cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of a Fuel Cell Powered UAV for Environmental Research

An all composite, hydrogen fuel cell powered UAV is being developed at the Multidisciplinary Flight Dynamics and Control Laboratory (MFDCLab, www.calstatela.edu/centers/mfdclab) at California State University, Los Angeles. The fuel cell UAV is intended to demonstrate the integration of new technologies such as fuel cell power into unmanned aerial vehicle design. The UAV is radio controlled for takeoff and landings and will employ GPS and autopilot for autonomous flight, following a set loiter pattern under cruise conditions. A later goal of autonomous takeoff and landing is desired for the eventual packaging of a portable, lightweight, non polluting UAV for use in biological data sampling of remote, environmentally sensitive research sites. The MFDCLab works in partnership with the Center for Environmental Analysis - Center for Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CEA-CREST), which is a research laboratory supervised by the Biology Department at California State University, Los Angeles. A need was identified for a slow speed, low altitude UAV that could be used to photograph chaparral and sample CO2 levels to facilitate research on the effects of pollutant gas emissions on plant life. A description of the composite construction of the monocoque fuselage and foam core wings is presented along with an aerodynamic analysis of the UAV design. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis was used to validate the conceptual design of the UAV. A proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell with a metal hydride storage tank provides roughly 500 Watts of power. The relatively low power-to-weight ratio of the fuel cell power plant and the need for a low flight speed, dictated the use of a high aspect ratio wing in the UAV's aerodynamic configuration. This paper details the development of a fuel cell powered unmanned aerial vehicle. The design and construction of the UAV is presented along with results of aerodynamic and structural analyses.
Hypothermia in experimental hepatic surgery.

SummaryWhen hypothermia is induced in dogs prior to the production of liver anoxia by completely occluding the afferent hepatic circulation, the mortality rate of the procedure is greatly reduced (...
THE PRECISION OF HISTOCOMPATIBILITY RESPONSE IN CLONAL RECOGNITION IN TROPICAL MARINE SPONGES.

Recently discovered histocompatibility-like phenomena in sponges (Phylum Porifera) have prompted attempts to measure the precision with which allogeneic grafts are recognized and rejected. The results of these investigations have been extremely varied, ranging from suggestions that allorecognition does not occur to suggestions that every genetically distinct individual may be unique in histocompatibility type. Interpretation of these findings is complicated by the variation in methods and species used by different workers. Here we compare various measurements of allorecognition precision for several species of tropical marine sponges. From our results we conclude that 1) tissue implant grafts are more prone to artifact than grafts between intact sponges; 2) the possibility of clonal propogation should be considered when graft acceptances are observed between sponges selected from a single population; and 3) allozyme variation in Niphates erecta shows that occasional grafts between genetically different individuals may be accepted.
Abstract B24: Targeting promoter regions of oncogenic drivers in pediatric AML cells using G-quadruplex Interacting Drugs (GQIDs)

Cancer is primarily a disease characterized by aberrant gene expression that is manifested by the overexpression of key genes that support tumor development and maintenance. In many instances, oncogenic drivers are frequently ‘undruggable’ because of structural challenges, the inability to effectively inhibit high concentrations of overexpressed proteins, and the development of drug resistance mutations. An alternative therapeutic approach is to directly inhibit gene transcription by targeting unique secondary DNA structures, called G-quadruplexes, that are associated with subsets of promoters. Our laboratory investigated the activity of a class of compounds termed G-quadruplex Interacting Drugs (GQIDs) that are able to shut down the expression of specific genes used by tumor cells for growth and survival. We tested the activity of two GQIDs GQC-05 and GSA-1103 on cell growth of a panel of eight pediatric and eight adult AML cell lines. Drug dose response analysis showed IC50 values ranging from approximately 10 nM to 1 µM for GQC-05 and from 40 nM to 2 µM for GSA-1103. The AML cell lines had different sensitivities to each GQID indicating a different mechanism of action for each compound. Three AML cell lines that were highly resistant to cytarabine were among the more sensitive to GQC-05. Four cell lines sensitive to GQC-05 had high expression of either c-myc and/or bcl-2, both of which are potential targets of these two GQIDs. Furthermore, treatment of cells with the GQC-05 decreased expression of c-myc and bcl-2. These studies will help define a novel approach of repressing key drivers of leukemia by targeting selective promoter structures. Validation of such an approach for AML will have important implications for testing this therapeutic approach to other childhood cancers in order to improve the length and quality of survival. Citation Format: Apurvi Patel, Justin J. Montoya, Megan Turnidge, Marya Sabir, Daniel H. Wai, David W. Lee, Vijay Gokhale, Eiman Aleem, Laurence J. Hurley, Robert J. Arceci, David O. Azorsa. Targeting promoter regions of oncogenic drivers in pediatric AML cells using G-quadruplex Interacting Drugs (GQIDs). [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Pediatric Cancer Research: From Mechanisms and Models to Treatment and Survivorship; 2015 Nov 9-12; Fort Lauderdale, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(5 Suppl):Abstract nr B24.
Modulators of prostaglandin E2 synthesis in human amnion.

The purpose of these studies was to determine the effects of the essential fatty acid, linoleu acid, and the commonly used non-steroidal anti-infllmmatory agents, aspirin and acetaminophen, on the rate of prostaglandin (PG) biosynthesis by human amnion cells. Amnion cells were isolated from term, normal pregnancies and grown to confluence. Cells were incubated with control or medium containing 100 μmol/L linoleic acid. Cells were also incubated with control medium or medium containing 10 or 100 μmg/mL aspirin or acetaminophen. Following an initial delay, amnion cells exposed to linoleic acid exhibited a signij-icant increase in PGE synthesis. Both aspirin and acetaminophen in clinically relevant concentrations had a significant inhibitory effect on amnion cell PGE synthesis. Linoleic acid has a stimulatory effect and aspirin and acetaminophen have an inhibitory effect on PGE synthesis in human amnion cells in culture. We speculate that dietary habits, supplement ingestion, and over-the-counter drug use may affect amnion cell PG production. In view of the potential importance of intrauterine PG production in normal and abnormal labor, further study in this area is indicated.
Laser micromanipulation in the mouse embryo: a novel approach to zona drilling.

Objective To introduce the use of excimer lasers for penetration of the zona pellucida for micromanipulation purposes. Design Cryopreserved two-cell mouse embryos were thawed and exposed to the 248-nm line of a krypton fluoride excimer laser (Lambda Physik EMG 202, Goettingen, Germany) creating a 2 to 4- μ m opening in the zona pellucida. Setting The Laser Ablation Laboratory at DuPont and the in Vitro Fertilization Laboratory at The Medical Center. Interventions The embryos were exposed in either phosphate-buffered solution (PBS) or modified human tubal fluid (HTF) with the laser power varying from 1 to 2J/cm 2 and cultured in Ham's F-10 medium (GIBCO, Grand Island, NY) with 0.4% bovine serum albumin. Main Outcome Measures The outcome of each experiment was measured by blastocyst formation of laser-exposed embryos as compared with a set of unexposed control embryos handled in a similar fashion. Results Successful laser penetration of the zona pellucida was achieved using the 248-nm line of a krypton fluoride excimer laser. A higher blastocyst formation was found for embryos exposed in PBS. The higher optical absorption of the modified HTF partially inhibited embryo development. The blastocyst statistics increased 2.5-fold times by reducing the exposure of the embryos to ablation by-products. Conclusions The use of a krypton fluoride excimer laser was introduced as a new method to open the zona pellucida of two-cell mouse embryos without interrupting blastocyst formation.
Postoperative Pain Control with the Fentanyl Patch and Continuous Paravertebral Anesthetic Infusion after Posterior Occipitocervical Junction Surgery

Postoperative pain is a significant concern for patients who undergo surgery via a midline posterior approach to the occipitocervical junction and spinal axis. The development of the disposable, ambulatory pain pump presents a novel alternative for treatment of postoperative pain. The authors describe a multimodal treatment algorithm for postoperative pain after posterior occipitocervical junction surgery that uses the On-Q pain catheter system (I-Flow Corp., Lake Forest, CA) and a fentanyl patch. The On-Q PainBuster catheter system is a disposable, ambulatory device that allows for continuous anesthetic delivery directly into or adjacent to the wound. On-Q catheters are placed in the nuchal musculature for continuous infusion of 0.5% bupivacaine. The On-Q catheter infusion is continued for three days, and the catheters are then withdrawn. Patients are also provided with a transdermal fentanyl patch at the start of surgery. In regards to complications at our facility, there have been no cases of respiratory depression or arrest postoperatively and no wound infections, but one case of inadvertent subdural placement. The technique described for the use of the fentanyl patch and a continuous anesthetic delivery device in surgery of the occipitocervical junction presents a novel alternative to the current standard of care in pain control after suboccipital decompression.
Colleague or Tool? Interactivity Increases Positive Perceptions of and Willingness to Interact with a Robotic Co-worker

Human-robot interaction is increasingly likely in workplaces in the near future. In “co-working” relationships, humans may appreciate socially interactive robots for their anthropomorphic likeability, or functional robots for their strict task orientation. The current study examines the comparative perceived advantages of robots that behave interactively or functionally towards humans during a task with a superordinate goal. Survey results from 33 participants assessed perceptions of, and perceived cooperation with, robots during the task. Results indicated that participants stood physically closer to and rated Interactive robots as more anthropomorphic, sympathetic, and respected than Functional robots, but they did not rate the two types of robots differently in terms of cooperation. The more participants anthropomorphized, sympathized with, and respected the robots, the more willingness they reported to working with robots in the future.
Moving Bodies: Jacques Lecoq and Drama Education in Australia

AbstractThis article explores Jacques Lecoq's pedagogy of theatre training and considers its usefulness as an approach for secondary school drama teachers. Lecoq's principles and practice can be successfully applied in drama education to develop skills in theatrical creation and performance. The four pillars of Lecoq's integrated approach—movement, improvisation, creation and stylisation—are explored in terms of their suitability for the drama classroom. The pedagogy is seen to offer a viable alternative to the ‘Stanislavski method’, primarily because its theory and practice are grounded in a paradigm of embodiment rather than Cartesian dualism. The proposition that Lecoq's practice is valuable for secondary drama education is supported by the testimony of Australian Lecoq graduates who have conducted pre-service and in-service teacher training, student workshops and Theatre-in-Education programs.
Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera) invasion in maritime forests: The role of anthropogenic disturbance and its management implication

Land-use and forest management practices may facilitate the invasion success of non-native plants in forests. In this study, we tested if agricultural land abandonment and subsequent forest management contributed to the invasion success of Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera (L.) Small) in the maritime forest of Parris Island, SC. We compared the abundance of Chinese tallow between disturbed and remnant forests, described Chinese tallow establishment patterns in relation to forest management activities, and characterized the structure and composition of disturbed and remnant forests in order to better understand relationships between stand characteristics and invasibility as indicated by Chinese tallow abundance. We found that stands in agricultural land use in 1939 but reforested with slash pine (Pinus elliottii Englem.) since the 1970s (i.e., disturbed forests) had significantly more Chinese tallow stems than stands that remained forested since 1939 (i.e., remnant forests). Remnant forests had significantly greater woody species richness and were more variable in species composition and structure than disturbed forests. Disturbed forests were dominated by early successional, shade intolerant species with a denser woody understory, while remnant forests included species associated with late successional habitats. The number of forest management events was positively associated with Chinese tallow abundance, explaining 34% of the total variation in stem density. Chinese tallow individuals commonly established immediately after forest thinning and their numbers increased exponentially through time. Our findings support that Chinese tallow establishment was strongly related to anthropogenic disturbance including historical agricultural land-use and forest management. This suggests that Chinese tallow invasion may be a symptom, rather than the driver, of the ecological degradation induced by persistent human perturbations.
Consumer Decision-Making Abilities and Long-Term Care Insurance Purchase.

Objectives To determine the impact of consumer decision-making abilities on making a long-term care insurance (LTCi) purchasing decision that is consistent with normative economic predictions regarding policy ownership. Method Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, multivariate analyses are implemented to estimate the effect of decision-making ability factors on owning LTCi. Stratified multivariate analyses are used to examine the effect of decision-making abilities on the likelihood of adhering to economic predictions of LTCi ownership. Results In the full sample, better cognitive capacity was found to significantly increase the odds of ownership. When the sample was stratified based on expected LTCi ownership status, cognitive capacity was positively associated with ownership among those predicted to own and negatively associated with ownership among those predicted not to own who could likely afford a policy. Discussion Consumer decision-making abilities, specifically cognitive capacity, are an important determinant of LTCi decision outcomes. Deficits in this ability may prevent individuals from successfully preparing for future long-term care expenses. Policy makers should consider changes that reduce the cognitive burden of this choice, including the standardization of the LTCi market, the provision of consumer decision aids, and alternatives to voluntary and private insuring mechanisms.
Abstract P215: β3-Adrenergic Receptor Mediated NOS Signaling in Cardiomyocytes

Beta3 -adrenergic receptors play a pivotal role in modulating cardiac function, though their precise role in the heart remains controversial. We have recently demonstrated alterations in Ca 2+ -dependent NOS isoforms and decreased NOS activity in left ventricular tissue of beta3 -/- mice after pressure overload. However, the exact manner in which beta3-AR signaling regulates these isoforms to stimulate NOS activity at the cardiomyocyte level is not well understood. In this study we used a specific beta3-AR agonist, BRL37344 (BRL), to assess the role of beta3-AR in eNOS and nNOS regulation in hypertrophied isolated neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes (NRVM). To induce hypertrophy we pretreated cells with norepinephrine for 72 hours, which resulted in a 70% increase in cell size and a 25% increase in beta3-AR mRNA expression as compared with non-hypertrophied cells, analyzed by immunocytochemistry and real-time PCR. In hypertrophied cardiomyocytes, BRL administration lead to a time-dependent 5-fold increase in NOS activity, measured by the arginine-to-citrulline conversion assay. beta3-activation also caused a 1.5-fold increase in nNOS phosphorylation at positive regulatory site Ser1416, and dephosphorylation of negative regulatory site Ser847 as compared with unstimulated control. NOS activity and nNOS phosphorylation overlapped in time. In addition BRL induced phosphorylation eNOS-Ser114, which indicates eNOS deactivation. Pretreatment with pertussis toxin (PTX) suppressed BRL-induced nNOS-Ser1416 phosphorylation, nNOS-Ser847 dephosphorylation, and NOS activity, suggesting G i/o dependency. Taken together, our data suggest that BRL regulates NOS signaling in ventricular cardiomyocytes via phosphorylation regulation of nNOS. To our knowledge this is first study to demonstrate a role for nNOS phosphorylation as a key factor in beta3-AR signaling. These results contribute significantly to our understanding the negative inotropic properties of myocardial beta3-AR at cellular levels during cardiac sympathetic overstimulation, and will ultimately aid in drug discoveries that target the molecular mechanisms associated heart failure.
Effects of β-blockers on house dust mite-driven murine models pre- and post-development of an asthma phenotype.

Background Our previous studies suggested certain β-adrenoceptor blockers (β-blockers) attenuate the asthma phenotype in ovalbumin driven murine models of asthma. However, the ovalbumin model has been criticized for lack of clinical relevance.
Waveguiding Effect in the Gigahertz Frequency Range in Pillar-based Phononic-Crystal Slabs

Phononic crystals (PnCs) have been studied extensively for two decades, as an enticing platform for ultrahigh-frequency signal processing. However, struggles with geometric scaling and efficient coupling of acoustic energy at the microscale have hindered the development of basic building blocks for devices. Through a systematic design approach, this study demonstrates waveguiding in pillar-based PnC slabs operating in the GHz regime, laying a foundation for more sophisticated signal-processing systems built of PnCs.
Gabor Analysis of Modulation Spaces

While the previous chapter extends the theory of the short-time Fourier transform from L 2 to the modulation spaces, this chapter extends the theory of Gabor frames from L 2 to the modulation spaces. The generalization follows the outline of Chapters 6 and 7. We first determine suitable window classes for the short-time Fourier transform on the modulation spaces and investigate their properties. Section 2 then explores the mapping properties of the analysis and synthesis operators. Then the boundedness of the Gabor frame operator on the modulation spaces proves sufficient to characterize modulation spaces via tight Gabor frames or Wilson bases. Section 4 treats a problem in data compression by means of non-linear approximation with Wilson bases.
Isotretinoin: The ups are just as troubling as the downs

Introduction Isotretinoin, previously marketed as Accutane®, is an oral retinoid medication that is used to treat acne and other cutaneous disorders. Although the data is conflicting, previous reports suggest a causal relationship between isotretinoin and depression. When reviewing these previous reports, many patients who were diagnosed as "depressed" did not undergo a thorough psychiatric evaluation and/or were not diagnosed according to the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). These patients reported agitation, irritability, sleep disturbances, and aggression. We hypothesize that some patients previously reported as "depressed" may have been "misdiagnosed" and were actually experiencing symptoms of mania, mixed mood (depression and mania at the same time), or psychosis. Evidence acquisition An Ovid Medline and PubMed literature search of English language articles was performed using the keywords "isotretinoin", "retinoids", "mood", "psychiatric", "depression", "elevation", "bipolar", and "psychosis". Eleven case reports, three case series, three retrospective chart reviews, five drug registries, and two prospective studies were reviewed. Evidence synthesis We found that many of the patients labeled as "depressed", had signs of activation, agitation, elevated mood, and psychosis. We believe that many of these patients were most likely having manic or mixed mood episodes. These symptoms appeared to be more prevalent in patients with a personal or family history of mental illness. Conclusions Isotretinoin may cause mood instability in both directions - depression and mania - especially in a predisposed population. With this in mind, we urge clinicians prescribing isotretinoin to focus on all psychiatric symptoms (not just depression) including mania, mixed mood, and psychosis, paying particular attention to individuals who have a personal or family history of psychiatric disease.
Sexsomnia in an Adolescent.

Sexsomnia has been reported and is well described in 115 prior cases in the literature. There have been associations with other sleep disorders serving as triggers for confusional arousals, thereby...
3D point cloud data to quantitatively characterize size and shape of shrub crops.

Size and shape are important properties of shrub crops such as blueberries, and they can be particularly useful for evaluating bush architecture suited to mechanical harvesting. The overall goal of this study was to develop a 3D imaging approach to measure size-related traits and bush shape that are relevant to mechanical harvesting. 3D point clouds were acquired for 367 bushes from five genotype groups. Point cloud data were preprocessed to obtain clean bush points for characterizing bush architecture, including bush morphology (height, width, and volume), crown size, and shape descriptors (path curve λ and five shape indices). One-dimensional traits (height, width, and crown size) had high correlations (R2 = 0.88–0.95) between proposed method and manual measurements, whereas bush volume showed relatively lower correlations (R2 = 0.78–0.85). These correlations suggested that the present approach was accurate in measuring one-dimensional size traits and acceptable in estimating three-dimensional bush volume. Statistical results demonstrated that the five genotype groups were statistically different in crown size and bush shape. The differences matched with human evaluation regarding optimal bush architecture for mechanical harvesting. In particular, a visualization tool could be generated using crown size and path curve λ, which showed great potential of determining bush architecture suitable for mechanical harvesting quickly. Therefore, the processing pipeline of 3D point cloud data presented in this study is an effective tool for blueberry breeding programs (in particular for mechanical harvesting) and farm management. Researchers in the United States have developed a 3D imaging technique to quantitatively measure the shape of blueberry bushes in order to evaluate their suitability for mechanical harvesting. The team, led by Changying Li of the University of Georgia, used handheld LiDAR scanners to collect 3D data from bushes in blueberry fields. Their analysis pipeline converted these data into a description of the bushes, including height, width, volume, crown size, and parameters describing the shape. While some traits matched manual measurements better than others, the analysis described bush shape sufficiently to distinguish varieties. The team also created a tool to visualize key parameters related to suitability for mechanical harvesting. This study provides a promising tool to evaluate and manage varieties of blueberries and similar crops, though further work is needed to speed up data collection.
Response to comment on "The irrelevance of phantom nuclei in crystallization kinetics: An integral equation approach"

Abstract In a recent article I have concluded that phantom nuclei are irrelevant for an isothermal crystallization process that consists of nucleation and spherical growth, and for the type of growth rates considered in my study. I illustrated phantom irrelevance by comparing two solutions of the crystallization formulation I introduced: the first one is a constant nucleation rate model, which can be represented by the Avrami equation and does not excludes phantoms; the second is a solution with a varying nucleation rate that is proportional to the fraction of untransformed material. I maintain that this latter case excludes phantoms. In a Comment on my article by Tomellini and Fanfoni it is claimed that my comparison is invalid. Their main argument is that a varying nucleation rate solution does not exclude phantoms. To refute this claim, I present arguments supporting my assertion that a phantom-excluding model can be obtained by introducing a nucleation rate proportional to the fraction of untransformed phase.
Bernardo de Gálvez: Spanish Hero of the American Revolution. By Gonzalo M. Quintero Saravia. (Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 2018. Pp. xii, 602. $38.00.)

With this well‐worth‐reading monograph, the brief, adventurous life of Bernardo de Galvez (1746‐1786) returns to Anglophone historiography. After the 84‐year solo of John Walton Caughey's Bernardo ...
Tales from the Butterfly Café: Imagined Dialogues with Fictional Characters for Research and Practice

This chapter builds on research by Lawrence and Cranton (2015) who created imagined dialogues with characters from novels, using their experiences to better understand transformative learning. Creating imagined dialogues by getting into the head of another helps create empathy and allows us to see the world from other perspectives. Strategies for teaching and learning through reading, viewing and writing fiction are discussed. Examples of imagined dialogues with real people and fictional characters are offered to demonstrate how engaging in this process can help us to better understand ourselves and others. Lawrence is working primarily with graduate students studying education, but illustrates that these techniques can be useful for professionals across multiple disciplines. She shows that they can also be helpful in resolving intrapersonal, interpersonal and even global conflict.
Aspirin Sensitivity Wanes Early during Left Ventricular Assist Device Support

Purpose Aspirin (ASA) therapy is recommended in left ventricular assist device (LVAD) patients to prevent thromboembolic complications. Up to 30% of LVAD patients may demonstrate ASA resistance, which has been related to thrombotic complications. However, it is unknown whether individual patients exhibit temporal alterations in ASA sensitivity during LVAD support. This project evaluated changes in ASA platelet inhibition over the first 6 months of LVAD support. We hypothesized that ASA platelet inhibition would wane after the initial post-implant period. Methods Patients who underwent placement of Heartware or Heartmate III LVAD at our institution and had serial ASA platelet sensitivity assays were included for analysis. ASA responsiveness was determined by VerifyNow assay with results expressed in aspirin reactivity units (ARU). ASA platelet resistance was defined by ARU greater than 550. ASA responsiveness was assessed post-implant after 5 days, 3 months, and 6 months. Results Out of 28 patients included for analysis only 7% were ASA-resistant at baseline. However, 32% of patients were ASA-resistant at 3 months and 28% at 6 months. (Figure 1). ASA-resistance was significantly more prevalent at 3-months (OR 6.1, p=0.03) with a trend toward increased prevalence at 6 months (OR 4.1, p=0.1) compared to early post-implant. ASA dose was increased in 4% and 14.3% of ASA-resistant patients at 3 and 6 months, respectively. Conclusion ASA responsiveness not only varies between patients, but can significantly change within individual LVAD patients over time. Over the first 3 months, the odds of ASA-resistance increased 6-fold and remained relatively constant at 6 months despite aspirin dose adjustment. Serial assessment of ASA responsiveness may help better identify LVAD patients at risk for thrombotic or bleeding complications. Further study is required into the both the clinical implications and the mechanism of waning aspirin sensitivity in LVAD patients.
The student confidence gap: Gender differences in job skill self-efficacy

This study examines gender differences and similarities in students’ confidence in job skills from the Job Outlook 2018 survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. As pr...
Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019: Two Cases and A Review of The Literature.

Abstract Introduction Encephalopathy is a common complication of coronavirus disease 2019. Although the encephalopathy is idiopathic in many cases, there are several published reports of patients with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in the setting of coronavirus disease 2019. Objective To describe the diverse presentations, risk factors, and outcomes of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in patients with coronavirus disease 2019. Methods We assessed patients with coronavirus disease 2019 and a diagnosis of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome at our institution from April 1 to June 24, 2020. We performed a literature search to capture all known published cases of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in patients with coronavirus disease 2019. Results There were 2 cases of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in the setting of coronavirus 2019 at our institution during a 3-month period. One patient was treated with anakinra, an interleukin-1 inhibitor that may disrupt endothelial function. The second patient had an underlying human immunodeficiency virus infection. We found 13 total cases in our literature search, which reported modest blood pressure fluctuations and a range of risk factors for posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. One patient was treated with tocilizumab, an interleukin-6 inhibitor that may have effects on endothelial function. All patients had an improvement in their neurological symptoms. Interval imaging, when available, showed radiographic improvement of brain lesions. Conclusions Risk factors for posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 may include underlying infection or immunomodulatory agents with endothelial effects in conjunction with modest blood pressure fluctuations. We found that the neurological prognosis for posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in the setting of coronavirus disease 2019 infection is favorable. Recognition of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in this patient population is critical for prognostication and initiation of treatment, which may include cessation of potential offending agents and tight blood pressure control.
Abstract 15762: Intensive Weight Management Improves Functional Capacity in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Background: Obesity is associated with incident heart failure (HF), particularly HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Weight loss is difficult to achieve in patients with limited physical c...
Standardized Uptake Value Illuminates Tumor Inflammation and Treatment Response

Maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) on positron-emission tomography (PET) imaging is prognostic in cervical cancer. It was recently demonstrated that low pre-treatment SUVmax is associated with superior prognosis and is correlated with decreased inflammatory signaling and myeloid-derived cell infiltration into the tumor microenvironment, potentially identifying susceptibility to targeted therapies.
A machine-learning derived model of seafloor sediment accumulation

Abstract Previous studies regarding the depositional pattern and quantity of accumulated seafloor sediment tend to be regional, limited in scope and involving costly and time-consuming geologic field campaigns and laboratory work. Presented herein is a global map of predicted modern (postindustrial, 20th and 21st century) oceanic mass accumulation rates of 5-arc-minute pitch and in log10-space, trained on observed marine mass accumulation rates from 43 peer reviewed sources (n = 1744) and predicted using a k-nearest neighbor geospatial algorithm. The resultant model predicts ~3.3 × 104 Mt. yr−1 of sediment accumulating onto the sea floor (R2 = 0.88). Most sediment accumulates proximal to major river outlets and deltas. Continental regions with the highest sediment accumulation are Asia and Oceania. This model is the first of its kind to predict the rate and quantity of sediment accumulating on to the ocean floor, globally, using decades of regional real-world observations. The generated global map of modern, benthic mass accumulation rates also serves to highlight areas of interest for future study in related fields, such as sediment dynamics and seafloor stability.
Only What We Could Carry: The Japanese American Internment Experience

During WW2, the US government suspended due process, rounded up more than 100,000 Japanese and American citizens of Japanese descent, and banished them to prison camps in desert wastelands. They were not charged with any crime, except, of course, being Japanese. This collection of haunting reminiscences, letters, stories, poems, and graphic art gives voice to the powerful emotions with which these victims of wartime hysteria struggled. Included are stories of those outside the camps whose lives were interwoven with those inside.
How many cases do you need? assessing and predicting case-base coverage

Case acquisition is the primary learning method for case-based reasoning (CBR), and the ability of a CBR system's case-base to cover the problems it encounters is a crucial factor in its performance. Consequently, the ability to assess the current level of case-base coverage and to predict the incremental benefit of adding cases could play an important role in guiding the case acquisition process. This paper demonstrates that such tasks require different strategies from those of existing competence models, whose aim is to guide selection of competent cases from a known pool of cases. This paper presents initial steps on developing methods for predicting how unseen future cases will affect a system's case-base. It begins by discussing case coverage as defined in prior research, especially in methods based on the representativeness hypothesis. It then compares alternative methods for assessing case-base coverage, including a new Monte-Carlo method for prediction early in case-base growth. It evaluates the performance of these approaches for three tasks: estimating competence, predicting the incremental benefit of acquiring new cases, and predicting the total number of cases required to achieve maximal coverage.
PATCH CHANGE AND THE SHIFTING MOSAIC OF AN ENDANGERED BIRD'S HABITAT ON A LARGE MEANDERING RIVER

The yellow-billed cuckoo is a state-listed endangered bird in California. The largest population of cuckoos in California is on the meandering portion of the middle Sacramento River. I studied two time periods (1952 and 1987) of a 127-km study reach of the Sacramento River to document regeneration and spatial shifts in yellow-billed cuckoo habitat patches due to fluvial geomorphic processes, vegetation recruitment and succession over a 35-year period. The spatial co-occurrence of natural riparian vegetation and floodplain age <65years were used to identify sub-patches of cottonwood forest, a preferred habitat element, within larger patches of contiguous riparian forest. Only 247ha (15%) of the 1664ha of habitat sub-patches identified in 1952 were coincident with those in 1987. Seventeen (27%) of the 62 sub-patches delineated for 1987 emerged anew and independently of the 1952 patches; the remaining 83% formed by shifting adjacent to the patches from 1952. Comparing observation data (1987-1990) with modelled patches (1987) indicates that 79% of the modelled sub-patches correctly predicted cuckoo presence or absence. The commission and omission errors were 7% and 14%, respectively. The goal of sustaining the yellow-billed cuckoo population will require that river channel management encourage channel meander dynamics and channel cut-off to maintain natural regeneration of cottonwood and willow pioneer plant communities. The active management of hydrodynamic (flow) and geomorphic processes, including the use of prescription flows and the removal of bank revetment (riprap), will be important tools towards achieving this goal. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
100 W, single frequency, diffraction-limited Nd:YAG MOPA for LIGO

The Master Oscillator Power Amplifier (MOPA) approach allows the scaling of lasers to high powers while preserving the spatial and temporal coherence of the master oscillator. We demonstrate the first scaling of an Nd:YAG MOPA to the 100 W level using end pumped and edge pumped slabs. This represents a key milestone in the development of a laser system for advanced LIGO.
Advanced loop optimizations for parallel computers

So far, most of the work on program dependence analysis has concentrated primarily on compile-time techniques, that are not always accurate and which are often conservative. By coupling the compiler's ability to perform elaborate program optimizations and the run-time system's more accurate knowledge of certain program characteristics, we can uncover and exploit even more parallelism in ordinary programs. By performing run-time dependence checking, certain types of loops that were previously treated as serial can be executed concurrently. This paper presents a run-time dependence checking scheme and a new compiler optimization aiming at parallelizing serial loops. In particular we present cycle shrinking, a compiler transformation that "shrinks" the dependence distances in serial loops, allowing parts of such loops to execute concurrently. Code reordering for minimizing communication and Subscript blocking, are also discussed briefly.
Do We Need the Corporate Self-Evaluative Privilege?

This article critically examines the common justification for the corporate self-evaluative privilege (SEP) that such privilege protection is essential in order to avoid chilling corporate self-policing. We develop a formal game theoretic model to study the strategic interaction between a regulator and a firm considering a self-audit. We show that the protection accorded by the self-evaluative privilege removes the disincentive for self-auditing but does not create any positive incentive for self-auditing. In contrast, a legal regime that grants regulatory access to a firm's internal audit materials creates a positive incentive for firms to engage in self-policing and results in a higher self-auditing rate compared to an inspection regime (i.e., no regulatory access, thereby permitting inspections only). In addition, any disincentive to the firm to engage in self-policing can be minimized by limiting the admissibility of audit materials in third-party legal proceedings. Finally, mitigating possible penalties for firms engaging in good faith compliance auditing, can further encourage self-policing. Thus, as an alternative to the corporate SEP, we envision a combination of measures that maximizes the extent and probability of corporate self-policing comprising: (a) permitting regulatory access to self-audits; (b) limiting the admissibility of audit materials in third-party proceedings against the firm; and (c) providing mitigated penalties for firms engaging in good faith self-policing. These measures capture the societal benefits of increased corporate self-policing in terms of early detection and remedy of violations while minimizing the fear of collateral liability arising from one's self-evaluation efforts.
Revisiting DDGX/DDG-51 Concept Exploration

This study revisits concept exploration for DDG-51 using reconstructed 1978-1979 DDX and 1979-1980 DDGX requirements and options, and 2005 tools. The goal of this study is to assess and highlight the benefits of current tools and processes for concept exploration by comparison with a well-known design that did not use these tools. This case study was completed in a summer and fall ship design project at Virginia Tech. In 1979, the acquisition and design process did not begin with a Mission Need Statement, Analysis of Alternatives or Integrated Capabilities Document as is required today. It began with studies, Tentative Operational Requirements, and Draft Top Level Requirements. In this study, we revisit the 1978-1980 DDG-51 (DDX/DDGX) concept exploration based on the guidance, goals, and constraints of the DDX and DDGX studies, using a notional mission statement, concept of operations, and list of required capabilities. The design space is defined to include many of the same design alternatives that were considered in the DDX and DDGX studies. A multiple-objective genetic optimization (MOGO) based on military effectiveness, cost, and risk is used to search the design space and perform trade-offs. A simple ship synthesis model is used to balance the designs, assess feasibility, and calculate cost, risk, and effectiveness. Alternative designs are ranked by cost, risk, and effectiveness, and presented in a series of non-dominated frontiers. Concepts for further study and development are chosen from this frontier and a comparison with DDG-51 is made based on these results.
Adiposity, Adult Weight Gain and Mammographic Breast Density in US Chinese Women

The association of adiposity with dense tissue area in the breast is unclear, but suggests a mechanism by which adiposity might increase breast cancer risk. We examined associations of body mass index (BMI), usual BMI from age 20 to 29, waist circumference and adult weight gain with breast density in a sample of premenopausal United States Chinese immigrant women. Analyses included 415 participants in a longitudinal breast density study in Philadelphia. In addition to detailed questionnaire information, data collection included measures of anthropometry, and assessment of mammographic breast density using a computer-assisted method. We used multivariate linear regression to quantify cross-sectional associations with dense and nondense tissue area and percent breast density assessed at baseline. In adjusted models, BMI and waist circumference were significantly positively associated with nondense tissue area and inversely associated with percent density. BMI was also significantly positively associated with dense tissue area. Adult weight gain was associated with dense tissue area after adjusting for weight from age 20 to 29. In stratified analyses, BMI and adult weight gain were significantly associated with dense tissue area among women with BMI < 23 kg/m², and BMI was associated with nondense tissue area among women with BMI ≥ 23 kg/m². In this sample, adiposity and weight gain were associated with dense breast tissue area, although associations differed by level of adiposity. Given the potential implications of these findings for breast cancer prevention in premenopausal women, comparable studies in other population groups and with longitudinal data are needed. Reasons for the noted differences in associations by level of adiposity also warrant further investigation.
Macrophage uptake of cholesterol-containing particles derived from LDL and isolated from atherosclerotic lesions

A variety of different cholesterol-rich particles with different physical and chemical structures can be isolated from human atherosclerotic lesions. Many of these particles are internalized in an unregulated fashion by macrophages in culture, leading to lipid loading of these cells. However, the in vivo relevance of this uptake is still uncertain. In this overview, we have summarized data obtained primarily in our laboratory on low density lipoprotein (LDL)-like particles (A-LDL) and large cholesterol-rich droplets isolated from human atherosclerotic lesions. Based on our studies, we propose a variety of different mechanisms of uptake. A-LDL can be internalized by the LDL receptor or the scavenger receptor on macrophages in culture; the latter uptake mechanism can lead to lipid loading. In addition, at high concentrations A-LDL can undergo aggregation, possibly due to intermolecular cross-bridging by aldehydes released during oxidation of these particles. The aggregates are subsequently internalized by macrophages by phagocytosis, a process which appears to be independent of the LDL or scavenger receptor. By contrast, arterial smooth muscle cells do not take up these aggregates. Large cholesteryl ester-rich particles isolated from human lesions, and derived from LDL that had been degraded by hydrolytic enzymes in the extracellular space of the arterial wall, or from inclusions released from lysed foam cells, are also internalized via phagocytosis by macrophages in culture. Since some of these particles contain apoliproteins and/or proteins that are ligands for receptors on macrophages, initial receptormediated binding may precede and facilitate subsequent phagocytosis in some cases. Uptake of the diverse group of cholesteryl ester-rich particles in plaques can induce lipid loading of macrophages and therefore may lead to further growth of the atherosclerotic plaque.
Urea’s Action on Hydrophobic Interactions

For more than a century, urea has been commonly used as an agent for denaturing proteins. However, the mechanism behind its denaturing power is still not well understood. Here we show by molecular dynamics simulations that a 7 M aqueous urea solution unfolds a chain of purely hydrophobic groups which otherwise adopts a compact structure in pure water. The unfolding process arises due to a weakening of hydrophobic interactions between the polymer groups. We also show that the attraction between two model hydrophobic plates, and graphene sheets, is reduced when urea is added to the solution. The action of urea is found to be direct, through its preferential binding to the polymer or plates. It is, therefore, acting like a surfactant capable of forming hydrogen bonds with the solvent. The preferential binding and the consequent weakened hydrophobic interactions are driven by enthalpy and are related to the difference in the strength of the attractive dispersion interactions of urea and water with the polymer chain or plate. This relation scales with square root(epsilon(b)), where epsilon(b) is the Lennard Jones (LJ) energy parameter for each group on the chain. Larger values of epsilon(b) increase the preferential binding and result in a larger decrease of the hydrophobic interactions, with a crossover at very weak dispersions. We also show that the indirect mechanism, in which urea acts as a chaotrope, is not a likely cause of urea's action as a denaturant. These findings suggest that, in denaturing proteins, urea (and perhaps other denaturants) forms stronger attractive dispersion interactions with the protein side chains and backbone than does water and, therefore, is able to dissolve the core hydrophobic region.