cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Torture During Interrogations: A Police Manual's Foresight

The use of waterboarding and other harsh interrogation techniques to extract information from suspected terrorists has been widely debated in recent years. But American police officers used very similar methods to obtain confessions from suspected murders and bank robbers way back in the 1920s and 30s - the era of the third degree. In those days the police interrogators of Chicago, New York and other big American cities resorted to the water cure, mock executions of suspect's accomplices or grillings by relays of police under blinding lights. After a long struggle, police reformers and high-ranking law enforcement officials convinced those who did the interrogations that the old violent ways had to be replaced by psychological methods. In this regard the police were aided by the authors of various interrogation manuals. For example, the author of one police manual, Lt. W.R. Kidd, insisted that nothing good could be said for torture or other third degree methods. Why? Because when a suspect is subjected to sufficient torture one of three things will happen: (1) he will tell his interrogators anything he thinks they want to hear; (2) he will go insane; or (3) he will die. The most remarkable thing about Kidd's manual is that it was written in 1940 and was the first interrogation manual ever published in America. How much progress have we made since then?
Study of the (d,p) Reaction onSi28,S32, andAr36atEd=18.00MeV

The reactions $^{28}\mathrm{Si}(d,p)^{29}\mathrm{Si}$, $^{32}\mathrm{S}(d,p)^{33}\mathrm{S}$, and $^{36}\mathrm{Ar}(d,p)^{37}\mathrm{Ar}$ were studied at an incident deuteron energy of 18.00 MeV. Some $^{28}\mathrm{Si}(d,p)^{29}\mathrm{Si}$ data were also obtained at an incident deuteron energy of 21.00 MeV. Angular distributions were obtained for proton groups leading to states in the residual nuclei $^{29}\mathrm{Si}$, $^{33}\mathrm{S}$, and $^{37}\mathrm{Ar}$ with excitation energies up to approximately 8 MeV. With the use of distorted-wave Born-approximation (DWBA) analyses, spectroscopic factors were obtained for all ($d,p$) transitions which displayed direct-reaction characteristics. $J$ dependence was observed in $l=2 (1d)$ and $l=1 (2p) (d,p)$ transitions for ${E}_{d}=18.00$ MeV. The spectroscopic factors obtained in this experimental study are compared with the predictions of current theoretical models which treat nuclei in the upper $s\ensuremath{-}d$ shell.
Modulation of cell cycle control by vitamin D3 and its analogue, EB1089, in human breast cancer cells

Examination of a panel of ER positive breast cancer cell lines showed that they were differentially growth inhibited by vitamin D3 and its analogue EB1089. EB1089 treatment of the breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 E, BT20, T47D, and ZR75 demonstrated a correlation between a reduction in Cdk2 kinase activity towards phosphorylation of histone H1 and a decrease in DNA synthesis, while no modulation of Cdk2 activity was observed in the vitamin D3 and EB1089 resistant cell line MCF-7 L. This was accompanied by a time dependent decrease in the percentage of S phase cells in the responsive lines. Characterization of the expression levels of Cdk2 and its related cell cycle proteins in MCF-7 E cells showed that after EB1089 treatment, there was a concentration and time dependent up-regulation of p21 as well as a decrease in cyclin A proteins. Paradoxically, cyclin E levels were increased as a function of treatment. Analysis of cyclin-Cdk2-Cdki complex formation showed that in EB1089 treated MCF-7 E cells, Cdk2, cyclin A and cyclin E immunoprecipitates contained an increased abundance of p21. In contrast to MCF-7 E cells, increases in both p21 and p27 as well as their complex formation with Cdk2 were observed in BT20 and ZR75 cells. These findings indicate that up-regulation of p21 as well as p27 in some cell types may account for the inactivation of Cdk2 activity and a G1 block of the cell cycle following EB1089 treatment.
Milroy's disease and scrotal lymphoedema: pathological insight.

We highlight a case of Milroy’s disease in a 28-year-old man. He originally presented with fleshy, exophytic coliform lesions that carpeted his scrotum and penile shaft (figure 1). His prior treatments included laser therapy and electrocautery, but the lesions recurred. Ultimately, he underwent a complex scrotal and phalloplasty, excision of coliform lesions and split thickness skin grafting. Postoperative findings are demonstrated in figure 2. Gross pathology revealed yellow-pink friable coliform excrescences (figure 3). H&E stained microscopic sections showed papillary outgrowths of dermis with overlying epidermal hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis. The deeper dermis was oedematous and fibrotic with a dense chronic inflammatory infiltrate and lymphangiectasia (figures 4⇓⇓–7). The histological findings were consistent with chronic lymphatic obstruction. Figure 1 Presentation of diffuse coliform lesions …
A mitotic SKAP isoform regulates spindle positioning at astral microtubule plus ends

The Astrin/SKAP complex plays important roles in mitotic chromosome alignment and centrosome integrity, but previous work found conflicting results for SKAP function. Here, we demonstrate that SKAP is expressed as two distinct isoforms in mammals: a longer, testis-specific isoform that was used for the previous studies in mitotic cells and a novel, shorter mitotic isoform. Unlike the long isoform, short SKAP rescues SKAP depletion in mitosis and displays robust microtubule plus-end tracking, including localization to astral microtubules. Eliminating SKAP microtubule binding results in severe chromosome segregation defects. In contrast, SKAP mutants specifically defective for plus-end tracking facilitate proper chromosome segregation but display spindle positioning defects. Cells lacking SKAP plus-end tracking have reduced Clasp1 localization at microtubule plus ends and display increased lateral microtubule contacts with the cell cortex, which we propose results in unbalanced dynein-dependent cortical pulling forces. Our work reveals an unappreciated role for the Astrin/SKAP complex as an astral microtubule mediator of mitotic spindle positioning.
Investigation and analysis on the quality of infectious disease reports of medical institutions in Urumchi in 2010

[Objective]By field supervision and inspection,to understand the status and existing problems of the direct network report in medical institutions in Urumchi,further identify the working emphasis of direct network report,and provide the timely and accurate information for control and prevention of infectious disease outbreaks.[Methods]The methods of field investigation,spot check data and field examination were applied to understand the management of epidemic situation,analyze the cases and cards which were checked,calculate the missing report rate,the timeliness rate of reports,the integrity rate and the accurate rate.[Results]A total of 57 medical institutions were investigated,and 488 cases of 12 infectious diseases were checked.There were 12 cases of missing report,and the total missing report rate was 2.46%,which was decreased by 58.38% as compared with that in 2009(5.91%).[Conclusion]It is important to implement the systems and measures for epidemic management of infectious diseases to improve the quality of infectious disease reports.The missing report rate in this city decreases gradually,but it is suggested to strengthen the management of infectious disease reports,improve the timeliness rate of reports,reduce missing reports,and practically enhance the quality of infectious disease reports.
Significance of Serum Lactic Dehydrogenase in Stages B and C Non-Seminomatous Testis Tumors

AbstractThe incidence of initial elevations of total serum lactic dehydrogenase was 38 per cent in 21 patients with stage B disease and 65 per cent in 17 patients with stage C disease. Conversely, 62 per cent of patients with stage B disease and 35 per cent of patients with stage C disease had normal lactic dehydrogenase values, indicating that measurement of total serum lactic dehydrogenase lacks sensitivity as a useful biologic tumor marker in predicting the presence of tumor. However, there were no falsely positive elevations in these patients—all patients with persistent elevations after therapy have either died or have progressive disease.Therefore, it would seem from our study that total serum lactic dehydrogenase should be measured initially in all patients with advanced disease (stages B3 and C). When elevated, serial measurements will indicate response to therapy. The presence of a persistent elevation of lactic dehydrogenase suggests that current conventional therapeutic modalities are ineffecti...
Abstract 5235: Dietary administration of δ- and γ-tocopherol inhibits estrogen-mediated mammary tumorigenesis in ACI rats

Proceedings: AACR 107th Annual Meeting 2016; April 16-20, 2016; New Orleans, LA Tocopherols (T), members of the vitamin E family, occur in four forms designated as α, β, δ and γ. Epidemiological studies suggest that tocopherols could reduce the risk of cancer. α-T is known as the classical vitamin E, being the predominant form of tocopherol found in human blood and tissues. However, clinical studies with α-T to substantiate the role of tocopherols in cancer prevention have provided inconclusive results. Such outcomes indicate that the cancer preventive activity of tocopherols might be attributed to the other forms of tocopherols, but not α-T. γ-T, which is the most abundant tocopherol in vegetable oils, is our major dietary source of tocopherols. Recent studies have demonstrated that δ-T and γ-T have higher anti-cancer activity than α-T in several animal models of cancer. The present study investigated the cancer preventive activity of individual purified forms of tocopherols α-T, δ-T, γ-T as well as a naturally occurring γ-T rich mixture of tocopherols (γ-TmT) in an in vivo model of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer, namely estrogen supplemented August-Copenhagen Irish (ACI) rats. ACI rats were subcutaneously implanted with 9 mg of 17β-estradiol (E2) in silastic tubings and administered with diets containing 0.2% α-T, δ-T, γ-T or γ-TmT. Rats were euthanized at 30 weeks of mammary carcinogenesis when the E2 control group exhibited 100% tumor incidence. α-T had no effect on estrogen-induced mammary tumors. However, treatment with 0.2% δ-T, γ-T and γ-TmT reduced the tumor volume by 51% (p<0.05), 60% (p<0.01) and 59% (p<0.01), respectively. Administration of α-T, δ-T and γ-T resulted in a 2.1-, 80- and 62-fold increase of these tocopherols, respectively, in the serum of ACI rats. Supplementation with the individual tocopherols also increased the levels of their respective short chain metabolite, carboxyethyl hydroxychromans (CEHCs) in the serum. Administration of δ-T and γ-T was associated with 185- and 99-fold increase in their CEHC metabolites, respectively. The high serum levels of δ- and γ-CEHC metabolites could contribute to the enhanced chemopreventive activity of δ-T and γ-T. In conclusion, δ-T, γ-T and γ-TmT could be potential natural agents for the prevention of estrogen-induced mammary tumorigenesis. (This work was supported by the NIH grant R01 AT007036 and the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research Postdoctoral Fellowship to Soumyasri Das Gupta). Citation Format: Soumyasri Das Gupta, Joseph Wahler, Min Ji Bak, Mao-Jung Lee, Yong Lin, Weichung Joe Shih, Chung S Yang, Nanjoo Suh. Dietary administration of δ- and γ-tocopherol inhibits estrogen-mediated mammary tumorigenesis in ACI rats. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 5235.
Comparison of strategies for solving global optimization problems using speculation and interval computations

Many real-life situations require that a match between quantities, behaviors, etc. be found. That is the case, for instance, when scientists try to find a fit between two sets of data, or a set of observations and a given model. Often such situations require that the minimum (or maximum) of a computed difference be found. These situations can be modeled as optimization problems. There exist multiple flavors of optimization problems: constrained and unconstrained (whether we are looking for the minimum - or maximum - of a function over the entire search space or only within the subspace of elements that satisfy some given constraints); local and global (whether we are looking solutions for the minimum within a neighborhood or among the whole search space); continuous, discrete, and mixed (whether the parameters of the problem at hand take their values all in discrete domains, all in continuous domains, or in a mix of these). In this article, we focus on continuous unconstrained global optimization and algorithms to solve such problems. Without loss of generality, we will discuss minimization. There exist many algorithms to address such problems. Most are based on interval computations for they provide a way to conduct a fully covering search in continuous domains where enumeration of alternatives is impossible. In this article, we propose to look at a specific type of algorithm: known as speculation, which consists in betting on which value is going to be the minimum we are looking for. More specifically, we propose to improve our speculative approach using different strategies. We present and discuss the results of a series of experiments comparing the performance of the speculative algorithm with the proposed strategies.
Grayscale ultrasound characteristics of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease severity – an adult and pediatric cohort study

INTRODUCTION The most common hereditary kidney condition is autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. It is the cause of 5-10% of end-stage renal disease. Its symptoms are generally late-onset, typically leading to development of hypertension and chronic kidney disease. Ultrasonography is the imaging modality of choice in its diagnosis and management. The aim of this study is to determine the diagnostic value of grayscale ultrasound imaging in evaluating disease severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study group consisted of 81 patients diagnosed with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, 35 adults and 46 children. Inclusion criterion for adults was the presence of at least 10 large cysts in each kidney; children included into the study had developed at least 1 large renal cyst in each kidney. The number of large cysts, echogenicity of kidney parenchyma, cortical thickness and presentation of cortex/medulla boundary were assessed with the use of Logiq E9 apparatus (GE Healthcare, Netherlands). Patients were divided into groups, based on these morphological parameters. Kidney function was assessed according to serum creatinine concentration and creatinine clearance. Statistical analysis was performed, with p-value lower than 0.05 considered as significant. RESULTS The number of cysts and the degree of parenchymal dysfunction were the determinants of creatinine level and creatinine clearance, with the second predictor proving stronger. CONCLUSIONS We recommend that an ultrasound kidney examination in patients with polycystic kidney disease should include evaluating renal parenchyma and the number of cysts for better assessment of disease severity.
A comparison of the effects of correlated colour temperature and gender on cognitive task performance

Higher correlated colour temperature ambient lighting, which contains more blue light, has been reported to improve performance on a variety of cognitive tasks. The current investigation compared p...
The Response of Uniform Bodies to Heating

This chapter will present theories of the thermodynamics of some simple materials. While we already possess the generic laws necessary for dynamics (Chapter 1), we cannot really claim to know how certain types of bodies will behave when subjected to heating. Only specific constitutive laws allow for the actual creation of theories of dynamics. The following sections are largely devoted to the thermodynamics of the ideal gas, a simple model fluid which can undergo changes of temperature and of volume. We will be able to compute adiabatic, polytropic, and more general processes undergone by this gas. The simple model chosen allows only for reversible processes, which means that we can actually set up a thermodynamics of nondissipative processes. The ideas will be applied to a couple of other ideal and simple systems, namely magnetized bodies, and blackbody radiation. Finally we shall contrast the results with a brief look at the thermostatics of simple systems.
Learning Analytics: at the Nexus of Big Data, Digital Innovation, and Social Justice in Education

We are still designing educational experiences for the average student, and have room to improve. Learning analytics provides a way forward. This commentary describes how learning analytics-based applications are well positioned to meaningfully personalize the learning experience in diverse ways. In so doing, learning analytics has the potential to contribute to more equitable and socially just educational outcomes for students who might otherwise be seen through the lens of the average student. Utilizing big data, good design, and the input of the stakeholders, learning analytics techniques aim to develop applications for the sole purpose of reducing the classroom size to 1. Over time, these digital innovations will enable us to do away with a model of education that teaches toward the non-existent average student, replacing it with one that is more socially just—one that addresses the individual needs of every student.
Self-sustainable, high-power-density bio-solar cells for lab-on-a-chip applications

A microfluidic lab-on-a-chip system that generates its own power is essential for stand-alone, independent, self-sustainable point-of-care diagnostic devices to work in limited-resource and remote regions. Miniaturized biological solar cells (or micro-BSCs) can be the most suitable power source for those lab-on-a-chip applications because the technique resembles the earth's natural ecosystem – living organisms work in conjunction with non-living components of their environment to create a self-assembling and self-maintaining system. Micro-BSCs can continuously generate electricity from microbial photosynthetic and respiratory activities over day–night cycles, offering a clean and renewable power source with self-sustaining potential. However, the promise of this technology has not been translated into practical applications because of its relatively low power (∼nW cm−2) and current short lifetimes (∼a couple of hours). In this work, we enabled high-performance, self-sustaining, long-life micro-BSCs by using fundamental breakthroughs of device architectures and electrode materials. A 3-D biocompatible, conductive, and porous anode demonstrated great microbial biofilm formation and a high rate of bacterial extracellular electron transfer, which led to greater power generation. Furthermore, our micro-BSCs promoted gas exchange to the bacteria through a gas-permeable PDMS membrane in a well-controlled, tightly enclosed micro-chamber, substantially enhancing sustainability. Through photosynthetic reactions of the cyanobacteria Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 without additional organic fuel, the 90 μL single-chambered bio-solar cell generated a maximum power density of 43.8 μW cm−2 and sustained consistent power production of ∼18.6 μW cm−2 during the day and ∼11.4 μW cm−2 at night for 20 days, which is the highest and longest reported success of any existing micro-scale bio-solar cells.
External Labor Markets and the Importance of Credentials to Executive Pay

This paper examines the importance of externally observable individual qualifications in predicting executive compensation and how this differs between external and internal markets. It provides evidence that information asymmetries between internal and external markets drive stronger reliance on credentials such as education and work experience for determining compensation in external markets. Salaries prior to and after an external job placement for executive job switchers are modeled, and results show that credentials are nearly twice as important on the external market, explaining 9% of salary variance, compared to a contribution of only 5% in prior job settings. Additionally, this paper examines differences in importance by type of qualification and type of executive. Experience evincing general capabilities is found to be more important than experience aligned with the industry and function of the position. The increase in importance of credentials in the external market setting is more pronounced a...
Search for strongly blue axion isocurvature

It is known that if the Peccei-Quinn symmetry-breaking field is displaced from its minimum during inflation, the axion isocurvature spectrum is generically strongly blue tilted with a break transition to a flat spectrum. We fit this spectrum (incorporated into the ``vanilla'' $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{CDM}$ cosmological model) to the Planck and BOSS DR11 data to assess how much the existing data can accommodate the presence of axionic blue-tilted isocurvature perturbations. We find that the preferred parameter region is consistent with all of the dark matter being composed of QCD axions in the context of inflationary cosmology with an expansion rate of order $1{0}^{8}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$, the axion decay constant of order $1{0}^{13}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$, and the initial misalignment angle of order unity. The data are consistent with there being no isocurvature perturbations at the level of just above one sigma. Intriguingly, isocurvature with a spectral break may at least partially explain the low-$\ensuremath{\ell}$ vs high-$\ensuremath{\ell}$ anomalies seen in the CMB data.
Genetic Ancestry Testing with Tribes: Ethics, Identity & Health Implications

Genetic ancestry tests have gained in popularity across the United States as more Americans seek answers about their ancestral past. The tests have been used to verify or dispute family stories abo...
Sharing and storage behavior via cloud computing: Security and privacy in research and practice

Abstract Cloud computing services (CCS) has altered information sharing and storage behavior. This study investigates this behavior and explores the paradox between industry reports and the academic CCS adoption literature. The majority of the academic literature shows that security and privacy beliefs are the major hindrances to wide adoption of CCS whilst multiple recent industrial reports state that security and privacy issues are no longer impediments to the use of CCS. The extensive sharing and storage of personal information among CCS regardless of any security and privacy concerns allows us to speculate about this paradox and provided insight for developing a cloud computing usage model. The posited model explores the influence of CCS main hindrances; that is, perceived security and perceived privacy, compared to the main determinants of technology adoption. The data was collected from 129 working professionals using a survey-based methodology. Contrary to the academic literature, the obtained results confirmed the hypotheses that cloud security and privacy concerns are not significant influences on information sharing and storage behavior. Peers influence was found a significant determinant of the behavior. The study contributes to the information systems and cloud computing literature and supports that the technology is perceived as able to protect user information. The analysis of the developed model provides multiple implications for researchers in academia and industry.
Design of Reinforced Concrete in Torsion

In analyzing space structures torsional moments may be readily determined by the method of successive approximations. For a given torsional moment an economical section is the square. If it is rein...
EMAT: an e fficient m ulti-task a rchitecture for t ransfer learning using ReRAM

Transfer learning has demonstrated a great success recently towards general supervised learning to mitigate expensive training efforts. However, existing neural network accelerators have been proven inefficient in executing transfer learning by failing to accommodate the layer-wise heterogeneity in computation and memory requirements. In this work, we propose EMAT---an efficient multi-task architecture for transfer learning built on resistive memory (ReRAM) technology. EMAT utilizes the energy-efficiency of ReRAM arrays for matrix-vector multiplication and realizes a hierarchical reconfigurable design with heterogeneous computation components to incorporate the data patterns in transfer learning. Compared to the GPU platform, EMAT can perform averagely 120X performance speedup and 87X energy saving. EMAT also obtains 2.5X speedup compared to the-state-of-the-art CMOS accelerator.
Provider Perspectives on Child Care in the United States

This article reports findings from a study of licensed center-based and home-based child care providers in New York State (n = 55), focusing on providers’ perceptions about their profession. They expressed a universal concern that the profession of early education and care needs to be better respected and that they, as providers, are committed to the children and families they serve. Providers all wanted greater financial compensation and sought recognition that their work is hard and requires skill and training. Lastly, they drew connections between the lack of respect they experience and what they percieve as policies being created and implemented without an understanding of their day to day realities.
Fourth Amendment Reasonableness After Carpenter

In Carpenter v. United States, the Supreme Court held not only that the Fourth Amendment applies when the government collects certain categories of third-party data, but also that for such collection no process short of a warrant is constitutional. This Essay argues that a categorical warrant requirement for electronic surveillance is a mistake, and that, when faced with warrantless electronic surveillance, courts should consider whether such surveillance is nevertheless reasonableness, especially where it is legislatively authorized and subject to judicial oversight.
The Overlap Between Falls and Delirium in Hospitalized Older Adults: A Systematic Review.

Falls frequently occur in persons with cognitive impairment, including delirium. This article presents a systematic review of the association between falls and delirium in adults aged 65 years or older. For the studies that compared falls and delirium, the risk ratio was consistently elevated (median RR 4.5, range 1.4–12.6) and statistically significant in all but one study. These results suggest that falls and delirium are inextricably linked. There is a need to further refine fall risk assessment tools and protocols to specifically include delirium for consideration as a risk factor that needs additional assessment and management.
Efficacy of fluticasone exhalation delivery system in the management of chronic rhinosinusitis: what is the evidence?

Background Intranasal steroids have become part of the mainstay in the long-term management of chronic rhinosinusitis. A long-standing problem remains in efficient and easy-to-use delivery of topical corticosteroids to the nasal mucosa. Currently available means of intranasal steroid delivery include sprays, which are generally limited to treating the anterior nasal cavity, and rinses, which are not FDA-approved for this indication. The exhalation delivery system is a novel method of delivering fluticasone to the deeper areas within the nasal cavities, including the posterior nasal cavity and middle and superior meatuses. Methods Comprehensive literature review. Results Recent large scale studies have suggested its efficacy and safety in the use of patients with both chronic sinusitis with polyposis and without polyps. Specifically, studies have demonstrated decreased Sinonasal Outcome Test scores of 20 points following treatment, as well as improvement of polyp grade by 1 or more point in more than 60% of patients. Furthermore, among patients with nasal polyps, there was approximately 60-70% decreased indication for surgery following EDS-FLU use. Conclusion EDS-FLU is an important adjunct therapy for sinonasal inflammatory disease.
THE DOSIMETRY OF 55Fe

Abstract Recent detection in human blood of radioactive 55 Fe produced in nuclear weapon tests has led to a re-evaluation of the dosimetry for this radionuclide which decays exclusively by electron capture. The revised dosimetric estimates for blood are approximately twice those previously calculated. Approximately 3/4 of the decay energy capable of producing ionization is emitted in the form of Auger electrons which have a range of 0.3 μ , in water. In blood the dose from these Auger electrons is delivered primarily to the erythrocytes which contain relatively large concentrations of stable iron uniformly distributed as hemoglobin. The dose to the erythrocytes is approximately twice that previously calculated for whole blood. As a consequence of the concentration of 55 Fe within the erythrocytes, the short range ot the characteristic Auger electrons emitted, and the frequency of Auger electron emission relative to X-ray emission, the dose to the erythrocytes is 10 times the dose to the rest of the blood, so that this form of exposure is primarily intracellular. A specific activity of 1 pCi of 55 Fe per mg of stable iron results in a dose rate of 2 μ rad/week to the erythrocytes. This same specific activity in iron rich aggregates of ferritin molecules may deliver local dose rates up to 800 μ rad/week. Although estimates of the amounts of iron in the erythrocyte precursor cells are not sufficiently quantitative to permit accurate dosimetric calculations, the presence of significant concentrations of iron in cells from all stages of erythropoiesis has been reported for rat bone marrow indicating that irradiation of the more sensitive erythrocyte precursors may be significant.
Extracellular release of ATP promotes systemic inflammation during acute pancreatitis

In the current study, we explored the role of extracellular ATP (eATP) in promoting systemic inflammation during development of acute pancreatitis (AP). Release of extracellular (e)ATP was evaluated in plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of mice with experimental acute pancreatitis (AP). Prophylactic intervention using apyrase or suramin was used to understand the role and contribution of eATP in pancreatitis-associated systemic injury. AP of varying severity was induced in C57BL/6 mice using 1-day or 2-day caerulein, caerulein + LPS and l-arginine models. eATP was measured in plasma and BALF. Mice were treated with suramin or apyrase in the caerulein and l-arginine models of AP. Plasma cytokines, lung, and pancreatic myeloperoxidase, and morphometric analysis of pancreatic and lung histology, were used to assess the severity of pancreatitis. Plasma eATP and purinergic 2 (P2) receptors in the pancreas and lungs were significantly elevated in the experimental models of AP. Blocking the effect of eATP by suramin led to reduced levels of plasma IL-6 and TNFα as well as reduced lung, and pancreatic injury. Neutralizing eATP with apyrase reduced systemic injury but did not ameliorate local injury. The results of this study support the role of eATP and P2 receptors in promoting systemic inflammation during AP. Modulating purinergic signaling during AP can be an important therapeutic strategy in controlling systemic inflammation and, thus, systemic inflammatory response syndrome during AP.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Released ATP from injured cells promotes systemic inflammation in acute pancreatitis.
The Effect of Intrapulmonary Percussive Ventilation Therapy on Intracranial Pressure in Neurocritical Patients

Background: To measure the effect of intrapulmonary percussive ventilation therapy (IPV) on intracranial pressure (ICP) in patients with neurological injuries and diseases. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on patients (n=25) with ICP monitoring device who received IPV therapies (n=426) by respiratory therapists in Neurocritical Care Unit at University of Utah Health. Hourly values of ICP, mean arterial pressure (MAP), SpO2 recorded by RNs in the MAR were collected to measure the effect before and after the IPV therapy. Results were expressed as the difference between pre and post values and were averaged per patient. Results: 25 patients were included, median age 52 (21-68) years. The average ICP changed from 9 to 8, MAP, 90 to 89, yielding no change in cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) from 81 to 81 (CPP=MAP-ICP). The average SpO2 remained at 97%. P-Value was 0.017 on ICP with significance level at p Conclusions: The IPV therapy decreased the average ICP by 1. There was no significant effect on CPP or SpO2. Disclosures: None.
The impact of school-entry mandates on social inequalities in human papillomavirus vaccination.

Abstract Fundamental cause theory (FCT) is influential for explaining the enduring relationship between social position and health, yet few empirical studies test FCT’s contention that policy supporting the equal distribution of interventions across populations can help reduce health inequalities. Following human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine approval, complex socioeconomic and racial-ethnic inequalities emerged in distinct stages of the diffusion of this health innovation. Virginia and the District of Columbia were the first U.S. jurisdictions to implement school-entry HPV vaccination mandates for sixth-grade girls, offering an opportunity to test whether inequalities in HPV vaccination are mitigated by policy that seeks to standardize the age of vaccine administration and remove barriers to knowledge about the vaccine. Using data from the 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2013 National Immunization Survey–Teen (N = 4579) and a triple-difference approach, this study tests whether vaccine mandates are associated with smaller socioeconomic and racial-ethnic inequalities in health provider recommendation and vaccine uptake. It finds mandates were associated with improvements in provider recommendation and vaccine uptake for some socioeconomic and racial-ethnic groups. However, mandates also likely led to a decline in HPV vaccine series completion overall. Implications of these findings for informing FCT and vaccination policy are discussed.
High spatial resolution thermal conductivity mapping of SiC/SiC composites

Abstract Silicon carbide (SiC) ceramic matrix composites are being investigated as a new generation of fuel cladding materials due to its higher accident tolerance compared to Zircaloy. Characterization of the thermal conductivity of SiC constituents and their interfaces and interphases in SiC/SiC composites is needed as inputs to models of cladding performance. We used time-domain thermoreflectance (TDTR) to map the thermal conductivity with a spatial resolution of 2 µm. The SiC/SiC composite is comprised of Hi-Nicalon Type S fibers in a matrix made by chemical vapor infiltration (CVI matrix). The interphase material is a pyrolytic carbon/SiC multilayer. We report thermal conductivity maps of the SiC fiber and SiC matrix at temperatures of 25 °C, 90 °C, 164 °C, and 250 °C. The fiber has a uniform and isotropic thermal conductivity of 22 W m−1 K−1 at 25 °C; the thermal conductivity of fiber is approximately independent of temperature. The matrix thermal conductivity is not uniform and varies from 50 to 120 W m−1 K−1 at 25 °C; the thermal conductivity of the matrix scales approximately with the inverse of the square root of temperature, i.e., ∝ 1/T1/2. The thermal conductivity of the interphase at room temperature is 6 W m−1 K−1. The calculated spatially averaged thermal conductivity of this SiC/SiC composite at 1000°C is 29 W m−1 K−1.
Family Resilience Following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Theory and Evidence

Family resilience raises the question of how family units adapt to external shocks. One notable form of such shocks are disasters. Research shows that disasters are occurring with greater frequency and severity throughout the world. Natural and human-made hazards pose an ongoing threat to positive family functioning everywhere, making it difficult to ignore the importance of disaster resilience for research and practice concerning family wellbeing. In this chapter, we examine the issue of family resilience in the context of disaster. We begin by articulating what is meant by hazards and disasters and how that links to family resilience. In doing so, we stress the importance of adaptive capacity and trajectories over time. We then provide an illustration of ongoing research related to the Resilient Children, Youth, and Communities (RCYC) project, a joint venture between researchers at Louisiana State University (LSU) and Columbia University’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP), concerning family resilience in the context of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. We close by outlining considerations for research, policy, and practice.
Geographically Indexed Referral Databases to Address Social Needs in the Emergency Department.

INTRODUCTION: Unmet health-related social needs (HRSN) are among the drivers of disparities in morbidity and mortality during public health emergencies such as the novel coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. Although emergency departments (ED) see a high volume of patients with HRSN, ED providers have limited time to complete detailed assessments of patients' HRSN and are not always able to provide up-to-date and comprehensive information to patients on available community resources. Electronic, geographically indexed resource database systems have the potential to provide an efficient way for emergency physicians to rapidly identify community resources in settings where immediate social work consultation is not accessible. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of papers examining the use of geographically indexed resource database systems in healthcare to better understand how these services can be used in emergency care. We then conducted simulated, standardized searches using two nationally available databases (211 and Aunt Bertha), applied to a single metropolitan area (Boston). RESULTS: Our systematic review found that most public health and screening interventions using nationally available databases have focused on chronic care needs. A small subset of publications demonstrated that these databases were mobilized during disasters to successfully aid vulnerable populations during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. A total of 408 standardized searches were conducted to identify community resources related to four domains of social needs (food, transportation, housing, and utilities). Although 99% of the resources identified by both databases were relevant to the search domains queried, a significant proportion of the resources identified by each database were restricted to a specific demographic (eg, veterans). CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that geographically indexed referral databases may be an effective tool to help ED providers connect patients to nearby community resources during public health emergencies. We recommend that EDs select a referral database based on the greatest number of resources that are not demographically restricted.
Aseptic Neutrophilic Meningitis With Hypoglycorrhachia Following a Single Ocrelizumab Infusion.

An increasing number of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) are being approved for treatment of multiple sclerosis …
A mummy’s secrets

In 2016, the Block Museum, Northwestern University, was planning an exhibit “Paint the Eyes Softer” on portraits attached to mummies from Roman-era Egypt. These portraits are especially important because few other paintings have survived from the Greco-Roman tradition. Perhaps only 100 portraits remain attached to their mummies, serendipity provided an example amidst Northwestern’s campus, at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary and this mummy became the exhibit’s centerpiece. The mummy required conservation, and Computed Tomography (CT) was used to investigate subsurface deterioration and to reveal details of the encased person and items within the wrappings. CT provides a 3D map of how absorbing each reconstructed volume element is but not the identity of the material(s) producing the contrast, and in situ position-resolved x-ray diffraction at the Advanced Photon Source identified different objects within the mummy. This talk covers the provenance of Hawara Portrait Mummy Four, what CT tells us about the person and object enclosed and what secrets x-ray diffraction reveals.
Estimating COVID-19 Hospitalizations in the United States with surveillance data using a Bayesian Hierarchical model

Introduction: In the United States, COVID-19 is a nationally notifiable disease, cases and hospitalizations are reported to the CDC by states. Identifying and reporting every case from every facility in the United States may not be feasible in the long term. Creating sustainable methods for estimating burden of COVID-19 from established sentinel surveillance systems is becoming more important. We aimed to provide a method leveraging surveillance data to create a long-term solution to estimate monthly rates of hospitalizations for COVID-19. Methods: We estimated monthly hospitalization rates for COVID-19 from May 2020 through April 2021 for the 50 states using surveillance data from COVID-19-Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network (COVID-NET) and a Bayesian hierarchical model for extrapolation. We created a model for six age groups (0-17, 18-49, 50-64, 65-74, 75-84, and ≥85 years), separately. We identified covariates from multiple data sources that varied by age, state, and/or month, and performed covariate selection for each age group based on two methods, Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) and Spike and Slab selection methods. We validated our method by checking sensitivity of model estimates to covariate selection and model extrapolation as well as comparing our results to external data. Results: We estimated 3,569,500 (90% Credible Interval:3,238,000 - 3,934,700) hospitalizations for a cumulative incidence of 1,089.8 (988.6 - 1,201.3) hospitalizations per 100,000 population with COVID-19 in the United States from May 2020 through April 2021. Cumulative incidence varied from 352 - 1,821per 100,000 between states. The age group with the highest cumulative incidence was aged greater than or equal to 85 years (5,583.1; 5,061.0 - 6,157.5). The monthly hospitalization rate was highest in December (183.8; 154.5 - 218.0). Our monthly estimates by state showed variations in magnitudes of peak rates, number of peaks and timing of peaks between states. Conclusions: Our novel approach to estimate COVID-19 hospitalizations has potential to provide sustainable estimates for monitoring COVID-19 burden, as well as a flexible framework leveraging surveillance data.
Molecular Aspects of the Regulation of the Mammalian Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex

Pyruvate dehydrogenase systems have been isolated from Escherichia coli, avian and mammalian tissues, and Neurospora crassa as functional units with molecular weights in the millions (1). The bacterial, avian, and mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes have been separated into three enzymes - pyruvate dehydrogenase, dihydrolipoyl transacetylase, and dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (a flavoprotein), and functional units resembling the native complexes have been reassembled from the individual enzymes. These three enzymes act in a coordinated manner as indicated in Fig. 1 (1, 2). The discussion will be limited to the structure, function, and regulation of the mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.
CHALLENGES IN MECHANISTIC AND EMPIRICAL MODELLING OF STORMWATER: REVIEW AND PERSPECTIVES

Much research has been conducted to quantify stormwater runoff and quality using both mechanistic (i.e. process-based) and empirical (i.e. data-driven) techniques. Mechanistic models generally include the mathematical representation of relevant physico-chemical processes to generate storm runoff quantity and quality. Empirical approaches analyse available data for potential response and predictor variables to trace the interactions of major processes and develop data-driven explanatory and/or predictive relationships. This paper reviews major, mostly unresolved, challenges with both mechanistic and empirical modelling of stormwater, sheds light on the scientific gaps with conventional practices, and offers important perspectives by taking the highly urbanized Miami River Basin of Florida as an analytical example. Appreciating the varying levels of process complexity in different urban river basins, we discuss the relative applicability of mechanistic and empirical methods for robust predictions of stormwater quantity and quality. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. RESUME Beaucoup de recherches ont ete menees pour quantifier les eaux pluviales generees par les tempetes, et leur qualite. Elles utilisent a la fois des techniques mecaniques (basees sur les processus) et empiriques (deduites des donnees). Les modeles mecanistes comprennent generalement la representation mathematique des processus physico-chimiques pertinentes pour generer la quantite et la qualite des eaux de ruissellement en condition de tempete. Les approches empiriques analysent les donnees disponibles pour que potentiellement les variables de reponse et les variables predictives retracent les interactions entre les processus majeurs, et developpent des relations explicatives et/ou predictives pilotees par les donnees. Ce document passe en revue les principaux defis, pour la plupart non resolus, avec la modelisation a la fois mecaniste et empirique des eaux pluviales; il met en lumiere les lacunes scientifiques avec les pratiques conventionnelles et offre d'importantes perspectives en prenant comme exemple d'analyse le tres urbanise bassin de la riviere Miami, en Floride. En appreciant le niveau de complexite variable des processus dans des differents bassins hydrographiques urbains, nous avons discute de l'applicabilite relative des methodes mecanistes et empiriques pour des predictions robustes de la quantite et de la qualite des eaux pluviales. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
TNF SIGNALING PATHWAY INHIBITORS FOR INFLAMMATION-CCR2 ANTAGONISTS

A new era in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases has begun with the demonstration of profound clinical efficacy by TNFα blockers, Enbrel and Remicade, in rheumatoid arthritis. These therapies validated the mechanism of cytokine suppression as an effective therapeutic modality to treat chronic inflammation and stimulated great interest in the pursuit of small-molecule–based drugs that target cytokines. Because cytokines are often produced by infiltrating inflammatory cells, inhibiting influx of such cells is another approach to modulate cytokines. This approach was first attempted by blocking adhesion of leukocytes to vascular endothelium, the first event in their tissue migration. Recent clinical data with natalizumab, a neutralizing antibody to VLA-4, further validated that such an approach is effective. Adhesion molecules, however, are often shared by multiple subsets of infiltrating leukocytes, and therefore blocking adhesion does not allow for the modulation of a specific leukocyte subset. With the identification of chemokine receptors, the distribution of which is restricted to specific types of leukocytes, selective modulation of inflammatory cell subsets seemed possible. CCR2 as one such receptor, predominantly expressed on circulating monocytes, is an exciting target for small-molecule–based therapies to treat inflammatory conditions. Because macrophages are considered to be a major source of cytokines in inflammatory lesions, the benefits noted in clinical studies using anti-TNFα therapies are expected to be achieved by inhibition of tissue influx of macrophages. This review identifies several pathological conditions in which macrophages are implicated in the etiology of disease states and proposes CCR2 as a potential approach to modulate such diseases.