cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of Hybrid Plasma Scalpel in Reducing Blood Loss and Transfusions in Direct Anterior Total Hip Arthroplasty

Abstract Background Allogeneic blood transfusions have inherent risk and direct cost in total hip arthroplasty. Anterior total hip arthroplasty has grown in popularity with increased utilization. This approach may offer an enhanced recovery but has been associated with increased blood loss. Several technologies have been developed including the Canady Hybrid Plasma Scalpel (CHPS) and Aquamantys Bipolar Sealer (BS) to decrease blood loss. Methods Two hundred forty-four consecutive patients undergoing anterior supine intermuscular total hip arthroplasty were separated by intraoperative cautery device (CHPS vs BS). Exclusion criteria included blood dyscrasias and contraindication to tranexamic acid. Demographic data, blood loss, transfusion requirements, and Harris Hip Scores were obtained. Differences between groups were evaluated using the Student t -test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test for continuous variables and chi-square test for categorical variables. Results There were no differences in demographic data between the groups. Patients in the CHPS group had a significantly smaller decrease in postoperative hemoglobin (−2.3 mg/dL vs −2.7 mg/dL, P P P P Conclusion The use of the hybrid plasma scalpel resulted in significantly less blood loss and transfusions than the BS. Additionally, patients treated with the hybrid plasma scalpel had significantly shorter operative times and reduced hospital length of stay. The hybrid scalpel shows promise in reducing blood loss in anterior total hip arthroplasty and is a valuable tool in the multimodal approach to avoiding transfusions.
Jacques Prévert met en scène la crise de février 1934

Au moment de la poussee des fascismes europeens, les emeutes antiparlementaires de fevrier 1934 ont ebranle le regime republicain. Cela a correspondu dans l’œuvre de Jacques Prevert avec l’engageme...
Intra-Pathway Inhibition of Upstream (PI3K) and Downstream (mTOR) Kinases Synergistically Induces Apoptosis in AML.

Abstract Constitutive activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway regulates the growth and survival of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We hypothesized that targeting this pathway with both PI3K and mTOR inhibitors may greatly enhance the effectiveness of these two inhibitors in the treatment of AML. PI3KI1 is a novel PI3K inhibitor that induced apoptosis in AML cell lines and primary AML cells at an IC50 of 5μM. It directly inhibited AKT at Ser473, however had limited effects on pGSK3b and on the mTOR downstream target p70S6K at Thr389. Colony-forming assays demonstrated that PI3KI1 decreased the viability of primary AML samples but spared normal bone marrow progenitor cells. mTOR inhibitor CCI779 inhibited phosphorylation of downstream mTOR targets p70S6K and 4EBP, however showed only minor cytotoxicity to AML cell lines and primary samples, suggesting that inhibition of mTOR signaling is not sufficient to cause growth inhibition in the majority of AML. Combined use of PI3KI1 and CCI779 synergistically induced apoptosis in U937 cells, with a combination index of 0.061±0.02. Western blot analysis demonstrated enhanced suppression of pP70S6K, pAKT and p4EBP1(Thr70) when PI3KI1 and CCI779 were used in combination. In primary AML samples, combined inhibition of PI3K and mTOR pathways enhanced apoptosis induction in 8/12 samples, with true synergistic responses in 3 samples. Importantly, the combination, but not PI3KI1 or CCI779 alone, was able to overcome the growth advantage conferred to AML cell lines or primary AML samples by adherence to bone marrow stromal cells. Taken together, our results indicate that PI3K and mTOR are relevant molecular targets in AML and that intra-pathway inhibition of both, upstream and downstream proteins may be required for maximal inhibition of leukemia cell growth.
The Black Women’s Gathering Place: reconceptualising a curriculum of place/space

ABSTRACTThis article de-centres imperialist, capitalist, patriarchal traditions of critical approaches in Curriculum Studies via an examination of experiences shared at The Black Women’s Gathering Place (BWGP), a non-traditional space where a diverse, intergenerational group of Black women engage with each other through the sharing of stories. In the BWGP, we enact components of Pinar’s [2004. What is Curriculum Theory? Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum] concept of currere, simultaneously re-entering our collective and individual pasts and re-imagining our futures in an effort to reconcile our public and private selves. Taking up tenets of Black feminist theory, theoretical framings of hidden curriculum, and components of Ng-A-Fook’s [2007. An Indigenous Curriculum of Place: The United Houma Nation’s Contentious Relationship with Louisiana’s Educational Institutions. New York, NY: Peter Lang] ‘Curriculum of Place,’ we reconceptualise a curriculum of place/space that negotiates dominant norms expressed in socia...
Constipation in elderly patients. Pathogenesis and management.

The incidence of constipation appears to increase with increasing age, particularly after the age of 65. There are few data on the age-related physiological changes of colonic and anorectal function; however, anal sphincter pressures are decreased in elderly patients, while colonic transit time does not appear to be altered. The successful management of constipation in elderly patients requires an understanding of colorectal function, careful characterisation of the patient’s complaint, and in selected patients, specialised studies of colonic and anorectal function.
Interpolated Melolabial Flaps: Reconstruction of Alar and Columellar Units

Burget 1 outlined seven principles unique to aesthetic reconstruction of the face. These principles also apply to reconstruction of the nose. Whether repairing a defect of the face or nose, the goal is a normal contour. The missing part is restored in its three-dimensional form, replacing each missing layer with like tissue. Templates are used to design grafts and flaps. Scars are camouflaged by placing them along the junction of aesthetic regions or units whenever possible. Entire convex aesthetic units (tip and alae) are resurfaced when practical. In the case of the nose, cartilage grafts are used to create contour, prevent collapse, and resist the forces of wound contraction. Refinement of the repair is accomplished by a contouring procedure consisting of subcutaneous tissue sculpturing. All these reconstructive principles are important, particularly when surgically restoring defects of the ala.
Neighborhood co-offending networks, structural embeddedness, and violent crime in Chicago

Abstract Neighborhood disparities in crime are a persistent feature of U.S. cities. Scholars have documented that both local structural conditions and characteristics of spatially proximate communities influence neighborhood crime rates. Previous studies on neighborhood inequality in crime, however, are limited by their focus on identifying average spillover effects between pairs of spatially contiguous neighborhoods, and have neglected to consider how the broader social organization of the city influences local outcomes. This study examines the role of neighborhood-level criminal networks in shaping the distribution of crime throughout cities. Employing arrest records and survey data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods, we construct a neighborhood-level co-offending network for Chicago for 2001. We use this network to investigate how a focal neighborhood’s homicide rate is influenced by its structural embeddedness within the larger inter-neighborhood co-offending network. Results indicate that a neighborhood’s embeddedness increases the local homicide rate, even after controlling for the neighborhood’s internal propensity toward crime and accounting for unobserved spatial processes.
External Validation of a Survival Nomogram for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Using the National Cancer Database

Survival nomograms offer individualized predictions using a more diverse set of factors than traditional staging measures, including the American Joint Committee on Cancer Tumor Node Metastasis (AJCC TNM) Staging System. A nomogram predicting overall survival (OS) for resected, non-metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been previously derived from Asian patients. The present study aims to determine the nomogram’s predictive capability in the US using the National Cancer Database (NCDB). This was a retrospective review of adults with resected, non-metastatic NSCLC entered into the NCDB between 2004 and 2012. Concordance indices and calibration plots analyzed discrimination and calibration, respectively. Multivariate analysis was also used. A total of 57,313 patients were included in this study. The predominant histologies were adenocarcinoma (48.2%) and squamous cell carcinoma (31.3%), and patients were diagnosed with stage I-A (38.3%), stage I-B (22.7%), stage II-A (14.2%), stage II-B (11.5%), and stage III-A (13.3%). Median OS was 74 months. 1-, 3- and 5-year OS rates were 89.8% [95% confidence interval (CI) 89.5–90.0%], 71.1% (95% CI 70.7–71.6%), and 55.7% (95% CI 54.7–56.6%), respectively. The nomogram’s concordance index (C-index) was 0.804 (95% CI 0.792–0.817). AJCC TNM staging demonstrated higher discrimination (C-index 0.833, 95% CI 0.821–0.840). The nomogram’s individualized estimates accurately predicted survival in this patient collective, demonstrating higher discrimination in this population than in the developer’s cohorts. However, the generalized survival estimates provided by traditional staging demonstrated superior predictive capability; therefore, AJCC TNM staging should remain the gold standard for the prognostication of resected NSCLC in the US.
Selling the Space Shuttle: Early Developments

As NASA during the late 1970s and early 1980s prepared for space shuttle operations, the space agency took steps to ensure that the shuttle not only would be the launcher of choice for all established users of space, especially commercial communications satellite operators, but also would attract new space users. NASA pursued a variety of innovative approaches to achieve these objectives, including a user development program, a user-friendly shuttle pricing policy, the possibility of flying small, self-contained payloads at a low price, and openness to enter into cost- and risk-sharing agreements, designated Joint Endeavor Agreements, with the private sector. NASA actively marketed shuttle launches and in-orbit services on a global basis, in 1983 even printing in several languages a marketing brochure titled “We Deliver” (John M. Logsdon).
Avalon catheters in pediatric patients requiring ECMO: Placement and migration problems

Abstract Purpose The Avalon dual-lumen venovenous catheter has several advantages, but placement techniques and management have not been adequately addressed in the pediatric population. We assessed our institutional outcomes and complications using the Avalon catheter in children. Methods We reviewed all pediatric patients who had Avalon catheters placed for respiratory failure at our institution, excluding congenital heart disease patients, from April 2009 to March 2016. All patients were managed using our standard ECMO protocol, and cannula position was followed by daily chest x-ray and intermittent echocardiography (ECHO). Data included demographics, diagnosis, PRISM3 predicted mortality, ECMO duration, complications, and survival. The primary outcome was the need for catheter repositioning. Results Twenty-five patients were included, with mean age 8.3 ± 6.9 years and 15 ± 22 days of ECMO support. Overall survival was 68% (17/25). Fourteen patients (56%) underwent placement with fluoroscopy in addition to ultrasound and ECHO, primarily after 2013. Overall, thirteen patients (52%) had problems with cannula malposition. 9 of these (69%) required cannula repositioning. Three of 14 (21%) cannulas placed with fluoroscopy required repositioning, compared to 7/11 (64%) placed without fluoroscopy (p = 0.05). Conclusions Complications are common with the Avalon catheter in children. Safe percutaneous access requires ultrasound guidance, and use of intraoperative fluoroscopy in addition to echocardiography decreases malposition rates. Level of evidence IV (Prognosis study).
Data Analysis Techniques for Physical Scientists

A comprehensive guide to data analysis techniques for physical scientists, providing a valuable resource for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, as well as seasoned researchers. The book begins with an extensive discussion of the foundational concepts and methods of probability and statistics under both the frequentist and Bayesian interpretations of probability. It next presents basic concepts and techniques used for measurements of particle production cross-sections, correlation functions, and particle identification. Much attention is devoted to notions of statistical and systematic errors, beginning with intuitive discussions and progressively introducing the more formal concepts of confidence intervals, credible range, and hypothesis testing. The book also includes an in-depth discussion of the methods used to unfold or correct data for instrumental effects associated with measurement and process noise as well as particle and event losses, before ending with a presentation of elementary Monte Carlo techniques.
Women in the News: A US–Arab Gulf Comparison

Gonzalez offers an analysis of the cultural constraints in both Western and Middle Eastern contexts which have shaped the various realities and challenges for women pioneers in media. In this contribution, the author catalogues women’s entries into the United States news media from the early twentieth century to the present and compares it with Arab Gulf women’s entries into news media. Particular attention is paid to the information and social issues brought to the forefront by women’s increasing participation as reporters and producers of media. The chapter aims to underline that scholars can begin to appreciate the commonalities in both challenges and opportunities created by women’s participation as reporters and producers of news media across the globe.
Communicating Imminent Risk

Warning research has identified people’s major information sources as environmental cues, social cues, and social warnings from authorities, news media, and peers. Social sources are differentiated by expertise, trustworthiness, and responsibility for providing protection. Warning messages are most likely to produce appropriate protective actions if they provide information receivers need to understand the threat, expected time of impact, affected (and safe) areas, appropriate protective actions, and sources to contact for additional information and assistance. Such information produces situational risk perceptions that can be characterized in term of expected casualties, damage, and disruption to the community in general and to one’s family in particular. People’s choices of response actions can be frustrated by situational inhibitors or enhanced by situational facilitators that arise from their physical, social, and household contexts.
Response Surface Optimization in the Presence of Internal Noise With Application to Optimal Alignment of Carbon Nanotubes

Internal noise, which means fluctuation of input factors around their set values, is common in many experiments in the physical and engineering sciences. Existing methods for response surface optim...
Occurrence of aflatoxins B1 and M1 in milk powder and UHT consumed in the city of Assomada (Cape Verde Islands) and southern Brazil

Abstract The occurrence of aflatoxins M1 (AFLAM1) and B1 (AFLAB1) was evaluated in 112 milk samples (whole, skimmed, semi-skimmed—liquids and powders), collected at a local commercial establishment in southern Brazil and Assomada City, Cape Verde. AFLAM1 and AFLAB1 were determined by using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. For the 62 milk samples from 41 supermarkets in the city of Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, 68% were contaminated by AFLAM1 (range, 40–3670 ng L−1) and 16% were contaminated by AFLAB1 (range, 40–600 ng L−1), with contamination found only in liquid milk. Among the 50 samples from Assomada City, AFLAM1 was detected in 76% of the samples (range, 32–2896 ng L−1), at values below the current Brazilian legislation for the maximum permitted level in milk powder (5000 ng L−1) but higher than that recommended by the European Commission.
Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria and Mycorrhizal Fungi in Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry

Plant-growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) encourage plant growth by producing growth regulators, facilitating nutrient uptake, accelerating mineralization, reducing plant stress, stimulating nodulation, providing nitrogen fixation, promoting mycorrhizal fungi, suppressing plant diseases, and functioning as nematicides and insecticides. Many of the PGPR are fluorescent pseudomonads (Pseudomonas fluorescens), but other bacteria (Bacillus sp., Azotobacter sp., Acetobacter sp., Azospirillum sp.) are known as well. Many of these organisms have been formulated into biofertilizers and are commercially available. However, there is a disconnect between the demonstration of the growth-promoting activity of these organisms in laboratory and field studies versus their use in commercial production. The reason for this is two-fold. First, there have been inconsistent results between experimental studies and practical field applications where the growth-promoting activities of the rhizobacteria are masked by other environmental and management factors. Second, there is a lack of technology transfer and education, thus limiting the farmers’ use of biofertilizers. Here we review the role of rhizobacteria stimulating plant growth and their use as biofertilizers; indicate that the use of biofertilizers may be of more benefit in unproductive and stressful environments; and recommend that commercially available biofertilizers be evaluated in standardized field tests.
Phospholemman: A Cardiac Taurine Channel Involved in Regulation of Cell Volume

The story begins with the study of purified plasma membrane vesicles from canine heart10,11. Phosphorylation assays showed that these vesicles contained endogenous PK-A16 and PK-C24 activities. PK-A phosphorylated several proteins in cardiac SL vesicles, the major one of which migrated with an apparent Mr=15,000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). PK-C, in contrast, phosphorylated only one substrate in cardiac SL vesicles, also of Mr=15,00016,24. Based on these results, this major SL protein substrate of PK-A and PK-C was provisionally named the “15-kDa protein.” Phosphorylation by PK-A and PK-C was additive, suggesting that at least two different sites of the protein were phosphorylated. In rodent hearts perfused with β-adrenergic23 and α1-adrenergic15 agonists, the “15-kDa protein” was again the major SL substrate phosphorylated, and 32P-labeling of the protein in actively contracting myocardium correlated with the positive inotropic response induced by either agonist. Thus, results with intact myocardial tissue strongly supported a functional role for “15-kDa protein” phosphorylation by PK-A and PK-C. Phosphorylation of the “15-kDa protein” in cardiac membrane preparations and in intact cells was confirmed in other laboratories12,17,18,26. The protein was purified, cloned, and sequenced22, and was named PHOSPHOLEMMAN (PLM). This name denotes the protein’s location within the plasma membrane and its characteristic multisite phosphorylation. The mature protein (that present in SL vesicles) contained only 72 amino acids (Fig. 1), whose sequence is as follows: E1APQEHDPFTYEYQSLR I 18 GGLIIAGILFILGILIVLS 37 RRCRCKFNQQQRTGEPDEEE GTFR S 62 SIRRLS 68 TRRR72
Pivotable Strakes for High Angle of Attack Control

A series of pivotable strakes have been tested in combination with a 44-deg swept wing to determine their ability to provide pitch control at high angles of attack. The tests were carried out in the Langley 7 X 10-Foot High-Speed tunnel at nominal Mach numbers of 0.3 to 0.4. A total of five strakes with various aspects ratios and shapes were tested at negative deflection angles of 5, 10, 15, and 20 deg through an angle of attack range up to approximately 50 deg. In addition, a cranked delta wing with 70-deg sweep was tested with two different pivotable apex flaps. This paper shows lift, drag and moment data for the complete configurations as well as for the separate contributions of the strakes and fuselage nose which are mounted on a second balance. Generally, strake deflection was found to have a significant effect on moment while lift/drag changed very little.
Combined linkage and association analysis identifies rare and low frequency variants for blood pressure at 1q31

High blood pressure (BP) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and is more prevalent in African Americans as compared to other US groups. Although large, population-based genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified over 300 common polymorphisms modulating inter-individual BP variation, largely in European ancestry subjects, most of them do not localize to regions previously identified through family-based linkage studies. This discrepancy has remained unexplained despite the statistical power differences between current GWAS and prior linkage studies. To address this issue, we performed genome-wide linkage analysis of BP traits in African-American families from the Family Blood Pressure Program (FBPP) and genotyped on the Illumina Human Exome BeadChip v1.1. We identified a genomic region on chromosome 1q31 with LOD score 3.8 for pulse pressure (PP), a region we previously implicated in DBP studies of European ancestry families. Although no reported GWAS variants map to this region, combined linkage and association analysis of PP identified 81 rare and low frequency exonic variants accounting for the linkage evidence. Replication analysis in eight independent African ancestry cohorts (N = 16,968) supports this specific association with PP (P = 0.0509). Additional association and network analyses identified multiple potential candidate genes in this region expressed in multiple tissues and with a strong biological support for a role in BP. In conclusion, multiple genes and rare variants on 1q31 contribute to PP variation. Beyond producing new insights into PP, we demonstrate how family-based linkage and association studies can implicate specific rare and low frequency variants for complex traits.
Food justice and the fight for global human flourishing

Between the four articles and editorial reflections in this special issue, it is clear that food justice remains a vital field of study and arena for movement building. While food justice has appli...
Far-lateral Vascularized Rib Graft for Cervical and Lumbar Spinal Arthrodesis: Cadaveric Technique Description.

Background Rotational vascularized autografts are ideal for achieving spinal arthrodesis because they maintain bony vascularization while avoiding the morbidity and challenges of free-tissue transfer. Although proximal ribs are ideal candidates for vascularized bone grafts, their use is restricted to the thoracic spine. This study describes a novel technique for harvesting lateral rib grafts on an intercostal pedicle for use in cervical and lumbar posterolateral arthrodesis. Methods Six cadaveric dissections were performed (2 included upper and all 6 included lower rib dissections). Measurements included graft width and thickness, distance reached from harvest level to the top of the graft, and ipsilateral and contralateral spine levels reached by the graft. Results Overall, 60 lateral rib grafts were harvested. Intercostal vessel pedicles were torn during harvest in 4/48 (8.3%) of the lower rib and 5/12 (41.7%) of the upper rib grafts. Mean measurements of successful upper rib grafts were 1.4 ± 0.12 cm × 0.5 ± 0.15 cm (width × thickness), 14.1 ± 2.79 cm (distance) reached, and C2 (occiput-C4) reached ipsilaterally and C3 (occiput-C5) reached contralaterally. Mean lower rib graft measurements were 1.4 ± 0.26 cm × 0.4 ± 0.15 cm (width × thickness), 18.0 ± 6.19 cm (distance), S1 (L1-S2) reached ipsilaterally, and L4 (L1-S1) reached contralaterally. Conclusions It is technically feasible to rotate a far-lateral rib graft on an intercostal pedicle into the posterolateral cervical or lumbar spine for the augmentation of arthrodesis. Upper ribs seem to be more difficult to harvest and rotate while keeping the intercostal pedicle intact than lower ribs.
Graduating with Honor: Best Practices to Promote Ethics Development in College Students

AbstractEthical challenges are clearly widespread on college campuses, according to the authors of Graduating with Honor, evident in the frightening statistical reports and news stories of alcohol ...
Developmental Apoptosis Promotes a Disease-Related Gene Signature and Independence from CSF1R Signaling in Retinal Microglia.

Microglia have important remodeling functions in neurodevelopment, aging, and disease, with evidence for molecular diversity. However, the signaling pathways and environmental cues that drive diverse states of microglia are incompletely understood. We profiled microglia of a discrete developing CNS region, the murine retina. We found distinct transcriptional signatures for retinal microglia across development and peak postnatal density of a population that resembles aging and disease-associated microglia (DAM) and CD11c+ microglia of developing white matter. While TREM2 signaling modulates the expression of select genes, the DAM-related signature is significantly reduced in retinas lacking Bax, a proapoptotic factor required for neuronal death. Furthermore, we found postnatal retinal microglia highly expressing CD11c are resistant to loss or inhibition of colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R), while most microglia can be eliminated in Bax knockout retina. Thus, developmental apoptosis promotes a microglia gene signature linked to CSF1R independence that shares features with microglia in developing white matter and in disease.
Joint movements associated with minimum toe clearance variability in older adults during level overground walking.

Abstract Background Approximately one-third of falls are caused by the swing foot contacting an object or the ground, resulting in a trip. The increased incidence of trip-related falls among older adults may be explained by greater within-person minimum toe clearance (MTC) variability. Research question Will kinematic variability at any of the 6 major joints in the lower limbs, individually or in combination, be associated with MTC variability? Methods This cross-sectional study investigated whether single or multiple joint movements best explained MTC variability in older adults. Twenty healthy older adults (7 males, 13 females; mean age = 71.3 ± 7.2 years) were recruited. Participants were fitted with a modified Cleveland Clinic marker set and walked for 50 trials at self-selected speeds over a 7-meter walkway (with a rest at 25 trials) while 6 infrared cameras recorded kinematics. Results Seven joint movements were evaluated, and swing hip flexion-extension variability was the only joint movement significantly associated with MTC variability (r = 0.577, p = 0.008) and explained 29.6% (adjusted R2) of the variance of MTC variability in older adults (F (1, 18) = 8.897, p = 0.008). Significance Identifying the joint movement/s associated with inconsistencies in toe clearance will improve our understanding of endpoint control in older adults and may lead to the development of effective trip prevention strategies.
Terrains of the Imagination

This chapter presents contrasting paths—the seaside of Hythe, England, and the green expanse of Bowen’s Court, Ireland—as places that formed Bowen’s personality and became terrains of her imagination. Bowen’s Court, the family estate with its rituals and conventions, is focused upon as a centerpiece of her emotional life, and the house, her experiences there, its sale, and its demise are described. Her travel away from Ireland to the more carefree lifestyle of Hythe as a child unleashes the farouche or untamed aspects of her personality. As an adult, she led a modern, unsettled, cosmopolitan life, often traveling to Italy and France and to teach in the United States. “After all, what a non-attached divided life I’ve led, since childhood, haven’t I?,” she said, “Nothing ever particularly is the norm.”
Between Death and Donation: Ethical Considerations in Pediatric Heart Transplantation

In this chapter, I offer philosophical analyses of the problem of organ scarcity and the solutions that have been offered by some medical ethicists against the backdrop of a discussion of heart transplants in pediatric patients. The solution that I find most promising is that of “nudging.” By definition, “nudging” is the practice of encouraging families to donate the organs of their recently deceased loved ones. I find this solution to be interesting because, on the one hand, it can be used to address the problem of organ scarcity, and, on the other hand, more needs to be done to protect parents who are thinking about donating the organs of their recently deceased child from organ procurement agents who act in aggressive or excessive ways. I offer some refinements to the practice of nudging that are designed to protect parents from harm and allow hospitals to do good for their patients. I conclude that adherence to my suggestions will increase organ donation, remove problems with over-zealous organ procurement policies, and increase good will among all concerned.
Will Water Issues Constrain Oil and Gas Production in the United States

The rapid growth in U.S. unconventional oil and gas has made energy more available and affordable globally but brought environmental concerns, especially related to water. We analyzed the water-rel...
Insulin restores the neurochemical effects of nicotine in the mesolimbic pathway of diabetic rats

This study examined whether insulin modulates the neurochemical effects of nicotine in the mesolimbic pathway of diabetic rats. The rats received vehicle or streptozotocin (STZ) to induce hypoinsulinemia. A subset of STZ-treated rats was implanted with insulin pellets that rapidly normalized glucose levels. Two-weeks later, dialysis probes were implanted into the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and ipsilateral ventral tegmental area (VTA). The next day, dialysate samples were collected during baseline and then following systemic administration of nicotine. Samples were also collected following intra-VTA administration of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptor antagonist, bicuculline. Dopamine, GABA, glutamate, and acetylcholine (ACh) levels were assessed using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). The results revealed that vehicle-treated rats displayed a nicotine-induced increase in NAc dopamine levels. In contrast, STZ-treated rats did not display any changes in NAc dopamine following nicotine administration, an effect that was likely related to a concomitant increase in GABA and decrease in glutamate levels in both the NAc and VTA. Intra-VTA administration of bicuculline increased NAc dopamine in vehicle-treated rats, and this effect was absent in STZ-treated rats. Vehicle-treated rats displayed a nicotine-induced increase in ACh levels in the NAc (but not VTA), an effect that was lower in the NAc of STZ-treated rats. Insulin supplementation normalized the neurochemical effects of nicotine in the NAc and VTA of STZ-treated rats, suggesting that insulin modulates the neurochemical effects of nicotine in the mesolimbic pathway of diabetic rats.
Approximate inference systems (AxIS): end-to-end approximations for energy-efficient inference at the edge

The rapid proliferation of the Internet-of-Things (IoT) and the dramatic resurgence of artificial intelligence (AI) based application workloads has led to immense interest in performing inference on energy-constrained edge devices. Approximate computing (a design paradigm that yields large energy savings at the cost of a small degradation in application quality) is a promising technique to enable energy-efficient inference at the edge. This paper introduces the concept of an approximate inference system (AxIS) and proposes a systematic methodology to perform joint approximations across different subsystems in a deep neural network-based inference system, leading to significant energy benefits compared to approximating individual subsystems in isolation. We use a smart camera system that executes various convolutional neural network (CNN) based image recognition applications to illustrate how the sensor, memory, compute, and communication subsystems can all be approximated synergistically. We demonstrate our proposed methodology using two variants of a smart camera system: (a) Camedge, where the CNN executes locally on the edge device, and (b) Camcloud, where the edge device sends the captured image to a remote cloud server that executes the CNN. We have prototyped such an approximate inference system using an Altera Stratix IV GX-based Terasic TR4-230 FPGA development board. Experimental results obtained using six CNNs demonstrate significant energy savings (around 1.7× for Camedge and 3.5× for Camcloud) for minimal (
Mental Illness and Youth-Onset Homelessness: A Retrospective Study among Adults Experiencing Homelessness

Financial challenges, social and material instability, familial problems, living conditions, structural issues, and mental health problems have been shown to contribute to youth homelessness. Based on the paucity of literature on mental illness as a reason for youth homelessness, the current study retrospectively evaluated the association between the timing of homelessness onset (youth versus adult) and mental illness as a reason for homelessness among homeless adults living in homeless shelters and/or receiving services from homeless-serving agencies. Homeless participants (N = 919; 67.3% men) were recruited within two independent studies from Dallas and Oklahoma. Covariate-adjusted logistic regressions were used to measure associations between homelessness onset and mental illness as a reason for current homelessness, history of specific mental illnesses, the historical presence of severe mental illness, and severe mental illness comorbidity. Overall, 29.5% of the sample reported youth-onset homelessness and 24.4% reported mental illness as the reason for current homelessness. Results indicated that mental illness as a reason for current homelessness (AOR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.12–2.34), history of specific mental illnesses (Bipolar disorder–AOR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.24–2.45, and Schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder–AOR = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.22–2.74), history of severe mental illness (AOR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.04–2.10), and severe mental illness comorbidities (AOR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.11–1.52) were each associated with increased odds of youth-onset homelessness. A better understanding of these relationships could inform needs for early interventions and/or better prepare agencies that serve at-risk youth to address precursors to youth homelessness.
Computational medication regimen for Parkinson’s disease using reinforcement learning

Our objective is to derive a sequential decision-making rule on the combination of medications to minimize motor symptoms using reinforcement learning (RL). Using an observational longitudinal cohort of Parkinson’s disease patients, the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative database, we derived clinically relevant disease states and an optimal combination of medications for each of them by using policy iteration of the Markov decision process (MDP). We focused on 8 combinations of medications, i.e., Levodopa, a dopamine agonist, and other PD medications, as possible actions and motor symptom severity, based on the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) section III, as reward/penalty of decision. We analyzed a total of 5077 visits from 431 PD patients with 55.5 months follow-up. We excluded patients without UPDRS III scores or medication records. We derived a medication regimen that is comparable to a clinician’s decision. The RL model achieved a lower level of motor symptom severity scores than what clinicians did, whereas the clinicians’ medication rules were more consistent than the RL model. The RL model followed the clinician’s medication rules in most cases but also suggested some changes, which leads to the difference in lowering symptoms severity. This is the first study to investigate RL to improve the pharmacological approach of PD patients. Our results contribute to the development of an interactive machine-physician ecosystem that relies on evidence-based medicine and can potentially enhance PD management.
Mentoring Students into Phd Programs and Beyond: A Roundtable Discussion

Studies indicate that undergraduates who participate in research tend to learn to “think like a scientist” and as a result have more knowledge about graduate school and interest in academic careers than do their peers (Hunter, Laursen, & Seymour, 2007; Russel, Handcock, & McCollough, 2007). With the growing attention on diversifying the pipeline into academia, political scientists and academic administrators alike are looking for ways to recruit and retain ethno-racial minorities and women students. However, all programs are not welcoming for these students and it requires a dedicated network of faculty, administrators and peers to help students successfully navigate the application process, campus visits, and life (both academic and social) on campuses of PhD granting institutions. In this roundtable, panelists will discuss the methods that faculty and graduate students can employ to provide support to undergraduates and to make the mentorship experience a success. We aim to provide tips and tools for mentoring minority and women undergraduates as a graduate student in political science and cognate fields.
Hysteretic behavior of repaired C-shaped concrete filled-composite plate shear walls (C-PSW/CF)

Abstract Composite Plate Shear Wall/Concrete Filled (C-PSW/CF) have been the subject of much recent research for application as core-walls in high-rise construction. This lateral-force resisting system consists of steel plates connected with tie bars and “sandwiching” concrete between them. Previous tests on C-shaped C-PSW/CF walls Kenarangi et al. (2020) that were subjected to flexure and axial loads together showed a good cyclic behavior without premature strength degradation. For the specimens tested, axial load as high as 19% of the crushing load of the infill concrete (Acf′c) was applied. Also, ductility was observed to be more than 4 when flexural strength dropped to 80% of its peak values. Another perceived advantage of these type of walls was that repair was believed to be easier to repair following earthquake damage, but no repair strategy had been formulated and verified in the past. The availability of a damaged specimen as a results of the Kenarangi et al. (2020) tests provided an opportunity to develop a proposed structural repair scheme and investigate it effectiveness. Such a repair scheme was implemented on one of the damaged specimens that was then retested. The repair process and results from testing of that repaired specimen are presented in this paper.
Euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis associated with SGLT2i use: Case series.

Abstract Introduction Euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (EuDKA) associated with Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) use has been described but remains poorly understood. Data on Emergency Department (ED) presentation, resource utilization, and safety outcomes for these patients are lacking. We report a case series of patients diagnosed with EuDKA in the ED. Methods An electronic medical record search identified adult patients presenting to a large tertiary ED with EuDKA. They were screened for concurrent use of SGLT2i. Clinical presentation, resource utilization, safety, and disposition data were collected and described. Results Five patients were included for analysis. Median age [range] was 57 [43–73] years. Presenting symptoms included nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and altered mental status. Initial results included: serum glucose 191 mg/dL [176–215], venous pH 7.01 [6.95–7.30], serum HCO3 8 mEq/L [6–13], anion gap 27 [26–31], serum beta-hydroxybutyrate 9.9 mmol/L [9.2–12.3], and urine ketones 150 [150–150]. Patients remained on an insulin infusion for 18.77 h [11.25–56.48]. There were zero episodes of hypoglycemia and one episode of hypokalemia while on insulin infusion. Time to resolution of metabolic acidosis was 23.82 h [15.45–24.77]. Discussion We report a case series of ED patients with EuDKA associated with SGLT2i use, and describe presentation characteristics, resource utilization, and safety outcomes. Emergency physicians should be aware of the association between SGLT2i use and EuDKA. An appropriate work-up should be pursued for patients taking an SGLT2i who present with symptoms suggestive of DKA, including nausea, vomiting, malaise, and altered mental status, or are noted to have an unexplained elevated anion gap metabolic acidosis.
Temporal evolution of metallic element composition and environmental impact in consumer electronic devices: A study of smartphones

Abstract Smartphones enable the function and evoluation of modern society. However, with a compressed product life cycle and growing consumer demand, a significant number of smartphones reach End-of-Life (EoL) annually. At the same time, due to many unique physical properties, rare earth elements (REE), critical, platinum group metals (PGMs) and other important metals are key for the manufacturing of smartphones. Hence, from various economic, sustainable resource management and environmental perspectives, it is crucial to understand how the metal content of different smartphones generations change over time. This study provides a detailed analysis of a high production smartphone series, produced between 2010 and 2015. Devices were first disassembled and their printed circuit boards assembly, back cameras and near field communication/wireless charging parts were analyzed for 60 elements, 30 of which are classified as environmentally critical. Results indicate that up to 70% of the three analyzed smartphone components by weight are important recyclable metals. The highest concentration elements, Cu, Ni, Sn, Zn and Fe, accounted for 93.3% while REEs and PGMs collectively accounted for 0.53% of the total recoverable elements by weight. The cradle-to-gate environmental impacts will vary proportionally based on temporal changes in elemental composition.
Real-Time Radiographic Investigation of Weld Pool Depression

Real-time radiography has been utilized by us previously as a vision system in remote arc welding process monitoring [1]. Direct information on weld penetration extracted from real-time radiographic images of the solidified weld was used in feedback to adjust the welding conditions to maintain weld quality [2]. The disadvantage of this method is the time (and space) delay in extracting information on weld penetration which leads to the appearance of small weld areas with lack of penetration. In subsequent work weld penetration was controlled by the use of radiographic information on weld pool depression to eliminate the time delay thus providing feedback before weld solidification [3]. In this implementation the method was applied to control bead-on-plate weld penetration only with no weld joint involved. A weld made on a joint which must be filled by liquid metal during welding is more complicated than a bead-on-plate weld.
Chapter 13 Organ and Cell Culture Applied to the Cardiovascular System–An Overview

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the organ and cell culture applied to the cardiovascular system. Culture of cells in vitro from various tissues and organs is now established, and detailed applications to different cell types in various systems are evolving rapidly. There are certain features that a priori must alter the performance of single cell types in culture. Cells in culture are generally forced to undergo frequent and rapid cell multiplication in a fashion not demanded of cells in most organs or tissues, especially the artery walls and heart, which have a low mitotic turnover. Changes in morphology and in associated metabolic features and chemical composition with time and passage generation are seen in smooth muscle cells of artery walls in culture. These deviations indicate that understanding of the in vivo functioning of cells in the organized tissue structure must be sought after in systems more closely resembling the true-life situation. There is a real need to pursue the development of properly controlled organ-culture systems with which to assess the function and interactions of the individual cell types in the composite integrated tissue.
Principles of Antifungal Therapy

1 Prophylactic and Preemptive Therapy 2 Empiric Therapy 3 Specific Therapy 4 Clinical Trial Design for Antifungal Compounds Keywords: antifungal therapy principles; prophylaxis, targeted prophylaxis, and preemptive-in conjunction with antifungal therapy; empiric antifungal therapy-patients with findings and/or symptoms of suspected invasive fungal disease; clinical trial design for antifungal compounds; patient accrual-obstacle faced by clinical trials of anti-infective agents; targeted prophylaxis-implying measures of selectivity
The Rate of Discount for Benefit-Cost Analysis and Theory of the Second Best

In this paper I wish to present a way of thinking about what the rate of discount ought to be for evaluating projects within the public sector. The conclusion of my analysis is that there is not a convincing case that the social rate of time preference ought to be used. Nor is there a convincing case that the marginal rate of transformation in the private sector ought to be used. Neither of these rates is, in general, appropriate; indeed, the appropriate rate of discount may not even lie between the two. Interest in the problems of benefit-cost analysis arises from the belief that in a variety of circumstances one does not want to use market prices for evaluating a project; implicitly, there is some market failure, which leads market prices not to reflect social evaluations. Thus, intrinsically, benefit-cost analysis is concerned with second-best situations. We assume, for one reason or the other, that the failure giving rise to a discrepancy between market prices and social evaluations cannot be attacked directly.
The Use of Approximate Models and Exact Linearization for Control of Nonlinear Processes

Nonlinear control techniques such as global linearization can be advantageous, especially when process characteristics vary with the operating point. Differential geometric control techniques exactly linearize nonlinear systems so that linear feedback control can be applied. However, this requires that a nonlinear model of the process be available. This paper focuses on developing an empirical input-linear model for nonlinear processes by approximating transformations. As a simplification, we assume that process nonlinearities are essentially imbedded in the steady state relationships and steady-state input-output gains can be fitted by algebraic equations. This type of model can be linearized exactly using input-output transformations, leading to a simple control law based on linear system theory. Three linearization methods are proposed in this paper and compared to the previously developed Hammerstein and Wiener series compensation techniques, using a simulation model of a heat exchanger.
Strain imaging to detect cancer therapeutics-related cardiac dysfunction: are we there yet?

Robert & Suzanne Tomsich Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Ave./J1-5 Cleveland, OH 44195, USA *Author for correspondence: Tel.: +1 216 444 8429; Fax: +1 216 445 6164; colliep@ccf.org
Migrating Heritage: Experiences of Cultural Networks and Cultural Dialogue in Europe (Innocenti, ed.)

This work is a book review considering the title Migrating Heritage: Experiences of Cultural Networks and Cultural Dialogue in Europe edited by Perla Innocenti.