cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Environmentally-controlled, density-dependent secondary dispersal in a local estuarine crab population.

The mechanisms driving the pelagic secondary dispersal of aquatic organisms following initial settlement to benthic habitats are poorly characterized. We examined the physical environmental (wind, diel cycle, tidal phase) and biological (ontogenetic, density-dependent) factors that contribute to the secondary dispersal of a benthic marine invertebrate, the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) in Pamlico Sound, NC, USA. Field studies conducted in relatively large (0.05 km2) seagrass beds determined that secondary dispersal is primarily undertaken by the earliest juvenile blue crab instar stages (J1 crabs). These crabs emigrated pelagically from seagrass settlement habitats using nighttime flood tides during average wind conditions (speed ~5 m s−1). Moreover, the secondary dispersal of J1 crabs was density-dependent and regulated by intra-cohort (J1) crab density in seagrass. Our results suggest that dispersal occurs rapidly following settlement, and promotes blue crab metapopulation persistence by redistributing juveniles from high-density settlement habitats to areas characterized by low postlarval supply. Collectively, these data indicate that blue crab secondary dispersal is an active process under behavioral control and can alter initial distribution patterns established during settlement. This study highlights the necessity of considering secondary dispersal in ecological studies to improve our understanding of population dynamics of benthic organisms.
Spirometry in the Supine Position Improves the Detection of Diaphragmatic Weakness in Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Study objectives: To determine which respiratory function tests best predicted diaphragmatic strength in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Patients and methods: Patients referred for pulmonary evaluation were included (n 25) if they underwent measurement of transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) and one or more of the following on the same day: upright FVC, supine FVC, upright FEV1, supine FEV1, maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), and PaCO2. Abdominal paradox and use of accessory muscles were also assessed. Bivariate analyses were performed using simple linear regression. Sensitivity and specificity of the potential predictors to detect an abnormal Pdi (< 70 cm H2O) were calculated. Setting: Pulmonary function laboratory of an academic medical center. Results: Upright FVC, FEV1, and MEP were all significantly correlated with Pdi, while MIP and PaCO2 were not. Supine FVC was the most highly correlated predictor of Pdi (R 2 0.76). A cutoff of supine FVC that was < 75% predicted was 100% sensitive and specific for predicting an abnormally low Pdi. Accessory muscle use and abdominal paradox were both significantly associated with Pdi, and the presence of accessory muscle use had a sensitivity of 84% and a specificity of 100% for detecting a low Pdi. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that supine FVC is an excellent and simple test of diaphragmatic weakness. (CHEST 2002; 121:436 – 442)
Manufacturability and sustainability analysis of nano-scale manufacturing

In this project, atomic layer deposition (ALD) of Al2O3 high-k dielectric films on silicon wafers is studied as a model process of nanotechnology. The ALD process uses trimethyl aluminum as the metal source and water as the oxidant.
Coordination of the non-paretic leg during hemiparetic gait: expected and novel compensatory patterns.

Abstract Background Post-stroke hemiparesis is usually considered a unilateral motor control deficit of the paretic leg, while the non-paretic leg is assumed to compensate for paretic leg impairments and have minimal to no deficits. While the non-paretic leg electromyography (EMG) patterns are clearly altered, how the non-paretic leg acts to compensate remains to be established. Methods Kinesiological data were recorded from sixty individuals with chronic hemiparesis (age: 60.9, SD = 12.6 years, 21 females, 28 right hemiparetic, time since stroke: 4.5 years, SD 3.9 years), divided into three speed-based groups, and twenty similarly aged healthy individuals (age: 65.1, SD = 10.4 years, 15 females). All walked on an instrumented split-belt treadmill at their self-selected speed and control subjects also walked at slower speeds matching those of the persons with hemiparesis. We determined the differences in magnitude and timing of non-paretic EMG activity relative to healthy control subjects in four pre-defined regions of stance phase of the gait cycle. Findings Integrated EMG activity and EMG timing in the non-paretic leg were different in many muscles. Multiple compensatory patterns identified included: increased EMG output when the muscle was typically active in controls and novel compensatory EMG patterns that appeared to provide greater propulsion or support with little evidence of impaired motor performance. Interpretation Most novel compensations were made possible by altered kinematics of the paretic and non-paretic leg (i.e., early stance plantarflexor activity provided propulsion due to the decreased advancement of the non-paretic foot) while others (late single limb stance knee extensor and late stance hamstring activity) appeared to be available mechanisms for increasing propulsion.
Association between type of health insurance and elective cesarean deliveries: New Jersey, 2004-2007.

Objectives. I examined the relationship between insurance coverage, which may influence physician incentives and maternal choices, and cesarean delivery before labor.Methods. I analyzed hospital discharge data for mothers without previous cesarean deliveries in New Jersey between 2004 and 2007, with adjustment for maternal age, race, marital status, and maternal, fetal, and placental conditions.Results. Nearly 1 in 7 women (13.9%) had a cesarean delivery without laboring. Insurance status was strongly associated with cesarean birth. Women insured by Medicaid (adjusted relative risk [ARR] = 0.88; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.84, 0.91) or self-paying (ARR = 0.81; 95% CI = 0.78, 0.85) had a significantly lower likelihood, and women insured by BlueCross (ARR = 1.06; 95% CI = 1.03, 1.09) or standard commercial plans (ARR = 1.06; 95% CI = 1.02, 1.10) had a significantly higher likelihood of cesarean delivery than did women insured by commercial health maintenance organizations. These associations persisted ...
The Power within: A Humanistic-Transpersonal Imagery Technique

The 'Power Within" is a humanistic-transpersonal imagery technique that makes accessible to the client resources previously unavailable for personal growth, understanding, and change. This article reviews the theory, technique, and application of this technique within the context of psychotherapy. The literature review presents a wide range of theoretical explanations of the 'Power Within" experience. A detailed description of the technique provides a framework by which it could be effectively conducted within psychotherapy. Finally, three case examples are presented to demonstrate its therapeutic application.
Teaching Advanced Psychopathology: A Method That Promotes Basic Undergraduate Clinical and Research Experience

Students in advanced psychopathology courses can learn key concepts by administering semistructured interviews designed to identify specific mental disorders. Such an active learning approach potentially can help students gain fundamental knowledge about psychopathology and begin to develop clinical and research skills. To explore the value of this technique as a tool for teaching about personality disorders, 7 students participated in an applied 2-semester course that focused on diagnostic interviewing. As part of the course, students learned to identify specific forms of personality pathology reliably in participants they interviewed (average K =. 95, SD =. 09), developed valuable clinical and research skills, and examined important conceptual issues.
Diminished adult neurogenesis in the marmoset brain precedes old age

With aging there is a decline in the number of newly generated neurons in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. In rodents and tree shrews, this age-related decrease in neurogenesis is evident long before the animals become aged. No previous studies have investigated whether primates exhibit a similar decline in hippocampal neurogenesis with aging. To investigate this possibility, young to middle aged adult common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) were injected with BrdU and perfused 3 weeks later. The number of newly generated cells in the subgranular zone/granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus was significantly lower in older animals and decreased linearly with age. A similar age-related decline in new cells was observed in the subventricular zone but not in the hilar region of the dentate gyrus. These data demonstrate that a substantial decrease in neurogenesis occurs before the onset of old age in the adult marmoset brain, suggesting the possibility that similar alterations occur in the human brain.
Two Adaptable, Valid, and Reliable Data-Collection Measures Goal Attainment Scaling and the Semantic Differential

Finding an appropriate, statistically sound means of collecting data is an important step in developing research. Researchers in counseling psychology have recently been criticized for studies unrelated to actual practice. Goal attainment scaling and the semantic differential are presented as two flexible, reliable, and valid data-collection methodologies useful for practitioners. Procedural instructions and examples for constructing each instrument are provided. A short history of the two instruments is presented, along with a discussion of the specific type of research most appropriate for each methodology.
Career Funneling: How Elite Students Learn to Define and Desire ‘‘Prestigious’’ Jobs

Elite universities are credited as launch points for the widest variety of meaningful careers. Yet, year after year at the most selective universities, nearly half the graduating seniors head to a ...
Abstract 2405: Identification of PHLPP as a tumour suppressor reveals the role of pathway feedback compensation in PTEN-mutant prostate cancer progression

Hyper-activation of the PI 3-Kinase/ AKT pathway is common in many cancer types. Tumourigenesis through this pathway is prevented by concerted action of multiple tumour suppressor genes. Most notably, PTEN reverts PI 3-Kinase activity whereas excessive pathway activation triggers the p53-mediated senescence arrest. However, it remains ill defined if and at what stage this response acts in human prostate cancer. Here we identify the AKT-inactivating phosphatase PHLPP as a tumour suppressor and demonstrate how the p53-response can antagonise co-deletion of PTEN and PHLPP to form a barrier against prostate cancer progression. We show that Phlpp-loss causes neoplasia and upon partial Pten-loss, carcinoma in mouse prostate. In this setting, Phlpp-deficiency triggers growth arrest via mTorC1-dependent activation of p53 and we find that co-deletion of Pten and Phlpp selects for spontaneous inactivation of p53 in prostate. Validating this conditional gene inactivation scheme in a comprehensive genomic patient data set we find that co-deletion of PTEN and PHLPP is almost exclusively observed in metastatic prostate cancer and tightly correlated to deletion of TP53. Furthermore, PTEN/ PHLPP expression can be used to predict disease outcome in these patients, comparable to the standard histology based method, but adding actionable information on pathway status. Finally, we show that both known PHLPP isoforms compensate for PTEN-suppression in a novel pathway feedback explaining their co-deletion with PTEN in the metastatic samples. Surprisingly, we find that the feedback surge of these genes is sensitive to some pharmacological inhibitors of the PI 3-Kinase pathway. Collectively, our findings emphasise the need for careful evaluation of PI 3-Kinase target therapy effects in prostate cancer and highlight the value of genetically engineered mouse models in this process. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2405. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-2405
The Influence of Autistic Features on Identity Development in Emerging Adults

Due to the relatively common presence of autistic features in the general population, this research explores how identity develops in those with varying degrees of social limitations. Interpersonal...
Vortex wake investigation of a twin-tail fighter aircraft model at high angles of attack with and without LEX fences

A low-speed wind tunnel investigation was conducted to examine the vortex wake downstream of a three-percent scale model of the YF-17 lightweight fighter prototype at high angles of attack. The study was in support of NASA Ames Research Center's wind tunnel investigation of a full scale F/A-18 as part of NASA's High Alpha Technology Program. Smoke flow visualization was used to locate the downstream vortex wake. liotwire surveys were taken through the vortex at two stations: one directly aft of the model and the other at a station three model lengths downstream of the model. The effect of adding a fence to the leading edge extension (LEX) was studied. Power spectra from the hot-wire were recorded for the survey station directly aft of the model. Results show that peak turbulent fluctuation at this station occurred at 25 degrees angle of attack, lateral turbulent fluctuation greatly diminished at the far downstream station, and the addition of the LEX fence shifted energy content of turbulence toward higher frequencies.
CORE-SHELL EMULSION POLYMERIZATION AND ITS APPLICATION IN COATING

The developments of the theory on core?shell emulsion polymerization during the past ten years have been summarized, which includes that polymerization mechanism-polymers aggradations and polymerization in the surface of particles; preparation methods for core?shell particles-batch, equilibrium swelling, semi?continuous and continuous; several morphologies and structures of common emulsoid particles and influencing factors of thermodynamics and dynamics; and characteristic methods of core?shell structure including the ability of films formation. Finally applications in coating are introduced.
Surgical Management of Giant Intracranial Aneurysms

Giant intracranial aneurysms represent one of the most problematic lesions of vascular neurosurgery because of their complex anatomy and the variety of treatment modalities often required. Since 1969, a total of 263 aneurysms measuring at least 25 mm have been operated upon by our department. These represent nearly 20% of our total group of 1418 aneurysms treated. Of these, 193 were unruptured and presented with symptoms of mass effect; 70 of the aneurysms presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Forty aneurysms were in the posterior circulation and 223 were in the anterior circulation. A variety of surgical techniques were required: proximal ligation in 26 patients, simple trapping in 15 patients, direct clipping in 92 patients, direct clipping and thrombectomy in 16 patients, superficial temporal to middle cerebral artery bypass and proximal ligation in 33 patients, superficial to middle cerebral artery and saphenous vein bypass graft in four patients, saphenous vein bypass graft and clipping in six patients, saphenous vein bypass graft and trapping in nine patients, saphenous vein bypass graft and proximal ligation in 12 patients, and direct repair with vessel reconstruction in 13 patients. The results show excellent or good outcome in 198 patients, poor outcome in 15 patients and death in 50 patients. The results will be analysed with respect to aneurysm location and patient preoperative grade.
Natural Language Based Information Management Systems

Publisher Summary The TQA System, formerly called the REQUEST System, is an experimental transformational-grammar-based English question-answering system suitable for interfacing with large relational data bases. The TQA parser started out fully general. Its principal early extension was to allow binary features on nonterminal and terminal nodes and to make transformations sensitive to and capable of altering those features. To deal with full trees at each transformational step, a surface structure CF grammar and a derived constituent structure CF grammar, both with potential slack, were used. Forward transformations continued to be written and invoked, but the style in grammar writing was not to introduce slack in inverse transformations and then eliminate that slack with forward transformations, but rather to make inverse transformations true inverses of their forward counterparts. Building deep structures from top sentence embedding levels down is reminiscent of inverse transformational analysis, and constitutes a portion of the basis for the often made claim that it is possible to perform transformational analysis by means of an augmented transition network.
Planning and Drilling of the Phase II Boreholes

The Phase I reservoir at Fenton Hill, which extended over the approximate depth interval 8,000–10,000 ft, had indeed demonstrated the technical feasibility of the HDR concept, but at a temperature (157°C) and thermal power (3 MW) lower than desirable for commercial power production. The Phase II reservoir was planned for development at a depth of 12,000–14,000 ft, to test the HDR concept at a temperature and rate of geoheat production more appropriate for a commercial power plant, and with a reservoir large enough to sustain a high level of thermal power for an extended period (at least 10 years).
An Illustration of Population Growth

The extract which follows assembles several fragments of Euler's work in stable theory that complement, and apparently precede, his better known 1760 article (paper 11 below). Euler here prepares for Siissmilch a population projection that begins with one couple of age 20 who give birth to an additional couple at ages 22, 24 and 26, and who die at age 40, later generations repeating the same fertility and mortality schedules. Euler demonstrates that after 300 years the population will be growing approximately geometrically and recognizes this as the limit of a recurrent series; i.e., he is working with a very general result.
Optimal switching with minimum dwell time constraint

Abstract The problem of optimal switching between different subsystems/configurations with minimum dwell time constraints is investigated in this study and a feedback solution, using the framework of approximate dynamic programming, is proposed. The method calls for a tuning stage in which parameters of a function approximator are tuned. Online control will then be conducted with a computational load as low as evaluating a few scalar-valued functions. Finite-horizon and infinite-horizon cost functions are investigated and convergence and stability are analyzed considering the presence of approximation errors. Moreover, the case of applying a full or partial constraint on the mode sequence, as well as having a mode-dependent minimum dwell time are investigated. Finally, performance of the scheme in handling different challenges is numerically evaluated through different examples.
Characterizing the Chemical Space of ERK2 Kinase Inhibitors Using Descriptors Computed from Molecular Dynamics Trajectories

Quantitative Structure–Activity Relationship (QSAR) models typically rely on 2D and 3D molecular descriptors to characterize chemicals and forecast their experimental activities. Previously, we showed that even the most reliable 2D QSAR models and structure-based 3D molecular docking techniques were not capable of accurately ranking a set of known inhibitors for the ERK2 kinase, a key player in various types of cancer. Herein, we calculated and analyzed a series of chemical descriptors computed from the molecular dynamics (MD) trajectories of ERK2-ligand complexes. First, the docking of 87 ERK2 ligands with known binding affinities was accomplished using Schrodinger’s Glide software; then, solvent-explicit MD simulations (20 ns, NPT, 300 K, TIP3P, 1 fs) were performed using the GPU-accelerated Desmond program. Second, we calculated a series of MD descriptors based on the distributions of 3D descriptors computed for representative samples of the ligand’s conformations over the MD simulations. Third, we ana...
Abstract 105: Increased Myocardial Sensitivity to Ischemic Injury in an Animal Model of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychological disorder characterized by the formation of traumatic memories following exposure to a life threatening event. In addition to psychological manifestations, PTSD promotes atherosclerosis and increases the incidence of myocardial infarction. However, it is unknown whether the effects of PTSD are limited to increasing the incidence of myocardial infarction or if PTSD also increases infarct severity. Therefore, we used an animal model of PTSD to determine whether posttraumatic stress influences infarct size and postischemic recovery of cardiac contractile function. Methods: Rats were subjected to a well-established animal model of PTSD that is based on predator exposure and psychosocial stress (Zoladz et al., Stress 11:259-281). Rats subjected to this model exhibit many PTSD-like characteristics including the formation of traumatic memories, increased anxiety, increased startle reflex, hypertension, and alterations in the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis. Male rats (7 weeks of age) were either subjected to psychosocial stress (n = 9) or continuously housed in their home cages (n = 8) for 31 days. Hearts were subsequently isolated and subjected to 20 minutes of ischemia and 2 hours reperfusion on a Langendorff isolated heart system. Results: Stressed rats exhibited significantly elevated corticosterone concentrations and anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze. Infarct sizes were significantly larger in hearts from stressed rats (44.7 ± 1.7 % of area at risk) compared to nonstressed rats (31.0 ± 5.4 % of area at risk). Consistent with increased myocardial injury, postischemic recovery of rate pressure product (stressed = 16,922 ± 1,554 mmHg*bpm; nonstressed = 26,407 ± 2,977 mmHg*bpm) and +dP/dT (stressed = 1,901 ± 189 mmHg/sec; nonstressed =3,259 ± 498 mmHg/sec) were significantly attenuated in hearts from stressed rats. Furthermore, postischemic end diastolic pressure was significantly elevated in hearts from stressed (57 ± 6 mmHg) compared to nonstressed (32 ± 7 mmHg) rats. Conclusion: This animal model suggests that PTSD may make the myocardium more sensitive to ischemic injury through a mechanism that is independent from its ability to promote atherosclerosis.
Newton – Euler Formulation of Manipulator Dynamics for Computer Control

Abstract This paper presents a new approach to obtaining the equations by the method of Newton-Euler formulation which is independent of the type of manipulator-configuration. The method involves the successive transformation of velocities and accelerations from the base of the manipulator out to the gripper, link by link, using the relationships of moving coordinate systems. Forces are then transformed back from the gripper to the base to obtain the joint torques. Using this formulation, the amount of computation increases linearly as the number of joints increases while the conventional Lagrangian formulation causes the increase proportional to the quatic of the number of joints. With a program written in floating point language, it is possible to achieve an average execution time of 4.5 milli-seconds on a PDP 11/45 computer for a Stanford manipulator.
Phospholipase Cβ3 Membrane Adsorption and Activation Are Regulated by Its C-Terminal Domains and Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Bisphosphate.

Phospholipase Cβ (PLCβ) enzymes hydrolyze phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate to produce second messengers that regulate intracellular Ca2+, cell proliferation, and survival. Their activity is dependent upon interfacial activation that occurs upon localization to cell membranes. However, the molecular basis for how these enzymes productively interact with the membrane is poorly understood. Herein, atomic force microscopy demonstrates that the ∼300-residue C-terminal domain promotes adsorption to monolayers and is required for spatial organization of the protein on the monolayer surface. PLCβ variants lacking this C-terminal domain display differences in their distribution on the surface. In addition, a previously identified autoinhibitory helix that binds to the PLCβ catalytic core negatively impacts membrane binding, providing an additional level of regulation for membrane adsorption. Lastly, defects in phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate hydrolysis also alter monolayer adsorption, reflecting a role ...
Differential expression of zinc transporters accompanies the differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts.

Abstract Zinc transporters facilitate metal mobilization and compartmentalization, playing a key role in cellular development. Little is known about the mechanisms and pathways of Zn movement between Zn transporters and metalloproteins during myoblast differentiation. We analyzed the differential expression of ZIP and ZnT transporters during C2C12 myoblast differentiation. Zn transporters account for a transient decrease of intracellular Zn upon myogenesis induction followed by a gradual increase of Zn in myotubes. Considering the subcellular localization and function of each of the Zn transporters, our findings indicate that a fine regulation is necessary to maintain correct metal concentrations in the cytosol and subcellular compartments to avoid toxicity, maintain homeostasis, and for loading metalloproteins needed during myogenesis. This study advances our basic understanding of the complex Zn transport network during muscle differentiation.
Evaluation of Mandible Fractures in Patients With Sickle Cell Anemia-A Nationwide Study.

Purpose Sickle cell anemia is the most commonly inherited blood disorder in the United States. Despite its prevalence, clinicians know little about the extent of its impact on orofacial manifestations. Materials and Methods All patients with diagnoses of mandible fracture and sickle cell anemia admitted from 2004 through 2014 were identified using the National Inpatient Sample. Patient demographics, fracture regions, and complications were characterized by descriptive statistics. Results Fifty-one of 48,464 patients admitted for mandible fracture had sickle cell anemia. The mean age of the identified patients was 25 years (range, 4 to 58 yr). Of all admitted patients, mandible angle fracture was the most common (19%), followed by fracture of the body of the mandible. Seventy-five percent of cases reviewed were treated with open reduction and internal fixation. Conclusions Most mandible fractures in patients with sickle cell anemia were located in the angle of the mandible. Complications were minimal and outcomes were satisfactory. Aseptic necrosis of the jaw was a frequent complication of mandible fracture in patients with sickle cell anemia. These results provide clinicians with a better understanding of the distribution and hospital course of patients with sickle cell anemia and facial fractures.
Support for a Multidimensional Model of Study Abroad Immersion Preference.

Students seeking to study abroad are increasingly able to select their preferred level of immersion in such areas as program dur ation, similarity of classmates, language of instruction, and housing environment . As researchers endeavor to understand the relative contribution of these decisions to intercultural learning outcomes, information is needed regarding the student characteristics associated with these program choices. Questionnaire data from 252 undergraduates yieldeddemographic, social, personality, and intercultural predictors of preference for level of immersion across seven study abroad dimensions and supported a mult idimensional model of immersion. Implications are discussed for outcome research methodology, study abroad advising, pre departure training, and program design.
Modeling dust dispersion and suspension pattern under turbulence

Abstract Controlling dust generation and minimizing volumetric dust concentration, within confined space, are key to the prevention of dust explosion. Dust dispersion pattern under pressure, such as primary explosion or dust leakage from equipment, can be simulated using unsteady state computational fluid dynamics – discrete phase models (CFD-DPMs). Although they offer computational efficiency, DPM simulations do not incorporate particle-wall or particle-particle interactions. In this paper, we therefore adapt the model to include particle-wall interaction based on energy conservation. In a confined volume, to experimentally observe the dust dispersion pattern, a theoretical concentration of 0.05 and 0.10 kg/m3 was generated and the turbulence was created with airflow of 2 and 10 m/s using an air compressor. Similar conditions were used to model the dust dispersion pattern. Our findings show that the dust concentration inside the confined chamber is not evenly distributed throughout its entirety and that explosive dust cloud concentration only takes up to 37.8% of a chamber's volume for a 0.10 kg/m³ injected dust concentration at 10 m/s air velocity. With a decrease in the dust injection rate and air velocity, the dust cloud volume decreased due to lesser amount of particles and low kinetic energy. This study presents an efficient dust dispersion modeling method, and the result shows the dust cloud volume is highly dependent on the dispersion velocity. The predicted dust concentration and the experimental results indicate that this boundary corrected CFD-DPM modeling approach is suitable for dilute particle dispersion flow, where the volume fraction of particles is lower and the adhered particles only form a single particle layer on the wall boundary.
Integrating youth participation and ecosocial work: New possibilities to advance environmental and social justice

This article reveals possibilities to expand the role of youth within ecosocial work practice. The Where I Stand Youth Summit held in Chicago, Illinois, provided a safe space for young people to re...
Management of Pancreaticobiliary Disease: Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an endoscopic technique developed to allow access to the pancreaticobiliary system. Many individuals have contributed to the development of ERCP into the diagnostic and therapeutic tool that it is today. With the development of better imaging modalities, the indications for strictly diagnostic ERCP are shrinking; however, ERCP techniques are used for a widening variety of therapeutic interventions. Indications for ERCP range from treatment of benign conditions such as choledocholithiasis and sphincter of Oddi dysfunction to treatment of malignant strictures and advanced techniques such as radiofrequency ablation. Careful patient selection and technique is necessary to minimize the risk profile of the procedure. Those performing ERCP should be aware of the risks and complications as well as their treatment. Techniques utilizing ERCP will likely continue to expand in the future, making it a useful minimally invasive tool for the treatment of many diseases of patients.
Sex disparities in presentation and prognosis of 1110 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND Although sex disparities in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence have been well described, there are limited data examining sex disparities in HCC prognosis. AIM To characterise sex differences in HCC presentation and prognosis. METHODS We performed a retrospective study of consecutive patients (n = 1110, 23.5% women) diagnosed with HCC between 2008 and 2017 at two US health systems. We used Cox proportional hazard and multivariable logistic regression models to identify factors associated with overall survival, early tumour detection and response to HCC treatment (per the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors [mRECIST] criteria). RESULTS Women were older at HCC diagnosis (mean 62.5 vs 59.2 years, P < 0.001) and had a higher proportion of early-stage tumours (53.1% vs 43.7% Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer [BCLC] stage 0/A, P = 0.04), but similar liver function compared to men (49.2% vs 47.1% Child Pugh A, P = 0.27). In univariable analysis, women had significantly better overall survival than men (median 17.1 vs 12.0 months, P = 0.02). When stratified by age, younger (<65 years) women had better overall survival than men (18.3 vs 11.2 months, P = 0.02); however, older (≥65 years) women and men had similar overall survival (15.5 vs 15.7 months, P = 0.45). In multivariable analysis, female sex was independently associated with lower mortality after adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, alpha-fetoprotein, BCLC stage, Albumin-Bilirubin grade and Child Pugh score (hazard ratio [HR] 0.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.68-0.98). In secondary analyses, female sex was independently associated with early tumour detection (odds ratio [OR] 1.46, 95% CI 1.05-2.02) and response to first HCC treatment (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.18-2.53) after adjusting for the same covariates. CONCLUSION In a large cohort of patients with HCC, women had significantly better prognosis than men.
Adherence to postoperative thromboprophylactic medication among gynecologic oncology patients: A subanalysis.

Abstract Introduction Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among gynecologic cancer patients, especially in the immediate postoperative period. We sought to identify patterns related with patient non-adherence to postoperative prophylactic anticoagulation. Methods Participant data (N = 400) were reviewed from a previously conducted randomized controlled trial comparing the safety and efficacy of prophylactic postoperative anticoagulation with enoxaparin versus apixaban among gynecologic oncology patients. Variables hypothesized to be related to medication adherence were pre-selected by the study authors, and adherence was defined as missing ≤2 days of medication (4 pills or 2 injections) in 28 days postoperatively. For univariate comparisons and multivariate modeling, the threshold for statistical significance was set at p Results Non-adherence (N = 64) was associated with lower quality of life (QOL) score, history of anxiety disorder, decreased medication satisfaction, taking more medications at baseline, higher baseline heart rate, fewer total intraoperative procedures, not undergoing radical hysterectomy and/or lymph node dissection, not meeting 2-week postoperative milestones, and 28-day emergency department (ED) visit or readmission. African American race, lower mental QOL, difficulty remembering to take medication, and 28-day ED visit or readmission were predictive of non-adherence in a multivariate model. Patients taking enoxaparin versus apixaban more frequently attributed non-adherence to pain or bruising (25.0% vs. 3.1%, P = .01). Conclusion Our findings provide new insights into factors associated with medication adherence that are particularly relevant to gynecologic oncology patients after surgery. Preoperative interventions to identify patients with these risk factors for more intensive followup of postoperative anticoagulation regimen may help increase medication adherence.
The incidence of persistent postoperative opioid use among U.S. veterans: A national study to identify risk factors.

Abstract Objective To calculate the incidence and identify the predictors of persistent postoperative opioid use at different postoperative days. Background data A subset of surgical patients continues to use long-term opioids. The importance of the risk factors at different postoperative days is not known. Design A historical cohort. Setting Postoperative period. Patients Opioid-naive U.S. veterans. Interventions The surgical group had any one of 19 common invasive procedures. The control group is a 10% random sample. Each control was randomly assigned a surgery date. Measurements The outcomes were the presence of persistent opioid use as determined by continued filling of prescriptions for opioids on postoperative days 90, 180, 270, and 365. Main results A total of 183,430 distinct surgical cases and 1,318,894 controls were identified. 1.0% of the surgical patients were using opioids at 90 days, 0.6% at 180 days, 0.4% at 270 days, and 0.1% at 365 days after the surgery. Surgery was strongly associated with postoperative persistent opioid use at day 90 (OR 3.67, 95% CI, 3.43–3.94, p Conclusions Many surgeries or invasive procedures are associated with an increased risk of persistent postoperative opioid use. The postoperative period is dynamic and the risk factors change with time.
Advances and perspectives in the metabolomics of stomatal movement and the disease triangle

Crops are continuously exposed to microbial pathogens that cause tremendous yield losses worldwide. Stomatal pores formed by pairs of specialized guard cells in the leaf epidermis represent a major route of pathogen entry. Guard cells have an essential role as a first line of defense against pathogens. Metabolomics is an indispensable systems biology tool that has facilitated discovery and functional studies of metabolites that regulate stomatal movement in response to pathogens and other environmental factors. Guard cells, pathogens and environmental factors constitute the "stomatal disease triangle". The aim of this review is to highlight recent advances toward understanding the stomatal disease triangle in the context of newly discovered signaling molecules, hormone crosstalk, and consequent molecular changes that integrate pathogens and environmental sensing into stomatal immune responses. Future perspectives on emerging single-cell studies, multiomics and molecular imaging in the context of stomatal defense are discussed. Advances in this important area of plant biology will inform rational crop engineering and breeding for enhanced stomatal defense without disruption of other pathways that impact crop yield.
Philip M. Bromberg (1931–2020). Trauma, dissociation, and the multiple self

That intimacy and depth of relatedness were so precious to Philip Bromberg, even his central truth and purpose, is perhaps an irony, because he was a shy person, not given to demonstrativeness, cer...
The significance of the apocryphal Greek Additions to Esther for the church today

Over the centuries, the Protestant church has increasingly ignored the apocryphal books of the Old Testament, including the Additions to the book of Esther. This article first outlines the extent o...
Quality of life and risk of psychiatric disorders among regular users of alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis: An analysis of the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC)

Research is limited on the effects of regular substance use on mental health-related outcomes. We used a large nationally representative survey to examine current and future quality of life and risk of psychiatric disorders among past-year regular (weekly) users of alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis. Data on psychiatric disorders and quality of life from two waves (Wave 1 N = 43,093, Wave 2 N = 34,653) of the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) were used to test study aims. In cross-sectional analyses, regular nicotine and cannabis use were associated with higher rates of psychiatric disorder, though regular alcohol use was associated with lower rates of disorders. Prospective analyses found that regular nicotine use predicted onset of anxiety, depressive, and bipolar disorders. Regular alcohol use predicted lower risk of these disorders. Regular cannabis use uniquely predicted the development of bipolar disorder, panic disorder with agoraphobia, and social phobia. Lastly, regular alcohol use predicted improvements in physical and mental health-related quality of life, whereas nicotine predicted deterioration in these outcomes. Regular cannabis use predicted declines in mental, but not physical health. These data add to the literature on the relations between substance use and mental and physical health and suggest increased risk of mental health problems among regular nicotine and cannabis users and better mental and physical health among regular alcohol users. Examination of mechanisms underlying these relationships is needed.
Increase in endothelial cell Ca2+ in response to mouse cremaster muscle contraction

We addressed the role of endothelial cells (ECs) in metabolic dilatation of skeletal muscle arterioles in anaesthetized mice in situ. Electrical field stimulation was used to contract the cremaster muscle for 15 s at 30 Hz. Diameter was observed using bright field microscopy. In controls, muscle contraction produced a 15.7 ± 1.5 μm dilatation from a baseline of 17.4 ± 1.6 μm. Endothelial denudation (−EC) via intraluminal perfusion of air abolished this response (1.6 ± 1.2 μm in −EC, P 10%, P 20%, P 0.05) but decreased its magnitude immediately post stimulation (7.1 ± 0.9 μm, P < 0.05) and during recovery. These findings demonstrate obligatory roles for endothelium and EC Ca2+ during metabolic dilatation in intact arterioles. Furthermore, they suggest that at least two separate pathways mediate the local response, one of which involves stimulation of endothelial P1 purinergic receptors via endogenous adenosine produced during muscle activity.
A survey of unresolved problems in life cycle assessment

Life cycle assessment (LCA) stands as the pre-eminent tool for estimating environmental effects caused by products and processes from ‘cradle to grave’ or ‘cradle to cradle.’ It exists in multiple forms, claims a growing list of practitioners, and remains a focus of continuing research. Despite its popularity and codification by organizations such as the International Organization for Standards and the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, life cycle assessment is a tool in need of improvement. Multiple authors have written about its individual problems, but a unified treatment of the subject is lacking. The following literature survey gathers and explains issues, problems and problematic decisions currently limiting LCA’s goal and scope definition and life cycle inventory phases. The review identifies 15 major problem areas and organizes them by the LCA phases in which each appears. This part of the review focuses on the first 7 of these problems occurring during the goal and scope definition and life cycle inventory phases. It is meant as a concise summary for practitioners interested in methodological limitations which might degrade the accuracy of their assessments. For new researchers, it provides an overview of pertinent problem areas toward which they might wish to direct their research efforts. Multiple problems occur in each of LCA’s four phases and reduce the accuracy of this tool. Considering problem severity and the adequacy of current solutions, six of the 15 discussed problems are of paramount importance. In LCA’s first two phases, functional unit definition, boundary selection, and allocation are critical problems requiring particular attention. Problems encountered during goal and scope definition arise from decisions about inclusion and exclusion while those in inventory analysis involve flows and transformations. Foundational decisions about the basis of comparison (functional unit), bounds of the study, and physical relationships between included processes largely dictate the representativeness and, therefore, the value of an LCA. It is for this reason that problems in functional unit definition, boundary selection, and allocation are the most critical examined in the first part of this review.
Sympathetic neural discharge and vascular resistance during exercise in humans

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between changes in efferent muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) to the lower leg and calf vascular resistance (CVR) during isometric exercise in humans. We made intraneural (microneurographic) determinations of MSNA in the right leg (peroneal nerve) while simultaneously measuring calf blood flow to the left leg, arterial pressure, and heart rate in 10 subjects before (control), during, and after (recovery) isometric handgrip exercise performed for 2.5 min at 15, 25, and 35% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). Heart rate and arterial pressure increased above control within the initial 30 s of handgrip at all levels, and the magnitudes of the increases at end contraction were proportional to the intensity of the exercise. In general, neither MSNA nor CVR increased significantly above control levels during handgrip at 15% MVC. Similarly, neither variable increased above control during the initial 30 s of handgrip at 25 and 35% MVC; however, during the remainder of the contraction period, progressive, parallel increases were observed in MSNA and CVR (P less than 0.05). The correlation coefficients relating changes in MSNA to changes in CVR for the individual subjects averaged 0.63 +/- 0.07 (SE) (range 0.30-0.91) and 0.94 +/- 0.06 (range 0.80-0.99) for the 25 and 35% MVC levels, respectively. During recovery, both MSNA and CVR returned rapidly toward control levels. These findings demonstrate that muscle sympathetic nerve discharge and vascular resistance in the lower leg are tightly coupled during and after isometric arm exercise in humans. Furthermore, the exercise-induced adjustments in the two variables are both contraction intensity and time dependent.
INTERACTIVE GRAPHICAL EXPLORATION OF MULTIDIMENSIONAL NONLINEAR DYNAMICAL SYSTEMS

This paper discusses the application of an inherently three-dimensional graphical representation tool, isosurfaces, as a means to interactively explore and visualize the attractors of a nonlinear dynamical system with a fifteen-dimensional parameter space. A program has been written which allows the scientist to interactively select and visualize three-dimensional sub-spaces of the fifteen-dimensional parameter space. The dynamical system used to illustrate these concepts is a discrete-time, nonlinear, three-nation Richardson model with economic constraints. This dynamical system, which models the shifting alliances of nations in an arms race, maps an initial point in the unit cube to another point in the unit cube after multiple iterations of the model functions. Using an isosurface function on the resulting volumetric data set, surfaces indicating the changing alliances of nations are generated and rendered.
Thermoregulatory vasoconstriction does not impede core warming during cutaneous heating

Recent studies evaluating perioperative cutaneous-to-core heat transfer indicate that: Thermoregulatory vasoconstriction prevents further core cooling in anesthetized subjects during mild cooling. Thermoregulatory vasoconstriction only slightly decreases core cooling rates in anesthetized subjects during vigorous cooling. Thermoregulatory vasoconstriction does not impair vigorous core rewarming during anesthesia. Vigorous postanesthetic cutaneous warming increases core temperature much faster than passive insulation. Under conditions of mild thermal stress, thermoregulatory vasoconstriction is thus able to protect core temperature by reducing cutaneous heat transfer and functionally isolating the peripheral and core thermal compartment. Consequently, anesthetic-induced alterations in vasomotor tone is one of the major factors influencing core temperature in patients who are not actively cooled or warmed. In contrast, thermoregulatory tone is insufficient to prevent core temperature perturbations in patients undergoing vigorous cutaneous cooling or warming.
In vivo flow cytometry: A new method for monitoring circulating cancer cells

We present a new method for detecting fluorescently labeled circulating cells in vivo. We use this method to monitor the depletion kinetics of circulating prostate cancer cells with different metastatic potential in two different hosts.