cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improving doctor–patient communication in the outpatient setting using a facilitation tool: a preliminary study

Quality problem. Patients often do not fully understand medical information discussed during office visits. This can result in lack of adherence to recommended treatment plans and poorer health outcomes. Choice of solution. We developed and implemented a program utilizing an encounter form, which provides structure to the medical interaction and facilitates bidirectional communication and informed decision-making. Implementation. We conducted a prospective quality improvement intervention at a large tertiary-care academic medical center utilizing the encounter form and studied the effect on patient satisfaction, understanding and confidence in communicating with physicians. The intervention included 108 patients seen by seven physicians in five sub-specialties. Evaluation. Ninety-eight percent of patients were extremely satisfied (77%) or somewhat satisfied (21%) with the program. Ninety-six percent of patients reported being involved in decisions about their care and treatments as well as high levels of understanding of medical information that was discussed during visit. Sixty-nine percent of patients reported that they shared the encounter form with their families and friends. Patients’ self-confidence in communicating with their doctors increased from a score of 8.1 to 8.7 post-intervention (P-value ¼ 0.0018). When comparing pre- and post-intervention experiences, only 38% of patients felt that their problems and questions were adequately addressed by other physicians’ pre-intervention, compared with 94% post-intervention. Lessons learned. We introduced a program to enhance physician – patient communication and found that patients were highly satisfied, more informed and more actively involved in their care. This approach may be an easily generalizable approach to improving physician –patient communication at outpatient visits.
Integrating hardware and software concepts in a microprocessor-based system design lab

The EECS 373 "Design of Microprocessor-based Systems" course at the University of Michigan ties hardware and software together by providing a modern platform on which students simultaneously develop both hardware and software components of simple systems. Our semi-custom target platform combines a highly integrated 32-bit embedded Motorola PowerPC processor and two high-density Xilinx FPGAs, allowing plenty of headroom for follow-on student projects and future course expansion. Versions of the development tools we employ in the lab are also available, with simulation capabilities, on public workstations and students' personal PCs, enabling students to work outside the lab and maximizing the leverage of finite lab space in the face of growing enrollments.
Coordinating Speed and Amplitude in G-Protein Signaling

G-protein-mediated signaling is intrinsically kinetic. Signal output at steady state is a balance of the rates of GTP binding, which causes activation, and of GTP hydrolysis, which terminates activation. This GTPase catalytic cycle is regulated by receptors, which accelerate GTP binding, and GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs), which accelerate hydrolysis. Receptors and GAPs similarly control the rates of signal initiation and termination. To allow independent control of signal amplitude and of the rates of turning the signal on and off, the activities of receptors and GAPs must be coordinated. Here, the principles of such coordination and the mechanisms by which it is achieved are discussed.
APOE genotype modifies the association between plasma omega-3 fatty acids and plasma lipids in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

Objective The benefits of fish oil fatty acids eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acids (DHA) on plasma lipid profiles have been inconsistent but may partially depend on individual Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotypes. We aimed to determine whether APOE genotype modifies the association of lipid profile characteristics with plasma EPA and DHA levels.
Effects of Biocides and Other Metal Removal Fluid Constituents on Mycobacterium immunogenum

Cells of Mycobacterium immunogenum are significantly more resistant to biocides and antimicrobial compounds used for disinfection of metal removal fluids (MRFs) than cells of the gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes. To ensure accurate measurement of M. immunogenum susceptibility, a biocide inactivation step must be included to prevent an overestimation of killing for short-term exposures. Cell suspensions in 5% MRF for 30 min rather than direct plating following biocide exposure increased the killing of M. immunogenum cells, suggesting a heretofore undiscovered interaction between MRF components and biocides. Biocide killing was reduced at high M. immunogenum cell densities (>10 6 /ml). Among the chemicals tested, only Synergex Premier, Preventol CMK, and dicyclohexylamine killed greater than 90% of M. immunogenum cells in 6 h. M. immunogenum cells adhered to and grew rapidly on glass, copper, and galvanized surfaces, forming biofilms of 10 6 cells/cm 2 within 2 weeks and suggesting it is likely that the majority of M.
Application of Differential Sensitivity Theory to a Neutronic/Thermal-Hydraulic Reactor Safety Code

A recently proposed sensitivity technique called differential sensitivity theory is applied to the neu-tronic/thermal-hydraulic fast reactor safety code MELT-IIIB. This application centers on the d...
Information Assurance for the Enterprise: A Roadmap to Information Security, by C. Schou and D. Shoemaker

Information Assurance for the Enterprise is written with the assumption that information is valuable to organizations. If organizations value information, then a formal process must be present for ...
Physics-based multiscale mass transport model in drug delivery and tumor microenvironment

We describe multiscale transport model, which was developed to simulate drug diffusion and convection in tissues and drug vectors. Models rely on material properties and physical laws of transport. Our methods show that drug transport analysis may provide deep insight into mechanisms of pharmacokinetics useful in nanotherapeutics and transport study within tumor microenvironment. Because the method relies on material properties and structures, the approach can help studying phenotypical differences as well.
Should Glasses Be Prescribed for All Children with Moderate Hyperopia

Research has shown that the preschool years are a vital time for children to acquire the language skills necessary to succeed in school. In 1965, as part of the “war on poverty” in the United States, the Head Start program was started to help preschool children from low-income families improve their readiness for school. However, by the time a child starts the Head Start program, it may be too late for these children to catch up with children from higher income families. In a landmark study, Hart and Risley studied 42 children from diverse socioeconomic and racial backgrounds beginning when they were 7 to 9 months of age until they were 3 years old to better understand how children develop language skills. A trained observer visited the home of each of these children on a monthly basis, carefully recording all communication between a parent and a child. They found a marked difference in the quantity of words spoken to a child that correlated closely with the socioeconomic status (SES) of a family. A child from a high SES family heard on average 30 million words from age 1 to 3 years compared
The genus Olethreutes: identity corrections and description of a new species (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Olethreutinae).

Five eastern North American species are treated based on external appearance and genitalia, including study of pertinent types. Olethreutes clavana (Walker), O. nigranum (Heinrich), and O. concinnana (Clemens) are polymorphic in wing color, exhibiting partial melanism in some specimens. The names O. clavana and O. foedana (Clemens) have been misapplied, respectively, to O. mysteriana Miller, new species, described from Michigan, and O.furfuranum (McDunnough). A lectotype is designated for O. clavana, and O. foedana is placed as a junior synonym of O. concinnana.
Selected Neurologic Complications in the Patient with Cancer: Brain Metastases and Spinal Cord Compression

This article describes the incidence, pathophysiologies, clinical presentations, diagnostic procedures, and medical treatments of the two most common neurologic sites of metastic cancer: the brain and spinal cord. Because nurses in all areas of practice come in contact with these metastic processes, nursing management is an important issue. Early recognition is crucial to optimize a patient's quality of life.
Exile: A natural consequence of autonomy and belonging in systems-of-systems

Governance is one of the key differentiating elements between traditional systems and systems of systems. While systems are governed by a single authority, systems within a system of systems are often independently governed or governed by fully empowered entities. Such independence is a necessary condition for the autonomy of each constituent system and for enabling the concept of belonging. At the same time, the capability to be autonomous and the voluntary nature of belonging, enables a system of systems to voluntarily expel or exile one or more of its constituent systems. Yet, research has not addressed so far the implications and modeling of potential exile into the operational effectiveness of a system within a system of systems and its impacts on the engineering of systems of systems. This paper presents the concept of system exile as a philosophical necessity in the definition of systems of systems, it discusses some visions to measure the risk of exile, and proposes a way forward to explore mitigation techniques.
Antibiotic Extender Patties for Control of American Foul Brood

SummaryA single application of Terramycin (Oxytetracycline HCl) was administered to honeybee colonies in a solid cake or patty. The patties contained sugar as a diluent and vegetable fat or petroleum jelly as a binder. The binder maintained the consistency of the patty (antibiotic extender patty) and controlled the feeding rate of the bees to provide an extended release of medicant for a period of more than two months. Antibiotic extender patties containing Terramycin in the dose rate described effectively controlled American foul brood in experimentally infected colonies. Doxycycline was less effective than Terramycin, and sulphathiazole was ineffective in this medium. Combination drugs containing Terramycin were as effective as Terramycin alone.
What’s RITE in St. Louis? Empowering Urban Youth Through a Community Tutoring Collaborative:

This study profiles tutoring programs that empower urban youth within the Regional Institute of Tutorial Education (RITE), a community collaborative of universities, youth agencies, community service organizations, and school districts. Representative members of RITE detail how they address shared urban problems of academic deficits, school dropout, and pregnancy in St. Louis’s urban school districts. Tutoring models of targeted, cross-curricular, collaborative, community directed, and youth-led instruction are described as delivered by Gene Slay’s Girls & Boys Club of St. Louis (GSGBCSTL), the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), the Clayton-Ladue Rotary community service organization, Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), a nationally licensed college preparation program and Conscious Choice (CC), a University of Missouri–St. Louis and St. Louis University student retention and pregnancy prevention program. Data, narratives, and tutoring structures describe how some members of the RITE c...
Momelotinib in myelofibrosis: JAK1/2 inhibitor with a role in treating and understanding the anemia

Myelofibrosis (MF) is a chronic malignancy of the blood-forming system caused by hyperactivation of JAK2/STAT signaling pathway. Small-molecule inhibitors of JAK2 can variably ameliorate MF-related symptoms caused by chronic inflammation and hepatosplenomegaly. Anemia is a significant problem and adverse prognostic factor in over a third of MF patients and is often worsened by JAK2 inhibitors. The JAK1/2 inhibitor momelotinib unexpectedly resulted in reduction of anemia in MF patients during Phase I/II trials. Current Phase III trials will be the basis for seeking regulatory approval of momelotinib during 2017. Studies to determine how momelotinib improves anemia are underway, potentially leading to expanded momelotinib use and/or development of other targeted therapies for treating anemia in MF and related diseases.
Direct Suppression of Fas-Mediated Apoptosis by PMLRARa through Forming An Apoptotic Inhibitory Complex with c-FLIP In Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

Abstract Abstract 3148 Fas plays a critical role in cell proliferation and in the selective killing of autoreactive lymphocytes and abnormal cells, including infected cells. To explain the common expression of Fas and the resistance to the Fas-induced apoptosis observed in some normal and cancer cells, we screened cells for potential regulators of the Fas death receptor. By using mass spectroscopy analysis of Fas-associated proteins, we identified peptides derived from promyelocytic leukemia (PML). PML enhances pro-apoptotic signaling, while its dominant negative form, promyelocytic leukemia–retinoic acid receptor α (PMLRARα) fusion protein, activates pro-survival pathways. Given these opposing functions, we tested whether PMLRARα blocks Fas-mediated apoptosis. Co-immunoprecipitation analysis demonstrated that PMLRARα interacts with Fas in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL)-derived NB4 cells, U937/PR9 cells and APL primary cells isolated from patients. The PMLRARα-Fas binding was mapped to the PML B-box domain of PMLRARα and death domain of Fas. Flow cytometry analysis of propidium iodide- and Annexin V-stained cells challenged with Fas ligand (FasL) or agonistic anti-Fas antibody CH-11 indicated that PMLRARα blocks Fas-mediated apoptosis at early and late stages. In line with this finding, knockdown of PMLRARα with shRNA sensitized the NB4 cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis. Detailed analysis showed that expression of PMLRARα prevents procaspase-8 from binding to the Fas complex upon stimulation with the agonistic anti-Fas antibody (CH-11) and thus, also prevents cleavage/activation of procaspase-8. Further analysis indicated that PMLRARα recruits caspase-8 inhibitor c-FLIPL/S to Fas to suppress Fas signaling. A significantly higher number of mice transfected with PMLRARα-expressing plasmid than mice transfected with empty vector survived the treatment with the mouse agonistic anti-Fas antibody Jo2 (11 of 12 vs. 0 of 12; P These data suggest that PMLRARα is a cancer specific Fas-binding inhibitor of Fas-mediated apoptosis and thus, can contribute to cancer development and resistance to therapy. Our results may provide an explanation for the long-known role of PMLRARα and PML in the regulation of Fas signaling, which, as we have shown, can occur by regulation via direct interaction. The newly-discovered PMLRARα-Fas and PML-Fas complexes can be sites for modulation of apoptossis. By neutralizing the effect of death receptor inhibitors such as PMLRARα, we can improve responses to many chemotherapeutic treatments that depend on activation of death receptors for effective elimination of cancer cells. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
CHANGING SITE REQUIREMENT FOR PORT OPERATIONS

Site selection and site adaptation for construction of port terrains require evaluation of the natural or man-made environment of each specific project. Common to most projects, however, is the need for analysing present and anticipating future operational requirements . Recent developments in vessel design and cargo handling methods have brought about changes not only in navigational criteria for channels and harbor basins, but also in space requirements for shore facilities. In this paper an attempt is made to define some aspects of land area requirements for future port operations.
Abstract 3364: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition is associated with a profound inflammatory tumor microenvironment in lung adenocarcinoma

Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA Promising results in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have been seen with immunomodulatory agents targeting immune checkpoints, such as programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) or programmed cell death 1 ligand (PD-L1). However, only a select group of patients respond to these interventions. The identification of biomarkers that predict clinical benefit to immune-based approaches, such as immune checkpoint blockade, is critical to successful translation of these agents. By using integrated gene array analysis in three large independent NSCLC patient datasets along with immunohistochemistry study (IHC), reverse phase protein array (RPPA) and in vivo animal study, we demonstrated that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is highly associated with a profound inflammatory tumor microenvironment in lung adenocarcinoma. Our data revealed immune activation and simultaneous development of multiple immune suppressive mechanisms, including elevation of immune checkpoints such as PD-L1, PD-L2, PD-1, TIM-3, BTLA and CTLA-4, as well as an increase in tumor infiltrating CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells, IL-6 and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) in lung adenocarcinomas with a mesenchymal phenotype. Our data suggested that EMT might represent a potential biomarker to select the patients who will benefit from immune checkpoint blockade agents and other immunotherapies in NSCLC and possibly other cancers. Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Yanyan Lou, Lixia Diao, Parra Cuentas Edwin Roger, Warren L. Denning, Limo Chen, Youhong Fan, Jaime Rodriguez, Lauren Byers, Jing Wang, Vassiliki Papadimitrakopoulou, Behrens Carmen, Ignacio I. Wistuba, Patrick Hwu, John V. Heymach, Don L. Gibbons. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition is associated with a profound inflammatory tumor microenvironment in lung adenocarcinoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 3364. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-3364
Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Viruses

Measles virus is a single stranded, nonsegmented, negative sense RNA virus and the prototypic member of the Morbillivirus genus of the Paramyxovirnae subfamily of the Paramyxoviridae. The standard viral genome is 15,894 nucleotides in length and contains six genes and encodes eight proteins which include nucleoprotein (N), phosphoproteins (P) C and V, and matrix (M), fusion (F), hemagglutinin (H), and polymerase (L) proteins. The measles virion is spherical with a diameter ranging from 120 to 250 nm. The virus buds from the plasma membranes of infected cells and has an envelope composed of glycoproteins, the H and F proteins, and lipids. The H and F proteins appear as short surface projections and are responsible for receptor binding and virus entry into susceptible cells (1). Three cell surface receptors for wild-type measles virus have been identified and all interact with the H glycoprotein (2). The M protein is positioned under the virion envelope and anchors the nucleocapsids to the budding sites at the plasma membrane. Unlike the H and F surface proteins, the M is neither glycosylated nor transmembranous. The envelope encloses an elongated helical nucleocapsid in which protein units are spirally arranged around the nucleic acid. The nucleoprotein (N), phosphoprotein, and large polymerase protein, in conjunction with the virion negative strand RNA, comprise the ribonucleoprotein complex, the replicating, and transcriptional unit of measles virus (1, 3). Although measles virus has only a single serotype, it can be subdivided into 24 distinct genotypes based on the sequence variability of the last 450 nucleotides of the N gene. These sequences can vary by up to 12% among the genotypes and form the basis of the molecular epidemiology applied to tracking of transmission pathways, monitoring control measures, and distinguishing wild-type viruses from vaccine strains of measles (4, 5).
Initial and midterm results of the Bolton Relay Thoracic Aortic Endovascular Pivotal Trial

Abstract Objective To report the initial and midterm results of the Bolton Relay Thoracic Stent Graft for the endovascular treatment of thoracic aortic lesions [thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR)]. Methods The Bolton Relay Thoracic Aortic Endovascular Pivotal Trial was a prospective, nonrandomized, multicenter, U.S. Investigational Device Exemption study conducted at 27 U.S. investigational sites. One hundred twenty TEVAR subjects were treated with the Relay device between January 2007 and May 2010, with 13 patients enrolled during the continued access phase through September 2012. TEVAR outcomes were compared with a prospectively and retrospectively enrolled surgical cohort consisting of 60 patients enrolled under similar inclusion/exclusion criteria. Follow-up examinations were prescribed at 1 month, 6 months, and yearly thereafter for 5 years. Major adverse events (MAEs) included stroke, paralysis/paraplegia, myocardial infarction, procedural bleeding, respiratory failure, renal failure, wound healing complications, and aneurysm-related mortality. Results Stent grafts were successfully delivered and deployed in 129 of 133 patients (97.0%). At 30 days, a lower rate of mortality was observed in the TEVAR arm (5.3% vs 10.0%; P = .230), and TEVAR was associated with a significantly lower rate of MAEs (20.3% vs 48.3%; P P = .007) and procedural bleeding. Freedom from aneurysm-related mortality through 5 years was similar at 91.3% for the TEVAR cohort and 89.4% for the surgical cohort ( P = .406); with 5-year freedom from all-cause mortality at 57.1% and 50.2% ( P = .289), respectively. Freedom from MAEs through 5 years was significantly higher in the TEVAR cohort (65.7% vs 44.7%; P = .001). Six TEVAR patients (4.5%) experienced core laboratory-reported type I or III endoleaks, and secondary procedures were performed in 10 patients (7.5%), with seven procedures to correct endoleak and one surgical conversion. Endograft migration occurred in three patients (2.3%) and wireform fractures were assessed in two patients (1.5%). Aneurysm sac size decreased or remained stable in 113 patients (85.0%) over 5-year follow-up. There were no instances of rupture or endograft occlusion. A 38-subject subset treated with the newer Relay Plus Delivery System had a significantly reduced MAE rate (15.8% vs 35.8%; P = .035), and fewer perioperative strokes (2.6% vs 12.6%; P = .108). Conclusions Data from the Relay TEVAR clinical trial demonstrate safety and effectiveness of the Relay device compared with surgical controls, indicating continued device durability with a low rate of device-related complications through 5 years.
Impact of lymph node ratio in selecting patients with resected gastric cancer for adjuvant therapy

Background The impact of adjuvant chemotherapy and chemo-radiation therapy in the treatment of resectable gastric cancer remains varied. We sought to define the clinical impact of lymph node ratio on the relative benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy or chemo-radiation therapy among patients having undergone curative-intent resection for gastric cancer. Methods Using the multi-institutional US Gastric Cancer Collaborative database, 719 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma who underwent curative-intent resection between 2000 and 2013 were identified. Patients with metastasis or an R2 margin were excluded. The impact of lymph node ratio on overall survival among patients who received chemotherapy or chemo-radiation therapy was evaluated. Results Median patient age was 65 years, and the majority of patients were male (56.2%). The majority of patients underwent either subtotal (40.6%) or total gastrectomy (41.0%), with the remainder undergoing distal gastrectomy or wedge resection (18.4%). On pathology, median tumor size was 4 cm; most patients had a T3 (33.0%) or T4 (27.9%) lesion with lymph node metastasis (59.7%). Margin status was R0 in 92.5% of patients. A total of 325 (45.2%) patients underwent resection alone, 253 (35.2%) patients received 5-FU or capecitabine-based chemo-radiation therapy, whereas the remaining 141 (19.6%) received chemotherapy. Median overall survival was 40.9 months, and 5-year overall survival was 40.3%. According to lymph node ratio categories, 5-year overall survival for patients with a lymph node ratio of 0, 0.01–0.10, >0.10–0.25, >0.25 were 54.1%, 53.1 %, 49.1 % and 19.8 %, respectively. Factors associated with worse overall survival included involvement of the gastroesophageal junction (hazard ratio 1.8), T-stage (3–4: hazard ratio 2.1), lymphovascular invasion (hazard ratio 1.4), and lymph node ratio (>0.25: hazard ratio 2.3; all P 0.25 (versus resection alone: hazard ratio R 0.34; versus chemotherapy: hazard ratio 0.45, both P .05). Conclusion Adjuvant chemotherapy or chemo-radiation therapy was utilized in more than one-half of patients undergoing curative-intent resection for gastric cancer. Lymph node ratio may be a useful tool to select patients for adjuvant chemo-radiation therapy, because the benefit of chemo-radiation therapy was isolated to patients with greater degrees of lymphatic spread (ie, lymph node ratio >0.25).
Randomized algorithm for informative path planning with budget constraints

Maximizing information gathered within a budget is a relevant problem for information gathering tasks for robots with cost or operating time constraints. This problem is also known as the informative path planning (IPP) problem or correlated orienteering. It can be formalized as that of finding budgeted routes in a graph such that the reward collected by the route is maximized, where the reward at nodes can be dependent. Unfortunately, the problem is NP-Hard and the state of the art methods are too slow to even present an approximate solution online. Here we present Randomized Anytime Orienteering (RAOr) algorithm that provides near optimal solutions while demonstrably converging to an efficient solution in runtimes that allows the solver to be run online. The key idea of our approach is to pose orienteering as a combination of a Constraint Satisfaction Problem and a Traveling Salesman Problem. This formulation allows us to restrict the search space to routes that incur minimum distance to visit a set of selected nodes, and rapidly search this space using random sampling. The paper provides the analysis of asymptotic near-optimality, convergence rates for RAOr algorithms, and present strategies to improve anytime performance of the algorithm. Our experimental results suggest an improvement by an order of magnitude over the state of the art methods in relevant simulation and in real world scenarios.
From Metacognition to Practice Cognition: The DNP e-Portfolio to Promote Integrated Learning

Background Educating Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students for an increasingly complex health care environment requires novel applications of learning concepts and technology. A deliberate and thoughtful process is required to integrate concepts of the DNP program into practice paradigm changes to subsequently improve students' abilities to innovate solutions to complex practice problems. Method The authors constructed or participated in electronic portfolio development inspired by theories of metacognition and integrated learning. The objective was to develop DNP student's reflection, integration of concepts, and technological capabilities to foster the deliberative competencies related to the DNP Essentials and the foundations of the DNP program. Results The pedagogical process demonstrates how e-portfolios adapted into the doctoral-level curriculum for DNP students can address the Essentials and foster the development of metacognitive capabilities, which translates into practice changes. Conclusion The authors suggest that this pedagogical approach has the potential to optimize reflective and deliberative competencies among DNP students. [J Nurs Educ. 2017;56(8):497-500.].
Predictive mapping of the biotic condition of conterminous U.S. rivers and streams

Understanding and mapping the spatial variation in stream biological condition could provide an important tool for conservation, assessment, and restoration of stream ecosystems. The USEPA's 2008–2009 National Rivers and Streams Assessment (NRSA) summarizes the percentage of stream lengths within the conterminous United States that are in good, fair, or poor biological condition based on a multimetric index of benthic invertebrate assemblages. However, condition is usually summarized at regional or national scales, and these assessments do not provide substantial insight into the spatial distribution of conditions at unsampled locations. We used random forests to model and predict the probable condition of several million kilometers of streams across the conterminous United States based on nearby and upstream landscape features, including human-related alterations to watersheds. To do so, we linked NRSA sample sites to the USEPA's StreamCat Dataset; a database of several hundred landscape metrics for all 1:100,000-scale streams and their associated watersheds within the conterminous United States. The StreamCat data provided geospatial indicators of nearby and upstream land use, land cover, climate, and other landscape features for modeling. Nationally, the model correctly predicted the biological condition class of 75% of NRSA sites. Although model evaluations suggested good discrimination among condition classes, we present maps as predicted probabilities of good condition, given upstream and nearby landscape settings. Inversely, the maps can be interpreted as the probability of a stream being in poor condition, given human-related watershed alterations. These predictions are available for download from the USEPA's StreamCat website. Finally, we illustrate how these predictions could be used to prioritize streams for conservation or restoration.
Sex differences in sport-related concussion long-term outcomes

Approximately 1.6 to 3.8 million recreational and sports-related concussions (SRC) occur each year in the Unites States. Research suggest that female athletes are at a greater risk for a SRC compared to male athletes competing in comparable sports (i.e., soccer, basketball). Moreover, female athletes have reported more total symptoms and greater neurocognitive impairments following a SRC. Female athletes have been found to report greater symptom provocation as measured by the Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS), and increased brain activation compared to males. There is a scarcity of research on long-term effects of SRC in male and female athletes. Therefore, the aim of this review article is to summarize the existing literature on sex differences in acute and sub-acute SRC outcomes.
What Does It Mean to Be El Niño Ready

Once an El Nino event has been forecast, government warnings and news headlines highlight the need for society to get ready for the potential impacts of the event, whether drought, flood, heatwave, disease outbreak, or water shortage. The notion of readiness for a climate-, water- or weather-related hazard or disaster is a fuzzy term, subject to a wide range of conflicting perceptions. Not every government sees El Nino as a direct threat to the wellbeing of its citizens. In this paper, we conceptualize readiness and identify reasons that some governments do not as well as cannot prepare for El Nino’s foreseeable consequences. Central among those reasons are its characteristics: quasi-periodicity, event variability, difficulties with onset forecasting, and the fact that El Nino and its “teleconnections” are influenced by numerous other oceanic and atmospheric oscillations. As a result, there is no universally accepted approach to or reliable measure of readiness. The concept is often discussed qualitatively in terms of “shades of readiness”, such as hardly ready, somewhat ready, almost ready, and absolutely ready. Although El Nino is still difficult to forecast, the existing knowledge about it can provide usable information for decision makers to choose whether to pursue strategic or tactical disaster risk reduction policies.
Properties of Steel and Concrete and the Behavior of Structures

Review of basic features of new findings on materials performance and structural behavior; findings relate not only to plastic or inelastic materials properties, but also to brittle fracture, fatigue, residual stresses, creep, strength under combined stress, actual vs specified strength, etc; features are presented in relation to overall performance of structures of civil engineering type.
Antitransgender Political Backlash Threatens Health and Access to Care

The authors argue that public health professionals should oppose local, state, and federal legislation that allows anti transgender discrimination due to the contributions to health disparities experienced by transgender people. Particular attention is given to discriminatory legislation affecting LGBT people during the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.
Low cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with higher extracellular vesicle counts in obese adults.

Low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) independent of obesity. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a novel target of CVD, however, it remains unknown if obese individuals with very poor fitness (VPF) have elevated EVs versus people with poor fitness (PF). Thus, we tested whether VPF was associated with greater EV subtypes in obese adults. Subjects with VPF (n = 13, VO2 peak: 15.4 ± 0.6 mL/kg/min, BMI: 34.1 ± 1.7 kg/m2 ) and PF (n = 13, VO2 peak: 25.9 ± 3.0 mL/kg/min, BMI: 32.1 ± 1.2 kg/m2 ) were compared in this cross-sectional study. After an overnight fast, AnnexinV (AV) +/- platelet (CD31+ /CD41+ ), leukocyte (CD45+ /CD41- ), and endothelial EVs (CD105+ , CD31+ /CD41- ) were analyzed from fresh platelet poor plasma via imaging flow cytometry. Body fat, blood pressure (BP), and glucose tolerance (OGTT) were also tested. Body weight, BP, and circulating glucose were similar between groups, although VPF subjects were older than PF (64.0 ± 2.1 vs. 49.8 ± 4.2 year; P < 0.05). People with VPF, compared with PF, had higher total AV- EVs (P = 0.04), AV- platelet EVs (CD31+ /CD41+ ; P = 0.006), and AV- endothelial EVs (CD31+ /CD41- ; P = 0.005) independent of age and body fat. Higher AV- platelet and endothelial EVs were associated with lower VO2 peak (r = -0.56, P = 0.006 and r = -0.55, P = 0.005, respectively). Endothelial-derived AV- /CD31+ /CD41- EVs were also related to pulse pressure (r = 0.45, P = 0.03), whereas AV- /CD105 was linked to postprandial glucose (r = 0.41, P = 0.04). VPF is associated with higher AnnexinV- total, endothelial, and platelet EVs in obese adults, suggesting that subtle differences in fitness may reduce type 2 diabetes and CVD risk through an EV-related mechanism.
Memristor-Based Resistive Computing

This chapter reviews recent technology, circuits, and systems trends in memristive electronics, with particular attention to ultra-dense and energy-efficient resistive logic gates and signal processing. A reconfigurable nonvolatile computing platform that harnesses memristor properties is devised to deploy massive arrays of nanoscale resistive memory devices and advance their computing capabilities with much lowered energy consumption than the conventional charge-based VLSI systems. With application of memristive devices for stateful logic gates and multipliers, nonvolatile latches with high integration density and CMOS compatibility, combining the memristor technology with the prevailing CMOS technology pose. To prolong the Moore’s Law beyond the hitherto observed technological limitations.
Signal Transduction in Prokaryotic PAS Domains

With the progress in genome sequencing and in silico analysis, there has been a rapid increase in identified PAS domains in the SMART database (Simple Modular Architecture Research Tool ). At the time of writing (September, 2002) more than 2000 non-redundant PAS domains are listed in SMART, making the PAS domain one of the most common domains found in sensory proteins. Of the known PAS domains, sixty percent are in prokaryotes where they are ubiquitous in both eubacteria and archaea.
Investigating Utility and Value Functions with an “Assessment Cube”

Recent studies (McCord, 1986; McCord and de Neufville, 1986) indicate that new methods can reduce some of the difficulties encountered when assessing von Neumann-Morgenstern utility functions over single dimensional outcomes (McCord and de Neufville, 1985, 1983; Hershey et al., 1982; Allais, 1979). But the outcomes of realistic decision problems are characterized by more than one dimension or attribute. And although “multi-attribute” utility functions have been used in such problems for some time (Keeney and Raiffa, 1976), there is no data indicating the validity of these functions. Experience with utility functions over one attribute implies that empirical investigations must be performed before any confidence can be placed in an assessed multi-attribute utility function. In this paper we develop a new research instrument, the three-dimensional “assessment cube,” to investigate the sensitivity of two-dimensional utility functions to the parameters used in their assessment. The cube can also be used to determine the validity of the “pricing out” concept (Keeney and Raiffa, 1976) when constructing value functions under certainty. We also present empirical results obtained with this instrument which indicate that the utility functions do, indeed, depend on the values of the assessment parameters and that the “pricing out” method can lead to invalid results.
Infantile, Childhood, and Juvenile Glaucomas

The childhood glaucomas are a clinically diverse group of ocular disorders. On examination many different potential primary and secondary etiologies of the glaucoma must be considered. The systemic conditions associated with the pediatric glaucomas also need to be recognized. The profound and common anterior segment abnormalities secondary to the increased intraocular pressure (IOP) seen in these children makes their conditions seem more similar than is necessarily true. The purpose of this chapter is to provide information to assist with the examination of children with glaucomas to enable physicians to recognize them more accurately, so that more appropriate and optimum glaucoma treatment decisions will be made.
Borderization theatre: geopolitical entrepreneurship on the South Ossetia boundary line, 2008–2018

Borderization refers to the construction of physical barriers to transform a territorial ceasefire line into an international border. The term was used first by European Union officials to refer to...
Separation Risk Evaluation Considering Positioning Uncertainties from the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) System

A probabilistic methodology for separation loss probability assessments is proposed in this paper. The key focus is on the effect of uncertainties from multiple Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) systems on the separation loss probability assessment. First, a brief review of the ADS-B system and its associated uncertainty quantification metrics is discussed. It is found that most existing studies focus on the individual ADS-B uncertainty quantification for a single aircraft, which is not sufficient for separation loss probability assessment when two or more aircraft are involved. Next, a probabilistic positioning model with multiple aircraft is proposed and various types of uncertainties are included in the proposed model. Numerical simulations show that a navigation satellite fault can significantly affect separation error when individual aircraft see different satellite sets. Following this, several demonstration examples are illustrated to show the bounds for separation loss probability estimation. Finally, several conclusions and suggestions are discussed based on this study. One major finding is that the separation risk significantly increases when two nearby aircraft use different satellite sets to navigate. Real-time assessment of this risk should be performed.
Looking back to look forward: protein–protein interactions and the evolution of development

The evolutionary modification of development was fundamental in generating extant plant diversity. Similarly, the modification of development is a path forward to engineering the plants of the future, provided we know enough about what to modify. Understanding how extant diversity was generated will reveal productive pathways forward for modifying development. Here, I discuss four examples of developmental pathways that have been remodeled by changes to protein-protein interactions. These are cases where changes to developmental pathways have been paralleled by recent changes, selected for or engineered by humans. Extant plant diversity represents a vast treasure trove of molecular solutions to ecological problems. Mining this treasure trove will allow for the intentional modification of plant development for solving future problems.
Sticks and Stones: Perceived Age Discrimination, Well-Being, and Health Over a 20-Year Period:

This study examines associations between perceived day-to-day age discrimination, positive well-being, and physical health over a 20-year span. Data came from all three waves of the National Survey...
PET/MRI imaging as a practical tool in evaluating mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI)

1188 Objectives: raumatic brain injury (TBI) due to contact sports is the cause of more than 200,000 emergency room visits and 1.7 million reported new cases each year in the United States, which contributes to one third of all deaths due to injury. Almost 75% of all reported TBIs are mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) or concussion, although the number of unreported mTBIs remains unknown. Sports-related repetitive mild TBI may lead to chronic variations in mood, behavioral, and cognition. Studies of retired athletes in contact-sports, such as National Football League (NFL) players, show a higher rate of personality, behavioral, and mood disorders (depression, irritability, impulsiveness), mild cognitive impairment (MCI, a predisposing factor for dementia), and dementia. Currently, mTBI or concussion is identified by means of clinical assessment using symptom monitoring, physical examination, and neurocognitive testing which is inadequate in its ability to evaluate the extent of injury and recovery. Traditional structural imaging like standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) are sometimes characteristically inconclusive due to subtle, obscure, or absent changes in anatomical or physiological parameters. Quantitative molecular imaging techniques that assess functional processes in the brain, such as positron emission tomography (PET), have the ability to detect even minute changes due to mTBI. Recent technological improvements in the integration of PET with MRI, and more sophisticated image analysis and quantification methods would contribute to the growing usage of combined PET/MRI modalities in preclinical research and advances in clinical imaging of mTBI. This exhibit will review: 1) The current state of PET/MRI imaging in assessing mTBI in clinical and preclinical research. 2) Technological considerations, potential applications and limitations of combined PET/MRI imaging in mTBI, compared with other available modalities 3) Advances in neuroimaging techniques and quantification methods that have the potential to provide more objective data
Nonreciprocal Devices in Silicon Photonics

Nonreciprocal devices are crucial components for optical communications, nonlinear signal processing and all-optical circuits in silicon-compatible photonic platforms, but traditional techniques for achieving nonreciprocity and isolation have lacked CMOS compatibility. In recent work, we combined state-of-the-art fabrication and inverse design to demonstrate bias-free, low-loss nonreciprocal transmission in silicon integrated devices.
Sustainable Purchasing Patterns and Consumer Responsiveness to Sustainability Marketing

Do on-package sustainability claims lead to both better product performance and category growth (and thus to a better world)? We conducted a large-scale study of actual consumer purchasing behavior using IRI retail scanned barcode data at point of sale from 2013-2018. We analyzed 36 consumer packaged goods (CPG) categories, representing 41% of total CPG dollar volume. We used this to calculate that 51% of the growth in the in-sample CPG market came from sustainability-marketed products. Shares of sustainability-marketed products grew across categories, and at the expense of conventionally-marketed products and in some categories are moving from niche to mainstream. In a detailed analysis of sustainability messages from five select categories representing high and low market shares, the most salient messages were category specific, with organic being the most pervasive. Legacy brands that adopted sustainability messages were benefiting from much of the sustainability marketed dollar share. Finally, while higher efficacy products with sustainability claims had lower market shares than lower efficacy products, that too is changing, and our analysis shows that messaging combining performance with sustainability can increase consumer purchasing.
For Kin and Country: reader responses to uniformity of British war graves in The Times & civilian practices of wartime citizenship

During and after the First World War, the burial of the British dead was undertaken by the Imperial War Graves Commission. The Commission established the now-familiar military cemeteries and helped...
TxTrack v0.9: A Lagrangian ocean analysis web-framework for trajectory modeling

The trajectory model-TxTrack is an open-source project for oil spill topics. The central design concept of the version v0.9 written in this article is to provide a concise user interface as a protocol; composable abstractions to encapsulate various dynamic processes and an extensible Lagrangian trajectory model between particles and gridded data from Texas coastal high-frequency radar (TxHFR) and a web-based platform for data visualization. TxTrack follows the modern scientific software engineering concept., i.e.., a modular structure. Thus, TxTrack's feature is not only that it can directly operate the simulation of particle trajectories through web pages, but also can use Python programming language to perform marine scientific research. The model has three components. The first component is the external data access component. This component allows data to be pulled directly from the THREDDS server and also from the local directories where they exist. The second component is the computing kernel. The computing kernel computes oil tracking based on the Lagrangian approach with parallel computing. The third component is the visualization component that provides a user-friendly interface page that is readable from any browser. The model validation has been calibrated from available surface drifters, shows a good correlation with the trajectories and reveals its abilities as a management tool. The prediction of spills from this model will be very useful in establishing an effective response to oil spilled in the coastal environment.
Analysis of Angiogenesis in Mouse Embryonic Dorsal Skin by Whole-Mount Fluorescent Staining

The blood vascular system is a tree-like hierarchical branching structure and needs to function even before fully established. Abnormal formation of blood vessels results in embryonic lethality and also contributes to the pathogenesis of a number of human diseases, including cancer metastasis. To understand the molecular events associated with blood vessel formation, we established a fluorescence staining-based protocol on mouse embryonic skin. We harvested mouse embryonic skin and performed whole-mount staining. The reconstructed three-dimensional vascular structure provided detailed information on angiogenesis.