cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The roles of semantic networks and search efficiency in verbal fluency performance in intractable temporal lobe epilepsy.

Two competing hypotheses (i.e., disruption of semantic networks vs. search inefficiency) concerning the mechanisms underlying impaired semantic verbal fluency in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) were tested within a single paradigm. Reports that semantic verbal fluency is more impaired in left than right TLE groups were confirmed by the findings that the left TLE group produced fewer words on a supermarket fluency task than did the normal control (NC) group, and that the performance of the right TLE group was intermediate to that of the left TLE and NC groups. Because both TLE groups generated fewer words per category of supermarket items sampled, and produced a higher ratio of category labels relative to category exemplars than did the NC group, it can be surmised that TLE disrupts semantic memory networks. The findings did not support the competing hypothesis that reduced semantic verbal fluency in TLE is a manifestation of inefficient search/retrieval strategies, possibly associated with distal frontal lobe pathophysiology. Specifically, the TLE and NC groups did not differ significantly in their mean number of perseverations, intrusions, or search efficiency (operationalized as the ratio of the number of shifts between categories to the number of categories sampled).
Combining Lidar and InSAR Observations over the Harvard and Duke Forests for Making Wide Area Maps of Vegetation Height

In this paper, two data sets consisting of co-located full-waveform lidar and InSAR observations are discussed, one over the Duke Forest, near Durham, North Carolina, and the other, the Harvard Forest, located in Western Massachusetts. Data for the Duke forest consists of AIRSAR and GeoSAR (both airborne sensors) interferometric SAR observations spanning in frequency from X-band down to P-band, and data from the GSFC's SLICER instrument. For the Harvard Forest, spaceborne data from JAXA's ALOS/PALSAR mission is used in conjunction with GSFC's LVIS instrument. Early work with SLICER and GeoSAR data has used a lookup table approach for generating a table that correlates the InSAR observables of differential height between X-and P-band observations, and X-band correlation magnitude to lidar derived height. This table was then used for estimating heights over the remaining swath, where lidar data was not available. A similar technique can be used for spaceborne data, in this case, over the Harvard Forest. In this paper, the comparison between lidar observations and the InSAR Duke observations are shown, and then followed by a preliminary treatment highlighting relationships in the ALOS/PALSAR Harvard data that can be exploited for similar purposes.
What Typically Developing Children's Parents Say When They Read Books About Disabilities

The purpose of this study was to examine (a) how parents and their kindergarten-age children talk about disabilities when they read books that include characters with disabilities and (b) the relationship between the frequency of mother/child comments about disabilities and children’s attitudes toward peers with disabilities, as measured by the Acceptance Scale for Kindergarten–Revised (ASK-R). Thirteen mothers and their children audiotaped their conversations when they read books that included characters with disabilities. Seventy conversations were analyzed and 12 themes were identified. The themes that appeared most frequently in the mother–child conversations about disabilities included differences in abilities and similarities between the child and the book characters with disabilities. Although the relationship between the number of words spoken by the parent–child dyads and children’s attitudes toward peers with disabilities was not statistically significant, group differences between the number of...
STUDIES ON ENDEMIC PNEUMONIA OF THE ALBINO RAT : III. CARRIAGE OF THE VIRUS-LIKE AGENT BY YOUNG RATS AND IN RELATION TO SUSCEPTIBILITY.

An attempt was made to reestablish the virus-like agent associated with rat pneumonia by the nasal instillation of the infectious material into supposedly normal young rats from the selected Princeton colony. The incidence of the pneumonia in these animals after the injection of suspensions of pneumonic lungs from either rats or mice was not significantly greater than the incidence under natural conditions. In attempting to account for the refractory state of the immature rats it was found that the agent was widely dispersed through the breeding colony at an early age. Detailed tests of many litters indicated that the agent was acquired shortly after birth by way of the upper air passages as the result of maternal contact. In most instances it was so well tolerated by young rats during the suckling period and for several months thereafter that its presence was recognized only by nasal transfer to mice. There is every indication that the rate of infection of rats in the breeding colony approaches 100 per cent by the time the animals are old enough to be used experimentally.
Rotation rate and velocity dispersion of planetary ring particles with size distribution: I. Formulation and analytic calculation

We derive an equation for the evolution of rotational energy of Keplerian particles in a dilute disk due to mutual collisions. Three-dimensional Keplerian motion of particles is taken into account precisely, on the basis of Hill's approximation. The Rayleigh distribution of particles' orbital eccentricities and inclinations, and the Gaussian distribution of their rotation rates are also taken into account. Performing appropriate variable transformation, we show that the equation can be expressed with two terms. The first term, which we call collisional stirring term, represents energy exchange between rotation and random motion via collisions. The second term, which we call rotational friction term, tends to equalize the mean rotational energy of particles with different sizes. The equation can describe the evolution of rotational energy of Keplerian particles with an arbitrary size distribution. We analytically evaluate the rates of stirring and friction for the random kinetic energy and rotational energy due to inelastic collisions, for non-gravitating particles in a dilute disk. Using these results, we discuss equilibrium states in a disk of spinning, non-gravitating Keplerian particles.
Secret Science: Spanish Cosmography and the New World. By María M. Portuondo

Emited by Ronald E. Grim and Sarah Bendall In this intriguing book, Maria Portuondo uses the career of Juan Lopez de Velasco to discuss Spanish cosmography in the late sixteenth century, examining ...
Students' Perceptions of an Online Graduate Program in Special Education for Emotional and Behavioral Disorders.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate graduate students’ perceptions of a completely online master’s degree program in special education for emotional and behavioral disorders. The Community of...
Magnetic Properties of Nanostructured Fe/Ag Composite Metal Films

We have synthesized a series of nanostructured Fe/Ag composite metal films. The much enhanced magnetic coercivity was found to scale with the particle size which is process controlled. At a low substrate temperature(< 200°C), the film consists of small clusters of Fe(< 100°A) which behave superparamagnetically with a blocking temperature above 100K.
The mechanism of conversion of hydrocarbons on sulfated metal oxides. Part IV. Kinetics of the reaction of methylcyclopentane on sulfated zirconia

Abstract The liquid-phase isomerization of methylcylopentane to cyclohexane on a sulfated zirconia catalyst (SZCH-3.5R, prepared by the controlled impregnation technique previously reported by the authors) was investigated in the stirred batch mode at four temperatures between 45 and 65°C. A kinetic analysis of the data was developed, which gave the rate constants for the isomerization (k) and catalyst deactivation (kd), as well as the length of the induction period (t0). The activation parameters for the isomerization reaction are ΔH ‡ = 16.3 kcal/mol and ΔS ‡ = - 30 cal/mol · deg . The rate of deactivation, kd, is about half of the isomerization rate (k) at 45°C; at 55°C and above, the deactivation is faster than the reaction. The length of the induction period decreases with the increase in temperature and with the increasing catalyst activity. All the results are as required by the bifunctional catalysis mechanism of the reactions of saturated hydrocarbons on sulfated metal oxides (initiation by oxidation followed by acid catalysis). For a reaction in a tube without stirring the induction period is longer. Also, the rate decreases with the increase in the amount of catalyst for the same substrate to catalyst ratio, indicating that the results are influenced by diffusion through the catalyst bed. Approximate values of the kinetic parameters can be obtained in that case by running the reaction for several quantities of catalyst with the same substrate to catalyst ratio and extrapolating to zero catalyst bed thickness.
How Much Work Effort is Involved in Minimally Invasive Sacroiliac Joint Fusion

Background Minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion is increasing significantly. Starting January 1, 2015, it has a category I CPT code. The current RVU for this procedure is not equal to the amount of work involved. There is not a published RUC validated survey to establish the work effort of MI SI fusion. Our hospital system has been doing this procedure for 4 years and has been tracking surgeon time through a commercial tracking system (Navicare). Our study looks at time utilization for performance of MI SI joint fusion and a comparator of primary lumbar discectomy (PLD), presumably similar in time and work effort. Methods This study was a retrospective review of prospectively collected data using Navicare. The data for 3 surgeons who perform MI SI joint fusion and lumbar discectomies from January 1, 2013 through November 30, 2014 was retrieved. Surgeon room time was identified as the time the patient entered the OR to the time they exited the OR. This was used as opposed to skin to skin time seen in similar studies as it was more accurately and consistently recorded in the medical record. Mean and standard deviations were then compared using student9s t-test. Results In 50 primary MI SI joint fusions, the average in-room time was 112 minutes (SD=23). In 89 cases of PLD, the average in-room time was 119 minutes (SD=26). When comparing mean in-room times, MI SI and PLD were not statistically significantly different (p=0.135, 2-tailed t-test). Post-operative work effort was found to be greater for MI SI joint fusion than PLD. Conclusions / Level of evidence Surgical time was found to be comparable between MI SI joint fusion and PLD, while work effort was found to be greater for MI SI joint fusion. This signifies at a minimum an equal RVU for PLD should be used for MI SI joint fusion. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at the University of Minnesota. Level of evidence: 3.
Cancer Immunosurveillance: Immunoediting

Cancer immunoediting is the process wherein immunity not only protects against cancer development but also promotes outgrowth of cancers capable of escaping immune control. As an extrinsic tumor suppressor, immunity exerts selective pressure on developing cancers that can favor outgrowth of cancer cells with reduced immunogenicities. The tumor sculpting action of immunity is a consequence of T cell–dependent immunoselection and/or epigenetic mechanisms that specifically target cancer cells expressing highly immunogenic cancer antigens including tumor-specific mutant neoantigens. Cancer immunoediting thus serves as a conceptual framework that explains the complex interactions that occur between the immune system and developing cancers.
Staged Excision: Tips and Pitfalls

The purpose of this study is to review the reported techniques for staged excision and examine the advantages and disadvantages of each. Osmotic tissue expanders are gaining popularity, and may provide a useful alternative to traditional staged excision. Alternative techniques other than the elliptical serial excision have been described. Staged excision involves the removal of a skin lesion in more than one operative setting. Two broad categories exist: (1) serial excision and (2) tissue expansion. Both methods can be effectively utilized for the removal of disfiguring congenital lesions. Although tissue expanders have historically been placed in an operating room, it is reasonable that appropriate and effective placement may occur under local anesthesia.
Decision Analysis Model Comparing Cost of Management Strategies for Pelvic Fracture Urethral Injuries

Abstract Introduction We compare the costs associated with primary endoscopic realignment vs delayed elective bulbomembranous anastomotic urethroplasty after initial management of pelvic fracture urethral injuries with suprapubic tubes. Methods Decision analysis was performed comparing the costs associated with suprapubic tube placement with a definitive bulbomembranous urethroplasty performed 2 to 3 months after injury to those associated with primary endoscopic realignment. Model assumptions based on literature review included success rates of 30% for primary endoscopic realignment, 92% for bulbomembranous urethroplasty and 50% for direct vision internal urethrotomy. Using an institutional patient database of patients undergoing suprapubic tube placement, bulbomembranous urethroplasty and direct vision internal urethrotomy, costs were estimated based on hospital and operating room costs and Medicare reimbursement rates. Sensitivity analyses were performed by varying model assumptions. Using data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample and the National Trauma Data Bank®, the annual incidence of pelvic fracture urethral injuries nationwide was estimated. Results The total average cost of treating a pelvic fracture urethral injury with attempted primary endoscopic realignment is $11,043 vs $9,743 for suprapubic tube with elective bulbomembranous urethroplasty, for a savings of $1,300 (12%) per patient. For primary endoscopic realignment to be preferred, a success rate of 40% or better would be necessary. In addition, cost analysis calculation revealed that when bulbomembranous urethroplasty demonstrates an efficacy of 78% or greater, then suprapubic tube and elective bulbomembranous urethroplasty become more cost-effective than primary endoscopic realignment. Conclusions Given the added costs and variable outcomes of primary endoscopic realignment and subsequent endoscopic interventions, the durability of definitive urethroplasty appears to be cost-effective in treating men with pelvic fracture urethral injuries.
AB0757 Clinically Important Improvement Thresholds for Harris Hip Score and Its Ability To Predict Revision Risk after Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty

Background Harris Hip Score (HHS) is the most commonly used instrument in the assessment of total hip arthroplasty (THA). Clinically meaningful thresholds for HHS have not been defined; limited data exist on responsiveness. Objectives To examine the clinically meaningful change thresholds, responsiveness and predictive ability of the Harris Hip Score (HHS) questionnaire. Methods We included a cohort of patients who underwent primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) and responded to HHS preoperatively and/or at 2- or 5-year post-THA to examine the clinically meaningful change thresholds (Minimal clinically important improvement, MCII; and moderate improvement), responsiveness (effect size (ES) and standardized response mean (SRM)) based on pre- to post-operative change and its predictive ability at 2- and 5-years post-THA for future revision. Results 2,667 patients with mean age of 64 years completed baseline HHS; 1,036 completed both baseline and 2-year and 669 both baseline and 5-year HHS. MCII and moderate improvement thresholds ranged 15.9–18 points and 39.6–40.1 points, respectively. ES was 3.12 and 3.02 at 2- and 5-years; respective SRM was 2.73 and 2.52. Compared to patients with HHS scores of 81–100 (score range, 0–100), patients with scores 50 points from preoperative to 2-years post-THA, lack of improvement/worsening or 1–20 point improvement were associated with increased hazards of revision, 18.10 (1.41, 234.83; p=0.02); and 6.21 (0.81, 60.73; p=0.10), respectively. Conclusions HHS is a valid measure of THA outcomes, is responsive to change and predictive of revision risk post-primary THA. We have defined MCID and moderate improvement thresholds for HHS in this study. References None Acknowledgement We thank Youlonda Lochler for assisting data extraction from the Mayo Clinic Total Joint Registry. Disclosure of Interest J. Singh Grant/research support from: Savient, Takeda, Consultant for: Savient, Takeda, Regeneron, Iroko, Merz, Bioiberica, Crealta, and Allergan pharmaceuticals, C. Schelck: None declared, S. Harmsen: None declared, D. Lewallen Shareholder of: pipeline, Grant/research support from: DePuy, Stryker, Biomet and Zimmer, Consultant for: Zimmer, Orthosonic and Osteotech
Enhanced gain, low voltage, rail-to-rail buffer amplifier suitable for energy harvesting

A CMOS subthreshold rail-to-rail input-output buffer amplifier suitable for energy harvesting applications is presented, having high gain (A V ) of ∼ 130dB, consuming ultra low currents (I DD ) of ∼ 150nA, and operating with low power supply voltage (V DD ) > ∼ 0.8v. Contributions of this work are the synthesis of the following attributes: First, using a single transistor, the amplifier input stage's tail current is steered between the two PMOSFET input pairs, while one of the PMOSFET pairs is level shifted by a pair of NMOSFET source followers, which keeps the amplifier's input stage transconductance (gm) roughly constant while the inputs span rail-to-rail. Second, to boost folded cascode transconductance amplifier's (FCTA) A V , the proposed plurality of regulated cascode (RGC) current mirrors (CM) utilize a small size auxiliary amplifier, containing the same type and un-scaled FETs as that of the cascoded CMs employed within the FCTA. As such, the boosting of AV is less impeded by the otherwise higher impedance and high capacitance associated with scaled FETs, utilized in most prior art, in the RGC's auxiliary amplifier's signal path. Moreover, the RGC-CM utilizing the same FET, as that of the FCTA's CM, provides more consistency in FCTA's DC, AC, and dynamic response over process and operating condition variations. Third, a buffer driver containing a Minimum Current Selector (MCS) and an inverting current mirror amplifier (ICMA) controls the quiescent current of the inactive output transistors (FETs), while a complementary noninverting current mirror (CNICM) curbs the current waste attributed to monitoring the FET's (external load) currents. The output buffer driver is inherently fast and can work at low VDD, since it operates mainly in current mode. Montecarlo (MC) and worst case (WC) simulations indicate the following specifications are achievable: input voltage range rail to rail; output voltage range ∼ 10mV from the rails; resistive load (RL) 5K ohms capability; unity gain frequency (fu) ∼ 200KHz and phase margin (PM) ∼ 40 degrees; power supply rejection ratio (PSRR) ∼ −90dB; common mode rejection ratio (CMRR) ∼ −110dB; slew rate (SR) ∼ 3V/ 10uS; settling time (ts) ∼ 15uS; size ∼130um/side.
Nitrous oxide and methane fluxes in riparian buffers and adjacent crop fields

iv CHAPTER 1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1 References 4 CHAPTER 2. EMISSION OF THE GREENHOUSE GAS NITROUS OXIDE FROM RIPARIAN FOREST BUFFERS, WARM-SEASON AND COOL-SEASON GRASS FILTERS, AND AN ADJACENT CROP FIELD Abstract 7 Introduction 7 Materials and methods 9 Results 15 Discussion 19 Conclusions 23 References 24 CHAPTER 3. TRANSPORT AND FATE OF NITRATE AND DISSOLVED NITROUS OXIDE IN GROUNDWATER UNDER RIPARIAN BUFFERS ADJACENT TO CROP FIELDS Abstract 40 Introduction 40 Materials and methods 42 Results 46 Discussion 50 Conclusions 53 References 55
Pulse-Chirp Instability and Issues for Its Measurement

Pulses often possess random amounts of linear chirp. We find that SPIDER cannot detect this variation, yielding instead a shorter, flat-phase, coherent artifact. SHG FROG can and provides a better estimate of the average pulse.
Constipation in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Associated with Increased Emergency Department Visits and Inpatient Admissions

Objective To evaluate whether constipation in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with increased emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient admissions compared with constipation in children without ASD. Study design The Nationwide Emergency Department Sample was used to retrospectively examine demographic data, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of children with ASD and children without ASD who visited the ED for constipation between 2006 and 2014. Results ED visits by children with ASD were more likely to be constipation-related compared with visits by children with other chronic conditions or children with no chronic conditions (1.9% vs 0.6% vs 0.9%; P Conclusions Constipation is responsible for a large proportion of ED visits and more inpatient admissions resulting from these ED visits. These findings suggest a need for developing more effective outpatient therapies for constipation in children with ASD.
Clinical Trial of Human Botulism Immune Globulin

A major theme of this conference is that botulinum toxin, nature’s most poisonous poison,1 has now been “tamed” and has acquired the distinction of becoming, through the work of Scott2 and Schantz,3 the first bacterial toxin to serve as a medicine for the betterment of humanity. So in this historic and felicitous context, it appears to be my unwelcome responsibility to remind this conference that botulinum toxin remains very much an adversary for certain select groups of patients, most notably, infants.4
Correlation and Isotope Effects for Cation Diffusion in Simple Oxides

A review is given on the studies of correlation and isotopic mass effects for cation diffusion in simple oxides. The discussion includes (1) the mechanisms for cation self-diffusion in metal-deficient oxides NiO, CoO, and Fe1-xO, and (2) the effect of small solute additions on solute and solvent diffusion in NiO.
mGlu1 tonically regulates levels of calcium-permeable AMPA receptors in cultured nucleus accumbens neurons through retinoic acid signaling and protein translation.

In several brain regions, ongoing metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGlu1) transmission has been shown to tonically suppress synaptic levels of Ca2+ -permeable AMPA receptors (CP-AMPARs) while pharmacological activation of mGlu1 removes CP-AMPARs from these synapses. Consistent with this, we previously showed in nucleus accumbens (NAc) medium spiny neurons (MSNs) that reduced mGlu1 tone enables and mGlu1 positive allosteric modulation reverses the elevation of CP-AMPAR levels in the NAc that underlies enhanced cocaine craving in the "incubation of craving" rat model of addiction. To better understand mGlu1/CP-AMPAR interactions, we used a NAc/prefrontal cortex co-culture system in which NAc MSNs express high CP-AMPAR levels, providing an in vitro model for NAc MSNs after the incubation of cocaine craving. The non-specific group I orthosteric agonist dihydroxyphenylglycine (10 min) decreased cell surface GluA1 but not GluA2, indicating CP-AMPAR internalization. This was prevented by mGlu1 (LY367385) or mGlu5 (MTEP) blockade. However, a selective role for mGlu1 emerged in studies of long-term antagonist treatment. Thus, LY367385 (24 hr) increased surface GluA1 without affecting GluA2, whereas MTEP (24 hr) had no effect. In hippocampal neurons, scaling up of CP-AMPARs can occur through a mechanism requiring retinoic acid (RA) signaling and new GluA1 synthesis. Consistent with this, the LY367385-induced increase in surface GluA1 was blocked by anisomycin (translation inhibitor) or 4-(diethylamino)-benzaldehyde (RA synthesis inhibitor). Thus, mGlu1 transmission tonically suppresses cell surface CP-AMPAR levels, and decreasing mGlu1 tone increases surface CP-AMPARs via RA signaling and protein translation. These results identify a novel mechanism for homeostatic plasticity in NAc MSNs.
A note on inexact gradient and Hessian conditions for cubic regularized Newton’s method

Abstract The inexact cubic-regularized Newton’s method (CR) proposed by Cartis, Gould and Toint achieves the same convergence rate as exact CR proposed by Nesterov and Polyak, but the inexact condition is not implementable due to its dependence on a future variable. This note establishes the same convergence rate under a similar but implementable inexact condition, which depends on only current variables. Our proof bounds the function-value decrease over total iterations rather than each iteration in the previous studies.
Mediation and boundary marking: A case study of making literacies across a makerspace

Abstract This paper draws on data from a year-long participatory ethnographic case study of a makerspace to argue for and articulate a methodology to account for dynamic boundary marking practices: what counts as “making,” what counts as “literacy,” who counts as “maker,” who counts as “literate.” Specifically, the author argues that in order to understand making and maker literacies, we have to understand boundary marks, because how we mark boundaries shapes what and who come to matter (both in a material and in a semiotic sense), which in turn shapes what and who get made, by whom, and for whom. Key to this methodology is a refiguring of mediation that draws on feminist and decolonial approaches to knowledge making and communication that emphasize the ongoing marking of boundaries of media, literacies, and bodies. To illustrate this methodology, the author traces becomings, un-becomings, and re-becomings of makers, literacies, tools, and relations across a makerspace. The author concludes by offering implications for further developing and adapting the methodology.
Bounded UDE-Based Control for a SLAM Equipped Quadrotor with Input Constraints

Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) system equipped quadrotors are preferable candidates for autonomous building inspections and surveillance tasks, because of their mobility and capability of working in both indoor and outdoor environments. However, the lack of robustness still remains as one of the challenging problems of SLAM implementations. Sudden camera moving, motion blur, occlusion all might cause a pose lost and map corruption. This problem becomes significant when the SLAM system is mounted on a quadrotor, since the high agility of the quadrotor might lead to a wide camera motion. Therefore, a control strategy that can constrain the quadrotor motion angles is proposed in this paper. A bounded design is embedded into the existing uncertainty and disturbance estimator (UDE) control framework, which can regulate the motion angles, e.g., roll and pitch angles of the quadrotor, always within predefined appropriate ranges. The proposed control strategy eliminates the sudden camera motion and provides a suitable platform for SLAM. Finally, experimental studies are provided for validation.
Recent drug approvals for acute myeloid leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common form of acute leukemia in adults, with an incidence that increases with age, and a generally poor prognosis. The disease is clinically and genetically heterogeneous, and recent advances have improved our understanding of the cytogenetic abnormalities and molecular mutations, aiding in prognostication and risk stratification. Until recently, however, therapeutic options were mostly limited to cytotoxic chemotherapy. Since 2017, there has been an explosion of newly approved treatment options both nationally and internationally, with the majority of new drugs targeting specific gene mutations and/or pivotal cell survival pathways. In this review article, we will discuss these new agents approved for the treatment of AML within the last 2 years, and will outline the mechanistic features and clinical trials that led to their approvals.
Climates of Tundra and Alpine Biomes

Abstract Tundra exists in unglaciated parts of polar regions where it is too cold for the establishment and survival of trees. The primary climate control is summer temperature, but other factors can be important. Tundra is widespread in high latitudes of the Arctic, and is also found in some areas of Antarctica, notably the Antarctic Peninsula and islands surrounding the continent. Treeless alpine vegetation similar to tundra exists even in tropical latitudes provided that mountains are high enough and conditions hence sufficiently cold. The altitude and latitude of polar and alpine treelines is highly variable across the planet, reflecting controls on summer temperature by latitude and continentality, as well as regional and local factors including snow cover, slope and aspect. There is evidence that treelines, tundra and alpine vegetation environments are responding to the warming climate; shrub invasion into Arctic tundra and thawing of Arctic permafrost are notable examples.
Emergency myelopoiesis contributes to immune cell exhaustion and pulmonary vascular remodelling

Background and purpose Pulmonary hypertension (PH) secondary to chronic lung disease (World Health Organization Group 3 PH) is deadly, with lung transplant being the only available long-term treatment option. Myeloid-derived cells are known to affect progression of both pulmonary fibrosis and PH, although the mechanism of action is unknown. Therefore, we investigated the effect of myeloid cell proliferation induced by emergency myelopoiesis on development of PH and therapy directed against programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), expressed by myeloid cells in prevention of pulmonary vascular remodelling. Experimental approach LysM.Cre-DTR ("mDTR") mice were injected with bleomycin (0.018 U·g-1 , i.p.) while receiving either vehicle or diphtheria toxin (DT; 100 ng, i.p.) to induce severe PH. Approximately 4 weeks after initiation of bleomycin protocol, right ventricular pressure measurements were performed and tissue samples collected for histologic assessment. In a separate experiment, DT-treated mice were given anti-PD-L1 antibody (αPD-L1; 500 μg, i.p.) preventive treatment before bleomycin administration. Key results Mice undergoing induction of emergency myelopoiesis displayed more severe PH, right ventricular remodelling and pulmonary vascular muscularization compared to controls, without a change in lung fibrosis. This worsening of PH was associated with increased pulmonary myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC), particularly polymorphonuclear MDSC (PMN-MDSC). Treatment with αPD-L1 normalized pulmonary pressures. PD-L1 expression was likewise found to be elevated on circulating PMN-MDSC from patients with interstitial lung disease and PH. Conclusions and implications PD-L1 is a viable therapeutic target in PH, acting through a signalling axis involving MDSC. Linked articles This article is part of a themed issue on Risk factors, comorbidities, and comedications in cardioprotection. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v178.1/issuetoc.
A follow-up study on the characterization and health risk assessment of heavy metals in ambient air particles emitted from a municipal waste incinerator in Zhejiang, China.

Abstract To confirm our hypothesis that inhalation might be the primary exposure route of heavy metals for children living in proximity to a municipal waste incinerator (MWI), we conducted a one-year follow up study to characterize the distributions of heavy metals featured in different types of ambient air particles, including PM1, PM2.5 and PM10, at two exposure sites near the MWI (E1 and E2) and one control site (C) in Zhejiang, China. Particle samples were collected by a mid-volume sampler and heavy metals were determined by the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry method. The mass concentrations of PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 were 52.0, 85.8 and 100.3 μg/m3 at E1 site, while the concentrations were 40.2, 92.1 and 106.6 μg/m3 at E2 site and 33.4, 55.6 and 66.1 μg/m3 at C site, respectively. Both E1 and E2 had higher PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 levels than C site. The levels of pollution were season dependent, with autumn having the highest levels of PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 across all three sampling sites. Regarding the distributions of heavy metals, Pb accounted for the majority of the seven metals in all groups, ranging from 43.2% to 51.3%, followed by Mn that ranged from 22.0% to 32.0%. The Pb levels of PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 in the MWI area were 22.6, 34.2 and 36.2 ng/m3, respectively, while Mn levels were 10.1, 20.0 and 23.5 ng/m3, respectively. The health risk assessment results suggested that residents were suffering high non-carcinogenic risk posed by MWI-emitted particle-bound toxic metals, as well as the high lifetime carcinogenic risk. This study revealed that ambient air, no matter whether near or far away from an MWI, bore more PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 particles than general, non-polluted ambient air, especially in autumn.
Diagnosis of the single leakage in the fluid pipeline through experimental study and CFD simulation

Abstract The pipeline safety management system is crucial to transfer oil and gas because the phenomena of leakage commonly occurs in the long-distant pipelines. Hidden safety hazards can be caused by design and construction defects, affected by natural disasters, or corroded by the transmission fluid. Therefore, quick detection will not only reduce the loss of transported oil and gas but also can protect the local environment. In this study, we develop a new method to detect the pipeline leak by analyzing pressure distribution through the leak. Pipeline leak detection tests are operated using a flow loop. Through the experiments, four parameters which are pressures and flow rates of pipeline inlet and outlet are recorded. Then the specific location of the leak is determined by dimensionless analysis of flow parameters. To generate the solution to locate the leak, we introduce three dimensionless variables, which are dimensionless leak location, dimensionless leak rate, and dimensionless pressure drop. Then the relationship of pressure distribution and leak parameters is built through the simulation models. After running 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations with commercial software (FLUENT), the pressure distribution in the pipeline with leakage in the experiments will be verified by the experimental data. Finally, the mathematical models are developed to detect and evaluate the leakage through the pipeline. CFD simulation results show that both the leak rate and location have significant effects on the pressure distribution through the pipe, which is identical to the outcome from the experiments. When the dimensionless leak location is smaller or the dimensionless leak rate is larger, the dimensionless pressure drop is smaller. The mathematical model which is based on these dimensionless variables can be applied in locating the leak point in the real accident.
Pregnancy and Post-partum Discrimination: Voices of Survivors

The purpose of this study was to look at both the impact of workplace pregnancy and post-partum discrimination on women as well as the way in which these women negotiated their perceived discrimination. This research was an exploratory study that used qualitative data analysis. Twenty-one women who were part of parent list serves in the New York metro area who self-identified as having experienced pregnancy or post-partum discrimination were interviewed. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Though many of the interviewees were aware of laws designed to protect them, most of the women reported that they felt that seeking legal recourse would ruin their careers and were worried about supporting their families. Many found new jobs after the discrimination or transferred within large companies. All reported feeling betrayed by the discrimination, noting that they felt they had had relationships with their employers and that they did not see the discrimination coming. This analysis suggests that during this vulnerable time, expecting women to bear the onus of reporting their discrimination is a hardship and both stronger oversight for existing laws and new laws to better protect women having children are needed. Findings from this study can also be used to inform policy advocacy designed to improve the treatment of pregnant and post-partum women in both organizational and government policy.
Personalizing college mathematics with technology

This study investigated personalization as an innovation that can be used to impact college mathematics achievement. In the reported study, similar tasks using personalized data and teacher-selecte...
The Process of Amyloid Formation due to Monoclonal Immunoglobulins

Monoclonal antibodies secreted by clonally expanded plasma cells can form a range of pathologic aggregates including amyloid fibrils. The enormous diversity in the sequences of the involved light chains may be responsible for complexity of the disease. Nevertheless, important common features have been recognized. Two recent high-resolution structures of light chain fibrils show related but distinct conformations. The native structure of the light chains is lost when they are incorporated into the amyloid fibrils. The authors discuss the processes that lead to aggregation and describe how existing and emerging therapies aim to prevent aggregation or remove amyloid fibrils from tissues.
Tax and Corporate Governance: An Economic Approach

How do the tax system and corporate governance arrangements interact? This chapter begins by reviewing an emerging literature that explores how agency problems create such interactions and provides evidence on their importance. This literature has neglected how taxation can interact with the various mechanisms that have arisen to ameliorate the corporate governance problem, such as concentrated ownership, accounting and information systems, high-powered incentives, financing choices, payout policy, and the market for corporate control. The remainder of the chapter outlines potentially fruitful areas for future research into how these mechanisms may respond to the tax system.
The Context of Civic Education in the United States Around 1900

This chapter will provide an overview of civic education in the United States around 1900. It will draw upon existing literature to situate city schools and their subsequent interest in developing civic education for several distinct Progressive Era purposes, such as Americanizing new urban residents, social welfare, training citizens for self-government, and social efficiency. Several influences that contributed to the development of civic education will be discussed, specifically the Americanization movement, the influences of civic groups, the creation of social studies, and the progressive curricular ideologies. The overview of civic education around 1900 and the illustration of both Donnan and Dunn’s association with these influences will provide a framework for understanding chapters three-eight.
Single-arm phase II study of low-dose paclitaxel and pembrolizumab in platinum-refractory metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC).

433Background: Single agent checkpoint inhibition is effective in a small proportion of platinum-refractory UC patients but improvements are needed. UC is highly inflammatory, and low-dose chemothe...
Patient Access to Hepatitis C Treatment After Incorporation of Pharmacists in a Hepatology Clinic

Background: Modern hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment regimens yield cure rates greater than 90%. However, obtaining approval for treatment through the prior authorization (PA) process can be time c...
Objective Markers of Foot Tapping in Idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease with Freezing of Gait (4609)

Objective: To develop quantitative measures of foot bradykinesia in idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD). Background: Motor blocks occur in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients during speech, upper limb movements (such as handwriting and repetitive finger tapping) and lower limb movements (gait and repetitive foot tapping). While freezing of gait (FOG) is the most studied of these phenomena, determination of temporal changes in brain connectivity using fMRI or EEG is limited due to motion artifact during active gait. Quantitative measures of lower limb function that correlate with gait would therefore help. Design/Methods: PD patients with FOG and without (noFOG), and healthy controls (HC) were consented after IRB approval. Subjects walked 8 lengths of a 20′×4′ Zeno pressure sensor impregnated mat (Protokinetics) in their medication ON state at a comfortable pace and fast pace. Subjects wore tri-axial accelerometers (APDM) while performing alternating bipedal foot tapping for 20s at a comfortable and fast pace. Gait and foot tapping spatiotemporal dynamics were extracted. Results: 15 HC and 30 PD patients (14 noFOG and 16 FOG) were analyzed. Age, disease duration, Hoehn & Yahr scores and motor and total UPDRS scores were similar between the PD groups. Foot tapping velocity (comfortable pace) was faster (HC 1.3±0.4, noFOG 1.5±0.4, FOG 1.8±0.5 taps/s; p=0.010 HC vs FOG) and inter-tap interval was shorter (HC 0.8±0.2, noFOG 0.7±0.2, FOG 0.6±0.2 s; p=0.016 HC vs FOG) in FOG subjects. Foot tapping amplitude was smaller in FOG subjects but not statistically significant (HC 13.3±5.0, noFOG 12.1±4.1, FOG 9.5±5.6 degrees; p=0.054 HC vs FOG). Foot tapping velocity was inversely correlated with stride velocity (Pearson’s correlation coefficient −0.624, p=0.010) while inter-tap interval was correlated with stride length (0.561, 0.024). Conclusions: Foot tapping impairment in PD FOG patients correlated with changes in traditional measures of gait impairment and could serve as non-gait markers of a FOG phenotype. Disclosure: Dr. Glover has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pillai has nothing to disclose. Dr. Syeda has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kemp has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lotia has received research support from Neurocrine, Impax, CALA Health. Dr. Larson-Prior has nothing to disclose. Dr. Virmani has nothing to disclose.
The Japanese Yen Futures Returns, Spot Returns, and the Risk Premium

Japanese yen currency dynamics are investigated in spot and futures markets. Maturity is proposed as a proxy for the time-varying risk premium. As the maturity of a yen futures contract nears, there is less uncertainty implying a small absolute risk premium. A longer maturity is associated with uncertainty about the economy, the underlying currency, and the contract; and implies a high risk premium. Models that include maturity in addition to the futures - spot basis as explanatory variables exhibit better empirical performance in explaining futures returns and spot returns. The results are robust to different sample periods, forecast horizons, and estimation techniques.
Allocating Homeland Security Screening Resources Using Knapsack Problem Models

ALLOCATING HOMELAND SECURITY SCREENING RESOURCES USING KNAPSACK PROBLEM MODELS By Rebecca Ann Dreiding Master of Science in Mathematical Sciences with a concentration in Operations Research A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2010 Director: Dr. Laura A. McLay Assistant Professor Department of Statistical Sciences and Operations Research Since the events of September 11, 2001, the federal government is focused on homeland security and the fight against terrorism. This thesis addresses the idea of terrorist groups smuggling nuclear weapons through the borders of the United States. Security screening decisions are analyzed within maritime and aviation domains using discrete optimization models, specifically knapsack problems. The focus of the maritime chapters involves a risk-based approach for prescreening intelligence classifications for primary and secondary screening decisions given limited budget and resources. Results reveal that screening decisions are dependent on prescreening classification and the efficacy of the screening technologies. The screening decisions in the aviation security chapter highlight different performance measures to quantify the effectiveness of covering flights with the intent of covering targets. Results reveal that given scarce resources, such as screening devices capacities and budget, flights and targets can be covered with minimal expense to the system.
The Folded Hypercube ATM Switches

With the increasing demand and growth of high-speed networks, it is imperative to develop high performance network switches that also have low complexity. Over the years, many high performance ATM switches have been proposed. The majority of these switches has high performances but also have very high hardware complexities. Therefore, there is a need for switch designs with lower complexity and high performance. The authors are proposing the use of the folded hypercube (FHC) as a new infrastructure for ATM switches. This paper presents two novel ATM switches that are implemented from the FHC networks. It presents the design of the two switches, discusses how the simulation models are developed, and gives the analysis of the simulation results. Finally, the performances of the two switch models are compared to other switches in the literature.
Of Objects and Databases: A Decade of Turmoil

A decade ago, the connection between objects and databases was new and was being explored in a number of different ways within our community. Driven by the perception that managing traditional business data was largely a solved problem, projects were investigating ideas such as adding abstract data types to relational databases and building extensible database systems, objectoriented database systems, and toolkits for constructing special-purpose database systems. In addition, work was underway elsewhere in the computer science research community on extending programming languages with database-inspired features such as persistence and transactions. In this paper, we take a look at where our field was a decade ago and where it is now in terms of database support for objects (and vice versa). We look both at research projects and at commercial database products. We share our vision and our biases about the future of objects and databases, and we identify a number of research challenges that remain to be addressed in order to ultimately achieve our vision. Permission to copy without fee all 07 part of this material is granted provided that the copies are not made or distributed for direct commercial advantage, the VLDB copyright notice and the title of the publication and its date appear, and notice is given that copying is by permission of the Very Large Data Base Endowment. To copy otherwise, 07 to republish, requires a Joe and/or special permission from the Endowment. Proceedings of the 22nd VLDB Conference Mumbai(Bombay), India, 1996 David J. Dewitt Computer Sciences Department University of Wisconsin-Madison