cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Magnetic resonance imaging of the musculoskeletal system.

SUMMARY MRI is a complementary technique to CT in the examination of the spine, the hip, and musculoskeletal tumors. In some cases, it provides diagnostic information not available with any other modality, including CT. MRI has die potential to be very useful in the assessment of various marrow-based disorders and may someday obviate the need for contrast-aided studies of ligaments, tendons, and cartilage.
Developing High Quality Teachers Through Professional Pre-Service Teaching Opportunities

Based on the reform movements over the past two decades, it is evident that while effective teachers are critical to student learning, not all teachers are coming to the profession highly qualified. Policy and research continue to highlight the need to reorganize and refocus teacher preparation programs to produce higher quality teachers ready to meet the demands of the classroom from day one of employment. This study focuses on the enhancement of traditional preparation programs in public Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) as this continues to be the context for which most teacher candidates come to the profession. Using a six-group, four measure mixed-methods design, the objective of the study is to determine the impact California Teaching Fellows Foundation (CTFF), a pre-service teaching and learning opportunity for future teacher candidates, has on developing higher caliber teachers prepared in a traditional University-based teacher preparation setting. Through the use of an online survey, interviews, and focus groups, the relationship of CTFF participation to teacher efficacy before, during, and after traditional preparation participation is examined and explored from the perspective of teacher and supervisor. Unexpected findings show that CTFF participation has a relationship to decreased Teacher Efficacy for teacher candidates and CTFF is not creating a significant pipeline to teaching as proposed, leading to questions for further study.
PLATINUM, AN ANALYSIS OF WORLD AVAILABILITY

ABSTRACT The Bureau of Mines investigated the availability of platinum from known major world deposits. Only deposits located in market economy countries could be analyzed in detail, and these were found to contain demonstrated resources totalling 302 million troy ounces of platinum. Detailed geologic, engineering, and cost evaluations were performed on each of the deposits to determine its potential for platinum production. There are large amounts of demonstrated platinum potentially available from market economy deposits that were not analyzed owing to lack of adequate data or technological limitations. These include 297 million troy ounces contained in the UG2 and Platreef of the Bushveld Complex, South Africa. This analysis indicates there are a total of about 110 million troy ounces (2.3 million ounces annually) of platinum potentially available at the January 1980 producer price of $420 per troy ounce (the February 1982 price was $475), nearly all from South Africa. An additional 85 million troy ounces occurring in Zimbabwean deposits would become available only through more than a quadrupling of that price. To meet the projected world demand of 3.5 million troy ounces in 1990, platinum price may have to increase. Only one domestic deposit, the Salmon River in Alaska, is capable of producing platinum at $420 per troy ounce. Regardless of price, at assumed production capacities, domestic deposits could supply less than 10 per cent of annual U.S. requirements
Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta for control of noncompressible truncal hemorrhage in the abdomen and pelvis.

Abstract Background Noncompressible truncal hemorrhage is a leading cause of potentially preventable death in trauma and acute care surgery patients. These patients are at high risk of exsanguination before potentially life-saving surgical intervention may be performed. Temporary aortic occlusion is an effective means of augmenting systolic blood pressure and perfusion of the heart and brain in these patients. Aortic occlusion temporarily controls distal bleeding until permanent hemostasis can be achieved. The traditional method for temporary aortic occlusion is via resuscitative thoracotomy with cross clamping of the descending aorta. While effective, resuscitative thoracotomy is highly invasive and may worsen blood loss, hypothermia, and coagulopathy by opening an otherwise uninjured body cavity. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) achieves temporary aortic occlusion using an occlusive balloon catheter that is introduced into the aorta via endovascular access of the common femoral artery. For this reason it is thought that REBOA could provide a less-invasive method for temporary aortic occlusion. Our purpose is to describe our experience with the implementation of REBOA at our Level 1 trauma center. Methods A retrospective case series describing all cases of REBOA performed at a prominent level 1 trauma center between October 2011 and September 2015. The study inclusion criteria were any patient that received a REBOA procedure in the acute phases after injury. There were no exclusion criteria. Data were collected from electronic medical records and the hospital's trauma registry. Results A total of 31 patients underwent REBOA during the study period. The median age of REBOA patients was 47 (interquartile range [IQR] = 27 to 63) and 77% were male. A majority (87%) of patients sustained blunt trauma. The median injury severity score was 34 (IQR = 22 to 42). The overall survival rate was 32% but varied greatly between subgroups. Balloon inflation resulted in a median increase in systolic blood pressure of 55-mm Hg (IQR 33 to 60), in cases where the data were available (n = 20). A return to spontaneous circulation was noted in 60% of patients who had arrested before REBOA (n = 10). Overall, early death by hemorrhage was 28% with only 2 deaths in the emergency department before reaching the operating room. Conclusions REBOA is an effective method for achieving temporary aortic occlusion in trauma patients with noncompressible truncal hemorrhage. Balloon inflation correlated with increased blood pressure and temporary hemorrhage control in a vast majority of patients.
Presenilin-1 Function in the Adult Brain

Mutations in Presenilin-1 (PS1) are the most common cause of early-onset familial Alzheimer’s disease (FAD). Accumulation and deposition of β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides in the cerebral cortex is an early and central process in the pathogenesis of AD. The Aβ peptides are generated from the amyloid precursor protein (APP) as a result of sequential proteolytic cleavages by β3- and y-secretases, which are therefore prime targets for therapeutic intervention. Recent studies showed that Presenilin-1 (PS1) is required for γ-secretase activity and Aβ generation in cultured cells, raising the possibility that targeting PS 1 may be an effective therapeutic strategy for AD 1. Our previous studies of PS1 -/- mice, however, revealed that elimination of PS 1 expression leads to pleiotropic effects during embryonic development, including impaired neurogenesis and reduced Notch signalling2, 3. The perinatal lethality of PS1-/- mice also precluded the investigation of PS 1 function in Aβ generation and amyloid plaque formation in the adult brain where these pathological features develop in AD patients.
The Daily Readiness Huddle: a process to rapidly identify issues and foster improvement through problem-solving accountability.

Because of the increasing complexities of providing imaging for pediatric health care services, a more reliable process to manage the daily delivery of care is necessary. Objective We describe our Daily Readiness Huddle and the effects of the process on problem identification and improvement. Our Daily Readiness Huddle has four elements: metrics review, clinical volume review, daily readiness assessment, and problem accountability. It is attended by radiologists, directors, managers, front-line staff with concerns, representatives from support services (information technology [IT] and biomedical engineering [biomed]), and representatives who join the meeting in a virtual format from off-site locations. Data are visually displayed on erasable whiteboards. The daily readiness assessment uses queues to determine whether anyone has concerns or outlier data in regard to S-MESA (Safety, Methods, Equipment, Supplies or Associates). Through this assessment, problems are identified and categorized as quick hits (will be resolved in 24–48 h, not requiring project management) and complex issues. Complex issues are assigned an owner, quality coach and report-back date. Additionally, projects are defined as improvements that are often strategic, are anticipated to take more than 60 days, and do not necessarily arise out of identified issues during the Daily Readiness Huddle. We tracked and calculated the mean, median and range of days to resolution and completion for complex issues and for projects during the first full year of implementing this process. During the first 12 months, 91 complex issues were identified and resolved, 11 projects were in progress and 33 completed, with 23 other projects active or in planning. Time to resolution of complex issues (in days) was mean 37.5, median 34.0, and range 1–105. For projects, time to completion (in days) was mean 86.0, median 84.0, and range 5–280. The Daily Readiness Huddle process has given us a framework to rapidly identify issues, bring accountability to problem-solving, and foster improvement. It has also had a positive effect on team-building and coordination.
Acid–Base Poker: A Card Game Introducing the Concepts of Acid and Base at the College Level

A card game has been developed to illustrate acids and bases to first-year general chemistry students. The game offers an enjoyable method to practice categorizing acids and bases. In this game, which is adapted from Texas Hold’em, a player uses his/her knowledge of the properties of acids and bases to try to make the highest possible rank with five cards. The game can be used as a method to engage students at an early stage of chemical education, providing a different perspective from the textbook and a broad view of the acid–base properties of chemical compounds. This game sparked interaction and communication during a classroom trial, and suggests that card games can be an effective and entertaining way to help college students learn some aspects of general chemistry.
Cervical dermoid cysts

Cervical dermoid cysts are a common midline congenital neck mass found in the pediatric population. Embryologically, they contain germ cells of ectoderm and mesoderm origin. Dermoids are slow growing, painless, and rarely cause symptoms. Diagnosis is typically clinical; however ultrasound can help to differentiate cystic and solid neck masses. Ultimately, complete surgical excision is curative and recurrences are rare. Operative management of these cysts is a mainstay for the pediatric head and neck surgeon.
Evaluation of the Applicability and Profitability of Speculative Execution in Real-Time Programs

Abstract Speculative execution can enhance the average execution time by executing parts of the code which may or may not be needed. In some cases, rollback is necessary if the computation turns out to be invalid. However, speculative execution should be applied carefully to real-time systems so that the worst-case execution path will not be extended. We have developed a set of compiler transformations to detect safe opportunities for speculative execution in real-time programs and transform the code without jeopardizing the timeliness of the system. To capture various properties of real-time programs that affect applicability and profitability of speculative execution, we have conducted an experiment using randomly generated real-time programs. In this paper, we present simulation results indicating effects of speculative execution on average execution time and program timeliness. In addition, we examine impacts of various program properties, such as locality of variable references, and frequency of conditionals and while loops.
Orbital complications of acute sinusitis

In the pre-antibiotic era, orbital complications of acute sinusitis were not infrequent, often leading to severe patient morbidity, including blindness. Today, treatment of orbital complications consists primarily of systemic antibiotic therapy with surgical intervention reserved for large or medically unresponsive orbital or subperiosteal abscesses. Staging systems have been created to assist physicians in management and prognosis of such complications, but do not replace clinical acumen. Although powerful antibiotics have decreased the morbidity associated with orbital complications of acute sinusitis, the physician should remain aware of potential complications and ready to escalate treatment when necessary.
Experimental Study on Directionality of Ultrasonic Wave Coupling Using Surface-Bonded Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors

Recent studies demonstrated the potential of increasing the Lamb wave detection sensitivity of fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors by bonding the optical fiber away from the grating location, instead of the conventional method of bonding the FBG directly. The FBG located at a remote location further along the optical fiber collects the guided traveling wave in the optical fiber generated from the Lamb wave signal. This remote bonding method could potentially be extended to a series of multiplexed FBGs. However, previous experiments also detected coupling to guided traveling waves in both directions in the optical fiber, which could have significant effects on multiplexed signals. In this paper, we measure the coupled signal amplitudes in both forward and backward directions, when ultrasonic waves couple from a thin plate to an optical fiber and from an optical fiber to a thin plate. The forward- and backward-induced modes are measured in both the optical fiber and the plate. The same experiment is then performed for the case when ultrasonic signal is coupled from the optical fiber to the plate. In addition, two different types of bonding, cyanoacrylate adhesive and frictional bond, are explored to investigate how the signal conversion depends on the bonding method. The results demonstrate that the coupling of ultrasonic waves from a thin structure to an optical fiber and from an optical fiber to the structure is complex. The coupling does not only occur in the direction of the wave propagation, but can be coupled into both forward and backward modes, depending on the bonding configuration used.
Persistent but labile synaptic plasticity at excitatory synapses

Short-term synaptic plasticity contributes to many computations in the brain and allows synapses to keep a finite record of recent activity. Here we have investigated the mechanisms underlying an intriguing form of short-term plasticity termed labile LTP, at hippocampal and PFC synapses in male rats and male and female mice. In the hippocampus, labile LTP is triggered by high-frequency activation of presynaptic axons and is rapidly discharged with further activation of those axons. However, if the synapses are quiescent, they remain potentiated until further presynaptic activation. To distinguish labile LTP from NMDAR-dependent forms of potentiation, we blocked NMDARs in all experiments. Labile LTP was synapse-specific and was accompanied by a decreased paired pulse ratio, consistent with an increased release probability. Presynaptic Ca2+ and protein kinase activation during the tetanus appeared to be required for its initiation. Labile LTP was not reversed by a PKC inhibitor and did not require either RIM1α or synaptotagmin-7, proteins implicated in other forms of presynaptic short-term plasticity. Similar NMDAR-independent potentiation could be elicited at synapses in mPFC. Labile LTP allows for rapid information storage that is erased under controlled circumstances and could have a role in a variety of hippocampal and prefrontal cortical computations related to short-term memory.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Changes in synaptic strength are thought to represent information storage relevant to particular nervous system tasks. A single synapse can exhibit multiple overlapping forms of plasticity that shape information transfer from presynaptic to postsynaptic neurons. Here we investigate the mechanisms underlying labile LTP, an NMDAR-independent form of plasticity induced at hippocampal synapses. The potentiation is maintained for long periods as long as the synapses are infrequently active, but with regular activation, the synapses are depotentiated. Similar NMDAR-independent potentiation can also be induced at L2/3-to-L5 synapses in mPFC. Labile LTP requires a rise in presynaptic Ca2+ and protein kinase activation but is unaffected in RIM1α or synaptotagmin-7 mutant mice. Labile LTP may contribute to short-term or working memory in hippocampus and mPFC.
Treatment of Severe Acute Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a protean disease capable of wide clinical variation, ranging from mild discomfort to overwhelming organ failure and death. This chapter introduces definitions, discusses the diagnosis of severe AP (SAP), and examines in detail the various therapeutic options for management of patients with SAP.
Dendritic cells and the control of immunity: enhancing the efficiency of antigen presentation.

Background Relevant antigens often are known for diseases that involve the immune system. Yet purified antigens by themselves do not control immunity, especially T-cell immunity. For example, many antigens have been defined for HIV-1 and melanoma, but good HIV-1 vaccines and melanoma immune therapies are lacking. Dendritic cells (DCs) are important intermediaries between antigens and better control of the immune system. Methods Some properties that allow DCs to control immunity are reviewed, followed by new studies using DCs as adjuvants in humans. An emerging area is then detailed, the special mechanisms whereby DCs enhance the formation of ligands for T-cells, i.e., complexes of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) products and antigenic peptides. Results Once criteria were developed to identify and isolate DCs, several functional properties became evident. DCs are unusually potent in initiating T-cell mediated immunity in culture. In vivo, DCs are positioned to capture antigens and migrate to T-cell areas of lymphoid organs. There, DCs are able to prime animals, controlling the MHC restriction of the primed T-cells and inducing resistance to pathogens. DCs pulsed ex vivo with antigens are now being used to induce and expand T-cell immunity in humans. To optimize their use, two areas of DC function need to be harnessed: their terminal differentiation or maturation, and antigen uptake. DCs capture most types of antigens at an immature stage of development, but the cells must receive additional stimuli prior to acquiring potent T-cell stimulatory activity. Stimuli from microbes, inflammation and trauma mature DCs. These change the DCs in several ways, even inducing the formation of MHC II-peptide complexes or T-cell receptor (TCR) ligands. The latter move to the surface in nonlysosomal vesicles that simultaneously carry CD86 costimulatory molecules for T-cell activation. Both MHC and CD86 remain co-clustered in patches at the DC surface. DCs also express a receptor, DEC-205, that enhances antigen uptake and presentation. DEC-205 recycles in an unusual manner through MHC class II-rich, late endosomes or lysosomes, dramatically increasing the presentation of bound ligands. Additionally and importantly, DCs can process dying cells and immune complexes onto MHC class I products, events that are termed the "exogenous pathway" or "cross presentation." Conclusions The control of the immune system by DCs reflects numerous specializations, not a single "magic bullet." These specializations include a number of mechanisms that increase the efficiency of antigen uptake and MHC-peptide complex formation. The harnessing of these and other features of DCs provides opportunities for improving immune-based therapies and vaccine design.
Estimating mortality impacts from vehicle emission reduction efforts: The Tune In and Tune Up program in the San Joaquin Valley

Abstract As a response to profoundly poor air quality and associated environmental justice concerns in the San Joaquin Valley region in California, the Tune In & Tune Up (TI&TU) program provides residents with free vehicle emissions testing and vouchers for smog repair. We used data on approximately 19,000 repaired TI&TU vehicles from 2012 to 2018, and several estimation techniques, to quantify a range of nitrogen oxides (NOX) emissions prevented as a result of the program. We then calculated resulting mortality impacts from reduced exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the form of secondary nitrates. After applying a novel smog repair emissions abatement depreciation function, we find that six years of operation of the TI&TU program has reduced NOX emissions by approximately 53–302 tons by the end of 2018. Using a concentration response function for ambient PM2.5, we found that between 0.055 and 0.31 premature deaths have also been avoided. We present multiple methods for assessing public health impacts, which can be used as guidance for evaluating similar transportation-based emission reduction programs.
Role of spine in falls: Prevention of falls and unsteadiness of gait through reeducation of proprioceptors of vertebral facet joints

Background and aims The aim of this study was to determine the outcome of dynamic counterstrain and proprioceptive stimulation of specific vertebral facet joints to achieve reduction in risk of falls by reducing gait unsteadiness. Material and method Two groups were studied. Group A consisted of 39 patients who had gait disorder and propensity to falls, referred for fall prevention. All had comprehensive musculoskeletal and neurological evaluations. Subjects in this group were not able to return for follow up due to the distance from our institution. They all signed the consent form and were videotaped. Group B consisted of twelve subjects who were able to return for follow up and all underwent 2 supervised training sessions in our outpatient clinic. They had formal laboratory gait analysis and computerized dynamic posturography at baseline and follow up. They were instructed for a 4-week spinal proprioceptive extension exercise dynamic (SPEED) program to be performed at home with use of a weighted kypho-orthosis (WKO). The WKO applied properly accentuates a patient's perception of spinal joint position. Intervention All subjects had the trial of spinal proprioceptive extension exercise dynamic (SPEED) program. Outcome Results of Gait lab analysis, computerized dynamic posturography, strength evaluation or videotapes were reviewed. Results Group A was videotaped before and after SPEED and displayed noticeable improvement to their surprise. Group B, after a 4-week intervention, showed a significant change in balance ( P = .003) and several gait parameters ( P P Conclusion Gait and risk of falls improved significantly after trial of SPEED program for reeducation of proprioception by application of mechanical counterstrain to specific areas of spine. This method of intervention might potentially lead to novel investigations for managing patients with unsteadiness of gait and propensity to falls.
Evolutionary consequences of climate change

Abstract Accelerating climate change is inciting ecological and evolutionary responses in species across a diverse array of taxa ( Parmesan, 2006 ). Some species will benefit from climate change, either directly via the release from climatic niche constraints ( Mohan et al., 2006 ) or indirectly through their interactions with the abiotic or biotic environment ( Currano et al., 2010 ; Brodie et al., 2012 ). Others have shifted their distributions to higher latitudes and elevations to track favorable climatic envelopes ( Perry et al., 2005 , Lenoir et al., 2008 ). Such migrations alleviate the immediate effects of climate change, but species are still likely to encounter novel environmental conditions and species assemblages in their new habitats ( Brown and Vellend, 2014 ). Species incapable of migrating must tolerate climate change or will have to evolve to avoid extinction ( Burger and Lynch, 1995 ). Here, we review evolutionary responses to climate change. Climate change is forecast to alter temperature and precipitation regimes while also increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations. As such, climate change will likely impose strong novel selection. Species can respond to new abiotic and biotic conditions through: (1) local or global extinctions ( Cahill et al., 2013 ); (2) migration and distributional shifts ( Parmesan et al., 1999 ); (3) plasticity ( Nicotra et al., 2010 ); and (4) adaptation ( Thompson et al., 2013 ). The fossil record reveals that species have persevered through rapid periods of environmental change in the past, both through migration and the evolution of morphological traits ( Davis and Shaw, 2001 ). However, the novel selection pressures imposed by climate change are likely to target physiological and life history traits, which cannot be captured by fossilization. The ecological ramifications of climate change are well-studied in many systems, but the corresponding evolutionary responses have been largely ignored empirically, likely because of methodological challenges (however, see Etterson and Shaw, 2001 , Jump et al., 2008 , Franks et al., 2007 , Franks et al., 2016 ; Wang et al., 2010 , Thompson et al., 2013 , Wilczek et al., 2014 ). To predict the impacts of climate change on biodiversity, sustainability, and ecosystem function it is imperative that we understand the factors that promote adaptive evolution and identify the circumstances in which species’ persistence will be jeopardized.
Chronic Scrotal Content Pain: an Updated Review on Diagnosis and Management

To provide a review on the diagnosis and management of chronic scrotal content pain (CSCP). We cover the anatomy relevant to the scrotum, pathophysiology related to pain, and discuss medical and surgical options. We investigated the impact this condition has on patients and quantified the significant burden on quality of life. Our review found that among centers that manage chronic scrotal content pain regularly, medical management consistently includes scrotal rest/ice, NSAIDs, tricyclic anti-depressants, or neuropathic pain modulators. Among surgical options, microdenervation of the spermatic cord in some series provides > 90% relief in scrotal pain. With regard to quality of life, we found that in some series, more than half of patients experience a significant reduction in sexual function and marital relationship. Furthermore, these patients are often caught in a vicious cycle whereby pain and diminished sexual function aggravate each other. Our findings demonstrate that clinicians who manage this condition regularly are using very similar approaches, thus facilitating a standardized approach for this condition, which carries a significant burden on quality of life.
Economic linkages of the U.S. greenhouse and nursery products industry.

Abstract The greenhouse and nursery products sector is a growth industry. Economic linkages of this growth industry to other sectors of the national economy are of interest. The total economic activity generated by the greenhouse and nursery products sector is approximately equally divided between economic activity derived from input purchases by the greenhouse and nursery products sector (backward linkages) and processing and distribution of output by the greenhouse and nursery products sector (forward linkages).
Variant ascending pharyngeal artery maintaining flow in a subocclusive internal carotid artery

Ectopic branches of the external carotid artery are rare but have critical diagnostic and therapeutic implications. We present a case involving a 70-year-old man who presented with recurrent left hemispheric strokes in the setting of a subocclusive left internal carotid stenosis. A left ascending pharyngeal artery with variant origin from the internal carotid artery helped maintain flow distal to the area of stenosis and allowed for safe and successful internal carotid artery stenting. Identification of this variant and recognition of the anastomotic network involving this connection were crucial to determine the safety of stenting. The patient had no further recurrent events and had sustained improvement on his 90-day follow-up.
An eye-tracking study of attention to brand-identifying content and recall of taboo advertising

Abstract Despite widespread use in advertising, scholars have not been able to agree if taboo themes have a positive effect on advertising outcomes. The conflicting findings in prior research are further complicated from using self-report and indirect attention measures. The current study includes responses to 23 actual advertisements using a combination of eye-tracking and self-report data to understand attention and recall effects relating to the brand-identifying elements in ads. Findings indicate that taboo positively affects recall and attention, and attention to brand-identifying information also influences recall. The results demonstrate that taboo increases time to first fixation and fixation count for both product images and brand logos. Thus, taboo seems to encourage processing of brand- identifying information. Additionally, high ad complexity mitigated the effects of taboo on attention. Together, the results suggest a holistic approach to considering how attention is allocated to different areas of the ad.
Ablative Surgery for Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Past, Present, Future

Surgical interventions for the treatment of psychiatric disease have a long history. Before the availability of effective psychotropic drugs, the widespread practice of psychosurgery reached a dramatic peak in the mid 20th century, with the notorious era of the Freeman lobotomy. The practice of psychosurgery continued on a much smaller scale for medically-refractory psychiatric patients, continuing to develop with a concept of minimalism out of the school of stereotaxy in neurosurgery. The modern era of psychosurgery has established four procedures with extensive experience supporting their indications and efficacies in properly selected patients. All of modern intracranial psychosurgery is stereotactic in nature, though historically interventions have been lesion-based. More recently, the idea of psychosurgery has been met with renewed enthusiasm, favoring DBS to avoid the historic dependence on lesioning. While there are some advantages to DBS over ablative methods, it is important to keep in mind that the two modalities are neither functionally nor clinically equivalent. Furthermore, while DBS is a new and experimental modality with unproven long-term effects, there is extensive experience with lesioning that supports its benefit for carefully selected psychiatric patients. Furthermore, the theoretical and practical aspects of each modality, warrant continued consideration and research to determine their optimal roles in psychosurgical practice. However, it is clear that ablative methods play an important role in the surgical management of severe, intractable psychiatric disease today and will likely continue to do so in the future.
The chemical biology of hydrogen sulfide and related hydropersulfides: interactions with biologically relevant metals and metalloproteins.

Abstract Hydrogen sulfide and related/derived persulfides (RSnH, RSSnR, n > 1) have been the subject of recent research interest because of their reported physiological signaling roles. In spite of their described actions, the chemical/biochemical mechanisms of activity have not been established. From a chemical perspective, it is likely that metals and metalloproteins are possible biological targets for the actions of these species. Thus, the chemical biology of hydrogen sulfide and persulfides with metals and metalloproteins will be discussed as a prelude to future speculation regarding their physiological function and utility.
ACEs and mental health outcomes

Abstract Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are complex early stressors that may disrupt normal developmental processes in each area of the biopsychosocial model. Specifically, ACEs disrupt the development of adaptive emotion regulation processes via changes in psychological interpretations and beliefs, changes in the structure and function of key areas of the brain, and through the development of maladaptive coping strategies. All of these areas work independently and interactively to increase risk for the development of mental disorders. ACEs are associated with increased risk for a wide range of disorders, from mood and anxiety to psychotic and personality disorders. This chapter explores the mechanisms leading to this increased risk, the current evidence linking ACEs to each mental disorder, the psychosocial toll of ACEs, and implications for practice, policy, and future research.
Use of Hydroxychloroquine and Chloroquine During the COVID-19 Pandemic: What Every Clinician Should Know.

Two medications often used for treatment of immune-mediated conditions, hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, have recently attracted widespread interest as potential therapies for COVID-19. The auth...
Aggressive Lymphoma Subtype Is A Risk Factor for Venous Thrombosis. Development of Lymphoma - Specific Venous Thrombosis Prediction Models.

Venous thromboembolic events (VTE) are a frequent complication of lymphoma. We conducted a retrospective analysis to compare VTE risk in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and follicular lymphoma (FL). Subjects were randomly assigned to training and validation sets to identify risk factors of VTE and evaluate risk model performance, including the Khorana score. A group of 790 patients were diagnosed from 2002 to 2014 (DLBCL = 542, FL = 248). Median follow- up was 49 months. We observed 106 VTE, with higher incidence in DLBCL (5-year cumulative incidence = 16.3% vs 3.8% in FL patients). Five-year OS for patients with VTE was 51.4% vs 73.1% in patients without VTE (P < .001). Baseline VTE risk factors identified in the training cohort included lymphoma subtype, previous VTE, ECOG performance status ≥2, decreased albumin, increased calcium, elevated WBC, absolute lymphocyte count or monocyte count, and presence of bulky disease. Addition of new variables to the Khorana score improved its performance measured by Akaike information criterion and Concordance index. A new risk model including lymphoma subtype, albumin, WBC count, and bulky disease was validated in time-based ROC analyses. These findings were confirmed in the validation cohort. Lymphoma subtypes have different VTE risk. The effect of lymphoma subtype was independent from disease burden and the use of systemic therapy. The Khorana risk-score was validated in time to event analyses, and a more robust lymphoma-specific VTE risk score is proposed. These findings suggest lymphoma patients with highest VTE risk can be identified with baseline parameters.
Immunologic timeline of Ebola virus disease and recovery in humans

A complete understanding of human immune responses to Ebola virus infection is limited by the availability of specimens and the requirement for biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) containment. In an effort to bridge this gap, we evaluated cryopreserved PBMCs from 4 patients who survived Ebola virus disease (EVD) using an established mass cytometry antibody panel to characterize various cell populations during both the acute and convalescent phases. Acute loss of nonclassical monocytes and myeloid DCs, especially CD1c+ DCs, was noted. Classical monocyte proliferation and CD38 upregulation on plasmacytoid DCs coincided with declining viral load. Unsupervised analysis of cell abundance demonstrated acute declines in monocytic, NK, and T cell populations, but some populations, many of myeloid origin, increased in abundance during the acute phase, suggesting emergency hematopoiesis. Despite cell losses during the acute phase, upregulation of Ki-67 correlated with recovery of cell populations over time. These data provide insights into the human immune response during EVD.
Motion Control of Hydraulic Actuators In the Presence of Discrete Pressure Rail Switching

Conventional off-highway mobile machines are hydraulically actuated and have poor energy efficiencies. The goal to increase system efficiency and to reap the benefits of electrification have led to the creation of a novel Hybrid HydraulicElectric Architecture (HHEA) which could significantly increase efficiency, decrease the sizes and cost of electrical components, and maintain control performance. The key concept is to utilize a set of common pressure rails to provide the majority of power via the power dense hydraulics and to modulate that power by small electric components, which are less power dense, for precise control. The paper presents the motion control strategy for this architecture. The architecture presents a distinct challenge in that as the energy minimization algorithm selects different pressure rails, the system could experience large discrete jumps in pressures that impact control performance, especially when the electric components are torque limited. To meet this challenge, a passivity based back-stepping controller is used as the nominal controller between pressure rail switching events and a separate transition controller is used to deal with the pressure rail switching events. Two transition controllers are proposed, one uses the electric motor torque as the input, and the other also uses valve timing as a second input. For both transition controllers, a least norm control approach is used to steer the system states to the exact desired states at the end of the short transition period ($\sim 40$ ms). The transition controllers are able to reduce the tracking error and the required electric motor torque, and hence achieve better control performance even with smaller electric components.
Early plasma circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) changes predict response to first-line pembrolizumab-based therapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

BACKGROUND Currently available biomarkers are imperfect in their ability to predict responses to the multiple first-line treatment options available for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Having an early pharmacodynamic marker of treatment resistance may help redirect patients onto more effective alternative therapies. We sought to determine if changes in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) levels after initiation of first-line pembrolizumab±chemotherapy in NSCLC would enable early prediction of response prior to radiological assessment. METHODS Plasma collected from patients with advanced NSCLC prior to and serially after starting first-line pembrolizumab±platinum doublet chemotherapy was analyzed by next-generation sequencing using enhanced tagged-amplicon sequencing of hotspots and coding regions from 36 genes. Early change in ctDNA allele fraction (AF) was correlated with radiographic responses and long-term clinical outcomes. RESULTS Among 62 patients who received first-line pembrolizumab±platinum/pemetrexed and underwent ctDNA assessment, 45 had detectable ctDNA alterations at baseline. The median change in AF at the first follow-up (at a median of 21 days after treatment initiation) was -90.1% (range -100% to +65%) among patients who subsequently had a radiologic response (n=18), -19.9% (range: -100% to +1884%) among stable disease cases (n=15), and +28.8% (range: -100% to +410%) among progressive disease cases (n=12); p=0.003. In addition, there was a significant correlation between the percent change in ctDNA at the first follow-up and the percent change in tumor target lesions from baseline (R=0.66, p<0.001). AF decrease between the pretreatment and first on-treatment blood draw was associated with significantly higher response rate (60.7% vs 5.8%, p=0.0003), and significantly longer median progression-free survival (8.3 vs 3.4 months, HR: 0.29 (95% CI: 0.14 to 0.60), p=0.0007) and median overall survival (26.2 vs 13.2 months, HR: 0.34 (95% CI: 0.15 to 0.75), p=0.008) compared with cases with an AF increase. CONCLUSION In patients with advanced NSCLC, rapid decreases in ctDNA prior to radiological assessment correlated with clinical benefit. These results suggest a potential role for ctDNA as an early pharmacodynamic biomarker of response or resistance to immunotherapies.
The insights, uses, and ethics of social neuroscience in anti-discrimination law

Abstract The article explores the uses in anti-discrimination law of social neuroscience—a broad interdisciplinary field that draws on the insights of brain science, medicine, epidemiology, social psychology, behavioral economics, moral cognitive neuroscience and many other experimentally based disciplines. It discusses the promising uses of social neuroscience findings from all these subfields on such matters as the irrational biases of “fast” thinking processes in general, and implicit biases against “out” groups more specifically, as well as group conformity, the black sheep effect, and more. The article traces a few of the ways these insights can help inform anti-discrimination law in both particular cases and in reform of law-related policies, rules, structures and systems more generally. Social neuroscience, for example, exposes the typical fallacy of demanding proof of intentional discrimination in most cases, and exposes the problems in using other doctrines that make discrimination and retaliation claims unduly hard to prove. Social neuroscience findings about the social pain of exclusion and the ongoing physical and social harm of discrimination further show that the damages caused by illegal discrimination are far greater than the restitution courts typically impose on respondents. Finally, social neuroscience and other science-related disciplines, in consilience with political theory, philosophy, and legal history and theory, support the recognition of a broader human right to “act differently,” subject to the rights of others not to encounter harm. Finally, this article examines the potential ethical pitfalls of using social neuroscience in the numerous ways proposed above. It concludes that neuroscience should not be used in individual cases to establish unconscious but “intentional” discrimination by particular individuals, and that social reform crusaders should be reflective about the potential irrationalities of their own biases and moral tastes as they go about attempting to transform law by drawing on their interpretations of brain-based science. Such reform campaigns will necessarily require invoking political process that depend on resorting to moral emotions, values, rhetoric, and potentially overly simplistic or reductionist glosses on more complex and qualified ideas. Thus even social crusaders who aim to make the world a better place must retain skepticism and an ethic of restraint in insisting on their viewpoints as to the arrangements that could leader to a more moral and less discriminatory world.
Exposure to Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and infertility in women, NHANES 2013-2016.

Abstract Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) exposure is widespread in the general population and previous research has suggested that it contains endocrine-disrupting properties that can adversely affect the reproductive health system. The objective of this study was to use the 2013–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data to assess the potential association between DEHP exposure and infertility in women. Using a nationally representative, cross-sectional study design, we used multiple logistic regression to measure the association of urinary metabolites of DEHP with self-reported history of infertility among women. Four metabolites of DEHP were examined: mono(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (MEHP), mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxy-hexyl)phthalate (MEHHP), mono(2-ethyl-5-oxy-hexyl) phthalate (MEOHP), and mono(2-ethyl-5-carboxy-pentyl)phthalate (MECPP). These metabolites were calculated into a molar sum of DEHP (∑DEHP) and split into quartiles for analysis. After adjusting for age and race, ∑DEHP was associated with increased odds of infertility for the second quartile (AOR = 2.35, 95% CI [1.24,4.44], p = 0.01) and third quartile (AOR = 2.83, 95% CI [1.57, 5.10], p
Venous thromboembolic pharmacological prophylaxis in severe traumatic acute subdural hematomas: Early prophylaxis is effective and safe.

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate the optimal timing and type of pharmacological venous thromboembolism prophylaxis (VTEp) in patients with severe blunt head trauma with acute subdural hematomas (ASDH). Methods Matched cohort study using ACS-TQIP database (2013–2016) including patients with isolated ASDH. Outcomes of matched patients receiving early prophylaxis (EP, ≤48 h) and late prophylaxis (LP, >48 h) were compared with univariable and multivariable regression analysis. Results In 1,660 matched cases VTE complications (3.1% vs 0.5%, p Conclusions Early VTEp (≤48 h) does not increase the risk for craniectomies and is independently associated with fewer VTE complications in patients with isolated ASDH. LMWH was independently associated with a lower mortality compared to UH.
The Changing Same

This 50-year anniversary of Women’s Studies is a good chance to reflect on what has changed and what has remained the same-or, at least, similar. Amiri Baraka, the Black revolutionary poet writing ...
Stomata in a state of emergency: H2O2 is the target locked.

Stomatal movements are essential for plants to regulate photosynthesis rate, water status, and immunity. Upon stress stimulation, the production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the apoplasts and its accumulation within the guard cells are among key determinatives for stomatal closure. The regulatory mechanisms of H2O2 production and transport under plant–pathogen interaction and drought stress response in stomata are important fields of research. Specifically, the regulation of NADPH oxidases and aquaporins appears to be crucial in H2O2-controlled stomatal closure. In this review, we summarize how the calcium-dependent and calcium-independent mechanisms activate RESPIRATORY BURST OXIDASE HOMOLOG (RBOH)D/F NADPH oxidases and the aquaporin PIP2;1 to induce stomatal closure, and highlight how the H2O2 production is targeted by pathogen toxins and effectors to counteract plant immunity.
Classical Mechanics With Calculus of Variations and Optimal Control: An Intuitive Introduction

This is an intuitively motivated presentation of many topics in classical mechanics and related areas of control theory and calculus of variations. All topics throughout the book are treated with zero tolerance for unrevealing definitions and for proofs which leave the reader in the dark. Some areas of particular interest are: an extremely short derivation of the ellipticity of planetary orbits; a statement and an explanation of the "tennis racket paradox''; a heuristic explanation (and a rigorous treatment) of the gyroscopic effect; a revealing equivalence between the dynamics of a particle and statics of a spring; a short geometrical explanation of Pontryagin's Maximum Principle, and more. In the last couple of chapters, aimed at more advanced readers, the Hamiltonian and the momentum are compared to forces in a certain static problem. This gives a palpable physical meaning to some seemingly abstract concepts and theorems. With minimal prerequisites consisting of basic calculus and basic undergraduate physics, this book is suitable for courses from an undergraduate to a beginning graduate level, and for a mixed audience of mathematics, physics and engineering students. Much of the enjoyment of the subject lies in solving almost 200 problems in this book. This book is published in cooperation with Mathematics Advanced Study Semesters.