cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cardiac transplantation without prospective crossmatch in HLA-sensitized ventricular assist device patients

tion and five patients weaned to recovery. Patient having a VAD placed at the OSH had a 32%(8/25) survival, while at the TxpC, survival was 74%(37/50)p 0.05. Mid-term follow-up reveals that all 5 patients weaned are alive, and 36 patients are alive one-year post transplant. The most common cause of death was multisystem organ failure (14/30), followed by major neurological event (10/30). Left ventricular failure can be treated by emergent VAD placement. Overall survival is substantial if these patients are referred to a transplant center with multiple options. Contrary to previous reports, survival rates may be improved by earlier referral, prior to VAD placement at non-transplant centers and use of a VAD with longerterm capability.
Layer-by-Layer Engineered Microreactors for Bio-Polymerization of 4-(2-aminoethyl) phenol hydrochloride

This study presents the results of polymerization of phenol to yield fluorescent polymer encapsulated within shells fabricated via layer-by-layer (L-b-L) assembly. Hollow polyelectrolyte microcapsules (shells) were prepared using weakly cross-linked melamine formaldehyde (MF) particles. Dissolution of the MF cores was achieved by changing the pH of the solution. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP), the catalyzing enzyme, was loaded in these capsules by taking advantage of the “open/close” mechanism of the capsules by altering the pH. The empty shells were then suspended in a concentrated solution of monomer. Since the monomer is a low molecular weight species, it freely permeates through the polyion wall into the shells. Addition of aliquots of hydrogen peroxide initiated the polymerization reaction and the polymer formed from the ensuing reaction was confined in the shells due to its high molecular weight. The model used for demonstrating this synthesis is polymerization of 4-(2-aminoethyl) phenol hydrochloride commonly known as tyramine hydrochloride to its corresponding polymeric form by reacting it with hydrogen peroxide. Fluorescence spectrometry (FS), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were the characterization methods employed to confirm polymerization in situ shells.
Variation in Citational Practice in a Corpus of Student Biology Papers: From Parenthetical Plonking to Intertextual Storytelling

This is a corpus-based study of a key aspect of academic writing in one discipline (biology) by final-year undergraduates and first-, second-, and third-year graduate students. The papers come from...
Improved on-shot focal-spot diagnosis on the OMEGA EP short-pulse Laser System

Diagnosis of the on-target focal spot using the current OMEGA EP diagnostics is challenging due to differential piston uncertainty and calibration errors. Performance was improved by retrieving phase information from far-field images using numerical optimization.
The microstructural and hardening behaviour of tricalcium silicate pastes in the presence of calcium chloride

A sequential examination of strength development in terms of microhardness was studied during paste hydration of C3S in the presence of 2 and 5% CaCl2 and at w/s ratios of 0.3 or 0.5. An attempt has been made to relate strength with microstructural features studied by means of Scanning Electron Microscopy. Generally, at earlier periods it was found that the 2% addition of CaCl2 gave the strongest material; the effect was most pronounced in the 6-month sample of the series with 0.3 w/s. The high strength for the sample prepared at a w/s ratio of 0.3 may be related to a high CaO/SiO2 C-S-H-phase, low porosity, and possibly a hydrated calcium hydroxy chloride complex. The pore size distribution was also measured. In general, the higher the porosity the lower the strengths but the relationship was not perfectly linear even on the semi-logarithmic plot.
Examining the range of normal intraindividual variability in neuropsychological test performance.

Neuropsychologists often diagnose cerebral dysfunction based, in part, on marked variation in an individual’s cognitive test performance. However, little is known about what constitutes the normal range of intraindividual variation. In this study, after excluding 54 individuals with significant health problems, we derived 32 z-transformed scores from 15 tests administered to 197 adult participants in a study of normal aging. The difference between each person’s highest and lowest scores was computed to assess his or her maximum discrepancy (MD). The resulting MD values ranged from 1.6 to 6.1 meaning that the smallest MD shown by any person was 1.6 standard deviations (SDs) and the largest MD shown by any person was 6.1 SDs. Sixty-six percent of participants produced MD values that exceeded 3 SDs. Eliminating each person’s highest and lowest test scores decreased their MDs, but 27% of the participants still produced MD values exceeding 3. Although MD values appeared to increase with age, adjusting test scores for age, which is standard in clinical practice, did not correct for this. These data reveal that marked intraindividual variability is very common in normal adults, and underscore the need to base diagnostic inferences on clinically recognizable patterns rather than psychometric variability alone. ( JINS, 2003, 9, 864‐870.)
Delayed diagnosis of osseous blastomycosis in two patients following environmental exposure in nonendemic areas.

Blastomycosis generally results from inhalation of Blastomyces dermatitidis conidia following exposure to contaminated soil in an endemic area. Primary infections commonly involve the lungs, although secondary dissemination to other body sites may occur. We describe 2 cases of osseous blastomycosis in people living outside the endemic areas. Both patients reported exposure to soil following injury to the knee from occupational activities. Mold isolated from each case was identified as B dermatitidis by micromorphologic characteristics including yeast conversion testing and by a positive AccuProbe Blastomyces dermatitidis test (GenProbe, San Diego, CA). Retrospective review of histologic slides, initially reported as negative, identified rare poorly staining, broad-based budding yeast forms in each case. Both patients were treated successfully with itraconazole with no evidence of recurrent infection after 1 year. These cases illustrate the importance of considering blastomycosis in the differential diagnosis of bony lesions, even though the patient may live outside an endemic area for B dermatitidis. North American blastomycosis, also known as Gilchrist disease, is encountered most frequently in people who visit or reside in areas endemic for the dimorphic fungus Blastomyces dermatitidis. These areas include regions adjacent to the Mississippi and Ohio river basins in the United States 1,2 and northwest of the Great Lakes in Canada. 3,4 Infection by B dermatitidis generally results from inhalation of conidia, with hematogenous spread to other body sites occurring after establishment of pulmonary infection in about 25% to 40% of cases. 5-8 In patients with secondary dissemination, skin is the most common affected site, followed in frequency by the bone and then genitourinary tract. 3,9,10 In this report, 2 cases of osseous blastomycosis without apparent pulmonary disease are described in patients living outside the endemic areas. A review of the English language medical literature also was conducted to identify factors that may influence the development of this disease.
Nonoperative treatment of acute appendicitis in children: A feasibility study ☆ ☆☆

Abstract Purpose Nonoperative treatment of acute appendicitis appears to be feasible in adults. It is unclear whether the same is true for children. Methods Children 5–18years with Results Twenty-four patients agreed to undergo nonoperative management, and 50 acted as controls. At a mean follow-up of 14months, three of the 24 failed on therapy, and 2/21 returned with recurrent appendicitis at 43 and 52days, respectively. Two patients elected to undergo an interval appendectomy despite absence of symptoms. Appendectomy-free rate at one year was therefore 71% (C.I. 50–87%). No patient developed perforation or other complications. Cost–utility analysis shows a 0.007–0.03 QALM increase and a $1359 savings from $4130 to $2771 per nonoperatively treated patient. Conclusion Despite occasional late recurrences, antibiotic-only treatment of early appendicitis in children is feasible, safe, cost-effective and is experienced more favorably by patients and parents.
Abstract 12: Variation in the Use of Guideline-directed Medications Prior to Cardiac Defibrillator Implantation

Objective: Guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) is recommended prior to implantation of a primary prevention cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). We examined GDMT use prior to primary prevention ICD implantation among Medicare beneficiaries. Methods: Using the National Cardiovascular Data Registry ICD Registry from 2007-2011, we identified recipients of a primary prevention ICD for the indication of heart failure with an ejection fraction <40%. We then selected the subset of these patients enrolled in a fee-for-service Medicare prescription plan in the 120 days immediately preceding ICD implant. GDMT was defined as filling one or more prescriptions for a renin-angiotensin inhibitor (RAI) and a heart-failure approved beta blocker (HFBB). We identified patients with any fills and with optimal prescription supply (at least 80% of days covered) in the 90 days prior to ICD implant. We determined the proportion of patients receiving GDMT overall and for each U.S. hospital referral region (HRR). We used logistic regression to identify patient characteristics associated with receipt of optimal GDMT and to model the association between GDMT receipt and 1 year mortality. Results: Among 433,882 patients in the ICD registry who were enrolled in Medicare, we identified 25,473 that met Medicare prescription benefit enrollment criteria. Just 60% of these patients filled one or more prescription for both GDMTs (HFBB 76%, RAI 73%). Of those with some GDMT fills, just 38% received sufficient supplies to cover 80% of days. The HRR-level proportion of patients filling any GDMT ranged from 44%-78%. Patients were significantly less likely to receive GDMT if they were male, did not receive a low-income prescription benefit subsidy, had NYHA class 4 symptoms, renal failure, a history of ventricular tachycardia, or their most recent ejection fraction assessment within 1 month prior to implant. Ejection fraction was not associated with receipt of GDMT. Those filling GDMT were significantly less likely to die within 1 year (odds ratio 0.69 adjusted for age (95% CI 0.64, 0.75)). Conclusion: Prior to primary prevention ICD implantation, GDMT use appears inadequate overall and varies widely by region. Greater GDMT use should improve heart failure outcomes and may decrease the number of patients meeting an indication for ICD implantation. Understanding drivers of high and low use would inform policies aimed at optimizing this care.
Real-Time Noise Cancellation Using Wavelet Transforms

In general, most acquired datasets suffer from the effects of acquisition noise, channel noise, fading, and fusion nodes. At the decision-making stage, where these data are fused together, any deviation from the real values of these data could affect the decisions made. We use a wavelet transform approach to develop computationally low-power, low bandwidth, and low-cost filters that will remove the noise effectively so that a decision can be made at the node level. This wavelet-based method is guaranteed to converge to a stationary point for both uncorrelated and correlated datasets. Presented here is an overview of the theoretical background illustrated with some experimental results showing the performance and merits of this novel approach.
Magnesium Oxide Based PLGA/Chitosan Microparticles for Controlled Release Study

The performance of a therapeutic drug can be optimized by controlling the rate and extent of its release in the body. Polymeric microparticles are ideal vehicles for many controlled release drug delivery applications. Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is a biodegradable, biocompatible and FDA approved synthetic polymer. When PLGA based controlled release drug delivery devices are fabricated, the surface of PLGA is typically modified by other hydrophilic polymers. But some hydrophilic polymers, such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) can negatively influence the therapeutic outcomes. The goal of the present study was to fabricate and investigate the PLGA/chitosan microparticles for controlled release of therapeutic drugs. Chitosan is a naturally occurring biodegradable polysaccharide. We hypothesized that chitosan could be used as a surface coating of PLGA to improve controlled release of therapeutic drugs. The double emulsion solvent evaporation technique was modified and utilized to fabricate the PLGA/chitosan microparticles. The microparticles were tested with respect to several physicochemical properties, such as morphology, size distribution, chemical structure, quantification of chitosan content and in vitro release study of model drug. Magnesium is an essential electrolyte in the human body. Magnesium oxide (MgO) is used for treatment of magnesium deficiency. MgO was encapsulated in the PLGA/chitosan microparticles as a model drug.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Pheromone Production and Sterility in Boll Weevils: Effect of Acute and Fractionated Gamma Irradiation

Each of 3 methods of irradiating male Anthonomus grandis Boheman resulted in a unique pattern of pheromone production over a 12-day period of observation. Peak pheromone production occurred 4–6 days after treatment in males given a single large dose of gamma irradiaton (acute irradiation) at the age of 4 days and in males given small increments of irradiation (fractionated irradiation) during the late pupal and early adult stages. Both groups produced much less pheromone during the next 3 days. The acute irradiated weevils, destined to die soon, produced no pheromone after the 9th day, whereas the fractionally irradiated males began to show a partial recovery. Males fractionally irradiated entirely during the adult stage produced a moderate but constant amount of pheromone during the entire 12-day period. Measurements of attractiveness of treated males placed in field traps produced results that were in general agreement with the laboratory data. Male sterility for all 3 treatments was ca. 99%, and from 66–82% of the males were able to transfer sperm 7 days after treatment. Females irradiated during the pupal and adult stages were completely sterile, producing no eggs. The 2 groups of females irradiated as adults produced some egiS and it was necessary to incorporate a dip treatment consisting of 0.02% diflubenzuron (Dimilin®; N -[[(4-chlorophenyl) animo] carboynl]-2,6-difluorobenzamide) in acetone to suppress viability.
Genetic variation in the diatomFragilaria capucina (Fragilariaceae) along a latitudinal gradient across North America

Genetic variation in 126 clones of the planktonic diatom,Fragilaria capucina, collected from seven lakes from Manitoba to Texas, was determined by RAPD analysis. Five primers yielded 48 scorable RAPD fragments in 123 unique combinations. Patterns of genetic variation were analysed by cluster analysis, which showed that most clones grouped together according to the site from which they were collected. This pattern in genetic variation may be a result of the geographically disjunct nature of these populations and/or the different environmental conditions, especially temperature, in the different lakes.
Principles of Ion Mixing

Several mechanisms can cause atomic relocation as a result of ion irradiation. Experiments are reviewed that provide information on the atomic redistribution within a solid. Predictions of different models, when compared with these results, shed light on the dominant processes. Sucesses and problem areas are discussed and possible practical applications of the results are explored.
Alterations in Urine Flow Rate and Urate Excretion in the Rat

SummaryThe effect of alterations in urine flow rate and osmolality in urate excretion in the rat was examined by clearance techniques. The results of these studies indicate that large variations in water reab-sorption in the terminal segments of the nephron do not affect the rate of urate excretion. Vasopressin administration, while decreasing urinary flow rate and increasing the osmolality of the urine, was also without effect on urate excretion.
Changes of Serum Creatase Zymograms of Measles in Children with or without Vaccination Histories and Their Clinical Significances

Objective To understand changes of serum creatase zymogram of measles in children with or without vaccination histories and their clinical significances and approach the protection of vaccination on myocard of children with measles. Methods Seventy-one hospitalised cases with measles were classified into measles-vaccinated group (n=23), non-vaccinated group (n=48),and 30 healthy children were selected as healthy control group.Serum creatine kinase (CK) and isodynamic enzyme (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and isodynamic enzyme1 (LDH1), α- hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (α- HBD)in 3 group were detected with electrocardiography and clinical analysis was made.Results Compared with those in vaccinated group, CK-MB, LDH1 and α-HBD in non-vaccinated group advanced remarkably (Pa0.05), complicated pneumonia increased in the number(P 0.05),and average hospital day increased (P0.01). CK-MB, LDH, LDH1 and α-HBD in the two groups were significantly higher than those in healthy control group (Pa0.01). Conclusion Children with acute measles have advances at different levels in serum creatase zymogram. measles vaccine has certain protection for children′s myocard with acute measles and is able to reduce complications.
Error Correction via Restorative Feedback in M-ary Logic Circuits

This paper presents an error correction method known as restorative feedback (RFB) that provides error-correction for both permanent and temporal logic faults in any M-ary logic system. The RFB method is a variant of triple modular redundancy (TMR), which achieves error correction in logic circuits by using three-fold redundancy. Unlike TMR, the RFB method has well-defined application to arbitrary M-ary logic systems as well as conventional binary logic circuits. The RFB method also uses a feedback mechanism to suppress transient errors, resulting in a lower error probability than TMR when considering transient upsets. The underlying theory of RFB is presented as an adaptation of stochastic error correction theory. Two circuit-level proof-of-concept demonstrations are presented, which include a binary implementation using Muller C-elements, and a ternary implementation based on SemiFloating Gate logic circuits. The error-correcting performance of these circuits is evaluated using logic-level simulations as well as devicelevel simulations in Spectre. Bit and symbol error rates are also computed using Monte Carlo simulations which demonstrate that the RFB method is superior to traditional TMR for a variety of cases. An application of the RFB method is also demonstrated using redundant gate-level synthesis of multiple-valued ripple-carry adder circuits. The application circuits are simulated using an abstract noisy-logic model, and the RFB method is shown to significantly improve the circuits’ noise immunity.
Analysis of high-performance DC-DC switching converters

This paper examines high-performance dc-dc high switching frequency converters. Enabling topologies are examined. Passive soft switching schemes are studied to increase efficiency, minimize losses, reduce stresses, increase power density, ensure energy recovery, increase switching frequency, reduce electromagnetic interference, etc. Analog control algorithms are designed and implemented. The experimental results show optimal or near-optimal performance. The output voltage stabilization and accurate voltage tracking may be ensured with zero steady-state error. Our technology-centric solutions and findings are analytically and experimentally substantiated.
Key Roles of Translocating Loops in the Mechanochemical Coupling and Power Production of a AAA+ Protease Machine

ATP-dependent proteases are crucial to maintain cellular protein homeostasis. Here we used single-molecule assays to characterize the mechanism by which the AAA+ protease ClpXP from E. coli transforms energy from ATP hydrolysis into mechanical work to drive protein translocation and unfolding. We establish that ATP hydrolysis and phosphate release occur in the burst phase during conformational changes of the motor, while ADP release and ATP binding happen in the dwell between bursts. We find that the residues of the highly-conserved translocating pore loops in the central ClpX pore determine the efficiency of substrate unfolding and translocation, and are crucial for the mechanochemical coupling and the power generated by ClpXP. Interestingly, we observe that the conformational resetting of the pore loops between consecutive power strokes appears to time both the dwell duration and the release of ADP. Together, our results indicate that: i) the mechanochemical coupling of the motor and its unfolding capability are mediated by the size of the residues in the translocating loops, ii) the unfolding capability of the motor does not depend on the burst size or the grip as previously proposed, but instead it depends on the power -work produced per unit time- generated by the motor, iii) provide insights into why evolution has selected a conserved sequence-motif for the translocating loops of prokaryotic and eukaryotic AAA+ proteases, and iv) indicate that ClpXP's mechanism deviates from other well studied molecular motors (such as the Phi29 DNA packaging motor).
Programming a randomized dependent group contingency and common stimuli to promote durable behavior change

Low levels of academic engagement may impede students' acquisition of skills. Intervening on student behavior using group contingencies may be a feasible way to increase academic engagement during group instruction. The current study examined the effect of a randomized dependent group contingency on levels of academic engagement for second-grade participants receiving small-group reading and writing instruction. The results showed that a randomized dependent group contingency increased the academic engagement of primary participants and several of the other participants during small-group instruction. The findings also showed that high levels of academic engagement were maintained when common stimuli were present and the dependent group contingency was withdrawn.
War Bodies: Remembering Bodies in a Time of War

This essay examines the deep contradictions of America’s moral landscape through the figures of returning US war veterans. It presses for a Christian theological response to the deployments and redeployments of veterans, noting how the operations of the state cause certain bodies to disappear and reappear. Calling for a theological intervention, it presents the vision of a God who remembers, even as the mechanisms of society plunge citizens into historical amnesia.
Early Cenozoic drainage reorganization of the United States Western Interior–Gulf of Mexico sediment routing system

Continental-scale drainages host the world’s largest rivers and offshore sediment accumulations, many of which contain significant petroleum reserves. Rate of sediment supply in these settings may be a signal of external controls (e.g., tectonics) on landscape evolution, yet deciphering these controls remains a major challenge in interpreting the ancient stratigraphic record. Integration of new and published detrital zircon U-Pb ages from the United States Rocky Mountain region and Gulf of Mexico (GOM) sedimentary basin demonstrates profound changes in the U.S. continental drainage divide that controlled the rate of sediment delivery to the northern GOM during Paleocene–Eocene time. Sedimentation rate increased dramatically during deposition of the lower Wilcox Group, reaching approximately three times the Cenozoic average, accompanied by pronounced shoreline regression and delivery of a large volume of sand to the basin floor. We hypothesize that this increase in sediment delivery to the GOM resulted from drainage capture of a significant portion of the Sevier-Laramide structural province (∼900,000 km2) that included the headwaters of the California and Idaho Rivers. Capture of the California River drainage may have occurred in the vicinity of the Hanna Basin of eastern Wyoming that previously emptied northward into a shallow seaway, but was subsequently diverted southward to the Rockdale delta, which accumulated within the Houston embayment during the time of deposition of the lower Wilcox Group. Detrital zircon U-Pb ages from Wilcox samples within the Rockdale delta show a remarkable similarity with contemporaneous Laramide synorogenic units, including enrichment in detritus derived from the Cordilleran arc and basement terranes of western North America relative to older and younger units in the Houston embayment. A subsequent order of magnitude decline in sedimentation rate to the GOM can be partly attributed to well-documented drainage closure (∼800,000 km2) that accompanied lake formation in interior Laramide basins (ca. 53–51.8 Ma). Our results demonstrate that tectonically induced drainage migration in the high-relief segments of continental-scale drainages can have a pronounced effect on the rate of sediment transfer to continental margins.
THE LEGACY OF MODERN ANGLO-AMERICAN MEDICAL ETHICS: CORRECTING SOME MISPERCEPTIONS

The purpose of this paper is to correct what I take to be three basic misperceptions about the history of Anglo-American medical ethics, the ethics of the patient-physician relationship, in the modern period (18th–19th centuries) and the legacy of that history to our century. The first two misperceptions are about the history of Anglo-American medical ethics in the two centuries preceding our own, First, historical medical ethics is taken by some to be little more than a collection of essays on medical etiquette and thus devoid of serious content qua medical ethics [6]. Ethics in medicine should, after all, have to do with something more than, say, the appropriate color and style of a physician’s dress or fee-splitting in consultations. Second, medical ethical writings in the period under consideration are sometimes understood to be based in loosely held concepts about what a ‘gentleman’ was, a Christian gentleman in particular [7]. That is, historical medical ethics, including the work of British and American physicians of the period, has been understood to be devoid of serious philosophical content and to be devoid, as well, of roots in historical philosophical ethics.
Domestic violence: a life-span approach to assessment and intervention.

Domestic violence affects millions of Americans, many of whom deny or refuse to admit that that they are victims of abuse. Assessing patients at risk for domestic violence is a critical aspect of providing comprehensive primary care. As social agents, with moral and ethical responsibility, primary care providers must advocate for clients in the fight against domestic violence. Primary health care agencies must adopt uniform policies that assure that all women, children, and elders at risk for abuse are screened using a simple tool that becomes part of the primary care record. Screening for abuse should become part of an annual screening process, not unlike screening patients for high blood pressure or high cholesterol. If patients are suspected of being abused, document this on the problem list so subsequent providers will know to explore the possibility of abuse with patients. Multiple forms of abuse occur in families, and signs of abuse are usually subtle in nature. Abuse may be the reason for failed office visits, noncompliance with medications, depression, and other unexplained physical and psychological signs and symptoms. If we fail to ask, we will never know how many of our patients are victims of abuse and in need of our help. Language: en
Unsatisfiability bounds for random CSPs from an energetic interpolation method

The interpolation method, originally developed in statistical physics, transforms distributions of random CSPs to distributions of much simpler problems while bounding the change in a number of associated statistical quantities along the transformation path. After a number of further mathematical developments, it is now known that, in principle, the method can yield rigorous unsatisfiability bounds if one "plugs in an appropriate functional distribution". A drawback of the method is that identifying appropriate distributions and plugging them in leads to major analytical challenges as the distributions required are, in fact, infinite dimensional objects. We develop a variant of the interpolation method for random CSPs on arbitrary sparse degree distributions which trades accuracy for tractability. In particular, our bounds only require the solution of a 1-dimensional optimization problem (which typically turns out to be very easy) and as such can be used to compute explicit rigorous unsatisfiability bounds.
The Two Endpoints of an EEG Continuum of Meditation—Alpha/Theta and Fast Beta

In this case study, the psychophysiological changes associated with a type of meditation called therapeutic touch were examined. One therapeutic touch healer was studied for 2 days, alone and with three patients. EEG, GSR, EKG, and temperature were recorded. The main finding was a preponderance of fast beta EEG activity present in the healer. The physiological results are interpreted as representative of this type of meditative process. Problems involved in this type of research and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Dietary 4-HPR suppresses the development of bone metastasis in vivo in a mouse model of prostate cancer progression.

The effects of the synthetic retinoid N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide (4-HPR) on prostate cancer metastasis in vivo were evaluated in the mouse prostate reconstitution (MPR) model. MPRs were produced by infection of either heterozygous (+/−) or nullizygous (−/−) p53-mutant fetal prostatic epithelial cells with the recombinant retrovirus Zipras/myc 9. Previous studies have documented that loss of p53 function potentiates metastasis in this model system. MPRs were grafted into homozygous (+/+) p53 male mice, fed a 4-HPR containing diet or a control diet and maintained until the status of tumor progression dictated sacrifice. Under these experimental conditions, treatment with 4-HPR did not have a significant effect on primary tumor wet weight for either p53 +/− or p53 −/− MPRs. For, p53 +/− MPRs the animals fed the 4-HPR diet had a slight improvement in survival and a significant reduction in the number of mesenteric metastases (P=0.0477, t-test). Notably, in p53 +/− MPRs the incidence of metastasis to lumbar spine and sternum was 92% in the control animals compared to 54% in the 4-HPR treated animals (P=0.035, χ2-test). In p53 −/− MPRs there was a trend toward a reduction in the number of soft tissue metastases to lung and liver in the 4-HPR group relative to the control diet group and a statistically significant reduction in the incidence of metastasis to bone was demonstrated in that 50% of control animals versus 30% of 4-HPR treated p53 −/− animals harbored bone metastases (P=0<0.05, χ2-test). Cell lines were established from portions of the primary tumor and from selected metastatic deposits in each experimental group. Clonal analysis, by retroviral integration pattern, indicated increased clonal diversity in both the primary tumors and metastasis-derived cell lines from 4-HPR treated animals relative to the control animals. In vitro treatment with 4-HPR did not reveal discriminating differences between cell lines derived from primary tumors and bone metastases or control and treatment groups in regard to growth arrest or apoptotic responses. Overall these studies indicate limited anti-tumor and anti-metastatic activity in this highly aggressive in vivo mouse model of prostate cancer, yet 4-HPR treatment significantly suppressed the development of bone metastases in p53 +/− and p53 −/− MPRs revealing a novel and potentially clinically useful activity of this retinoid.
Global climate changes will lead to regionally divergent trajectories for ectomycorrhizal communities in North American Pinaceae forests

Ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECMF) are partners in a globally distributed tree symbiosis that enhanced ecosystem carbon (C)-sequestration and storage. However, resilience of ECMF to future climates is uncertain. We sampled ECMF across a broad climatic gradient in North America, modeled climatic drivers of diversity and community composition, and then forecast ECMF response to climate changes over the next 50 years. We predict ECMF richness will decline over nearly half of North American Pinaceae forests, with median species losses as high as 21%. Mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions can reduce these declines, but not prevent them. Warming of forests along the boreal-temperate ecotone results in projected ECMF species loss and declines in the relative abundance of C demanding, long-distance foraging ECMF species, but warming of eastern temperate forests has the opposite effect. Sites with more ECMF species had higher activities of nitrogen-mineralizing enzymes, suggesting that ECMF species-losses will compromise their associated ecosystem functions.
An empirical derivation of the X-ray optic transmission profile used in calibrating the Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry (PIXL) for Mars 2020

Calibration of the prototype Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry (PIXL) selected for Mars 2020 has commenced with an empirical derivation of the X-ray optic transmission profile. Through a straightforward method of dividing a measured “blank” spectrum over one calculated assuming no optic influence, a rudimentary profile was formed. A simple boxcar-smoothing algorithm was implemented to approximate the complete profile that was incorporated into PIQUANT. Use of this form of smoothing differs from the more conventional approach of using a parameter-based function to complete the profile. Comparison of element-specific correction factors, taken from a measurement of NIST SRM 610, was used to assess the accuracy of the new profile. Improvement in the low- to mid-energy portion of the data was apparent though the high-energy region diverged from unity, and thus, requires further refinement.
Prevalence of Influenza A Viruses in Ducks Sampled in Northwestern Minnesota and Evidence for Predominance of H3N8 and H4N6 Subtypes in Mallards, 2007–2016

Long-term comprehensive studies of avian influenza virus subtypes in ducks not only contribute to understanding variations and patterns of subtype diversity, but also can be important in defining seasonal and temporal risks associated with transmission of potentially highly pathogenic H5 and H7 subtypes to domestic poultry. We analyzed influenza A virus (IAV) surveillance data from dabbling ducks collected at an important migratory stopover site in northwestern Minnesota from 2007–2016 and identified prevalence and subtype diversity throughout this period. In total, 13,228 cloacal and oropharyngeal swabs from waterfowl were tested over the 10-year period; the majority of these waterfowl were mallards sampled from late August through late September (n = 9133). From these, 1768 IAVs were isolated (19.4% mean annual prevalence, ranging from 11.0% in 2007 to 32.8% in 2011), and both hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase were identified for 1588. Although subtype diversity and prevalence varied by year, H3 and H4 HA subtypes predominated in all years, accounting for 65.7% of the observed HA subtype diversity. The mechanisms driving this consistent pattern of subtype diversity and predominance are not understood but may include factors at the host, population, and virus level.
Investigation on chalcopyrite leaching with methanesulfonic acid (MSA) and hydrogen peroxide

Abstract Methanesulfonic acid (MSA) is an organic acid and was used to leach copper from chalcopyrite. MSA is a strong acid with higher solubility of various metals. A suite of leaching tests of chalcopyrite at 75 °C with various lixiviants exhibited that MSA showed the highest copper extraction of 47% at 96 h with 30 g/L MSA and 5 g/L ferric. The copper extraction increased to over 90% with hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant at 75 °C. The activation energy of the reaction with MSA and hydrogen peroxide was calculated to be 39.9 kJ/mol, indicating that the reaction is chemical reaction controlled.
Never Stop Creating: A Preliminary Inquiry in Older Adults' Everyday Innovations

Participation in activities of personal interest and passion facilitates older adults' health and well-being. In this study, we investigated older adults' experiences related to their engagement and development of personal interests. We found out that older adults actively generated creative concepts and turned those ideas into innovative activities and artifacts, which positively revitalized a community, sustained an organization, and supported other people. Although any activity may be beneficial for older adults' health and well-being, we argue that everyday innovations play a particularly important role, and present an important opportunity to enhance their quality of life. We conclude by proposing design strategies to support everyday innovations to promote healthy aging.
Progress of pulmonary artery denervation in treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension

Pulmonary artery denervation (PADN) can block local sympathetic nerve of pulmonary artery, reduce the hemodynamic parameters of pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH), attenuate pulmonary vascular remodeling, right ventricular hypertrophy and fibrosis, thus improving cardiac function.Early basic experiment has determined the position of sympathetic nerve of pulmonary artery in pulmonary endarterium and confirmed the safety and effectiveness of PADN in the animal model of PAH.PADN may play a role by inhibiting execssive activation of the sympathetic nervous system and renin-angiotension-aldosterone system.PADN has been applied to adult clinical research, and has achieved a good clinical effect.On this basis, the possibility of applying PADN to children′s PAH is being explored preliminarily. Key words: Pulmonary arterial hypertension; Pulmonary artery denervation; Autonomic nerve; Child
Dialysis Separation of Sewage Sludge Digestion

The purpose was to study both stages of high-rate anaerobic digestion separately. Raw sludge fed into the acid fermentation tank provided substrate for the bacterial production of volatile acids. The acids could then be transferred by diffusion, through the plastic membrane in the dialysis unit, into the methane fermentation tank for conversion to gaseous end products. The process of sludge digestion can be performed using a dialysis-fermentation tank system. The dialysis-fermentation tank apparatus permits the pseudo-enrichment culturing of the acidification and gasification stages in sludge digestion in separate fermentation tanks. The acid fermentation stage is the rate limiting process in anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge. The acid fermenters operate at below optimum to satisfy the optimum conditions necessary for the methane fermentation of the volatile acids.
A review of current strategies to improve HIV prevention and treatment in sexual and gender minority Latinx (SGML) communities.

Introduction The HIV epidemic continues to disproportionately impact sexual and gender minority Latinxs (SGML). Several syndemic conditions have been linked with HIV acquisition and transmission among SGML including immigration, discrimination, environmental racism, substance use, and mental health. Areas covered We provide a summary of biomedical, behavioral, and social/structural interventions to reduce risks for acquiring HIV and improve outcomes along the HIV care continuum among SGML. We also discuss intervention approaches and opportunities that respond at the intersection of HIV and COVID-19 prevention and treatment. Expert opinion There is a dire need for the combination of biomedical, behavioral, and social/structural interventions to reduce risks for acquiring HIV and improve outcomes along the HIV care continuum. Interventions and combination approaches should be driven by community-based participatory action research. The inclusion of community members in all stages of the research process can assure successful implementation of program activities and deliverables, including the provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate services. Given the current COVID-19 pandemic, which is disproportionately impacting individuals living with HIV and other comorbidities, the elderly, and under-resourced communities with a ferocity not seen in other communities, intervention approaches that respond at the intersection of HIV and COVID-19 prevention and treatment are also urgently needed.
Motion Streak Neurons in the Mouse Visual Cortex

Motion streaks are smeared representation of fast-moving objects due to temporal integration. Here, we test for motion streak signals in mice with two-photon calcium imaging. For small dots moving at low speeds, neurons in primary visual cortex (V1) encode the component motion, with preferred direction along the axis perpendicular to their preferred orientation. At high speeds, V1 neurons prefer the direction along the axis parallel to their preferred orientation, as expected for encoding motion streaks. Whereas some V1 neurons (∼20%) display a switch of preferred motion axis with increasing speed, others (>40%) respond specifically to high speeds at the parallel axis. Motion streak neurons are also seen in higher visual lateromedial (LM), anterolateral (AL), and rostrolateral (RL) areas, but with higher transition speeds, and many still prefer the perpendicular axis even with fast motion. Our results thus indicate that diverse motion encoding exists in mouse visual cortex, with intriguing differences among visual areas.
Coronavirus disease and the cardiovascular system: A narrative review of the mechanisms of injury and management implications

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), first identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, is now a pandemic, having already spread to 188 countries, with more than 28,280,000 infections worldwide. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the responsible infectious agent, and similar to other human coronaviruses, uses membrane-bound angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (membrane-bound ACE2) for entry into the host cells. COVID-19 has important cardiovascular implications, especially for patients with pre-existing cardiovascular co-morbidities, potentially mediated through several mechanisms, including direct myocardial injury, worsening of those pre-existing cardiovascular co-morbidities, and adverse cardiovascular effects of potential therapies for COVID-19. The disease is causing a significant burden on health systems worldwide. Elective surgeries and procedures were postponed for a considerable period of time, and many patients with known cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors presented late to hospitals, for fear of contracting COVID-19, with serious adverse consequences. Significant negative impact on a population level is highlighted by prolonged isolation, decreased exercise and physical activity, and higher levels of depression and anxiety, all predisposing to elevated cardiovascular risk. This article provides a timely overview of COVID-19 and its impact on the cardiovascular system, focusing on the pathogenesis, potential adverse cardiovascular events, the potential treatment options, protection for health care providers and patients, and what the cardiovascular community could do to mitigate the impact of COVID-19.
Leader Development Through Work Experience

Very few leaders are born: most need experience and the earlier one starts, the better. But, if leaders need exposure, they must seek or be presented with a wide variety of work experiences and truly learn from these. This precis discusses how effective leaders learn, distinguishes social and personal contexts of learning, and illustrates theory with a quick example.
Experiments with Non-Cooperative Space DTN Routing

In this paper, results from an experimental study of the end-to-end bundle delivery performance of two concurrent flows transmitted over a delay-tolerant network are presented. The study compares the Contact Graph Routing algorithm, which is the foundation of the CCSDS standard Schedule Aware Bundle Routing and the Cognitive Space Gateway that has been recently introduced as a cognitive networking alternative to the problem of space bundle routing. Both algorithms make non-cooperative, dynamic routing decisions for bundles at each step based on a similar utility, which is formulated as the minimum expected bundle delivery time to the destination. The study aims to find how well each algorithm plays the routing game under different conditions. The experiments were carried out on a laboratory testbed with emulated Earth-Moon communication conditions and included evaluation cases with a permanently connected substrate and a substrate that is being affected by regular link disruptions. Also, the flows were evaluated with cases where their shortest path either overlap or not. The results indicate that both routing approaches play a coherent game achieving fair performance for both flows, but with the CSG achieving better performance than the CGR approach.
Justice and the American city

Urban scholars are greatly indebted to Robert Lake, both for his brilliant scholarship and for his decades of editorial service to the Urban Geography journal. Through his longitudinal and interdis...
A synergy between the catalytic and structural Zn(II) ions and the enzyme and substrate dynamics underlies the structure–function relationships of matrix metalloproteinase collagenolysis

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are Zn(II) dependent endopeptidases involved in the degradation of collagen. Unbalanced collagen breakdown results in numerous pathological conditions, including cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases and tumor growth and invasion. Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) is a member of the MMPs family. The enzyme contains catalytic and structural Zn(II) ions. Despite many studies on the enzyme, there is little known about the synergy between the two Zn(II) metal ions and the enzyme and substrate dynamics in MMP-1 structure-function relationships. We performed a computational study of the MMP-1•triple-helical peptide (THP) enzyme•substrate complex to provide this missing insight. Our results revealed Zn(II) ions' importance in modulating the long-range correlated motions in the MMP-1•THP complex. Overall, our results reveal the importance of the catalytic Zn(II) and the role of the structural Zn(II) ion in preserving the integrity of the enzyme active site and the overall enzyme-substrate complex synergy with the dynamics of the enzyme and the substrate. Notably, both Zn(II) sites participate in diverse networks of long-range correlated motions that involve the CAT and HPX domains and the THP substrate, thus exercising a complex role in the stability and functionality of the MMP-1•THP complex. Both the Zn(II) ions have a distinct impact on the structural stability and dynamics of the MMP-1•THP complex. The study shifts the paradigm from the "local role" of the Zn(II) ions with knowledge about their essential role in the long-range dynamics and stability of the overall enzyme•substrate (ES) complex.