cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interspecies scaling: predicting clearance of drugs in humans. Three different approaches

1. The interspecies scaling approach to predict clearance in humans from animal data was tested for a wide variety of drugs. 2. Three different methods were utilized to generate plots to scale-up the clearance values: (i) method I, clearance versus body weight (simple allometric equation); (ii) method II, product of clearance and maximum life-span potential; (iii) method III, product of clearance and brain weight versus body weight. 3. The circumstances under which the three methods can be applied to predict clearance in humans were evaluated. 4. If the exponent lies between 0.55 to 0.7 then method I predicts clearance reasonably well. 5. If the exponent lies between 0.71 to 1.0 clearance can be predicted reasonably well by method II. 6. If the exponent is > 1.0 clearance can be predicted using method III.
Refractory Compositions Based on Silicon‐Boron Oxygen Reactions

The nature and properties of a novel refractory material formed by reacting silicon and boron in air are described. The resulting material consists of free silicon and a new compound, SiB, dispersed in a borosilicate matrix. This refractory is stable in air to temperatures exceeding 1550°C., is thermal-shock resistant, and has a low density.
The Industrial Politics of the Kreditbanken , 1880–1914 *

One of the most durable theories explaining the remarkable rise of German industry in the generation before World War I was that of the critical role of the Kreditbanken, the great commercial and investment banks of which the Deutsche Bank was the most prominent. Recently, however, historians have begun to question the power of the banks, and even to suggest that they were a drag on German economic development. In this brief study of how Georg Siemens, of the Deutsche Bank, kept the peace between the two leading German electrical equipment manufacturers, Professor Neuburger shows that the crucial factors were not merely the financial strength or weakness of the Bank, but also the diplomatic skill with which its leaders navigated the rapidly shifting currents of the era.
Improvement in ductility of chitosan through blending and copolymerization with PEG: FTIR investigation of molecular interactions

Chitosan is an important biomaterial used widely in medical applications. One of the key concerns about its use is the fragile nature of chitosan films. By comparing the component molecular interactions using FTIR, this study attempts to understand how the ductility of chitosan can be improved by blending and copolymerizing with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). An improvement in ductility was obtained for all compositions of blend as manifested by a decrease in modulus and an increase in strain at break. For comparable PEG composition (∼30%), the properties of the solution-cast blend were better than those of the grafted copolymer. Therefore, blending may be a more efficient way to improve ductility of chitosan. FTIR characterization of the materials revealed subtle decreases in molecular interactions upon annealing the partially miscible blend. These may not be apparent in DSC or X-ray diffraction, yet they play a key role in the mechanical behavior. It appears that in the case of the graft copolymer the imp...
Estradiol attenuates angiotensin-induced aldosterone secretion in ovariectomized rats.

Estrogen replacement therapy significantly reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women. Previous studies indicate that estradiol (E2) decreases angiotensin II (AT) receptor density in the adrenal and pituitary in NaCl-loaded rats. We used an in vivo model that eliminates the potentially confounding influence of ACTH to determine whether the E2-induced decrease in adrenal AT receptor expression affects aldosterone responses to angiotensin II (Ang II). Female rats were ovariectomized, treated with oil (OVX) or E2 (OVX+E2; 10 microg, s.c.) for 14 days, and fed a NaCl-deficient diet for the last 7 days to maximize adrenal AT receptor expression and responsiveness. On days 12-14 rats were treated with dexamethasone (DEX; 25 microg, i.p., every 12 h) to suppress plasma ACTH. On day 14 aldosterone secretion was measured after a 30-min infusion of Ang II (330 ng/min). Ang II infusion increased the peak plasma aldosterone levels to a lesser degree in the OVX+E2 than in the OVX rats (OVX, 1870 +/- 290 pg/ml; OVX+E2, 1010 +/- 86 pg/ml; P < 0.05). Ang II-induced ACTH and aldosterone secretion was also studied in rats that were not treated with DEX. In the absence of DEX, the peak plasma aldosterone response was also significantly decreased (OVX, 5360 +/- 1200 pg/ml; OVX+E2, 2960 +/- 570 pg/ml; P < 0.05). However, E2 also reduced the plasma ACTH response to Ang II (P < 0.05; OVX, 220 +/- 29 pg/ml; OVX+E2, 160 +/- 20 pg/ml), suggesting that reduced pituitary ACTH responsiveness to Ang II contributes to the effect of E2 on Ang II-induced aldosterone secretion. Adrenal AT1 binding studies confirmed that E2 significantly reduces adrenal AT1 receptor expression in both the presence and absence of DEX in NaCl-deprived rats. These results indicate that E2-induced decreases in pituitary and adrenal AT1 receptor expression are associated with attenuated pituitary ACTH and adrenal aldosterone responses to Ang II and suggest that estrogen replacement therapy may modulate Ang II-stimulated aldosterone secretion as part of its well known cardioprotective actions.
Achieving network on chip fault tolerance by adaptive remapping

This paper investigates achieving fault tolerance by adaptive remapping in the context of Networks on Chip. The problem of dynamic application remapping is formulated and an efficient algorithm is proposed to address single and multiple PE failures. The new algorithm can be used to dynamically react and recover from PE failures in order to maintain system functionality. The quality of results is similar to that achieved using simulated annealing but in significantly shorter runtimes.
Low-delay communication for Rayleigh fading channels: an application of the multiple description quantizer

We show the multiple description scalar quantizer (MDSQ), when used over a slow fading Rayleigh channel, results in a smaller interleaving delay than traditional channel code-based approaches and substantially outperforms a system using a maximum ratio combiner. We consider a continuous alphabet source without memory over a slow Rayleigh fading channel. Specifically, it is initially assumed that the Rayleigh parameter remains constant over a specific time interval and the demodulator has available perfect estimates of the Rayleigh parameter. An analysis of the problem is presented and theoretical justification is provided for using the MDSQ. For a Gaussian source without memory, performance comparisons are presented against a traditional maximum ratio combiner (MRC)-based system as well as against channel code-based systems. It is shown that the performance of the MDSQ-based system dominates the MRC-based system at all channel signal-to-noise ratios and is superior to channel code-based systems when the interleaving delay is constrained. Simulation results for a mobile radio channel model at 15 m.p.h. indicate a reduction in the interleaving delay by at least a factor of three.
Ion lasers-the early years

The paper is a personal, anecdotal history of the discovery and early development of ion lasers, particularly the argon ion laser. A brief discussion of the mechanisms that make this laser work, and the engineering challenges and developments that make it practical are included. Some early applications in night reconnaissance and imaging are included.
The Fetal Urinoma Revisited

The fetal urinoma is a rare but important diagnosis, as it indicates substantial underlying obstruction with implications for the functionality of the affected kidney. This case series describes a single center's experience with the diagnosis and management of fetal urinomas. All 25 cases were diagnosed or referred to our medical center over an 11-year period. Most cases were secondary to either posterior urethral valves or ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Fetal interventions, including percutaneous drainage of the urinoma and cystoscopic alleviation of bladder outlet obstruction, were performed in 4 cases.
Fracture Strains, Damage Mechanisms and Anisotropy in a Magnesium Alloy Across a Range of Stress Triaxialities

We report on the effect of stress-state triaxiality on damage accumulation leading to fracture at ambient temperature in magnesium alloy AZ31. We find that the strain to failure is weakly sensitive to triaxiality for the conditions investigated, at variance with the behavior of most alloy systems. Using plastic anisotropy measurements, post-mortem fractography and transverse cross-sectioning of specimens at incipient cracking, we discuss the contributions of plastic anisotropy, shear failure and coalescence-controlled cracking to limiting the net effect of stress triaxiality.
Robustness and uncertainty in estimates of butterfly abundance from transect counts

Many butterfly populations are monitored by counting the number of butterflies observed while walking transects during the butterfly’s flight season. Methods for estimating population abundance from these transect counts are appealing because they allow rare populations to be monitored without capture–recapture studies that could harm fragile individuals. An increasingly popular method for estimating abundance from transect counts relies on strong assumptions about the counting process and the processes that govern butterfly population dynamics. Here, we study the statistical performance of this method when underlying model assumptions are violated. We find that estimates of population size are robust to departures from underlying model assumptions, but that the uncertainty in these estimates (i.e., confidence intervals) is substantially underestimated. Alternative bootstrap and Bayesian methods provide better measures of the uncertainty in estimated population size, but are conditional upon knowledge of butterfly detectability. Because of these requirements, a mixed approach that combines data from small capture–recapture studies with transect counts strikes the best balance between accurate monitoring and minimal injury to individuals. Our study is motivated by monitoring studies for St. Francis satyr (Neonympha mitchelli francisci), a rare and relatively immobile butterfly occurring only in the sandhills region of south-central North Carolina, USA.
Environmental and vegetational variation across a snow accumulation area in montane tundra in central Alaska

Several environmental factors were measured in a transect across a snow accumulation area in order to indicate (1) possible controls of arctic vegetation patterns; (2) water, carbon, and nutrient budgets of different vegetation types; and (3) relationships of Eriophorum vaginatum tussock tundra to other vegetation types. The results indicate that the vegetation zones are largely associated with different levels of nitrogen and phosphorus availability rather than length of the snowfree season, water availability, and soil pH. Nitrogen uptake was highest in the forb-grass and lower deciduous shrub zones and lowest in the lichen-heath. Phosphorus uptake was highest in the lower deciduous shrub zone and lowest in the lichen-heath. On the basis of several floristic and environmental factors tussock tundra has the lowest affinities to the lower deciduous shrub zone.
Randomized comparison of virtual microscopy and traditional glass microscopy in diagnostic accuracy among dermatology and pathology residents.

Summary Virtual microscopy is being used in medical schools to teach histology and pathology. It is also being used in resident education, in-training examinations (dermatology), and certification examinations (pathology). There are, however, few studies comparing its diagnostic accuracy and acceptability compared with traditional glass slides. This study sought to compare residents' abilities in diagnosing dermatopathology disorders in 2 image formats (traditional microscopic slides and whole mount digitized images) and to assess their perceptions of virtual microscopy in dermatopathology. Residents in dermatology and pathology training programs at 14 institutions were given a randomized combination of 20 virtual and glass slides and were asked to identify the diagnoses from multiple foils. They were then asked to give their impressions about the virtual images. Descriptive data analysis and comparison of groups using Pearson χ 2 and Fisher exact tests for categorical variables and Student t test for continuous variables were performed. Residents in dermatology and pathology performed similarly in diagnosing dermatopathology disorders using virtual slides or glass slides (mean [SD] correct for virtual versus glass, 5.48 (1.72) versus 5.57 (2.06); P = .70). The order of administration of virtual versus glass slides did not affect the percentage of questions answered correctly. Most residents supported the use of virtual microscopy as a learning aid, whereas fewer favored its use in testing (79% versus 44%, respectively). Residents performed similarly in making dermatologic diagnoses using virtual slides compared with glass slides despite the residents' preference for the latter.
Optimizing muscle wrap orientation for aortomyoplasty

A new surgical approach to augment the pumping ability of failed hearts is known as aortomyoplasty-a technique in which the latissimus dorsi muscle is wrapped around the aorta and stimulated during cardiac diastole to provide chronic diastolic counterpulsation. The authors hypothesized that the manner in which the latissimus dorsi muscle is wrapped around the aorta will determine the amount of augmentation during counterpulsation. In dogs (n=9), they measured the cardiovascular effects of different muscle wrap techniques. Their results suggest that muscle wrap orientation determines the amount of augmentation during aortomyoplasty, and a new muscle wrap technique provides greater augmentation than wrap techniques previously reported.
A global electric circuit model within a community climate model

To determine the complex dependencies of currents and electric fields within the Global Electric Circuit (GEC) on the underlying physics of the atmosphere, a new modeling framework of the GEC has been developed for use within global circulation models. Specifically, the Community Earth System Modeling framework has been utilized. A formulation of atmospheric conductivity based on ion production and loss mechanisms (including galactic cosmic rays, radon, clouds, and aerosols), conduction current sources, and ionospheric potential changes due to the influence of external current systems are included. This paper presents a full description of the calculation of the electric fields and currents within the model, which now includes several advancements to GEC modeling as it incorporates many processes calculated individually in previous articles into a consistent modeling framework. This framework uniquely incorporates effects from the troposphere up to the ionosphere within a single GEC model. The incorporation of a magnetospheric potential, which is generated by a separate magnetospheric current system, acts to modulate or enhance the surface level electric fields at high-latitude locations. This produces a distinct phasing signature with the GEC potential that is shown to depend on the observation location around the globe. Lastly, the model output for Vostok and Concordia, two high-latitude locations, is shown to agree with the observational data obtained at these sites over the same time period.
Dynamics of a nonlinear discrete population model with jumps

Our aim is to investigate the global asymptotic behavior, the existence of invariant intervals, oscillatory behavior, structure of semicycles, and periodicity of a nonlinear discrete population model of the form xn+1= F (x n ); for n = 0; 1;:::;where x0> 0; and the function F is a positive piecewise continuous function with two jump discontinuities satisfying some additional conditions. The motivation for study of this general model was inspired by the classical Williamson’s discontinuous population model, some recent results about the dynamics of the discontinuous Beverton-Holt model, and applications of discontinuous maps to the West Nile epidemic model. In the rst section we introduce the population model which is a focal point of this paper. We provide background information including a summary of related results, a comparison between characteristics of continuous and discontinuous population models (with and without the Allee-type eect), and a justication of hypotheses introduced in the model. In addition we review some basic concepts and formulate known results which will be used later in the paper. The second and third sections are dedicated to the study of the dynamics and the qualitative analysis of solutions of the model in two distinct cases. An example, illustrating the obtained results, together with some computer experiments that provide deeper insight into the dynamics of the model are presented in the fourth section. Finally, in the last section we formulate three open problems and provide some concluding remarks.
Abraham Lincoln and Press Suppression Reconsidered

Abstract During the Civil War the federal government was responsible for the greatest amount of newspaper suppression in the nation's history. More than 300 newspapers were shut down, most of them Democratic papers that were sympathetic to the Confederacy. Some historians have criticized President Abraham Lincoln for allowing such widespread constraints on the press. This article reconsiders the nature of Lincoln's view of press freedom. Based on a letter the president sent to a Union general, it concludes that Lincoln changed his thinking about midway through the war and began to believe that suppression of the press was not the appropriate policy. This article examines Southern editors' views of Abraham Lincoln from 1860–1865. The press's role in shaping, defining, and reflecting the public's views of Lincoln was crucial for the region's readers, many of whom did not even know the Illinois lawyer in 1860. Southern press views of Lincoln are examined during five key periods: the president's election and ...
Creating a Critical Literacy Milieu in a Kindergarten Classroom

The purpose of this study was to better understand the process of engaging in critical literacy practices with kindergarteners. The researcher spent six months in a kindergarten classroom taking extensive field notes on the ways in which the teacher and students explored issues of social justice through literacy activities. Data analysis using a critical literacy framework revealed that this kindergarten teacher did not merely incorporate critical literacy lessons into her classroom, but rather created a critical literacy milieu. This milieu helped support students to respectfully consider multiple viewpoints, to engage in thoughtful problem solving, and to openly discuss difficult issues revolving around difference.
Longhorned Woodboring Beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae and Disteniidae): Primary Types of the Smithsonian Institution

Longhorned Woodboring Beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae and Disteniidae): Primary Types of the Smithsonian Institution Steven W. Lingafelter, Eugenio H. Nearns, Gerard L. Tavakilian, Miguel A. Monne, Michael Bondi 2014: 390 pages Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press Washington, DC ISBN: 978-1-935623-40-3 $69.95 (hardcover) ![Graphic][1] In their book, Longhorned Woodboring Beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae and Disteniidae): Primary Types of the Smithsonian Institution , Lingafelter et al. present a catalog and color images for the 2,000+ primary types of cerambycids held by the United States National Museum of Natural History (NMNH; Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC USA). The NMNH houses the largest collection of primary types of cerambycids outside of Europe, and the third largest collection of primary types of cerambycids in the world. As such, this book is an important contribution to the literature on cerambycid taxonomy and is a valuable resource for collection managers, curators, and cerambycid taxonomists. The Smithsonian Institution's Department of Entomology was established in 1881, with the support of the United States Department of Agriculture … raya6{at}xavier.edu [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif
Treatment for convulsive status epilepticus in severe encephalitis

Convulsive status epilepticus(CSE)in severe encephalitis is one of the most common medical emergencies in children. Recently,there has been some understanding on the management of convulsive status epilepticus. Not only have the definition and time frame of a seizure changed but many new drugs have been introduced. The aim of this review is to present the current definition of CSE and treatment options it.
Suicidality and Activation of the Kynurenine Pathway of Tryptophan Metabolism

A recent report by the World Health Organization declared suicide to be a major global problem. With more than 800,000 lives lost each year, suicide is calculated to be the 14th leading cause of death around the world. While the biological mechanisms causing suicidal ideation and behavior are not fully understood, increased levels of inflammation, arising from various sources, have been detected in the central nervous system and the peripheral blood of suicidal patients and suicide completers. Inflammation induces the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism, which generates a range of metabolites with potent effects on neurotransmitter systems as well as on inflammation. Recent evidence indicates that a dysregulation of the enzymes in the kynurenine pathway may be present in suicidal patients, with a resulting imbalance of metabolites that modulate glutamate neurotransmission and neuroinflammation. As the body of research in these areas grows, targeting the kynurenine pathway enzymes and metabolites may provide novel therapeutic opportunities for detection, treatment, and ultimately prevention of suicidal behavior.
Gesture: Sociocultural Analysis

Gesture is central to human interaction, depicted in art, taught in rhetoric, and studied as part of utterance. Gesture involves varying semiotic modalities and connections with speech. There are cultural particularities to its use and form, as well as ideological constructions of its appropriateness and expressive capacity.
Experience with a Modification of the Cloutier Technique for Hypospadias Repair

A modification of the Cloutier technique of hypospadias repair is described. The technique is applicable to all but the most minor degree of the anomaly. When free of complications the final result approximates a cosmetically and functionally normal penis. Since June 1985, 35 children have undergone both stages of the repair. The only complication encountered was fistula formation in 5, for a complication rate of 14.3 per cent.
The importance of virtue ethics in the IRB

Institutional review boards have a dual goal: first, to protect the rights and welfare of human research subjects, and second, to support and facilitate the conduct of valuable research. In striving to achieve these goals, IRBs must often consider conflicting interests. In the discussion below, we characterize research oversight as having three elements: (i) research regulations, which establish a minimum acceptable standard for research conduct; (ii) ethical principles, which help us identify and define relevant ethical issues; and (iii) virtue ethics, which guides the prioritization of relevant issues. We describe specific ways in which the lessons of virtue ethics suggest revisions to the IRB structure and review process, the education and training of IRB members, and the appropriate limits of regulations in research ethics oversight.
Exchange economies of late prehistoric eastern Sonora, Mexico: A re-evaluation based on provenance data analyses

This paper presents provenance data on mundane and rare artifact classes from eastern Sonora in order to revise interpretations of the political economy of late prehistoric Northwest Mexico. Previous researchers have argued that long-distance exchange was a predominantly elite activity utilized to generate economic wealth as a means to political ascendance. Data presented in this analysis contradict these previous models and indicate that all segments of society employed exchange to forge relationships for diverse reasons. Aspiring leaders rarely utilized unequal access to regionally acquired goods to attract local supporters. There is no evidence that foreign objects or symbolism imported from Mesoamerica were a component of aspirant leader strategies. Commoner households exchanged mundane artifacts to bank social capital with groups unlikely to undergo simultaneous social depredations. Overall, exchange and other data indicate a fairly balkanized landscape with few signs of elite offices.
Estimating Quality of Life and Place with Location Theory: The McBucks Index

Interest in quality of life and place (QOL) has increased dramatically over the past few decades. Traditionally, QOL across geographic areas has been measured with two approaches: objective measures based on revealed preference theory via compensating differentials and subjective or stated preference approaches. While recent work has attempted to statistically link the two approaches, this paper presents a new alternative approach to measuring QOL across geographic areas founded on location theory from the multidisciplinary field of regional science using chain store data. While highly correlated with the other two approaches, the index developed here is also easily and quickly updated and able to provide insights that are not available with the two traditional means.
Evaluation of a Long-Term Predator Removal Program: Abundance and Population Dynamics of Invasive Northern Pike in the Yampa River, Colorado

AbstractThe Northern Pike Esox lucius is invasive in the upper Green and Yampa River basins of Colorado and Utah and impedes endangered fish recovery in the upper Colorado River basin. Mechanical removal was implemented in 2004, but Northern Pike population dynamics and removal efficacy were not well understood. We analyzed mark–recapture records from 8,929 individual Northern Pike captured during 2004–2010 from three reaches of the Yampa River: Hayden to Craig (upstream reach), South Beach–Little Yampa Canyon–Juniper (middle reach), and Maybell–Sunbeam (downstream reach), encompassing 175 river kilometers. Annual survival rates for Northern Pike of the mean TL (465 mm) were highest downstream (mean = 0.54; range = 0.36–0.71) and lowest upstream (mean = 0.25; range = 0.12–0.38). Annual abundance exhibited the opposite pattern, as it was highest upstream (annual range = 1,144–4,078 fish) and lowest downstream (range = 232–746 fish). After removal occurred each year, Northern Pike abundance increased annual...
The Effects of Doodling on Recall Ability

Previous research has documented a positive effect of doodling on individuals’ ability to recall information. However, previous research is limited to structured doodling tasks, such as shading in basic shapes. The present study extends the extant research, and increases the external validity of the previous findings, by considering the effects of multiple forms of doodling on recall. In this experimental study, ninety-three undergraduate participants were randomly assigned to one of 4 conditions (control, structured doodling, unstructured doodling, or note-taking). Participants listened to a fictional dialogue between 2 friends discussing a recent earthquake and then completed a fill-in the blank quiz to test their recall of the conversational information. The results indicated that participants in the unstructured doodling condition performed significantly worse than those in the structured doodling and note-taking condition.
Operation of a high quality-factor gyroscope in electromechanical nonlinearities regime

This paper describes the operation of a high quality factor gyroscope in various regimes where electromechanical nonlinearities introduce different forms of amplitude–frequency (A–f) dependence. Experiments are conducted using an epitaxially-encapsulated 2 × 2 mm2 quad-mass gyroscope (QMG) with a quality factor of 85 000. The device exhibits third-order Duffing nonlinearity at low bias voltages (15 V) due to the mechanical nonlinearity in the flexures and at high bias voltages (35 V) due to third-order electrostatic nonlinearity. At intermediate voltages (~26 V), these third-order nonlinearities cancel and the amplitude–frequency dependence is greatly reduced. A model is developed to demonstrate the connection between the electromechanical nonlinearities and the amplitude–frequency dependence, also known as the backbone curve. Gyroscope operation is demonstrated in each nonlinear operating regime and the key performance measures of the gyroscope's performance, angle random walk (ARW) and bias instability, are measured as a function of drive-mode vibration amplitude. We find that low ARW can be achieved even though the gyroscope's drive mode exhibits large amplitude–frequency dependence, and that bias instability is largely independent of the operating regime.
Reexamining the Association of Body Mass Index With Overall Survival Outcomes After Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND Several studies have shown that obese patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT) have an increased risk of mortality regardless of Model of End Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores. The purpose of this study is to identify the range of body mass index (BMI) at LT associated with the lowest risks of posttransplant mortality by MELD category. METHODS A retrospective cohort of patients aged 18 years or older from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network database undergoing LT between February 27, 2002, and December 31, 2013, was identified and followed up through March 14, 2014. Patients' MELD score at the time of transplantation was categorized into 10 or lower (MELD1), 11 to 18 (MELD2), 19 to 24 (MELD3), and 25 or higher (MELD4). Multivariable adjusted Cox proportional hazard analyses were conducted. RESULTS Among 48 226 patients in the analytic cohort (14.8% were in MELD1, 33.7% were in MELD2, 19.6% were in MELD3, and 32.0% were in MELD4), 25% died with mean follow-up of 1371 days. For MELD1, patient BMI ranging from 30 to 33 was associated with a better survival outcome than BMI less than 30 or 33 or greater; for MELD2, BMI ranging from 28 to 37 had a better survival outcome than BMI less than 28 or 37 or greater; for MELD3, the survival outcome improved with an increasing BMI; for MELD4, the survival outcome was not associated with patient BMI. CONCLUSIONS This study provides evidence that obesity in LT patients is not necessarily associated with higher posttransplantation mortality and highlights the importance of the interaction between BMI and MELD category to determine their survival likelihood.
Patient- and Family-Centered Care in the Preoperative Setting: Simulation Cases Featuring Standardized Patients for Anesthesia Residents.

Introduction Evidence links patient-centered care to improvements in allocation of health care resources, patient satisfaction, chronic disease self-management, morbidity, and mortality. Support fr...
Point-of-care washing of allogeneic red blood cells for the prevention of transfusion-related respiratory complications (WAR-PRC): a protocol for a multicenter randomised clinical trial in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Introduction The transfusion-related respiratory complications, transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) and transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO), are leading causes of transfusion-related morbidity and mortality. At present, there are no effective preventive strategies with red blood cell (RBC) transfusion. Although mechanisms remain incompletely defined, soluble biological response modifiers (BRMs) within the RBC storage solution may play an important role. Point-of-care (POC) washing of allogeneic RBCs may remove these BRMs, thereby mitigating their impact on post-transfusion respiratory complications. Methods and analysis This is a multicenter randomised clinical trial of standard allogeneic versus washed allogeneic RBC transfusion for adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery testing the hypothesis that POC RBC washing is feasible, safe, and efficacious and will reduce recipient immune and physiologic responses associated with transfusion-related respiratory complications. Relevant clinical outcomes will also be assessed. This investigation will enrol 170 patients at two hospitals in the USA. Simon’s two-stage design will be used to assess the feasibility of POC RBC washing. The primary safety outcomes will be assessed using Wilcoxon Rank-Sum tests for continuous variables and Pearson chi-square test for categorical variables. Standard mixed modelling practices will be employed to test for changes in biomarkers of lung injury following transfusion. Linear regression will assess relationships between randomised group and post-transfusion physiologic measures. Ethics and dissemination Safety oversight will be conducted under the direction of an independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB). Approval of the protocol was obtained by the DSMB as well as the institutional review boards at each institution prior to enrolling the first study participant. This study aims to provide important information regarding the feasibility of POC washing of allogeneic RBCs and its potential impact on ameliorating post-transfusion respiratory complications. Additionally, it will inform the feasibility and scientific merit of pursuing a more definitive phase II/III clinical trial. Registration ClinicalTrials.gov registration number is NCT02094118(Pre-results).
Introduction: An Idea Whose Time Has Come

Despite the fact that BPD typically emerges in adolescence, it was not until the fourth edition of the DSM that the diagnosis of BPD in youth was permitted. Despite this allowance, diagnosing youth with BPD has engendered a great deal of reluctance. The steady emergence of a strong empirical basis for the construct of juvenile BPD in addition to the development of appropriate intervention to address the problems associated ith juvenile BPD is now diminishing this reluctance. In this volume we have brought together many researchers and clinicians who have spearheaded this transformation in the field, which, in turn, now enables us to characterize juvenile BPD not as a diagnosis that dare not speak its name, but as an idea whose time has come. In this introductory chapter we comment on the unprecedented increase in research activity around the topic of juvenile BPD and introduce each of the contributions in this volume.
Gender-related Development

This article addresses how children develop gender-related knowledge, preferences, behaviors, and roles. In the first section, the multidimensional nature of gender is described. In this part, the many different constructs involved in understanding gender-related development are described, including gender identity, gender roles, gender stereotypes, and gender-related behaviors. The second section includes a description of age trends in the development of gender identity, gender-related social behavior and cognitive skills, and gender stereotypes. Gender identity is the sense of oneself as a male or female and this sense of self develops in a series of stages. Gender stereotypes are culturally defined expectations about the sexes, which begin developing early in life and become more extensive as children grow older. Gender-related behaviors and characteristics have been the subject of numerous studies and the developmental patterns vary by characteristic. In the third section, the major theories of gender development are outlined, including biological approaches, socialization theories, and cognitive and schema theories. In the fourth section, future directions for research are discussed.
A comparison of methods for online lever arm estimation in GPS/INS integration

A comparison of neural network, state augmentation, and multiple model-based approaches to online location of inertial sensors on a vehicle is presented that exploits dual-antenna carrier-phase-differential GNSS. The best technique among these is shown to yield a significant improvement on a priori calibration with a short window of data. Estimation of Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) parameters is a mature field, with state augmentation being a strong favorite for practical implementation, to the potential detriment of other approaches. A simple modification of the standard state augmentation technique for determining IMU location is presented that determines which model of an enumerated set best fits the measurements of this IMU. A neural network is also trained on batches of IMU and GNSS data to identify the lever arm of the IMU. A comparison of these techniques is performed and it is demonstrated on simulated data that state augmentation outperforms these other methods.
Neutrophil Elastase Induces Lung Injury Following Lower Limb Ischaemia

Ischaemia-reperfusion injury in skeletal muscle is mediated in large part by adherent neutrophils [1]. If the mass of ischaemic tissue is large, reperfusion leads to acute lung injury, which is also dependent upon neutrophils. The injury mechanism is initiated by the generation of reactive oxygen species within the reperfused tissue [2, 3]. Inhibition of oxygen radical formation prevents the sequestration of neutrophils both within the reperfused tissue and also within the lungs. The effectiveness of oxygen radical inhibition in preventing reperfusion injury does not, therefore, document the mechanism by which the neutrophil induces injury in either setting [4, 5].
Low temperature photoconductivity of few layer p-type tungsten diselenide (WSe2) field-effect transistors (FETs)

We report on the low-temperature photoconductive properties of few layer p-type tungsten diselenide (WSe2) field-effect transistors (FETs) synthesized using the chemical vapor transport method. Photoconductivity measurements show that these FETs display room temperature photo-responsivities of ∼7 mAW-1 when illuminated with a laser of wavelength λ = 658 nm with a power of 38 nW. The photo-responsivities of these FETs showed orders of magnitude improvement (up to ∼1.1 AW-1 with external quantum efficiencies reaching as high as ∼188%) upon application of a gate voltage (V G = -60 V). A temperature dependent (100 K < T < 300 K) photoconductivity study reveals a weak temperature dependence of responsivity for these WSe2 phototransistors. We demonstrate that it is possible to obtain stable photo-responsivities of ∼0.76 ± 0.2 AW-1 (with applied V G = -60 V), at low temperatures in these FETs. These findings indicate the possibility of developing WSe2-based FETs for highly robust, efficient, and swift photodetectors with a potential for optoelectronic applications over a broad range of temperatures.
Genetic Algorithm Based Kalman Filter Adaptation Algorithm for Magnetic and Inertial Measurement Unit

A magnetic and inertial measurement unit (MIMU) usually measures acceleration, rotation rate, and earth's magnetic field in order to determine a body's attitude. In order to find the orientation information using all sensor information a fusion algorithm is used. Extended Kalman filtering is a well known technique that has been widely applied in many applications used for state estimation. The main idea behind the algorithm is that a series of observations over time is used to produce estimates of unknown states leading to more precise orientation information than compared to when estimated states were only based on single observations. However, one problem exists, namely the Extended Kalman filtering solution becomes very poor when abrupt acceleration motions occur. In order to avoid this problem, an optimization algorithm can be integrated into the filtering mechanism as a dynamic model correction. Thus, this paper introduces a genetic algorithm to be utilized as a noise-adaptive mechanism in order to tune the Extended Kalman filter process.
Total Protein Analysis in Algae via Bulk Amino Acid Detection: Optimization of Amino Acid Derivatization after Hydrolysis with O-Phthalaldehyde 3-Mercaptopropionic Acid (OPA-3MPA)

The analysis of protein in algal biomass is one of the most critical areas of commercial development of algae characterization for nutritional or other high value applications. A new rapid and accurate method is required that can be widely implemented and that is free from interferences from the complex algal biomass matrix. We developed a simple spectrophotometric method for primary amino acid quantification bulk measurement in an acid hydrolyzed algal biomass preparation, as an alternative to the more labor-intensive amino HPLC acid analysis or less specific nitrogen-to-protein conversion. We have validated an O-phthalaldehyde (OPA)-based derivatization method, showing accurate and linear quantification for standard reference amino acids as well as mixtures, mimicking the amino acid complexity found in algal biomass. The presence of interferences that may be derived from the complex biomass biochemical composition was tested during the method validation phase. We document the application of a novel method of OPA derivatization with 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3MPA) to determine the total amino acid content of harvested algal biomass collected from different, controlled cultivation conditions and demonstrated a within 10% accuracy against a reference measurement of amino acid content in at least 4 species and 10 algal biomass samples, across early, mid, and late-stages of cultivation.
Tocilizumab for the treatment of chimeric antigen receptor T cell-induced cytokine release syndrome

Introduction: Cancer-directed immunotherapies are transforming the landscape in oncology as new and exciting therapies move from the laboratory to the bedside. Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells are one of these novel therapies, demonstrating impressive efficacy against B-cell malignancies. With the development of new therapies, it is not uncommon to identify new and unanticipated toxicities. CAR-T cells cause unique toxicities not typically found with traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy or small molecule inhibitors. Areas covered: CAR-T cell associated toxicities include cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and CAR-T cell-related encephalopathy syndrome (CRES), alternatively known as immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). Prompt identification and management of CRS and CRES are imperative for the prevention of life-threatening complications of these innovative therapies. This literature review describes the seminal trials of CD19-directed immunotherapy and the pathophysiology and management of the toxicities found with CAR-T cells. In addition, the use of the interleukin-6 receptor antibody tocilizumab for CRS is reviewed. Expert opinion: This review describes the recommended management of CRS and CRES and examines the current limitations in management. Alternative therapies for the treatment of CAR-T cell related toxicities are also explored. Furthermore, the review proposes future directions for research.
Recruitment dynamics and population structure of willows in tundra disturbed by retrogressive thaw slump thermokarst on Alaska’s North slope

Abstract Retrogressive thaw slumps (RTS) are large (> 1 ha) depressions of exposed mineral soil on hillslopes caused by the thaw and displacement of ice-rich permafrost soils in high-latitude regions; since the 1980s the number of RTS observed on Alaska’s North Slope has increased by two-thirds. Some RTS in the Toolik Lake area are filled with tall (≥ 0.5 m) willow thickets, likely within decades after disturbance. Tall shrub thickets are different in structure and function from mixed dwarf tundra communities and may have different long-term impacts on ecosystems and wildlife. Currently it is unknown to what degree seedlings versus clonal recruitment contribute to shrub thickets. We assessed size and distribution of clones (modular stems of individuals) using eight microsatellite (SSR) markers to genotype leaf tissue of 223 willow ramets (stems) at two sites: an RTS aged 11–30 years since disturbance, and nearby undisturbed moist acidic tussock (MAT) tundra. Genotypes of known clones from excavated ramets were used to determine the mutation rate of clones. Spatial arrangement of ramets within clones was assessed in 18 × 18 m sampling grids nested at 2 m (“far clones”), 1 m (intermediate), and 0.25 m (“near clones”) between ramets. We identified 121 genotypes including 10 clonal genotypes in the RTS, and 63 genotypes including 11 clonal genotypes in the undisturbed MAT. Percent distinguishable was greater than 76% at both sites. Mean spatial distance between clonal ramets was not different at either site but among far clones, ramets were separated 7–16 m downslope in the RTS. Salix pulchra was the dominant willow at both sites; a third of willow genotypes in the RTS were identified as S. glauca, a disturbance colonizer. Rarer and hybrid species comprised 4–20% of all genotypes but were more abundant in the RTS. At both sites, within-species expected heterozygosity (HT) ranged from 0.49 - 0.85. Our results suggest: 1) sexual recruitment and low clonal expansion likely explain genetic diversity of willows in disturbed and late-successional sites; and 2) downslope separation of far clones in the RTS suggests disturbance effects; and 3) species richness was higher in the disturbed site.
Effect of truncated singular value decomposition on digital subtraction angiography derived angiographic parametric imaging maps

Angiographic parametric imaging (API) is a quantitative imaging method which uses digital subtraction angiography (DSA) to calculate biomarkers related to hemodynamics. This method has been used for neurovascular disease diagnosis and treatment outcome predictions in clinical settings but results are regarded with caution since derived biomarkers are strongly correlated with contrast injection parameters. This study aimed to assess utilization of truncated singular value decomposition (TSVD) in correcting API maps across various injection rates. Digital angiography data was collected using two neurovascular phantoms embedded in a simulated flow loop. Contrast volumes of 5 and 10 mL along with injection rates of 5, 10, 15, and 20 mL/sec were utilized during testing. API maps were generated with baseline and stenosis models using gamma variate fitting along with TSVD of the arterial input of the phantom. Surrogate regional blood flow (sRBF) and regional blood volume (sRBV) maps indicate consistent values across varying injection rates along with decreases in flow and volumes following introduction of a stenosis (Baseline: sRBF=53.3±4.20 arbitrary volume units (AVU)/min, sRBV=2.66±0.14 AVU, Stenosis: sRBF=28.6±3.78 AVU/min, sRBV=1.75±0.45 AVU). Mean transit time (MTT) and time of maximal residue function (Tmax) maps indicate consistent and decreasing parameter values respectively as injection rates increase along with increases in each parameter in the presence of a stenosis (Baseline: MTT=0.72±0.14 sec, Tmax=1.36±0.14 sec, Stenosis: MTT=0.94±0.13 sec, Tmax=1.71±0.18 sec). This study indicates TSVD has the potential to normalize API parameter maps across various injection rates potentially allowing for the implementation of API in ischemic stroke diagnosis and treatment.