel analysis revealed unidirectional and bidirectional relations between parenting stress and child functioning; parenting quality and child functioning; and parenting quality and parenting stress. The findings suggest that prevention and intervention efforts with HIV-affected families should target both parent factors (e.g., communication skills) and child factors (e.g., emotion regulation), emphasizing parenting stress reduction in order to bolster family outcomes.
A Stochastic Optimization Framework for Distributed Beam Scheduling in 5G mm-Wave Networks over Non-cooperative Operators

This paper considers the problem of distributed scheduling for 5G mm-Wave networks where the base stations (BSs) belong to different operators sharing the same spectrum without any coordination among them. We aim to design efficient distributed beam scheduling algorithms such that the network utility which is a function of the average throughput can be maximized subject to the (average and instantaneous) power consumption constraints of the base stations. We propose a Medium Access Control (MAC) and a power allocation/adaptation mechanism utilizing the Lyapunov stochastic optimization framework which can be cast into two stochastic/deterministic optimization problems, where the first one can be solved via convex optimizations and the second one can be solved by "max-weight" type algorithms or non-cooperative games. The main novelty of the proposed approach is to formulate an optimization framework that is applicable for different MAC schemes with optimizable parameters such that the optimal values of the network utility function under such different MAC schemes can be achieved for distributed beam scheduling. To illustrate the proposed approach, we consider two MAC schemes, namely, non-cooperative game and p-persistent medium access control. We conduct simulations to justify the effectiveness of the proposed optimization framework. Interestingly, the non-cooperative game based approach can converge faster but with a worse optimal value compared to that achieved by the p-persistent based scheme. Hence, in this particular case, we suggest to start with the non-cooperative game scheme and then adapt to the p-persistent based scheme.
Preparedness through wargaming: Urban Outbreak 2019 and its applicability to America’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract The purpose of this chapter is to discuss the value of wargaming in planning for response to a critical biological event in a megacity, where disease spread may quickly exceed capacity across key sectors. To prepare for such encounters more appropriately, on September 17-18, 2019, a wargame was held at the Johns Hopkins University – Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland. Referred to as Urban Outbreak 2019, the wargame used a notional urban megacity (Olympia), located in the fictional developing nation of Olympus. This conceptualized nation-state served as the container to stimulate robust discussion between non-governmental organizations, military members, and U.S. and international government agencies. The event was sponsored by the U.S. Naval War College NWC, Uniformed Services University’s National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, and the APL. In addition to discussing the design, execution, and findings of Urban Outbreak 2019, this chapter connects the insights borne from the Urban Outbreak wargame with current challenges in America’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Decentralized Control of Large-Scale Nonlinear Systems: Optimal Robust Tracking

The design and implementation of decentralized controllers for large-scale nonlinear systems is considered. The objective is to track a specified target state over the infinite time horizon. Simple optimal robust decentralized controllers that comply with specified constraints are developed. Potential applications include electrical power distribution networks and the internet of things.
Diluting monolayers in molecular diodes to enhance their electrical properties

We report on the electrical properties of a series of molecular rectifiers based on benzalkylsilane molecules in self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) anchored to silicon substrates with a native layer of SiO2. Mixed SAMs were formed via co-absorption where known amounts of aliphatic silane-based impurities were included into the rectifying SAMs. We discovered that in spite of the fact that the degree of order within the SAMs decreased upon dilution the impurity (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane enhanced the rectification for several SAMs. The largest change resulted in a three-fold increase for an average rectification of 4500; the highest reported rectification for SAMs assembled on silicon to date. We attribute this novel behavior to a new molecular configuration within the SAM that allows more efficient coupling between the delocalized electrons of the SAM and the device electrode. Understanding how to optimize SAMs will allow for more functionable, integrable and cost-efficient devices.
Gigahertz Large-Area Electronic Devices and Circuits for Wireless Applications

We highlight recent progress in gigahertz large-area electronic (LAE) devices and circuits. On the device level, this relies on advanced design of zinc-oxide $(\text{ZnO})$ thin-film transistors (TFTs), for which we consider three key figures of merit, i.e., unity current gain frequency $f_{T}$ and unity power gain frequency $f_{\text{MAX}}$ of active devices, and unity o:ff-to-on-impedance ratio frequency $f_{\text{cut}-\text{off}}$ of passive devices. On the circuit level, this relies on resonant operation and exploiting high-quality-factor LAE inductors. We demonstrate two gigahertz LAE circuits, specifically oscillators and RF switches.
Functional status impairment at six-month follow-up is independently associated with child physical abuse mechanism.

BACKGROUND Children with abusive injuries have worse mortality, length-of-stay, complications, and healthcare costs compared to those sustaining an accidental injury. Long-term functional impairment is common in children with abusive head trauma but has not been examined in a cohort with heterogeneous body region injuries. OBJECTIVE To assess for an independent association between child physical abuse and functional impairment at discharge and six-month follow-up. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING Seriously injured children (<15 years) treated at seven pediatric trauma centers. METHODS Functional status was compared between child physical abuse and accidental injury groups at discharge and six-month follow-up. Functional impairment was defined at discharge ("new domain morbidity") as a change from pre-injury ≥2 points in any of the six domains of the Functional Status Scale (FSS), and impairment at six-month follow-up as an abnormal total FSS score. RESULTS Children with abusive injuries accounted for 10.5% (n = 45) of the cohort. New domain morbidity was present in 17.8% (n = 8) of child physical abuse patients at discharge, with 10% (n = 3) of children having an abnormal FSS at six-months. There were no differences in new domain morbidity at hospital discharge between children injured by abuse and or accidental injury. However, children injured by physical abuse were 4.09 (2.15, 7.78) times more likely to have functional impairment at six months. CONCLUSIONS Child physical abuse is an independent risk factor for functional impairment at six-month follow-up. Functional status measurement for this high-risk group of children should be routinely measured and incorporated into trauma center quality assessments.
Myxomatous mitral valve disease in Miniature Schnauzers and Yorkshire Terriers: 134 cases (2007-2016).

Objective To characterize features of myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) in Miniature Schnauzers and Yorkshire Terriers. Animals 69 Miniature Schnauzers and 65 Yorkshire Terriers, each with MMVD. Procedures Medical record data for each dog were collected; the study period was January 2007 through December 2016. If available, radiographic data were evaluated, and a vertebral heart scale score was assigned for each dog. Statistical analysis was performed with Student t and Fisher exact tests. Results Compared with Yorkshire Terriers, the prevalence of MMVD was significantly higher in Miniature Schnauzers and affected dogs were significantly younger at the time of diagnosis. Miniature Schnauzers were significantly more likely to have mitral valve prolapse and syncope, compared with Yorkshire Terriers. Yorkshire Terriers were significantly more likely to have coughing and have had previous or current treatment with cardiac medications, compared with Miniature Schnauzers. There was no statistical difference between breeds with regard to abnormally high vertebral heart scale scores or radiographic evidence of congestive heart failure. Conclusions and clinical relevance With regard to MMVD, features of the disease among Miniature Schnauzers and Yorkshire Terriers were similar, but there were also a few discernable differences between these 2 breeds and from historical findings for dogs with MMVD of other breeds. Clinical signs at the time of diagnosis differed between the 2 breeds, which may have reflected concurrent breed-specific conditions (sick sinus syndrome or airway disease [eg, tracheal collapse]). Future work should include prospective studies to provide additional information regarding the natural progression of MMVD in these dog breeds.
Bitter Harvest: Introduction: The fruits of his labor? FDR and the growth of the presidential branch

In the United States we like to “rate” a president. We measure him as weak or strong and call what we are measuring leadership. … We are quite right to do so. Richard Neustadt Only three American presidents – George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt – are consistently rated “strong” leaders. Among the post-1933 presidents, FDR stands alone in this regard. Indeed, he largely defined the standards by which his “modern” presidential cohort is judged. Roosevelt's groundbreaking innovations – the use of radio, rhetoric, and the media; the development of legislative programs; the wielding of prerogative powers; and the creation and utilization of a presidential staff system – carved new leadership pathways in the presidential landscape. His successors were, in historian William Leuchtenberg's words, expected to “tread in the rows that he had furrowed.” In the field of presidential staffing, however, Roosevelt's precedents have been ignored. Here, rather than tread the staffing furrows FDR first marked out, the modern presidents have largely plowed them under. And they have resodded the presidency with soil conducive to the growing of a “presidential branch”: a large, White House–centered presidential staff bureaucracy, its members functionally specialized and hierarchically arranged. The fruits of that branch have often been bitter. Vietnam, Watergate, and the Iran-contra scandal revealed the dangers of staff mis judgment and outright malfeasance. These incidents, however, are indicative of more deep-rooted problems; as Chapter i argues, there is systematic evidence suggesting that, on balance, the political harvest from increasing White House staff size, hierarchy, and functional specialization has proved harmful to presidents and the body politic.
Qualitative Field Research – Methods and Theory: The African Atlantic Research Team Reports

AbstractThis paper reports on the African Atlantic Research Team (AART) of Michigan State University and its investigation of Cuba's distinct religious traditions as practiced in the eastern, Oriente region. The report emphasizes the Team's methodological approaches as these are related to propositions put forth by such research scholars as Emile Durkheim, Jurgen Habermas, Peter Berger and Thomas Luckman, and others. The paper discusses how AART members have listened to their field experiences and determined that academic sources do not fully conceptualize the components of Cuba's distinct religious traditions. The paper does not abdicate disciplinary guidance as the Team combines academic offerings with experiential field understandings to arrive at its research posture. As the founding director of the Team, I am responsible for insuring that our work represents the religious traditions’ best understanding as expressed within and by practitioners in a given context. This paper reports on this work.
Abstract 4551: Emerging effects of Chinese herbal medicines on human cancer cells proliferation

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Chinese herbal medicine is a major aspect of traditional Chinese medicine, which focuses on restoring a balance of energy, body, andspirit to maintain health rather than treating a particular disease or medical condition. Some of Chinese herbs have shown therapeutic effects in cancer patients. Yunnan Baiyao (White Medicine from Yunnan, YNBY) and Snow daisy are popular Chinese herbs for routine clinical usage. YNBY is a Chinese herbal medicinal powder used to stop bleeding, reduce swelling and improve circulation in traumatic injuries. While Snow daisy has effects on maintaining blood pressure and reducing coronary heart diseases and inflammation when consumed in form of tea. Although it has been hypothesized that both YNBY and Snow daisy flower tea (SDFT) may help to prevent tumor proliferation and even reduce tumor growth, yet no systematic study and analysis have been carried out. Therefore, in this study the effects of YNBY and SDFT on tumor cell proliferation were evaluated and the signal transduction pathways mediating the effects were also determined. We tested tumor cells (lung, breast and oral cancer cell lines) and normal human fibroblast cells with different YNBY and SDFT dilution in cultured medium. Then the proliferation ability of these treated cells was tested by MTT assay and visualized via Dil (1,1′-Dioctadecyl-3,3,3′,3′-Tetramethylindocarbocyanine Perchlorate) staining. Subsequently, several apoptosis factors (Fas pathway related, i.e., Fas/CD95, Fas Ligand, Caspase-8) which may be secreted by YNBY and SDFT treated tumor cells were tested using ELISA and Western Blot. The results showed that YNBY and SDFT can significantly inhibit lung tumor cells proliferation when its concentration was above 0.4mg/mL and 2mg/mL, respectively (P<0.01). The data indicated that YNBY could induce lung tumor cells apoptosis through Fas related pathway. The expression of Fas/CD95 and caspase-8 in treated lung tumor cells was much higher than which in control groups (P<0.01) suggesting that YNBY and SDFT may provoke tumor cells death by inducing cell apoptosis through Fas pathway. YNBY and SDFT may constitute potential therapeutic effects for lung cancer patients. Citation Format: Xufei Zhang, Hao Li, Herschel Angela Espiritu, Anita Kim, Li Zhong. Emerging effects of Chinese herbal medicines on human cancer cells proliferation. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 4551. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4551
Polyethylene debris-induced osteolysis and loosening in uncemented total hip arthroplasty

Uncemented total hip arthroplasty has proven to be an acceptable alternative to cemented total hip arthroplasty with good short-term results. With the elimination of the use of polymethyl methacrylate for component fixation, failure at the bone-cement interface, with resultant osteolysis and progressive loosening, was thought to be preventable. Unfortunately the ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene acetabular insert can wear and produce particulate debris. This debris can stimulate an osteolytic reaction and lead to late aseptic loosening in a cementless total hip arthroplasty.
Defective post-translational modification of collagen IV in a mutant F9 teratocarcinoma cell line is associated with delayed differentiation and growth arrest in response to retinoic acid.

Abstract We have selected a mutant F9 teratocarcinoma stem cell line, RA-5-1, which does not exhibit normal differentiation into parietal endoderm in the presence of retinoic acid, dibutyryl cyclic AMP, and theophylline (RACT). In this report, we demonstrate that the RA-5-1 mutant possesses a prolyl-4-hydroxylase enzyme with a higher Km for a synthetic collagen substrate and that this alteration results in a 6-7-fold reduction in the amount of collagen IV in the medium of RACT-treated mutant cells, as compared to wild type F9 cells. In addition, the collagen IV that is secreted by RACT-treated RA-5-1 cells has an abnormally low molecular weight and contains 6-9-fold less 4-hydroxyproline than the collagen IV secreted by RACT-treated wild type F9 cells. A brief ascorbate treatment can increase the hydroxyproline content of the collagen IV secreted by RACT-treated RA-5-1 cells. A large reduction in the amount of laminin in the medium of RACT-treated RA-5-1 mutant cells is also observed. Concomitant with the reduction in collagen IV and laminin polypeptides in the medium, the expression of several other differentiation-specific mRNAs is delayed in the RACT-treated RA-5-1 cells relative to wild type F9 cells. Moreover, the mutant cells do not exhibit the morphology or the complete growth arrest of wild type terminally differentiated parietal endoderm cells in the presence of RACT. These results suggest that a defect in the post-translational modification of collagen IV in the mutant RA-5-1 prevents the complete expression of the differentiation program in response to RACT. These experiments also demonstrate that the expression of certain differentiation-specific genes is compatible with continued proliferation in the mutant line.
Approximate dynamic programming via iterated Bellman inequalities

SUMMARY In this paper we introduce new methods for finding functions that lower bound the value function of a stochastic control problem, using an iterated form of the Bellman inequality. Our method is based on solving linear or semidefinite programs, and produces both a bound on the optimal objective, as well as a suboptimal policy that appears to work very well. These results extend and improve bounds obtained in a previous paper using a single Bellman inequality condition. We describe the methods in a general setting, and show how they can be applied in specific cases including the finite state case, constrained linear quadratic control, switched affine control, and multi-period portfolio investment. Copyright c 0000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tribal Laws & Same-Sex Marriage: Theory, Process, and Content

In 1996, Congress, in enacting the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), took the somewhat surprising step of explicitly including tribes within its purview. The legislative history is silent as to the decision to explicitly include tribes, and, at the time of DOMA’s passage, it does not appear that any tribe was seriously examining the issue. Since then, however, there have been many developments among tribes on this issue, including enactment of laws permitting same-sex marriage and enactment of prohibitions on same-sex marriage. Nonetheless, generally speaking, the issue does not seem to be a priority among tribes to the same extent it is a priority for states and the federal government.In 2013, the Supreme Court struck down section 3 of the DOMA, which concerns the federal definition of marriage, as a violation of equal protection and due process. In doing so, it left the constitutionality of section 2, which pertains to tribes’ and states’ recognition of out-of-jurisdiction marriages, uncertain. This article presents the post-DOMA developments in tribal law as to same-sex marriage, explaining the different tribal approaches to the issue, and then examines the processes by which tribal laws on same-sex marriage, particularly those explicitly permitting same-sex marriage, have been enacted. Finally, this article examines the possible effects that United States v. Windsor will likely have on tribal laws and suggests that tribal courts apply Windsor as persuasive authority under the Indian Civil Rights Act unless there is significant historical evidence as to a lack of openness to same-sex relationships or LGBT identities within that particular tribe. Finally, it discusses the reasons that laws on same-sex marriage may be less of a priority for tribes than for the other sovereigns in the United States. This article is the only comprehensive examination of tribal same-sex marriage laws since the issue gained serious momentum among tribes in 2011 and 2012, and it is the first to address the potential effects of Windsor on Indian tribes.
Purification and characterization of a novel protein phosphatase highly specific for ribosomal protein S6.

Abstract Ribosomal protein S6 is the principal phosphoprotein of the eucaryotic ribosome that becomes multiply phosphorylated on serine residues in response to a wide variety of mitogenic stimuli. In this paper the principal protein phosphatases able to dephosphorylate S6 were characterized in Xenopus laevis ovary and eggs. Two enzymes termed peak I and peak II were found to account for most S6 phosphatase activity in both oocytes and eggs. The peak I enzyme had an apparent Mr of 200,000 on gel filtration, dephosphorylated the beta subunit of phosphorylase kinase and phosphorylase a, and was inhibited by inhibitor 1 and inhibitor 2, suggesting it was similar to protein phosphatase 1. The peak II enzyme was purified over 12,000-fold and had an apparent Mr = 55,000 on glycerol gradient centrifugation. This phosphatase could dephosphorylate all sites in S6 but was unable to dephosphorylate phosphorylase a or phosphorylase kinase. However, it was inhibited by nanomolar concentrations of inhibitor 1 and inhibitor 2. These results indicate the peak II enzyme represents a new class of highly specific protein phosphatase and suggest that inhibition of dephosphorylation in cellular extracts by inhibitor 1 and inhibitor 2 is not a sufficient criterion for implicating protein phosphatase 1 in a cellular process.
Correcting for respiratory motion in liver PET/MRI: preliminary evaluation of the utility of bellows and navigated hepatobiliary phase imaging

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of bellows-based respiratory compensation and navigated hepatobiliary phase imaging to correct for respiratory motion in the setting of dedicated liver PET/MRI. Institutional review board approval and informed consent were obtained. Six patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumor were imaged using Ga-68 DOTA-TOC PET/MRI. Whole body imaging and a dedicated 15-min liver PET acquisition was performed, in addition to navigated and breath-held hepatobiliary phase (HBP) MRI. Liver PET data was reconstructed three ways: the entire data set (liver PET), gated using respiratory bellows (RC-liver PET), and a non-gated data set reconstructed using the same amount of data used in the RC-liver PET (shortened liver PET). Liver lesions were evaluated using SUVmax, SUVpeak, SUVmean, and Volisocontour. Additionally, the displacement of each lesion between the RC-liver PET images and the navigated and breath-held HBP images was calculated. Respiratory compensation resulted in a 43 % increase in SUVs compared to ungated data (liver vs RC-liver PET SUVmax 26.0 vs 37.3, p < 0.001) and a 25 % increase compared to a non-gated reconstruction using the same amount of data (RC-liver vs shortened liver PET SUVmax 26.0 vs 32.6, p < 0.001). Lesion displacement was minimized using navigated HBP MRI (1.3 ± 1.0 mm) compared to breath-held HBP MRI (23.3 ± 1.0 mm). Respiratory bellows can provide accurate respiratory compensation when imaging liver lesions using PET/MRI, and results in increased SUVs due to a combination of increased image noise and reduced respiratory blurring. Additionally, navigated HBP MRI accurately aligns with respiratory compensated PET data.
Sertoli Cell Junctional Complexes in Gossypol‐treated Neonatal and Adult Guinea Pigs

The effect of gossypol, an experimental male contraceptive agent, on the development and maintenance of the blood-testis barrier was determined by feeding gossypol daily to prepubertal and adult guinea pigs, and then examining their testes by electron microscopy of thin sections and freeze-fracture replicas. In guinea pigs of 10 to 30 and 10 to 40 days of age that were fed gossypol, impermeable continuous junctional zones did not develop between adjacent Sertoli cells. Compartmentalization of germ cells in the seminiferous epithelium, therefore, was nonexistent. These findings were obtained by use of the sterol-binding polyene, filipin, used as a low molecular weight tracer in combination with freeze-fracture. In general, the seminiferous tubules lacked lumina and spermatogenesis did not progress beyond the pachytene spermatocyte stage. In adult guinea pigs fed gossypol daily for five weeks, continuous zonules at the base of the seminiferous epithelium appeared intact and were impermeable to filipin. Discontinuous zonules found higher in the epithelium showed distensions between interrupted junctional strands and were permeated by filipin. In addition, vacuolated spaces between Sertoli cells and clumps of heterochromatin were conspicuous in some of the Sertoli cell nuclei. Spermatogenesis was disturbed in about 10% of the seminiferous tubules examined. These perturbations included exfoliation of round and elongated spermatids with concomitant formation of multi-nucleated giant cells. Spermatozoa from these adult male guinea pigs were immotile. These findings suggest that, in neonatal animals, gossypol appears to prevent the maturation of Sertoli cells and this effect is expressed as the failure of focal Sertoli cell tight junctional strands to assemble into continuous zonules. In adult animals, gossypol appears to have no effect on the maintenance of the blood-testis barrier.