cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A fault location technique for rural distribution feeders

This work presents a digital fault location technique for rural distribution feeders, using the voltage and current data at a single location. Rural distribution feeders include single-phase, two-phase, and three-phase laterals off a main three-phase primary distribution feeder. The fault location scheme presented here attempts to account for the multiphase laterals, the unbalanced conditions, and the unsymmetrical nature of distribution feeders by continually updating voltage and current vectors at set locations within the system. The updated voltage and current vectors are the estimates of the 60-Hz phasor quantities obtained using a recursive optimal estimation algorithm. The distance to the fault is then estimated using a method based on the apparent impedance approach and the updated voltage and current vectors. Another consideration is the ability to determine the fault location on a lateral. A simulation of an actual rural distribution feeder using the Electromagnetic Transients Program (EMTP) is used to test the approach. >
A Nationwide Survey of Antibiotic Prescribing Patterns and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Bacterial Pneumonia

Antibiotic prescribing information was prospectively collected on 1822 hospitalized patients treated for suspected or documented bacterial pneumonia. Antibacterial therapy with a single antibiotic was employed in more than 50 percent of the patients, with cefazolin, cefuroxime, ampicillin, and ceftriaxone sodium representing the most commonly employed agents. Combination therapy using two antibiotics was employed in approximately 30 percent of patients with the aminoglycosides, particularly gentamicin, used extensively. A satisfactory outcome was achieved in approximately 80 percent of patients with a community- or institutional-acquired pneumonia; only 66 percent of nosocomial pneumonias had a satisfactory outcome. An important observation was the apparently common practice of switching patients to an oral antibiotic regimen after an average of seven days of antibiotics and subsequently discharging the patient. No difference was observed in the patterns of clinical response or duration of therapy for culture-positive versus culture-negative patients. The results of this surveillance program can serve as a basis for comparison of institution-specific drug utilization evaluation programs.
Differences between Education and Business Students in Cooperative and Competitive Attitudes, Emotional Empathy, and Self-Esteem:

To compare undergraduate men and women enrolled in education and business classes regarding cooperative attitude, competitive attitude, emotional empathy, and self-esteem, four paper-and-pencil measures were administered. The 126 students in education scored higher on cooperative attitude and emotional empathy, while the 109 students in business scored higher on competitive attitude and self-esteem. Women scored higher than men on cooperative attitude and emotional empathy. There was no difference in competitive attitude between men and women when the effect of school was removed, and there was no difference in self-esteem between men and women. Findings are discussed and recommendations made for research into factors responsible for the observed differences and teaching strategies appropriate for education of these students.
Lemakalim attenuates hypocapnia- and dry air-induced bronchoconstriction in canine peripheral airways

To determine the effect of changes in potassium (K+) flux on airway constriction, we studied effects of lemakalim, a K+ channel opener, and glibenclamide, an ATP-sensitive K+ channel blocker. A wedged bronchoscope technique was used to measure peripheral airway resistance (Rp) in anesthetized dogs. Rp was measured before and after constriction of the airways by hypocapnic challenge, acetylcholine aerosol, or dry air hyperpnea. Lemakalim (5 micrograms/kg i.v.) was administered, and the challenge was repeated. Lemakalim attenuated responses to hypocapnia by 72 +/- 7% (n = 6, P = 0.0007) and to dry air challenge by 37 +/- 8% (n = 6, P = 0.005) but not to acetylcholine. On separate days, sublobar segments were pretreated with aerosolized glibenclamide (2 mg/ml), and responses to hypocapnic challenge were measured before and after lemakalim (5 micrograms/kg i.v.), nifedipine (20 micrograms/kg i.v.), or albuterol (1 microgram/kg i.v.). In the presence of glibenclamide, lemakalim had no significant effect on responses to hypocapnia; however, both nifedipine (n = 6, P = 0.0003) and albuterol (n = 6, P = 0.0001) attenuated responses to hypocapnic challenge. These findings suggest that lemakalim attenuated hypocapnic bronchoconstriction by promoting K+ efflux through ATP-sensitive K+ channels.
A Simple Generalized Theory for the Analysis of Dynamic Thermal Measurement

Virtually all of the theoretical discussions of differential thermal analysis which have appeared in the literature begin with two simple relationships, one arising from the conservation of energy and the other from the linear dependence of heat flow on temperature differential known as Newton’s Law. Usually these equations have been stated and further developed for the purpose of describing the performance of some particular apparatus or to provide a basis for the analysis of data obtained in the investigation of some particular class of problem. As a result, mathematical complexities which may arise in the analysis of a particular apparatus or problem are incorporated in the theoretical development so that the conclusions lose their generality and are often of little value to the thermal analyst employing other equipment or investigating different areas of application. It is the object of this paper to show that the important performance properties of scanning thermal analysis systems, including DTA, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), can be derived from the simplest possible forms of the energy conservation and heat transfer equations. The results can be interpreted as representing the performance of an ideal scanning thermal device and therefore provide useful criteria for evaluating instrumentation and data quality. Further, since several modern apparatus designs actually approach “ideal” behavior quite closely, the development is not entirely an academic exercise; the equations lead to graphical methods for correcting thermal analysis data for instrumental effects which are simple and quite useful in practice.
The Economics of Land Classification for Irrigation

ASOUND appraisal of the land resources of a proposed reclamation project has an economic importance that cannot be emphasized too strongly. The earliest land classification work of the Bureau of Reclamation began when the first projects were investigated and authorized in 1903. The primary purpose was to delineate the area which could be served. The chief factor considered was the elevation of the land in relation to the water surface elevation in the laterals. Smoothness and degree of slope was considered also, as was freedom from timber, rock, brush and other obstructions, but the limits placed on irrigability were very wide and not precisely defined. Soils analysis played little part in the early classification scheme. Such soils information as may have been available to the planners of early projects was passed over lightly or ignored entirely. An early report (about 1910) states, "A topographic survey reveals all the essential facts necessary for wise selection (of irrigable land) and collects and assembles the facts in the cheapest and most thorough manner."' The Department of Agriculture made soil surveys of some of the earlier projects. A good example of this type of survey is found in the Strahorn report on the Belle Fourche Area of South Dakota.2 In this examination about 121,000 acres were covered. Of this, about 80,000 acres were described as clays and clay loams, extremely tenacious, with alkali present and no evidence of downward movement of water. About 27,000 acres were described as good agricultural land, much of which was already being irrigated; and about 14,000 acres were reported mixed in character. This information, though valuable to the Bureau of Reclamation and to the prospective settlers, was too little and too late. It was too late because the project was under construction two years before the
Radiosensitivity of Adults of the Almond Moth

Irradiation of 24-h-old adults of Ephestia cautella (Walker) did not significantly decrease the mating ability of males or females at doses up to 45 krad. Irradiated females had a tendency to mate more often and to contain more spermatophores than control females. The number of adult progeny per fertile pair decreased from 101 at 5 krad to 1 at 35 krad when males were irradiated and from 74 at 5 krad to <1 at 30 krad when females were irradiated. The dose required to sterilize 50% of both sexes was ca. 30 krad, and the doses for 99% sterility were ca. 50 and 60 krad for females and males, respectively. All effects of the treatment were more severe when both sexes were irradiated and then paired. The decreased number of progeny per fertile pair plus the increased percentage of sterile pairs produced severe decreases in reproductive capacity. The production of sterile adults at doses that did not reduce mating ability or longevity indicates that application of the sterile-insect release technique for population suppression of this species is feasible.
DESIGNER AUXETIC VISCOELASTIC SANDWICH COLUMN MATERIALS TAILORED TO MINIMIZE CREEP BUCKLING FAILURE PROBABILITIES AND PROLONG SURVIVAL TIMES 1

Optimum designer materials, particularly auxetic viscoelastic functionally graded ones, are studied to minimize shear and bending stresses as well as lateral and rotational creep deflections while concurrently lowering failure probabilities and extending survival times of sandwich columns. Elastic auxetic materials are defined as those with negative Poisson ratios (PRs). However, for viscoelastic auxetic materials, any PR characterization is meaningless, but since elastic PRs form the initial conditions, large viscoelastic shear moduli are inherently possible and represent the stiffest and therefore possibly the lightest column webs. Detailed protocols are formulated for the determination of tension, compres- sion and shear relaxation moduli or creep compliances from 1-D experimental measurements without recourse to PRs. Uniaxial failure stresses for various 1-D loadings as time functions are formulated and related to experimental data for parameter determination. Combined load failure conditions are derived and procedures are formulated for matching them to experimental data in order to obtain appropriate material properties. Additionally, experiments are described for the determination of column creep buckling conditions and survival times criteria. Finally, the concept of statistical data analysis is formulated so that failure conditions and lifetimes can be predicted in a probabilistic sense based on experimentally established random material parameters.
The McKittrick-Wheelock syndrome: a rare cause of chronic diarrhoea

The McKittrick-Wheelock syndrome, a rare disorder, is caused by fluid and electrolyte hypersecretion from a rectal tumour and patients can develop a depletion syndrome characterised by severe dehydration, hyponatraemia, hypokalaemia and metabolic acidosis. We present a case of a 62-year-old man who presented with chronic diarrhoea that had resulted in numerous previous hospital admissions. On physical exam, the patient showed signs of volume depletion. A soft polypoid mass was appreciated on digital rectal examination. Laboratory tests showed renal failure and significant electrolyte abnormalities. Colonoscopy revealed a large, friable mass in the rectosigmoid region. Biopsies were consistent with tubolovillous adenoma. Subsequently, the patient underwent surgical resection, which on pathology exhibited evidence of high-grade dysplasia, and the patient was diagnosed with McKittrick-Wheelock syndrome. It is essential to identify this condition in a timely manner as it is associated with high morbidity and complications, some of which may be life threatening.
Generation of a C57BL/6 MYC-Driven Mouse Model and Cell Line of Prostate Cancer.

INTRODUCTION Transgenic mouse modeling is a favorable tool to reflect human prostate tumorigenesis and interactions between prostate cancer and the microenvironment. The use of GEMMs and derived cell lines represent powerful tools to study prostate cancer initiation and progression with an associated tumor microenvironment. Notably, such models provide the capacity for rapid preclinical therapy studies including immune therapies for prostate cancer treatment. METHODS Backcrossing FVB Hi-MYC mice with C57BL/6N mice, we established a Hi-MYC transgenic mouse model on a C57BL/6 background (B6MYC). In addition, using a conditional reprogramming method, a novel C57BL/6 MYC driven prostate adenocarcinoma cell line was generated. RESULTS Our results demonstrate that disease progression is significantly delayed in B6MYC when compared to their FVB counterparts. Current data also indicates infiltrating immune cells are present in pre-cancer lesions, prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN). Further, immunophenotyping of this immune infiltrate demonstrates the predominant population as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC). Also, we successfully generated a B6MYC-CaP cell line, and determined that this new PCa cell line express markers of luminal epithelial lineage. DISCUSSION This novel model of PCa provides a new platform to understand the cross talk between MYC driven prostate cancer and the microenvironment. Importantly, these models will be an ideal tool to support the clinical development of immunotherapy as well as other novel therapeutic strategies for prostate cancer treatment. Prostate 9999: 1–11, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Impact of Donor Type on Outcome after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Acute Leukemia.

Abstract Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) is considered the most potent postremission antileukemic therapy in adults with acute leukemia. We analyzed 172 consecutive acute leukemia patients transplanted in complete remission after a T cell–replete alloHCT from either a matched related (MRD, n = 54), unrelated (MUD, n = 67), or haploidentical (haplo, n = 51) donor to look for patient-, disease-, and transplant-related factors associated with post-transplant outcomes. Patients included 123 acute myeloid leukemia patients (first complete remission [CR], n=94; second CR, n=28; third CR, n=1) and 49 acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients (first CR, n=39; second CR, n=9; third CR, n=1) with a median age of 50 years (range, 19 to 74). Median follow-up for surviving patients was 38 months. Cumulative incidence of nonrelapse mortality at 1 and 3 years was 6% and 17%, respectively. The estimated rates of 3-year overall survival, disease-free survival, and relapse incidence were 59%, 50%, and 33%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, risk factors for inferior survival included diagnosis of ALL, high risk disease risk index, and use of a female donor for a male recipient. Donor type (MRD, MUD, haplo) had no impact on any transplant outcome. Given the favorable outcomes associated with alloHCT in acute leukemia and lack of effect of donor type, a strong case can be made for transplanting acute leukemia patients in remission as soon as any donor becomes available.
Ultrasonic Doppler measurements of blood flow velocity of rabbit retinal vessels with high-frequency angled needle transducer

This paper presents a systematic ultrasonic Doppler measurement of retinal blood flow in vivo. In the method, a needle transducer with a beveled tip of 45deg was inserted into the vitreous cavity to access retinal vessels in the rabbit eye. A directional high-frequency (HF) pulsed-wave (PW) Doppler system was used to measure the blood flow velocity from different locations of rabbit retina vessels. The results indicate that the ultrasonic Doppler measurements of retinal blood speed were repeatable and reliable. This measurement would be useful to investigate retinal vein occlusion and to monitor blood speed of retinal vessels during/after surgery.
Spectroscopic radiation portal monitor prototype

A spectroscopic radiation portal monitor (SPM) prototype consisting of four 10.16-cmtimes10.16-cmtimes40.64-cm sodium iodide (NaI) crystals has been constructed at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). The prototype was put through a variety of tests, including measurements of the absolute detection efficiency of unshielded sources and the detection efficiency and isotopic identification capability of the detector for shielded isotopic sources. The monitor's response to various types of cargo and source configurations was also studied. The results of these tests are presented in this report
Magnetism of CuCl 2 ·2D 2 O and CuCl 2 ·2H 2 O, and of CuBr 2 ·6H 2 O

Abstract The magnetic properties of little examined CuCl 2 ·2D 2 O are studied and compared with those of CuCl 2 ·2H 2 O. New CuBr 2 ·6H 2 O is also examined. Susceptibility maxima appear for chlorides at 5.35 and 5.50 K, in the above order, with estimated antiferromagnetic ordering at 4.15 and 4.25 K. Curie-Weiss fits yield g of 2.210 and 2.205, and Weiss θ of −6.0 and −4.7 K, respectively, in χ M = C/(T − θ). One-dimensional Heisenberg model fits to susceptibilities, including interchain exchange in a mean-field approximation, are performed. Interchain exchange is significant but much weaker than intrachain. The bromide hexahydrate strongly differs magnetically from any chloride hydrate, but exhibits notable similarities and differences compared to previously studied CuBr 2 . A broad susceptibility maximum occurs near 218 K, only 4% lower than for CuBr 2 , but with almost twice the magnitude. Powder X-ray diffraction data for CuBr 2 ·6H 2 O may be best accounted for by a monoclinic unit cell that is metrically orthorhombic. The volume per formula unit is consistent with trends in metal ionic radii. However, an alternative monoclinic cell with 5% smaller volume more readily rationalizes the magnetism.
Newborn with a Large Exophytic Mass on the Head

A term newborn presents with a large exophytic lesion on the vertex of his head observed immediately after birth (Fig 1). Figure 1. Cerebriform mass on vertex of head. ### Prenatal and Birth Histories Initial postnatal examination revealed a 4.3 × 4.5 × 1 cm firm, flesh-colored cerebriform mass on the vertex of the infant’s head (Fig 1). The mass had a wide, pedunculated base, and its extension into the skull could not be determined. Two red spherical polyps were seen at the periphery of the mass. ### Physical Examination
Adult orthotopic heart transplantation: Early complications

Heart transplantation carries significant risks for the recipient in the peri- and postoperative period. These include primary graft dysfunction (PGD), right ventricular (RV) failure, rejection, and infectious complications. Allograft ischemia-reperfusion and recipient pulmonary hypertension are common causes of PGD and RV failure. The use of inotropes, pulmonary vasodilators, and mechanical circulatory support (MCS) for the management of these issues is common. Early acute rejection is typically characterized by allograft dysfunction and is most commonly diagnosed by endomyocardial biopsy. Depending on the severity of presentation, management of acute rejection ranges from short-term corticosteroid therapy to MCS. Infectious complications are also a significant source of early morbidity and mortality in heart transplant recipients.
"Impact of drug-reimbursement policies on prescribing: A case-study of a newly marketed long-acting injectable antipsychotic among relapsed schizophrenia patients".

Objective To quantify and explain variation in use of long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) in the United States, and understand the relationship between patient characteristics, drug reimbursement policies, and LAI prescribing after relapse. Methods A cohort of recently relapsed patients with schizophrenia ages 18 to 64, were identified immediately after discharge from a related inpatient hospitalization, partial hospitalization, or emergency room visit, drawn from 2004 to 2006 Medicaid claims, and followed for 90 days until LAI initiation. Data on state-level Medicaid prior authorization (PA) policies for LAIs were collected. Sequential longitudinal Poisson regression models were developed to understand the relationship between patient and PA policy variables and LAI prescribing, including prior adherence to oral antipsychotics, demographics, clinical variables, and presence of PA policy for LAI. Results Among 36 282 patients, 3.1% received risperidone LAI, and 3.8% received a first-generation (FGA) LAI with wide variation across states. Prior adherence ranged from 29% to 89% but was marginally associated with initiation and did not explain variation for LAI prescribing. FGA initiation was associated with geography and race/ethnicity but not PA policy. For risperidone LAI initiation, demographics and clinical factors explained, respectively, 5.0% and 3.0% of the variation; PA policy had a large negative association with initiation (RR = 0.41; 95%CI 0.20-0.87) and explained 8.4% of the variation. Conclusions PA policies may represent a major treatment barrier for risperidone LAI among relapsed patients. Non-adherence plays a little role in predicting which patients receive LAIs. Policy makers and health insurers will need to consider these findings when guiding the use of LAIs. KEY POINTS Among a nationwide cohort of relapsed schizophrenia patients enrolled in US Medicaid, 3.1% received Risperdal Consta, a long-acting injectable antipsychotic (LAI), and 3.8% initiated a first-generation first-generation LAI within 90 days after discharge. During 2004 to 2006, there was marked variation in 90 day post-relapse initiation of Risperdal-Consta-a newly marketed medication during this period-and also marked variation in 90 day post-relapse initiation of any first-generation LAI, which appeared to be associated with race/ethnicity and geography. Prior authorization policies were associated with substantially lower initiation of Risperdal Consta in this cohort of relapsed patients even after accounting for clinical indication (non-adherence), relapse history, demographics, adjunctive medication, and mental health service use.
Mechanism of autophagy-lysosomal pathway dysfunction in Gaucher disease iPSC neurons (P1.151)

Objective: Using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from patients with Gaucher disease (GD), we investigated the mechanisms responsible for autophagy-lysosomal pathway (ALP) dysfunction in Gaucher neurons. Background: GD is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in the GBA1 gene encoding for lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase (GCase). GCase’s deficiency results in toxic aggregations of glycolipids in nervous system cells. The ALP that clears cellular inclusions is defective in GBA1 mutant neurons. The mechanism of GBA1-associated ALP dysfunction is not yet understood. Design/Methods: Neuronal stem cells (NSCs) were obtained by differentiation of GD iPSC lines representatives of 3 clinical subtypes of GD. Lysosomes were visualized by staining NSCs with antibody against LAMP1. Expression levels of transcription factor EB (TFEB), an important regulator of lysosomal biogenesis, mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), and ALP markers were determined by Western Blot. Results: We found that GBA1 mutation results in dysregulation of TFEB. TFEB levels were significantly decreased in GBA1 mutant NSCs, and there was significant lysosomal depletion and autophagy block. Treatment of mutant NSCs with recombinant GCase (rGCase) increased lysosomal numbers and reversed autophagy block. TFEB is regulated by mTORC1 the at the surface of the lysosome. We hypothesized that increased neuronal sphingolipids in mutant NSCs may affect mTORC1 regulation of TFEB. Our data showed that mTORC1 is hyperactive in GBA1 mutants compared to controls, both in basal conditions and following treatment with mTORC1 inhibitors. Other downstream targets of mTORC1, S6 kinase and 4EBP1, are also elevated in Gaucher NSCs. TFEB and mTORC1 levels respond to treatment with glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor (GZ161) and with rGCase. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the abnormal lipid profile in Gaucher iPSCs affects mTOR activity, which in turn alters TFEB regulation of lysosomes. We plan to use our GD-iPSC model to screen for compounds capable of restoring default mTOR regulation of TFEB. Study Supported by: This work was supported by Michael J Fox Foundation grant to Ola Awad. Disclosure: Dr. Voit has nothing to disclose. Dr. Awad has nothing to disclose. Dr. Feldman has nothing to disclose.
Direct Observation of Activated Kinetics and Downhill Dynamics in DNA Dehybridization.

We have studied two model DNA oligonucleotide sequences that display contrasting degrees of heterogeneous melting using an optical temperature jump to trigger dehybridization and a nonlinear infrared (IR) spectroscopy probe to track the response of the helix ensemble. This approach offers base-sensitive structural insight through the unique vibrational fingerprint characteristic of each nucleobase as well as time resolution capable of following unfolding across nanoseconds to milliseconds. We observe predissociation unzipping of the helical termini, loss of final dimer contacts, and rehybridization of the dissociated strands all in a single measurement. Complete dissociation of the dimer is found to be well described by Arrhenius kinetics for both sequences, with dissociation barriers in the range of 160–190 kJ/mol. A sequence with terminal adenine-thymine (AT) base pairs and a guanine-cytosine core returns a large-amplitude fast response ranging from 70 to 170 ns, originating only from the AT base pairs....
A Noncategorical Approach to the Psychosocial Care of Persons with DSD and Their Families

The 2006 Consensus Statement on Management of Intersex Disorders incorporated all variations in sex development under one superordinate term, disorders of sex development (DSD), and called for care to be delivered by integrated teams that include behavioral health providers. This chapter proposes an integrated team care model that is patient and family centered and attempts to balance the dominating perspective that focuses almost exclusively on gender-related aspects of DSD with one that conceptualizes DSD as a congenital and chronic condition, akin to other pediatric conditions. Ideal DSD team structure and functions are described; emphasis is placed on integrating services and enhancing communication among members of the healthcare team and the family. Evaluation and treatment issues are identified, as well as the need for routine reassessment, given that the importance of particular domains (e.g., sharing information, fertility) varies with developmental stage. A strategy for selecting assessment instruments is outlined, and links are provided to databases of psychometrically robust measures of health-related quality of life as well as narrower domains of function. Because confusion remains, distinctions between DSD and transsexualism are delineated. Finally, barriers to the implementation of the proposed model are considered.
Experience and Development in the Visual System: Anatomical Studies

Publisher Summary In the geniculostriate pathway, as in several other developing neural systems, more neurons are born and migrate into position than are present in the adult. This chapter discusses the development of the geniculostriate pathways in the mammalian visual system and the ways by which this development can be modified by postnatal visual deprivation. These geniculostriate pathways include the connections between retinal ganglion cells and the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), and between the LGN and striate cortex. Development is a continuous process. The chapter discusses it in terms of five discrete stages—(1) generation of neurons, (2) cell migration, (3) formation of pathways between nuclei, (4) cell death, and (5) formation and pruning of connections. It provides a brief overview of the five stages that take place during normal visual system development. It discusses the ways in which development can be modified by postnatal visual deprivation, emphasizing studies of monocular deprivation. The chapter also discusses the evidence that monocular deprivation effects are because of a combination of binocularly competitive and noncompetitive mechanisms.
Accounting for spatial patterns in deriving sea-level rise thresholds for salt marsh stability: More than just total areas?

Abstract Ecological threshold is an important concept to indicate the boundary of alternate states of ecosystems driven by environmental conditions and to facilitate evaluation of ecosystem resilience. Sea-level rise (SLR) thresholds for the stability of salt marshes, if studied in two dimensions, are generally derived based on total areas without systematic accounting for spatial patterns related to edges, shapes, and contagions of patches. As these spatial patterns are potentially important for functions and ecosystem services of salt marshes and they are likely to be impacted by SLR in a different way from the total areas, it is necessary to study SLR thresholds based on these spatial patterns to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of salt marsh resilience to SLR. This research compares the SLR thresholds based on these spatial patterns of salt marshes to those based on total areas alone across different spatial resolutions. The spatial patterns of salt marshes were quantified by 26 commonly used landscape metrics, predicted from a mechanistic wetland change model. At spatial resolutions of 2–100 m, SLR thresholds were first derived using individual landscape metrics and then the first principal component that explained >80% of total variance of these metrics showing threshold responses to SLR. In order to separate the effect of spatial configuration from composition, a neutral model which simulated the same amount of salt marsh change as the mechanistic model but at the random locations was applied. The SLR thresholds were derived based on the simulations from the neutral model and compared to those from the mechanistic model. The results show that total area-based SLR thresholds do not comprehensively represent salt marshes’ resilience to SLR. Particularly, I find 1) the derived SLR thresholds vary from 7.29 to 11.12 mm/yr for 2100 based on landscape metrics used, 2) the SLR threshold based on the first principal components (7.99 mm/yr) is smaller than that based on the total area only (8.40 mm/yr), 3) the SLR thresholds are scale dependent, and 4) the spatial configuration’ effect on SLR thresholds is smaller for smaller salt marsh areas compared to larger salt marsh areas. This study highlights the need to account for different spatial patterns of salt marshes and apply wetland maps with a spatial resolutions of 30 m or finer in deriving SLR thresholds, as using total areas alone or coarser-resolution maps may provide a biased interpretation that salt marshes are more resilient to SLR than they actually are.
Deformable Registration for Dose Accumulation

As deformable image registration makes its way into the clinical routine, the summation of doses from fractionated treatment regimens to evaluate cumulative doses to targets and healthy tissues is also becoming a frequently utilized tool in the context of image-guided adaptive radiotherapy. Accounting for daily geometric changes using deformable image registration and dose accumulation potentially enables a better understanding of dose-volume-effect relationships, with the goal of translation of this knowledge to personalization of treatment, to further enhance treatment outcomes. Treatment adaptation involving image deformation requires patient-specific quality assurance of the image registration and dose accumulation processes, to ensure that uncertainties in the 3D dose distributions are identified and appreciated from a clinical relevance perspective. While much research has been devoted to identifying and managing the uncertainties associated with deformable image registration and dose accumulation approaches, there are still many unanswered questions. Here, we provide a review of current deformable image registration and dose accumulation techniques, and related clinical application. We also discuss salient issues that need to be deliberated when applying deformable algorithms for dose mapping and accumulation in the context of adaptive radiotherapy and response assessment.
Comparing the Biomechanical Stability of Cortical Screw Trajectory Versus Standard Pedicle Screw Trajectory for Short- and Long-Segment Posterior Fixation in 3-Column Thoracic Spinal Injury.

ABSTRACT Background: Information on the performance of posterior fixation with cortical screw (CS) versus pedicle screw (PS) trajectories for stabilizing thoracolumbar burst fractures is limited. Therefore, we sought to analyze stability with CS versus PS in short- and long-segment fixations using a 3-column spinal injury model. Methods: Nondestructive flexibility tests: (1) intact, (2) intact + short fixation, (3) intact + long fixation, (4) after burst fracture, (5) short fixation + burst fracture, and (6) long fixation + burst fracture using thoracic spine segments (7 CS, 7 PS). Results: With CS, the range of motion (ROM) was significantly greater with short-segment than with long-segment fixation in all directions, with and without burst fracture (P ≤ .008). With PS and burst fracture, ROM was significantly greater with short fixation during lateral bending and axial rotation (P Conclusions: CS trajectory is a valid alternative to PS trajectory for thoracic spine fixation in 3-column spinal injuries, and long-segment fixation is superior to short-segment fixation with either.
Multisymptom Profile Predicts Increased Risk of Poor Outcomes After Initial Placement of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator.

Abstract Context Patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are at risk for multiple physical and psychological symptoms. Identification of specific symptom profiles associated with poor outcomes may elucidate novel strategies to enhance symptom management. Objectives The objectives were to determine common symptoms after initial ICD implantation, identify classes of individuals with similar symptom profiles, describe patient characteristics associated with different symptom profiles, and determine if symptom profiles at hospital discharge predicted outcomes three and 12 months after implantation. Methods This was a secondary data analysis of a randomized controlled trial that compared patient + partner versus patient-only interventions designed to help patients manage symptoms, prepare for ICD shocks, and resume daily activities. Symptoms were measured with the Patient Concerns Assessment. Latent class regression analysis was used to identify symptom classes at baseline, three-month, and 12-month follow-up. Associations between patient characteristics, class membership, and outcomes were examined using chi-square, analysis of variance, and Poisson regression. Results The study included 301 patients (74% male, mean age 64 ± 11.9 years). Three classes were identified: Multi-Symptom (N = 119, 40%), Tired-Rundown (N = 130, 43%), and Mostly Asymptomatic (N = 52, 17%). Patients in the Multi-Symptom class were younger (59.9 years, P Conclusion Evaluation of symptom profiles after ICD implantation offers a promising strategy for identifying patients at risk for poor health outcomes.
CDP1—A Data Concentrator Prototype for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment

The design, power analysis, and tests of a first COLDATA Prototype (CDP1) design in a 65-nm process for the long baseline neutrino facility (LBNF) and the deep underground neutrino experiment (DUNE) are presented. CDP1 is a prototype application-specified integrated circuit (ASIC), for the COLDATA chip, a data concentrator operating in liquid argon. CDP1 is a test vehicle to qualify most of the analog and digital blocks such as low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS) transmitters and receivers, a 1.28-Gb/s serializer, a phase locked loop, I2C for slow control, fast command receiver, and calibration logic at cryogenic temperature. The test measurements of these blocks are carried out at room temperature (300 K) and at cryogenic temperature (77 K). The test measurements presented in this article are in good agreement with the simulation results.
Postdoctoral Research Training in Palliative Care: Lessons Learned From a T32 Program

Abstract Our aging population and advances in chronic disease management that prolong the time that patients live with a chronic illness have combined to create an enormous need for improved palliative care research across diverse diseases. In this article, we describe the structure and processes of a National Institutes of Health-funded T32 postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Washington and our experiences in developing and implementing the program. We recognize a broad definition of palliative care research, including research focused on improving quality of life, minimizing symptoms, providing psychological and spiritual support, and improving communication about patients' values and goals of care, all in the context of a serious illness. We describe our four core principles for postdoctoral training in palliative care research, each with a number of specific approaches: 1) mastering a set of essential content and research skills; 2) structured mentoring and academic career development; 3) creating and supporting early success; and 4) interdisciplinary training and team science. In addition, we also describe our framework for the essential competencies necessary for a palliative care research training program, our methods for identification and selection of applicants, our outcomes to date, and our processes of continuous quality assessment and improvement. Our goal is to describe our successful postdoctoral research training program in palliative care to promote development of new programs and share information between programs to continue to build the field of collaborative and interdisciplinary palliative care research.
Oral antibiotic use and chronic disease: long-term health impact beyond antimicrobial resistance and Clostridioides difficile

We recently reported an increased colon cancer risk associated with oral antibiotic use in a large United Kingdom population. This association between antibiotic exposure and cancer risk adds to a growing body of evidence that antibiotic use has unintended off-target long-term health consequences. This addendum highlights major studies linking antibiotic use and chronic disease in pediatric and adult populations. Microbiota dysbiosis is the key proposed mechanism underlying antibiotic:disease associations, resulting in alterations in gene expression, epigenetic modification, colonization by pathogenic bacteria, instigation of biofilms, and immune regulation and inflammation. These adverse outcomes of antibiotic exposure underscore the need for diagnostic and antibiotic stewardship, as well as the urgency for further development of non-antibiotic therapies for bacterial infections.
Anomaly Detection of Arm X-Ray Based on Deep Learning

The goal of this paper is to determine whether the arm has a fracture by detecting the X-ray of the human arm. This paper used the Keras deep learning framework and use the NASNetMobile model for training. The data set is MURA-v1.1, and the test accuracy on the verification set is about 70%. After downloading X-ray photographs of fractured arms, this paper performed an anomaly detection of the single image to test the accuracy of the model.
Work-in-Progress: Simplifying CPS Development with Real-Time Virtual Resources

The specification, design, prototyping, analysis, implementation, information management, verification, privacy and security guarantees, safety assurance, and maintenance of cyber-physical systems (CPS) are extremely complex, owing to the multitude of operating systems, software components, hardware platforms, communication infrastructures, sensors and activators, human-machine interfaces, and numerous intertwined feedback loops. This paper describes a project to simplify all these life-cycle phases of developing and maintaining CPS by introducing Real-Time Virtual Resources (RTVR). RTVR forms a virtual layer between application software components and physical resources consisting of hardware platforms, communication infrastructures, and sensors and activators so that the software components can be implemented without knowledge of the details of the physical resources and thus can be ported from one physical resource into another with ease. Such open systems make it easy to add and remove software applications and reduce implementation cost when compared to systems which physically assign distinct computing resources to run different applications. However, most existing virtualization schemes significantly under-utilize the underlying physical resources in order to maintain the schedulability of real-time tasks as if they were scheduled on dedicated physical resources. Also, these schemes are not transparent to the software applications in that they need to be aware of each other and modification of the software may be necessary. Our proposed RTVR based on the Regularity-based Resource Partition (RRP) Model overcomes the above shortcomings, making it a true contender in simplifying all phases of CPS development and maintenance. This paper outlines the first of four project tasks to be performed: the specification, design, prototyping, analysis, implementation, verification, and maintenance of CPS with RTVR.
Next-generation RNA Sequencing-based Biomarker Characterization of Chromophobe Renal Cell Carcinoma and Related Oncocytic Neoplasms.

Abstract Background Renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms. Recent sequencing studies revealed various molecular features associated with histologic RCC subtypes, including chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (ChRCC). Objective To characterize the gene expression and biomarker signatures associated with ChRCC. Design, setting, and participants We performed integrative analysis on RNA sequencing data available from 1049 RCC specimens from The Cancer Genome Atlas and in-house studies. Our workflow identified genes relatively enriched in ChRCC, including Forkhead box I1 (FOXI1), Rh family C glycoprotein (RHCG), and LINC01187. We assessed the expression pattern of FOXI1 and RHCG protein by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and LINC01187 mRNA by RNA in situ hybridization (RNA-ISH) in whole tissue sections representing a cohort of 197 RCC cases, including both primary and metastatic tumors. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis The FOXI1 and RHCG IHC staining, as well as the LINC01187 RNA-ISH staining, was evaluated in each case for intensity, pattern, and localization of expression. Results and limitations All primary and metastatic classic ChRCCs demonstrated homogeneous positive labeling for FOXI1, RHCG proteins, and LINC01187 transcript. Unclassified RCC with oncocytic features, oncocytoma, and hybrid oncocytic tumor, as well as all but two cases of eosinophilic ChRCC also stained positive. Importantly, metastatic and primary RCC of all other subtypes did not demonstrate any unequivocal staining for FOXI1, RHCG, or LINC01187. In normal kidney, FOXI1, RHCG, and LINC01187 were detected in the distal nephron segment, specifically in intercalated cells. Two cases of eosinophilic ChRCC with focal expression of FOXI1 and LINC01187, and Golgi-like RHCG staining were found to contain MTOR gene mutations upon DNA sequencing. Conclusions We demonstrate a pipeline for the identification and validation of RCC subtype–specific biomarkers that can aid in the confirmation of cell of origin and may facilitate accurate classification and diagnosis of renal tumors. Patient summary FOXI1, RHCG, and LINC01187 are lineage-specific signature genes for chromophobe renal cell carcinoma.
Plastic Surgery in the Elderly

As the population of the United States continues to age, there is an increasing demand for plastic surgery among the elderly population. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported a year to year 2% increase in procedures by patients over the age of 55 to 4.2 million cosmetic procedures in 2018 alone [1]. By 2050, the United States is expected to accelerate its elderly population growth of people 65 or older to 88.5 million people from its current 50 million today [2]. With age, there is an increasing demand for reconstructive surgeries such as wound care, tumor removal, and cancer reconstruction. ASPS statistics reveal a 29% increase in breast reconstruction alone with over 101,000 cases performed in 2018 [1]. The fastest rising trend in plastic surgery is the demand for post-bariatric body lifts with arm and lower truncal lift accounting for 5000% increase in numbers over the past two decades. With a third of Americans obese, there is no doubt these interventions will continue to rise. Furthermore, media and global access drive the celebrity culture and medical tourism which in turn have created a disproportionate demand for “minimally invasive” procedures that have made “60 is the new 40 years of age” culture and have contributed to the $40 billion plastic surgery global market. Therefore it is important to understand the plastic surgery principles surrounding the aging needs of the elderly population as it pertains to economic impact, improved outcomes, and the health of our society.
Drug Repurposing of potential drug targets for treatment of COVID-19

Drug repurposing has the potential to bring existing de-risked drugs for effective intervention in an ongoing pandemic--COVID-19 that has infected over 131 million, with 2.8 million people succumbing to the illness globally (as of April 04, 2021). We have used a novel `gene signature-based drug repositioning strategy by applying widely accepted gene ranking algorithms to prioritize the FDA approved or under trial drugs. We mined publically available RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) data using CLC Genomics Workbench 20 (QIAGEN) and identified 283 differentially expressed genes (FDR 1) after a meta-analysis of three independent studies which were based on severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in primary human airway epithelial cells. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) revealed that SARS-CoV-2 activated key canonical pathways and gene networks that intricately regulate general anti-viral as well as specific inflammatory pathways. Drug database, extracted from the Metacore and IPA, identified 15 drug targets (with information on COVID-19 pathogenesis) with 46 existing drugs as potential-novel candidates for repurposing for COVID-19 treatment. We found 35 novel drugs that inhibit targets (ALPL, CXCL8, and IL6) already in clinical trials for COVID-19. Also, we found 6 existing drugs against 4 potential anti-COVID-19 targets (CCL20, CSF3, CXCL1, CXCL10) that might have novel anti-COVID-19 indications. Finally, these drug targets were computationally prioritized based on gene ranking algorithms, which revealed CXCL10 as the common and strongest candidate with 2 existing drugs. Furthermore, the list of 283 SARS-CoV-2-associated proteins could be valuable not only as anti-COVID-19 targets but also useful for COVID-19 biomarker development.