cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spermatogonial Stem Cell Self-Renewal Requires ETV5-Mediated Downstream Activation of Brachyury in Mice

Insight regarding mechanisms controlling gene expression in the spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) will improve our understanding of the processes regulating spermatogenesis and aid in treating problems associated with male infertility. In the present study, we explored the global gene expression profiles of the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF)-regulated transcription factors Ets (E-twenty-six) variant gene 5 (Etv5); B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/lymphoma 6, member B (Bcl6b); and POU domain, class-3 transcription factor 1 (Pou3f1). We reasoned that these three factors may function as a core set of transcription factors, regulating genes responsible for maintaining the SSC population. Using transient siRNA oligonucleotides to individually target Etv5, Bcl6b, and Pou3f1 within mouse SSC cultures, we examined changes to the global gene expression profiles associated with these transcription factors. Only modest overlaps in the target genes regulated by the three factors were noted, but ETV5 was found to be a critical downstream regulator of GDNF signaling that mediated the expression of several known SSC self-renewal related genes, including Bcl6b and LIM homeobox 1 (Lhx1). Notably, ETV5 was identified as a regulator of Brachyury (T) and CXC chemokine receptor, type 4 (Cxcr4), and we showed that ETV5 binding to the Brachyury (T) gene promoter region is associated with an active state of transcription. Moreover, in vivo transplantation of SSCs following silencing of Brachyury (T) significantly reduced the number of donor cell-derived colonies formed within recipient mouse testes. These results suggest Brachyury is of biological importance and functions as part of GDNF/ETV5 signaling to promote self-renewal of mouse SSCs cultured in vitro.
Drivers of Surface Ocean Mercury Concentrations and Air–Sea Exchange in the West Atlantic Ocean

Accurately characterizing net evasion of elemental mercury (Hg 0 ) from marine systems is essential for understanding the global biogeochemical mercury (Hg) cycle and the pool of divalent Hg (Hg II ) available for methylation. Few high resolution measurements of Hg 0 are presently available for constraining global and regional flux estimates and for understanding drivers of spatial and temporal variability in evasion. We simultaneously measured high-resolution atmospheric and surface seawater Hg 0 concentrations as well as the total Hg distribution during six cruises in the West Atlantic Ocean between 2008 and 2010 and examined environmental factors affecting net Hg 0 formation and evasion. We observed the lowest fraction of Hg as Hg 0 (7.8 ± 2.4%) in the near-coastal and shelf areas that are influenced by riverine inputs. Significantly higher %Hg 0 observed in open ocean areas (15.8 ± 3.9%) may reflect lower dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in offshore environments, which is known to affect both the reducible Hg II pool and redox kinetics. Calculated Hg 0 evasion changed by more than a factor of 3 between cruises (range: 2.1 ± 0.7 to 6.8 ± 5.1 ng m −2 h −1 ), driven mainly by variability in Hg 0 and wind speed. Our results suggest that further mechanistic understanding of the role of DOC on Hg redox kinetics in different types of marine environments is needed to explain variability in Hg 0 concentrations and improve global estimates of air−sea exchange.
A Java API for working with PubChem datasets

Summary: PubChem is a public repository of chemical structures and associated biological activities. The PubChem BioAssay database contains assay descriptions, conditions and readouts and biological screening results that have been submitted by the biomedical research community. The PubChem web site and Power User Gateway (PUG) web service allow users to interact with the data and raw files are available via FTP. These resources are helpful to many but there can also be great benefit by using a software API to manipulate the data. Here, we describe a Java API with entity objects mapped to the PubChem Schema and with wrapper functions for calling the NCBI eUtilities and PubChem PUG web services. PubChem BioAssays and associated chemical compounds can then be queried and manipulated in a local relational database. Features include chemical structure searching and generation and display of curve fits from stored dose–response experiments, something that is not yet available within PubChem itself. The aim is to provide researchers with a fast, consistent, queryable local resource from which to manipulate PubChem BioAssays in a database agnostic manner. It is not intended as an end user tool but to provide a platform for further automation and tools development. Availability: http://code.google.com/p/pubchemdb Contact: southern@scripps.edu
The Parent Experience: When a Child Is Diagnosed with Childhood Apraxia of Speech.

The purpose of this study was to explore the parent adaptation process for parents of children with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). Professionals widely recognize the importance of parental invo...
Dietary L-Arginine Supplementation Improves the Glomerular Filtration Rate and Renal Blood Flow After 24 Hours of Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction in Rats

ABSTRACTPurpose: Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) results in a significant change in renal blood flow (RBF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) by 24 hours. The intake of L-arginine, a substrate of nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS), can augment NO production. NO can maintain renal function through its vasodilatory action. Therefore, we examined the effect of dietary arginine supplementation on renal function in UUO.Materials and Methods: GFR and RBF were measured by inulin and para-aminohippurate clearance, respectively, in control rats and in rats 24 hours after UUO. Rats were given arginine with or without the concomitant administration of N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester. Urinary nitrate/nitrite (NO2/NO3) was measured by the Griess reaction and urinary cyclic guanosine monophosphate was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of renal inducible NOS was determined by immunohistochemistry.Results: Urinary NO2/NO3 was significantly increased after 2 weeks of arginine, confirmin...
How the Brain Shapes Deception: An Integrated Review of the Literature

How do people tell a lie? One useful approach to addressing this question is to elucidate the neural substrates for deception. Recent conceptual and technical advances in functional neuroimaging have enabled exploration of the psychology of deception more precisely in terms of the specific neuroanatomical mechanisms involved. A growing body of evidence suggests that the prefrontal cortex plays a key role in deception, and some researchers have recently emphasized the importance of other brain regions, such as those responsible for emotion and reward. However, it is still unclear how these regions play a role in making effective decisions to tell a lie. To provide a framework for considering this issue, the present article reviews current accomplishments in the study of the neural basis of deception. First, evolutionary and developmental perspectives are provided to better understand how and when people can make use of deception. The ensuing section introduces several findings on pathological lying and its neural correlate. Next, recent findings in the cognitive neuroscience of deception based on functional neuroimaging and loss-of-function studies are summarized, and possible neural mechanisms underlying deception are proposed. Finally, the priority areas of future neuroscience research-human honesty and dishonesty-are discussed.
Factors that lead some students to continue the study of foreign language past the usual 2 years in high school

Abstract The major purpose of this study was to explore, in a phenomenological tradition, factors that lead some students to persist in foreign language study past the usual 2 years in high school. Factors that have been prevalent in the literature include language aptitude, motivation, grades, intellectual and cultural curiosity, language learning strategies, lack of anxiety, and positive attitudes toward the target language community. This qualitative analysis, through in-depth interviewing, captures the essence of the experiences of five students who spent extended periods engaged in abroad study in Spanish-speaking countries for the purposes of enhancing their proficiency and experiencing the culture. Data from the five interviews were categorized into five themes that represented several factors that lead some students to persist in the study of a foreign language.
Midlife Alcohol Consumption and the Risk of Stroke in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Background and Purpose—Alcohol consumption is common in the United States and may confer beneficial cardiovascular effects at light-to-moderate doses. The alcohol–stroke relationship remains debated. We estimated the relationship between midlife, self-reported alcohol consumption and ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in a biracial cohort. Methods—We examined 12 433 never and current drinkers in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study, aged 45 to 64 years at baseline. Participants self-reported usual drinks per week of beer, wine, and liquor at baseline. We used multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression to assess the association of current alcohol consumption relative to lifetime abstention with incident ischemic stroke and ICH and modification by sex–race group. We modeled alcohol intake with quadratic splines to further assess dose–response relationships. Results—One third of participants self-reported abstention, 39% and 24%, respectively, consumed ≤3 and 4 to 17 drinks/wk,...
Rotordynamic Performance of Flexure Pivot Hydrostatic Gas Bearings for Oil-Free Turbomachinery

Micro-turbomachinery demands gas bearings to ensure compactness, lightweight and extreme temperature operation. Gas bearings with large stiffness and damping, and preferably of low cost, will enable successful commercial applications. Presently, tests conducted on a small rotor supported on flexure pivot–hydrostatic pad gas bearings (FPTPBs) demonstrate stable rotordynamic responses up to 100,000 rpm (limit of the drive motor). Test rotor responses show the feed pressure raises the system critical speed (increase in bearing direct stiffness) while the viscous damping ratio decreases. Predictions correlate favorably with experimentally identified (synchronous) direct stiffness bearing force coefficients. Identified experimental gas bearing synchronous damping coefficients are 50% or less of the predicted magnitudes, though remaining relatively constant as the rotor speed increases. Tests without feed pressure show the rotor becomes unstable at ∼ 81 krpm with a whirl frequency ratio of 20%. FPTPBs are mechanically complex and more expensive than cylindrical plain bearings. However, their enhanced stability characteristics and predictable rotordynamic performance makes them desirable for the envisioned oil-free applications in high speed micro turbomachinery.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Metabotropic glutamate receptors depress afferent excitatory transmission in the rat nucleus tractus solitarii

1. We have previously demonstrated that the metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) agonist (1S,3R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylate [(1S;3R)-ACPD] presynaptically inhibits evoked glutamatergic excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) in patch-clamped rat nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) neurons recorded in thin slices. The present study investigated the ability of endogenously released glutamate to modulate EPSCs in the NTS. 2. A low-frequency tetanus of the tractus solitarius (TS) resulted in either posttetanic potentiation (PTP) (8 of 21 cells) or depression (13 of 21 cells) of monosynaptic EPSCs recorded in the presence of D(-)2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (AP5) and bicuculline. 3. The amplitude of the EPSC was not significantly affected by the bath application of the mGluR antagonist (+) alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine (MCPG). 4. In the presence of MCPG, a low-frequency tetanus resulted in PTP of the EPSC in all neurons. PTP was significantly enhanced in those cells previously exhibiting PTP. 5. The results suggest that presynaptic mGluRs on TS projections to the NTS may be activated by endogenously released glutamate at physiologically relevant stimulus frequencies and therefore play a role in the modulation of autonomic afferent transmission.
From marginal to marginalised: The inclusion of men who have sex with men in global and national AIDS programmes and policy

ABSTRACTIn the last decade, gay men and other men who have sex with men (msm) have come to the fore of global policy debates about AIDS prevention. In stark contrast to programmes and policy during the first two decades of the epidemic, which largely excluded msm outside of the Western countries, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS now identifies gay men and other msm as ‘marginalized but not marginal' to the global response. Drawing on archival data and five waves of United Nations Country Progress Reports on HIV/AIDS (2001–2012), this paper examines the productive power of international organisations in the development and diffusion of the msm category, and considers how international organisations have shaped the interpretation of msm in national policies and programmes. These data show that the increasing separation of sexual identity and sexual behaviour at the global level helped to construct notions of risk and disease that were sufficiently broad to accommodate the diverse interests of ...
Detecting Shared Congested Router for Mobile Communication Using Multiple-Interface Devices

This paper presents an end-to-end algorithm for detecting a shared congested router in the internet when communication is established using multiple paths between wireless devices endowed with multiple interfaces (e.g., LTE, and WiFi). The proposed technique is based on one way end-to- end delay observation of packets received through multiple paths at the end hosts to infer whether or not the flows share the same congested router. With very different statistics on the wireless access delays encountered across different interfaces in practical scenarios, this paper describes techniques for estimating queuing delay variations for each path from one way end-to-end delay observations. The proposed scheme does not make use of exclusive probing packets, but instead uses the data packets that are transmitted and received through multiple paths to infer the path's one way delay characteristics. Simulation results assessing the performance of our proposed detection algorithm are provided for scenarios where wireless devices exchange traffic through its LTE and WiFi interface. With the recently proposed protocols such as multi path transmission control protocol (MPTCP), and multi path real time protocol (MPRTP) beginning to be embraced with increasing interests, this study becomes important as it enables the end hosts to perform efficient congestion control.
Surface-directed synthesis of erbium-doped yttrium oxide nanoparticles within organosilane zeptoliter containers.

We introduce an approach to synthesize rare earth oxide nanoparticles using high temperature without aggregation of the nanoparticles. The dispersity of the nanoparticles is controlled at the nanoscale by using small organosilane molds as reaction containers. Zeptoliter reaction vessels prepared from organosilane self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) were used for the surface-directed synthesis of rare earth oxide (REO) nanoparticles. Nanopores of octadecyltrichlorosilane were prepared on Si(111) using particle lithography with immersion steps. The nanopores were filled with a precursor solution of erbium and yttrium salts to confine the crystallization step to occur within individual zeptoliter-sized organosilane reaction vessels. Areas between the nanopores were separated by a matrix film of octadecyltrichlorosilane. With heating, the organosilane template was removed by calcination to generate a surface array of erbium-doped yttria nanoparticles. Nanoparticles synthesized by the surface-directed approach re...
IMPACT OF LEFT ATRIAL APPENDAGE EXCLUSION ON SYSTEMIC HOMEOSTASIS (THE LAA HOMEOSTASIS STUDY)

Left atrial appendage (LAA) a major source of ANP (atrial natriuretic peptide) which can influence the endocrine axis. The physiologic effects of LAA exclusion on systemic homeostasis have not been previously studied. 37 consecutive patients (7 women (19%)/30 men (81%); age 71±8; CHAD2 2.6±1.1;
A Switchable Surface Enables Visualization of Single DNA Hybridization Events with Atomic Force Microscopy

Here we describe a novel surface that enables direct visualization of the hybridization of single DNA molecules with an unprecedented resolution using atomic force microscopy. The surface consists of single-stranded DNA probes that are covalently anchored to a self-assembled monolayer. The surface satisfies the contradictory requirements for high-resolution imaging and hybridization by switching the DNA-surface interaction between a strong state and a weak state. Our approach opens up unique opportunities in elucidating hybridization at the molecular scale.
Reaction of Lymphatic Tissue of Rabbits to Repeated Injections of BacteriumMonocytogenes

Bacterium monocytogenes is an unusually valuable means of studying the immune reactions of the host. In contrast to many other antigens, all of which produce similar reactions in the host, this bacterium regularly calls forth a characteristic monocytosis, which in some measure indicates the progress of the infection. In this paper are described the rapidly changing series of events which take place during the first 48 hours after reinjection of Bact. monocytogenes into rabbits, previously immunized to the bacterium. The changes so elicited are contrasted with those following a single injection of the organism.1
Case records of the Massachusetts General Hospital. Case 15-2010. An 85-year-old woman with mammographically detected early breast cancer.

An 85-year-old woman had poorly differentiated invasive ductal cancer (positive for estrogen and progesterone receptors and HER2) with no clinical evidence of lymph-node or distant metastases. She had hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypothyroidism, arthritis, and a history of pleural and pericardial effusions of unknown cause. She lived with a daughter and performed all activities of daily living. A management decision was made.
Expanding the Utilization of the Osteocutaneous Radial Forearm Free Flap beyond Mandibular Reconstruction

Background The osteocutaneous radial forearm free flap (OCRFFF) for mandibular reconstruction has been well described. Despite this flap's utility in the repair of such defects, the indications for the OCRFFF have continued to expand in recent years. The advantages of the OCRFFF allow for a high degree of versatility in the reconstruction of the various anatomical and aesthetic units of the head and neck. In this review, the authors aim to explore the successful utilization of the OCRFFF beyond the reconstruction of composite mandibular defects. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed. All subjects who underwent OCRFFF reconstruction at a tertiary academic center between January 2004 and December 2014 were identified. A total of six patients undergoing this procedure for indications other than composite mandibular defects of the head and neck were included. Results A total of six patients underwent OCRFFF reconstruction for correction of nonmandibular defects. Flap success was experienced in six of six cases (100%). Indications included midface maxillary reconstruction (N = 2), orbit reconstruction (N = 1), frontal sinus and forehead reconstruction (N = 2), and subglottic stenosis reconstruction (N = 1). There were no immediate perioperative complications. On long-term follow-up, one subject developed a nasocutaneous fistula following radiation and eventually required maxillary hardware removal. Conclusion As a result of its growing role and versatility, the OCRFFF should be incorporated as a multipurpose tool in the armamentarium of reconstructive microvascular surgeons in the repair of composite head and neck defects beyond the mandible.
Spontaneous Splenic Rupture

The first known description of spontaneous splenic rupture was by Rokitansky, who described the spontaneous rupture of a leukemic spleen in 1861.1 This condition, known as spontaneous splenic rupture, has been described most commonly as occurring in patients with infectious diseases, e.g., malaria and infectious mononucleosis. It has also been described as occurring with many other disease states, however, including endocarditis, typhoid fever, tuberculosis, influenza, and sarcoidosis,2 as well as in amyloidosis and normal spleens.3 As you will see, spontaneous splenic rupture is also well described in many malignant disease processes.
Numerical Quadrature Formulas Associated with the Integration of Rapidly Oscillating Functions

In Sections 1 and 2, we will discuss numerical quadrature for a type of double integrals and for oscillatory integrals, respectively. The compound degree of precision of the approximate computation of oscillatory integrals will be looked at in Section 3. Section 4 will give a fast numerical computation technique shown in Bradie, Coifman, and Grossmann [2] for treating model oscillatory boundary integral operators with or without singularities in ℝ2. Finally, we will apply Burrows’ DRE ([6]) to numerical integration in Section 5. Burrows’ DRE is an exact DRE, which can reduce multidimensional Lebesgue integrals to one-dimensional integrals of measure functions. This technique is particularly useful for integrands that are highly oscillatory in character or are singular. The corresponding error analysis for finding measure functions will be given in Section 6.
Contextualizing digital reformatting in the history of preservation knowledge: timeline and research directions

This research builds a timeline of the development of preservation knowledge drawn from key texts in the field of the history of preservation in order to establish the larger historical and cultural trends shaping digital reformatting as a sociotechnical practice in information institutions. The timeline integrates key events, inventions and standards in the development of preservation knowledge from the 19 th century to the present time, and charts and periodizes particular intellectual trends that integrate technological and institutional change into the development of preservation knowledge, focusing primarily on the U.S. context. From these trends, the author identifies a potential area of future research on digital reformatting that draws on perspectives from research in the sociology of standards.
The ZZ Domain of Sequestosome-1/p62 Plays An Important Role In Stromal Cell Support of Myeloma Cell Growth and Osteoclast Formation

Abstract 128 The marrow microenvironment provides a critical supportive role in myeloma (MM) and enhances both tumor growth and bone destruction through activation of multiple signaling pathways in stromal cells. We reported that sequestosome 1 (p62) plays a key role in the formation of signaling complexes that result in NF-kB, p38 MAPK, and PI3K activation in the marrow microenvironment of patients with MM. These results suggest that p62 is a potential therapeutic target for blocking the supportive effects of the marrow microenvironment in MM. The goal of this study was to identify the domains of p62 responsible for increased MM cell growth and osteoclast (OCL) formation mediated by NF-kB and p38 MAPK signaling, as a means to develop inhibitory peptides/molecules as potential therapeutic agents for MM. To pursue this objective, we generated deletion constructs of p62 that lacked specific p62 domains: ΔSH2, ΔPB1, ΔZZ, Δp38, ΔTBS and ΔUBA domains. We then transfected these constructs into a p62-knockout (KO) stromal cell-line we established from p62-KO mice and examined their RANKL, IL-6, and VCAM-1 expression induced by TNF-a. GFP-labeled MM1.S myeloma cells or normal CFU-GM, a source of OCL precursors, were then co-cultured with the p62-KO cells transduced with the different p62 deletion constructs and compared to wild type (WT) stromal cells. IL-6 production and VCAM-1 expression induced by TNF-a was 50% lower in non-transduced p62-KO stromal cells compared to WT stromal cells. Further, in contrast to WT cells, RANKL was not induced by TNF-a in the p62-KO stromal cell-line, and OCL formation in co-cultures of p62-KO stromal cells with CFU-GM was very low. Transduction of p62-KO stromal cells with the ΔSH2, ΔPB1, Δp38 and ΔUBA constructs restored stromal cell support of MM growth, VCAM-1 and IL-6 production. However, p62-KO stromal cells transduced with the ΔZZ construct did not increase MM cell growth, or increase IL-6 and VCAM-1 expression, or fully restore the capacity of the p62-KO stromal cells to support OCL formation. These results demonstrate that the ZZ domain of p62 is required for stromal cell support of MM cell growth, increased IL-6 and VCAM-1 expression, and OCL formation. These results suggest that dominant negative constructs or small molecules that target the ZZ domain of p62 should block p62 function and inhibit support of MM cells and OCL formation by the marrow microenvironment. Disclosures: Roodman:Amgen, Celgene, Acceleron & Millennium: Consultancy.
What Does the Sumak Kawsay Mean for Women in the Andes Today? Unsettling Patriarchal Sedimentations in Two Inca Writers

Carcelen-Estrada examines four stories that reveal how patriarchal systems become sediments over time that determine the performance in translation of indigenous peoples’ modern gender identities. Patriarchal sedimentations impede their realization of Sumak Kawsay, an Andean constitutional right to live well in community. Following Julieta Paredes’s communitarian feminism, this chapter discusses translational acts that attempt to build communities that sustain life. Exiled Inca Garcilaso de la Vega and Guaman Poma de Ayala construct identities that allow them to participate in a political community, yet their epistemic interventions fail to produce the Sumak Kawsay of their childhoods. Today, Reyna Maraz awaits her death in Argentina, while Manuela Picq from Brazil condemns her deportation from Ecuador; both women remain alienated from the Andes and from their Sumak Kawsay.
A wireless IoT system towards gait detection in stroke patients

Gait monitoring through the Internet of Things (IoT) is able to provide an overall assessment of daily living. All existing systems for predicting abnormality in gait mainly consider the gait related parameters. Their accuracy is limited because consequences due to injuries are significantly affected by different events in the gait. The objective of this study is to present a multisensory system that investigates walking patterns to predict a cautious gait in stroke patient. For this study, a smartphone built-in sensor and an IoT-shoe with a Wi-Fi communication module is used to discreetly monitor insole pressure and accelerations of the patient's motion. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to use the gait spatiotemporal parameters implemented in smartphones to predict a cautious gait in a stroke patient. The proposed system can warn the user about their abnormal gait and possibly save them from forthcoming injuries from fear of falling.
An Adaptive Bilinear Controller for Closed Circuit Anesthesia

Abstract Administration of gaseous anesthesia using a closed circuit is cheaper and ecologically safer than the traditional seni-closed circuit. However, gas concentrations are more difficult to control. This paper proposes an adaptive bilinear controller for the automatic control of a closed circuit anesthesia system. Alveolar anesthetic gas concentration, alveolar oxygen concentration and circuit volume are controlled using a liquid anesthetic (Halothane), oxygen and nitrous oxide. Oxygen consumption, nitrous oxide uptake and Halothane uptake are estimated by a leastsquares parameter estimator. Derivation of the model used, results from simulations and results from preliminary tests on dogs are presented.
Active Boundary Control of a Flexible Single Link Gantry Robot

Abstract An active boundary controller that damps out undesirable vibrations in a flexible single link gantry robot is developed. Using Hamilton's principle, the governing partial differential equations of motion for a flexible link are derived, including the natural boundary conditions associated with boundary force control. Based on Lyapunov theory, an active vibration controller is developed and Galerkin's method is used to generate the closed loop modal dynamics. Numerical simulations and experiments demonstrate the improved transverse vibration damping provided by the active boundary controller.
Acute Leukemia Patients' Needs: Qualitative Findings and Opportunities for Early Palliative Care

Abstract Context Patients with acute leukemias likely have needs that palliative care can respond to, yet little is known about specific challenges they face, particularly during active treatment. We examined acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients' expressed challenges and supports after intensive induction chemotherapy. Objectives We aimed to understand opportunities for palliative care interventions in this population. Methods We conducted a qualitative study of AML patients with high-risk disease at Duke University Hospital, Durham, NC. Patients were interviewed about care experiences approximately 3 months after treatment initiation. Multiple coders used descriptive content analysis to identify common and recurrent themes. Results We analyzed 22 patient transcripts. Sample demographics included 10 (45.5%) females, 12 (54.5%) males, mean age 62 (SD 10.9), 19 (86.4%) non-Hispanic white, and three (13.6%) nonwhite/non-Hispanic. All had high-risk disease, by age, relapse status, or molecular markers. We identified four themes in our analysis: physical symptoms, psychological issues, uncertainty regarding prognosis, and patients' sources of support. Specific challenges noted by patients included feelings of helplessness/hopelessness, activity restriction, fatigue, fevers, caregiver stress, and lack of clarity regarding treatment decision making. Conclusion AML patients face substantial challenges regarding physical symptoms, psychological distress, and uncertainty regarding prognosis. These challenges signal needs for which palliative care in high-risk AML patients may help. Our findings highlight opportunities to develop targeted palliative care interventions addressing unmet needs in AML patients.
Path perturbation detection tasks reduce MSTd neuronal self-movement heading responses

Heading analysis is critical for steering and navigation. We recorded the activity of monkey cortical heading neurons during naturalistic self-movement. When the monkeys were required to respond to...
Criticality Characteristics of Mixtures of Plutonium, Silicon Dioxide, Nevada Tuff, and Water

The parameters that determine when critical mixtures of {sup 239}Pu, SiO{sub 2}, and water and mixtures of {sup 239}Pu, Nevada tuff, and water are capable of sustaining an increasing neutron chain reaction as may be caused by a positive void coefficient at constant temperature are established. A single canister is considered that is loaded with up to 75 kg of {sup 239}Pu. A survey of critical spherical mixtures of plutonium, SiO{sub 2}, tuff, and water at constant temperature is created and these results are examined to determine the mixtures that might be autocatalytic. Regions of criticality instability are identified that have the possibility of autocatalytic power behavior. A positive void coefficient is possible for a very limited range of wet systems.
The Importance of Design Validation in Global Health Surgical Innovation.

Introduction Medical technology development requires an understanding of user needs and environmental requirements. Accurately capturing market requirements, user needs, and design specifications are multifactorial and challenging. On-site observation and design validation may lead to development of more effective solutions to improve health care. This study was designed to evaluate the value of design validation for medical devices developed to address global medical needs. Methods Observational comparative analysis and survey studies were used to collect data involving multiple stakeholder viewpoints. User needs, market requirements, and design inputs were created using standard operating procedures in accordance with US FDA-21 CFR 820. Design requirements included user needs, product description, regulatory standards, functional requirements, performance and physical requirements, use environment, human-system interfacing, conceptual designs, and market analysis. A random population-based cohort sample in India was used to conduct a semi-longitudinal assessment of exposure-outcome relations from device prototype use and design validation. Seventy-two subjects were observed for a 4-week duration. After validation, each component of the traceability matrix was either marked "no change," "significant change," or "new addition" as defined in the methods section. Results A total of 198 design requirements and specifications were evaluated for each device. Eleven percent of the final design requirements and specifications were "new additions" and 12% were "significant changes." Conclusion Assessment of design requirements and specifications in the global environment improves medical device design quality and safety. This study validates environmental immersion in the target use environment early to ensure validation of user needs and design specifications during design conception.
Experience Design in Leisure Studies, Parks, Recreation, and Tourism

AbstractThis article provides a response to the article “Leisure Studies is for Experience, Not Industry,” by Harmon (2018). In responding to Harmon’s critique, I address two important issues; both...
Synchronization of estrus in beef cattle

Abstract Five experiments were conducted with 647 virgin heifers and 821 lactating cows to determine the effectiveness of an estrous synchronization treatment involving an ear implant containing 6 mg of 17α-acetoxy-11β-methyl-19-nor-preg-4-ene-3,20-dione (norgestomet) and an injection of varying levels (5 to 7.5 mg) of estradiol valerate (EV) at the time of implantation. One of the experiments additionally involved utilizing estradiol-17β (E2) in an attempt to reduce variation in the interval from implant removal to estrus and ovulation. In experiments involving virgin heifers, 76 to 98% of heifers in the treated groups were observed in estrus during the 5 days immediately following implant removal (synchronized period). Heifers not showing estrus during this period were generally in early (days 1–4) or late (after day 17) stages of the estrous cycle on the day of treatment. Injections of .25 and .5 mg estradiol-17β near the time of implant removal failed to decrease the variation associated with the onset of estrus or time of ovulation. When heifers received the 9-day implant treatment in conjunction with 5 mg EV at implantation, fertility was not significantly decreased from that noted in controls. However, fertility was significantly reduced when heifers received the 9-day implant treatment with 7.5 mg EV at implantation or the implant alone for 16 days. Of the 432 lactating cows treated with the 9-day implant treatment and varying levels of EV at implantation, 359 were observed in estrus within 21 (4 trials) or 17 days (1 trial) of implant removal. Eighty-five percent of the 359 cows were in estrus during the synchronized period. The percent of cows in heat during the synchronized period increased with the dose rate of EV, being greatest when 7.5 mg EV was administered in conjunction with the implant. Conception rate after a single insemination was similar in treated and control cows with the exception of a reduction in conception rate for cows receiving 7.5 mg EV.
Conspicuous reserves: Ideologies of water consumption and the performance of class

Water has multiple values across and within cultures—transforming it from basic substance to a vehicle of cultural identity. Water scarcity can be imposed by hydrological or by social exclusion; each reinforces the other. Yet, even under scarcity, hierarchies are not immutable. People use myriad tools to increase their share of water, including, at times, the expenditure of more water. In water‐scarce informal settlements and tenements in Delhi, India, people's conspicuous use of water not only increases their social status and economic power but also generates additional access to water. This article argues that broader transformations of urban Indian culture, such as its increased commitment to middle classness, are demonstrated through the conspicuous consumption of water as a form of economic agency. Economic anthropology's theories of consumption are valuable frameworks to challenge the way water expenditures are modeled and hierarchies are upheld.
Blockchain Economics for Investment Professionals

The author reviews recent studies on blockchains, cryptocurrencies, and initial coin offerings (ICOs), and discusses their implications for institutional investors. The research on blockchain technology is organized into two broad categories: those with the economics of decentralized ledger technologies and those studying their impacts on the real economy. The author first clarifies the core functionalities of blockchains and then elaborates on issues concerning information distribution in generating decentralized consensus, industrial organization of mining pools, the role and dynamic pricing of crypto-tokens, and auditing with a federated blockchain.
Enhanced broadband fluorescence detection of nucleic acids using multipolar gap-plasmons on biomimetic Au metasurfaces

Recent studies on metal–insulator–metal-based plasmonic antennas have shown that emitters could couple with higher-order gap-plasmon modes in sub-10-nm gaps to overcome quenching. However, these gaps are often physically inaccessible for functionalization and are not scalably manufacturable. Here, using a simple biomimetic batch-fabrication, a plasmonic metasurface is created consisting of closely-coupled nanodisks and nanoholes in a metal–insulator–metal arrangement. The quadrupolar mode of this system exhibits strong broadband resonance in the visible-near-infrared regime with minimal absorptive losses and effectively supresses quenching, making it highly suitable for broadband plasmon-enhanced fluorescence. Functionalizing the accessible insulator nanogap, analytes are selectively immobilized onto the plasmonic hotspot enabling highly-localized detection. Sensing the streptavidin–biotin complex, a 91-, 288-, 403- and 501-fold fluorescence enhancement is observed for Alexa Fluor 555, 647, 750 and 790, respectively. Finally, the detection of single-stranded DNA (gag, CD4 and CCR5) analogues of genes studied in the pathogenesis of HIV-1 between 10 pM–10 μM concentrations and then CD4 mRNA in the lysate of transiently-transfected cells with a 5.4-fold increase in fluorescence intensity relative to an untransfected control is demonstrated. This outcome promises the use of biomimetic Au metasurfaces as platforms for robust detection of low-abundance nucleic acids.
Evaluation of the Number-Needed-to-Biopsy Metric for the Diagnosis of Cutaneous Melanoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Importance To date, no concerted effort has been made to date to evaluate the literature on number-needed-to-biopsy (NNB) metrics, particularly to account for the differences in clinician type and melanoma prevalence in certain geographic locations. Objective To review and synthesize worldwide data for NNB for the diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma. Data source MEDLINE, Embase, and PubMed databases were searched for English-language articles published worldwide from January 1, 2000, to November 28, 2018. Study selection A total of 46 studies were included that addressed NNB for at least 3681 clinicians worldwide and included 455 496 biopsied tumors and 29 257 melanomas; primary care practitioner (PCP) data were only available from Australia. Data extraction and synthesis Articles were screened for eligibility, and possible overlapping data sets were resolved. Data extracted included clinician specialization, use of dermoscopy, geographic region and location-specific health care system, study design, number of benign tumors, number of melanomas, and NNB. The review followed the PRISMA guidelines. Main outcome and measures The NNB for the diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma. Results A total of 46 studies were included that addressed NNB for at least 3681 clinicians worldwide and included 455 496 biopsied tumors and 29 257 melanomas; primary care practitioner (PCP) data were only available from Australia. The reported NNB ranged from 2.2 to 287, and the weighted mean NNB for all included publications was 15.6. The exclusion of publications structured as all biopsied tumors, owing to variable data characterization, resulted in reported NNB ranging from 2.2 to 30.5, with a global weighted mean NNB of 14.8 for all clinicians, 7.5 for all dermatologists, 14.6 for Australian PCPs, and 13.2 for all US-based dermatological practitioners, including dermatologists and advanced practice professionals. The summary effect size (ES) demonstrates that a mean 4% of biopsies demonstrated melanoma for study stratum A (all biopsied skin tumors, ES, 0.04; 95% CI, 0.03-0.05), and a mean 12% of biopsies demonstrated melanoma for study strata B (melanocytic tumors on pathology review, ES, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.10-0.14) and C (clinical concern for melanoma, ES; 0.12; 95% CI, 0.09-0.14). Conclusions and relevance The existing NNB for cutaneous melanoma appeared to vary widely worldwide, lacking standardization in the metric and its reporting, and according to clinician characteristics as well; the NNB of US-based clinicians may warrant further exploration.
Coal Use as a Cause of Water Quality Impairment

Abstract The use of coal as a major industrial fuel has prompted major public and policy concerns over impacts of coal use on air quality, including greenhouse gas emissions, and about storage of large amounts of coal ash in situations where ash spills and groundwater contamination by ash leachate have become problematic. Coal use has historically had significant impacts on water quality through several pathways, including direct impacts of mining activities on surface and groundwater, air pollution effects on surface waters (notably “acid rain” and mercury emissions), as well as other airborne toxicants and global warming impacts on the hydrological cycle, and through accumulation of truly massive quantities of coal ash at numerous waste storage sites. Coal ash contains many elements and a few organic compounds, reflecting coal's biological and geological origins, and many of those materials can be leached from coal ash, leading to contamination of surface and groundwater. Toxic metals commonly found in coal ash and in its leachates include arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and selenium, but many others may also be found, depending on the coal source. Alternative, benign uses of coal ash do not yet have the potential to consume the vast quantities of coal ash now extant, so costly mitigation practices are likely to be required to contain this environmental hazard.
Agricultural Drainage Tile Surveying Using an Unmanned Aircraft Vehicle Paired with Real-Time Kinematic Positioning—A Case Study

Abstract A 2012 agricultural census reported approximately 218,000 U.S. farms to have subsurface tile networks that artificially drain over 19.7 million hectares. These drainage networks present a significant expense to landowners during their installation, inspection, maintenance, and upgrading. The conventional methods for locating buried drain tiles are by excavation employing heavy machinery and hand tile probes which are expensive and time-consuming. Aerial photography offers promise as a less-expensive alternative for mapping tile networks over vast acreages. In aerial photography, ground-surface discolorations from the concentratio of draining moisture periodically appear directly atop functioning drains. We have noted drainage surface patterns occurring on Midwestern fields with minimal surface residue one to three days following significant rainfall. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with visible or thermal infrared (TIR) imaging can detect these distortions at appropriate times. Our study compared Real Time Kinematic (RTK) and Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) Global Positioning System (GPS) for mapping of subsurface drain tiles. The case study revealed WAAS GPS provided insufficient accuracy and precision for physically locating the buried tiles. Although more expensive and complicated, satellite RTK technology increases the vertical and horizontal alignment of UAV surveys as it projects aerial imagery precisely and accurately onto a geodetic coordinate system. The pairing of RTK technology with the UAV survey was deemed essential for physically locating buried tile lines in the field.
Influence of Sensor Selection for Observing Individual Partial Discharge Waveforms

Partial discharge (PD) is a common, yet undesirable, phenomenon in high voltage components and systems. Due to its high frequency and low amplitude characteristics, detection and recognition of PD requires sensitive and optimally responsive measuring sensors. For phase resolved (PRPD) analysis in AC applications, existing systems are well established. However, challenges arise in the analysis of individual discharge waveforms. This is particularly true for DC applications where the detection of different types of PD waveshapes requires more sensitivity and accuracy than typical pattern or trend recognition in AC applications. The time response and bandwidth of measuring sensors will affect PD waveform measurements. IEC60270 includes clauses related to PD measurements with direct voltage but does not define a standard methodology. In general, there is not specific standard or measurement guidance for DC PD measurements, and many prefer to apply existing AC PD methods for that of DC. This paper firstly investigates the varying response of several sensors and secondly assesses their suitability for measuring PD. A single discharge source (Van der Graff generator) is situated in an anechoic chamber to supply a high bandwidth input to multiple sensors, including Pearson coils, high frequency current transformers (HFCTs), shunts, as well as d-dot and b-dot sensors. The output of a Van der Graff generator is considerably larger than that of a PD. Nevertheless, this initial assessment allows for undisturbed and controlled analysis of the sensor characteristics using a single discharge source. Next, conventional commercial coupling devices and a corona source are included in the sensor comparison. This paper does not try to identify all the different types and forms of discharge. However, with a better understanding of sensor response, together with the frequency and temporal characteristics of particular PD events, a most suitable sensor for each scenario can be selected thereby improving validity and representativeness of data.
APA Makes a Short Cut for Ramping up HSC Metabolism

Summary The physiological role of alternative polyadenylation (APA) in controlling hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) behavior in vivo, and the mechanistic implications of this association, remain elusive. Now in Cell Stem Cell, Sommerkamp et al. (2020) provide evidence that APA regulates HSC self-renewal and multi-potency by affecting stem cell activation and glutaminolysis.