cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Connexin43 Expression Increases in the Epithelium and Stroma along the Colonic Neoplastic Progression Pathway: Implications for Its Oncogenic Role

Connexins (Cxs) are critical for normal tissue development, differentiation, and cell proliferation. Normal expression and function of Cxs are considered to play a role in tumor suppression, but abnormal localization and abnormally increased expression of Cxs have been found in a variety of carcinomas. Of the Cx family, Cx43 is a most prevalent member and has been known as a downstream target of β-catenin, a key component of Wnt signaling pathway. We evaluated the expression of Cx43 in the colonic neoplasia progression sequence with additional attention to the stromal component. Resections of 50 colonic adenocarcinomas were stained immunohistochemically for Cx43 on paraffin embedded sections. Cx43 cytoplasmic expression increased progressively in the colonic adenocarcinoma sequence in both the epithelial [normal (4 ± 1), adenomatous (20 ± 2), cancerous (124 ± 10) (P < 0.01)], and stromal [normal (19 ± 1), cancerous (45 ± 4) (P < 0.01)] components. In the epithelial component, Cx43 was expressed lower in stage I adenocarcinomas (69 ± 12) compared to stage III/IV (158 ± 10, P < 0.01). Additionally, Cx43 was relatively increased in the adenocarcinoma at the invasive tumor front in all stages. Cx43 may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of colon cancer via gap junction or other gap junction independent mechanisms such as the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
High-Density Lipoprotein Function in Regulating Insulin Secretion: Possible Relevance to Metabolic Syndrome

With the increased incidence of obesity in our population, the metabolic syndrome is frequently encountered. This syndrome is comprised of obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia (mostly manifest as hypertriglyceridemia and low plasma high-density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol), and insulin resistance. As long as the pancreatic islets retain the capacity for compensatory increase in insulin secretion to counter the peripheral insulin resistance, mostly manifest at the adipose tissue and muscle, frank diabetes will not ensue.1 The participation of triglycerides and fatty acids in the development of this syndrome has been examined.2 Do the lower plasma HDL levels also contribute? See accompanying article on page 1642 The article that appears in this issue of Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology by Fryirs et al provides an important putative link between HDL components, especially its major apolipoproteins (apoproteins) apoA-I and apoA-II, and insulin secretion by β-cells. Over the last 5 years, there have been a number of studies that point to the role of β-cell cholesterol homeostasis on insulin secretion. Cholesterol homeostasis is dependent on the uptake of cholesterol by the LDL receptor, endogenous cholesterol biosynthesis, and cholesterol efflux via ATP-binding cassette transporter subfamily A1 (ABCA1) and related transporters. Hayden and coworkers have studied β-cell-specific ABCA1 knockout mice.3,4 The β-cells from these mice accumulate total and free cholesterol, and insulin secretion is impaired on glucose stimulation without significant changes in insulin mRNA, suggesting that cholesterol accumulation interferes with insulin exocytosis. Glucose tolerance is reduced …
The role of ultrasonography and automatic-needle biopsy in outpatient percutaneous liver biopsy

The risk of complications from percutaneous liver biopsy is low, but discomfort is common and complications require hospitalization in approximately 4% of patients. The optimal method of performing these biopsies is unknown. The goal of our study was to determine whether the use of ultrasonography in the biopsy room immediately prior to or during the procedure would lessen the risk of complications and to compare the safety and efficacy in obtaining tissue by use of a Trucut needle versus an automatic biopsy needle. Between 1992 and 1994, 836 patients were entered into a randomized study (489 in Rochester, MN; 347 in Barcelona, Spain). Patients were randomized immediately prior to liver biopsy into four groups: Trucut needle, or automatic biopsy needle, and with or without ultrasonography. Fisher's Exact Test and a logistic regression model were also used to assess the effect of needle and ultrasonography on the odds for complications. The four biopsy groups were well-matched at entry with respect to age, sex, underlying liver disease, hemoglobin, prothrombin time, and platelet count. The use of ultrasound was associated with a decreased rate of hospitalization for pain, hypotension, or bleeding (2 vs. 9, P < .05). No difference in safety was found between the two types of needles. The number of passes needed to obtain specimens was similar for all four groups. The average length of the specimen was slightly greater with ultrasonographic-guided biopsies (1.7 mm vs. 1.6 mm, P < .05) and with biopsies obtained using the automatic biopsy needle when compared with the Trucut needle (1.7 mm vs. 1.5 mm, P < .05), but this did not seem to be clinically important. The addition of ultrasonography reduces complications in patients undergoing percutaneous liver biopsy. The type of needle appears to offer little difference in safety or yield of diagnostic tissue. The use of ultrasonography for guidance of percutaneous liver biopsy will lead to a lower rate of complications. The value of this benefit must be weighed against the added cost of ultrasonographic guidance.
The lspA Gene, Encoding the Type II Signal Peptidase of Rickettsia typhi: Transcriptional and Functional Analysis

Lipoprotein processing by the type II signal peptidase (SPase II) is known to be critical for intracellular growth and virulence for many bacteria, but its role in rickettsiae is unknown. Here, we describe the analysis of lspA, encoding a putative SPase II, an essential component of lipoprotein processing in gram-negative bacteria, from Rickettsia typhi. Alignment of deduced amino acid sequences shows the presence of highly conserved residues and domains that are essential for SPase II activity in lipoprotein processing. The transcription of lspA, lgt (encoding prolipoprotein transferase), and lepB (encoding type I signal peptidase), monitored by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, reveals a differential expression pattern during various stages of rickettsial intracellular growth. The higher transcriptional level of all three genes at the preinfection time point indicates that only live and metabolically active rickettsiae are capable of infection and inducing host cell phagocytosis. lspA and lgt, which are involved in lipoprotein processing, show similar levels of expression. However, lepB, which is involved in nonlipoprotein secretion, shows a higher level of expression, suggesting that LepB is the major signal peptidase for protein secretion and supporting our in silico prediction that out of 89 secretory proteins, only 14 are lipoproteins. Overexpression of R. typhi lspA in Escherichia coli confers increased globomycin resistance, indicating its function as SPase II. In genetic complementation, recombinant lspA from R. typhi significantly restores the growth of temperature-sensitive E. coli Y815 at the nonpermissive temperature, supporting its biological activity as SPase II in prolipoprotein processing.
Force Field Analysis

Force field analysis is a diagnostic technique for identifying, analyzing and organizing psychological, social, and other forces maintaining a current condition and planning change to improve the situation. Propositions are presented regarding changing forces to modify a situation and their effects on resistance, norms, motivation and tension. Keywords: force field; diagnosis; change; resistance; norms; tension
An Interview with Judy G. Barber: Prenuptial Agreements, Intimacy, Trust and Control

A business-owning family and a soon-to-be-wed couple often face two mutually exclusive goals that seem impossible to reconcile. On the one hand, a couple considering marriage wants to believe that love alone will keep them together. On the other hand, statistics today say there is a good chance the relationship will not last. A prenuptial agreement provides the protection an individual or the family may want against a possible divorce, but the process by which the document is introduced and negotiated can deplete the relationship of intimacy.How can a woman from a wealthy business-owning family express and reinforce the emotional commitment and trust she has for her partner while presenting a prenuptial agreement] How can a son administer a prenuptial agreement to his fiancee without controlling the process or outcome of his spouse's financial welfare] How can a family require a prenuptial agreement without jeopardizing their future relationship with the newlyweds] In the following interview, Judy Barber,...
Transdermal scopolamine in motion sickness.

Motion sickness is a common clinical malady. Until recently, the use of scopolamine, the drug of choice for the treatment of motion-induced nausea and vomiting, has been sometimes associated with a variety of unacceptable side effects. These side effects could result from the unpredictable blood levels attained with oral dosage (pulse delivery). A new system of drug delivery, the transdermal therapeutic system (TTS) — Transderm®-V — has been developed. The TTS delivers scopolamine across the skin at a constant rate. This permits a drug with a very short half life to be administered over prolonged periods, thereby maintaining blood concentrations at the defined therapeutic level. This precludes the necessity for frequent dosing and increases patient acceptability and compliance while minimizing the untoward effects associated with conventional dosage forms of the drug.
Decomposition Principles and Online Learning in Cross-Layer Optimization for Delay-Sensitive Applications

In this paper, we propose a general cross-layer optimization framework for delay-sensitive applications over single wireless links in which we explicitly consider both the heterogeneous and dynamically changing characteristics (e.g., delay deadlines, dependencies, distortion impacts, etc.) of delay-sensitive applications and the underlying time-varying channel conditions. We first formulate this problem as a nonlinear constrained optimization by assuming complete knowledge of the application characteristics and the underlying channel conditions. This constrained cross-layer optimization is then decomposed into several subproblems, each corresponding to the cross-layer optimization for one DU. The proposed decomposition method explicitly considers how the cross-layer strategies selected for one DU will impact its neighboring DUs as well as the DUs that depend on it through the resource price (associated with the resource constraint) and neighboring impact factors (associated with the scheduling constraints). However, the attributes (e.g., distortion impact, delay deadline, etc.) of future DUs as well as the channel conditions are often unknown in the considered real-time applications. In this case, the cross-layer optimization is formulated as a constrained Markov decision process (MDP) in which the impact of current cross-layer actions on the future DUs can be characterized by a state-value function. We then develop a low-complexity cross-layer optimization algorithm using online learning for each DU transmission. This online optimization utilizes information only about the previous transmitted DUs and past experienced channel conditions, which can be easily implemented in real-time in order to cope with unknown source characteristics, channel dynamics and resource constraints. Our numerical results demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed online algorithm.
Nonlinear free-surface flow at a two-dimensional bow

Unsteady free-surface flow at the bow of a steadily moving, two-dimensional body is solved using a modified Eulerian-Lagrangian technique. Lagrangian marker particles are distributed on both the free surface and the far-field boundary. The flow field corresponding to an inviscid, double-body solution is used for the initial condition. Solutions are obtained over a range of Froude numbers for bodies of three different shapes: a vertical step, a faired profile and a bulbous bow. A transition Froude number exists at which the bow wave begins to overturn and break The value of the transition Froude number depends on the bow shape. A stagnation point is observed to be present below the free surface during the initial stage of the wave formation. For flows occurring above the transition Froude number, the stagnation points remains trapped below the free surface as the wave overturns. Below the transition Froude number, the stagnation point rises to the surface as the crest of the transient bow wave moves upstream and away from the body.
Cardiac encephalopathy and congestive heart failure A hypothesis about the relationship

Many patients with congestive heart failure develop neurologic dysfunction. This may take the form of a cardiac encephalopathy that shares clinical features with other metabolic encephalopathies. The causes are multiple. There is a particular, previously unreported, syndrome that occasionally develops in some patients with congestive heart failure that resembles the findings in patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus. This syndrome is characterized by apathy and abulia with preserved alertness; it is caused by fluid retention within the cranial cavity. The syndrome may also develop in patients with other conditions that cause anasarca, e.g., severe liver or kidney disease or hypoalbuminemia. Because patients with these conditions are often quite ill, it has been difficult to verify the pathophysiologic aspects of the syndrome so that its mechanism must remain a hypothesis that awaits more definitive study in a series of patients. I have not seen this syndrome discussed in any cardiology or neurology texts or reports, and it seems to be completely unknown to cardiologists and neurologists. I have recognized about one patient per year with this syndrome.
The impact of discrete modes of spinal cord injury on bladder muscle contractility

Prior studies have compared the effect of spinal cord injury elicited using distinct approaches on motor and visceral function. However, the impact of such discrete modes of injury specifically on bladder muscle contractility has not been explored in detail. The goal of this study is to compare the impact of complete spinal cord transection versus clip compression at thoracic vertebra eight (T8) on bladder muscle contractility. Rats underwent no treatment (Control), laminectomy (Sham, SH); complete extradural transection (TX); or cord compression with an aneurysm clip (CX). Bladders and spinal cords were harvested at 6 wk for contractility studies or histological analysis. Detrusor strips from TX and CX rats showed higher spontaneous activity than those from SH rats. Furthermore, the duration of the neurally-mediated contractile response was longer in TX and CX rats compared to controls and showed attenuated relaxation. No significant differences were observed between muscle strips from SH, TX or CX rats in response to KCl, ATP or phenylephrine. However, tissues from TX and CX rats showed a higher sensitivity to carbachol compared to that from SH animals. Complete SCI in rats either by cord transection or compression elicits qualitatively similar changes in bladder muscle contractility. Whereas cord transection is arguably easier to perform experimentally, cord compression better models the situation observed clinically, such that each approach has clear advantages and limitations.
A New Ivermectin Formulation Topically Kills Permethrin-Resistant Human Head Lice (Anoplura: Pediculidae)

This study examines the effectiveness of a new ivermectin formulation for the topical treatment of the human head louse, Pediculus humanus capitis De Geer (Anoplura: Pediculidae). Permethrin-resistant lice originally obtained from south Florida and maintained on an in vitro rearing system were 100% susceptible to ivermectin formulations by using a semiclinical hair tuft bioassay. The formulation was 100% effective at killing lice using 1, 0.5, and 0.25% ivermectin concentrations after 10-min exposures. As judged by the lethal time (LT)50 and LT95 values, 0.5% formulated ivermectin was 3.8 and 3.2 times faster at killing lice, respectively, than 0.5% nonformulated ivermectin, indicating that the formulation may facilitate the penetration of ivermectin into the louse. The hair tuft-based bioassay in conjunction with the in vitro rearing system provides a standardized method to assess the comparative efficacy of pediculicide formulations in a reproducible format that mimics the exposure scenario that occurs on the human scalp.
The Growing Spine in Marfan and Loeys–Dietz Syndromes

Marfan and Loeys-Dietz Syndromes both involve connective tissues and TGF-beta signaling. Both may lead to spinal deformity which becomes severe at an early age. Bracing may only be of value if started before 25°. Growth-friendly strategies may be necessary. VEPTR may lead to kyphosis and forward trunk balance in these patients. Magnetically-controlled rods may not be feasible if the patients require periodic MRI for the cardiovascular system. Growing rods produce good deformity control in both conditions. The rate of rod fracture is higher in Loeys-Dietz syndrome, perhaps because of the greater tissue laxity. The surgeon should be aware of cervical deformity in this population, either at presentation or later in the course.
Hydrodynamics of confined impinging jets and the assessment of soil erodibility

Analysis and prediction of soil and water management problems require accurate assessment of the erodibility of cohesive sediment. The Jet Erosion Test (JET) has been developed to quantify the erodibility of soil and other cohesive sediments based on theory derived for circular impinging jets. The JET is now an ASTM standard used commonly around the world, yet the physical characteristics of the impingement jet in the apparatus have not been evaluated in detail. A recent study by the authors demonstrated that a confined environment produces variations in jet properties, in comparison with impinging jet theory. Here, we report on detailed measurements of shear stress in the JET apparatus acting on a flat plate representing a soil surface to be tested. The flow field was quantified at high temporal and spatial resolution with 2D particle image velocimetry. Results show that (1) applied surface shear stress is significantly larger than that predicted by impinging jet theory and assumed by JET methodology, (2) the maximum scaled wall shear stress increases with increasing nozzle velocity, and (3) the wall jet characteristics are asymmetric within the apparatus. These results provide the basis for understanding the erosion process in the JET. This study should improve confidence in employing the JET for determining the erodibility of cohesive sediments in field applications.
Evolution of Natural Agents: Preservation, Advance, and Emergence of Functional Information

Biological evolution is often viewed narrowly as a change of morphology or allele frequency in a sequence of generations. Here I pursue an alternative informational concept of evolution, as preservation, advance, and emergence of functional information in natural agents. Functional information is a network of signs (e.g., memory, transient messengers, and external signs) that are used by agents to preserve and regulate their functions. Functional information is preserved in evolution via complex interplay of copying and construction processes: the digital components are copied, whereas interpreting subagents together with scaffolds, tools, and resources, are constructed. Some of these processes are simple and invariant, whereas others are complex and contextual. Advance of functional information includes improvement and modification of already existing functions. Although the genome information may change passively and randomly, the interpretation is active and guided by the logic of agent behavior and embryonic development. Emergence of new functions is based on the reinterpretation of already existing information, when old tools, resources, and control algorithms are adopted for novel functions. Evolution of functional information progressed from protosemiosis, where signs correspond directly to actions, to eusemiosis, where agents associate signs with objects. Language is the most advanced form of eusemiosis, where the knowledge of objects and models is communicated between agents.
Principal versus Agency Intermediation in Over-the-Counter Markets

A large number of trades in over-the-counter (OTC) financial markets are intermediated by dealers. The role of dealer intermediation can take two basic forms - dealers intermediate end-user trades either as principals or as agents. In a stylized model of OTC financial markets with dealer competition, we show that principal intermediation and agency intermediation are determined by dealers' comparative advantages to end-users in (i) holding the asset while searching for matching counterparties with opposite trade demands, (ii) bargaining for good prices in dealers' markets. We also discuss trading efficiency of principal and agency intermediation.
Translational Approaches Targeting Reconsolidation

Maladaptive learned responses and memories contribute to psychiatric disorders that constitute a significant socio-economic burden. Primary treatment methods teach patients to inhibit maladaptive responses, but do not get rid of the memory itself, which explains why many patients experience a return of symptoms even after initially successful treatment. This highlights the need to discover more persistent and robust techniques to diminish maladaptive learned behaviours. One potentially promising approach is to alter the original memory, as opposed to inhibiting it, by targeting memory reconsolidation. Recent research shows that reactivating an old memory results in a period of memory flexibility and requires restorage, or reconsolidation, for the memory to persist. This reconsolidation period allows a window for modification of a specific old memory. Renewal of memory flexibility following reactivation holds great clinical potential as it enables targeting reconsolidation and changing of specific learned responses and memories that contribute to maladaptive mental states and behaviours. Here, we will review translational research on non-human animals, healthy human subjects, and clinical populations aimed at altering memories by targeting reconsolidation using biological treatments (electrical stimulation, noradrenergic antagonists) or behavioural interference (reactivation-extinction paradigm). Both approaches have been used successfully to modify aversive and appetitive memories, yet effectiveness in treating clinical populations has been limited. We will discuss that memory flexibility depends on the type of memory tested and the brain regions that underlie specific types of memory. Further, when and how we can most effectively reactivate a memory and induce flexibility is largely unclear. Finally, the development of drugs that can target reconsolidation and are safe for use in humans would optimize cross-species translations. Increasing the understanding of the mechanism and limitations of memory flexibility upon reactivation should help optimize efficacy of treatments for psychiatric patients.
Adaptive, Personalized Diversity for Visual Discovery

Search queries are appropriate when users have explicit intent, but they perform poorly when the intent is difficult to express or if the user is simply looking to be inspired. Visual browsing systems allow e-commerce platforms to address these scenarios while offering the user an engaging shopping experience. Here we explore extensions in the direction of adaptive personalization and item diversification within Stream, a new form of visual browsing and discovery by Amazon. Our system presents the user with a diverse set of interesting items while adapting to user interactions. Our solution consists of three components (1) a Bayesian regression model for scoring the relevance of items while leveraging uncertainty, (2) a submodular diversification framework that re-ranks the top scoring items based on category, and (3) personalized category preferences learned from the user's behavior. When tested on live traffic, our algorithms show a strong lift in click-through-rate and session duration.
Spectral variational integrators for trajectory optimization under parametric uncertainties and stochastic disturbances

We propose a novel methodology for stochastic trajectory optimization which is based on merging the theory of spectral expansions with Differential Dynamic Programming. Specifically, we employ polynomial chaos expansions to handle parametric uncertainties and utilize the Karhunen-Loeve transformation to represent stochastic forces. This allows us to build a generic framework and avoid relying on restrictive assumptions regarding the form of stochasticity. In addition, Differential Dynamic Programming provides an iterative algorithm for finding optimal controls which attains scalability and, under mild assumptions, fast convergence. The obtained method is capable of controlling the distribution of the system's trajectory and can be used in both planning and control. Last but not least, we formulate a variational integration scheme for uncertain systems that are represented by spectral expansions. Simulated examples validate the applicability and numerical efficiency of the proposed approach.
Managerial capital, occupational choice and inequality in a global economy

This study proposes a simple theory of trade with endogenous firm productivity, occupational choice and income inequality. Individuals with different managerial talent choose to become entrepreneurs or workers. Entrepreneurs enhance firm productivity by investing in managerial capital. The model generates three income classes: low-income workers facing the prospect of unemployment, middle-income entrepreneurs managing domestic firms and high-income entrepreneurs managing global firms. Trade liberalization policies raise unemployment and improve welfare. A reduction in per-unit trade costs raises top incomes and generates labour-market polarization. A reduction in fixed exporting costs has an ambiguous effect on top incomes and personal income distribution. Policies reducing labour-market frictions or the costs of managerial-capital acquisition create more jobs and improve welfare. The income distributional effects of labour-market policies depend on which policy is implemented.
Ethical challenges and terminal deactivation of left ventricular assist device.

Heart failure is one of the most important cardiovascular problems in the United States with 5.7 million adults afflicted in 2015 (1). Left ventricular assist devices (LAVD) implantation in patients with congestive heart failure has excellent outcomes when compared to medical therapy (2,3) and has become an important option for the treatment of patients with advanced heart failure (4-6). Currently, approximately 5,000 to 6,000 patients are treated annually with LVADs (7). Nowadays, the number of LVAD implantations exceeds the number of annual heart transplantations worldwide (6). LVADs are used as a bridge to recovery, a bridge to transplant (BTT), a bridge to decision, and as destination therapy (DT) (6). This rapid increase in the use of LVAD, and modalities of use, raised ethical questions about its use, patient’s autonomy as in most of the time the patient and surrogates are overwhelmed with the critical condition the patient is presenting with, and the details about this new technology. How do we ensure the patient’s beneficence? Is the new condition acceptable by the patient or not? Is the goal the quantity or the quality of life (8)? What is the psychologic status of the patient? Will he or she accept having this metallic pump inside his or her body ticking all the time? Will he or she be able to handle care of the LVAD (as changing batteries, taking care of LVAD drive to avoid infection, anticoagulation with its complications and regular blood tests and regular follow-up with the LVAD medical team?
Geographic variations in female breast cancer incidence in relation to ambient air emissions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

A significant geographic variation of breast cancer incidence exists, with incidence rates being much higher in industrialized regions. The objective of the current study was to assess the role of environmental factors such as exposure to ambient air pollution, specifically carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that may be playing in the geographic variations in breast cancer incidence. Female breast cancer incidence and ambient air emissions of PAHs were examined in the northeastern and southeastern regions of the USA by analyzing data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program and the State Cancer Profiles of the National Cancer Institute and from the Environmental Protection Agency. Linear regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between PAH emissions and breast cancer incidence in unadjusted and adjusted models. Significantly higher age-adjusted incidence rates of female breast cancer were seen in northeastern SEER regions, when compared to southeastern regions, during the years of 2000–2012. After adjusting for potential confounders, emission densities of total PAHs and four carcinogenic individual PAHs (benzo[a]pyrene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene, naphthalene, and benzo[b]fluoranthene) showed a significantly positive association with annual incidence rates of breast cancer, with a β of 0.85 (p = 0.004), 58.37 (p = 0.010), 628.56 (p = 0.002), 0.44 (p = 0.041), and 77.68 (p = 0.002), respectively, among the northeastern and southeastern states. This study suggests a potential relationship between ambient air emissions of carcinogenic PAHs and geographic variations of female breast cancer incidence in the northeastern and southeastern US. Further investigations are needed to explore these interactions and elucidate the role of PAHs in regional variations of breast cancer incidence.
La situation des emplois de bibliothécaire à temps partiel aux États-Unis : prélude à une crise ?

Beaucoup de bibliothecaires aux Etats-Unis travaillent a temps partiel apres avoir obtenu leur diplome d’etudes superieures en bibliotheconomie et sciences de l’information, mais on n’en sait tres peu sur ces emplois. Cet article devoile les resultats de deux projets de recherche qui examinent l’emploi a temps partiel en bibliotheques et les conditions de travail des bibliothecaires a temps partiel.
Leveraging Interest to Decrease Rural Health Disparities in the United States.

The article discusses issues in rural health disparities and public health in the U.S. in relation to rising mortality in rural areas. Topics include the lack of public health investment in rural areas of the U.S., the impact of social and economic problems in rural areas, and research contained in the chartbook "The 2014 Update of the Rural-Urban Chartbook."
NMR evidence for static local nematicity and its cooperative interplay with low-energy magnetic fluctuations in FeSe under pressure

We present $^{77}$Se-NMR measurements on single-crystalline FeSe under pressures up to 2 GPa. Based on the observation of the splitting and broadening of the NMR spectrum due to structural twin domains, we discovered that static, local nematic ordering exists well above the bulk nematic ordering temperature, $T_{\rm s}$. The static, local nematic order and the low-energy stripe-type antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations, as revealed by NMR spin-lattice relaxation rate measurements, are both insensitive to pressure application. These NMR results provide clear evidence for the microscopic cooperation between magnetism and local nematicity in FeSe.
College student normative misperceptions of peer study habit use

We examined the extent to which college students’ self-reported study strategy use relates to perceived peer strategy use, allowing us to determine whether college students misperceive peers’ use of different study strategies. College students (n = 195) reported their use and perceived peer use of 10 different study strategies. Study strategy use positively related to GPA. Moreover, students perceived higher rates of peers’ use of relatively ineffective strategies (e.g., highlighting/underlining) and perceived lower rates of peers’ use of the highly effective strategy of distributing practice, compared to actual reports. Perceiving that peers are more likely to utilize ineffective strategies and less likely to utilize effective strategies may contribute to continued use of counterproductive or ineffective study behavior.
Optimizing checkpoint intervals for reduced energy use in exascale systems

In today's high performance computing (HPC) systems, the probability of applications experiencing failures has increased significantly with the increase in the number of system nodes. It is expected that exascale-sized systems are likely to operate with mean time between failures (MTBF) of as little as a few minutes, causing frequent interrupts in application execution as well as substantially greater energy costs in a system that will already consume large amounts of energy. State-of-the-art HPC resilience techniques proposed for use in these future systems complicate the energy problem further as the overhead associated with utilizing these techniques also further increases energy use. While work has been done that attempts to analyze and improve the energy use of systems utilizing resilience techniques, our work offers a new approach through the optimization of checkpoint interval lengths that allows a system designer the freedom to choose between intervals that optimize for application performance efficiency or energy use in both a traditional checkpoint and multilevel checkpoint approach to resilience. We create a set of equations able to optimize for either performance efficiency or energy use, demonstrate that distinct intervals exist when optimizing for either one metric or the other, and examine the sensitivity of this phenomena to changes in several system parameters and application characteristics.
Mysticism and Philosophy in al-Andalus: Ibn Masarra, Ibn al-ʿArabi and the Ismaʿili Tradition

The general view of religiosity in Islamic Spain is that it was dry and legalistic, monopolised effectively by ʿulamāʾ’ of the “conservative” Mālikī school, until disrupted by the emergence of myst...
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-RF in Treatment-Seeking Veterans with History of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

Author(s): Jurick, SM; Crocker, LD; Keller, AV; Hoffman, SN; Bomyea, J; Jacobson, MW; Jak, AJ | Abstract: This study examined the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Second Edition-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) to better understand symptom presentation in a sample of treatment-seeking Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) Veterans with self-reported history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).Participants underwent a comprehensive clinical neuropsychological battery including performance and symptom validity measures and self-report measures of depressive, posttraumatic, and post-concussive symptomatology. Those with possible symptom exaggeration (SE+) on the MMPI-2-RF were compared with those without (SE-) with regard to injury, psychiatric, validity, and cognitive variables.Between 50% and 87% of participants demonstrated possible symptom exaggeration on one or more MMPI-2-RF validity scales, and a large majority were elevated on content scales related to cognitive, somatic, and emotional complaints. The SE+ group reported higher depressive, posttraumatic, and post-concussive symptomatology, had higher scores on symptom validity measures, and performed more poorly on neuropsychological measures compared with the SE- group. There were no group differences with regard to injury variables or performance validity measures. Participants were more likely to exhibit possible symptom exaggeration on cognitive/somatic compared with traditional psychopathological validity scales.A sizable portion of treatment-seeking OEF/OIF Veterans demonstrated possible symptom exaggeration on MMPI-2-RF validity scales, which was associated with elevated scores on self-report measures and poorer cognitive performance, but not higher rates of performance validity failure, suggesting symptom and performance validity are distinct concepts. These findings have implications for the interpretation of clinical data in the context of possible symptom exaggeration and treatment in Veterans with persistent post-concussive symptoms.
Echocardiography in Patients with Syncope

Syncope is defined as a temporary, abrupt loss of consciousness with spontaneous return to baseline. This chapter offers a framework for a focused approach to syncope. A detailed history and physical examination establishes the pretest probability that the syncope is of cardiac origin. Although echocardiography is not indicated for many cases of syncope, it can be a valuable tool to risk stratify syncope when it is suspected to be of cardiac origin. Transthoracic echo (TTE) is an efficient means of rapidly identifying structural heart disease, which suggests a higher probability of cardiogenic syncope and places the patient in a higher risk category than a patient with a structurally normal heart.
Evaluating and Improving Pressure Ulcer Care: The VA Experience with Administrative Data

Article-at-a-Glance Background A number of state initiatives are using databases originally developed for nursing home reimbursements to assess the quality of care. Since 1991 the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA; Washington, DC) has been using a long term care administrative database to calculate facility-specific rates of pressure ulcer development. This information is disseminated to all 140 long term care facilities as part of a quality assessment and improvement program. Data on pressure ulcer development Assessments are performed on all long term care residents on April 1 and October 1, as well as at the time of admission or transfer to a long term care unit. Approximately 18,000 long term care residents are evaluated in each six-month period; the VA rate of pressure ulcer development is approximately 3.5%. Reports of the rates of pressure ulcer development are then disseminated to all facilities, generally within two months of the assessment date. Implications for other quality improvement efforts The VA's more than five years' experience in using administrative data to assess outcomes for long term care highlights several important issues that should be considered when using outcome measures based on administrative data. These include the importance of carefully selecting the outcome measure, the need to consider the structure of the database, the role of case-mix adjustment, strategies for reporting rates to small facilities, and methods for information dissemination. Conclusion Attention to these issues will help ensure that results from administrative databases lead to improvements in the quality of care.
Changing Probability Judgements

Charles Peirce insisted a long time ago that justifying beliefs currently held is unnecessary. Only changes in belief require justification. Epistemologists should turn away from the question of justifying what they already believe and focus instead on when and how rational inquirers should change their minds.
Future Teachers’ and Teacher Educators’ Perceptions of Learning Mathematics Instruction and Relationships to Knowledge

This study used the Teacher Education and Development Study in Mathematics (TEDS-M) to examine the relationships between opportunities to learn (OTL) mathematics instruction for conceptual understanding and primary future teachers’ (PSTs) knowledge for teaching mathematics in three countries: Poland, Russia, and the United States. The frequencies of opportunities to learn (OTL) mathematics instruction for conceptual understanding varied between PSTs and teacher educators. A comparison of the teacher educators’ and PSTs’ responses suggests that the PSTs had fewer opportunities to learn mathematics instruction for conceptual understanding than were intended by the teacher educators at the program level in the three countries. The patterns of relationships from a multilevel regression analysis in each of the selected countries show variations across contexts and categories of knowledge. In particular, the OTL how to (a) make distinctions between procedural and conceptual knowledge and (b) show why a procedure works, were significantly related to PSTs’ knowledge for teaching mathematics between programs in the United States and Russia, respectively. The OTL how to show why procedures work was significantly related to PSTs’ knowledge for teaching mathematics within the programs in the three countries. Policy implications for mathematics teacher education are discussed.
Effect of Lidocaine Injection of Ganglionated Plexi in a Canine Model and Patients With Persistent and Long-Standing Persistent Atrial Fibrillation.

Background This study assessed the effect of blockading neural transmission in the ganglionated plexi by injecting lidocaine into fat pads in the vagal nerve stimulation canine model and patients w...
How does the downstream boundary affect avulsion dynamics in a laboratory bifurcation

Abstract. Bifurcations play a major role in the evolution of landscapes by controlling how fluxes such as water and sediment are partitioned in distributary and multithread channel networks. In this paper, we present the first experimental investigation on the effect of the downstream boundary on bifurcations. Our experiments in a fixed-wall Y-shaped flume consist of three phases: progradation, transitional, and bypass; the first two phases are net depositional, whereas during the third the sediment flux exiting the downstream boundary matches the input on average. We find that deposition qualitatively changes bifurcation dynamics; we observe frequent switching in the discharge partitioning under net depositional conditions, whereas bypass results in long periods of time where one branch captures most of the flow. We compare our results with a previously developed model for the effect of deposition on bifurcation dynamics. The switching dynamics we observe are more irregular and complex than those predicted by the model. Furthermore, while we observe long periods of time where one branch dominates under bypass conditions, these are not permanent, unlike in the model. We propose that the range of switching timescales we observe arises from a complex interplay of downstream-controlled avulsion and the effect of bars in the upstream channel, including previously unrecognized long-term dynamics associated with a steady bar. Finally, we describe bifurcation experiments conducted with sand but no water. These experiments share the essential feedbacks of our fluvial bifurcation experiments, but do not include bars. In these experiments, we find that the sandpile grows symmetrically while it progrades, but bypass leads to one branch permanently capturing all avalanches. We conclude that the downstream control of deposition vs. bypass is likely a major influence on bifurcation dynamics across a range of physical systems, from river deltas to talus slopes.
Early cannulation of the Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow graft.

Objective:In complex dialysis patients, central venous stenosis may preclude additional upper extremity access options. The Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow graft (Merit Medical Systems, Inc.) can byp...
Virality of Social Change Messages on Facebook: A Study of Advocacy and Relationship Building Strategies of LGBTQ Advocacy Organizations

The communicative affordances of Facebook transformed the way nonprofit organizations communicate with publics. However, the connection between advocacy and virality received limited scholarly scru...
Secondary organic aerosol yields from the oxidation of benzyl alcohol

Abstract. Recent inventory-based analysis suggests that emissions of volatile chemical products in urban areas are now competitive with those from the transportation sector. Understanding the potential for secondary organic aerosol formation from these volatile chemical products is, therefore, critical to predicting levels of aerosol and for formulating policy to reduce aerosol exposure. It is clear that a plethora of oxygenated compounds are either emitted directly into the atmosphere or emitted indoors and later escape into the outdoors. Experimental and computationally simulated environmental chamber data provide an understanding of aerosol yield and chemistry under relevant urban conditions (5–200 ppb NO and 291–312 K) and give insight into the effect of volatile chemical products on the production of secondary organic aerosol. Benzyl alcohol, one of these volatile chemical products, is found to have a large secondary organic aerosol formation potential. At NO concentrations of ~ 80 ppb and 291 K, secondary organic aerosol mass yields for benzyl alcohol can reach 1.
Plant diversity on green roofs in the wild: Testing practitioner and ecological predictions in three midwestern (USA) cities

Abstract Green roofs are urban design elements providing ecosystem services in cities, yet little is understood about how to plan for their biodiversity and conservation outcomes. Using both green roof practitioner and ecological knowledge as a guide, this study examined how well we can predict the relationships between plant species richness and the characteristics of green roofs. Forty-two roofs in three U.S. cities (Chicago, Cleveland, and Minneapolis) were surveyed for plant species richness, soil characteristics, plant cover, maintenance, age, and area. Results indicate practitioner and ecological assumptions were approximately equally accurate in predicting relationships, but neither set of assumptions was particularly reliable. Diversity differed between cities, and plant communities on intensive roofs were more diverse than on extensive roofs. Plant diversity on intensive roofs was also more responsive to soil texture, area, and fertilizer use, when compared to extensive roofs. Intensive roofs may be more responsive to variables due to substrate depth increasing potential plant diversity, coupled with a wider variability in design intentions than is typical for extensive roofs. While the two knowledge bases influencing green roof understanding are a good starting point to explain green roof dynamics, new classifications (beyond extensive and intensive roofs) could help bridge the gap between practitioner and ecological knowledge and aid in predicting patterns by emphasizing green roof design intent rather than substrate depth. Our study indicates that using scientific research to further examine green roof landscapes is necessary for improving the accuracy and generalizability of predictions derived from both applied practitioner knowledge and ecological theory.