cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Erythropoietin-mediated expression of placenta growth factor is regulated via activation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and post-transcriptionally by miR-214 in sickle cell disease.

Placental growth factor (PlGF) plays an important role in various pathological conditions and diseases such as inflammation, cancer, atherosclerosis and sickle cell disease (SCD). Abnormally high PlGF levels in SCD patients are associated with increased inflammation and pulmonary hypertension (PHT) and reactive airway disease; however, the transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms regulating PlGF expression are not well defined. Herein, we show that treatment of human erythroid cells and colony forming units with erythropoietin (EPO) increased PlGF expression. Our studies showed EPO-mediated activation of HIF-1α led to subsequent binding of HIF-1α to hypoxia response elements (HREs) within the PlGF promoter, as demonstrated by luciferase transcription reporter assays and ChIP analysis of the endogenous gene. Additionally, we showed miR-214 post-transcriptionally regulated the expression of PlGF as demonstrated by luciferase reporter assays using wild-type (wt) and mutant PlGF-3′-UTR constructs. Furthermore, synthesis of miR-214, located in an intron of DNM3 (dynamin 3), was transcriptionally regulated by transcription factors, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). These results were corroborated in vivo wherein plasma from SCD patients and lung tissues from sickle mice showed an inverse correlation between PlGF and miR-214 levels. Finally, we observed that miR-214 expression could be induced by fenofibrate, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved PPARα agonist, thus revealing a potential therapeutic approach for reduction in PlGF levels by increasing miR-214 transcription. This strategy has potential clinical implications for several pathological conditions including SCD.
Liquid Property Control System for LVAD ISO 5198 Testing and Mock Circulatory Loop Simulations

Determination of performance for fluid power systems through a range of operating conditions is a crucial aspect of safety assurance. Experimental confirmation supports the computational design and verification steps taken to ensure the mechanism will perform adequately. Pumps, valves and other devices destined for hydraulic can have their performance be subject to differences in the fluid properties of the liquid. This necessitates that a range of fluid properties be examined to ensure that the operating envelope is properly characterized. Past approaches to these experiments have involved modifying the system fluid manually and only investigating a sparse set of conditions. Proposed is a liquid property unit that is able to make changes to a system fluid of a bench testing apparatus used to evaluate hydraulic devices. The chosen fluid system for the initial release of this design is a water:glycerin composition. The intent is to have a fluid chemistry that has a broad range of densities and viscosities. This unit is controlled via a user interface and is able to execute set point changes to the system fluid and maintain the total system volume desired. The design of the system, validation of its operation and use of the fluid in exemplary trials will be covered.
Non-invasive measurement of proppant pack deformation

Abstract In this paper, we describe a method to non-invasively study the movement of proppant packs at the sub-fracture scale by applying three-dimensional digital image correlation techniques to X-ray tomography data. Proppant movement is tracked in a fractured core of Marcellus shale placed under a series of increasing confining pressures up to 10,000 psi. The analysis reveals the sudden failure of a region of the proppant pack, accompanied by the large-scale rearrangement of grains across the entire fracture surface. The failure of the pack coincides with the appearance of vortex-like grain motions similar to features observed in biaxial compression of two dimensional granular assemblies
Human immunodeficiency-virus-related pulmonary infections in children

Increasing numbers of children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection continue to be seen in the United States. Pulmonary infections constitute a major cause of morbidity and mortality in these children Pneumoncystis carinii pneumonia, pulmonary lymphoid hyperplasia/lymphoid interstitial pneumonitis, and bacterial pneumonias, all described in high frequency in the earliest cases of pediatric acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, remain the pulmonary diseases confronted most often. Other pathogens, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and respiratory virus infections are now being identified in increasing numbers in HIV-infected children. Advances in our understanding of these disease processes and their clinical manifestations have allowed development of a systematic approaches to the common problem of the HIV-infected child with fever, tachypnea, and hypoxemia and an abnormal chest radiograph. These approaches, coupled with improvements in available treatment options, have led to earlier diagnosis and improved survival. Prophylaxis strategies have been developed for the most serious pulmonary infections, especially P carinii pneumonia. However, lack of identification of infants and children at risk of HIV infection has limited their effectiveness. Pulmonary infections in HIV-infected children continue to take a high toll with regard to morbidity and mortality. Only with continued advances in primary therapy to slow progression of the underlying immunodeficiency and widespread use of available prophylactic guidelines will these be reduced.
Abstract 106: Success in Failure: Reduction in 30-Day Readmissions in Primary and Secondary Heart Failure

Background: Heart failure (HF) remains an epidemic with high morbidity, mortality and cost, which has been largely attributed to 30-day readmissions, with a national average of 23%. OBJECTIVE: To a...
Real-Time Analysis of Folding upon Binding of a Disordered Protein by Using Dissolution DNP NMR Spectroscopy

The kinase inhibitory domain of the cell cycle regulatory protein p27Kip1 (p27) was nuclear spin hyperpolarized using dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization (D-DNP). While intrinsically disordered in isolation, p27 adopts secondary structural motifs, including an α-helical structure, upon binding to cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2)/cyclin A. The sensitivity gains obtained with hyperpolarization enable the real-time observation of 13C NMR signals during p27 folding upon binding to Cdk2/cyclin A on a time scale of several seconds. Time-dependent intensity changes are dependent on the extent of folding and binding, as manifested in differential spin relaxation. The analysis of signal decay rates suggests the existence of a partially folded p27 intermediate during the timescale of the D-DNP NMR experiment.
Minimally Invasive Posterior Lumbar Fusion Techniques

Since the shift from open surgery to minimal access surgery on the lumbar spine, the minimally invasive lumbar interbody fusion technique has quickly evolved and has gained a prominent position as the leading minimally invasive surgical intervention for decompression and stabilization of the lower segments of the lumbar spine. Spondylolisthesis, advanced degenerative disc disease, and severe foraminal compromise from coronal imbalance are the various degenerative conditions readily amenable to being addressed with minimally invasive techniques. This chapter details the evolution of the technique, establishes a rationale for what has been termed the “mini-open” technique, and details the operative technique and operative nuances of minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.
High shear induces platelet dysfunction leading to enhanced thrombotic propensity and diminished hemostatic capacity.

Thrombosis and bleeding are devastating adverse events in patients supported with blood-contacting medical devices (BCMDs). In this study, we delineated that high non-physiological shear stress (NP...
The Telescoping Phenomenon: Origins in Gender Bias and Implications for Contemporary Scientific Inquiry.

Background: In an article published in International Journal of the Addictions in 1989, Nick Piazza and his coauthors described “telescoping,” an accelerated progression through “landmark symptoms”...
Parasite Assemblages Infecting Native Versus An Introduced Population of Yellow Bass

The parasite assemblage infecting yellow bass (Morone mississippiensis) inhabiting their native range was compared to the assemblage infecting an introduced population. The gills and alimentary canal of 47 yellow bass collected from the Mississippi River (native) and 41 yellow bass collected from Otter Creek Lake in Tama County, Iowa, (introduced) were examined for metazoan parasites. Species richness was higher in the sample from the native population compared to the introduced sample (8 versus 3, respectively). Yellow bass from the introduced sample hosted species that were generalist fish parasites, and these infections were at low intensities. On the other hand, yellow bass from the native sample were infected with high numbers of Allacanthochasmus varius and Neochasmus umbellus, which have been reported from a smaller number of fish hosts, and in the case of A. varius, primarily in genus Morone.
Stochastic Models of Optimal Foraging

For many years, one of the central concerns of natural history was the food habits of animals; that is, what food animals eat, and how they go about obtaining it. The question was, How do animals forage? More recently, optimal foraging theory has posed the question, How should animals forage? This question may be asked in many forms, and the answers have cast light on the old subject of animals’ food habits. Optimal foraging theory has helped make the study of foraging more interesting, which may account for the theory’s remarkable popular success noted by Krebs, Stephens and Sutherland (1983).
A heart valve is no stronger than its weakest link: The need to improve durability of pericardial leaflets.

Innovative anticalcification treatments can improve the durability of surgical and transcatheter valve bioprostheses.
An Assessment of the Impact of Just Culture on Quality and Safety in US Hospitals

In pursuit of high reliability, numerous organizations have promoted Just Culture, but its impact has never been assessed. This report combines data from a longitudinal survey-based study of clinical peer review practices in a cohort of 457 acute care hospitals with 43 measures from the Hospital Compare database and interprets them in relation to the long-term trends of Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) data on the Hospital Survey of Patient Safety Culture. In all, 211 of 270 respondents (79%) indicated that their hospital has adopted Just Culture. More than half believe that it has had a positive impact. Just Culture implementation and its degree of impact are associated with somewhat better peer review process, but not with objective measures of hospital performance. Non-Punitive Response to Error has consistently been the lowest scoring category (45% positive) in the AHRQ database. Widespread adoption of Just Culture has not reduced reluctance to report or the culture of blame it targets.
JAK2 Inhibitors for Therapy of Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

The classical Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloproliferative ­neoplasms (Ph-negative MPNs) are hematopoietic stem cell disorders and include polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET), and primary myelofibrosis (PMF) [1]. MF can also develop secondarily in patients with PV and ET (post-PV or -ET MF). Patients with PV and ET have close to normal life expectancy, but present with an increased risk for thrombosis [2]. They are usually treated with cytoreductive agents (e.g. hydroxyurea, anagrelide, 32P, busulphan, and pipobroman) which can effectively control elevated blood cell counts and decrease the risk of thrombotic phenomena, but may also be associated with an increased risk of transformation to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and/or post-PV/ET MF [2–4]. Therefore, apart from hydroxyurea, there are few drugs available for treating these patients without incurring significant side effects. There are also few treatment options available for patients with MF [5]. Patients with MF suffer from different signs and symptoms, including massive splenomegaly, peripheral blood cytopenias, and constitutional symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and cachexia [5,6]. Treatment is palliative and symptom-directed.
Observations with the Utilization of the Brown-Roberts-Wells Stereotactic System in the Management of Intracranial Mass Lesions

A prototype Brown-Roberts-Wells (BRW) stereotactic instrument (production model now available, Radionics, Inc., Burlington, MA, U.S.A.) has been employed as both a diagnostic and surgical adjunct in intracranial mass lesions. This data represents the first one hundred consecutive cases (167 point placements) requiring computerized guidance of stereotaxy at our institution employing this technique. The system, which is comprised of four major functional units (a base ring, a localizer, a phantom base, and arc system) was employed with a GE 8800 Scanner (General Electric Company, Medical Systems Division, Milwaukee, WI, U.S.A.) for data collection and a Hewlett Packard (HP 41CY) (Hewlett Packard, Pala Alto, CA, U.S.A.) programable calculator for data processing. In all procedures the so called BRWT program which allows for entry point selection by the surgeon was used. These components accomplished point access within one hour with an accuracy of more that one millimeter. All cases were completed under local anesthesia in the operating theater with only data collection accomplished in the Scanner area. Scanner utilization times were generally 15 minutes or less.
Rous Sarcoma Virus in Germfree Rats

Seven years ago, there was general agreement among investigators that germfree animals were free of all microbial agents. Since then, extensive surveys, based on serological and tissue culture procedures have failed to reveal the presence of specific viral agents in them (1, 2, 3). Additional examinations, however, revealed virus-like particles in the thymic tissues of germfree mice, which were identified as leukemia virus when mice of the same strains were exposed to leukemogenic doses of x-rays (4, 5). Thus far, no mouse strain (germfree or conventional) has been found free of leukemia virus (6). It is very possible that those viruses which are transmitted to progeny by “vertical” or congenital route(s) would be found in germfree mice which had been derived from virus-contaminated stock. Thus far, three viral agents have been detected in germfree mice: leukemia virus, mammary tumor virus, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (7, 8); and it is likely that others will be added to this list. For these reasons we feel that the “germfree” mouse cannot serve as an experimental subject to delineate the exclusive role of viruses in carcinogenesis, since a virus-free mouse is not yet available.
Arterial dissection following the use of remote aspiration thrombectomy

Remote aspiration thrombectomy using a balloon guide catheter for acute carotid artery occlusion has been proposed as a safe and effective technique. We present a case of iatrogenic arterial dissection of the distal cervical segment in a patient with proximal vessel occlusion who underwent attempted revascularization using this strategy. A 57-year-old male patient presented with computed tomography (CT) angiogram evidence of a left carotid terminus and M1 segment occlusion. The patient was taken emergently for mechanical thrombectomy. Remote aspiration thrombectomy was attempted twice using manual aspiration through a balloon guide catheter in the common carotid artery; however, this resulted in minimal recanalization of the carotid terminus and a new iatrogenic dissection within the internal carotid artery (ICA) just proximal to the skull base. Despite multiple additional attempts at mechanical thrombectomy, only limited recanalization of the ICA terminus and anterior cerebral artery distribution was achieved, with no significant flow past the M1 segment. After the procedure, a large ischemic territory within the left middle cerebral artery distribution consistent with the continued M1 segment occlusion was apparent on CT. The patient died on the poststroke day 6. Although remote aspiration thrombectomy for thromboemboli in this location has potential benefits, it should be used cautiously given the potential risk of injury to the proximal vasculature.
Die 2 wichtigsten Kennzahlen für das Performance Tuning

Bis jetzt haben wir nicht konkretisiert, was eine schlechte Performanz bedeutet. Wenn jemand sich uber eine schlechte Datenbank-Performanz beklagt, meint er, dass die Antwortzeit eines Datenbankkommandos (normalerweise einer SQL-Anweisung) oder die Laufzeit eines Datenbankprozesses zu gros ist. Es kann sein, dass mehrere Kommandos oder mehrere Prozesse, moglicherweise das gesamte System, solche Probleme haben. In jedem Fall geht es hier um eine inakzeptable Laufzeit, „elapsed time“ in der Computerfachsprache. Diese Laufzeit unterteilt sich in die CPU-Auslastung und in die Wartezeit: „elapsed time“ = „cpu time“ + „wait time“.
Depression in Pregnancy: A Role for Yoga, a Lifestyle Practice to Complement Nutrition

A substantial proportion of pregnant women experience depression, yet barriers can limit access to traditional mental health care during the perinatal period. Research suggests that many pregnant women are interested in pursuing other strategies for improving mood during pregnancy, including alternative treatment modalities. In recent years, researchers have begun to investigate yoga as a potentially affordable, accessible, non-pharmacologic treatment alternative for improving mood prenatally. Thus far, studies focusing on depression in non-pregnant adults suggest that yoga may be effective in lowering depression; however, only a small number of studies have examined the effects of yoga among depressed pregnant women. Survey results conclude that prenatal yoga is popular among pregnant women and viewed as an activity that is helpful in reducing stress and symptoms of depression and anxiety. The number of studies examining the efficacy of prenatal yoga has increased considerably in the past decade. This chapter reviews this growing area of research, including rationale for examining yoga as a potential intervention, and emerging empirical findings that provide some preliminary support for the potential use of yoga as a means of reducing depression symptoms during pregnancy. Limitations to the current body of research and future directions are also discussed.
Statistical sensitivity of phase measurements via laser-induced fluorescence with optical cycling detection

In atomic and molecular phase measurements using laser-induced fluorescence detection, optical cycling can enhance the effective photon detection efficiency and hence improve sensitivity. We show that detecting many photons per atom or molecule, while necessary, is not a sufficient condition to approach the quantum projection limit for detection of the phase in a two-level system. In particular, detecting the maximum number of photons from an imperfectly closed optical cycle reduces the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by a factor of $\sqrt{2}$, compared to the ideal case in which leakage from the optical cycle is sufficiently small. We derive a general result for the SNR in a system in terms of the photon detection efficiency, probability for leakage out of the optical cycle per scattered photon, and the product of the average photon scattering rate and total scattering time per atom or molecule.
Incidence and effect of early postoperative ventricular arrhythmias after congenital heart surgery.

Background Postoperative arrhythmias after pediatric congenital heart disease (CHD) surgery are a known cause of morbidity and are associated with mortality. A comprehensive evaluation of early postoperative ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) after CHD surgery has not been reported. Objectives We sought to determine the incidence of in-hospital VAs after CHD surgery and assess the clinical relevance of this arrhythmia during the postoperative hospital course. Methods Patients undergoing CHD surgery at our center from September 2007 through December 2016 were prospectively enrolled. Univariate and multivariate analysis was used to assess the association between postoperative VAs and in-hospital mortality, adjusting for postoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and stage 1 single ventricle palliation operations. Results A total of 2503 postoperative courses in 1835 patients were included. In all, 464 (18.5%) had VAs, of whom 135 (29.1%) received treatment. Monomorphic ventricular tachycardia was the most frequently treated ventricular arrhythmia (TVA; n=91 [62.3%]). TVAs were associated with increased postoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (13.3% vs 5.5%; P Conclusion Early postoperative VAs after CHD surgery are more common than previously reported. Postoperative VAs are associated with increased in-hospital mortality, and the subgroup of TVAs is an independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality.
Impact of anemia in oropharyngeal cancer patients treated with concurrent chemoradiation.

e17087 Background: Anemia prior to the start or during chemoradiation for squamous cell cancer of the head and neck has noted inferior outcomes. With the de-escalation of treatment in this group of...
Determine In-Situ Stress and Characterize Complex Fractures in Naturally Fractured Reservoirs from Diagnostic Fracture Injection Tests

Estimation of in-situ stresses has significant applications in earth sciences and subsurface engineering, such as fault zone studies, underground CO2 sequestration, nuclear waste repositories, oil and gas reservoir development, and geothermal energy exploitation. Over the past few decades, Diagnostic Fracture Injection Tests (DFIT), which have also been referred to as Injection-Falloff Tests, Fracture Calibration Tests, and Mini-Frac Tests, have evolved into a commonly used and reliable technique to obtain in-situ stress. Simplifying assumptions used in traditional methods often lead to inaccurate estimation of the in-situ stress, even for a planar fracture geometry. When a DFIT is conducted in naturally fractured reservoirs, the stimulated natural fractures can either alter the effective reservoir permeability within the distance of investigation or interact with the hydraulic fracture to form a complex fracture geometry, this further complicates stress estimation. In this study, we present a new pressure transient model for DFIT analysis in naturally fractured reservoirs. By analyzing synthetic, laboratory and field cases, we found that fracture complexity and permeability evolution can be detected from DFIT data. Most importantly, it is shown that using established methods to pick minimum in-situ stress often lead to over or underestimates, regardless of whether the reservoir is heavily fractured or sparsely fractured. Our proposed “variable compliance method” gives a much more accurate and reliable estimation of in-situ stress in both homogenous and naturally fractured reservoirs. By combining the unique pressure signatures associated with the closure of natural fractures, a lower bound on the horizontal stress anisotropy can be estimated.
Direct CD137 costimulation of CD8 T cells promotes retention and innate-like function within nascent atherogenic foci.

Our studies identify CD137 costimulation as a stimulus for effector CD8 T-cell infiltration and persistence within atherogenic foci, regardless of atherosclerotic-antigen recognition. These costimu...
Acoustic wave scattering from dynamic rough sea-surfaces using the finite-difference time-domain method

Numeric models for underwater acoustic propagation typically assume the sea-surface to be either perfectly smooth or rough but “frozen” in time. For long sonar signals on the order of tens of seconds, the sea-surface can interact at many different wave displacements over its duration. This causes anomalies in the received signal which introduces additional transmission losses and Doppler effects. The impact of including roughness and motion of the sea-surface on sonar systems is investigated using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The FDTD method is a numeric technique that is well suited for modeling boundary roughness and motion. This is due to its ability to directly configure complex boundary conditions in the surrounding simulation grid and full pressure wave propagation in the time-domain. The rough, time-evolving sea-surface is modeled using a Pierson-Moskowitz (PM) frequency spectrum which is simple to implement and defined using just wind speed and direction. The results from FDTD simulations of static rough sea-surfaces are compared to a previously established integral solution method to evaluate the validity of the approach. Agreement is also demonstrated for FDTD simulations of a dynamic rough sea-surface and a theoretic statistical model. [Work supported by the Office of Naval Research.] Numeric models for underwater acoustic propagation typically assume the sea-surface to be either perfectly smooth or rough but “frozen” in time. For long sonar signals on the order of tens of seconds, the sea-surface can interact at many different wave displacements over its duration. This causes anomalies in the received signal which introduces additional transmission losses and Doppler effects. The impact of including roughness and motion of the sea-surface on sonar systems is investigated using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The FDTD method is a numeric technique that is well suited for modeling boundary roughness and motion. This is due to its ability to directly configure complex boundary conditions in the surrounding simulation grid and full pressure wave propagation in the time-domain. The rough, time-evolving sea-surface is modeled using a Pierson-Moskowitz (PM) frequency spectrum which is simple to implement and defined using just wind speed and direction. The results from FDTD...
Homogenization of time-dependent dielectric composites containing space charges, with applications to polymer nanoparticulate composites

Abstract This paper presents the derivation of the homogenized equations for the macroscopic response of time-dependent dielectric composites that contain space charges varying spatially at the length scale of the microstructure and that are subjected to alternating electric fields. The focus is on dielectrics with periodic microstructures and two fairly general classes of space charges: passive (or fixed) and active (or locally mobile). With help of a standard change of variables, in spite of the presence of space charges, the derivation amounts to transcribing a previous two-scale-expansion result introduced in Lefevre and Lopez-Pamies (2017a) for perfect dielectrics to the realm of complex frequency-dependent dielectrics. With the objectives of illustrating their use and of showcasing their ability to describe and explain the macroscopic response of emerging materials featuring extreme dielectric behaviors, the derived homogenization results are deployed to examine dielectric spectroscopy experiments on various polymer nanoparticulate composites. It is found that so long as space charges are accounted for, the proposed theoretical results are able to describe and explain all the experimental results. By the same token, more generally, these representative comparisons with experiments point to the manipulation of space charges at small length scales as a promising strategy for the design of materials with exceptional macroscopic properties.
Retaining and promoting a more gender-diverse workforce in an engineering consultancy through specific development training

In order to increase the retention rates and career advancement of women, Atkins, a multi-national engineering consultancy and member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, has introduced a development course. The course was created by an external training provider, Skills 4, who also deliver the training. Designed to equip women with skills to aid their career progression, since the introduction of the course in 2011, the organisation has seen an increase in the number of women in senior positions, as well as an improvement in retention rates for women. In this article the course curriculum is summarised, and its impact examined. Additionally, the training programme and its results are compared to those of a similar initiative in the United States.
Culture-bound syndromes, idioms of distress, and cultural concepts of distress: New directions for an old concept in psychological anthropology.

This issue of Transcultural Psychiatry showcases some recent work on idioms of distress – the latest in a long line of anthropological research concerned with cross-cultural concepts and experiences of distress. Mark Nichter’s (1981) seminal paper introducing idioms of distress has become a cynosure for psychological anthropology and transcultural psychiatry. A growing body of work has since accumulated; however, the last time a collection of such research was brought together was the 2010 publication of a special issue in the journal Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry organized by Devon Hinton and Roberto Lewis-Fernandez. In the decade since, new questions have arisen about the boundaries and applications of idioms of distress research. In this introduction, we provide a brief history of work on idioms of distress and related concepts. Then, we introduce several major themes explored by the papers in this special issue.
Circularizing Rydberg atoms with time-dependent optical traps

We discuss three proposed schemes of initializing circular-state Rydberg atoms via optical couplings provided by the ponderomotive effect in contrast to the current circularization methods that utilize electric-dipole interactions. In our first proposed method, a radial optical trap consisting of two Laguerre-Gaussian beams of opposite winding numbers transfers orbital angular momentum to the Rydberg atom, providing a first-order coherent coupling between an F state and a circular state. Additionally, we propose a one-dimensional ponderomotive optical lattice modulated at rf frequencies, providing quadrupolelike couplings in the hydrogenic manifold for rapid adiabatic passage through a series of intermediate Rydberg states into the circular state. For the third proposed scheme, a two-dimensional ponderomotive optical lattice with a time-orbiting trap center induces effectively the same coupling as a ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{+}$- or ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$-polarized rf field of tunable purity for all-optical rapid adiabatic passage into the circular state.
Mechanical Thrombectomy of Primary Distal Anterior Cerebral Artery Occlusion: A Case Report

Objective Primary anterior cerebral artery (ACA) occlusion is a rare condition and sometimes leads to significant neurological deficits. We herein report on the efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in treating the distal ACA occlusion in a clinical setting. Case presentation A 76-year-old woman presented with a sudden onset of right hemiparesis. Computed tomographic angiography and perfusion imaging and subsequent analysis with RAPID software revealed acute left ACA occlusion with salvageable penumbra. The patient obtained a score of 11 on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. MT was performed for occlusion of the left ACA (A4), and successful reperfusion (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score of 3) was achieved on the first attempt using a stent retriever. The patient's recovery progressed well, and she was discharged 13 days after admission with a modified Rankin Scale score of 1. Conclusion This case report demonstrates the clinical efficacy, safety, and favorable clinical outcome of treating a primary distal ACA occlusion with MT.
Improving the Range of Electric Vehicles

Electric Vehicles (EVs) are efficient, cheap and emit less than Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) that are currently used. However, they lack giving out a good range because current charging infrastructure doesn't allow them to do so. Many people consider EVs to be a gimmick and not a real mode of daily commute because of their poor range. To overcome these problems, solutions which can improve their range significantly, are discussed. A solution to improving the range will not be solved through the use of any one technique, but through an integration of different engineering practices.
The effects of risk aversion and money illusion on the components of dividend growth rate

We evaluate the impact of risk aversion and money illusion in the equity and options markets when the expected dividend growth rate is endogenously determined as a function of the dividend-price ra...
Pediatric sickle cell disease

Abstract Adherence rates for pediatric sickle cell disease vary across treatment type and medication. Adherence tends to worsen with age, with adolescents and young adults at increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Suboptimal adherence to treatment can lead to a host of negative outcomes, including severe pain episodes, serious medical complications (e.g., infections, stroke, pulmonary hypertension), and mortality. Common barriers to adherence include forgetting, health status and beliefs, burden of regimen, socioeconomic factors, and healthcare system factors. Adherence may be improved through high-quality standardized assessment, use of both objective and subjective assessment measures, and engaging interventions that may integrate novel technologies.
Growing Plants, Raising Animals, and Feeding Communities through Connected Agriculture: An IoT Challenge

The Internet of Things is a growing field of design and development in agriculture. In this article, we provide IoT researchers and practitioners a glimpse into the motivations, needs, and challenges faced when designing digital technologies for agriculture. We describe three farming scenarios and offer a vision for the power of IoT in agriculture, followed by a discussion of opportunities for design. We build the argument for why just collecting data isn't enough and suggest target areas for the design of ubiquitous digital technologies for agriculture. Finally, we introduce four communities of practice on IoT for agriculture.
Implementing the Cures Act - Bringing Consumer Computing to Health Care.

Implementing the Cures Act The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, in implementing provisions of the 21st Century Cures Act, aims to facilitate patients’ use of th...
A Comprehensive Single-Particle-Degradation Model for Battery State-Of-Health Prediction

Abstract Understanding degradation phenomenon, which is quantified by the State of Health (SOH) in Battery Management Systems (BMSs), is one of the most challenging issues in the usage of Li-ion batteries (LIBs). Models employed for characterizing battery degradation need to be simple enough for on-line estimation in BMSs, very accurate, and comprehensive in that they include several degradation physics in both the battery's anode and cathode. In this paper, a single-particle based battery degradation model is developed that can predict cycling capacity with less than 2% error over the battery life. The model includes the volumetric fraction change due to dissolution and the corresponding changes in the effective transport properties in the cathode. In the anode, the lithium loss caused by mechanical/chemical degradation is included. The predicted battery behavior follows three important stages of capacity fade. At first, the lithium loss dominates the cell capacity loss. Then, the lithium loss becomes stabilized while the metal dissolution accumulates. Lastly, dissolution primarily determines the cell degradation. This behavior is in good agreement with experimental observations. This new single-particle based degradation model addresses two critical requirements for model-based BMSs, which is a rapid and accurate battery response prediction.
Unemployment, Health Insurance, and the COVID-19 Recession

The sharp reduction in US economic activity associated with public health efforts to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus will likely result in millions of Americans losing their jobs, at least temporarily. Adding insult to injury, many Americans who lose their jobs could also lose their health insurance. In this paper, we examine the kinds of health insurance unemployed workers have and how coverage patterns have shifted under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). As the ACA’s coverage provisions took effect, the likelihood of unemployed adults being uninsured dropped by 35 percent, driven by a rise in Medicaid and Marketplace/other private coverage. The reduction in uninsurance rates among unemployed adults was greater in states that expanded Medicaid eligibility under the ACA than in states that did not expand Medicaid, and the difference owes to a larger increase in Medicaid coverage in expansion states. Joblessness will likely increase uninsurance rates throughout the country in the coming months, and states that did not expand Medicaid under the ACA will likely see larger increases. Given that unemployment rates may reach unprecedented heights during the COVID-19 crisis, steep increases in Medicaid coverage will strain state budgets, restricting already limited resources in the very communities hardest hit by the pandemic. Increasing the federal Medicaid matching rate, beyond the increase already mandated under the recently passed Families First Coronavirus Response Act, could help provide the critical resources needed to protect the states most in need.
Scientific Pluralism, Consistency Preservation, and Inconsistency Toleration

Scientific (disunity) pluralism is the view according to which there is a plurality of scientific domains and of scientific theories, and these theories are empirically adequate relative to their own respective domains. Scientific monism is the view according to which there is a single domain to which all scientific theories apply. How are these views impacted by the presence of inconsistent scientific theories (in particular, theories that are inconsistent with one another)? There are (A) consistency-preservation strategies and (B) inconsistency-toleration strategies. Among the former, two prominent strategies can be articulated: (A1) Compartmentalization and (A2) Information restriction. Among the inconsistency-toleration strategies, we have: (B1) Paraconsistent compartmentalization and (B2) Dialetheism. In this paper, I critically assess the adequacy of each of these four views.
Effect of antidepressant use on length of hospitalization in patients on anti-infective therapy.

Abstract Compared to those without depression, acutely-ill patients with depression hospitalized for an infection usually have poor outcomes, including increased length of stay (LOS). Purpose The primary objective was to evaluate the LOS between patients receiving an anti-infective with and without any antidepressant use. Secondary objectives were to examine LOS based on acuity of care and age. Methods Using a cross-sectional design, hospitalized adult patients who received anti-infective agents between January 1, 2017 and October 31, 2019 for ≥7 days were included. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine statistical significance. Results A total of 17,651 patient encounters were included in the study. Of all patient encounters, 5165 (29%) received antidepressants concurrently with anti-infectives, with mean age of 57 years ± 17.3. Patients receiving concurrent antidepressants experienced longer LOS compared with patients not receiving antidepressants [20 vs 16 days, 95% confident interval (CI): 3.98–5.18, p Conclusion Patients who received both an antidepressant and an anti-infective agent had significantly increased LOS, including those in the ICU and in the elderly population. Future studies are needed to assess the impact of concomitant antidepressant use on mortality and other clinical outcomes in patients hospitalized with an infection.
Reconstructing Legitimacy After Crisis: The Chilean Path to a New Constitution

Social movements have contested the elitist character of Chilean political institutions in the streets for the past two decades. Citizens have distanced themselves from conventional participation, and turnout rates dropped dramatically. Protesting against unequal treatment and demanding “dignity,” the social uprising in 2019 in Chile consisted of massive protests marked by large-scale demonstrations and violent riots alike. Lasting many weeks, the protest-driven crisis opened up the opportunity for a constitutional change. Political elites agreed on a referendum on a new constitution to channel heterogeneous demands put forward by leaderless and inorganic protests and demonstrations. This critical juncture brought about by the social uprising set in motion institutional change that, confirming theoretical expectations, entirely departs from the status quo. Furthermore, amidst a profound representation crisis, social organizations pushed for reforms in the electoral system to select conventional delegates to restore confidence and legitimacy in representative institutions. Based on evidence that diversity in elective bodies boosts perceptions of legitimacy, proposals included gender parity in both nominations and results, the possibility for independent candidates to run in lists, and reserved seats for indigenous peoples. The result was a constitutional assembly with 50% of women, delegates from ten indigenous peoples, and many independent candidates elected. Time will tell if this constitutional assembly manages to rebuild Chileans’ trust in politics.
Fares and free riders on the information highway

Public policy issues around access to networked information are explored and examined. Long viewed as the quintessential public good, information has evolved into a critically important market commodity in little more than a generation. New technologies and a political climate in which the meaning of universal access to information is no longer commonly understood and in which its importance is no longer taken for granted pose significant challenges for American society. Libraries, as information commons, offer the means of meeting those challenges. Historical, economical, and professional factors that shape the conflict are described and discussed.
Protein Phosphorylation and Long‐term Synaptic Plasticity

Learning and memory are complex biological processes that utilize multiple mechanisms in the brain. Some of these mechanisms, which involve phosphorylation of key regulatory brain proteins, have been identified. Keywords: learning and memory; synaptic plasticity; protein phosphorylation
Networks of Real-Time Processes

The input-output function computed by a network of asynchronous real-time processes is proved to be identical to the unique fixed point of a network functional even though the components of the network may compute nonmonotonic functions. The techniques used are those of contractive functions on metric spaces rather than the usual Scott continuity on partial orders. Thus a well-known principle of Kahn is extended to an important model of parallel systems that has been resistant to the traditional approach using Scott continuity.
Using stable isotopes to assess mineral absorption and utilization by children

Adequate mineral intake is a crucial part of a healthy diet for children-it supports appropriate growth and development and provides protection against childhood conditions like anemia and helps to prevent future adult diseases such as osteoporosis. Challenges in performing and interpreting studies in infants and children have hampered the accurate assessment of their mineral utilization. Many of the most powerful techniques used in adults, such as radioisotope testing, are not appropriate for use in children. In recent years, advanced mineral stable-isotope techniques have been developed to fill this gap. Pediatric applications include studies of calcium absorption and kinetics during puberty and evaluation of the calcium-iron interaction in infants and toddlers. The effects of genetics in determining calcium absorption and bone turnover may become an important research area. The goals and methods of ongoing mineral stable-isotope research in infants and children are examined in this report. In the past, the cost and difficulties in obtaining isotopes have limited such research. This situation has improved considerably, although relatively few nutrition research laboratories are prepared to perform sample analyses.
Inflammation and functional iron deficiency regulate fibroblast growth factor 23 production

Circulating levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) are elevated in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), but the mechanisms are poorly understood. Here we tested whether inflammation and iron deficiency regulate FGF23. In wild-type mice, acute inflammation induced by single injections of heat-killed Brucella abortus or interleukin-1β (IL-1β) decreased serum iron within 6 h, and was accompanied by significant increases in osseous Fgf23 mRNA expression and serum levels of C-terminal FGF23, but no changes in intact FGF23. Chronic inflammation induced by repeated bacteria or IL-1β injections decreased serum iron, increased osseous Fgf23 mRNA, and serum C-terminal FGF23, but modestly increased biologically active, intact FGF23 serum levels. Chronic iron deficiency mimicked chronic inflammation. Increased osseous FGF23 cleavage rather than a prolonged half-life of C-terminal FGF23 fragments accounted for the elevated C-terminal FGF23 but near-normal intact FGF23 levels in inflammation. IL-1β injection increased Fgf23 mRNA and C-terminal FGF23 levels similarly in wildtype and Col4a3 ko mice with CKD but markedly increased intact FGF23 levels only in the CKD mice. Inflammation increased Fgf23 transcription by activating Hif1α signaling. Thus, inflammation and iron deficiency stimulate FGF23 production. Simultaneous upregulation of FGF23 cleavage in osteocytes maintains near-normal levels of biologically active, intact circulating FGF23, whereas downregulated or impaired FGF23 cleavage may contribute to elevated intact serum FGF23 in CKD.
Evidence for a low-energy resonance in the three-neutron system

Abstract A study of the double charge-exchange reaction π − + 3 He π − π + + 3 n indicates resonant behavior in the three-neutron system within a few MeV of threshold. The three-neutron data from this experiment are in good agreement with the resonant behavior obtained in the three-proton system in another reaction.
Thunderstorm Electrification—A Numerical Study

Abstract The results of a numerical model of thunderstorm electrification that includes riming electrification compare favorably with many cloud observations. A strong electric charge accumulates through two major stages in the cloud: Stage 1 occurs near the cloud top (−30°C) in the developing stage when large space charges accumulate due to gravitational separation between negative graupel and positive snow crystals. Stage 2 occurs near the −10°C level in the mature stage. In stage 2 negative space charge greatly accumulates when negative graupel particles falling from upper levels of the cloud are combined with upward moving negative snow crystals from lower levels. Positive charging of graupel below the −10°C level plays a critical role in accumulation of the large negative space charge at that level. Electric development depends highly on microphysical processes, and different electric structures are calculated for maritime and continental thunderstorms. Based on model results, reasons for infrequent ...