cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reduced amygdalar gray matter volume in familial pediatric bipolar disorder

Objective: Subcortical limbic structures have been proposed to be involved in the pathophysiology of adult and pediatric bipolar disorder (BD). We sought to study morphometric characteristics of these structures in pediatric subjects with familial BD compared with healthy controls. Method: Twenty children and adolescents with BD I (mean age = 14.6 years, four females) and 20 healthy age, gender, and IQ-matched controls underwent high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging at 3 T. Patients were mostly euthymic and most were taking medications. Amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus, and caudate volumes were determined by manual tracings from researchers blinded to diagnosis. Analyses of covariance were performed, with total brain volume, age, and gender as covariates. Results: No differences were found in the volumes of hippocampus, caudate, and thalamus between subjects with BD and controls. Subjects with BD had smaller volumes in the left and right amygdala, driven by reductions in gray matter volume. Exploratory analyses revealed that subjects with BD with past lithium or valproate exposure tended to have greater amygdalar gray matter volume than subjects with BD without such exposure. Conclusions: Children and adolescents with early-onset BD may have reduced amygdalar volumes, consistent with other studies in this population. Prolonged medication exposure to lithium or valproate may account for findings in adults with BD of increased amygdalar volume relative to controls. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psy
Biogeochemical impacts of wildfires over four millennia in a Rocky Mountain subalpine watershed.

Summary Wildfires can significantly alter forest carbon (C) storage and nitrogen (N) availability, but the long-term biogeochemical legacy of wildfires is poorly understood. We obtained a lake-sediment record of fire and biogeochemistry from a subalpine forest in Colorado, USA, to examine the nature, magnitude, and duration of decadal-scale, fire-induced ecosystem change over the past c. 4250 yr. The high-resolution record contained 34 fires, including 13 high-severity events within the watershed. High-severity fires were followed by increased sedimentary N stable isotope ratios (δ15N) and bulk density, and decreased C and N concentrations – reflecting forest floor destruction, terrestrial C and N losses, and erosion. Sustained low sediment C : N c. 20–50 yr post-fire indicates reduced terrestrial organic matter subsidies to the lake. Low sedimentary δ15N c. 50–70 yr post-fire, coincident with C and N recovery, suggests diminishing terrestrial N availability during stand development. The magnitude of post-fire changes generally scaled directly with inferred fire severity. Our results support modern studies of forest successional C and N accumulation and indicate pronounced, long-lasting biogeochemical impacts of wildfires in subalpine forests. However, even repeated high-severity fires over millennia probably did not deplete C or N stocks, because centuries between high-severity fires allowed for sufficient biomass recovery.
The Unannounced Revolution: How the Court Has Indirectly Effected a Shift in the Separation of Powers

The Unannounced Revolution: How the Court Has Indirectly Effected a Shift in the Separation of Powers argues that contrary to prevailing wisdom the Supreme Court has presided over a significant transformation in the separation of powers area. Many scholars have questioned why the Court has not brought about a revolution in separation of powers similar to that which has occurred in the area of federalism. This article argues that such a revolution has in fact occurred. But unlike the federalism revolution, the Court's shift in the separation of powers area has been both subtle and indirect. Rather than occurring through announced changes in constitutional doctrine, the shift in the relative powers between the branches has taken place through a more indirect process involving the intermediary of the administrative agency. By allowing Congress to delegate more and more authority to administrative agencies, the Court has not only eroded the power of Congress but has strengthened its own power. This strengthening has come about because of the way in which the judiciary interacts with administrative agencies. Since courts can intrude into the agency process much more than they can into the legislative process, additional powers for agencies translates into additional powers for the courts. Thus, although many critics of the judiciary attribute judicial activism to the area of substantive individual rights, such activism is actually occurring in a more subtle and structural area with respect to separation of powers.
Abstract 403: Autonomic Blockade Improves “Endothelial Dysfunction” in Obesity-Associated Hypertensive Human Subjects

Nitric oxide (NO) deficiency (“endothelial dysfunction”) is a hallmark of obesity and is thought to contribute to hypertension. In a previous study, however, we did not find differences in NO function between hypertensive and normotensive subjects if autonomic activity was removed with ganglionic blockade. We hypothesized, therefore, that sympathetic activation, known to occur in obesity hypertension, contributes to NO mediated endothelial dysfunction. To test this hypothesis we determined NO-mediated vasodilation (increase in forearm blood flow, FBF, to intrabrachial acetylcholine, ACh) and endothelial independent vasodilation (intrabrachial sodium nitroprusside, SNP) in obese hypertensive subjects (30
Cementless fixation in total knee arthroplasty: down the boulevard of broken dreams – affirms

There has been a recent increase in interest for non-cemented fixation in total knee arthroplasty (TKA), however the superiority of cement fixation is an ongoing debate. Whereas the results based on Level III and IV evidence show similar survivorship rates between the two types of fixation, Level I and II evidence strongly support cemented fixation. United Kingdom, Australia, Sweden, and New Zealand registry data show lower failure rates and greater usage of cemented than non-cemented fixation. Case series studies have also indicated greater functional outcomes and lower revision rates among cemented TKAs. Non-cemented fixation involves more patellofemoral complications, including increased susceptibility to wear due to a thinner polyethylene bearing on the cementless metal-backed component. The combination of results from registry data, prospective randomised studies, and meta-analyses support the current superiority of cemented fixation in TKAs.
Effects of Altered Propulsion on Rat Small Intestinal Flora

Intestinal peristalsis has been stated to be an important factor regulating small bowel bacterial flora. We studied the midintestinal flora in rats under conditions of altered propulsion. Our results failed to confirm the striking changes in flora and histological appearance produced by a ganglion-blocking agent reported in another study. Agents which moderately retarded propulsion (mecamylamine, chlorisondamine, and morphine) produced only a slight increase in some organisms, in comparison to the gross overgrowth associated with the extreme stagnation from ileal obstruction. Treatments which mildly accelerated propulsion (tolazoline, neostigmine, and fasting) reduced the population of only a few organisms. We found an overgrowth of bacteria in two situations where propulsion was actually accelerated, indomethacin-induced ulceration and whole body X-irradiation. Marked morphological mucosal changes were present in both of these situations. It appears that extreme forms of stagnation are necessary to produce significant bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine of rats, and striking bacterial overgrowth can occur in the absence of retarded small intestinal propulsion, especially if there is mucosal damage.
THE YIELD AND PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF SINGLE-PHOTON EMISSION COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (SPECT) MYOCARDIAL PERFUSION IMAGING (MPI) IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE (CKD) IN THE PRE-OPERATIVE SETTING: ABNORMAL TESTS DO NOT PREDICT MEDIUM-TERM MORTALITY

CKD is an independent risk factor for development of coronary heart disease (CHD), and is considered a CHD risk equivalent. The value of SPECT MPI in screening for ischemia and assessing pre-operative risk is poorly defined in patients with CKD. Our institutional stress database was queried for
Electrical Properties of Crystalline and Amorphous Pb(ZrxTi1−x)O3 Thin Films Prepared by the Sol-Gel Technique

Pb(ZrxTi1−x)O3 (PZT) solutions were prepared by reacting lead 2-ethylhexanoate with titanium n-propoxide and zirconium n-propoxide. Films were deposited on several kinds of metal substrate by dip-coating. Crystalline PZT films and amorphous PZT films were heat-treated for 1 hour at 650°C and at 400°C, respectively. Electrical properties including dielectric, pyroelectric and ferroelectric properties of both crystalline and amorphous PZT films were measured and compared. The amorphous PZT thin films exhibited ferroelectric-like behaviors.
Criminal histories of a subsample of animal cruelty offenders

Abstract Existing research suggests that various forms of family violence such as domestic violence and child abuse tend to coexist or cluster. Although the link between animal cruelty and domestic violence is well publicized, little research has examined various forms of animal abuse and possible links between corresponding forms of interpersonal offenses. The present study examined a subsample obtained from the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit. (BAU) III — Crimes Against Children, which included the criminal histories of 150 adult males arrested for animal cruelty, neglect or sexual abuse in the U.S. between 2004 and 2009. The sample was described in terms of demographic and criminal characteristics. Results indicated that 41% of the offenders in the sample were arrested for interpersonal violence at least once, 18% were arrested for a sex offense such as rape or child molestation, and 28% were arrested for another interpersonal crime such as violating a restraining order or harassment. Significant relationships were discovered between Active animal cruelty (such as beating or stabbing) and both interpersonal violence and substance abuse as well as between sexually abusing animals and sexual offending against humans. These results point to the need for increased collaboration between animal welfare agencies and the social service and legal entities responsible for protecting domestic violence victims, children, elders, and others at risk groups.
Application of Computer Management System in Hospital’s Pharmacy

Objective: To strengthen the standardized and scientific management of hospital medicine, correctly master the medication dynamics, elevate working efficiency, and help computer information system to provide better service forpharmacy. Method: Through making introduction of the composition and flow setting of current pharmacy’s computer system, it analyzes the application situation of computer in clinic pharmacy management. Result: The enhancing computer system is able to strengthen the medicine management, elevate working efficiency, and medicine service level. Conclusion: The application of management system of pharmacy information has changed the traditional hospital management model, which is an inevitable trend for medicine field to realize scientific management.
Effects of sample storage and delayed secondary enrichment on detection of Salmonella spp in swine feces.

OBJECTIVE To determine effects of fecal sample storage and delayed secondary enrichment (DSE) on detection of Salmonella spp in swine feces. Sample Population-Fecal samples obtained from 84 pigs in a commercial herd. PROCEDURE Each fecal sample underwent 3 storage treatments: no storage (ie, processed on the day of collection), storage at 4 C for 6 days, and storage at -15 C for 14 days. After assigned storage treatments, all samples were enriched in Rappaport-Vassiladias (RV) broth (single enrichment) and plated on XLT4 agar. Delayed secondary enrichment was performed, using single enrichment broths that were stored for 4 days at room temperature. RESULTS Of 504 cultures, 186 (36.9%) were Salmonella positive. A difference in proportions of samples with positive results was not found between same-day processing and storage at 4 C for 6 days. Compared with use of single enrichment for 24 hours (34% positive), use of DSE resulted in a greater proportion (40%; P < 0.001) of samples with positive results. Estimated relative sensitivities for the storage methods were 0.90, 0.85, and 0.71 for same-day processing, storage at 4 C for 6 days, and storage at -15 C for 14 days, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Where practical, processing of fecal samples on the day of collection is recommended, although storage at 4 C for several days does not result in marked loss of sensitivity. Improved detection associated with DSE warrants further investigation and optimization.
Satellite Test of the Equivalence Principle as a Probe of Modified Newtonian Dynamics.

The proposed satellite test of the equivalence principle (STEP) will detect possible violations of the weak equivalence principle by measuring relative accelerations between test masses of different composition with a precision of one part in $1{0}^{18}$. A serendipitous by-product of the experimental design is that the absolute or common-mode acceleration of the test masses is also measured to high precision as they oscillate along a common axis under the influence of restoring forces produced by the position sensor currents, which in drag-free mode lead to Newtonian accelerations as small as ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}14}\text{ }\text{ }g$. This is deep inside the low-acceleration regime where modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND) diverges strongly from the Newtonian limit of general relativity. We show that MOND theories (including those based on the widely used ``$n$ family'' of interpolating functions as well as the covariant tensor-vector-scalar formulation) predict an easily detectable increase in the frequency of oscillations of the STEP test masses if the strong equivalence principle holds. If it does not hold, MOND predicts a cumulative increase in oscillation amplitude which is also detectable. STEP thus provides a new and potentially decisive test of Newton's law of inertia, as well as the equivalence principle in both its strong and weak forms.
Improving the Comprehensive Care of Patients With Hypersomnia Disorders: A Commentary on "Behavioral Sleep Medicine Services for Hypersomnia Disorders: A Survey Study".

“The goal [of treatment] should be to produce the fullest possible return of normal function for patients at work, at school, at home, and socially” (Morgenthaler et al., 2007, p. 1707).Hypersomnia...
Eliminating Cholera Transmission in Haiti.

Hurricane Matthew exacerbated the cholera epidemic that began in Haiti in 2010. Now an expert panel offers recommendations for combating cholera transmission, including mass administration of oral cholera vaccine along with water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions.
PATENT POLICIES FOR GOVERNMENT-SUPPORTED RESEARCH (USA)

Creative destruction is the essential fact about capitalism…it is, by nature, a form or method of economic change, and not only never is—but never can be stationary…. The fundamental impulse that sets and keeps the capitalist engine in motion comes from the new consumer goods, the new methods of production… the new markets, the new form of industrial organization that capitalist enterprise creates .
Effects of desiccation and starvation on thermal tolerance and the heat-shock response in forest ants

Temperature increases associated with global climate change are likely to be accompanied by additional environmental stressors such as desiccation and food limitation, which may alter how temperature impacts organismal performance. To investigate how interactions between stressors influence thermal tolerance in the common forest ant, Aphaenogaster picea, we compared the thermal resistance of workers to heat shock with and without pre-exposure to desiccation or starvation stress. Knockdown (KD) time at 40.5 °C of desiccated ants was reduced 6% compared to controls, although longer exposure to desiccation did not further reduce thermal tolerance. Starvation, in contrast, had an increasingly severe effect on thermal tolerance: at 21 days, average KD time of starved ants was reduced by 65% compared to controls. To test whether reduction in thermal tolerance results from impairment of the heat-shock response, we measured basal gene expression and transcriptional induction of two heat-shock proteins (hsp70 and hsp40) in treated and control ants. We found no evidence that either stressor impaired the Hsp response: both desiccation and starvation slightly increased basal Hsp expression under severe stress conditions and did not affect the magnitude of induction under heat shock. These results suggest that the co-occurrence of multiple environmental stressors predicted by climate change models may make populations more vulnerable to future warming than is suggested by the results of single-factor heating experiments.
Physical Compatibility of Meropenem and Vaborbactam With Select Intravenous Drugs During Simulated Y-site Administration

Abstract Purpose Meropenem/vaborbactam is a novel intravenous antibiotic combining the carbapenem, meropenem, with a novel β-lactamase inhibitor, vaborbactam. Meropenem/vaborbactam is administered as a 3-hour infusion given every 8 hours, thereby potentially restricting an intravenous line for 9 h/d. Intravenous medications may be given concurrently via Y-site when compatibility data are available. Herein, physical compatibility was determined for the identification which medications can be coadministered with meropenem/vaborbactam via Y-site. Methods Y-site administration was simulated in vitro by admixing 5 mL of meropenem 8 mg/mL and vaborbactam 8 mg/mL with an equal volume of 88 other diluted intravenous medications, including 34 antimicrobials. All other medications were diluted with 0.9% sodium chloride to the upper range of concentrations considered standard for intravenous infusion. Visual inspection, turbidity measurement, and pH measurement were performed prior to admixture, directly after admixture, and at time points up to 3 hours after admixture. Findings Of the 88 medications tested, meropenem/vaborbactam was compatible with 73 (83%), including many antibiotics such as aminoglycosides (amikacin, gentamicin, and tobramycin), colistin, fosfomycin, linezolid, tedizolid, tigecycline, and vancomycin. Physical incompatibility was observed with albumin, amiodarone, anidulafungin, calcium chloride, caspofungin, ceftaroline, ciprofloxacin, daptomycin, diphenhydramine, dobutamine, isavuconazole, midazolam, nicardipine, ondansetron, and phenytoin. Implications The majority of intravenous medications tested were found to be physically compatible with meropenem/vaborbactam. These data will help pharmacists and nurses to improve line access in patients receiving meropenem/vaborbactam.
Semi-soft Clustering of Single Cell Data

Motivated by the dynamics of development, in which cells of recognizable types, or pure cell types, transition into other types over time, we propose a method of semi-soft clustering that can classify both pure and intermediate cell types from data on gene expression or protein abundance from individual cells. Called SOUP, for Semi-sOft clUstering with Pure cells, this novel algorithm reveals the clustering structure for both pure cells, which belong to one single cluster, as well as transitional cells with soft memberships. SOUP involves a two-step process: identify the set of pure cells and then estimate a membership matrix. To find pure cells, SOUP uses the special block structure the K cell types form in a similarity matrix, devised by pairwise comparison of the gene expression profiles of individual cells. Once pure cells are identified, they provide the key information from which the membership matrix can be computed. SOUP is applicable to general clustering problems as well, as long as the unrestrictive modeling assumptions hold. The performance of SOUP is documented via extensive simulation studies. Using SOUP to analyze two single cell data sets from brain shows it produce sensible and interpretable results.
How Do Organizations Publish Semantic Markup? Three Case Studies Using Public Schema.org Crawls

Jointly launched in mid-2011 by major search engines like Google and Bing, Schema.org is designed to facilitate structured and knowledge graph–centric search applications on the Web. The Web Data Commons project has crawled increasing amounts of Schema.org data in recent years, providing a golden opportunity for socio-technological data studies that consider the semantics of content. The authors present empirical studies of organizations in three economic sectors that expose semantically linked Schema.org annotations.
Low-Power Design with NISC Technology

The power consumption of an embedded application can be reduced by moving as much computation as possible from runtime to compile time, and by customizing the microprocessor architecture to minimize number of cycles. This chapter introduces a new generation of processors, called No-Instruction-Set- Computer (NISC), that gives the full control of the datapath to the compiler, in order to simplify the controller hardware, and enable fast architecture customizations.
Diastrophisms: visual and sound assembly in remembrance of an earthquake

Diastrophisms is a sound installation with a modular system that sends images through rhythmic patterns. It is built on a set of debris from the Alto Rio building that was destroyed by the 27F earthquake in 2010 in Chile. Diastrophisms explores poetical, critical and political crossings between technology and matter in order to raise questions about the relationship between human beings and nature, to consider the construction of memory in a community by questioning the notion of monument, and to imagine new forms of communication in times of crisis.
Multiple intraosseous cervical pneumatocysts: A case report of a rare incidental finding on cone-beam computed tomography

This report presents a case of cervical pneumatocysts as an incidental finding on cone-beam computed tomography. Pneumatocysts are gas-containing lesions of unknown etiology. They usually present in the ilium or sacrum, adjacent to the sacroiliac joint. In the literature, 21 case reports have described cervical pneumatocysts. Cervical pneumatocysts should be differentiated from other lesions, such as osteomyelitis, osteonecrosis, and neoplasms, as well as post-traumatic and post-surgical cases. Computed tomography, cone-beam computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging are appropriate tools to diagnose cervical pneumatocysts.
Submaximal Marker for Investigating Peak Muscle Torque Using Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation after Paralysis

Abstract Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in deleterious skeletal muscle adaptations, such as relevant atrophy and loss of force. In particular, the relevant loss of lower-limb force-generating cap...
Integrating Results of Field Biomonitoring and Mesocosm Experiments To Validate Postspill Impacts of Petroleum Hydrocarbons on Stream Benthic Communities

We integrated the results of field surveys with a mesocosm experiment to quantify the ecological impacts of a gasoline and diesel spill on a third-order stream in western Colorado (United States). The spill caused a massive fish-kill of brown trout ( Salmo trutta) and mottled sculpin ( Cottus bairdii), which extended several kilometers downstream. Despite significant decreases in petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations, subsequent surveys indicated little recovery of fish populations 4 years after the spill. Benthic macroinvertebrate communities were also affected, yet some metrics commonly used to assess stream ecological integrity (e.g., total abundance and species richness) showed no difference between impacted and reference sites. The failure of some groups to recover 2.5 years after the spill was likely a result of their comparatively slow reproduction and recolonization rates. To support our hypothesis that effects observed in the field resulted from petroleum exposure, we conducted a mesocosm experiment in which benthic macroinvertebrate communities were exposed to a simulated diesel spill. We observed significant decreases in the abundance of most macroinvertebrate groups at the lowest exposure concentration (75 mg/L diesel) and a strong concentration-dependent drift response across all groups. Our study suggests that relatively small petroleum spills can significantly affect stream communities, and these effects may persist several years after sediment concentrations return to background levels.
Reduced Collatz Dynamics Data Reveals Properties for the Future Proof of Collatz Conjecture

Collatz conjecture is also known as 3X + 1 conjecture. For verifying the conjecture, we designed an algorithm that can output reduced dynamics (occurred 3 × x + 1 or x/2 computations from a starting integer to the first integer smaller than the starting integer) and original dynamics of integers (from a starting integer to 1). Especially, the starting integer has no upper bound. That is, extremely large integers with length of about 100,000 bits, e.g., 2100000 − 1, can be verified for Collatz conjecture, which is much larger than current upper bound (about 260). We analyze the properties of those data (e.g., reduced dynamics) and discover the following laws; reduced dynamics is periodic and the period is the length of its reduced dynamics; the count of x/2 equals to minimal integer that is not less than the count of (3 × x + 1)/2 times ln(1.5)/ln(2). Besides, we observe that all integers are partitioned regularly in half and half iteratively along with the prolonging of reduced dynamics, thus given a reduced dynamics we can compute a residue class that presents this reduced dynamics by a proposed algorithm. It creates one-to-one mapping between a reduced dynamics and a residue class. These observations from data can reveal the properties of reduced dynamics, which are proved mathematically in our other papers (see references). If it can be proved that every integer has reduced dynamics, then every integer will have original dynamics (i.e., Collatz conjecture will be true). The data set includes reduced dynamics of all odd positive integers in [3, 99999999] whose remainder is 3 when dividing 4, original dynamics of some extremely large integers, and all computer source codes in C that implement our proposed algorithms for generating data (i.e., reduced or original dynamics).
The Cultured Murine Epidermal Keratinocyte and Studies of Differentiation

A gradient of free Ca2+ exists in mouse and human epidermis in which the Ca2+ environment of the basal cell layer is substantially below serum Ca2+ while that of the granular cell layer is unusually high. Reduction of extracellular Ca2+ concentration (Cao) in the medium of keratinocyte cultures maintains a basal cell phenotype in the substrate attached population while Ca2+ concentrations in the range found in serum induce terminal differentiation. Measurements of intracellular Ca2+ (Cai) by the use of the Ca2+ sensitive fluorescent dye Fura 2 and digital imaging technology reveal that Cai under basal cell culture conditions is about 25–40 nM and increases 10–20 fold in response to an increase in Cao Concomitant with the rise in Cai is a rapid increase in the metabolism of phosphatidylinositol (PI) to yield inositol phosphates and diacylglycerol. PI metabolism is also stimulated by calcium ionophores suggesting that a rise in Cai is directly responsible for stimulating PI metabolism. Phorbol esters, which activate cellular protein kinase C, also induce epidermal differentiation in vivo and in vitro even when Cao is low. Since stimulating PI metabolism by the addition of bacterial phospholipase C to culture medium mimics the action of phorbol esters, a trigger for epidermal differentiation in vivo and in vitro is likely to be the activation of PI turnover. The consequent increase in diacylgfycerol and Cai would activate protein kinase C and trigger the differentiation program. The importance of the proper Cao and Cai is emphasized since the expression of specific markers of keratinocyte differentiation in vitro is linked to specific Cao, and marker expression is sequentially regulated.
Alternative measurements of productive efficiency in the global bleached softwood pulp sector.

In this article, we conduct a productive efficiency analysis using the two major methods: stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) and data envelopment analysis (DEA). First, we demonstrate the steps and assumptions involved in SFA and DEA, and highlight their strengths and weaknesses. Then we apply them to the case of bleached softwood kraft pulp production to derive technical and allocative efficiency measures for 102 mills in the world. We find that in general, the SFA cost-efficiency levels are higher than their DEA counterparts, and much of the cost inefficiency is caused by inappropriate input mix, or allocative inefficiency, instead of the way with which inputs are converted into outputs, or technical inefficiency. In addition, SFA and DEA results rank some of the producers in different orders. We also find that while cost-efficiency levels vary in different regions, most producers have substantial opportunities to make improvements. Finally, we discuss implications of our study.
X-ray radiation effects on thin film nanocomposites of functionalized and copper coated multi-walled carbon nanotube and poly(methyl methacrylate)

Abstract Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanocomposites have the potential to be deployed as sensing elements for various applications including ionizing radiation detection. In this work, a 160 kV x-ray ionizing radiation source has been used to study the ionizing radiation dose rate effects on Ferrocene doped MWCNTs, MWCNTs functionalized with - carboxylic acid (COOH), hydrogen peroxide, amine, and MWCNTs coated/ modified with copper. Solution blending method was used in synthesizing the nanocomposites and the synthesized composites were cast on interdigitated electrodes (IDEs) to perform radiation sensing experiments by monitoring changes in the films’ resistance. We have observed a clear, repeatable and proportionate response curve for radiation dose rate measurements with Ferrocene doped MWCNT/PMMA thin film composites. A weaker response is observed for functionalized MWCNT/PMMA films. Ferrocene doped MWCNT/PMMA composite showed the most increased sensitivity to x-ray radiation when compared to all other functional groups reported here and as compared to unfunctionalized MWCNT/PMMA composites. Ferrocene doped MWCNT/PMMA films’ resistance changed over 18% compared to changes observed for unfunctionalized MWCNT/PMMA films of about 6%. Accelerated post radiation recovery of Ferrocene doped MWCNT/PMMA composites using a heat treatment technique is presented. The results of this study suggest that simple sensor elements based on relatively economical MWCNTs could be useful for the detection of ionizing radiation.
Rotational Direction Detection Using Tactile Sensor and External Camera

The data-driven grasping methods have become popular recently and it is not necessary to analytically understand the physics of an object. However, when a robot arm lifts an object (especially a heavy object) with a gripper, in order to make a stable grasp, the grasping torque between the robot fingers and the object should be considered. This torque is related to the displacement between current grasping position and the object’s Center-of-Mass (CoM). High grasping torque may exceed the hardware strength limits and lead to serious robot damage, or destroy the object.Inspired by human grasping behavior, this paper presents a novel yet intuitive approach. Through analyzing a sequence of images recorded by an external camera and a GelSight sensor, a robot can detect the rotational direction of an object without any pre-knowledge of the object’s physical parameters. To evaluate the performance of our proposed method, we test 8 unseen objects in 1,128 grasps. A rotational direction detection accuracy of 88.28% is achieved.Instead of measuring the grasping torque with a torque sensor, by using the detected rotational direction as feedback, a robot can continuously optimize and update its grasping strategy, and perform re-grasping manipulation to approach the object’s CoM and decrease the grasping torque. Our method can enable a closed-loop vision-tactile-based feedback control to apply a stable grasp with proper grasping position and torque.
Medical Therapeutic Yoga for multiple sclerosis: examining self-efficacy for physical activity, motivation for physical activity, and quality of life outcomes.

Purpose: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an incurable neurodegenerative disease that results in deficits in physical and cognitive function, and often fosters low levels of self-efficacy for physical ac...
How to build a successful urgent-start peritoneal dialysis program

In-center hemodialysis (HD) remains the predominant dialysis therapy in patients with ESKD. Many patients with ESKD present in late stage, requiring urgent dialysis initiation, and the majority start HD with central venous catheters (CVCs), which are associated with poor outcomes and high cost of care. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheters can be safely placed in such patients with late-presenting ESKD, obviating the need for CVCs. PD can begin almost immediately in the recumbent position, using low fill volumes. Such PD initiations, commencing within 2 weeks of the catheter placement, are termed urgent-start PD (USPD). Most patients with an intact peritoneal cavity and stable home situation are eligible for USPD. Although there is a small risk of PD catheter–related mechanical complications, most can be managed conservatively. Moreover, overall outcomes of USPD are comparable to those with planned PD initiations, in contrast to the high rate of catheter-related infections and bacteremia associated with urgent-start HD. The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has further exposed the vulnerability of patients with ESKD getting in-center HD. PD can mitigate the risk of infection by reducing environmental exposure to the virus. Thus, USPD is a safe and cost-effective option for unplanned dialysis initiation in patients with late-presenting ESKD. To develop a successful USPD program, a strong infrastructure with clear pathways is essential. Coordination of care between nephrologists, surgeons or interventionalists, and hospital and PD center staff is imperative so that patient education, home visits, PD catheter placements, and urgent PD initiations are accomplished expeditiously. Implementation of urgent-start PD will help to increase PD use, reduce cost, and improve patient outcomes, and will be a step forward in fostering the goal set by the Advancing American Kidney Health initiative.
Abstract 1027: Inhibition of c-MET upregulates PD-L1 related immune escape in lung adenocarcinoma

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with c-MET dysregulation may benefit from c-MET inhibitors therapy as inhibition of c-MET activity has emerged as a therapeutic approach against this disease. Although several c-MET inhibitors have been evaluated in phase III clinical trials in lung cancer, their benefits so far have been modest. Thus, furthering our understanding of the mechanisms contributing to the lack of success of c-MET inhibitors in clinical trials is essential toward the development of rational and effective combination strategies. Here we show that exposure of NCSLC cell lines to c-MET inhibitor tivantinib increases their expression of PD-L1, which in turn causes cells to become more resistant to T-cell killing. Tivantinib upregulates PD-L1 in NSCLC cells in dose and time-dependent manner. Mechanistically, inhibition of c-MET suppresses p-GSK3-beta, leading to the stabilization of PD-L1. Collectively, our findings suggest a potential crosstalk between c-Met inhibition and immune escape and provide a rationale for the combination therapy of c-Met inhibitors and immune checkpoint blockade in NSCLC. Citation Format: Xian Sun, Chia-Wei Li, Wei-Jan Wang, Mien-Chie Hung. Inhibition of c-MET upregulates PD-L1 related immune escape in lung adenocarcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 1027.
Increased complement activation is a distinctive feature of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Complement activation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, it remains to be determined whether increased complement activation is a broad indicator of critical illness (and thus, no different in COVID-19). It is also unclear which pathways are contributing to complement activation in COVID-19, and, if complement activation is associated with certain features of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, such as endothelial injury and hypercoagulability. To address these questions, we investigated complement activation in the plasma from patients with COVID-19 prospectively enrolled at two tertiary care centers. We compared our patients to two non-COVID cohorts: (a) patients hospitalized with influenza, and (b) patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with acute respiratory failure requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). We demonstrate that circulating markers of complement activation (i.e., sC5b-9) are elevated in patients with COVID-19 compared to those with influenza and to patients with non-COVID-19 respiratory failure. Further, the results facilitate distinguishing those who are at higher risk of worse outcomes such as requiring ICU admission, or IMV. Moreover, the results indicate enhanced activation of the alternative complement pathway is most prevalent in patients with severe COVID-19 and is associated with markers of endothelial injury (i.e., Ang2) as well as hypercoagulability (i.e., thrombomodulin and von Willebrand factor). Our findings identify complement activation to be a distinctive feature of COVID-19, and provide specific targets that may be utilized for risk prognostication, drug discovery and personalized clinical trials. Summmary Complement has been implicated in COVID-19. However, whether this is distinctive of COVID-19 remains unanswered. Ma et al report increased complement activation in COVID-19 compared to influenza and non-COVID respiratory failure, and demonstrate alternative pathway activation as a key marker of multiorgan failure and death.
Living Donor Liver Transplantation in the United States: Evolution of Frequency, Outcomes, Center Volumes, and Factors Associated With Outcomes

Recent modifications in organ allocation policies and increases in chronic liver diseases may have resulted in important changes in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in the United States. We examined the trends, outcomes, and factors associated with outcomes in adult LDLT. United Network for Organ Sharing data on 2566 adult LDLT recipients who received transplants from January 1, 2010, through December 31, 2019, were analyzed. LDLT graft and patient survival rates were compared with propensity score-matched deceased donor liver transplantation recipients by the Kaplan-Meier curve estimator. The association between preceding LDLT frequency and subsequent outcomes were assessed by Cox proportional hazards mixed effects modeling. After a stable annual frequency of LDLTs from 2010 to 2014 (~200 per year), the number of LDLTs doubled to 440 in 2019. The 1-year and 5-year graft survival rates for LDLT recipients were 88.4% and 78.1%, respectively, compared with 92.5% and 80.7% in the propensity score-matched donation after brain death recipients (P = 0.005), respectively. Older donor age and recipient diabetes mellitus and life support requirement were significantly associated with graft failure among LDLT recipients (P values 20 per year resulted in 1-year graft survival rates of 82%, 88% to 89%, and 93%, respectively (P values <0.05). There were 3 living donor deaths (0.12%). The frequency of LDLTs has doubled during the past decade, with good outcomes and acceptable donor safety profiles. However, there appear to be varying threshold transplant frequencies (volume/unit time) associated with acceptable (88%-89%) and aspirational (93%) 1-year graft survival rates. These data should be reassuring and encourage LDLT practice as efforts continue to expand the donor pool.
Impact of Prophylactic Ureaplasma-Directed Antimicrobials in Lung Donors

Purpose Hyperammonemia syndrome (HS) is a fatal complication, refractory to medical treatment, which can affect over 5% of lung transplant as well as other solid organ recipients. We recently discovered that a Mollicute, Ureaplasma spp, leads to the development of HS. Subsequently, in a prospective study, we found a high incidence of Ureaplasma in the donor lungs which is associated with serious post-transplant complications. Here, we evaluated the impact of prophylactic Ureaplasma treatment for lung donors. Methods A single institution lung transplant study with consecutive patients with lung transplant from 2014 through 2020. We included consecutive patients from January 2014 through August 2020, and total 13 patients were included. Lung donors were treated prophylactically using a dual antimicrobial agent with a fluoroquinolone (levofloxacin 500mg q12h) and azithromycin (500mg IV q24h) after Septembver 2017. Results While two patients died of HS prior to the initiation of Ureaplasma prophylaxis, there were no new cases of HS in 92 consecutive patients (6.8% vs 0% respectively, p=0.01) subsequently (Table 1). Additionally, following initiation of Ureaplasma prophylaxis, the incidence of Ureaplasma infection in donor lungs reduced from 27.5% to 9.7% (p=0.01). The median duration of antimicrobial therapy in the donor was 1.7 days. Conclusion Given the high rates of Ureaplasma infection approaching 30% in the donor lungs, as well as the morbidity and mortality associated with recipient Ureaplasma infection, we propose that donor lungs be screened prior to implantation. However, when that is not feasible, the short duration of Ureaplasma prophylaxis is a safe and highly effective alternative to completely prevent the fatal hyperammonemia syndrome.
Organizational innovativeness and firm performance: Does sales management matter?

Abstract Salespeople interact with individual customers to drive revenues by identifying and finding solutions for customer needs. The external knowledge salespeople acquire in conjunction with the network position they hold in their firm suggests that the sales force has great value in facilitating organizational innovativeness. Sales managers set the tone for sales operations, and an intellectually stimulating sales manager can create ripple effects of innovative thinking across the sales force and organization. In this paper, we propose that sales manager intellectual stimulation helps drive organizational innovativeness and, in turn, sales growth. Survey data collected from a cross-industry sample of business-to-business sales leaders are linked to an objective measure of firm sales growth. The results indicate that sales manager intellectual stimulation leads to organizational innovativeness. They also suggest that the degree to which the sales department is integrated within the firm strengthens this positive relationship. Finally, the relationship between organizational innovativeness and sales growth follows a non-linear U shape.
A coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical model for simulating leakoff-dominated hydraulic fracturing with application to geologic carbon storage

Abstract A potential risk of injecting CO2 into storage reservoirs with marginal permeability (≲ 10 mD (1 mD = 10−15 m2)) is that commercial injection rates could induce fracturing of the reservoir and/or the caprock. Such fracturing is essentially fluid-driven fracturing in the leakoff-dominated regime. Recent studies suggested that fracturing, if contained within the lower portion of the caprock complex, could substantially improve the injectivity without compromising the overall seal integrity. Modeling this phenomenon entails complex coupled interactions among the fluids, the fracture, the reservoir, and the caprock. We develop a simple method to capture all these interplays in high fidelity by sequentially coupling a hydraulic fracturing module with a coupled thermal-hydrological-mechanical (THM) model for nonisothermal multiphase flow. The model was made numerically tractable by taking advantage of self-stabilizing features of leakoff-dominated fracturing. The model is validated against the PKN solution in the leakoff-dominated regime. Moreover, we employ the model to study thermo-poromechanical responses of a fluid-driven fracture in a field-scale carbon storage reservoir that is loosely based on the In Salah project's Krechba reservoir. The model reveals complex yet intriguing behaviors of the reservoir-caprock-fluid system with fracturing induced by cold CO2 injection. We also study the effects of the in situ stress contrast between the reservoir and caprock and thermal contraction on the vertical containment of the fracture. The proposed model proves effective in simulating practical problems on length and time scales relevant to geological carbon storage.
Ramanujan in Mauritius

Srinivasa Ramanujan has made a deep and lasting impact on many branches of mathematics and his name is well known throughout the world. But it would come as a surprise to know that he is a major force even in the remote island of Mauritius in the southernmost part of the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa! I had an opportunity to be the Chief Guest at a Ramanujan memorial event in Mauritius in March 2017 when prizes were distributed to the Third Ramanujan Mathematics Contest Winners on the campus of the University of Mauritius. My wife Mathura and I enjoyed our visit immensely and I shall now describe some of the unique aspects of this Ramanujan movement in Mauritius and the attractions (both academic and geographic) of this charming island country.
1 H NMR Studies of Intramolecular OH/OH Hydrogen Bonds via Titratable Isotope Shifts.

Methanol titrations of partially deuterated 1,4- and 1,3-diols dissolved in nonpolar solvents such as CD2Cl2 and benzene-d6 have provided 1H NMR measurements of OH/OD isotope shifts, diagnostic for intact intramolecular hydrogen bonds, under conditions of increasing protic solvent concentration. 1,4- and 1,3-diols with conformationally favored intramolecular OH/OH hydrogen bonds can be titrated to constant isotope shift values, albeit with variable sign, in the presence of excess methanol equivalents, providing evidence for intact intramolecular hydrogen bonds under these conditions. Conversely, the isotope shift in a 1,3-diol with a conformationally labile intramolecular hydrogen bond titrated to zero when in the presence of excess equivalents methanol, consistent with intramolecular hydrogen bond rupture under these conditions. Additionally, the titration behavior of hydroxyl chemical shifts in diols and protected derivatives has revealed significant OH/OD isotope shifts in the absence of chemical shift differences (δOHin = δOHout) that are necessary for an equilibrium isotope effect, lending evidence for an intrinsic contribution to the isotope effect. OH/OD isotope shift titration thus provides a means for understanding the origins of these isotope effects and for probing the intact or nonintact nature of intramolecular OH/OH hydrogen bonds in response to intermolecular hydrogen bonds provided by a protic solvent.
The Future of Banking in America - The Mixing of Banking and Commerce: Current Policy Issues

This paper examines the arguments in terms of the public interest; reviews the evidence about an alleged long-standing principle of separation; explores the benefits of, and then the risks posed by, affiliations between banking and commerce; discusses firewalls and prudential supervision; spells out two approaches to regulating affiliations; and concludes with a summary and a discussion of policy implications.