cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Postfire carbon pools and fluxes in semiarid ponderosa pine in Central Oregon

Forest fire dramatically affects the carbon storage and underlying mechanisms that control the carbon balance of recovering ecosystems. In western North America where fire extent has increased in recent years, we measured carbon pools and fluxes in moderately and severely burned forest stands 2 years after a fire to determine the controls on net ecosystem productivity (NEP) and make comparisons with unburned stands in the same region. Total ecosystem carbon in soil and live and dead pools in the burned stands was on average 66% that of unburned stands (11.0 and 16.5 kg C m−2, respectively, P 20 cm DBH) suffered only 34% mortality under moderate severity fire and contributed to 91% of postfire bole wood production. Growth rates of trees that survived the fire were comparable with their prefire rates. Net primary production NPP (g C m−2 yr−1, ±1 SD) of severely burned stands was 47% of unburned stands (167±76, 346±148, respectively, P<0.05), with forb and grass aboveground NPP accounting for 74% and 4% of total aboveground NPP, respectively. Based on continuous seasonal measurements of soil respiration in a severely burned stand, in areas kept free of ground vegetation, soil heterotrophic respiration accounted for 56% of total soil CO2 efflux, comparable with the values of 54% and 49% previously reported for two of the unburned forest stands. Estimates of total ecosystem heterotrophic respiration (Rh) were not significantly different between stand types 2 years after fire. The ratio NPP/Rh averaged 0.55, 0.85 and 1.21 in the severely burned, moderately burned and unburned stands, respectively. Annual soil CO2 efflux was linearly related to aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) with an increase in soil CO2 efflux of 1.48 g C yr−1 for every 1 g increase in ANPP (P<0.01, r2= 0.76). There was no significant difference in this relationship between the recently burned and unburned stands. Contrary to expectations that the magnitude of NEP 2 years postfire would be principally driven by the sudden increase in detrital pools and increased rates of Rh, the data suggest NPP was more important in determining postfire NEP.
A thermally regenerative ammonia-based battery for efficient harvesting of low-grade thermal energy as electrical power

Thermal energy was shown to be efficiently converted into electrical power in a thermally regenerative ammonia-based battery (TRAB) using copper-based redox couples [Cu(NH3)42+/Cu and Cu(II)/Cu]. Ammonia addition to the anolyte (2 M ammonia in a copper-nitrate electrolyte) of a single TRAB cell produced a maximum power density of 115 ± 1 W m−2 (based on projected area of a single copper mesh electrode), with an energy density of 453 W h m−3 (normalized to the total electrolyte volume, under maximum power production conditions). Adding a second cell doubled both the voltage and maximum power. Increasing the anolyte ammonia concentration to 3 M further improved the maximum power density to 136 ± 3 W m−2. Volatilization of ammonia from the spent anolyte by heating (simulating distillation), and re-addition of this ammonia to the spent catholyte chamber with subsequent operation of this chamber as the anode (to regenerate copper on the other electrode), produced a maximum power density of 60 ± 3 W m−2, with an average discharge energy efficiency of ∼29% (electrical energy captured versus chemical energy in the starting solutions). Power was restored to 126 ± 5 W m−2 through acid addition to the regenerated catholyte to decrease pH and dissolve Cu(OH)2 precipitates, suggesting that an inexpensive acid or a waste acid could be used to improve performance. These results demonstrated that TRABs using ammonia-based electrolytes and inexpensive copper electrodes can provide a practical method for efficient conversion of low-grade thermal energy into electricity.
A research method to induce and examine a mild exacerbation of asthma by withdrawal of inhaled corticosteroid.

Summary This study evaluated a research method to examine an exacerbation of asthma induced by corticosteroid withdrawal. Ten non-smoking adult asthmatics who were stable on treatment with inhaled steroid underwent a graded reduction of the daily dose by 200 μg at weekly intervals until an exacerbation of symptoms occurred. A daily symptom, peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) and medication diary was kept. Weekly clinic visits were used to assess symptoms, spirometry, methacholine airway responsiveness (expressed as the provocative concentration to cause a fall in FEV1 of 20%, PC20), circulating eosinophils, basophils and their progenitors (Eo/B-CFU), and sputum inflammatory cells. The laboratory tests were performed blind to the clinical details. Each subject developed an exacerbation of symptoms, on average at 16 (70–26) days after the onset of steroid reduction. This was accompanied by a deterioration in each of the objective measures. There was a fall in FEV1 by 320 ml (s.e.m. 9.5) and in PC20 from 0.8 to 0.43 mg/ml. Circulating eosinophils rose from 114 (24) × 103/ml to 227 (50) × 103/ml and Eo/B-CFU rose from 31 (5.6) to 44(11.3)/106 cells. Sputum developed in five subjects and contained 36 (5.2)% eosinophils and 1.98 (0.21)% metachromatic cells (mast cells or basophils). The symptom diary and weekly questionaire were demonstrated to be valid and responsive to change. A deterioration indicated by the daily symptom score preceded changes in PEF. Treatment by an increase in steroid was followed by reversal of each of the changes. We conclude that this research method can safely produce and examine a mild exacerbation of asthma, and that an increase in airway inflammation is an early feature.
Update in Male Osteoporosis

Context: Osteoporosis in men is becoming an increasingly important public health problem. One in five men over the age of 50 yr will suffer an osteoporotic fracture during their lifetime, and men who sustain fractures have an increased mortality risk. Evidence Acquisition: Evidence was obtained by PubMed search and author’s knowledge of the field. Evidence Synthesis: Studies using computed quantitative tomography and high-resolution peripheral computed quantitative tomography have provided new insights into the bone structural changes with aging in men, including the somewhat surprising demonstration of significant, ongoing trabecular bone loss starting in young adult life. In addition, there are now data demonstrating that serum estradiol levels are important predictors of fracture risk in men and that there is a threshold estradiol level below which not only bone loss but also fracture risk increases markedly. Criteria for diagnosing and managing osteoporosis in men are also evolving, including the application of the fracture risk assessment tool to derive 10-yr fracture risks in men. Three bisphosphonates (alendronate, risedronate, and zolendronic acid) and teriparatide are currently U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved for the treatment of osteoporosis in men, with a number of new compounds, including a monoclonal antibody against receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand, selective estrogen receptor modulators, and selective androgen receptor modulators in varying stages of development. Conclusions: Despite significant advances, there remain a number of key unresolved issues regarding the pathogenesis and management of male osteoporosis, not the least of which is increasing public awareness of this important cause of morbidity and mortality in men.
Brain-computer interaction research at the computer vision and multimedia laboratory, University of Geneva

This paper describes the work being conducted in the domain of brain-computer interaction (BCI) at the Multimodal Interaction Group, Computer Vision and Multimedia Laboratory, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. The application focus of this work is on multimodal interaction rather than on rehabilitation, that is how to augment classical interaction by means of physiological measurements. Three main research topics are addressed. The first one concerns the more general problem of brain source activity recognition from EEGs. In contrast with classical deterministic approaches, we studied iterative robust stochastic based reconstruction procedures modeling source and noise statistics, to overcome known limitations of current techniques. We also developed procedures for optimal electroencephalogram (EEG) sensor system design in terms of placement and number of electrodes. The second topic is the study of BCI protocols and performance from an information-theoretic point of view. Various information rate measurements have been compared for assessing BCI abilities. The third research topic concerns the use of EEG and other physiological signals for assessing a user's emotional status.
Frequency domain compensation of spurious sidebands in A/D circuits

In a non-ideal PLL circuit, leakage of the reference signal into the control line produces spurious tones. When the distorted PLL signal is used as a clock signal, it creates spurious tones in the sampled data. Our prior work used a training signal to estimate the distortions and then correct the samples. In this work, we propose an alternative approach that estimates and removes the distortions directly from the sampled data without a training signal. Simulations indicate that the proposed solution is able to reduce the root-mean-square (RMS) sampling errors to about 15% of the original values.
Frequency-Domain Interference Excising at Radio Frequencies

A simple interference excising algorithm was employed to remove discrete narrow-band interferers from wide-band radio frequency noise measurements made in the North Atlantic during three seasons of the year. Narrow-band signals were reduced by 9 to 18 dB in average data samples with only 5 to 25 percent of the effective bandwidth being sacrificed. Both the amount of bandwidth and interference power excised from samples of data were found to increase as the spectral resolution used in the excising process was increased. (The amount of interference power removed was still increasing at the narrowest spectral resolution of 122 Hz utilized.) It was concluded that frequency-domain-excising techniques can be employed to advantage in lowering the effective interference level for spread-spectrum system signal processing.
Extraction of planar features from Swissranger SR-3000 Range Images by a clustering method using Normalized Cuts

This paper describes a new approach to extract planar features from 3D range data captured by a range imaging sensor—the SwissRanger SR-3000. The focus of this work is to segment vertical and horizontal planes from range images of indoor environments. The method first enhances a range image by using the surface normal information. It then partitions the Normal Enhanced Range Images (NERI) into a number of segments using the Normalized-Cuts (N-Cuts) algorithm. A least-square plane is fit to each segment and the fitting error is used to determine if the segment is planar or not. From the resulting planar segments, each vertical or horizontal segment is labeled based on the normal of its least-square plane. A pair of vertical or horizontal segments is merged if they are neighbors. Through this region growing process, the vertical and horizontal planes are extracted from the range data. The proposed method has a myriad of applications in navigating mobile robots in indoor environments.
Near-infrared thermal lens spectrometer based on an erbium-doped fiber amplifier and an acousto-optic tunable filter, and its application in the determination of nucleotides

A novel spectrometer that is based on the use of the thermal lens effect for sensitive measurements of absorption in the near-IR region has been developed. In this instrument the near-IR excitation light (from 1515 to 1590 nm) was provided by an erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA). An acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) was used to spectrally disperse the light from the EDFA. The AOTF was used in a new configuration in which, instead of the diffracted light, the transmitted light was used. The heat generated as a consequence of the absorption of the near-IR excitation beam by the sample was monitored by a He-Ne laser. The sensitivity of this spectrometer was found to be at least two to three times higher than that of conventional transmission measurements. Its application in the sensitive determination of nucleotides (adenosine, cytidine, guanosine, and thymidine) is described.
MICROENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SUCCESS: A PATH ANALYSIS OF FACTORS THAT LEAD TO AND MEDIATE CLIENT SUCCESS

Through a path regression analysis of data from the Vermont Micro Business Development Program, this study examines the relationships between client characteristics, program activities, interim outcomes, and impacts, to understand factors that lead to and mediate client success in microenterprise development programs and as entrepreneurs. Statistics demonstrated excellent model fit to the data. The interim outcome of improved personal well-being was related to more sources of capital, course completion, being partnered and younger. Starting a business was related to having more financial resources and mediated by improved well-being. Clients who experienced an increase in income had previous business experience and an increase in assets. Increased income was mediated by improved well-being and business start. Reduction in public assistance was related to course completion, more sources of capital, not being in poverty, and increased assets. Increased assets were related to more education, not being in poverty, and more sources of capital. Being older, more sources of capital, a larger family, and improved well-being led to job creation. Overall, access to more financial resources enabled clients to meet personal and business goals and work toward self-sufficiency. The results suggest implications for public policy regarding business training and loan financing.
Adult Development and the Educational Process

The implications of the developmental orientation for the educational process are myriad, affecting what is taught, how it is communicated, and the roles of students and teachers. Although we speak specifically about the educational process as it relates to the mental-health professions, many of the developmental concepts presented are applicable to any learning situation since experiences as student and teacher are an integral part of the human condition.
Feeding, weight change, survival, and aggregation of Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in seven varieties of differentially-aged mulch.

Abstract Seven commercially-available mulches were aged outdoors for 0, 6 and 12 months then compared for suitability to the subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in non-choice and multi-choice tests under laboratory conditions. Mean differences in mulch consumption, individual termite weight change, and termite worker survival were examined in non-choice tests while mulch consumption and termite aggregation were measured in multi-choice tests. Non-choice tests did not reveal differences in consumption between mulches of the same age. However, mulch consumption and survival increased with mulch age and termite weight loss decreased with mulch age. In multi-choice tests feeding and aggregation preferences shifted with mulch age.
Comparative Life Histories of Sennius (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

Studies were made of the behavior of Sennius morosus (Sharp), S. simulans (Schaeffer), S. medialis (Sharp), and S. fallax (Boheman). The behavior of these closely related seed beetles was modified greatly because of the nature of the pods and seeds of their host plants. All five host plants had dehiscent pods. Those plants with many small seeds were attacked before the fruits matured; a beetle larva consumed several seeds and pupated inside the fruit. The plants with larger seeds were attacked at or near maturity; the beetle larva fed and pupated inside one seed. Those species of seed beetles that oviposited on immature, still expanding pods, produced eggs with strands which attached them to the substrate. Presumably these strands are a modification to allow eggs to adhere to an expanding pod.
Modelo para la determinación de los marcadores genéticos de la respuesta inmunitaria en poblaciones colombianas

Basados en nuestra experiencia, es posible estudiar factores geneticos del complejo mayor de histocompatibilidad (CMH) en varias enfermedades inmunologicas, o tambien factores geneticos que influyen en la falta de respuesta inmunitaria a vacunas como la hepatitis B. Los alelos de diferentes loci del CMH sirven por si mismos para identificar riesgos para enfermedades o falta de respuesta a vacunas. El bloque de genes del CMH, que pueden existir al nivel de la poblacion, en desequilibrio de enlace genetico, es un mayor marcador para estudiar la susceptibilidad genetica a enfermedades como las atopias asi como tambien la falta de respuesta a vacunas. Nosotros proponemos que un estudio inmunogenetico de poblaciones colombianas, podria utilizarse como control para identificar susceptibilidad genetica para el desarrollo de atopias a los acaros del polvo y a los hongos (mohos), que son alergenos comunes en Colombia. Tambien, la existencia de una gran susceptibilidad para la hepatitis delta en la region norte de Colombia, indica que un estudio inmunogenetico de identificacion de haplotipos colombianos asociados con la falta de respuesta a la vacuna contra la hepatitis B serian muy utiles. La identificacion de individuos que no responden a vacunas comunes, sugeriria que ellos son mas susceptibles a adquirir la hepatitis. En consecuencia, sera necesario desarrollar otras vacunas con diferentes ntigenos para proteger a esa poblacion.
Plants of Navajo National Monument

The floristic composition of Navajo National Monument is presented. The flora of the monument consists of 293 species of vascular plants, representing 177 genera and 66 families. The species are scattered throughout 12 plant communities found within the monument. The flora is dominated by forbs (60 percent), followed by shrubs (16 percent), grasses (12 percent) and trees (5 percent). Betatakin canyon exhibits the greatest floristic richness with 223 species being represented and 123 species found only in that area. This is due primarily to two factors: (1) the greater variety of habitats available in the area, and (2) the much longer time the area has been protected from grazing and other manmade disturbance.
Asthma and exercise.

There is evidence that the overall prevalence of asthma is increasing in the general population. Asthma is the leading cause of chronic illness and the most common chronic respiratory disorder in children. Given sufficient exercise intensity, exercise can trigger acute exacerbations in virtually all individuals with asthma. Heat loss, water loss, postexertional airway rewarming, and the role of several mediators have been proposed as possible mechanisms responsible for the airway obstruction induced by exercise. Exercise-induced asthma can be easily diagnosed and treated in the majority of patients. Physical training should be part of the asthmatic patient's overall plan of management. When properly treated, asthmatic individuals should be able to participate or compete in the majority of sports.
Glasnost’ vs. Freedom of the Press

National media systems are not static. The press is both an agent and object of change and its fate is closely linked with that of the political system in which it operates. When regimes liberalize, the press frequently becomes a tool, a battleground and a prize.
Virtual Experiments Guide Calibration Strategies for a Real-World Watershed Application of Coupled Surface-Subsurface Modeling

AbstractVirtual experiments have been designed for the development and validation of coupled surface-subsurface modeling. Potentially, virtual experiments can guide model calibration as well. To address the role of virtual experiments in model calibration, a novel approach was described for a real watershed calibration of Penn State Integrated Hydrologic Model (PIHM) guided by the V-shaped catchment simulation. First, a benchmarking experiment of coupled surface-subsurface modeling was developed and documented on the V-shaped catchment. Then, the performance of hydrologic predictions for the V-shaped catchment was calculated and demonstrated different levels of correlations. The correlations were found stable, which had the potential to be used as the weights of multiobjective calibration. Therefore, a weighted multiobjective calibration was developed for a real-world watershed by transferring the correlations obtained from the virtual experiments. Expectedly, the parameters calibrated using the weighted ...
A novel method for joint motion sensing on a wearable computer

Some wearable computing applications require sensing devices that detect the deflection of joints during human motion. Presented here is a novel non-invasive technique for measuring joint motion using pressure sensors. Described is a specific example of this; an easy to assemble glove that can be used as a low cost, high resolution gesture input device for wearable computers.
Using remote sensing and modeling techniques to investigate the annual parasite incidence of malaria in Loreto, Peru

Abstract Between 2001 and 2010 significant progress was made towards reducing the number of malaria cases in Peru; however, the country saw an increase between 2011 and 2015. This work attempts to uncover the associations among various climatic and environmental variables and the annual malaria parasite incidence in the Peruvian region of Loreto. A Multilevel Mixed-effects Poisson Regression model is employed, focusing on the 2009–2013 period, when trends in malaria incidence shifted from decreasing to increasing. The results indicate that variations in elevation (β = 0.78; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.75–0.81), soil moisture (β = 0.0021; 95% CI, 0.0019–0.0022), rainfall (β = 0.59; 95% CI, 0.56–0.61), and normalized difference vegetation index (β = 2.13; 95% CI, 1.83–2.43) is associated with higher annual parasite incidence, whereas an increase in temperature (β = -0.0043; 95% CI, − 0.0044-− 0.0041) is associated with a lower annual parasite incidence. The results from this study are particularly useful for healthcare workers in Loreto and have the potential of being integrated within malaria elimination plans.
Defect Thermodynamics-Historical

Ionic conduction in crystals was initially attributed to dissociation. In 1926 Frenkel introduced the concept of atomic disorder. Schottky and Wagner (1931-1935) introduced further types of disorder and nonstoichiometry. Quasi-chemical-defect reactions and the corresponding mass-action relations were introduced in 1933. Medium- and short-range interaction between defects is accounted for by Debye-Huckel theory (Dunwald and Wagner, 1933) and pairing (Schottky, 1939). Regulation of defect concentrations by doping with aliovalent foreign atoms began with the work on AgBr + CdBr2 by Koch and Wagner (1937), followed by semiconductor work after 1942. Application of the Schottky-Wagner approach to all possible defects, combined with a graphical method of representation using log-log or log-l/T plots and approximation of the neutrality condition (Brouwer, 1954), has become known as defect chemistry (Kroger and Vink, 1954, 1958). The method was extended to ternary compounds (Schmalzried and Wagner, 1962). Near surfaces (Frenkel, 1964), grain boundaries, solid-liquid interfaces (Grimley and Mott, 1947), and dislocations (eshelby et al., 1958), local neutrality is not maintained; we have planar or linear charges of one type balanced by a space charge in the crystal nearby. This makes it possible to determine the chemical potential of individual defects. Magneli (1950) observed extended defects in sWO3 giving rise to shear structures (Wedsley, 1955).
Mapping Vegetation-Resistance Parameters in Wetlands Using Generated Waves

AbstractConstructed wetlands, referred to as stormwater treatment areas (STAs), are important components of the water management infrastructure in south Florida. These systems have complex internal...
Fish prey change strategy with the direction of a threat

Predation is a fundamental interaction between species, yet it is unclear what escape strategies are effective for prey survival. Classical theory proposes that prey should either escape in a direction that conforms to a performance optimum or that is random and therefore unpredictable. Here, we show that larval zebrafish (Danio rerio) instead use a mixed strategy that may be either random or directed. This was determined by testing classic theory with measurements of the escape direction in response to a predator robot. We found that prey consistently escaped in a direction contralateral to the robot when approached from the side of the prey's body. At such an orientation, the predator appeared in the prey's central visual field and the contralateral response was consistent with a model of strategy that maximizes the distance from the predator. By contrast, when the robot approached the rostral or caudal ends of the body, and appeared in the prey's peripheral vision, the escape showed an equal probability of a contralateral or ipsilateral direction. At this orientation, a contralateral response offered little strategic advantage. Therefore, zebrafish larvae adopt an escape strategy that maximizes distance from the threat when strategically beneficial and that is otherwise random. This sensory-mediated mixed strategy may be employed by a diversity of animals and offers a new paradigm for understanding the factors that govern prey survival.
Investigations on Dual Slant Polarized Cavity-Backed Massive MIMO Antenna Panel With Beamforming

A cavity-backed dual slant polarized and low mutual coupling antenna array panel with frequency band from 4.9 to 6 GHz is analyzed and realized for the MIMO antenna 5G applications. The beamforming capability of this array is also explored. The printed cross dipoles fed with balun and enclosed in a cavity are used as radiating elements. The two cross dipoles are placed at an angle of 45° and 135° giving slant polarizations. A $4 \times 4$ subarray of dimension $2.8\lambda \times 2.8\lambda \times 0.26\lambda $ where $\lambda $ is free space wavelength at 6 GHz is designed, fabricated, and experimentally verified. It shows good impedance matching, port isolation, envelope correlation coefficient, and radiation characteristics which are desired for MIMO applications. Beamforming capability in the digital domain is verified using the Keysight SystemVue simulation tool for both $4 \times 4$ and $16\times 16$ panel arrays which employ measured 3-D embedded element radiation pattern data of the fabricated $4 \times 4$ subarray. Four simultaneous beams using digital beamforming approach are also presented for the $16 \times 16$ array for multiuser environment base station antenna applications.
The Laboratory Diagnosis of Influenza

The specific diagnosis of human influenza depends on the recovery of virus from human tissue or secretions, the demonstration of viral antigens in infected cells or secretions, or the measurement of specific immunologic response. The present chapter is not intended as a laboratory manual but reviews and summarizes currently available diagnostic methods and approaches. Procedural details can be found in Concepts and Procedures for Laboratory Based Influenza Surveillance (Centers for Disease Control, 1982) and in Laboratory Diagnosis of Viral Infections (Lennette, 1985) (also see Dowdle and Coleman, 1974).
Precursor and Neutral Loss Scans in an RF Scanning Linear Quadrupole Ion Trap.

Methodology for performing precursor and neutral loss scans in an RF scanning linear quadrupole ion trap is described and compared to the unconventional ac frequency scan technique. In the RF scanning variant, precursor ions are mass selectively excited by a fixed frequency resonance excitation signal at low Mathieu q while the RF amplitude is ramped linearly to pass ions through the point of excitation such that the excited ion’s m/z varies linearly with time. Ironically, a nonlinear ac frequency scan is still required for ejection of the product ions since their frequencies vary nonlinearly with the linearly varying RF amplitude. In the case of the precursor scan, the ejection frequency must be scanned so that it is fixed on a product ion m/z throughout the RF scan, whereas in the neutral loss scan, it must be scanned to maintain a constant mass offset from the excited precursor ions. Both simultaneous and sequential permutation scans are possible; only the former are demonstrated here. The scans described are performed on a variety of samples using different ionization sources: protonated amphetamine ions generated by nanoelectrospray ionization (nESI), explosives ionized by low-temperature plasma (LTP), and chemical warfare agent simulants sampled from a surface and analyzed with swab touch spray (TS). We lastly conclude that the ac frequency scan variant of these MS/MS scans is preferred due to electronic simplicity. In an accompanying manuscript, we thus describe the implementation of orthogonal double resonance precursor and neutral loss scans on the Mini 12 using constant RF voltage.
Forecasting Properties of Neural Network Generated Volatility Estimates

The price of an option, from an arbitrage pricing model, as an estimate of the option’s fair market value is only as good as the volatility measures being used. Investors having access to superior forecasts of future volatility are likely to devise trading strategies that would generate profits by identifying mispriced options. The extant literature considers informational efficiency and finds that implied volatility is not an unbiased forecast of future volatility. The analysis suggests that implied volatility is related to moneyness, time to maturity and the ratio of put-to-call trading volume, however, the exact functional relation is unknown. In the absence of a known functional form, artificial neural networks (ANN) can generate a model that captures this systematic relationship. Results using equity option data show that, in general, neural networks do not produce superior estimates of future volatility.
Inhibition of Implantation of Murine Bladder Tumor by Thiotepa in Cauterized Bladder

AbstractThis study was designed to determine the role of immediate intravesical instillation of single dose thiotepa post transurethral resection of bladder tumor in the prevention of recurrence by tumor implantation, using murine bladder tumor line 2 and 201 C3H/He mice. Previous studies have suggested implantation may take place as early as the first hour and reach its maximum in 24 hours after resection of bladder tumor. An in vitro dose response curve of MBT2 to thiotepa was established by treatment with various concentrations of thiotepa of 0.00, 0.01, 0.21, 0.44, and 1.91mg./ml. In a group of 201 mice, the bladder was catheterized with a 24G angiocatheter, and a fine copper wire was inserted through the lumen. The bladder was cauterized by touching the wire with a Bovie coagulator for four seconds at the lowest setting. All bladders were instilled with 1 × 106 cells of murine bladder tumor line 2, followed by instillation of 1.91mg./ml. of thiotepa with various time delays per treatment group. The b...
Low and middle income countries look to CQC for guidance.

The finding that Care Quality Commission inspections have little effect on services is surprising to us in low and middle income countries who are striving to set up health standards bodies, because we cite the CQC, …
Minimum Detectable Changes Associated with Tissue Dielectric Constant Measurements as Applicable to Assessing Lymphedema Status

Abstract Background: Tissue dielectric constant (TDC) measurements are increasingly being used as a tool to help characterize lymphedema features, detect its presence, and assess treatment related ...
The negotiation of head start teachers’ beliefs in a transborder community

Abstract Using a cultural communities approach as our guide, the purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the beliefs of early childhood educators in a transborder community located along the U.S./Mexico border and known for its large Latino population. Participants were 77 Head Start associate teachers, teachers, site supervisors, and other education staff. The majority were Latina (83%) and bilingual in both Spanish and English (70%). The Teacher Beliefs Q-Sort was used to examine participants’ beliefs regarding discipline and behavior management, teaching practices, and children. Factor analyses suggested patterns of teacher beliefs that reflected both collectivist and individualistic orientations to teaching and learning. Latina educators scored significantly higher on factors that appeared consistent with a collectivist orientation and seemed to reflect the cultural value of raising children to be bien educado. Participants’ beliefs were also compared with those of faculty exemplars, and participants who prioritized items in way similar to the experts tended to be more educated and were more likely to be non-Latina. Findings point to the need to examine the intersection of education level, ethnicity, and recommended practice and how teachers negotiate these beliefs in transborder settings.
Abstract B005: Linking transcriptomic and imaging features of the melanoma tumor microenvironment

Background: While immunotherapy has demonstrated success in melanoma, a deeper understanding of the heterogeneous tumor microenvironment is needed for stratifying patients for treatment. Technologies such as quantitative multiplex immunofluorescence (qmIF) imaging and transcriptomic profiling both have the potential to provide such insights. Using these tools, we had previously shown that immune cellular compositions and bulk gene expression in tumors are each related to patient survival. However, the connection between these modalities and their impact on prognosis is not well-understood. Here, we investigate the link between the microenvironmental composition of immune cells, such as cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and macrophages, with observed transcriptomic signatures. Furthermore, we uncover spatial correlations in cellular positioning, which supports a mechanistic basis underlying these relationships. Methods: QmIF imaging was obtained from 104 stage II-III primary melanomas from Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC), which included staining for CTLs (CD3 and CD8), macrophages (CD68), and tumor cells (SOX10). HLA-DR and Ki67 were also stained in order to assess activation and proliferation of immune and tumor cells. Visualization, cell segmentation, and phenotyping were performed using inForm software within Mantra workstation. Spatial relationships between cells were quantified via the inhomogeneous pair correlation function (PCF), which compares the observed probability of two cell types being separated by a given distance to that expected by chance. Disease-specific survival status was known for 64 patients, while mRNA expression for 63 immune-related genes was obtained via NanoString for 53 patients. We assessed the similarity of each sample’s gene expression profile to the cellular subtype signatures from LM22, the reference standard for CIBERSORT. Results: The proportion of CTLs observed via qmIF was significantly associated with the CD8 T-cell transcriptomic signature (Spearman’s rho = 0.33, p Citation Format: Andrew X. Chen, Robyn Gartrell, Douglas K. Marks, Thomas Hart, Emanuelle Rizk, Anthea Monod, Raul Rabadan, Yvonne Saenger. Linking transcriptomic and imaging features of the melanoma tumor microenvironment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fourth CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; Sept 30-Oct 3, 2018; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2019;7(2 Suppl):Abstract nr B005.
Parathyroid carcinoma: diagnosis and clinical history.

Background Parathyroid carcinoma is often over-diagnosed based on histologic appearance alone. We limited the definition of the disease to patients with recurrence, metastases, or frank capsular invasion on histologic examination. Methods With these criteria, fourteen cases of parathyroid carcinoma seen at our institution from 1955 to the present were identified. Results All patients presented with hypercalcemia, and all deaths were due to hypercalcemia. Two patients have been free of disease after initial operation for 31 and 180 months. Six other patients had a prolonged course with a median survival more than 80 months. Two of these patients have undergone one reexcision each for local recurrence, and four have undergone multiple resections for local recurrence or metastases. These reoperations usually resulted in satisfactory, albeit temporary, control of hypercalcemia. Finally, six patients died of disease after an aggressive course, with a short median survival (47 months). Four of these patients were seen in the 1950s before an aggressive approach to metastatic disease was adopted. Conclusions The types of clinical courses observed in this study may be more reflective of the varied biologic features of parathyroid carcinoma and the approach to recurrence than of the initial operations. For patients with recurrent or distant disease, an operation appears to prolong survival and palliate the symptoms of hypercalcemia.
A Solution-Focused Consultee-Centered Consultation Model to Dismantle White Privilege: Applications in a Teacher Education Program

Our increasingly diverse society has resulted in concomitant pressure on teacher education programs to prepare graduates to work with PK-12 students who may differ from them on important sociocultu...
TRENDS IN PREVALENCE OF E-CIGARETTE USE AMONG U.S. ADULTS. BEHAVIORAL RISK FACTOR SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM, 2016 AND 2017

It is important to study trends of e-cigarette use among various subgroups to understand which populations may be susceptible to their health effects. We utilized cross-sectional data from the 2016 to 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a nationally representative U.S.
BRINGING DOWN THE ROOF: ANOMALOUS RIGHT CORONARY ARTERY ARISING FROM THE ASCENDING AORTA

Anomalous coronary arteries are a relatively rare finding that may be asymptomatic or follow classical courses that often necessitate surgical intervention due to hemodynamic consequences. Less frequently encountered anomalies may still need investigation for surgery, especially in the setting of
Simple and Skin Sparing Mastectomy

Simple and skin sparing mastectomy techniques continue to evolve as treatment for breast cancer and identification of high-risk patients improves. The main goal for a simple mastectomy in the treatment of breast cancer is to achieve tumor-free margins with limiting surgical morbidity. Skin sparing mastectomy follows the same principles but saves the breast skin envelope to allow for immediate reconstruction. Surgical techniques, incision placement, skin flap thickness, anatomic boundaries, blood supply, and surgical complications are discussed in this chapter.
Adaptive Admittance Control of Hybrid Exoskeletons.

Hybrid exoskeletons combine two increasingly common rehabilitative therapies, functional electrical stimulation (FES) and robotic therapy, for use on individuals with neuromuscular disorders. As hybrid exoskeletons increase in popularity and complexity, it remains an ever-important issue to not only assist people in performing rehabilitation, but also to guarantee their safety while coupled to the exoskeleton. In this paper, a novel adaptive controller for hybrid exoskeletons is developed to regulate an admittance error system using the exoskeleton's motors while simultaneously regulating a position error system using the operator's muscles, stimulated through FES. The stability of the controller is rigorously analyzed using a combined Lyapunov-passivity approach and while the hybrid exoskeleton is proven to be energetically passive, the admittance error system is proven to demonstrate global exponential convergence to a uniform ultimate bound. Simulations were performed on a two degree-of-freedom lower-limb hybrid exoskeleton to demonstrate the efficacy of the controller. Results show the controller achieves an average admittance tracking error of 0.00±0.08 rad and 0.00±0.08 rad/s for joint one (the knee joint), and 0.01±0.11 rad and 0.01±0.12 rad/s for joint two (the ankle joint), while simultaneously applying FES to the operator's muscles for rehabilitation.
The association between factors promoting non-beneficial surgery and moral distress: A national survey of surgeons.

OBJECTIVE To assess the prevalence of moral distress among surgeons and test the association between factors promoting non-beneficial surgery and surgeons' moral distress. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA Moral distress experienced by clinicians can lead to low-quality care and burnout. Older adults increasingly receive invasive treatments at the end of life that may contribute to surgeons' moral distress, particularly when external factors, such as pressure from colleagues, institutional norms, or social demands, push them to offer surgery they consider non-beneficial. METHODS We mailed surveys to 5,200 surgeons randomly selected from the American College of Surgeons membership, which included questions adapted from the revised Moral Distress Scale. We then analyzed the association between factors influencing the decision to offer surgery to seriously ill older adults and surgeons' moral distress. RESULTS The weighted adjusted response rate was 53% (n = 2,161). Respondents whose decision to offer surgery was influenced by their belief that pursuing surgery gives the patient or family time to cope with the patient's condition were more likely to have high moral distress (34% vs 22%, p < 0.001), and this persisted on multivariate analysis (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.02-2.03). Time required to discuss non-operative treatments or the consulting intensivists' endorsement of operative intervention, were not associated with high surgeon moral distress. CONCLUSIONS Surgeons experience moral distress when they feel pressured to perform surgery they believe provides no clear patient benefit. Strategies that empower surgeons to recommend non-surgical treatments when they believe this is in the patient's best interest may reduce non-beneficial surgery and surgeon moral distress.
Abstract MP32: The Level Of Adherence To The Dietary Approaches To Stop Hypertension Diet Is Associated With The Severity Of Insulin Resistance Among Community-Dwelling Heart Failure Patients: A National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey Analysis

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) patients are at risk of new-onset diabetes. In non-HF populations, adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet has shown to be associated w...
High fidelity volumetric additive manufacturing

Abstract Volumetric additive manufacturing (VAM) promises a significantly improved regime of capabilities for 3D printing. Computed Axial Lithography (CAL) is a photopolymerization-based tomographic VAM process which constructs objects by projecting systematic illumination patterns into a container of photosensitive prepolymer as it rotates. This technique is used to demonstrate the manufacturing of parts that faithfully adhere to respective target geometries. A principled optimization approach is used to generate the illumination patterns by penalizing 3D dose constraint violations and is demonstrated to achieve better performance than a heuristic dose matching technique. 3D objects are experimentally fabricated using CAL, and excellent fidelity to target design is demonstrated on diverse exemplary geometries. Imperfections between design and resulting print are experimentally characterized using laser scanning measurements. Deviations below 1.05 mm are achieved (max standard deviation = 0.22 mm, absolute max mean deviation = 0.15 mm) on complex objects with extent of 20–40 mm that are all fabricated volumetrically in minutes.
Reproductive hormone levels and differential mitochondria-related oxidative gene expression as potential mechanisms for gender differences in cardiosensitivity to Doxorubicin in tumor-bearing spontaneously hypertensive rats

Chemotherapy with doxorubicin (Dox) causes dose-limiting cardiotoxicity. We investigated the role that gender has on cardiosensitivity to Dox treatment by evaluating reproductive hormone levels in male, castrated male (c-male), female and ovariectomized female (o-female) adult spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and expression of mitochondria-related genes in male and female adult SHRs. SST-2 breast tumor-bearing SHRs were treated with saline, Dox, dexrazoxane (Drz) or both Dox and Drz and monitored for 14 days. Tumor size was used to monitor anticancer activity. Heart weight, cardiac lesion score and serum levels of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) were used to determine cardiotoxicity. Serum estradiol (E2) and testosterone were evaluated using electrochemiluminescence immunoassays. Expression of mitochondria-related genes was profiled in heart by MitoChip array analyses. Dox significantly reduced tumor volume (±Drz) and increased heart weight in all genders (13–30 % vs. control). Higher heart lesion scores were observed in reproductively normal animals (male 2.9, female 2.2) than in hormone-deficient animals (c-male 1.7, o-female 1.9). Lesion score and cTnT inversely correlated with hormone levels. Reduced levels of both sex hormones were observed after Dox treatment. Gene expression analyses of Dox-treated hearts showed significant differential expression of oxidative stress genes in male hearts and apoptotic genes in both male and female hearts. Our results demonstrate that adult tumor-bearing male SHRs are more cardiosensitive to Dox than female or hormone-deficient animals. We provide evidence to suggest that reproductive hormones negatively regulate or are inhibited by Dox-induced cardiotoxicity and the selective cytotoxic mechanism likely functions through the greater activation of oxidative stress and apoptosis in male SHRs.
Specifications of Concurrently Accessed Data

Our specification of the buffer illustrates how some of the requirements described in the introduction are met. The specification is concise, and it can be manipulated easily. This allowed us to derive several properties of the buffer (Appendix A) and construct a proof of buffer concatenation (Section 4). Also refinement of the specification with the eventual goal of implementation seems feasible with this scheme.
Effects of trunk support and target distance on postural adjustments prior to a rapid reaching task by seated subjects

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the presence of postural adjustments before a reaching task by seated subjects. Nine seated subjects performed a rapid reaching task to a target placed at shoulder height, 45° to the right of midline. Reach time, timing and magnitude of forces produced by the movement, and onset of deltoid muscle activity were analyzed under supported versus unsupported, and near versus far reach conditions. Reach time was proportional to reach distance. For all reach conditions, initial movement of the center of body mass occurred in a direction toward the target, ie, opposite in direction to reactive forces produced by the accelerating arm. Regardless of support, reactive forces were recorded approximately 30 to 50 msec before arm movement, and represented a greater percentage of body weight, for the far reach conditions. Peak acceleration to the right occurred at proportionately the same time into reach regardless of support or reach distance. Peak acceleration occurred earlier in the supported conditions. This paper provides kinetic evidence of postural adjustments before a rapid reaching task performed by seated subjects.
Hypertext: a new tool and its effect on audience comprehension

Examines comprehension research that suggests that readers must have some degree of familiarity with a document's topic or structure to instantiate appropriate schemata. This research creates questions about the comprehensibility of hypertext documents. It is concluded that further research must be conducted in hypertext environments to assess the applicability of reading strategies, specifically those of schemata, in hypertext documents. >