cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Therapeutics Targeting Drivers of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms and Acute Aortic Dissections: Insights from Predisposing Genes and Mouse Models.

Thoracic aortic diseases, including aneurysms and dissections of the thoracic aorta, are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Risk factors for thoracic aortic disease include increased hemodynamic forces on the ascending aorta, typically due to poorly controlled hypertension, and heritable genetic variants. The altered genes predisposing to thoracic aortic disease either disrupt smooth muscle cell (SMC) contraction or adherence to an impaired extracellular matrix, or decrease canonical transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling. Paradoxically, TGF-β hyperactivity has been postulated to be the primary driver for the disease. More recently, it has been proposed that the response of aortic SMCs to the hemodynamic load on a structurally defective aorta is the primary driver of thoracic aortic disease, and that TGF-β overactivity in diseased aortas is a secondary, unproductive response to restore tissue function. The engineering of mouse models of inherited aortopathies has identified potential the...
A Concise History of the Financial Planning Profession

An overview of the development of the institutions that gave rise to or arose from the personal financial planning profession between 1969 and 2016. Institutions discussed include the Institute of Certified Financial Planners (ICFP), the International Association for Financial Planning (IAFP), the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), the College for Financial Planning, CFP Board of Standards, the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE), the Financial Planning Association (FPA), and the Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB). Also covered is the history of financial planning education, beginning with Family and Consumer Sciences programs that arose in Land Grant Universities during the late nineteenth century and continuing to the 226 CFP Board-registered programs today.
Mining significant time intervals for relationship detection

Spatio-temporal data collected from GPS have become an important resource to study the relationships of moving objects. While previous studies focus on mining objects being together for a long time, discovering real-world relationships, such as friends or colleagues in human trajectory data, is a fundamentally different challenge. For example, it is possible that two individuals are friends but do not spend a lot of time being together every day. However, spending just one or two hours together at a location away from work on a Saturday night could be a strong indicator of friend relationship. Based on the above observations, in this paper we aim to analyze and detect semantically meaningful relationships in a supervised way. That is, with an interested relationship in mind, a user can label some object pairs with and without such relationship. From labeled pairs, we will learn what time intervals are the most important ones in order to characterize this relationship. These significant time intervals, namely T-Motifs, are then used to discover relationships hidden in the unlabeled moving object pairs. While the search for T-Motifs could be time-consuming, we design two speed-up strategies to efficiently extract T-Motifs. We use both real and synthetic datasets to demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of our method.
Adaptive Capacity: An Evolutionary Neuroscience Model Linking Exercise, Cognition, and Brain Health.

The field of cognitive neuroscience was transformed by the discovery that exercise induces neurogenesis in the adult brain, with the potential to improve brain health and stave off the effects of neurodegenerative disease. However, the basic mechanisms underlying exercise–brain connections are not well understood. We use an evolutionary neuroscience approach to develop the adaptive capacity model (ACM), detailing how and why physical activity improves brain function based on an energy-minimizing strategy. Building on studies showing a combined benefit of exercise and cognitive challenge to enhance neuroplasticity, our ACM addresses two fundamental questions: (i) what are the proximate and ultimate mechanisms underlying age-related brain atrophy, and (ii) how do lifestyle changes influence the trajectory of healthy and pathological aging?
Happiness Unattained: Colonial Modernity Under Japanese Imperialism in Writings by Ōsako Rinko and Yang Qianhe

Much scholarship on gender ideologies under Japanese imperialism remains demarcated by temporal and spatial lines. This article instead conceives the Japanese empire as a continuum, examining writi...
Two-year evaluation of fenestrated and parallel branch endografts for the treatment of juxtarenal, suprarenal, and thoracoabdominal aneurysms at a single institution.

Abstract Objective Despite numerous recent pivotal and small-scale trials, real-world endovascular management of juxtarenal aneurysms (JRA), suprarenal aneurysms (SRA), and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAA) remains challenging without consensus best practices. This study evaluated the mortality, graft patency, renal function, complication, and reintervention rates for fenestrated and parallel endografts in complex aortic aneurysms repairs. Methods This retrospective review of consecutive included patients with JRA, SRA, or TAAA who underwent complex endovascular repair from August 2014 to March 2017 at one high-volume institution. Treatment modality was a single surgeon decision based on patients anatomy and the urgency of the repair. Patient demographics, hospital course, and follow-up visits inclusive of imaging were analyzed. Ruptured aneurysms were excluded. Survival rates and outcomes were determined using the Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank tests. Results Seventy complex endovascular aortic repairs were performed; 38 patients with TAAA were treated with snorkel/sandwich parallel endografts (21 celiac, 28 superior mesenteric arteries, 58 renal arteries) and 32 patients with JRA/SRA were treated by fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair (FEVAR) with 94 total fenestrations (2 celiac, 30 SMA, 62 renal). The mean patient age was 74.8 ± 10.0 years. Sixty percent were male, and the mean aortic aneurysm diameter was 6.0 ± 1.4 cm. Perioperative mortality was 3.1% (1/32) for FEVAR compared with 2.6% (1/38) for parallel endografts (P = .9). All-cause reintervention rates were 15.6% in FEVAR (5/32) vs 23.6% with parallel endografts (9/38; P = .4). Branch reintervention rates per each branch endograft were 4.3% for FEVAR (4/94; 2 renal stent occlusions, 1 colonic ischemia without technical issue found on reintervention, 1 perinephric hematoma) vs 3.7% for parallel endografts (4/107; 2 renal and 1 celiac stent thromboses, and 1 renal stent kink; P = .41). The endograft branch thrombosis rate was 2.1% in FEVAR (2/94) vs 2.7% in parallel endografts (3/109; P = .77). Reinterventions owing to endoleaks were performed in five patients (2 type I, 2 type III, and 1 gutter endoleak; 13.1%) with parallel grafts vs no endoleak reinterventions in FEVAR. The overall survival and freedom from aneurysm-related mortality at 24 months was 78% and 96.9% in FEVAR vs 73% and 93.4% for parallel endografts (P = .8 and P = .6). The median follow-up was 12 months (range, 1-32 months). Conclusions Parallel and fenestrated endografts have acceptable and comparable mortality and patency rates in endovascular treatment of JRA, SRA, and TAAA. This study reaffirms that parallel endografts are a safe and viable alternative to fenestrated devices for complex aortic aneurysmal disease despite often treating more urgent patients and more complicated anatomy unable to be treated with FEVAR.
The design and implementation of a smart parking meter for Internet of Vehicle (IoV)

The Internet of Things is becoming a more widely used technology in society. It is often used to refer to the evergrowing network of interrelated devices, or “things”, that are capable of transmitting or receiving data over a network to other “things” and systems. As the use of IoT continues to grow, as does the number of industries, seeking to take advantages of the technological ecosystem — vehicles being one of the largest. This concept is called Internet of Vehicles (IoV). This paper discusses the creation of a scalable and inexpensive solution to a smart parking meter. This parking meter system was used to optimize parking in congested areas by determining and relaying parking availability using infrared sensors integrated with radio frequency (RF) technology, respectively. Information was to be relayed to a server named Thingworx, enabling vehicle-drivers to reserve and navigate directly to parking spaces through the use of a touchscreen vehicle module, ultimately reducing congestion and saving fuel.
Transient corneal epithelial bullae associated with large diameter scleral lens wear: A case series

With the increased fitting of scleral lenses by eye care practitioners, complications with lens wear need to be considered. Several prior studies have addressed complications specific to scleral lens wear and the incidence of hypoxia with extended wear, but few report the presence of epithelial bullae. This case series investigates three patients with differing ocular surface diseases, yet all developed transient epithelial bullae with concurrent large diameter scleral lens wear. These bullae appear to form due to weakened connections in the corneal epithelium at the level of basement membrane and Bowman's layer and flatten within minutes of lens removal. These bullae need to be further studied, as they can increase the patient's risk of epithelial defects, infections, and other complications in already compromised corneas.
The other side of complexity: faith, health, and humility.

A public health expert believes that faith and health are inseparable because both deal with the lifespan developmental processes that reflect physical, mental, social, and, spiritual, determinants and outcomes. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Interfacial characterization of plasma-spray coated calcium phosphate on Ti-6Al-4V.

Microstructural characterization was performed on plasma-spray coated calcium phosphate and its interface with Ti–6Al–4V using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The amorphous calcium phosphate phase was found near the coating/substrate interface, usually in between the crystalline hydroxyapatite grains and the Ti–6Al–4V substrate. The presence of the amorphous calcium phosphate and the channels extending from the interface to the coating surface was attributed to the low interfacial bond strength in a physiological environment. There was an indication of titanium diffusing into the amorphous regions. However, no reaction phases were found between the coating and the Ti–6Al–4V substrate. In the coating area remote from the interface, no intergranular amorphous calcium phosphate phase was observed. The microstructure of the Ti–6Al–4V substrate near the interface was observed to be affected by heat generated during plasma spraying. © 1998 Kluwer Academic Publishers
Extending the Entity-Attribute-Value Model

In a previous chapter, I introduced the use of the Entity-Attribute-Value model for representing highly variable clinical data. EAV is appropriate for clinical data because the universe of clinical attributes that can apply to a patient are both numerous and sparse. I emphasized that the use of the EAV model is unworkable in the absence of a supporting metadata infrastructure that supports validation and presentation and, of course, code that operates on this metadata.
Graph weaknesses in commonsense causal representation

Causal reasoning occupies a central position in human reasoning. In order to algorithmically consider causal relations, the relations must be placed into a representation that supports manipulation. The most widespread causal representation in current usage is directed acyclic graphs. However, they are severely limited in what portion of the every day world they can represent. Some of the required Markov conditions do not fit with commonsense reasoning. More importantly, cycles must be represented and they cannot be represented in acyclic graphs. Additionally, shifts in grain size are overly limited. Commonsense understanding deals with imprecision, uncertainty and imperfect knowledge. An algorithmic way of handling and representing causal imprecision that includes cycles is needed.
Linkage Analysis of Qualitative Traits

Linkage analysis of pedigree data is a powerful tool for mapping genomic regions that are likely to contain genes influencing human diseases. In this chapter, we will first introduce concepts and rationale of linkage analysis. Following this, we will then describe in detail two major types of linkage analysis strategies: model-based and model-free linkage analysis methods for qualitative traits. We will illustrate practical issues with linkage analysis by analysis of a real dataset collected from an age-related macular degeneration study. We will also describe how to identify the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that account for linkage signal after linkage analysis is conducted. Finally, we will compare model-based and model-free linkage analysis methods and various software packages.
Employing Photoredox Catalysis for DNA-Encoded Chemistry: Decarboxylative Alkylation of α-Amino Acids

A new procedure for the photoredox-mediated conjugate addition of radicals that can be conveniently generated from α-amino acids to DNA-tagged Michael acceptors and styrenes is presented. This C(sp3 )-C(sp3 ) coupling tolerates a broad array of structurally diverse radical precursors, including all of the 20 proteinogenic amino acids. Importantly, this reaction proceeds under mild conditions and in DNA-compatible aqueous media. Furthermore, the presented reaction conditions are compatible with DNA, making this reaction platform well suited for the construction of DNA-encoded libraries. The scope and limitations of the chemistry are discussed herein along with proposals for how this methodology might be used to construct DNA-encoded libraries.
Observations and Photographs of a Cold Front Made from an Airplane

The purpose of presenting the following diagrams and cloud photos made in connection with an airplane flight over and through a cold front is to show cloud formations associated with a weak cold front. Such information is lacking in textbooks where only the more severe cold fronts are portrayed. Over land the front here described was preceded by daytime cumulus, their tops rising as the front approached. Some pileus was observed above them where later on Ac cumulogenitus (cug) formed as the tops reached that level. The layer became solid over the position of the cold front at the surface, and there was an upward bulge into the temperature inversion found at 8,000 feet. Over the sea, remains of the Ac cug in the form of lenticulars were found farthest ahead of the front. It is important to note that all the clouds were found some distance above the frontal discontinuity, within the warm air. This was owing to the dryness of the warm air. Detailed observations from the surface were made at Blue Hill Observa...
Therapeutic targeting of transcriptional cyclin-dependent kinases

The fact that many cancer types display transcriptional addiction driven by dysregulation of oncogenic enhancers and transcription factors has led to increased interest in a group of protein kinases, known as transcriptional cyclin dependent kinases (tCDKs), as potential therapeutic targets. Despite early reservations about targeting a process that is essential to healthy cell types, there is now evidence that targeting tCDKs could provide enough therapeutic window to be effective in the clinic. Here, we discuss recent developments in this field, with an emphasis on highly-selective inhibitors and the challenges to be addressed before these inhibitors could be used for therapeutic purposes. Abbreviations: CAK: CDK-activating kinase;CDK: cyclin-dependent kinase;CMGC group: CDK-, MAPK-, GSK3-, and CLK-like;CTD: C-terminal repeat domain of the RPB1 subunit of RNA polymerase II;DRB: 5,6-dichloro-1-β-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole;mCRPC: metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer;NSCLC: non-small cell lung cancer;P-TEFb: positive elongation factor b;RNAPII: RNA polymerase II;S2: serine-2 of CTD repeats;S5: serine-5 of CTD repeats;S7: serine-7 of CTD repeats;SEC: super elongation complex;tCDK: transcriptional cyclin-dependent kinase;TNBC: triple-negative breast cancer.
An automated pipeline for analyzing medication event reports in clinical settings

Medication events in clinical settings are significant threats to patient safety. Analyzing and learning from the medication event reports is an important way to prevent the recurrence of these events. Currently, the analysis of medication event reports is ineffective and requires heavy workloads for clinicians. An automated pipeline is proposed to help clinicians deal with the accumulated reports, extract valuable information and generate feedback from the reports. Thus, the strategy of medication event prevention can be further developed based on the lessons learned. In order to build the automated pipeline, four classic machine learning classifiers (i.e., support vector machine, Naive Bayes, random forest, and multi-layer perceptron) were compared to identify the event originating stages, event types, and event causes from the medication event reports. The precision, recall and F-1 measure were calculated to assess the performance of the classifiers. Further, a strategy to measure the similarity of medication event reports in our pipeline was established and evaluated by human subjects through a questionnaire. We developed three classifiers to identify the medication event originating stages, event types and causes, respectively. For the event originating stages, a support vector machine classifier obtains the best performance with an F-1 measure of 0.792. For the event types, a support vector machine classifier exhibits the best performance with an F-1 measure of 0.758. And for the event causes, a random forest classifier reaches an F-1 measure of 0.925. The questionnaire results show that the similarity measurement is consistent with the domain experts in the task of identifying similar reports. We developed and evaluated an automated pipeline that could identify three attributes from the medication event reports and calculate the similarity scores between the reports based on the attributes. The pipeline is expected to improve the efficiency of analyzing the medication event reports and to learn from the reports in a timely manner.
Dissolution of Intermetallic Second-Phase Particles in Zircaloy-2 in High-Temperature Steam

The stability of intermetallic second-phase particles (SPPs) in coated Zircaloy-2 was studied in 700 °C steam environments up to 20 hours. Hydrogen generated from high-temperature steam oxidation of uncoated Zr-induced δ-hydrides formation in the Zircaloy matrix. Synchrotron XRD demonstrated that longer exposure times increased hydride peak intensity and decreased intermetallic SPPs’ peak intensity. Cross-sectional SEM analysis verified the intermetallic SPPs’ volume fraction reduction. The size distribution of intermetallic SPPs was characterized and larger particles were dissolved at longer oxidation time. A correlation between the hydrogen concentration and the volume fraction of intermetallic SPPs at 700 °C steam environment was found, with the volume fraction of SPPs decreasing as hydrogen concentration increases.
Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor–Induced Comobilization of CD4−CD8− T Cells and Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells (CD34+) in the Blood of Normal Donors

The feasibility of transplantation of HLA-matched hematopoietic progenitor cells from the blood of normal donors given granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been reported recently. In the current study, the changes in T-cell subsets as well as CD34+ cells were determined in one blood volume leukapheresis products of six normal individuals given G-CSF. Examination of the T-cell subsets in the leukapheresis products showed three different patterns: one in which a discrete population of CD4- CD8- alphabeta T cells was found in addition to the typical CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the unfractionated as well as in high- and low-density cells; a second in which the discrete population of CD4- CD8- alphabeta T cells was predominant only in the low-density fractions; and a third in which a discrete population of CD4- CD8- T cells was not observed. The median yield of CD4- CD8- T cells was about fourfold to fivefold higher than the calculated number present in one blood volume (5L) from normal individuals. The ratios of CD34+ cells to CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and of CD4- CD8- T cells to CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, were highest in the low-density fractions. These fractions suppressed the mixed leukocyte, and may ameliorate graft-versus-host disease as compared with unfractionated cells.
Using tumor genomic profile testing and comorbidity level to personalize chemotherapy decisions among older patients with early-stage breast cancer.

e12055Background: Under-representation of women ages 65+ (“older”) in the trials may limit clinical translation of results to this growing population. We used simulation modeling to estimate chemot...
Risk-Set Matching

When a treatment may be given at various times, it is important to form matched pairs or sets in which subjects are similar prior to treatment but avoid matching on events that were subsequent to treatment. This is done using risk-set matching, in which a newly treated subject at time t is matched to one or more controls who are not yet treated at time t based on covariate information describing subjects prior to time t.
The role of protein kinase in the lens.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the role of protein kinase in the lens. The major impetus for research on the lens has been to understand the mechanisms involved in the regulation of lens metabolism and function, and the processes leading to lens dysfunction and cataracts. One major mechanism of cellular regulation is the phosphorylation dephosphorylation of enzymes and proteins. The lens is composed only of epithelial cells and fiber cells that are derived from epithelial cells. The anterior surface of the lens is a single layer of epithelial cells. Near the edges of the lens, the cells undergo cell division. These cells move posterially and, in the presence of vitreous factors, undergo differentiation into mature fiber cells. There is a wide range of values reported for the protein kinase activity in the buffer-soluble fraction of bovine cortex. Using histones as substrates, the specific activity of the basal protein kinase in buffer extracts of calf cortex was 15 pmol/min-mg protein and the cAMP-stimulated activity was 290 pmol/min-mg protein. One factor controlling in vivo physiological activity of cAMP-dependent protein kinases is the intracellular concentration of cAMP. That protein kinases may regulate certain cellular processes in the lens is supported by several observations. cAMP-stimulated protein kinase activity is present throughout the lens. cAMP is found throughout the lens, although the levels in the nucleus are quite low. Specific endogenous proteins are phosphorylated by the protein kinases in each region.
A pressure-based single beat method for estimation of right ventricular ejection fraction: Proof of concept

The utility of considering right ventricular (RV) contractility and afterload as independent entities and summarising their balance or “coupling” using single beat methods has become widely appreciated [1–3]. Typically expressed as the ratio of end-systolic ventricular elastance (Ees, a load-independent measure of contractility), to arterial elastance (Ea, a lumped parameter measure of afterload) data suggest that when Ees/Ea reaches a critical threshold, the risk of cardiovascular decompensation begins to rise [4]. Footnotes This manuscript has recently been accepted for publication in the European Respiratory Journal . It is published here in its accepted form prior to copyediting and typesetting by our production team. After these production processes are complete and the authors have approved the resulting proofs, the article will move to the latest issue of the ERJ online. Please open or download the PDF to view this article. Conflict of interest: Dr. Heerdt reports other from RVMetrics, LLC, outside the submitted work; In addition, Dr. Heerdt has a patent Right ventricular monitoring device pending. Conflict of interest: Dr. Kheyfets has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Charania has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Elassal has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr. Singh has nothing to disclose.
AgTech in Arabia: 'spectacular forgetting' and the technopolitics of greening the desert

'AgTech' is the latest discourse about introducing new technologies to agricultural production. Researchers, corporations, and governments around the world are investing heavily in supporting its development. Abu Dhabi, the largest and wealthiest emirate in the UAE, has been among these supporters, recently announcing a massive scheme to support AgTech companies. Given the extreme temperatures and aridity of the Arabian Peninsula, several new start-ups have focused on 'controlled environment' facilities – hydroponics and aeroponics in various kinds of greenhouses. Despite the narrative of novelty touted by these companies, this is not the UAE's first foray with bringing ultra-modern or 'scientific' greenhouses to the Arabian Peninsula – a large University of Arizona project did so in Abu Dhabi from 1969-1974. Yet that project is largely forgotten today, including among today's new AgTech entrepreneurs. This article investigates why this is the case and, more generally, why the systematic failures of high-modernist, spectacular projects like those to green the desert are so routinely forgotten. In analyzing the story linking AgTech in Arabia 50 years ago and today, I show how 'spectacular forgetting' is related to the technopolitics of spectacle, but also rooted in geopolitical discourses and spatial imaginaries particular to each historical moment. Keywords: spectacle; desert greening; AgTech; agriculture; Arabian Peninsula; United Arab Emirates
The role of an IVC filter retrieval clinic—A single center retrospective analysis

Background: Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement still plays an essential role in preventing pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with contraindications to anticoagulant therapy. However, IVC filter placement does have long-term risks which may be mitigated by retrieving them as soon as clinically acceptable. A dedicated IVC filter clinic provides a potential means of assuring adequate follow-up and retrieval. Aim: To assess the efficacy of our Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter retrieval clinic at improving the rate of patient follow-up, effective filter management, and retrieval rates. Materials and Methods: During the period of August 2017 through July 2018, 70 IVC filters were placed at our institution, and these patients were automatically enrolled into our IVC filter retrieval clinic for quarterly follow-up. We retrospectively reviewed data including appropriateness for removal at 3 months, overall retrieval rates, removal technique(s) employed, and technical success. Results: 62.9% of the potentially retrievable filters were removed during the study period. The technical success of extraction, using a combination of standard and advanced techniques, was 91.7%. Overall, 15% of the patients were lost to follow-up. Conclusion: Our findings add to the growing body of literature to support the need for a robust IVC filter retrieval clinic to ensure adequate follow-up and timely retrieval of IVC filters.
Dynamic, surface displacement measurements using a proximate, radiating electric dipole

Expressions for the optical power radiated by a vertically oriented, electric dipole are developed to understand the dependence of this power on the distance between the dipole and a nearby surface, especially when this distance is varying with time. Results of this analysis assess the conditions under which the power depends linearly on displacement amplitude when this distance has a sinusoidal, time-varying component of fixed amplitude combined with a mean dipole-to-surface distance. The variation in the radiated power with this mean distance is also examined so that comparisons can be made to experimental measurements of near-field optical signals.Expressions for the optical power radiated by a vertically oriented, electric dipole are developed to understand the dependence of this power on the distance between the dipole and a nearby surface, especially when this distance is varying with time. Results of this analysis assess the conditions under which the power depends linearly on displacement amplitude when this distance has a sinusoidal, time-varying component of fixed amplitude combined with a mean dipole-to-surface distance. The variation in the radiated power with this mean distance is also examined so that comparisons can be made to experimental measurements of near-field optical signals.
Renal Excretion of Contrast on CT Myelography: A Specific Marker of CSF Leak

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of renal/ureteric opacification on postmyelographic CT as a sign of CSF leak. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of postmyelographic CT scans from 49 consecutive patients seen between January 2008 and August 2018 with imaging and/or clinical findings related to intracranial hypotension. Each scan was evaluated by both a neuroradiology fellow and a board-certified neuroradiologist for the presence of contrast in the renal excretory system. A similar assessment was also performed on 90 consecutive control subjects who underwent CT myelography for alternative indications. RESULTS: Among the 49 patients with suspected CSF leak, 21 (43%) had an overt CSF leak on postmyelographic CT (group 1) and 28 (57%) did not (group 2). Overall, renal contrast was identified in 7/49 patients (14.3%): 5 (24%) patients in group 1, and 2 (7%) patients in group 2. Renal contrast was not seen in any of the 90 controls on postmyelographic CT. CONCLUSIONS: Renal contrast was exclusively seen in patients with a clinically or radiographically suspected CSF leak. Given its 100% specificity, identification of this finding should prompt a second look for subtle myelographic contrast extravasation or an underlying CSF-venous fistula. Our results suggest that this sign may be considered an additional diagnostic criterion for CSF leak in the absence of an identifiable leak.
Speed Eleusis: Variation on an Old Educational Card Game

In this article, we describe a fun and engaging card game called Speed Eleusis that teaches the process of scientific discovery and publication, including such practices as replication and retraction. Much like the traditional game of Eleusis and its variant Eleusis Express, this game involves students competing to model a pattern displayed in a sequence of ordinary playing cards. Speed Eleusis, however, features a quicker pace and is easier to manage. Although developed for introductory physics and physical science labs at a four-year university and two-year college, Speed Eleusis should prove ideal across a wide range of science subjects and age groups, especially during the first week of instruction.
Competitive binding of gold nanospheres and nanorods on DNA origami substrates

DNA-directed assembly of gold nanoparticles into precise two- and three-dimensional patterns has enabled bold advances in probing their optical properties such as the local enhancement in their surface plasmon resonance. DNA nanostructures synthesized using the principles of DNA origami have been programmed to contain unique capture sites for positioning metal nanoparticles in diverse geometries for applications in biosensing, therapy, and miniature electronics. However, to enable scalability beyond simple 2-3 nanoparticle architectures, it is important to understand the requirement for orthogonal capture sequences for attaching more than a single gold nanoparticle on a DNA nanostructure. In this work, we sought to assemble an angular gold nanorod-nanosphere-nanorod pattern on a DNA origami triangle with multiple capture sites utilizing a common capture sequence. Results indicate that gold nanospheres preferentially bound to all the capture sites on the DNA origami triangle and prevented attachment of gold nanorods. This suggests that requirement for orthogonal capture sites is correlated with the physical properties of the individual nanoparticle such as shape and size.
The Texas Kindergarten Entry Assessment: Development, Psychometrics, and Scale-Up of a Comprehensive Screener.

There is a significant need for kindergarten entry assessments (KEA) that meet state education agency (SEA) requirements and are psychometrically sound measures of a broad range of school readiness...
Constructing statutory energy goal compliant wind and solar PV infrastructure pathways

Abstract Concerns over climate change have led governments around the world to establish a range of renewable, low-carbon energy goals. Plans for meeting these targets vary widely in their ambition, specificity, and time horizons. Wind and solar electricity generation will feature prominently in future energy systems that meet these renewable, low-carbon energy goals. Implementing largescale wind and solar PV infrastructure configurations in a timely fashion will require cooperation between and among electric grid stakeholders and communities that host the infrastructure. This paper presents methods for constructing a diverse range of wind and solar PV energy infrastructure pathways that meet statutory energy goals, measuring their land use impacts, and assessing their performance relative to electricity demand. A case study on the state of Vermont’s statutory energy goals from its 2016 Comprehensive Energy Plan is presented as an example. While total wind and solar PV infrastructure requirements would increase several-fold, Vermont’s statutory energy goals can be met while occupying less than 1% of the state’s land area. Vermont electricity demand was most effectively met by balanced configurations of wind and solar PV similar to the state’s present wind and solar PV resources, while 100% wind or 100% solar PV configurations were less effective.
On The Propagation of Long Wavelength Terrestrial Radio Waves—Two Theoretical Techniques

A multiplicity of waves or modes of electrical vibration propagate in the space between a terrestrial sphere and a concentric isotropic plasma reflector. Such a theoretical model is used to represent the earth and the ionosphere, and the propagation for such a model can be treated theoretically at frequencies less than approximately 50 kc/s by a direct summation of the classical series of zonal harmonics. Indeed, this is the rigorous solution to such a propagation problem. An alternate method is found by summing the residues at the poles in the complex plane of integration of a contour integral—a procedure known as the Watson transformation. This alternate solution to the problem is exactly equivalent to the series of zonal harmonics by the theory of functions of the complex variable. However, the latter method is complicated by the search for the roots of a transcendental determinant equation, the elements of which comprise Hankel functions of complex order and argument. The procedure resulting from such a transformation can be applied to long wavelengths, especially l.f. (>50 kc/s or 30–300 kc/s). The zonal harmonics procedure, although simple, is more appropriate at frequencies below l.f., such as v.l.f. and e.l.f. The areas of overlap of the two procedures provide an independent computation check on the entire analysis.
Kinetic mixing, dark photons and extra dimensions. Part II: fermionic dark matter

Extra dimensions can be very useful tools when constructing new physics models. Previously, we began investigating toy models for the 5-D analog of the kinetic mixing/vector portal scenario where the interactions of bulk dark matter with the brane-localized fields of the Standard Model are mediated by a massive U(1)D dark photon also living in the bulk. In that setup, where the dark matter was taken to be a complex scalar, a number of nice features were obtained such as U(1)D breaking by boundary conditions without the introduction of a dark Higgs field, the absence of potentially troublesome SM Higgs-dark singlet mixing, also by boundary conditions, the natural similarity of the dark matter and dark photon masses and the decoupling of the heavy gauge Kaluza-Klein states from the Standard Model. In the present paper we extend this approach by examining the more complex cases of Dirac and Majorana fermionic dark matter. In particular, we discuss a new mechanism that can occur in 5-D (but not in 4-D) that allows for light Dirac dark matter in the ∼ 100 MeV mass range, even though it has an s-wave annihilation into Standard Model fields, by avoiding the strong constraints that arise from both the CMB and 21 cm data. This mechanism makes use of the presence of the Kaluza-Klein excitations of the dark photon to extremize the increase in the annihilation cross section usually obtained via resonant enhancement. In the Majorana dark matter case, we explore the possibility of a direct s-channel dark matter pair-annihilation process producing the observed relic density, due to the general presence of parity-violating dark matter interactions, without employing the usual co-annihilation mechanism which is naturally suppressed in this 5-D setup.
Influence of Sex on Early Outcomes of Elective Lumbar Fusions: An Updated Propensity-Matched and Subgroup Analysis

Objective Existing data have demonstrated significant differences in morbidity and mortality measures between men and women undergoing various spinal surgeries. However, studies of lumbar fusion surgery have been limited. Thus, we investigated the effects of patient sex on 30-day perioperative outcomes after elective lumbar fusion spine surgery. Methods Patients who had undergone lumbar fusion from 2015 to 2018 were reviewed from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Propensity score matching was used to determine whether the patient's sex had influenced the 30-day perioperative complications. Results A total of 44,526 cases had met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Of the 44,526 patients, 13,715 had undergone posterior lumbar fusion, 21,993 had undergone posterior/transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, and 8818 had undergone anterior/lateral lumbar interbody fusion. The women were more likely to be older, functionally dependent, and taking steroids for chronic conditions and to have a higher body mass index and lower preoperative hematocrit level. The men were more likely to be white, to smoke, and to have diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and bleeding disorders. In all cohorts, except for a higher incidence of urinary tract infection in the female patients and myocardial infarction in the male patients, no significant differences were found in morbidity and mortality between the sexes. Conclusions Several differences in demographics and baseline health status were found between men and women undergoing lumbar fusion. When attempting to control for comorbid conditions using propensity score matching, we found that sex was an independent predictor of urinary tract infection in women and myocardial infarction in men across major morbidity and mortality categories in patients undergoing lumbar fusion surgery.
Generalizations of the Double-Copy: the KLT Bootstrap

We formulate a new program to generalize the double-copy of tree amplitudes. The approach exploits the link between the identity element of the KLT algebra and the KLT kernel, and we demonstrate how this leads to a set of KLT bootstrap equations that the double-copy kernel has to satisfy (in addition to locality constraints). We solve the KLT bootstrap equations perturbatively to find the most general higher-derivative corrections to the 4- and 5-point field theory KLT kernel. The new kernel generalizes the string KLT kernel and its associated monodromy relations. It admits new color-structures in the effective theories it double-copies. It provides distinct generalized KK and BCJ relations for the left and right single-color theories and is in that sense a heterotic-type double-copy. We illustrate the generalized double-copy in detail for 4d Yang-Mills theory with higher-derivative corrections that produce dilaton-axion-gravity with local operators up order $\nabla^{10} R^4$. Finally, we initiate a search for new double-copy kernels.
Quantitative phosphoproteomics reveals regulatory state dependent efficacy of chemical Cdk1 inhibition and distinct Cdk5 complexes as novel Wee1 substrates

Abstract Wee1 kinase plays a central role in the eukaryotic cell cycle via its well-known negative regulation of Cdk1 activity at the G2/M transition, preventing progression into mitosis until DNA replication and/or DNA damage repair is complete. Recent genetic evidence in yeast, flies and human cells have suggested additional functions of Wee1 in mitosis and during mitotic exit, respectively. To discover new candidate substrates of Wee1 kinase, we used SILAC-based phosphoproteomics and selective chemical inhibition to quantitatively compare phosphorylation site abundances in the presence and absence of Wee1 activity. Unexpectedly, we uncovered a role for the Wee1-dependent phosphorylation of Cdk1-cyclin B at tyrosine 15 (Y15) in facilitating chemical inhibition of Cdk1-cyclin B by the inhibitor RO3306. Thermal shift stability assays demonstrated greater binding affinity of RO3306 for Y15-phosphorylated Cdk1-cyclin B versus unphosphorylated complex, providing an additional molecular basis for the observed Wee1 inhibitor-based toxicity in human cells. In addition, our experiments identified Cdk5-CABLES and Cdk5-cyclin B as novel substrates of Wee1 during chemically induced exit from mitosis. Collectively, these experiments facilitate a greater understanding of the Wee1-Cdk1 signaling axis and uncover new candidate substrates for Wee1.
Geospatial Information Integration for Science Activity Planning at the Mars Desert Research Station

NASA’s Mobile Agents project leads coordinated planetary exploration simulations at the Mars Desert Research Station. Through ScienceOrganizer, a Web-based tool for organizing and providing contextual knowledge for scientific datasets, remote teams of scientists access and annotate datasets, images, documents, and other forms of scientific information, applying pre-defined semantic links or meta-data using a Web browser. We designed and developed an experimental geographic information server that integrates remotely-sensed images of scientific activity areas with information regarding activity plans, actors, and data that had been characterized semantically using ScienceOrganizer. The server automatically obtains remotely-sensed photographs of geographic survey sites at various resolutions and combines these images with scientific survey data to generate “context maps” illustrating the paths of survey actors, and the sequence and types of data collected during simulated surface “extra-vehicular activities.” The remotely located scientific team found the context maps were extremely valuable for achieving and conveying activity plan consensus.
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT: RESPIRATORY DISTRESS AND CARDIAC DISEASE IN INFANCY

THE commonly recognized causes of respiratory distress during infancy are pulmonary or tracheobronchial pathology, cardiac failure, and cerebral disease. The various mechanisms by which cardiac disease may produce increased respiratory effort are not, however, generally appreciated, with resultant confusion in the management of the underlying problem. The major pathological physiologic disturbances producing respiratory distress (in association with heart disease) are pulmonary edema and severe metabolic acidosis. Pulmonary edema occurs either in left ventricular failure or in association with lesions resulting in an obstruction of the pulmonary venous return. Metabolic acidosis is related to severe hypoxia which is the major manifestation of several types of cardiac anomaly. The respiratory pattern associated with pulmonary edema is that of tachypnea to rates of 60-100/min, with initially only mild increased effort. Rales are not usually heard until a considerable amount of fluid has entered the alveoli; thus absence of this clinical sign does not exclude the diagnosis. In advanced pulmonary edema, marked air hunger appears and in young infants head retraction with gasping respiration may occur, presenting an appearance of an obstructed airway. Cyanosis is usually only of mild degree unless associated with cyanotic congenital heart disease. Left ventricular failure and pulmonary venous congestion are far more frequently observed in heart disease in infancy than right-sided failure. It is surprising that most descriptions of heart failure in infancy stress hepatomegaly as one of the earliest signs of failure. However, respiratory distress as manifested by tachypnea and dyspnea is usually the first evidence of cardiac failure in infancy, and hepatomegaly and other evidences of right-sided failure occur much later.
Ruth Shonle Cavan (1896-1993)

ABSTRACT Ruth Shonle Cavan (1896-1993) received her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Chicago in 1926. She established a national reputation for her teaching, scholarship, and professional service in sociology of the family, criminology, delinquency, and historical communes. This paper notes the awards and honors she received for her accomplishments. The paper further reviews her life beginning with her childhood days in Tuscola, Illinois through her college days at Millikin University and the University of Chicago and her professorships at Rockford College and Northern Illinois University seeking explanations for her innovative and creative analytical skills and the intriguing ideas found in her publications.
Cosy: develop in user-land, run in kernel-mode

User applications that move a lot of data across the user-kernel boundary suffer from a serious performance penalty. We provide a framework, Compound System Calls (Cosy), to enhance the performance of such user-level applications. Cosy provides a user-friendly mechanism to execute the data-intensive code segment of the application in the kernel. This is achieved by aggregating the data-intensive system calls and the intermediate code into a compound. This compound is executed in the kernel, avoiding redundant data copies. A Cosy version of GCC makes the formation of a Cosy compound simple. Cosy-GCC automatically converts user-defined code segments into compounds. To ensure the security of the kernel, we use a combination of static and dynamic checks. We limit the execution time of the application in the kernel by usinga modified preemptible kernel. Kernel data integrity is assured by performing necessary dynamic checks. Static checks are enforced by Cosy-GCC. To study the performance benefits of our Cosy prototype, we instrumented applications such as grep and ls. These application showed an improvement of 20-80%. Our current work focuses on faster and secure execution of entire programs in the kernel without source code modification.