cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The c-SMAC: sorting it all out (or in)

T cells integrate and transduce the key signals necessary to mount an appropriate immune response. To do this, they rely on both secreted factors as well as physical cell–cell contact. Much attention has focused on the organization of proteins at the contact area between a T cell and an antigen-presenting cell, known as the immunological synapse. It has been shown in vitro that proteins segregate into two distinct regions within this contact area, a central area referred to as the c-SMAC, where the T cell receptor and associated signaling molecules are enriched, and a peripheral region called the p-SMAC containing LFA-1 and the scaffolding protein talin. Whether or not these structures form in vivo and how they function in T cell activation remain issues of great interest. Here, we review recently published work and propose several possible functions for the role of the c-SMAC in T cell activation.
Freshwater flow into a coastal embayment: Groundwater and surface water inputs

Freshwater discharge to a shallow coastal embayment was measured with two upland hydrologic and three embayment physical methods for 2 yr. Parallel measurements from the five methods ranged from 3,900 (+-630) to 9,400 (+3,400) m3 d-l, and four of the methods showed close agreement and averaged 4,800 (rt670) m3 d-l. The most precise estimate of discharge was from a chloride balance, while the best understanding of the rate and pattern of groundwater flow was from a Darcian streamtube approach. Groundwater dominated the freshwater budget, accounting for >95% of the total annual input, and was partitioned almost equally between direct seepage to embayment waters and seepage to a stream with final discharge via surface flow. Freshwater inputs decreased rapidly toward the mouth of the estuary and > 80% entered into the upper half. The lack of fixed watershed boundaries resulted in large errors in both the location and area of the topographically defined watershed when compared to a watershed defined by water-table mapping. Seasonal variations were found in both the boundaries of the watershed (8%) and in groundwater discharge (6-fold) in response to changing water-table gradients due to recharge. Hydrologic alterations of the upland through the import of water and the increased recharge from impermeable surfaces led to an apparent increase in the total freshwater discharge to the embayment of nearly 50% over “natural” levels.
Community-onset invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections following hospital discharge

Background The majority of invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in the United States are community-onset and occur in persons with recent health care exposure. Methods We performed a matched case-control study to identify risk factors for invasive MRSA infection among recently discharged patients. Cases had MRSA cultured from a normally sterile body site within 100 days following hospital discharge. Controls were matched on hospital, week of admission, and age. Results Among 77 cases, the most common types of invasive MRSA infection were bloodstream infection and osteomyelitis. Independent risk factors were a history of a MRSA-positive clinical culture from a superficial body site in the 12 months preceding the invasive infection (matched odds ratio [mOR], 23; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.7-142), hemodialysis (mOR, 21; 95% CI: 1.7-257), prior hospitalization length of stay >5 days (mOR, 4.5; 95% CI: 1.6-12), and male sex (mOR, 2.9; 95% CI: 1.1-7.9). Conclusion Risk factors for postdischarge invasive MRSA infections can be identified prior to discharge and remain with the patient after the hospitalization ends. Measures to prevent community-onset invasive MRSA infections might start in the hospital but should also be evaluated in postdischarge settings.
The public letter as a rhetorical form: Structure, logic, and style in king's “letter from Birmingham jail”

The “Letter” is a superb instance of effective rhetoric. King adopted a debater's stance and used his refutative logic to address two audiences simultaneously: his limited clerical audience as opponents and a broader public audience as observers. The “Letter” is adapted to the audiences on structural, logical, and stylistic levels.
LONELINESS IN EVERYDAY LIFE: CARDIOVASCULAR ACTIVITY, PSYCHOSOCIAL CONTEXT, AND HEALTH BEHAVIORS

Prior lab research revealed higher basal total peripheral resistance (TPR) and lower cardiac output (CO) in lonely than in nonlonely young adults. In this study, experience sampling was used to obtain ambulatory blood pressure; impedance cardiography; and reports of activities, appraisals, interactions, and health behaviors. Results confirmed that loneliness predicted higher TPR and lower CO during a normal day. Loneliness did not predict differences in time spent alone, daily activities, or health behaviors but did predict higher stress appraisals and poorer social interactions. Independent of loneliness, interaction quality contributed to TPR. Loneliness differences were not mediated by depressed affect or neuroticism. Social support mediated loneliness differences in stress and threat. Concomitants of loneliness were comparable for men and women. House, Landis, and Umberson (1988) published a classic review of five prospective studies showing that social isolation is a risk factor for broad-based morbidity and mortality. Over the past decade, evidence supporting this association has continued to accrue. Living alone, for example, was found to be an independent risk factor for recurrent myocardial infarctions and cardiac deaths in patients enrolled in the placebo condition of a clinical pharmacological trial (Case, Moss, Case, McDermott, & Eberly, 1992). Similarly, Berkman, Leo-Summers, and Horwitz (1992) controlled for sociodemographic and clinical risk factors and found that the number of sources of social support predicted mortality 6 months after myocardial infarct among 194 participants in the Established
HAPTEN-SPECIFIC STIMULATION OF SECONDARY B CELLS INDEPENDENT OF T CELLS

Treatment of spleen cell suspensions from immunized mice with anti-theta serum and complement before transfer to nonimmune irradiated recipients reduced the degree of in vitro stimulation by hapten-homologous carrier complexes by 90%, but did not decrease at all the number of isolated precursor cells stimulated by hapten on heterologous carriers. Thus, secondary B cells can be stimulated by low concentrations of multiply substituted hapten-carrier complexes in the apparent complete absence of specific T cells.
Improved parameter estimation with noisy data for linear models using higher order statistics and inverse filter criteria

The problem of estimating the parameters of a non-Gaussian ARMA signal model using higher order statistics is considered. We propose and analyze a novel class of criteria involving explicit higher order whitening, where higher order cumulants of deconvolved data are exploited at a finite number of lags excluding the zero lag. In the presence of a class of measurement noise of unknown covariance/cumulant function, the proposed criteria are shown to yield strongly consistent parameter estimators unlike the Wiggins-Donoho-Shalvi-Weinstein class involving implicit higher order whitening, where higher order cumulants of deconvolved data are exploited only at zero lag. >
Two- and three-dimensional geometrical nonlinear finite elements for analysis of adhesive joints

Abstract Special two- and three-dimensional adhesive elements have been developed for stress and displacement analyses in adhesively bonded joints. Both the 2-D and 3-D elements are used to model the whole adhesive system: adherends and adhesive layer. In the 2-D elements, adherends are represented by Bernoulli beam elements with axial deformation and the adhesive layer by plane stress or plane strain elements. The nodes of the plane stress–strain elements that lie in the adherend–adhesive interface are rigidly linked with the nodes of the beam elements, resulting in the offset nodes which coincide with the midplanes of the adherends. The 3-D elements consist of shell elements that represent the adherends and solid brick elements to model the adhesive. This technique results in smaller models with faster convergence than conventional 3-D finite element models. The resulting mesh can represent arbitrary beam- or plate-like geometries, which are a large part of adhesive joint designs. This model can include debonds as well as cracks within the adhesive, therefore it can be used for durability analysis of adhesive joints. Since large displacements are often observed in adhesively bonded joints, geometric nonlinearity is modeled. 2-D and 3-D stress analyses of single lap joints are presented. Important 3-D effects can be appreciated. A stress analysis of a crack patch geometry is presented.
Erratum: 'Unusual Poisson's Ratios of Pyrolytic Graphite"

T left-hand inequalities in (14) and (15) are erroneous and should be omitted. Thus, (14) and (15) should read as follows: M 0. Combining (11), (12), and the corrected versions of (14) and (15), one obtains the following limitations on JJL and //: 1 < M < 1 ~ 2(»V(E'/E) (A) fji < [(I M)(#/2#')] (B) Thus, for the numerical values of the elastic properties considered in the paper, the limitations are:
To count and how to count, that is the question.

To the Editor I congratulate Parkash et al1 on highlighting an important misunderstanding between pathologists and oncologists. A rash of publications lauding the use of “minimum node count” as a quality measure for evaluation of cancer stage rely on mining cancer registries, such as Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results,2 in which node counting methods are not standardized. Other oncologists suggest that node counts may be increased simply by changing hospital policy (ie, cases with fewer than the required count are reviewed and revised).3 Parkash et al1 demonstrate that such reviews may merely increase counts …
In Search of Memory Traces

The key issue in analyzing brain substrates of memory is the nature of memory traces, how memories are formed, stored, and retrieved in the brain. In order to analyze mechanisms of memory formation it is first necessary to find the loci of memory storage, the classic problem of localization. Various approaches to this issue are reviewed. A particular strategy is proposed that involves a number of different techniques (electrophysiological recording, lesions, electrical stimulation, pathway tracing) to identify the essential memory trace circuit for a given form of learning and memory. The methods of reversible inactivation can be used to localize the memory traces within this circuit. Using classical conditioning of eye blink and other discrete responses as a model system, the essential memory trace circuit is identified, the basic memory trace is localized (to the cerebellum), and putative higher-order memory traces are characterized in the hippocampus.
Infrasonic power-harvesting and nanowatt self-powered sensors

Many signals of interest in structural engineering, for example seismic activity, lie in the infrasonic range (frequency less than 20 Hz). This poses a significant challenge for developing batteryless sensors that are required not only to monitor rare infrasonic events but also to harvest the energy for sensing, computation and storage from the signal being monitored. In this paper, we show that a linear injection response of our previously reported piezo-floating-gate sensor is ideal for self-powered sensing and computation of infrasonic signals. Our experimental results demonstrate that the sensor fabricated in a 0.5µm CMOS technology can compute and record level crossing statistics of an input seismic event. Collected data are in good agreement with results obtained using a standard data acquisition system. Also, the sensor consumes less than 100nA of current, which makes its operation based on infrasonic power-harvesting feasible.
DIFFERENCES IN THE SIZE AT MATURITY OF FEMALE AMERICAN LOBSTERS, HOMARUS AMERICANUS, CAPTURED THROUGHOUT THE RANGE OF THE OFFSHORE FISHERY

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine whether female American lobsters (Homarus americanus) inhabiting different offshore areas reached sexual maturity at different sizes. We determined the sexual maturity of 734 lobsters captured in three different offshore locations (North: Georges Bank and offshore Gulf of Maine; Middle: southern New England shelf and slope and; South: offshore Rhode Island to New Jersey) using a combination of methods including abdominal width : carapace length ratios, cement gland examination, and ovarian staging. Lobsters that experienced the most degree-days > 8°C (dd) reached sexual maturity at smaller sizes. The size at which 50 percent of the lobsters were mature was 79 mm CL for the South (annual dd = 808), 82 mm CL for the Middle (999 dd), and 92 mm CL for the North (234 dd). This regional difference in size at maturity was also manifested in the average size, and range of sizes, of berried females captured in each location. These data will likely be of use when ...
Farm Planning as a Basis for Extending Agricultural Credit

FOR an agriculture in a stage of transition, credit is an instrument that can make change possible with a minimum of social and physical loss. The effective use of that instrument calls for a lending policy that is broadly conceived, well informed, and carefully executed. With the pressure generated by the accelerating adjustments of post war agriculture, credit for farmers is receiving increasing attention. One aspect of this is the growing acceptance of the principle that agricultural credit should be based on potential earning capacity. However, merely accepting a principle does not create a policy. The gap between the need for effective agricultural credit and the practices of the banking system remains unbridged. The task of this paper is to illustrate the use of farm planning as an aid in closing this gap. This division is a dichotomy that has a characteristic common to many other institutional problems-the conflict between the static and the dynamic. On the static side is the credit policy of the banking system, a policy that has grown by accretion, nourished by roots deep in tradition. On the other hand are the needs of a dynamic agriculture for which the past is only a point of departure. Thus a policy designed primarily to provide commercial loans for merchandizing purposes is also expected to serve as a basis for financing production facilities operating over a long period in an enterprise where returns are highly variable from year to year. This policy takes the concrete form of credit practices designed to provide loans on liquid assets with a rigid schedule of repayment to be completed within a short span of time. Loans of this restricted application do not provide the kind of credit instrument farmers need to adjust their production to the income and appetites of the world today. How great the need for such credit may be was illustrated by a recent Journal article written by Professor Theodore Schultz.1 He showed that the productive efficiency of American agriculture vis a vis European agriculture and American industry was lagging far
A Comparative Study of the Reflectance Difference Spectrum from Si(001) Using Reflectance Difference Spectroscopy /Low-Energy Electron Diffraction/Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

From a comparative study using scanning tunneling microscopy, high-resolution lowenergy electron diffraction, and reflectance difference spectroscopy, we investigate the optical anisotropy on clean and H-covered Si(001) surfaces. We demonstrate a high sensitivity of reflectance difference spectroscopy to the surface tructural anisotropy and surface chemistry.
Low-Temperature Solution-Processed Solar Cells Based on PbS Colloidal Quantum Dot/CdS Heterojunctions

PbS colloidal quantum dot heterojunction solar cells have shown significant improvements in performance, mostly based on devices that use high-temperature annealed transition metal oxides to create rectifying junctions with quantum dot thin films. Here, we demonstrate a solar cell based on the heterojunction formed between PbS colloidal quantum dot layers and CdS thin films that are deposited via a solution process at 80 °C. The resultant device, employing a 1,2-ethanedithiol ligand exchange scheme, exhibits an average power conversion efficiency of 3.5%. Through a combination of thickness-dependent current density–voltage characteristics, optical modeling, and capacitance measurements, the combined diffusion length and depletion width in the PbS quantum dot layer is found to be approximately 170 nm.
Tribute to the Honorable Richard S. Arnold

A fellow circuit judge and colleague for fifteen years of the Honorable Richard S. Arnold recounts Judge Arnold’s life and service.
Evaluation of proteomic search engines for the analysis of histone modifications.

Identification of histone post-translational modifications (PTMs) is challenging for proteomics search engines. Including many histone PTMs in one search increases the number of candidate peptides dramatically, leading to low search speed and fewer identified spectra. To evaluate database search engines on identifying histone PTMs, we present a method in which one kind of modification is searched each time, for example, unmodified, individually modified, and multimodified, each search result is filtered with false discovery rate less than 1%, and the identifications of multiple search engines are combined to obtain confident results. We apply this method for eight search engines on histone data sets. We find that two search engines, pFind and Mascot, identify most of the confident results at a reasonable speed, so we recommend using them to identify histone modifications. During the evaluation, we also find some important aspects for the analysis of histone modifications. Our evaluation of different searc...
Molecular Biomarkers in Hematopoietic Neoplasms

Hematologic malignancies are increasingly recognized as genetic diseases, with precise entity-defining molecular alterations progressively splitting diagnostic categories into narrower subsets. While traditional clinical and morphologic evaluation still underpins the initial approach to hematological disease, newer immunologic, genetic, and molecular modalities are currently critical for accurate categorization.
Pan-cancer analysis for studying cancer stage using protein and gene expression data

Pan-cancer analyses attempt to discover similar features among multiple cancers to identify fundamental patterns common to cancer development and progression. A pan-cancer analysis integrating both protein expression and transcriptomic data is important because it can identify genes that are linked to proteins potentially responsible for a patient's status. This study aims to identify differentially expressed (DE) genes between early and advanced cases of multiple cancer types through the usage of RNA sequencing data. The relevance of these genes is further investigated by developing predictive models using K-nearest neighbor and linear discriminant analysis classifiers. The use of cancer-specific and non-cancer specific features resulted in several moderately performing models. Highlighted genes were further investigated to determine if they encoded for proteins identified in a previously conducted pan-cancer analysis. The results of this study suggest that a pan-cancer analysis may be highly complementary to standard analyses of individual cancers for identifying biologically relevant DE genes and can assist in developing effective predictive models for cancer progression.
Heritability of Biomarkers of Oxidized Lipoproteins: Twin Pair Study.

Objective—To determine whether biomarkers of oxidized lipoproteins are genetically determined. Lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) is a heritable risk factor and carrier of oxidized phospholipids (OxPL). Approach and Results—We measured oxidized phospholipids on apolipoprotein B–containing lipoproteins (OxPL-apoB), Lp(a), IgG, and IgM autoantibodies to malondialdehyde-modified low-density lipoprotein, copper oxidized low-density lipoprotein, and apoB-immune complexes in 386 monozygotic and dizygotic twins to estimate trait heritability (h2) and determine specific genetic effects among traits. A genome-wide linkage study followed by genetic association was performed. The h2 (scale: 0–1) for Lp(a) was 0.91±0.01 and for OxPL-apoB 0.87±0.02, which were higher than physiological, inflammatory, or lipid traits. h2 of IgM malondialdehyde-modified low-density lipoprotein, copper oxidized low-density lipoprotein, and apoB-immune complexes were 0.69±0.04, 0.67±0.05, and 0.80±0.03, respectively, and for IgG malondialdehyde-modif...
Psychogenic illness following vaccination: exploratory study of mass vaccination against pandemic influenza A (H1N1) in 2009 in South Korea

Purpose Adverse events during mass vaccination campaigns have had a profoundly negative impact on vaccine coverage rates. The objective of the study was to identify the characteristics of reported psychogenic illness cases following mass vaccination that needed further interventions of the national immunization program. Materials and methods We collected documents that were submitted to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for vaccine injury compensation, and analyzed cases of psychogenic illness following pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccination in 2009 which were confirmed by the Korean Advisory Committee on Vaccine Injury Compensation. Results During the 2009-2010 influenza season, 13 million Koreans were vaccinated against pandemic influenza. Of 28 reported psychogenic illness cases following immunization, 25 were vaccinated through school-located mass immunization. Significant numbers of them were female adolescents (68%) or had underlying vulnerable conditions or emotional life stressors (36%). They required lengthy hospitalization (median, 7 days) and high medical costs (median, US $1,582 per case). Conclusion Health authorities and organizers of future mass vaccinations should be well aware of the possible occurrence of psychogenic illness, acknowledge their detailed characteristics, and take its economic burden into account to mitigate the risk of transmission of infectious diseases efficiently.
Environmentally Friendly β-Cyclodextrin–Ionic Liquid Polyurethane-Modified Magnetic Sorbent for the Removal of PFOA, PFOS, and Cr(VI) from Water

Emerging contaminants such as perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) and heavy metals are of increasing concerns due to their detrimental effects on environment and human health. Their mixtures are often present at contaminated sites that pose a challenge in water remediation. Herein, we report a multifunctional magnetic sorbent (Fe3O4-CDI-IL MNPs) that was prepared by modifying the magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticle with β-cyclodextrin–ionic liquid (β-CD-IL) polyurethanes for the removal of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and Cr(VI) from aqueous solution. The successful grafting of the β-CD-IL polymer on magnetic nanoparticles was confirmed by FTIR, ζ -potential, TGA, and VSM. The sorption behaviors of Fe3O4-CDI-IL MNPs were investigated in terms of sorption kinetics, isotherms, simultaneous removal capability, and reusability. The kinetic results showed that the sorption of PFOS, PFOA, and Cr(VI) reached equilibrium within 4, 6, and 3 h, respectively, and the pseudo-second-order kineti...
Laser induced rapid decontamination of aromatic compound from porous soil simulant

Soil contamination with organic compounds can lead to the loss of farmable and habitable lands and cause long-term human and animal exposure to toxins. This paper reports a new laser based method for in situ soil decontamination at high efficiency, in which a focused excimer laser is used to remove organic contaminants from soil through burning by generating a local high temperature region. An aromatic compound, 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl) ethylene, is used as an organic contaminant, and a porous silica plate is used as a soil simulant. A heat transfer model is created to simulate the interaction between the laser and the organic compound. The lithographic mode of operation allows the accurate quantitation of laser effects. The effects of power, speed, frequency, and energy consumption on the efficiency of decontamination have been examined with high accuracy. The decomposition area increases with the increase in the laser power and the decrease in the scan speed and frequency. Given the high ene...
Spinal Infarct After Lumbar Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection

Abrupt and lasting paraplegia after an epidural steroid injection is most likely the result of injury, thrombosis, and/or embolization of an aberrantly low-lying artery of Adamkiewicz. This plausibly causes ischemia and infarction of the thoracic spinal cord and the use of particulate steroids has been implicated. Supportive care in the immediate post injury phase and long-term rehabilitation are crucial to adequate patient recovery. In this chapter we make recommendations to avoid this rare but devastating complication.
In Utero Exposure to Opioids: An Observational Study of Mothers Involved in the Child Welfare System

Background: Women are underrepresented in the current substance abuse research; however, women are a particularly vulnerable population when it comes to opioid use and abuse. Pregnant women are eve...
Multilingual and multimodal practices at a global startup: Toward a spatial approach to language and literacy in professional contexts

Abstract In the area of literacy studies and ESP scholarship, there has been a shift towards a more holistic approach that situates writing as one resource within a semiotic repertoire. Extending this focus, this case study of an Israeli high-tech startup company uncovers the ways multilingual and multimodal workplace activities are mediated by a complex and dynamic array of text, tools, actors and objects distributed across social and geographic spaces. Central to the analysis is an argument for a more spatialized and material framework for the study and teaching of language and literacy practices.
Refractive outcomes of intraocular lens power calculation using different corneal power measurements with a new optical biometer

Purpose To evaluate the results of intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation using different corneal power measurements provided by an optical biometer combined with a dual Scheimpflug analyzer and a Placido disk topographer (Galilei G6). Setting G.B. Bietti Foundation, Rome, Italy, and Keio University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. Design Evaluation of diagnostic technology. Methods Consecutive patients having cataract surgery were enrolled. The IOL power was calculated with the Barrett Universal II, Haigis, Hoffer Q, Holladay 1, and SRK/T formulas. Different options were used to calculate the corneal power: simulated keratometry (K) based on anterior corneal surface measurements only and total corneal power (TCP) based on ray tracing through both corneal surfaces. Three TCP measurements (TCP1, TCP2, and TCP-IOL) were evaluated. Results The study analyzed 118 eyes. The mean values of simulated K (43.74 diopters [D] ± 1.40 [SD]), TCP1 (43.13 ± 1.35 D), TCP2 (41.87 ± 1.30 D), and TCP-IOL (42.62 ± 1.35 D) were significantly different (P Conclusions Biometric measurements provided by the Scheimpflug–Placido optical biometer can be used to accurately calculate the IOL power. Simulated K and TCP led to similar outcomes after constant optimization.
Compartmentation of Prostaglandin Biosynthetic Enzymes

Prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthase (PGHS) catalyzes the committed step in the formation of prostaglandins and thromboxanes. There are two PGHS isozymes called PGHS-1 and PGHS-2. Both enzymes catalyze formation of PGH2 from arachidonate. The enzymes are similar structurally and have similar kinetic properties. Moreover, both isoenzymes are inhibited by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). PGHS-1 and PGHS-2 are encoded by different genes. In general, PGHS-1 can be viewed as a constitutive enzyme whose expression appears to be regulated developmentally. PGHS-2 is an inducible enzyme which, with a few exceptions, is expressed transiently in response to growth factors, tumor promoters, or cytokines. Here we develop the concept that PGHS-1 and PGHS-2 function as part of two independent prostanoid biosynthetic systems.
Attribution of recent warming in Alaska

Abstract Alaska has experienced some of the strongest warming rates in the Northern Hemisphere since the mid-20th century. The winter-season warming is especially strong: approximately 4.1 °C since 1950. The atmospheric circulation contributes to interannual variability of Alaska's temperatures through advection and thereby contributes to temperature trends over decadal to multidecadal timescales. In this study, we quantify the contribution of the atmospheric circulation to Alaska's warming by using an analog methodology to identify years with sea level pressure patterns most closely resembling the pressure pattern of each year between 1950 and 2017. The analogs enable a dynamical adjustment of temperature anomalies by removing the contribution of the atmospheric circulation. The dynamical adjustment explains approximately half the variance of Alaska's statewide temperature in winter, and smaller fractions in the other seasons. The unexplained variance, termed the “excess warmth,” shows a systematic increase from 1950 to 2017. The trends in the excess warmth correspond to a warming of 2.1 °C in winter and spring, 1.3 °C in summer, and 0.5 °C in autumn, which are consistent with the trends simulated by global climate models run with historical and projected greenhouse gas concentrations for the same period. The excess warmth accounts for 51% of the Alaska's winter warming and 75% of Alaska's annual mean warming over the 1950–2017 time period.
Silk Protein Bioresorbable, Drug‐Eluting Ear Tubes: Proof‐of‐Concept

Otitis media with effusion (OEM) is a common pediatric pathology treated with topical fluoroquinolones (ear drops) and tympanoplasty tube, also referred to as ear tube, implantation for middle ear drainage. Commercially available ear tubes are fabricated using poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) synthetic materials that are associated with long-complications due to premature extrusion. Resorbable materials have emerged as desirable alternatives to reduce extrusion-related complications, but often limited by fast resorption rates. Therefore, resorbable tubes with long-term functional integrity are required for future clinical translation. In this communication, a proof-of-concept study is reported on a bioresorbable and drug-eluting silk ear tube device. Preliminary in vitro assessments reveal time-dependent drug elution and antimicrobial properties, while maintaining long-term functional integrity in vivo. This report provides evidence of a silk ear tube with potential for future clinical translation and OEM treatment.
Earthquake Early Warning: Advances, Scientific Challenges, and Societal Needs

Earthquake early warning (EEW) is the delivery of ground shaking alerts or warnings. It is distinguished from earthquake prediction in that the earthquake has nucleated to provide detectable ground...
Bringing People Together: Improving Intergroup Relations via Group Identity Cues:

Many U.S. cities pursue a “human relations” strategy in response to racial and ethnic group conflict. Reflective of Common Ingroup Identity theory, human relations practitioners emphasize a superor...
Analytical Spectrum Representation for Physical Waveform Optimization Requiring Extreme Fidelity

Optimization of physically realizable radar waveforms necessitates operating on a discretized representation that possesses sufficient fidelity, which can usually be achieved via adequate oversampling with respect to 3-dB bandwidth. However, it has been experimentally observed that the design of practical waveforms containing spectral notches requires an even higher degree of fidelity to achieve the low notch depths that may be needed for useful interference avoidance. Because such extreme fidelity translates into very high dimensionality, here an alternative approach is explored that involves the analytical Fourier transform of polyphase-coded FM (PCFM) waveforms, the continuous-time model for which is readily amenable to optimization and physical emission by real radar systems. The cost function and iterative solution that arises from this formulation, which is denoted as Analytical Spectrum Notching (ASpeN), facilitates the design of waveforms that are implementable in arbitrary waveform generation (AWG) hardware without the need for further “notch depth compensation” after up-sampling. This property is confirmed through experimental evaluation using RF test equipment in a loopback configuration.
Arthroscopic Management of Refractory Lateral Epicondylitis

Lateral epicondylitis is a common overuse enthesopathy of the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) that can infrequently result in a recalcitrant disabling and painful condition. Surgical intervention is necessary if conservative treatment fails to provide relief, and open and arthroscopic approaches have been described. Arthroscopy provides a comprehensive approach to intra-articular and extra-articular pathology and has several advantages: (a) ECRB release and debridement is performed without a takedown of the common extensor origin, (b) associated intra-articular pathology (synovitis, plica, chondral wear) can be assessed and treated simultaneously, (c) calcific deposits in the common extensor origin can be removed, and (d) early mobilization is possible as repair and subsequent protection of the common extensor origin is not necessary.
Sarcomatoid Renal Cell Carcinoma With Unusual Metastasis to the Small Intestine Manifesting as Perforated Appendicitis.

Background Sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma is a rare form of dedifferentiated carcinoma with a high metastatic rate and adverse prognosis. Common sites of metastasis include lymph nodes, lung, liver and bone. We report a case of sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma with unusual metastasis to the small intestine in a 65-year-old female with a history of clear-cell renal cell carcinoma with focal sarcomatoid transformation. Case report The patient presented to the Emergency Department with worsening abdominal pain. Imaging showed perforated acute appendicitis, however, diagnostic laparoscopy found no evidence of appendicitis, but a small punctate perforation in the small intestine. Gross examination of the small intestine showed a 2 cm tan-white lobular firm lesion at the perforation site involving the full thickness of the wall. Histological examination revealed a high-grade spindle-cell neoplasm with hyperchromatic and pleomorphic nuclei, frequent mitotic figures, and necrosis. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for CD10 and carbonic anhydrase 9, but negative for pan-cytokeratin, epithelial membrane antigen, paired box gene 8, renal cell carcinoma, desmin, smooth-muscle actin, c-KIT, discovered on gastrointestinal stromal tumor protein 1, CD34, and S100. Molecular studies showed that the tumor cells were microsatellite stable but harbored mutations in polybromo-1, telomerase reverse transcriptase, and von Hippel-Lindau genes, supporting renal cell carcinoma in nature. The patient received radiation therapy but unfortunately died after one month due to rapid disease progression. Conclusion This was a rare and challenging case of sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma metastasis to the small intestine with loss of some renal cell carcinoma markers, reinforcing the aggressive nature of this entity and the importance of correlating findings with the prior history for reaching correct diagnosis.
Ureteral Sextuplication With a Blind-ending Ureter Originating from the Upper Pole in a Boy: A Case Report

We experienced an extremely rare case of ureteral sextuplication with a blind-ending ureter originating from the upper pole. The patient had 6 separate ureters and 6 renal pelvises with 1 ureteral orifice on the left. The left kidney was hypoplastic and its differential function was 6.5%. The patient underwent definitive surgical treatment to repair the anomaly (ureteroureterostomy and reimplantation of the formed ureter). The surgery was successful and the postoperative course was uneventful. We herein report the first such case in the English-language literature and discuss the etiology of this ureteral anomaly, the method of diagnostic imaging, and the treatment.
Grants, scholarships, and funding

Abstract Information about research grants and funding in the literature in recent years is scant. However, there is some information about how funding of specific departments and agencies have and will take place in the years after the 2016 Presidential election. Hogue reported on a new policy describing how the EPA Administrator issued a directive changing the process selecting members of EPA’s science advisory board. In essence these boards will seat fewer academic scientists and add more industry experts and state regulators—a large shift of policy that is sweeping across the entire agency. The influence on funding has yet to be determined.
Central opioid receptors mediate morphine-induced itch and chronic itch

Abstract Opioids, such as morphine are mainstay treatments for clinical pain conditions. Itch is a common side effect of opioids, particularly as a result of epidural or intrathecal (i.t.) administration. Recent progress has advanced our understanding of itch circuits in the spinal cord. However, the mechanisms underlying opioid-induced itch are not fully understood, although an interaction between µ-opioid receptor (MOR) and gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) in spinal GRPR-expressing neurons has been implicated. In this study we investigated the cellular mechanisms of intrathecal (i.t.) opioid-induced itch by conditional deletion of MOR-encoding Oprm1 in distinct populations of interneurons and sensory neurons. We found that i.t. injection of the MOR agonists morphine or DAMGO elicited dose-dependent scratching, but this pruritus was totally abolished in mice with a specific Oprm1 deletion in Vgat+ neurons (Oprm1-Vgat). Loss of MOR in somatostatin+ interneurons and TRPV1+ sensory neurons did not affect morphine-induced itch but impaired morphine-induced antinociception. In situ hybridization revealed Oprm1 expression in 30% of inhibitory and 20% of excitatory interneurons in the spinal dorsal horn. Whole-cell recordings from spinal cord slices showed that DAMGO induced outward currents in 9 out of 19 Vgat+ interneurons examined. Morphine also inhibited action potentials in Vgat+ interneurons and suppressed evoked IPSCs in postsynaptic Vgat- excitatory neurons, suggesting a mechanism of disinhibition by MOR agonists. Notably, morphine-elicited itch was suppressed by i.t. administration of NPY and abolished by spinal ablation of GRPR+ neurons, whereas i.t. GRP-induced itch response remained intact in mice lacking Oprm1-Vgat. Additionally, chronic itch from DNFB-induced allergic contact dermatitis was decreased by Oprm1-Vgat deletion. Finally, naloxone, but not peripherally restricted naloxone methiodide, inhibited chronic itch in the DNFB model and the cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) model, indicating a contribution of central MOR signaling to chronic itch. Our findings demonstrate that i.t. morphine elicits itch via acting on MOR on spinal inhibitory interneurons, leading to disinhibition of the spinal itch circuit. Our data also suggest that chronic itch could be effectively treated with CNS-targeted naloxone.
Childhood Polyvictimization and Mental Health Issues among Incarcerated Women

The abuse-to-prison pipeline suggests that women with histories of traumatic experiences have increased risk for criminal justice system-involvement and incarcertion. Specifically, women with compl...
The Caribbean and Global Capitalism: Five Strategic Traits

Once the slave plantation outposts of European colonialism, then a domain of U.S. imperialism, over recent decades the Caribbean has become engulfed in novel forms of accumulation and social relations. This paper focuses on the Caribbean region’s contradictory integration into the globalization phase of world capitalism. As dominant groups facilitate new accumulation networks, workers have been compelled to incorporate their labor power into transnational value chains. Markets once segmented by national economies are fragmenting and becoming functionally integrated across borders. In this paper, I outline five strategic traits unfolding across the region: (1) the rise of a transnational financial system into which Caribbean society has become integrated, (2) the envelopment of the region by transnational production networks, (3) the marginalization, flexibilization and precarization of negatively racialized and gendered workers in relation to capitalist globalization, (4) the emergence of transnationally oriented state elites across the Caribbean alongside the restructuring of U.S. domination, and (5) new subcontractor networks through which local business groups deepen their transnational integration. A tenuous political economic process entwined with upheavals from below, and socio-economic and environmental crises, it occurs alongside a revamping of consent formation and various coercive forms of domination.
A comparison of liposomal bupivacaine to standard ropivacaine used in interscalene blocks for patients undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty

Abstract Introduction With the increasing incidence of total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) being performed worldwide, there is a growing effort to reduce postoperative pain, the consumption of opioids (oral morphine equivalents [OMEs]), and subsequent in hospital length of stay. Although perioperative pain control regimens have been widely studied in patients undergoing TSA, patients continue to consume a significant quantity of opioids after surgery. In the era of an opioid epidemic, novel methods for the improvement of perioperative pain control is of utmost importance. The aim of this quality improvement initiative was to evaluate the effect of liposomal bupivacaine (LB) versus ropivacaine (RP) in interscalene peripheral nerve blockade (IPNB) in patients undergoing TSA. Methods This quality improvement initiative prospectively evaluated a consecutive group of patients undergoing TSA from June 2017 to September 2019. Patients were included if they underwent either an anatomic or reverse shoulder arthroplasty at a single institution by 1 of 2 fellowship trained surgeons. Patients were divided in to 2 temporal cohorts based on the US Food and Drug administration's approval of LB. Patients who received a RPIPNB were in the control group, while those who received a LBIPNB were in the treatment group. Outcome measures studied included average visual analog pain scores (VAS) at 24 and 48 hours in the hospital, OME's, and length of stay. Results A total of 114 patients underwent TSA and met the inclusion criteria to be included in the analysis: 58 received RPIPNB and 56 received LBIPNB. The cohorts did not demonstrate any statistically different attributes (eg, age, sex, dominance, smoking status, psychiatric disorders, diabetes, HTN, or ASA class). Difference in 24 hour and 48 hour VAS pain scores was significantly improved in the LBIPNB group as compared to the RPIPNB group (2.46 vs. 0.72, and 2.02 and −0.41, respectively P Conclusion Despite significantly improved pain scores at 24 hours and 48 hours, patients who received LBIPNB did not demonstrate a statistically significant improvement in LOS or quantity of OME's consumed. The discrepancy between subjective numeric pain scores and objective healthcare metrics is likely multifactorial, and brings to light the difficulty in determining the value of new pain regimens. In lieu of these findings, it is difficult to endorse or reject the use of LBIPNB in TSA. Without further studies demonstrating improved efficacy in reduction of opioid consumption and LOS, given the additional expense of the drug, its continued use remains uncertain. Level of Evidence Level III.
Quinine copolymer reporters promote efficient intracellular DNA delivery and illuminate a protein-induced unpackaging mechanism.

Polymeric vehicles that efficiently package and controllably release nucleic acids enable the development of safer and more efficacious strategies in genetic and polynucleotide therapies. Developing delivery platforms that endogenously monitor the molecular interactions, which facilitate binding and release of nucleic acids in cells, would aid in the rational design of more effective vectors for clinical applications. Here, we report the facile synthesis of a copolymer containing quinine and 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate that effectively compacts plasmid DNA (pDNA) through electrostatic binding and intercalation. This polymer system poly(quinine-co-HEA) packages pDNA and shows exceptional cellular internalization, transgene expression, and low cytotoxicity compared to commercial controls for several human cell lines, including HeLa, HEK 293T, K562, and keratinocytes (N/TERTs). Using quinine as an endogenous reporter for pDNA intercalation, Raman imaging revealed that proteins inside cells facilitate the unpackaging of polymer–DNA complexes (polyplexes) and the release of their cargo. Our work showcases the ability of this quinine copolymer reporter to not only facilitate effective gene delivery but also enable diagnostic monitoring of polymer–pDNA binding interactions on the molecular scale via Raman imaging. The use of Raman chemical imaging in the field of gene delivery yields unprecedented insight into the unpackaging behavior of polyplexes in cells and provides a methodology to assess and design more efficient delivery vehicles for gene-based therapies.
The Impact of Oil and Gas Extraction on Infant Health

The benefits and costs of resource extraction are currently being hotly debated in the case of shale gas development (commonly known as "fracking"). Colorado provides a unique research environment given its long history of conventional oil and gas extraction and, most recently, shale gas development. To de fine exposure, I utilize detailed vital statistics and mother's residential address to define close proximity to drilling activity. Using a difference-in-differences model that compares mothers residing within 1 km of a well head versus 1-5 km, I find that proximity to wells reduces birth weight and gestation length on average and increases the prevalence of low birth weight and premature birth. I also find an increase in gestational diabetes and hypertension for mothers living near wells. These results are robust to multiple specifications and suggest that policies to mitigate against the risks of living near oil and gas development may be warranted.
Ring polymer quantization of the photon field in polariton chemistry

We use the ring polymer (RP) representation to quantize the radiation field inside an optical cavity to investigate polariton quantum dynamics. Using a charge transfer model coupled to an optical cavity, we demonstrate that the RP quantization of the photon field provides accurate rate constants of the polariton mediated electron transfer reaction compared to Fermi’s golden rule. Because RP quantization uses extended phase space to describe the photon field, it significantly reduces the computational costs compared to the commonly used Fock state description of the radiation field. Compared to the other quasi-classical descriptions of the photon field, such as the classical Wigner based mean-field Ehrenfest model, the RP representation provides a much more accurate description of the polaritonic quantum dynamics because it alleviates the potential quantum distribution leakage problem associated with the photonic degrees of freedom (DOF). This work demonstrates the possibility of using the ring polymer description to treat the quantized radiation field in polariton chemistry, offering an accurate and efficient approach for future investigations in cavity quantum electrodynamics.
Effect of price on forecasts of participation in fish and wildlife recreation: an aggregate demand model.

A logit regression model of participation in fishing, hunting, and noncon-sumptive wildlife recreation is estimated based on national survey data. The model is specified both with and without price...