cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biomedical concept extraction using concept graphs and ontology-based mapping

Assigning keywords to articles can be extremely costly. In this paper we propose a new approach to biomedical concept extraction using semantic features of concept graphs to help in automatic labeling of scientific publications. The proposed system extracts key concepts similar to author-provided keywords. We represent full-text documents by graphs and map biomedical terms to predefined ontology concepts. In addition to occurrence frequency weights, we use concept relation weights to rank potential key concepts. We compare our technique to that of KEA's, a state-of-the-art keyphrase extraction software. The results show that using the relations weight significantly improves the performance of concept extraction. The results also highlight the subjectivity of the concept extraction procedure as well as of its evaluation.
Quantifying fractionation and rate in human atrial fibrillation using monophasic action potentials: implications for substrate mapping

Aims To use monophasic action potentials (MAPs) to better assess the rate and the presence of fractionated electrograms during the mapping of atrial fibrillation (AF). Substrate mapping is increasingly central to AF ablation. However, traditional bipolar signals poorly represent waveform shape, making it unclear whether fractionation reflects local waveform variations, true electrogram fragmentation, or noise, and raising issues on whether their spectral dominant frequencies (DFs) accurately estimate AF rate. Methods and results In 28 patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF (left atrial diameters 44 ± 8 mm), we studied 49 epochs of right atrial MAPs during AF. We compared fractionation, spectral and time-domain AF rate estimates using MAPs and bipolar electrograms obtained by filtering the MAPs. Fractionation was overestimated in bipolar rather than MAP electrograms ( P = 0.005) and often reflected artefacts on the MAPs. Conversely, local waveform variability in the MAPs, including alternans or fractionation, was often uniform in the bipolar electrograms. The measured AF cycle length (CL) was accurately represented by the DF of the MAPs ( r = 0.73, P < 0.001) but, due to double counting, not by the DF of bipolar signals ( r = 0.29, P = 0.07). Spectral CL estimates were therefore accurate (≤20 ms from measured CL) for 77% of MAPs but for 45% of bipolar signals only. A novel autocorrelation method better estimated CL in MAPs ( r = 0.92; P < 0.001) and bipoles ( r = 0.82; P < 0.001), with 89 and 77% accuracy, respectively ( P < 0.01). Conclusion Atrial fibrillation organization and rate are better represented by MAPs, which portray fibrillatory waveform shape, than by bipolar recordings. This approach may more reliably portray electrogram variability, fragmentation, and rate for the mapping of AF substrates.
DETERMINANTS OF USE OF MATERNAL–CHILD HEALTH SERVICES IN RURAL GHANA

This study uses data from the Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS) of 1993 to examine factors determining the use of maternal-child health (MCH) services in rural Ghana. The MCH services under study are: (1) use of a doctor for prenatal care; (2) soliciting four or more antenatal check-ups; (3) place of delivery; (4) participation in family planning. Bivariate and multivariate techniques are employed in the analyses. The analyses reveal that the use of MCH services tends to be shaped mostly by level of education, religious background and region of residence, and partially by ethnicity and occupation. The implications of these results are discussed.
Crystal Structure of Pyridoxal Amino Methyl Phosphonic Acid (PYRAMPA) and Its Stability Constants with Al3

The crystal structure of the newly synthesized ligand pyridoxal amino methyl phosphonic acid (PYRAMPA) from green materials in deionized water and methanol is presented. It took only two steps to prepare this new ligand. The ligands’ stability constants with Al3+ are also reported in aqueous solutions at 25 °C ± 0.1 °C. The ligand was introduced as part of our concerted efforts to identify and synthesize an orally effective aluminum sequestering agent due to the known toxic effect of aluminum in living organisms particularly humans. PYRAMPA is a multidentate ligand suitable to sequester aluminum with very high stability.
Wechselbeziehungen zwischen Parasit und Wirtsorganismus

Man bezeichnet ein Lebewesen als Parasit, wenn es auf oder in einem anderen Lebewesen siedelt, um dort Bedingungen und Nahrstoffe zu finden, die fur sein Wachstum und seiner Fortpflanzung erforderlich sind. Das bedeutet nicht gleichzeitig, das ein Parasit seinen Wirt schadigt. Im Gegenteil, die erfolgreichsten Parasiten stehen in einem Gleichgewicht mit dem Wirtsorganismus, das Uberleben, Wachstum und Vermehrung beider Partner, des Parasiten und des Wirtes sichert. So fuhrt die Mehrzahl der WirtsParasit-Wechselbeziehungen nicht zur Krankheit: Die Infektion bleibt latent oder subklinisch.
On the detectability of the hydrogen 3‐cm fine‐structure line from the epoch of reionization

A soft ultraviolet radiation field, 10.2 < hv < 13.6 eV, that permeates neutral intergalactic gas during the epoch of reionization (EoR) excites the 2p (directly) and 2s (indirectly) states of atomic hydrogen. Because the 2s state is metastable, the lifetime of atoms in this level is relatively long, which may cause the 2s state to be overpopulated relative to the 2p state. It has recently been proposed that for this reason, neutral intergalactic atomic hydrogen gas may be detected in absorption in its 3-cm fine-structure line (2s 1/2 → 2p 3/2 ) against the cosmic microwave background out to very high redshifts. In particular, the optical depth in the fine-structure line through neutral intergalactic gas surrounding bright quasars during the EoR may reach τ FS ∼ 10 -5 . The resulting surface brightness temperature of tens of μK (in absorption) may be detectable with existing radio telescopes. Motivated by this exciting proposal, we perform a detailed analysis of the transfer of Lyβ, y, δ,... radiation, and reanalyse the detectability of the fine-structure line in neutral intergalactic gas surrounding high-redshift quasars. We find that proper radiative transfer modelling causes the fine-structure absorption signature to be reduced tremendously to τ FS ≤ 10 -10 . We therefore conclude that neutral intergalactic gas during the EoR cannot reveal its presence in the 3-cm fine-structure line to existing radio telescopes.
Maximum-rate pipeline systems

There is widespread opinion that we are fast approaching the physical limit in speeds for computers. The grounds for such conclusions are traceable to signal propagation delays in interconnections, delays encountered in traversing several levels of combinatorial logic, and to systems organizations. Clearly, these areas must be addressed if we are to realize phenomenal improvements in computer logic speeds over the next decade. Subnanosecond logic circuits will be available; however, design innovations are needed to exploit this performance at the systems level.
"The pass-along effect: investigating word-of-mouth effects on online survey procedures"

Email petitions to complete online surveys may be forwarded beyond the intended sample. We term this phenomenon the pass-along effect and investigate it as a factor that can influence the nature and size of survey samples in an online context. We establish the pass-along effect as a form of word-of-mouth communication and draw from the literature in this area to present and test a model of factors that influence the occurrence of this effect. The results of two studies provide empirical support for the existence and impact of the pass-along effect. Among the factors that lead to this effect are involvement and relationship with the survey topic, size of a participant’s social network, and tie strength. The appropriateness of employing pass-along respondents as well as other implications for online sampling and survey research are discussed.
Learning the interaction between pointers and scope in C

Traditionally, pointers, and their interaction with scope in C++ have been a source of frustration and confusion for students in our Computer Science II course. Since problem-solving is known to improve learning [6], we set out to develop software that would help our students better understand these concepts by repeatedly solving problems based on them.In this paper, we will first describe the design and features of this software. We conducted tests in two sections of our Computer Science II course this fall to evaluate the effectiveness of using this software. The results have been very encouraging: the class average in both the sections increased by 100% from the pretest to the post-test. We will also present the design and results of these tests.
Depleting Mirk Kinase Increases Cisplatin Toxicity in Ovarian Cancer Cells

Cisplatin-based regimens are the standard of care for epithelial carcinoma of the ovary. Because cisplatin is known to increase intracellular levels of toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS), an increase in cisplatin toxicity selectively in cancer cells could result from further increasing the cisplatin-elevated ROS levels by targeting antioxidant genes upregulated in ovarian cancers. The serine/threonine kinase Mirk/dyrk1B is a transcriptional coactivator that increased the expression of the antioxidant genes superoxide dismutase 2 and ferroxidase in ovarian cancer cells. As a result, depletion of Mirk increased cellular ROS levels in each of 4 ovarian cancer cell lines. Mirk depletion averaged only about 4-fold, yet combined with cisplatin treatment, enabled low levels of drug to increase ROS to toxic levels in both SKOV3 and TOV21G ovarian cancer cells. Lowering ROS levels by treatment with N-acetyl cysteine limited cisplatin toxicity, resulting in higher cell numbers and decreased cleavage of the apoptotic proteins PARP and caspase 3. Mirk has also been shown to block cells in G1 by inducing proteolysis of cyclin D1. Mirk depletion increased cyclin D1 levels in 3 of 4 ovarian cancer cell lines, implying that some Mirk-depleted cells could more readily enter cycle, potentially increasing their sensitivity to cisplatin. Because Mirk is upregulated in a large subset of human ovarian cancers, but is expressed at low levels in most normal tissues, and embryonic knockout of Mirk results in viable and fertile mice, targeting Mirk may sensitize ovarian cancers to lower levels of cisplatin while sparing normal tissues.
Utilizing domain knowledge in neuroevolution

We propose a method called Rule-based ESP (RESP) for utilizing prior knowledge evolving Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs). First, KBANN-likete chniques are used to transform a set of rules into an ANN, then the ANN is trained using the Enforced Subpopulations (ESP) neuroevolution method. Empirical results in the Prey Capture domain show that RESP can reach higher level of performance than ESP. The results also suggest that incremental learning is not necessary with RESP, and it is often easier to design a set of rules than an incremental evolution scheme. In addition, an experiment with some of the rules deleted suggests that RESP is robust even with an incomplete knowledge base. RESP therefore provides a robust methodology for scaling up neuroevolution to harder tasks by utilizing existing knowledge about the domain.
The Equilibration of Short Charney Waves: Implications for Potential Vorticity Homogenization in the Extratropical Troposphere

In this paper the authors discuss the vertical distribution of the interior potential vorticity gradients in the extratropical troposphere in an idealized setting. This structure is characterized by large positive gradients at the top of the boundary layer and a narrow homogenized region in the interior. To understand this partial homogenization, the authors have looked at how Charney waves of different scales equilibrate. It is shown that when the interior gradients of potential vorticity are small compared to the delta function at the ground, the modes can equilibrate without eliminating the lower-level shear. As is the case in the Eady model, these neutral states can exist even though they violate the Charney‐Stern condition for stability. The equilibration process also produces a concentration of the potential vorticity gradients at heights of the order of the Rossby depth, which can be regarded as a boundary to the interior mixing of potential vorticity. The extent of interior potential vorticity mixing required for equilibration depends on the ratio between the boundary and interior potential vorticity gradients. It is implicit in the analysis of previous authors that this ratio is close to 1 in midlatitudes, which implies that an Eady model with full homogenization of the interior potential vorticity gradients is not an appropriate paradigm for the midlatitude troposphere. Nevertheless, it is argued that localized interior potential vorticity mixing could be sufficient for neutralizing the shortest waves.
Historical perspective and contemporary management of acute coronary syndromes: from MONA to THROMBINS2

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains a major burden on morbidity and mortality in the United States. Medical professionals and students often use the mnemonic 'MONA' (morphine, oxygen, nitroglycerin and aspirin) to recall treatments for ACS; however, this list of therapies is outdated. We provide a historical perspective on 'MONA,' attempt to uncover its origin in the medical literature, and demonstrate the myriad changes that have occurred over the last 50 years of ACS management. We have developed a novel mnemonic, 'THROMBINS2' (thienopyridines, heparin/enoxaparin, renin-angiotensin system blockers, oxygen, morphine, beta blocker, intervention, nitroglycerin, statin/salicylate) to help bedside clinicians recall all the elements of contemporary ACS management. We demonstrate the mortality benefit for each component of contemporary ACS management, correlating the continued improvement with historical data on mortality after myocardial infarction. We encourage providers to utilize this mnemonic to explore options and guide treatments in ACS patients.
Cosmetics: Molecular beauty.

The rise of genomic and other technologies in cosmetic skincare is leading to products that might improve skin health.
Duodenal myotomy blocks reduction of meal size and prolongation of intermeal interval by cholecystokinin.

Abstract We have shown that vagotomy (VGX) attenuates the reduction of meal size (MS) produced by cholecystokinin (CCK) -8 and -33 and that celiaco-mesenteric ganglionectomy (CMGX) attenuates the prolongation of the intermeal interval (IMI) produced by CCK-33. Here, we report the following novel data. First, by determining the distribution of CCK 1 receptor messenger RNA, which mediates reduction of MS and prolongation of IMI by CCK, in seven regions of the gastrointestinal tract in the adult rat we found that the duodenum contains the highest concentration of this receptor in the gut. Second, based on the previous finding we performed a unique surgical technique known as duodenal myotomy (MYO), which severs all the nerves of the gut wall in the duodenum including vagus, splanchnic and enteric nerves. Third, we determined MS and IMI in duodenal MYO rats in responses to endogenous CCK-58 released by the non-nutrient, trypsin inhibitor, camostat and CCK-8 to test the possibility that the duodenum is the site of action for reduction of MS and prolongation of IMI. We found that, similar to the previous work reported by using CCK-8 and MS, duodenal MYO also blocked reduction of MS by camostat. Forth, duodenal MYO blocked prolongation of IMI by camostat. As such, our current results suggest that the duodenum is the gut site that communicates both feeding signals of endogenous CCK, MS and IMI, with the brain through vagal and splanchnic afferents.
Adsorption of fatty acids on iron (hydr)oxides from aqueous solutions.

The interaction of iron (hydr)oxides with fatty acids is related to many industrial and natural processes. To resolve current controversies about the adsorption configurations of fatty acids and th...
Aircraft Weight Analysis

A number of methods to estimate various weights associated with aircraft are presented. Definitions of important weight properties, such as empty, gross, ramp, and maximum zero fuel weight are defined. Two weight estimation methods, intended to assess the first estimate of the airplane’s weight based on historical data, are introduced using numerical examples. Then, three detailed weight analysis methods referred to as actual, statistical, and direct weight estimation methods are presented. Statistical methods associated with Raymer and Nicolai are introduced. Also a methodology called Method of Fractions is introduced to relate wing weight to its AR, but such methods are helpful in establishing relationships for optimization approaches. The last section of the chapter presents many important inertia properties, including numerical estimation of moments and products of inertia, prediction of the aircraft’s 3D CG location, and others. Additionally, the CG-envelope and its creation are detailed; along with a discussion of in-flight movement, weight budgeting and tolerancing methods.
Development of Mammalian Primary Sound Localization Circuits

In order to localize sounds in space, mammals make use of small differences in the timing and intensity of sound between the two ears. These binaural cues are first processed by neural circuits in the auditory brainstem. The intrinsic neuronal properties, precise tonotopic organization, and specialized synaptic structure and function characteristic of these pathways are necessary for their role in sound localization. While some of these characteristics are present from the outset, others mature over a critical period of early development and depend on neural activity. Here we describe key steps in the development of mammalian primary sound localization circuits, discuss the activity dependence of each step, and highlight open questions that require further investigation.
Invented Spaces of Activism: Gezi Park and Performative Practices of Citizenship

In this chapter, we take as a point of observation the 2013 Occupy movement in Istanbul’s Taksim Gezi Park to discuss practices of citizenship in the contemporary neoliberal city. Through study of this urban contestation, we find that beyond the invited spaces of participation, invented spaces of activism play a critical role in asserting citizens’ rights to the city and counter-development of exclusionary urban projects. Our special focus is with the symbolic and performative aspects of strategies that activists use to resist aggressively market-based urban development projects. We highlight these innovative forms of action as effective insurgent practices of citizenship with specific urban development outcomes.
Upside down/side up: problematizing teacher communication behaviors and learning outcomes in communication

Coach was smiling and talking like we were BFFs. I mean, this was our first session! I wanted to say: you don’t know me, don’t pretend we’re close. So … ya, I didn’t really hear anything she said a...
Biosurfactant Production by Marine-Originated Bacteria Bacillus Subtilis and Its Application for Crude Oil Removal

Biosurfactants have been considered as promising candidates for oil spill cleanup as they are generally more biodegradable, less toxic, and better in enhancing biodegradation than chemical surfactants. This study targeted the marine microbial biosurfactants to examine their enhanced production methods and application for the removal of crude oil from soil. The biosurfactants generated by Bacillus subtilis, which was isolated from the Atlantic Ocean, were investigated in this study. The economic production medium using different carbon (n-hexadecane, diesel oil, glycerol, glucose, starch, and sucrose) and nitrogen sources (NaNO3, (NH4)2SO4, and yeast extract) was studied. The best performance of biosurfactant production was achieved when using glycerol as carbon source and sodium nitrate and yeast extract as nitrogen sources in the substrate. The production rate was enhanced five times compared with that of the original screening recipe. The fermentative production of the generated biosurfactants could reduce the surface tension of water to 27 mN/m and with strong surface activity (∼36.4 mN/m) even after dilution for 10 times. The critical micellar concentration (CMC) of the product was 507 mg/L. A thin layer chromatography (TLC) analysis indicated that the purified product was a mixture of lipopeptide and glycolipid. The microbially produced biosurfactants were further examined as a soil-washing agent to enhance crude oil removal in a soil column system. The removal rates of 58 and 65 % were achieved using the biosurfactant solution with concentrations of 4 and 8 g/L, respectively. The results demonstrated the potential of marine microbial biosurfactants in cleaning crude oil-contaminated soil.
On the Simulation of Everything

Affordable computing and memory capacity have enabled fascinating work in the "world" of computer visualization and simulation. As high-resolution complexities are modeled, offering new and sometimes unexpected results, these intricate artifacts answer questions while leading to new ones.
Neuroanatomical Interpretation of the Painting Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh.

Gogh, Vincent Van (1853-1890). The Starry Night. Saint Remy, June 1889. Oil on canvas, 29 × 36 1/4″ (73.7 × 92.1 cm). Acquired through the Lillie P. Bliss Bequest. The Museum of Modern Art. Digital Image © The Museum of Modern Art/Licensed by SCALA/Art Resource, NY.
Leveraging Sparsity and Compressive Sensing for Reduced Order Modeling

Sparsity can be leveraged with dimensionality-reduction techniques to characterize and model parametrized nonlinear dynamical systems. Sparsity is used for both sparse representation, via proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) modes in different dynamical regimes, and by compressive sensing, which provides the mathematical architecture for robust classification of POD subspaces. The method relies on constructing POD libraries in order to characterize the dominant, low-rank coherent structures. Using a greedy sampling algorithm, such as gappy POD and one of its many variants, an accurate Galerkin-POD projection approximating the nonlinear terms from a sparse number of grid points can be constructed. The selected grid points for sampling, if chosen well, can be shown to be effective sensing/measurement locations for classifying the underlying dynamics and reconstruction of the nonlinear dynamical system. The use of sparse sampling for interpolating nonlinearities and classification of appropriate POD modes facilitates a family of local reduced-order models for each physical regime, rather than a higher-order global model. We demonstrate the sparse sampling and classification method on the canonical problem of flow around a cylinder. The method allows for a robust mathematical framework for robustly selecting POD modes from a library, accurately constructing the full state space, and generating a Galerkin-POD projection for simulating the nonlinear dynamical system.
Comparison of lidar- and allometry-derived canopy height models in an eastern deciduous forest

Abstract Tree crown geometry and height, especially when coupled with remotely sensed data, can aid in the characterization of tree and forest structure. In this study, we develop mixed-effects model allometric equations for tree height, crown radius, and crown depth using data collected on 374 trees across 14 species within the extent of the joint Center for Tropical Forest Science (CTFS) and Smithsonian Institute’s Forest Global Earth Observatory (ForestGEO) MegaPlot on Prospect Hill at Harvard Forest, Massachusetts. We applied allometry to a census of the 35-ha plot on Prospect Hill to evaluate tree height and crown radius estimates using a lidar canopy height model. We found significant relationships using stem diameter-at-breast-height (DBH) and species to estimate tree height (ρr2 = 0.70, RMSE = 2.96 m), crown depth (ρr2 = 0.35, RMSE = 3.24 m) and crown radius (ρr2 = 0.43, RMSE = 1.22 m). Using Fast Fourier Transforms (FFTs), we compared the power spectra of a lidar canopy height model to five synthetic canopy height models derived from allometric estimates of height and crown radius. The FFTs showed good agreement between lidar and synthetic canopy height models (CHMs) at spatial wavelengths longer than 64 m, or about the distance across 3–4 dominant tree crowns, and poorer agreement at shorter spatial wavelengths, which we attribute to the simple crown shape applied to modeled crowns and a lack of crown overlap in the synthetic CHMs compared to the lidar CHM. At the tree level, some species exhibited tight links between lidar-measured height and estimated tree height (e.g., Quercus rubra, Quercus velutina, Pinus strobus), suggesting height allometry provided reasonable estimates of tree height for some species despite a negative bias in the synthetic canopy height models relative to the lidar canopy height model.
DS.js: Turn Any Webpage into an Example-Centric Live Programming Environment for Learning Data Science

Data science courses and tutorials have grown popular in recent years, yet they are still taught using production-grade programming tools (e.g., R, MATLAB, and Python IDEs) within desktop computing environments. Although powerful, these tools present high barriers to entry for novices, forcing them to grapple with the extrinsic complexities of software installation and configuration, data file management, data parsing, and Unix-like command-line interfaces. To lower the barrier for novices to get started with learning data science, we created DS.js, a bookmarklet that embeds a data science programming environment directly into any existing webpage. By transforming any webpage into an example-centric IDE, DS.js eliminates the aforementioned complexities of desktop-based environments and turns the entire web into a rich substrate for learning data science. DS.js automatically parses HTML tables and CSV/TSV data sets on the target webpage, attaches code editors to each data set, provides a data table manipulation and visualization API designed for novices, and gives instructional scaffolding in the form of bidirectional previews of how the user's code and data relate.
Could bioelectric impedance spectroscopy (BIS) measured appendicular intracellular water serve as a lean mass measurement in sarcopenia definitions? A pilot study.

DXA lean mass measurement for sarcopenia diagnosis is not always possible. Bioelectric impedance spectroscopy (BIS), a portable technology, is a potential alternative to DXA-measured lean mass. This pilot study explores the possibility and proposes an arbitrarily chosen potential cut-point for appendicular intracellular water corrected by height (aICW/ht2). Sarcopenia definitions often include DXA lean mass measurement. However, DXA is not always available. We explored the potential of a less-expensive mobile method, bioelectric impedance spectroscopy (BIS), to assess lean mass for sarcopenia determination. We hypothesized that BIS-measured appendicular intracellular water (aICW/ht2) would correlate with DXA-measured appendicular lean mass (ALM)/ht2 and with functional parameters. If so, establishing an aICW/ht2 cut-point in sarcopenia definitions may be feasible. Sixty-one community-dwelling women, mean age 79.9, had BIS and DXA lean mass, grip strength, gait speed, and jumping mechanography assessments. BIS aICW was calculated using limb length and intracellular water resistance. aICW/ht2 was compared to DXA-measured ALM/ht2 by linear regression. The European Working Group ALM/ht2 and an exploratory aICW/ht2 cut-point were utilized. In this cohort, ALM/ht2 and aICW/ht2 were moderately correlated, R2 = 0.55, p < 0.0001. Lean mass was low in 7 and normal in 44 by BIS and DXA. Those with low aICW/ht2 had lower grip strength (p = 0.04) and jump power (p = 0.0002) than those with normal aICW/ht2 and ALM/ht2. Subjects with low ALM/ht2 had lower jump power (p = 0.0006) but were not different in gait speed or grip strength. BIS aICW is correlated with DXA-measured ALM directly, and when height adjusted. An aICW/ht2 cut-point of 6.5 L/m2 identified 70% of women with low ALM/ht2. Women with low lean mass by DXA and BIS had poorer function measured by jump power. These pilot data support further evaluation of BIS measurement inclusion into sarcopenia definitions.
Professor Kazamias, Andreas, Andy: An Introduction and Celebration in Three Parts

This special issue of European Education honors one of the founding figures in comparative and international education, Professor Andreas Kazamias. Andreas has often described himself as a scholar ...
Abstract 063: Mechanical Stretch on Endothelial Cells Promotes Monocyte Activation and Differentiation into Immunogenic Dendritic Cells via STAT3

Mechanical stretch activates the endothelium to produce reactive oxygen species and expression of adhesion molecules and cytokines. Human monocytes that traverse the endothelium differentiate into dendritic cells (DCs) upon exposure to a pro-inflammatory state. We hypothesized that human endothelial cells exposed to mechanical stretch will promote conversion of human monocytes into activated DCs. We co-cultured human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) with monocytes from normotensive human donors and exposed the endothelial cells to either normal (5%) or hypertensive (10%) uniaxial cyclical stretch for 48 hours. Co-culturing monocytes with HAECs exposed to 10% stretch showed a marked increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, IL-23A and IL-1β compared to 5% stretch. HAECs exposed to 10% stretch promoted monocytes in culture to differentiate into DCs. We have shown that DCs from hypertensive mice accumulate isolevuglandins (IsoLGs) that adduct to proteins and promote T cell activation. Thus, we performed intracellular staining and flow cytometry and found that these monocytes significantly accumulate higher levels of IsoLG-adducted proteins compared to 5% stretch (69.7 ± 5.8 vs 10.8 ± 1.85, respectively). In addition, monocytes co-cultured with endothelial cells exposed to 10% stretch expressed phosphorylated STAT3 (pSTAT3), which was blocked by stattic, a STAT3 inhibitor. Similarly, monocytes co-cultured with HAECs exposed to 10% stretch induced a 1,500-fold and a 1,300-fold increase in CD4 + and CD8 + T cell proliferation; while, inhibition of STAT3 prevented this T cell proliferation. To test if this is due to cell-cell contact, we seeded monocytes in a transwell with endothelial cells exposed to either 5% or 10% stretch. We found that these monocytes expressed DC markers, pSTAT3, and accumulated IsoLG-peptides when exposed to hypertensive mechanical stretch. In addition, angiotensin II (490ng/kg/min) infusion of C57Bl/6 mice increased pSTAT3 in monocytes, macrophages, and DCs in the renal and vascular tissue compared to sham controls. Thus, our data indicate that endothelial cells exposed to mechanical stretch cross-talk with monocytes to promote differentiation into DCs known to be immunogenic via STAT3.
Maternal antibody-modulated MHV-JHM infection in C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice.

Mouse hepatitis virus, strain JHM, has proven to be a useful model for the study of viral persistence and latency. Several different clinical diseases are caused by this virus, dependent upon the age and route of inoculation as well as the type of rodent infected. Thus, suckling mice inoculated with small amounts of virus succomb within a few days to a fatal, acute encephalomyelitis (Cheever et al, 1949, Weiner, 1973). Older mice, when inoculated with the same dose, usually remain asymptomatic, although viral antigen and evidence of de-myelination can be detected on microscopic examination (Herndon et al, 1975, Stohlman and Weiner, 1981). The infection can be modified by the use of certain temperature-sensitive mutants, in which case no mice succumb to the acute encephalomyelitis, but the majority develop acute demyelination (Haspel et al, 1978).
Desktop computer application for consolidation testing and analysis

The use of desktop microcomputers for automatic data acquisition of consolidation test data and data analyses is discussed. The various electrical sensing devices used to measure several test parameters are briefly described. In addition to using the desktop computer for automatic data acquisition, a program was written to analyze the data using several classical empirical procedures. The Casagrande logarithm of time fitting method and the Cour inflection point method for computing C v are used to analyze the time-dependent data. The Casagrande and Schmertmann construction techniques are used to analyze the time-independent data. Additionally, the density, water content, and degree of saturation of the specimen are determined throughout the test.
"Last Supper" Predicts Greater Weight Loss Early in Obesity Treatment, but Not Enough to Offset Initial Gains.

Background: Many participants experience clinically significant fluctuations in weight before beginning a behavioral weight loss program. Pre-treatment weight gain, often referred to as the “last supper” effect, may limit total weight loss from the time of the pre-treatment screening visit and could be an indicator that a participant will respond poorly to behavioral intervention. Methods: Data were from the weight loss phase of a two-phase weight loss maintenance trial, in which 178 participants with obesity (screening BMI= 40.5 ± 6.0 kg/m2, 87.6% female; 71.3% black) were provided with a 14-week lifestyle intervention that included a meal replacement diet. Participants were categorized as having gained >1.15%, remained weight stable, or lost >1.15% of initial weight between the pre-treatment screening visit and the first treatment session (48.7 ± 29.4 days). We first examined whether the weight change groups differed in baseline eating characteristics (e.g., emotional eating, self-regulation, craving frequency) using one-way ANCOVAs. Linear mixed models were then used to compare weight change groups on total weight loss from the screening visit to week 14 and in-treatment weight loss from week 1 to week 14. Results: Nearly half of the sample (48.9%) gained >1.15% of initial weight during the pre-treatment period (+2.5 ± 1.2%); 41.0% remained weight stable (+0.2 ± 0.6%); and 10.1% lost >1.15% of initial weight (-2.2 ± 0.9%). There were no significant differences between the groups in baseline eating characteristics. As measured from the screening weight, the weight-gain group had a lower total loss of 6.8%, compared to 7.8% in the weight stable group (p = .02) and 9.0% in the weight-loss group (p = .003). The weight-gain group lost more weight in the first 4 weeks of treatment, but in-treatment losses did not differ among the groups at week 14. Conclusions: Pre-treatment weight gain was not an indicator of a poor response to a behavioral weight loss intervention and was associated with greater weight loss early in treatment. However, weight gain during the pre-treatment period may limit the total weight loss that participants achieve from the time that they first enroll in a weight loss program.
Stalinist Perpetrators on Trial: Scenes from the Great Terror in Soviet Ukraine , written by Lynne Viola

Lynne Viola’s fascinating and compact new book, Stalinist Perpetrators on Trial, takes advantage of the accessibility of the Ukrainian nkvd archives in Kyiv to paint a collective portrait of a single generation of relatively young and semi-educated second level secret police operatives in the Ukrainian provinces. These men—and they were all men—rose through the ranks of the nkvd from fairly humble beginnings as workers, soldiers, or peasants, who had sometimes experienced the Russian Civil War, but more often cut their teeth as policemen during
Oviposition attractants and repellents of mosquitoes

Infusions of various organic materials have been known to modify ovipositional behavior of gravid female mosquitoes. Previously, we found that an infusion of Purina Laboratory Chow elicited negative ovipositional behavior inCulex pipiens quinquefasciatus Say andCulex tarsalis Coquillett. In the present chemical studies, the Purina Laboratory Chow infusion, fermented for 10 days, was distilled to give an active distillate which, upon ether extraction, gave an active ether extract. Fractionation of the ether extract yielded an active acidic fraction and inactive nonacidic fraction. Gas Chromatographie analysis on Porapak R and AT-1200-H3PO4 columns of the acidic fraction showed the presence of acetic, propionic, isobutyric, butyric, isovaleric, and caproic acids. In bioassay tests, these lower aliphatic carboxylic acids, individually and in combination, exhibited ovipositional repellency against the two species of mosquitoes at the concentration of 6 × 10−2%. At this concentration, butyric acid caused 100% mortality in first-instar larvae ofC. p. quinquefasciatus. Gravid female mosquitoes might have acquired, through evolutional adaptation, the ability of avoiding ovipositing in unsuitable sites in which toxic compounds might be detrimental to the survival and development of their offspring.
Connecting Users with Special Collections: Describing Rare Books without a Rare Book Cataloger

Buswell Library at Wheaton College in Illinois faced a cataloging backlog of thousands of rare materials focusing on American and British Protestant evangelism and missions. Cataloging staff used creative thinking to solve challenges such as lack of staff time and expertise. We collaborated with special collections staff to determine specific user needs, then used our knowledge of metadata practices to meet those needs. Many complicated items appeared in the workflow, but we found creative ways to make them accessible. To communicate the project to the rest of the library, we presented at a staff meeting, explaining the types of materials cataloged and sharing tips for searching for them. The project significantly increased the amount of special collections items cataloged annually and allowed us to connect faculty and students with our valuable research materials.
The effectiveness of superficial versus deep dry needling or acupuncture for reducing pain and disability in individuals with spine-related painful conditions: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

ABSTRACTObjective: The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the effects of deep versus superficial dry needling or acupuncture on pain and disability for spine-related painful conditio...
The Utility of ECMO After Liver Transplantation: Experience at a High-volume Transplant Center and Review of the Literature

Background Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) artificially supports respiratory and cardiac function when conventional techniques fail. ECMO has been described as a treatment modality for acute pulmonary and cardiac failure following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Here, we present a series of adult OLT recipients placed on ECMO after transplantation for both respiratory and cardiac indications and review the literature on the role of ECMO in the setting of OLT. Methods For the patient series, we cross-referenced all patients who underwent OLT at our institution between 2007 and 2018 with the ECMO database of our institution and described these cases. For the literature review, we identified cases and series that described the use of ECMO after liver transplantation in adult recipients. Results A total of 1792 patients underwent OLT. Eight patients were placed on ECMO (0.4%), 5 men and 3 women aged 28 to 68 years (4 venovenous and 4 venoarterial). Three of (38%) 8 patients survived to discharge and are alive today. In the literature, we identified 3 series and 12 case reports of ECMO following OLT, with the majority of the literature derived from the Asian OLT experience. Conclusions ECMO following liver transplantation should be considered as a viable rescue strategy in patients with severe cardiopulmonary failure. ECMO is particularly effective if the cause of cardiopulmonary failure is recognized promptly and is thought to be transient. This is the largest series in the United States and demonstrates a 38% survival rate, which is comparable to other reports in the literature from Asia.
Reactions of Coordination Compounds in the Solid State. Part 5. The Racemization of Potassium Ethylenediaminetetraacetate Cobaltate(III).

The title reaction of the optically active solid is studied at 152 and 174 °C. Some decomposition takes place at the higher temperature.
What Are the Predictors of Treatment Failure in Patients Who Have Undergone Two-Stage Exchange for Infected Total Ankle Arthroplasty (TAA)?

Recommendation:Predictors for treatment failure in patients undergoing 2-stage exchange for infected total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) include compromised soft tissues (eg, sinus tract and exposed har...
New loop quantum cosmology modifications from gauge-covariant fluxes

Loop quantum cosmology is a symmetry reduced quantization of cosmological spacetimes based on loop quantum gravity. While it has been successful in resolution of various cosmological singularities and connecting Planck scale physics to phenomenology, its connection with loop quantum gravity has remained elusive. It is therefore important to integrate more and more features of the full theory into this framework and understand the reliability of physical predictions. In particular, if one wishes to connect the effective Hamiltonian in loop quantum cosmology to an expectation value of the scalar constraint operator in suitable coherent states for the full theory, one has to go beyond the standard setting of loop quantum cosmology. One possibility is to introduce gauge-covariant fluxes, which become necessary because the presence of a finite regularization parameter causes functions built out of the standard discretized variables to be in general not gauge invariant. Following the construction of gauge-covariant fluxes pioneered by Thiemann [Quantum spin dynamics (QSD): VII. Symplectic structures and continuum lattice formulations of gauge field theories, Classical Quantum Gravity 18, 3293 (2001)], we show that the physics of loop quantum cosmology is affected in a nontrivial way. The bounce turns out to be generically asymmetric with a rescaling of Newton's constant in the prebounce branch. Gauge-covariant fluxes result in a higher order quantum difference equation in comparison to loop quantum cosmology. Even the behavior of matter, which behaves innocuously in loop quantum cosmology, is enriched resulting in an effective nonminimal coupling. These effects are shown to be common to different choices of regularization parameters.
Dosimetric evaluation of the INTRABEAM system for breast intraoperative radiotherapy: A single-institution experience

Breast intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) with the INTRABEAM system uses a 50 kV x-ray source to deliver a single fraction of radiation therapy to the lumpectomy cavity during breast-conserving surgery. We seek to perform a dosimetric analysis of the lumpectomy cavity for rigid spherical applicators. Water phantom measurements were acquired to validate the vendor-provided x-ray calibration. The planning target volume (PTV) was defined as a 10 mm expansion beyond the spherical applicator, a dose-volume histogram (DVH) was generated and dose-volume parameters [Dmin, D1mm, V90, V80, V50, HI] were reported. Additionally, the therapeutic treatment depth using the 90 and 80% isodose level was computed [R90, R80]. When the percent depth dose (PDD) is normalized to the surface of the applicator, smaller applicators have a steeper PDD. For a prescription dose of 20 Gy to the surface of the applicator, the range of dose-volume parameters for the PTV was: 3.15 to 6.84 Gy for Dmin, 16.2 to 17.6 Gy for D1mm, 2.6 to 6.9% for V90, 5.5 to 15.1% for V80, and 21.1 to 55.6% for V50. For applicators 15 to 50 mm in diameter, the reported values were: 6.35 to 2.9 for HI, 0.53 to 0.85 mm for R90, and 1.18 to 1.85 mm for R80. Smaller applicators have reduced PTV coverage but elevated HI because the attenuation of the beam proximal to the source is more pronounced. Additionally, the presence of the aluminum filter for small applicators (≤30 mm) increases PTV coverage but reduces the dose rate on the applicator surface. The delivery of IORT is performed in the OR without the use of image-based planning. To overcome this limitation, we have generated sample DVH's and report dosimetric parameters to offer clinicians a unique dosimetric perspective.
Patient Activation as a Pathway to Shared Decision-making for Adults with Diabetes or Cardiovascular Disease.

Background Shared decision-making (SDM) is widely recognized as a core strategy to improve patient-centered care. However, the implementation of SDM in routine care settings has been slow and its impact mixed.
A Cross-National Analysis of Lifespan Inequality, 1950–2015: Examining the Distribution of Mortality Within Countries

Cross-national health research devotes considerable attention to lifespan and survival rate disparities that are found between countries. However, the distribution of mortality across the world is shaped mostly by what happens within countries. We address this striking gap in the literature by modeling length-of-life inequality for individual nation-states. We use life tables from the United Nation’s (2015) World Population Prospects to estimate inequality levels for 200 countries across 13 waves between 1950 and 2015. We find that lifespan inequality is steadily declining across the world, but that each country’s level of inequality, and the rate at which it declines, vary considerably. Our models account for more than 90% of the longitudinal and cross-sectional variation in country-level lifespan inequality during the 1990–2015 period. Maternal mortality is the strongest predictor in our model, while disease prevalence, access to safe water, and health interventions figure prominently, as well. Gross domestic product per capita shows the expected curvilinear association with lifespan inequality, while primary education (both overall enrollment and gender equity in enrollment), external debt, and migration also play critical roles in shaping health outcomes. By contrast, the distribution of political and economic resources (i.e., democracy and income inequality) is less important.
"I want to feel like I used to feel": a qualitative study of causes of low libido in postmenopausal women.

Objective Low libido is common among women over 60 and negatively impacts well-being and relationship satisfaction. Causes of low libido in this age group are not well understood. We used qualitative methods to explore older women's perceptions of causes of low libido. Methods We conducted 15 individual interviews and 3 focus groups (total N = 36) among sexually active women 60 and older who screened positive for low libido using a validated instrument. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded using a codebook developed by two investigators. Codes were examined, and themes related to causes of low libido emerged. Results Women noted a number of different factors that contributed to low libido. The common factors that women discussed included postmenopausal vaginal symptoms, erectile dysfunction in male partners, fatigue and bodily pain, life stressors, and body image concerns. Women often found ways to adapt to these factors. These adaptations required open communication between partners regarding sex, and some women noted these conversations were difficult or not successful. Conclusions A wide variety of factors contribute to low libido in women over 60, but many of these factors are addressable. Low libido in older women should not be automatically attributed to "normal" aging or to menopause; providers should take an approach to assessment and treatment that addresses biological, interpersonal and social, and psychological factors. : Video Summary: http://links.lww.com/MENO/A499.