cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Delay Cost of Climate Change Inaction

Since the late 1960s, emissions trading has gained increased recognition and support as a way to cheaply and efficiently reduce air pollution. In 1998, Senator Joe Lieberman introduced the first Congressional bill to combat climate change by creating a mandatory emissions trading program for greenhouse gases. Over the last decade, it has become increasingly likely that the United States will choose mandatory emissions trading as its response to climate change. In designing a mandatory emissions trading program, one of the most contentious questions is whether to allocate permits via grandfathering (i.e. giving permits away to regulated firms) or via auction (i.e. selling permits to regulated firms). In this Article, I argue that one problem with grandfathering is the possibility for strategic behavior prior to implementation. I suggest that if firms are aware that a mandatory emissions trading program will go into effect in the future, they might delay making clean technological innovations until after implementation of the program, in order to secure a large grandfathered allowance. Even worse, firms might increase emissions in advance of the program, so as to earn more permits. To the extent that firms emit more than they otherwise would without the threat of an impending mandatory trading regime, there is a social cost associated with the Government’s failure to take regulatory action and implement a mandatory emissions trading program.
Development of expanded host range phage active on biofilms of multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Phage therapy is a promising treatment of multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterial infections but is limited by the narrow host range of phage. To overcome this limitation, we developed a host range expansion (HRE) protocol that expands the host range of Pseudomonas aeruginosa-specific phage by cycles of co-incubation of phage with multiple P. aeruginosa strains. Application of the HRE protocol to a mixture of 4 phages, using 16 P. aeruginosa strains for development, resulted in undefined phage mixtures with greatly expanded host range. Individual phage clones derived from the undefined mixture had expanded host ranges but no individual clone could lyse all of the strains covered by the undefined mixture from which it was isolated. Reconstituting host range-characterized clones into cocktails produced defined cocktails with predictable and broad host ranges. The undefined mixture from the 30th cycle of the mixed-phage HRE (4ϕC30) showed a dose-dependent ability to prevent biofilm formation by, and to reduce a pre-existing biofilm of, 3 P. aeruginosa clinical isolates that produced high amounts of biofilm. A defined cocktail reconstituted from 3 host range-characterized clones had activity on high biofilm-formers susceptible to the phage. Phage therapy was superior to antibiotic therapy (levofloxacin) in a strain of P. aeruginosa that was resistant to levofloxacin. The HRE protocol establishes a rapid approach to create libraries of phage clones and phage cocktails with broad host range, defined composition and anti-biofilm activity.
Analyzing Citizens’ Reported Levels of Confidence in the Police: A Cross-National Study of Public Attitudes Toward the Police in the United States and South Korea

Comparative police research has largely been based on qualitative or participatory techniques. The present study utilizes quantitative data collected from America and South Korea in 2005 to test the hypothesis that American citizens have higher levels of confidence in the police than their South Korean counterparts. The study further hypothesizes that citizens’ confidence in institutions such as the court and the government will influence levels of confidence in the police. Results obtained offered support for the stated hypotheses.
Gunshot wounds to the face: level I urban trauma center: a 10-year level I urban trauma center experience.

INTRODUCTION: : Gunshot wounds (GSWs) to the face are an infrequent occurrence outside of a war zone. However, when they occur, they constitute a significant reconstructive challenge. We present our 10-year experience at an urban level I trauma center to define the patterns of injury, assess the morbidity and mortality, and estimate the cost to the health care system. METHODS: : A retrospective review was performed on all patients admitted to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center with GSWs to the head and neck region between January 1997 and January 2007. Those who had sustained GSWs to the face requiring operative intervention were closely reviewed. RESULTS: : Between 1997 and 2007, a total of 702 patients were admitted to the Harbor UCLA Emergency Department having sustained GSWs to the head and neck region, of which 501 patients survived. Of the survivors, 28 patients (26 male, 2 female) sustained GSWs to their face requiring operative intervention. The mean age of these patients was 28 (±8.3) years. They generally presented within a few hours of the injury, but 1 individual arrived over 24 hours later. Low-velocity single gunshots (from handguns) were predominantly involved, with facial fractures occurring in all cases. Fractures were of a localized shattering type without the major displacement of bony complexes seen in motor vehicle accidents. Most required wound debridement and fracture fixation. A few patients (14.2%) underwent free tissue transfer for reconstruction (3 fibular flaps, 1 TRAM). Tracheostomy was performed in 35.7% of patients. Mean length of hospital stay was 8.3 (±7.1) days, with 50% of cases requiring admission to the intensive care unit. Mean length of intensive care unit stay was 5.2 (±5.7) days. The average cost per patient exceeded $100,000. Language: en
Relationship Between Pupal Mass and Adult Survivorship and Fecundity for Aedes aegypti

Pupal mass is significantly correlated with the fecundity of female Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae); larger females mature more eggs than smaller females. Large pupal mass ameliorates the effects of starvation on adults of both sexes. Mass has no effect on the probability of being inseminated (for adult females) or inseminating (for adult males). Thus, larval growth directly affects the fecundity survival of individuals as adults. Also, it is likely that females will maximize their mass at pupation, whereas males will minimize age at pupation and maximize mass secondarily.
Immunomodulator-induced resistance against herpes simplex virus.

SummaryAdult mice were protected from mortality after intraperitoneal infection with herpes simplex virus type 2 by prophylactic treatment with the immunomo-dulators, Corynebacterium parvum, Coryne-bacterium acnes, or pyran. Treatment with pyran, but not with the corynebacteria, also increased the survival time of mice after local genital (intravaginal) infection with the virus. Treatment with levamisole or glyco-gen was ineffective against either virus infection. Levamisole and C. acnes were also ineffective against herpes simplex virus infection in suckling and weanling mice, while pyran was slightly effective. Silica treatment, to suppress macrophage function in vivo, increased the susceptibility of mice to herpes simplex infection by 10- to 100-fold. The increased susceptibility induced by silica was associated with early, sustained viral replication in the visceral organs. Although silica treatment markedly suppressed host resistance to herpes virus, this treatment did not inhibit the antiviral activ...
Effect of Thin Film Confinement on the Transport Properties of Ultra-Thin Polymer Films

The influence of film thickness and polymer molecular weight on the diffusion coefficient of a series of small molecule penetrants (including water, benzene, and trifluoroacetic acid) in thin films of two different model photoresist polymers (poly(p-hydroxystyrene) and bis-triflouromethyl carbinol substituted poly(norbornene)) has been studied using vapor sorption experiments via quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) methods. Diffusion coefficients for films ranging in thickness from approximately 1 μm to 50 nm were determined. It is observed that the diffusion coefficient of small molecules in a thin polymer film is a strong function of film thickness, and that the diffusion coefficient decreases drastically as film thickness is reduced below a critical thickness value. This critical thickness value is found to be a function of both the type of polymer used and the polymer molecular weight.
Stimulated Photon Echoes and Free Polarization Decay in GaAs Multiple Quantum Well Structures: Evidence for Localized and Delocalized Excitons

Interface disorder in multiple quantum wells leads to inhomogeneous broadening of excitons, and allows the study of the effects of disorder on exciton localization. Transient four-wave mixing studies illustrate that spectral diffusion via phonon assisted migration and thermal activation are the dominant mechanisms of localized exciton relaxation. Localized and delocalized excitons contribute to the nonlinearity, leading to the simultaneous observation of both stimulated photon echoes and free polarization decay from a semiconductor heterostructure.
H.P. Acthar Gel (repository corticotropin injection) treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis and diabetes

Background:Treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) relapses can be complex in patients with concomitant diabetes. Corticosteroids and adrenocorticotropic hormones are known to cause alterations in glu...
Automated Light- and Dark-Adapted Perimetry for Evaluating Retinitis Pigmentosa: Filling a Need to Accommodate Multicenter Clinical Trials

Purpose The purpose of this study was to develop a convenient means to measure rod (and cone) function by automated perimetry in patients with inherited retinal degenerations (IRDs). Methods A currently available automated perimeter was used to determine sensitivity (in decibels) to a blue target in the dark-adapted (DA) state and a white target in the light-adapted (LA) state. Normal subjects and IRD patients were evaluated with a full-threshold 71-locus strategy (the retinitis pigmentosa [RP] test) and a size III target. Comparisons were made with results from the more commonly used methods of two-color DA perimetry and middle/long-wavelength LA perimetry in the same patients. Results Rod function using the blue target and the RP test was determined for normal subjects by measuring DA sensitivities. If patients detected the blue stimulus in the DA state, it was determined whether the value was rod mediated by using normal data acquired during the cone plateau phase of dark adaptation. If rod mediated, rod sensitivity loss (RSL) was calculated and mapped across the visual field. Light-adapted sensitivities in normal subjects were also measured, permitting cone sensitivity losses (CSL) to be calculated for the patients. Multiple methods were used to compare RSL and CSL results with those from two-color DA perimetry and chromatic LA perimetry, and there was close correspondence between the methods. Conclusions The unmodified automated static perimeter used in the DA and LA states presents a practical approach to accomplish current goals of treatment trials in IRDs. This proof-of-principle study is an initial step toward establishing a clinical method to gather reproducible data on photoreceptor-mediated sensitivity.
Physiologic variations in blood plasminogen levels affect outcomes after acute cerebral thromboembolism in mice: a pathophysiologic role for microvascular thrombosis

Essentials Physiologic variations in blood plasminogen (Pg) levels may affect ischemic stroke outcomes. We tested Pg effects in a model with translational relevance to human thromboembolic stroke. A dose-response exists between Pg levels and brain injury, fibrinolysis, barrier breakdown. Higher Pg levels reduce microvascular thrombosis and improve outcomes in ischemic stroke. SummaryBackground and Objectives Plasminogen appears to affect brain inflammation, cell movement, fibrinolysis, neuronal excitotoxicity, and cell death. However, brain tissue and circulating blood plasminogen may have different roles, and there is wide individual variation in blood plasminogen levels. The aim of this study was to determine the integrated effect of blood plasminogen levels on ischemic brain injury. Methods We examined thromboembolic stroke in mice with varying, experimentally determined, blood plasminogen levels. Ischemic brain injury, blood–brain barrier breakdown, matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression and microvascular thrombosis were determined. Results Within the range of normal variation, plasminogen levels were strongly associated with ischemic brain injury; higher blood plasminogen levels had dose-related, protective effects. Higher plasminogen levels were associated with increased dissolution of the middle cerebral artery thrombus. Higher plasminogen levels decreased blood–brain barrier breakdown, matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression and microvascular thrombosis in the ischemic brain. In plasminogen-deficient mice, selective restoration of blood plasminogen levels reversed the harmful effects of plasminogen deficiency on ischemic brain injury. Specific inhibition of thrombin also reversed the effect of plasminogen deficiency on ischemic injury by decreasing microvascular thrombosis, blood–brain barrier breakdown, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression. Conclusions Variation in blood plasminogen levels, within the range seen in normal individuals, had marked effects on experimental ischemic brain injury. Higher plasminogen levels protected against ischemic brain injury, and decreased blood–brain barrier breakdown, matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression, and microvascular thrombosis. The protective effects of blood plasminogen appear to be mediated largely through a decrease in microvascular thrombosis in the ischemic territory.
Predictive and Personalized Drug Query System

Several factors need to be carefully considered in using pharmaceutical drugs, such as drug interactions, side effects, and contraindications. To further complicate the matter, the presence of some drug properties, such as side effects, depends on patient characteristics, such as age, gender, and genetic profiles. Our goal is to provide a tool to assist medical professionals and drug consumers in choosing and finding drugs that suit their needs. We develop an approach that allows querying for drugs that satisfy a set of conditions. The approach can tailor the answers based on given patient profiles. Considering the noisiness and incompleteness of publicly available drug data, in contrast to traditional query systems, our approach considers both the answers that exactly match the query and those that closely match the query. We represent drug information as a heterogeneous graph and model answering a query as a subgraph matching problem. To rank answers, our approach leverages the structure and the heterogeneity of the drug graph to quantify the likelihood of edges and score the answers. Our evaluation shows that for quantifying the edge likelihood, our network-based approach can improve the area under receiver operating characteristic by up to 18%, comparing to a baseline approach. We develop a prototype of our system and demonstrate its benefits through several examples.
Air quality impacts of fuel cell electric hydrogen vehicles with high levels of renewable power generation

Abstract The introduction of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) operating on hydrogen is a key strategy to mitigate pollutant emissions from the light duty vehicle (LDV) transportation sector in pursuit of air quality (AQ) improvements. Further, concomitant increases in renewable power generation could assist in achieving benefits via electrolysis-provided hydrogen as a vehicle fuel. However, it is unclear (1) reductions in emissions translate to changes in primary and secondary pollutant concentrations and (2) how effects compare to those from emissions in other transport sectors including heavy duty vehicles (HDV). This work assesses how the adoption of FCEVs in counties expected to support alternative LDV technologies affect atmospheric concentrations of ozone and fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) throughout California (CA) in the year 2055 relative to a gasoline vehicle baseline. Further, impacts of reducing HDV emissions are explored to facilitate comparison among technology classes. A base year emissions inventory is grown to 2055 representing a business-as-usual progression of economic sectors, including primarily petroleum fuel consumption by LDV and HDVs. Emissions are spatially and temporally resolved and used in simulations of atmospheric chemistry and transport to evaluate distributions of primary and secondary pollutants respective to baseline. Results indicate that light-duty FCEV Cases achieve significant reductions in ozone and PM 2.5 when LDV market shares reach 50–100% in early adoption counties, including areas distant from deployment sites. Reflecting a cleaner LDV baseline fleet in 2055, emissions from HDVs impact ozone and PM 2.5 at comparable or greater levels than light duty FCEVs. Additionally, the importance of emissions from petroleum fuel infrastructure (PFI) activity is demonstrated in impacts on ozone and PM 2.5 burdens, with large refinery complexes representing a key source of air pollution in 2055. Results presented provide insight into light duty FCEV deployment strategies that can achieve maximum reductions in ozone and PM 2.5 and will assist decision makers in developing effective transportation sector AQ mitigation strategies.
Specific Language Impairment with or without ADHD

A neuropsychological study of the association between specific language impairment (SLI) and hyperactivity was conducted on four groups of 6-year-old children (5 boys and 5 girls in each group) at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK.
Role of Temporal Lobe in Autism

Regional cerebral blood flow was measured with positron emission tomography (PET) in 21 school-aged children with primary autism and in 10 nonautistic children with idiopathic mental retardation, at the Institut National de la Sante, Tours, and Hopital La Salpetriere, Paris, France.
Arginine-vasopressin therapy in hypotensive neonates and infants after cardiac surgery: response is unrelated to baseline ventricular function

We hypothesised that infants with ventricular dysfunction after cardiac surgery have impaired haemodynamic response to arginine-vasopressin therapy. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of neonates and infants treated with arginine-vasopressin within 48 hours of corrective or palliative cardiac surgery who underwent echocardiographic assessment of ventricular function before initiation of therapy. Patients were classified as "responders" if their systolic blood pressure increased by ⩾10% without increase in catecholamine score or if it was maintained with decreased catecholamine score. Response was assessed 1 hour after maximum upward titration of arginine-vasopressin. A total of 36 children (15 neonates) were reviewed (17 male). The median (interquartile) age was 10.4 weeks (1.1-26.9), and the median weight was 4.3 kg (3.2-5.8). Diagnoses included single ventricle (eight), arch abnormalities (five), atrioventricular septal defect (four), double-outlet right ventricle (three), tetralogy of Fallot (three), and others (13). In all, 12 patients (33%) had ventricular dysfunction. Only 15 (42%) responded favourably according to our definition 1 hour after the "target" arginine-vasopressin dose was achieved. Ventricular dysfunction was not associated with poor response. The overall mortality was 25%, but mortality in patients with ventricular dysfunction was 42%. Favourable response was associated with shorter ICU stay (9.5 days versus 19.5 days, p=0.01). We conclude that arginine-vasopressin fails to increase blood pressure in ~50% of hypotensive children after cardiac surgery. The response rate does not increase with duration of therapy. Ventricular function does not predict haemodynamic response. The mortality in this group is very high. Prospective comparison of vasopressin with other vasoactive agents and/or inotropes is warranted.
Speaker Introductions at Internal Medicine Grand Rounds: Forms of Address Reveal Gender Bias

Abstract Background: Gender bias has been identified as one of the drivers of gender disparity in academic medicine. Bias may be reinforced by gender subordinating language or differential use of formality in forms of address. Professional titles may influence the perceived expertise and authority of the referenced individual. The objective of this study is to examine how professional titles were used in the same and mixed-gender speaker introductions at Internal Medicine Grand Rounds (IMGR). Methods: A retrospective observational study of video-archived speaker introductions at consecutive IMGR was conducted at two different locations (Arizona, Minnesota) of an academic medical center. Introducers and speakers at IMGR were physician and scientist peers holding MD, PhD, or MD/PhD degrees. The primary outcome was whether or not a speaker's professional title was used during the first form of address during speaker introductions at IMGR. As secondary outcomes, we evaluated whether or not the speakers profes...
The European Medicines Agency and Publication of Clinical Study Reports: A Challenge for the US FDA.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been the standard of drug regulation worldwide for decades. In 1962, in response to the thalidomide tragedy, Congress directed the FDA to evaluate the effectiveness of drugs based on “adequate and well-controlled investigations, including clinical investigations” conducted by qualified experts. Backed by this congressional enactment, the FDA crafted groundbreaking administrative regulations (eg, the requirements of a prespecified protocol, placebo or active controls, the phasing of clinical investigations, and informed consent from patients) that have guided the global clinical trial enterprise ever since.1 The FDA’s regulations revolutionized the evaluation of drugs in the United States and abroad.
The efficacy of stretching exercises to reduce posterior shoulder tightness acutely in the postoperative population: a single blinded randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACTBackground: Posterior shoulder tightness (PST) is a postoperative complication leading to pain, impaired mobility, and reduced function. Despite the potential morbidity associated with PST, no studies have investigated the efficacy of shoulder-stretching methods in the postsurgical population. The purpose of this study was to determine the short-term efficacy of two stretches designed to reduce PST. Methods: The study enrolled 63 patients [mean age 51 (12) years, height 173.7 (3.6) cm, body mass 88.2 (17.9) kg]. The study was a single-blinded randomized control trial in which patients who had arthroscopic shoulder surgery were assigned to one of three groups: [(horizontal adduction stretch (n = 21), supine sleeper (n = 21), or control (n = 21)]. Dependent variables included measurements of internal rotation mobility, sidelying PST, pain, and the QuickDASH. Following the physical therapy (PT) initial evaluation, subjects were instructed to perform the allocated intervention twice daily until their ...
Modeling oxythermal stress for cool-water fishes in lakes using a cumulative dosage approach

Lake warming can negatively impact cool-water fishes through both temperature and oxygen stress. We modeled the joint dynamics of water column temperature and oxygen to quantify oxythermal habitat for yellow perch (Perca flavescens) in Fish Lake, Wisconsin, USA. To estimate annual oxythermal stress, we developed a novel metric (Cumulative Oxythermal Stress Dosage; COSD), that integrates both stress duration and stress magnitude. We find that COSD better predicts observed perch declines than the published TDO3 metric (temperature at depth where dissolved oxygen is 3 mg L-1), which was developed for cold-water fish. Simulations show increases in COSD between 1911-2014, punctuated by a sharp rise since 1989. Extreme COSD years result from the intersection of high maximum daily dosage and prolonged duration exceeding the tolerance threshold. Temperature perturbation experiments to explore future climate scenarios reveal that COSD would increase greatly if the atmosphere warms by >3°C. Applying the COSD metric...
Promoting Student Cognitive Development

This study focused on a theoretically grounded counselor preparation curriculum that was designed to enhance the moral reasoning and cognitive complexity of students as well as teach them the basic skills and theories of counselor education. The curriculum for the counselor training was rooted in a teaching–learning framework that included conditions for facilitating cognitive–developmental growth and skill and theoretical training components. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the developmental effects of the counselor training program as measured in 2 domains of cognitive development: conceptual level and level of moral reasoning. The participants were assessed at 3 different times: prior to entering the counseling program, 1-year into the program, and the month marking the completion of their 2nd year in the program. The Paragraph Completion Method (PCM) and the Defining Issues Test (DIT) were used as estimates of cognitive–developmental level. Analysis of the results revealed a significant gain for the group on the PCM between the 2nd and 3rd assessments and a positive but nonsignificant trend for the DIT.
A new extension of the FGM copula for negative association

In this paper we introduced a single parameter, absolutely continuous and radially symmetric bivariate extension of the Farlie-Gumbel-Morgenstern (FGM) family of copulas. Specifically, this extensi...
Neural Correlates of Risk Processing Among Adolescents: Influences of Parental Monitoring and Household Chaos.

Adolescent risky behavior is related to developmental changes in decision-making processes and their neural correlates. Yet, research investigating how the family environment relates to risk processing in the adolescent brain is limited. In this study, longitudinal data were collected from 167 adolescents (13-15 years, 53% male) who self-reported household chaos and their parent's monitoring practices, and completed a decision-making task during functional MRI at Time 1 and Time 2 (1 year apart). Parental knowledge was positively related to insular risk processing only among adolescents in low-chaos environments at both time points. Results highlight environmental correlates of insular risk processing in the developing brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Factors Related to Weight Gain/Loss among Emerging Adults with Obesity.

Objectives We examined the reasons for weight gain and barriers to weight loss among emerging adults with obesity. Methods Eighty-one female undergraduate students with obesity completed 4-open ended questions in 2015-2016. Qualitative responses were analyzed using NVivo 11 Pro software. Results Most participants experienced weight gain prior to attending college. The most commonly reported reasons for weight gain include a lack of ability to control one's behaviors or overcome barriers (ie, poor eating habits, lack of physical activity, lack of time, easy access to food), emotional/mental health issues, physical health, and influence of significant others. Nearly half reported having a weight loss goal. Most reported having used one or more weight loss methods. Few reached short-term weight loss but quickly regained the lost weight. Major reported barriers reflect a lack of self-regulation skills, negative mood and stress, and lack of self-efficacy for healthy eating or physical activity. Conclusions Results suggest that the perceived ability to control one's behaviors and overcome barriers, self-efficacy, and mood are important in weight-related behaviors, weight, and weight loss success among emerging adults, especially those enrolled in college.
The Role of Temperature in the Environmental Physiology of Fishes

Temperature is among the most pervasive and important physical factors in the environment of an organism. It is a measure of the average rate of random motions of atoms and molecules: the higher the temperature the faster the motion. Properties such as viscosity or fluidity, and changes in state from solid to liquid to gas, depend upon temperature. Diffusion rates increase as temperature increases, because the particles are moving faster. Only at absolute zero (0°K, or -273°C) does the motion virtually cease. Temperature also affects the rates of chemical reactions, since in order to react with one another to form new molecular combinations, two atoms or molecules must collide or come into close proximity to one another. The higher the temperature, the faster the random motion, and thus the more frequent will be the collisions. The life processes of living organisms, which are physicochemical in nature, are therefore profoundly affected by temperature. In general, higher temperatures tend to speed up these processes, but also tend to disrupt the structural integrity of the organism. As temperatures change, the rates of various processes must be balanced and coordinated. The organism must either compensate for the rate changes induced by changes in temperature (acclimation or acclimatization), or it must try to prevent or minimize changes in its body temperature (thermoregulation). A combination of these strategies can also be employed.
Ovarian Cancer: Surgical Considerations

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) followed by platinum-based chemotherapy is the cornerstone of treatment for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). While elderly patients are generally at an increased risk for perioperative morbidity, many studies demonstrate that the elderly are just as likely to benefit from aggressive standard of care treatment as are younger patients. Despite this, elderly patients with cancer are more likely to undergo substandard surgical management, resulting in poorer disease-specific and overall survival. In order to optimize the benefit of CRS while minimizing the risks of perioperative complications, patients must be carefully selected and prepared for surgery. The following chapter presents the current evidence regarding CRS in older patients and reviews important aspects of patient selection, preoperative preparation, intraoperative techniques, postoperative care, and management of complications in older patients with EOC.
Nitroprusside in critically ill patients with aortic stenosis.

regarding the use of nitroprusside in patientswith severe aortic stenosis and severe left ventricularsystolic dysfunction is encouraging. However, we donot agree with the authors that nitroprusside is asafe drug. It has a very narrow therapeutic win-dow and requires close monitoring. Nitroprusside-induced cyanide intoxication may be fatal.
Autoethnographic Fragments of My Grandmothers

Using the practice of autoethnographic vignettes and sketching as a launching point, the author creates a form he calls “autoethnographic fragments” that represent memories of his two grandmothers, moments of their lives entwined with his childhood, and their passing away from cancer and failing health. The theory fragmented writing is derived from Derrida‟s The Post Card, or envois of texts never written. Each fragment is limited to six sentences and is performative social science, as advocated by Denzin (2003). Autoethnographic fragments provide images and feelings from longer narratives of memory, without revealing the entire (unwritten) text of the memory. The author questions the authenticity of mimesis through this incompleteness. Using sociological introspection, the author explores his current feelings and thoughts regarding death, loss, cancer, and the verisimilitude of autoethnographic writing.NOTE: This paper won the 2009 Norman K. Denzin Qualitative Research Award, sponsored by the Carl Couch Center. I thank the judges for their choice and the honor of winning an award named after a sociologist who has influenced me greatly, and whose contributions to research over the decades cannot be matched.
Region-Based Segmentation: Fuzzy Connectedness, Graph Cut and Related Algorithms

In this chapter, we will review the current state of knowledge on regionbased digital image segmentation methods. More precisely, we will concentrate on the four families of such algorithms: (a) The leading theme here will be the framework of fuzzy connectedness (FC) methods. (b) We will also discuss in detail the family of graph cut (GC) methods and their relations to the FC family of algorithms. The GC methodology will be of special importance to our presentation, since we will emphasize the fact that the methods discussed here can be formalized in the language of graphs and GCs. The other two families of segmentation algorithms we will discuss consist of (c) watershed (WS) and (d) the region growing level set (LS) methods. Examples from medical image segmentation applications with different FC algorithms are also included.
At-home oral care for adults with developmental disabilities: a survey of caregivers.

Background Little is known about effective at-home oral care methods for people with developmental disabilities (DDs) who are unable to perform personal preventive practices themselves and rely on caregivers for assistance.
Compartmentalized Devices as Tools for Investigation of Human Brain Network Dynamics

Neuropsychiatric disorders have traditionally been difficult to study due to the complexity of the human brain and limited availability of human tissue. Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells provide a promising avenue to further our understanding of human disease mechanisms, but traditional 2D cell cultures can only provide a limited view of the neural circuits. To better model complex brain neurocircuitry, compartmentalized culturing systems and 3D organoids have been developed. Early compartmentalized devices demonstrated how neuronal cell bodies can be isolated both physically and chemically from neurites. Soft lithographic approaches have advanced this approach and offer the tools to construct novel model platforms, enabling circuit-level studies of disease, which can accelerate mechanistic studies and drug candidate screening. In this review, we describe some of the common technologies used to develop such systems and discuss how these lithographic techniques have been used to advance our understanding of neuropsychiatric disease. Finally, we address other in vitro model platforms such as 3D culture systems and organoids and compare these models with compartmentalized models. We ask important questions regarding how we can further harness iPS cells in these engineered culture systems for the development of improved in vitro models. Developmental Dynamics 248:65-77, 2019. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Country Risk: Determinants, Measures and Implications - The 2018 Edition

As companies and investors globalize, we are increasingly faced with estimation questions about the risk associated with this globalization. When investors invest in China Mobile, Infosys or Vale, they may be rewarded with higher returns but they are also exposed to additional risk. When Siemens and Apple push for growth in Asia and Latin America, they clearly are exposed to the political and economic turmoil that often characterize these markets. In practical terms, how, if at all, should we adjust for this additional risk? We will begin the paper with an overview of overall country risk, its sources and measures. We will continue with a discussion of sovereign default risk and examine sovereign ratings and credit default swaps (CDS) as measures of that risk. We will extend that discussion to look at country risk from the perspective of equity investors, by looking at equity risk premiums for different countries and consequences for valuation. In the fourth section, we argue that a company’s exposure to country risk should not be determined by where it is incorporated and traded. By that measure, neither Coca Cola nor Nestle are exposed to country risk. Exposure to country risk should come from a company’s operations, making country risk a critical component of the valuation of almost every large multinational corporation. In the final section, we will also look at how to move across currencies in valuation and capital budgeting, and how to avoid mismatching errors.
Diet quality affects honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) mortality under laboratory conditions

Poor food quality is likely to be detrimental to the lifespan of Apis mellifera. The objective of this study was to evaluate comparatively the effects of a mainly carbohydrate substitute sugar patt...
Partial Resilience in Nationalist China’s Wartime Capital

In November 1937, the Imperial Japanese Army reached the Chinese capital city Nanjing, sending the Nationalist government fleeing up the Yangzi River, first to Wuhan, then to Chongqing. Directing the nation from a temporary capital after having lost the majority of its tax base, the Nationalist state created the conditions for its population’s mere survival, but failed to produce the possibility of full thriving. This partial resilience resulted from policies that privileged the wealthy and punished the poor, who remained vulnerable to disease, hunger, floods, fires, and police brutality.
Analyze the Break-even Cost of Lithium-ion Battery under Time-of-use Pricing Tariffs

Lithium-ion batteries can be used by households in a wide range of demand response (DR) programs. This paper examines break-even costs of lithium-ion batteries used in time-of-use (TOU) pricing DR programs. A mixed-integer program is developed to optimize battery capacities and operating schedules. Battery degradation is explicitly considered using a piecewise linear approximation. The model is tested under two TOU pricing tariffs. Parametric sensitivity analysis is conducted with respect to loan rates and C-rates. The results suggest that the lithium-ion batteries are still prohibitively expensive under prevailing market conditions.
Experimental evaluation of single-aperture range finder

Single aperture range finders with eye safe lasers due to their smaller size and simplified design have a strong potential for wide implementation in military and commercial systems. In this paper we present the results of experimental evaluation of a single aperture laser range finder. The new design operates at eye safe wavelength range around 1535 nm and uses passively Q switched laser for illumination. The optical circulator is used to separate the detection and illumination channels. The measurements of the power budget and ranging performance evaluation for the new design are discussed.
The Arts, Creativity, and Learning: From Research to Practice

The need for a workforce capable of innovative, creative thinking and problem-solving must drive critical changes in how educators view schooling at every level. While teachers are encouraged to design teaching activities that promote creative thinking, little information exists on how they are to design and measure creative instructional strategies. This chapter focuses on how the arts, infused into instruction in all subjects, can foster deeper learning and creative thinking. True educational reform will require measurements of creative thinking, informed by the latest research from the learning sciences. Aligning the measurement of creative academic outcomes with arts-based pedagogical approaches can be an effective way to realize the goal of all learners becoming the innovative citizens of tomorrow.
Nanoparticle-mediated in vitro delivery of E4orf1 to preadipocytes is a clinically relevant delivery system to improve glucose uptake.

Impaired glycemic control is a common comorbidity of obesity. E4orf1(E4), an adenovirus-derived protein, reduces the activity of insulin receptor substrate (IRS), yet activates Akt and promotes the membrane translocation of GLUT4, resulting in better glycemic control in mice. To develop a clinically suitable delivery system, here we constructed and tested liposome nanoparticles (NP), to deliver E4 to preadipocytes. Glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-tagged E4 was encapsulated in Rhodamine-phosphatidylethanolamine (PE)-tagged soy-phosphatidylcholine-NP. The NP were characterized. Preadipocytes were treated with free E4, E4 containing NP (E4 NP) or E4-free NP (void NP). For void and E4 NP, the average size was ~150 and 130 nm, PDI was ~0.25 and 0.27, and Zeta potential was −23 and −25, respectively. The average encapsulation efficiency (EE) was ~50%. Cells treated with E4 showed maximum GST expression and Rhodamine signals at 24 h. The presence of E4 in cells was confirmed at 24, 48, and 72 h. At 72 h after exposure, E4 NP significantly decreased pTyr-IRS, yet increased pAkt protein abundance, membrane translocation of GLUT4, and glucose uptake, compared with cells treated with void NP. Free E4 (without NP) had no effect. NP-mediated delivery of E4 promotes glucose uptake in preadipocytes. The next step is to test the efficacy of this clinically compatible delivery approach in vivo.
Translation of Microbiota Short-Chain Fatty Acid Mechanisms Affords Anti-infective Acyl-Salicylic Acid Derivatives

The discovery of specific microbiota metabolite mechanisms has begun to motivate new therapeutic approaches. Inspired by our mechanistic studies of microbiota-derived short chain fatty acid (SCFA) acylation of bacterial virulence factors, here we explored covalent protein acylation therapeutics as potential anti-infectives. For these studies, we focused on acetyl-salicylic acid, aspirin, and discovered that SCFA analogues such as butyryl-salicylic acid showed significantly improved anti-infective activity against Salmonella Typhimurium. Structure-activity studies showed that the ester functionality of butyryl-salicylic acid was crucial and associated with the acylation of key bacterial virulence factors and metabolic enzymes, which are important for Salmonella infection of host cells and bacterial growth. Beyond the Gram-negative bacterial pathogens, butyryl-salicylic acid also showed better antibacterial activity compared to aspirin against Clostridioides difficile, a clinically challenging Gram-positive bacterial pathogen. Notably, coadministration of butyryl-salicylic acid, but not aspirin, effectively attenuated Salmonella pathogenesis in vivo. This study highlights how the analysis of microbiota metabolite mechanisms may inspire the repurposing and development of new anti-infective agents.
Analysis of the Impact of Process Variations and Manufacturing Defects on the Performance of Carbon-Nanotube FETs

Carbon-nanotube FETs (CNFETs) are potential successors to CMOS transistors; these emerging devices have a low intrinsic delay due to near-ballistic transport in carbon nanotubes (CNTs). As CNFETs are evaluated for circuit/system design, it is important to analyze variations in CNT process parameters. In this article, we present a systematic approach to quantify the impact of these imperfections on the transistor- and gate-level performances of CNT-based circuits. Process variations are investigated to identify the critical device parameters that have maximum impact on the device on-current. We also present a model that predicts the realistic CNFET yield in the presence of process variations. Finally, the impact of manufacturing defects, such as pinholes in the gate dielectric and parasitic CNFETs formed due to imperfect etching, are modeled and evaluated using HSPICE.
A Culturally Modified Application of Objectification Theory to Asian and Asian-American Women:

In the current study we sought to find support for a culturally modified application of objectification theory to Asian and Asian American women. The positive association between socialization expe...
Predicting Bird Guilds Using Vegetation Composition and Structure on a Wild and Scenic River in Arizona

Riparian areas are among the most ecologically diverse terrestrial ecosystems but make up <2% of landscape area in southwestern USA. Many species of resident and neotropical migratory birds utilize riparian habitats for breeding, foraging, and nesting. We quantified vegetation composition and structure to predict bird guilds on Wild and Scenic portions of the Verde River, Arizona. We grouped plant species into guilds based on similar functional traits to describe composition. We surveyed birds during the breeding and migrating season to determine abundance and categorized species into guilds using preferences of breeding habitat, foraging substrate, and nest placement. Riparian obligate and facultative breeding guilds were most common. Both vegetation composition and structure were useful predictors of birds. Vegetation structure was most complex in gallery riparian forest. Abundance of riparian-obligate birds in the breeding guild were positively associated with vegetation structure of dense, multi-canopy canopy and tall trees. Abundance of most bird guilds were positively associated with composition of tall trees (Populus fremontii, Salix gooddingii) and drought tolerant shrubs (Prosopis velutina, Celtis reticulata). Our findings show complex riparian habitat important to wildlife is created by both composition and structure of near-stream vegetation that is tied to hydrology and sensitive to flow change.
Brazil's Efficient Payment System: A Legacy of High Inflation

Brazil has an impressive, efficient, highly automated payment system, driven at least in part by the need for rapid payment clearing and settlement in a high inflation environment. There is much of value to learn from the Brazilian system, but also room for improvement. Brazil's efficient, highly automated payment system developed over many years in response to hyper-inflationary, or near-hyperinflationary, conditions. Listfield and Montes-Negret describe that system, its payment instruments, and its links to other networks (markets for money, foreign exchange, capital, futures, and commodities) and the government's payment (payroll, social security, and the like) and collection (taxes) operations. They examine factors that have affected the development of the system, innovations Brazil plans to introduce, and opportunities for improving the system. The principal payment instruments used in Brazil are cash, checks, cobrancas, and DOCs (Documentos de Credito). Cobrancas - barcoded remittance documents used to pay bills - are handled much like European GIRO payments. DOCs are used to make interbank credit payments, intrabank transfers of funds between a client's different accounts, and client-to-client payments between parties with accounts at the same banking institution. Although a client can initiate a DOC on paper, all DOCs are electronic and processed only by banks. Networks include direct deposit and direct debit services, automated teller machines, credit cards, and home banking services. The system is highly automated, with separate systems for clearing and settling checks and credit payments (clearinghouses); government securities, private securities, state, local, and municipal securities; government payments; and foreign exchange. Among the lessons from this review of Brazil's check-based payment system: ° Brazil's system shows that banks can cut costs by cooperating on check processing and transportation. The difficulty lies in structuring incentives and reaching agreements on how to allocate benefits fairly. ° A broad, inclusive approach should be taken to modernizing the payments system, taking into account the needs of all users, from individuals and participants in capital markets to enterprises and government. ° A wider menu of payment instruments should be offered than just checks. The use of cobrancas and DOCs provides certainty of payment and gives those without checking accounts access to the payment system. This paper - a product of the Financial Sector Development Department - is part of a larger effort in the department to examine factors constraining the development of countries' financial infrastructure.