cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Governing disaster: The politics of tribal sovereignty in the context of (un)natural disaster

ABSTRACTDisaster is a fruitful field of study for Native scholarship – and Indigenous Studies for disaster scholarship – because it happens in the medium of land, water and air, which is the original medium of oppression, or colonization, for Native people. Using a framework ‘beyond disaster exceptionalism’, this article examines recent changes in US tribal disaster policy to explore implications both for discrete disaster events that occur on reservations and for the ongoing disaster of colonization. I use the case of a recent wildfire on the Northern Cheyenne reservation in Montana to highlight the challenge of materializing government-to-government relations through federal tribal policy. During the course of the wildfire fieldwork, the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act was passed by Congress, giving tribes the right to request a disaster declaration directly of the US president. The events of the Ash Creek fire suggest that sovereignty requires economic justice, and that legislated sovereignty remains an...
Changes in cyclic AMP responses to FSH in isolated rat Sertoli cells during sexual maturation.

Cyclic AMP responses to FSH in isolated Sertoli cells were examined at different stages ofsexualmaturation,The Sertoli cells were isolated by enzymatic digestion from rats ranging in age from 18-60 days. Immediately after their isolation or after 4-Il days of culture, the cells were incubated with FSH (NIH-FSH-Sl I) and/or 1mM I-methyl3-iaobutylxanthinc (MIX) for 30 mm at 34#{176}C and the levels of endogenoua cyclic AMP were determined by radioimmunoauay. A dramatic decrease in cyclic AMP response to FSH was observed in the presence or absenceof MIX between 18and 36 days of age with little change occurring in older animals, At 18 days, FSH plus MIX induced a 60-fold increase in cyclic AMP level above that observed with MIX alone, compared to a 28-fold increase at 24 days and a 10-fold increase at 36 days. The basal levels of cyclic AMP were similar at all ages (about 10 pmole/mg protein) and MIX alone increased the basal levels 2-3-fold, FSH had no effect on cyclic GMP levels. These results provided direct evidence for an age related decline in cyclic AMP response to FSH in the Sertoli cells
Quantitative Cerebral Blood Flow Measurements Using MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging utilized as a quantitative and noninvasive method to image cerebral blood flow. The two most common techniques used to detect cerebral blood flow are dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) perfusion MRI and arterial spin labeling perfusion MRI. Herein we describe the use of these two techniques to measure cerebral blood flow in rodents, including methods, analysis, and important considerations when utilizing these techniques.
Rhetorical rituals of rebirth

Rhetorical rituals so combine pragmatic and aesthetic uses of symbols that they are neither strictly instrumental nor simply diverting exercises. This essay explores their complex nature by defining, illustrating, and positing as an evaluative criterion the union of subjective and objective experiences of change in ceremonials.
The Media and the Far Right in Western Europe: Playing the Nationalistic Card

Ellinas, A. A. (2010). The Media and the Far Right in Western Europe: Playing the Nationalistic Card. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 270 pages. This book is timely, not only for a studen...
A phase III trial comparing an anionic phospholipid-based cream and aloe vera-based gel in the prevention of radiation dermatitis in pediatric patients

Radiation dermatitis is a common side effect of radiation therapy (RT). In severe cases, RT must be interrupted until the skin heals, which can compromise treatment. The purpose of the study was to compare an anionic polar phospholipid (APP)-based cream and an aloe vera-based gel to determine their effectiveness in preventing and treating radiation dermatitis. Forty-five pediatric patients (median age, 11 years) with various diagnoses who received at least 23.4 Gy participated. APP cream and aloe vera gel were symmetrically applied within the irradiated field after each treatment. Three measures were collected before, during and after completion of treatment: subject's skin comfort, dermatologic assessment, and common toxicity criteria (CTC). Significant differences in specific variables favoring APP cream use were noted in some patients including skin comfort variables, dry (p = 0.002), soft (p = 0.057), feels good (p = 0.002), rough (p = 0.065), smooth (p = 0.012) and dermatologic variables, dryness (p = 0.013), erythema (p = 0.002) and peely (p = 0.008). Grouped CTC scores were supportive of APP cream (p = 0.004). In comparing the first and last assessments, two dermatologic variables, dryness (p = 0.035) and peely (p = 0.016), favored APP cream. APP cream is more effective than aloe vera-based gel for prevention and treatment of radiation dermatitis.
Anti-jamming properties of a DS-CDMA equalization filter

An adaptive tapped delay line equalizer is described which operates in a DS-CDMA receiver. This structure, without modification, can be applied to make the system insensitive to spectral inefficiency of the transmitted pulse shape (by rejecting multiple-access noise), to act as a RAKE in the presence of multipath interference, and to reject narrowband interference. The latter property is the main focus of this paper; this technique is compared to previously published methods of narrowband noise rejection. >
Thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair: a representative experience.

Abstract Between May 1966 and June 1991, 129 patients underwent surgical repair of thoracoabdominal aneurysms, with an overall 30-day mortality rate of 35%. In 75 operations (58%) performed electively, 11 deaths (15%) occurred, and in 54 cases (42%) of either symptomatic or ruptured aneurysms 34 deaths (63%; p p = 0.433). Spinal cord ischemia occurred in 25 cases (21%) among 116 patients who survived operation. Partial ischemia occurred in six cases (25%), and complete paraplegia occurred in the remainder. Complete and partial paraplegia occurred in 16 of 42 cases (38%) when all of the thoracic aorta was replaced (Crawford groups I, II) and in 9 of 74 cases (12%) when only the abdominal or lower thoracic aorta was replaced (Crawford groups III, IV; p = 0.016). Other complications included myocardial infarction (14 cases, 11%), respiratory failure (46 cases, 36%), and renal failure (33 cases, 27%). The major prospect for improved early survival of patients with thoracoabdominal aneurysms seems to be early detection and elective repair before the occurrence of symptoms. (J Vasc Surg 1992;15:780–8.)
THE ROLE OF TOP-DOWN AND BOTTOM-UP PROCESSES IN BETWEEN-TEXT INTEGRATION

This study examined the extent to which readers integrate information from related texts as a function of both top-down evaluation processes and bottom-up resonance. In Experiment 1, participants read and recalled ambiguous texts about events that were preceded by a descriptive text (primer) of the event. Participants' recall of the ambiguous texts was highly integrated in content and structure, including a heightened sensitivity to predicates shared between texts. Experiment 2 manipulated whether the primer or ambiguous text was read first and the degree of conceptual overlap between texts. Participants' accuracy in an inter-textual anaphor resolution task showed a top-down and a bottom-up influence in inter-textual integration.
Maspin Mediates Increased Tumor Cell Apoptosis upon Induction of the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition

Maspin is a unique serpin with the ability to suppress certain types of malignant tumors. It is one of the few p53-targeted genes involved in tumor invasion and metastasis. With this in mind, we attempted to study the molecular mechanism behind this tumor suppression. Maspin-expressing mammary tumors are more susceptible to apoptosis in both implanted mammary tumors in vivo, a three-dimensional spheroid culture system, as well as in monolayer cell culture under lowered growth factors. Subcellular fractionation shows that a fraction of maspin (in both TM40D-Mp and mutant maspinDeltaN cells) translocates to the mitochondria. This translocation of maspin to the mitochondria is linked to the opening of the permeability transition pore, which in turn causes the loss of transmembrane potential, thus initiating apoptotic degradation. This translocation is absent in the other mutant, maspinDeltaRSL. It fails to cause any loss of membrane potential and also shows decreased caspase 3 levels, proving that translocation to the mitochondria is a key event for this increase in apoptosis by maspin. Suppression of maspin overexpression by RNA interference desensitizes cells to apoptosis. Our data indicate that maspin inhibits tumor progression through the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. These findings will be useful for maspin-based therapeutic interventions against breast cancer.
Sonography of the normal greater occipital nerve and obliquus capitis inferior muscle.

Background. To use sonography to measure the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the greater occipital nerve (GON) and the adjacent obliquus capi- tis inferior muscle (OCI) in normal subjects. Methods. Data from 30 asymptomatic subjects between the ages of 22 and 35 were collected. CSA and circumference of the GON and CSA of OCI were measured using sonography. Interexaminer reliability analysis was performed using the intraclass correla- tion coefficient. Results. The CSA of the GON and OCI were 2 mm 2 6 1m m 2 and 1.86 cm 2 6 0.51 cm 2 , respectively. The average circumference of the GON was 4.8 mm 6 1.3 mm. The interexaminer reliability of the measure- ments was excellent with intraclass correlation coeffi- cient coefficients of 0.91, 0.84, and 0.73 for the GON CSA, GON circumference, and OCI CSA, respectively. Conclusion. We report the normal values of the CSA of the GON and OCI. Knowledge of these normal values may facilitate the diagnosis of GON entrap- ment and provide outcome measures in therapeutic interventions. V
SPOKE TOP ANTENNA FOR TRANSIENT RADIATION

When an antenna transmits a short pulse of energy such as used for ultra-wide band applications, the pulse gets distorted upon transmission. To examine the properties of pulse transmission it is helpful to analyze the system in the time domain versus the frequency domain. Presented is a spoke top antenna for transient radiation. The spokes reduce the re∞ection from the open end of the antenna signiflcantly reducing the trailing pulses commonly seen in the time domain. Comparisons are made with a dipole antenna. Both analytical, modeled and experimental results are presented.
Violent Behavior in Borderline Personality

Little is known about the nature and prevalence of interpersonal violence among individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Employing a longitudinal, multi-site sample, this study examined the degree to which BPD constitutes a risk marker for future violent behavior, and describes the characteristics of violent individuals with BPD and the nature of their violence. Findings showed that 73% of BPD subjects engaged in violence during the one-year study period, and frequently exhibited co-morbid antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) and psychopathic characteristics. Reported violence was mostly characterized by disputes with acquaintances or significant others. Results also suggest that the shared variance among ASPD, psychopathy, and BPD served to diminish the independent predictive effect of BPD on violence. These findings point to violence as a serious and prevalent problem among individuals with BPD, for whom targeted violence reduction strategies that take into account ASPD and psychopathic co-morbidity must be developed.
Non-Clostridium difficile nosocomial diarrhea in the intensive care unit

It is assumed that most cases of nosocomial diarrhea are due to Clostridium difficile because of the widespread use of broad-spectrum antibiotic agents. Enteral tube feedings are another important cause of hospital-acquired diarrhea, especially in intensive care units (ICUs). We report the results of a recent survey of patients in the ICU with nosocomial diarrhea and describe an illustrative case. We conclude on the basis of this and a previous larger study that C. difficile diarrhea is very uncommon in enterally fed patients in the ICU; nosocomial diarrhea in the ICU is most commonly caused by enteral tube feedings.
Protocadherin-19 and N-cadherin interact to control cell movements during anterior neurulation

The protocadherins comprise the largest subgroup within the cadherin superfamily, yet their cellular and developmental functions are not well understood. In this study, we demonstrate that pcdh19 (protocadherin 19) acts synergistically with n-cadherin (ncad) during anterior neurulation in zebrafish. In addition, Pcdh19 and Ncad interact directly, forming a protein–protein complex both in vitro and in vivo. Although both molecules are required for calcium-dependent adhesion in a zebrafish cell line, the extracellular domain of Pcdh19 does not exhibit adhesive activity, suggesting that the involvement of Pcdh19 in cell adhesion is indirect. Quantitative analysis of in vivo two-photon time-lapse image sequences reveals that loss of either pcdh19 or ncad impairs cell movements during neurulation, disrupting both the directedness of cell movements and the coherence of movements among neighboring cells. Our results suggest that Pcdh19 and Ncad function together to regulate cell adhesion and to mediate morphogenetic movements during brain development.
Tail-assisted rigid and compliant legged leaping

This paper explores the design space of simple legged robots capable of leaping culminating in new behaviors for the Penn Jerboa, an underactuated, dynamically dexterous robot. Using a combination of formal reasoning and physical intuition, we analyze and test successively more capable leaping behaviors through successively more complicated body mechanics. The final version of this machine studied here bounds up a ledge 1.5 times its hip height and crosses a gap 2 times its body length, exceeding in this last regard the mark set by the far more mature RHex hexapod. Theoretical contributions include a non-existence proof of a useful class of leaps for a stripped-down initial version of the new machine, setting in motion the sequence of improvements leading to the final resulting performance. Conceptual contributions include a growing understanding of the Ground Reaction Complex as an effective abstraction for classifying and generating transitional contact behaviors in robotics.
Strategies for Primary Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease Based on Risk Stratification by the ACC/AHA Lipid Guidelines, ATP III Guidelines, Coronary Calcium Scoring, and C-Reactive Protein, and a Global Treat-All Strategy: A Comparative--Effectiveness Modeling Study

Background Several approaches have been proposed for risk-stratification and primary prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD), but their comparative and cost-effectiveness is unknown. Methods We constructed a state-transition microsimulation model to compare multiple approaches to the primary prevention of CHD in a simulated cohort of men aged 45–75 and women 55–75. Risk-stratification strategies included the 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines on the treatment of blood cholesterol, the Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III guidelines, and approaches based on coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring and C-reactive protein (CRP). Additionally we assessed a treat-all strategy in which all individuals were prescribed either moderate-dose or high-dose statins and all males received low-dose aspirin. Outcome measures included CHD events, costs, medication-related side effects, radiation-attributable cancers, and quality-adjusted-life-years (QALYs) over a 30-year timeframe. Results Treat-all with high-dose statins dominated all other strategies for both men and women, gaining 15.7 million QALYs, preventing 7.3 million myocardial infarctions, and saving over $238 billion, compared to the status quo, far outweighing its associated adverse events including bleeding, hepatitis, myopathy, and new-onset diabetes. ACC/AHA guidelines were more cost-effective than ATP III guidelines for both men and women despite placing 8.7 million more people on statins. For women at low CHD risk, treat-all with high-dose statins was more likely to cause a statin-related adverse event than to prevent a CHD event. Conclusions Despite leading to a greater proportion of the population placed on statin therapy, the ACC/AHA guidelines are more cost-effective than ATP III. Even so, at generic prices, treating all men and women with statins and all men with low-dose aspirin appears to be more cost-effective than all risk-stratification approaches for the primary prevention of CHD. Especially for low-CHD risk women, decisions on the appropriate primary prevention strategy should be based on shared decision making between patients and healthcare providers.
Flipping the Class: A New Media Pedagogy.

Business communication evolves and adapts to suit the times, and today’s workplace documents are increasingly multimodal. Therefore, business and professional communication specialists need to adap...
Recognizing Tricomonads in Gram-Stained Smears

Using duplicate smears of 600 genital specimens, we compared the Gram stain with low-pH acridine orange (AO) stain for detection of Trichomonas in women. Trichomonads were found in 70 specimens (11.7%) with theAO stain and in 34 (5.7%) with the Gram stain. Initially, only 10% of specimens (1 of the first 10) positive for trichomonads with the AO stain were identified with the Gram stain, but this improved to >75% (15 of the last 20) by the end of the study. With increased awareness, experience, and confidence, the routine Gram stain can be used successfully for detection of trichomonads in many cases that might otherwise go unsuspected.
Comparison of perioperative complications and hospitalization outcomes after ankle arthrodesis versus total ankle arthroplasty from 2002 to 2011.

Background:The aim of this study was to analyze a validated, nationally representative admissions database in order to compare perioperative complications and hospitalization outcomes associated wi...
Review of the Devonian camerate crinoid Bogotacrinus scheibei Schmidt from Colombia

Two recently collected specimens of Bogotacrinus scheibei Schmidt, 1937, from the Devonian (Emsian-Eifelian) Floresta Formation of Colombia reveal that Bogotacrinus is a dicyclic camerate crinoid genus closely related to Pterinocrinus Goldring, 1923 (Lower-Upper Devonian of eastern North America and western Europe), and Ampurocrinus McIntosh, 1981 (Lower De- vonian of Bolivia). The new diplobathrid camerate crinoid family Pterinocrinidae, characterized by species with low conical dicyclic cups and rami composed of compound, bipinnulate brachials, is herein proposed to accommodate these three genera. This family originated in western Europe and migrated into the Malvinokaffric and southern Eastern Americas Realms during the Early Devonian and into the northeastern Appalachian Basin by the Late Devonian.
Characteristics and outcomes of patients receiving chemotherapy in a cancer center ICU: A 5 year retrospective

6134 Background: Administration of chemotherapy is traditionally guided by functional status, and chemotherapy is commonly withheld from very sick people. In our ICU, we observed that we customaril...
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with youth is a well-recognized and widely adopted form of treatment. CBT bridges the research practice gap well. One of its strengths is a practical theory which facilitates the translation of bench science to bedside clinical applications. The approach is action-oriented and is committed to a problem-solving stance. This chapter offers an overview of CBT with youth. We begin with a discussion of the historical roots and theoretical underpinnings and, next, the empirical findings supporting CBT for depression, bipolar disorders, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, trauma, disruptive behavior disorder, and autism spectrum disorder. The elements, or golden nuggets of treatment, which are common to all forms of CBT are described in the third section.
Follow-up tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion predicts survival in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Few studies have examined the utility of serial echocardiography in the evaluation, management, and prognosis of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Therefore, we sought to evaluat...
Influence of regional Arctic sea ice extent on lagged snowfall in the contiguous United States

The lagged relationship between Arctic sea ice extent (SIE) and United States snowfall is explored in this study. Monthly snowfall amounts are computed from 440 stations in the contiguous United States from 1979 to 2009 and compared with total and regionalized Arctic SIE over the same time period. Principal Components Analysis along with multiple linear regression is used to determine the sea ice regions and lags that explain the most variation in snowfall amount. Although previous work has identified total summer sea ice as a predictor for the following winter's US snowfall, this study shows that the Kara Sea SIE is more influential for fall snowfall, and total SIE explains snowfall variability more in the spring. In the fall, longer lags indicate that the previous spring SIE is a good predictor of snowfall. In the late winter and spring there are generally shorter lags, where early winter SIE explains the most variability in snowfall. When just the first two principal components are considered, Kara Sea SIE and atmospheric teleconnections become the most consistent predictors of subsequent US snowfall. Results highlight the skill of regionalized Arctic SIE in explaining snowfall variability and how attention to Arctic regions could potentially improve seasonal snowfall forecasts.
Selective inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-9 reduces clinical severity in a murine model of Multiple Sclerosis via a reduced immune response

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of proteolytic enzymes that mediate the degradation of extracellular matrix components. Their functions are essential for normal physiological processes such as wound healing, but their dysregulation is associated with various pathologies including Multiple Sclerosis (MS). During MS, CD4+ T-cells activated in the periphery penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB), recruit immune cells, initiate destruction of the myelin sheath, and cause axonal loss. Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a well-established murine model of MS. In EAE, MMP-9 is required for penetration of the BBB and generation of auto-antigens. Recent studies have demonstrated that MMP-9 contributes to normal intracellular function of various cell types including antigen activated T-cells; however, the intracellular role of MMP-9 in immune cell activation during EAE pathogenesis is not known. In our in vitro studies of immune cells we assessed their response to mitogen following treatment with an MMP-9 inhibitor (MMP-9I). We demonstrated that the MMP-9 intracellular activity is important for homeostatic maintenance as well as a robust immune response. Our in vivo studies using MMP9I resulted in reduced disease severity and a reduction in key EAE hallmarks, weight loss and clinical score. Furthermore, proliferation of immune cells in the periphery following disease induction was reduced and the cellular infiltrates across the BBB. These results further emphasize the importance of MMP-9 as a therapeutic target in autoimmune diseases in addition to its well-established extracellular roles. Thus, it presents a two pronged approach to the therapeutic treatment of autoimmunity.
The role of science and engineering in mitigating natural hazards

This keynote address delivered to the Eighth World Conference on Earthquake Engineering is reported here with permission. It is a thoughtful and stimulating contribution and deserves the careful attention of readers.
Looking Back, Looking Forward: The Ethical Framing of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Oncology Over the Last 20 Years

This commentary takes a look back at views on complementary and alternative medicine and reflects on how those views have evolved, advocating for a conversation around complementary and alternative medicine in cancer care that is more nuanced, patient‐centered, and respectful to best meet the needs of patients in the coming decades.
An ant lion optimization algorithm with random fractal adaptive search strategy

For the problems of the unbalanced capability between exploration and exploitation of ant lion optimizer(ALO), an improved ALO algorithm with stochastic fractal and self-adaption searching strategy (SFSALO) is proposed. On the one hand, the stochastic fractal searching function is used for ant so as to improve the capability of exploration. On the other hand, self-adaption searching method is adopted for ant lion at the best position in order to improve the convergence precision and the exploitation ability. The simulation on 3 single-peak and 3 multi-peak benchmark functions shows that the proposed algorithm can fully balances the exploration and exploitation and significantly improves the global optimization ability and the convergence speed.
The Practice of Partnering: Simulated Parent–Teacher Conferences as a Tool for Teacher Education

ABSTRACTPartnering with families in ways that support children’s learning is a skill that is central to high-quality teaching. Parent–teacher conferences are a key site for teachers to learn how to leverage family resources in service of instruction. To know how to support the development of well-started beginners, teacher education (TE) programs must design substantive opportunities for interns to learn to bridge students’ work in schools on academic content with their home and community-based experiences; they must also be able to assess teacher candidates’ capacities to enact this learning. The authors report on their efforts to design a simulated parent–teacher conference, used here as a pre-assessment, as a means for assessing interns’ capacities to interact with and learn from diverse families to better support the needs of students. They refer to these skills as “partnering practices.”
Effects of Nanoimprinted Structures on the Performance of Organic Solar Cells

The effect of nanoimprinted structures on the performance of organic bulk heterojunction solar cells was investigated. The nanostructures were formed over the active layer employing the soft lithographic technique. The measured incident photon-to-current efficiency revealed that the nanostructured morphology over the active layer can efficiently enhance both light harvesting and charge carrier collection due to improvement of the absorption of incident light and the buried nanostructured cathode, respectively. The devices prepared with the imprinted nanostructures exhibited significantly higher power conversion efficiencies as compared to those of the control cells.
Lower prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease in patients with noncardiac chest pain on opiates: a cross-sectional study.

Opiates can cause heartburn and spastic esophageal dysmotility but their role in noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) is not known. Our aim was to characterize opiate effects on esophageal function using esophageal pH monitoring and high-resolution manometry (HREM) in these patients.We performed a cross sectional study of opiate users with NCCP who underwent HREM and esophageal pH study from 2010 to 2017 using opiate nonusers as a comparison group. Demographic data, symptoms, opiate use, endoscopic findings, esophageal pH study parameters, and HREM data were abstracted.Thirty three patients with NCCP on opiates were compared to 144 opiate non-users. Compared to opiate nonusers, opiate users had lower total acid exposure (2.3% vs. 3%, P = 0.012), lower upright acid exposure (1.2% vs. 3.1%, P = 0.032) and lower DeMeester score (6.5 vs. 12.7, P = 0.016). Opiate users also had higher lower esophageal sphincter integrated relaxation pressure (LES-IRP) (7.0 mm Hg [2.2, 11.7] vs. 3.7 mm Hg [1.1, 6.2] P = 0.011) and greater mean distal contractile integral (DCI) (2575 mm.Hg.s.cm [1134, 4466] vs. 1409 mm.Hg.s.cm [796, 3003] P = 0.03) than opiate non-users. The prevalence of hypertensive motility disorders (15.2% vs. 11.1%) and achalasia (12.1% vs. 2.1%) was higher in opiate users (P = 0.039) but did not reach significance on multivariate analysis.In patients presenting with NCCP, opiate users had lower esophageal acid exposure compared to opiate nonusers. This might be due to higher LES pressures preventing reflux and higher DCI leading to more rapid acid esophageal clearance.
Phthalic Acid Esters

The twentieth century can as properly be called the age of organic chemistry as it can the atomic age. The dramatic increase in the production of synthetic fibers, processed foods, pesticides, plastics, pharmaceuticals, and a thousand other materials has completely altered our immediate human environment and provided a wealth of new materials. But it has also transformed our natural environment both intentionally and unintentionally.
An alternative structure for next generation regulatory controllers: Part I: Basic theory for design, development and implementation

Abstract Even though employed widely in industrial practice, the popular PID controller has weaknesses that limit its achievable performance, and an intrinsic structure that makes tuning not only more complex than necessary, but also less transparent with respect to the key attributes of the overall controller performance, namely: robustness, set-point tracking, and disturbance rejection. In this paper, we propose an alternative control scheme that combines the simplicity of the PID controller with the versatility of model predictive control (MPC) while avoiding the tuning problems associated with both. The tuning parameters of the proposed control scheme are related directly to the controller performance attributes; they are normalized to lie between 0 and 1; and they arise naturally from the formulation in a manner that makes it possible to tune the controller directly for each performance attribute independently. The result is a controller that can be designed and implemented much more directly and transparently, and one that outperforms the classical PID controller both in set-point tracking and disturbance rejection while using precisely the same process reaction curve information required to tune PID controllers. The design, implementation and performance of the controller are demonstrated via simulation on a nonlinear polymerization process.
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

Premenstrual syndrome is marked by a variety of emotional, physical, and behavioral symptoms that occur during the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and remit shortly after menstrual bleeding begins. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome that causes significant distress and interferes with normal functioning. A biopsychosocial perspective explains the physical, psychological, and cultural factors that play a role in the development and maintenance of the two syndromes. Establishing the diagnosis for both syndromes requires prospective monitoring of symptoms for two menstrual cycles. Moderate success has been demonstrated for medications, dietary changes, and psychological treatment.
Investigation of the Transition State in the Wear of Polyphenylene Sulfide Sliding Against Steel

The effect of sliding variables, including counterface roughness, sliding speed, and contact pressure, on the run-in state of wear and friction was studied. Sliding was performed in the pin-on-disk configuration with a polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) pin resting on the flat steel counterface. Some experiments were also run to study the effect of air cooling and heating. Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to study the shape and size of the wear debris, worn pin surface, and the transfer film formed on steel counterfaces. It was found that friction and wear in the run-in state were significantly affected by the sliding variables studied and their influence was closely related to the development of a transfer film during the run-in state. If the transfer film developed during initial sliding, the coefficient of friction increased and wear rate decreased. The wear rate in the run-in state increased with the increase in initial counterface roughness and there was an optimal counterface roughness of 0.06 μm Ra for minimum steady state wear rate. A higher applied load led to a higher wear rate in the run-in state but that was not the case with steady state wear rate.
PO-131 Impact of short-term inhibition of PKA in Nucleus Accumbens on voluntary wheel running

Objective Based upon a Booth lab goal of establishing molecular regulators of physical activity motivation, my current study focuses on the effects of short-term inhibition of protein kinase A (PKA) activity in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). The NAc is a brain region integral to motivated behaviors. Downstream immediate-early gene (IEG) expression from PKA has been shown to exhibit rapid responses to acute stimuli, such as voluntary wheel-running behavior. According to previous work in our lab, long-term NAc overexpression of the endogenous PKA inhibitor, Protein Kinase Inhibitor Alpha (PKIα), increased nightly running distance in rats selectively bred for low voluntary running (LVR) behavior (Mol Neurobiol 2018 Jun 21). However, paradoxically, the same PKIα overexpression failed to increase running distance in wild-type (WT) rats. It is known that chronic manipulation of the NAc PKA pathway produces different molecular (gene expression profiles) and behavioral outcomes from that of acute manipulations. Given the above, the goal of the current work is to determine how short-term inhibition of PKA in the NAc influences its downstream gene networks and the nightly voluntary running behavior in WT rats. Methods An ex vivo preparation of the NAc was utilized to determine the effects of Rp-cAMPS, a selective protein kinase A inhibitor, upon its stimulation of dopamine D1-like receptor agonist SKF 38393 on downstream gene expression level in sedentary WT female rats. Further, real-time PCR was implemented to analyze the transcriptional expression of IEGs (Homer-1, Arc, Zif268) following Rp-cAMPS administration. Results Data showed that there were no significant difference of mRNA level for Homer-1, Arc or Zif268 among the vehicle, 50uM, 100uM and 200uM Rp-cAMPS treatment groups upon the stimulation of 10uM SKF 38393. Conclusions In addition to the PKA, other protein kinases such as Ca++ activated and growth factor activated kinases have both been shown to phosphorylate CREB at Ser133, and thus, lead to activation of gene transcription. Given the above results of the ex vivo experiment, in which NAc slices were treated with multiple dosages of Rp-cAMPS concurrent with the stimulation of SKF 38393, it is possible that other protein kinase pathways could be compensating the effects of short-term inhibition of PKA and, in turn, lead to no difference of IEG expression. Further experiments will need to be performed in order to testify this hypothesis.
Reliability of radiological measurements of type 2 odontoid fracture.

Abstract BACKGROUND CONTEXT It is recognized that radiological parameters of type 2 dens fractures, including displacement and angulation, are predictive of treatment outcomes and are used to guide surgical decision-making. The reproducibility of such measurements, therefore, is of critical importance. Past literature has shown poor interobserver reliability for both displacement and angulation measurements of type 2 dens fractures. Since such studies however, various advancements of radiological review systems and measurement tools have evolved to potentially improve such measurements. PURPOSE To re-examine the inter-rater reliability of measuring displacement and angulation of type 2 dens fractures using modern radiological review systems. Besides quantitative measurements, the reliability of raters in identifying diagnostic classifications based on translational and angulational displacement was also examined. STUDY DESIGN Radiographic measurement reliability and agreement study. PATIENT SAMPLE Thirty-seven patients seen at a single institution between 2002 and 2017 with primary diagnosis of acute type 2 dens fracture with complete computed tomography (CT) imaging. OUTCOME MEASURES Radiological measurements included displacement and angulation. Diagnostic classifications based on consensus-based clinical cutoff points were also recorded. METHODS Measurements were performed by five surgeons with varying years of experience in spine surgery using the hospital's electronic medical record radiological measuring tools. The radiological measurements included displacement and angulation. Diagnostic classifications based on consensus-based clinical cutoff points were also recorded. Each rater received a graphic demonstration of the measurement methods, but had the autonomy to select a best cut from the sagittal CT to measure. All raters were blinded to patient information. RESULTS Measurements for displacement and angulation among the five raters demonstrated “excellent” reliability. Intra-rater reliability was also “excellent” in measuring displacement and angulation. The reliability of diagnostic classification of displacement (above vs. below 5 mm), was found to be “very good” among the raters. The reliability of diagnostic classification of angulation (above vs. below 11°) demonstrated “good” reliability. CONCLUSIONS Advancement of radiological review systems, including review tools and embedded image processing software, has facilitated more reliable measurements for type 2 odontoid fractures.
Denouncing the Hooded Order: Radicalism, Identity, and Dissent in the UMWA

My work examines how the radical immigrant miners of Franklin County, Illinois preserved radical sentiment in southern Illinois during the mid 1920s, despite the decline of both the coal industry in the region and radicalism within the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA). In particular, this paper focuses on the grassroots activism and interethnic solidarity displayed by union miners from southern Illinois at the 42nd annual convention of the Illinois Federation of Labor in 1924. A number of mining representatives disrupted the proceedings and demanded that the conference openly denounce the Ku Klux Klan and their use of terrorism within mining communities. Despite the prevalence of Klan attacks on union members, the miners met heavy opposition from the UMWA hierarchy present at the convention. This was due to not only the political influence held by the KKK in the area, but also the southern Illinois organizers’ affiliation with the Communist party. The dispute at this convention spoke to the presence of a divided working class in southern Illinois that often erupted in violent conflicts based on ethnic identity, national origin, and radical affiliation. I contend that the events at this convention informed the next decade of labor disputes in the coalfields of Franklin County, in which the UMWA consistently neglected the needs of their immigrant members and left them exposed to repression at the hands of the coal operators, the KKK, and the courts.
Synthesis, Structural Characterization, and Physical Properties of the Type‑I Clathrates A_8Zn_(18)As_(28) (A = K, Rb, Cs) and Cs_8Cd_(18)As_(28)

The first arsenide clathrates A_8Zn_(18)As_(28) (A = K, Rb, Cs) and Cs_8Cd_(18)As_(28) have been synthesized in high yields via a two-step route. These compounds adopt the type-I structure and exhibit structural characteristics different from the recently reported antimonide clathrates Cs_8Zn_(18)Sb_(28) and Cs_8Cd_(18)Sb_(28). In arsenide clathrates, Zn (or Cd) and As atoms are statistically mixed at the three framework sites: 6c, 16i, and 24k; the alkali metals reside inside the cages at the 2a and 6d sites, with the 2a site being only partially filled. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies confirm that the Cd atoms preferably occupy the 6c and 24k sites over the 16i site, with more than 80% of Cd found at the former two positions. A unique structural feature is a framework disorder coupled with the partial occupancy of the cage’s 2a site. Optical absorption measurements and electronic property measurements reveal a semimetallic-like behavior for Cs_8Cd_(18)As_(28) and semiconductor-like behavior for A_8Zn_(18)As_(28) (A = Rb, Cs).
Screening Indications and Treatments for Cholangiocarcinoma

The goal of this review paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) including its classification, epidemiology, risk factors, surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment. Guidelines recommend CCA surveillance in PSC patients with MRI/MRCP or ultrasound and CA 19-9 every 6–12 months. Fluorescience in situ hybridization and next-generation sequencing improve the poor sensitivity of biliary brushings. Surgical resection with negative margins gives the best chance of survival, and liver transplantation is an option for patients with very early intrahepatic CCA and perihilar CCA. CCA is a deadly epithelial malignancy of the biliary-ductal system and is the second most common primary liver cancer. Surveillance should be offered to all patients with PSC. CCA carries poor prognosis, especially if resection or liver transplantion is not feasible. Novel biomarkers and therapeutic options such as molecularly targeted therapy and immunotherapy hold promise to improve the detection and outcome of CCA patients.
Different approaches to robotic simple prostatectomy

Abstract Introduction Robotic simple prostatectomy is becoming widespread for treatment of larger prostates [1] . This video article examines two approaches: retropubic and transvesical. Methods The retropubic, similar to the open Millin, involves dropping the bladder, developing the space of Retzius, and exposing and incising the anterior prostatic capsule longitudinally [2] . The adenoma is separated from the surgical capsule by sweeping laterally using blunt dissection until the posterior prostatic capsule is reached. The posterior aspect of the bladder neck is approximated to the distal urethra after adenoma excision. In contrast, the transvesical mimics the simple open suprapubic [3] . The bladder is not dropped and the space of Retzius not developed. The bladder dome is incised and 4 stay sutures tack it open. The mucosa is scored posterior to the median lobe to create a plane between the adenoma and the posterior surgical capsule which is continued circumferentially to include the lateral lobes. After adenoma removal, the bladder neck is approximated circumferentially to the distal urethra and the cystotomy is closed. Results We compared results in 20 patients, 10 with each approach. The groups were similar in demographics and preoperative characteristics including BMI, PSA, prostate size, and PVR. Each approach was safely executed robotically without complications in either group and a hospital stay of 1 day in all 20 patients; however, EBL, operative time, and catheter indwell time were all lower for the transvesical group (75 ml vs. 150 ml, p = .067; 140 min vs. 210 min, p = .025; 6 vs. 10 days, p =). Conclusion In this retrospective comparison we demonstrate differences in 2 approaches to robotic simple prostatectomy. Preliminary analysis demonstrates both to be safe and efficacious, but there appear to be some advantages for the transvesical approach that deserve prospective evaluation.
The most influential papers in direct anterior approach to total hip arthroplasty

Abstract Background Citation analysis is a commonly used method for appraising the impact of academic publications within a particular field of study. A gap exists in the citation analysis literature with regard to the topic of direct anterior approach (DAA) hip arthroplasty. The purpose of this study is to identify the 50 most frequently cited publications related to this topic. Methods The Clarivate Analytics Web of Knowledge database was utilized to search for publications relating to DAA hip arthroplasty. The top 50 most cited articles that met inclusion criteria were recorded and reviewed for various metrics. Results The top 50 publications were cited a total of 3521 times, with an average of 86.3 total citations per year between 1980 and 2019. 47 of the 50 articles identified had been published since the year 2000. Cohort designs were the most common study type. Conclusions This analysis provides insight into factors that characterize highly cited articles on the specific topic of DAA hip arthroplasty. These factors include higher levels of evidence, recent publication, and origin in the United States. Citations of DAA hip arthroplasty papers appear to be on the rise. The curation and analysis of this set of 50 articles will provide orthopaedic surgery clinicians, researchers, and residency program directors a guide for quickly isolating influential articles on the topic of DAA hip arthroplasty. This may serve as a quick reference for clinical decision-making, foundation for further research, and curriculum on DAA hip arthroplasty.
Drone Surveys Do Not Increase Colony-wide Flight Behaviour at Waterbird Nesting Sites, But Sensitivity Varies Among Species.

The popularity of using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to survey colonial waterbirds has increased in the past decade, but disturbance associated with this bourgeoning technology requires further study. Disturbance was investigated by conducting aerial surveys with a consumer-grade quadcopter (DJI Phantom 3), while concurrently recording behavioural reactions on video. Surveys of mixed-species waterbird colonies (1-6 species per colony) were flown in horizontal transects at heights of 122, 91, 61, and 46 m, which is a typical range for collecting aerial imagery and producing high-resolution mosaicked orthophotos of nesting bird sites. An upper limit of 122 m was used due to local regulations prohibiting higher-altitude flights without federal authorization. Behavioural reactions were tallied every minute and a disturbance score was calculated for each sampling period. When compared to control periods, we found no evidence that colony-wide escape (i.e., flight) behaviour increased during drone flights, at any altitude flown. However, disturbance score increased significantly by 53% for surveys at 46 m. Some species were more sensitive to surveys than others. Laughing Gulls, in particular, exhibited a significant (125%) increase in escape behaviour for surveys at 91 m. Our results indicate when used in a capacity to gather high-resolution imagery for estimating breeding pairs, UAV surveys affected some species more than others, but severe reactions did not appear to increase for mixed-species colonies as a whole. Further study on safe operating thresholds is essential, especially at local and regional scales.
The order Tethyida (Porifera) in California: taxonomy, systematics, and the first member of the family Hemiasterella in the Eastern Pacific

Sponges (phylum Porifera) are ubiquitous inhabitants of marine ecosystems and have been shown to provide substantial ecosystem services. Despite this ecological importance, the sponge fauna in California has received little study. Here I use a collection of kelp forest sponges to describe the diversity of the order Tethyida in California. This order contains the genus Tethya, which has been included in long-term ecological monitoring projects. I show that Tethya vacua is a junior synonym of Tethya californiana, and thus all Tethya populations known in California belong to a single species. Genetic data from California9s only Timeidae, Timea authia, indicate that this species is in fact in the Tethyidae and is the third known member of the genus Tethytimea. I also describe the first member of the family Hemiasterellidae from the Eastern Pacific, Galaxia gaviotensis gen. nov. sp. nov. By combining field photographs, morphological taxonomy, and phylogenetic analysis of these samples, this work will facilitate future efforts to understand the evolution of this order and the ecological role of sponges in the California kelp forest.