cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Oak defoliation and population density relationships for the Gypsy moth (Lepidoptera:Lymantriidae)

In 18 yr of observations on the population dynamics and defoliation of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.), in New Jersey, percentage defoliation increased at the beginning of an outbreak, usually reached highest levels in the year before the peak population, and declined rapidly thereafter. In linear regression analyses, egg and egg massdensity explained considerable amounts of variation in subsequent defoliation; the addition of a variable for population trend (i.e., the ratio of egg masses per hectare in the present year to that in the previous year) further improved the r 2. Use of a sigmoid function to model the relationship resulted in r2 values of 0.65-0.67. Because variability was high at intermediate population densities, patterns of defoliation and population trend were explored further. Overall, defoliation in a given range of density was significantly higher when the trend was stable or increasing than when it was decreasing. The use of these results in making management decisions is discussed.
Energetics of formic acid conversion to adsorbed formates on Pt(111) by transient calorimetry.

Carboxylates adsorbed on solid surfaces are important in many technological applications, ranging from heterogeneous catalysis and surface organo-functionalization to medical implants. We report here the first experimentally determined enthalpy of formation of any surface bound carboxylate on any surface, formate on Pt(111). This was accomplished by studying the dissociative adsorption of formic acid on oxygen-presaturated (O-sat) Pt(111) to make adsorbed monodentate and bidentate formates using single-crystal adsorption calorimetry. The integral heat of molecular adsorption of formic acid on clean Pt(111) at 100 K is 62.5 kJ/mol at 0.25 monolayer (ML). On O-sat Pt(111), the integral heat of the dissociative adsorption of formic acid to make monodentate formate (HCOOmon,ad) plus the water–hydroxyl complex ((H2O–OH)ad) was found to be 76 kJ/mol at 3/8 ML and 100–150 K. Similarly, its integral heat of dissociative adsorption to make bidentate formate (HCOObi,ad) plus (H2O–OH)ad was 106 kJ/mol at 3/8 ML and ...
Laughter and Oliver Twist

Laughter in Oliver Twist is used as a weapon against the reader's conventional social identifications, forcing him to recognize in himself the social brutality which threatens Oliver. Repeatedly, Dickens evokes laughter at one of the novel's social outcasts and then shows that laughter to be cold and inadequate by echoing it in a demonstrably evil character. By means of this process of subversion, the reader is forced away from the bright social world of the Maylie-Brownlow group into an intense association with the orphans and the victims: Oliver, Fagin and his associates, and Mr. Bumble.
Some special concerns during the developmental process of "chemical drugs which have been marketed out China"

Currently,in the drugs application and review,new drugs that copy "Drugs which have been marketed out China" occupy a specifically bigger weight. These include both drugs approved during recent ten years and drugs marketed more than ten years even several decades. Among drugs in this category,there are big differences in the backgrounds for approving and the foundation of development. This article analyzed the key problems,and clarified many problems which should be considered during the development. The aims are to raise the efficiency of development for drugs in this category.
An empirical study on R&D contribution to Chinese husbandry economic growth

Based on the statistic data of provinces in China from 1986 to 2005,the husbandry production functions of the nation and eight regions were estimated.In the paper,the contribution of RD to the husbandry growth was calculated.It was showed that,in the past 20 years,the husbandry had maintained sustained growth momentum,but the growth of RD investment in the husbandry by region were complex.RD investment of some regions in the husbandry in some years had even declined.It was also indicated that RD investment′s contribution to the husbandry′s growth were great different in different areas of China.The contribution of Southeast China was highest,up to 66.4 percent,while the region 2 of the Northwest China was lowest,only 4.4 percent.
Toxicity of graphene oxide on intestinal bacteria and Caco-2 cells.

In recent years, novel nanomaterials have received much attention due to their great potential for applications in agriculture, food safety, and food packaging. Among them, graphene and graphene oxide (GO) are emerging as promising nanomaterials that may have a profound impact on food packaging. However, there are some concerns from consumers and the scientific community about the potential toxicity and biocompatibility of nanomaterials. In this study, we investigated the antibacterial properties of GO against human intestinal bacteria. The cytotoxicity of GO was also studied in vitro using the Caco-2 cell line derived from a colon carcinoma. Electron microscopy was used to investigate the morphology of GO and the interaction between GO flakes and Caco-2 cells. GO at different concentrations (10 to 500 μg/ml) exhibited no toxicity against the selected bacteria and a mild cytotoxic action on Caco-2 cells after 24 h of exposure. The results show that weak adsorption of medium nutrients may contribute to GO'...
How Do Oil Shocks Affect Stock Market Risk

Several recent researches have documented some predictability of crude oil prices changes on stock market returns. Using a two-consumption good asset pricing model, I illustrate a mechanism for oil shocks to translate into stock market risk. Using U.S. data, I find supporting evidence that oil price changes have significant effects on the second moments of the stock market returns. Furthermore, I find remarkable time-variation in both the empirical conditional volatilities and correlations. Based on the estimated second moments, I construct the time-varying empirical risk premia. My empirical results combined with the theory shed light on a risk-based explanation for the observed predictability. A preliminary test of this explanation points to the need for more sophisticated modeling of the interactions between oil and stock market risk.
How are PCORI-funded researchers engaging patients in research and what are the ethical implications?

ABSTRACTBackground: Despite growing interest in patient engagement in research, there are few empirical investigations of the nature of engagement and its effects. This information is important, not only to inform practical decisions researchers and funders must make, but also to inform discussion of the ethical implications of engaging patients, which has received little attention to date. Methods: The aim of this study was to characterize patient engagement in research funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) as a step toward enhancing current understanding of the nature and effects of engagement and prompting an in-depth consideration of the ethical implications of engaging patients in research. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 19 PCORI-funded principal investigators and with 33 patients engaged in 18 of the same 19 projects. Results: Reasons cited for engaging patients included to enhance relevance and feasibility and to improve dissemination. While engagement occur...
Effects of Amotosalen Hydrochloride and Ultraviolet a Light on CD4 and CD8 Cells.

Background: Graft versus host disease (GvHD) and infections by opportunistic pathogens, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV), are causes of significant morbidity and mortality in recipients of allogeneic bone marrow transplants (BMT). Thus, there is a need for methods of graft engineering that inhibit the alloreactive T cells responsible for lethal GvHD without compromising the activity of antiviral T cells. In a murine MHC-mismatched BMT model, we have previously demonstrated that adoptive transfer of polyclonal T cells from donors immunized to murine CMV (MCMV) can decrease viral load but cause lethal GvHD. However, pretreatment of these cells with the psoralen, amotosalen hydrochloride, and ultraviolet A (UVA) light prevents GvHD without compromising antiviral response. We have previously hypothesized that these effects were due to differential sensitivity of naive and memory T cells to amotosalen/UVA. Recent investigations have demonstrated that CD4 T cells are most directly responsible for lethal GvHD in this model. This observation suggested an alternative hypothesis, equally consistent with previous data, that the observed in vivo effects of amotosalen/UVA treatment are due to differential effects on CD4 and CD8 T cells. The assessment of this new hypothesis is the focus of the current studies. Methods: Two models of T cell activation/proliferation were utilized to test the effects of amotosalen/UVA treatment on CD4 and CD8 cells: stimulation of B6.PL (H-2 b ) cells with concavalinA, and primary mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) between MHC-mismatched B6.PL (H-2 b ) and BALB/c (H-2 d ). Responder cells were pretreated with 2nM amotosalen and varying doses of UVA light (0–5 minutes). Proliferation of CD4 and CD8 cells was measured by flow cytometric analysis of CFSE-labeled responder cells. Results: In both systems, CD4 proliferation was effectively eliminated by immediately prior treatment with amotosalen and UVA doses of 1 minute or higher. CD8 proliferation was eliminated by amotosalen and UVA doses of 2 minutes and higher. Both the amount of division on a per cell basis and the overall number of cells that initiated division followed similar trends. Conclusions: These data demonstrate that both CD4 and CD8 T cells are sensitive to treatment with amotosalen/UVA and suggest a subtle difference in sensitivity of CD4 and CD8 populations. Since division of both CD4 or CD8 cells is inhibited at doses of amotosalen/UVA that prevent GvHD but allow anti-viral activity in vivo, it is unlikely that the observed differential sensitivity of T-cell subsets is sufficient to explain the in vivo effects of amotosalen/UVA treatment in this model. Using similar methodologies, ongoing studies are assessing the hypothesis that amotosalen/UVA has differential effects on naive and mature T cells.
A New View into the Regulation of Purine Metabolism: The Purinosome

Other than serving as building blocks for DNA and RNA, purine metabolites provide a cell with the necessary energy and cofactors to promote cell survival and proliferation. A renewed interest in how purine metabolism may fuel cancer progression has uncovered a new perspective into how a cell regulates purine need. Under cellular conditions of high purine demand, the de novo purine biosynthetic enzymes cluster near mitochondria and microtubules to form dynamic multienzyme complexes referred to as 'purinosomes'. In this review, we highlight the purinosome as a novel level of metabolic organization of enzymes in cells, its consequences for regulation of purine metabolism, and the extent that purine metabolism is being targeted for the treatment of cancers.
Diagnostic sea ice predictability in the pan-Arctic and U.S. Arctic regional seas

This study assesses sea ice predictability in the pan-Arctic and US Arctic regional (Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort) seas with a purpose of understanding regional differences from the pan-Arctic perspective, and how predictability might change under changing climate. Lagged correlation is derived using existing output from the CESM Large Ensemble (CESM-LE), Pan-Arctic Ice Ocean Modeling and Assimilation System (PIOMAS), and NOAA Coupled Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) models. While qualitatively similar, quantitative differences exist in Arctic ice area lagged correlation in models with or without data assimilation. On regional scales, modeled ice area lagged correlations are strongly location- and season-dependent. A robust feature in the CESM-LE is that the pan-Arctic melt-to-freeze season ice area memory intensifies whereas the freeze-to-melt season memory weakens as climate warms, but there are across-region variations in the sea ice predictability changes with changing climate.
Thermal modeling of the non-linear thermal resistance of the SiGe HBT using the HICUM model

The existing industry standard compact models, VBIC and HICUM, are used to model devices using a linear thermal resistance network. However, the thermal resistance of the SiGe Heterojunction Bipolar Transistor (HBT) depends on the amount of power dissipated in the device. The increase of thermal resistance caused by self-heating due to the unsymmetrical emitter geometry and deep trenches lead to a non-linear relation between temperature and power dissipation. In this paper, a current controlled voltage source (CCVS) is used to account for the variation in current to model the thermal resistance of the device.
Research access and discovery in university news releases: a case study

INTRODUCTION Many universities promote the peer-reviewed articles of their researchers in online news releases. However, access to the articles by the public can be limited, and information for locating articles is sometimes lacking. This exploratory study quantifies article access, the potential for immediate article archiving, and the presence of discovery aids in news releases at a large research university. METHODS A random sample of 120 news releases over an 11-year period were evaluated. RESULTS At publication, 33% of the peer-reviewed articles mentioned in news releases were open access. Immediate archiving in the institutional repository could potentially raise the access rate to 58% of the articles. Discovery aids in news releases included journal titles (96%), hyperlinks (67%), article titles (44%), and full citations (3%). No hyperlink was in the form of a referenceable digital object identifier (DOI). DISCUSSION Article availability is greater than published estimates, and could result from the university’s STEM focus or self-selection. Delayed access by journals is a significant source of availability, and provides an additional rationale for hyperlinking from news releases. CONCLUSION Most articles promoted in the university’s news releases cannot be accessed by the public. Access could be significantly increased through immediate archiving in the institutional repository. Opportunities for facilitating article discovery could increase the credibility and outreach value of news releases.
All supervisors have the potential to be harmful

ABSTRACTHarmful supervision is unethical and wrong. However, as the narratives in this Special Issue illustrate, it is all too common. After sharing our general thoughts on the stories featured in this issue, we highlight several themes that emerged within and across narratives. We then discuss the implications of these themes and the extant empirical literature on harmful supervision for clinical practice and future research. Most importantly, we argue that the first step to avoiding and stopping harmful clinical supervision is to recognize that all current and future clinical supervisors, ourselves included, are capable of engaging in harmful supervisory practices.
The Beneficiary potential of task conflicts in high involvement work practices

This study develops and tests theoretical extensions of the task conflict, perception of HR practices, and employees’ assignments to units by using a two-wave longitudinal survey of 721 patient car...
Water Shock Experiments on Automotive Underbody Panels

Automotive underbody panels are susceptible to water shock loading that can be generated by driving over a puddle at high speeds. The thin panels can be permanently deformed or fail if the loading is large enough. Aluminum underbody panels are bolted into a custom test rig and subjected to water jet loading from a commercial pressure washer. The force on the panels is measured using four load cells and displacement data is captured using three-dimensional image correlation. The flow field is characterized using orthogonally mounted high speed cameras to determine the jet velocity. Additional experiments are performed using a custom water cannon that fires slugs of water contained in latex balloons at the underbody panels. This more accurately recreates the water splash event created when driving over a puddle. The velocity and shape of the water slugs are measured using orthogonally mounted cameras.
Matching Abilities to Careers for Others and Self: Do Gender Stereotypes Matter to Students in Advanced Math and Science Classes?

Interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) careers falls off more quickly for young women than for young men over adolescence, and gender stereotypes may be partially to blame. Adolescents typically become more stereotypical in their career interests over time, yet they seem to become more flexible in applying stereotypes to others. Models of career interest propose that career decisions result from the alignment of self-perceived abilities with occupation-required skills and that gender stereotypes may influence this process. To investigate the discrepancy between applying stereotypes to self and others, we examined if these models can be applied to perceptions of others. Focusing on students from fifth grade through college enrolled in advanced STEM courses, we investigated how STEM occupational stereotypes, abilities, and efficacy affect expectations for others’ and own career interests. U.S. participants (n = 526) read vignettes describing a hypothetical male or female student who was talented in math/science or language arts/social studies and then rated the student’s interest in occupations requiring some of those academic skills. Participants’ self-efficacy, interest, and stereotypes for STEM occupations were also assessed. Findings suggest that ability beliefs, whether for oneself or another, are powerful predictors of occupational interest, and gender stereotypes play a secondary role. College students were more stereotypical in their ratings of others, but they did not manifest gender differences in their own STEM self-efficacy and occupational interests. Experiences in specialized STEM courses may explain why stereotypes are applied differentially to the self and others.
Protein S-Nitrosylation: Possible Links between Psychophysiological Stress and Neurodegeneration

Psychophysiological stress has long been recognized as a risk factor for diverse pathologies including cardiovascular disease, psychiatric illnesses, and aging-related neurodegenerative disorders but molecular events linking stress to disease remain ill-defined. Mounting evidence supports a role for nitro-oxidative modifications of protein thiols in cellular signaling and toxicity. In light of numerous reports that acute stress can increase the activities and/or expression levels of multiple nitric oxide synthase isoforms in the brains of rodent models, we investigated the possibility that subjecting rats to acute restraint stress may promote S-nitrosylation of proteins from the brain measured by the classical biotin-switch method. Our results indeed show that restraint stress increased S-nitrosylation of brain proteins albeit transiently. S-nitrosylation was highest following 2 hours of restraint but returned to levels at or below the control by six hours. Among the S-nitrosylated proteins identified by LC-MS/MS were, from highest to lowest abundance, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, peroxiredoxin-2, protein phosphatase 2B, and the ADP/ATP translocase all of which have immediate implications for cellular pathology. As protein nitrosthiols are generally unstable and readily convert to disulfides, efforts were also made to measure the impacts of restraint stress on disulfides involving proteins. Levels of protein-glutathione mixed disulfides appeared to be inversely related to S-nitrosylation but changes across groups were not statistically-significant. In addition, unique challenges to the trapping of the in vivo redox states of protein vicinal thiols and the determination of the effects of restraint stress on oxidations of these, resulting in protein disulfides, were noted and linked to the very high reactivity of the catalytic thiols of peroxiredoxins. These findings provide initial support for the notion that protein S-nitrosylation may link psychophysiological stress to neural insults and open the door for further investigations of nitro-oxidative modifications of protein thiols as potential links between life stresses and disease.
Grief Reactions: A Sociocultural Approach

This chapter considers sociocultural influence on grief reactions using the feminist ecological model as a guiding framework. Specifically, it considers interpersonal influences and social constraints at the level of the microsystem, legislation/policy and religion at the level of the exosystem, and capitalism and Western values, and the media at the level of the macrosystem. In addition, the intersecting dimensions of gender and race/ethnicity are discussed.
Organizational Decline and Fiscal Distress in Municipal Police Agencies

In late 2007, the United States entered one of the most significant recessions in recent memory. While the consequences to individuals have been well documented, less attention has been paid to the...
Social Isolation and Social Cohesion: The Effects of K-12 Neighborhood and School Segregation on Intergroup Orientations.

Background/ContextThe United States is becoming increasingly racially and ethnically diverse, and increasingly racially isolated across race-ethnic boundaries. Researchers have argued that both div...
The Impacts of Gifted and Talented Education

This paper estimates the impact of gifted and talented program participation on academic achievement and peer composition for a sample of 8th grade students. Gifted education provides children that have been identi ed as having high ability in some intellectual respect with a supplemental curriculum to their traditional school course work. Participation in gifted programs is not random, so OLS estimates are biased by the presence of unobserved heterogeneity which is correlated with participation status as well as outcomes. To obtain causal estimates, I use an instrumental variables approach where the instrument is a self-constructed measure of how well each child fulfills the criteria his/her school uses to admit students into the gifted program, relative to the child's peers. The IV estimates indicate that, in the short run, participation is associated with a signifcant increase in math standardized test score performance. In the long run, participation is found to increase the probability a child takes Advanced Placement classes. There is no evidence that participation infuences the composition of a child's peer group.
Can my patient dive after a first episode of primary spontaneous pneumothorax? A systematic review of the literature.

Introduction Patients with prior primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) frequently seek clearance to dive. Despite wide consensus in precluding compressed-air diving in this population, there is a paucity of data to support this decision. We reviewed the literature reporting the risk of PSP recurrence. Methods A literature search was performed in PubMed and Web of Science using predefined terms. Studies published in English reporting the recurrence rate after a first PSP were included. Results Forty studies (n=3,904) were included. Risk of PSP recurrence ranged 0-67% (22 ± 15.5%; mean ± SD). Mean follow-up was 36 months, and 63 ± 39% of recurrences occurred during the first year of follow-up. Elevated height/weight ratio and emphysema-like changes (ELCs) are associated with PSP recurrence. ELCs are present in 59%-89% (vs. 0-15%) of patients with recurrence and can be detected effectively with high-resolution CT scan (sensitivity of 84-88%). Surgical pleurodesis reduces the risk of recurrence substantially (4.0 ± 4% vs. 22 ± 15.5%). Conclusion2 Risk of PSP recurrence seems to decline over time and is associated to certain radiological and clinical risk factors. This could be incremented by the stresses of compressed-air diving. A basis for informed patient-physician discussions regarding future diving is provided in this review.
Amoebae Aggregation in Dictyoselium Discoideum

Patterns formed during the aggregation phase of D. Discoideum have long been studied as a model system for biological organization . In particular, individual amoebae aggregate upon starvation and form a rudimentary multi-cellular slug as a precursor to stalk/spore differentiation and sporulation. Here, we discuss this system using recently developed ideas concerning waves (and their stability) in excitable media. We show that the onset of streaming can be attributed to an instability due to density fluctuations. Finally, we comment on possibilities for simulations and for comparisons to new experimental findings.
The Genetics of Virologic Response

The field of medicine is changing rapidly, and the future holds the potential to “personalize” treatment by determining the genome of both patients and pathogens to administer the appropriate therapies. Within the field of hepatology, multiple genetic discoveries have led to new insights into the biology of hepatitis C (HCV) infection and improved ability to predict an individual patient’s response to therapy. Major discoveries in this area include the finding of SNPs near the IL28B gene that are related to sustained virologic response (SVR) and rapid virologic response (RVR) in patients with genotype 1, spontaneous clearance of HCV after acute infection, and SVR in those patients with genotypes 2 and 3 that do not achieve an RVR. Additionally, the IL28B polymorphisms add insight into the variation of treatment response among different ethnicities, and this finding is estimated to explain approximately half of the difference in treatment response rates between patients of African-American and European-American background. Additional genetic findings including variation in the IL-6 haplotype, differences in MHC allele expression, and polymorphisms that lead to increased steatosis and insulin resistance have also provided new insights into differences in response to treatment for hepatitis C.
Listening the lyric essay

Constructions of the ‘I’ in nonfiction receive ample study – particularly in discussions of memoir – yet when it comes to forms of the lyric essay, the narrator is unmapped. This article fills that...
Lattice dynamics and electronic Grüneisen parameters of femtosecond laser-excited bismuth

Abstract In this study, we probed the lattice dynamics of bismuth subjected to femtosecond laser irradiation by ultrafast electron diffraction. The changes in the diffraction intensity and angle were determined. The lattice exhibited compression upon laser excitation, followed by expansion with damped vibrations. Coherent acoustic phonons were observed as oscillations in the lattice spacing. The results were analyzed using a damped harmonic oscillator model where the hot electrons caused the blast compressive force, which resulted in lattice-spacing oscillation for the expanded lattice following the compression. We obtained the rate of electron–phonon coupling, its anisotropy, and the Gruneisen parameters of the electronic subsystem.
Trends in surgical complexity and treatment modalities utilized in the management of ovarian cancer in an era of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Abstract Objectives To investigate the impact of the increased use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the complexity of cytoreductive surgeries for ovarian cancer. Methods Using the National Cancer Database, we performed a retrospective cohort study of women diagnosed between 2004 and 2015 with stage III or IV epithelial ovarian cancer who underwent either primary cytoreductive surgery (PDS) followed by adjuvant chemotherapy, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by interval debulking surgery. Cases were assigned a surgical complexity category as 1) Inadequate, 2) Low, 3) Moderate and, 4) High complexity. The primary outcome was the trend in surgical complexity over time. Secondary outcomes included temporal trends in treatment modality, perioperative mortality, and survival. Results At total of 52,582 (76.3%) underwent PDS and 16,307 (23.7%) underwent NACT. The utilization of NACT increased from 7.7% in 2004 to 27.8% in 2015 (p-trend Conclusions Increase in the utilization of NACT is associated with decreased 30- and 90-day mortality and increase in five-year survival. Moreover, the overall complexity of ovarian cancer surgery has increased in both PDS and NACT cohorts.
The gender authorship gap in gynecologic oncology research.

Abstract Female first authorship and senior authorship in academic obstetrics and gynecology has increased over time but gender-specific publishing data are lacking within gynecologic oncology. We examined contribution by gender to the subspecialty's flagship journal, Gynecologic Oncology, over five decades, from 1972 to 2014, to identify trends in gender representation. Chi-square tests were used to compare gender distributions within and between the first and last years studied (1972–73 and 2014) as well as linear regression to model trends over time. Female first and senior authorship increased significantly from 1972 to 2014 (first: χ2 = 20.9, p
Child-Centered Play Therapists’ Experiences of Conducting Group Play Therapy in Elementary Schools

Child-Centered Group Play Therapy (CCGPT) has been shown to be an effective, developmentally appropriate, and efficient mental health treatment for young children. The purpose of this qualitative s...
Is patrimoine ‘good to think with’?

To engage with patrimoine, I draw on the 2017 American Institute of Maghrib Studies-sponsored conference entitled ‘Historic Preservation in North Africa/La preservation historique en Afrique du Nor...
Salter-Harris II Fractures of the Distal Femur: Does displacement, size of Thurston-Holland Fragment, or time to surgery affect treatment or risk of complication?

Purpose: Despite recognition that physeal fractures of the distal femur have a high risk of growth arrest, specific factors contributory to this risk are poorly understood. The purpose of this study is to evaluate fracture characteristics that may affect treatment or outcome of Salter-Harris type II (SH-II) fractures. Method: A retrospective review of 53 patients diagnosed with SH-II fracture, under the age of 19, was performed. Subjects were identified via ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes and attending operative notes at a single level-1 …
Handling Highly Contended OLTP Workloads Using Fast Dynamic Partitioning

Research on transaction processing has made significant progress towards improving performance of main memory multicore OLTP systems under low contention. However, these systems struggle on workloads with lots of conflicts. Partitioned databases (and variants) perform well on high contention workloads that are statically partitionable, but time-varying workloads often make them impractical. Towards addressing this, we propose Strife---a novel transaction processing scheme that clusters transactions together dynamically and executes most of them without any concurrency control. Strife executes transactions in batches, where each batch is partitioned into disjoint clusters without any cross-cluster conflicts and a small set of residuals. The clusters are then executed in parallel with no concurrency control, followed by residuals separately executed with concurrency control. Strife uses a fast dynamic clustering algorithm that exploits a combination of random sampling and concurrent union-find data structure to partition the batch online, before executing it. Strife outperforms lock-based and optimistic protocols by up to 2x on high contention workloads. While Strife incurs about 50% overhead relative to partitioned systems in the statically partitionable case, it performs 2x better when such static partitioning is not possible and adapts to dynamically varying workloads.
Extrapolation of Survival Benefits in Patients with Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy Receiving Tafamidis: Analysis of the Tafamidis in Transthyretin Cardiomyopathy Clinical Trial.

In the Tafamidis in Transthyretin Cardiomyopathy Clinical Trial (ATTR-ACT; ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT01994889), tafamidis reduced the risk of all-cause mortality in patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) by 30% versus placebo. Median overall survival was not achieved in either treatment arm (57.1 and 70.5% of patients in the placebo and tafamidis groups, respectively, survived at 30 months), limiting assessment of the potential survival benefits of treatment. A survival extrapolation analysis was conducted following technical support guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Multiple models (i.e., exponential, Weibull, gamma, log-logistic, log-normal, Gompertz, generalized gamma, and generalized F) were applied to systematically fit different candidate curves to existing patient-level data from the 30-month treatment period in ATTR-ACT. The relative goodness-of-fit for each candidate curve was then tested by Akaike’s and Bayesian information criteria to select a single model that was fitted to the placebo and pooled tafamidis treatment arms. A gamma distribution was selected as best fitting model and fitted to both treatment arms. The resulting estimated median overall survival was 35.16 months for placebo and 52.64 months for tafamidis (difference 17.48 months). This extrapolation of survival data from ATTR-ACT further supports the efficacy of tafamidis in patients with ATTR-CM. Owing to the limitations of this analysis, these survival estimates should be interpreted with caution; however, they are consistent with recently presented findings from a combined analysis of data from ATTR-ACT and interim data from an ongoing long-term extension study (median follow-up 36 months; ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT02791230). ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01994889.
Resource risk and stability in the zooarchaeological record: the case of Pueblo fishing in the Middle Rio Grande, New Mexico

Disarticulated fish remains are frequently recovered from late preHispanic and early historic archaeological sites in the Middle Rio Grande basin of central New Mexico, but they are rare during earlier time periods. Increased aquatic habitat quality brought on by wetter climatic conditions may have impacted Ancestral Pueblo foraging goals related to risk minimization, leading to an uptick in fish exploitation. Wetter stream conditions can increase the number of different energy channels that help support fish populations and increase ecological stability, which makes fish less risky to pursue for human foragers. Here, we illustrate how to identify stable ecological communities in the archaeological record using stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values of fish bones recovered from archaeological sites in the Middle Rio Grande. We find that energy derived from terrestrial C4 plants—a stabilizing “slow” allochthonous energy source—was important for the Middle Rio Grande aquatic food web during the late preHispanic/early historic period. This result suggests that fish populations were supported by a broader resource base and were thus more stable and less risky to pursue for Ancestral Pueblo people.
Association between ICU interruptions and physicians trainees' electronic health records efficiency

The intensive care unit (ICU) is a stressful and complex environment in due to its dynamic nature and severity of admitted patients. EHR interface design can be cumbersome and lead to prolonged tim...
Predictors of smoking reduction among African American and Latinx smokers in a randomized controlled trial of JUUL e-cigarettes.

Abstract Introduction E-cigarette (e-cig) use is widespread and may play an important role in facilitating smoking reduction. Racial/ethnic minorities are less likely than Whites to use e-cigs and suffer disproportionate tobacco-related disease, making them a priority for harm reduction. This paper explores factors associated with smoking reduction among African American (AA) and Latinx smokers enrolled in a trial assessing toxicant exposure in those assigned to e-cigs or smoking as usual. Methods Participants were randomized to receive 6 weeks of JUUL e-cigs or continue smoking cigarettes as usual (N = 187). This analysis focuses on 109 participants randomized to e-cigs. We modeled cigarettes smoked in the past week at baseline and week 6 as a function of a priori selected predictors (number of JUUL pods used throughout the study, baseline cigarette dependence, and baseline cotinine) using a Poisson model fit with generalized estimating equations. Results Over the six-week study, cigarette smoking decreased from an average of 82.4 to 15.5 cigarettes per week. Greater numbers of JUUL pods used predicted a greater smoking reduction by week 6 (IRR = 0.94 [0.91, 0.96], p Conclusions AA and Latinx smokers reduced their cigarette consumption while using JUUL e-cigs. Higher e-cig use during an intervention to switch to e-cigs to reduce harm may facilitate a transition to smoking fewer cigarettes, offering an opportunity to narrow smoking-related health disparities.
Acute and Chronic Effects of Intravenous Hypertonic Saline Solution and Rehydration Fluid on Plasma Electrolyte Concentrations and Renal Function in Holstein Steers

Intravenous (IV) administration of 7.0-7.5% hypertonic saline solution (HSS) is commonly used in dehydrated dairy cows with endotoxic shock and endotoxemia associated with environmental mastitis. Cows are given an IV empirical dose of one to two liters ofHSS (4-5 ml/kg BW) followed by immediate access to drinking water and supportive therapy (anti-inflammatory drugs, oxytocin and frequent milk-out for mastitis). Intravenous small-volume HSS, in conjunction with voluntary oral water consumption, is purported to totally alleviate dehydration without the need for large-volume IV balanced replacement fluids. Use of HSS as the resuscitation fluid for hypovolemia associated with hemorrhagic shock or with loss of vascular tone, as in sepsis or neurogenic shock, remains controversial. HSS resuscitation may detrimentally affect renal function and survival when used in dehydrated patients. This study was conducted to determine detrimental effects on renal function using HSS as the resuscitation fluid in dehydrated cattle.
Secretomics: a biochemical footprinting tool for developing microalgal cultivation strategies

Microalgae offer a promising source of biofuel and a wide array of high-value biomolecules. Large-scale cultivation of microalgae at low density poses a significant challenge in terms of water management. High-density microalgae cultivation, however, can be challenging due to biochemical changes associated with growth dynamics. Therefore, there is a need for a biomarker that can predict the optimum density for high biomass cultivation. A locally isolated microalga Cyanobacterium aponinum CCC734 was grown with optimized nitrogen and phosphorus in the ratio of 12:1 for sustained high biomass productivity. To understand density-associated bottlenecks secretome dynamics were monitored at biomass densities from 0.6 ± 0.1 to 7 ± 0.1 g/L (2 to 22 OD) in batch mode. Liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry identified 880 exometabolites in the supernatant of C. aponinum CCC734. The PCA analysis showed similarity between exometabolite profiles at low (4 and 8 OD) and mid (12 and 16 OD), whereas distinctly separate at high biomass concentrations (20 and 22 OD). Ten exometabolites were selected based on their role in influencing growth and are specifically present at low, mid, and high biomass concentrations. Taking cues from secretome dynamics, 5.0 ± 0.5 g/L biomass concentration (16 OD) was optimal for C. aponinum CCC734 cultivation. Further validation was performed with a semi-turbidostat mode of cultivation for 29 days with a volumetric productivity of 1.0 ± 0.2 g/L/day. The secretomes-based footprinting tool is the first comprehensive growth study of exometabolite at the molecular level at variable biomass densities. This tool may be utilized in analyzing and directing microalgal cultivation strategies and reduction in overall operating costs.
Kidney Injury After Vascular Surgery

Acute kidney injury (AKI) frequently develops after vascular surgery and has a direct impact on short- and long-term outcomes of the patients. Though many aortic pathologies (aneurysms and chronic occlusions) are being managed by stenting and endovascular procedures, the risk of AKI remains appreciable and may be related to contrast-induced kidney injury. This chapter discusses the incidence and risk factors that predispose patients to AKI after vascular surgery. Risk factors are grouped into three broad categories: patient-related factors (these include patient’s age, the presence of chronic kidney disease (pre-procedure or baseline renal function), and proteinuria), surgery-related factors (type and complexity of surgery, emergency surgery, hemodynamic and inflammatory perturbations resulting from the surgery, and specific surgical techniques or maneuvers that may affect renal function), and management-related factors (nephrotoxic drugs, choice of intravenous fluids). Current prophylactic and management strategies that may protect the kidney in patients undergoing vascular procedures are also discussed.
X-Band Compatible Flexible Microwave Inductors and Capacitors on Plastic Substrate

Microwave inductors and capacitors compatible with low temperature processes form a route to high-frequency electronics on flexible substrates in conjunction with high speed thin film transistors. We report here the process by which one can fabricate passive components with X-band compatible performance on polyethylene terephthalate substrate by changing dielectric layer material and optimized design, where the method can be applied with most of the active device technologies developed up to date on flexible substrates. High resonance frequencies were obtained, comparing with former results, confirming the effectiveness of the approach with flexible dielectric materials. Studies on bending effects for the spiral inductors and metal on insulator capacitors show miniscule difference in performance related to bending radius. Performance enhancements compared to previously reported passive elements enable higher radio-frequency electronics on plastic substrates.
Finding the strong CP problem at the LHC

Abstract We show that a class of parity based solutions to the strong CP problem predicts new colored particles with mass at the TeV scale, due to constraints from Planck suppressed operators. The new particles are copies of the Standard Model quarks and leptons. The new quarks can be produced at the LHC and are either collider stable or decay into Standard Model quarks through a Higgs, a W or a Z boson. We discuss some simple but generic predictions of the models for the LHC and find signatures not related to the traditional solutions of the hierarchy problem. We thus provide alternative motivation for new physics searches at the weak scale. We also briefly discuss the cosmological history of these models and how to obtain successful baryogenesis.
The spectrum of pericardial tamponade in systemic lupus erythematosus. Report of ten patients.

Objective. To describe the range of clinical manifestations and the outcome of pericardial tamponade in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods. Patients with pericarditis and with pericardial tamponade were identified from our computerized database of 395 SLE patients. Medical records were reviewed to establish activity of SLE at the time of tamponade, as well as clinical and laboratory features, treatment, and outcome of the tamponade. Results. Pericarditis occurred in 75 patients (19%), with 11 episodes of tamponade in 10 of them (13%; 2.5% of entire series). Tamponade was the initial manifestation of SLE in 4 patients. Seven episodes occurred during active lupus, with nephritis present in 6. Signs of venous congestion, including ascites and facial or peripheral edema, were the most common manifestation of tamponade. Pericardial fluid was exudative, and pericardial tissue demonstrated a range of findings including fibrinous and fibrotic changes, acute and chronic inflammatory infiltrates, and vascular proliferation. Tamponade was fatal in 1 patient, and 2 patients each had recurrent effusions and pericardial thickening. Conclusion. Pericardial tamponade may occur at any point in the course of SLE, and should be considered in patients with unexplained signs of venous congestion. The differential diagnosis includes active SLE, uremia, and infection. Treatment with high-dose steroids and either pericardiocentesis or placement of a pericardial window is indicated, but recurrent effusions or pericardial thickening may develop.
DNA Microarray Data, Statistical Analysis of

Modern microarray technology has revolutionized the state of biomedical research. With the advent of this technology, biologists can now observe the simultaneous expression profiles of thousands of genes in a single experiment. The large volume of data generated from these experiments has created a need for the development of appropriate statistical tools. Typically, such data sets contain high dimensional multivariate observations with few independent replications. We attempt to give a brief account of the developments of statistical methods in this fast growing area. Keywords: microarray; affymetrix; cDNA; mRNA; clustering; classification; regression; ANOVA; bootstrap
DUMAND and AMANDA: High Energy Neutrino Astrophysics

The field of high energy neutrino astrophysics is entering an exciting new phase as two new large-scale observatories prepare to come on line. Both DUMAND (Deep Underwater Muon and Neutrino Detector) and AMANDA (Antarctic Muon and Neutrino Detector) had major deployment efforts in 12/93--1/94. Results were mixed, with both projects making substantial progress, but encountering setbacks that delayed full-scale operation. The achievements, status, and plans (as of 10/94) of these two projects will be discussed.
Malignant lymphoma presenting in the retroperitoneum.

Twelve patients with untreated malignant lymphoma presenting in the retroperitoneum are reported. The mean age was 52 years. Pain and a palpable mass were the common symptoms. The high and intermediate grade non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma types comprised more than half of the observed histopathology. Three patients survived for more than 5 years.
Response to Savarino et al.

To the Editor: Thank you for your correspondence regarding the recently published ACG Guideline on the Management and Diagnosis of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) (1). We appreciate the opportunity to respond to your letter regarding the characterization of patients with non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) and how impedance-pH monitoring results may guide management in this heterogeneous group of patients (2).