cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inadequate protein intake affects skeletal muscle transcript profiles in older humans

Background: Inadequate dietary protein intake causes adverse changes in the morphology and function of skeletal muscle. These changes may be reflected in early alterations in muscle messenger RNA levels. Objective: This study assessed whether inadequate protein intake differentially affects skeletal muscle transcript concentrations and expression profiles in older adults. Design: Twenty-one older men and women (aged 55-80 y) consumed controlled diets that provided 1.2 g protein ·kg -1 ·d -1 (adequate protein) for 1 wk and then were randomly assigned to consume either 0.5 g protein kg -1 ·d -1 [inadequate protein (IP) group; n = 11] or 1.2 g protein kg -1 · d -1 (control group; n = 10) for a second week. RNA was isolated from fasting-state vastus lateralis biopsy samples obtained at the end of each period, and transcript levels in the IP group were measured by using microarray anlysis. Changes in selected transcript levels were confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction in both groups. Results: Analysis of variance showed 529 differentially expressed transcripts (P < 0.05) after inadequate protein intake. Using the false discovery rate (FDR) correction to adjust for multiple comparisons, we observed that 85 transcripts were differentially expressed: 54 were up-regulated and 31 were down-regulated. The differentially expressed transcripts were in functional classes for immune, inflammatory, and stress responses (predominantly up-regulated); contraction, movement, and development (up-regulated); extracellular connective tissue (up-regulated); energy metabolism (down-regulated); protein synthesis (down-regulated); and proliferation (down-regulated). Diet-related differences in the expression of 9 transcripts were cross-validated by using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Conclusion: The results document changes in skeletal muscle transcript levels induced by short-term inadequate protein intakes in older humans that might precede adverse metabolic, functional, and structural events, including muscle wasting.
Sensitivity analysis for an optimal control problem

This note considers an optimal control problem where the maximand, right-hand side of the system's equations and the constraints are concave and differentiable. The question asked is: What happens when there is a shift or a change in the parameters of the problem? Inequalities indicating the relation of the direction of change in the optimal choices as well as in the maximand to the direction of change in the parameters are derived under alternative hypothesis about the dependence of the problem on the parameters.
Bone-Prosthesis Junction for Active Tendon Implants: A Biomechanical Comparison of 2 Fixation Techniques

Purpose To study the biomechanical characteristics (percent stretch, stiffness, and ultimate load) of 2 distal fixation techniques for an active tendon implant used in the reconstruction of flexor tendons. Methods We evaluated percent stretch after cyclical loading and at failure, stiffness during load-to-failure, and peak load of 28 bone-prosthesis junctions using cadaveric canine middle phalanges to study 2 fixation techniques: metal cleat and screw versus polyester cords secured with a knot. Results The knot constructs displayed greater percent stretch during and following cyclical loading between 2 N and 50 N and at peak load. The screw construct showed greater stiffness from 50 N to 150 N during load-to-failure. Both fixation techniques failed at a mean peak load greater than 340 N. Conclusions Both fixation techniques for active tendon implants withstood loads seen with passive and active motion in the immediate postoperative period. Knot constructs displayed significant stretch during cyclical and load-to-failure testing, which would need to be compensated for during surgery. The screw constructs showed greater stiffness than the constructs secured with the surgeon's knot, but failure created an intra-articular fracture. Clinical relevance The results may aid the surgeon in choosing which fixation technique to use, during tensioning of cords, and in permitting active motion following surgery.
CHO-DHFR cell line development platform: Application of Clonepix and Automated Mini Bioreactor (AMBR) technologies to meet accelerated timelines

Background The Holy Grail sought by all Bioprocess Cell Line Development (CLD) groups is achieving high yields from easilycultured, robustly-growing cells in timelines measured in weeks rather than months. As the first bottleneck in process development, CLD must first birth its product for upstream and downstream groups to initiate their own reproductive cycles. To facilitate shortened CLD timelines, scientists have turned to new technologies and automation platforms. Emerging high-throughput instrumentation such as Clonepix and Automated MicroBioreactors (AMBR) have been enthusiastically integrated into stable cell line generation platforms; however, application of these methodologies among users is divergent. In this study, we describe method development that is part of an ongoing effort to create a vigorous, adaptable, high-throughput cell line development platform, incorporating in-house VRC-DG44-CHO cells, expression vectors with high-activity regulatory elements, and efficient selection and evaluation methods that result in early generation of optimal-yielding, vigorous, stable cell lines. This study was aimed toward a) evaluating early incorporation of Clonepix technology to maximize transfectant pool heterogeneity, b) identifying Clonepix fluorescence attributes that increase the probability of high-productivity clone isolation, c) evaluating and optimizing AMBR operating conditions to achieve process attributes comparable to and predictive of medium-scale bioreactors, and implementation of these practices for maximal results with shortened timelines.
On the Origin of Mobile Apps: Network Provenance for Android Applications

Many mobile services consist of two components: a server providing an API, and an application running on smartphones and communicating with the API. An unresolved problem in this design is that it is difficult for the server to authenticate which app is accessing the API. This causes many security problems. For example, the provider of a private network API has to embed secrets in its official app to ensure that only this app can access the API; however, attackers can uncover the secret by reverse-engineering. As another example, malicious apps may send automatic requests to ad servers to commit ad fraud. In this work, we propose a system that allows network API to authenticate the mobile app that sends each request so that the API can make an informed access control decision. Our system, the Mobile Trusted-Origin Policy, consists of two parts: 1) an app provenance mechanism that annotates outgoing HTTP(S) requests with information about which app generated the network traffic, and 2) a code isolation mechanism that separates code within an app that should have different app provenance signatures into mobile origin. As motivation for our work, we present two previously-unknown families of apps that perform click fraud, and examine how the lack of mobile origin information enables the attacks. Based on our observations, we propose Trusted Cross-Origin Requests to handle point (1), which automatically includes mobile origin information in outgoing HTTP requests. Servers may then decide, based on the mobile origin data, whether to process the request or not. We implement a prototype of our system for Android and evaluate its performance, security, and deployability. We find that our system can achieve our security and utility goals with negligible overhead.
Astrology in colonial America: an extended query.

IT has become a truism, indeed almost a cliche, that much of colonial America's intellectual endeavor was a reflection of similar developments across the seas in England and, to a lesser extent, on the Continent. If for no other reason than to verify a cliche, or to destroy its validity in at least one area, an examination of a relatively unexplored and fairly narrowly defined field of human activity could be productive of interesting results. Such, I believe, would be the case if one were to investigate the role of astrology in colonial America. This is a particularly good field for comparison of English and colonial activity, because the changes which occurred in the acceptance of astrology in England are quite marked during the American colonial period. As the accompanying table indicates, while the published books on astrology were perhaps not overly numerous, the seventeenth century saw many more of them than did the eighteenth century. Then, in the nineteenth century, "astrological" publications again increased. While this is only a partial index to the shifts and changes in the acceptance of astrology in England, it does give us a profile against which American interest can be measured. Before suggesting lines of inquiry in America which could determine the extent and seriousness of the use of astrology, a few suggestions about its general background are perhaps in order. Present-day scholarship usually relegates astrology to the history of human error. Yet no one seriously doubts its sociological role in the formation of the present-day world, nor its influence on many human activities, including astronomy, meteorology, medicine, religion, and literature.1 As one of several determinants of a particular cultural matrix, astrology is often touched upon by scholars seeking to weigh its importance relative to larger historical problems. Even modern history must take into account a large number of people who, wittingly or not, glance at their "stars" in
Effects of Complexation on the Glass Transition Temperature of Polymers

The effects of Lewis acid complexation on the glass transition temperature (Tg) of several polymers with strong intermolecular interactions was investigated. The decrease in the Tg due to GaCl3 complexation of aliphatic and aromatic polyamides was 40–600° C and 148° C, respectively, and was shown to originate from scission of the intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The reduction in the Tg due to GaCl3 complexation of rigid–chain polymers was greater that 325° C and can be explained by the mitigation of the otherwise strong van der Waals forces in the pristine polymers. Thus, the dominant effect of intermolecular interactions on the Tg of several polymers has been probed by Lewis acid complexation.
Robotic versus laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

Background Robotic approaches have become increasingly used for colorectal surgery. The aim of this study is to examine the safety and efficacy of robotic colorectal procedures in an adult population. Study design A systematic review of articles in both PubMed and Embase comparing laparoscopic and robotic colorectal procedures was performed. Clinical trials and observational studies in an adult population were included. Approaches were evaluated in terms of operative time, length of stay, estimated blood loss, number of lymph nodes harvested, and perioperative complications. Mean net differences and odds ratios were calculated to examine treatment effect of each group. Results Two hundred eighteen articles were identified, and 17 met the inclusion criteria, representing 4,342 patients: 920 robotic and 3,422 in the laparoscopic group. Operative time for the robotic approach was 38.849 minutes longer (95% confidence interval: 17.944 to 59.755). The robotic group had lower estimated blood loss (14.17 mL; 95% confidence interval: -27.63 to -1.60), and patients were 1.78 times more likely to be converted to an open procedure (95% confidence interval: 1.24 to 2.55). There was no difference between groups with respect to number of lymph nodes harvested, length of stay, readmission rate, or perioperative complication rate. Conclusions The robotic approach to colorectal surgery is as safe and efficacious as conventional laparoscopic surgery. However, it is associated with longer operative time and an increased rate of conversion to laparotomy. Further prospective randomized controlled trials are warranted to examine the cost-effectiveness of robotic colorectal surgery before it can be adopted as the new standard of care.
Passive immunity for arbovirus infection. I. Artificially induced prophylaxis in man and mouse for Japanese (B) encephalitis.

In an attempt to determine quantitatively the amount of specific human immune serum or human gamma globulin needed to protect man against infection by an arbovirus a series of experiments was carried out in mice and in men. As a model, Japanese (B) encephalitis was employed. Consideration was given to buth post- and pre-exposure types of usage. Related literature on arbovirus passive prophylaxis was reviewed. In the mouse, using hyperimmune mouse serum given subcutaneously and challenge 1 day later with virus by a “peripheral” (intraperitoneal) route, results agreed with those previously published by Sabin for western equine encephalitis virus in that a serum antibody level just detectable by the intracerebral mouse neutralization test offered significant protection. However, the antibody appeared to be released very slowly into the blood stream. The half-life calculated for the antibody under these circumstances was about 3.5 days. In man, a gamma globulin prepared from hyperimmunized Japanese with a log10 neutralization index (LNI) of 4.1 at a 1:10 dilution was given to three normal volunteers, then to five laboratory workers following potential accidental exposure from inoculation of highly virulent, high titered low passage virus. This was given intramuscularly in a volume of less than 20 ml, calculated to be between 0.07 and 0.2 ml/kg body weight. In all but the lowest dosage LNTs of 2.1 to 3.4 were detected in the recipients' serum, usually peaking several days to 1 or 2 weeks after administration and a detectable titer persisted for from 1 to 5 weeks. No disease occurred and none had developed antibody 5 to 12 weeks later. Titers of gamma globulin prepared from plasma or placentas from nationals of several Asian countries, where the disease is endemic, are presented. One high-titered human serum was given directly to four volunteers in dosages of 5 to 20 ml and serum antibody levels were followed. Methods of performing neutralization tests to titer antibody of gamma globulin without “accessory substance(s),” and of fresh or frozen human immune serum are compared and discussed. Recommendations are made regarding practical usage of both substances for post-exposure prophylaxis, and a basis for tentative conclusions is given in respect to pre-exposure (seasonal) prophylaxis.
Promoting Cancer Nursing Education, Training, and Research in Countries in Transition

Nurses are the majority of the healthcare workforce globally and have the most contact with people at risk for or living after a cancer diagnosis. Cancer care, including prevention, screening, treatment, and survivorship and symptom management and palliative care, and survivorship issues, is provided by nurses. This is especially true in countries in transition where access to specialty personnel, resources, and training may be limited by conflict, economic factors, or geographical and/or technological isolation. Promoting equity in cancer care and reducing the global cancer burden necessitates specialty training for nurses in cancer care to include evidence-based, best practices across continuum of care. Global partnerships between countries, organizations, and academic institutions are one way to address specialty training in oncology nursing. Technology such as web-based resources and mobile health technology affords opportunities for distance training and consultation regardless of borders. Globalization of oncology nursing is needed to implement new, international initiatives and improve cancer care and control.
Second Trimester Uterine Atony Imitating Ectopic Pregnancy: Magnetic Resonance Diagnosis

When an obstetrical patient was referred for inability to auscultate fetal heart tones at 18 weeks' gestation, ultrasound identified a single living fetus in the maternal right upper quadrant. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) ruled out a suspected uterine ectopic pregnancy and avoided laparotomy. The patient experienced an uncomplicated term delivery. MRI is a useful adjunct to ultrasound for mid-trimester pregnancy localization when the differential diagnosis includes uterine eccyesis.
MO-FG-206-03: Analysis of Dependent Variables: Correlation and Simple Regression

Physicists are often expected to have a solid grounding in experimental design and statistical analysis, sometimes filling in when biostatisticians or other experts are not available for consultation. Unfortunately, graduate education on these topics is seldom emphasized and few opportunities for continuing education exist. Clinical physicists incorporate new technology and methods into their practice based on published literature. A poor understanding of experimental design and analysis could result in inappropriate use of new techniques. Clinical physicists also improve current practice through quality initiatives that require sound experimental design and analysis. Academic physicists with a poor understanding of design and analysis may produce ambiguous (or misleading) results. This can result in unnecessary rewrites, publication rejection, and experimental redesign (wasting time, money, and effort). This session will provide a practical review of common study designs and statistical tests. Instruction will primarily focus on practical implementation and answer questions such as: when a test/design is typically applied, what information is attained, and when the test/design is typically misapplied (i.e., common pitfalls). Learning Objectives: 1.Understand common experimental designs, what questions they can answer, and how to interpret their results 2.Review basic statistical tests commonly implemented in medical physics 3.Determine where specific statistical tests are appropriate and identify common pitfalls 4.Identify multiple hypothesis testing and how it impacts reported results
Laser-induced fluorescence and Langmuir probe studies of copper photoablation

Following the photoablation of copper metal targets with wavelengths of 193, 248, and 351 nm, laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) and Langmuir probe measurements have been made in the etch plume. The combination of these two techniques gives a relatively complete view of atom and ion behavior. First, Langmuir probe data give results for overall ion energy and density and electron temperature on a microsecond time scale.
Quantitative Evaluation of the Struggle of Economic Performance: The Case of MENA Countries

The recent political uprising in the Middle East and North African (MENA) economies shines the light on evaluating the so-called structural reforms that are aimed at achieving economic freedom. This paper examines the impact of liberal policies on the economic performance of labor and capital productivity in MENA economies. Using nonlinear Panel Least Squares regression with regional dummies and period fixed effects (LSDV) for a sample of 18 MENA countries over the period 1995-2009, the study estimates the impact of different aspects of economic freedom on labor and capital productivity. The economic freedom measure encompass different areas, including freedom of fiscal, monetary, trade, investment, labor, financial, and freedom from corruption. The results of the study suggest a non-uniform impact of different areas of economic freedom on output per worker, capital intensity, human capital per worker, or total factor productivity. For instance, while trade freedom, fiscal freedom, monetary freedom, investment freedom, financial freedom, and freedom from corruption enhances output per worker through the increase in human capital per worker, it worsens it through a negative impact on capital intensity and total factor productivity. Furthermore, the study finds a significant reverse causality that runs from enhancing either output per worker or its three components on the economic freedom measure. While increasing output per worker or human capital per worker is reflected in an improvement in economic freedom measures, the opposite is found for the increase in capital intensity or total factor productivity. An important policy implication in this respect suggests that liberal economic policies in MENA countries might not be a pre-requisite for their enhanced future productivity.
Urbanization, agro-ecological zones and food production sustainability

Human population in the world is projected to grow from about 5.2 billion in 1990 to around 8.0–8.5 billion 35 years hence in 2025. About 44% of the world's population lived in an urban setting in ...
Executive function, episodic memory, and Medicare expenditures

Abstract Introduction We examined the relationship between health care expenditures and cognition, focusing on differences across cognitive systems defined by global cognition, executive function, or episodic memory. Methods We used linear regression models to compare annual health expenditures by cognitive status in 8125 Nurses' Health Study participants who completed a cognitive battery and were enrolled in Medicare parts A and B. Results Adjusting for demographics and comorbidity, executive impairment was associated with higher total annual expenditures of $1488 per person ( P P Discussion Impairment in executive function is specifically and linearly associated with higher health care expenditures. Focusing on management strategies that address early losses in executive function may be effective in reducing costly services.
The development of a Kinect-based online socio-meter for users with social and communication skill impairments: A computational sensing approach

Some people have impairments in social skills due to autism, phobia, or physical disabilities such as blindness. The proposed web-based system is intended to measure social interaction and communication among people situated around the target user based on their gestures and behaviors. Such multimodal portraits of behavioral data will be captured using the Kinect sensor (version 2) and provide rich sources to predict their social relationship, which will then be delivered to the target user in both qualitative and quantitative units, either in mobile or desktop applications. Currently, our system is capable of capturing and analyzing the raw data, sending the processed one to Microsoft Azure for data visualization and further behavioral analysis. The visualized data can then be ported to the therapists, doctors, parents, or caregivers for further actions. Unlike previous works which aim to accurately classify the dyadic social interactions between an adult-child pair, and thus characterizing the physiological synchrony between the pair, our study thereby adds richness to the understanding of computational sensing for the diagnosis, assessment and intervention of children with autism.
The effect of aluminum additions on the oxidation resistance of U3Si2

Abstract The effect of aluminum additions to U 3 Si 2 is investigated as a means to improve the oxidation resistance of this nuclear fuel form. Four U-Si-Al compositions have been synthesized and characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and x-ray diffraction. The onsets of breakaway oxidation are identified in air thermal ramp tests using thermogravimetric analysis. The final oxidation products following 1000° C air exposure are identified using x-ray diffraction and compared to those of UO 2 and U metal oxidized in the same manner. Thermogravimetric data acquired in this study indicates that increasing amounts of Al in U 3 Si 2 further delays the onset of breakaway oxidation, providing enhanced oxidation resistance in air. Al 2 O 3 formation on U 3 Al 2 Si 3 is observed following a heat treatment performed at 500° C in air, demonstrating the potential of Al additions to improve the oxidation resistance of U 3 Si 2 .
Biomolecular switches: Driven to peak

A curious peak in the distribution describing stochastic switching in bacterial motility had researchers confounded. But a careful study performed under varying mechanical conditions has now revealed that the breaking of detailed balance is to blame.
The effect of prenatal substance use and maternal contingent responsiveness on infant affect.

Abstract Background The effects of prenatal substance exposure on neurobehavioral outcomes are inherently confounded by the effects of the postnatal environment, making it difficult to disentangle their influence. The goal of this study was to examine the contributing effects of prenatal substance use and parenting style (operationalized as contingent responding during the play episodes of the Still-face paradigm [SFP]) on infant affect. Methods A prospective cohort design was utilized with repeated assessment of substance use during pregnancy and the administration of the SFP, which measures infant response to a social stressor, at approximately 6 months of age. Subjects included 91 dyads classified into four groups: 1) Control (n = 34); 2) Medication assisted therapy for opioid dependence (MAT; n = 19); 3) Alcohol (n = 15); 4) Alcohol + MAT (n = 23). Mean % of positive infant affect and mean % of maternal responsiveness (watching, attention seeking, and contingent responding) was compared among the five SFP episodes across the four study groups by MANOVA. Mixed effects modelling was used to estimate the contributing effects of the study groups and maternal responsiveness on infant affect. Results Maternal contingent responding was associated with increase ( β = 0.84; p β = − 0.78; p Conclusions Higher maternal responsiveness was a much stronger predictor of infant behavior than prenatal exposures, providing the basis for future intervention studies focusing on specific parenting strategies.
Computing With Genes, Proteins, and Cells

This chapter focuses on basic ideas for reading data from files and representing the biological data in a computer program, and shows some more interesting example computations that can be performed on such data and knowledge. The transcription of a DNA sequence into an RNA sequence requires generating a new sequence from an old sequence, using a transformation function that changes a DNA base to the complementary RNA base. There are two ways to do this. One is to model the actual biological process by computing the complementary DNA from the coding DNA and then computing the complementary RNA corresponding to that DNA. The other is to just transcribe directly, making a copy of the coding DNA except changing each T to a U. However, the transcription from DNA to RNA so far does not account for the fact that some parts of the RNA (or corresponding DNA) are noncoding regions or introns. Furthermore, many software tools exist to aid biological researchers to predict or compute, from the primary sequence of the protein and known properties of the various amino acids such as Abig tools that look up data in existing bioinformatics databases, such as Swiss-Prot, and they provide a WorldWideWeb interface for specifying or uploading the protein sequence to analyze. The essential underlying theme of the examples in this chapter is that cells and biomolecules are a kind of computing machinery that operates with symbols or discrete units.
Using bibliometrics to analyze the state of academic productivity in US pediatric surgery training programs

Abstract Background The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Common Program Requirements state that faculty must establish and maintain an environment of inquiry and scholarship. Bibliometrics, the statistical analysis of written publications, assesses scientific productivity and impact. The goal of this study was to understand the state of scholarship at Pediatric Surgery training programs. Methods Following IRB approval, Scopus was used to generate bibliometric profiles for US Pediatric Surgery training programs and faculty. Statistical analyses were performed. Results Information was obtained for 430 surgeons (105 female) from 48 US training programs. The mean lifetime h-index/surgeon for programs was 14.4 +/− 4.7 (6 programs above 1 SD, 9 programs below 1 SD). The mean 5-yearh-index/surgeon for programs was 3.92 +/− 1.5 (7 programs above 1 SD, 8 programs below 1 SD). Programs accredited after 2000 had a lower lifetime h-index than those accredited before 2000 (p=0.0378). Female surgeons had a lower lifetime h-index (p Conclusion Variability was identified based on institution, gender, and rank. This information can be used for benchmarking the academic productivity of faculty and programs and as an adjunct in promotion/tenure decisions. Type of Study Original Research. Level of Evidence n/a.
Digital Media Use in Families: Theories and Strategies for Intervention

Family dynamics are increasingly being influenced by digital media. Three frameworks are described to help clinicians to understand and respond to this influence. First, a social-ecological framework shows how media has both a direct and indirect impact on individuals, relationships, communities, and society. Next, family systems theory is introduced to demonstrate digital media-related interactions within families. Finally, a developmental framework explores the role of digital media in shaping parenting. These theories are then integrated into practical strategies that clinicians can use, including recommendations and resources from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Elderly Dependency and Systems Failure: Obstacles to a Prosthetic Society

Almost 30 years ago, in Scotland, I became immersed in the deep end of elderly morbidity, practicing in the newly-contrived geriatric services of the regional hospital systems. Capital resources — the supply of long-term care beds in particular — were limited. Nevertheless, the physicians being salaried and the hospital services being prospectively budgeted, we had absolute clinical and managerial control over what was available as a free service to the public and the elderly. There was no “third party” system of mediating the care supplied, and an entire absence of utilization review activities. The principal role of the senior geriatricians was to make the limited hospital and long-term beds serve the region’s thousands of disabled and dependent elderly.
Correlations in Homogeneous Kinetics

This chapter discusses correlations in homogeneous kinetics. It is frequently stated that kinetics and thermodynamics are two completely different subjects. This is an oversimplification that is misleading if it conveys the impression that thermodynamics is useless in the study of reaction rates. The theory of reaction rates is essentially an equilibrium theory. It permits the evaluation of preexponential factors of rate constants of elementary steps, at least in order of magnitude. As to the estimation of activation barriers, this can be done in certain cases, by means of correlations between activation barriers and heats of reactions. In the treatment of reactions in concentrated acid solutions, it is frequently possible to relate rate constants to a purely thermodynamic quantity—the acidity function.
Use of Metabolomics and Transcriptomics to Gain Insights into the Regulation and Biosynthesis of Medicinal Compounds: Hypericum as a Model

Medicinal plants have been used in alternative medicine for thousands of years and produce many unique classes of compounds. These compounds have effects on human and cultured cells that include but are not limited to anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-depressive, and anti-oxidant properties. The levels of accumulation and the ratios of specialized metabolites are highly influenced by factors including genotype, natural variation due to biotic and abiotic cues, optimization of compounds, the intermediate chemicals within the pathways, sites of synthesis, and the biosynthetic genes dictating their synthesis. All these factors impact the quality of propagated material. This chapter gives an overview of (1) understanding the natural variation in bioactive compounds across different treatments and tissues; (2) an approach for finding putative biosynthetic genes utilizing transcriptomic and metabolomic technologies; and (3) the positive and negative effects on humans. These are illustrated with examples from the genus Hypericum.
Gamification use and design in popular health and fitness mobile applications.

Purpose:To evaluate the presence of gamification in popular mobile applications and whether principles from behavioral economics were incorporated in the design.Design:The top 50 ranked free health...
Seizure response to temozolomide chemotherapy in patients with WHO grade II oligodendroglioma: a single-institution descriptive study.

Background Tumor-related epilepsy (TRE) is common in patients with low-grade oligodendrogliomas. TRE is difficult to control despite multiple antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in up to 30% of patients. Chemotherapy has been used for treatment to avoid potential radiotherapy-related neurotoxicity. This study evaluates the effect of temozolomide on seizure frequency in a homogeneous group with World Health Organization (WHO) grade II oligodendrogliomas. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted of adult patients with WHO grade II oligodendrogliomas and TRE followed at Memorial Sloan Kettering between 2005 and 2015 who were treated with temozolomide alone either as initial treatment or for disease progression. All had seizures 3 months prior to starting temozolomide. Seizure frequency was reviewed every 2 cycles and at the end of temozolomide treatment. Seizure reduction of ≥50% compared to baseline was defined as improvement. Results Thirty-nine individuals met inclusion criteria. Median follow-up since starting temozolomide was 6 years (0.8-13 years). Reduction in seizure frequency occurred in 35 patients (89.7%). Improvement was independent of AED regimen adjustments or prior antitumor treatment in 16 (41%); of these, AED dosage was successfully reduced or completely eliminated in 10 (25.6%). Twenty-five patients (64.1%) remained on a stable AED regimen. The majority (n = 32, 82%) had radiographically stable disease, 5 (12.8%) had objective radiographic response, and 2 (5.2%) had disease progression. Conclusions Temozolomide may result in reduced seizure frequency, and permit discontinuation of AEDs in patients with WHO II oligodendroglioma. Improvement was observed irrespective of objective tumor response on MRI, emphasizing the importance of incorporating seizure control in assessing response to tumor-directed therapy.
Model based Real–Time Flow Rate Estimation in Open Channels with Application to Conventional Drilling

Improvements in kick/loss detection are a key research interest in the drilling industry. Cost–effective, accurate and advanced online return flow sensors play a vital role in this regard. We have proposed the use of a Venturi channel in the return flow line with the possibility of developing it into an online soft sensor. A mechanistic model based online estimator would possibly estimate the flow rate with a reasonable accuracy. A reduced order mathematical model for this purpose has been developed by the authors [4]. In this paper, we study the possibility of estimation of flow rate using different estimators based on this reduced order model. A reduced order linear observer has been designed and tested in simulations. Further, a linear Kalman filter, an extended Kalman filter and an unscented Kalman filter are tested and compared. The extended and unscented Kalman filters are further tested with experimental results. The estimations are accurate enough with a mean absolute error of 2% and 1.9%, respectively. The proposed model based flow estimation idea has a promising potential of developing into an online soft sensor in kick–loss detection algorithms.
Systems design and analysis of liquid air energy storage from liquefied natural gas cold energy

Abstract The cold recovery of liquefied natural gas (LNG) is an important issue and power generation is widely recognized as a potential option. However, the amount of generated power from LNG regasification is relatively small for use as a primary energy source to the energy grid. Therefore, using recovered LNG cold energy as an auxiliary energy source for the energy grid can be more appropriate than directly supplying power to the energy grid. By applying an energy storage system to the LNG regasification process, the recovered energy can be flexibly released to the energy grid when required. Among various energy storage technologies, liquid air energy storage (LAES) is one of the most promising large-scale energy storage systems. This study proposes a combined LAES and LNG regasification process. In this system, the air is cooled via heat exchange with LNG and compressed by using the generated power from LNG. This power is produced by both direct and indirect methods: LNG direct expansion and organic Rankine cycle with a mixed working fluid, respectively. This is a novel work in which both direct and indirect power generation methods to the LNG regasification process are combined with the energy storage system. According to the performance comparisons amongst various energy storage systems combined with the LNG regasification process, this proposed system is the most efficient proposed in the literature. Moreover, economic evaluation is performed using a net present value to investigate the feasibility of the proposed system.
Radiographic Evaluation of Minimally Invasive Instrumentation and Fusion for Treating Unstable Spinal Column Injuries.

Study Design:Retrospective cohort.Objective:Facet fusion in minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) may reduce morbidity and promote long-term construct stability. The study compares the maintenanc...
Anharmonic and Anomalous Trends in the High-Pressure Phase Diagram of Silicon.

A multifaceted first-principles approach utilizing density functional theory, evolutionary algorithms, and lattice dynamics was used to construct the phase diagram of silicon up to 4 TPa and $26\text{ }000\text{ }\text{ }\text{K}$. These calculations predicted that (i) an anomalous sequence of face-centered cubic to body-centered cubic to simple cubic crystalline phase transitions occur at pressures of 2.87 and 3.89 TPa, respectively, along the cold curve, (ii) the orthorhombic phases of Imma and Cmce-16 appear on the phase diagram only when the anharmonic contribution to the Gibbs free energy is taken into account, and (iii) a substantial change in the slope of the principal Hugoniot is observed if the anharmonic free energy of the cubic diamond phase is considered.
Implementation of Case Conferences to Improve Interprofessional Collaboration in Resident Continuity Clinic.

Objectives Residents must be trained in skills for interprofessional collaboration and team-based care in the outpatient setting, and successful models are needed to achieve this aim. A longitudinal curriculum was developed to enhance residents' knowledge of interprofessional team members' roles, residents' attitudes toward team-based care, and patient referrals to team members. Methods Postgraduate year 1 through postgraduate year 3 internal medicine residents with continuity clinic at a large hospital-based practice received the curriculum. Residents with continuity clinic at another site did not receive the curriculum and served as controls. Intervention residents attended five small-group conferences during the course of 1 year, each dedicated to a specific interprofessional discipline: pharmacy, psychology, diabetes/nurse education, social work, and case management. Conferences involved interactive, case-based discussions of patients who benefit from an interprofessional approach. Control and intervention residents were surveyed with pre- and posttests. The rates of patient referrals to interprofessional team members were assessed. Results Seventy-one residents received the curriculum. Intervention residents' knowledge of team members' names and roles, indications for patient referral, and communication methods improved after curriculum implementation. Attitudes toward team-based care did not change but were positive at baseline. Following curriculum implementation, new patient referrals increased for the pharmacist (0.1-1/100 patient visits, P = 0.015) and psychologist (1.1-2.2/100 patient visits, P = 0.032). Conclusions Case-based interprofessional conferences improved residents' knowledge regarding interprofessional care and increased referrals to team members. This curriculum addresses barriers to team-based care experienced by residents in continuity clinic and is adaptable to other clinic settings.
Assurance Monitoring of Cyber-Physical Systems with Machine Learning Components.

Machine learning components such as deep neural networks are used extensively in Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS). However, they may introduce new types of hazards that can have disastrous consequences and need to be addressed for engineering trustworthy systems. Although deep neural networks offer advanced capabilities, they must be complemented by engineering methods and practices that allow effective integration in CPS. In this paper, we investigate how to use the conformal prediction framework for assurance monitoring of CPS with machine learning components. In order to handle high-dimensional inputs in real-time, we compute nonconformity scores using embedding representations of the learned models. By leveraging conformal prediction, the approach provides well-calibrated confidence and can allow monitoring that ensures a bounded small error rate while limiting the number of inputs for which an accurate prediction cannot be made. Empirical evaluation results using the German Traffic Sign Recognition Benchmark and a robot navigation dataset demonstrate that the error rates are well-calibrated while the number of alarms is small. The method is computationally efficient, and therefore, the approach is promising for assurance monitoring of CPS.
Explorations of Classroom Talk and Links to Reading Achievement in Upper Elementary Classrooms.

The current study reports on a large-scale quantitative analysis of classroom talk practices and links to different measures of reading achievement within upper elementary classrooms. Data involving 745 fourth- and fifth-grade teachers and 18,844 students from the Measures of Effective Teaching (MET) study were used. Talk was quantified via various talk-related indicators from 2 observation protocols and a student survey. Dimensionality analyses suggest these indicators represent 4 factors consisting of teacher explaining, questioning, encouraging of student talk, and big-picture communicating. Links to 2 different standardized reading achievement measures were also modeled with improved ratings of teacher explanations and questioning predicting higher standardized reading scores. Relationships varied, though, by different measures of classroom talk (i.e., observational protocols vs. student surveys) and levels of analysis (i.e., the student, class period, or school level). Students’ but not observers’ ratings of talk practices linked to standardized reading at the class period level, whereas observers’ ratings related to standardized reading performance at the school level. Interpretations, implications for future research, and connections to educational practice are conveyed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)
Resistance distance and spanning 2-forest matrices of linear 2-trees

Abstract In [3] , [4] the authors found formulas for the number of spanning 2-forests (equivalently for the resistance distance) between any pair of vertices in a “straight linear 2-tree” and in a “linear 2-tree with a single bend.” The main result of this paper generalizes these formulas to linear 2-trees with any number of bends. We also give alternative and perhaps more transparent versions of these formulas in terms of block matrices. As an application we find the resistance distance between the extremal vertices of the “corrugated linear 2-tree” and use this result to determine its asymptotic rate of growth as the number of vertices goes to infinity. Finally we note that our formulas give a different way to determine all the resistance distances in a “fan graph.”
Impact of simulated wildfire on disinfection byproduct formation potential

Wildfires are complex phenomena that have served a vital role in ecosystem function for millennia. However, thermal alterations to dissolved organic matter's (DOM) solubility and chemical features can change disinfection byproduct (DBP) formation dynamics. Physicochemical changes to DOM are influenced by several factors, the most prominent being heating temperature. In this study, mineral soil samples were collected from fire‐prone areas, artificially heated in a muffle furnace to simulate wildfire heating, and leached. As heating temperature increased, chloroform and dichloroacetic acid yields decreased and increased, respectively. Of particular interest was the stimulation of dichloroacetonitrile, a highly toxic and unregulated DBP, at moderate heating temperatures. To demonstrate further insight into the chemical attributes of wildfire‐impacted DOM, optical properties were used as proxy measurements. This work provides water utilities with information on how wildfires can alter DBP formation potential, and a means to investigate correlations between intrinsic optical measurements and DBP yields.
Deep learning for estimating energy savings of early-stage facade design decisions

Abstract The selection of high-performance building facade systems is essential to promote building energy efficiency. However, this selection is highly dependent on early-stage design decisions, which are extremely challenging considering numerous design parameters with early-stage uncertainties. This paper aims to evaluate the applicability of deep learning networks in estimating the energy savings of different facade alternatives in the early-stage design of buildings. The energy performance of two competing facade systems (i.e., Ultra-High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced-Concrete and conventional panels) was estimated for different scenarios through building energy simulations using EnergyPlus™. Three deep learning networks were trained using the collected data from the simulation of fourteen buildings in fourteen different locations to estimate the heating, cooling, and total site energy savings. The accuracy of trained deep networks was compared with the accuracy of three common data-driven prediction models including, Gradient Boosting Machines, Random Forest, and Generalized Linear Regression. The results showed that the deep learning network trained to predict building total site energy savings had the highest accuracy among other models with a mean absolute error of 1.59 and a root mean square error of 3.48, followed by Gradient Boosting Machines, Random Forest, and last Generalized Linear Regression. Similarly, deep networks trained to predict building cooling and heating energy savings had the lowest mean average error of 0.20 and 1.17, respectively, compared to other predictive models. It is expected the decision support system developed based on this methodology helps architects and designers to quantify the energy savings of different facade systems in early stages of design decisions.
An Unusual Cause of Functional Mitral Stenosis: A Left Atrial Intimal Sarcoma.

Abstract Primary cardiac tumors are rare, with an incidence of <0.1% in postmortem series; sarcomas comprise 75% of these. Cardiac sarcomas may be life-threatening at the time of presentation. We d...