cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Novel Factor I Activity in Nipah Virus Inhibits Human Complement Pathways Through Cleavage of C3b

ABSTRACT Complement is an innate immune system that most animal viruses must face during natural infections. Given that replication and dissemination of the highly pathogenic Nipah virus (NiV) include exposure to environments rich in complement factors, we tested the in vitro sensitivity of NiV to complement-mediated neutralization. Here we show that NiV was completely resistant to in vitro neutralization by normal human serum (NHS). Treatment of purified NiV with NHS activated complement pathways, but there was very little C3 deposition on virus particles. In in vitro reconstitution experiments, NiV particles provided time- and dose-dependent factor I-like protease activity capable of cleaving C3b into inactive C3b (iC3b). NiV-dependent inactivation of C3b only occurred with the cofactors factor H and soluble CR1 but not with CD46. Purified NiV particles did not support C4b cleavage. Electron microscopy of purified NiV particles showed immunogold labeling with anti-factor I antibodies. Our results suggest a novel mechanism by which NiV evades the human complement system through a unique factor I-like activity. IMPORTANCE Viruses have evolved mechanisms to limit complement-mediated neutralization, some of which involve hijacking cellular proteins involved in control of inappropriate complement activation. Here we report a previously unknown mechanism whereby NiV provides a novel protease activity capable of in vitro cleavage and inactivation of C3b, a key component of the complement cascade. These data help to explain how an enveloped virus such as NiV can infect and disseminate through body fluids that are rich in complement activity. Disruption of the ability of NiV to recruit complement inhibitors could form the basis for the development of effective therapies and safer vaccines to combat these highly pathogenic emerging viruses.
Explicit formulae for MQ‐filtered COSY of an arbitrary number of magnetically equivalent sets of spin‐1/2 nuclei

Expressions for the density matrix are the observable spectra are explicitly presented for multiple quantum (MQ) filtered correlation spectroscopy pertaining to weakly coupled spin-1/2 nuclei. A feature of most general nature is preserved throughout the calculations, namely arbitrary number of magnetically equivalent sets, with no restriction on the number of spins contained in a given set. The equations have been encoded in a modular fashion into the code PQFCOSY in Fortran language for ease of computation
Consideration of Climate Variability and Change in Agricultural Water Resources Planning

Although agriculture and its use of water resources are obviously sensitive to climatic conditions, past research has seldom identified the effects of climate variability and climate change on the fully developed relationship between crop yield and irrigation. There is potentially great value in understanding the role of climatic uncertainty on this relationship because of the dependence of agriculture on irrigation and the scale of water consumption for irrigation. Probability distributions of crop-water production functions (CWPF-PDs) are demonstrated as being useful encapsulations of the climate-yield-irrigation relationship for decisions at various levels of time and space. Combined with reliable climate teleconnections or climate forecasts, CWPF-PDs can be a central decision support tool for questions of risk and reliability. For long planning horizons, potential climate change predicted by multiple general circulation models (GCMs) can be assessed in the context of agricultural water resources. By a...
Cumulative Proportion of Responders Analysis (CPRA) as a Tool to Assess Treatment Outcome in Alcohol Clinical Trials

Objective:Several definitions of treatment response have been proposed for alcohol clinical trials (e.g., abstinence and no heavy drinking). However, each of these outcomes allows only one definition of successful response. In contrast, the cumulative proportion of responders analysis (CPRA) includes all of the possible drinking response cutoff points, providing a more complete picture of the therapeutic effects of a treatment. CPRA has been used to examine the efficacy of analgesics but not alcohol pharmacotherapy. To demonstrate its potential utility, we conducted CPRA in two large alcohol treatment trials: the COMBINE (Combined Pharmacotherapies and Behavioral Interventions for Alcohol Dependence) trial (naltrexone) and a multisite topiramate trial. CPRA was used to demonstrate the efficacy of naltrexone and topiramate on continuous measures of in-treatment drinking—heavy drinking days and drinks per day—and their reductions from pretreatment.Method:All possible cutoff points were portrayed for each me...
Spinal Loading and Immune Responses to Personality and Mental Load During Repetitive Lifting

Objective: Investigate effects of interactions between biomechanical, psychosocial and individual risk factors on spinal loading and inflammatory responses. Background: Current low back pain causation theories do not explain the difficulty making specific diagnoses based on low back imaging. Methods: Two groups of subjects possessing sensor or intuitor personality trait performed repetitive lifting with high or low mental workload. Spinal loading was assessed using a biomechanical model and immune markers were collected before and after lifting. Results: Mental loading was associated with a decrease in AP shear. Both exposure conditions were characterized by a time-regulate immune response evidenced by markers of inflammation, tissue trauma and muscle damage. Intuitors CK levels increased over sensors following the low mental workload condition but not for the high mental workload condition. Conclusions: An immune response exists to lifting and mental loading that is influenced by personality and mental w...
Reassessing serum urate targets in the management of refractory gout: can you go too low?

Purpose of review—Growing awareness of patients with refractory gout is prompting a reassessment of treatment strategy. This article reviews the current practice of targeting serum urate concentrations (sUA) in the mid-normal range (roughly 4–6 mg/dL), and considers the rationale for more aggressively lowering sUA in patients with poorly controlled chronic gout. Some hypothetical concerns with inducing hypouricemia are considered, and relevant clinical evidence is evaluated. Recent findings—Recent studies confirm the benefits of modestly reducing sUA in many gout patients. However, tophi and tissue stores of monosodium urate crystals resolve slowly, particularly in patients with longstanding disease. Consistent with physicochemical principles, the rate of decrease in tophus size increases with a reduction in sUA concentration over a broad range. Reducing sUA to near or below 2 mg/dL can be achieved in some patients with current urate lowering drugs, but new drugs now under investigation may be more effective. As a free radical scavenger, uric acid has been postulated to protect from oxidative stress. However, inherited disorders associated with profound, lifelong hypouricemia indicate that maintaining sUA near or below 2 mg/dL would probably be safe. Summary—Targeting low sUA could improve the elimination of tissue urate stores and achieve better control of disease in patients with refractory gout.
Studying Long-Term Large-Scale Change: Concluding Reflections on the Relevant Unit of Analysis

When I first received the papers as discussant for the ASA panel, Methodology for World-Systems Analysis (the papers that would come to constitute this journals special issue), I didnt quite know how to proceed. In large part, the papers used innovative methodology to answer interesting substantive questions, so quality was not a question. The authors were rigorous in how this methodology was applied, and creative in searching for and manipulating worldwide data, so no need to comment there. The problem was semantic. Not in the petty dispute over word choice sense of semantic, but in the ontological relationship between distinctive concepts and their intended (in this case theoretical) meaning.
Introduction: REVIEW SYMPOSIUM ON GIOVANNI ARRIGHIS ADAM SMITH IN BEIJING

About sixteen months ago we began discussing commissioning a series of review essays on Arrighis Adam Smith in Beijing. The original idea was to publish a collection of essays from various world-systems scholars, and have Arrighi respond. As we all know, Giovanni became ill and sadly passed in summer of 2009. In commissioning the essays as book review editor I faced a special challenge. Some likely writers had already committed to essays for other venues (e.g., Janet Abo-Lughod 2008; Chris Chase-Dunn forthcoming). I also wanted to get a variety of approaches so that the entire collection would represent a diverse set of views. The following essays do that. We are especially fortunate to have an essay from Robert Denemark, who I asked to comment on Andre Gunder Franks probable take(s) on Adam Smith in Beijing. The remaining essays offer various insights into this important work.
Higher-order nanostructures of two-dimensional palladium nanosheets for fast hydrogen sensing.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials often show a range of intriguing electronic, catalytic, and optical properties that differ greatly from conventional nanoparticles. While planar configuration is often desirable, a range of applications such as catalysis and sensing benefit greatly from the accessibility to large surface areas. The 2D materials generally tend to form stacks in order to reduce the overall surface energy. Such densely packed structures however are detrimental when access to high surface area is required. Herewith we demonstrate a chemical strategy to generate Pd three-dimensional (3D) structures from its flexible 2D nanosheets. Solvent polarity is shown to play an important role to control the final morphology of these nanosheets. Our data indicate when these Pd 3D materials were integrated into hydrogen sensing devices, response time was found to be an order of magnitude faster than their 2D-constrained counterparts. The easy accessibility to the surfaces by hydrogen gas is considered to be a...
Study of Antrodia camphorata Polysaccharide(ACP) on Immunoregulation Function in Mice

To observe the immunoregulation effects of ACP1(Antrodia camphorata polysaccharide 1)and ACP2(Antrodia camphorata polysaccharide 2) in normal mice.The mice were feed with ACP1 and ACP2 respectively at three different doses of 100,400 and 1 600 mg·kg-1 for 30 days.Then mouse internal organs/body weight ratio,cellular immunity functions,humoral immunity function,mononuclear macrophage function,NK cell activeity and interleukin-2 value were detected.There were remarkably effects in mouse chest gland/body weight ratio,splenic lymphocyte production and DTH induced by DNFB at dose of 1 600 mg.kg-1 for ACP1 and 400,1 600 mg·kg-1 doses for ACP2.ACP1 and ACP2 in 400,1 600 mg·kg-1 doses can enhance mouse antibody formation cell production and serum hemolysin level.Both ACP1 and ACP2 can improve interferon-2(IL-2).Both Antrodia camphorata polysaccharide 1(ACP1)and Antrodia camphorata polysaccharide 2(ACP2) can enhance the immune function of mice.ACP2 has stronger effect than ACP1.
Intrarenal renin inhibition increases renal function by an angiotensin II-dependent mechanism.

ACRIP is a competitive inhibitor of renin in which an analogue of statine, (3R,4S)-4-amino-3-hydroxy-6-methylheptanoic acid, is incorporated into analogues of porcine renin substrate. ACRIP inhibits the enzymatic activity of renin, thus blocking the initiation of the angiotensin cascade. We studied the intrarenal action of ACRIP in small quantities without measurable systemic effects on renal function. In the first experiment, ACRIP was administered intrarenally at 0.02, 0.2, and 2 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 to uninephrectomized conscious dogs (n = 6) in metabolic balance at sodium intake of 10 meq/day. ACRIP, in doses of 0.02 and 0.2 micrograms.kg-1.min-1, markedly increased urine sodium excretion (UNaV) from 5.8 +/- 1.4 to 15.1 +/- 5.1 and 19.9 +/- 3.2 mu eq/min, respectively. Urinary flow rate (UV) underwent a similar increase and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) increased from 25.7 +/- 2.5 to 35.6 +/- 2.5 at 0.02 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 of ACRIP. Renal plasma flow (RPF), plasma renin activity (PRA), and plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) were not affected. At 2 micrograms.kg-1.min-1, ACRIP traversed the kidney in quantities large enough to produce a reduction in systemic PRA and mean arterial pressure and caused natriuresis, diuresis, and increased GFR. In a second experiment, ACRIP was administered intrarenally at 0.2 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 in a separate group (n = 4) under identical conditions. ACRIP-induced increases in UV and UNaV were completely blocked by concurrent intrarenal administration of angiotensin II. The results indicate that intrarenal angiotensin II acts as a physiological regulator of renal sodium and fluid homeostasis.
A New Method of Manufacturing Wire

A new method of producing wire that employs the metal-cutting operation is described. Copper wire is discussed specifically but the method is applicable to other metals. Highly worked copper should be used as the starting material and heavy tension should be applied to the ‘chip’ to improve the integrity of the product. Wire has been produced that is free from visible defects and that is at least as strong as wire made by conventional processes which involve complete deformations of the feed stock, as opposed to the localised deformation associated with the cutting process. A specific design for utilising the new technique for producing fine wire is discussed and supporting data are provided by single-point cutting processes that simulate conditions in the proposed prototype machine.
Student Teacher Perceptions Regarding Career Readiness and the Effectiveness of a Teacher Preparation Program

This study investigated student teachers perceptions regarding career readiness and the effectiveness of a teacher preparation program at Lynn University. In 2011, research conducted by McCulloch, Burris, and Ulmer emphasized that there are more than 1,400 colleges and universities in the United States preparing students to enter the teaching profession. Teacher preparation programs in the United States continue to graduate many individuals who do not go into a teaching career long-term. This study was designed to provide insight into whether or not student teacher perceptions might be used as a different perspective in terms of teacher preparation program evaluation. The investigation was conducted through the collection of data from a demographic survey and the administration of semi-structured interviews with the research participants. The data were organized through the categories of analysis proposed by the researcher: Category A: Effective classroom management skills; Category B: Programs and Endorsements; Category C: Instructor recommendations; Category D: Program requirements and features; Category E: Test preparation – State requirements and further combinations among them. The results of the study demonstrated that students recommend the inclusion of “hands on activities” as an alternative devoted to enhance the teacher preparation program. The findings of this study may be useful to contribute to the development of teacher preparation programs, to educational research literature, and also in terms of planning and implementing effective professional development for teachers. Keywords: Teacher preparation. Career readiness. Newly graduated teachers. Program evaluation.
Highway Vehicle Emissions Avoided by Diesel Passenger Rail Service Based on Real-World Data

Avoided emissions attributable to the reduction in personal automobile trips for passenger rail riders are quantified based on real-world measurements. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) sponsors the Piedmont passenger rail service between Raleigh and Charlotte, NC. Per passenger-kilometer locomotive emissions were quantified based on portable emissions measurement system measured exhaust concentrations and duty cycles, or the fraction of trip time spent in each throttle notch setting of the prime mover engine, from 68 one-way trips of six Tier 0+ and Tier 1+ locomotives, and actual ridership data. Motor Vehicle Emissions Simulator (MOVES) software was used to estimate light-duty gasoline vehicle (LDGV) emission factors. Moving a passenger from an LDGV to a Piedmont train would lead to a net reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions by 44–94 %, respectively, between Raleigh and Charlotte, based on the assumption that the driver is the only LDGV passenger. However, locomotive nitrogen oxides (NO x ), hydrocarbons (HC), and particulate matter (PM) emission factors were 4–11 times higher than for the LDGV, respectively. Delays for either the train or highway vehicles did not substantially alter the key findings. If a Tier 4 locomotive was used, NO x , PM, and HC emission rates would be 90–99 % lower than current NCDOT locomotives. The use of real-world data representative of actual train operations provides an accurate basis for comparing rail and personal vehicle energy use and emissions and for identifying key factors affecting variability in the comparison.
Advanced Germanium MOS Devices and Technology

It is believed that below the 65 nm node although the conventional bulk CMOS can be scaled, however, without appreciable performance gains. To continue the scaling of Si CMOS in the sub-65 nm regime, innovative device structures and new mate rials have to be created in order to continue the historic progress in information processing and transmission. One such promising channel material is Ge due to its higher source injection velocity. However, the lack of a sufficiently stable gate dielectric and prior knowledge on doping Ge challenged its MOSFET demonstration. In this paper, we review various advanced Ge MOS device technology on nanoscale gate stack, shallow junction, and low thermal budget integration process, which together have enabled fu nctional metal-gated Ge MOSFETs with high-κ dielectric for the first time.
Chemerin-induced arterial contraction is Gi- and calcium-dependent

Abstract Chemerin is an adipokine associated with increased blood pressure, and may link obesity with hypertension. We tested the hypothesis that chemerin-induced contraction of the vasculature occurs via calcium flux in smooth muscle cells. Isometric contraction of rat aortic rings was performed in parallel with calcium kinetics of rat aortic smooth muscle cells to assess the possible signaling pathway. Chemerin-9 (nonapeptide of the chemerin S 157 isoform) caused a concentration-dependent contraction of isolated aorta (EC 50 100 nM) and elicited a concentration-dependent intracellular calcium response (EC 50 10 nM). Pertussis toxin (G i inhibitor), verapamil (L-type Ca 2 + channel inhibitor), PP1 (Src inhibitor), and Y27632 (Rho kinase inhibitor) reduced both calcium influx and isometric contraction to chemerin-9 but PD098059 (Erk MAPK inhibitor) and U73122 (PLC inhibitor) had little to no effect on either measure of chemerin signaling. Although our primary aim was to examine chemerin signaling, we also highlight differences in the mechanisms of chemerin-9 and recombinant chemerin S 157 . These data support a chemerin-induced contractile mechanism in vascular smooth muscle that functions through G i proteins to activate L-type Ca 2 + channels, Src, and Rho kinase. There is mounting evidence linking chemerin to hypertension and this mechanism brings us closer to targeting chemerin as a form of therapy.
Neighborhood Safety and Major Depressive Disorder in a National Sample of Black Youth; Gender by Ethnic Differences.

Adolescence is a developmental period marked by increased stress, especially among Black youth. In addition to stress related to their developmental transition, social factors such as a perceived unsafe neighborhood impose additional risks. We examined gender and ethnic differences in the association between perceived neighborhood safety and major depressive disorder (MDD) among a national sample of Black youth. We used data from the National Survey of American Life - Adolescents (NSAL-A), 2003–2004. In total, 1170 Black adolescents entered the study. This number was composed of 810 African American and 360 Caribbean Black youth (age 13 to 17). Demographic factors, perceived neighborhood safety, and MDD (Composite International Diagnostic Interview, CIDI) were measured. Logistic regressions were used to test the association between neighborhood safety and MDD in the pooled sample, as well as based on ethnicity by gender groups. In the pooled sample of Black youth, those who perceived their neighborhoods to be unsafe were at higher risk of MDD (Odds Ratio [OR] = 1.25; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 1.02-1.51). The perception that one’s neighborhood is unsafe was associated with a higher risk of MDD among African American males (OR=1.41; 95% CI = 1.03–1.93) but not African American females or Caribbean Black males and females. In conclusion, perceived neighborhood safety is not a universal psychological determinant of MDD across ethnic by gender groups of Black youth; however, policies and programs that enhance the sense of neighborhood safety may prevent MDD in male African American youth.
Abstract 642: Renal Denervation Prevents Dendritic Cell Activation and Renal T Cell Infiltration and Subsequent Renal Damage in Mice with Angiotensin II-induced Hypertension

Hypertension is associated with increased sympathetic outflow and subsequent activation of adaptive immunity. We hypothesized that renal sympathetic nerves activate dendritic cells, and that these in turn cause T cells to proliferate and accumulate and the eventual end-organ damage in the kidney. To test this, we performed bilateral renal denervation (RDN) in C57BL/6 mice by applying phenol to the renal artery and cutting large visible nerves. One week later, mice received an infusion of angiotensin II (490 ng/kg/min) subcutaneous for 14 days. RDN lowered the hypertensive response to angiotensin II infusion (130±3 vs. 161±3 mmHg) as measured by telemetry, and also prevented renal fibrosis, albuminuria and nephrinuria caused by angiotensin as measured by Masson Trichrome stain and ELISA. By flow cytometry, we found that RDN reduced accumulation of total T cells and CD44hi (memory) T cells in the kidney. Angiotensin II infusion increased expression of the maturation marker CD80 in dendritic cells (DCs) of the kidney by 2 to 3-fold, and increased IL-1α, IL-1β, and IL-6 production by splenic DCs by 4 to 6-fold. These increases were attenuated by RDN. We also found that angiotensin II infusion increased VCAM-1 and decreased eNOS and Klf4 mRNA levels in the kidney as measured by real time RT PCR, and these changes were prevented by RDN. We conclude that renal sympathetic nerves contribute to dendritic cell activation, and subsequent T cell infiltration and end-organ damage in the kidney in the development of hypertension. Sympathetic modulation of VCAM-1, eNOS and Klf4 may predispose to inflammatory cell infiltration and renal inflammation.
How Flexible Is Your Data? A Comparative Analysis of Scoring Methodologies across Learning Platforms in the Context of Group Differentiation

Data is flexible in that it is molded by not only the features and variables available to a researcher for analysis and interpretation, but also by how those features and variables are recorded and processed prior to evaluation. “Big Data” from online learning platforms and intelligent tutoring systems is no different. The work presented herein questions the quality and flexibility of data from two popular learning platforms, comparing binary measures of problem-level accuracy, the scoring method typically used to inform learner analytics, with partial credit scoring, a more robust, real-world methodology. This work extends previous research by examining how the manipulation of scoring methodology has the potential to alter outcomes when testing hypotheses, or specifically, when looking for significant differences between groups of students. Datasets from ASSISTments and Cognitive Tutor are used to assess the implications of data availability and manipulation within twelve mathematics skills. A resampling approach is used to determine the size of equivalent samples of high- and low-performing students required to reliably differentiate performance when considering each scoring methodology. Results suggest that in eleven out of twelve observed skills, partial credit offers more efficient group differentiation, increasing analytic power and reducing Type II error. Alternative applications of this approach and implications for the Learning Analytics community are discussed.
Fading and Diversity

The previous chapter examined MIMO communications from an abstract point of view, with an eye towards all types of MIMO applications. In contrast, this chapter specializes to wireless MIMO applications, which suffer from not only additive noise and multiuser interference but also from multipath fading
Outcome of tacrolimus and vedolizumab after corticosteroid and anti-TNF failure in paediatric severe colitis

Background Severe colitis flare from ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn’s disease (CD) may be refractory to corticosteroids and antitumour necrosis factor (TNF) agents resulting in high colectomy rates. We aimed to describe the utility of tacrolimus to prevent colectomy during second-line vedolizumab initiation after corticosteroid and anti-TNF treatment failure in paediatric severe colitis. Methods A retrospective cohort analysis was performed between 1 October 2014 and 31 October 2016 at a single tertiary care centre. Inclusion criteria were patients with severe colitis who received tacrolimus before or during vedolizumab induction and previous exposure to anti-TNF therapy with or without corticosteroids. The initiation of tacrolimus was clinician dependent based on an institutional protocol. Results Twelve patients (10 UC, two CD; median age 16 years; three female) received at least one dose of vedolizumab 10 mg/kg (max of 300 mg) due to anti-TNF therapy failure and persistent flare not responsive to corticosteroids. Of the 12 patients, eight (67%) and four (33%) had failed one or two anti-TNF agents, respectively. Tacrolimus was initiated for acute disease severity during hospitalisation (58%) or ongoing flare during outpatient care (42%). 9 (75%) of 12 patients avoided colectomy or inflammatory bowel disease-related surgery at 24 weeks and eight (68%) continued on vedolizumab maintenance with no adverse events out to 80 weeks. Conclusion We report real-world data on the outcome of tacrolimus around vedolizumab initiation in paediatric UC or CD after corticosteroid and anti-TNF therapy treatment failure. Our pilot experience indicates a potential benefit of concomitant tacrolimus when initiating vedolizumab therapy.
Walkable and resurgent for whom? The uneven geographies of walkability in Buffalo, NY

Abstract Planners and policymakers are increasingly calling for investment into walkable neighborhoods as a means for creating new social, economic, and cultural value in cities. Such calls are often for the kind of high density, mixed-use urbanism that existed prior to the automobile era. Notably, many older industrial cities once exhibited this style of urbanism, and were characterized as “walking cities”. More recently, these cities have battled persistent population loss, economic contraction, physical deterioration, and auto-oriented development. As such, their landscapes of walkability may now be fractured or uneven. Moreover, redevelopment efforts that champion “walkability” in such places are regularly targeted toward stable and gentrifying neighborhoods, rather than more distressed areas where resident mobility is comparatively limited. This paper engages with these and related themes for Buffalo, NY—a classic American “shrinking city”—to understand if/how walkability varies for different socioeconomic and demographic groups. We use WalkScore® data measured at the census block group-level to study the geographies of walkability relative to selected socioeconomic attributes. We find that walkable block groups are highly clustered in certain parts of the city, that housing values in walkable areas are increasing, and that individuals in poverty and members of certain minority groups live in block groups with disproportionately low WalkScore®. Crucially, the city features several clusters of limited mobility wherein walkability is poor and residents have insufficient access to automobiles. These results suggest that social justice must be a prominent element in urban redevelopment strategies that call for investments into “walkability”.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: Current Concepts in Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Treatment

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is characterized by infection and inflammation of the upper genital tract in women and can cause significant reproductive health sequelae for women. Although a definitive diagnosis of PID is made by laparoscopic visualization of inflamed, purulent fallopian tubes, PID is generally a clinical diagnosis and thus represents a diagnostic challenge. Therefore, diagnosis and treatment algorithms advise a high index of suspicion for PID in any woman of reproductive age with pelvic or abdominal pain. Antibiotic therapy should be started early, and given for an adequate period of time to reduce the risk of complications. Coverage for anaerobic organisms should be considered in most cases.
The Clinical Management of Interstitial Cystitis

Interstitial cystitis (IC) continues to be an enigmatic condition with protean manifestations. Recent epidemiologic data suggest that the prevalence of this disease is much higher than previously thought. Many women with chronic pelvic pain, men with nonbacterial prostatitis, and patients with overactive bladder who are unresponsive to anticholinergics may be suffering from IC. The goal of this supplement, The Clinical Management of Interstitial Cystitis, is to update clinicians and urologists regarding the current approach to diagnosis, treatment, management, and practice issues. The articles are based on presentations from a recent meeting called “The Expert Conference on Interstitial Cystitis.” All of the authors are experts in IC, and their contributions are succinct, up-to-date, and scientifically valid. A careful reading of this supplement will update the urologist on current thinking regarding the epidemiology and pathogenesis of IC and familiarize readers with the current pharmacologic, complementary, and neuromodulation treatments for IC. The practice enhancement aspects of diagnosing and treating IC are also well described. The contributions are as follows: Phillip N. Hanno, MD, provides an update on the epidemiology of IC with particular reference to the use of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) criteria and clinical markers. Grannum R. Sant, MD, summarizes current thinking on the etiology, pathogenesis, and diagnosis of IC. Robert Evans, MD, beautifully summarizes multimodality treatments and outlines the rationale for such treatment. Joel M. Teichman, MD, reviews the role of sodium pentosan polysulfate in the treatment of IC. Kriste-ne E. Whitmore, MD, provides a provocative summary of the role of complementary therapy in the management of IC. Kenneth M. Peters, MD, reviews recent data on the use of neuromodulation techniques for the management of IC. John D. Forrest, MD, provides an insightful summary of the financial reimbursement issues relating to the management of IC. C. Lowell Parsons, MD, reviews the role of epithelial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of lower urinary tract symptoms and pelvic pain. The editors would like to thank the authors for taking time from their busy schedules to contribute to this supplement. We hope the reader finds the supplement to be enjoyable and useful.
Spiritual Formation in the Graduate School of Clinical Psychology at George Fox University

At its inception, the training model in the Graduate School of Clinical Psychology (GSCP) at George Fox University was informed by the approach inaugurated at Fuller Theological Seminary School of ...
Diagnostic Protocol for Detecting Otosclerosis on High-Resolution Temporal Bone CT:

Objectives:To present a systematic checklist to improve diagnosing otosclerosis (OS) on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the temporal bones and review this protocol’s efficacy in diagn...
Invasive Fungal Carotiditis: A Rare Manifestation of Cranial Invasive Fungal Disease: Case Series and Systematic Review of the Literature.

Background Rhinosinusitis, malignant otitis externa, and skull base osteomyelitis represent a spectrum of cranial invasive fungal disease (IFD). These syndromes have distinct characteristics, yet they may progress to involve similar structures, resulting in inflammation and invasion of the adjacent internal carotid artery (ICA). Invasive fungal carotiditis can have devastating consequences, including cerebral infarction, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and death. Methods We retrospectively studied all patients diagnosed with cranial IFD and carotid involvement at our institution from 2003 to 2018. We also searched Medline/PubMed for reports of Aspergillus or Mucorales cranial infections with ICA involvement. All cases with mycologic evidence of cranial IFD and radiographic or pathologic evidence of ICA involvement were included. Results We identified 78 cases of invasive fungal carotiditis between 1958 and 2018, including 4 cases at our own institution. Forty-one were caused by Aspergillus and 37 by Mucorales species. Presenting symptoms included vision changes (73%), cranial nerve palsy (69%), and headache (42%). Carotid events included occlusion, aneurysm formation, and vessel rupture. Cerebral infarcts occurred in 50% of cases. Mortality at 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 2 years was 27%, 41%, and 71% respectively. The median time from symptom onset to death was 150 days for cases due to Aspergillus and 51 days for cases due to Mucorales species. Conclusions Invasive fungal carotiditis is a rare but morbid manifestation of cranial IFD. Early suspicion of IFD and administration of antifungal treatment, vascular imaging, and endovascular interventions should be considered to reduce the high mortality of this disease.
Facilitating Police Reform: Body Cameras, Use of Force, and Law Enforcement Outcomes

Controversial police use-of-force incidents have eroded police legitimacy, and body-worn cameras (BWCs) have received extensive attention as a key reform. I study the causal effects of BWCs on the use of force and law enforcement outcomes. Previous studies that randomized BWC deployment at the officer level within a single agency faced empirical challenges as (1) the control group officers are also indirectly affected by BWCs due to interactions with the treatment group officers (spillover), (2) there may be fundamental differences between agencies that agree to be researched and agencies that do not (site-selection bias), and (3) researchers could not directly examine agency-wide variables such as crime rates and public opinion. I overcome these limitations by conducting the first nationwide study of BWCs across more than 1,000 agencies in the US. I find that BWCs lead to substantial decreases in the use of force, both against whites and minorities. Nationwide, they reduce police-involved homicides by 58%. In contrast to previous studies on police accountability, I find no evidence of an association between police oversight through BWCs and reduction in policing efforts. By examining social media usage from Twitter, I find that BWC adoption has improved public opinion toward the police. These findings imply that BWCs can be an important tool for improving police accountability without sacrificing policing capabilities.
Smart Cities in Community Development: From Participation in Cybernetics to Building Knowledge Infrastructures

The call for papers for this special issue defined the smart city as “one where information and communication technologies (ICTs) are heavily used to advance existing conditions to a perceived impr...
Observational Methods for Assessing Psychological State

Interest in the emotional responding of subjects has a well-established and important role in many sectors of the behavioral and biological sciences. As such, methods for describing the current psychological state of subjects need to be given careful attention. Investigators have become increasingly aware of problems associated with requesting immediate self-reports from subjects regarding their emotional state. An important and potentially effective alternative to self-report approaches is to gather data on emotional state through observational procedures. The purpose of this chapter is to review some of the better alternatives available for conducting such assessments both with individual subjects and during dyadic interactions.
A systematic review of integrative practices in physical education (2009–2018)

Abstract The purpose of this systematic literature review was to provide a holistic analysis of the empirical research surrounding the integration of other content areas (e.g., math, science) into physical education class settings for the years 2009–2018. The systematic analysis took a three-phased approach: (a) extensive search, (b) researcher negotiations of coding classifications, and (c) analyzing results. Forty-five studies were established, showing technology integrated most frequently throughout the literature. There was a steady increase in publishing trends for 2010–2017, except in 2018. Additional findings reveal that most studies in this review did not utilize knowledge assessments or physical activity tracker measures. These measures are essential when integrating outside content into physical education to provide evidence of outcomes for both fields.
Experimental investigation of low frequency vibration in synthetic tibial cortical bone

An experimental method is envisioned to generate interaction between high-amplitude low frequency vibration and low-amplitude high frequency guided waves in a human tibia in order to diagnose non-comminuted fractures, osteoporosis, and manage bone healing. Herein, the low frequency vibration of a synthetic tibia is investigated. The bone is given a short hammer tap at multiple locations along the length. A laser doppler vibrometer is used to capture the out-of-plane displacement at a fixed location on the medial surface of the mid-diaphyseal region of the synthetic bone for each of the excitations. The captured data is then analyzed in the frequency domain to extract the dominant peaks and identify the natural frequencies. The same frequencies are obtained regardless of the location of the hammer tap and they agree with simulation results using a simplified geometry.
Influence of alignment and microstructure features on the mechanical properties and failure mechanisms of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) films.

Abstract The mechanical properties of cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) films critically depend on many microstructural parameters such as fiber length distribution (FLD), fiber orientation distribution (FOD), and the strength of the interactions between the fibers. In this paper, we use our coarse-grained molecular model of CNC to study the effect of length and orientation distribution and attractions between CNCs on the mechanical properties of neat CNCs. The effect of misalignment of a 2D staggered structure of CNC with respect to the loading direction was studied with simulations and analytical solutions and then verified with experiments. To understand the effect of FLD and FOD on the mechanical performance, various 3D microstructures representing different case studies such as highly aligned, randomly distributed, short length CNCs and long length CNCs were generated and simulated. According to the misalignment study, three different failure modes: sliding mode, mixed mode, and normal mode were defined. Also, comparing the effects of FOD, FLD, and CNC interaction strength, shows that the adhesion strength is the only parameter that can significantly improve the mechanical properties, regardless of loading direction or FOD of CNCs.
Robust Scatter Matrix Estimation for High Dimensional Distributions With Heavy Tail

This paper studies large scatter matrix estimation for heavy tailed distributions. The contributions of this paper are twofold. First, we propose and advocate to use a new distribution family, the pair-elliptical, for modeling the high dimensional data. The pair-elliptical is more flexible and easier to check the goodness of fit compared to the elliptical. Secondly, built on the pair-elliptical family, we advocate using quantile-based statistics for estimating the scatter matrix. For this, we provide a family of quantile-based statistics. They outperform the existing ones for better balancing the efficiency and robustness. In particular, we show that the propose estimators have comparable performance to the moment-based counterparts under the Gaussian assumption. The method is also tuning-free compared to Catoni’s M-estimator for covariance matrix estimation. We further apply the method to conduct a variety of statistical methods. The corresponding theoretical properties as well as numerical performances are provided.
Infant Robot-assisted Laparoscopic Pyeloplasty: Outcomes at a Single Institution, and Tips for Safety and Success

Abstract Background Since its first description, multiple reports proved efficacy and safety of the robotic platform. Further progress has been made allowing for the application of robotic surgery to smaller patients, including infants. Despite the early favorable results, the use of robot surgery in infants is still controversial and more studies are needed to confirm its benefits. Objective To our knowledge, we present the largest single-institution case series of robot-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty (RAL-P) in infants, aiming to contribute to the current literature with a guide for key technical steps and safety tips for infant RAL-P. Design, setting, and participants We performed a retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database. The study protocol was approved by the institutional review board. Surgical procedure Only infants (≤12 mo of age) with a diagnosis of congenital ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) undergoing primary robotic dismembered pyeloplasty were included in the study. Measurements We critically reviewed the clinical outcomes, described the main steps of the operation, and shared tips for a safe approach. Results and limitations From January 2012 to August 2019, 44 infants underwent RAL-P for UPJO––33 (75%) males and 11 (25%) females. All robotic cases were completed successfully, with no laparotomic conversions. The median age and weight were 4 (1–12) mo and 6.8 (3.8–10.5) kg, respectively. The mean operative time was 142 (±25) min. The mean estimated blood loss was 7 (±3.6) ml, and no intraoperative complications occurred. The mean length of hospital stay (LOS) was 1.4 (±0.7) d. Seven (15.6%) patients had postoperative complications—one (2%) ileus (Clavien-Dindo grade [CDG] I), four (9%) urinary tract infections (CDG II), and two (4.5%) port-site hernias (CDG III). At a median follow-up of 19 mo, the success rate was 100%. Conclusions Given the successful outcomes, benefits of decreased LOS, and improved cosmesis, RAL-P is an appealing management option for UPJO in infants. Market release of new systems, further miniaturization of instruments, and more affordable costs will hopefully be shedding light on more complex applications. Patient summary Infants (≤12 mo of age) diagnosed with ureteropelvic junction obstruction undergoing primary robotic dismembered pyeloplasty were selected and included in this study. No intraoperative complications or conversion to an open approach occurred. Seven patients (16%) developed postoperative complications—one (2%) postoperative ileus, four (9%) urinary tract infections, and two (4.5%) port-site hernias. At a median follow-up of 19 (7–66) mo, the success rate was 100%.
Transforming superabsorbant polymers to super sticky notes

Upcycling plastics enables the design of value-added materials, a distinct alternative to landfilling. A recently published article in Nature Communications ( McNeil et al. ) reports a sustainable metamorphosis of crosslinked sodium polyacrylate, the superabsorbent material in diapers, into adhesives. Life cycle analyses of the several operationally simple transformations emphasize environmental consciousness.
Comparative Analysis of Three Analytical Methodologies for Polychrome Design: Ceramic Typology, Design Elements/Styles, and Design Symmetries on Chihuahuan Polychromes

The analysis of pattern design on ceramics, textiles, tile and other plane surfaces remains dominated by typological, design element and stylistic approaches. In this paper, I compare these approaches with a classification system that describes patterns by the geometric symmetries that combine and repeat the pattern parts. I argue that these standard plane pattern symmetry classes enable systematic, objective descriptions of decorated material. I use an analysis of the symmetric structures and colors of designs on whole and partial Chihuahuan polychrome vessels from the Pueblo IV period site of Paquime (Casas Grandes), Chihuahua, Mexico, to illustrate how a standardized classification system that focuses on the structure of pattern parts rather than on the pattern parts themselves reveals a number of new insights on a body of well-studied material.
The Relative Amplitudes of Primary and Multiple Signals Refracted in the Ocean Crust

In deep ocean seismic refraction experiments the energy in the primary signal is often less than that in the multiple arriving at approximately twice the travel time. This has perplexed interpreters since the multiple has a greater path length and interacted with the seafloor once more, so its amplitude should presumably be less. High resolution slowness-travel time spectral analysis of an expanding spread data set suggests an explanation in terms of the differences in the sound speed gradient in the oceanic crust. The gradient in the upper part of the crust is typically much greater than that in the deeper crust; therefore, energy is focused much more and has a decreased geometrical offset. The multiple then should have a lower phase speed and a higher amplitude when it is refracting in the higher gradient part of the upper crust. Synthetic modeling using the WKBJ seismogram method and the slowness-travel time spectra of an ESP data set support this hypothesis.