cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inhibitory effect of brachytherapy on intimal hyperplasia in arteriovenous fistula1

Abstract Purpose To determine whether endovascular radiation can inhibit intimal hyperplasia in a swine model of hemodialysis access. Materials and methods Polytetrafluoroethylene arteriovenous grafts (6 mm in diameter) were placed between the common carotid artery and the external jugular vein bilaterally in 8 pigs. Two days after the surgery, fistulography was performed. Gamma radiation (12 Gy) was delivered endovascularly to one of the grafts at the venous anastomosis by using an iridium 192 source. Thus, the other graft in each pig served as an untreated control. Fistulas were evaluated with fistulography or venography 6 week after radiation. All grafts were then harvested for histological and immunohistochemical examination. Results Seven grafts on the treated side and 5 grafts on the control side remained patent for at least 6 weeks. Angiography demonstrated that the percentage stenosis at the venous anastomosis was significantly lower for the treated group (15.9 ± 14.1 versus 32.6 ± 16.7%, P = 0.045). Histopathologic analyses revealed that the mean intimal area and maximal intimal thickness were significantly lower with reduced smooth muscle cell proliferation at the venous anastomosis on the treated side compared to the control side (0.68 ± 0.30 versus 1.06 ± 0.29 mm 2 , P = 0.017, and 0.18 ± 0.08 versus 0.26 ± 0.07 mm, P = 0.004, respectively). The residual lumen was significantly greater for the treated group (1.59 ± 0.42 versus 1.06 ± 0.37 mm 2 , P = 0.031). No significant differences were found in the area, nor maximal thickness in the vein either proximal or distal to the anastomosis between the two groups. Conclusions In an animal model of hemodialysis access, brachytherapy with iridium 192 delivered 2 days after graft implantation reduces intimal hyperplasia and stenosis at the venous anastomosis. The reduced smooth-muscle cells found in the radiated veins suggests that brachytherapy may exert its effect on neointimal formation by inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation.
On the use of cellular telephony for audio interaction with animals

Playback is an important method of surveying animals, assessing habitats and studying animal communication. However, conventional playback methods require on-site observers and therefore become labour-intensive when covering large areas. Such limitations could be circumvented by the use of cellular telephony, a ubiquitous technology with increasing biological applications. In addressing concerns about the low audio quality of cellular telephones, this paper presents experimental data to show that owls of two species (Strix varia and Megascops asio) respond similarly to calls played through cellular telephones as to calls played through conventional playback technology. In addition, the telephone audio recordings are of sufficient quality to detect most of the two owl species' responses. These findings are a first important step towards large-scale applications where networks of cellular phones conduct real-time monitoring tasks.
High Frequency Component Compensation based Super-Resolution Algorithm for Face Video Enhancement

This paper proposes a video-based high-frequency component compensation (HFCC) super-resolution algorithm. The lost high-frequency information is estimated by local MAP criteria, using the registered frames. By compensating the high frequency component iteratively, the high-resolution images are recovered. The algorithm has lower computational cost than the alternatives. Experimental evaluation verified the usefulness of the algorithm.
Quantifying the benefits of pre-emptive rebooking: A case study for a network carrier (JAN 12, 2012)

Changes in technology and procedures have the potential to facilitate improvements in airline passenger mobility in the presence of forecast irregular operations that lead to large scale cancellations. First, increased coordination among National Airspace (NAS) operational stakeholders enables airlines to pro-actively plan for reduced capacity events (e.g. snowstorms, equipment outages, labor shortages). Second, ubiquitous, inexpensive, reliable broadband communications between airlines and passengers increases opportunities for coordination. Coupled together, these changes provide an opportunity for airlines to leverage passenger's willingness to adjust their travel plans by preemptively rebooking flights up to a day in advance of planed flight cancellations. This paper describes a Monte Carlo analysis of the feasibility and benefits of pre-emptive rebooking of passengers on cancelled airline flights. A case study for domestic operations of a major U.S. network carrier operating a mid-west hub for a single day cancelation event (January 12, 2012) showed that: (i) pre-emptive rebooking is feasible accommodating 73% of the passengers seeking to rebook pre-emptively, (ii) previous day rebooking is not required as a majority of the passengers (>95%) can be accommodated earlier on the same day, (iii) airlines could have recouped up to $388K by avoiding airfare refunds, and (iv) corporations sponsoring business travel could have saved up to $62.9K. The implications of these results are discussed.
Changes in the Effectiveness of State Medicaid Drug Program Cost-Containment Policies Following OBRA 1990

Containment of Medicaid pharmaceutical drug program costs continues to be an important policy problem. Perhaps the most important policy of the past two decades with significant implications for Medicaid pharmaceutical drug programs was the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1990. This study analyzes Medicaid drug spending data from 1985 to 1997 to determine how OBRA 1990 influenced the effectiveness of existing drug cost-containment policies and if the Act produced its anticipated cost savings. The descriptive evidence indicates that reductions in drug expenditure growth rates, following the passage of OBRA 1990, resulted from factors that are independent from that Act. Furthermore, the analytical evidence shows that changes in the effectiveness of major cost-containment policies (drug formularies, drug utilization review programs, and reimbursement rates) offset, at least in part, savings from the drug rebate program included in OBRA 1990.
Facilitation of the HPA Axis to a Novel Acute Stress Following Chronic Stress Exposure Modulates Histone Acetylation and the ERK/MAPK Pathway in the Dentate Gyrus of Male Rats

Evidence suggests that when presented with novel acute stress, animals previously exposed to chronic homotypic or heterotypic stressors exhibit normal or enhanced hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) response compared with animals exposed solely to that acute stressor. The molecular mechanisms involved in this effect remain unknown. The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) is one of the key pathways regulated in the hippocampus in both acute and chronic stress. The aim of this study was to examine the interaction of prior chronic stress, using the chronic variable stress model (CVS), with exposure to a novel acute stressor (2,5-dihydro-2,4,5-trimethyl thiazoline; TMT) on ERK activation, expression of the downstream protein BCL-2, and the glucocorticoid receptor co-chaperone BAG-1 in control and chronically stressed male rats. TMT exposure after chronic stress resulted in a significant interaction of chronic and acute stress in all 3 hippocampus subregions on ERK activation and BCL-2 expression. Sig...
Long bone articular and diaphyseal structure in old world monkeys and apes. I: locomotor effects.

The relationship between locomotor be- havior and long bone structural proportions is examined in 179 individuals and 13 species of hominoids and cerco- pithecoids. Articular surface areas, estimated from linear caliper measurements, and diaphyseal section moduli (strengths), determined from CT scans, were obtained for the femur, tibia, humerus, radius, and ulna. Both within- bone (articular to shaft) and between-bone (forelimb to hindlimb) proportions were calculated and compared be- tween taxa. It was hypothesized that: 1) species empha- sizing slow, cautious movement and/or more varied limb positioning (i.e., greater joint excursion) would exhibit larger articular to cross-sectional shaft proportions, and 2) species with more forelimb suspensory behavior would have relatively stronger/larger forelimbs, while those with more leaping would have relatively stronger/larger hind- limbs. The results of the analysis generally confirm both hypotheses. Several partial exceptions can be explained on the basis of more detailed structural-functional consid- erations. Associations between locomotion and structural proportions can be demonstrated both across major group- ings (hominoids and cercopithecoids) and between rela- tively closely related taxa, e.g., mountain and lowland gorillas, siamangs and gibbons, and Trachypithecus and other colobines. Furthermore, structure and function do not always covary with taxonomy. For example, compared to cercopithecoids, mountain gorillas have relatively larger joints, like other hominoids, but do not have rela- tively stronger forelimbs, unlike other hominoids. This is consistent with a locomotor repertoire emphasizing rela- tively slow movement but with very little forelimb suspen- sion. Proportions of Proconsul nyanzae, Proconsul he- seloni, Morotopithecus bishopi, and Theropithecus oswaldi are compared with modern distributions to illustrate the application of the techniques to fossil taxa. Am J Phys Anthropol 119:305-342, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Genetic alterations of the p53 gene are a feature of malignant mesotheliomas.

Abstract A putative tumor suppressor gene, p53, has been shown to be altered in a variety of human tumor types. The primary mechanism of p53 inactivation is believed to be mutation of one allele followed by loss of the second allele. Malignant mesothelioma is a tumor that has been highly associated with exposure to asbestos fibers, which are known to cause chromosomal abnormalities in mesothelial cells. We have examined four mesothelioma cell lines for genetic abnormalities in p53. Cytogenetic analysis revealed that two of the four tumors had abnormalities (numerical and/or structural) of chromosome 17 (the locus of the p53 gene). Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis using a chromosome 17p-specific probe (pYNZ22) revealed that two tumors had loss of heterozygosity in the region of 17p13. The relative level of p53 mRNA expression was examined by Northern analysis, with one tumor showing negligible expression of p53 mRNA. The complementary DNA of p53 was generated from the three tumors showing detectable mRNA expression, and the region between codons 70 and 319 was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction and sequenced. DNA single-base substitutions were detected in two of the tumor cell lines, each resulting in amino acid substitutions. One tumor had an arginine to histidine substitution at position 175, and one tumor had a glycine to aspartic acid substitution at position 245. The observed mutations took place in regions of high cross-species sequence homology, indicating that these regions may be functionally important. The correlation of chromosomal loss in 17p on the cytogenetic and molecular level along with p53 mRNA expression and DNA sequence data indicate that genetic alterations in p53 could be a feature of malignant mesotheliomas and may reveal an important role of asbestos fibers in tumor suppressor gene inactivation.
Photodissociation of I2−(Ar)n Clusters Studied with Anion Femtosecond Photoelectron Spectroscopy

Anion femtosecond photoelectron spectroscopy was used to follow the dynamics of the I2−(Ar)6 and I2−(Ar)20 clusters subsequent to photodissociation of the I2− chromophore. The experiments showed that photodissociation of the I2− moiety in I2−(Ar)6 is complete by approximately 200 femtoseconds, just as in bare I2−, but also that attractive interactions between the departing anion fragment and the solvent atoms persisted for 1200 femtoseconds. Photodissociation of I2−(Ar)20 results in caging of the I2− followed by recombination and vibrational relaxation on the excited A2Πg,3/2 and the groundX2Σu+states; these processes are complete in 35 and 200 picoseconds, respectively.
Determination of the stimulated emission cross section for the laser transition in Nd:YAG

The stimulated emission cross section σse is an important parameter in the design of a laser system because its value is directly proportional to the small signal gain. The most widely used solid state laser material is YAG:Nd, yet the value of σse is still not precisely known. Of the more than ten determinations in the literature, there is a factor of ~3 range in value.
Three naturally occurring Penstemon hybrids

Three wild Penstemon hybrids are documented herein: Penstemon clevelandii × spectabilis, P. centranthifolius × spectabilis , and P. centranthifolius × eatonii . Each putative hybrid was compared to its respective parental species using manifold floral and vegetative characters for which the parents differed. For each hybrid hypothesis, characters were counted as being intermediate or not intermediate. There were significantly more intermediate characters in all 3 cases (one-sided sign tests, P Penstemon species evidently do hybridize naturally, and for nearly all characters the hybrids are consistent with the view that the parents differ largely by additive genetic effects.
Geographic Variation in Song and Dialects of the Puget Sound White-Crowned Sparrow

Because of their simplicity of structure and geographic variation, songs of crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia spp.) have been popular subjects of bioacoustical studies. DeWolfe et al. (1974) described geographic variation in song of the migratory subspecies gambelii of the White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) but found no dialects. However, song dialects have been described for the sedentary subspecies nuttalli (Marler and Tamura 1962, 1964, Baker 1974, 1975, Baptista 1975) and the migratory, montane breeding subspecies oriantha (Baker 1975, Orejuela and Morton 1975). Although a few audiospectrograms of songs of the migratory Puget Sound White-crowned Sparrow (Z. 1. pugetensis) have been illustrated (Baptista 1974), a detailed study of song in this subspecies of White-crown has not been undertaken previously. Taxonomists distinguish two racial complexes of White-crowned Sparrows, the darker nuttalli-pugetensis group of the Pacific coast and the paler gambelii-oriantha-leucophrys complex of the mountains and interior (Banks 1964, Cortopassi and Mewaldt 1965). Song may be a character separating these two subspecies complexes (Baptista 1975). However, until songs of all the forms are studied in detail, the use of vocalizations as a taxonomic tool cannot be evaluated properly. Song dialects of migratory White-crowned Sparrows may function as a valuable means for students of bird migration to identify the wintering grounds of each breeding population (DeWolfe et al. 1974). Regional dialects of birds may also be used as markers in the study of interactions between populations or subpopulations (Banks 1964:18, Payne 1973, Baptista 1975). Song dialects may be used to trace the origins of invading populations (Baptista 1975, Mundinger 1975). Additionally, King (1972:344) pointed out that, "Geographical variation of avian song is of interest as an index of speciation." This paper treats geographical variation in song of the migratory subspecies pugetensis of the White-crowned Sparrow, describes regional dialects for this taxon, and discusses the consequences of interactions between overwintering pugetensis and resident nuttalli. Data are compared with those for other emberizines, and the evolutionary and ecological significance of these findings are discussed.
Solid-State Nmr Studies of Molecular Composites and Thermally Cured Copolymers

Proton spin diffusion experiments are conducted on two blends of nylon and poly(phenylenebenzobisthiazole) (PBZT). The blends are prepared different ways and utilize either a semicrystalline or fully amorphous nylon. The spin diffusion experiment, which was conducted using three different schemes, yields information about the shortest distances typifying the individual domains. Results suggest that in a 40/60 nylon 6,6/PBZT blend, the nylon and PBZT molecules do not mix on the molecular level, however, each domain is only about 4 nm in its minimum dimension. At the same time, some crystalline nylon regions also exist having somewhat larger dimensions. In contrast, a 50/50 amorphous nylon/PBZT sample, made via a different processing route, showed evidence for similar mixing in only a portion of the material; there was also strong evidence for compositional heterogeneity on a scale larger than 10 nm. The exact stoichiometries describing this compositional heterogeneity could not be uniquely identified on the basis of the spin diffusion studies alone; however the possibilities range from 55% of pure nylon to 35% of pure PBZT being sequestered from the more intimately mixed phase. In a second set of experiments, the 250°C thermal polymerization chemistry of a benzocyclobutene (BCB), a bismaleimide (BMI) and an equimolar mixture of BCB and BMI was studied. These materials are candidates for thermally polymerizable matrix materials in blends with rigid-rod polymers like PBZT. Polymerization of the BCB homopolymer is found to involve multiple pathways and there is reasonably strong evidence that the reactive carbons generated by thermal ring opening of the cyclobutene moiety not only attack one another; they also attack aromatic carbons adjacent to carbonyl carbons at sites far from the ring opening reaction. Spectra of the BCB homopolymer aged at 300°C in vacuum indicate that significant chemical changes occur. This result casts a shadow on the interpretation of the good apparent thermogravimetric stability of the BCB homopolymer in air at this temperature. The equimolar mixture of BCB and BMI ideally can polymerize via the Diels-Alder mechanism to produce a linear chain of alternating BCB and BMI repeat units. The spectrum of this thermally polymerized mixture suggests a maximum of 50% of the reaction following the Diels-Alder addition; the other 50% follows homopolymerization pathways.
0306 Parental occupational exposure to ionising radiation and selected birth defects in the US

Objectives Results of previous studies of occupational exposure to ionising radiation (IR) and birth defects are inconsistent. Our objective was to assess the association between maternal and paternal occupational exposure to ionising radiation (IR) and birth defects using a larger sample than previous studies. Method We studied 27 809 case mothers and 10 200 control mothers who participated in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS), giving birth between 1997 and 2009. Our exposure assessment was based on a textual analysis of the mother’s description of her occupation, workplace and job activities (and those of the infant’s father) during the three months before and the three months after the estimated date of conception. Logistic regression was used to examine crude and adjusted odds ratios for the association between possible maternal and paternal occupational exposures to IR and 45 birth defects. We assessed the possibility of confounding from pre-pregnancy diabetes and body mass index, smoking, use of supplements containing folic acid, use of alcohol, use of illicit drugs, pregnancy intention, study location and demographic variables. Results We excluded 17 mothers with a history of cancer, and 12 568 mothers who were unemployed, homemakers or students during the periconceptional period. Overall, 3% of the mothers and 2% of the fathers were exposed to IR. The remainder of our results are underway and will be presented at the meeting. Conclusions Our results will be interpreted taking account of multiple statistical comparisons and the possibility of recall bias.
Definite Integrals and Riemann Sums

(1939). Definite Integrals and Riemann Sums. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 46, No. 9P1, pp. 538-545.
260 HYPOZINCEMIA AND HYPOSELENEMIA IN AFRICAN AMERICANS WITH DECOMPENSATED AND COMPENSATED HEART FAILURE.

Purpose Congestive heart failure (CHF) features a disabling systemic illness that includes oxidative stress and a proinflammatory phenotype. Endogenous antioxidant defenses, integral to combating superoxide and H2O2, include cytosolic superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase and which are Zn and Se dependent, respectively. Serum Zn and Se balance in patients with CHF remain uncertain. Urinary Zn excretion is increased in hyperparathyroidism (HPT) as well as in response to treatment with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI), an AT1 receptor antagonist (AT1Ra), and a thiazide but not loop diuretic. We therefore hypothesized a deficiency of Zn and Se in CHF. Methods We monitored serum Zn, Se, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) in 25 AA (50.6 6 2.3 yrs; 16 men) with systolic dysfunction (EF Conclusions In AA, either hospitalized with CHF or followed as outpatients with compensated heart failure, all of whom were treated with an ACEI or AT1Ra, we found hypozincemia and hyposelenemia. It remains to be determined if the observed fall in serum Zn and Se reflects increased renal and/or colonic excretion of these micronutrients related to secondary HPT and/or medications, a dietary deficiency, and/or their redistribution within tissues related to up-regulated expression of binding proteins. A role for dietary supplementation of Zn and Se in AA patients with CHF remains to be addressed.
A Method Based On Wavelet Transform For Detecting Partial Discharging Singal

In order to improve the detection accuracy of partial discharge signal ,and ensure the validity and reliablitly of false diagnosis for the equipment,in this paper the continuous wavelet transform is applied to decompose partial discharge pulse at multi-scales,which contains the stark noise.In some scales of wavelet transfom,the characteristics of the pulse is obviously enhanced so that we can accurately detect the pulse,and eliminate noise interference by using the thrshold method. The results of simulation and experiment show that optimal wavelet function is an effective approach to restrain noise interference,and detect partial discharge pluse.
Functions and Matrices

A finite sequence is made up of a finite number of terms, and an infinite sequence contains infinitely many terms. Both types are useful in mathematics and computer science as well. A matrix is a rectangular arrangement of numbers enclosed by brackets. This chapter outlines the mathematical forms of functions and matrices. The concept of a function is central to every branch of mathematics and to many other areas of learning as well. In addition, some other important properties of special functions and a few techniques for constructing new functions are discussed in the chapter. The applications of matrices find relevance in diverse fields such as computer science, engineering, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. Functions can be defined by the ordered pair notation, tables, or graphs. Several properties of functions and some exotic functions are examined in the chapter, including how to construct new functions from known ones.
Influence of measurement uncertainties on fractional solubility of iron in mineral aerosols over the oceans

Abstract The atmospheric supply of mineral dust iron (Fe) plays a crucial role in the Earth’s biogeochemical cycle and is of specific importance as a micronutrient in the marine environment. Observations show several orders of magnitude variability in the fractional solubility of Fe in mineral dust aerosols, making it hard to assess the role of mineral dust in the global ocean biogeochemical Fe cycle. In this study we compare the operational solubility of mineral dust aerosol Fe associated with the flow-through leaching protocol to the results of the global 3-D chemical transport model GEOS-Chem. According to the protocol, aerosol Fe is defined as soluble by first deionized water leaching of mineral dust through a 0.45 μm pore size membrane followed by acidification and storage of the leachate over a long period of time prior to analysis. To estimate the uncertainty in soluble Fe results introduced by the flow-through leaching protocol, we prescribe an average 50% (range of 30–70%) fractional solubility to sub-0.45 μm sized mineral dust particles that may inadvertently pass the filter and end up in the acidified (at pH ∼ 1.7) leachate for a couple of month period. In the model, the fractional solubility of Fe is either explicitly calculated using a complex mineral aerosol Fe dissolution equations, or prescribed to be 1% and 4% often used by global ocean biogeochemical Fe cycle models to reproduce the broad characteristics of the presently observed ocean dissolved iron distribution. Calculations show that the fractional solubility of Fe derived through the flow-through leaching is higher compared to the model results. The largest differences (∼40%) are predicted to occur farther away from the dust source regions, over the areas where sub-0.45 μm sized mineral dust particles contribute a larger fraction of the total mineral dust mass. This study suggests that different methods used in soluble Fe measurements and inconsistences in the operational definition of filterable Fe in marine environment and soluble Fe in atmospheric aerosols are likely to contribute to the wide range of fractional solubility of aerosol Fe reported in the literature.
Stack traces reveal attack surfaces

Researchers at North Carolina State University and Microsoft Research have developed a technique called attack surface approximation. In this approach, the attack surface of a system is determined by looking at stack traces from crash dumps from the target system. The crash dump stack traces are parsed out into the individual code elements that are seen on each stack trace. Depending on the stack trace in question, these elements could be binaries, files, or functions. Any code element that is seen on at least one stack trace is considered to be on the attack surface of the system, as determined by this approach. Researchers also explored other metrics, such as the frequency of appearance of code elements, how often code elements appear next to each other, and the shapes that form within the graph representation of the stack traces.
Molecular diagnosis of cancer using multiplex photoacoustic imaging with targeted nanorods

The diagnosis and treatment of cancerous tumors remains a challenge due to the inherent heterogeneity of the tumors and variation in treatment response between patients. A molecular imaging technique which provides high resolution at a depth of several centimeters could provide important information about the composition of heterogeneous cancerous tissues to aid in the diagnosis and monitoring of the treatment of cancer. Photoacoustic imaging, which can achieve high resolution at a clinically relevant tissue depth, combined with targeted contrast agents whose properties can be tuned to achieve distinct photoacoustic signals, provides a molecular imaging technique which is non-invasive, non-ionizing, and cost-competitive in comparison to existing molecular imaging methods. The research presented here describes combined photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging using tunable gold nanorods which have been targeted to unique cell types or molecular processes, and then distinguished by acquiring photoacoustic images at laser wavelengths spanning the optical absorption spectra of the nanoparticles. The results obtained using tissue models consisting of various cancer cells, overexpressing different receptors, indicate that photoacoustic imaging is capable of identifying multiple molecular targets or cell types within a tissue.
Detection of bad data in multi-area state estimation

This paper proposed an algorithm to quickly detect whether a sub-area contains bad data in multi-area state estimation. Each area in the multi-area state estimation will compute a sensitivity index that is based on the weight of local measurement residual and the overall change of measurement residual. The area with the highest index is candidate for locating bad data. This algorithm is also extendable to detect false data injection in a control area while traditional Chi-squared test may be rendered less effective. The proposed algorithm can help Central Control Center to locate the bad data in a multi-area system and can also prevent the system from potential false data injection attacks. Numerical studies based on the IEEE 14-bus system suggest the validity and efficacy of the proposed algorithm.
A Bimetallic Nickel–Gallium Complex Catalyzes CO2 Hydrogenation via the Intermediacy of an Anionic d10 Nickel Hydride

Large-scale CO2 hydrogenation could offer a renewable stream of industrially important C1 chemicals while reducing CO2 emissions. Critical to this opportunity is the requirement for inexpensive catalysts based on earth-abundant metals instead of precious metals. We report a nickel–gallium complex featuring a Ni(0)→Ga(III) bond that shows remarkable catalytic activity for hydrogenating CO2 to formate at ambient temperature (3150 turnovers, turnover frequency = 9700 h–1), compared with prior homogeneous Ni-centered catalysts. The Lewis acidic Ga(III) ion plays a pivotal role in stabilizing catalytic intermediates, including a rare anionic d10 Ni hydride. Structural and in situ characterization of this reactive intermediate support a terminal Ni–H moiety, for which the thermodynamic hydride donor strength rivals those of precious metal hydrides. Collectively, our experimental and computational results demonstrate that modulating a transition metal center via a direct interaction with a Lewis acidic support c...
An integrative modeling approach to mapping wetlands and riparian areas in a heterogeneous Rocky Mountain watershed

Accurate maps of wetlands and riparian areas are critical for targeting conservation and monitoring efforts. However, detailed inventories in mountain regions are largely non-existent, as conventional mapping approaches are hindered by high costs, remoteness, and landscape variability. Contemporary modeling techniques can circumvent many of these issues, but are often difficult to interpret and tend to rely on specialized datasets that prevent their wider application. In this study, we used machine learning, Landsat 8 imagery and geomorphometric indices to map the distribution of wetlands and riparian areas in the Cache la Poudre River watershed, Colorado, USA. We used a presence-background approach to develop and compare predictions from three popular algorithms: boosted regression trees, MaxEnt and random forests. In addition, we developed the models within three elevation-based life zones to account for altitudinal changes in ecohydrology and land use. Our results showed strong predictive performance, with top-performing models achieving area under the curve values as high as 0.98 and correctly classifying up to 95% of test data. Model performance varied by elevation zone, and no algorithm consistently outperformed the others. The boosted regression trees approach was uniquely able to differentiate wetlands from irrigated agriculture and residential areas in lower elevations. Multi-seasonal greenness and wetness indices were highly influential predictors in all models, underscoring the importance of capturing local phenological characteristics and hydrological regimes. Dissection and roughness terrain metrics were key predictors for identifying valley bottom meadows and emergent wetlands in high-elevation forests. We demonstrate how integrating ecological interpretation into the modeling workflow can inform conventional accuracy statistics and help bridge field-based and remote sensing perspectives. We also show how continuous model outputs can facilitate this process by depicting nuances of the wetland-upland continuum. Our approach requires only public data that are widely available, and can be easily adapted to other heterogeneous mountain settings.
Multifocal granular cell tumor of the esophagus and proximal stomach with infiltrative pattern: a case report and review of the literature.

Abstract The granular cell tumor is a solitary painless nodule that arises most commonly on the skin or the tongue. The vast majority are benign. Approximately 5% to 9% of granular cell tumors have...
Nonlinear Volterra Integro-Differential Equations

It is well known that linear and nonlinear Volterra integral equations arise in many scientific fields such as the population dynamics, spread of epidemics, and semi-conductor devices. Volterra started working on integral equations in 1884, but his serious study began in 1896. The name integral equation was given by du Bois-Reymond in 1888.
Solid Organ Transplantation for HIV-Infected Individuals

The prevalence of end-stage organ disease is increasing among HIV-infected (HIV+) individuals. Individuals with well-controlled HIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART), without active opportunistic infections or cancer, and with specified minimum CD4 cell counts are appropriate transplant candidates. Infectious disease clinicians can improve access to transplantation for these patients and optimize management pre- and post-transplant. Clinical trials and registry-based cohort studies demonstrate excellent outcomes for select HIV+ kidney and liver transplant recipients with patient and graft survival similar to HIV-uninfected patients. Elevated allograft rejection rates have been observed in HIV+ individuals; this may be related to a dysregulated immune system, drug interactions, or both. Lymphocyte-depleting immunosuppression has been associated with lower rejection rates without increased infections using national registry data. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection has been associated with worse outcomes; however, improvements are expected with direct-acting antiviral therapies. Solid organ transplantation should be considered for HIV+ individuals with end-stage organ disease. Infectious disease clinicians can optimize ART to avoid pharmacoenhancers, which interact with immunosuppression. The timing of HCV treatment (pre- or post-transplant) should be discussed with the transplant team. Finally, organs from HIV+ donors can now be considered for HIV+ transplant candidates, within research protocols.
Infant Pulmonary Function Testing and Phenotypes in Severe Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

BACKGROUND: The definition of severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (sBPD) is based on respiratory support needs. The management of a patient with sBPD remains empirical and is highly variable among providers. Our objective in this study was to test the hypothesis that infant pulmonary function testing (iPFT) would reveal distinct phenotypes in patients with established sBPD during the initial NICU stay. METHODS: A prospective cohort study with data prospectively collected on infants with sBPD from May 1, 2003, to June 30, 2016. iPFT data were used to classify the patients as obstructive, restrictive, or mixed. RESULTS: The median gestational age at birth was 25 weeks (interquartile range [IQR], 24–27 weeks) and the median birth weight was 707 g (IQR, 581–925 g). At the time of iPFT, the median postmenstrual age was 52 weeks (IQR, 45–63 weeks), and the median weight was 4.4 kg (IQR, 3.7–6.0 kg). There were 56 (51%) patients with obstructive, 44 (40%) with mixed, and 10 (9%) with restrictive phenotypes. Moderate or severe obstruction was seen in 86% of the obstructive group and 78% of the mixed group. Of the restrictive patients, 70% had moderate and 30% had mild restriction. Bronchodilator response was seen in 74% of obstructive, 63% of mixed, and 25% of restrictive patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings reveal that sBPD as it is currently defined includes distinct phenotypes. Future researchers of diagnostic approaches to this population should consider the development of bedside tests to define phenotypes, and researchers in future therapeutic trials should consider the use of pulmonary function phenotyping in patient recruitment.
Playing the Women’s Card: How Women Respond to Female Candidates’ Descriptive Versus Substantive Representation:

When presented the choice between a male and female candidate, it is commonly assumed that women prefer a female candidate. But as more policy and ideologically diverse women run for office, this a...
Modeling Fractional Flow Reserve: Developing an Estimate of a Better Mousetrap.

See Article by Kang et al The longstanding, traditional construct of stable coronary artery disease in which patient symptoms and catheterization-defined stenosis severity drive treatment decisions is slowly evolving. The importance of prerevascularization physiological lesion assessment, whether by noninvasive imaging or by fractional flow reserve (FFR), is increasingly appreciated. The latter has been shown in randomized clinical trials to identify patients with superior outcomes with revascularization compared with medical therapy and to reduce stent use and cost.1–3 FFR has a IIa guideline indication in multisociety percutaneous intervention guidelines.4 Despite this, the actual use of FFR in the setting of diagnostic catheterization or percutaneous coronary intervention remains low.5,6 The factors that may explain this relative underuse include time, cost, and practicality of routine deployment. To improve the utilization of physiological stenosis assessment, methods to reliably estimate FFR from resting data (based on modeling measured FFR) have been examined. Several prior studies of varying size have addressed this question,7–11 finding different combinations of clinical, angiographic, and plaque characteristics to be associated with FFR and, in some, presenting simplified scores for use. In the current study, Kang et al12 examined the question of the impact of lesion geometry on the physiology associated with a coronary stenosis. To this end, the authors utilized data from the prospective Interventional Cardiology Research In-cooperation Society Fractional Flow Reserve and Intravascular Ultrasound registry. The study cohort consisted of 1552 non–left main coronary lesions in 1236 patients in whom simultaneous angiography, intravascular ultrasound, and FFR were assessed. Exclusion criteria included left main disease, TIMI (Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction) flow <3, bypass …
LoonyBin: Keeping Language Technologists Sane through Automated Management of Experimental (Hyper)Workflows

Many contemporary language technology systems are characterized by long pipelines of tools with complex dependencies. Too often, these workflows are implemented by ad hoc scripts; or, worse, tools are run manually, making experiments difficult to reproduce. These practices are difficult to maintain in the face of rapidly evolving workflows while they also fail to expose and record important details about intermediate data. Further complicating these systems are hyperparameters, which often cannot be directly optimized by conventional methods, requiring users to determine which combination of values is best via trial and error. We describe LoonyBin, an open-source tool that addresses these issues by providing: 1) a visual interface for the user to create and modify workflows; 2) a well-defined mechanism for tracking metadata and provenance; 3) a script generator that compiles visual workflows into shell scripts; and 4) a new workflow representation we call a HyperWorkflow, which intuitively and succinctly encodes small experimental variations within a larger workflow.
Towards a consequences-aware emergency landing system for unmanned aerial systems

We present an algorithm with which an aerial robot is capable of planning a consequences-aware flight path. The robot is capable of reasoning about possible faults, and which emergency actions are available to it. In this paper, we focus on faults that would force the vehicle to land in a short amount of time, and create a system that allows the vehicle to reason about its ability to execute a safe emergency landing from its current state. Such a system may improve the safety and reduce the economic cost of aerial robots, by allowing them to operate more flexibly whilst still achieving suitable safety. Using an onboard camera, the flying robot is able to identify safe landing spots, and attempt to compute trajectories from a future state to the available landing spots. If no such emergency trajectories are found, the robot must return to the last state at which a safe emergency trajectory was available. Initial in-lab experiments are shown, validating the feasibility of the concept.
Strengthening Environmental Health Literacy Through Precollege STEM and Environmental Health Education

High quality science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education provides a strong foundation for developing the environmental health literacy of students in grades pre-Kindergarten through 12 (pK-12). STEM learning inside and out of school develops the critical thinking, communications and numeracy skills, along with deep knowledge of systems and processes, that are necessary for the informed evaluation and use of environmental health information in everyday life.
Taking sides in the war on news: exploring curvilinear associations and group differences related to perceptions of news media as threat

The free press performs essential democratic functions, but widespread negative attitudes toward the press threaten its legitimacy and effectiveness as a check on formal institutions. In order to c...
Off-sites: contemporary performance beyond site-specific

Bertie Ferdman introduces the new, flexible concept of the ‘off-site’ in her study of contemporary performances that challenge the now-established and frequently commercialized notion of site-speci...
MECHANICALLY EXPANDABLE VERSUS SELF EXPANDABLE VALVES IN TRANSCATHETER AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT: A META-ANALYSIS OF RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED AND PROPENSITY MATCHED STUDIES

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement(TAVR) valves are specialized valves which are delivered percutaneously and are either self-expanding (SEV) or mechanically expandable (MEV). The kind of valve placement has a significant impact on procedural success, residual aortic regurgitation and ultimately
Cybersecurity for the Public Interest

Discusses the importance of engineers and technologists to understand the policy ramifications of their research, work, and products/services.
Fibrolipomatous hamartomas not only on the soles

Fibrolipomatous hamartomas are asymptomatic, subcutaneous lumps usually located on the infant's heels. There is wide heterogeneity in the naming of and management of this condition. Ultrasound examination permits a clear distinction from other disorders. We report herein a case of palmoplantar fibrolipomatous hamartomas.
The G3BP1-Family-USP10 Deubiquitinase Complex Rescues Ubiquitinated 40S Subunits of Ribosomes Stalled in Translation from Lysosomal Degradation.

Summary Ribosome-associated quality control (RQC) purges aberrant mRNAs and nascent polypeptides in a multi-step molecular process initiated by the E3 ligase ZNF598 through sensing of ribosomes collided at aberrant mRNAs and monoubiquitination of distinct small ribosomal subunit proteins. We show that G3BP1-family-USP10 complexes are required for deubiquitination of RPS2, RPS3, and RPS10 to rescue modified 40S subunits from programmed degradation. Knockout of USP10 or G3BP1 family proteins increased lysosomal ribosomal degradation and perturbed ribosomal subunit stoichiometry, both of which were rescued by a single K214R substitution of RPS3. While the majority of RPS2 and RPS3 monoubiquitination resulted from ZNF598-dependent sensing of ribosome collisions initiating RQC, another minor pathway contributed to their monoubiquitination. G3BP1 family proteins have long been considered RNA-binding proteins, however, our results identified 40S subunits and associated mRNAs as their predominant targets, a feature shared by stress granules to which G3BP1 family proteins localize under stress.
Human parainfluenza virus type 3 expressing the respiratory syncytial virus pre-fusion F protein modified for virion packaging yields protective intranasal vaccine candidates

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPIV3) are among the most common viral causes of childhood bronchiolitis and pneumonia worldwide, and lack effective antiviral drugs or vaccines. Recombinant (r) HPIV3 was modified to express the RSV fusion (F) glycoprotein, the major RSV neutralization and protective antigen, providing a live intranasal bivalent HPIV3/RSV vaccine candidate. This extends previous studies using a chimeric bovine-human PIV3 vector (rB/HPIV3). One advantage is that rHPIV3 expresses all of the HPIV3 antigens compared to only two for rB/HPIV3. In addition, the use of rHPIV3 as vector should avoid excessive attenuation following addition of the modified RSV F gene, which may occur with rB/HPIV3. To enhance its immunogenicity, RSV F was modified (i) to increase the stability of the prefusion (pre-F) conformation and (ii) by replacement of its transmembrane (TM) and cytoplasmic tail (CT) domains with those of HPIV3 F (H3TMCT) to increase incorporation in the vector virion. RSV F (+/- H3TMCT) was expressed from the first (F/preN) or the second (F/N-P) gene position of rHPIV3. The H3TMCT modification dramatically increased packaging of RSV F into the vector virion and, in hamsters, resulted in significant increases in the titer of high-quality serum RSV-neutralizing antibodies, in addition to the increase conferred by pre-F stabilization. Only F-H3TMCT/preN replication was significantly attenuated in the nasal turbinates by the RSV F insert. F-H3TMCT/preN, F/N-P, and F-H3TMCT/N-P provided complete protection against wt RSV challenge. F-H3TMCT/N-P exhibited the most stable and highest expression of RSV F, providing impetus for its further development.
Multiscale Patterning from Competing Interactions and Length Scales

We live in a research era marked by impressive new tools powering the scientific method to accelerate the discovery, prediction, and control of increasingly complex systems. In common with many dis...
Establishing a Data-Sharing Environment for a 21st-Century Academic Health Center

Objective The main purpose of this study was to establish a seamless clinical data sharing system in a new medical school in partnership with community health systems. Methods We developed a Data Request Management System (DRMS) and a data request process to streamline access to and management of data for quality improvement, population health, and research. We utilized a four-pronged methodology in implementing our clinical data sharing system: data governance, data extraction, external relationships, and internal engagement. Results The Data Core team of honest data brokers through the established relationships, data use agreements, data request processes, and the DRMS processed more than 50 data requests from all the departments during its first year of operation. The DRMS application and the supporting governance and relationships provided a platform for improved process and accuracy of data sharing environment by facilitating trust, transparency, standardization, and service provisioning. Conclusion Developing a seamless data ecosystem that forms the basis of a learning health system between an academic health center and community health systems requires a combination of people (the Data Core team), processes (common data request process policies and procedures), and technology (an effective online DRMS). Future work is needed to measure the impact of the clinical data sharing system on efficiency and accuracy of data sharing.
Algorithms as discrimination detectors

Preventing discrimination requires that we have means of detecting it, and this can be enormously difficult when human beings are making the underlying decisions. As applied today, algorithms can increase the risk of discrimination. But as we argue here, algorithms by their nature require a far greater level of specificity than is usually possible with human decision making, and this specificity makes it possible to probe aspects of the decision in additional ways. With the right changes to legal and regulatory systems, algorithms can thus potentially make it easier to detect-and hence to help prevent-discrimination.