cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa Torr.) dunes and interdunes in southern New Mexico: a study of soil properties and soil water relations*

Soil properties and soil water relations were compared between soils of mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa Torr.) dunes and soils of adjacent interdune areas in southern New Mexico. Particle size, bulk density, organic matter content, electrical conductivity, pH, and temperature of dunal and interdunal soils were measured. Except for particle size and temperature, dunal and interdunal soils did not differ greatly. Soils of dunes had more sand and less silt and clay than did soils of interdunes. Soil temperatures were higher in interdunes than in vegetated dunes. Soil temperatures were similar in dunes with plant cover removed and in interdunes. Infiltration and runoff, hydraulic conductivity, and water retention measurements showed that although dune soils had greater infiltration and more rapid hydraulic conductivity, interdune soils retained more water above −1·5 MPa matric potential. Evaporative losses, as measured with atmometers 3 cm from the soil surfaces, were greater from interdunes than from vegetated dunes. Through two growing seasons, measured total soil water content at a depth of 30·5 cm was always greater for interdunes than for either vegetated or bare dunes. The dune soils stored water less efficiently than interdune soils and reached −1·5 MPa matric potential with much greater frequency.
Simultaneous Testing for 6 Lysosomal Storage Disorders and X-Adrenoleukodystrophy in Dried Blood Spots by Tandem Mass Spectrometry

BACKGROUND: Newborn screening for lysosomal storage disorders (LSD) has revealed that late-onset variants of these conditions are unexpectedly frequent and therefore may evade diagnosis. We developed an efficient and cost-effective multiplex assay to diagnose six LSDs and several peroxisomal disorders in patients presenting with diverse phenotypes at any age. METHODS: Three 3-mm dried blood spot (DBS) punches were placed into individual microtiter plates. One disc was treated with a cocktail containing acid sphingomyelinase-specific substrate and internal standard (IS). To the second DBS we added a cocktail containing substrate and IS for β-glucosidase, acid α-glucosidase, α-galactosidase A, galactocerebrosidase, and α-L-iduronidase. The third DBS was extracted with methanol containing d 4 -C 26 lysophosphatidylcholine as IS and stored until the enzyme plates were combined and purified by liquid–liquid and solid-phase extraction. The extracts were evaporated, reconstituted with the extract from the lysophosphatidylcholine plate, and analyzed by flow injection tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Reference intervals were determined by analysis of 550 samples from healthy controls. DBS from confirmed patients with 1 of the 6 LSDs (n = 33), X-adrenoleukodystrophy (n = 9), or a peroxisomal biogenesis disorder (n = 5), as well as carriers for Fabry disease (n = 17) and X-adrenoleukodystrophy (n = 5), were analyzed for assay validation. Prospective clinical testing of 578 samples revealed 25 patients affected with 1 of the detectable conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Our flow injection tandem mass spectrometry approach is amenable to high-throughput population screening for Hurler disease, Gaucher disease, Niemann–Pick A/B disease, Pompe disease, Krabbe disease, Fabry disease, X-adrenoleukodystrophy, and peroxisomal biogenesis disorder in DBS.
New Protections after Boy Scouts of America v Dale: A Private University's First Amendment Right to Pursue Diversity

In Boy Scouts of America v Dale,' the Supreme Court held that the Boy Scouts of America, in contravention of a New Jersey antidiscrimination law, could discriminate against a gay adult leader under its First Amendment right of expressive association.2 The Court concluded that the New Jersey law materially infringed the Boy Scouts' First Amendment right of expressive association by requiring it to admit and retain members who did not conform to its stated standards. Prior to Dale, few constitutional impediments inhibited state legislatures from enacting content-neutral laws prohibiting discriminatory practices or policies.3 The only organizations exempt from such statutory mandates were organizations whose political nature required exclusionary policies4 and groups whose existence' or goals6 would be eviscerated by application of certain laws. Yet despite the fact that the Boy Scouts is not a political association, and including Dale would arguably not have undermined the existence of the organization or its purposes,7 the Court ruled in its favor. Consequently,
Watering the Renaissance Garden: Horticultural Theory and Irrigation Practice in Sixteenth-Century Tuscany

Although essential for the life of plants, garden irrigation remains a little known aspect of Italian Renaissance horticulture. By drawing mainly on sixteenth-century Tuscan sources, this chapter attempts to reconstruct both the methods and theoretical underpinnings of this practice. It examines the modes of bringing water into Italian gardens; the specific uses of watering—for example, for fertilizing soil or medicating plants; the tools and techniques of garden irrigation; and various other factors, such as the origin and temperature of water, that were considered relevant by Renaissance garden theorists and practitioners. Special attention is paid to the methods of utilizing running water in the horticultural context. This chapter argues that the conservative nature of garden irrigation in the Renaissance, which in great measure continued the ancient tradition of plant cultivation, was primarily a response to the multiplicity of objectives that watering had to meet. It therefore reflected the time-honoured approach to the stewardship of land and its resources, in which manual work and diligent attention to the individual needs of plants could not easily be replaced by technological innovations. In conclusion, this chapter explains how the principles of garden irrigation influenced the design and appearance of sixteenth-century Italian gardens.
Diagnostic Accuracy of Combined Multimodality Somatosensory Evoked Potential and Transcranial Motor Evoked Potential Intraoperative Monitoring in Patients With Idiopathic Scoliosis.

Study design Systematic review. Objective The aim of the study was to determine the predictive value of combined multimodality somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) and transcranial motor evoked potential (TcMEP) monitoring in detecting impending neurological injury during surgery for idiopathic scoliosis. Summary of background data The diagnostic of motor evoked potential monitoring and SSEP monitoring have been established. However, the predictive value of combined multimodality SSEP and TcMEP monitoring in detecting impending neurological injury during surgery for idiopathic scoliosis has not been evaluated. Methods A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and EMBASE from 1974 to January 2015. All titles and abstracts were independently reviewed by the authors. We included all studies that were (1) randomized controlled trials, prospective or retrospective cohort studies; (2) included patients with idiopathic scoliosis undergoing scoliosis correction surgery; (3) included multimodality SSEP and TcMEP monitoring during spinal surgery; (4) included immediate postoperative neurological assessment; (5) idiopathic scoliosis patient population n ≥25; and (6) published in English. Results Seven studies comprising a total of 2052 patients with idiopathic scoliosis were included in our meta-analysis. The incidence of neurological deficit in this cohort was 0.93%. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and Diagnostic Odds Ratio were 82.6% (95% CI 56.7%-94.5%), 94.4% (95% CI 85.1%-98.0%), and 106.16 (95% CI 24.952-451.667), respectively. The area under the curve was 0.928, indicating excellent discriminatory ability. Conclusion Idiopathic scoliosis corrective surgery patients who experience a new neurological deficit are 106.16 times more likely to have had an SSEP and/or TcMEP change during corrective procedures. The results of this meta-analysis demonstrate that combined multimodality SSEP and TcMEP monitoring possess some advantage over use of each alone, and that intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring may provide a valuable biomarker in detection of impending neurological injury. Level of evidence 2.
ARTHROSCOPY SKILLS DEVELOPMENT WITH A SURGICAL SIMULATOR: A COMPARATIVE STUDY IN ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY RESIDENTS

Introduction Junior level orthopaedic surgery residents who train with a virtual surgical simulator can lead to improved arthroscopy performance. Methods Study participants were first and second year orthopaedic surgery residents at a single institution who were randomized to either train on the virtual reality surgical simulator ( Insight Arthro VR ) for a total of 2.5 hours (n=8) or receive 2 hours of didactic lectures with models (non-simulator) (n=6). Both groups were then evaluated in both knee and shoulder arthroscopy using a cadaver. Performance was measured by time to completion of a standardized protocol checklist and cartilage-grading index (CGI) (scale 0–10). Results All subjects had no previous arthroscopy experience prior to the study. The simulator group had a shorter time to completion in both knee (simulator: 5.1 ± 1.8 min, non-simulator: 8.0 ± 4.4 min; p=0.09) and shoulder (simulator: 6.1 ± 1.5 min, non-simulator: 9.9 ± 3.2 min; p=0.02) arthroscopy. Similarly, the simulator group had improved CGI scores in both the knee (simulator: 4.0 ± 1.1, non-simulator: 5.3 ± 1.5; p=0.07) and shoulder (simulator: 3.4 ± 0.8, non-simulator: 5.5 ± 1.6; p=0.008) arthroscopy. Discussion and Conclusion This study suggests that surgical simulators are beneficial in arthroscopy skills development for orthopaedic surgery residents.
Precision Medicine Approaches to Diabetic Kidney Disease: Tissue as an Issue

Precision medicine approaches, that tailor medications to specific individuals has made paradigm-shifting improvements for patients with certain cancer types. Such approaches, however, have not been implemented for patients with diabetic kidney disease. Precision medicine could offer new avenues for novel diagnostic, prognostic and targeted therapeutics development. Genetic studies associated with multiscalar omics datasets from tissue and cell types of interest of well-characterized cohorts are needed to change the current paradigm. In this review, we will discuss precision medicine approaches that the nephrology community can take to analyze tissue samples to develop new therapeutics for patients with diabetic kidney disease.
Firearms and Violence in American Law

Questions about firearms ownership and use are significant elements of crime policy and constitutional law in the United States. Two important recent issues involving guns are the distinction between prevalence and incidence effects of gun ownership and the important contrast between private gun rights in households and in public spaces.
Re-Thinking Bullying Interventions for High School Students: A Qualitative Study

The purpose of this study was to obtain feedback to inform a modification of a brief, school-based bullying intervention originally developed for elementary and middle school students to be age app...
Punitive turn and justice cascade: Mutual inspiration from Punishment and Society and human rights literatures:

This essay compares punishment and society scholarship, especially on the punitive turn of recent decades, with work on the punishment of grave offenses against human rights norms, especially the j...
The Role of Brand Familiarity in Internal Reference Price Formation: An Accessibility-Diagnosticity Perspective

Very little research focused on the process by which internal reference prices are formed and used by consumers making price judgments. The accessibility-diagnosticity model is proposed as a parsimonious theoretical framework that resolves some conflicts in prior research and provides a foundation for future research on internal reference prices. This model is used to evaluate the role of brand familiarity and involvement on the formation and use of internal reference price standards. Empirical results show that (1) involvement is a better predictor of confidence in internal reference prices than brand familiarity, and (2) in forming internal reference price estimates, the offering price is discounted more for unfamiliar brands than familiar brands, but only when involvement is low. When involvement is high, the effect of brand familiarity on reference price estimates disappears. Implications for future research on internal reference price effects and for promotion practice are discussed.
Myasthenia gravis. A well-understood neuromuscular disorder.

PreviewMyasthenia gravis can vary from a mild disorder requiring no treatment to a life-threatening disease. Although severe cases can usually be controlled with careful use of medications, the prognosis still can be grave. Drawing from the extensive pool of knowledge about myasthenia gravis, Dr Ravits provides in the following article an overview of the disorder, including the fundamental abnormality, clinical features, diagnostic tests, and therapeutic options.
9.15 Biophysical Representation of Kidney Function

Renal excretory function is achieved by filtration of blood plasma; reabsorption of most of the filtered water, electrolytes, and organics; and secretion of selected solutes. The structural unit is the renal tubule (the nephron), and overall kidney function can be understood as single nephron function, scaled up in a parallel system. The earliest application of biophysical principles in understanding kidney function was glomerular filtration, rationalized according to capillary hydrostatic and oncotic forces. Tubular reabsorption and secretion is determined by the epithelial cells lining each nephron segment, and in turn, by the transport proteins within luminal and peritubular cell membranes. This review includes information developed over the past four decades, spanning several investigative eras: epithelial transport, which provided an accounting of solute fluxes along the nephron; electrophysiology and vesicle studies, which identified specific membrane transport activity; and molecular studies, which afforded the ability to clone, express, mutate, and knockout individual transporters. Mathematical models of the renal epithelia have provided a context for synthesizing biophysical representations of membrane transporter function into cellular and segmental transport. Such models can simulate experiments or pathological states and contribute to the translational dialogue between basic understanding and mechanisms of disease.
Reflecting on My Learning Through Action Research

In this concluding chapter, I address the methods of my students using technology and working in collaborative groups to enhance their learning and interest in biochemistry. Because “[w]riting these stories reminds us of the continual co-creation of the self and social science” (Richardson 2000, p. 943), I am able to look back and examine the quality criteria in the various genres of writing.
Centers of Concatenation: Fusing Data in Post-9/11 Security Organizations

In this paper, we draw upon empirical research on fusion centers to theorize contemporary state surveillance. Instead of viewing fusion centers as central repositories for the stockpiling and sharing of personal data, we introduce the concept of “centers of concatenation” to describe the ways in which disparate data are drawn together as needed, invested with meaning, communicated to others, and then discarded such that no records exist of such surveillance activities. In these ways, fusion centers perform an erasure, or a selective non-generation, of data about their own practices, thereby creating zones of opacity that shield them from accountability. This is concerning particularly because fusion centers are rapidly becoming primary portals for law-enforcement investigations and the model for information sharing by security agencies more broadly.
Current Advances in COPD Imaging.

Objective To review the recent advances in available technologies for imaging COPD and present the novel optical coherence tomography (OCT) airway imaging technology. Materials and Methods This is an unstructured review of published evidence of available pulmonary imaging technologies along with a demonstration of state-of-the-art OCT imaging technology of in vivo human and animal airways. Results Advanced imaging techniques such as Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging using hyperoloarized noble gases, micro-Computed Tomography (micro-CT), and OCT aim to further our understanding of COPD. Lung densitometry can aid in identifying an exacerbation prone phenotype which may have implications for targeting specific therapies to these individuals. MR ventilation scans have the ability to provide a functional and regional distribution of airflow obstruction offering insight into the airway and parenchymal changes induced by COPD. Micro-CT gives a near microscopic view of the terminal bronchioles and alveoli permitting study of the microarchitecture of the lung ex vivo. Optical coherence tomography can visualize the microstructure of the airway walls (epithelium, smooth muscle, blood vessels, cartilage) permitting real time in vivo as well as longitudinal evaluation of airway changes in patients with COPD. Conclusion Advanced imaging techniques play a vital role in expanding our current understanding of COPD.
How Intelligence Community Interprets Imprecise Evaluative Linguistic Expressions, and How to Justify this Empirical-Based Interpretation

To provide a more precise meaning to imprecise evaluative linguistic expressions like “probable” or “almost certain”, researchers analyzed how often intelligence predictions hedged by each corresponding evaluative expression turned out to be true. In this paper, we provide a theoretical explanation for the resulting empirical frequencies.
The Sub-Statement of Retained Earnings

The statement of retained earnings is financial statement which outlines the changes in retained earnings for a specified period. The statement of retained earnings is prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The statement of retained earnings reconciles the beginning and ending retained earnings for the period, using information such as net income from the other financial statements.
Developing Reasoning about the Derivative of a Complex-Valued Function with the Aid of "Geometer's Sketchpad".

In this study, a description is provided for the development of two undergraduate students’ geometric reasoning about the derivative of a complex-valued function with the aid of Geometer’s Sketchpad (GSP) during an interview sequence designed to help them characterize the derivative geometrically. Specifically, a particular GSP task at the end of this interview sequence aided the participants in viewing the derivative as a local property. This advancement is notable as previous participants had been largely unable to make this characterization precisely, and the participants of this study only did so while working on the final task of the interview sequence. This task required students to determine an algebraic formula given only geometric data through GSP. Particularly, they recognized that their disks constructed in GSP needed to be small to accurately identify points where the function is non-differentiable, and to stay away from the “bad points” when determining differentiability.
Introduction: Constructing the Countryside

This book examines how the British countryside is portrayed in the works of Caribbean writers Jean Rhys, V.S. Naipaul, Derek Walcott, and Grace Nichols, as well as British-Caribbean “second generation” writers Andrea Levy, Caryl Phillips, and Charlotte Williams. I explore whether these authors have found a different rural landscape to the one their predecessors encountered; how Britain’s countryside is represented before the writers see it first-hand; and how differently the authors then construct the countryside afterwards. I find that previously held (colonial and postcolonial) views of Britain’s countryside influence these authors’ subsequent perspectives, sometimes reifying a traditional and exclusive view of Britain’s countryside, but also reframing our understanding of that countryside to admit a greater multivocality. This chapter begins an exploration of the complex relationship between a former great economic, social, and political power and the new world, with special regard to the social and the countryside in Britain today.
3D Multi-chip Integration with System on Integrated Chips (SoIC™)

The electrical characterization of System on Integrated Chips (SoIC™), an innovative 3D heterogeneous integration technology manufactured in front-end of line with known-good-die is reported. Chiplets integration of devices including foundry leading edge 7nm FinFET technology with SoIC™ illustrates its advantages in high bandwidth density and high power efficiency, as compared with 2.5D and conventional 3D-IC with micro-bump/TSV.
Applying the inclusion/exclusion criteria in placebo-controlled studies to a clinical sample: A comparison of medications.

Abstract Background We previously compared the inclusion/exclusion criteria in the studies of vortioxetine to other antidepressants and found that they were significantly more restrictive in the vortioxetine studies. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that the differences in psychiatric inclusion/exclusion criteria used in the studies of some antidepressants resulted in differences in generalizability to clinical samples. Methods We applied the inclusion and exclusion criteria used in 161 antidepressant efficacy trials to 1,271 patients presenting to an outpatient practice who received a principal diagnosis of major depressive disorder. The patients underwent a thorough diagnostic evaluation. We compared the percentage of patients that would be excluded in studies of different medications. Results The percentage of patients that would have been excluded was significantly higher in the vortioxetine studies than other medications. For the 15 medications that were included in at least 5 trials, we computed the mean percentage of patients that would be excluded. The values ranged from 76.0% (for fluoxetine) to 99.1% (for quetiapine). Limitations While our calculations were based on the exclusion criteria stated in the published articles, we have no way of knowing how these criteria were actually applied. Conclusion Studies of different medications vary in how representative the samples are of patients in clinical practice. The variability in the inclusion/exclusion criteria used to select samples for antidepressant efficacy trials, and the evidence that studies of different medications vary in their generalizability, makes it more difficult to interpret network analyses comparing the relative efficacy of medications.
Disordered Eating in Men and Women: Internalization of Sociocultural Body Image Norms and Emotion Dysregulation

Background: Emotion dysregulation and the internalization of sociocultural body image norms have been individually associated with eating pathology, but most studies utilized samples that were fema...
The work of littérature-monde and the fictional laboratories of Alice Zeniter and Bessora:

The article examines recent fictional works by Alice Zeniter and Bessora situating them in the context of ‘litterature-monde’ construed not as a doctrine or ideology but as a literary stance that m...
Shock Termination of Tachycardia

A 68-year-old man with ischemic cardiomyopathy (NYHA Class II, left-ventricular ejection fraction 26%) underwent implantation of a prophylactic dual-chamber ICD (Medtronic EnTrust™ D154ATG) 2 years ago. His medications include lisinopril 20 mg daily, carvedilol 12.5 mg daily, simvastatin 40 ms daily, and aspirin 325 mg daily. The ICD was programmed for single zone detection. Six months ago, he had presyncope followed by a shock. ICD interrogation showed ineffective antitachycardia pacing followed by a successful shock for VT with AV dissociation at cycle length 240 ms. Diagnosis and management are discussed.
Pre-licensure nursing students' attitudes toward clinical research, education research, and pedagogical research participation in the United States.

Abstract Background Researchers worldwide have found that nursing students tend to have favorable attitudes toward clinical research. However, little is known about their attitudes toward education research and pedagogical research participation. Objectives The purposes of this study were to: describe nursing students' attitudes toward clinical research, education research, and pedagogical research participation; explore the association of select demographic and academic factors with students' attitudes; and identify facilitators and barriers of pedagogical research participation. Design A convergent mixed-methods design with questionnaire variant was used. Settings Pre-licensure students from nursing programs throughout the United States. Participants Four hundred and thirty-six pre-licensure students, aged 18 or older, who were active members of the National Student Nurses' Association (NSNA). Methods Research participants were recruited using the NSNA e-mail distribution list. Nursing students completed a demographic survey and three instruments that measured attitudes toward clinical research, education research, and pedagogical research participation. Results Quantitative findings indicated that nursing students had generally positive attitudes toward clinical research, education research, and pedagogical research participation. Prior experience as a research assistant or a research participant was significantly associated with students' attitudes on all three measures. Factors identified by students to enhance pedagogical research participation were the potential to improve practice, research topic interest, and opportunities for personal and professional development; while time-related concerns were identified as barriers to research participation. Qualitative data supported these findings, and also revealed some negative attitudes toward pedagogical research participation, concerns about current educational practices, and confusion about the definition of education research. Conclusions Findings from this study provide nurse educators with students' perspectives of education research, which may be used to develop a student-driven framework to enhance the implementation of pedagogical research. Further research is warranted to more fully understand these phenomena with explicit attention to international students' perspectives.
Accretion of ornamental equatorial ridges on Pan, Atlas and Daphnis

Abstract We explore scenarios for the accretion of ornamental ridges on Saturn’s moons Pan, Atlas, and Daphnis from material in Saturn’s rings. Accretion of complex shaped ridges from ring material should be possible when the torque from accreted material does not exceed the tidal torque from Saturn that ordinarily maintains tidal lock. This gives a limit on the maximum accretion rate and the minimum duration for equatorial ridge growth. We explore the longitude distribution of ridges accreted from ring material, initially in circular orbits, onto a moon that is on a circular, inclined or eccentric orbit. Sloped and lobed ridges can be accreted if the moon tidally realigns during accretion due to its change in shape or because the disk edge surface density profile allows ring material originating at different initial semi-major axes to impact the moon at different locations on its equatorial ridge. We find that accretion from an asymmetric gap might account for a depression on Atlas’s equatorial ridge. Accretion from an asymmetric gap at orbital eccentricity similar to the Hill eccentricity, might allow accretion of multiple lobes, as seen on Pan. Two possibly connected scenarios are promising for growth of ornamental equatorial ridges. The moon migrates through the ring, narrowing its gap and facilitating accretion. The moon’s orbital eccentricity could increase due to orbital resonance with another moon, pushing it into its gap edges and facilitating accretion.
Use of Brain Electrical Activity to Classify People with Concussion: A Deep Learning Approach

Concussions are mild traumatic brain injuries that can interfere with the function of the brain. Electroencephalograph (EEG) recordings are used to identify certain diseases and abnormalities of the brain function. Though it is widely used due to low cost and noninvasive nature, getting reliable results from an EEG recording requires a trained professional. The EEG analysis and features extracted varies according to the situation, and the ideal methodology is still indeterminate. This paper proposes a novel deep learning classifier to differentiate between people who previously had concussions and those who did not, using minimally preprocessed EEG recordings. The model will eliminate the need for time-consuming sophisticated feature extraction methods by allowing the classifier to choose the features itself. The proposed deep learning model consists of Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) cell units that are capable of learning long term dependencies and hence widely used for sequence classification models. The proposed model shows an accuracy of 92.86% and an AUROC of 0.91.
Gut Microbiota, Probiotics and Physical Performance in Athletes and Physically Active Individuals

Among athletes, nutrition plays a key role, supporting training, performance, and post-exercise recovery. Research has primarily focused on the effects of diet in support of an athletic physique; however, the role played by intestinal microbiota has been much neglected. Emerging evidence has shown an association between the intestinal microbiota composition and physical activity, suggesting that modifications in the gut microbiota composition may contribute to physical performance of the host. Probiotics represent a potential means for beneficially influencing the gut microbiota composition/function but can also impact the overall health of the host. In this review, we provide an overview of the existing studies that have examined the reciprocal interactions between physical activity and gut microbiota. We further evaluate the clinical evidence that supports the effects of probiotics on physical performance, post-exercise recovery, and cognitive outcomes among athletes. In addition, we discuss the mechanisms of action through which probiotics affect exercise outcomes. In summary, beneficial microbes, including probiotics, may promote health in athletes and enhance physical performance and exercise capacity. Furthermore, high-quality clinical studies, with adequate power, remain necessary to uncover the roles that are played by gut microbiota populations and probiotics in physical performance and the modes of action behind their potential benefits.
Extended punishment: criminalising immigrants through surveillance technology

While the social costs of immigrant detention have been well-established, less is known about immigrants who continue to be monitored by Immigration and Customs Enforcement after their release from...
Evaluation of diffusion-weighted MRI and geometric distortion on a 0.35T MR-LINAC at multiple gantry angles.

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) provides a valuable diagnostic tool for tumor evaluation. Yet, it is difficult to acquire daily MRI data sets in the traditional radiotherapy clinical setting due to patient burden and limited resources. However, integrated MRI radiotherapy treatment systems facilitate daily functional MRI acquisitions like DWI during treatment exams. Before ADC values from MR-RT systems can be used clinically their reproducibility and accuracy must be quantified. This study used a NIST traceable DWI phantom to verify ADC values acquired on a 0.35 T MR-LINAC system at multiple gantry angles. A diffusion-weighted echo planar imaging sequence was used for all image acquisitions, with b-values of 0, 500, 900, 2000 s/mm2 for the 1.5 T and 3.0 T systems and 0, 200, 500, 800 s/mm2 for the 0.35 T system. Images were acquired at multiple gantry angles on the MR-LINAC system from 0° to 330° in 30° increments to assess the impact of gantry angle on geometric distortion and ADC values. CT images, and three fiducial markers were used as ground truth for geometric distortion measurements. The distance between fiducial markers increased by as much as 7.2 mm on the MR-LINAC at gantry angle 60°. ADC values of deionized water vials from the 1.5 T and 3.0 T systems were 8.30 × 10-6 mm2 /s and -0.85 × 10-6 mm2 /s off, respectively, from the expected value of 1127 × 10-6 mm2 /s. The MR-LINAC system provided an ADC value of the pure water vials that was -116.63 × 10-6 mm2 /s off from the expected value of 1127 × 10-6 mm2 /s. The MR-LINAC also showed a variation in ADC across all gantry angles of 33.72 × 10-6 mm2 /s and 20.41 × 10-6 mm2 /s for the vials with expected values of 1127 × 10-6 mm2 /s and 248 × 10-6 mm2 /s, respectively. This study showed that variation of the ADC values and geometric information on the 0.35 T MR-LINAC system was dependent on the gantry angle at acquisition.
Formal neurocognitive function and anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antibodies in paediatric lupus

Objective SLE is a chronic multisystem autoimmune inflammatory disease impacting a number of organs, including the central nervous system (CNS). The pathophysiology of CNS lupus is multifactorial, making diagnosis problematic. Neurocognitive (NC) testing and specific biomarkers to identify the development of neuropsychiatric (NP) symptoms in lupus are needed. Paediatric patients with SLE have high incidence of NP disease . While serum anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antibodies have shown promise as a biomarker of NP in adults with SLE, much less is known with regard to paediatric patients with SLE. Methods We performed a cross-sectional study in paediatric patients with SLE. Serum NMDAR antibodies were measured and compared with levels in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Formal NC testing was performed in accordance with the Childhood Arthritis & Rheumatology Research Alliance neuropsychological core test battery. NC functioning was compared in the two groups and with NMDAR antibody levels. Results Serum NMDAR antibody levels were significantly higher in paediatric patients with SLE compared with patients with JIA. There were no significant correlations between NMDAR antibody levels and any measure of NC functioning. In an exploratory examination of anti-ribosomal P (RibP) antibody and NC functioning in a subset of patients with SLE, RibP antibody-positive patients exhibited worse scores for Verbal Memory Index and Design Fluency Test Switching compared with RibP antibody-negative patients. A globally significant association between disease status and NC functioning was observed. Specifically, patients with SLE had lower scores compared with patients with JIA for full-scale IQ, letter–word recognition, reading fluency and calculation skills after adjusting for multiple comparisons. Conclusion These collective results suggest that although serum NMDAR may serve as a biomarker, formal NC testing is superior in identifying paediatric patients with SLE with NP manifestations. RibP also may potentially serve as a biomarker of NP manifestations in paediatric patients with SLE. Additional and longitudinal studies are needed.
Patient Resilience Has Moderate Correlation With Functional Outcomes, but Not Satisfaction, After Primary Unilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Background As many as 20% of patients who undergo total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are dissatisfied. Psychological factors have been shown to play a role in outcomes after TKA. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of patient resilience on functional outcomes and satisfaction after primary unilateral TKA. Methods Eighty-six patients who underwent primary unilateral TKA by a single surgeon were studied. Primary outcomes were the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), mental health component of the Veterans Rand 12-Item Health Survey (VR-12 MCS), Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement, and New Knee Society Score. Correlations between BRS and dependent variables were found by using Spearmen's Rho Correlation testing. Unadjusted and adjusted regressions were run using the delta values as the dependent outcome and the BRS score as the main independent value, with data presented as an estimate of 95% confidence interval P value. Results Resilience significantly correlated with male sex (P = .031), preoperative VR-12 MCS scores (P = .013), and postoperative VR-12 MCS scores (P < .001). BRS had moderate correlation with postoperative Knee Society Scores (KSS) Functional Activity Scores, as this approached, but did not achieve statistical significance (P = .062). There was no correlation between BRS and postoperative KSS Patient Expectations score, KSS Patient Satisfaction score, or total postoperative opioid usage. Conclusions Primary TKA patients with greater resilience are more likely to be male and have better mental health characteristics than those with lower resilience. Patients with greater resilience also tended to have improved knee function after TKA, although this was not statistically significant. Resiliency did not correlate with postoperative opioid consumption or patient satisfaction after TKA.
Alzheimer’s disease clinical trial update 2019–2021

The current clinical trial landscape targeting Alzheimer's disease (AD) is reviewed in the context of studies completed from 2019 to 2021. This review focuses on available data for observational and phase II/III clinical trial results, which will have the most impact on the field. ClinicalTrials.gov, the United States (US) comprehensive federal registry, was queried to identify completed trials. There are currently 226 interventional clinical trials and 51 observational studies completed, suspended, terminated, or withdrawn within our selected time frame. This review reveals that the role of biomarkers is expanding and although many lessons have been learned, many challenges remain when targeting disease modification of AD through amyloid and tau. In addition, to halt or slow clinical progression of AD, new clinical and observational trials are focusing on prevention as well as the role of more diverse biological processes known to influence AD pathology.
Management of Hop Powdery Mildew in the Context of Recent Advances in Pathogen Ecology and Population Genetics

The recent surge in the craft brewing market has renewed hop production throughout much of the Midwestern and Eastern United States, adding an element of locally sourced hops for use by regional br...
Non-Point Source Pollution and the Clean Water Act: Policy Problems and Professional Prospects

Successful implementation of water-quality management requires accurate scientific knowledge of water systems and sound judgment about environmental policy. This dual requirement calls for interactions between water scientists, managers, and policy experts who can jointly interpret and synthesize the data necessary for decision-making. With regard to non-point source (NPS) pollution in the United States, this set of interactions is increasingly structured by the mandates of the Clean Water Act (CWA). This paper examines the need for broadly trained waterresources specialists and how this need has been influenced by the CWA and institutional restructuring in the federal government.
‘I Fly to My Farm’: A Gentleman Farmer in Overalls

One of the pleasantly surprising features in the personal make-up and career of this judge, man of letters and would-be philosopher is the very lively and at times even engrossing interest he developed in his middle years, and manifested to the end of his life, in farming, in problems of agriculture and agricultural improvement, in forestry and in other aspects of country life and the rural economy.2
Quantifying properties of hot and dense QCD matter through systematic model-to-data comparison

We systematically compare an event-by-event heavy-ion collision model to data from the CERN Large Hadron Collider. Using a general Bayesian method, we probe multiple model parameters including fundamental quark-gluon plasma properties such as the specific shear viscosity η/s, calibrate the model to optimally reproduce experimental data, and extract quantitative constraints for all parameters simultaneously. Furthermore, the method is universal and easily extensible to other data and collision models.
Enzymatic Iodination of Tyrosine and Thyroglobulin with Chloroperoxidase

Abstract 1. Crystalline chloroperoxidase is effective in catalyzing the iodination of tyrosine or thyroglobulin when supplemented with H2O2, or with the H2O2-generating system, glucose-glucose oxidase. The iodination reaction is very rapid at low concentrations of iodide (5 x 10-5 m), and at low concentrations of tyrosine (1 x 10-4 m) or thyroglobulin (0.33 mg per ml). 2. Iodide is rapidly bound as 3-iodotyrosine, 3,5-diiodotyrosine, and thyroxine during the chloroperoxidase-catalyzed iodination. After 60 min of incubation with thyroglobulin as acceptor, chromatography of a Pronase digest showed approximately 45 to 50% of the added 131I in the form of 3,5-diiodotyrosine, about 20 to 25% as 3-iodotyrosine, and 4 to 5% as thyroxine. 3. Since iodination of thyroglobulin occurred very effectively in the presence of only a single crystalline enzyme, the results suggest that it may not be necessary to postulate the existence of a separate "tyrosine iodinase" in the thyroid. Moreover, the formation of appreciable thyroxine in the chloroperoxidase-catalyzed iodination of thyroglobulin suggests that a peroxidase may also be involved in the coupling reaction in the thyroid. 4. The chloroperoxidase-catalyzed iodination of tyrosine and thyroglobulin is greatly accelerated by 0.1 m chloride and bromide. The mechanism of this stimulatory effect is not yet known, although several possibilities are discussed. 5. Iodination of thyroglobulin and tyrosine in the presence of chloroperoxidase is readily inhibited by low concentrations of antithyroid drugs and by naturally occurring reducing agents such as cysteine, reduced glutathione, and ascorbic acid. Results obtained with these inhibitors support the view that antithyroid compounds act as competitive inhibitors in the formation of organic iodine in the thyroid. 6. Excess iodide inhibits the chloroperoxidase-catalyzed iodination of tyrosine and thyroglobulin. These results suggest that the antithyroid effect of iodide, observed under certain conditions, may be partly due to inhibition of thyroid peroxidase. 7. Chloroperoxidase is very effective in catalyzing iodination of insulin and serum albumin. 3,5-Diiodotyrosine formation was at least as rapid in the case of these acceptors as it was with thyroglobulin, but thyroxine formation was not as marked. These results suggest that steric arrangement of newly formed 3,5-diiodotyrosine residues in thyroglobulin was more favorable than in the other proteins for promoting the coupling reaction. 8. No evidence was obtained that 3,5-diiodo-4-hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid (DHP) is an intermediate in the formation of thyroxine during the iodination of thyroglobulin with chloroperoxidase. However, when free tyrosine was iodinated with chloroperoxidase, evidence was obtained that DHP was involved as an intermediate. To the extent that the chloroperoxidase-catalyzed iodination of thyroglobulin serves as a model for the thyroid coupling reaction, these results suggest that DHP is not an intermediate in thyroxine formation in the thyroid.
Using predictive triggers to improve handover performance in mixed networks

End-users of multi-radio devices expect ubiquitous connectivity anytime and anywhere across heterogeneous networks. A minimal service disruption time while roaming across networks is key for successful deployments. Today's roaming decisions are reactive and traditionally based on thresholds for signal strength, missed beacons, or other properties, leading to undesirable handover delays. In this paper we propose a novel and energy efficient approach to predict when a device needs to take proactive actions to perform either a horizontal or vertical handover. The significant improvements our solution achieved in reducing service discontinuity time are demonstrated by applying our algorithms on WiFi and WiMax networks, in both enterprise and citywide wireless environments.
Reduced peptide bond pseudopeptide analogues of substance P. A new class of substance P receptor antagonists with enhanced specificity.

Abstract Each of the last 6 peptide bonds in the COOH terminus of [Leu11]substance P [( Leu11]SP) and [Nle11]spantide were replaced with [CH2NH], and each analogue was tested for SP agonist or antagonist activity by determining its ability to interact with SP receptors on dispersed acini from guinea pig pancreas. Each of the 6 spantide and 5 of the 6 SP analogues had no agonist activity, whereas [psi 9-10]SP was an agonist. For the spantide pseudopeptides, the psi 10-11 analogue (Ki,2.8 microM) was equipotent as an antagonist to spantide itself, whereas the psi 9-10, psi 8-9, psi 7-8, and psi 6-7 analogues were 2.5, 7, 5, and 3 times less potent. For the SP pseudopeptides, the psi 10-11 analogue was the most potent antagonist (Ki, 6.2 microM), whereas the psi 8-9, psi 7-8, and psi 6-7 analogues were 7-, 36-, and 39-fold less potent. There was a close correlation between the ability of each pseudopeptide to inhibit binding of 125I-Bolton-Hunter-SP and to affect amylase secretion. [psi 10-11]SP inhibited SP-stimulated amylase release in a competitive manner, and its inhibitory ability was specific for the SP receptor. Despite [psi 10-11]SP, spantide, and [psi 10-11]spantide having similar affinities for the SP receptor (Ki, 2-6 microM), for inhibition of binding of 125I-[Tyr4]bombesin, the analogues differed with [psi 10-11]SP having a 50-fold lower affinity than for the SP receptor, whereas [psi 10-11]spantide had a 4-fold lower affinity and spantide a 1.5-fold lower affinity for the SP receptor. These results demonstrate that SP pseudopeptides represent a new class of SP receptor antagonists and, in contrast to the currently described SP receptor antagonists, are more specific for SP receptors.
Factors related to custody, visitation, and child support for divorced fathers : an exploratory analysis

This study explores factors associated with variables related to custody, visitation, and child support for divorced fathers. One hundred twenty-five divorced fathers were randomly selected from court records in Roanoke County, Va. The majority of these men were noncustodial parents. Survey questions fell into one of five categories: ( 1 ) children, (2) circumstances surrounding the divorce, (3) relationship with the former spouse, (4) economic variables and, (5) background variables. In an exploratory analysis, stepwise multiple regression was utilized in order to develop a subset of independent variables that were useful in predicting the following dependent variables: custody satisfaction, visitation frequency, visitation quality, child support paid, and satisfaction with child support. Results and implications are discussed.