cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrate Assemblage Response to Removal of a Partially Breached Lowhead Dam

Dam removal is an increasingly common restoration technique in lotic ecosystems. Potential dam removal benefits include improved aquatic organism passage, restoration of natural flow dynamics and a general improvement in habitat for native species. However, understanding potential dam removal outcomes requires data on ecosystem response in a wide variety of settings. We evaluated fish and benthic macroinvertebrate response to removal of the Spruce Pine dam in western North Carolina, USA. This dam was partially breached prior to removal, and impounded a coolwater river, both scenarios under which dam removal has been under-studied. Post-removal shifts in fish and benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages did not occur, suggesting that previously documented patterns of assemblage change in response to dam removal, particularly in the area upstream from the dam, are not universal, and may depend upon factors such as river gradient and water temperature, and the available species pool. Such information can aid managers in identifying conditions under which an expectation of significant instream habitat improvement in response to dam removal may not be warranted. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Earliest Cretaceous Pacificward offset of the Klamath Mountains salient, NW California–SW Oregon

Although Late Triassic igneous rocks are present, the Sierra Nevada–Klamath calc-alkaline arc began massive construction along the continental margin at ca. 170 Ma during oblique underflow of paleo-Pacific oceanic lithosphere; intense activity continued throughout the volcanic-plutonic belt until at least ca. 140 Ma. This volcanic-plutonic arc supplied detritus to the Mariposa-Galice proximal clastic sequence starting by ca. 165–160 Ma. After onset of uppermost Jurassic Myrtle overlap sedimentation on the western flank of the Klamath Mountains, but before Hornbrook and Valanginian Great Valley Group overlap deposition on the eastern and southeastern sides, the Klamath Mountains salient was displaced ∼200 km westward relative to the igneous arc. The orogen thus moved off the deep-seated magmagenic zone underlying the arc and did not participate in the massive Sierra Nevada igneous flare-up between ca. 125 and ca. 85 Ma. I suggest that, beginning at ca. 140 Ma, underflow of a young, thin oceanic slab beneath the Klamath Mountains slid beneath the gently east-dipping stack of thrust sheets without disturbing their inclinations. Subduction and collision of much thicker oceanic lithosphere on both the north and south caused contraction, eastward relative displacement of the continental margin arc, and ductility-enhanced rotation of the superjacent stack of allochthons into near-vertical dips. After a magmatic lull, heightened igneous activity in the Sierra Nevada recommenced at ca. 125 Ma. The earliest Cretaceous oceanward plate junction rollback lay directly offshore the Klamath imbricate orogen, but to the south trapped the ca. 165 Ma Coast Range ophiolite on the North American side of the suture. After ca. 140 Ma, first-cycle arc detritus began to accumulate on the mafic igneous basement flooring the Great Valley forearc, and turbiditic clastic material also was carried oceanward across the forearc into the coeval Franciscan trench.
Design and Realization of Reform for Waterpower Scheduling Automation System of Gutianxi Hydropower Plant

Based on the status quo of waterpower scheduling automation system of the Gutianxi Hydropower Plant and its engineering experience,the design scheme of reform for the system is introduced.The skills of reform in function realization and programming of NARI WDS9001 waterpower scheduling automation system are described in detail.Field application shows that the design is reasonable and the operation of the reformed system is stable.
An analysis of megakaryocytopoiesis in the C3H mouse: an animal model whose megakaryocytes have 32N as the modal DNA class

The modal DNA content of normal marrow megakaryocytes from species so far examined usually has been reported to be 16N. In this report we describe an exception in the C3H mouse whose megakaryocytes have a modal DNA content of 32N. Female C3H/HEN mice had an average DNA content distribution of 14% 8N, 37% 16N, 43% 32N, and 6% 64N. Male C3H/HEN mice had somewhat higher proportions of 32N and 64N megakaryocytes (average DNA content distribution of 12% 8N, 29% 16N, 47% 32N, and 12% 64N) than females. All 11 other mouse strains examined had 16N as the modal megakaryocyte DNA content, although the proportions in the various polyploid DNA classes showed some strain variation. Megakaryocyte size was similar among all 12 strains evaluated, and mean platelet volume (MPV) of C3H/HEN mice differed from only 1 of the other 4 strains analyzed. Platelet counts of C3H/HEN mice were similar to those of six, and slightly but significantly lower than those of five other mouse strains examined. Compared with megakaryocyte concentrations of other mouse strains studied, that of C3H/HEN mice was similar to seven, somewhat higher than one, and slightly lower than three strains. Offspring from reciprocal matings of C57BL/6 and C3H/HEN mice had megakaryocyte DNA distributions intermediate between those of the parent strains, suggesting that a higher gene dosage of some component is responsible for the right-shifted megakaryocyte DNA content distribution phenotype of C3H mice. The proportions of 32N and 64N megakaryocytes increased in C3H/HEN mice in response to acute thrombocytopenia, as did those of CBA/CAJ mice used as a comparative strain. In summary, megakaryocytes of the C3H mouse have a higher average DNA content but similar platelet count, MPV, and megakaryocyte size and concentration as those of most other mouse strains. These results suggest that the number of platelets produced per unit of C3H megakaryocyte DNA is less than that for other mice.
Unresectable calcified bladder tumor: hemiacidrin irrigation as an adjunct to resection.

AbstractRadiographic calcification of urothelial malignancies is an uncommon finding. To our knowledge, calcification of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder preventing transurethral resection has not been reported previously. We report a case of an initially unresectable radiopaque bladder tumor and discuss the successful, conservative management with continuous bladder irrigation with hemiacidrin followed by complete transurethral resection.
TRIPS: A distributed explicit data graph execution (EDGE) microprocessor

This article consists of a collection of slides from the author's conference resentation on TRIPS, a distributed explicit data graph execution (EDGE) microprocessor. Some of the specific topics discussed include: architecture design and processing capabilties; performance evaluation; the special features of EDGE; networked microarchitectures; the TRIPS execution model; tile-level microarchitectures; implementation techniques; and opportunities for improvement.
Pfitzinger quinoline synthesis

Quinoline-4-carboxylic acids from the condensation of isatic acids and α-methylene carbonyl compounds using base.
A new method to analyze adverse events longitudinally in oncology clinical trials.

3622 Background: There are significant limitations to the current method for displaying treatment-related adverse events (AE) in clinical trials. Tables displaying grade 3 and 4 AEs do not capture toxicity profiles that evolve over time and do not provide clinically relevant information on when a given AE could arise, its probable duration and its severity at a given point in therapy. We developed a novel method of analysis to better capture and represent longitudinal AE data. Methods: Graphical and analytical routines were developed to analyze adverse events longitudinally. Mean symptom and toxicity values are plotted over time on a single axis for direct comparison. Butterfly plots compare adverse events by treatment arms longitudinally. Multiple longitudinal techniques (repeated measures modeling, profile analysis, area under the curve analysis, change from baseline, and time to event) are included. Heat maps, event charts and stream plots are produced for individual patient results over time. Results:...
Methods to Study Protein-Protein Interactions

Protein-protein interactions are the underpinnings of a vast number of cellular processes. In recent years, the convergence of biochemistry, cellular, and molecular biology has made available a number of powerful techniques for studying such interactions. These techniques vary in their sensitivity, efficiency, and rapidity, but judicial deployment of a combination of them has proved to be effective and reliable. Here, we highlight a version of the yeast two-hybrid assay originally pioneered by Fields and Song (1989) and subsequently enhancements by other investigators. We also briefly describe a number of new fluorescent imaging-based biophysical techniques for studying protein-protein interactions FRET, FCS, and BiFC. Together, these constitute an impressive collection of tools for studying interactions among proteins.
Do IT Auditors Aid in the Restoration of Control Legitimacy

Material weaknesses in internal controls that are related to information technology (IT) represent a unique threat to organizational legitimacy. Institutional theory suggests that maintaining legit...
Hybrid boron nitride-natural fiber composites for enhanced thermal conductivity

Thermal conductivity was dramatically increased after adding natural fiber into hexagonal boron nitride (hBN)/epoxy composites. Although natural fiber does not show high-thermal conductivity itself, this study found that the synergy of natural fiber with hBN could significantly improve thermal conductivity, compared with that solely using hBN. A design of mixtures approach using constant fibers with increasing volume fractions of hBN was examined and compared. The thermal conductivity of the composite containing 43.6% hBN, 26.3% kenaf fiber and 30.1% epoxy reached 6.418 W m−1 K−1, which was 72.3% higher than that (3.600 W m−1 K−1) of the 69.0% hBN and 31.0% epoxy composite. Using the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and micro computed tomography (micro-CT), it was observed that the hBN powders were well distributed and ordered on the fiber surfaces enhancing the ceramic filler’s interconnection, which may be the reason for the increase in thermal conductivity. Additionally, the results from mechanical and dynamic mechanical tests showed that performances dramatically improved after adding kenaf fibers into the hBN/epoxy composite, potentially benefiting the composite’s use as an engineered material.
Outcomes of multivisceral resection of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

91 Background: Despite the recent introduction of imatinib and laparoendoscopic techniques to the management of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), outcomes remain uncertain in the setting of multivisceral involvement. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 69 consecutive patients who underwent resection of gastric GISTs from October 2002 through August 2011. Median follow-up was 19 months (interquartile range [IQR] 4-37). Results: Patients were 51% female, with a mean age of 65 ± 13 years and BMI of 30 ± 8 kg/m2. Patients undergoing multivisceral resection (n=13) had a longer interval from diagnosis to surgery (7.4 [IQR 1.9 – 15.0] vs. 1.3 [IQR 0.7-3.5] months, p<0.01), greater use of neoadjuvant imatinib (62% vs. 4%, p<0.001), and greater preoperative tumor size (12 ± 8 vs. 4 ± 3 cm, p<0.001) in comparison to gastric-only resections (n=56). Patients were less likely to be managed laparoscopically (8% vs. 71%, p<0.001), had a longer operative time (286 ± 92 vs. 152 ± 65 min, p<0.001...
Low‐Energy Catalytic Electrolysis for Simultaneous Hydrogen Evolution and Lignin Depolymerization

Hereby we present a novel proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis process in which lignin was used as the hydrogen source at anode for hydrogen production. Either polyoxometalate (POM) or FeCl3 was used as the catalysts and charge transfer agents in anode. Over 90% Faraday efficiency was achieved. In a thermal insulation reactor, the heat energy can be maintained at a very low stage for continuous operation. Compared to the best alkaline water electrolysis reported in literature, the electrical energy consumption could be 40% lower with novel lignin electrolysis method. At the anode, the Kraft lignin (KL) was oxidized to aromatic chemicals by POM or FeCl3, and reduced POM or iron ions were regenerated during the electrolysis. Structure analysis of the residual KL indicated the reduction of hydroxyl group number and the cleavage of ether bonds. Our results suggest that POM or FeCl3 mediated electrolysis process can significantly reduce the electrolysis energy consumption in hydrogen production and, simultaneously, depolymerize lignin to low molecular weight value-added aromatic chemicals.
Exploiting temporal divergence of topic distributions for event detection

In a collection of documents, such as news articles or tweets, various events take place over time. The event detection problem aims at discovering significant events that have not been mentioned before the detection time. When these events occur, we observe that topic distributions of documents will diverge notably. However, event detection from such divergence may be hampered by noises. In this paper, we propose TopicDiver, a novel method to address the event detection problem. TopicDiver models topic distributions of documents over time and filters out noises while capturing the useful divergence between such distributions. The direct exploitation of topic distribution over time sets our work apart from existing studies on event detection. We conduct comprehensive experiments under different settings on news and Twitter data. The experimental results demonstrate that TopicDiver outperforms the baseline models in the measures for accuracy across various settings.
Primary prevention of Clostridium difficile infections - how difficult can it be?

ABSTRACTIntroduction: C. difficile infections (CDI) have been a challenging disease to treat, much less to prevent, for decades. Efforts for primary prevention have mainly focused on improving infection control practices, but CDI outbreaks continue to plague healthcare facilities.Areas covered: A literature search from 1970-December 2016 found 13 facility-level and 2 patient-level strategies that were evidence-based. The aim of this manuscript is to assess the current state of the literature on primary prevention of CDI and offer insights into which strategies may be more effective.Expert commentary: The strongest evidence for primary prevention is based on multi-faceted infection control bundles, while there is promising moderate evidence involving facility-wide use of specific probiotics. Moderate-level evidence was found for patient-level use of specific probiotics and low level evidence for vaccines. Future suggestions include use of consistent outcome metrics, measurements of implementation complianc...
Management of the High-Risk Bariatric Surgery Candidate

The ability to recognize and quantitate risk factors affecting surgical outcomes allows for the development of risk-reducing strategies, which can be implemented during the lengthy preoperative evaluation process. This involves expanded specialty resources with expertise in lifestyle intervention, exercise training, physical rehabilitation, dietary intervention, and smoking cessation. Optimization of comorbid conditions, improvement in functional status, weight loss, and smoking cessation are all interventions that can be integrated into the preoperative program with potential for favorable influence on outcomes.
Fuel Cell Power Systems and Applications

Fuel cell power systems offer a unique combination of high efficiency, wide size range, modularity, and compatibility with cogeneration. The development of complete energy systems that realize the benefits offered by fuel cell technology requires a basic understanding of fuel cell system components as well as the associated power electronics for different applications. This paper explains the basic characteristics of a fuel cell system, describes the different types of fuel cells and their current state of development, and discusses the potential application of these systems to transportation and stationary power. Particular emphasis is given to the electrical characteristics of the fuel cell, which is a relatively stiff power source. Power electronic systems are essential for making the fuel cell electrical output compatible with most loads. Options for dc–dc and dc–ac power conversion circuits are given with a discussion of the distinct features of each circuit that can be used for system planning purposes. The interaction between a fuel cell and a single-phase ac inverter load is highlighted because of the widespread applicability of this particular combination.
Stability considerations and actuation requirements in bistable laminated composites

Abstract Laminated composites with a core layer sandwiched between orthogonal mechanically-prestrained laminae exhibit two weakly-coupled cylindrical shapes where each shape is influenced only by one prestrained lamina. This study investigates the domain of bistability and actuation requirements of such bistable laminated composites. An analytical model is constructed as follows: point-wise displacements and areal dimensions are scaled; strain energy and actuation work are computed using high-order displacement polynomials; and net energy is minimized using the Rayleigh-Ritz method to calculate stable shapes as a function of actuation force. Shape transition is shown to be a multi-stage phenomenon through an experimental procedure involving friction-free tensile tests and 3D motion capture. The simulated actuation energies agree with measurements within 12%. Square laminates are shown to be bistable only when the ratios of laminae prestrains are greater than 0.2. The aspect ratio limit for bistability can be improved by maximizing both prestrains while maintaining a prestrain ratio of one. It is shown that in-plane forcing requires 100 times more energy than an equivalent moment. A parametric study reveals that the composite’s performance parameters are more sensitive to the core’s thickness than its modulus; the sensitivity of actuation energy is minimal relative to that of deformation and stiffness.
Sleep and Learning in Birds: Rats! There’s More to Sleep

The role of sleep in learning has often been viewed in terms of memory consolidation in mammalian systems, but understanding the functions of sleep and learning can be informed by a broader evolutionary and ethological perspective. Here we advocate the value of combining behavioral and neuronal observations to study sleep mechanisms of learning by developing examples in two songbird species. In European starlings ( Sturnus vulgaris ), we describe an auditory classification learning paradigm that was modeled after the design of sleep-memory studies in humans and that replicates the pattern of performance changes commonly observed in humans across waking and sleeping retention. In zebra finches ( Taeniopygia guttata ), we describe how neural processing during sleep is involved in song maintenance in adult birds and in the developmental learning of song in juvenile birds. Throughout, we discuss the results in relation to work in mammals and suggest future directions to more closely connect the behavioral effects of sleep with the neural mechanisms underlying sleep-dependent memory consolidation.
Transnational students in Mexico: A summer writing workshop as a way to improve English writing skills

Transnational students, that is, those who have had one or more years of schooling in the US and are now in school in Mexico, make up a sizeable and growing population. For these students, the language of the home, Spanish, abruptly becomes the language of school and what was the language of school and socialization outside the home, English, is all but removed from their sphere. However, English is a language with which they identify. Further, in my interviews with them, transnational students express a desire to maintain English and express concern over lack of opportunities to do so. Thus, a writing workshop was offered for three weeks in the summer of 2015. The four member instructional team made up of US university students and a professor engaged the workshop participants in warm-up activities, mini-lessons, sustained writing periods and sharing of work. Some gains were found in the areas of mechanics, content and spelling, but the study’s greater contribution is as a case study on which to design an improved workshop in the future.
Stackelberg Differential Games

In Stackelberg games, the players are not on an equal footing. There is a leader and a follower. This is a generalization of the two-player zero-sum differential games considered in Section 16.4, in particular.
SUPPRESSOR CELLS ACTIVE AGAINST NK-B BUT NOT NK-A CELLS IN MICE TREATED WITH RADIOACTIVE STRONTIUM

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses presence and/or induction of suppressor cells for NK-A and NK-B cells in mice treated with 89Sr. The functions of NK-B cells against FLD-3, WEHI-164.1, and EL-4 tumor cells are nearly normal in 89Sr-treated mice. As compared with normal mice, 89Sr-treated mice have very diminished lung clearance of IUdR-labeled YAC-1 tumor cells. Reduction of NK-B cell activity can be clearly demonstrated to be because of suppressor cells detected in vitro at the effector level. Employing similar in vitro experiments and in vivo techniques, no cellular suppression of NK-A cells could be detected in 89Sr-treated mice. Presumably, functionally mature NK-A cells cannot be generated in the absence of an intact bone marrow microenvironment. These experiments strengthen the concept of NK-cell heterogeneity.
Toward Solutions for Problems of Early Childhood Education

The same basic goal has animated the recently instituted efforts of both Israel and the United States of America in early childhood education. For different historical reasons, both nations have faced the incontrovertible fact that a substantial portion of children enter school without the knowledge and skills required to cope effectively with school. In consequence, many children drop out without having acquired the knowledge and skills and values required for productive employment in industrialized economies or for responsible citizenship. A major share of such children come from families where the parents are both uneducated and poor. The goal of early childhood education has been to provide these children with the knowledge and skills required to cope effectively with the tasks of school learning and ultimately to prepare them for a role both productive and responsible in the mainstream of our societies.
Safety and Durability of Prosthetic Repair of the Hiatal Hernia: Lessons Learned from a 15-Year Experience

Laparoscopic fundoplication has emerged as the gold standard for treating refractory reflux disease and symptoms of gastric herniation. Surgical success rates as measured by patient satisfaction and symptom relief have been reported to be between 85% and 95% [1, 2]. However, as with any operation, we should continue to critically examine clinical failures in an effort to identify and correct potential sources of technical weaknesses.
Putting Family First Led to My Extraordinary Career

Retired Vice-Chancellor and Professor Emerita Saundra McGuire recounts her journey from segregated Louisiana through the Ivy League to a stellar career in academia, stitched together from opportunities she came across while following her research physicist husband around the country with two children in tow. She advises young professionals to pursue their passions and instincts and look for a way to have what they want, within reason, before accepting anything less.
A randomized controlled trial contrasting the effects of 4 low-calorie sweeteners and sucrose on body weight in adults with overweight or obesity.

BACKGROUND Low-calorie sweeteners (LCSs) provide sweetness with little or no energy. However, each LCS's unique chemical structure has potential to elicit different sensory, physiological, and behavioral responses that affect body weight. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this trial was to compare the effects of consumption of 4 LCSs and sucrose on body weight, ingestive behaviors, and glucose tolerance over a 12-wk intervention in adults (18-60 y old) with overweight or obesity (body mass index 25-40 kg/m2). METHODS In a parallel-arm design, 154 participants were randomly assigned to consume 1.25-1.75 L of beverage sweetened with sucrose (n = 39), aspartame (n = 30), saccharin (n = 29), sucralose (n = 28), or rebaudioside A (rebA) (n = 28) daily for 12 wk. The beverages contained 400-560 kcal/d (sucrose treatments) or <5 kcal/d (LCS treatments). Anthropometric indexes, energy intake, energy expenditure, appetite, and glucose tolerance were measured at baseline. Body weight was measured every 2 wk with energy intake, expenditure, and appetite assessed every 4 wk. Twenty-four-hour urine collections were completed every 4 wk to determine study compliance via para-aminobenzoic acid excretion. RESULTS Of the participants enrolled in the trial, 123 completed the 12-wk intervention. Sucrose and saccharin consumption led to increased body weight across the 12-wk intervention (Δweight = +1.85 ± 0.36 kg and +1.18 ± 0.36 kg, respectively; P ≤ 0.02) and did not differ from each other. There was no significant change in body weight with consumption of the other LCS treatments compared with baseline, but change in body weight for sucralose was negative and significantly lower compared with all other LCSs at week 12 (weight difference ≥ 1.37 ± 0.52 kg, P ≤ 0.008). Energy intake decreased with sucralose consumption (P = 0.02) and ingestive frequency was lower for sucralose than for saccharin (P = 0.045). Glucose tolerance was not significantly affected by any of the sweetener treatments. CONCLUSIONS Sucrose and saccharin consumption significantly increase body weight compared with aspartame, rebA, and sucralose, whereas weight change was directionally negative and lower for sucralose compared with saccharin, aspartame, and rebA consumption. LCSs should be categorized as distinct entities because of their differing effects on body weight. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02928653.
The Role of Civic Debt in Democratic Education

The notion of educational gaps often portrays students of color as lower performing (or with less resources) than their White counterparts. The most prevalent gap narratives in civic education are ...
The Efficiency of the Hadley Cell Response to Wide Variations in Ocean Heat Transport

AbstractThe Hadley cell (HC) plays a key role in the climate response to variations in ocean heat transport (OHT). Increased OHT is characterized by both a robust slowdown of this overturning circu...
3D printing of dual-cure benzoxazine networks

Abstract A novel 3D printing formulation based on a multifunctional benzoxazine (BOX) monomer possessing both photo and thermally polymerizable functional groups is reported. Printing formulation viscosity is readily tuned using a monofunctional-acrylate reactive diluent to enable Stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing. In the primary curing step, the printing formulation is UV-cured by SLA 3D printing to prepare accurate parts on the millimeter size scale. The 3D printed parts are then heated in the secondary curing step to activate a thermally initiated BOX ring opening polymerization. Dynamic mechanical analysis demonstrated that the 3D printed parts exhibit a single Tan δ peak after both the primary UV-cure and secondary thermal cure steps, suggesting the two polymerizations behave as one crosslinked network. The unique dual-cure strategy demonstrated in this research utilizes both photo and thermally initiated polymerizations to expand the library of materials available for 3D printing applications.
Conference mobile application: Participant acceptance and the correlation with overall event satisfaction utilizing the technology acceptance model (TAM)

Although many studies have been conducted focusing on technology trends and acceptance, there is a lack of research investigating the factors that influence conference attendees’ attitudes toward a...
Characterization of thick tin deposits by autocatalytic reaction and electrochemical investigations of autocatalytic tin electrolytes and their reaction mechanisms

The presented study focus on the mechanistic understanding of the autocatalytic tin deposition. The results are encouraging enough to further evaluate the autocatalytic tin electrolytes as a valuable alternative in specific applications in the IC substrates and $\mu$ -LED industry.
Adult attachment and jealousy of the partner–infant relationship at the transition to parenthood:

Using data from a sample of 182 dual-earner different-gender couples who were followed across their transition to parenthood, we adopted a dyadic approach to examine associations between expectant ...
A life-course theory exploration of opioid-related maternal mortality in the United States.

Background and aims Between 2007 and 2016, pregnancy-associated mortality resulting from overdose more than doubled in the United States. This study explored the circumstances surrounding maternal opioid-related morbidity and mortality, using the life-course theory as a sensitizing framework to examine how each participant's life-course contributed to her substance use, relapse, recovery or overdose. Design A mixed-methods study using semi-structured, in-depth face-to-face interviews and focus groups were conducted. Setting Texas, United States. Participants Women who had relapsed into opioid use or experienced a 'near-miss' overdose and family members of women who had died during the maternal period due to opioid overdose were interviewed (n = 99). Measurements A socio-demographic questionnaire captured participants' ethnicity, age, marital status, medical and mental health history and employment status. The Stressful Life Events Screening Questionnaire-revised (SLESQ-R) assessed life-time exposure to trauma. Findings Women reported histories of abuse and loss of a loved one through homicide or suicide. Participants indicated that limited social support, interpersonal conflict with their partner and unaddressed mental illness made recovery more challenging. Additionally, losing their children through the child welfare system was described as punitive and placed them at greater risk for relapse and overdose. Conclusions A life-course theory approach to examining maternal opioid-related morbidity and mortality in Texas, United States reveals the complex needs of women at risk for opioid use relapse and overdose and the significant role of previous traumatic experiences.
Causal Classification: Treatment Effect vs. Outcome Prediction

The goal of causal classification is to identify individuals whose outcome would be positively changed by a treatment. Examples include targeting advertisements and targeting retention incentives to reduce churn. Causal classification is challenging because we observe individuals under only one condition (treated or untreated), so we do not know who was influenced by the treatment, but we may estimate the potential outcomes under each condition to decide whom to treat by estimating treatment effects. Curiously, we often see practitioners using simple outcome prediction instead, e.g., will someone purchase if shown the ad? Rather than disregarding this as naive behavior, we present a theoretical analysis comparing treatment effect estimation and outcome prediction when addressing causal classification. We describe a causal bias-variance tradeoff: because treatment effect estimation depends on two outcome estimates, its larger variance may lead to more errors than the (biased) outcome prediction approach. Moreover, the often stronger signal-to-noise ratio in outcome prediction may help with intervention decisions. The theoretical results as well as large-scale simulations illustrate settings in which outcome prediction should be better, including cases where (1) the bias may be partially corrected by choosing a different threshold, (2) outcomes and treatment effects are positively correlated, and (3) data to estimate counterfactuals are limited.
Synergistic Effect of WTC-Particulate Matter and Lysophosphatidic Acid Exposure and the Role of RAGE: In-Vitro and Translational Assessment.

World Trade Center particulate matter (WTC-PM)-exposed firefighters with metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) have a higher risk of WTC lung injury (WTC-LI). Since macrophages are crucial innate pulmonary mediators, we investigated WTC-PM/lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) co-exposure in macrophages. LPA, a low-density lipoprotein metabolite, is a ligand of the advanced glycation end-products receptor (AGER or RAGE). LPA and RAGE are biomarkers of WTC-LI. Human and murine macrophages were exposed to WTC-PM, and/or LPA, and compared to controls. Supernatants were assessed for cytokines/chemokines; cell lysate immunoblots were assessed for signaling intermediates after 24 h. To explore the translatability of our in-vitro findings, we assessed serum cytokines/chemokines and metabolites of symptomatic, never-smoking WTC-exposed firefighters. Agglomerative hierarchical clustering identified phenotypes of WTC-PM-induced inflammation. WTC-PM induced GM-CSF, IL-8, IL-10, and MCP-1 in THP-1-derived macrophages and induced IL-1α, IL-10, TNF-α, and NF-κB in RAW264.7 murine macrophage-like cells. Co-exposure induced synergistic elaboration of IL-10 and MCP-1 in THP-1-derived macrophages. Similarly, co-exposure synergistically induced IL-10 in murine macrophages. Synergistic effects were seen in the context of a downregulation of NF-κB, p-Akt, -STAT3, and -STAT5b. RAGE expression after co-exposure increased in murine macrophages compared to controls. In our integrated analysis, the human cytokine/chemokine biomarker profile of WTC-LI was associated with discriminatory metabolites (fatty acids, sphingolipids, and amino acids). LPA synergistically elaborated WTC-PM’s inflammatory effects in vitro and was partly RAGE-mediated. Further research will focus on the intersection of MetSyn/PM exposure.
Improving intraoperative administration of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis: a quality improvement report

Despite widespread adoption of the Surgical Care Improvement Programme, the incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs) remains high. It is possible that lapses in appropriate administration of antimicrobial prophylaxis may play a role. We noted significant discordance with national guidelines with regards to intraoperative antibiotic administration at our institution, leading to implementation of a quality improvement initiative using multidisciplinary education and reminder-based interventions to improve prescribing practices and increase compliance with national guidelines. We observed a significant improvement in adherence to all aspects of antibiotic administration guidelines as a result of such interventions. Targeted multidisciplinary interventions may help improve prescribing practices of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis and provide an opportunity to potentially decrease the burden of SSI and the related morbidity and mortality.
A Staged Approach to Combined Extra-articular Limb Deformity Correction and Total Ankle Arthroplasty for End-Stage Ankle Arthritis:

Background:Patients presenting with end-stage ankle osteoarthritis (OA) in the setting of a concomitant extra-articular limb deformity pose a challenging problem that has not yet been described in ...
AdS3 wormholes from a modular bootstrap

In recent work we computed the path integral of three-dimensional gravity with negative cosmological constant on spaces which are topologically a torus times an interval. Here we employ a modular bootstrap to show that the amplitude is completely fixed by consistency conditions and a few basic inputs from gravity. This bootstrap is notably for an ensemble of CFTs, rather than for a single instance. We also compare the 3d gravity result with the Narain ensemble. The former is well-approximated at low temperature by a random matrix theory ansatz, and we conjecture that this behavior is generic for an ensemble of CFTs at large central charge with a chaotic spectrum of heavy operators.
518 Epigenetic dysfunction of terminally exhausted tumor infiltrating T cells

Background Tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells have been characterized by their exhausted phenotype with decreased cytokine expression and increased expression of co-inhibitory receptors, such as PD-1 and Tim-3. These receptors mark the progression towards exhaustion from a progenitor stage (PD-1Low) to a terminally exhausted stage (PD-1+Tim-3+). While the epigenetics of tumor-infiltrating T cells are unique compared to naive, effector, and memory populations, how the chromatin landscape changes during this progression has not been described. Methods Using a low-input ChIP-based assay called Cleavage Under Targets and Release Using Nuclease (CUT&RUN), we profiled the histone modifications at the chromatin of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cell subsets to better understand the relationship between the epigenome and the transcriptome as TIL progress towards terminal exhaustion. Results We have identified two epigenetic characteristics unique to terminally exhausted cells. First, we found a substantial increase in the number of genes that exhibit bivalent chromatin marks, defined by the presence of both activating (H3K4me3) and repressive (H3K27me3) epigenetic modifications that inhibit gene expression. In contrast to stem cells which exhibit bivalency, bivalent genes in terminally exhausted T cells are not associated with plasticity and represent aberrant hypermethylation in response to tumor hypoxia. Secondly, we have also identified a unique set of enhancers, characterized by H3K27ac that do not drive gene expression. These enhancers are enriched for AP-1 transcription factors, whereas enhancers that correlate with gene transcription are enriched for nuclear receptor (NR) transcription factors. Intriguingly, while most AP-1 and NR transcription factors are not expressed in terminally exhausted cells, we found that Batf, an inhibitory AP-1 family member, and Nr4a2, a NR known to promote both exhaustion and modify chromatin were specifically expressed in terminally exhausted cells. These data suggest the balance of Batf and Nr4a2 may modulate the enhancer landscape to promote terminal exhaustion, while hypoxia simultaneously promotes hypermethylation and gene repression. Conclusions Our study defines for the first time the features of epigenetic dysfunction in tumor-mediated T cell exhaustion and deepens our understanding of the epigenetic regulation of gene expression. These observations are the bases for future work that will elucidate that factors that drive progression towards terminal T cell exhaustion at the epigenetic level and identify novel therapeutic targets to restore effector function of tumor T cells and mediate tumor clearance.
Pencil: A Pipelined Algorithm for Distributed Stencils

Stencil computations are at the core of various Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) applications and have been well-studied for several decades. Typically they’re highly memory-bound and as a result, numerous tiling algorithms have been proposed to improve its performance. Although efficient, most of these algorithms are designed for single iteration spaces on shared-memory machines. However, in CFD, we are confronted with multi-block structured girds composed of multiple connected iteration spaces distributed across many nodes.In this paper, we propose a pipelined stencil algorithm called Pencil for distributed memory machines that applies to practical CFD problems that span multiple iteration spaces. Based on an in-depth analysis of cache tiling on a single node, we first identify both the optimal combination of MPI and OpenMP for temporal tiling and the best tiling approach, which outperforms the state-of-the-art automatic parallelization tool Pluto by up to $1.92 \times$. Then, we adopt DeepHalo to decouple the multiple connected iteration spaces so that temporal tiling can be applied to each space. Finally, we achieve overlap by pipelining the computation and communication without sacrificing the advantage from temporal cache tiling. Pencil is evaluated using 4 stencils across 6 numerical schemes on two distributed memory machines with Omni-Path and InfiniBand networks. On the Omni-Path system, Pencil exhibits outstanding weak and strong scalability for up to 128 nodes and outperforms MPI+OpenMP Funneled with space tiling by $1.33- 3.41 \times$ on a multi-block grid with 32 nodes.
Risking Disclosure: Unruly Rhetorics and Queer(ing) HIV Risk Communication on Grindr

Using narrative-based user experience methods, this article investigates how youth living with HIV discuss their serostatus on the dating app Grindr. This study found that participants resisted Gri...
Unusual case of occipital lobe dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumour with GNAi1-BRAF fusion.

A previously healthy 9-year-old girl presented to otolaryngology clinic due to new onset bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. An MRI brain was ordered as part of her routine workup, and she was found to have an incidental 1.3 cm non-enhancing T1 hypointense, T2 hyperintense mass in the right
Long-Term Effects of Pain and Opioid Use in the ICU

Many critically ill patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) experience moderate-to-severe pain during their admission. This includes pain at rest and pain experienced during common ICU procedures.
Editorial: Lessons Not Learned

We’re already seeing reports broadly assessing online learning based on spurious definitions, research questions, methodology, and leaps to causal conclusions by equating “remote instruction” tacti...
Rectal Atresia and bile duct paucity in a newborn with Pitt Hopkins syndrome

We describe the genetic diagnosis of Pitt Hopkins syndrome of a newborn female who demonstrated a cleft lip and palate on fetal ultrasound at 20 weeks gestation but no further diagnostic tests were performed per parental request. After birth the child underwent genetic testing and was diagnosed with a deletion of the long arm of chromosome 18 which included the TCF4 gene causing Pitt Hopkins syndrome. We present common findings seen with Pitt Hopkins as well as three unusual physical exam findings that have not been previously described. Our objective is to increase awareness of this rare syndrome and bring light to possible previously unreported physical findings to aid in the diagnosis.
The Colonization of the Galaxy -- A Key Concept in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

The Drake Equation, which precludes stellar colonization and assumes an independent origin for each stellar civilization, predicts, according to most of its backers, a number N = 105 −106 of advanced technological civilizations in the Galaxy, i.e., roughly one per million stars. The concept, on the other hand, of the colonization of the Galaxy predicts, either N = 1010−1011 if the colonization has already occurred, with space colonies in orbit around every well behaved star of the Galaxy, or N = 10−1 −100 if the colonization has not yet taken place, because the reason it has not yet occurred must simply be that throughout the long history of the Galaxy there were too few civilizations capable of initiating the colonization process. These conditions simplify considerably the search for extraterrestrial intelligence because we now need to investigate only a small number of stars in our own, vicinity, rather than millions of faraway stars as required by the Drake equation. If a systematic astronomical search in our own solar system, and in particular in the asteroid belt, as well as in 10–20 of our nearby stars would prove negative, we would have to conclude that the colonization of the Galaxy has not yet occurred and therefore we must be one of the very few if not the only advanced civilization in the entire Galaxy.
The Spitzer 24-micron Photometric Light Curve of the Eclipsing M-dwarf Binary GU Bootis

We present a carefully controlled set of Spitzer 24 \micron MIPS time series observations of the low mass eclipsing binary star GU Bo\"otis (GU Boo). Our data cover three secondary eclipses of the system: two consecutive events and an additional eclipse six weeks later. The study's main purpose is the long wavelength characterization of GU Boo's light curve, independent of limb darkening and less sensitive to surface features such as spots. Its analysis allows for independent verification of the results of optical studies of GU Boo. Our mid-infrared results show good agreement with previously obtained system parameters. In addition, the analysis of light curves of other objects in the field of view serves to characterize the photometric stability and repeatability of {\it Spitzer's} MIPS-24 at flux densities between approximately 300--2,000$\mu$Jy. We find that the light curve root mean square about the median level falls into the 1--4% range for flux densities higher than 1 mJy.
Perceptions of Success and Failure Among Aging Catholic Priests

Since the late 1960s demographic data have decreased for the number of functioning Catholic priests in the United States. These demographic trends portray the average American Catholic priest in 1970 to be 35 years old, whereas the mean age of the U.S. Catholic priest in 2009 was 63. With fewer priests in ministry and most middle aged or older, this study investigated priests’ perceptions of success and failure in their lives. Overall, these priests measured success by the history of their ministry, the quality of their spiritual lives, and the friendships in which they have invested.
Wound Disruption Following Colorectal Operations

Postoperative wound disruption is associated with high morbidity and mortality. We sought to identify the risk factors and outcomes of wound disruption following colorectal resection. The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was used to examine the clinical data of patients who underwent colorectal resection from 2005 to 2013. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors of wound disruption. We sampled a total of 164,297 patients who underwent colorectal resection. Of these, 2073 (1.3 %) had wound disruption. Patients with wound disruption had significantly higher mortality (5.1 vs. 1.9 %, AOR: 1.46, P = 0.01). The highest risk of wound disruption was seen in patients with wound infection (4.8 vs. 0.9 %, AOR: 4.11, P < 0.01). A number of factors are associated with wound disruption such as chronic steroid use (AOR: 1.71, P < 0.01), smoking (AOR: 1.60, P < 0.01), obesity (AOR: 1.57, P < 0.01), operation length more than 3 h (AOR: 1.56, P < 0.01), severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (AOR: 1.36, P < 0.01), urgent/emergent admission (AOR: 1.31, P = 0.01), and serum Albumin Level <3 g/dL (AOR: 1.27, P < 0.01). Laparoscopic surgery had significantly lower risk of wound disruption compared to open surgery (AOR: 0.61, P < 0.01). Wound disruption occurs in 1.3 % of colorectal resections, and it correlates with mortality of patients. Wound infection is the strongest predictor of wound disruption. Chronic steroid use, obesity, severe COPD, prolonged operation, non-elective admission, and serum albumin level are strongly associated with wound disruption. Utilization of the laparoscopic approach may decrease the risk of wound disruption when possible.
New results in multidimensional linear phase filter bank design

We consider the multidimensional version of the problem of linear phase (LP) perfect reconstruction (PR) filter bank design. The filter bank design problem is posed as a matrix completion problem in the context of polynomial matrices having certain symmetries dictated by the linear phase property of the filter bank. We examine the usefulness of a strategy that succeeds in characterization and design of 1D linear phase filter banks via 2D examples. In the 2D quincunx case, for filter banks obtained by McClellan transformations a complete solution can be obtained via this method. The usefulness of the method remains questionable in more general situations. We discuss the issue with examples.