cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ambulatory Diabetes Management with Pulsed Subcutaneous Insulin Using a Portable Pump

A portable pump, programmed to administer intermittent pulses of insulin subcutaneously, supplemented by premeal boluses, was used by 8 patients for periods up to 12 months. Two boys, 11 and 16 years of age, sought improved growth; four young adults age 19 to 26 years desired normalization of metabo lism to forestall microvascular complications already manifest; a 14-year-old girl had been incapacitated by unstable diabetes and a 26-year-old woman had been unable to attain sufficient control to gain weight without developing hypoglycemia. Maximal possible control with conventional insulin administra tion was attempted prior to pump use and such control was measured by glycohemoglobin (HgbA1) percentage and urine and blood sugar levels during a 24-hour period and compared with control with pump use. All initially had marked reduction in 24-hour urine volume (mean 3.3 L ± 4 SEM to 1.4 ± 0.2), urine glucose (mean 198 g ± 81 to 14 ± 4) and glycemia (mean 258 mg/dl ± 29 to 133 ± 12). HgbA1% declined markedly i...
The Effects of Grain-Refinement and Heat Treatment on the Properties of Ni-Alloys for LIGA Microsystems

Electrodeposited Ni and Ni-alloys are being considered for use in a number of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) applications employing LIGA processing technology. For these materials, research has shown that various organic and metallic alloying additives, often in combination with pulse plating techniques allows the development of microstructures with nanocrystalline to microcrystalline grain sizes [1–10]. This range of grain sizes yields widely varying material properties that may, at times, be exploited to tailor the performance of LIGA microsystems. In order to make use of this potential, a better understanding of the effect of processing on material properties such as elastic modules, yield strength, and electrical conductivity is required. In addition to analyzing the effects that material processing may have on initial properties of the nanostructured materials, it is also imperative to understand how exposures to thermal environments which may be seen in post-processing or service life may induce changes in these properties.© 2003 ASME
An Electronic Asthma Self-Management Intervention for Young African American Adults

Background Health disparities are seen in many chronic conditions including asthma. Young African American adults represent a population at high risk for poor asthma outcomes due to both their minority status and the difficult transition from adolescence to adulthood. Recruitment and retention has been challenging in this demographic stratum, and traditional asthma education is often not feasible. Objective The objective of this study was to develop and assess the feasibility of an electronic asthma self-management program for young African American adults. Methods A total of 44 African American adults (age 18-30 years) with uncontrolled persistent asthma were enrolled in an asthma self-management program. The 6-week Breathe Michigan program (predicated on the social cognitive theory) was tailored specifically to the concerns and preferences of young African American adults. The entire program was completed electronically, without any specialized human support. At 2 weeks and 3 months after program completion, participants were contacted for follow-up. Results A total of 89% of enrolled subjects completed the 6-week intervention, and 77% were available for evaluation at 3 months. All subjects completing the 2-week postprogram survey reported that the program was helpful, and 97% would recommend it to others. Asthma control as measured by the Asthma Control Test improved from 16.1 to 19.3 (P Conclusions The Breathe Michigan program is feasible for recruitment and retention, and demonstrated an improvement in asthma control and quality of life for young African American adults.
Implications of Climate Change for Bird Conservation in the Southwestern U.S. under Three Alternative Futures.

Future expected changes in climate and human activity threaten many riparian habitats, particularly in the southwestern U.S. Using Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt3.3.3) modeling, we characterized habitat relationships and generated spatial predictions of habitat suitability for the Lucy’s warbler (Oreothlypis luciae), the Southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) and the Western yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus). Our goal was to provide site- and species-specific information that can be used by managers to identify areas for habitat conservation and/or restoration along the Rio Grande in New Mexico. We created models of suitable habitat for each species based on collection and survey samples and climate, biophysical, and vegetation data. We projected habitat suitability under future climates by applying these models to conditions generated from three climate models for 2030, 2060 and 2090. By comparing current and future distributions, we identified how habitats are likely to change as a result of changing climate and the consequences of those changes for these bird species. We also examined whether land ownership of high value sites shifts under changing climate conditions. Habitat suitability models performed well. Biophysical characteristics were more important that climate conditions for predicting habitat suitability with distance to water being the single most important predictor. Climate, though less important, was still influential and led to declines of suitable habitat of more than 60% by 2090. For all species, suitable habitat tended to shrink over time within the study area leaving a few core areas of high importance. Overall, climate changes will increase habitat fragmentation and reduce breeding habitat patch size. The best strategy for conserving bird species within the Rio Grande will include measures to maintain and restore critical habitat refugia. This study provides an example of a presence-only habitat model that can be used to inform the management of species at intermediate scales.
The Signification of Names

To say that some words arc analogous is to say something about the way they signify; and, if some words signify analogously while others do not, signification itself is presupposed by a doctrine on analogical words and should be considered first. It seems unwise to assume that it is perfectly clear what St Thomas meant by “sign” and “signification.” His teaching on such matters, though initially it seems quite simple, turns out to involve a number of subtleties which must be borne in mind in discussing the analogy of names.
The Role of Electrostatic Interactions in Folding of β-Proteins.

Atomic-level molecular dynamic simulations are capable of fully folding structurally diverse proteins; however, they are limited in their ability to accurately represent electrostatic interactions. Here we have experimentally tested the role of charged residues on stability and folding kinetics of one of the most widely simulated β-proteins, the WW domain. The folding of wild type Pin1 WW domain, which has two positively charged residues in the first turn, was compared to the fast folding mutant FiP35 Pin1, which introduces a negative charge into the first turn. A combination of FTIR spectroscopy and laser-induced temperature-jump coupled with infrared spectroscopy was used to probe changes in the amide I region. The relaxation dynamics of the peptide backbone, β-sheets and β-turns, and negatively charged aspartic acid side chain of FiP35 were measured independently by probing the corresponding bands assigned in the amide I region. Folding is initiated in the turns and the β-sheets form last. While the gl...
Trying the Carrot and Sparing the Stick: An Incentive Based Reform Proposal for NLRB Elections, Voluntary Recognition, and Withdrawal of Recognition

The relationship between organized labor and management in the United States has always been conflict-laden. Both groups have simple and predictable objectives: organized labor wishes to increase the prevalence of unionized workplaces, while management desires precisely the opposite. For many years, this struggle between organized labor and management has focused on how a labor organization becomes the collective bargaining representative of employees and how such a relationship is terminated. This article proposes a compromise solution, designed to be politically viable and resilient to changes in the political composition of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Specifically, this article proposes an incentive based solution that would encourage the use of NLRB elections to establish collective bargaining relationships by barring unilateral withdrawal of recognition in cases where the union was certified as a result of such an election.
Effects of lipopolysaccharide, multiwalled carbon nantoubes, and the combination on lung alveolar epithelial cells

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) have been shown to induce lung fibrosis in animal models, however the underlying molecular factors/mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), MWCNT, and the combination of LPS and MWCNT on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and metalloproteinase-12 (MMP-9, MMP-12), collagen 3A1 (Col3A1), and transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) in alveolar epithelial A549 cells. MMPs are proteinases that degrade extracellular matrix and play a role in lung fibrosis. A549 cells were exposed to LPS (1 ng/mL), MWCNT (20 μg/mL), and the combination and analyzed for paracellular permeability, TGFβ, Col3A1, MMP-9, MMP-12, NF-κB activation, and cell migration by real-time PCR and immunofluorescence. LPS, the combination of LPS and MWCNT, and MWCNT only at the highest tested dose induced blue dextran extravasation. LPS and MWCNT increased the expression of TGFβ and its downstream target gene Col3A, and MMP-9 and MMP-12 mRNA. MWCNT potently induced cell migration toward wound healing, whereas LPS slightly induced cell migration. Both, LPS and MWCNT, induced NF-κB nuclear translocation. Our results indicate that MWCNT activated alveolar epithelial cells to promote fibrogenesis, and that LPS differentially primes molecular factors involved in lung remodeling. These findings suggest a role of alveolar epithelial cells in fibrogenesis and also may aid in the design and development of tests for screening of fibrogenic agents. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 445-455, 2017.
Plant preference and plant succession : A consideration of evolution of plant preference in Schistocerca.

The theory that early successional plants and annual plants will be less well defended against generalist herbivores than later successional plants and perennial plants, because they avoid herbivores by escaping in space and time, is evaluated. The theory is not supported in the ecosystem examined. The correlation between level of preference and the ability of plants to support growth and survival is examined and shown to be high.
DD-07A KINOME RNA INTERFERENCE SCREEN IDENTIFIES NOVEL THERAPEUTIC TARGETS FOR GLIOBLASTOMA.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary central nervous system tumor. Despite aggressive therapies such as surgical resection, chemo- and radiotherapies, the life expectancy and survival rates for GBM patients are still low. There is an urgent need for more effective therapies. We here hypothesized that certain kinases that are essential for GBM cell survival and thereby the better therapeutic targets for GBM remain to be defined. To identify these kinases, we designed and performed a dropout RNA interference (RNAi) screen, in which we revealed a subset of kinases that may selectively control the survival of U87MG glioblastoma cells. We elected to focus on casein kinase 1 epsilon (CSNK1E) and maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK), the latter of which has previously been demonstrated as an essential kinase for GBM in other reports. Expression levels of these kinases were also shown to be differentially elevated in GBM cells. Our further experiments confirmed that CSNK1E and MELK were essential for the viability of multiple GBM cell lines (U251, SNB75, LN18, SF268, and LN229) as well as primary GBM cells (VTC002). Intriguingly, our data indicate that depletion of CSNK1E using shRNAs is more effective than that of MELK in most GBM cell lines, making it a promising candidate for future targeted GBM therapy. Furthermore, we revealed that both kinases promote the GBM survival through inhibiting apoptosis. Collectively, our results demonstrate that CSNK1E is a novel therapeutic target for GBM. As such, our future work will involve evaluation of CSNK1E inhibitors in treating GBM in vivo using chemical inhibitors.
Strategies for Achieving Measurement Assurance for Cell Therapy Products

UNLABELLED The cell therapy industry has identified the inability to reliably characterize cells as possibly its greatest challenge and has called for standards and reference materials to provide assurance for measurements of cell properties. The challenges in characterization of cell therapy products can be largely addressed with systematic approaches for assessing sources of uncertainty and improving confidence in key measurements. This article presents the many strategies that can be used to ensure measurement confidence and discusses them in terms of how they can be applied to characterization of cell therapy products. SIGNIFICANCE Application of these strategies to cell measurements will help to establish qualified assays for cell characterization, which may help streamline regulatory approval and enable more efficient development of cell therapy products.
Identification of genes that are essential to restrict genome duplication to once per cell division.

// Alex Vassilev 1 , Chrissie Y. Lee 1, 2 , Boris Vassilev 1 , Wenge Zhu 3 , Pinar Ormanoglu 4 , Scott E. Martin 4, 5 , Melvin L. DePamphilis 1 1 National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-2753, USA 2 Current address: NantBioscience, Culver City, CA 90232, USA 3 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, George Washington University, Washington DC 20037, USA 4 National Center of Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA 5 Current Address: Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA Correspondence to: Melvin L. DePamphilis, e-mail: depamphm@mail.nih.gov Keywords: DNA re-replication, endoreplication, cell cycle regulation, aneuploidy, polyploidy Received: February 26, 2016 Accepted: April 07, 2016 Published: April 26, 2016 ABSTRACT Nuclear genome duplication is normally restricted to once per cell division, but aberrant events that allow excess DNA replication (EDR) promote genomic instability and aneuploidy, both of which are characteristics of cancer development. Here we provide the first comprehensive identification of genes that are essential to restrict genome duplication to once per cell division. An siRNA library of 21,584 human genes was screened for those that prevent EDR in cancer cells with undetectable chromosomal instability. Candidates were validated by testing multiple siRNAs and chemical inhibitors on both TP53+ and TP53- cells to reveal the relevance of this ubiquitous tumor suppressor to preventing EDR, and in the presence of an apoptosis inhibitor to reveal the full extent of EDR. The results revealed 42 genes that prevented either DNA re-replication or unscheduled endoreplication. All of them participate in one or more of eight cell cycle events. Seventeen of them have not been identified previously in this capacity. Remarkably, 14 of the 42 genes have been shown to prevent aneuploidy in mice. Moreover, suppressing a gene that prevents EDR increased the ability of the chemotherapeutic drug Paclitaxel to induce EDR, suggesting new opportunities for synthetic lethalities in the treatment of human cancers.
Analysis on death of 165 HIV/AIDS patients without death medical certificate in Jiangsu Province

Objective To explore death situation of HIV/AIDS patients without death medical certificate in Jiangsu Province during 2010-2011.Methods Self-designed questionnaires were conducted by in-home survey as well as at hospital.Information on clinical manifestation,cause of death and survival time were analyzed.Results There were total 165death cases and 53.9%(89)of them were diagnosed as AIDS.Main transmission route of HIV infection was sexual intercourse,which accounted for 86.7%(143)of all cases.The major cause of death was AIDS related diseases including opportunistic infections,which accounted for 67.9%(112).Since the patients have been diagnosed as HIV/AIDS,67.1%cases survived less than one year.Conclusion AIDS related diseases were the major causes of death among HIV/AIDS cases.Early diagnosis and early treatment are effective measures to prolong the survival time of HIV/AIDS patients.
Can Educational Accreditation Drive Interdisciplinary Learning in the Health Professions

Article-at-a-Glance Background Accreditation in higher education serves as a means of assuring the public of academic program quality and of promoting continuing review and self-improvement by educational units. Educational program accreditation is a means of seeking continuous improvement in the academic activities of programs and institutions. Discussions of interdisciplinary education raise questions about the responsiveness of accreditation to such approaches. Accreditation as a stimulus for continuous improvement Some health professions accrediting agencies have followed the lead of industry and have adapted their approach and philosophy of evaluation to a continuous improvement philosophy, while others continue to perpetuate an "inspection" mentality. The perpetuation of such an approach limits the value of the accreditation process. Accrediting agencies need to focus attention instead on stimulating professional preparation to develop in students the knowledge, skills, and competencies needed for health professions practice. Since such practice frequently occurs in team or interdisciplinary settings, the accreditation evaluation can support practice by incorporating an interdisciplinary perspective. The challenges of interdisciplinary education for accreditation As models of interdisciplinary education are developed in the health professions, accreditation will be challenged to evolve in its effectiveness to evaluate interdisciplinary learning experiences. The accrediting community will need to recognize the barriers posed by interdisciplinary learning, as well as the special skills and situations needed to offer effective interdisciplinary experiences. Without this perspective the usefulness of accreditation will be diminished. A charge for the future Standards and procedures for accreditation will need to be revised to address the unique characteristics of interdisciplinary education. A set of mock accreditation standards to guide the evaluation of interdisciplinary health professions education learning experiences is proposed. Finally, questions are posed about the role of accreditation in the context of interdisciplinary health professions education.
ZnO Varistors as Pressure Memory and Pressure Sensor

Metal oxide Varistors formed by sintering a mixture of ZnO with small additions of Bi2O3, transition, and post-transition metal oxides at high temperature constitute a novel class of electronic ceramics, which exhibit a highly non-ohmic behavior in current-voltage characteristics [1]. The functional dependence of current I on applied voltage V in the non-ohmic regime may be expressed empirically by I = KVα where α, the nonlinear exponent, can take values from 5 to 50 or higher, and K is a constant. An idealized Varistor V-I curve plotted on a log-log scale is shown in Fig. 1. This property, very similar to that of a back-to-back Zener diode, finds wide application for this class of materials as circuit pro-tectors against voltage transients and power overloads [2,3].
Stimulation of muscle glucose disposal by insulin in humans is a function of the preexisting plasma insulin level

To examine whether tissue sensitivity to insulin is dependent upon the prevailing plasma insulin concentration, the ability of acute hyperinsulinemia to stimulate glucose disposal was investigated ...
Participation in a Tele-Stroke Program Improves Timeliness of Intravenous Thrombolysis Delivery

Abstract Background: We sought to assess the effects of participation in a tele-stroke program on timeliness of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IVtPA) administration. Methods: Among 259 consecutive acute ischemic stroke patients treated with IVtPA through the Rush tele-stroke program, we compared two cohorts: Period 1 (July 2011 to June 2013) and Period 2 (July 2013 to July 2014). We collected data on demographics, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and times of last known normal (LKN), initiation of tele-stroke consult, and IVtPA administration. Results: The mean age was 69.6 years, 56% were female, the mean NIHSS was 11.8, and 41.7% patients were transferred to the hub site. The mean time from initiation of tele-stroke consult to IVtPA administration was 42.2 min. Time from initiation of tele-stroke consult to IVtPA administration improved from Period 1 to Period 2 (49.9 min vs. 35 min, p < 0.0001). This improvement was due to faster mean time from initiation of tele-stroke co...
An Investigation on the Radar Signatures of Small Consumer Drones

Radar signatures of several small consumer drones are investigated by laboratory measurement. The drones are rotated on a turntable, and backscattered data are collected at two different frequency bands. The data are post-processed into inverse synthetic aperture radar images. The effects of frequency, aspect, polarization, dynamic blade rotation, camera mount, and drone types are presented.
A Set of Assays for the Comprehensive Analysis of FMR1 Alleles in the Fragile X–Related Disorders

The diagnosis and study of the fragile X–related disorders is complicated by the difficulty of amplifying the long CGG/CCG-repeat tracts that are responsible for disease pathology, the potential presence of AGG interruptions within the repeat tract that can ameliorate expansion risk, the occurrence of variable DNA methylation that modulates disease severity, and the high frequency of mosaicism for both repeat number and methylation status. These factors complicate patient risk assessment. In addition, the variability in these parameters that is seen when patient cells are grown in culture requires their frequent monitoring to ensure reproducible results in a research setting. Many existing assays have the limited ability to amplify long alleles, particularly in a mixture of different allele sizes. Others are better at this, but are too expensive for routine use in most laboratories or for newborn screening programs and use reagents that are proprietary. We describe herein a set of assays to routinely evaluate all of these important parameters in a time- and cost-effective way.
Data driven quickest change detection: An algorithmic complexity approach

Traditional quickest change detection, which detects distribution changes in random processes, requires full or partial knowledge of pre-change or post-change distributions of samples. In practice, it is possible that the prior information is unavailable, which prohibits the direct application of existing algorithms such as the cumulative sum (CUSUM) algorithm. In this paper, data driven quickest detection is studied, with only the assumption of stationary ergodic (not necessary i.i.d. or Markovian) processes. To fully exploit existing algorithms within the probabilistic framework, the theory of algorithmic complexity (a.k.a. Kolmogorov complexity) is applied to bridge the observed samples and unknown probability distributions. In particular, data compression algorithms such as Lempel-Ziv algorithm are used to measure the unconditional and conditional algorithm complexities. Numerical simulations are carried out to demonstrate the validity of the proposed algorithms.
International Graduate Students’ Second Language Acquisition in Their Acculturation: A Research Synthesis

This study examines prior qualitative and quantitative research on international graduate students’ second language acquisition in their acculturation by conducting a research synthesis. This will encourage second language educators to understand international students’ acculturation.
The High-Performing Radiology Residency: A Case Study

The primary goal of any radiology residency program is to train clinically competent radiologists. However, some radiology programs go above and beyond basic ACGME requirements and produce highly productive radiologists who contribute to the field in research, education and technology. At the core of such residencies are the people who comprise it, including self-motivated, personable residents and faculty who can facilitate excellence from their trainees. Indeed, radiology residencies which create unique programs in response to evolving resident interests can help foster resident-driven research, advocacy, technological innovation and early leadership. These unique programs, when interwoven with a strong educational foundation driven by evidence-based learning techniques and informatics-driven evaluation programs, function to produce highly competent clinicians who become leaders in the field.
Comparison of manual compression and vascular hemostasis devices after coronary angiography or percutaneous coronary intervention through femoral artery access: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials☆☆☆

Abstract Objectives To compare the efficacy and safety of manual compression (MC) with vascular hemostasis devices (VHD) in patients undergoing coronary angiography (CA) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) through femoral artery access. Introduction The use of femoral artery access for coronary procedures may result in access-related complications, prolonged immobility and discomfort for the patients. MC results in longer time-to-hemostasis (TTH) and time-to-ambulation (TTA) compared to VHDs but its role in access-related complications remains unclear in patients undergoing coronary procedures. Methods We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL and relevant references for English language randomized controlled trials (RCT) from inception through September 30, 2016. We performed the meta-analysis using random effects model. The outcomes were time-to-hemostasis, time-to-ambulation, major bleeding, large hematoma > 5 cm, pseudoaneurysm and other adverse events. Results The electronic database search resulted in a total of 44 RCTs with a total of 18,802 patients for analysis. MC, compared to VHD resulted in longer TTH [mean difference (MD): 11.21 min; 95% confidence interval (CI) 8.13–14.29; P P 5 cm formation [risk ratio (RR): 1.38 (1.15–1.67); P = 0.0008]. MC resulted in similar risk of major bleeding [1.01 (0.64–1.60); P = 0.95] pseudoaneurysm [0.99 (0.75–1.29); P = 0.92], infections [0.52 (0.25–1.10); P = 0.09], need of surgery [0.60 (0.29–1.22); P = 0.16), AV fistula [0.93 (0.68–1.27); P = 0.63] and ipsilateral leg ischemia [0.95 (0.57–1.60); P = 0.86] compared to VHD. Conclusion Manual compression increase time-to-hemostasis, time-to-ambulation and risk of hematoma formation compared vascular hemostasis devices.
Evolutionary Traffic Flow Landscapes: A Fitness Approach for ITS Management

The road patterns of major metropolitan areas and constituent jurisdictions evolve slowly through a complex set of independent and interdependent decisions producing a transportation network. The resulting network must be used for variety of commuting and spatial interaction activity. A typical trip taker spends considerable time on the road to reach the workplace and other destinations. Adding more links to existing road networks and/or increasing traffic capacity by adding lanes does not necessarily decrease travel times (e.g. Braess’ paradox). However a dense redundant network of roads provides a trip taker with alternate routes when traffic jams occur. Such issues raise the question of, how to evaluate the flow characteristics of the entire road network of a jurisdiction and its larger region? How might the impact of adding more links/lanes or blocking existing links/lanes be best measured?
Biogenesis of iron-sulfur cluster proteins in plastids.

Iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters are co-factors of proteins that perform a number of biological roles, including electron transfer, redox and non-redox catalysis, regulation of gene expression, and as sensors within all living organisms, prokaryotes and eukaryotes. These clusters are thought to be among the oldest structures found in biological cells. In chloroplasts, Fe-S clusters play a key role in photosynthetic electron transport as well as nitrogen and sulfur assimilation. The capacity of the Fe atom in Fe-S clusters to take up an electron reversibly provides the required electron carrier capacity in these pathways. Iron and sulfur limitation both affect plant primary production and growth. It has long been known that iron deficiency leads to defects in photosynthesis and bleaching in young leaves, phenomena that are closely linked to a defect in chloroplastic photosystem- I (PSI) accumulation, a major Fe-S containing protein complex in plants. Although the functional importance of Fe-S cluster proteins is evident and isolated chloroplasts have been shown to be able to synthesize their own Fe-S clusters, much is yet to be learned about the biosynthesis of Fe-S proteins in plastids. The recent discovery of a NifS-like protein in plastids has hinted to the existence of an assembly machinery related to bacterial Fe-S assembly systems. This chapter aims to summarize what we presently know about the assembly of Fe-S clusters in plants with an emphasis on green plastids.
The Residence Times of Trace Elements Determined in the Surface Arctic Ocean During the 2015 US Arctic GEOTRACES Expedition

Abstract Data collected during the US Arctic GEOTRACES expedition in 2015 are used to estimate the mean residence time of dissolved trace elements (Fe, Mn, Ni, Cd, Zn, Cu, Pb, V) in surface water with respect to atmospheric deposition . The calculations utilize mixed layer trace element (TE) inventories, aerosol solubility determinations, and estimates of the atmospheric trace element flux into the upper ocean. The trace element flux is estimated by the product of the 7Be flux (determined by the ocean 7Be inventory) and the TE/7Be ratio of aerosols. This method has been established elsewhere and is tested here by comparing 7Be-derived TE flux to the measured TE accumulation in recently deposited snow. Given the variability in snow and aerosol TE concentration observed over the expedition, and the limited timescale of the observations, agreement between the two methods is reasonable. While there are assumptions in these calculations, the distribution of residence times with respect to atmospheric input across the expedition track informs us of additional sources or sinks for each element. The residence time of dissolved Fe was ~ 20–40 y for most stations. However, several stations that display a longer, oceanographically inconsistent apparent Fe residence time of ~300–500 years are likely influenced by additional input from the Transpolar Drift (TPD), which has been shown to convey shelf water properties to the central Arctic. This was seen for Cu, Ni and Zn as well. The flux of Fe delivered by the TPD was ~ 10 nmol/m2 /d for these stations, an order of magnitude greater than the soluble atmospheric input. On the other hand, V and Pb show a decrease in the apparent residence times within TPD water, suggesting removal of these elements from the source region of the TPD. For Mn, there is no obvious trend in residence time among the stations; however the apparent residence time (400–1400 y) is significantly greater than the ~20 y calculated for atmospheric input elsewhere, signifying appreciable input from other sources. It has been suggested that about 90% of Mn input to the Arctic Ocean originates from Arctic rivers, shelf sediments , and coastal erosion. Results here suggest a flux from these sources of ~30 nmol/m 2/d which is significantly greater than the atmospheric input of Mn in the Arctic.
The benefit of surveillance imaging for paediatric cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma.

Paediatric cerebellar pilocytic astrocytomas (PA) (WHO grade 1) are amongst the most common of childhood brain tumours and are generally amenable to resection, with surgery alone being curative in the majority of cases. There is, however, a lack of consensus regarding the frequency and duration of post-treatment MRI surveillance for these tumours. This is important, as follow-up imaging is a significant use of resources and often associated with patient and family anxiety. We have assessed the utility of MRI surveillance in the detection of cerebellar PA recurrence at our regional paediatric neurosurgical centre. The tumour register at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital was searched to identify all patients diagnosed between 2007 and 2017, with a confirmed histopathological diagnosis of cerebellar PA. Patient demographics, surgical outcome, number of MRI scans and length of follow-up were recorded for each patient. Forty patients met the inclusion criteria. The mean age at diagnosis was 7.8 years (range 2 to 17 years). Complete surgical resection (CR), confirmed by post-operative MRI, was achieved in 36 of the 40 patients, including all 31 cases from 2009 and later for which intraoperative MRI (iMRI) was utilised. There was one case of recurrence after CR (at 2.2 years) out of the 36 cases, whereas all 4 patients with initial partial resections had progressive growth of their tumours and required second surgical interventions. This series confirms the very low likelihood of recurrence for completely resected cerebellar PAs and suggests that in such cases the duration and frequency of surveillance imaging could be limited to a maximum of 2.5 to 3 years of follow-up imaging. This report also indicates improved complete resection rates over time, probably associated with technical advances including the routine in-house use of iMRI in 2009.
Polygenic Risk Scores That Predict Common Diseases Using Millions of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms: Is More, Better?

Following a decade of slow progress in improving the genetic prediction of common diseases with tempered expectations about the ultimate predictive ability of polygenic risk scores (PRSs),3 the emerging zeitgeist is that PRSs based on millions of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can identify individuals who are at increased risk for common diseases. In recent studies, this increased risk is claimed to be similar to conditions associated with known causal genetic mutations. Thus, the argument goes, it is time to start thinking about implementing PRSs in routine clinical care (1, 2). PRSs are generally calculated using SNPs that are statistically significantly associated in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). These SNPs are replicated across studies and more likely implicated, directly or by association, in the development of the disease. The predictive ability of PRSs improves when more SNPs are added, either by new GWAS “hits” or by lowering the statistical significance threshold. Several recent studies have used a new statistical method, LDpred, which does not select SNPs but optimizes the weights for all genotyped SNPs using their GWAS weights, the correlation between neighboring SNPs (known as linkage disequilibrium), and an estimate of the proportion of SNPs that are expected to contribute to risk and have nonzero weights (3). When this proportion is unknown, researchers may apply the method for several hypothetical proportions and select the one at which PRS explains the highest percentage of phenotypic variance. When LDpred is applied to millions of SNPs, it is unsurprising that most of them have negligible impact on disease risk. Researchers disagree whether the inclusion of millions of SNPs with close to zero effects in PRSs makes sense. From a bioinformatics perspective, there is no need to exclude them: SNPs with close to zero effects that don't improve PRSs won't make them worse either. …
Seng Zhao’s “Prajñā is Without Knowledge”: Collapsing the Two Truths from Critique to Affirmation

This essay explores one of the first distinctively Sinitic reappropriations of Madhyamaka epistemology: Seng Zhao’s essay “Prajnā is Without Knowledge.” Seng Zhao’s work is here read as a deliberate collapse of the traditional Madhyamaka Two Truths into two simultaneous aspects of sagely wisdom, rather than a diachronic means-end relation, arriving at a crypto-Zhuangzian “trivialist” conclusion aimed at undermining epistemological bivalence at its roots. For Seng Zhao, because nothing can be established as true, nothing can be excluded as false. Here the understanding of Emptiness has become not the exclusion of all views, but the inclusion of all views. This is rooted in Seng Zhao’s view that, to use Jan Westerhoff’s terms, the denial of substance-svabhāva is always also implicitly the denial of essence-svabhāva. Seng Zhao move from Emptiness as exclusion to Emptiness as inclusion, and from denial of ontological substance to denial of mutually exclusive determinateness, sets the agenda for the distinctive developments of classical Chinese Buddhist philosophy to come.
Biological Visualization, Imaging and Simulation(Bio-VIS) at NASA Ames Research Center: Developing New Software and Technology for Astronaut Training and Biology Research in Space

The Bio- Visualization, Imaging and Simulation (BioVIS) Technology Center at NASA's Ames Research Center is dedicated to developing and applying advanced visualization, computation and simulation technologies to support NASA Space Life Sciences research and the objectives of the Fundamental Biology Program. Research ranges from high resolution 3D cell imaging and structure analysis, virtual environment simulation of fine sensory-motor tasks, computational neuroscience and biophysics to biomedical/clinical applications. Computer simulation research focuses on the development of advanced computational tools for astronaut training and education. Virtual Reality (VR) and Virtual Environment (VE) simulation systems have become important training tools in many fields from flight simulation to, more recently, surgical simulation. The type and quality of training provided by these computer-based tools ranges widely, but the value of real-time VE computer simulation as a method of preparing individuals for real-world tasks is well established. Astronauts routinely use VE systems for various training tasks, including Space Shuttle landings, robot arm manipulations and extravehicular activities (space walks). Currently, there are no VE systems to train astronauts for basic and applied research experiments which are an important part of many missions. The Virtual Glovebox (VGX) is a prototype VE system for real-time physically-based simulation of the Life Sciences Glovebox where astronauts will perform many complex tasks supporting research experiments aboard the International Space Station. The VGX consists of a physical display system utilizing duel LCD projectors and circular polarization to produce a desktop-sized 3D virtual workspace. Physically-based modeling tools (Arachi Inc.) provide real-time collision detection, rigid body dynamics, physical properties and force-based controls for objects. The human-computer interface consists of two magnetic tracking devices (Ascention Inc.) attached to instrumented gloves (Immersion Inc.) which co-locate the user's hands with hand/forearm representations in the virtual workspace. Force-feedback is possible in a work volume defined by a Phantom Desktop device (SensAble inc.). Graphics are written in OpenGL. The system runs on a 2.2 GHz Pentium 4 PC. The prototype VGX provides astronauts and support personnel with a real-time physically-based VE system to simulate basic research tasks both on Earth and in the microgravity of Space. The immersive virtual environment of the VGX also makes it a useful tool for virtual engineering applications including CAD development, procedure design and simulation of human-system systems in a desktop-sized work volume.
South Korean cyberfeminism and trolling: the limitation of online feminist community Womad as counterpublic

This study examines the South Korean cyberfeminist community Womad, a community currently under fire in South Korea due to its exclusionary politics, i.e., its antagonism towards anyone biologicall...
Architecture and Creativity: Examining the Impact of Maharishi Vastu on Workplace Creativity.

This paper reports on the effect of architectural design of a workplace on the creativity of its users. A technical services company relocated from a conventional office building to one designed ac...
Sleep medications and sleep disturbances across middle aged pre- or peri-menopausal women of different race and ethnicities: A SWAN pharmacoepidemiology cohort study.

Purpose Sleep disturbances are common, particularly in middle aged women. Prescription medications for this indication are increasingly used, despite uncertain safety. This study assessed prescription medication use for sleep among a cohort of women with and without sleep disturbances. Methods We examined reports of sleep disturbance and sleep medication use among pre- and early peri-menopausal womenassessed annually or biennially since 1996. Women self-reported medications at visits, and we identified medications that have been used primarily for sleep disturbances. They reported on difficulties falling and staying asleep, and early morning wakening. Sleep medication use across 20 years of follow-up was examined for all women and by race/ethnicity. Women who reported data for both sleep disturbance and sleep medication use were included in the analyses.. Results Among participants in a cohort of 3302 women who were enrolled prior to their menopause transition, 3082 women were included in the analytic sample and 2531 (82%) reported sleep disturbances. They were more likely to endorse higher anxiety and pain scores and more comorbid conditions than women without sleep disturbances. Baseline characteristics were similar among women who did and did not use sleep medications. Among women reporting a sleep disturbance at baseline, 2.5% reported sleep medication use, increasing to 8% over 20 years. However, the proportion of women reporting sleep medication use who did not report a sleep disturbance remained low, approximately 1% to 2% over the entire follow-up. Increases in sleep medication use was observed across women of all race/ethnicities. Conclusions The use of sleep medications among women reporting sleep disturbance grew over the last 20 years. Growth was observed across women of all race/ethnicities.
Cultivating success: personal, family and societal attributes affecting women in agritourism

The public’s burgeoning interest in authentic place-based experiences and local foods, as well as farmers’ interest in increasing their incomes continue driving the development of agritourism. Alth...
Looks Can Permit Deceiving: How Reward or Punishment Decisions are Influenced by Robot Embodiment

As robots and artificially intelligent systems are given more cognitive capabilities and become more prevalent in our societies, the relationships they share with humans have become more nuanced. This paper aims to investigate the influences that embodiment has on a person's decision to reward or punish an honest or deceptive intelligent agent. We cast this exploration within a financial advisement scenario. Our results suggest that people are more likely to choose to reward a physically embodied intelligent agent over a virtual one irrespective of whether the agent has been deceptive or honest and even if this deception or honesty resulted in the individual gaining or losing money. Additionally, our results show that people are more averse to punishing intelligent agents, irrespective of the embodiment, which matches prior research in relation to human-human interaction. These results suggest that embodiment choices can have meaningful effects on the permissibility of deception conducted by intelligent agents.
Art of prevention: Practical tips for improving adherence to treatments for older patients in dermatology

Given demographic changes and increases in longevity, physicians will see increasing numbers of patients over the age of 65 years. As the population ages, adapting and optimizing patient care to better serve the needs of older patients should be a priority. The goal of this review is to shed light on potential barriers affecting treatment adherence and to improve clinical care for older adults with dermatologic conditions. We provide practical strategies to help overcome these barriers and provide suggestions to address the impact of functional limitations on topical medication adherence. Some less apparent risks of treatment, such as fall risks with topical treatments, are also discussed, along with issues such as cost of treatments and prescribing considerations for patients who reside in facilities.
Quality of life and safety impact of COVID-19 associated smell and taste disturbances.

Abstract Objective The association between COVID-19 and chemosensory loss has garnered substantial attention, however to date little is known about the real-life consequences of impairment in this unique patient population. The aim of this study is to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) and personal safety deficits experienced by patients with COVID-19 infection. Study design Prospective, longitudinal questionnaires. Setting National survey. Methods A longitudinal web-based nationwide survey of adults with COVID-19 and/or a sudden change in smell and taste was launched April 10, 2020. Previously published questions on chemosensory-related QOL and safety events were asked at the 6-month follow-up survey. Results As of February 10, 2021, 480 eligible respondents took the 6-month questionnaire, of whom 322 were COVID-19 positive. Impact on QOL was substantial with 96% of subjects reporting at least one of the defined deficits, and over 75% reporting at least 3 of these. “Reduced enjoyment of food” was the most common complaint (87%), while 43% of subjects self-reported depression. The prevalence of safety-related issues was common in this population, with over 57% reporting at least one, and 36% reporting 2 or more events. Of the events asked, the inability to smell smoke that others could perceive was the most common at 45%. Conclusions COVID-19 associated chemosensory losses have a real and substantial impact on both quality of life and safety, beyond mere inconvenience. The high prevalence of these issues despite a relatively short period of olfactory deficit should alert clinicians to the serious risks to an already vulnerable patient population.
Innovation Opportunities in Hungarian Rural Development

Acquiring new knowledge and competences is crucial in the success of individuals, enterprises, regions and countries, since knowledge may become obsolete very quickly. Besides technological development, innovation can be characterised by well organised, risk reducing systems and networks. Innovation in Hungarian rural development with the establishment of a knowledge-based, competitive and successful rural economy is crucial. In Hungarian agriculture and rural development the market based innovation system building on endogenous resources is not operating. The innovation chain is narrow and underdeveloped, the majority of the innovations implemented in rural areas are small-scale and – without knowledge, equity and business relationships – are not viable. Agricultural innovation development is the primary area of intervention to boost the competitiveness and value added of farms and food processing enterprises, the utilisation of renewable resources and ICT development. At the same time in rural development the establishment of partnerships aiming at innovation dissemination can create the value added.