cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Angular and seasonal variation of spectral surface reflectance ratios: implications for the remote sensing of aerosol over land

We obtain valuable information on the angular and seasonal variability of surface reflectance using a hand-held spectrometer from a light aircraft. The data is used to test a procedure that allows us to estimate visible surface reflectance from the longer wavelength 2.1 /spl mu/m channel (mid-IR). Estimating or avoiding surface reflectance in the visible is a vital first step in most algorithms that retrieve aerosol optical thickness over land targets. The data indicate that specular reflection found when viewing targets from the forward direction can severely corrupt the relationships between the visible and 2.1 /spl mu/m reflectance that were derived from nadir data. There is a month by month variation in the ratios between the visible and the mid-IR, weakly correlated to the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). If specular reflection is not avoided, the errors resulting from estimating surface reflectance from the mid-IR exceed the acceptable limit of /spl Delta//spl rho//spl sim/0.01 in roughly 40% of the cases, using the current algorithm. This is reduced to 25% of the cases if specular reflection is avoided.
Palliative Cryotherapy of Aggressive Endobronchial Parotid Carcinoma ex Pleomorphic Adenoma: A Case Report

Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma is a rare salivary gland malignancy with a poor prognosis that can metastasize to the lungs. Endobronchial metastasis and associated bronchoscopic characteristics have not been described in the literature. Cryotherapy is a safe and efficacious palliative treatment option for obstructive bronchial tumors that can be performed with flexible bronchoscopy. We report the successful use of cryotherapy for the palliation of an aggressive parotid malignancy with extraordinary endobronchial metastases and describe bronchoscopic characteristics of this unique entity.
Fulminating eclampsia without convulsions or coma; a case study.

Abstract A case of fulminating eclampsia without convulsions or coma is presented. Nine such cases have been previously reported in the literature. Possible factors causing pulmonary edema are discussed.
Cluster expansions and chiral symmetry at large density in 2-color QCD

SU(Nc) lattice gauge theories with Nf flavors of massless staggered fermions are considered at high quark chemical potential m and any temperature T . In the strong coupling regime (sufficiently small b ) they have been shown to possess a chiral phase of intact global U(Nf) U(Nf) symmetry. The proof is by cluster expansions which converge in the infinite volume limit. Extension to weaker coupling does not appear feasible in the presence of complex fermion determinant. For theories with real determinant, however, such as 2-color QCD with fundamental fermions, or any Nc with even Nf and adjoint fermions, such large m cluster expansions can be used to show chiral behavior of fermionic lattice observables at any gauge coupling. Unfortunately, this absence of color superfluidity/superconductivity at high m appears to be a lattice artifact due to lattice saturation, a serious problem plaguing the standard finite density formalism on the lattice. Some possible ways of circumventing saturation are discussed.
The nosology of Wegener's granulomatosis utilizing the elk format augmented by c-ANCA.

Before discussing the role of anticytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA) in the diagnosis of Wegener’s granulomatosis (WG), it is instructive to consider the subject of nosology in general, which will clarify the usefulness and limitations of various systems of classification.
Features of Knowledge Building in Biology: Understanding Undergraduate Students’ Ideas about Molecular Mechanisms

Research has suggested that teaching and learning in molecular and cellular biology (MCB) is difficult. We used a new lens to understand undergraduate reasoning about molecular mechanisms: the knowledge-integration approach to conceptual change. Knowledge integration is the dynamic process by which learners acquire new ideas, develop connections between ideas, and reorganize and restructure prior knowledge. Semistructured, clinical think-aloud interviews were conducted with introductory and upper-division MCB students. Interviews included a written conceptual assessment, a concept-mapping activity, and an opportunity to explain the biomechanisms of DNA replication, transcription, and translation. Student reasoning patterns were explored through mixed-method analyses. Results suggested that students must sort mechanistic entities into appropriate mental categories that reflect the nature of MCB mechanisms and that conflation between these categories is common. We also showed how connections between molecular mechanisms and their biological roles are part of building an integrated knowledge network as students develop expertise. We observed differences in the nature of connections between ideas related to different forms of reasoning. Finally, we provide a tentative model for MCB knowledge integration and suggest its implications for undergraduate learning.
Genetic evaluation and testing for hereditary forms of cancer in the era of next-generation sequencing.

The introduction of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology in testing for hereditary cancer susceptibility allows testing ofmultiple cancer susceptibility genes simultaneously. While there are many potential benefits to utilizing this technology in thehereditary cancer clinic, including efficiency of time and cost, there are also important limitations that must be considered. Thebest panel for the given clinical situation should be selected to minimize the number of variants of unknown significance. Theinclusion in panels of low penetrance or newly identified genes without specific actionability can be problematic for interpretation.Genetic counselors are an essential part of the hereditary cancer risk assessment team, helping the medical team select the mostappropriate test and interpret the often complex results. Genetic counselors obtain an extended family history, counsel patients onthe available tests and the potential implications of results for themselves and their family members (pre-test counseling), explainto patients the implications of the test results (post-test counseling), and assist in testing family members at risk.
Expanding Roles for Noninvasive Ventilation in Perioperative Care

Over the past several years, less invasive methods of providing ventilatory support have arisen to help support patients with respiratory insufficiency and airway obstruction. The application of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in these situations can provide short- to medium-term aid for certain patient populations without introducing the risks associated with endotracheal intubation. In this article, we review the basics of NIV, discuss the accepted indications for NIV in the ICU, explore the perioperative indications for NIV, including use in patients with obstructive sleep apnea, and finally, provide practical tips for implementing NIV in the ICU and anesthesia recovery areas.
Interplay of Halogen and π–π Charge-Transfer Bondings in Intermolecular Associates of Bromo- or Iododinitrobenzene with Tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine

Two modes of intermolecular interactions (halogen and π–π charge-transfer bonding) between bromo- or iododinitrobenzene (XDNB) and tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPD) are compared. X-ray crystallography revealed that TMPD·XDNB cocrystals comprise alternating donors/acceptors stacks formed by π-bonded (cofacial) TMPD and XDNB molecules. These structures also show two-point (C–X···O–N) halogen bonding between XDNB molecules resulting in formation of (XDNB)2 dimers. In solutions, XDNB and TMPD molecules formed 1:1 complexes showing strong absorption bands near 550 nm which followed the same Mulliken correlation as the associates of TMPD with the (halogen-free) nitro- and cyanobenzenes. In accord with the experimental data, density functional theory calculations with the M062X functional showed that TMPD·XDNB associates formed via π–π charge-transfer bonding are more stable (by 6–12 kcal/mol) than their halogen-bonded analogues. If XDNB is replaced with iodo- or bromoperfluorinated benzenes, or TMPD is repl...
Current pharmacotherapies for Alzheimer's disease

This brief overview will describe some of the current anti-Alzheimer's disease (AD) agents. The relevance of the cholinergic deficit in AD is well-established. Cholinesterase inhibitor (CEI) drugs represent the only FDA-approved primary treatment options for AD as of April 1998. Modest efficacy for AD now has been shown in well-designed clinical trials for six separate CEI agents. Only two, tacrine and donepezil, are currently on the market in the United States, but several others, including rivastigmine (ENA-713), metrifonate, and physostigmine-CR could be available by the end of 1998. Three other treatment strategies are being pursued. Estrogen replacement therapy as a treatment for AD in postmenopausal women is under active investigation. Analogously, clinical studies provide evidence that individuals using anti-inflammatory agents have a lower probability of developing AD. The success of alpha-tocopherol and selegiline in a recently conducted 2-year, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial supports the hypothesis that oxidative stress plays a role in AD.
Making cognitive decision support work: Facilitating adoption, knowledge and behavior change through QI.

Abstract This paper evaluates the role of facilitation in the successful implementation of Computerized Decision Support (CDS). Facilitation processes include education, specialized computerized decision support, and work process reengineering. These techniques, as well as modeling and feedback enhance self-efficacy, which we propose is one of the factors that mediate the effectiveness of any CDS. In this study, outpatient clinics implemented quality improvement (QI) projects focused on improving geriatric care. Quality Improvement is the systematic process of improving quality through continuous measurement and targeted actions. The program, entitled “Advancing Geriatric Education through Quality Improvement” (AGE QI), consisted of a 6-month, QI based, intervention: (1) 2 h didactic session, (2) 1 h QI planning session, (3) computerized decision support design and implementation, (4) QI facilitation activities, (5) outcome feedback, and (6) 20 h of CME. Specifically, we examined the impact of the QI based program on clinician’s perceived self-efficacy in caring for older adults and the relationship of implementation support and facilitation on perceived success. The intervention was implemented at 3 institutions, 27 community healthcare system clinics, and 134 providers. This study reports the results of pre/post surveys for the forty-nine clinicians who completed the full CME program. Self-efficacy ratings for specific clinical behaviors related to care of older adults were assessed using a Likert based instrument. Self-ratings of efficacy improved across the following domains (depression, falls, end-of-life, functional status and medication management) and specifically in QI targeted domains and were associated with overall clinic improvements.
The evolving landscape of prostate cancer stem cell: Therapeutic implications and future challenges

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common cause of malignancy in males and the second leading cause of cancer mortality in United States. Current treatments for PCa include surgery, radiotherapy, and androgen-deprivation therapy. Eventually, PCa relapses to an advanced castration-resistant PCa (CRPC) that becomes a systematic disease and incurable. Therefore, identifying cellular components and molecular mechanisms that drive aggressive PCa at early stage is critical for disease prognosis and therapeutic intervention. One potential strategy for aggressive PCa is to target cancer stem cells (CSCs) that are identified by several unique characteristics such as immortal, self-renewal, and pluripotency. Also, CSC is believed to be a major factor contributing to resistance to radiotherapy and conventional chemotherapies. Moreover, CSCs are thought to be the critical cause of metastasis, tumor recurrence and cancer-related death of multiple cancer types, including PCa. In this review, we discuss recent progress made in understanding prostate cancer stem cells (PCSCs). We focus on the therapeutic strategies aimed at targeting specific surface markers of CSCs, the key signaling pathways in the maintenance of self-renewal capacity of CSCs, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters that mediate the drug-resistance of CSCs, dysregulated microRNAs expression profiles in CSCs, and immunotherapeutic strategies developed against PCSCs surface markers.
Reseña de Arte y Ecología // Book Review of review of Arte y Ecología

Book review of Tonia Raquejo and Jose Maria Parreno's Arte y Ecologia. Resumen Resena de Arte y Ecologia de Tonia Raquejo y Jose Maria Parreno.
Non-Competitive Protein Phosphatase-1 Inhibitors Prevent Sickling of SS RBCs.

Abstract 4038 Poster Board III-974 Protein phosphatase-1 (PP1) has been implicated in the regulation of KCC (K:Cl) transporters, which transport K+ and Cl- ions from red blood cells (RBCs) and in the setting of sickle cell disease may contribute to RBC dehydration and sickling. We have studied host cell protein phosphatase-1 (PP1) in the context of HIV-1 replication and designed novel small molecule non-competitive inhibitors of PP1 that are efficient in the inhibition of HIV-1 but not toxic for cultured cells. We analyzed the effect of our novel non-competitive PP1 inhibitors and the conventional competitive PP1 inhibitor, ocadaic acid, on the sickling of hemoglobin SS RBCs in vitro. We cultured hemoglobin SS RBCs overnight at 1% O2 in the presence of the PP1 inhibitors and then photographed the RBCs and counted the percentage of sickled RBCs. We found that the non-competitive PP1 inhibitor, 1E7-04 prevented RBC sickling by 40% at 10 mM concentration. The 1E7-04 was not toxic at 10 mM concentration for cultured CEM T cells as determined by trypan blue exclusion assay using an automatic cell counter. Our study suggests that small molecular inhibitors of PP1 might be candidates for the future design of anti-sickling drugs. Acknowledgements. This work was supported by NHLBI grant U54HL090508-02; NHLBI grant R25 HL003679-08 from the National Institute of Helath and The Office of Research on Minority Health and by U.S. Civilian Research & Development Foundation grant. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Mechanisms of Suppression Used by Regulatory T Cells in Patients Newly Diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia

An elevated frequency of CD4+CD25 high regulatory T cells (Treg) has been reported in the peripheral blood in patients with various solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. Although the increase in Treg seems to be a characteristic feature of most tumors, the functional role of Treg and the mechanisms of suppression, especially in patients with hematologic malignancies, have been less well defined. We investigated Treg-mediated suppression and the responsible mechanisms in thirty newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients prior to any treatment and twenty five healthy donors (NC). The percentage of circulating CD4+ CD25 high Treg was higher (p high T cells (S) were co-cultured with sorted, CFSE-labeled autologous CD4 + CD25 high T cells (R) at different S/R ratios. Suppression mediated by Treg co-incubated with proliferating autologous responders was significantly higher (p high T cells of AML patients had higher expression (p
A phase I study of the BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor nilotinib and cetuximab in patients with solid tumors that can be treated with cetuximab.

TPS2624 Background: Therapeutic blockade of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) signaling with the monoclonal antibody cetuximab is clinically effective in the treatment of patients with metast...
A Behavioral Approach to “Phenomenological Data”

The importance of the recent resurgence of phenomenology is assessed with emphasis upon both its strengths and weaknesses. An attempt is made to place phenomenology within the framework of a broadened behavioral psychology.
A Decision Instrument to Identify Isolated Traumatic Subdural Hematomas at Low Risk of Neurologic Deterioration, Surgical Intervention, or Radiographic Worsening.

Background and Objectives Subdural hematoma (SDH) is the most common form of traumatic intracranial hemorrhage. Severity of disease in patients with SDH varies widely. It was hypothesized that a decision rule could identify patients with SDH who are at very low-risk for neurological decline, neurosurgical intervention or radiographic worsening. Methods Retrospective chart review of consecutive patients age ≥ 16 with Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) ≥ 13 and CT-documented isolated SDH presenting to a university affiliated, urban, 100,000-annual-visit ED from 2009-2015. Demographic, historical and physical exam variables were collected. Primary outcome was a composite of neurosurgical intervention, worsening repeat CT and neurological decline. Univariate analysis was performed and statistically important variables were utilized to create a logistic regression model. Results 644 patients with isolated SDH were reviewed, 340 in the derivation group and 304 in the validation set. Mortality was 2.2%. 15.5% of patients required neurosurgery. A decision instrument was created: patients were low risk if they had none of the following factors: SDH thickness ≥ 5mm, warfarin use, clopidogrel use, GCS < 14 and presence of midline shift. This model had a sensitivity of 98.6% for the composite endpoint, specificity of 37.1% and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.037. In the validation cohort, sensitivity was 96.3%, specificity was 31.5% and negative likelihood ratio was 0.127. Conclusion Subdural hematomas are amenable to risk stratification analysis. With prospective validation, this decision instrument may aid in triaging these patients, including reducing the need for transfer to tertiary centers. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Report and Application of a Tool Compound Data Set

Small molecule tool compounds have enabled profound advances in life science research. These chemicals are potent, cell active, and selective, and, thus, are suitable for interrogating biological processes. For these chemicals to be useful they must be correctly characterized and researchers must be aware of them. We mined the ChEMBL bioactivity database to identify high quality tool compounds in an unbiased way. We identified 407 best-in-class compounds for 278 protein targets, and these are reported in an annotated data set. Additionally, we developed informatics functions and a web application for data visualization and automated pharmacological hypothesis generation. These functions were used to predict inhibitors of the Chromobox Protein Homologue 5 (CBX5) mediated gene repression pathway that currently lacks appropriate inhibitors. The predictions were subsequently validated by a highly specific cell based assay, revealing new chemical modulators of CBX5-mediated heterochromatin formation. This data...
From the Margins to the Mainstream: Perspectives on Nineteenth-Century Education

ABSTRACTThis article offers an introduction to a special journal issue on nineteenth-century education. The three papers that comprise the issue are geographically and topically diverse, but all pr...
Surgical Technical Evidence Review of Hip Fracture Surgery Conducted for the AHRQ Safety Program for Improving Surgical Care and Recovery.

Background:Enhanced recovery pathways (ERPs) have been shown to improve patient outcomes in a variety of contexts. This review summarizes the evidence and defines a protocol for perioperative care ...
SOURCES OF NEW NITROGEN FOR THE SOUTH ATLANTIC BIGHT

ABSTRACT The region off the coast of the southeastern U.S. is characterized by a broad shallow shelf bounded on east by the Gulf Stream and on the west by a coastal plain drained by several large rivers. Because of its geography, dynamics of production in this area is different from other intensively studied coastal areas like Southern California, Oregon (Columbia River), Gulf of Maine and Long Island Sound. The Georgia Bight is particularly suited for studies concerned with the sources of new nitrogen for primary production. Using recent field measurements, we will examine in detail the mechanisms whereby new nitrogen enters the system from three sources—runoff, fixation and intrusion. While river input in certain areas may be negligible compared to the volume of coastal water, in the Georgia Bight runoff can replace as much as 10% of the shelf water in a year. Salt marshes have been considered as nutrient traps; however, our measurements from the Savannah River indicate that large concentrations of nitrogen particularly DON become available for shelf production. Blue-green algae represent an impressive portion of the plant biomass on the shelf throughout the year, as indicated by filament counts from 20 stations occupied 4 times during the year. The nitrogen fixation by these plants is still small in comparison to the river runoff and intrusions. Stefansson and Atkinson (1971) drew attention to the potential of the northerly flowing Gulf Stream to “intrude” on the shelf along the southeast U.S. coast bringing plant nutrients from deep water into the euphotic zone. Part of our ongoing research is concerned with predicting the frequency and magnitude of intrusions and associating the intrusion with primary and secondary production. Biological and chemical data from our recent cruises illustrate the potential magnitude of the intrusion and suggest a rapid but complex relationship between production and the changing concentrations of nitrate in the water column. Using the production and biomass figures from Haines and Dunstan (1975) and the recent data presented here, the relative importance of the three sources of new nitrogen to the total nitrogen budget is calculated.
Revising a display of multidimensional laboratory measurements to improve accuracy of perception.

Revising a display of multidimensional laboratory measurements to improve accuracy of perception. -
Anorexia and Valine-Deficient Diets

The hypothalamic signaling pathways that regulate food intake have been studied in detail. The arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus contains neuropeptide Y (NPY)/agouti-related protein (AGRP) and pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)/cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) neurons, and the activation of NPY/AGRP or POMC/CART neurons stimulates or inhibits feeding behavior, respectively.
Sensitivity to Peer Feedback in Young Adolescents with Symptoms of ADHD: Examination of Neurophysiological and Self-Report Measures

Many youth with ADHD experience peer difficulties, but the mechanisms underlying this dysfunction remain unknown. Very little work has examined neurophysiological measures of social feedback processing in relation to ADHD symptoms. The goal of this study was to examine associations of ADHD symptoms with indicators of sensitivity to social feedback in a laboratory task and self-report of rejection sensitivity. A large community sample of 10- to 15-year-old adolescents (N = 391; Mage = 12.64, 48.6% girls) participated in the study. Mothers rated youth ADHD symptoms. Youth completed the Island Getaway task, which elicits neurophysiological (i.e., event-related potentials [ERP]) measures of sensitivity to peer rejection and acceptance feedback, and also completed self-ratings of rejection sensitivity. Greater ADHD symptoms were associated with an enhanced N1 ERP component, which correlated with higher levels of self-reported rejection sensitivity. In addition, greater ADHD symptoms were associated with reduced reactivity to social acceptance, as measured by the later reward positivity ERP component. Youth with elevated ADHD symptoms exhibited enhanced sensitivity to peer rejection at the neurophysiological and self-report level, as well as reduced neurophysiological reactivity to peer acceptance. Future work including neural measures of social functioning may serve to elucidate mechanisms underlying the social dysfunction characteristic of ADHD.
Novel therapeutic approaches to xeroderma pigmentosum.

Background The study of xeroderma pigmentosum has yielded unforeseen advances regarding how defects in the nucleotide excision repair pathway result in this devastating disease, but development of therapeutic strategies has trailed behind the mechanistic discoveries. Objectives This review aims to cover clinical presentation, molecular mechanisms and current management, and highlights more recent insights into targeting the deficiencies secondary to the DNA repair defects to prevent skin cancer and/or neurological degeneration. Methods This review article discusses novel therapeutic approaches to xeroderma pigmentosum that focus on metabolic defects downstream of nucleotide excision repair. Results Current research demonstrates that specific sulfonylureas promote clearance of DNA damage and increase resistance to ultraviolet radiation in a cellular model of xeroderma pigmentosum. Moreover, nicotinamide attenuates the effects of ultraviolet radiation in cells, and caloric restriction decreases DNA damage burden in animal models of xeroderma pigmentosum. Conclusions Clinical management of patients with xeroderma pigmentosum still focuses on preventative avoidance of sun exposure as opposed to therapies that would improve the patients' condition; thus, novel approaches to this disease are warranted.
Mathematical analysis of fine vibrating screen selectivity curves

Stirred ball mill feeds used for ultrafine grinding applications require a fine size separation step to avoid overgrinding. This paper presents the selectivity curves obtained for oil shale and complex sulfide ore using a 460-mesh (30-µm) Derrick vibrating screen. The selectivity curves generated from the experimental data show increasing selectivity with larger size for the oil shale but not for the sulfide ore. These unusual selectivity curves are similar to the mechanical air separator, fishhook selectivity curves described by Luckie and Austin. A two-stage, in series, classification model describing the fishhook selectivity curve has been used in proposing the classification mechanism for fine vibrating screens when a heterogeneous, multicomponent sulfide ore undergoes size separation.
Remaining close to home: Small daily newspapers provide (mostly) hyperlocal election news during 2016 elections:

This study examines front-page stories published in selected small community newspapers in the days leading up to election day 2016. The researchers found that in the face of one of the most monume...
Barriers to Healthcare Seeking and Provision Among African American Adults in the Rural Mississippi Delta Region: Community and Provider Perspectives

Barriers to health care access and utilization are likely to be perceived differently for receivers and providers of health care. This paper compares and contrasts perspectives of lay community members, volunteer community health advisors (CHA), and health care providers related to structural and interpersonal barriers to health care seeking and provision among African American adults experiencing health disparities in the rural Mississippi Delta. Sixty-four Delta residents (24 males, 40 females) participated in nine focus groups organized by role and gender. The constant comparative method was used to identify themes and subthemes from the focus group transcripts. Barriers were broadly categorized as structural and interpersonal with all groups noting structural barriers including poverty, lack of health insurance, and rurality. All groups identified common interpersonal barriers of gender socialization of African American males, and prevention being a low priority. Differences emerged in perceptions of interpersonal barriers between community members and healthcare providers. Community members and CHA fears of serious medical diagnosis, stigma, medical distrust, and racism emerged as factors inhibiting health care utilization. All groups were critical of insurance/regulatory constraints with providers viewing medical guidelines at times restricting their ability to provide quality treatment while community members and CHA viewed providers as receiving compensation for prescribing medications without regard to potential side-effects. These findings shed light on barriers perceived similarly and differently across these stakeholder groups, and offer directions for ongoing research, outreach, clinical work, and health care policy.
Features of University Environments That Support Well-Being as Perceived by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Questioning Undergraduate Music and Art Students:

The purpose of this study was to explore features of university environments that support well-being as perceived by undergraduate lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning (LGBQ) music and art stude...
Sham surgeries for central and peripheral neural injuries persistently enhance pain-avoidance behavior as revealed by an operant conflict test

Studies using rodent models of neuropathic pain use sham surgery control procedures that cause deep tissue damage. Sham surgeries would thus be expected to induce potentially long-lasting postsurgical pain, but little evidence for such pain has been reported. Operant tests of voluntary behavior can reveal negative motivational and cognitive aspects of pain that may provide sensitive tools for detecting pain-related alterations. In a previously described operant mechanical conflict test involving lengthy familiarization and training, rodents freely choose to either escape from a brightly lit chamber by crossing sharp probes or refuse to cross. Here, we describe a brief (2-day) mechanical conflict protocol that exploits rats' innate exploratory response to a novel environment to detect persistently enhanced pain-avoidance behavior after sham surgeries for 2 neural injury models: thoracic spinal cord injury and chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve. Pitting the combined motivations to avoid the bright light and to explore the novel device against pain from crossing noxious probes disclosed a conflicting, hyperalgesia-related reluctance to repeatedly cross the probes after injury. Rats receiving standard sham surgeries demonstrated enhanced pain-like avoidance behavior compared with naive controls, and this behavior was similar to that of corresponding chronic constriction injury or spinal cord injury rats weeks or months after injury. In the case of sham surgery for spinal cord injury, video analysis of voluntary exploratory behavior directed at the probes revealed enhanced forepaw withdrawal responses. These findings have important implications for preclinical investigations into behavioral alterations and physiological mechanisms associated with postsurgical and neuropathic pain.
Role of Preventive Treatments in Low-Volume Road Maintenance Program: Full-Scale Case Study:

The lack of information on reliable life-extending benefit for pavement preservation treatments led the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) to conduct a preservation study applying preser...
Smart Sensing, Communication, and Control in Perishable Food Supply Chain

Transportation and distribution (T8D) of fresh food products is a substantial and increasing part of the economic activities throughout the world. Unfortunately, fresh food T8D not only suffers from significant spoilage and waste, but also from dismal efficiency due to tight transit timing constraints between the availability of harvested food until its delivery to the retailer. Fresh food is also easily contaminated, and together with deteriorated fresh food is responsible for much of food-borne illnesses.The logistics operations are undergoing rapid transformation on multiple fronts, including infusion of information technology in the logistics operations, automation in the physical product handling, standardization of labeling, addressing and packaging, and shared logistics operations under 3rd party logistics (3PL) and related models. In this article, we discuss how these developments can be exploited to turn fresh food logistics into an intelligent cyberphysical system driven by online monitoring and associated operational control to enhance food freshness and safety, reduce food waste, and increase T8D efficiency. Some of the issues discussed in this context are fresh food quality deterioration processes, food quality/contamination sensing technologies, communication technologies for transmitting sensed data through the challenging fresh food media, intelligent management of the T8D pipeline, and various other operational issues. The purpose of this article is to stimulate further research in this important emerging area that lies at the intersection of computing and logistics.
Cumulative Histologic Inflammation Predicts Colorectal Neoplasia in Ulcerative Colitis: A Validation Study

Background Chronic inflammation in ulcerative colitis (UC) is associated with the development of colorectal neoplasia (CRN). A group at St. Mark's Hospital reported a novel cumulative inflammatory index that predicted the development of CRN in UC patients that we validated with an independent, well-described, matched, case-controlled cohort from the University of Chicago. Methods Cumulative inflammatory burden (CIB) was calculated by summing each histological inflammatory activity (HIA) score and multiplying it by the length of the surveillance interval. Persistency was defined by the number of surveillance episodes (with a severity score >2) divided by the total number of surveillance procedures. T tests compared the mean and maximum HIA scores, assessing mean and maximum severity, CIB, and persistency. Results Sixty-two UC patients (26 patients with CRN, 36 control patients without CRN) were analyzed. Fifty-five percent were men, mean disease duration was 20.6 years, and mean age at CRN diagnosis was 43.9. Of the CRN patients, 6 (23%) had colorectal cancer, 16 (62%) had low-grade dysplasia, and 4 (15%) had indefinite dysplasia. Using mean HIA scores, we found CIB to be statistically greater in CRN patients (P = 0.04). Using maximum HIA scores, we found CIB (P = 0.02), mean severity (P = 0.03), and persistency (P = 0.01) to be significantly greater in CRN patients. Maximum severity was numerically greater for mean and maximum HIA scores but did not reach significance. Conclusion Cumulative histologic inflammation is significantly associated with the development of CRN in UC patients. This suggests a management strategy of controlling inflammation to reduce the risk of CRN and may influence the selection of surveillance intervals.
The Myth that Farmers are Well Fed, and the Reality of Food Insecurity among Vermont's Agricultural Laborers

First paragraph: Based on six years of community-based ethno­graphic research, Teresa M. Mares’ Life on the Other Border: Farmworkers and Food Justice in Vermont takes readers on a journey of understanding the facets of food security, from its theoretical under­pinnings to its felt experiences from agricultural laborers in the dairy industry. This book uses several different entry points into the complex issue of border (in)security and the implications of the current national sentiments toward undocu­mented immigrants. Mares’ research reinforces the notion that standardized measurements are insuf­ficient to tell the story, and that there is always more than meets the eye when it comes to the bucolic images of Vermont and its revered agri­cultural industry. This book illustrates the impor­tance of entering places where food insecurity is felt and of getting close to the people whose prob­lems we want to solve in order to be effective. . . .
Virus detection using nanoparticles and deep neural network-enabled smartphone system.

Emerging and reemerging infections present an ever-increasing challenge to global health. Here, we report a nanoparticle-enabled smartphone (NES) system for rapid and sensitive virus detection. The virus is captured on a microchip and labeled with specifically designed platinum nanoprobes to induce gas bubble formation in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The formed bubbles are controlled to make distinct visual patterns, allowing simple and sensitive virus detection using a convolutional neural network (CNN)–enabled smartphone system and without using any optical hardware smartphone attachment. We evaluated the developed CNN-NES for testing viruses such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), HCV, and Zika virus (ZIKV). The CNN-NES was tested with 134 ZIKV- and HBV-spiked and ZIKV- and HCV-infected patient plasma/serum samples. The sensitivity of the system in qualitatively detecting viral-infected samples with a clinically relevant virus concentration threshold of 250 copies/ml was 98.97% with a confidence interval of 94.39 to 99.97%.
Brain Edema: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Cerebral edema occurs in essentially all forms of CNS injury and is frequently encountered in neurosurgical patients. Prompt recognition and appropriate treatment of cerebral edema is critical for adequate neurosurgical care. In this chapter, we discuss the history of cerebral edema and current models of cerebral edema pathophysiology. We discuss the diagnosis of cerebral edema, current methods of treatment, and complications of both edema and of its therapeutics. We anticipate that this chapter will serve as a guide to the neurosurgeon confronted with a patient suffering from cerebral edema and increased intracranial pressure.
Selective oxidation of pharmaceuticals and suppression of perchlorate formation during electrolysis of fresh human urine.

Abstract Urine comprises only a small (~1%) volumetric fraction of municipal wastewater, but represents a dominant source of pharmaceuticals, many of which may pass through conventional wastewater treatment and pose risks to aquatic ecosystems. Point-source treatment of source-separated urine presents a unique opportunity to degrade pharmaceuticals before dilution with wastewater, and electrochemical advanced oxidation processes are one increasingly investigated option. However, they often lead to the formation of oxidation byproducts including chlorate, perchlorate at very high concentrations. Here, we show that the high urea content of fresh human urine suppresses the formation of oxychlorides by inhibiting formation of HOCl/OCl‒ during electrolysis, while still enabling pharmaceutical degradation due to the slow rate of urea oxidation by •OH. This results in improved performance compared to equivalent treatment of hydrolyzed aged urine. This electrochemical oxidation scheme is shown to degrade the model contaminants cyclophosphamide and sulfamethoxazole with surface-area-to-volume-normalized pseudo-first-order rate constants greater than 0.08 cm/min in authentic fresh human urine. It results in ~100 × decrease in pharmaceutical concentrations in 2 h while generating ~1000 × lower oxychloride byproduct concentrations in synthetic fresh urine than synthetic hydrolyzed aged urine matrixes. Importantly, this proof-of-principle shows that simple and safe electrochemical methods can be used for point-source-remediation of pharmaceuticals in fresh human urine (before storage and hydrolysis), without formation of significant oxychloride byproducts.
Decreasing tracheostomy placement in hospitalized pediatric patients with subglottic stenosis - Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) analysis.

Abstract Objectives We aimed to assess procedural trends for tracheostomy placement in the management of children with subglottic stenosis. We hypothesize that with increased use of less invasive airway interventions for subglottic stenosis, tracheostomy may be performed less frequently over time. Methods Data were collected from the Kids’ Inpatient Database (KID) for pediatric discharges with an admission diagnosis of subglottic stenosis (Stenosis of larynx: ICD-9 code 478.74) from across the United States for years 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, and 2012. The number of overall procedures and specific airway procedures including tracheostomy (ICD-9-CM codes 31.1, 31.29) were evaluated. Results A weighted estimate of 18,124 pediatric discharges with a diagnosis of subglottic stenosis were identified. Overall, there was an increase in the mean number of procedures performed during hospitalization from 2000 to 2012 (p Conclusions Trends over the past decade from a US national database have revealed decreasing tracheostomy placement in hospitalized pediatric patients with subglottic stenosis. This may be due to a change in paradigm with increased use of less invasive, possibly endoscopic, treatment in this patient population. Further investigations may be helpful to identify management paradigms to optimize care in order to help avoid tracheostomy placement.
Condensation of pericentrin proteins in human cells illuminates phase separation in centrosome assembly

At the onset of mitosis, centrosomes expand the pericentriolar material (PCM) to maximize their microtubule-organizing activity. This step, termed centrosome maturation, ensures proper spindle organization and faithful chromosome segregation. However, as the centrosome expands, how PCM proteins are recruited and held together without membrane enclosure remains elusive. We found that endogenously expressed pericentrin (PCNT), a conserved PCM scaffold protein, condenses into dynamic granules during late G2/early mitosis before incorporating into mitotic centrosomes. Furthermore, the N-terminal portion of PCNT, enriched with conserved coiled-coils (CCs) and low-complexity regions (LCRs), phase separates into dynamic condensates that selectively recruit PCM proteins and nucleate microtubules in cells. We propose that CCs and LCRs, two prevalent sequence features in the centrosomal proteome, are preserved under evolutionary pressure in part to mediate liquid-liquid phase separation, a process that bestows upon the centrosome distinct properties critical for its assembly and functions.
High-purity and high-concentration liquid fuels through CO2 electroreduction

Liquid fuels generated from the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) are of particular interest due to their high energy densities and ease of storage and distribution. Unfortunately, they are typically formed in low concentrations and mixed with impurities due to the current limitations of traditional CO2 electrolysers as well as CO2RR catalysts. In this Perspective, we emphasize that while the declining renewable electricity price can greatly lower the formation cost of liquid fuels, the downstream purification process will add an extra layer of cost that greatly harms their economic feasibility for large-scale applications. Different strategies in reactor engineering and catalyst improvement are proposed to realize the direct and continuous generation of high-purity and high-concentration liquid fuels from CO2RR electrolysers, allowing this electrochemical route to become more competitive compared with the traditional chemical engineering industry in the future. Liquid fuels produced by electrocatalytic CO2 reduction are costly to separate from liquid electrolytes in a conventional cell. This Perspective identifies the need for novel cell designs that can directly produce high-concentration and high-purity products and discusses the progress towards this goal using porous solid electrolytes.
Automatic transformation from geospatial conceptual workflow to executable workflow using GRASS GIS command line modules in kepler

Many geospatial models are developed using command line modules of GIS packages. To utilize scientific workflow technology in geospatial modeling, it is important to support command line GIS modules in scientific workflow systems. However, straightforward representation of command line modules as workflow components conflicts with conventional conceptual design patterns. We propose a two-step geospatial scientific workflow composition approach. Simple conceptual workflows are composed in the first step. These allow data type-based workflow validation. The validated conceptual workflows are then transformed automatically into executable workflows using command line modules in the second step. We describe the preliminary implementation of the proposed approach in the Kepler scientific workflow system and demonstrate its feasibility using an example.
Application of the Ford Sodium-Sulfur Battery in Electric Vehicles

The Ford Sodium--Sulfur battery is evaluated for applications in electric vehicles. The required power and energy ratings of a battery to achieve acceptable performance and driving range for a specific commuter-type vehicle are calculated and discussed. The relative merits of the use of mechanical transmissions and regenerative braking in electric vehicles are explored. Volumes and weights of several battery packages based upon realistic NaS cell designs are calculated, and the thermal management problems of these high-temperature battery packages during the varying power levels required in vehicular applications are discussed.
Multicultural Teaching Models to Educate Pre-Service Teachers: Reflections, Service-Learning, and Mentoring

The population of pre-service teachers entering university education programs is becoming more diverse. University education departments have the responsibility to understand and prepare current pre-service teachers, especially regarding multicultural education. The purpose of this paper is to understand the different dynamics of white pre-service teachers and pre-service teachers of color who are entering education departments. It has been found that pre-service teachers have a fear and are silenced during discussions of race. Therefore, university programs and professors have the challenge of opening communication within his/her courses in order to prepare teachers who can have critical multicultural discussions with his/her students. The current trends of preparing pre-service teachers to understand his/her own background and viewpoints include reflecting, service-learning, and mentoring.
The oxidative metabolism of thioglycollate-elicited mouse peritoneal macrophages: the relationship between oxygen, superoxide and hydrogen peroxide and the effect of monolayer formation.

The oxygen and glucose metabolism of peritoneal macrophages harvested from untreated mice (resident cells) and mice given an i.p. injection of thioglycollate broth (thioglycollate cells) were examined. Thioglycollate cells consumed approximately 3 times as much O2 at rest and during phagocytosis as resident cells, but oxygen reduction products (superoxide and hydrogen peroxide) could be recovered in only minimal amounts despite triggering by phagocytosis or exposure to PMA. Indirect evidence for the formation of oxygen reduction products such as O2- by thioglycollate cells was obtained by observation of the major pathways for glucose oxidation and NBT dye reduction. When thioglycollate cells were allowed to adhere to a glass surface O2- and H2O2 were easily recovered in the extracellular medium with a 20-fold increase above cells in suspension exposed to PMA. This study suggests that thioglycollate-elicited macrophages have a vigorous oxidative metabolism but that recovery, and perhaps utilization, of O2 reduction products formed will depend on the conditions of incubation. These events may be significant both for the study of parameters of macrophage "activation" in vitro as well as the function of these cells in vivo.
A Review of “Ireland:A History”

The launch of the journal Irish Historical Studies in 1938 is usually regarded as marking the establishment of the Irish historical profession. The first generation of that profession was notable f...