cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determination of all stabilizing fractional-order PID controllers that satisfy a robust performance constraint

This paper presents a method for finding all stabilizing fractional-order (FO) proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controllers that satisfy a robust performance constraint for a system of integer or non-integer order with a time delay. All the solutions to such FO PID controllers are calculated in the frequency domain and are given in terms of the proportional gain Kp, integral gain Ki, and derivative gain Kd. In this paper, they will be plotted on the (Kp, Ki), (Kp, Kd), and (Ki, Kd) planes. For a robust performance constraint, a weight is selected to bound all multiplicative errors resulting from parametric uncertainty and a sensitivity function weight is selected to set performance specifications. This approach provides all the possible gain parameter values of FO PID controllers that satisfy a robust performance condition. An example is given to illustrate the usefulness and effectiveness of the method.
Indicators of adherence to antiretroviral therapy treatment among HIV/AIDS patients in 5 African countries.

As the HIV epidemic threatens the social fabric of countries struggling with HIV prevalence rates as high as 10% to 30% access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) alone is only the beginning of the clinical challenge. There is a need to identify adherence indicators that will ensure long-term treatment success. A cross-sectional review of 921 adult patients on ART for at least 1 year was conducted. Through an administered adherence survey key indicators were found to be highly correlated with patient adherence. The adherence rate in this sample was 72% after being on treatment for an average of 15 months. This data suggest that having a high perceived quality of care and owning ones own home positively affected patients adherence. Indicators such as alcohol use in the last month and a high level of depression negatively affected patients adherence. Targeting specific indicators for specific interventions will guard against nonadherence leading to treatment failure.
A Short-Form Measure of Self-Actualization

The importance of the concept self-actualization is discussed in the context of explaining and predicting behavior in complex organizations. Assessing self-actualization by use of the semistructured research interview is discussed; and a short-form, structured instrument is set forth, not as a substitute, but as an alternative technique that may better meet the needs of investigators and practitioners, particularly where time, expense, and (relative lack of) interviewing and analytic skills are important factors. The short form is validated (a) by comparing the data yielded by it with the data yielded by the semistructured form and (b) by showing that the scores yielded by the structured technique are associated with the same phenomena as the scores yielded by the semistructured technique.
Winding AC resistance of low temperature co-fired ceramic inductor

With the increased popularity of portable electronics, improved integrated solutions are desirable in order to improve the low power DC/DC converter technology. With the state-of-the-art designs, bulky magnetic components are major barriers for integrating the DC/DC converter into a single chip. In order to reduce the inductor size to help integration, and achieve more a compact POL, pushing the frequency to Mega Hz is one solution and is the future trend in the industry. A low profile inductor with a low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) ferrite material is one of the promising candidates for high frequency applications. In order to optimize the low profile LTCC inductor design for high frequency integration, the winding ac resistance needs to be studied. This paper studies the winding ac resistance for several low profile LTCC inductor structures. The impact of winding shape and core material on winding ac resistance are studied carefully based on FEA simulation. Some simple but accurate enough analytical equations are also proposed to predict winding ac resistance for low profile LTCC inductor.
Practical guidelines for predicting steady state cure time during sheet molding compound (SMC) compression molding

The longest part of the molding cycle during SMC compression molding is the curing stage. Thus it is extremely important to be able to predict its duration to estimate the cost of manufacturing a new part. During an SMC molding cycle, the mold surface temperature drops suddenly when it contacts the cold charge. The surface temperature then gradually recovers as heat is conducted from the interior of the mold and the resin releases heat during curing. In general, this exchange of heat remains locally unbalanced, causing a gradual decrease in the local surface temperature. To avoid blistering, the cure time must be increased with consecutive moldings until a steady state value is achieved (t ess ). In this paper, we present a series of charts that can be used to estimate the steady state cure time for new parts. These values can then be used to estimate the manufacturing cost.
The role of unilateral temporal artery biopsy.

Abstract Purpose To examine the role of unilateral temporal artery biopsy (TAB) in suspected giant cell arteritis (GCA). Design Retrospective interventional case series. Participants We identified 181 subjects from pathology and diagnostic code databases at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center who underwent TAB between January 1990 and January 2001. Methods The medical records for all subjects who underwent TAB were reviewed. Follow-up information was obtained by telephone or record review for those patients who had negative unilateral TAB. Main outcome measures Follow-up information for patients with unilateral negative TAB was reviewed for potential adverse outcomes caused by missed or delayed diagnoses of GCA. Presenting signs and symptoms and laboratory values were recorded for all subjects. Comparisons of clinical profiles between subsets of subjects were performed using Fisher's exact test, significance level α = 0.01. Results Follow-up information was available for 88 (86%) of 102 subjects who had unilateral negative biopsy samples. One (1%) subjects of 88 had a subsequent positive contralateral TAB; no adverse outcomes occurred for this subject or for any other subjects with unilateral negative TAB. Compared with subjects who had unilateral positive or who underwent bilateral TAB (n = 74), those who had unilateral negative TAB (n = 88) had a significantly lower prevalence of jaw claudication ( P = 0.007). Compared with subjects diagnosed with GCA (n = 39), those with unilateral negative TAB (n = 88) had significantly lower frequencies of jaw claudication ( P = 0.001), "chalky white" optic disc edema ( P = 0.002), and fever ( P P P = 0.0002), pale disc edema ( P = 0.006), or any systemic symptom other than headache ( P = 0.0002). ("Chalky white" denotes notably extreme disc pallor). The most common indications for biopsy in subjects with unilateral negative TAB were elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (74%), headache (69%), visual complaints (58%), and ophthalmic signs (52%). Although ESR was a significant predictor of positive TAB overall (unilateral and bilateral TAB) in logistic regression models accounting simultaneously for subject age ( P = 0.04), ESR did not significantly predict unilateral negative status in our patients ( P = 0.13). Conclusions In this cohort of patients, unilateral TAB was associated with an extremely low frequency (1%) of subsequent positive contralateral TAB and was not associated with adverse visual or neurologic outcomes for any subject. We conclude that in the hands of experienced physicians, a unilateral TAB is sufficient to exclude a diagnosis of GCA in populations for which clinical suspicion is low. Jaw claudication, pale optic disc edema, particularly "chalky white" disc edema, fever, or any systemic symptom other than headache should raise suspicion for a diagnosis of GCA.
EFFECT OF HEATING RATE ON THE SINTERING OF TITANIUM-DIOXIDE THIN-FILMS - COMPETITION BETWEEN DENSIFICATION AND CRYSTALLIZATION

Sintering of sol-gel-derived TiO2 thin films was studied as a function of heating rate by ion-beam analysis, X-ray diffraction, and ellipsometry. The degree of densification increases with increasing heating rate. Densest films containing the lowest amount of hydroxyls are obtained using rapid thermal annealing. The results are rationalized in terms of a competition between densification and crystallization.
Long-Range Gamma-Band Synchronization During Learning of a Complex Visuomotor Task

Brain activity synchronization is believed to play a major role in human learning, as it emerges from the integration of several brain processes that bind together different sensory inputs. In this study, we used dense-array recordings of electroencephalographic (EEG) activity during execution of a complex learning task to possibly identify patterns of brain activation that correspond to distinct phases of learning. Our results show that subjects who go through both phases of learning, namely strategy formulation and strategy implementation, exhibit very strong long-range synchronization between occipital and frontal brain regions primarily in the gamma band, while the rest of the subjects exhibit patterns of weak local synchronization in all bands.
Increased levels of glutathione in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with asthma

Patients with asthma generate increased amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from peripheral blood cells and cells recovered by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). ROS produce many of the pathophysiologic changes associated with asthma and may contribute to its pathogenesis. Although antioxidant defenses inhibit the changes produced by ROS, no data are available on local antioxidant defenses in asthma. The present study was designed to begin to explore these defenses by measuring superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities and total glutathione (GSH) levels in BAL fluid from normal subjects and patients with mild asthma. Baseline pulmonary function and methacholine bronchoprovocation tests were performed on all subjects. BAL was achieved by instilling five 20-ml aliquots of phosphate-buffered saline in each of three lung segments. The fluids recovered from the first 20-ml aliquot and that from the next four aliquots were labeled bronchial and alveolar fluid, respectively. Patients with asthma had a l...
Future environmental needs and costs

How can we predict the amount that will be spent to keep the environment clean in the years to come? Do the costs depend primarily on population or on the gross national product (GNP)? How are the costs affected by the way in which the environmental standards are set? What role does technology play? On the one hand it causes more exotic forms of pollution, and on the other it can deal more effectively with current and future pollution problems. And finally, To what extent do environmental outlays improve the quality of life, and to what extent do they decrease societal welfare by diminishing the resources left over for consumption? How do we strike a balance between spending funds for a clean environment and spending funds for other things that contribute to the welfare of people?
The optimal timing for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with respect to the risk of postoperative stiffness.

Purpose The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the risk of stiffness between early and delayed anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery in studies that use a modern accelerated rehabilitation protocol. Methods Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane library were searched for studies that compared outcomes for early and delayed ACL reconstruction with a modern accelerated rehabilitation protocol. Risk ratios for stiffness were pooled using random effects meta-analysis. Results A total of 8 studies were included in this review. The 3 randomized trials found no difference in the risk of postoperative stiffness at cutoff points of Conclusions If a modern surgical technique and an accelerated rehabilitation protocol are used, there is no increased risk of knee stiffness if an ACL reconstruction is performed as early as 1 week after injury. Level of Evidence Level II, meta-analysis of Level I and II studies.
Cetuximab-Activated Natural Killer and Dendritic Cells Collaborate to Trigger Tumor Antigen–Specific T-cell Immunity in Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Purpose: Tumor antigen–specific monoclonal antibodies (mAb) block oncogenic signaling and induce Fcγ receptor (FcγR)–mediated cytotoxicity. However, the role of CD8 + CTL and FcγR in initiating innate and adaptive immune responses in mAb-treated human patients with cancer is still emerging. Experimental Design: FcγRIIIa codon 158 polymorphism was correlated with survival in 107 cetuximab-treated patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). Flow cytometry was carried out to quantify EGF receptor (EGFR)–specific T cells in cetuximab-treated patients with HNC. The effect of cetuximab on natural killer (NK) cell, dendritic cell (DC), and T-cell activation was measured using IFN-γ release assays and flow cytometry. Results: FcγRIIIa polymorphism did not predict clinical outcome in cetuximab-treated patients with HNC; however, elevated circulating EGFR 853–861 –specific CD8 + T cells were found in cetuximab-treated patients with HNC ( P + tumor cells and FcγRIIIa on NK cells but not on the polymorphism per se . Cetuximab-activated NK cells induced IFN-γ–dependent expression of DC maturation markers, antigen processing machinery components such as TAP-1/2 and T-helper cell (T H 1) chemokines through NKG2D/MICA binding. Cetuximab initiated adaptive immune responses via NK cell–induced DC maturation, which enhanced cross-presentation to CTL specific for EGFR as well as another tumor antigen, MAGE-3. Conclusion: Cetuximab-activated NK cells promote DC maturation and CD8 + T-cell priming, leading to tumor antigen spreading and T H 1 cytokine release through “NK–DC cross-talk.” FcγRIIIa polymorphism did not predict clinical response to cetuximab but was necessary for NK–DC interaction and mAb-induced cross-presentation. EGFR-specific T cells in cetuximab-treated patients with HNC may contribute to clinical response. Clin Cancer Res; 19(7); 1858–72. ©2013 AACR .
Capture of Ovulating Female Sea Lampreys in Traps Baited with Spermiating Male Sea Lampreys

Abstract This study was conducted as an initial step in the development of a trapping technique for sexually mature female sea lampreys Petromyzon marinus. Recent research has demonstrated that spermiating male sea lampreys release a sex pheromone that attracts ovulating females. This discovery prompted us to hypothesize that traps baited with spermiating males would capture more ovulating females than empty traps or traps baited with nonspermiating males. We found that traps baited with spermiating males captured nearly 74% of the ovulating females released, whereas empty traps and traps baited with nonspermiating males did not capture any ovulating females. We conclude that pheromone-baited traps may complement current sea lamprey management through direct removal of ripe females from spawning grounds.
Hypercalcemia in malignant and inflammatory diseases

Hypercalcemia can be a complication of malignant, inflammatory, and infectious diseases. The central molecular mechanism of hypercalcemia is increased osteoclastic bone resorption, a cellular process regulated by various hormones, cytokines, and growth factors overexpressed in malignancy and inflammation. Central to hypercalcemia pathogenesis is expression of the oncofetal protein, parathyroid hormone-related protein that, among its pleiotropic actions, stimulates osteoclastic bone resorption. Recent studies have elucidated the complex interactions among tumor cells, bone cells, infectious and inflammatory agents and cells, and the molecular mechanisms that mediate the hypercalcemia seen in various disease states. Understanding these molecular, cellular, and physiologic interactions can lead to improved diagnosis and treatment for the hypercalcemic patient.
A non-surgical technique for the collection of uterine fluid from the mare.

SUMMARY A non-surgical, transcervical technique was developed for collection of uterine secretions from unanesthetized horse mares. Uterine flush- ings were collected on days 4, 8, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 postovularion of the estrous cycle. The uterus was flushed with sterile .33 M saline, which was left in the uterus for a minimum of 5 minutes. During this time, the uterus was mas- saged per rectum to insure adequate mixing of luminal contents and saline. Fluid in the uterus was aspirated into sterile syringes and stored on ice until centrifuged. Centrifugation was carried out at 12,062 x g for 20 min in a refrigerated centrifuge. Flushings were filtered through a .45 /a filter to remove bacteria and/or cellular debris. After the volume of each uterine flush- ing was measured, it was stored at -20 C until analyzed for protein. Volume of flushing me- dium collected from uteri (overall mean 106.3% fluid recovered) was not affected by day of the estrous cycle. Total amount of protein obtained in uterine flushings was affected (P<.025) by day of the estrous cycle with maximal amounts of recoverable protein in the mid-to-late luteal phase. (Key Words: Uterine Secretion, Nonsurgical Collection Technique, Protein, Mare.)
Gentlemen (and Ladies), Choose your Weapons: Gamma Knife vs. Linear Accelerator Radiosurgery

“In a sense, every tool is a machine—the hammer, the ax, and the chisel. And every machine is a tool. The real distinction is between one man using a tool with his hands and producing an object that shows at every stage the direction of his will and the impression of his personality; and a machine which is producing, without the intervention of a particular man, objects of a uniformity and precision that show no individual variation and have no personal charm. The problem is to decide whether the objects of machine production can possess the essential qualities of art.”—Sir Herbert Read (1893–1968), British critic and poet. Art and Industry, pt. 1, Horizon (1953).“But lo! men have become the tools of their tools.”—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862),U.S. philosopher, author, naturalist. “Economy,” Waiden (1854).This article compares and contrasts Gamma Knife® radiosurgery with linear accelerator-based radiosurgery; where appropriate, Cyberknife™ technology is discussed. Topics covered are: positioning of the ...
Sea-Floor Brine Pools Affect Behavior, Mortality, and Preservation of Fishes in the Gulf of Mexico: Lagerstatten in the Making?

Pools of hypersaline, anoxic brine on the continental slope of the Gulf of Mexico promote the preservation of organic material to an exceptional degree. One type of brine pool, the brine-filled pockmark, supplies nutritive methane to a symbiont-containing mussel that forms dense beds around the pool. Fish, attracted by this abundant food supply, are subjected to lethal concentrations of H 2 S, anoxia, and osmotic stress. Many die, sink into the pool, are preserved by the brine, and possibly are buried by the collapsing walls of the pockmark
Hidden Agendas: A Model Of Industry Engagement In Oppositional Collective Action

Firm responses to social movement attacks have become of increasing interest to researchers in stakeholder theory and non-market strategies, as well as those at the intersection of social movement ...
MNGO-10IMPACT OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS) AND ITS IMMUNOMODULATORY TREATMENT ON MENINGIOMA OUTCOMES

BACKGROUND: Meningioma is rarely described in the MS literature and the influence of immunomodulatory treatment is not known. There are only a few case reports on the relationship of MS and meningioma, some of which suggest progression of disease with MS treatment. METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed patients diagnosed with MS by Macdonald criteria and meningioma from January 1992 to December 2014. RESULTS: We identified 7 women, median age of 65 (range: 46-69), with both MS and meningioma. Six patients were followed for a median of 9 years (range: 1 month-10 years). Two were never treated with any disease modifying therapy (DMT), 3 were treated with interferon-beta 1a (IFNb-1a), 1 with glatiramer acetate then, natalizumab, and 1 with IFNb-1a then, natalizumab. At the time of meningioma diagnosis, 4 had not been treated with any DMT, 2 were on IFNb-1a, and 1 was on glatiramer acetate. In six cases, meningioma was diagnosed after the MS diagnosis (median of 11 years, range of 0- 21 years). Of the 7 patients identified, meningioma progression necessitated tumor treatment in 4 patients; 3 surgical resections, 1 stereotactic radiosurgery. Histology of all resected tumors was WHO grade I. Of these patients, 2 were on IFNb-1a and 2 never received DMT. The one patient who had stereotactic radiosurgery was on treatment with IFNb-1a during meningioma growth period. This patient had multiple complications due to radiation necrosis. The remaining 3 patients treated for MS did not require treatment of their meningioma. CONCLUSION: In this small series of patients with both MS and meningioma, tumor progression necessitating treatment in patients receiving DMT or off DMT. In the one patient who received stereotactic radiosurgery, radiation caused severe complications.
Exploration of CMC evaluation for conditional approval of clinical trials for innovative chemical drugs

With social economic development and enhancement of domestic pharmaceutical RD capability in recent years,the research and development for innovative drugs have made tremendous progress.The RD projects for Me-too drugs and patent new drugs are constantly increasing.However,there still exist obvious hurdles.Problems such as how to conduct and evaluate innovative drugs' RD and how to balance the relationship between the ultimate goal of drug safety and efficacy and quality control at different stages of RD process should be recognized and solved.Based on the current trend in pharmaceutical RD,this paper aims at integrating the balance of requirements for safety,efficacy and quality control at different stages of drug evaluation process in order to establish basic pharmaceutical technical principles for conditional approval of clinical trials.With regard to different stages of the clinical trial,the key points for CMC evaluation should be clarified.This paper is intended to have a broad discussion with relevant professionals and experts for the purposes of developing a comprehensive methodology for innovative drug RD operation and evaluation.
The antireflux ureteroileal reimplantation in children and adults.

Abstract We report on 6 patients with 11 ureters who underwent antireflux ureteroileal reimplantation as part of various reconstructive procedures. A success rate of 82 per cent (9 ureters) was obtained. Our preliminary report shows that the ureteroileal reimplantation represents a satisfactory alternative for urinary diversion and undiversion or a vesical augmentation procedure with the small bowel.
Prolonged, Simple Aortic Occlusion During Hypothermic Perfusion: An Aid to Open Heart Surgery

With hypothermic extracorporeal circulation, it is possible to occlude the aorta for prolonged periods and thus prevent air embolism and obtain an empty heart during open heart surgery.The aorta may be clamped for from 15 to 25 minutes with the patient's intraesophageal temperature at between 20 and 30° C. Normal cardiac rhythm is restored at around 34.5° C.Studies of 16 patients showed that the clinical response of the heart to this procedure was excellent.
Automated measurement of estrogen receptor in breast cancer: a comparison of fluorescent and chromogenic methods of measurement

Whereas FDA-approved methods of assessment of estrogen receptor (ER) are 'fit for purpose', they represent a 30-year-old technology. New quantitative methods, both chromogenic and fluorescent, have been developed and studies have shown that these methods increase the accuracy of assessment of ER. Here, we compare three methods of ER detection and assessment on two retrospective tissue microarray (TMA) cohorts of breast cancer patients: estimates of percent nuclei positive by pathologists and by Aperio's nuclear algorithm (standard chromogenic immunostaining), and immunofluorescence as quantified with the automated quantitative analysis (AQUA) method of quantitative immunofluorescence (QIF). Reproducibility was excellent (R(2)>0.95) between users for both automated analysis methods, and the Aperio and QIF scoring results were also highly correlated, despite the different detection systems. The subjective readings show lower levels of reproducibility and a discontinuous, bimodal distribution of scores not seen by either mechanized method. Kaplan-Meier analysis of 10-year disease-free survival was significant for each method (Pathologist, P=0.0019; Aperio, P=0.0053, AQUA, P=0.0026); however, there were discrepancies in patient classification in 19 out of 233 cases analyzed. Out of these, 11 were visually positive by both chromogenic and fluorescent detection. In 10 cases, the Aperio nuclear algorithm labeled the nuclei as negative; in 1 case, the AQUA score was just under the cutoff for positivity (determined by an Index TMA). In contrast, 8 out of 19 discrepant cases had clear nuclear positivity by fluorescence that was unable to be visualized by chromogenic detection, perhaps because of low positivity masked by the hematoxylin counterstain. These results demonstrate that automated systems enable objective, precise quantification of ER. Furthermore, immunofluorescence detection offers the additional advantage of a signal that cannot be masked by a counterstaining agent. These data support the usage of automated methods for measurement of this and other biomarkers that may be used in companion diagnostic tests.
Information and Political Change

This book is an inquiry into the evolution of American democracy. It explores an aspect of democratic politics in the United States about which surprisingly little is known: the relationship between characteristics of political information in society and broad properties of democratic power and practice. My inquiry is motivated in part by the dramatic revolution in information technology taking place at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Over the space of about five years, we have witnessed the adoption of new means for communication and management of information by virtually every political organization and institution of consequence in the country. At no time in the history of American democracy has a new set of communication and information-handling capacities been assimilated so rapidly by the political system. The pace of these changes has precipitated much speculation about political change and transformation, from visions of direct democracy and erosion of processes of representation and institutional deliberation because of new technology to enhancement or degradation of the “public sphere” and the state of citizens' civic engagement. Such speculations resonate strongly in a period when democracy in America is enervated by many problems: low voter turnout, the distortions of money and campaign finance arrangements, low public trust, a political culture dominated by marketing and polling, and the profound influences of one particular technology, television. What the new capacities for communication and the management of information portend for such problems, and indeed whether they portend anything at all, is one focus of this book.
Optimization of methane production from bituminous coal through biogasification

To optimize methane production from bituminous coal through use of a well-studied microbial community derived from the same Illinois basin in USA, a total of 12 parameters were first evaluated by setting up 64 reactors following a 2-level factorial design. Among the 12 parameters, temperature, coal loading, particle size and ethanol were found to have statistically significant effects on methane content and yield from coal. Following screening, to identify optimal value for each significant factor, a Box-Behnken design necessitating 29 reactors was adopted. Optimal conditions provided by the Design of Expert software for the highest methane yield were: temperature, 32 °C; coal loading, 201.98 g/L; coal particle size, <73.99 μm; and ethanol at 300 mM. Under these optimum conditions, the predicted methane yield and content was 2957.4 ft3/ton (83.7 mm3/ton) and 74.2%, respectively. To confirm the predicted results, a verification experiment was conducted, where a methane yield of 2900 ft3/ton (82.1 mm3/ton) with a methane content of 70% was observed. Thus, models developed from this study can be used to predict methane content and yield from bituminous coal through biogasification ex situ.
Facebook wall posts: a model of user behaviors

How do people interact with their Facebook wall? At a high level, this question captures the essence of our work. While most prior efforts focus on Twitter, the much fewer Facebook studies focus on the friendship graph or are limited by the amount of users or the duration of the study. In this work, we model Facebook user behavior: we analyze the wall activities of users focusing on identifying common patterns and surprising phenomena. We conduct an extensive study of roughly 7k users over 3 years during 4-month intervals each year. We propose PowerWall, a lesser known heavy-tailed distribution to fit our data. Our key results can be summarized in the following points. First, we find that many wall activities, including number of posts, number of likes, number of posts of type photo, can be described by the PowerWall distribution. What is more surprising is that most of these distributions have similar slope, with a value close to 1! Second, we show how our patterns and metrics can help us spot surprising behaviors and anomalies. For example, we find a user posting every two days, exactly the same count of posts; another user posting at midnight, with no other activity before or after. Our work provides a solid step toward a systematic and quantitative wall-centric profiling of Facebook user activity.
The Arf activator GBF1 localizes to plasma membrane sites involved in cell adhesion and motility.

GBF1 is ubiquitously expressed in eukaryotic cells and is essential for cellular and organismal life. Depletion of GBF1 from cultured cells induces apoptosis, while mouse GBF1 knockout and D. melan...
Early lymphocyte recovery (ELR) impact on disease outcome following autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HDT/ASCT) for multiple myeloma (MM) in the era of novel agents.

e19539 Background: Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) > 500 cells/ µL on day 15 (ELR+) after HDT/ASCT, has been reported to be an independent prognostic indicator, for improved OS and PFS in patients ...
Fulminant hepatic failure.

Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) also known as acute liver failure is defined as the development of impaired hepatic synthetic function with coagulopathy and the development of hepatic encephalopathy in the absence of underlying liver disease within a time period of 2–3 months. This condition is uncommon but not rare, affecting approximately 2,000 cases annually in the United States with a mortality ranging 50–90% despite intensive care therapy.1
Mechanism-based modeling of solute strengthening: Application to thermal creep in Zr alloy

Abstract In this work, a crystallographic thermal creep model is proposed for Zr alloys that accounts for the hardening contribution of solutes via their time-dependent pinning effect on dislocations. The core-diffusion model proposed by Soare and Curtin (2008a) is coupled with a recently proposed constitutive modeling framework (Wang et al., 2017, 2016) accounting for the heterogeneous distribution of internal stresses within grains. The Coble creep mechanism is also included. This model is, in turn, embedded in the effective medium crystallographic VPSC framework and used to predict creep strain evolution of polycrystals under different temperature and stress conditions. The simulation results reproduce the experimental creep data for Zircaloy-4 and the transition between the low (n∼1), intermediate (n∼4) and high (n∼9) power law creep regimes. This is achieved through the dependence on local aging time of the solute-dislocation binding energy. The anomalies in strain rate sensitivity (SRS) are discussed in terms of core-diffusion effects on dislocation junction strength. The mechanism-based model captures the primary and secondary creep regimes results reported by Kombaiah and Murty (2015a, 2015b) for a comprehensive set of testing conditions covering the 500–600 °C interval, stresses spanning 14–156 MPa, and steady state creep rates varying between 1.5·10−9s−1 to 2·10−3s−1. There are two major advantages to this model with respect to more empirical ones used as constitutive laws for describing thermal creep of cladding: 1) specific dependences on the nature of solutes and their concentrations are explicitly accounted for; 2) accident conditions in reactors, such as RIA and LOCA, usually take place in short times, and deformation takes place in the primary, not the steady-state creep stage. As a consequence, a model that accounts for the evolution with time of microstructure is more reliable for this kind of simulation.
Aerosol deposition predictions in computed tomography-derived skeletons from severe asthmatics: A feasibility study.

Abstract Background The authors numerically investigated the correlation between airway skeletons of severe asthmatic human subjects and predicted aerosol deposition to shed light on the effect of environmental factors on asthma risk. We hypothesized that there are asthmatic subjects whose airway skeletal structure can expose the subject to a risk of higher local aerosol deposition compared to subjects with a more common/normal branching pattern. Methods From a population of severe asthmatics studied at total lung capacity via computed tomography we randomly selected 8 subjects whose Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 s, percent predicted fell below 45% predicted. To simulate aerosol motion in the human lungs, we employed in-house three-dimensional eddy-resolving computational fluid dynamics and particle tracking models utilizing 3 of the 8 severe asthmatic subjects. One of the 3 subjects was found to have a distinct, localized airway narrowing chosen for further investigation. In the simulation, we controlled flow rate and luminal area, i.e., Reynolds and Stokes numbers, in each branch of the computed tomography-derived airway skeletons. Findings We found a distinct enhancement of aerosol deposition associated with the narrowed branches of one subject even when the luminal area was numerically adjusted from its narrowed state to that of a non-asthmatic subject. The branching angle, freed of luminal narrowing persisted in demonstrating a marginally significant increase in local particle deposition compared with the subjects without the initial constriction. Interpretation These results demonstrate the possibility that inherent airway structure may influence localized constriction found in severe asthmatics.
The dynamics between student affect and behavior occurring outside of educational software

We present an analysis of the affect that precedes, follows, and cooccurs with students' choices to go off-task or engage in on-task conversation within two versions of a virtual laboratory for chemistry. This analysis is conducted using field observation data collected within undergraduate classes using the virtual laboratory software as part of their regular chemistry classes. We find that off-task behavior co-occurs with boredom, but appears to relieve boredom, leading to significantly lower probability of later boredom. We also find that on-task conversation leads to greater future probability of engaged concentration. These results help to clarify the role that behavior outside of educational software plays in students' affect during use of that software.
Patterns of inpatient surgeries for the top four cancers in the United States, National Hospital Discharge Survey, 1988-95.

Background: At a time when the population is aging and medical practices are rapidly changing, ongoing surveillance of surgical treatments for cancer is valuable for health services planning.
Time to care: socioeconomic, family, and workplace factors in men and women’s parental leave use

ABSTRACTParental leave has important benefits for women, men, and families. This study examines how individual, family, and workplace factors are associated with the length of parental leaves taken...
Direct root-zone irrigation outperforms surface drip irrigation for grape yield and crop water use efficiency while restricting root growth

Abstract Direct root-zone irrigation is a novel subsurface drip irrigation strategy for water conservation. However, a comparison with traditional irrigation methods is lacking to better define the potential advantages of direct root-zone irrigation. A two-year study was conducted to evaluate the performance of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Cabernet Sauvignon under direct root-zone irrigation and surface drip irrigation in a commercial vineyard with loamy sand soil in a semi-arid region of southcentral Washington State, USA. Plant water status, root traits, grape yield, berry morphology and composition, and crop water use efficiency were compared between irrigation methods under three irrigation rates. Compared to surface drip irrigation, direct root-zone irrigation improved grape yield by 9–12% and crop water use efficiency by 9–11% under varied climate conditions with minor effects on berry composition, which could be potentially adjusted by irrigation rate. Moreover, grapevines irrigated through direct root-zone irrigation had 48–67% and 50–54% decrease in root number, respectively, at high and moderate irrigation rates in the upper soil profile (0–60 cm) with a decrease in water stress as revealed by higher midday stem water potential. Irrigation rate was the major factor influencing berry morphology. In fact, reduced irrigation resulted in a decrease in weight, size and number of berries. We conclude that direct root-zone irrigation could be a successful tool for improving yield and crop water use efficiency, potentially encouraging deep rooting to alleviate the water stress in grapevine under seasonal drought, and offering the ability to modify berry morphology and composition by adjusting the amount of water use.
Pelvic Floor Conditions: Rectal Intussusception

Internal rectal intussusception, rectal prolapse, and solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (SRUS) are members of a continuum of benign anatomic abnormalities of the pelvic floor associated with abnormal descent of the rectal wall that can be functionally debilitating. Internal intussusception can be associated with a variety of symptoms ranging from mucous drainage to tenesmus to fecal incontinence. Internal intussusception and other forms of pelvic floor dysfunction have been implicated in the pathophysiology of SRUS, a benign lesion of variable appearance on the rectal mucosa whose symptoms are analogous to those described for internal intussusception. Evaluation of pelvic floor dysfunction using defecography often reveals internal intussusception, but healthy volunteers will have similar incidence of intussusception. Therefore, management must be directed toward symptomatic relief, not correction of presumptive anatomic abnormalities. As many patients will suffer dysfunction with more than one pelvic floor compartment, a multi-disciplinary team is often required. There are many surgical approaches described with varying degrees of success, but no operative intervention should be pursued until non-operative measures have been exhausted.
In Vitro Screening of Various Bacterially Produced Double-Stranded RNAs for Silencing Cercospora cf. flagellaris Target Genes and Suppressing Cercosporin Production.

Cercospora leaf blight (CLB), primarily caused by Cercospora cf. flagellaris, is one of the most important diseases of soybean (Glycine max) in Louisiana. The pathogen produces cercosporin, a nonsp...
Equilibrium distribution of point defects in Fe-Y-O as a typical representative of nanocluster-strengthened alloys

Abstract The statistical mechanic approach [ 1 , 2 ] has been used to estimate the equilibrium defect distribution in a multiphase system by minimizing its free energy using microstructural characteristics and a finite set of defects obtained by first-principles calculations. Recently the approach was extended to take in consideration defects at the interface of the precipitate and matrix [3] . Herein we apply the developed approach to the investigation of the stability of bcc Fe containing yttria, Y2O3, nanoclusters as a prototype of nanostructured ferritic alloys. It has been obtained that (100)Fe-O interface is unstable with respect to vacancies production. In a contrast to (100)Fe-O interface, the so called Klim interface is stable, i.e. local vacancy concentration at this interface at 600 K is below 10−12. It has been demonstrated that due to large defect formation energies the ODS particles are extremely stable and the main defect corresponds to Fe atoms substitute Y in Y2O3 precipitate. Moreover, under thermodynamic equilibrium condition, the preexist vacancies in bulk Fe do not accumulate oxygen atom. The later observation not necessarily forbid the existence of a large amount of preexisting Fe vacancy - oxygen atom clusters at the initial stages of alloy formation far from equilibrium.
Implementation of Flipgrid as a Self-Reflection Tool for Student Engagement- A Pilot Study.

Background: Self-reflection is important for professional development, critical thinking, and engagement. However, self-reflection is not habitual or instinctive, and reflection assignments are often met with resistance from students. While written reflections are popular, other self-reflection mediums should be investigated. Innovation: Flipgrid by Microsoft, an online video response tool, was used in an elective course for self-reflection and student engagement. To assess the impact of Flipgrid on the student experience in the course, two cohorts of students were evaluated. Overall 96% of respondents reported satisfaction with Flipgrid as an educational tool, however engagement was not significantly increased over the use of written reflection. Implications: The results of this pilot study suggest that Flipgrid appears to have potential as a self-reflection tool, but may not be a “magic-bullet” to increase student engagement. Recommendations and considerations for implementing Flipgrid into a course to facilitate student engagement are provided.
Extra-Axial Fluid Collections After Decompressive Craniectomy: Management, Outcomes, and Treatment Algorithm.

Background Extra-axial fluid collections (EACs) frequently develop after decompressive craniectomy. Management of EACs remains poorly understood, and information on how to predict their clinical course is inadequate. We aimed to better characterize EACs, understand predictors of their resolution, and delineate the best treatment paradigm for patients. Methods We reviewed patients who developed EACs after undergoing decompressive craniectomy for treatment of refractory intracranial pressure elevations. We excluded patients who had an ischemic stroke, as EACs in these patients have a different clinical course. We performed univariate analysis and multiple linear regression to find variables associated with earlier resolution of EACs and stratified our analyses by EAC phenotype (complicated vs. uncomplicated). We conducted a systematic review to compare our findings with the literature. Results Of 96 included patients, 73% were male, and median age was 42.5 years. EACs resolved after a median of 60 days. Complicated EACs were common (62.5%) and required multiple drainage methods before cranioplasty. These were not associated with a protracted course or increased risk of death (P > 0.05). Early bone flap restoration with simultaneous drainage was independently associated with earlier resolution of EACs (β = 0.56, P Conclusions Our analyses reveal 2 clinically relevant phenotypes of EAC: complicated and uncomplicated. Our proposed treatment algorithm involves replacing the bone flap as soon as it is safe to do so and draining refractory EACs aggressively. Further studies to assess long-term clinical outcomes of EACs are warranted.
Probable omnigenic effect and evolutionary insights of aerobic adaptation allele OsNCED2T on qDTY12.1 effecting grain yield under reproductive stage drought stress in rice

Abstract Yield associated quantitative trait loci (qDTY) under drought stress provides significant advantage for grain yield in rice. The major, stable qDTY12.1 was identified in a mapping population developed from upland cultivars Vandana and Way Rarem. Further, introgression line comprising of qDTY12.1 genomic region was characterized to have multiple genes (NAM, DECUSSATE) regulating the drought tolerance under severe drought stress substantiated through recently proposed omnigenic model for complex traits. Recently, plastid localized NCED2T allele present within the qDTY12.1 genomic region was characterized for conferring aerobic adaptation in lowland varieties. Since, NCED2T is evolutionary fixed in upland cultivars and Vandana was found to have the favorable allele of NCED2T, we hypothesized that this favorable allele might confer omnigenic effect on qDTY12.1 genes. Our evolutionary analysis using non synonymous SNPs present in genes namely NCED, NAM, and DECUSSATE and qDTY12.1 genomic regions showed specific grouping of Vandana with upland cultivars only for NCED gene and its adjoining genomic regions. However, non synonymous SNPs in NAM and DECUSSATE genes and its adjoining genomic regions of drought tolerant varieties were closely related and grouped together in the phylogenetic analysis. Moreover, ecotype specific differentiation and greater nucleotide difference with wild relatives was also observed for DECUSSATE gene in rice. This finding indicates differential evolution of qDTY12.1 regions for upland and drought tolerance and omnigenic effect of NCED2T gene in qDTY12.1. Further, we propose a breeding model for enhancing genetic gain for yield under severe drought stress by incorporation of NCEDT, qDTY12.1 and other drought tolerant QTLs for membrane stability in rice.
Do nonproliferation agreements constrain

One way nuclear agreements might keep signatories from proliferating is by constraining nuclear capacity. Theoretical work on nonproliferation often points to such constraints as an important drive...
Evaluation of direct oral anticoagulant use for cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (VTE) in lung cancer.

243Background: National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) as preferred agents for treatment of cancer associated VTE in patients without gastric or gastroes...