cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prognostic utility of novel biomarkers of cardiovascular stress in patients with aortic stenosis undergoing valve replacement

Objective In heart failure populations without aortic stenosis (AS), the prognostic utility of multiple biomarkers in addition to clinical factors has been demonstrated. We aimed to determine whether multiple biomarkers of cardiovascular stress are associated with mortality in patients with AS undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) independent of clinical factors. Methods From a prospective registry of patients with AS, 345 participants who were referred for and treated with AVR (transcatheter (n=183) or surgical (n=162)) were included. Eight biomarkers were measured on blood samples obtained prior to AVR: growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), soluble ST2 (sST2), amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP), galectin-3, high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T, myeloperoxidase, high-sensitivity C reactive protein and monocyte chemotactic protein-1. Biomarkers were evaluated based on median value (high vs low) in a Cox proportional hazards model for all-cause mortality and a parsimonious group of biomarkers selected. Mean follow-up was 1.9±1.2 years; 91 patients died. Results Three biomarkers (GDF15, sST2 and NTproBNP) were retained in the model. One-year mortality was 5%, 12%, 18% and 33% for patients with 0 (n=79), 1 (n=96), 2 (n=87) and 3 (n=83) biomarkers elevated, respectively (p Conclusions These findings demonstrate the potential utility of multiple biomarkers to aid in risk stratification of patients with AS. Further studies are needed to evaluate their utility in clinical decision-making in specific AS populations.
Spillovers from China Onto Sub-Saharan Africa: Insights from the Flexible System of Global Models (FSGM)

What is the impact of economic spillovers from China on sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)? This is an increasingly important question because of China's growing economic role as a partner of SSA countries for both trade and the buildup of infrastructure in the region. The impact of spillovers from China has been an open question because of the challenge to use an internally consistent framework with solid economic foundations that accounts for both the direct impact China may have on individual countries in SSA through a variety of channels (trade, investment, financial) as well as the impact on the region through the global economy (economic activity and commodity prices). This paper explores those channels of transmission and provides illustrative order of magnitude for the short- and medium-term economic impact by using AFRMOD, a module of the Flexible System of Global Models (FSGM), a multicountry general equilibrium model developed at the IMF. Three alternative scenarios are considered: first, lower potential output in China that is originally misperceived as a temporary cyclical slowdown; second, structural reforms in China that aim to increase potential output; and third, a relocation of low-end manufacturing to sub-Saharan Africa.
A visible colorimetric sensor based on nanoporous polypropylene fiber membranes for the determination of trihalomethanes in treated drinking water

Abstract Water is an integral part of our society, and it is of the utmost importance that this water is clean and safe for potable use. Drinking water sources can become contaminated with halogenated organic compounds (HOCs) via improper disposal of refrigeration or air conditioning units, industrial usage, and even through the disinfection of our drinking water (chlorination). One class of these HOCs regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) is trihalomethanes (THMs). THMs have been found to cause adverse health effects and can even be carcinogenic, they are limited to 80 ppb in treated water by the USEPA. Currently THM concentrations are detected in treated water using expensive analytical equipment, which have high sensitivity, but lack any portability or ease-of-use. Here we show a syndiotactic polypropylene (sPP) nanoporous electrospun fiber membrane capable of visible colorimetric detection of trihalomethanes (THMs) at environmentally relevant levels (ppb-scale), without a separate preconcentration step. The developed detection method includes a two-fold preconcentration technique coupled with a colorimetric detection reaction, integrated into a single sensor device. Here, the utilization of the colorimetric Fujiwara reaction serves as the detection reaction. This long-studied reaction has a response that is normally limited to a beaker scale visible detection range on the order of 80 ppm THMs, when a separate preconcentration step is not present. The two-fold integrated preconcentration technique consists of a thermodynamic method based on the utilization of the THM: water equilibrium in the vapor phase of the system as well as a physical method using a sPP nanoporous membrane capable of concentrating THMs in a contaminated aqueous sample. The developed device has successfully lowered the portable single-step visible THM detection concentration by an order of magnitude (80 ppm → 80 ppb). This sensor was also successfully applied for the determination of the total THM (t-THM) concentration in spiked and actual treated water samples, and these results correlated well with the GC/MS results of the corresponding sample, showing its real world applicability.
Sonographic Detection of Extracapsular Extension in Papillary Thyroid Cancer

OBJECTIVES To identify and evaluate sonographic features suggestive of extracapsular extension in papillary thyroid cancer. METHODS Three board-certified radiologists blinded to the final pathologic tumor stage reviewed sonograms of pathologically proven cases of papillary thyroid cancer for the presence of extracapsular extension. The radiologists evaluated the following features: capsular abutment, bulging of the normal thyroid contour, loss of the echogenic capsule, and vascularity extending beyond the capsule. RESULTS A total of 129 cases of pathologically proven thyroid cancer were identified. Of these, 51 were excluded because of lack of preoperative sonography, and 16 were excluded because of pathologic findings showing anaplastic carcinoma, follicular carcinoma, or microcarcinoma (<10 mm). The final analysis group consisted of 62 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma, 16 of whom had pathologically proven extracapsular extension. The presence of capsular abutment had 100% sensitivity for detection of extracapsular extension. Conversely, lack of capsular abutment had a 100% negative predictive value (NPV) for excluding extracapsular extension. Contour bulging had 88% sensitivity for detection of extracapsular extension and when absent had an 87% NPV. Loss of the echogenic capsule was the best predictor of the presence of extracapsular extension, with an odds ratio of 10.23 (P = .034). This sonographic finding had 75% sensitivity, 65% specificity, and an 88% NPV. Vascularity beyond the capsule had 89% specificity but sensitivity of only 25%. CONCLUSIONS Sonographic features of capsular abutment, contour bulging, and loss of the echogenic thyroid capsule have excellent predictive value for excluding or detecting extracapsular extension and may help in biopsy selection, surgical planning, and treatment of patients with papillary thyroid cancer.
Hepadna Viruses: Hepatitis B and Related Viruses

The discovery of Australia antigen in human serum by Blumberg et al. (1965) and its subsequent association with viral hepatitis led to the identification and characterization of one of the most common and interesting human hepatitis viruses, hepatitis B virus (HBV). Australia antigen is now known to be a viral-specified antigen found on the surface of hepatitis B virions and it is currently known as hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). The development of serologic tests for HBV antigens and their respective antibodies made possible the recognition that HBV has a worldwide distribution and that infection rates in some parts of the world are extremely high.
Impacts of incorporation of follicle stimulating hormone into an estrous synchronization protocol for timed artificial insemination of crossbred beef cattle

One-hundred-eighty crossbred beef cows and 66 crossbred beef heifers across three locations were stratified by body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), and age (within location) to evaluate administration of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) on Day 2 using a modified 7-day CO-Synch plus CIDR(®) protocol (Day 0=CIDR insertion) with timed-artificial insemination (TAI) at 72 h (cows) or 54 h (heifers) following CIDR removal. Estrous response following CIDR removal was determined using an Estrotect patch and TAI and final pregnancy rates were determined by transrectal ultrasonography 42-45 days following TAI and ≥ 45 days following removal of clean-up bulls. Estrous response rate, TAI and final pregnancy rates for cows were not affected (P ≥ 0.65) by treatment. Cows that exhibited estrus had greater (P<0.01) TAI pregnancy rate (66%) than cows not exhibiting estrus (38%). There was an estrous response by postpartum length interaction (P=0.02) where cows exhibiting estrus and ≥ 55 days postpartum had greater TAI pregnancy rates (75%) compared to cows not exhibiting estrus and < 55 days postpartum (39%) or ≥ 55 days postpartum (28%). For heifers, timed AI (P=0.46) and final pregnancy rates (P=0.45) were similar across treatments and estrous response had no effect (P=0.30) on TAI pregnancy rates. In conclusion, the addition of FSH to the CO-Synch plus CIDR estrous synchronization protocol did not increase TAI pregnancy rates in beef cows or heifers. However, a positive estrous response to the synchronization protocol was associated with increased TAI pregnancy rates in cows.
Delocalization of charge and electron density in the humulyl cation—implications for terpene biosynthesis.

The stabilizing features of a macrocyclic sesquiterpene-derived cation were explored using quantum mechanical calculations. The monocyclic humulyl cation, the product of 11,1-cyclization of farnesyl diphosphate, is the product of the first committed step in the enzymatic synthesis of a range of structurally diverse sesquiterpenes, including humulene (monocyclic); caryophyllene (bicyclic); and protoilludene, pentalenene, and isocomene (tricyclic). These natural products are formed via carbocation cascades that are directed in part by the conformation of the humulyl cation. Understanding the mechanistic details of product formation requires an understanding of the conformational preferences of this fundamental intermediate. Replacing the carbocation with borane (preserving π-accepting capabilities), ammonium (preserving positive charge), and methylene (preserving neither π-accepting capabilities nor charge) provides a systematic method to distinguish electrostatic and orbital effects on structure and intern...
A Contribution to the Knowledge of the Bionomics of Bremus Americanorum (Fabr.). (Hymenoptera).

This paper is the third of a series of papers dealing with the biology of species of bumblebees found in Illinois. In the first paper (1928), the salient features of the bionomics of Bremus bimaculatus (Cresson) were recorded in a more or less detailed manner and much information presented regarding methods and technique. The second paper (1929) deals with the biology of Bremus impatiens (Cresson). For details regarding how much of the data used in this paper were secured, the reader should consult my two previous papers of this series, particularly the first one of 1928.
Visceral Herpesvirus Infections in Patients with Cancer

Visceral lesions consistent with either herpes simplex or varicella-zoster infection were recognized at autopsy of 31 patients with cancer. An antemortem diagnosis based on skin lesions was made in ten cases, but more widespread disease was not usually considered. Herpesvirus infection did not appear to be related temporally to the development of leukopenia, hypoalbuminemia, hypogammaglobulinemia, or various forms of therapy, although any of these may have been important factors in a given case. Herpetic infection may predispose to establishment of monilial esophagitis. The evolution of herpetic lesions frequently involved local thrombosis and featured various degrees of hemorrhagic and infarctive necrosis at the sites of infection.
Ectopic pregnancy; review of 189 cases.

In a 16 year period at the University of Virginia Hospital, there were 189 proved cases of tubal pregnancy, for an incidence of 0.68 per cent or 1 in 149 deliveries. The mortality rate was 0.53 per cent. Cases in which laparotomy and colpotomy were performed because ectopic pregnancy was suspected totaled 437. Only 33 operations failed to disclose some abnormality.Posterior colpotomy is a valuable diagnostic procedure when typical signs of ectopic pregnancy are absent. There should be no delay in visualizing and palpating the pelvic viscera when one suspects the condition; considering the disaster contingent upon failure to recognize it, one need not apologize for normal operative findings.Abdominal or pelvic pain was the most consistent symptom, and pelvic tenderness the most reliable sign. An adnexal mass was noted at physical examination in only 102 of the 189 cases, and in 15 of these the tubal disease was discovered on the opposite side.
Learning by (video) example: a randomized study of communication skills training for end-of-life and error disclosure family care conferences

Abstract Background Teaching residents to lead end of life (EOL) and error disclosure (ED) conferences is important. Methods We developed and tested an intervention using videotapes of EOL and error disclosure encounters from previous Objective Structured Clinical Exams. Residents ( n = 72) from general and orthopedic surgery programs at 2 sites were enrolled. Using a prospective, pre-post, block group design with stratified randomization, we hypothesized the treatment group would outperform the control on EOL and ED cases. We also hypothesized that online course usage would correlate positively with post-test scores. Results All residents improved (pre-post). At the group level, treatment effects were insignificant, and post-test performance was unrelated to course usage. At the subgroup level for EOL, low performers assigned to treatment scored higher than controls at post-test; and within the treatment group, post graduate year 3 residents outperformed post graduate year ​1 residents. Conclusions To be effective, online curricula illustrating communication behaviors need face-to-face interaction, individual role play with feedback and discussion.
Artificial Neural Networks as Models of Robustness in Development and Regeneration: Stability of Memory During Morphological Remodeling

Artificial neural networks are both a well-established tool in machine learning and a mathematical model of distributed information processing. Developmental and regenerative biology is in desperate need of conceptual models to explain how some species retain memories despite drastic reorganization, remodeling, or regeneration of the brain. Here, we formalize a method of artificial neural network perturbation and quantitatively analyze memory persistence during different types of topology change. We introduce this system as a computational model of the complex information processing mechanisms that allow memories to persist during significant cellular and morphological turnover in the brain. We found that perturbations in artificial neural networks have a general negative effect on the preservation of memory, but that the removal of neurons with different firing patterns can effectively minimize this memory loss. The training algorithms employed and the difficulty of the pattern recognition problem tested are key factors determining the impact of perturbations. The results show that certain perturbations, such as neuron splitting and scaling, can achieve memory persistence by functional recovery of lost patterning information. The study of models integrating both growth and reduction, combined with distributed information processing is an essential first step for a computational theory of pattern formation, plasticity, and robustness.
‘Standing on the shoulders of giants’: diversity and scholarship in Intelligence Studies

This study takes stock of the field of Intelligence Studies thanks to a quantitative review of all the articles published in the two main journals in the field: Intelligence and National Security and the International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence. Particular attention is paid to the diversity of the authors publishing in these two journals and the evolution of the issues they discuss. Publications in the field are widely authored by males based in the United States and the United Kingdom who write about Western intelligence and security organizations. Recent years have seen a slight diversification in the field but further efforts will be necessary to develop a more eclectic body of researchers and research on intelligence and national security.
Social contacts and den sharing among suburban striped skunks during summer, autumn, and winter

Determining social contacts among solitary carnivores is difficult given their often nocturnal and secretive nature. We used proximity-sensing radiocollars to quantify social contacts and den sharing among striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ) in suburban Flagstaff, Arizona, United States, in summer, autumn, and winter 2012–2013. During June and July, we followed 6 males and 5 females and, in spite of overlapping home ranges, they had few social contacts (range = 0–7), and all were brief, nocturnal encounters. From October through February, we followed 8 males and 9 females and found that patterns of contacts were similar for males and females except for significantly higher diurnal contacts (co-denning) among females in winter. Females varied in denning behavior; 1 female denned continuously in the same location from early November to late January, while at the other extreme 1 female moved among 10 different dens across the same time period. Several females moved to new communal dens in late January, resulting in new combinations of females co-denning. Males visited multiple female dens throughout winter. Overall, our data were consistent with previous studies in documenting overlapping home ranges of both sexes with few social contacts in summer, male intolerance but lack of male territoriality, and divergent social behavior in winter, with females co-denning while males generally denned alone. Our study differed from others in documenting more social interaction and movement during winter, often through nocturnal visits by males to female dens, and a shift in denning associations among females near the end of January.
Disruptive Research and Innovation

Ever since Clayton Christensen coined the terms "disruptive technologies" and "disruptive innovations" in 1990s, researchers and entrepreneurs love the word "disruptive" because disrupting current knowledge or products help us accelerate knowledge discoveries and moving the society into a new era. What is disruptive research? What is disruptive innovation? How do they happen? To answer such questions, in this talk, I will share my experience from co-leading the ImageNet project which built a knowledge base for computer vision and machine learning community, and from co-founding Data Domain, Inc. Which built deduplication storage ecosystems to replace tape library infrastructure in data centers.
Poverty in Global Perspective

Globally, be they single, mothers or seniors, women consistently comprise the majority of those who are in poverty. The historical overrepresentation of women in the pool of poverty suggests that there is a feminization of poverty. Societal laws about asset ownership, defects in the labor market, and the fact that motherhood reduces experience, thereby influencing wages, all work in tandem to condemn women to poverty. While the definitions of poverty are gender neutral, poverty operates on women in ways that put them more at risk for domestic violence and sexual exploitation and that erodes their equality of rights. Keywords: Poverty; Gender; Global
Cell Biological Effects of Tumor Treating Fields

Like many approaches to cancer therapy, Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) target rapidly dividing cells. During mitosis, TTField-exposed cells progress normally through metaphase but exhibit uncontrolled membrane blebbing at the onset of anaphase, resulting in aberrant mitotic exit. The ability of TTFields to affect mitosis is likely dependent on their interactions with proteins possessing high dipole moments whose function is critical to mitosis. At least two proteins complexes have been proposed as molecular targets based on these criteria, α/β-tubulin and the Septin 2, 6, 7 heterotrimer. α/β-Tubulin heterodimer is the monomeric subunit of microtubules, which are essential for aligning and segregating mitotic chromosomes as well as the proper placement and regulation of the cytokinetic cleavage furrow. The Septin complex organizes and helps to coordinate the force generating actinomycin structures within the cytokinetic cleavage furrow and crosslinks actin bundles in the submembranous cytoskeleton which restrains the hydrostatic pressure produced by furrow ingression. TTFields perturb Septin localization to the anaphase spindle midline and cytokinetic furrow. TTField exposure leads to aberrant mitotic exit and cells exhibit abnormal nuclear architecture, signs of cellular stress, decreased proliferation, and apoptosis that might be influenced by the cell’s p53 mutational status. Thus, TTFields are able to disrupt cell proliferation by specifically perturbing key proteins involved in cell division, leading to mitotic catastrophe and subsequent cell death. Cells dying due to TTField exposure may also exhibit the hallmarks of immunogenic cell death, raising the likelihood that TTField treatment induces an anti-tumor immune response.
A Phase 2 Study of Preoperative Capecitabine and Concomitant Radiation in Women With Advanced Breast Cancer

Abstract Background We conducted a prospective phase II study to examine the response rate of gross chemo-refractory breast cancer treated with concurrent capecitabine (CAP) and radiotherapy (RT). Methods Breast cancer patients with inoperable disease after chemotherapy, residual nodal disease after definitive surgical resection, unresectable chest wall or nodal recurrence after a prior mastectomy, or oligometastatic disease were eligible. Response by RECIST criteria was assessed after 45Gy. Conversion to operable (CTO), locoregional control, and grade>3 toxicities were assessed. The first nine patients received CAP 825 mg/m 2 BID continuously. Due to toxicity, subsequent patients received CAP only on radiation days. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate overall survival (OS) and locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRFS). Results From 2009-2012, 32 patients were accrued; 26 received protocol-specified treatment. Median follow-up was 12.9 months (interquartile range 7.1–42.9). Nineteen patients (73%) had partial or complete response. Fourteen patients (53.9%) experienced grade 3 non-dermatitis toxicity (7/9 continuous dosing). Three/four inoperable patients converted to operable. One-year actuarial OS in the treated cohort was 54%. The trial was stopped early after interim analysis suggested futility independent of response. Treatment was deemed futile (i.e., CTO but M1 disease immediately post-op) in 9/10 patients with triple-negative (TN) versus 6/16 with non-TN disease (p=0.014). Median OS and 1-yr LRFS among non-TN vs. TN patients was 22.8 vs. 5.1 months, and 63% vs. 20% (p=0.007). Conclusions Capecitabine can be safely administered on radiation days with careful clinical monitoring and was associated with encouraging response in this chemo-refractory cohort. However, patients with TN breast cancer had poor outcomes even when response was achieved. Further study in non-TN patients may be warranted.
Capillary perfusion in skeletal muscle

Timed perfusions of capillaries in soleus, vastus lateralis, and diaphragm of rats were determined by injecting a fluorescent dye into the aorta or right atrium. At preselected time intervals after dye injection, the circulation was interrupted, skeletal muscles were excised and frozen, and numerical counts of capillaries were made from transverse sections of the muscles. When fluorescent dye was injected into the right atrium or injected relatively slowly into the aorta, 100% of the capillaries contained dye by 3 s in vastus lateralis, 5 s in diaphragm, and 7 s in soleus. Rapid injection into the aorta delayed capillary filling. The rapid appearance of dye in skeletal muscle microvasculature suggests that either all capillaries are open to plasma flow all of the time or that the time constant for reopening of closed capillaries is very short. Furthermore, the patterns of capillary filling in skeletal muscle appear to be independent of muscle fiber type.
GSI/WRF Regional Data Assimilation System and Its Application in the Weather Forecasts over Southwest Asia

In this study, the impact of directly assimilating Advanced TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (ATOVS) radiances using the Community Radiative Transfer Model (CRTM) was evaluated to determine the impact on forecasts over Southwest Asia. The CRTM was developed by the Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR) and its application was promoted by the Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation (JCSDA). The ATOVS radiance data from the National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service (NESDIS), the Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation (GSI) three-dimensional variational analysis (3DVAR) system from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), and the Advanced Research WRF (WRF-ARW) model from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) were employed in this study.First, this paper will describe the forecasting errors encountered from running the WRF-ARW model in the complex terrain of Southwest Asia from 1–31 May 2006. The subsequent statistical evaluation is designed to assess the model’s surface and upper-air forecast accuracy. The results show that the model biases caused by inadequate parameterizations of physical processes are relatively small, except for the 2-m temperature, as compared to the nonsystematic errors resulting in part from the uncertainty in initial conditions. The total model forecast errors at the surface show a substantial spatial heterogeneity and the errors are relatively larger in higher elevation mountain areas. The performance of 2-m temperature forecasts is different from the other surface variables’ forecasts; the model forecast errors in 2-m temperature forecasts are closely related to the terrain configuration. The simulated diurnal variation of near-surface temperature is much smaller than the observed diurnal variation.Second, to understand the impact of initial conditions on the accuracy of the model forecasts, the satellite radiances are assimilated into the numerical model through GSI data assimilation system. The results indicate that on average over a 30-day experiment for the 24- and 48-h (second 24-h) forecasts, the satellite data provides beneficial information for improving the initial conditions and the model errors are reduced to some degree over some of the study locations. The diurnal cycle of some forecast variables can be improved by using adequate initial conditions with satellite radiance data assimilation.
Effects of different irrigation practices using treated wastewater on tomato yields, quality, water productivity, and soil and fruit mineral contents.

Wastewater use in agricultural irrigation is becoming a common practice in order to meet the rising water demands in arid and semi-arid regions. The study was conducted to determine the effects of the full (FI), deficit (DI), and partial root-zone drying (PRD) irrigation practices using treated municipal wastewater (TWW) and freshwater (FW) on tomato yield, water use, fruit quality, and soil and fruit heavy metal concentrations. The TWW significantly increased marketable yield compared to the FW, as well as decreased water consumption. Therefore, water use efficiency (WUE) in the TWW was significantly higher than in the FW. Although the DI and the PRD practices caused less yields, these practices significantly increased WUE values due to less irrigation water applied. The water–yield linear relationships were statistically significant. TWW significantly increased titratable acidity and vitamin C contents. Reduced irrigation provided significantly lower titratable acidity, vitamin C, and lycopene contents. TWW increased the surface soil and fruit mineral contents in response to FW. Greater increases were observed under FI, and mineral contents declined with reduction in irrigation water. Heavy metal accumulation in soils was within safe limits. However, Cd and Pb contents in fruits exceeded standard limits given by FAO/WHO. Higher metal pollution index values determined for fruits also indicated that TWW application, especially under FI, might cause health risks in long term.
In search of the etiology of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is defined by a characteristic neuropathology consisting of neurofibrillary tangles made up of intraneuronal paired helical filaments and straight filaments, and senile plaques made up of a core of extracellular amyloid fibrils surrounded by dystrophic neurites and glial cells, the accumulation of the same amyloid fibrils in cerebral and meningeal microvessels and loss of neurones. This neuropathology predominantly affects the frontal, parietal and temporal cortex, and hippocampus.
Effect of floor cooling on late lactation sows under acute heat stress

Abstract The objective was to evaluate the effects of floor cooling on late lactation sows under severe summer heat stress. Ten multiparous sows were provided with a cooling pad built with an aluminum plate surface, high-density polyethylene base and copper pipes. Treatments were randomly allotted to sows to receive a constant cool water flow of 0.00 (CONTROL, n = 4), 0.25 (LOW, n = 2), 0.55 (MEDIUM, n = 2) or 0.85 (HIGH, n = 2) L/min for 100 min. The cooling was initiated 1 h after the room reached 35 °C. Respiration rates (RR), vaginal temperature (VT) and skin temperature (ST, 15 cm posterior to the ear) were recorded before the trial, prior to cooling, and 5 times (20 min intervals) after the cooling phase began. Rectal temperature (RT) was recorded before the trial, prior to cooling and in the last 20 min of cooling. Water flow rates, inlet and outlet temperatures were recorded 5 times (20 min intervals) to calculate heat removal after the cooling started. The procedure was repeated 8 times (2 times/d for 4 d), and treatments were randomly switched in each repetition. The mean room temperature and relative humidity during the trial were 35.1 ± 0.4 °C and 68.4 ± 3.2%, respectively. Cooling treatments impacted RR, VT, ST and RT after 80 min of cooling, where the mean RR's were 122, 76, 67 and 45 breaths/min for the CONTROL, LOW, MEDIUM and HIGH flow rate treatments, respectively (P
Salinity Policy for Colorado River Basin

The water quality goal for the Colorado River of maintaining salinity concentrations in the lower stem at or below present levels (nondegradation salinity policy) has considerable merit. The nondegradation salinity policy should be applied to each state, not by setting numerical standards, but by offsetting salinity detriments resulting from each new development with salinity control measures that will maintain a net salt balance leaving state boundaries. Salinity detriments from one water-use sector (e.g., coal strip mining or oil shale development) could be mitigated by investing in salinity control measures in another water-use sector (e.g., improvements in existing irrigation systems). A flexible state policy will result in improved water management that will facilitate water development.
Sliding Clamps in DNA Replication: Escherichia coli β-Clamp and PCNA Structure

Efficient DNA replication is a process absolutely required for all forms of life. An essential component of the replisome, known as the sliding clamp, is a toroidal-shaped complex that encircles DNA and serves to tether the DNA polymerase to the template DNA strand. Although they were initially discovered as DNA polymerase processivity factors, sliding clamps are used by many enzymes required for DNA replication and repair. Sliding clamps have been identified and characterized in all domains of life from prokaryotes to eukaryotes. Although the amino acid sequence and architecture of these clamps differ within and between species, they all share some basic physical properties and mechanisms of action. Thus, the sliding clamp seems to have evolved as an efficient mechanism for ensuring proficient DNA replication.
Managing the Contingent Workforce—Gaining the Advantages, Avoiding the Pitfalls

Part-time employment arrangements constitute a rapidly growing segment of the U.S. labor force. Such employment arrangements offer advantages to both employers and employees. Part-time employees offer employers reduced wage and benefit costs, workforce flexibility, aid for special projects, replacement fill-ins and a chance to preview candidates for full-time employment. Part-time work enables employees to supplement family income, enjoy flexible hours as well as a change in job environment and a chance to substitute for full-time employment when there is no choice. The advantages of contingent employment come at a cost. Employers must comply with laws and give up control over much of the employment relationship in order to avoid co-employment status and to gain the benefits of contingent employment. Employees in contingent work arrangements frequently do not qualify for many of the benefits available to full time employees. Suggestions made for managing contingent workers may reduce some of the problems, but they would also remove some of the advantages.
Chapter 33 Toxic neuropathies

Publisher Summary This chapter describes toxic neuropathies. The chapter includes a brief description of the differential diagnosis that best reflects the particular electromyography (EMG) classification. The more general information is included to emphasize the numerous disorders that produce similar forms of neuropathy. More complete discussions exist in the referenced material. The most common or the most characteristic of a particular category are described. The methodologies used to establish causation are discussed, as these concepts are fundamental to the investigation of any toxic neuropathy. Finally, some forms of toxic neuropathy are first suspected only when two or more patients with similar types of neuropathy are found to share a common potential exposure. Recognition of such a “cluster” suggests a possible toxic etiology. Regardless of the presentation, however, identification of a toxic neuropathy usually stems from a high level of suspicion and an understanding that numerous substances are capable of producing neuropathy.
The involvement of long non-coding RNAs in the formation of high temperature-induced grain chalkiness in rice

A period of exposure to high ambient temperatures can damage the process of grain filling in rice, potentially inducing the endosperm to become chalky. Given the established involvement of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in regulating plant development and its stress response, the purpose here was to reveal the extent to which lncRNA activity contributes to the endosperm chalkiness syndrome. Among 578 lncRNAs identified in spikelets harvested ten days after fertilization from plants exposed to high temperature stress, 14 were found to be significantly up-regulated expressed than in control plants, while 45 were significantly down-regulated expressed. Of these 59 differentially expressed lncRNAs, 32 were predicted as interacting with five mRNAs involved in starch metabolism and catabolism, indicating an involvement of these lncRNAs in starch formation in the endosperm, and hence in causing the chalkiness syndrome.
A model for etching of three-dimensional high aspect ratio silicon structures in pulsed inductively coupled plasmas

A coupled plasma???feature scale model is employed to investigate the etching of high aspect ratio (HAR) silicon (Si) structures using a cyclic multi-step pulsed plasma process in an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) reactor. This process sequence includes an oxidation step to help protect the Si sidewalls, a main Si etch step where the ion energy and angular distribution (IEAD) and ion/neutral flux ratio are controlled through power pulsing, and a clean step prior to repeating the multi-step process. Two-dimensional plasma models are used to compute the IEAD as well as the fluxes of relevant ions and neutral radicals at the wafer. These plasma models are coupled to a three-dimensional feature scale model, where multiple cycles of the three-step etch sequence are simulated. The paper focuses on evaluation of several pulsing modes during the main Si etch step including separate pulsing of the ICP source or RF bias power, and their synchronized pulsing (with phase control). Process performance has been quantitatively evaluated by examining etch rates for Si and the SiO2-like mask, Si/mask etch selectivity, and CDs within the HAR features. When only the RF bias power is pulsed, Si and mask etch rates scale with pulse duty cycle (DC). As a result, if Si is etched to the same depth, the HAR trenches are wider at higher DCs due to less total oxidation time and less protection of the sidewalls. ICP source power pulsing provides higher Si etch rate because of RF bias power being on continuously, but suffers from poor mask selectivity. Synchronized pulsing of both the ICP source and RF bias powers in conjunction with phase control provides additional flexibility in modulating the IEAD and the ion/neutral flux ratio. RF bias pulsing and in-phase synchronized pulsing yield the best selectivity for the conditions explored.
Training Surgical Residents for Ultrasound-Guided Assessment and Management of Unstable Patients.

Objective Proficiency in the use of ultrasound is presently not an ACGME required core competency for accredited surgical training. There should be a basic unified ultrasound curriculum for surgical trainees. We developed a multimodal ultrasound-training program to ensure baseline proficiency and readiness for clinical performance without impacting trainee duty hours. Design We developed and implemented a multimodal curriculum for ultrasound education and its use as a supplement to clinical evaluation of unstable patients. Setting A single-center study was completed in a hospital setting. Participants Post-graduate year-1 surgical residents at our institution were invited to participate in a multimodal perioperative course. Results 51 residents attended the course over the three sessions. The vignette exam as a whole demonstrated a Cronbach's alpha of 0.819 indicating good internal reliability of the entire test. There was significant improvement in their knowledge in clinical vignettes (55% ± 12.4 on pre-test vs. 83% ± 13.2% on post-test, p Conclusion It is feasible to incorporate a focused ultrasound curriculum to assess clinically unstable patients. The multimodal nature of the course aid in the development of preclinical proficiency and decreased the orientation phase of ultrasound use.
Sex separation induces differences in the olfactory sensory receptor repertoires of male and female mice

Within the mammalian olfactory sensory epithelium, experience-dependent changes in the rate of neuronal turnover can alter the relative abundance of neurons expressing specific chemoreceptors. Here we investigate how the mouse olfactory sensory receptor repertoire changes as a function of exposure to odors emitted from members of the opposite sex, which are highly complex and sexually dimorphic. Upon housing mice either sex-separated or sex-combined until six months of age, we find that sex-separated mice exhibit significantly more numerous differentially expressed genes within their olfactory epithelia. A subset of these chemoreceptors exhibit altered expression frequencies following both sex-separation and olfactory deprivation. We show that several of these receptors detect either male- or female-specific odors. We conclude that the distinct odor experiences of sex-separated male and female mice induce sex-specific differences in the abundance of neurons that detect sexually dimorphic odors. Olfactory experience can alter the relative abundance of neurons expressing specific chemoreceptors. Here, the authors demonstrate that the distinct odor experiences of sex-separated male and female mice induce sex-specific differences in the abundance of neurons that detect sexually dimorphic odors.
Has Firms' Form 8-K Filing Behavior Changed Since Section 409 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act Became Effective?

Carter and Soo (1999) find that over 26% of Form 8-K filings are filed after the statutory due date. The purpose of my paper is to provide a descriptive follow-up to Carter and Soo's study in the period closely following the effective date of SOX Section 409. Results indicate that firms' have significantly improved the timeliness of their Form 8-K filings. Relative to the other events examined, filings are more likely to be late if they report board of director resignations. Other results indicate no discernable differences between the number of days to file within the four day requirement; no industry is more likely than another to be non-compliant; and disclosures of negative events are more likely filed late than for either positive or mixed events. No form of public enforcement is found for those who violated SOX Section 409.
Characterization of Staggered Twin Formation in HCP Magnesium

Twins in hexagonal close-packed polycrystals, most often nucleate at grain-boundaries (GBs), propagate into the grain and terminate at opposing GBs. Regularly, multiple parallel twins of the same variant form inside the same grain. When twins terminate inside the grains, rather than the grain boundary, they tend to form a staggered structure. Whether a staggered twin structure or the more common grain spanning twin structure forms can greatly affect mechanical behavior. In this work, the underlying mechanism for the formation of staggered twins is studied using an elasto-visco-plastic fast Fourier transform model, which quantifies the local stresses associated with \( \left\{ {10\overline{1} 2} \right\} \)-type staggered twins in magnesium for different configurations. The model results suggest that when a twin tip is close to the lateral side of another twin, the driving force for twin propagation is significantly reduced. As a result, the staggered twin structure forms.
Render: Predicting Scenes

The main goal of scene prediction is to generate an image of a virtual world which can be directly compared to an image from a real sensor. How accurate the prediction must be in order for the two images to be comparable depends upon the specific application domain and the comparison metric used. Intuitively, the closer the prediction mirrors reality, the higher the chance the RMR (Render-Match-Refine) algorithm will be successful. Unfortunately, generating a perfect prediction is an impossible task. Information such as the background scene context, lighting, and complex camera distortions are difficult to model and often cannot be inferred from a static sensor image. Therefore, the role of prediction is to produce an image, at the resolution of the real sensor, that provides information exploitable by the subsequent stages of the RMR method (matching and refinement).
13) Cerebral Oximetry Index in Critically Ill Children

Introduction A stable cerebral blood flow (CBF) is maintained by cerebral autoregulation. A pressure-passive CBF pattern is seen when autoregulation is disturbed or at the extremes of blood pressure values. Continuous monitoring of CBF autoregulation has been performed with near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) as a surrogate to CBF by using the cerebral oximetry index (COx). COx is a correlation between MAP and regional cerebral oximetry. Methods We collected data from a cohort of 12 critically ill sedated and ventilated children …
Avoiding a Health Care Financial Meltdown

The article discusses the financial impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the U S health care system Topics explored include the challenges brought by the significant increase in the demand for COVID-19-related health services to hospitals, the way some health systems opted to lay off health care workers to reduce expenses, and the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund allotted to hospitals and physicians following the issuance of shelter-in-place orders
Naproxen-induced thrombocytopenia

Thrombocytopenia has many mechanisms with broad differentials. A detailed history and physical, with timely diagnostic testing, is necessary to parse out the underlying etiology. Clinicians should maintain a high suspicion for drug-induced thrombocytopenia when there is an acute drop in the platelet level after exposure to commonly implicated drugs. Drug-induced thrombocytopenia is not well defined, as reporting is voluntary and not critically reviewed. Oftentimes, the culprit is not the drug itself, but a drug metabolite, which is difficult to prove with drug-dependent antibody testing. Here we present a case where naproxen led to hemarthrosis secondary to drug-induced thrombocytopenia.
RESISTANCE TO CORPORATE AGRI-FOOD. THE CASE OF PLANT-BASED MEAT

Resistance to corporate domination is one of the characteristics of agri-food in the era of global neoliberalism. In the case of meat, this resistance targets not only production systems – such as CAFOs – but also, and above all, the consumption of industrially produced meat and meat products. This article probes the research question of the extent to which the development of plant-based meat is an effective alternative to corporate industrial meat production. Through the analysis of two plant-based meat companies, Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods, this work illustrates the limits of the market based business model adopted by these companies. It allows established transnational corporations to appropriate spaces of resistance historically occupied by left leaning groups and discourses. Among the major new initiatives in the global financial market and in the mass consumption sector (fast food and restaurant chains), plant-based meat is a proposal that has received widespread support from all sides of the political spectrum. The article offers a critique of the assumed “progressive” ideology and practices associated with plant-based meat and concludes with a critique of the limits of a technically based proposal.
Household Dysfunction and Adolescent Substance Use: Moderating Effects of Family, Community, and School Support

Adolescents exposed to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are at increased risk for substance use. Factors that reduce likelihood of adolescent substance use are an important area of research and...
Sedentary behavior patterns over 6 weeks among ambulatory people with stroke.

Objective: To describe patterns of sedentary behavior over 6 weeks among ambulatory people with subacute and chronic stroke.Design: Observational longitudinal study with assessments at baseline (T0...
Fighting Hyperinflation: Stabilization Strategies in Argentina and Israel, 1985-86

In the middle of 1985 Argentina and Israel launched frontal attacks on inflation. Both countries succeeded in reducing inflation drastically during the first year without very significant costs in terms of employment and output. Despite basic differences in the two countries` structures, the programs were extremely similar in their design and their effects. This paper covers some of these similarities in the implementation and the results of the two stabilization programs, and analyzes the rationale of the underlying conception of the plans. The paper concentrates on the strategy for effecting the transitional period, and it also examines the ability of the programs to establish a path of sustained stability.