cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PhyloPhlAn is a new method for improved phylogenetic and taxonomic placement of microbes

New microbial genomes are constantly being sequenced, and it is crucial to accurately determine their taxonomic identities and evolutionary relationships. Here we report PhyloPhlAn, a new method to assign microbial phylogeny and putative taxonomy using >400 proteins optimized from among 3,737 genomes. This method measures the sequence diversity of all clades, classifies genomes from deep-branching candidate divisions through closely related subspecies and improves consistency between phylogenetic and taxonomic groupings. PhyloPhlAn improved taxonomic accuracy for existing and newly sequenced genomes, detecting 157 erroneous labels, correcting 46 and placing or refining 130 new genomes. We provide examples of accurate classifications from subspecies (Sulfolobus spp.) to phyla, and of preliminary rooting of deep-branching candidate divisions, including consistent statistical support for Caldiserica (formerly candidate division OP5). PhyloPhlAn will thus be useful for both phylogenetic assessment and taxonomic quality control of newly sequenced genomes. The final phylogenies, conserved protein sequences and open-source implementation are available online.
Nurse practitioner provided home telemonitoring and medication management improves glycemic control in primary care patiemts with type 2 diabetes more than monthly care coordination telephone call

Commentary on: Stone RA, Rao RH, Sevick MA, et al. Active care management supported by home telemonitoring in veterans with type 2 diabetes: the DiaTel randomized controlled trial. Diabetes Care 2010;33:478–84.[OpenUrl][1][Abstract/FREE Full Text][2] This study adds to the growing body of evidence that telemonitoring has positive effects on glucose control. The investigators tested the efficacy of home telemonitoring with active medication management by a nurse practitioner, compared to telephonic monthly coordination by a diabetic educator on glycemic control in veterans with type 2 diabetes and baseline Hbg A1C levels >7.5%. The sample included veterans who received primary care for at least a year at the Veterans Administration Healthcare System in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, between June 2004 and December 2005. The study was a randomized controlled trial, with the control group receiving a monthly telephone call for diabetes education … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DDiabetes%2BCare%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.2337%252Fdc09-1012%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F20009091%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/ijlink?linkType=ABST&journalCode=diacare&resid=33/3/478&atom=%2Febnurs%2F13%2F3%2F74.atom
Toward Faster Nonnegative Matrix Factorization: A New Algorithm and Comparisons

Nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) is a dimension reduction method that has been widely used for various tasks including text mining, pattern analysis, clustering, and cancer class discovery. The mathematical formulation for NMF appears as a non-convex optimization problem, and various types of algorithms have been devised to solve the problem. The alternating nonnegative least squares (ANLS) framework is a block coordinate descent approach for solving NMF, which was recently shown to be theoretically sound and empirically efficient. In this paper, we present a novel algorithm for NMF based on the ANLS framework. Our new algorithm builds upon the block principal pivoting method for the nonnegativity constrained least squares problem that overcomes some limitations of active set methods. We introduce ideas to efficiently extend the block principal pivoting method within the context of NMF computation. Our algorithm inherits the convergence theory of the ANLS framework and can easily be extended to other constrained NMF formulations. Comparisons of algorithms using datasets that are from real life applications as well as those artificially generated show that the proposed new algorithm outperforms existing ones in computational speed.
Finite Element Analysis of Radio-Frequency Ablation in a Reconstructed Realistic Hepatic Geometry

Radio-frequency (RF) ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that has the potential for widespread use in hepatic cancer therapy. In the procedure, RF current is applied to the tissue, resulting in the conversion of electrical to heat energy and thus, a rise in temperature, with the goal of eventual tumor necrosis. Potential complications from the procedure include insufficient heating of large tumors, resulting in tumor recursion, as well as excessive thermal damage to healthy tissue. Mathematical models are valuable in predicting the temperature rise within the organ during RF ablation, thereby enhancing the success rate of the procedure. Eventually, models can be used to guide ablation procedures, by predicting the optimal set of operational parameters e.g., catheter probe geometry and placement, given patient-specific information. The present study focuses on the analysis of temperature rise within a reconstructed model of a realistic three-dimensional (3D) section of a porcine liver during RF ablation. This study calculates the effect of blood flow through arteries as well as perfusion through the liver on the time-dependent temperature distribution near the RF ablation probe (Figure 1). For a time duration of 30 min of an ablation procedure, a temperature of about 80°C could be achieved over a diameter of about 4 cm with the present RF probe. As an initial step, the present study includes isotropic hepatic tissue and blood properties.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
An efficient PSTD algorithm in cylindrical coordinates

The finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method has been enjoying its widespread applications in the simulations of transient electromagnetic wave propagation and scattering. However, as the the problem size increases, so does the required number of unknowns per wavelength. In cylindrical coordinates, the conventional FDTD method encounters yet two more difficulties: (i) the requirement for a very small /spl Delta/t because of the high concentration of cells near the z axis, and (ii) the singularity at the cylindrical axis. Although various remedies have been proposed, the treatment is not straightforward, and requires extra manipulations and computation time. We propose a pseudospectral time-domain (PSTD) method for 3-D cylindrical and 2-D polar coordinates which will overcome these difficulties and significantly increase the efficiency.
The effects of collimator geometry and self-absorption on in-situ mass diffusion measurements.

Abstract We consider a real-time methodology for determining self-diffusion coefficients at several temperatures utilizing a single sample, based on a radiotracer technique put forth by Codastefano, Di Zanza and Russo (Codastefano, P., Di Russo, A., Zanza, V. 1977. A new apparatus for accurate diffusion measurements in fluids. Reviews of Science Instrumentation 48, 1650–1653 (CDZ)) and recently optimized by our group (Jalbert, L.B., Banish, R.M., Rosenberger, F.E. 1997. Real-time diffusivity measurements in liquids at several temperatures with one sample. Physical Review E 57, 1727–1736 (JBR)). In this technique the evolution of the concentration distribution of the radiotracer is followed by shielding the source except for a pair of collimated apertures placed at mathematically advantageous positions along the diffusion axis. Radiation detectors at each collimator measure the intensity of radioactive tracer emission at each aperture, and the counting rate difference versus time leads to a determination of the diffusion coefficient. The effects of self-absorption of radiation in the source were previously treated by us using a one-dimensional approximation, which is a typical procedure. However, in order to obtain meaningful counting statistics in the detectors, the size of the collimator apertures must be large enough that the measured counting rate is actually an integral over a three-dimensional region of the source volume rather than an ideal point measurement. Here we consider, by a ray-tracing algorithm, the effects of this finite extent of the observed volume on the experimentally-determined diffusivity. Self-absorption effects are considered both for photon energies that have essentially no absorption in the sample (so that the entire thickness of the sample is effectively viewed) and for those that suffer sufficient self-absorption that the measured radiation comes from only a surface “skin-depth” (∼100 μm in extent). Collimation holes from ∼1 to ∼100% of the sample diameter are investigated. We find that neither the effects of self-absorption nor of the intrinsic three-dimensional geometry involved have a significant effect on the experimentally determined value of the diffusivity. In addition, linear concentration gradients along the diffusion axis do not influence the diffusivity measurement. A (quadratic) correction formula to determine the actual diffusion coefficient from the experimentally-obtained value is presented.
Racial and Gender Differences in the Relationship Between Children’s Television Use and Self-Esteem A Longitudinal Panel Study

A longitudinal panel survey of 396 White and Black preadolescent boys and girls was conducted to assess the long-term effects of television consumption on global self-esteem. The results revealed television exposure, after controlling for age, body satisfaction, and baseline self-esteem, was significantly related to children’s self-esteem. Specifically, television exposure predicted a decrease in self-esteem for White and Black girls and Black boys, and an increase in self-esteem among White boys. The findings are discussed in terms of cultivation theory and social identity theory.
Progression of moderate-to-severe carotid disease

Objective Our goals were to investigate the degree to which patient demographics, risk factors, laboratory data, and medications influence moderate carotid disease progression among patients with asymptomatic moderate carotid disease and whether such associations are solely based on how progression is defined. In addition, we aimed to establish optimal threshold criteria to categorize patients at high risk of progression. Methods In this retrospective study, 621 arteries were evaluated for internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis between January 1997 and January 2014 and were determined to have moderate (50%-79%) stenosis via color duplex ultrasonography. "Moderate stenosis" was defined as an ICA peak systolic velocity (PSV) ≥120 cm/s and a diastolic ICA velocity Results The overall rate of progression was 28.5%, 21.1%, or 5.1% of study-eligible arteries over 5 years using liberal, moderate, or strict criterion, respectively. Using liberal criterion, multivariate analysis suggested that initial PSV ≥200 cm/s, ICA/CCA ratio ≥3, and male gender were significantly associated with progression. Using the moderate criterion, multivariate analysis revealed that initial PSV ≥200 cm/s, ICA/CCA ratio ≥3, age, and male gender were significantly associated with progression. Using the strict criterion, multivariate analysis revealed that initial PSV ≥200 cm/s was the only statistically significant predictor of progression. No additional patient demographics, comorbidities, initial laboratory values, or medications consistently influenced disease progression across any criteria in our study. ROC analysis suggests PSV ≥165 cm/s is an ideal threshold value for the categorization of high risk patients, as this resulted in an optimal screening sensitivity of nearly 91% and a specificity of 59% over 2 years. Conclusions The timing and incidence of carotid disease progression depends on the definition of disease progression. Among all three criteria, only severity of disease at initial presentation reliably predicted progression. Based on the results of our ROC curve analysis, we propose that an initial ICA PSV ≥165 cm/s (sensitivity: 90.7%, specificity: 58.7%) represents a reasonable value for defining high progression risk over a 2-year interval.
Rat Milk Decreases Necrotizing Enterocolitis in a Rat Model

Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common and devastating gastrointestinal tract (GI) disease of prematurely born infants. The pathogenesis of NEC is unknown, but intestinal immaturity, enteral feeding, intestinal hypoxia/ischemia, and bacterial colonization are considered the major risk factors for development of NEC (Caplan & Jilling 2001). Clinical studies indicate that human milk, which provides hormones, cytokines, growth factors, and nucleotides that facilitate maturation of the intestinal mucosal barrier and other essential intestinal functions, plays a protective role against this disease (Schanler 2001; Lucas & Cole 1990). However, factor(s) responsible for the protective effect remain to be identified. We have shown that supplementation of formula with epidermal growth factor (EGF), a peptide normally present in human milk but absent in infant formula, is highly protective against NEC in a rat experimental model (Dvorak et al. 2002; Crissinger 1995). In this model, NEC is induced in neonatal rats via enteral feeding of cow milk-based formula coupled with asphyxia and cold stress. Using this method, approximately 80% of neonatal rats develop NEC within 4 days (Dvorak et al. 2002; Halpern et al. 2002). The aim of this study was to examine the effect of artificial feeding of rat milk versus cow milk-based formula on development of NEC in a neonatal rat model.
Air parcel trajectory dispersion near the tropical tropopause

Dispersion of backward air parcel trajectories that are initially tightly grouped near the tropical tropopause is examined using three ensemble approaches: “RANWIND,” in which different ensemble members use identical resolved wind fluctuations but different realizations of stochastic, multifractal simulations of unresolved winds; “PERTLOC,” in which members use identical resolved wind fields but initial locations are perturbed 2° in latitude and longitude; and a multimodel ensemble (“MULTIMODEL”) that uses identical initial conditions but different resolved wind fields and/or trajectory formulations. Comparisons among the approaches distinguish, to some degree, physical dispersion from that due to data uncertainty and the impacts of unresolved wind fluctuations from those of resolved variability. Dispersion rates are robust properties of trajectories near the tropical tropopause. Horizontal dispersion rates are typically ~3°/d, which is large enough to spread parcels throughout the tropics within typical tropical tropopause layer transport times (30–60 days) and underscores the importance of averaging large collections of trajectories to obtain reliable parcel source and pathway distributions. Vertical dispersion rates away from convection are ~2–3 hPa/d. Dispersion is primarily carried out by the resolved flow, and the RANWIND approach provides a plausible representation of actual trajectory dispersion rates, while PERTLOC provides a reasonable and inexpensive alternative to RANWIND. In contrast, dispersion from the MULTIMODEL calculations is important because it reflects systematic differences in resolved wind fields from different reanalysis data sets.
Regulation of mitochondrial ribosomal RNA synthesis in yeast. I. In search of a relaxation of stringency.

The regulation of mitochondrial rRNA synthesis in yeast was examined by analyzing the effects of different modes of inhibition of cytoplasmic protein synthesis on incorporation of [3H]-uridine into mitochondrial rRNA species. The effects of tyrosine limitation and cycloheximide treatment, which result in a coordinate stringent response of cytoplasmic and mitochondrial rRNA synthesis in wild-type strain A364A, were compared to the responses elicited by three different temperature-sensitive mutants, all derived from A364A. These mutants are defective at the nonpermissive temperature at steps in cytoplasmic protein synthesis involving: 1) isoleucine-tRNA charging (ts-341) 2) polypeptide chain elongation (ts-275) and 3) initiation of protein synthesis (ts-187). Whole cell kinetic studies showed that uridine uptake, reflecting essentially cytoplasmic RNA synthesis, is affected to about the same extent in each of the mutants at the nonpermissive temperature. Using well documented published values for the fraction of cytoplasmic ribosomes present in polysomes following tyrosine limitation or cycloheximide treatment in strain A364A, and in the temperature-sensitive mutants following incubation at the nonpermissive temperature, we have found a very striking correlation between the fraction of ribosomes present as polysomes and the extent to which mitochondrial rRNA synthesis is inhibited. We find that the greater the fraction of cytoplasmic ribosomes “stalled” in polysomes, the greater is the inhibition of mitochondrial rRNA synthesis. No such correlation was evident in the synthesis of cytoplasmic rRNAs. Thus under certain conditions, regulation of mitochondrial and cytoplasmic rRNA synthesis can be uncoupled. The nature of possible signals regulating mitochondrial rRNA synthesis is discussed.
How Enterprises Face Recommendatory Standards

Standardization Law of the People's Republic of China stipulates that national standard and industrial standard can be divided into compulsory standard and recommendatory one.At present,the number of recommendatory standards in China is far more than that of compulsory ones,which obviously shows that we are set to move towards"voluntary standards".Therefore,enterprises should gain a positive understanding of recommendatory standards and deliver different standards according to different situations.At the same time,business should pay attention to refer the advanced technology of recommendatory standards so as to form proprietary intellectual property rights.
Influence of gypenosides on immunological function in rodents

The effect of gypeno-sides extracted from Gynostemma pentaphyllum Makino on immuno-logical functions was investigated in mice and rats.The results showed that gypeno-sides at the dose of 400 mg/kg given orally for 5 days significantly prevented the reduction of serum hemo-lysin production in primary response to sheep red blood cell (SRBC) in mice induced by a sc injection of cyclophosphamide 75 mg/kg. In mice bearing Sarcoma-180 and dexametha-son-treated rats (10 mg/kg sc injection for 5 days) gypenosides given orally prevented effectively the decrease of the number of spleen PFC, SRFC and QHS at the dose of 400 mg/kg and 150-300 mg/kg for 12 and 15 days, respectively.It is concluded that gypenosides possess immunoenhancing functions in immunosuppressive agent treated or tumor bearing rodents.
Abandonment, Ecological Assembly and Public Health Risks in Counter-Urbanizing Cities

Urban landscapes can be transformed by widespread abandonment from population and economic decline. Ecological assembly, sometimes referred to as “greening”, following abandonment can yield valuable ecosystem services, but also can pose a risk to public health. Abandonment can elevate zoonotic vector-borne disease risk by favoring the hyperabundance of commensal pests and pathogen vectors. Though greater biodiversity in abandoned areas can potentially dilute vector-borne pathogen transmission, “greening” can elevate transmission risk by increasing movement of pathogen vectors between fragmented areas and by giving rise to novel human-wildlife interfaces. Idled and derelict infrastructure can further elevate disease risk from vector-borne and water-borne pathogens, which can build up in stagnant and unprotected water that maintenance and routine use of delivery or sanitation systems would otherwise eliminate. Thus, framing “greening” as inherently positive could result in policies and actions that unintentionally exacerbate inequalities by elevating risks rather than delivering benefits. As counter-urbanism is neither a minor pattern of urban development, nor a short-term departure from urban growth, homeowner and municipal management of abandoned areas should account for potential hazards to reduce health risks. Further socioecological assessments of public health risks following abandonment could better ensure the resilience and well-being of communities in shrinking cities.
Evaluation of p53 Immunohistochemistry Staining Patterns in Barrett Esophagus With Low-Grade Dysplasia

p53 immunohistochemistry (IHC) may be a useful diagnostic adjunct in Barrett esophagus (BE) dysplasia assessment. This is especially true in distinguishing indefinite for dysplasia (IND) from low-grade dysplasia (LGD), a distinction fraught with difficulty. Most previous work has equated p53 “overexpression” with a “positive” result. However, both missense-mutant and wild-type (WT) p53 may be overexpressed, while truncating mutations/deletions may …
ANALYSIS OF MITOCHONDRIAL AND MICROSOMAL CYTOCHROMES IN HUMAN LIVER BIOPSY

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the analysis of mitochondrial and microsomal cytochromes in human liver biopsy. It discusses a new method for measuring simultaneously the contents of the cytochromes aa3, P-450 and b5 in very small sample obtained by needle biopsy. The result obtained shows no significant change of cytochrome aa3 content in drinkers' livers, while a significant increase in the liver cytochrome P-450 content was observed with concomitant change of the ratio of P-450/b5 contents by chronic alcohol intake. Studies on mitochondrial and microsomal cytochromes in human livers have been carried out in relation to ethanol metabolism. To determine the cytochrome content in small biopsy samples, a micromethod was developed, in which different CO reassociation behavior among cytochromes aa3, P-450, and hemoglobin after photolysis of the CO-treated sample at low temperature was utilized.
Influence of Humidity on Grip and Release Adhesion Mechanisms for Gecko-Inspired Microfibrillar Surfaces.

Geckos have developed foot pads that allow them to maintain their unique climbing ability despite vast differences of surfaces and environments, from dry desert to humid rainforest. Likewise, successful gecko-inspired mimics should exhibit adhesive and frictional performance across a similarly diverse range of climates. In this work, we focus on the effect of relative humidity (RH) on the “frictional-adhesion” behavior of gecko-inspired adhesive pads. A surface forces apparatus was used to quantitatively measure adhesion and friction forces of a microfibrillar cross-linked polydimethylsiloxane surface against a smooth hemispherical glass disk at varying relative humidity, from 0 to 100% (including fully submerged under water). Geometrically anisotropic tilted half-cylinder microfibers yield a “grip state” (high adhesion and friction forces after shearing along the tilt of the fibers, Fad+ and F∥+) and a “release state” (low adhesion and friction after shearing against the tilt of the fibers, Fad– and F∥–)...
FROM PLURAL WORLDVIEWS TO GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS DISCOURSES: ON MULTICULTURALISM, INTERCULTURALISM, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF AN OVERLAPPING CONSENSUS

This paper discusses the implications of a pluralistic approach to human rights and cosmopolitanism. This goal is pursued in a few steps. First, I introduce the topic of pluralism in terms of multicultural plurality and intercultural plurality in light of Karl Jaspers’ philosophy of the Axial Age, which is a way of recognizing a variety of cultural and religious worldviews. Second, I turn to philosophers such as John Rawls, Martha Nussbaum, and Charles Taylors in order to discuss the possibility of an overlapping consensus among different cultural and religious views and postulate that they see this possible unenforced consensus as a way to af
Research Article: Relationships between plant community species richness, remnant area, and invasive leafy spurge cover in southeastern Minnesota bluff prairie habitats

Abstract Bluff prairies are extreme habitats centered on southwestern facing bluffs along major rivers in the driftless area of the upper Midwest. Characterized by steep slopes, thin soils, and intense exposure to sun and wind, bluff prairies harbor a much warmer, drier microclimate than is found elsewhere in the region. Such harsh conditions help preserve bluff prairie habitat for unique communities of plants and animals. However, like many prairie habitats, bluff prairies are shrinking in size and experiencing fragmentation, resulting in smaller prairie remnants rather than larger, intact prairies. This shrinking and fragmentation is likely a consequence of non-prairie and/or non-native plants encroaching from the edges. One prominent introduced invasive species, leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula), has the ability to spread quickly and displace native plants. During the summer of 2012, the native flowering plant communities (excluding grasses, rushes, and sedges), prairie remnant sizes, and invasive leafy s...
Sit-to-Stand Control of Powered Knee Prostheses

Standing from a seated position is a common, yet dynamically challenging task. Due to the vertical ascent of the body center of gravity, sit-to-stand (STS) transition requires high torque output from the knee. As a result, STS transition poses a major barrier to the mobility of individuals with lower-limb issues, including the transfemoral (TF, also known as above-knee) amputees. A study showed that unilateral TF amputees suffer from high asymmetry in ground reaction forces (53∼69%) and knee moments (110∼124%), while the asymmetry for healthy controls is less than 7% [1]. Note that, although a powered TF prosthesis (Power Knee™) was used in this study, it generated resistance in the STS and thus produced similar results as the passive devices. The inability of existing prostheses in generating knee torque and regulating the torque delivery in the STS seriously affects the mobility of TF amputees in their daily life.Motivated by this issue, researchers have developed numerous powered TF prostheses (e.g., Vanderbilt powered TF prostheses [2]). These devices are able to generate torque and power for challenging tasks such as STS transition. Making full use of such capability, however, requires an effective controller. Currently, walking control for powered prostheses has been well established, but STS control is much less investigated. Varol et al. developed a multi-mode TF prosthesis controller, in which STS is treated as a transitional motion between sitting and standing states [2]. However, no details were provided on the rationale of the STS controller structure or the determination of the control parameters.In this paper, a new prosthesis control approach is presented, which regulates the power and torque delivery in the STS process. Inspired by the biomechanical behavior of the knee in the STS motion, the new controller provides two desired functions (gradual loading of the knee at the beginning, and automatic adjustment of the knee torque according to motion progress) with a single equation. Combined with a simple yet reliable triggering condition, the proposed control approach is able to provide natural STS motion for the powered knee prosthesis users.Copyright © 2017 by ASME
Barrier Dressings for Wounds

The skin is the largest human organ and is the essential interface between the host and its environment. Among the major functions of this organ are mechanisms that provide heat loss or heat retention; water loss or water retention; elimination of waste via exfoliation; protection against penetration of ultraviolet light; touch location of physical objects; and, perhaps most obviously, protection of underlying tissues from microbial pathogens contacted in the environment. Methods to establish an artificial barrier function over damaged skin by use of bandages, compresses, poultices, and other devices have been recorded during all phases of medical history. Today, there are adequate methods and devices for skin closure and/or bandaging at medical institutions capable of providing definitive surgical care, for example, hospital emergency and operating suites. The general availability of such facilities and emergency medical transportation systems are basic infrastructure components of modern societies. The wide variety of sizes, shapes, materials, and mechanical devices necessary to accomplish this level of wound care, however, is dependent upon an extensive logistic and storage base.
Abstract 13847: Impact of the Unzipping Technique on Pulmonary Artery Structure and Growth

Introduction: With the unzipping technique, small diameter stents are implanted to relieve pulmonary artery (PA) stenosis, subsequently dilated, fractured and re-stented with large stents dilatable to adult PA diameters. The unzipping technique is utilized in clinical practice with undefined long term results. This study assessed the impact of unzipping on PA structure and growth. Methods: Twelve piglets with left PA (LPA) stenosis underwent the unzipping sequence at 6, 10 and 18 weeks of age and were compared to normal controls and controls with untreated LPA stenosis. 2D and 3D rotational angiography pre/post interventions and PA histology was performed on all animals. Results: Eleven of twelve animals completed the three catheterizations. One stent (4 mm implant diameter) could not be crossed at the second procedure. Following the interventions, the diameter of the unzipped LPA was similar to the proximal LPA of normal controls (14 mm ± 1.2 vs 14.7 mm ± 1, p = 0.19). The diameter of the distal LPA was larger in normal controls, compared to interventions and controls with untreated LPA stenosis (14.6 mm ± 0.9 vs 11.6 mm ± 1.9, vs 10 mm ± 1.2, p st order LPA branches were similar between normal controls and interventions, and larger than the branch diameters in the stenosis controls. Right PA (RPA) dimensions were larger in controls with untreated stenosis, compared to normal controls and interventions (17.8 mm ± 1.2 vs 16.2 mm ± .9 vs 16 ± 1.7 mm p st order branching diameters were similar for normal controls and interventions. RPA 1 st order branch diameters in stenosis controls were larger for 3 of 6 branches compared to normal controls and 1 of 6 compared to interventions. Histologically, the distal LPA displayed uniform fibrointimal proliferation and smooth muscle hypertrophy in pigs with both interventions and untreated stenosis. Focal RPA fibrointimal proliferation was noted in stenosis and intervention animals. Conclusion: PA growth distal to the unzipped segment is partially compromised, yet 1 st order branch diameters are normal and significantly larger, compared to untreated stenosis. Histological vascular abnormalities are noted bilaterally in stenosis animals which do not normalize following the unzipping technique.
Longitudinal study of advanced practice nurses' implementation of screening intervals for cervical cancer screening

Background and purpose The past two decades brought changes in cervical cancer screening guidelines. Frequent modifications and earlier lack of agreement about recommendations created confusion. The purpose of this study was to explore to what extent advanced practice nurses (APNs) adopted cervical cancer screening guidelines. Methods A longitudinal survey of 358 APNs conducted in three New England states regarding cervical cancer screening practices in 2008, 2012, and 2015. Conclusions Advanced practice nurses are incorporating guidelines at a high rate. Advanced practice nurses found it easier to incorporate guidelines to delay screening until the age of 21 years, to discontinue screening after total hysterectomy for benign reasons, and to discontinue screening at the age of 65 years. In 2012, 15% of APNs were screening women aged 21-29 years every 3 years; by 2015, this rate rose to 72%. By 2015, half of APNs were screening low-risk women aged 30-64 every 5 years. Because screening practices changed, APNs questioned the need to perform screening pelvic and breast examinations. Advanced practice nurses no longer perform screening pelvic examinations (93%) or breast examinations (75%) in adolescents. Implications for practice Some APNs indicated that office-based practice standards are barriers to adherence to guidelines. Advanced practice nurses need to be involved in practice committees to ensure that evidence guides practice decisions.
Cross-linking Electrospun Polydioxanone-Soluble Elastin Blends: Material Characterization:

The purpose of this study was to establish whether material properties of elastin co-electrospun with polydioxanone (PDO) would change over time in both the uncross-linked state and the cross-linke...
Increasing marijuana use for black adolescents in the United States: A test of competing explanations.

Abstract Aims In the last decade the relatively lower levels of marijuana use for black relative to non-black high school seniors has grown smaller and disappeared, drawing to a close a unique disparity that actually favored a disadvantaged group for at least thirty years. In this study we test trends in cigarette smoking and religiosity as possible explanations for this closing disparity. The study also examines whether increasing marijuana levels for black adolescents is better characterized as a cohort effect or an historical period effect. Design Analyses use relative risk regression and focus on data from yearly, cross-sectional surveys from the time period 2008–2017. Setting and participants Data comes from the nationally-representative Monitoring the Future survey, which conducts in-school surveys of secondary school students. The analysis uses data from 114,552 high school seniors (in 12th grade), 123,594 in 10th grade, and 136,741 in 8th grade. Findings Past 12-month marijuana prevalence significantly increased for black as compared to non-black adolescents from 2008 to 2017 in 12th grade, 10th grade, and 8th grade. The increase attenuated by more than half and was not statistically significant after adjusting for cigarette smoking. In contrast, the increase was little changed after adjusting adolescent levels of religiosity. The increase is better characterized as a cohort effect than a period effect. Conclusions These results support the increase in marijuana use for black relative to non-black adolescents as an unexpected consequence of the great decline in adolescent cigarette smoking, which has occurred slower for black adolescents.
Increased temperatures and elevated CO 2 levels reduce the sensitivity of Conyza canadensis and Chenopodium album to glyphosate

Herbicides are the most commonly used means of controlling weeds. Recently, there has been growing concern over the potential impacts of global climate change, specifically, increasing temperatures and elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations, on the sensitivity of weeds to herbicides. Here, glyphosate response of both Conyza canadensis and Chenopodium album was evaluated under different environmental conditions. Reduced glyphosate sensitivity was observed in both species in response to increased temperature, elevated CO2 level, and the combination of both factors. Increased temperature had greater effect on plant survival than elevated CO2 level. In combination, high temperature and elevated CO2 level resulted in loss of apical dominance and rapid necrosis in glyphosate-treated plants. To investigate the mechanistic basis of reduced glyphosate sensitivity, translocation was examined using 14C-glyphosate. In plants that were subjected to high temperatures and elevated CO2 level, glyphosate was more rapidly translocated out of the treated leaf to shoot meristems and roots than in plants grown under control conditions. These results suggest that altered glyphosate translocation and tissue-specific sequestration may be the basis of reduced plant sensitivity. Therefore, overreliance on glyphosate for weed control under changing climatic conditions may result in more weed control failures.
Non-replication of functional connectivity differences in ASD: a multi-site study

Abstract A large and rapidly growing number of studies on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have used resting-state fMRI to identify various alterations of functional connectivity (FC), with the hope of identifying clinically useful biomarkers or neural mechanisms underlying ASD. However, results have been largely inconsistent across studies, and there is therefore a pressing need to determine the primary factors influencing this lack of replicability. Here, we used resting-state (rs-fMRI) data from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE-I and II) to investigate two factors thought to strongly influence replicability: the use of different denoising methods (i.e., data preprocessing) and data site (which differ in terms of sample, data acquisition parameters, etc.). Using four independently acquired datasets and 31 different denoising strategies, we examined the replicability of patterns of both group-averaged functional connectomes and group-level differences (i.e., ASD vs. control). Within datasets, both group-averages and group-comparisons of functional connectomes were highly consistent (r = 0.92 ±0.06 / r = 0.80±0.09) across different pipelines, with the largest differences across pipelines reflecting whether global signal regression (GSR) was used. However, across datasets, while group-averages were still highly consistent (r = 0.86±0.02), group differences did not replicate, regardless of denoising strategy: indeed, consistency of group differences was so low (r = 0.09±0.05) that differences identified in one dataset had essentially no relationship with those in other datasets. Across-site similarity remained low even when considering the data at the network (as opposed to edge) level. Because there are a number of additional methodological factors that can influence the reliable detection of group differences (e.g., scanner-related differences, subject differences, post-processing analysis, effect sizes of ASD alterations, amount and quality of data), these results cannot completely rule out the existence of replicable resting-state FC differences in ASD. However, they do highlight the importance of examining replicability in future studies of ASD, and, more generally, call for extra caution when describing and interpreting alterations in functional connectivity across groups of individuals.
Of Kids and Cokes

I have been meaning to get back in touch with you for some time. I sincerely enjoyed reading in your last letter that some of the ideas we discussed in class related to developing progressive practices and sharing authority with children are playing out well in your new classroom. Your stories reminded me of two recent experiences.
Spotify v. Pandora: Competing with Revenue Models and Activity Systems

Business models are central to firm success in platform markets, and a rich literature has emerged on the topic. To date, however, research has focused on the selection and implementation of revenu...
Benchmarking urine storage and collection conditions for evaluating the female urinary microbiome

Standardized conditions for collection, preservation and storage of urine for microbiome research have not been established. We aimed to identify the effects of the use of preservative AssayAssure® (AA), and the effects of storage time and temperatures on reproducibility of urine microbiome results. We sequenced the V3–4 segment of the 16S rRNA gene to characterize the bacterial community in the urine of a cohort of women. Each woman provided a single voided urine sample, which was divided into aliquots and stored with and without AA, at three different temperatures (room temperature [RT], 4 °C, or −20 °C), and for various time periods up to 4 days. There were significant microbiome differences in urine specimens stored with and without AA at all temperatures, but the most significant differences were observed in alpha diversity (estimated number of taxa) at RT. Specimens preserved at 4 °C and −20 °C for up to 4 days with or without AA had no significant alpha diversity differences. However, significant alpha diversity differences were observed in samples stored without AA at RT. Generally, there was greater microbiome preservation with AA than without AA at all time points and temperatures, although not all results were statistically significant. Addition of AA preservative, shorter storage times, and colder temperatures are most favorable for urinary microbiome reproducibility.
A Cross-Institutional Study of Instructional Characteristics and Student Outcomes: Are Quality Indicators of Online Courses Able to Predict Student Success?.

A study was conducted to examine instructional characteristics and their relationship to student outcomes in online courses at a 2-year and 4-year higher educational institution. Instructional characteristics included learner support, course design and organization, content design and delivery, interactivity (student-instructor and student-student), and assessment and evaluation. A student survey instrument was created that captures student perceptions of the instructional characteristics of their course, their learning, and their satisfaction with the course. The data collected from the student survey was merged with data from institutional student information systems (e.g., demographics and course grade). This article examines the relationship between these instructional characteristics, sometimes referred to as indicators of online course quality, and their relationship to student outcomes for all students and for underrepresented students. Significant findings from multiple regression analyses are reported. Additional analyses were conducted to examine differences among underrepresented students (minorities, first-generation, low-income, students with impairments/disabilities) using MANOVA. No significant differences are reported.
Interaction Paradigms: from Human-Human Teaming to Human-Autonomy Teaming

This paper identifies potential interaction paradigms for a human-autonomy team, drawing upon what is known from interaction paradigms in human-human teams and human-computer interaction. A human-autonomy team consists of human and autonomous teammates who collaborate to achieve mission goals. In this context, autonomy is defined as increasingly capable automation system that can behave with intention, set its own goals, and is capable of responding situations with greater autonomy and even without human direction. In human-human teaming science, effective teaming is grounded in team situation awareness, team cognition, and teamwork skills. Human interaction with autonomous teammates requires a dynamic relationship of taskwork and teamwork between human and autonomous teammates. Human teammates should be able to interact efficiently, control, and exercise authority with autonomous teammates. The interaction methods may be different in human-autonomy teams compared to human-human teams. This work aims to investigate the potential differences and similarities between human-human teams and human-autonomy teams to identify interaction paradigms that enable team effectiveness and collaboration. A literature review was performed for interaction paradigms in human-human teaming, human-automation interaction, and human-robot interaction. This work discusses the interaction paradigms most suitable for adaptation from human-human teams to human-autonomy teams. The unique challenges of human-autonomy team design are articulated and used to compare to current interaction methodologies.
Incorporation of Novel therapies for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia: a perspective

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous group of diseases that poses an array of therapeutic challenges. For decades two chemotherapeutic agents, cytarabine and daunorubicin, remained the backbone of AML therapy protocols. However, since 2017 nine novel therapies have been approved for the management of AML. With the rapid expansion of therapeutic options, hematologists must adapt their practice to optimize the benefits of these novel therapy options and minimize treatment toxicity. Here, we discuss the novel therapies that have changed the standard of care in management of patients with AML. We summarize the pivotal clinical trials that lead to the approval of these agents, and ongoing trials evaluating additional potential indications. We discuss several promising therapy candidates and their corresponding clinical trials. We discuss therapeutic strategies to incorporate these therapies into practice and pose unanswered questions that have arisen along with the expansion of treatment options.
The Palmetto Book

Jono Miller. 2021. The Palmetto Book. (ISBN-13: 978-0-8130-6680-6, hbk). University Press of Florida, 2046 NE Waldo Road, Suite 2100, Gainesville, Florida 32609, U.S.A. (Orders: upress.ufl.edu). $28.00 US, 312 pp., black and white photos, notes, index, 6.25" × 9.5".
Robust nonlinear control of battery electric vehicle charger in grid to vehicle applications

Abstract The charging unit of battery electric vehicle (BEV) is one of the primary subsystems which allows its interconnection with the charging facility. Due to the nonlinear behavior of the power conditioning circuitry and its sensitivity to external disturbances, robust nonlinear controller is required to achieve various control objectives like output voltage regulation and power factor correction in grid to vehicle (G2V) mode. For this purpose, an integral backstepping sliding mode controller (IBS-SMC) and backstepping sliding mode controller (BS-SMC) is designed in order to achieve these objectives. But their responses exhibit the phenomenon of chattering which is highly undesirable and can cause heat and power losses in the system. In order to mitigate the effect of chattering, supertwisting sliding mode controller (ST-SMC) has been designed which not only reduces the effect of chattering but also exhibits a better dynamic performance in controlling the BEV charger in G2V mode. The global asymptotic stability of the system for the proposed controllers has been proved using Lyapunov stability criterion. The proposed controllers have been simulated on Matlab/Simulink in which ST-SMC has been compared with IBS-SMC and other nonlinear controllers in the literature. The robustness of the designed controllers have also been checked by adding external disturbances in the plant. The results show negligible chattering and better dynamic response of ST-SMC as compared to other controllers. To further validate the designed controller experimentally in G2V mode, hardware in the loop (HIL) simulations have been done using Delfino F28379D dual core microcontroller which further prove the effectiveness of the proposed controller for BEV charger.
Resonant Learning in Scale-free Networks

Over the last decades, analyses of the connectivity of large biological and artificial networks have identified a common scale-free topology, where few of the network elements, called hubs, control many other network elements. In monitoring the dynamics of networks hubs, recent experiments have revealed that they can show behaviors oscillating between ON and OFF states of activation. Prompted by these observations, we ask whether the existence of oscillatory hubs states could contribute to the emergence of specific network dynamical behaviors. Here, we use Boolean threshold networks with scale-free architecture as representative models to demonstrate how periodic activation of the network hub can provide a network-level advantage in learning specific new dynamical behaviors. First, we find that hub oscillations with distinct periods can induce robust and distinct attractors whose lengths depend upon the hub oscillation period. Second, we determine that a given network can exhibit series of different attractors when we sequentially change the period of hub pulses. Using rounds of evolution and selection, these different attractors could independently learn distinct target functions. We term this network-based learning strategy resonant learning, as the emergence of new learned dynamical behaviors depends on the choice of the period of the hub oscillations. Finally, we find that resonant learning leads to convergence towards target behaviors over an order of magnitude faster than standard learning procedures. While it is already known that modular network architecture contributes to learning separate tasks, our results reveal an alternative design principle based on forced oscillations of the network hub.