cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) gene polymorphism, interactions with carotenoid levels and prostate cancer risk

Background The manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) gene encodes an antioxidant enzyme (SOD2) that may protect cells from oxidative damage. The MnSOD allele with Val as amino acid 16 encodes a protein that has 30-40% lower activity compared with the MnSOD Ala variant, hence possibly increasing susceptibility to oxidative stress. On the other hand, some epidemiologic studies suggest that the Ala allele is associated with a higher risk of cancer, including prostate cancer. Methods We conducted a nested case-control study in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study with 612 incident prostate cancer cases and 612 matched controls to investigate the role of the MnSOD gene Ala16Val polymorphism and its joint association with plasma carotenoid concentrations in relation to risk of total prostate cancer and aggressive prostate cancer (advanced stage or Gleason sum > or =7). Results The allele frequencies in the controls were 49.8% for Ala and 50.2% for Val. No association was found between the MnSOD genotype and risk of total and aggressive prostate cancer. Furthermore, no statistically significant interaction was observed between the MnSOD genotype and any of the plasma carotenoids in relation to risk of total and aggressive prostate cancer. In analyses in which we combined data from plasma and dietary carotenoids and created a quintile score to reflect long-term carotenoid status, a 3-fold [95% confidence interval: 1.37-7.02] increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer was observed among men with the Ala/Ala genotype in the presence of low long-term lycopene status (P-value, test for interaction = 0.02) as compared with men with the Ala/Val+Val/Val genotypes with low long-term lycopene status. Conclusion In this cohort of mainly white men, the MnSOD gene Ala16Val polymorphism was not associated with total or aggressive prostate cancer risk. However, men with the MnSOD Ala/Ala genotype who had low long-term lycopene status had a higher risk of aggressive prostate cancer compared with individuals with the other genotypes. These results are consistent with findings from earlier studies that reported when antioxidant status is low, the MnSOD Ala/Ala genotype may be associated with an increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer.
Specific Volume Diagrams for Ceramic Processing

Graphical procedures are presented for analyzing the volume-weight relations in ceramic particulate systems encountered in processing. The procedures emphasize the advantages of working with specific volume rather than density. By using the concept of partial specific volumes, the expected variations in specific volume with composition for many special cases are readily deduced. Comparing experimental and theoretical variations gives meaningful insights into the space-filling characteristics of real systems.
Reactivity of serum antibodies to the keratin layer of rat esophagus in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Serum antibodies reactive with the keratin layer of rat esophagus (AKA) were found in 46 of 80 (57.5%) rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. In contrast, AKA were present in only 7 of 82 (9.5%) patients with other types of rheumatic disorders and in 2 of 47 (4.2%) healthy subjects. AKA were not specific for RA, however, because in the former group, AKA were present in 4 of 20 (20%) systemic sclerosis patients and in 3 of 12 (25%) ankylosing spondylitis patients. AKA belong predominantly to the IgG class and are complement fixing. Although found in some RA joint fluids, AKA were not selectively concentrated in the joint fluid. Absorption of RA serum with type I human collagen or with human epidermal keratin did not remove AKA activity. The frequency of AKA in RA patients both negative and positive for DR4 was equal. There was no relationship between the frequency of AKA and the occurrence of other serum autoantibodies such as antibodies to intermediate filaments, smooth muscle, and nuclear antigens. Serum antibody reactive with human stratum corneum found in patients with psoriatic arthritis was shown to be different from AKA. Rabbit antiserum to human keratin did not inhibit the reaction of AKA against the keratin layer of rat esophagus. Autoimmunity to structural proteins including collagen, vimentin intermediate filaments, smooth muscle antigens, and keratin is a characteristic feature of RA.
Distributed and collaborative visualization

Visualization typically involves large computational tasks, often performed on supercomputers. The results of these tasks are usually analyzed by a design team consisting of several members. Our goal is to depart from traditional single-user systems and build a low-cost scientific visualization environment that enables computer-supported cooperative work in the distributed setting. A synchronously conferenced collaborative visualization environment would let multiple users on a network of workstations and supercomputers share large data sets, simultaneously view visualizations of the data, and interact with multiple views while varying parameters. Such an environment would support collaboration in both the problem-solving phase and the review phase of design tasks. In this article we describe two distributed visualization algorithms and the facilities that enable collaborative visualization. These are all implemented on top of the distribution and collaboration mechanisms of an environment called Shastra, executing on a set of low-cost networked workstations. >
Long-Term Comparisons of Citrate and Heparin as Anticoagulants for Hemodialysis

Citrate was compared to heparin as an anticoagulant during chronic hemodialysis. A randomized crossover design was used in six stable male dialysis patients. There were no measurable crossover effects. Use of citrate as the sole anticoagulant for periods of 2 months was easily accomplished, free of complications, and resulted in comparable clearance of solutes. Major laboratory parameters were similar with both anticoagulants. Importantly, there was no significant citrate accumulation. The results also indicate that recurrent use of heparin during dialysis has no measurable effect on lipid metabolism in stable patients.
Eye-centered visual receptive fields in the ventral intraparietal area

The ventral intraparietal area (VIP) processes multisensory visual, vestibular, tactile, and auditory signals in diverse reference frames. We recently reported that visual heading signals in VIP are represented in an approximately eye-centered reference frame when measured using large-field optic flow stimuli. No VIP neuron was found to have head-centered visual heading tuning, and only a small proportion of cells had reference frames that were intermediate between eye- and head-centered. In contrast, previous studies using moving bar stimuli have reported that visual receptive fields (RFs) in VIP are head-centered for a substantial proportion of neurons. To examine whether these differences in previous findings might be due to the neuronal property examined (heading tuning vs. RF measurements) or the type of visual stimulus used (full-field optic flow vs. a single moving bar), we have quantitatively mapped visual RFs of VIP neurons using a large-field, multipatch, random-dot motion stimulus. By varying eye position relative to the head, we tested whether visual RFs in VIP are represented in head- or eye-centered reference frames. We found that the vast majority of VIP neurons have eye-centered RFs with only a single neuron classified as head-centered and a small minority classified as intermediate between eye- and head-centered. Our findings suggest that the spatial reference frames of visual responses in VIP may depend on the visual stimulation conditions used to measure RFs and might also be influenced by how attention is allocated during stimulus presentation.
Paintball injuries in children: more than meets the eye.

Objective. To describe the increasing incidence of ocular injuries in the pediatric population caused by paintballs. The awareness of this trend will help the physician who treats the child to give appropriate care as well as educate physicians, who counsel children, about this growing mechanism of pediatric injuries. Methods. Previously unpublished data from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission were analyzed to find the frequency of ocular injuries in children. A review of the English-language literature was also conducted to describe trends with regard to age, sex, location at the time of injury, use of eye protection, types of injuries sustained, and long-term visual outcome. Results. The incidence of paintball eye injuries treated in emergency departments has risen from an estimated 545 in 1998 to >1200 in 2000. The proportion of these injuries that occurred in the pediatric population may be well over 40%. These injuries are seen predominantly in boys, a growing proportion of whom are playing informally in unsupervised settings and not wearing eye protection. The cases previously reported include large numbers of hyphemas, retinal detachments, cataracts, corneal abrasions, vitreous hemorrhages, and commotio retina. Many of the patients in these cases sustained permanent visual impairment, with 43% having best vision at follow-up of 20/200 or worse. Conclusions. Pediatric eye injuries caused by paintballs are an unrecognized cause of severe injury and permanent visual loss. The advances in eye protection for participants in “war games” have had little if any effect on the youngest population. Children and teens are unlikely to wear eye protection voluntarily when playing at undesignated or unsupervised locations. Changes should be made to restrict availability of these very dangerous but easily acquired guns and ammunition. Practitioners must counsel young people and their caregivers to avoid injuries by wearing appropriate eye protection. Parents should supervise the use of paintball equipment as they would other activities that involve high-speed projectiles.
Lesions of the human amygdala impair enhanced perception of emotionally salient events

Commensurate with the importance of rapidly and efficiently evaluating motivationally significant stimuli, humans are probably endowed with distinct faculties1,2 and maintain specialized neural structures to enhance their detection. Here we consider that a critical function of the human amygdala3,4 is to enhance the perception of stimuli that have emotional significance. Under conditions of limited attention for normal perceptual awareness—that is, the attentional blink5,6—we show that healthy observers demonstrate robust benefits for the perception of verbal stimuli of aversive content compared with stimuli of neutral content. In contrast, a patient with bilateral amygdala damage has no enhanced perception for such aversive stimulus events. Examination of patients with either left or right amygdala resections shows that the enhanced perception of aversive words depends specifically on the left amygdala. All patients comprehend normally the affective meaning of the stimulus events, despite the lack of evidence for enhanced perceptual encoding of these events in patients with left amygdala lesions. Our results reveal a neural substrate for affective influences on perception, indicating that similar neural mechanisms may underlie the affective modulation of both recollective7,8,9 and perceptual experience.
The nature and development of sex attractant specificity in cockroaches of the genus Periplaneta . III. Normal intra- and interspecific behavioral responses and responses of insects with juvenile hormone-altered antennae

Male cockroaches of the species Periplaneta americana rely on a female-produced airborne pheromone to initiate courting behavior. The male responds to the presence of the pheromone with rapid, oriented locomotion. Contact with the female (or other males or larvae) elicits wing-raising and other responses characteristic of male courtship behavior. Males of other species within the genus Periplaneta also respond to a female-produced pheromone, but with less intensity than P. americana. Cross-species testing shows that P. brunnea males respond to the Periplaneta pheromone with the same intensity elicited by the P. brunnea pheromone. A second reaction group containing P. australasiae, P. fuliginosa, and P. japonica also responds to the P. americana pheromone and their conspecific pheromones, but with a low intensity characteristic of these species. Alteration of the antennal morphology of P. americana males can be experimentally induced by manipulating the level of juvenile hormone during development. Males with a full adult complement of olfactory receptors all respond behaviorally to the pheromone. Adult males with larval antennae produced by bilateral treatment with exogenous juvenile hormone-mimic do not respond to the pheromone, although they are completely adult in other respects.
Selective Hearing Screening for Young Children

A "selective" hearing screening program was instituted in an early education project. Three-year-old children were deemed "at risk" for mild-to-moderate hearing loss if they met one of the risk criteria established by the Joint Com mittee on Infant Hearing Screening, if they had recurrent ear infections, or if there was parent or staff concern about the child's hearing. Based on these criteria, 31 per cent of the 228 children in the project were eligible for full audiologic evaluation at a speech and hearing center. The parents of 45 chil dren took advantage of this special evaluation. Twenty-nine per cent of these selected children had some hearing loss documented. The highest yields of abnormal hearing were for children "at risk" because of recurrent ear infec tions (42%), and parent or educational staff concern (71%).
Compositional Control in Electrodeposited Co x Pt1 − x Films

Electrochemical co-deposition of Co x Pt 1 - x alloys is demonstrated at potentials positive to that required to deposit elemental cobalt (underpotential, or "induced," co-deposition). Co-deposition is attributed to the negative enthalpy of Co x Pt 1 - x alloy formation. A regular solid-solution model is used to describe the dependence of the film composition on the deposition potential. X-ray diffraction of films grown on Cu(100)∥Si(100), as well as poly- Au∥SiO 2 ∥Si, reveal the formation of a randomly oriented Co x Pt 1 - x face-centered cubic alloy for x > 0.3. A transition to the hexagonal close-packed phase is evident at higher cobalt concentrations (x > 0.9).
Can preferences in information processing aid in understanding suicide risk among emerging adults

The present study evaluated emerging adult (n = 192 college students) preferences in information processing (PIP), defined by the need for affect (NFA) and need for cognition (NFC), as they may be associated with suicide risk. The following were direct indicators of elevated suicide risk: presence of lifetime exposure to suicide (i.e., lifetime yes/no), elevated depressive symptoms, and greater NFA avoidance. Two different interactions resulted in elevated suicide risk: high depressive symptoms and high NFA avoidance, and high NFC and high NFA. Present results concerning PIP hold the potential to inform suicide risk assessment and prevention efforts among young adults.
The Determination of the Contents of Tanshinone II_A and Prediction of the Shelf-life of Danshen Injection

Objective:To establish a HPLC method for determination of the content of tanshinone ⅡA in Danshen injection and estimate the shelf-lifes of Danshen injection and Danshen injectable powder.Methods: Taking tanshinone ⅡA as target,the shelf-lifes of Danshen injection and its injectable powder were compared by classical isotermal method.Results:The content of tanshinone ⅡA was gradually decreased while temperature rising and time prolonging.The result showed the shelf-life of Danshen injection was only 0.43 years,while the period of validity of its powder for injection could be above two years.Conclusion: Preparing lyophilized powder could increase the compounds stability and extend its shelf-life.The result suggests the potential use of the lyophilized powder for improving the stability of tanshinone ⅡA.
Standards of Grid Video Surveillance System and Interface Technology

Grid video surveillance system is widely used in power grid construction,production,operating and management,et al. In order to make grid video surveillance systems constructed according to unified standards,the enterprise standard—Grid Video Surveillance System and Interface was issued by State Grid Corporation of China. The standard adopts advanced and mature technology,and can perfectly solve the key issues of gird video surveillance system,such as unified planning,interconnection,business integration. This paper first analyzes the actuality of grid video surveillance system and its limitations. Then the main contents and technical standards referenced,as well as the meanings of the standard are introduced.
cAMP-induced potassium channel activity in apical membrane of cultured A6 kidney cells

In the present study, we report an adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-induced potassium channel in the apical membrane of cultured A6 kidney cells grown on impermeable supports. The channel is present in approximately 10% of untreated cell-attached patches. After treatment with 1 mM dibutyryl-cAMP, the channel is present in greater than 70% of the same patches. The characteristics of this channel are 1) the channel is highly selective for potassium; 2) the channel has a unit conductance of 13 +/- 2 pS; 3) the probability of a channel opening increases in the presence of membrane permeable analogues of cAMP and with increasing depolarization of the cell interior; 4) channels are blocked by Ba2+; 5) the channel loses activity rapidly in excised patches; and 6) the channel has at least one open and two closed states. The mean open time is 3.5 +/- 1.0 ms, whereas the mean durations of the closed states are 3.2 +/- 1.4 and 29.4 +/- 3.4 ms. The channels could mediate potassium secretion in A6 cells, if...
Rapid determination of color additives, using the C18 cartridge.

A reliable method has been developed for the rapid separation and identification of the 7 permitted FDC Blue Nos. 1 and 2; Yellow Nos. 5 and 6; Green No. 3) and the recently banned FD&C Red No. 2 in foods. The colors are separated by using the C18 cartridge, and their identity is confirmed by spectrophotometry.
Evolving Practice Patterns in Imaging Pregnant Patients With Acute Abdominal and Pelvic Conditions

Abstract Objective The purpose of our study was to determine the current practice patterns of U.S. radiologists in imaging pregnant or potentially pregnant patients with acute abdominal and pelvic conditions. Materials and methods After obtaining an Institutional Review Board waiver, all members of the Association of University Radiologists, the Association of Program Directors in Radiology, and the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound were invited via e-mail to take a 23-question online survey on radiology practices and clinical scenarios about acute abdominal and pelvic imaging of pregnant patients. Results Comparisons were made with previously published surveys. A total of 225 responses were received. Areas of high consensus included pregnancy assessment (97%) and obtaining informed consent (87%) before imaging, having a written policy on imaging pregnant patients (79%), modification of computed tomography (CT) protocols (74%), avoiding gadolinium contrast in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (74%), using ultrasound for initial imaging in some scenarios, and using CT in trauma cases after inconclusive ultrasound. Areas of emerging consensus compared to 2007 included the use of serum or urine testing to confirm pregnancy status (59.4%; previously 14%) and the use of MRI in suspected appendicitis after an inconclusive ultrasound (73% in first trimester and 67% in third trimester; previously 46% and 29%, respectively). Areas without clear consensus included policy development, additional modifications to MRI protocols, choice of imaging modality, radiation dose, and the use of contrast agents in some scenarios. Conclusion In conclusion, high or increasing consensus exists in some areas of imaging pregnant patients with acute abdominal and pelvic conditions, but has yet to emerge in other areas.
Square channels formed by a peptide derived from transthyretin

High-resolution structures of peptide supramolecular assemblies are key to understanding amyloid diseases and designing peptide-based materials. This paper explores the supramolecular assembly of a macrocyclic β-sheet peptide derived from transthyretin (TTR). The peptide mimics the β-hairpin formed by the β-strands G and H of TTR, which form the interface of the TTR tetramer. X-ray crystallography reveals that the peptide does not form a tetramer, but rather assembles to form square channels. The square channels are formed by extended networks of β-sheets and pack in a "tilted windows" pattern. This unexpected structure represents an emergent property of the peptide and broadens the scope of known supramolecular assemblies of β-sheets.
Differential Expression of BK Channel Alpha and Beta1 Subunits in Rat Cerebral Arteries

Large conductance, Ca2+i/voltage-gated K+ channels (BK) regulate several physiological processes (Dopico et al., 2012). Native BK complexes consist of channel-forming α and auxiliary β subunits. Four β subunit types were identified, with β1 being highly expressed in smooth muscle (Brenner et al., 2000). BK β1 modifies the channel response to ligands: it increases the apparent Ca2+ sensitivity, mediates channel activation by cholanes (Brenner et al., 2000; Bukiya et al., 2009) and controls cerebral artery tone modification by selective ligands, including lithocholate (Bukiya et al., 2007; 2013). Here, we studied the expression of BK α and β1 subunits across basilar, anterior, middle and posterior cerebral arteries, and the possible contribution of their expression to channel phenotype and cerebral artery diameter response to lithocholate. Methods included quantitative real-time PCR, confocal microscopy, smooth muscle patch-clamp electrophysiology, and diameter determination of in vitro pressurized cerebral arteries. Results demonstrate: 1) BK α and β1 mRNA transcripts are expressed at higher levels in basilar arteries; 2) BK α protein surface levels in myocyte membranes are similar across the different intracranial territories while β1 levels are higher in basilar artery; 3) BK channel activity is also higher in myocytes from basilar arteries; 4) myocyte BK channels in basilar arteries show the highest response to lithocholate; 5) lithocholate-induced dilation of basilar arteries is significantly higher than those measured in other intracranial territories. Collectively, our results demonstrate differential BK β1 expression, as well as its contribution to BK current phenotype and vasodilation by lithocholate, across the major branches of the Willis’ circle. In particular, basilar arteries seem to be highly sensitive to vasoactive agents that act via BK β1 subunits.Support: HL104631 and AA11560 (AMD), and AHA Predoctoral Fellowship (GK).
Quantum Devices and Mesoscopic Phenomena

In this chapter, some of the quantum transport formalisms developed in Chap. 8 are applied to actual quantum devices. The Tsu–Esaki formula is used to calculate the tunneling current in resonant tunneling devices and numerous mesoscopic devices and phenomena are treated with the Landauer–Buttiker formalism. This chapter is intended to show how quantum mechanics impacts the operation of nanostructured devices.
Bridged micromechanical filters

High-order micromechanical filters comprised of 3 to 4 mechanically coupled resonators, and employing for the first time "bridging" between nonadjacent resonators to affect loss poles for better filter shape factors, have been demonstrated using a polysilicon surface micromachining technology with insertion loss less than 3 dB, sharper passband-to-stopband roll-offs than achievable by equivalent non-bridged filters, and around 50 dB of stopband rejection - 15 dB better than a previous 2-resonator filter design. The filters of this work consist of several clamped-clamped beam resonators with a more general coupling scheme than previously used, where non-adjacent, as well as adjacent, resonators are coupled to generate loss poles, leading to frequency characteristics with faster roll-offs from passband to stopband and greater stopband rejections. Via this bridging design approach, 20 dB shape factors down to 1.95 have been achieved for filters centered at 9 MHz using only 3 resonators.
Adverse reaction to metal debris with concomitant incidental crystalline arthropathy in hip arthroplasty

Adverse reaction to metal debris (ARMD) is a known cause of failed metal in hip arthroplasty. Diagnosis of this type of prosthesis failure may be difficult, and the hallmark is an abnormally elevated serum cobalt level. Concomitant diagnoses may also be present, such as infection, instability, and loosening, and this may confuse interpretation of abnormal laboratories. We present here, for the first time, 2 patients with ARMD and crystalline arthropathy. In each case, the patient chose surgery for ARMD, with resolution of symptoms and no recurrence of the crystalline arthropathy. We present these cases to alert the orthopaedist that crystalline arthropathy may be present at the same time as ARMD, but is likely not the primary cause of symptoms.
The Effect of the Distribution of Predictions of User Models.

We hypothesize that there are two basic ways that a user model can perform better than another: 1.) having test data averages that match the prediction values (we call this the coherence of the model) and 2.) having fewer instances near the mean prediction (we call this the differentiation of the model). There are several common metrics used to determine the goodness of user models; these metrics conflate coherence and differentiation. We believe that user model analyses will be improved if authors report the differentiation, as well as to include an ordering metric (e.g. AUC/A’ or R) and an error measurement (Efron’s R, RMSE or MAE). Lastly, we share a simplified spreadsheet that enables readers to examine these effects on their own datasets and models.
Attentional breadth and trade-offs in spatial and temporal acuity

ABSTRACTVarious manipulations have been shown to induce trade-offs in spatial and temporal acuity. Two experiments examine the role of the breadth of the attentional focus in such trade-offs. In the first experiment, exogenous attentional cues indicated 1, 2, 3, or 4 possible (contiguous) target locations. Half of the subjects performed a perceptual task on the target requiring spatial acuity – detecting spatial gaps in a ring; the other half of the subjects performed a task requiring temporal acuity – detecting a temporal gap in the presentation of the target ring. The results revealed a trade-off in spatial and temporal acuity: as the cue size increased, performance on the spatial task declined and performance on the temporal task improved. A second experiment replicated this pattern using two different tasks: a temporal order judgment task that assessed temporal acuity, and a task requiring the localization of a thin line that assessed spatial acuity.
Optical fiber reliability models

Systems containing optical fiber have design lives on the order of decades so that models for assessing the mechanical reliability of the fiber must rely on extrapolations from accelerated short term testing. Such extrapolations are only valid if all relevant mechanisms are fully understood. The physical processes giving rise to mechanical degradation are reviewed and it is shown that no single model describes all situations. In particular, strong “pristine” fiber can behave quite differently from weaker fiber. Additionally, two degradation regimes are identified, one which is stress assisted (fatigue) and one which can occur even in the absence of applied stress (aging). Recent advances in understanding these phenomena are discussed and promising areas for future work are proposed.
Nationally Representative Readmission Factors in Patients with Claudication and Critical Limb Ischemia.

Background Hospital readmissions are associated not only with increased mortality, morbidity, and costs but also, with current health-care reform, tied to significant financial and administrative penalties. Some studies show that patients undergoing vascular surgery may have higher than average readmission rates. The recently released Nationwide Readmission Database (NRD) is the most comprehensive national source of readmission data, gathering discharge information from 22 geographically dispersed states, accounting for 51.2% of the total U.S. resident population and 49.3% of all U.S. hospitalizations. The aim of this study is to use the power of the NRD and obtain nationally representative readmission information for patients admitted with claudication or critical limb ischemia (CLI) who underwent revascularization procedures. Methods The NRD was queried for all patients admitted for claudication (International Classification of Diseases Ninth Revision [ICD-9] 440.21) or CLI (ICD-9 440.22–440.24) and who underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, peripheral bypass, or aortofemoral bypass. Patient demographics, comorbidities, length of stay (LOS), mortality, readmission rates, and associated costs were collected. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was implemented on claudication and CLI groups on all outcomes of interest. The most common readmission diagnosis codes and diagnosis groups were also identified. Results A total of 92,769 patients were admitted for peripheral vascular disease (33,055 with claudication and 59,714 with CLI). The 30-day readmission/any readmission rate was 8.97%/21.49% and 19.26%/40.36%, for claudication and CLI, respectively. Significant differences were found for claudication and CLI, respectively, on initial cost of admission ($18,548 vs. $29,148, P 65, Charlson Comorbidity Index, LOS, and primary expected payer status were all significant predictors of 30-day and overall readmissions at varying degrees. The 5 most common disease readmission groups found were other vascular procedures (12.6%), amputation of lower limb except toes (6.3%), sepsis (5.4%), heart failure (4.9%) and postoperative or other device infections (4.8%). Of the abovementioned groups, the 4 most common diagnoses included “other postoperative infections,” sepsis, atherosclerosis of native arteries with gangrene, and “other complications due to other vascular device, implant, or graft.” Conclusions Our results demonstrate that there is a significant difference in readmission rates, cost, and morbidity between patients admitted for claudication and CLI. Furthermore, based on regression analysis, there are multiple other clear risk factors associated with worse clinical and economic outcomes. Further study is needed to predict which patients will require increased vigilance during their hospital stay to prevent readmissions and worse outcomes. Level of Evidence Care management/epidemiological, level IV.
Fiber Optical Sensor for Methane Detection Based on Metal-Organic Framework/Silicone Polymer Coating

A multimode fiber methane sensor with polymer-metal organic framework coated cladding is presented. By altering the polymer refractive index through MOF induced methane absorption in various methane concentration, different fiber transmitted power was detected. A low detection limit of 1% (v/v) methane is realized and the detailed mechanism is also analyzed.
Turnover of Vertebrate Photoreceptor Membranes

Photoreceptor membrane turnover in vertebrate retinas is measured in two ways: by monitoring incorporation of labelled precursors into new membranes or by quantitating the amount of discarded membrane which appears within the large phagosomes of the overlying pigment epithelium. Using these assays, several key factors in the membrane turnover cycle have been identified. All outer segments add membranes at their bases and shed at their tips. Rods differ from cones in segregating newly synthesized disc membranes into discrete packets which move up the rod length until shed. Newly synthesized cone membranes are quickly mixed with old membranes and thus cannot be distinguished along the length of the cone outer segment. On average for both rods and cones, the amount of shed membrane is equivalent to the amount of newly added membrane so that in the adult, rods and cones do not change length. However, not every outer segment sheds every day and the shedding vs. addition time course is not precisely matched over a single light/dark period. The timing of membrane shedding differs for rods and cones and varies widely among cones of different species. The contribution of circadian and light/darkdependent components also varies among species. For species with circadian components of shedding, the “clock” resides within the eye. The detailed kinetics of membrane addition are less well-known. Disc addition in rods is initiated by light in some species but not in others and is probably not circadian. Finally, it remains to be discovered both how and why photoreceptor membranes are renewed. Although many extracellularly applied substances (cyclic nucleotides, calcium, depolarizing and hyperpolarizing agents, and cytoskeleton-perturbing drugs) can affect the appearance or disc-derived phagosomes in the retinal pigment epithelium, the normal role for these factors in in vivo shedding has not been shown.
Small Cell Carcinoma

Small cell carcinoma (SCLC) is an aggressive neoplasm of neuroendocrine cell origin with a distinct biologic behavior and is therefore grouped separately from other primary lung neoplasms. SCLC represents about 15–25 % of all lung cancers and tends to occur in younger patients than those with the other lung cancers. The tumor itself is highly cellular and has a limited fibrotic or inflammatory response. From a practical standpoint, SCLC may be thought of as a “systemic” disease at the time of diagnosis. Although apparently decreasing in incidence, small cell lung cancer remains associated with a poor prognosis often due to distant metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis. The staging paradigm has shifted to a TNM classification so that appropriate patients may be considered for surgery. The radiologic staging has also changed from a multi-modality approach to one using predominately PET/CT as well as imaging of the brain, preferably MR imaging.
Models of Survivorship Care

The official definition of a cancer survivor encompasses those experiencing the entire trajectory of cancer care, including diagnosis, treatment, and beyond treatment. For each of these three phases, survivors have different health care needs. A report issued in 2005 by the Institute of Medicine, entitled “From Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor: Lost in Transition,” brought to light the problems that many cancer survivors face once they are past the phase of cancer treatment. Survivors reported they struggled to find health care services and providers in their communities to address their persistent or late-emerging health problems that were secondary to their former cancer diagnosis or effects of treatment. This chapter will describe the process within our institution for developing a multidisciplinary care delivery model, as well as the components of care in the model. The domains of health care that address known and anticipated “after cancer” health care needs of survivors are as follows: surveillance for possible late recurrence of the primary cancer; screening and early detection, as well as prevention, of additional primary cancers; monitoring for and management of persistent or late effects of treatment; and psychosocial health. Communication between the primary oncology teams and community physicians is very important for continuity of care. It is recommended that a summary document be prepared as a care plan for each survivor, detailing the following: type of treatments received; residual and possible future late effects or complications; indicated evaluations for health maintenance; and cancer surveillance/screening.
The Impacts of Platform Quality on Gig Workers' Autonomy and Job Satisfaction

Gig economy jobs rely heavily on the use of platforms including mobile applications. Even though such platforms are necessary to participate in the gig economy, we know very little about how the quality of these platforms affects gig workers. Drawing from a survey of Uber drivers, in this paper we examine the impacts of platform quality on gig workers' job autonomy and job satisfaction. Preliminary results suggest that gig workers working in the high quality of platforms are more likely to have greater job autonomy and satisfaction. This study contributes to the literature by identifying platform quality as an important factor of gig workers' job autonomy and satisfaction and suggesting possible applications of the preliminary findings in future research.
Keyword-Based Patent Citation Prediction Via Information Theory

Patent citation shows how a technology impacts other inventions, so the number of patent citations (backward citations) is used in many technology prediction studies. Current prediction methods use...
An Influence-Based Model for Smart City's Interdependent Infrastructures: Application in Pricing Design for EV Charging Infrastructures.

While smart critical infrastructures are principle components of smart cities, isolated and individually optimized infrastructures will not necessarily realize the vision of smart city in providing efficient solutions and services to citizens. This is mainly due to the interdependencies among critical infrastructures, which suggest the need for collaborative solutions and synergistic modeling and analysis of these systems. In this paper, an integrated framework based on influence model, a networked Markov chain framework, is proposed for modeling interdependent infrastructures and capturing their interactions based on the rules and policies governing their internal and interaction dynamics. To demonstrate the benefits of synergistic approaches, in this paper, the interdependencies between transportation networks and power infrastructures, through electric-vehicle (EV) charging infrastructures, are considered. Particularly, the proposed integrated framework is used to design an algorithm for assigning dynamic charging prices for the EV charging infrastructure with the goal of increasing the likelihood of having balanced charging and electric infrastructures. The proposed scheme for charging prices is traffic and power aware as the states and interactions of transportation and power infrastructures are captured in the integrated framework. Finally, the cyber infrastructure plays a critical role in enabling such collaborative solutions and their role is also discussed.
Partially composite supersymmetry

We consider a supersymmetric model that uses partial compositeness to explain the fermion mass hierarchy and predict the sfermion mass spectrum. The Higgs and third-generation matter superfields are elementary, while the first two matter generations are composite. Linear mixing between elementary superfields and supersymmetric operators with large anomalous dimensions is responsible for simultaneously generating the fermion and sfermion mass hierarchies. After supersymmetry is broken by the strong dynamics, partial compositeness causes the first- and second-generation sfermions to be split from the much lighter gauginos and third-generation sfermions. This occurs even though the tree-level soft masses of the elementary fields are subject to large radiative corrections from the composite sector, which we calculate in the gravitational dual theory using the $\mathrm{AdS}/\mathrm{CFT}$ correspondence. The sfermion mass scale is constrained by the observed 125 GeV Higgs boson, leading to stop masses and gauginos around 10--100 TeV and the first two generation sfermion masses around 100--1000 TeV. This gives rise to a splitlike supersymmetric model that explains the fermion mass hierarchy while simultaneously predicting an inverted sfermion mass spectrum consistent with LHC and flavor constraints. Finally, the lightest supersymmetric particle is a gravitino in the keV to TeV range, which can play the role of dark matter.
A High Dynamic Range in Situ Flow Sensor

High dynamic range and high accuracy flow sensor is a highly desirable device in quantifying mixing in the atmosphere and the ocean, which is critical in our understanding of energy dissipation and flux studies. We discuss a design that utilizes only a single point sensor oriented in different angles, based on our novel temperature sensor using silicon Fabry-Perot interferometry approach. We report the sensitivity of a high-dynamic range sensor head orientation in such configuration. We discuss initial configuration, data collection, processing, analysis and calibration including sensor orientation for future deployment.
Micropillar compression investigation of size effect on microscale strength and failure mechanism of Calcium-Silicate-Hydrates (C-S-H) in cement paste

Abstract The compressive strength and failure of concrete and cement exhibit strong size effect over various length scales. To investigate possible size effect on compressive strength and failure mechanism of Calcium-Silicate-Hydrates (C-S-H) in cement paste, micropillar compression experiments were performed on micropillar geometries fabricated by focused ion beam milling on potential C-S-H locations identified through coupled backscatter electron imaging (BSE) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. The compressive strength of C-S-H (181–1145 MPa) measured from C-S-H micropillars of varying diameters indicated presence of a size effect with strong increase in strength with decreasing diameter. The deformation mode at failure also exhibited size effect: the dominant failure mode changed from axial splitting to plastic crushing as the pillar diameter was decreased. The observed relationship between strength and pillar diameter can be modeled by an inverse square root dependency which closely corresponds to Bazant's scaling law of quasi-brittle failure.
The CLAS12 Low Threshold Cherenkov detector

Abstract The CLAS Cherenkov threshold gas detector was instrumental for electron identification in the Hall B 6 GeV era at Jefferson Lab. The detector’s scope has been modified for the new CLAS12 spectrometer to identify π + and π − for momenta greater than 3.5 GeV, thus becoming a Low Threshold Cherenkov Counter (LTCC). This was accomplished with a refurbishment of the gas container, its windows, mirrors, Winston light collecting cones, and photomultipliers. The design, construction, and performance of the refurbished LTCC are described. The lightweight mirrors and Winston cones have been re-surfaced with a highly reflective coating, the 5-in photomultiplier tube entrance windows have been treated with p-terphenyl to enhance the ultraviolet response, and the gas volume has been expanded to increase the thickness of the radiator gas and correspondingly the number of photoelectrons in the response signal. The LTCC response calibration has been performed on the single photoelectron signals, and the system efficiencies and response functions have been measured.
Sexual Violence Victimization of Youth and Health Risk Behaviors

Introduction This study assesses associations between past-12-month sexual violence victimization and recent health risk behaviors using a nationally representative sample of male and female high school students. It is hypothesized that sexual violence victimization will be associated with most of the negative health behaviors for both sexes. Methods Data from the 2017 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a school-based cross-sectional survey of students in Grades 9–12, were used to assess associations between sexual violence victimization and 29 health risk behaviors in sex-stratified logistic regression models. Effect modification was also examined through sex X sexual violence victimization interactions within unstratified models. All models controlled for race/ethnicity, grade, and sexual identity. Data were analyzed in 2018. Results Students who experienced sexual violence victimization were significantly more likely to report many health risk behaviors and experiences, such as substance use, injury, negative sexual health behaviors, feelings of sadness or hopelessness, suicidality, poor academic performance, and cognitive difficulties, and these associations were often stronger among male students (significant adjusted prevalence ratios ranged from 1.63 to 14.40 for male and 1.24 to 6.67 for female students). Conclusions Past-year sexual violence victimization was significantly related to various health risk behaviors, suggesting that efforts to prevent sexual violence may also be associated with decreases in poor health. Integrating violence, substance use, sexual, and other health risk prevention efforts is warranted.
What Is Global Education and Why Does It Matter

Global education are both practices guided by a set of purposes and approaches intentionally created to provide opportunities for students to develop global competencies, and the theories that explain and inform those practices and their effects. Global competencies encompass the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that help students develop, understand, and function in communities which are increasingly interdependent with other communities around the world, and that provide a foundation for lifelong learning of what they need to participate, at high levels of functioning, in environments in continuous flux because of increasing global change.
Somatotropin increases plasma ceramide in relation to enhanced milk yield in cows.

Recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST) changes metabolism to spare glucose for milk synthesis in cows. Ceramides inhibit insulin responsiveness in bovine adipocytes and are associated with insulin resistance and milk production in cows. The mechanisms by which rBST supports lactation may involve ceramide. Eight multiparous lactating Holstein cows were enrolled in a 2 × 2 replicated Latin square design with 14-d periods. Cows received a single rBST injection (Posilac; Elanco Animal Health, Indianapolis, IN; 0.062 mg/kg BW) or no injection (CON). An epinephrine challenge, insulin tolerance test, and liver biopsy were performed. Somatotropin enhanced the conversion of feed nutrients into milk components and increased plasma free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations (P < 0.01). Area-under-the-curves for FFA in response to epinephrine and insulin were greater in rBST-treated cows. In response to insulin, glucose concentrations (20- and 30-min post-challenge) and insulin area-under-the-curve were higher with rBST treatment (P < 0.05, <0.10, and <0.01), suggesting insulin resistance. Somatotropin modified the plasma lipidome. For example, rBST decreased plasma di- and triacylglycerol levels (eg, DG-50:1 and TG-18:0/16:0/16:1), phosphatidylcholines and sphingomyelins (P < 0.05). Somatotropin increased plasma total and very-long-chain (C22:0-, C24:0-, C26:0-) ceramide concentrations (P < 0.01). Liver ceramide concentrations were not modified. Plasma ceramides were positively correlated with circulating FFA (r ~ 0.57; P < 0.05) and milk yield (r ~ 0.63; P < 0.05). We conclude that rBST administration modifies the bovine lipidome and increases plasma ceramide concentrations in association with increased milk production in cows.