cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
"The Common Rights of Mankind": Subsistence, Shad, and Commerce in the Early Republican South

In the summer of 1787, while delegates to the federal convention in Philadelphia struggled in the arena of high politics to balance conflicting demands for public liberty and the common good, the free inhabitants of Orangeburg District, South Carolina, were angry about a more local version of that perennial problem. "No individual has a Right to Arrogate or Assume to himself an exclusive & partial Right," they fumed, "whereby he may deprive the People in its vicinage of those just Rights & Privileges which as Citizens of a free & independent State they are entitled to." The specific problem was a dam, which stretched across the Edisto River and created a fall of water to power Ferguson's Mills, incidentally blocking the movement of rafts and fish on the river. As a result of this dam, petitioners from the upstream neighborhoods bitterly protested, "they are totally cut off from availing themselves of the common Rights of Mankind."1 By some lights, the dam for Ferguson's Mills was essential to the rural economy, as much a part of the pastoral landscape as cornfields or framed houses. Its water-powered saws cut logs into lumber for sale to local customers, to downstream owners of Sea Island plantations, and perhaps to more distant consumers. In addition, mills such as Ferguson's often supplied local families with cornmeal for their daily bread, and they also ground wheat flour, an article that southern farmers were more likely to export than to eat themselves. Many of Ferguson's neighbors saw the matter differently. Most obviously, the dam prevented other sawmill operators, located upstream, from floating their products to market. Petitioners complained to the legislature that the Edisto dam
A computer program to record technical data in leukapheresis and plateletpheresis procedures.

A computer program to record technical data in leukapheresis and plateletpheresis procedures. A computer program for the recording of data and calculation of results from leukapheresis and plateletpheresis procedures is described. It provides a printout of cell yields and other results for each procedure, as well as an updated list of donors and phereses. The data are kept on tape, accessible for periodic statistical analysis. While primarily set up for use with Haemonetics (intermittent-flow centrifugation) equipment, the program is adaptable for other systems.
High Pressure Ignition of Boron in Reduced Oxygen Atmospheres

Boron ignition delay times for 24 {micro}m diameter particles have been measured behind the reflected shock at a shock tube endwall in reduced oxygen atmospheres and in a combustion bomb at higher pressures in the products of a hydrogen/oxygen/nitrogen reaction. The shock tube study independently varies temperature (1,400 -- 3,200 K), pressure (8.5, 34 atm), and ignition-enhancer additives (water vapor, fluorine compounds). A combustion chamber is used at a peak pressure of 157 atm and temperature in excess of 2,800 K to study ignition delays at higher pressures than are possible in the shock tube.
Investigation of drag reduction on a two-dimensional circular cylinder by ejecting a jet from the rear stagnation region

Numerical and experimental studies were conducted to determine the feasibility of drag reduction through blowing from the rear stagnation region. The physical model was a two dimensional circular cylinder with a jet ejected from its tail. The Reynolds number based on diameter was 1x10 for the numerical simulation as well as experimental study. Static pressures were measured and a smoke wire was used to visualize the effect of the jet on the flow field. Both numerical simulations and experimental results show that relatively small amounts of the jet decrease drag. With decrease in drag, the separation points move downstream and the pressure in the base of the cylinder increases. The flow structure behind the cylinder is seen to become rather symmetric when drag reduction occurs. NOMENCLATURE a convection/diffusion coefficient Cp pressure coefficient CD drag coefficient CL lift coefficient C blowing-jet momentum coefficient d cylinder diameter 'Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Old Dominion University, Now Senior Engineer, adapco, LTD., 60 Broadhollow Rd., Melville, NY 11747, Member, AIAA. . Eminet Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Old Dominion University, AIAA Associate Fellow. PrincipaI Engineer, Innovative Aerodynamic Technologies, Poquoson, VA 23662. Now Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Old Dominion University, Member, AIAA. Copyright C 1998 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. p pressure q dynamic pressure (-pw^) u streamwise velocity v normal velocity w siit J sht width bCp uncertainty of pressure coefficient 9 angle from the front stagnation point [Rad] a standard deviation ()> general field property function Subscript / friction / jet condition P cell center oo freestream
Catch of Tobacco Budworm Moths Influenced by Color of Sex-Lure Traps

Three colors of fluorescent sex-lure traps, orange, green, and tangcrine, and a highly reflective white, significantly increased the catch of male Heliothis virescens (F.) moths compared with unpainted traps. Males were captured most frequently in traps painted fluorescent green. Monocolored traps (orange or green) were more efficient than multicolored (orange-white-green) traps when each type was compared with unpainted (white) traps.
Learning and gender: Complexity and possibility

Severiens and Ten Dam's efforts to link theories of learning and gender are applauded as a valuable step forward in understanding learning. Complexities of the relationships among epistemic structures, patterns within structures, and learning activities are highlighted as are dilemmas in assessing these multiple layers of learning. Severiens and Ten Dam's efforts in linking learners' learning conceptions, learning activities and gender are an important contribution to understanding learning. Their comparison of two theories - my theory on ways of know- ing (Baxter Magolda 1992) and Vermunt's (1996) on learning styles and conceptions - illustrates the complexity and possibility inherent in learning processes. Taken together, the two theories offer a multi-layered conceptual- ization of learning and knowing. My theory identifies epistemic assumptions, or assumptions about the nature, limits and certainty of knowledge, that form the structure of each way of knowing. Similarly, Vermunt's theory identifies mental models, or learning conceptions, that represent learners' views and beliefs about learning. Learners' beliefs about knowledge and learning con- stitute a core layer in understanding learning. I add a second layer in the form of gender-related patterns that represent preferences within ways of knowing. These preferences are differences in style, namely relational and separate, rather than differences in structure. Vermunt adds a third layer in the form of learning activities - the strategies learners use to process learning content, to cope with feelings that arise during learning, and to regulate their learn- ing processes. Both theories, to varying degrees, offer insights into learner expectations that stem from their beliefs, preferences, and activities. This multi-layered view of learning yields numerous possibilities for new insights into learning, many of which Severiens and Ten Dam articulate. It also reveals the complexity of learning which accounts, at least in part, for the lack of empirical connection the authors found between the Baxter Magolda and Vermunt theories. In the spirit of deepening the important dialogue Severiens and Ten Dam have begun, I address two complexities that mediate the task of connecting beliefs about knowing and learning activities: the relationship
Still separate, still unequal: social determinants of playground safety and proximity disparities in St. Louis.

Physical activity among youth is shaped by the natural and built environment within which they live; however, few studies have focused on assessing playground safety and proximity in detail as part of the built environment for youth physical activity. We analyzed data on 100 publicly accessible playgrounds from Play Across St. Louis, a community-partnered study of the built environment for youth physical activity. Outcomes included overall playground safety, maintenance, and construction scores; distance to nearest playground; and distance to nearest top playground. Independent variables included neighborhood % youth, % black residents, % owner-occupied units, and % vacant units. Playgrounds in the city have varying degrees of safety and proximity. Mean overall playground safety score was 67.0 % (CI = 63.5, 70.4). Neighborhood % youth and % black residents were inversely associated with overall playground safety (p = 0.03 and p < 0.01) and maintenance (p < 0.01 and p < 0.0001). Mean distance to nearest playground was 638.1 and 1488.3 m to nearest top playground. Clusters of low safety scores were found in the northern and central areas while all high safety score clusters were found in the southern part of St. Louis. Public playground safety and proximity vary across St. Louis neighborhoods, especially by neighborhood demographics. Disparities in playground safety and proximity reveal an opportunity to develop community-wide interventions focused on playgrounds for youth activity. Further work is needed to examine the association between playground safety, proximity, and use and youth physical activity and weight.
Changes to Bridge Flood Risk under Climate Change

AbstractBridge designs are commonly based on a criterion to withstand the n-year flood event. For example, a highway bridge might be designed to pass the 100-year flood. Failure may occur if the structure faces an event larger than this. Climate change may necessitate different design criteria because of changes to flood frequency behavior. This study examines the consequences for bridge design for flooding under the influence of climate change. In this study, climate change is quantified simply as a change in the frequency of a given precipitation or flood event. Flood discharges for current conditions are estimated from the applicable U.S. Geological Survey regression equations. Natural Resources Conservation Service methods are used to inverse calculate the causal precipitation for such floods. Return frequency for this causal precipitation is determined from both the current national precipitation frequency source and future climate intensity-duration-frequency curves. This study specifically looks at...
α-Mangostin-encapsulated PLGA nanoparticles inhibit pancreatic carcinogenesis by targeting cancer stem cells in human, and transgenic (Kras(G12D), and Kras(G12D)/tp53R270H) mice.

Activation of sonic hedgehog (Shh) in cancer stem cell (CSC) has been demonstrated with aggressiveness of pancreatic cancer. In order to enhance the biological activity of α-mangostin, we formulated mangostin-encapsulated PLGA nanoparticles (Mang-NPs) and examined the molecular mechanisms by which they inhibit human and KC mice (PdxCre;LSL-KrasG12D) pancreatic CSC characteristics in vitro, and pancreatic carcinogenesis in KPC (PdxCre;LSLKrasG12D;LSL-Trp53R172H) mice. Mang-NPs inhibited human and KrasG12D mice pancreatic CSC characteristics in vitro. Mang-NPs also inhibited EMT by up-regulating E-cadherin and inhibiting N-cadherin and transcription factors Slug, and pluripotency maintaining factors Nanog, c-Myc, and Oct4. Furthermore, Mang-NPs inhibited the components of Shh pathway and Gli targets. In vivo, Mang-NPs inhibited the progression of pancreatic intraneoplasia to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and liver metastasis in KPC mice. The inhibitory effects of Mang-NPs on carcinogenesis in KPC mice were associated with downregulation of pluripotency maintaining factors (c-Myc, Nanog and Oct4), stem cell markers (CD24 and CD133), components of Shh pathway (Gli1, Gli2, Patched1/2, and Smoothened), Gli targets (Bcl-2, XIAP and Cyclin D1), and EMT markers and transcription factors (N-cadherin, Slug, Snail and Zeb1), and upregulation of E-cadherin. Overall, our data suggest that Mang-NPs can inhibit pancreatic cancer growth, development and metastasis by targeting Shh pathway.
New vision of magnetic tunnelling

The magnetic moment of a typical bar magnet will never spontaneously reverse direction. However, thermal fluctuations can flip the moment of a magnetic particle just a few nanometres across. The particle can be cooled to nearly absolute zero to suppress this process, but the moment may still find a way to reverse via quantum tunnelling.
Closing the Research-Practice Gap: Increasing Evidence-Based Practice for Nasogastric Tube Insertion Using Education and an Electronic Order Set

Problem Patients and practitioners rate the insertion of a nasogastric tube as one of the most painful and distressing procedures performed. Research supports using lidocaine and a nasal vasoconstrictor to significantly decrease patient discomfort. The recommended medications were not being used routinely in a large urban emergency department. Methods We identified departmental barriers using a nurse survey and physician interviews. We educated the nursing and physician staff about the comfort medications for nasogastric tube insertion recommended in the literature. In collaboration with the information technology department, we created an order set for the department's computerized physician order entry system linking the order for a nasogastric tube with the recommended comfort medications. Results Six months after the educational campaign and availability of the new electronic order set, we compared the data from pre- and post-project chart reviews and found the use of literature-recommended comfort medications had increased from 23% to 93%. Implications for Practice Nurses have a professional obligation to use the most current evidence-based practice available and to advocate for adequate pain management before, during, and after painful procedures. The use of evidence-based practice has been associated with an increase in both patient and staff satisfaction, improved clinical outcomes, and greater patient safety. An electronic order set combined with staff education resulted in a dramatic increase in the use of evidence-based practice for nasogastric tube insertion.
The Gram Stain: Its Persistence and Its Quirks

What is more emblematic of our science than the Gram stain? Since its invention 130 years ago, it has been in frequent and continuous use. It conveniently places most bacteria into one of two groups, the Gram-positives or the Gram-negatives. Gram staining is cheap, effective, quick, and relatively easy to interpret. Its most useful application is in the clinical setting. When examining a smear of, say, pus from an abscess, this stain often allows to include for consideration roughly half the clinically relevant bacterial species while excluding the others. Or consider a patient with meningitis. Here, speed is of the essence because treatment must be initiated right away. A Gram stain of the spinal fluid may reveal within minutes the presence of Gram-positive cocci, (probably pneumococci), Gram-negative cocci (almost certainly meningococci), or Gram-negative slender rods (most likely Haemophilus influenzae). This can make a critical difference in the choice of antibiotics that have to be administered in great haste. However, when it comes to characterizing the bacteria in an environment, its usefulness diminishes, in part because it is not always in step with taxonomy, which I’ll discuss below. And there yet is another side to this story. Quite a few bacterial species that stain positive early in the growth of a culture become Gram-negative later on. Does this detract from the value of Gram’s method? It may, but not in the hands of a person experienced in its use.
Histological and Urinalysis Assessment of Nephrotoxicity Induced by Mercuric Chloride in Normal and Uninephrectomized Rats

Assessment of the health threat to human populations that have been exposed to nephrotoxic metals requires accurate information about relationships between exposure and renal function. Currently, urinalysis is relied on heavily for the evaluation of impairment of renal function and for describing dose-response relationships in numans (Gotelli et al., 1985; Roels et al., 1981; Stonard et al., 1983; Thun et al., 1985). This is because urine is the one biological product of renal function that can be readily sampled in field studies. The rationale for using urinalysis is to detect the increased excretion of marker substances that are normally conserved by physiological mechanisms susceptible to injury by metals. The most useful urinary markers are those that reflect the severity of functional impairment and that can be detected in the early stages of renal toxicity, hopefully before irreversible injury has occurred. Many different urinary markers have been used; including glucose (Falck et al., 1983; Tohyama et al., 1982) amino acids (Bernard et al., 1979; Buchet et al., 1980; Clarkson and Kench, 1956; Thun et al., 1985) plasma proteins (Bernard et al., 1979; Buchet et al., 1980; Falck et al., 1983; Roels et al., 1981; Stonard et al., 1983; Thun et al., 1985) and cellular enzymes (Bernard et al., 1979; Buchet et al., 1980; Gotelli et al., 1985; Stonard et al., 1983). Clearly, the selection of urinary markers that are appropriate for the anticipated form of toxicity is important. Analytical procedures that enable the investigator to describe variability within the urinalysis results due to variation in sampling time, urine flow rate and body mass of the subjects being studied are also required for accurate interpretation of urinalysis data.
Subgroups of survivors with distinct aggravating factors associated with chemotherapy-induced neuropathy (CIN) in the feet.

151Background: CIN is the most prevalent neurologic complication of cancer treatment. Inter-individual variability exists in survivors’ reports of the factors that aggravate CIN in their feet. The purpose of this study was to identify groups of survivors with CIN in their feet based on distinct aggravating factors and evaluate for differences in demographic, clinical, symptom characteristics and quality of life (QOL) based on group membership. Methods: Cancer survivors (n = 403) who received a platinum and/or a taxane and rated their altered sensation/pain in their feet at > 3 on 0-10 scale were enrolled and completed study questionnaires, including a list of 22 factors that could make pain worse. Medical records were reviewed and sensory and motor tests were done. Latent class analysis was used to identify groups of survivors based on the occurrence rates for aggravating factors. Differences among the groups were evaluated using parametric and nonparametric statistics. Results: Three groups were identifi...
Improved implementation of the risk-adjusted Bernoulli CUSUM chart to monitor surgical outcome quality.

Methodology issue The traditional implementation of the risk-adjusted Bernoulli cumulative sum (CUSUM) chart for monitoring surgical outcome quality requires waiting a pre-specified period of time after surgery before incorporating patient outcome information. Proposed solution We propose a simple but powerful implementation of the risk-adjusted Bernoulli CUSUM chart that incorporates outcome information as soon as it is available, rather than waiting a pre-specified period of time after surgery. Evaluation A simulation study is presented that compares the performance of the traditional implementation of the risk-adjusted Bernoulli CUSUM chart to our improved implementation. We show that incorporating patient outcome information as soon as it is available leads to quicker detection of process deterioration. Advice to practitioners Deterioration of surgical performance could be detected much sooner using our proposed implementation, which could lead to the earlier identification of problems.
Immunochemical studies of antisera to human fibrinopeptide-B.

The immunochemical specificity of rabbit antisera to human fibrinopeptide-B (FPB) has been studied by comparing the relative abilities of FPB and of various proteins and peptides containing the NH2-terminal segment of the B/9chain of human fibrinogen to inhibit the binding of a radioiodinated FPB derivative by each of seven anti-FPB sera. Anti-FBP sera varied in the extent to which they cross-reacted with fibrinogen. the NH2-terminal disulfide knot of fibrinogen (N-DSK). BTh (Pyr)-1 1 8(Met). Bfil (Pyr)42(Arg). and desarginyl-FPB. Anti-FPB sera have been identified that discriminate effectively between FPB and larger FPB-containing peptides; such antisera can be used to measure FPB in the absence of the larger peptides or to demonstrate the presence of larger peptides such as Bftl (Pyr)-42(Arg) in extracts of clinical plasma samples by T HE INITIAL STEPSin the conversion of human fibninogen to fibrin are the successive releases by thrombin of the N H2-terminal peptides of the Aa- and B�3-chains of ‘ � A radioimmunoassay
Resealable, ultra-low leak micro valve using liquid surface tension sealing for vacuum applications

The design, fabrication, and successful demonstration of a micro valve that uses the surface tension of molten solder to make a reversible, ultra low-leak seal are presented. The valve comprises two parts: a silicon chip with a solder-ringed flow orifice and integrated heater, and a piezoelectric translational actuator with a solder-ringed sealing plate. When the valve is open, the solder rings are separated and flow can pass through the orifice. To close the valve, the actuator brings the solder rings into contact while the heater melts the solder and seals the plate over the orifice. The closing and opening of the valve under electrical actuation are successfully demonstrated; the measured open-state flow rate (∼530 sccm) greatly exceeds the measured closed-state leak rate of 1.7×10−4 sccm. The closed valve's leakage is similar to the 1.5×10−4 sccm leakage for a plate with no orifice; the difference is within the range of experimental uncertainty, consistent with a leak-free seal.
Shoe insoles in the workplace.

Ninety-six women participated in a crossover study to evaluate the effectiveness of viscoelastic polyurethane insoles in reducing back, leg, and foot pain among adults who spend the majority of each work day standing. Twenty-five of the subjects reported that the insoles made their shoes too tight to be comfortable. The remainder, however, found the insoles very comfortable (P less than .002, Wilcoxon, signed-rank test) and reported significant reductions in back pain (P less than .02), foot pain (P less than .03), and leg pain (P less than .007). When these subjects were asked whether they would prefer to wear their shoes alone or with insoles, the preference for insoles was overwhelming (P less than .007, back; P less than .03, leg; and P less than .009, foot pain). It is concluded that viscoelastic insoles can effectively improve comfort and reduce back, leg, and foot pain in individuals who must stand throughout the day.
Chronic nitrate exposure alters reproductive physiology in fathead minnows

Abstract Nitrate is a ubiquitous aquatic pollutant that is commonly associated with eutrophication and dead zones in estuaries around the world. At high concentrations nitrate is toxic to aquatic life but at environmental concentrations it has also been purported as an endocrine disruptor in fish. To investigate the potential for nitrate to cause endocrine disruption in fish, we conducted a lifecycle study with fathead minnows ( Pimephales promelas ) exposed to nitrate (0, 11.3, and 56.5 mg/L (total nitrate-nitrogen (NO 3 -N)) from
Principal Galois orders and Gelfand-Zeitlin modules

Abstract We show that the ring of invariants in a skew monoid ring contains a so called standard Galois order. Any Galois ring contained in the standard Galois order is automatically itself a Galois order and we call such rings principal Galois orders. We give two applications. First, we obtain a simple sufficient criterion for a Galois ring to be a Galois order and hence for its Gelfand-Zeitlin subalgebra to be maximal commutative. Second, generalizing a recent result by Early-Mazorchuk-Vishnyakova, we construct canonical simple Gelfand-Zeitlin modules over any principal Galois order. As an example, we introduce the notion of a rational Galois order, attached an arbitrary finite reflection group and a set of rational difference operators, and show that they are principal Galois orders. Building on results by Futorny-Molev-Ovsienko, we show that parabolic subalgebras of finite W-algebras are rational Galois orders. Similarly we show that Mazorchuk's orthogonal Gelfand-Zeitlin algebras of type A, and their parabolic subalgebras, are rational Galois orders. Consequently we produce canonical simple Gelfand-Zeitlin modules for these algebras and prove that their Gelfand-Zeitlin subalgebras are maximal commutative. Lastly, we show that quantum OGZ algebras, previously defined by the author, and their parabolic subalgebras, are principal Galois orders. This in particular proves the long-standing Mazorchuk-Turowska conjecture that, if q is not a root of unity, the Gelfand-Zeitlin subalgebra of U q ( gl n ) is maximal commutative and that its Gelfand-Zeitlin fibers are non-empty and (by Futorny-Ovsienko theory) finite.
Research at the Interface of Finance, Operations, and Risk Management (iFORM): Recent Contributions and Future Directions

Interface of Finance, Operations and Risk Management (iFORM) is a relatively new research area dealing with timely, complex and boundary-spanning issues in a variety of settings from start-ups to global enterprises. iFORM research addresses ways to better integrate physical, ﬁnancial, and informational ﬂows by combining the operational choices of the ﬁrm with its ﬁnancial decisions, and merging information ﬂows between the ﬁrm and its customers and suppliers with informational ﬂows between the ﬁrm and its investors. We report on the main research themes of the recent iFORM research, based on, and going beyond, papers that appeared in the MS agency problems, such as risk-shifting and managerial short-termism and their inﬂuence on operational decisions; contracting between the ﬁrm and its investors and how it alters contracting with supply chain partners; and supply risk management in the form of dealing with commodity prices ﬂuctuations and supplier performance issues. We suggest four promising directions of future iFORM research: supply chain ﬁnance, integrated risk management, start-up and entrepreneurial ﬁnancing, and asset pricing with supply chains.
Recognizing DNA in the library.

Basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors are proteins involved in regulating gene expression. For this they have to recognize target sequences in DNA. A combinatorial approach not only allows more detailed study of DNA recognition and binding by bHLH proteins, but will also be more broadly applicable.
Southern Medicine for Southern People: Vietnamese Medicine in the Making Vietnamese Traditional Medicine: A Social History

Southern Medicine for Southern People and Vietnamese Traditional Medicine reflect an important moment in the study of the history of Vietnamese traditional medicine (VTM) and its relationship to tr...
Understanding Violence Against Women in Southeast Asia: A Group Approach in Social Justice Work

Using a liberatory group approach, women and men from three countries in Southeast Asia, Thailand, Cambodia, and among refugees of Burma, analyzed gender-based violence within their cultural contexts. Group members also discussed strategies for transforming systems supporting violence against women into structures of peace and gender justice. The author briefly describes the group model employed in the project, based on principles from liberation theory and feminist psychology. Themes emerging from the analyses generated by group members are also presented along with preliminary recommendations for social change at the personal, family, community, institutional, and societal levels.
Sustainable reclamation and water management practices

Abstract Contemporary mining creates environments that differ from preexisting conditions, yet those preexisting conditions are expected to be largely re-established during reclamation. As public awareness of impacts of mining increases, regulatory and public expectations of the mining industry advance concurrently. As a consequence, environmental laws that regulate the mining industry have become more complex and challenging. Miners are expected to produce reclaimed mine lands that will support economically viable postmining land uses while protecting environmental quality and, for some uses, to re-establish ecosystem structure and processes that often resembles the premining conditions. It is clear that effective reclamation must be fully integrated with mining operations. Successful reclamation demands engineering, design, and careful reconstruction of the full mining disturbance; and mitigation of mining effects on the land surface, air, and water. A capability to produce lands that can support viable postmining use and sustainable ecosystem processes, as needed to satisfy regulatory requirements, is crucial to the long-term success and profitability of the mining industry. This chapter provides an overview of mine reclamation methods that can be utilized to restore land use capability and environmental quality. Because the experience of the authors is primarily in the USA's Appalachian region, reclamation practices of that region are emphasized. In accord with the book's theme, special consideration is given to reclamation and water management practices that can address emerging regulatory and environmental management challenges that are being faced by the mining industry.
Why Not Prevent ARDS? The Possible Role of Plasma Biomarkers in Surgery.

Cardiac, aortic vascular, and thoracic surgical patients are at high risk of developing ARDS due to direct (ie, surgical lung manipulation, high-volume positive-pressure ventilation) and indirect insults (ie, blood transfusions, systemic inflammation). Blum et al[1][1] identified a 0.2% incidence of
The Utility of Oral Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs Compared With Standard Opioids Following Arthroscopic Meniscectomy: A Prospective Observational Study.

Purpose To evaluate the efficacy of oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as the primary postoperative pain medication compared with standard oral opioids following arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. Methods This was a single-center, prospective, nonrandomized, comparative observational study. Patients ages 18 to 65 years who were indicated for arthroscopic meniscectomy were included. Postoperatively, patients were prescribed 1 of 2 analgesic regimens: (1) ibuprofen (600 mg every 6-8 hours as needed) and 10 tablets of oxycodone/acetaminophen (5/325 mg as needed for breakthrough pain) or (2) 30 to 40 tablets oxycodone/acetaminophen (5/325 mg every 6 hours as needed). Subjects completed questionnaires at 8 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 1 week after surgery, which included medication usage, visual analog scale pain score, incidence of adverse events, and patient satisfaction. Results Sixty-eight patients with mean age 51.2 years (±10.4 years) were enrolled between October 2016 and February 2017. Enrollment in the opioid group continued until 30 patients were enrolled in the NSAID group, and at final analysis there were 28 patients in the NSAID group and 40 in the opioid group. There were no significant differences in sex, visual analog scale pain score, or patient satisfaction between the 2 groups at any time point. Patients in the opioid group had a significantly higher mean opioid consumption on postoperative day 1 (1.1 vs 0.5 tablets, P Conclusions We found no significant difference in pain control, satisfaction, and total 1-week opioid use between patients prescribed NSAIDs with opioids and those prescribed opioids alone. All patients used only limited amounts of opioids to control postoperative pain, suggesting we are currently overprescribing opioids after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. Level of Evidence Level II, prospective comparative study.
Embracing the Obstetric Imaginary: Chuukese Women, Migration, and Stratified Reproduction

When a new biomedical hospital was built in Chuuk, women were encouraged to forgo home births and seek obstetric care. Chuuk’s infrastructure deteriorated over time, however, and the hospital becam...
Ban the handshake in winter

Gastrointestinal and respiratory viruses are particularly common during winter months, and reducing risk of transmission is challenging. Transfer of bacteria from the hands of one person to another is dramatically reduced with a fist bump compared to a handshake. If the same is true for viruses, should we recommend this change in greeting in the winter?
Smart start: Final results of rituximab, lenalidomide, and ibrutinib lead in prior to combination with chemotherapy for patients with newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

7508Background: The non-germinal center (non-GCB) subtype of Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) is associated with inferior outcomes from standard immuno-chemotherapy. The BTK inhibitor ibrutini...
X-Ray Phase Contrast Imaging of Granular Systems

Dynamic compression experiments have proven useful for decades in examining material response at high pressures and providing equation-of-state and other information on numerous phenomena including phase transitions, strength, and kinetics.
The hematopoietic landscape at single-cell resolution reveals unexpected stem cell features in naked mole-rats

SUMMARY Naked mole-rats are the longest-lived rodents endowed with resistance to cancer and age-related diseases, yet their stem cell characteristics remain enigmatic. We profiled the naked mole-rat hematopoietic system down to single-cell resolution, and identified several unique features likely contributing to longevity. In adult naked mole-rats red blood cells are formed in spleen and marrow, a neotenic feature beneficial for hypoxic environments and to prevent anemia. Platelet numbers are lower compared to short-lived mice, which may preclude age-related platelet increase and thrombosis. T cells mature in thymus and lymph nodes, providing a supply of T cells after age-related thymus involution. The pool of quiescent stem cells is higher than in mice, and HSCs overexpress an oxidative phosphorylation signature, revealing a new paradigm of stem cell metabolism to benefit longevity and oppose oncogenesis. Our work provides a platform to study immunology and stem cell biology in an animal model of healthy aging. HIGHLIGHTS Flow cytometry labelling panel to purify viable naked mole-rat HSPCs The spleen as the major site of erythropoiesis in the naked mole-rat Naked mole-rats show extrathymic T-cell development under homeostatic conditions Naked mole-rat hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) have high OXPHOS activity
In search for potential antidiabetic compounds from natural sources: docking, synthesis and biological screening of small molecules from Lycium spp. (Goji)

Abstract Current clinical antidiabetic drugs, like rosiglitazone 1, have been implicated in some serious side effects like edema, weight gain, and heart failure, making it necessary to find alternative agents. Partial agonists of peroxisome-proliferator activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) were determined to possess improved insulin sensitivity without undeseirable side-effects when compared to full agonists of PPARγ, like rosiglitazone 1. The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plants, Goji (Lycium barbarum and Lycium chinense) are widely used for treating symptoms related to various diseases including diabetes and hypertension. Twenty-seven reported compounds from Goji were docked into both partial- and full-agonist binding sites of PPARγ. Amongst the docked compounds, phenylethylamide-based phytochemicals (5–9) (termed as tyramine-derivatives, TDs) were found to possess good docking scores and binding poses with favorable interactions. Synthesis of 24 TDs, including three naturally occuring amides (6, 8, 9) were synthesized and tested for PPARγ gene induction with cell-based assay. Three compounds showed similar or higher fold induction than the positive control, rosiglitazone. Among these three active TDs, trans-N-feruloyloctopamine (9) and tyramine derivatives-enriched extract (TEE) (21%) of the root bark of L. chinense were further studied in vivo using db/db mice. However, both TEE as well as 9 did not show significant antidiabetic properties in db/db mice. In vivo results suggest that the proposed antidiabetic property of Lycium species may not be due to tyramine derivatives alone. Further studies of tyramine derivatives or enriched extract(s) for other bioactivities like hypocholesterolemic activities, and studies of novel isolated compounds from Goji will enable a more complete understanding of their bioactivities.
Quantifying the Impact of COVID-19 on Non-Motorized Transportation: A Bayesian Structural Time Series Model

Abstract The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in widespread impacts in the transportation sector due to containment measures. To better manage transportation during the COVID-19 crisis and improve future pre-pandemic planning, it is essential that we understand sufficiently the impact of the global epidemic on vehicle miles traveled, freight movement, and human mobility. The availability of pedestrian and bicycle count data allows us to estimate the causal impact of COVID-19 on non-motorized travel patterns. To quantify the causal effects of COVID-19, a Bayesian structural time series (BSTS) model is proposed, with the “treatment” date defined as the date on which the national emergency was declared. The model is intended to (1) account for variations in local trends, seasonality and exogeneous covariates before the treatment, (2) make predictions about the counterfactual trends after the treatment, (3) infer the causal effects between observed series and counterfactual series, and (4) evaluate the uncertainty about the causal inference. The BSTS model is applied to quantify the drops or increases in non-motorized activities. Whereas most previous studies use citywide data, this study is based on data collected from count sites on 12 pedestrian-bicycle trails in 11 cities in the United States. The model validation demonstrates the reliability of the prediction of counterfactual variables. According to the estimation results, COVID-19 led to losses in non-motorized activities in densely populated cities, but walking and bicycle activities in less densely populated cities increased. In two cities studied, trends in non-motorized activities reversed about 10–20 days after the first confirmed case of COVID-19. The estimation results provide a snapshot of how walking and bicycling activities have been affected by COVID-19 in different types of cities. This information can help policymakers design post-pandemic strategies and undertake future pre-pandemic planning.
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage and COVID-19: An Analysis of 282,718 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial hemorrhage (including subarachnoid hemorrhage [SAH]) has been reported in 0.3%-1.2% of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, no study has evaluated the risk of SAH in patients with COVID-19. METHODS: We analyzed data from 62 health care facilities using the Cerner de-identified COVID-19 dataset. RESULTS: There were 86 (0.1%) and 376 (0.2%) patients with SAH among 85,645 patients with COVID-19 and 197,073 patients without COVID-19, respectively. In the multivariate model, there was a lower risk of SAH in patients with COVID-19 (odds ratio 0.5, 95% confidence interval 0.4-0.7, P < 0.0001) after adjusting for sex, age strata, race/ethnicity, hypertension, and nicotine dependence/tobacco use. The proportions of patients who developed pneumonia (58.1% vs. 21.3%, P < 0.0001), acute kidney injury (43% vs. 27.7%, P = 0.0005), septic shock (44.2% vs. 20.7%, P < 0.0001), and respiratory failure (64.0% vs. 39.1%, P < 0.0001) were significantly higher among patients with SAH and COVID-19 compared with patients without COVID-19. The in-hospital mortality among patients with SAH and COVID-19 was significantly higher compared with patients without COVID-19 (31.4% vs. 12.2%, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of SAH was not increased in patients with COVID-19. The higher mortality in patients with SAH and COVID-19 compared with patients without COVID-19 is likely mediated by higher frequency of systemic comorbidities.
A sensitive in vitro protein synthesizing system from ehrlich ascites mitochondria.

Abstract The S-25 fraction prepared from digitonin washed mitochondria is highly active in poly(U) directed phenylanine incorporation when supplemented with t-RNA. Ribosomes prepared from the S-25 fraction contain 58S monomeric ribosomes and 40S and 29S subunits. Further, these ribosomes contain 21S and 13S rRNA. No detectable cytoplasmic specific ribosomal particles and also rRNA was detected in the mitochondrial S-25 preparation. Ribosomes from mitochondrial S-25 have specific requirement for mitochondrial specific supernatant factors for complete activity.
Bayesian expert systems and multi-agent modeling for learner-centric web-based education

Online distance education provides students with a wealth of information. When students submit course-related search term queries, the search engine returns the search hits based on keyword and topic match. A student's particular learning style is not taken into consideration. For instance, a visually oriented student may benefit more than others from viewing videos and interacting with simulations. We address this problem by designing and developing a knowledge-based system for the initial assessment of students' learning styles. Each student's membership in a learning style dimension (e.g. visual or verbal) is estimated probabilistically. We reach this probability value by using a sequential Bayesian approach to administer a dynamic questionnaire that aims to attain a desired confidence level estimate with the minimal number of questions. A multi-agent online tutoring system uses this initial learning style model to start suggesting learning material matching the student's style. Each agent is an expert in a learning style dimension and can suggest the learning materials matching the student's style. In addition, these agents closely follow the student's evolving preferences and continuously update the stochastic model based on the student's online activities. When the student searches for course material, the multi-agent system delivers the search matches in a cycle-free preference order influenced by the students' multi-dimensional learning style model. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.)
Effects of cholinergic drugs on uptake of [14C]-α-aminoisobutyric acid into fragments of human term placenta: Implications for cholinergic recognition sites and observations on the binding of radioactive cholinergic ligands

Abstract Fragments of human term placenta took up [ 14 C]-α-aminoisobutyric acid ([ 14 C]AIB. 100 μM) against a concentration gradient. Intracellular radioactivity rose to levels 6- to 22-fold over that in the surrounding medium depending on whether the tissue was preincubated at 37° or not. Among the cholinergic drugs whose effect on [ 14 C]AIB accumulation was examined, atropine (1 mM), but not d -tubocurarine, reduced the concentration ratios significantly. Although this concentration was high by comparison to innervated tissues, it raised the possibility that muscarinic-type cholinergic recognition sites might be present in the non-innervated placenta. Attempts to biochemically label such sites by equilibrium dialysis, a nitration or a centrifugal assay with cholinergic agonists ([ 3 H]acetyicholine, [ 3 H]nicotine, [ 3 H]muscarone), a muscarinic antagonist ([ 3 H]quinuclidinyl benzilate) or a nicotinie antagonist ([ 125 I]-α-bungarotoxin) in sub-nM to μM concentrations failed. None of the ligands showed the high-affinity, saturable and reversible binding characteristics described for cholinergic receptors in a variety of innervated structures. The results do not rule out the existence of cholinergic recognition sites in the placenta, but make it questionable that such macromolecules have the characteristics of muscarinic and nicotinie sites as defined in nervous tissue.
Arithmetic of Finite Ordered Sets: Cancellation of Exponents, I

Garrett Birkhoff conjectured in 1942 that when A, B, P are finite posets satisfying AP≅BP, then A≅B. We show that this is true. Further, we introduce an operation C(AB), related to Garrett Birkhoff's exponentiation, and determine the structure of the algebra of isomorphism types of finite posets under the operations induced by A+B, A×B, and C(AB). Every finite +-indecomposable and ×-indecomposable poset A of more than one element is expressible for unique (up to isomorphism) E and P as A≅C(EP) where P is connected and E is indecomposable for all three operations.
Stopping for death.

A Peace Corps physician recounts in his latest online journal entry his travels to a different region of Africa to attend to the body and autopsy of a Peace Corps volunteer who died after being attacked by an elephant. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Relationship of rumen fluid dilution rate to rumen fermentation and dietary characteristics of beef steers.

Data from seven beef steer trials were compiled and regression analyses used to evaluate relationships among molar proportions of acetate (Ac), propionate (Pr) and butyrate (Bu), total concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFA), rumen ammonia (NH3), rumen pH, rumen fluid dilution rate (FDR), rumen fluid volume (FVOL), body weight (WT), dry matter intake (DMI) and dietary concentration and intake of crude protein (CP and CPI), acid detergent fiber (ADF and ADFI), ash (ASH and ASHI) and metabolizable energy (ME and MEI). Of the six fermentation variables, Pr (negative regression coefficient, beta) and pH (positive beta) were related (P less than .05) to FDR, but only 3 and 12% of the variation in these two variables, respectively, was explained by FDR. When FDR was described by dietary characteristics, ASHI was positively related to FDR (R2 = .16). The best two-variable model for FDR contained DMI (positive beta) and WT (negative beta) and increased R2 to .36. Fluid volume was best described by ME (positive beta; R2 = .20). The two-variable model for FVOL added ASH with a positive partial beta (R2 = .23). When fermentation variables were regressed on dietary characteristics, Ac was best described by ADF (positive beta; R2 = .71). The variable that best described Pr proportion was ADF (negative beta; R2 = .50), and addition of CP (negative beta) and MEI (positive beta) into the Pr model improved R2 to .70. Molar proportion of butyrate was related to CP (positive beta; R2 = .23), and addition of ME (positive beta) to the model improved the R2 to .31. Total VFA concentration was best described by ADFI (positive beta; R2 = .14). An R2 of .29 resulted when ME (positive beta) and CPI (negative beta) were included in the total VFA model. Rumen pH was related to ADF (positive beta; R2 = .45), and addition of CP (positive beta) to the rumen pH model increased R2 to .55. Crude protein concentration was related to ruminal NH3 level (positive beta; R2 = .42), and inclusion of ADFI (positive beta) into the model improved the R2 to .47.
On maximum likelihood estimation for count data models

Abstract Based on the pseudo compound Poisson representation of any discrete distribution defined on the positive integers, we study properties of maximum likelihood equations. Necessary and sufficient conditions are given for a moment estimator equation to be maximum likelihood. The results are illustrated including claim frequency models recently discussed in actuarial literature: Sundt/Jewell's family, Hoffmann/Thyrion's family and Ruohonen's model. Among the contagious count data models the log-zero Poisson is analyzed. The hyper-Poisson is shown to be not infinitely divisible except in the Poisson case.