cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Soft Tissue to Bone Healing in Rotator Cuff Repair

Tears of the rotator cuff tendons of from their bony insertions are an extremely important clinical problem. Although rotator cuff repair is a common shoulder procedure in the orthopaedic setting, healing of the tendons to bone after surgical repair is unpredictable, with failure rates ranging from 20 to 94%. The high failure rates are likely due to the scar-mediated process that dominates healing in the adult setting, resulting in an attachment that has significantly inferior mechanical properties compared to native tissue. In this chapter, we review the normal anatomy of the rotator cuff and its insertion site, discuss factors affecting tendon-to-bone healing, and describe surgical repair techniques. The chapter concludes with recent innovations that have been implemented to improve the strength of the repair and to biologically augment the healing process.
Stability Change of the Endemic Equilibrium in Age-Structured Models for the Spread of S—I—R Type Infectious Diseases

Age-structured endemic models of S → I → R type can exhibit a stability change for the endemic equilibrium if the rate of a susceptible individual to be infected by an infective individual does not depend of the age of the susceptible individual, but is highly concentrated in a particular age class of the infectives.
Pathophysiology and Imaging Diagnosis of Acute Mesenteric Ischemia

Acute mesenteric ischemia is a potentially life-threatening condition associated with high mortality, particularly with any delay in treatment. Prompt diagnosis with imaging is crucial to achieve a favorable outcome. Both arterial and venous etiologies can result in ischemia, and the radiologist plays a central role in the initial evaluation of a patient with suspected acute mesenteric ischemia to guide management decisions. This article will review the appropriate imaging evaluation of a patient with suspected acute mesenteric ischemia. The overlapping and the distinguishing findings on imaging, as well as the relevant clinical features, will be discussed for the spectrum of both common and uncommon etiologies of mesenteric ischemia.
ECDYSONELESS, A NOVEL REGULATOR OF CALCIUM INFLUX

Background and SignificanceCell proliferation produces two cells from one and is required for cell growth, and is most critical in embryonic development as well as in normal adult organ function, w...
Oxidative Damage Control during Decay of Wood by Brown Rot Fungus Using Oxygen Radicals.

ABSTRACT Brown rot wood-degrading fungi deploy reactive oxygen species (ROS) to loosen plant cell walls and enable selective polysaccharide extraction. These ROS, including Fenton-generated hydroxyl radicals (HO˙), react with little specificity and risk damaging hyphae and secreted enzymes. Recently, it was shown that brown rot fungi reduce this risk, in part, by differentially expressing genes involved in HO˙ generation ahead of those coding carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZYs). However, there are notable exceptions to this pattern, and we hypothesized that brown rot fungi would require additional extracellular mechanisms to limit ROS damage. To assess this, we grew Postia placenta directionally on wood wafers to spatially segregate early from later decay stages. Extracellular HO˙ production (avoidance) and quenching (suppression) capacities among the stages were analyzed, along with the ability of secreted CAZYs to maintain activity postoxidation (tolerance). First, we found that H2O2 and Fe2+ concentrations in the extracellular environment were conducive to HO˙ production in early (H2O2:Fe2+ ratio 2:1) but not later (ratio 1:131) stages of decay. Second, we found that ABTS radical cation quenching (antioxidant capacity) was higher in later decay stages, coincident with higher fungal phenolic concentrations. Third, by surveying enzyme activities before/after exposure to Fenton-generated HO˙, we found that CAZYs secreted early, amid HO˙, were more tolerant of oxidative stress than those expressed later and were more tolerant than homologs in the model CAZY producer Trichoderma reesei. Collectively, this indicates that P. placenta uses avoidance, suppression, and tolerance mechanisms, extracellularly, to complement intracellular differential expression, enabling this brown rot fungus to use ROS to degrade wood. IMPORTANCE Wood is one of the largest pools of carbon on Earth, and its decomposition is dominated in most systems by fungi. Wood-degrading fungi specialize in extracting sugars bound within lignin, either by removing lignin first (white rot) or by using Fenton-generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) to “loosen” wood cell walls, enabling selective sugar extraction (brown rot). Although white rot lignin-degrading pathways are well characterized, there are many uncertainties in brown rot fungal mechanisms. Our study addressed a key uncertainty in how brown rot fungi deploy ROS without damaging themselves or the enzymes they secrete. In addition to revealing differentially expressed genes to promote ROS generation only in early decay, our study revealed three spatial control mechanisms to avoid/tolerate ROS: (i) constraining Fenton reactant concentrations (H2O2, Fe2+), (ii) quenching ROS via antioxidants, and (iii) secreting ROS-tolerant enzymes. These results not only offer insight into natural decomposition pathways but also generate targets for biotechnological development.
Uterine natural killer cells: To protect and to nurture

During the course of pregnancy, the maternal-fetal interface is tightly regulated and undergoes dynamic changes that promote the successful development of the semi-allogeneic fetus. In response to embryo implantation, the uterus remodels with maternal immune cells occupying the maternal-fetal interface and uterine natural killer (uNK) cells becoming the most prominent leukocyte. Recently, uNK cells have been discovered to be heterogeneous, including conventional NK and tissue-resident NK cells. Here, we will review the recent advances in uNK cell biology and discuss their functional mechanisms which protect and nurture the growing fetus.
Real-Time Interaction of Mixed Species Biofilm With Silver Nanoparticles Using QCM-D

Abstract This study presents a novel approach to probe in situ, real-time changes in mixed-species biofilms via quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D). The viscoelasticity of a model wastewater biofilm was monitored by QCM-D, and quantitative changes in both measured frequency, ∆f, and dissipation, ∆D, reflected biofilm structural changes in the presence of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs). Complimentary results from confocal laser scanning microscopy confirmed biofilm attachment and the presence of live cells. A step-input experiment with increasing concentrations of Ag-NPs (127, 666, 1160, 1632 ppb) was performed. A Voigt model analysis of QCM-D results shows differing biofilm viscoelastic behavior as a function of Ag-NP concentration. The step input response of ∆D/∆f ratio showed that Ag-NPs cause a structural pattern of firmness at low concentrations (up to 666 ppb), and less rigidity of attached mass at higher concentrations (up to 1632 ppb) for the mixed species biofilm studied.
The Narrative in the Numbers

This chapter describes how to finish bringing closure to an empirical study, in a way that both structures and enhances the narrative used to report that study’s methods, results, and conclusions. It emphasizes the importance of relating the study’s findings back to the essential facts of the phenomenon of interest, and argues that the study’s ultimate objective should be to understand that phenomenon on its own terms, not the terms prescribed by the researcher. In the process of doing this, the researcher will often unearth an “organizing principle” that grounds the behavior of the major actors involved in this phenomenon, and which also can ground the study’s narrative. These ideas spring to life in applications to the housing crash, the behavior of carnival workers, development in the tropics, teenage fatherhood, and more.
Picosecond Electric-Field-Induced Switching of Antiferromagnets

Antiferromagnetic spintronics are hoped to enable ultrafast, high-density memory arrays working at picosecond time scales, but current methods to switch the antiferromagnetic order cost a lot of energy. This work proposes an ultrafast yet low-energy method for switching the N\'eel vector of an antiferromagnetic layer, by reconfiguration of the anisotropy energy when an electric field is applied. Theoretical analysis shows the possibility of switching the N\'eel vector of a 50-nm circular antiferromagnetic element with an energy dissipation of 250 aJ in less than 30 ps, without any current-induced torque.
Review of Making Sense of the College Curriculum: Faculty Stories of Change, Conflict, and Accommodation

Since the 1983 publication of the cautionary study, A Nation at Risk, the state of an institution’s curriculum may foster both cooperative and contentious conversation among its faculty. Individual...
Operator Means, II: Kubo–Ando Theorem

In this chapter, we’ll see a natural 1–1 correspondence between operators means A, B↦AσB and non-negative matrix monotone functions, f on (0, ∞), normalized by f(1) = 1.
Avoiding the potentiality trap: thinking about the moral status of synthetic embryos.

Research ethics committees must sometimes deliberate about objects that do not fit nicely into any existing category. This is currently the case with the “gastruloid,” which is a self-assembling blob of cells that resembles a human embryo. The resemblance makes it tempting to group it with other members of that kind, and thus to ask whether gastruloids really are embryos. But fitting an ambiguous object into an existing category with well-worn pathways in research ethics, like the embryo, is only a temporary fix. The bigger problem is that we no longer know what an embryo is. We haven’t had a non-absurd definition of ‘embryo’ for several decades and without a well-defined comparison class, asking whether gastruloids belong to the morally relevant class of things we call embryos is to ask a question without an answer. What’s the alternative? A better approach needs to avoid what I’ll refer to as “the potentiality trap” and, instead, rely on the emergence of morally salient facts about gastruloids and other synthetic embryos.
Chromatic pupillometry for the characterization of the pupillary light reflex in Octodon degus

Abstract The common degu (Octodon degus) is an emerging model in biomedical science research due to its longevity and propensity to develop human-like conditions. However, there is a lack of standardized techniques for this non-traditional laboratory animal. In an effort to characterize the model, we developed a chromatic pupillometry setup and analysis protocol to characterize the pupillary light reflex (PLR) in our animals. The PLR is a biomarker to detect early signs for central nervous system deterioration. Chromatic pupillometry is a non-invasive and anesthesia-free method that can evaluate different aspects of the PLR, including the response of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs), the disfunction of which has been linked to various disorders. We studied the PLR of 12 degus between 6 and 48 months of age to characterize responses to LEDs of 390, 450, 500, 525 and 605 nm, and used 5 with overall better responses to establish a benchmark for healthy PLR (PLR+) and deteriorated PLR (PLR-). Degu pupils contracted up to 65% of their horizontal resting size before reaching saturation. The highest sensitivity was found at 500 nm, with similar sensitivities at lower tested intensities for 390 nm, coinciding with the medium wavelength and short wavelength cones of the degu. We also tested the post-illumination pupillary response (PIPR), which is driven exclusively by ipRGCs. PIPR was largest in response to 450 nm light, with the pupil preserving 48% of its maximum constriction 9 s after the stimulus, in contrast with 24% preserved in response to 525 nm, response driven mainly by cones. PLR- animals showed maximum constriction between 40% and 50% smaller than PLR+, and their PIPR almost disappeared, pointing to a disfunction of the iPRGCs rather than the retinal photoreceptors. Our method thus allows us to non-invasively estimate the condition of experimental animals before attempting other procedures.
Follow-up of Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacements at a Large District Hospital and the Implementation of Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency Guidelines: A Review of 297 Patients

Background Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) guidance for patients with metal-on-metal (MoM) hip replacements was provided in 2012 and updated in 2017 to assist in the early detection of soft-tissue reactions due to metal wear debris. A large number of MoM hip replacements were undertaken at our hospital trust. A program of recall for all patients with MoM hip replacements was undertaken and MHRA guidelines were implemented. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the revised MHRA guidelines in the detection of early adverse reactions to metal debris and to re-evaluate the indications for metal artifact reduction sequence magnetic resonance imaging (MARS-MRI) and revision surgery. Methods Identification and recall of all patients with MoM hip replacements from 2001 were conducted by using theatre logs, patient records, clinical coding information, and consultant logbooks. Two senior arthroplasty consultants reviewed X-rays and patient records. Postal questionnaires were forwarded to patients, together with requests for general practitioners to complete cobalt and chromium blood tests. The two consultant-led review of MOM replacements was undertaken with further radiological investigations (X-rays, MARS-MRI) performed according to the 2017 guidance with support of consultant radiologists. Results Of 674 identified patients, 297 were available for review: 26 patients did not have MoM implants, 36 were untraceable, 59 refused follow-up, 87 moved out of area, 147 had died, and 22 already had revision. Of 297 patients, 126 were women and 171 were men; age range was 39 to 95 years (mean age, 69 years); 126 had resurfacing and 171 had MoM replacements. Twenty-six patients had elevated metal ions. Thirty-three patients underwent MARS-MRI: MARS-MRI results were positive in 17 and negative in 16. Of 17 patients with positive MARS-MRI, 10 patients were asymptomatic and seven were waiting revision. Conclusions Positive MARS-MRI can often occur in the absence of elevated metal ion levels; elevated blood metal ion levels do not mean MARS-MRI will be positive. All patients with MoM replacements were at risk. It is imperative to assess patients regularly for symptoms that may raise clinical suspicion and maintain a low threshold to performing MARS-MRI.
Burning Ropes to Measure Time

Each rope burns from one end to the other in exactly one hour, but at an uneven rate. Which fractions of an hour are measureable by burning several ropes from one or both ends?
Freeze-concentration of solutes during bulk freezing and its impact on protein stability

Abstract Storage of protein therapeutics in a frozen state provides operational flexibility for fill and finish of drug products and extends the shelf life of protein solutions. However, freezing of bulk protein solutions leads to progressive freeze-concentration of solutes which may result in protein instability. A novel method was designed to study the freeze-concentration of solutes in 1 L bottles. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) solutions in phosphate buffer, pH 7.0, with or without sucrose were studied and compared with the same solutions without LDH. These solutions were frozen at −30 °C and at different freezing rates. The contents of each frozen bottle were evenly sliced and forty-five representative samples were analyzed for solute concentrations and LDH quality attributes. A homogeneity score was devised to describe the overall homogeneity of the frozen bulk. In general, the solutes (i.e., LDH, phosphate, and sucrose) concentrated towards the center and bottom of the bottles during freezing. The homogeneity score was highly dependent upon the freezing rate with significant retention of LDH activity and tetrameric native structures observed at higher freezing rates. Lastly, multiple linear regression showed the significant impact of the freezing rate, sample location inside the bottle, and presence of sucrose on LDH stability, which provided insights into the stability of other proteins during bulk freezing.
Bio-Optical Properties of Coastal Waters

Coastal waters are generally characterized by large variations in biological, physical and chemical properties and are an important source of dissolved and particulate matter for the open ocean. In highly productive coastal waters, a significant fraction of organic matter produced in surface waters reach the bottom sediments of coastal margins and become buried (Hedges and Keil, 1995). River dominated coastal margins present additional complexities due to large inputs of freshwater that vary seasonally and carry constituents such as suspended sediments, organic matter, and nutrients. As such, uncertainties exist in the contribution of coastal carbon flux rates to the biogeochemical carbon cycle (Wollast, 1991). Repeated, synoptic coverage with satellite remote sensing provides the capability for understanding and monitoring of many coastal processes. The development of numerous bio-optical algorithms provides a bridge between ocean color remote sensing and concentrations of seawater constituents and has been useful, for example, in studies of oceanic carbon cycling through its ability to obtain estimates of phytoplankton biomass and its derived primary productivity (Platt et al., 1988; MullerKarger et al., 1991). Monitoring water quality parameters such as clarity, suspended sediment concentrations and presence of harmful algal blooms are also some of the other applications of ocean color remote sensing (Carder and Steward, 1985; Tassan, 1994; Kahru and Mitchell, 1998; Stumpf et al., 1999). However, the complexity of optical properties still presents difficulties in the use of ocean color remote sensing in coastal waters. Oceanic waters have been commonly classified as Case 1 or Case 2 waters (Morel and Prieur, 1977; Gordon and Morel, 1983). Case 1 waters have been defined as those for which phytoplankton and their associated derived products are the main influence on the optical field, while in Case 2 waters, additional seawater constituents such as suspended sediments and dissolved organic matter that may not co-vary with phytoplankton, influences the optical field. Coastal and inland water bodies are optically complex and often referred to as Case 2 waters (Sathyendranath, 2000). Until recently, most studies have focused on Case 1 waters where generally reliable estimates of phytoplankton chlorophyll are being obtained. In contrast, estimates of various in-water constituents from ocean color remote sensing of Case 2 waters are often not accurate due to poor performance of standard algorithms (Darecki and Stramski, 2004). For example, in interpreting the CZCS data of the Orinoco River plume, Hochman et al., 1994 concluded that as much as 50% of the remotely sensed chlorophyll biomass within the plume could be an artifact due to colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM). Large variations in CDOM-to-chlorophyll ratios were reported for measurements conducted in
Drug-induced cutaneous vasculitis and anticoagulant-related cutaneous adverse reactions: insights in pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and treatment

Drug-induced vasculitis and anticoagulant-related skin reactions are commonly encountered in the inpatient and outpatient settings. The spectrum of clinical presentation is broad and ranges from focal, skin-limited disease, to more extensive cutaneous and soft tissue necrosis, to potentially fatal systemic involvement. The prompt recognition of these adverse events can have a significant impact on patient morbidity and mortality. We highlight the key features of the clinical presentation with an emphasis on primary lesion morphology, distribution, and epidemiology of purpuric drug reactions. The proposed pathophysiology, histologic findings, and therapeutic interventions of these potentially life-threatening diseases are discussed.
Gas density structure of supersonic flows impinged on by thin blades for laser–plasma accelerator targets

Density transition injection is an effective technique for controllably loading electrons into a trapped phase for laser plasma accelerators. One common technique to achieve the required fluid structure is to impinge a thin blade on the plume of a supersonic nozzle. Density transitions induced in this way are often assumed to be bow shocks and therefore sharp, but simulations and fluorescence measurements presented in this work show that in many cases of interest, the density transition accessible to a laser propagating transverse to the shock is an intercepting shock, and therefore, shock thickness and density vary with pressure, laser height, and blade position. The fluid dynamics of a supersonic nozzle impinged on by a thin, flat object are explored through simulations and relevant features are verified via planar laser-induced fluorescence measurements. The implications of the results for tuning electron beam injectors in laser plasma accelerators are discussed.
Advanced Pulmonary Sarcoidosis

At least 5% of sarcoidosis patients die from their disease, usually from advanced pulmonary sarcoidosis. The three major problems encountered in advanced pulmonary sarcoidosis are pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, and respiratory infections. Pulmonary fibrosis is the result of chronic inflammation, but other factors including abnormal wound healing may be important. Sarcoidosis-associated pulmonary hypertension (SAPH) is multifactorial including parenchymal fibrosis, vascular granulomas, and hypoxia. Respiratory infections can be cause by structural changes in the lung and impaired immunity due to sarcoidosis or therapy. Anti-inflammatory therapy alone is not effective in most forms of advanced pulmonary sarcoidosis. New techniques, including high-resolution computer tomography and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) have proved helpful in identifying the cause of advanced disease and directing specific therapy.
The Deficit Myth: Modern Monetary Theory and the Birth of the People’s Economy: Stephanie Kelton. New York: Public Affairs. 2020. Hardcover: ISBN 978-1-5417-3618-4, $24.42, 325 pages.

In my over three decades as an economist, this is my first opportunity to review a New York Times best seller. Despite the fact that news feeds are currently dominated by COVID-19, Black Lives Matt...
Managing Through the Void: Overseeing a Library Department Amid Personnel Vacancies

There are a variety of reasons a library department may experience a temporary position vacancy. Whatever the cause, this presents managers with the often overwhelming task of filling in the gaps, or even predicting and coping with stress inadvertently placed on the remainder of the department. Managers may be planning further into the future than we may be accustomed to in ordinary times. This brief, practice-based piece calls out the best ways to tame this frustration through maintaining three key focuses.
Early life stress and development: potential mechanisms for adverse outcomes.

Chronic and/or extreme stress in early life, often referred to as early adversity, childhood trauma, or early life stress, has been associated with a wide range of adverse effects on development. However, while early life stress has been linked to negative effects on a number of neural systems, the specific mechanisms through which early life stress influences development and individual differences in children’s outcomes are still not well understood. The current paper reviews the existing literature on the neurobiological effects of early life stress and their ties to children’s psychological and behavioral development. Early life stress has persistent and pervasive effects on prefrontal–hypothalamic–amygdala and dopaminergic circuits that are at least partially mediated by alterations in hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis function. However, to date, this research has primarily utilized methods of assessment that focus solely on children’s event exposures. Incorporating assessment of factors that influence children’s interpretation of stressors, along with stressful events, has the potential to provide further insight into the mechanisms contributing to individual differences in neurodevelopmental effects of early life stress. This can aid in further elucidating specific mechanisms through which these neurobiological changes influence development and contribute to risk for psychopathology and health disorders.
Longitudinal investigation of the relationship between omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and neuropsychological functioning in recent-onset psychosis: A randomized clinical trial.

Abstract Alterations in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including omega-3 and omega-6, have been implicated in the pathophysiology of psychotic disorders, but little is known about their associations with neuropsychological functioning. The present study includes 46 recent-onset psychosis patients who participated in a larger (n = 50) double blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial comparing 16 weeks of treatment with either risperidone + fish oil (FO) (EPA 740 mg and DHA 400 mg daily) or risperidone + placebo and completed neuropsychological assessments at the baseline timepoint. We investigated the relationship between baseline omega-3 (i.e., eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA; docosapentaenoic acid, DPA and docosahexaenoic acid, DHA) and omega-6 (i.e., arachidonic acid, AA) PUFA with baseline MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) scores. Twenty-five patients had neuropsychological data available at 16 weeks following participation in the clinical trial, which included 12 patients assigned to risperidone + FO and 13 patients assigned to risperidone + placebo. At baseline both higher DHA and EPA correlated significantly with better social cognition after controlling for functioning on other neuropsychological domains, total BPRS score, AA level and substance use. Also, at baseline higher AA correlated significantly with hostility/uncooperativeness after controlling for DHA + EPA + DPA, overall neuropsychological functioning and substance use. Patients treated with risperidone + FO demonstrated a significant longitudinal increase in social cognition that was significantly higher at 16 weeks compared to patients treated with risperidone + placebo. DHA also correlated significantly with social cognition at the 16-week timepoint. This study provides novel evidence for a differential role of omega-3 vs. omega-6 PUFA in neuropsychological deficits and symptoms in recent-onset psychosis and its treatment.
Observations of acrobat ants (Crematogaster sp.) preying on the eggs of the invasive giant applesnail (Pomacea maculata)

Herein we provide direct evidence for the consumption of Pomacea maculata (Giant Applesnail) eggs by ants in the genus Crematogaster. The observations were made during removal of snail egg masses at the Hudson Woods Unit of the Texas Mid-Coast National Wildlife Refuge, TX. We observed acrobat ants (Crematogaster sp.) removing snail eggs from an egg mass and carrying eggs back to their nest. While predation on Pomacea applesnail eggs has been reported elsewhere, to our knowledge this is the first time that it has been observed in North America.
Optimization of Freeze-FRESH Methodology for 3D Printing of Microporous Collagen Constructs

Freeform reversible embedding of suspended hydrogels (FRESH) is a layer-by-layer extrusion-based technique to enable three-dimensional (3D) printing of soft tissue constructs by using a thermo-reve...
A Mechanistic Model for Yoga as a Preventive and Therapeutic Modality.

Yoga is an ancient Indian technique of healthy living. Numerous studies have corroborated yoga's beneficial effects, including a favorable influence on autonomic function and negative emotions. Extensive research in the last few decades has revealed the critical role that yoga can play in eradicating stress. This has laid to the foundation for a scientific understanding of pathophysiological changes attributed to stress, particularly at the molecular and genetic levels. This primarily has helped understand the epigenetic and genetic mechanism at play to induce and alleviate stress, particularly those related to emotional aberrations. As research has indicated, negative emotions are translated into vascular inflammation appropriately accentuated by a sympathetic predominant autonomic function. This cascade is bolstered by multiple factors, including activation of “stressor” genes and elaborating hormones, including steroids with sometimes nocuous consequences, particularly when chronic. Yoga has been categorically found to have inhibited each and every one of these baneful effects of stress. In fact, it also changes the neuronal circuits that potentiate such a plethora of pathological changes. This, in turn, has accentuated yoga's relevance as a powerful preventive intervention in noncommunicable diseases (NCD). NCDs, including heart disease, stroke, and rheumatological disorders, are essentially inflammatory diseases that perpetuate inflammation in different beds like vascular or joint spaces. The precise mechanism by which yoga induces such beneficial changes is yet to be delineated. However, a cornucopia of pointers indicates that neural, endocrine, immunological, cellular, genetic, and epigenetic mechanisms are at play. This article attempts to cobble together newfangled research to delineate a medical model for this 5000-year-old practice from India. This is imperative, as a mechanistic model of this ancient-but-complex system would enable a more comprehensive understanding of its mechanism and reveal its yet-undiscovered positive health effects.
Tall towers: Schemas and illusions when perceiving and remembering a familiar building

We investigated how schemas can bias both memory and perception of a frequently seen building leading to a horizontal-vertical illusion. Specifically, undergraduate students (n = 172) were asked to estimate and sketch the dimensions of a highly familiar campus building to determine if they misremember or misperceive the building's features. Despite its cubic dimensions, participants frequently overestimated the building's height to width ratio, both on sketches and estimates, as they were likely biased by the horizontal-vertical illusion and the schema that buildings are often taller than wider. This occurred regardless of whether participants sketched and estimated from memory or completed these tasks while perceiving the building. Additionally, participants were often unable to correctly identify the building's outline on a recognition test, even while looking at it. These results demonstrate that both perceptual and memory accuracy can be impacted by schematic biases and cognitive illusions.
Circulating CTRP9 is Associated with Severity of Systemic Sclerosis-associated Interstitial Lung Disease.

Objective While interstitial lung disease (ILD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in systemic sclerosis (SSc), there remains a paucity of predictive markers to assess disease progression. We previously demonstrated that adipose tissue metabolism and adipokine homeostasis is dysregulated in SSc. We sought to determine the association and predictive ability of the novel adipokine C1q/TNF-Related Protein 9 (CTRP9) for SSc-ILD. Methods We performed a retrospective longitudinal study utilizing the Northwestern Scleroderma Program Patient Registry and Biorepository. Serum levels of CTRP9 were measured in 110 SSc patients at baseline, and demographic, clinical and pulmonary function test data were collected in 12-month intervals to 48 months. Longitudinal trajectory of forced vital capacity percent predicted (FVC%) was used as a primary outcome measure. We utilized a mixed model to compare trajectories of lung function by CTRP9 groups and performed latent trajectory analysis to accommodate for heterogeneity. Results In cross-sectional analysis, elevated circulating CTRP9 was associated with significantly lower FVC% at baseline (72%±17 vs. 80%±18, p=0.02) and 48 months (68±19 vs. 84±18, p=0.001). In mixed model analysis, high CTRP9 was associated with worse lung function, but not with a different trajectory (p=0.23). In contrast, low CTRP9 identified patients with stability of lung disease with reasonable accuracy (sensitivity=73%). Latent trajectory analysis confirmed the association of lower CTRP9 with higher FVC%. Conclusions Higher circulating CTRP9 associated with worse pulmonary function while low CTRP9 identified patients with lung disease stability over time. These findings suggest that CTRP9 may be a potential biomarker in SSc-associated ILD.
Effect of maturation and aging on the rate of fast axoplasmic transport in mammalian nerve.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the effect of maturation and aging on the rate of fast axoplasmic transport in mammalian nerve. The effect of maturation and aging on the rate of fast axoplasmic transport is studied in the cat and a group of dogs used to augment the age studies. The most significant finding is of a similarity in the rate found over a wide span of age. Both the fast and slow transport systems present within nerve fibers carry materials synthesized in the cell body down inside the axons to maintain their viability, to supply materials to the nerve terminals required for transmission, and trophic materials to the cells with which the nerve terminals synapse or to cells with which these transport systems are in contiguity. A possible, slightly lower rate was seen in the newborn kitten and in some aged animals a somewhat higher rate was encountered. These were too few to be significant and the results further emphasize the regularity of the fast axoplasmic transport mechanism.
USING CRASH COSTS IN SAFETY ANALYSIS

This research had four objectives: (1) to review the academic and professional literature for vehicle crash costs and the methods used by researchers to estimate such costs; (2) to assess current state department of transportation (DOT) practices across the country; (3) to provide the Iowa DOT with recommendations as to appropriate values for costs of fatal, personal-injury, and property-damage-only crashes; and (4) to suggest modifications to the methods the Iowa DOT currently uses when making safety investment decisions and evaluating design exceptions. The report is presented in four chapters. Chapter 1 provides an introduction. Chapter 2 presents a theoretical framework for justifying, selecting, and using specific crash costs for safety analysis and investment decisions. It also reviews the primary sources for comprehensive costs and the available guidance for using them. Chapter 3 looks at how state DOTs use the values for fatality and injury crash costs. It also compares how different states prioritize safety improvements. Chapter 4 concludes the report with a number of recommendations. These include several revisions to the safety analysis methods currently used by the Iowa DOT.
Low-power design methodology: power estimation and optimization

The author presents a summary of recent results and the state of the art in low-power computer-aided design techniques for integrated circuits. The increasing power consumption levels of integrated circuits (ICs) have become a major concern of the semiconductor industry. Excessive power dissipation causes overheating, which can lead to soft errors or permanent damage. It also limits battery life in portable equipment. Thus, there is a need for a low-power design methodology, which includes computer-aided design (CAD) capabilities for estimating and optimizing (reducing) the power consumption of a proposed design. In this paper, the author discusses the CAD techniques and tools that have been developed for low-power design, specifically for digital CMOS VLSI chips.
Segmentation of textured images by pyramid linking

A pyramid linking algorithm for texture segmentation is presented. It is based on the computation of spatial properties of long, straight edge segments at fixed orientations. Features are computed for each edge segment in terms of the distances to the nearest neighboring edge segments of given orientations. This produces a set of sparse “edge separation maps” of features which are then used as the basis of a pyramid linking procedure for hierarchically grouping edges into homogeneously textured regions. Segmentation is performed in one bottom-up pass of linking nodes to their most similar parent. Results are shown using both the raw and smoothed edge separation features. All of the steps of the procedure can be efficiently implemented as parallel operations on a pyramid machine.
The Value of Organizational Ambivalence for Small and Medium Size Enterprises in an Uncertain World

Prior literature suggests two competing mechanisms for how organizations respond to environmental forces – absorption and reduction – but there is no consensus on which mechanism is more effective. We solve this puzzle by analysing one underlying dimension of these two mechanisms – organizational ambivalence – in a small and medium size enterprise context. Specifically, we believe that because of the difference in consuming resources, organizational ambivalence can be divided into latent and active, which exhibit different uses in dealing with environmental forces and improving firm performance. We conducted two studies in four countries to test our hypotheses. These two studies yield unanimous support for our hypotheses regarding the impact of organizational ambivalence on organizational performance and mixed support for our hypotheses concerning environmental impacts on organizational ambivalence.
Biodegradation Kinetics of 17α-Ethinylestradiol in Activated Sludge Treatment Processes

Abstract Biodegradation is the primary removal mechanism of the potent endocrine-disrupting estrogen 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) during activated sludge (AS) wastewater treatment. Analysis of AS treatment process designs to optimize EE2 removal requires knowledge of EE2 biodegradation kinetics. However, there is little information on EE2 biodegradation kinetics for different types of systems and under long-term studies. EE2 biodegradation kinetics were investigated at 20°C using laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactors simulating aerobic, anaerobic/aerobic enhanced biological phosphorus removal, and anoxic/aerobic biological nitrogen removal processes fed synthetic wastewater. Three sets of reactor experiments were conducted using different municipal AS plant seed sources and with solid retention times (SRTs) ranging from 8 to 13 days. EE2 biodegradation was described by a pseudo first-order biodegradation rate model with a rate coefficient (kb) normalized to the reactor volatile suspended solids (VSS). ...
The Assessment and Non-Pharmacologic Treatment of Procedural Pain From Infancy to School Age Through a Developmental Lens: A Synthesis of Evidence With Recommendations

Introduction The 2011 IOM report stated that pain management in children is often lacking especially during routine medical procedures. The purpose of this review is to bring a developmental lens to the challenges in assessment and non-pharmacologic treatment of pain in young children. Method A synthesis of the findings from an electronic search of PubMed and the university library using the keywords pain, assessment, treatment, alternative, complementary, integrative, infant, toddler, preschool, young, pediatric, and child was completed. A targeted search identified additional sources for best evidence. Results Assessment of developmental cues is essential. For example, crying, facial expression, and body posture are behaviors in infancy that indicate pain: however in toddlers these same behaviors are not necessarily indicative of pain. Preschoolers need observation scales in combination with self-report while for older children self-report is the gold standard. Pain management in infants includes swaddling and sucking. However for toddlers, preschoolers and older children, increasingly sophisticated distraction techniques such as easily implemented non-pharmacologic pain management strategies include reading stories, watching cartoons, or listening to music. Discussion A developmental approach to assessing and treating pain is critical. Swaddling, picture books, or blowing bubbles are easy and effective when used at the appropriate developmental stage and relieve both physical and emotional pain. Untreated pain in infants and young children may lead to increased pain perception and chronic pain in adolescents and adults. Continued research in the non-pharmacological treatment of pain is an important part of the national agenda.
Yield and Nutritive Value of ‘Spring Green’ Festulolium and ‘Jesup’ Endophyte-Free Tall Fescue Stockpiled for Winter Pasture

Pasture-based dairies in the Midwest have a difficult time providing high-quality pasture during winter. Little is known about the yield and nutritive value of festulolium when stockpiled for winter grazing compared to tall fescue. In this study, the yield and nutritive value of 'Jesup' endophyte-free tall fescue [Schedonorus phoenix (Scop.) Holub.] and 'Spring Green' festulolium [Festulolium loliaceum (Hudson) P.V. Fournier] were evaluated monthly from November to March over three years. The research was conducted near Mt. Vernon, MO, on a Gerald silt loam (fine, mixed, active, mesic Aeric Fragiaqualf). In two of the three years, stockpiled tall fescue out-yielded festulolium by as much as 930 kg ha -1 . Both tall fescue and festulolium yields decreased over winter by approximately the same percentage; losses from November to March ranged from 32 to >75%. The nutritive value of stockpiled festulolium was consistently greater than stockpiled tall fescue during winter. Both stockpiled festulolium and tall fescue contain sufficient crude protein and total digestible nutrients at one times maintenance to maintain most small breed dairy cows during their dry period but would be severely lacking once lactation started. Despite the greater nutritive value of stockpiled Spring Green festulolium compared to Jesup tall fescue, the low forage yield of festulolium makes its use questionable for pasture-based dairies.
Slope water, Gulf Stream, and seasonal influences on southern Mid-Atlantic Bight circulation during the fall-winter transition

[1] Observations from autumn 2000 near the shelfbreak front in the Middle Atlantic Bight are used to describe the transition from stratified summer conditions to well-mixed winter conditions over the shelf. During the observational period, the front differed dramatically from climatological conditions, with buoyant Gulf Stream water found shoreward over the subsurface shelfbreak front. Water mass analysis shows a large number of separate water masses with shelf, slope, and Gulf Stream origins. The coolest shelf water was located at the shelfbreak and may be related to “cold pool” water masses observed to the north during summer. Shoreward of this shelfbreak water mass, a mid-shelf front was present which intersected the bottom at the 50-m isobath. High-volume transports were associated with both the shelfbreak and mid-shelf fronts. Transport estimates from the cross-shelf sections were approximately 1 Sverdrup, which is large relative to previous estimates of shelf transport. The foot of the front was near the 130-m isobath, much deeper than the climatological position near the 75-m isobath; however, this is consistent with a recent theory relating the magnitude of alongshelf transport to the depth at which the front intersects the bottom.
Complete count of U.S. transportation workforce

Described are the development and application of an original methodology for a comprehensive and consistent count of transportation-related employment in the United States. In addition, the study represents a general example of how transportation analysts can effectively use and combine classification-based data to answer specific crosscutting questions. The method involved computing the union of two different sets of transportation employment data: transportation industry data, counting all workers in industries that provide or support transportation, and transportation occupational data, counting all workers performing transportation functions. A union, instead of a straightforward sum, was used to avoid double counting of workers employed in the defined transportation and transportation-related industries. A broad definition of transportation-related industries and occupations was used, allowing a complete accounting of employment generated by transportation in the economy. It was concluded that transp...
Apollo Contributes to G Overhang Maintenance and Protects Leading-End Telomeres

Mammalian telomeres contain a single-stranded 3' overhang that is thought to mediate telomere protection. Here we identify the TRF2-interacting factor Apollo as a nuclease that contributes to the generation/maintenance of this overhang. The function of mouse Apollo was determined using Cre-mediated gene deletion, complementation with Apollo mutants, and the TRF2-F120A mutant that cannot bind Apollo. Cells lacking Apollo activated the ATM kinase at their telomeres in S phase and showed leading-end telomere fusions. These telomere dysfunction phenotypes were accompanied by a reduction in the telomeric overhang signal. The telomeric functions of Apollo required its TRF2-interaction and nuclease motifs. Thus, TRF2 recruits the Apollo nuclease to process telomere ends synthesized by leading-strand DNA synthesis, thereby creating a terminal structure that avoids ATM activation and resists end-joining. These data establish that the telomeric overhang is required for the protection of telomeres from the DNA damage response.
Embedded soft material displays

This paper investigates methods of fabricating organic displays based on hybrid material composition. Our primary research focuses on controlling heat activated inks (thermochromic) combined with invisible, embedded electronics. We demonstrate our process through SymbiosisO, a collection of textile interfaces. This wired fabric material behaves as an organic display with a discernable matrix of sub-components, each reacting to definable impulses. The activation of thermochromic inks requires higher power than typical prototyping boards can provide. To address this we are developing a specialized controller platform that supports the necessary power handling, furthermore, by simplifying and reducing the system form factor we demonstrate that such systems can be integrated more easily and within a wider range of static and mobile applications. Our controller continues to be developed toward an end user accessible platform under the name Heatit°C.
Anatomic and Biomechanical Considerations of the Craniovertebral Junction

An understanding of the regional anatomy and specific biomechanics of the craniovertebral junction is relevant to the specific diseases that affect the region as well as instrumentation of the occiput, atlas, and axis. This article reviews the bony, ligamentous, and vascular anatomy of the region, in relation to the posterior surgical approach to this anatomically unique segment of the cervical spine. Anatomic variations of the area are also discussed. Basic principles of instrumentation of the region are also reviewed. The kinematics of the region as they pertain to the anatomic discussion are reviewed and discussed.