cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dissociation of pacemakers located within the atrioventricular node

Abstract A case of dissociation within the A-V node with wandering of the upper nodal pacemaker and “double” nodal tachycardia is reported.
Solution of One- and Two-Phase Melting and Solidification Problems Imposed With Constant or Time-Variant Temperature and Flux Boundary Conditions

The solution of Stefan problems has been a subject of intense interest for years. Yet, there is still a lack of accurate methods for the solution of problems imposed with time-variant conditions. In fact, there has been an unsettled issue on the functional dependency of the interface position with time. It is thus the purpose of this paper to address this issue. In addition, the paper is offered to develop a unified approach for the solution of one- and two-phase melting or solidification problems in a semi-infinite domain imposed with constant or time-variant temperature or flux conditions.
23.1:Progress of the Interactive Information Display Tutorial on CD‐ROM

A CD-ROM Interactive Information Display Tutorial was created to supplement training in the sciences and engineering for those pursuing a career in display technology. As the display industry becomes more complex and interdisciplinary, additional training is becoming more essential as display engineers require a broad technical skill set.
Transient cranial neuropathies as sequelae of Onyx embolization of arteriovenous shunt lesions near the skull base: possible axonotmetic traction injuries

Introduction Transarterial embolization with Onyx is a relatively safe and increasingly common method of treating cranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVF) and arteriovenous malformations (AVM). Cranial neuropathy resulting from this procedure has been reported. Case reports Three case histories are presented in two patients treated for a DAVF and an AVM near the skull base with heavily parasitized supply from external carotid artery branches. Transarterial embolization resulted in transient cranial neuropathies including two cases of lower facial nerve palsy and one case of trigeminal nerve mandibular segment (V3) neuralgia which resolved spontaneously over a few months. Treatment of the DAVF and AVM was otherwise successful. Discussion The most common cranial neuropathies following transarterial Onyx embolization procedures are facial nerve palsy and V3 neuralgia. The middle meningeal and internal maxillary arteries are common conduits used in dural-based and facial arteriovenous shunt lesions and are in proximity to the facial nerve and maxillary segment of the trigeminal nerve as they exit the skull base. Based on their relative frequency and anatomic proximity, it is surmised that these facial neuropathies are traction-type injuries related to microcatheter extraction from the Onyx cast. Conclusions Cranial neuropathies, specifically facial nerve palsy and V3 neuralgia, following transarterial Onyx embolizations are probably axonotmetic traction injuries related to microcatheter extraction. These appear to be self-limiting and resolve over a few months.
Multi-sensor based impedance control for task execution

A unified control scheme for execution of robotic supervisory and shared control tasks using impedance control with multiple sensory inputs is presented. The control scheme has been designed to provide general Cartesian task execution capability for space telerobotics, both for contact and noncontact tasks. Multiple sensors can be utilized concurrently to enable the execution of a wide range of teleoperation, shared control, and autonomous control telerobotic tasks. Control is based on simultaneous inputs from a trajectory generator, teleoperation, dither generator, proximity sensor, and joint space joint limit and joint singularity avoidance, as well as inertia, damping and stiffness associated with impedance control and force control based on a reference force setpoint. >
Inverse Effectiveness and Multisensory Interactions in Visual Event-Related Potentials with Audiovisual Speech

In recent years, it has become evident that neural responses previously considered to be unisensory can be modulated by sensory input from other modalities. In this regard, visual neural activity elicited to viewing a face is strongly influenced by concurrent incoming auditory information, particularly speech. Here, we applied an additive-factors paradigm aimed at quantifying the impact that auditory speech has on visual event-related potentials (ERPs) elicited to visual speech. These multisensory interactions were measured across parametrically varied stimulus salience, quantified in terms of signal to noise, to provide novel insights into the neural mechanisms of audiovisual speech perception. First, we measured a monotonic increase of the amplitude of the visual P1-N1-P2 ERP complex during a spoken-word recognition task with increases in stimulus salience. ERP component amplitudes varied directly with stimulus salience for visual, audiovisual, and summed unisensory recordings. Second, we measured changes in multisensory gain across salience levels. During audiovisual speech, the P1 and P1-N1 components exhibited less multisensory gain relative to the summed unisensory components with reduced salience, while N1-P2 amplitude exhibited greater multisensory gain as salience was reduced, consistent with the principle of inverse effectiveness. The amplitude interactions were correlated with behavioral measures of multisensory gain across salience levels as measured by response times, suggesting that change in multisensory gain associated with unisensory salience modulations reflects an increased efficiency of visual speech processing.
Neuropsychological Consequences of Traumatic Brain Injury in Children and Adolescents

The study of the relationship between neuroscientific information and cognitive function and dysfunction is clearly a widely expanding field. In particular, there has been a growing body of research on traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children and adolescents. This article conveys recent findings concerning cognitive outcomes, with a particular focus on age differences with TBI, suggests a relationship between specific learning disorders and brain dysfunction, addresses differential hemisphere functioning with TBI, and alludes to recent developments in assessment of TBI.
A scalable distributed graph partitioner

We present Scalable Host-tree Embeddings for Efficient Partitioning (Sheep), a distributed graph partitioning algorithm capable of handling graphs that far exceed main memory. Sheep produces high quality edge partitions an order of magnitude faster than both state of the art offline (e.g., METIS) and streaming partitioners (e.g., Fennel). Sheep's partitions are independent of the input graph distribution, which means that graph elements can be assigned to processing nodes arbitrarily without affecting the partition quality.Sheep transforms the input graph into a strictly smaller elimination tree via a distributed map-reduce operation. By partitioning this tree, Sheep finds an upper-bounded communication volume partitioning of the original graph.We describe the Sheep algorithm and analyze its space-time requirements, partition quality, and intuitive characteristics and limitations. We compare Sheep to contemporary partitioners and demonstrate that Sheep creates competitive partitions, scales to larger graphs, and has better runtime.
The Missing Link: A Social Orphan Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

Social orphans are children living out of parental care. Their fates are many and varied, but in global terms they share common life circumstances of physical danger and psychic pain. In this article, the author presents a draft protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) on the subject of the social orphan as a human rights cohort. Building on her identification of this global cohort in an earlier article, and her critique of the weak and equivocal manner in which the UNCRC dealt with the issue of children living out of family care, the author seeks to move the intercountry adoption debate to a new level. The article presents the view that we can alter the fraught ideological debate over intercountry adoption versus other forms of care for social orphans by a new emphasis on access, accountability, and genuine permanency. It is argued that by through a process of honest and objective presentation of the facts on social orphans in various countries - how many there are, where they live, the conditions under which they live, how they have come to be in non-parental care - the proper role for intercountry adoption will become evident from these facts. The author argues that there must be a clear, easy to apply set of care options set out, with an unambiguous order of preference, based on the non-negotiable need for permanency and security in the child's life. The article expresses profound concern over the role of the United Nations in encouraging national policy makers to substitute foster care for institutional care when domestic or intercountry adoption may provide viable, and far better, alternatives.The Draft Protocol on Social Orphans, in the appendix to the article, sets out guidelines for the development of exactly such policies by national governments. The Draft Protocol recognizes that the UNCRC did not deal successfully with the enormous population of social orphans worldwide, and did not place a legal obligation on national governments to do everything within their power, and in a expeditious manner, to ensure alternative family life for children unable to reside in their families of origin. The Draft Protocol seeks to eliminate this legal deficit.
A Note on Parameter Estimate Comparability: Across Latent Classes in Mixture IRT Modeling

The use of mixture item response theory modeling is exemplified typically by comparing item profiles across different latent groups. The comparisons of item profiles presuppose that all model parameter estimates across latent classes are on a common scale. This note discusses the conditions and the model constraint issues to establish a common scale across latent classes.
Inheritance of the Albinistic Non-Conidial Characters in Interspecific Hybrids in Neurospora

Further experiments in crossing typical conidia 1 races of the Monilia bread mold, Neurospora sitophila, with albinistic non- conidial races of the species indicate that asci from such a mating are...
Service-Learning as Teacher Education

This research is based on four different service learning projects bringing together secondary students with future and current teachers for a once-weekly four-month after-school “intergenerational math circle”. Each group took on its own unique character with its own particular types of activities and goals, self-defined by the group participants. The chapter discusses service-learning as teacher education focusing on the changing role of assessment, on the ethics of service learning and on the horizon it may provide for future teachers.
Corporate social responsibility and employee volunteerism: What do the best companies do?

Abstract Employee volunteerism as a practice of corporate social responsibility aids corporations by strengthening employee satisfaction and retention internally and by strengthening corporate reputations and connections with stakeholders externally. Of particular interest are the specific practices and procedures used by companies to encourage and support volunteer activities of their employees. We reviewed publicly available documents of Fortune 's 100 Best Companies to Work For ranking to gain insight into how these best companies practice employee volunteerism and whether they link employee volunteerism to their corporate social responsibility strategy. We propose a connection of the position and importance of employee volunteerism in the corporate practices of social responsibility. Our findings suggest that many highly regarded companies specifically link employee volunteerism to their corporate social responsibility strategy. These companies also utilize similar practices to encourage and support employee volunteerism. We highlight the practices that managers could consider to support their corporate social responsibility efforts and offer several suggestions for future consideration.
Serum IL-17 Level in Infant Infectious Diarrhea and Ulcerative Colitis

Objective To investigate the significance of serum IL-17 in infectious diarrhea and lcerative colitis.Methods Serum IL-17 was detected by Flow Cytometry,including 35 cases of infectious diarrhea(10 cases of acute infectious diarrhea,15 of persistent infectious diarrhea and 10 of chronic infectious diarrhea),7 cases of ulcerative colitis(ulcerative colitis group)and 8 cases of healthy controls(negative control).Results 1.The serum IL-17 level of the infectious diarrhea and ulcerative colitis group was significantly higher than that of the control group(P0.05),and that of the ulcerative colitis group was higher than that of the infectious diarrhea group(P0.05).2.The serum IL-17 level in persistent infectious diarrhea and chronic infectious diarrhea was much higher than that of the control group(P0.01),and that in chronic infectious diarrhea was higher than that in acute infectious diarrhea(P0.01).Conclusion IL-17 participates in the pathogenesis of infectious diarrheal diseases and ulcerative colitis,and is closely related to the course of disease and the degree of inflammation,showing much higher serum IL-17 level in chronic infectious diarrhea and ulcerative colitis.
Seizure Correlates with Prolonged Hospital Stay, Increased Costs, and Increased Mortality in Nontraumatic Subdural Hematoma.

Background Nontraumatic subdural hematoma (NTSDH) is a common neurosurgical disease process, with mortality reported as high as 13%. Seizure has a known association with NTSDH, although patient outcomes have not previously been well studied in this population. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between in-hospital seizure and inpatient outcomes in NTSDH. Methods Using the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) database, we performed a retrospective cohort study of adults with a principal diagnosis of NTSDH ( International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision code 43.21) between 2011 and 2015. Patients with in-hospital seizure ( International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes 34500–34591, 78033, 78039) were compared with those without. Patients with a history of seizure before arrival were excluded. Patient demographics, hospital length of stay (LOS), intensive care unit stay, in-hospital mortality, and direct costs were recorded. Results A total 16,928 patients with NTSDH were identified. Mean age was 69.2 years, and 64.7% were male. In-hospital seizure was documented in 744 (4.40%) patients. Hospital LOS was 17.64 days in patients with seizure and 6.26 days in those without ( P P P Conclusions Seizure in patients with NTSDH correlates with significantly increased total LOS and increased mortality. Direct costs are similarly increased. Further studies accounting for effects of illness severity are necessary to validate these results.
A druggable target for rescuing microRNA defects.

Abstract Despite immense promise, development of microRNA (miRNA) therapeutics remains limited by pharmacodynamic challenges that have hindered progress of related oligonucleotide-based technologies. Recent discovery of enzymes that mediate miRNA metabolism represent potential pharmacological targets for directing miRNA function, circumventing barriers associated with oligonucleotides. We previously identified the Translin/Trax (TN/TX) ribonuclease complex as a pre-miRNA degrading enzyme that competes with pre-miRNA processing by Dicer. Here, we establish a high-throughput TN/TX assay and screened 2320 drug and natural product compounds for inhibitors of TN/TX. Secondary analyses demonstrate small molecule mediated inhibition of pre-miRNA degradation by TN/TX and enhanced miRNA processing by Dicer. This application of traditional enzyme-inhibitor pharmacology to the miRNA pathway establishes a druggable target for rescuing global miRNA defects, providing an important complement to current approaches towards miRNA therapeutics. More broadly, demonstrating feasibility of pharmacological targeting of the ‘ribonucleome’ is particularly important given emerging classes of regulatory RNA and growing understanding of their importance in health and disease.
Indium Nitride as novel THz-radiation source for time-domain THz-systems

We report an experimental study of femtosecond near-infrared optically excited THz-emission from InN thin films grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) on sapphire substrates. THz-emission was investigated as a function of structural as well as electronic properties such as types of buffer layer, film thickness, electron mobilities, electron concentrations and doping of the InN with Si and Mg atoms. The THz-emission mechanism in InN has been analyzed. Ultrafast transient currents are identified as dominant THz-emission mechanisms. Ultrafast carrier recombination is identified as a limiting factor of THz-emission from n-type InN: Si.
Associations of Parent Health Behaviors and Parenting Practices with Sleep Duration in Overweight and Obese Children.

Study Objectives:To examine the extent to which parent health behaviors and parenting practices are associated with school-age children's sleep duration.Methods:We surveyed 790 parents of children,...
Persistent Operating Losses and Corporate Financial Policies

Among U.S. firms, operating losses have become substantially more prevalent, persistent, and greater in magnitude since 1970. Loss firms now comprise over 30% of the Compustat universe and such losses continue for a median of four years. We find that firms with negative operating cash flows account for more than half of the rise in average cash balances over the sample period, with average cash holdings increasing by 615% for negative cash flow firms vs. 95% for positive cash flow firms. Further, firms exhibiting operating losses now comprise the majority of equity issuers. These issuers stockpile most of the funds raised in the issue and use these funds to cover subsequent operating losses. We conclude that the immediate and expected ongoing liquidity needs of firms with persistent operating losses have substantially altered corporate financial policies.
Chapter 4 – The Architecture of the Agora Environment

Agora is an environment that supports the construction of large, evolutionary programs that manipulate complex data structures, e.g., problem solving systems. Agora can be customized to support the computational model that is most suitable for a given application. Agora has been designed explicitly to support multiple languages and highly parallel computations by means of memory caching and pattern directed invocation. Systems built with Agora can be executed on a variety of general purpose multiprocessor architectures.
A framework to mitigate airliner risk in air traffic management

Threatened by hijacking or suicide-by-pilots, the airliner may either crash itself or be shot down due to its potential for suicide attack. To save persons on board, some researches allow air traffic controllers or federal agents to take over authority for airliner piloting. Though rarely, an air traffic controller may possibly misuse this privilege and then attack airliners, too. In this paper, to mitigate such risks , we propose a framework which is composed of a few critical components based on existing cryptographic schemes. Experiments are designed to simulate the real world cases and results demonstrate that our solution is efficient and feasible for current air traffic management.
High levels of local inter- and intra-host genetic variation of West Nile virus and evidence of fine-scale evolutionary pressures.

Abstract West Nile virus (WNV; Flaviviridae, Flavivirus) has been endemic in New York State (NYS) since its 1999 introduction, yet prevalence in Culex mosquitoes varies substantially over small spatial and temporal scales. It is unclear if viral genetics plays a role in this variability, as genetic and phenotypic characterization on local scales has generally been lacking. In addition, intrahost diversity of circulating strains have not been fully characterized despite the documented role of minority variants in viral fitness and virulence. In an effort to characterize WNV variability within epidemiologically relevant scales, we performed phylogenetic analyses on NYS isolates from 1999 to 2012. In addition, we performed full-genome, deep-sequencing and genetic analyses on 15 WNV strains isolated in 2012 from Cx. pipiens in an endemic focus of Suffolk County, NY. Our results indicate continued evolution and seasonal maintenance in NYS, yet also widespread mixing and high levels of genetic diversity within geographic foci and individual seasons. Well supported local clusters with shared amino acid differences were identified and suggest local evolutionary pressures and the potential for phenotypic variability. Intrahost diversity of focal isolates was also high, with polymorphism at levels > 1.0% identified in approximately 10% of the WNV genome. Although most minority mutations were unique, mutational hotspots shared among local isolates were identified, particularly in C, NS1 and NS2A genes. The most polymorphic region, positions 3198–3388 of the NS1 gene, was comprised predominately of non-synonymous mutations, suggesting a selective advantage for amino acid diversity in this region.
Neurobiological mechanisms of state-dependent learning

State-dependent learning (SDL) is a phenomenon relating to information storage and retrieval restricted to discrete states. While extensively studied using psychopharmacological approaches, SDL has not been subjected to rigorous neuroscientific study. Here we present an overview of approaches historically used to induce SDL, and highlight some of the known neurobiological mechanisms, in particular those related to inhibitory neurotransmission and its regulation by microRNAs (miR). We also propose novel cellular and circuit mechanisms as contributing factors. Lastly, we discuss the implications of advancing our knowledge on SDL, both for most fundamental processes of learning and memory as well as for development and maintenance of psychopathology.
Dose of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers and Outcomes in Heart Failure: A Meta-Analysis

Background The association between angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) doses on outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction is uncertain. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of dose of ACEI and ARBs on outcomes and drug discontinuation in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction. Methods and Results MEDLINE, Ovid SP, and Embase were searched from the inception of these databases till August 2016. Randomized controlled trials that compared high doses of ACEI or ARB against low doses among patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction were included. Pooled analysis was done using a random-effects model, and quality of the studies was assessed by JADAD scale. The main outcomes were all-cause mortality and drug discontinuation. A total of 6 studies (4841 patients in low-dose and 4330 patients in high-dose groups) were included. Compared with low dose, high-dose ACEI or ARBs decreased all-cause mortality modestly (relative risk, 0.94; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.89–1.00; P =0.05; I 2 =0%) and composite of HF hospitalizations and all-cause mortality (relative risk, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.87–1.00; P =0.04; I 2 =39.8%). No significant difference was found between the 2 groups in HF hospitalizations (relative risk, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.70–1.26; P =0.68; I 2 =52.8%) and all-cause hospitalizations (relative risk, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.85–1.11; P =0.67; I 2 =31.7%) risk. Discontinuation rates were also not significantly different in both groups (odds ratio, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.92–1.39; P =0.25; I 2 =32.6%). Conclusions In patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction, compared with lower doses, higher doses of ACEI and ARB significantly though modestly improved the composite end point of all-cause mortality or HF hospitalization without significantly increasing the chances of discontinuation.
A Home Visiting Parenting Program and Child Obesity: A Randomized Trial

BACKGROUND: Young children living in historically marginalized families are at risk for becoming adolescents with obesity and subsequently adults with increased obesity-related morbidities. These risks are particularly acute for Hispanic children. We hypothesized that the prevention-focused, socioecological approach of the “Minding the Baby” (MTB) home visiting program might decrease the rate of childhood overweight and obesity early in life. METHODS: This study is a prospective longitudinal cohort study in which we include data collected during 2 phases of the MTB randomized controlled trial. First-time, young mothers who lived in medically underserved communities were invited to participate in the MTB program. Data were collected on demographics, maternal mental health, and anthropometrics of 158 children from birth to 2 years. RESULTS: More children in the intervention group had a healthy BMI at 2 years. The rate of obesity was significantly higher ( P CONCLUSIONS: Using the MTB program, we significantly lowered the rate of obesity among 2-year-old children living in low-socioeconomic-status communities. In addition, children of Hispanic mothers were less likely to have overweight or obesity at 2 years. Given the high and disproportionate national prevalence of Hispanic young children with overweight and obesity and the increased costs of obesity-related morbidities, these findings have important clinical, research, and policy implications.
Regional Geophysical Data on a Compact Disk

ABSTRACT The “Geophysics of North America” compact disk project was an outgrowth of research and compilation of regional studies data. For more than a decade, scientists, their professional societies (i.e., SEG and GSA), and their governments (i.e., U.S., Canada, and Mexico) have been working toward a consolidated collection of land and marine geophysical data for North America. Much of this important compilation was done under the auspices of the Geological Society of America's Decade of North American Geology - including topography, magnetics, gravity, earthquake seismology, crustal stress, and thermal aspect data. Applications for this data compilation include the analysis of regional trends, such as the removal of long wavelength fields from a more detailed set of data, or the analysis of interrelationships between gravity and magnetics in comparison with topography or earthquake seismicity. The compact disk format was selected because it represents a state-of-the-art medium that is capable of storing a large quantity of data, whereas providing easy and cost-effective retrieval in a workstation environment. To encourage innovative use of the data, accession software was developed that simplifies data selection. The software also allows the user to obtain “quick-look” retrievals of the data– complete with geographic references, color raster images, data contour overlays, and data profiles. The software employs modern user interfaces such as pull-down windows and on-line documentation. Innovative access utilities, including geographic partitioning and indexing of data, increase the speed of the access.
Isolation and characterization of a persistent potassium current in neostriatal neurons

1. Depolarization-activated, calcium-independent potassium (K+) currents were studied with the use of whole cell voltage-clamp recording from neostriatal neurons acutely isolated from adult (> or =...
Gustatory and Olfactory Systems

The taste receptors are the sense organs maximally sensitive to the chemical composition of foods as transmitted through direct contact. However, the eating experience represents a complex interaction of a variety of sensations in addition to taste. Food preferences, aversions, and desire reflect the joint influence of taste with the tactile, visual, and olfactory senses. In addition, eating takes place in a social milieu, and the interpersonal relations and overall “atmosphere” of this milieu can add to or detract from the enjoyment of a meal.
A ROBUST VERSION OF THE ELIMINATION LEMMA

Abstract In this paper we extend the elimination lemma to hold for a set of inequalities. The elimination lemma is a linear algebra result which has been successfully used to solve a large number of filtering and control problems. We show that the obtained extension can be used to provide alternative solutions to robust state feedback control and robust filtering problems when the uncertainty is described by a convex polytope. We also investigate some conjectures which, if true, would be able to solve an open problem in dynamic output feedback robust control. We provide counter-examples to these conjectures.
Reply to "Bacterial Proliferation May Be the Key Component of Sepsis Mortality".

In response to the letter by de Tymowski et al. ([1][1]) regarding our publication ([2][2]), we are happy that our study provides an open, fruitful discussion that is important to the scientific community. Sepsis is a condition that affects many people worldwide every year. Its consequences are
2018 IELA Award Winners - Business and Industry Division

This announcement lists the winners of the 2018 IELA Awards, Business and Industry Division
Neurolastin, a dynamin family GTPase, translocates to mitochondria upon neuronal stress and alters mitochondrial morphology in vivo

Neurolastin is a dynamin family GTPase that also contains a RING domain and exhibits both GTPase and E3 ligase activities. It is specifically expressed in the brain and is important for synaptic transmission, as neurolastin knockout animals have fewer dendritic spines and exhibit a reduction in functional synapses. Our initial study of neurolastin revealed that it is membrane-associated and partially co-localizes with endosomes. Using various biochemical and cell-culture approaches, we now show that neurolastin also localizes to mitochondria in HeLa cells, cultured neurons, and brain tissue. We found that the mitochondrial localization of neurolastin depends upon an N-terminal mitochondrial targeting sequence and that neurolastin is imported into the mitochondrial intermembrane space. Although neurolastin was only partially mitochondrially localized at steady state, it displayed increased translocation to mitochondria in response to neuronal stress and mitochondrial fragmentation. Interestingly, inactivation or deletion of neurolastin's RING domain also increased its mitochondrial localization. Using EM, we observed that neurolastin knockout animals have smaller but more numerous mitochondria in cerebellar Purkinje neurons, indicating that neurolastin regulates mitochondrial morphology. We conclude that the brain-specific dynamin GTPase neurolastin exhibits stress-responsive localization to mitochondria and is required for proper mitochondrial morphology.
Microbiota in pancreatic health and disease: the next frontier in microbiome research

Diseases intrinsic to the pancreas such as pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer and type 1 diabetes mellitus impart substantial health and financial burdens on society but identification of novel mechanisms contributing to these pathologies are slow to emerge. A novel area of research suggests that pancreatic-specific disorders might be modulated by the gut microbiota, either through a local (direct pancreatic influence) or in a remote (nonpancreatic) fashion. In this Perspectives, we examine literature implicating microorganisms in diseases of the pancreas, specifically pancreatitis, type 1 diabetes mellitus and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. We also discuss evidence of an inherent pancreatic microbiota and the influence of the intestinal microbiota as it relates to disease association and development. In doing so, we address pitfalls in the current literature and areas of investigation that are needed to advance a developing field of research that has clinical potential to reduce the societal burden of pancreatic diseases.
Characterization of metastatic spinal cord compression from prostate cancer.

248Background: Spinal cord compression (SCC) is one of the most debilitating conditions in metastatic prostate cancer patients (pts). A comprehensive analysis of pts could shed lights on predisposi...
Integrated Multimodal Optical Imaging for Automated Real-Time Clinical Evaluation of Oral Lesions

Preliminary results are presented from a clinical study in which an integrated multimodal optical imaging system (combining autofluorescence imaging and high-resolution microendoscopy) is used for real-time automated in vivo evaluation of oral lesions.
Sanctioned Radicals: Comparing Collective Organizing Around Race and Gender Inside Organizations

In response to ongoing race and gender inequality, racial minorities and women have often collectively organized around their identities to create more inclusive workplaces. Although both groups ar...
Respiratory-Associated Firing of Midbrain and Thalamic Neurons: Possible Relation to Sensation of Dyspnea

Although suprapontine brain is not necessary for normal breathing patterns and responses to chemical and other stimuli, it is known that neurons in the mesencephalon and thalamus do under some conditions develop a rhythmic pattern of firing that has the timing of the respiratory cycle1, 2. We became interested in the question because of observations we had made in unanesthetized, decerebrate, vagotomized cats. Some mesencephalic neurons, which fired irregularly or tonically when Pco2 was low and phrenic activity small, developed a respiratory-linked rhythm when respiratory activity had been increased by electrical stimulation of a carotid sinus nerve. The present studies were designed to investigate systematically the characteristics and source of the respiratory-associated neuronal rhythm3, 4.
Veteran Perspectives of Barriers and Facilitators to Campaigns Promoting Help Seeking During Crisis

The objective of this paper is to characterize barriers and facilitators reported by U.S. military veterans related to campaigns promoting help seeking during suicidal crisis. Individual telephone interviews (N = 40) were conducted from August 2018-April 2019 with a sample of veterans who had a recent non-fatal suicide attempt. Interview transcripts were analyzed using a constant comparison analytic strategy. Participants reported the four facilitators to message effectiveness: (a) potential reach of specific channels; (b) interruption of suicidal thoughts; (c) normalizing the suicidal experience and help seeking; and (d) modeling desired behavior change. Barriers that hindered campaigns were also identified and include (a) broad messages, (b) challenges in cognitive processing, (c) media avoidance and (d) a boomerang effect. This study underscores the significance of involving those with lived experience to identify factors that may improve or hinder message effectiveness.
Disability in Computer Science Education

Students with disabilities face a variety of challenges including those related to stigma around disability, inaccessible tools and instruction, disability disclosure, and a lack of mentors. This BOF will bring together individuals who are interested in increasing the representation of students with disabilities in computing and improving their success. Participants will share strategies to help each other do a better job of including these students in our classes and research projects. Resources related to accessible tools and instruction, universal design of learning, opportunities for students, and more will be shared.
Proposed 'Defend Elections and National Democracy' (DEFEND) Act

This paper presents a brief and simple proposed Act of Congress which would block all state restrictions on voting rights, or other state laws affecting federal elections, enacted after January 6, 2021, unless such laws were enacted with bipartisan support. This would have the effect, in one fell swoop, of blocking and invalidating any and all partisan and abusive state legislation (whether Republican-sponsored or Democratic-sponsored) attacking voting rights or threatening election integrity. It would also effectively block any state map seeking to "gerrymander" districts for the U.S. House of Representatives on a partisan basis, with an express exemption allowing redistricting to proceed as usual in the ten states currently using independent nonpartisan or bipartisan districting commissions or procedures (Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, Virginia, and Washington), and a provision encouraging other states to adopt similar commissions.
Practical Management of Prepartum Anionic Diets for Dairy Cattle

Feeding anionic diets to prepartum dairy cows has become a common strategy to prevent parturient paresis. However, implementing anionic diets in the field is challenging. Feeding anionic salts will help prevent parturient paresis (Block 1984, Dishington 1975, Oetzel et al 1988) and perhaps improve calcium homeostasis by increasing ionized calcium levels at parturition (Oetzel et al, 1988, Beede et al, 1992), but the mechanism of action of the anionic salts has not been clearly defined. Since the mechanism of action is not defined a number of questions arise during manipulation of the dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD).
Push-On Push-Off: A Compliant Bistable Gripper with Mechanical Sensing and Actuation

Grasping is an essential task in robotic applications and is an open challenge due to the complexity and uncertainty of contact interactions. In order to achieve robust grasping, systems typically rely on precise actuators and reliable sensing in order to control the contact state. We propose an alternative design paradigm that leverages contact and a compliant bistable mechanism in order to achieve "sensing" and "actuation" purely mechanically. To grasp an object, the manipulator holding our end effector presses the bistable mechanism into the object until snap-through causes the gripper to enclose it. To release the object, the tips of the gripper are pushed against the ground, until rotation of the linkages causes snap-through in the other direction. This push-on push-off scheme reduces the complexity of the grasping task by allowing the manipulator to automatically achieve the correct grasping behavior as long as it can get the end effector to the correct location and apply sufficient force. We present our dynamic model for the bistable gripping mechanism, propose an optimized result, and demonstrate the functionality of the concept on a fabricated prototype. We discuss our stiffness tuning strategy for the 3D printed springs, and verify the snap-through behavior of the system using compression tests on an MTS machine.
Person-Centered Goal Setting: A Systematic Review of Intervention Components and Level of Active Engagement in Rehabilitation Goal-Setting Interventions.

Abstract Objective This systematic review aims to examine (1) what components are used in current person-centered goal-setting interventions for adults with health conditions in rehabilitation and (2) the extent to which the engagement of people in their rehabilitation goal setting is encouraged. Data Sources PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception to November 2020. Study Selection Primary inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed articles that evaluated person-centered goal-setting interventions for adults with health conditions in rehabilitation. Two independent reviewers screened 28,294 records, and 22 articles met inclusion criteria. Data Extraction Two reviewers independently completed data extraction and quality assessment using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDRo) scale based on the original authors’ descriptions, reports, and protocol publications. Any discrepancies were resolved by consensus or in consultation with another senior reviewer. Data Synthesis Using narrative synthesis, we found that current person-centered goal setting has variability in their inclusion of intervention components. A considerable number of components are underimplemented in current practice, with formulation of coping plan and follow-up being most commonly left out. The active engagement of people does appear to be promoted within the components that are included in the interventions. Nine studies were high-quality defined as a total PEDro scale score of 6 or above. Conclusions Although current person-centered goal setting encourages the active engagement of people, many of these interventions lack components considered important for supporting goal achievement and optimal outcomes. Future practice may be improved by incorporating a comprehensive set of goal-setting components and encouraging the active engagement of people throughout the entire goal-setting process. Together, these practices may facilitate the achievement of meaningful rehabilitation goals and improve rehabilitation outcomes for adults with health conditions.
English Nuns and the Law in the Middle Ages: Cloistered Nuns and Their Lawyers, 1293-1540

In late medieval England, cloistered nuns, like all substantial property owners, engaged in nearly constant litigation to defend their holdings. They did so using attorneys (proctors), advocates and other "men of law" who actually conducted that litigation in the courts of Church and Crown. However, although lawyers were as crucial to the economic vitality of the nunneries as the patrons who endowed them, their role in protecting, augmenting or depleting monastic assets has never been fully investigated. This book aims to address the gap. Using records from the courts of the common law, Chancery, and a variety of ecclesiastical venues, it examines the working relationships without which cloistered nuns could not have lived in fully enclosed but self-sustainingc communities. In the first part it looks at the six mendicant and Bridgettine houses established in England, and relates the effectiveness and resilience of their cloistered spirituality to the rise of legal professionalism in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. It then presents cases from ecclesiastical and royal courts which illustrate the work of legal professionals on behalf of their clients. Elizabeth Makowski is Ingram Professor of History, Texas State University.
PROGRESS IN THE STUDY OF "MUCOVISCIDOSIS" (PANCREATIC FIBROSIS) With Illustrative Case Presentations

IN ACCEPTING the first Mead Johnson Award for the year 1949, I should like to thank those who give it and those who have participated with me in the investigation of nutritional disorders, and particularly of the disease pancreatic fibrosis. I should like to acknowledge the assistance received from Dr. Paul R. Patterson who has been associated with me in most of our studies during the past three years. Dr. May left the Children9s Hospital in Boston over three years ago; it is a pleasure to be reunited with him here and to share this honor. Dr. May and I agreed that it would be difficult for us to attempt a presentation which would cover our independent activities. Instead, I should like to thank him for giving me this opportunity to tell you about some of our recent observations at the Children9s Hospital. The advantages of working in an institution, in which a vast amount of energy has been expended over a long period of time in the study of pancreatic fibrosis, is quite obvious. The person most responsible for this activity and progress is Dr. Sidney Farber who has clearly presented a theory concerning the nature of the disease which after many years is being generally accepted. In 1941, he was able to refer to an experience of over 150 patients exhibiting the celiac syndrome studied at post mortem over an 18 year period. Until recently and with rare exceptions all patients with proved pancreatic fibrosis have died. Nevertheless, I should like to suggest that we have much to gain if we discard the prevailing pessimistic attitude toward this disease (pancreatic fibrosis).
Assessing Suitability of MSW Applicants through Objective Scoring of Personal Statements

In this study a refined instrument for scoring social work school applicants’ personal statements was tested, and its effectiveness measured against field outcomes of admitted students. Inter-rater reliability of the instrument was below .70, the lower bound of recommended reliability, suggesting that it did not promote consistent ratings among paired raters. Field outcomes were not found to be highly correlated with personal statement scores or with undergraduate GPA. Undergraduate GPA was found to be positively related to graduate GPA. Implications for specifying valid and reliable suitability criteria and for using personal statements in admissions decisions are explored.
XPM and FWM in OFDM optical systems

Summary form only given. Cross-phase modulation (XPM) and four-wave mixing (FWM) are two of the most important sources of nonlinear crosstalk in multi-wavelength fiber-optic systems and their effects are generally proportional to signal optical power and inversely proportional to the channel spacing. In OFDM and OSCM systems, the channel spacing can be as narrow as a few Gigahertz, which is comparable to the data rate but the optical power per channel is also low. We assume that the aggregated total data rate is 100 Gbit/s, the total optical bandwidth is 1000 GHz (/spl sim/8 nm), the total optical power is 10 mW after each optical amplifier and each wavelength channel has the same optical power and data rate. We use the Gaussian approximation for nonlinear crosstalk due to XPM and FWM and for evaluating their standard deviations normalized to the optical signal.
MCSS-based predictions of RNA binding sites

The diversity of RNA tertiary structures provides the basis for specific recognition by proteins or small molecules. To investigate the structural basis and the energetics which control RNA-ligand interactions, favorable RNA binding sites are identified using the MCSS method, which has been employed previously only for protein receptors. Two different RNAs for which the structures have been determined by NMR spectroscopy were examined: two structures of the TAR RNA which contains an arginine binding site, and the structure of the 16S rRNA which contains an aminoglycoside binding site (paromomycin). In accord with the MCSS methodology, the functional groups representing the entire ligand or only part of it (one residue in the case of the aminoglycosides) are first replicated and distributed with random positions and orientations around the target and then energy minimized in the force field of the target RNA. The Coulombic term and the dielectric constant of the force field are adjusted to approximate the effects of solvent-screening and counterions. Optimal force field parameters are determined to reproduce the binding mode of arginine to the TAR RNA. The more favorable binding sites for each residue of the aminoglycoside ligands are then calculated and compared with the binding sites observed experimentally. The predictability of the method is evaluated and refinements are proposed to improve its accuracy.