cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intestinal Goblet Cells and Mucins in Health and Disease: Recent Insights and Progress

The mucus layer coating the gastrointestinal tract is the front line of innate host defense, largely because of the secretory products of intestinal goblet cells. Goblet cells synthesize secretory mucin glycoproteins (MUC2) and bioactive molecules such as epithelial membrane-bound mucins (MUC1, MUC3, MUC17), trefoil factor peptides (TFF), resistin-like molecule β (RELMβ), and Fc-γ binding protein (Fcgbp). The MUC2 mucin protein forms trimers by disulfide bonding in cysteine-rich amino terminal von Willebrand factor (vWF) domains, coupled with crosslinking provided by TFF and Fcgbp proteins with MUC2 vWF domains, resulting in a highly viscous extracellular layer. Colonization by commensal intestinal microbiota is limited to an outer “loose” mucus layer, and interacts with the diverse oligosaccharides of mucin glycoproteins, whereas an “inner” adherent mucus layer is largely devoid of bacteria. Defective mucus layers resulting from lack of MUC2 mucin, mutated Muc2 mucin vWF domains, or from deletion of core mucin glycosyltransferase enzymes in mice result in increased bacterial adhesion to the surface epithelium, increased intestinal permeability, and enhanced susceptibility to colitis caused by dextran sodium sulfate. Changes in mucin gene expression and mucin glycan structures occur in cancers of the intestine, contributing to diverse biologic properties involved in the development and progression of cancer. Further research is needed on identification and functional significance of various components of mucus layers and the complex interactions among mucus layers, microbiota, epithelial cells, and the underlying innate and adaptive immunity. Further elucidation of the regulatory mechanisms involved in mucin changes in cancer and inflammation may lead to the development of novel therapeutic approaches.
Reconfigurable computing middleware for application portability and productivity

Reconfigurable computing (RC) devices such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) offer significant advantages over fixed-logic, many-core CPU and GPU architectures, including increased performance for many computationally challenging applications, superior power efficiency, and reconfigurability. Difficulties of using FPGAs, however, has limited their acceptance in high-performance computing (HPC) and high-performance embedded computing (HPEC) applications. These difficulties stem from a lack of standards between FPGA platforms and the complexities of hardware design, and lead to higher costs and time to market over competing technologies. Differences in FPGA platform resources such as the type and number of FPGAs, memories and interconnects, as well as vendor-specific procedural APIs and hardware interfaces, inhibits application portability and code reusability. Despite efforts to reduce FPGA application design complexity through technologies such as high-level synthesis (HLS) tools, platform support and portability remains limited, and is typically left as a challenge for application developers. In this paper, we present a novel RC Middleware (RCMW), an extensible framework which enables FPGA application portability and enhances developer productivity by providing an application-centric development environment. Developers focus specifically on the optimal resources and interfaces required by their application, and RCMW handles the mapping and translation of those resources onto a target platform. We demonstrate that RCMW enables application portability over three heterogeneous platforms from two vendors, using both Xilinx and Altera FPGAs, with less than 10% performance and area overhead for several application kernels, and microbenchmarks for the common case. We present the productivity benefits of RCMW, showing that RCMW reduces required number of hardware and software driver lines of code and total development time with respect to native platform deployment methods for several application kernels.
Growth of Cloud Droplets by Turbulent Collision–Coalescence

An open question in cloud physics is how rain forms in warm cumulus as rapidly as it is sometimes observed. In particular, the growth of cloud droplets across the size gap from 10 to 50 m in radius has not been fully explained. In this paper, the authors investigate the growth of cloud droplets by collision– coalescence, taking into account both the gravitational mechanism and several enhancements of the collision–coalescence rate due to air turbulence. The kinetic collection equation (KCE) is solved with an accurate bin integral method and a newly developed parameterization of turbulent collection kernel derived from direct numerical simulation of droplet-laden turbulent flows. Three other formulations of the turbulent collection kernel are also considered so as to assess the dependence of the rain initiation time on the nature of the collection kernel. The results are compared to the base case using the Hall hydrodynamical– gravitational collection kernel. Under liquid water content and eddy dissipation rate values typical of small cumulus clouds, it is found that air turbulence has a significant impact on the collection kernel and thus on the time required to form drizzle drops. With the most realistic turbulent kernel, the air turbulence can shorten the time for the formation of drizzle drops by about 40% relative to the base case, applying measures based on either the radar reflectivity or the mass-weighted drop size. A methodology is also developed to unambiguously identify the three phases of droplet growth, namely, the autoconversion phase, the accretion phase, and the larger hydrometeor self-collection phase. The important observation is that even a moderate enhancement of collection kernel by turbulence can have a significant impact on the autoconversion phase of the growth.
A predicted secondary structural domain within the internal ribosome entry site of echovirus 12 mediates a cell-type-specific block to viral replication

The enterovirus 5' nontranslated region (NTR) contains an internal ribosome entry site (IRES), which facilitates translation initiation of the viral open reading frame in a 5' (m(7)GpppN) cap-independent manner, and cis-acting signals for positive-strand RNA replication. For several enteroviruses, the 5' NTR has been shown to determine the virulence phenotype. We have constructed a chimera consisting of the putative IRES element from the Travis strain of echovirus 12 (ECV12), a wild-type, relatively nonvirulent human enterovirus, exchanged with the homologous region of a full-length infectious clone of coxsackievirus B3 (CBV3). The resulting chimera, known as ECV12(5'NTR)CBV3, replicates similarly to CBV3 in human and simian cell lines yet, unlike CBV3, is completely restricted for growth on two primary murine cell lines at 37 degrees C. By utilizing a reverse-genetics approach, the growth restriction phenotype was localized to the predicted stem-loop II within the IRES of ECV12. In addition, a revertant of ECV12(5'NTR)CBV3 was isolated which possessed three transition mutations and had restored capability for replication in the utilized murine cell lines. Assays for cardiovirulence indicated that the ECV12 IRES is responsible for a noncardiovirulent phenotype in a murine model for acute myocarditis. The results indicate that the 5' NTRs of ECV12 and CBV3 exhibit variable intracellular requirements for function and serve as secondary determinants of tissue or species tropism.
Effect of analog and digital signal conditioning filters on signal to noise ratio

Digital processing of analog signals involves sampling and analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion. A prefilter may be inserted in analog implementation prior to sampling, or in digital form after A/D conversion. The effects on signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of these alternative forms of prefiltering are studied. Significant differences in S/N ratio may result, depending upon the relative spectral characteristics of the input signals and noise. The impulse-invariant technique and other methods for the design of digital filters seem to imply the equivalence of the two signal conditioning subsystems analyzed. However, the subsystem with analog prefilter, which is usually recommended on the basis of preventing aliasing of the signal x(t), is shown to be preferable on the basis of output signal-to-noise ratio. >
Battlefield visualization on the responsive workbench

In this paper we describe a battlefield visualization system, called Dragon, which we have implemented on a virtual reality responsive workbench. The Dragon system has been successfully deployed as part of two large military exercises: the Hunter Warrior advanced warfighting experiment, in March 1997, and the Joint Counter Mine advanced concept tactical demonstration, in August and September 1997. We describe battlefield visualization, the Dragon system, and the workbench, and we describe our experiences as part of these two real-world deployments, with an emphasis on lessons learned and needed future work.
Intracellular Transport: Kinesins Working Together

While most in vitro experiments with motor proteins focus on the behavior of individual motors, in cells most cargo are transported by multiple motors and even multiple classes of motor. How these motors cooperate and compete in transporting cargo is not clear. Recent experimental and theoretical work suggests that motors attached to a given cargo interact in both expected and unexpected ways.
To See or Not to See: Do Front of Pack Nutrition Labels Affect Attention to Overall Nutrition Information?

Citation: Bix, L., Sundar, R. P., Bello, N. M., Peltier, C., Weatherspoon, L. J., & Becker, M. W. (2015). To See or Not to See: Do Front of Pack Nutrition Labels Affect Attention to Overall Nutrition Information? Plos One, 10(10), 20. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0139732
Aortic Rupture, Body Weight, and Blood Pressure in the Turkey as Influenced by Strain, Dietary Fat, Beta-aminopropionitrile Fumarate, and Diethylstilbestrol

Abstract INTRODUCTION SINCE the first detailed report of dissecting aneurysm (aortic rupture) in the turkey by McSherry et al. (1954), continuing attempts have been made to elucidate this syndrome. Aortic rupture occurs as a sporadic, spontaneous, and fatal hemorrhage with no predisposing clinical signs. A longitudinal rent is usually found in the ventral wall of the abdominal aorta in the region of the kidneys. Dietary supplementation with beta- aminopropionitrile (BAPN) and implantation with diethylstilbestrol (DES) have each been used to induce ruptures and thereby provide a laboratory means of investigation. BAPN was isolated from Lathyrus ordoratus by McKay et al. (1954). Barnett et al. (1957) fed this compound to turkey poults and obtained aortic ruptures. Waibel and Pomeroy (1958) observed ruptures in older birds with lower concentrations of BAPN which were grossly similar to natural cases. While the BAPN-induced and natural ruptures are grossly similar, the former induces skeletal deformities, a nearly…
Fabrication of multi-layer SU-8 microstructures

The fabrication of multi-level SU-8 microstructures using multiple coating and exposure steps and a single developing step has been achieved for up to six layers of SU-8. Alternating layers of SU-8 2010 (thin) and SU-8 2100 (thick) photoresist films were spin coated, followed by soft-bake, ultraviolet (UV) exposure and post-exposure bake steps. The multiple SU-8 layers were simultaneously developed to create patterned microstructures with overall thicknesses of up to 500 µm and minimum lateral feature size of 10 µm. The use of a single developing step facilitated fabrication of complex multi-level SU-8 microstructures that might be difficult, or even impossible, to achieve by sequential processing of multiple SU-8 layers that are individually coated, baked, exposed and developed.
Susceptibility to arsenic-induced hyperkeratosis and oxidative stress genes myeloperoxidase and catalase

Abstract Chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic is known to cause non-melanocytic skin and internal cancers in humans. We examined whether genetic susceptibility, as determined by single nucleotide polymorphisms −463 G → A and −262 C → T in the oxidative stress genes myeloperoxidase (MPO) and catalase (CAT), respectively, are associated with the risk of arsenic-induced hyperkeratotic skin lesions—precursors of skin cancer—in a case–control study in Bangladesh. Carriers of the susceptible MPO and CAT genotypes were at elevated risk (OR 2.1 and 95% CI 0.7–6.2 for MPO; OR 1.9 and 95% CI 0.8–4.7 for CAT) of hyperkeratosis after adjustment for arsenic exposure and other covariates. Subjects carrying the high-risk MPO genotype and with high arsenic exposure were at almost six times (OR 5.8; 95% CI 1.1–30.1) elevated risk of developing hyperkeratosis as compared to those carrying the low-risk genotype and with low arsenic exposure. Similarly, highly exposed subjects carrying the high-risk CAT genotype were at more than four times (OR 4.6; 95% CI 1.4–15.6) elevated risk of developing hyperkeratosis as compared to those carrying the low-risk genotype and with low arsenic exposure. Our findings, although based on small numbers, suggest that the oxidative stress genes MPO and CAT may influence the risk of arsenic-induced premalignant hyperkeratotic skin lesions.
Computer Control of Brookhaven 200 MeV Linac

A unified control system philosophy allows operation of the linac from a PDP-8 mini-computer with full supervisory control, data acquisition and the full computation capability of the PDP-10 located at the AGS. Interface hardware for diagnostic monitoring equipment and operational control equipment is described. Failure of any link in the control system does not necessitate shut down of the linac, only a diminished control capability results.
Variants in glucose- and circadian rhythm–related genes affect the response of energy expenditure to weight-loss diets: the POUNDS LOST Trial

Background: Circadian rhythm has been shown to be related to glucose metabolism and risk of diabetes, probably through effects on energy balance. Recent genome-wide association studies identified variants in circadian rhythm‐related genes (CRY2 and MTNR1B )a ssociated with glucose homeostasis. Objective: We tested whether CRY2 and MTNR1B genotypes affected changes in measures of energy expenditure in response to a weight-loss diet intervention in a 2-y randomized clinical trial, the POUNDS (Preventing Overweight Using Novel Dietary Strategies) LOST Trial. Design: The variants CRY2 rs11605924 (n = 721) and MTNR1B rs10830963 (n = 722) were genotyped in overweight or obese adults who were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 weight-loss diets that differed in their proportions of macronutrients. Respiratory quotient (RQ) and resting metabolic rate (RMR) were measured. Results: By 2 y of diet intervention, the A allele of CRY2 rs11605924 was significantly associated with a greater reduction in RQ (P = 0.03) and a greater increase in RMR and RMR/kg (both P = 0.04). The G allele of MTNR1B rs10830963 was significantly associated with a greater increase in RQ (P = 0.01) but was not related to changes in RMR and RMR/kg. In addition, we found significant gene-diet fat interactions for both CRY2 (P-interaction = 0.02) and MTNR1B (P-interaction , 0.001) in relation to 2-y changes in RQ. Conclusions: Our data indicate that variants in the circadian-related gene CRY2 and MTNR1B may affect long-terms changes in energy expenditure, and dietary fat intake may modify the genetic effects. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00072995. Am J Clin Nutr doi: 10.3945/ajcn.113.072066.
The Impact of Child Care Subsidies on Single Mothers’ Work Effort

Access to affordable child care is a formidable barrier to employment for many families. Following passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) in 1996, funding for child care assistance increased dramatically. Using data from the National Survey of America’s Families (NSAF), the impact of child care subsidies on single mother’s work effort is evaluated. The results indicate that not only are women more likely to be employed when they receive child care subsidies, they are also more likely to be employed full time. Single mothers who reported receiving assistance with child care worked, on average, 9.4 hours more per week than mother’s who did not receive help. While growth in funding for child care has slowed in recent years, findings like the ones presented here highlight the importance of affordable child care in the employment decisions of mothers with young children.
On transparent bridging of CSMA/CD networks

The authors study the interconnection of CSMA/CD (carrier sense multiple access with collision detection) local area networks (LANs) or LAN segments using a transparent bridge. The main concern was to study the performance and the implementation of a transparent bridge employing a novel bridging technique called cut-through bridging. The authors developed an approximate performance model of a multisegment CSMA/CD LAN whose segments are connected by a transparent bridge (cut-through or store-and-forward variety). It is found that, at light loads, the cut-through bridged system provided a lower average frame delay than a normal-bridged system, whereas at heavy loads, it achieved the same maximum throughput as the latter. Also, the normalized channel capacity of a bridged system could exceed unity because of the availability of multiple channels for parallel frame transmissions. The analysis was found to be quite accurate upon verification by simulation. Also, implementation of a normal transparent bridge requiring two Ethernet Etherlink interfaces and bridge software for interconnecting CSMA/CD LAN segments is reported. >
STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION OF MONTANDONIOLA MORAGUESI (HEMIPTERA: ANTHOCORIDAE) IN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES

The exotic anthocorid Montandoniola moraguesi (Puton) was intentionally introduced in Hawaii and Bermuda for the control of thrips on outdoor plantings of ornamental Ficus. These successful programs resulted in similar efforts to introduce this predator at several locations within the continental United States. Such attempts to establish the bug as a component of biological control systems aimed at pest thrips apparently have been unsuccessful. Our surveys and requests for museum records revealed detections of M. moraguesi in four states: Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Circumstances surrounding detections in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi suggest that viable populations may not currently exist in those states. M. moraguesi occurs widely throughout peninsular Florida, wherever outdoor plantings of exotic, ornamental Ficus spp. are found. An updated distribution of M. moraguesi is provided along with field observations and new thrips host records.
High Temperature Water Gas Shift Reaction over Nanocrystalline Copper Codoped-Modified Ferrites

Nanocrystalline metal (M)-modified ferrite catalysts codoped with copper in atomic ratios Fe/M/Cu = 10/1/0.25 are synthesized and investigated for the high temperature water gas shift (WGS) reaction. The metal modifiers considered in the present work include M = Cr, Ce, Ni, Co, Mn, and Zn. The goal of the present work is to elucidate the role of Cu-codoping in the M-modified ferrites (Fe:M) for the WGS reaction. Interestingly, our shift activity results reveal that Cu act as a promoter for the modified ferrite catalysts, M = Cr, Ni, Co, Mn, and Zn, but it acts as an inhibitor for the case of cerium. XRD measurements indicate that there is a formation of solid solution of type Fe0.875M0.1Cu0.025 (M = Cr, Ce, Ni, Co, Mn, and Zn) in the case of all copper doped-modified ferrites during the activation of the catalysts except for the case of cerium. The activated catalyst Fe/Ce/Cu shows magnetite and wustite phases in the XRD pattern. Cell parameter measurements show that Cu enters into the magnetite structure...
Patterns of care, predictors and outcomes of chemotherapy for ovarian carcinosarcoma: A National Cancer Database analysis.

Abstract Objective The aim of this study is to determine if outcomes of patients with ovarian carcinosarcoma (OCS) differ from those of women with high-grade papillary serous ovarian carcinoma (HG-PSOC) when compared by stage and treatment modalities. Methods The National Cancer Database was queried to identify patients with OCS and HG-PSOC diagnosed between 2003 and 2011. Demographic and clinical data were compared, and the impact of tumor histology on survival was analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method. Factors predictive of outcome were compared using the Cox proportional hazards model. Results The final study group consisted of 45,153 women. 2886 (6.39%) had OCS and 42,267 (93.61%) had HG-PSOC. The mean age at diagnosis was 65.43 (±12.21) years for women with OCS and 61.52 (±12.6) years for HG-PSOC (P Conclusion OCS is associated with a poor prognosis compared to HG-PSOC. This difference was noted across all FIGO stages.
Effect of Health Risk Behavior and Family Environment Factors on Adolescent Drinking Behavior

[Objectives]UTo understand the status of adolescent drinking behavior in Tianjin,explore the correlation between adolescent drinking behavior,other addictive habits and family environment factors,so as to take measures for drinking behavior in middle school students.[Methods]With stratified random sampling,one key middle school and one ordinary middle school were selected from four districts,and students from two classes of three grades were investigated with self-administered questionnaire anonymously.The data were analyzed by SPSS 11.5 statistical software.[Results]The total drinking rate of adolescent was 32.59% in Tianjin,the drinking rate of boys was twice as much as that of girls,and the drinking rate increased with age and grade.The average scores of last semester,gambling,internet surfing,puppy love and drug abuse were related to drinking behavior,stern education method of parents and wealthy pocket money were the risk factors of drinking behavior.[Conclusion]The workers of children health and school health should strengthen the guidance for teachers and parents,improve their education level and create a good educational environment,which is helpful to develop a good life habit among adolescent and reduce drinking and other addictive behaviors.
Treatment progress on nonunion or delayed union of distal tibial fracture

Nonunion or delayed- union of distal tibial,which is triggered by many etiology,are common and serious complications. It's treatment is complex and difficult. The purpose of this thesis is to summarize the etiology,diagnosis and treatment of the nonunion or delayed- union of distal tibial.
Nitrogen-Rich Azoles as High Density Energy Materials: Reviewing the Energetic Footprints of Heterocycles

Abstract In this contribution, recent developments of azole-based high energy density materials are reviewed. A variety of azoles, e.g., pyrazole, imidazole, triazole, and tetrazole, were used as nitrogen-rich backbones and were functionalized with explosophores. The synthetic methods, experimental properties, and theoretical calculations are discussed leading to panoramas of these promising energetic materials.
Silicon-based dielectrics

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of silicon-based dielectrics, which are the most widely used materials in the semiconductor industry. These include oxides (both doped and undoped), nitrides, oxynitrides, and carbides. Their applications span from the front-end device isolation steps to the back-end interconnect steps. This is due to their compatibility to the silicon substrate. This chapter focuses on the deposited silicon-based dielectric films. The deposition techniques of Si-based dielectrics include both thermal and plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The resultant film properties, including both mechanical and electrical properties, and their consequent applications in the semiconductor fabrication process are discussed in this chapter.
Bandpass Filters With Localized Temperature Compensation Dielectrics in Low-Temperature Cofired Ceramic Packages

A series of SrTiO 3 (STO) based temperature compensation dielectrics that were cofireable with the commercial DuPont 951 low-temperature cofireable ceramic (LTCC) were developed. The STO30 dielectric with 30 wt% STO showed the highest positive temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τ f ) that was opposite to the τ f = -69 ppm/°C of the Dupont 951 LTCC, and was selected to design a temperature-compensated four-pole bandpass filter. The filter shows a near zero τ f = 0.7 ppm/°C over a temperature range -20 °C to 80 °C. The variance of insertion loss of the filter over the same temperature span is 0.28 dB. The maximum-difference group delay of the filter is 37 pS. The insertion loss included two SMA connectors at 20 °C is greater than 2.45 dB. A general variational method with the transmission-line technique provided an analytical method to calculate the effective dielectric constant and the characteristic impedance of an arbitrary multilayer strip line structure. With this method, the thickness of STO30 compensation dielectric can be optimized to obtain a nearly full temperature compensation for the filter. The electromagnetic simulation results of the filter agreed well with measured data.
Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) Order Set Improves the Management of Patients with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) Presenting with Severe Acute Pain Episode to the Emergency Room (ER): A Single Center Experience.

Abstract INTRODUCTION: The ER remains main point of entry for most patients with SCD presenting with severe acute pain episode. They are increasingly overburdened, and are not the most appropriate setting in which to manage pain that requires close monitoring, careful opioid dose titration. Institutions have adopted various management strategies to tackle these inadequacies of the ER, such as day hospitals or units. To address this need we developed an EBM order set, to improve management of these patients in such setting. METHODS: The EBM order set had pain management guidelines as well as interventions considered vital in evaluation of these patients, based on available evidence. Parameters included: Hydration fluid, oxygen use, transfusion, pain adjuncts, vitals signs, blood cultures and chest x-ray when necessary. This is based on the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Eskind Biomedical Library (EBL), evidence-based care initiatives by providing syntheses of the biomedical literature in response to complex clinical questions, both patient-specific and for protocol/order set development. EBL librarians search the literature, filter the most relevant articles for the question at-hand, and based on an analysis of study methodology; clinical context and represented viewpoints prepare a summary of the overall state of the literature for delivery to the clinical teams. We analyzed the management of patients with SCD who presented with severe acute sickle cell pain episode to the ED for January 2004 – June 2006. Patients were analyzed based on whether they had the evidence based order set utilized in their management or not. RESULTS: 101 patients with SCD had 1054 ER visits. 420 patient were managed with order sets (39.8%) and 634 patients (60.2%) without. Univariate analysis of components of the order set revealed: Vital signs were measured in 348/420 (82.9%) of patients managed with order set and 327/634 (51.6%)in those without, (P = CONCLUSION: EBM order set utilization resulted in improved evaluation and better monitoring in these cohort of patients, resulting in better care. The paradoxic increased admissions and LOS for patients managed on the order set probably reflects improved diagnosis of complicated SCD pain episode. A multivariate analysis looking at the complex interplay of these variables is ongoing.
A method for predicting fuel maintenance in once-through MSRs

Abstract Liquid fuel molten salt reactors allow reactivity control by material addition. This paper presents a method to adjust material flows in a molten salt reactor to keep the core critical, and to maintain desired reduction-oxidation potential in the core salt melt. The method is aimed at low-enriched uranium fueled thermal systems. It is developed as a Python library and uses Serpent2 Monte-Carlo transport and depletion code. A toy 300 MW(th) reactor with a FLiBe carrier salt is employed to demonstrate the performance of the method over 10 full power years. Results of the calculation are presented, including material flows, conversion ratio, effective delayed neutron fraction, and expected limits on trifluoride concentrations and graphite lifetime are investigated. This method lays a foundation for future studies including fuel cycle performance of molten salt reactors and dynamic behavior of the core during depletion.
The importance of disturbance versus physiography in defining vegetation composition and predicting possible successional trajectories

ABSTRACT Regional (climate/soils) and local (aspect) physiography determine plant community composition. However, changes in initial floristic composition after a disturbance may be severe enough to alter the successional trajectory predicted by physiography. We addressed the question of which is more important, disturbance or physiography, in determining vegetation composition and the consequent successional trajectory. We evaluated understory vegetation of forest communities exposed to four disturbance types (control, single burn, diameter-limit cut, and first-removal shelterwood) 2–5 yr postdisturbance. Study sites were located within each disturbance type on northeast and southwest aspects within the Appalachian Plateau and the Ridge and Valley provinces. Vegetation composition was analyzed with nonmetric-multidimensional scaling, two-way nonparametric multivariate ANOVA, and indicator species analysis. The relationship between disturbance and key environmental variables, including canopy opening and ...
Renal Replacement Therapy: A Practical Approach

Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs during hospitalization in 39–57% of adult surgical patients. Among critically ill patients with AKI, 6–7% require some form of renal replacement therapy (RRT) with an associated mortality rate of 50–88%. Among critically ill patients, even the mildest stage of AKI can result in worse clinical outcomes compared to patients who never have AKI. Over the last decade, various diagnostic criteria have been proposed and validated in various populations, including surgical patients. These include the Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss, and End-stage renal failure (RIFLE) criteria, the Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) criteria, and most recently the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria. The diagnosis and management of AKI in the critically ill surgical population are already discussed in another chapter in this textbook. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a practical review of RRT for the management of metabolic and fluid derangements encountered when caring for surgical patients who develop severe AKI.
Regularization Analysis and Design for Prior-Image-Based X-Ray CT Reconstruction

Prior-image-based reconstruction (PIBR) methods have demonstrated great potential for radiation dose reduction in computed tomography applications. PIBR methods take advantage of shared anatomical information between sequential scans by incorporating a patient-specific prior image into the reconstruction objective function, often as a form of regularization. However, one major challenge with PIBR methods is how to optimally determine the prior image regularization strength which balances anatomical information from the prior image with data fitting to the current measurements. Too little prior information yields limited improvements over traditional model-based iterative reconstruction, while too much prior information can force anatomical features from the prior image not supported by the measurement data, concealing true anatomical changes. In this paper, we develop quantitative measures of the bias associated with PIBR. This bias exhibits as a fractional reconstructed contrast of the difference between the prior image and current anatomy, which is quite different from traditional reconstruction biases that are typically quantified in terms of spatial resolution or artifacts. We have derived an analytical relationship between the PIBR bias and prior image regularization strength and illustrated how this relationship can be used as a predictive tool to prospectively determine prior image regularization strength to admit specific kinds of anatomical change in the reconstruction. Because bias is dependent on local statistics, we further generalized shift-variant prior image penalties that permit uniform (shift invariant) admission of anatomical changes across the imaging field of view. We validated the mathematical framework in phantom studies and compared bias predictions with estimates based on brute force exhaustive evaluation using numerous iterative reconstructions across regularization values. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed analytical approach can predict the bias-regularization relationship accurately, allowing for prospective determination of the prior image regularization strength in PIBR. Thus, the proposed approach provides an important tool for controlling image quality of PIBR methods in a reliable, robust, and efficient fashion.
Introduction: Science, Technology, and Engineering (Tools and Methods)

This section features a set of studies in which the role scientific information in ­complex decision-making is reconsidered in the light of new concepts, methods and technologies. The section includes a range of perspectives, starting with case studies illustrating different approaches and ending with two chapters focuses more on institutional and science management concerns.
Using the Z-Order Curve for Bayesian Model Comparison

BayeSys is an MCMC-based program that can be used to perform Bayesian model comparison for problems with atomic models. To sample distributions with more than one parameter, BayeSys uses the Hilbert curve to index the multidimensional parameter space using one very large integer. While the Hilbert curve maintains locality well, computations to translate back and forth between parameter coordinates and Hilbert curve indexes are time-consuming. The Z-order curve is an alternative SFC with faster transformation algorithms. This work presents an efficient bitmask-based algorithm for performing the Z-order curve transformations for an arbitrary number of parameter space dimensions and integer bit-lengths. We compare results for an exponential decay separation problem evaluated using BayeSys with both the Hilbert and Z-order curves. We demonstrate that no appreciable precision penalty is incurred by using the Z-order curve, and there is a significant increase in time efficiency.
Evaluating the “Unknown” Risks of Vehicular Tunnel Fires Through the Rubric and Matrix Method

Major tunnel fires are rare, unpredictable, and often devastating. History provides examples of major tunnel operations that had incorporated various elements of Fire Life Safety (FLS) and Emergency Preparation and Management (EPM) into the design, infrastructure, operations, and emergency response capability. Yet, tunnel operators have often found out in hindsight that their preparations were not sufficient. Factors that may either minimize or worsen a catastrophic event can be estimated and evaluated. Risk analysis is used extensively in various industries for both quantitative and qualitative applications. Formal, quantitative risk analysis uses “known-unknowns” and enables the use of quantitative analysis of probabilities and consequences. Uncertainty analysis deals with “unknown-unknowns” and is restricted to qualitative analysis. Researchers at the Colorado School of Mines have created a unique process to evaluate qualitative risks through an Emergency Preparedness Rubric and an Event Consequence Matrix method. The process was applied cross the functional areas of FLS-EPM and the tunnel’s functional components that are important to safety. The method is universally adaptable and enables stakeholders involved in tunnel design, operations, management, and emergency response to identify and communicate areas where the systems and components are insufficient. This paper will address the approach, methodology, and results for a representative focus case.
A Tribute to Elliot S. Vesell (1933–2018)

The field of pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics was greatly saddened by the recent loss of one of its founders and giants in this research area. Elliot S. Vesell – Emeritus and Evan Pugh Professor of the Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA – passed away 23 July 2018 at age 84.
Comparison and convergence of optical absorption spectra of noble metal nanoparticles computed using linear-response and real-time time-dependent density functional theories

Abstract The real-time time-dependent density functional theory (RT-TDDFT) is rapidly gaining prominence as an alternative approach to capture optical properties of molecular systems, which warrants the necessity to benchmark the traditional linear response (LR) method and the RT approach. We calculate the absorption spectra of noble metal nanoparticles with a variety of sizes and shapes to demonstrate the consistency of the two methods over a broad range of energy. The RT spectrum obtained using a grid-based basis set with pseudopotentials achieves results in good agreement with the LR spectrum obtained with large QZ4P atom-centered basis sets. Factors that lead to convergence of the spectra are considered. In addition, the real-time variation of the electron density is visualized to show the collective oscillation of electron density for the plasmon modes of noble metal nanoparticles. The RT approach is most useful when calculating wide absorption spectra of larger gold or silver nanoparticles.
Intoxication and Flame Burn Injuries in Young Adults in the United States

Flame injuries are the primary cause of burns in young adults. Although drug and alcohol intoxication has been associated with other types of trauma, its role in burn injury has not been well described in this population. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of intoxication and flame burn injuries in young adults in the United States. The 2014 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample was queried for burn injury visits of young adult patients, 13-25 years old. This data is weighted to allow for national estimates. Burn mechanism and intoxication status were determined by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association of intoxication and emergency department (ED) visits due to flame burns, adjusting for patient age, gender, zip code median income, zip code rural-urban designation, timing of visit, and hospital region. Further analyses assessed the odds of admission or transfer, as a possible proxy of injury severity, in patients with flame or other burns, with and without intoxication adjusting for patient age, gender, primary insurance, and hospital trauma designation. There were 20,787 visits for patients 13-25 years old with burn injuries and 12.9% (n = 2678) had a codiagnosis of intoxication. There was an increasing proportion of intoxication by age (5.8% 13-17 years old, 25% 18-20 years old, 69% 21-25 years old, P < .001). ED visits for burns with a codiagnosis of intoxication had 1.34 times ([95% confidence interval (CI): 1.18, 1.52], P < .01) higher odds of having flame burns compared to other burn mechanisms. Those with flame burns and intoxication were most likely to be admitted or transferred when compared to nonflame, nonintoxication visits in the adjusted model (odds ratio [OR] 5.49, [95% CI: 4.29, 7.02], P < .01). Furthermore, the odds of admission or transfer in visits with the combined exposure of intoxication and flame mechanism were significantly higher than visits due to nonflame burns and intoxication (OR 2.75, [2.25, 3.36], P < .01) or flame burns without intoxication (OR 3.00, [95% CI: 2.61, 3.42], P < .01). This study identified a significant association between flame-burn-related ED visits and intoxication in the young adult population in the United States. In addition, the combination of flame mechanism and intoxication appears to result in more substantial injury compared with either exposure alone. The relationship seen between intoxication and flame burn injury underscores a major target for burn prevention efforts in the young adult population.
Comprehensive examination of the multilevel adverse risk and protective factors for cardiovascular disease among hypertensive African Americans

This paper describes the multilevel factors that contribute to hypertension disparities in 2052 hypertensive African Americans (mean age 52.9 ± 9.9 years; 66.3% female) who participated in a clinical trial. At the family level, participants reported average levels of life chaos and high social support. However, at the individual level, participants exhibited several adverse clinical and behavioral factors including poor blood pressure control (45% of population), obesity (61%), medication non-adherence (48%), smoking (32%), physical inactivity (45%), and poor diet (71%). While participants rated their provider as trustworthy, they reported high levels of discrimination in the health care system. Finally, community-level data indicate that participants reside in areas characterized by poor socio-economic and neighborhood conditions (eg, segregation). In the context of our trial, hypertensive African Americans exhibited several adverse risks and protective factors at multiple levels of influence. Future research should evaluate the impact of these factors on cardiovascular outcomes using a longitudinal design.
Methodological Reflections on the Use of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Science in Human Ecological Research

Environmental analysts increasingly utilize remote sensing (RS) and geographic information science (GIS) techniques to study the relationship between human societies and their biophysical environment. This paper considers the influence these techniques have had on environmental research. Using the case of the Sahel, the paper first relates contemporary applications of RS/GIS to the history of the environmental scientific practice in the region. While facilitating an expansion of spatiotemporal scales, applications of these new techniques continue the methodological failings of the past by relying on visual measures of environmental change and problematic indicators of human land-use pressures. The human ecology fields (human, cultural, and political ecologies), by emphasizing the causal connections between local management and environmental change, can address the problems inherent with the spatial analytical turn in environmental science. Using the author's experience with the use of GIS in a political ecology study of grazing management in western Niger, ways of more closely integrating RS/GIS techniques into human ecological research are discussed.
Deterministic Assembly of Arrays of Lithographically Defined WS2 and MoS2 Monolayer Features Directly From Multilayer Sources Into Van Der Waals Heterostructures

Author(s): Nguyen, V; Gramling, H; Towle, C; Li, W; Lien, DH; Kim, H; Chrzan, DC; Javey, A; Xu, K; Ager, J; Taylor, H | Abstract: One of the major challenges in the van der Waals (vdW) integration of two-dimensional (2D) materials is achieving high-yield and high-throughput assembly of predefined sequences of monolayers into heterostructure arrays. Mechanical exfoliation has recently been studied as a promising technique to transfer monolayers from a multilayer source synthesized by other techniques, allowing the deposition of a wide variety of 2D materials without exposing the target substrate to harsh synthesis conditions. Although a variety of processes have been developed to exfoliate the 2D materials mechanically from the source and place them deterministically onto a target substrate, they can typically transfer only either a wafer-scale blanket or one small flake at a time with uncontrolled size and shape. Here, we present a method to assemble arrays of lithographically defined monolayer WS2 and MoS2 features from multilayer sources and directly transfer them in a deterministic manner onto target substrates. This exfoliate-align-release process - without the need of an intermediate carrier substrate - is enabled by combining a patterned, gold-mediated exfoliation technique with a new optically transparent, heat-releasable adhesive. WS2/MoS2 vdW heterostructure arrays produced by this method show the expected interlayer exciton between the monolayers. Light-emitting devices using WS2 monolayers were also demonstrated, proving the functionality of the fabricated materials. Our work demonstrates a significant step toward developing mechanical exfoliation as a scalable dry transfer technique for the manufacturing of functional, atomically thin materials.
A Cross-Reactive Humanized Monoclonal Antibody Targeting Fusion Glycoprotein Function Protects Ferrets Against Lethal Nipah Virus and Hendra Virus Infection.

Background Nipah virus (NiV) and Hendra virus (HeV) are zoonotic paramyxoviruses that cause severe disease in both animals and humans. There are no approved vaccines or treatments for use in humans; however, therapeutic treatment of both NiV and HeV infection in ferrets and non-human primates with a cross-reactive, neutralizing human monoclonal antibody (mAb), m102.4, targeting the G glycoprotein has been demonstrated. In a previous study, we isolated, characterized, and humanized a cross-reactive, neutralizing anti-F mAb (h5B3.1). The mAb h5B3.1 blocks the required F conformational change needed to facilitate membrane fusion and virus infection, and the epitope recognized by h5B3.1 has been structurally defined; however, the efficacy of h5B3.1 in vivo is unknown. Methods The post-infection antiviral activity of h5B3.1 was evaluated in vivo by administration in ferrets after NiV and HeV virus challenge. Results All subjects that received h5B3.1 from 1 to several days after infection with a high-dose, oral-nasal virus challenge were protected from disease, whereas all controls died. Conclusions This is the first successful post-exposure antibody therapy for NiV and HeV using a humanized cross-reactive mAb targeting the F glycoprotein, and the findings suggest that a combination therapy targeting both F and G should be evaluated as a therapy for NiV/HeV infection.